The Big Ten has announced a conference-only schedule thanks to the spread of COVID-19 – and for one Michigan Wolverines opponent they were slated to battle on the gridiron, that decision will be costly.
Arkansas State was scheduled to play the Wolverines on September 19 at the Big House in Ann Arbor. In exchange for their visit, Michigan had agreed to pay a total of $1.8 million to the Red Wolves.
That’s a pretty big chunk of change.
And it wouldn’t have been the easiest of matchups for Michigan, seeing as how Arkansas State’s offense was 10th in the country last season in passing yards per game.
The contract between the two schools signed in February of 2018 stipulates that no compensation or cancellation fee would be paid by either side “in the event it becomes impossible to play the scheduled game because of inclement weather; an act of God; strike; lockout or other labor dispute; any decision, order, law, rule or regulation of the NCAA, or any other federal, state or municipal agency or official…or the occurrence of any other material event that is beyond the reasonable control of a party.”
Whether or not the COVID-19 pandemic falls under that umbrella remains to be seen.
– – Quotes via Andrew Khan of MLive Link – –
