Sep 21, 2019; Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Riley Neal (6) is hit by LSU Tigers defensive end Neil Farrell Jr. (92) after throwing the ball during the first half at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Report: LSU DE Farrell opting back in

LSU defensive end Neil Farrell is opting back in, The Athletic’s Brody Miller reported Monday.

The 6-foot-4, 319-pound senior originally planned sit out the 2020 season for family reasons and then return for the 2021 campaign.

“My grandmother is getting better each and every day & I thank God for that ….. I miss football ….,” Farrell posted last week on Twitter.

Farrell played in all 15 games for the undefeated national champions as a junior in 2019.

He led all Tigers defensive linemen with 46 tackles, adding seven tackles for loss, three sacks and one forced fumble.

–Field Level Media

Jan 13, 2020; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump walk off the field before the College Football Playoff national championship game between the Clemson Tigers and the LSU Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Warren, Trump discuss Big Ten football season

President Donald Trump touted a productive phone call with Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren, continuing his mission to get the conference to return to the field this season.

“Had a very productive conversation with Kevin Warren, Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference, about immediately starting up Big Ten football,” Trump said in a tweet. “Would be good (great!) for everyone – Players, Fans, Country. On the one yard line!”

Trump, who called for the Big Ten to play football in a tweet Sunday, expanded on his latest Twitter post in comments to pool reporters before boarding Air Force One to travel to Wisconsin on Tuesday.

“I think it was very productive about getting Big Ten playing again, immediately,” Trump said. “Let’s see what happens. (Warren is) a great guy, it’s a great conference. Tremendous teams. We’re pushing very hard.”

The Big Ten released a statement confirming the phone call between Warren and the president.

“A White House representative reached out to Big Ten Conference commissioner Kevin Warren on Monday, August 31, 2020 to facilitate a phone call between President Donald J. Trump and Commissioner Warren,” the Big Ten said in a statement. “On Tuesday, September 1, 2020, Commissioner Warren and the President had a productive conversation.

“The Big Ten Conference and its Return to Competition Task Force, on behalf of the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors (COP/C), are exhausting every resource to help student athletes get back to playing the sports they love, at the appropriate time, in the safest and healthiest way possible.”

Meanwhile, USA Today’s Dan Wolken reported that the Big Ten isn’t close to a return.

“From the department of not shocked: The characterization of the Big Ten being on the 1-yard line to return to play “immediately,” as we saw in a Tweet earlier today, is not how the Big Ten views it, per source. Many, many hurdles to go.”

Big Ten coaches met Friday to discuss the possibilities for playing a shortened season starting around Thanksgiving. There is no timeline for a decision, but university presidents and athletic directors could determine their original verdict on the 2020 season will stand.

The Big Ten, Pac-12 and other conferences — including the Ivy League — postponed the 2020 football season with a plan to play an altered season in spring 2021.

–Field Level Media

Dec 28, 2019; Glendale, AZ, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields (1) throws a pass against Clemson Tigers defensive tackle Tyler Davis (13) during the first quarter in the 2019 Fiesta Bowl college football playoff semifinal game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Big Ten could shift to Thanksgiving kickoff

Big Ten football season could begin around Thanksgiving.

According to multiple reports, the conference is contemplating alternatives to a spring season, as first reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The coaches were set to hold a conference call on Friday.

CBS Sports reported the plan could focus on using domed stadiums — including those in Minneapolis and Indianapolis — and limit or eliminate overnight stays for teams, who could arrive and depart on game day.

The Big Ten and Pac-12 postponed their 2020 seasons due to safety concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren said the conference has “no interest” in revisiting the plan to play football in the spring.

Purdue coach Jeff Brohm outlined a detailed plan for playing a spring season while also returning to a regular schedule in the fall of 2021.

Shifting the start of the season to November could keep the Big Ten in the conversation for the College Football Playoff. However, the playoff committee plans to release the final standings for the postseason on Dec. 21.

Under that timeframe, the Big Ten would have time for only four or five games before the final standings are released.

Players and their parents have pushed back on the decision to move the season.

Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields started an online petition to have the season played as scheduled, gaining more than 300,000 signatures in support. Eight Nebraska players were in court Thursday to file a suit against the Big Ten for postponing the season.

The Associated Press Preseason Top 25 poll, released a week ago, has two teams — Ohio State and Penn State — in the top 10 and six in the top 25.

–Field Level Media

Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren talks with the media about todays cancellation of the Mens Big Ten Tournament. The Big Ten Conference announced today that it will be cancelling the remainder of the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament, effective immediately in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic. at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Big Ten, Pac-12 to cancel fall football seasons

The Big Ten and Pac-12 conferences plan to announce the cancellation of the 2020 fall football season, Dan Patrick reported on his radio show Monday.

Patrick, citing a source in the Big Ten, said an internal vote of all 14 member institutions resulted in a 12-2 vote to attempt to move the season to spring.

According to Patrick, Iowa and Nebraska voted to play in the fall.

Last week, the Big Ten eliminated padded practices until further notice out of concern for the spread of the coronavirus.

Presidents and chancellors of Pac-12 institutions are scheduled to meet Tuesday.

As for the ACC, Big 12 and SEC, those conferences had wanted to assess the situation after students returned to campuses this month, but ESPN stated that any postponements by the Pac-12 or Big Ten may force their hand.

The Mid-American Conference on Saturday voted to postpone fall sports, making it the first FBS conference to postpone football. The MAC is hoping to play in the spring instead.

–Field Level Media