[2] On August 11, 2020, the Big Ten Conference suspended all fall sports competitions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[3] The team disclosed an attempt to play a fall football season as an independent, but Commissioner Kevin Warren stated they could not do so without facing consequences.

In late-August, a group of Nebraska players also sued the Big Ten, alleging that its council did not actually vote on the postponement.

For the 2020 poll, Ohio State was voted as the favorite to win both the East Division and the Big Ten Championship Game.

[15] On September 19, the Big Ten announced a new league schedule to accommodate a new 9-game conference-only season, where the ninth game will feature cross divisional matchups of #1 vs #1, #2 vs. #2, etc.