Big Ten football season could start in January
Big Ten officials are working on a revised football schedule that could feature teams starting their season in early January. Penn State athletic director Sandy Barbour said Monday during a Zoom meeting with reporters that the league could release the revised 2020 schedule within a week or so.
Multiple college football people told the MIlwaukee Journal Sentinel on Tuesday that Big Ten officials have decided to start the season as early as possible. That decision would allow players to finish their season before the 2021 NFL Draft, currently scheduled to be held April 29 through May 1.
The Big Ten announced Aug. 11 it was shutting down all of the league’s fall sports because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic but hoped to move the football season to the spring semester.
♦ College athletes who play fall sports, including football, will be given a free year of eligibility no matter how much they compete over the next 10 months if an NCAA recommendation is approved later this week.
♦ Notre Dame canceled football practice and might take Thursday off as well in response to the school’s decision to go to online classes because of a coronavirus outbreak on campus.
STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS Lightning, Bruins, Avalanche advance
The Lightning eliminated the Blue Jackets in five games in the first round, rallying from a two-goal, third-period deficit before winning 5-4 on Brayden Point’s goal 5:12 into overtime. Kevin Shattenkirk and Anthony Cirelli scored in the final eight minutes of regulation to wipe out a 4-2 deficit.
♦ Patrice Bergeron broke a tie with 3.5 seconds left in the second period, David Pastrnak returned with two assists and the Bruins beat the Hurricanes 2-1 to win the firstround playoff series in five games.
♦ Nathan MacKinnon had two goals and two assists, Nazem Kadri also scored twice and the Avalanche routed the Coyotes 7-1 to close out the series in five games.
NBA PLAYOFFS Mavs pull away while Doncic sits
Luka Doncic scored 28 points and the Mavericks put together the pivotal run when he left with his fourth foul late in the third quarter to beat the Clippers 127-114 and even the series at a game apiece. The Mavs went on a 14-4 spurt to make it 98-85 entering the fourth, and pushed the lead to 18 in the final 12 minutes.
♦ Donovan Mitchell scored 21 of his 30 points in a big third quarter and the Jazz beat the Nuggets 124-105 to even the first-round playoff series at a game apiece. Mitchell, who was 10-for-14 from the floor, helped the Jazz break open the game in the third quarter and increase the lead to 31 in the fourth.
♦ Jayson Tatum (33 points) had a career playoff high for the second straight game, and the Celtics beat the 76ers 128-101 to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round series.
MISCELLANEOUS Reds broadcaster sorry for slur on air
Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman used an anti-gay slur during Wednesday night’s game at the Royals and later left the broadcast after apologizing.
Brennaman used the slur moments after the Fox Sports Ohio broadcast returned from a commercial break before the top of the seventh inning of the first game of a doubleheader. Brennaman did not seem to realize he was already on air.
♦ Astros manager Dusty Baker said that Yordan Alvarez will have season-ending knee surgery to repair a partial tear of his right patella tendon.
♦ The Chiefs will be without starting cornerback Bashaud Breeland for the first four games of the season because of off-the-field issues earlier this year.