Big Ten teams that miss conference games because of COVID will be charged with a forfeit and a loss this season, the conference announced.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan’s football players charged out of the Big House tunnel and leaped to touch a banner at midfield, following a tradition that has made 100,000-plus fans roar for decades. All five Big Ten teams that hosted games last Saturday lost. That bleak day dropped the overall record for home games in the conference to 6-7 during the COVID-19 pandemic that has sharply limited attendance at the stadiums. Of course, the Big Ten is just two games into its pandemic-shortened, eight-game season. Each Michigan players was allowed to have four tickets for family and friends last week while Michigan State's football program was given 300 tickets to distribute.

READ: Will Michigan lose to Indiana for first time in 33 years this weekend? If Michigan can take care of the ball and get the running game back on track, it will be able to score on this Indiana defense. Don Brown couldn’t manufacture any pressure against Michigan State, and that was a death knell for the entire defense. Michigan is hoping to get back some players who were injured during the Michigan State game. But the most likely outcome feels like Indiana breaking the 24-game losing streak and beating Michigan for the first time since 1987.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – There’s no sugarcoating it: Last week was a shocking, unmitigated disaster for the Michigan football program. Not only did Michigan lose to Michigan State, it also lost several players to injury during the game. READ: Will Michigan lose to Indiana for first time in 33 years this weekend? What Michigan really needs, more than anything, is to return to the field and get back in the win column. Milton wasn’t terrible against Michigan State, but he missed some throws that really could have opened up the offense.

Indiana last beat Michigan 33 years ago, on Oct. 24, 1987. Zach Charbonnet #24 of the Michigan Wolverines is tackled by Bryant Fitzgerald #31 of the Indiana Hoosiers during the first half at Memorial Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. It was a comedy of errors, and now, against a 2-0 Indiana team ranked No. Donovan Peoples-Jones #9 of the Michigan Wolverines goes up for a touchdown reception as Tiawan Mullen #3 of the Indiana Hoosiers defends during the first half at Memorial Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. Everything seems to be crumbling around this Michigan team.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan football has had some truly heartbreaking losses under Jim Harbaugh the last few years, including last weekend’s shocking letdown against Michigan State. Ohio State has won handily each of the last three seasons, and Michigan hasn’t come close to the playoff. Michigan outplayed Michigan State and had victory all but wrapped up. Ohio State in 2018Final score: 62-39Quarterback Shea Patterson throws a pass against Ohio State at Ohio Stadium on Nov. 24, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. Heck, nobody in the Michigan State fan base expected a win after what happened the previous week against Rutgers.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – There are countless reasons for Michigan football fans to be discouraged after the team’s loss to Michigan State, but here are the six most alarming signs for the future. Ronnie Bell #8 of the Michigan Wolverines fails to receive a pass during the second quarter against the Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Stadium on October 31, 2020 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. When that changed Saturday against Michigan State, Milton struggled with accuracy down the field. MORE: Can Michigan salvage season after lifeless loss to Michigan State? Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines looks on during the fourth quarter against the Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Stadium on October 31, 2020 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Dominique Long #9 of the Michigan State Spartans misses a tackle on Joe Milton #5 of the Michigan Wolverines during the fourth quarter at Michigan Stadium on October 31, 2020 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (2020 Getty Images)The other -- a once-impressive victory against ranked Minnesota -- lost the rest of its luster Friday night. By the way, that same Maryland team lost to Northwestern by 40 points the previous week. Maybe it’s the fact that Michigan hasn’t lost to Indiana since 1987, but that won’t matter when the two teams line up this weekend. Michigan couldn’t handle the praise that came with beating up on Minnesota, and that led to a crushing loss.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Any hope for the Michigan football team to make a splash at the national level was dashed over the weekend in a loss to Michigan State. Anyone who watched Saturday’s in-state rivalry would have thought Michigan State was the team favored to win by three touchdowns. Michigan was expected to handle Michigan State well before it debuted in Minneapolis, though. Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines looks on during the fourth quarter against the Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Stadium on October 31, 2020 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (2020 Getty Images)At this point, the only remedy that could heal the wounds opened by this weekend’s loss would be an upset against Ohio State.

