Big Ten teamshave losing record at home with fan- free games

Michigan’s football players charged out of the Big House tunnel and leaped to touch a banner at midfield, following a tradition that has made 100,000- plus fans roar for decades.

With a Michigan Stadium record- lowcrowd of615 people at the Michigan State gamelast week, theWolverines looked flat and lost to followan early trend in the conference.

All five BigTen teams that hosted games last Saturday lost. That bleak day dropped the overall record forhome games in the conference to 6- 7 during the COVID- 19 pandemic that has sharply limited attendance at the stadiums.

“I definitely think things are a lot more balanced without any crowd or any fans,” Michigan linebackerJosh Ross said.

Of course, the BigTen is just two games into its pandemicshortened, eight- gameseason. Hometeamsmay end up with a winning record as they have in each of the previous five seasons since the conference expanded to 14 schools.

The lack of fan- filled stadiums may limit the edge home teams have enjoyed— and perhaps give visitors anemotional boost.

“These players have been stuck in the sametownfor months somaybe there’s a fieldtrip effect at play as they go on road trips with their teammates and coaches,” saidDan Saferstein, a sports psychologist in Michigan.“Maybe the home teams, meanwhile, feel a void because they’re playing in stadiums that are basically empty and that takes away from the advantage their accustomed to.”