As of Nov. 7, the Badgers football program has 30 active cases of COVID-19 — 17 student-athletes and 13 staff members — since Oct. 21.
You asked, we answered: 8 key questions about the Wisconsin football team’s COVID-19 outbreak
We know the Badgers’ Big Ten contest against Nebraska is off, but plenty of uncertainties remain.
With team activities shut down and Saturday’s game at Nebraska canceled, the University of Wisconsin football team and its fans are in wait-and-see mode.
How many Badgers have contracted COVID-19?
Why are the canceled games no contests if the Badgers aren’t at “red/red” levels?
Because UW’s decision was based on its COVID-19 testing numbers, the games are considered no contests and won’t be counted on the team’s records.
Big Ten protocols state that games are considered no contests if they’re canceled due to a program reaching what has been called “red/red” levels. Those levels are defined as a seven-day rolling average of a team’s positivity rate over 5%, and a seven-day rolling average of a team population positivity rate over 7.5%
Will they schedule make-up games?
No.
When the Big Ten debuted its truncated schedule calling for nine games in nine weeks, the lack of open dates eliminated chances to reschedule games during the regular-season window.
Does Illinois’ team have COVID-19 cases after playing the Badgers?
Yes.
Illinois announced Saturday morning that quarterback Brandon Peters and tight end Griffin Moore tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, Oct. 29. Both players will be out of game action for 21 days.
Will the Badgers play next week?
Wisconsin wide receiver Kendric Pryor (3) moves upfield agains the defense of Purdue safety Cory Trice (23) during the first half of Wisconsin's 45-24 win at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
To be determined
UW is slated to play at Michigan on Nov. 14. If that game will be played is still being decided.
Why do the players who have contracted the virus have to sit out 21 days?
Wisconsin Badgers Athletic Director Barry Alvarez, left, with Head Coach Paul Chryst prior to an NCAA college football game against Nebraska Cornhuskers Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018, in Madison, Wis. The Badgers won 41-24. (David Stluka via AP)
The Big Ten requires that players wait at least 14 days from their initial diagnosis to go through a cardiac screening that can clear them to start working back toward competition. The league also built in seven more days for players to build back toward competition after being cleared in the cardiac testing.
The 21-day break from game action is the longest league protocol among the Power Five conferences.
Can the Badgers still make the Big Ten championship game?
Yes, but they can’t miss any more games.
The conference changed its divisional tiebreakers for this season, and those modifications will now be necessary considering at least two teams — UW and Nebraska — won’t complete the eight-game regular-season slate.
How are the players doing? Are they symptomatic?
UW is not releasing updates regarding individual players’ illness and has not said whether some or all have experienced symptoms of COVID-19. Michael Moll, the program's Chief Infection Officer for the Big Ten, said no players or staff members have had severe symptoms or required hospitalization.
During a Zoom call with reporters, Chryst said he felt fine physically and he completed his isolation period without symptoms.
In a showdown for control of the Big Ten West Division, No. 10 Wisconsin (2-0) and No. 19 Northwestern (4-0) will feature the top two defenses in the conference and among the two best nationally.
Tone matters, especially to Jim Harbaugh, who sounded shell-shocked late Saturday night after his Wolverines lost, 49-11, to Wisconsin, but sounded ready to take on the world by noon Monday.
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Graham Mertz was on the field and looks to be available to be under center for No. 13 UW (1-0) as it takes on the Wolverines (1-2) in a highly anticipated Big Ten Conference matchup.
Aaron McMann, Michigan football beat reporter for MLive Media Group, assesses the Wolverines’ matchup on Saturday against No. 13 Wisconsin.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Graham Mertz may be available to play for No. 13 Badgers in their first road game of the season.
From possible false negatives to the search for the source, examining the complications of containing the Badgers’ COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.
Researchers are analyzing the viral samples to determine whether there was one point of introduction that led to the spread or if the Badgers football COVID-19 outbreak included multiple clusters of the virus.
Markus Allen, a 6-foot-2 wide, receiver originally committed to Michigan, but reopened his recruitment in September and now is headed to Wisconsin.