Meanwhile, Michigan State lost to Big Ten bottom feeder Rutgers in East Lansing. Nobody outside the Spartan locker room expected Michigan State to beat Michigan, but from the moment the opening whistle blew Saturday, it was Rocky Lombardi who embarrassed the Michigan secondary. Henning #3 of the Michigan Wolverines runs the ball during the first quarter at Michigan Stadium on October 31, 2020 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan State always gets up for the Michigan game. It’s the way Michigan lost that’s much more damning than the actual loss itself.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Tree Town will be quieter than normal for the Michigan vs. Michigan State football game Saturday. Parking lots will all be blocked off -- including at Pioneer High School and at the golf course. RELATED: Why I’m picking Michigan football to beat Michigan State -- will it be the blowout everyone expects? I love a Michigan State Michigan matchup,” Gov. Players will have to adjust as no fans will be allowed inside The Big House.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – This has probably been the quietest week leading up to a Michigan vs. Michigan State football game in a decade. Comparing Michigan, Michigan State by position: Do Spartans have advantage anywhere? That’s why I’m picking Michigan to win its third straight against Michigan State this weekend. RIVALRY PREVIEW: Michigan has to avoid overlooking massive underdog Michigan StateI don’t think Michigan takes this rivalry for granted anymore, so Michigan State should have the team’s full attention. Michigan State will improve from last week, and there’s almost no chance it turns the ball over another seven times.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – With Michigan and Michigan State set to square off in Ann Arbor this weekend, we’re breaking down which team is better at every single position. B1G: Wisconsin-Nebraska game canceled this weekend as Badgers report COVID-19 outbreakWhere Michigan truly separates itself from Michigan State is at defensive end, with Kwity Paye and Aidan Hutchinson. ADVANTAGE: MichiganLinebackersAnjuan Simmons was at it again Saturday, leading Michigan State with 11 tackles, including three for losses. Safety is a strength for Michigan and Michigan State, but Hill has by far the highest ceiling. Michigan is recruiting near the top of the Big Ten and Michigan State is trying to reboot under a new regime.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan football is expected to crush Michigan State this weekend, as the current betting line favors the Wolverines by more than three touchdowns. While Michigan dominated a top 25 team in Minnesota, Michigan State turned the ball over seven times in a loss to conference bottom feeder Rutgers. “This game against the school down the road is not just another game, so it’s really special to me,” Tucker said. Tucker said that’s when teams generally show the most improvement, and it’s hard to imagine Michigan State turning the ball over seven times. Michigan crushed Michigan State 44-10 when the two teams met last season at the Big House.

The Wisconsin vs. Nebraska football game this weekend has been canceled as cases of COVID-19 continue to spread throughout the Badgers program. COVID-19 has been a hot topic in Madison as star quarterback Graham Mertz had his positive test confirmed on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the university announced the team will pause all team activities for at least seven days because of the outbreak. “This morning, I received the news that I had tested positive via a PCR test I took yesterday,” Chryst said. Wisconsin-Nebraska is the first Big Ten game to be canceled this year, but with COVID-19 cases continuing to spike around the Midwest, it will certainly be difficult to avoid further interruptions to the shortened season.

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker tried to avoid saying the name of his in-state rival ahead of their matchup this weekend, calling Michigan “that school up/down the road” four times during his Tuesday press conference. In his first season as Michigan State’s head coach, Tucker is stoking the flames of an already-hot rivalry between the Wolverines and Spartans. You can hear Tucker calling Michigan “the school up/down the road” in the clips beneath each quote. “This game against the school down the road is not just another game, so it’s really special to me," Tucker said. “We know that it’s always a physical game," Tucker said.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – It’s unclear whether Wisconsin will be without star QB Graham Mertz -- and possibly its top three quarterbacks -- when it travels to Ann Arbor in three weeks to play Michigan. Over the weekend, reports emerged that Mertz had tested positive for COVID-19. That first positive test came from an antigen test, and on Tuesday, CBS Sports' Dennis Dodd reported that Mertz tested positive for a second time -- presumably through a polymerase chain reaction test. That would be exactly 21 days from Mertz’s positive test, and according to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, he would be allowed to return to action that day. Unfortunately, Wolf has also reportedly tested positive for COVID-19, though he hasn’t had a second positive test confirmed.

