Big Ten denies Huskers’ nonconference request

» The Big Ten denied Nebraska’s request to play a nonconference opponent Saturday to replace its originally scheduled game with Wisconsin that was canceled because the Badgers had a spike in COVID- 19 cases.

Nebraska Chancellor Ronnie Green and athletic director Bill Moos released a joint statement saying the school had explored the possibility of securing another opponent. The Big Ten is playing only conference games in an abbreviated schedule that started last week.

“The discussions we had were with teams that had already implemented stricter testing protocols than those mandated by the Big Ten Conference,” Nebraska officials said.

Nebraska was reportedly close to a deal with Chattanooga, an FCS school that played last week. The Mocs have no other fall games scheduled and are set to play in the Southern Conference in the spring.

The Cornhuskers ( 0- 1) next play Nov. 7 at Northwestern.

Wisconsin reports 3 more cases of positive COVID- 19 tests.

MADISON, WIS. » Wisconsin says the number of active COVID- 19 cases within the football program increased to 16 as of Thursday.

School officials said they learned of one more positive polymerase chain reaction test result late Wednesday, and that two more were confirmed Thursday. The three additional people to test positive included two staff members and one player.

This news comes one day after Wisconsin announced it was canceling its scheduled Saturday game at Nebraska.

Fifteen of the football program’s positive COVID- 19 test results have come since Saturday, the day after the Badgers’ seasonopening 45- 7 victory over Illinois. One of the people to test positive is Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst.