Big Ten releases schedule; set to begin Labor Day weekend

Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz (5) finds an open receiver
Photo credit © Rick Wood / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Nearly a month after the conference said it would be shifting to a conference-only slate, the Big Ten released its 2020 schedule on Wednesday. Games will begin on September 4th, when Wisconsin will host Indiana.

Other Badgers' schedule notables include the Battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe against Minnesota taking place on Sept. 26, instead of the usual November date. Also, a big matchup with Michigan will take place at the Big House in Ann Arbor on October 31.

This is how the Badgers' full schedule shakes out:

Sept. 4: Indiana, Sept. 12: at Northwestern, Sept. 19: at Nebraska, Sept. 26: Minnesota, Oct. 3: at Maryland, Oct. 10: Purdue, Oct. 17: Bye, Oct. 24: Illinois, Oct. 31: at Michigan, Nov. 7: Bye, Nov. 14: at Iowa, Nov. 21: Rutgers

Here's the full Big Ten schedule:

-- 2020 SCHEDULE RELEASE --Plan accordingly, @B1GFootball fans. The 10-game regular season looks like this: pic.twitter.com/nlh7ET4FOv

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) August 5, 2020

Amid the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference has left some flexibility within its schedule for postponed games due to struggles this infectious disease. The conference has said that for a high contact sport like football, athletes will be tested twice a week and at least three days before competition, you can find more about the safety protocols here.