LINCOLN â To help undefeated Ohio State play for the league championship, the Big Ten voted Wednesday to back away from one of the rules it set for the 2020 season, and Nebraska endorsed the change.
It s not the rule that most frustrated NU administration and fans just before Halloween â one that prevents schools from pursuing nonconference matchups when conference foes cancel due to COVID-19 â but a different stipulation that required league teams to play six games to qualify for the Dec. 19 Big Ten championship.
The Buckeyes have played five games. They won t get to play a sixth this weekend because Michigan canceled the rivalry game due to a rise in COVID cases on its team. So Ohio State needed either an opponent or an exception to the six-game rule.