Here are some of the most positive takeaways from the performance, as well as a few concerns. On Ben Mason’s touchdown, Milton tossed a little dump-down pass that looked simple enough but gave Mason the corner to get to the pylon. But he also returned a kickoff 66 yards to set up a Michigan touchdown. Michigan didn’t necessarily get better at wide receiver by losing Nico Collins and Donovan Peoples-Jones, but this year’s group has a different look, and it might end up being a net positive. Like Nordin, Hill is expected to return to practice this week after he was removed from the Minnesota game with an undisclosed injury.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan football made plenty of huge plays in its blowout win over Minnesota, but what about the under-the-radar moments that helped Jim Harbaugh’s team maintain control of the game? Upshaw’s tackle ultimately saved Michigan four points, and instead of a tie game, the Wolverines maintained a 14-10 lead. Four plays later, Haskins punched the ball into the end zone to give Michigan an 18-point lead, and the game was virtually over. After coming out with an impressive touchdown drive to get back within 11 points, Minnesota kicked off and forced a fumble during Blake Corum’s return. “There was a ton of hustle plays throughout the game,” Harbaugh said.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Jim Harbaugh said Ben Mason made an impassioned pregame speech before Michigan football’s victory over Minnesota, then went out and backed it up. Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines looks on in the second quarter of the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium on October 24, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. “Ben was penalized -- and probably rightfully so -- but it was a tremendous block, tremendous, tremendous block on a tremendous player.”Mason was named one of seven team captains for Michigan during the preseason, and before the opener, he had a few words for his teammates. “Ben Mason kind of called up the team pregame ... and what he said was, ‘Joe (Milton), this is your night. Just a tremendous game by Ben Mason."

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Jim Harbaugh provided an update on the injuries to Daxton Hill and Quinn Nordin after Michigan football’s impressive opening victory over Minnesota. Harbaugh was asked Monday about the status of Hill and Nordin ahead of the game against Michigan State. You can see Harbaugh’s full comments on Hill and Nordin in the video above. “Yeah, I anticipate he will be (available to practice this week),” Harbaugh said of Nordin. Michigan State is off to an 0-1 start after falling to Rutgers.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The debut of the 2020 Michigan football team was certainly worth the wait Saturday, as it went into Minneapolis and dominated No. Since Harbaugh returned to Ann Arbor in 2015, Michigan has dominated too many good teams to count on one hand. Sept. 26, 2015: Michigan beats No. Oct. 10, 2015: Michigan beats No. There’s still a long road ahead for this Michigan team.

Michigan and Minnesota haven’t met since 2017, when the Wolverines walloped the Golden Gophers in a weather-delayed, soaking wet night game. Well, I’m about to break down four well-thought-out reasons why Michigan will lose to Minnesota, then I’m going to pick Michigan to win anyway. It’s like Minnesota picked up a “Michigan letdown game” appetizer menu and ordered an entire sampler platter. Michigan offensive coordinator Josh Gattis. At times last season, Michigan struggled to get pressure on the quarterback.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – When Michigan football takes the field Saturday against Minnesota, it will do so against seven players who received scholarship offers from Jim Harbaugh. Meanwhile, three of Minnesota’s best players received Michigan offers. That’s how recruiting works in this era of college football, and it means Michigan likely prioritized each of these players differently. 47 in OhioAccording to 247 Sports, Minnesota and Michigan were the only Power Five schools to extend scholarship offers to Fleming. He also received scholarship offers from Michigan State, Iowa, Northwestern, Purdue and Illinois.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan and Minnesota both had top-20 football teams last year, but now Jim Harbaugh and P.J. READ: Here’s where 39 Michigan football transfers are playing this seasonAttrition is the theme of every offseason in today’s college football. Both teams are undergoing makeovers this offseason, but it’s pretty clear Michigan is replacing more talent than Minnesota. It’s worth noting that Michigan is inherently going to lose more talent than Minnesota in any given year because of the obvious advantages in recruiting. Michigan is used to replacing NFL talent year-in and year-out, while Minnesota’s 2019 was a bit of a surprise.

All rights reserved)ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Mayors from 11 Big Ten cities sent a letter to the conference requesting four additional safety measures be taken ahead of football season. After it was originally postponed until the spring, the Big Ten football season was reinstated last month and will begin this weekend. On Tuesday, 12 mayors -- 11 from Big Ten cities, as well as the mayor of Lansing -- sent a letter to the league requesting a few additional precautions be put in place. Work with local and county health officials to agree on a positivity rate that would make a city unsafe to hold a game. “We know the history of football games within our cities,” the letter says.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan football added another elite linebacker recruit to its 2021 class Friday, landing former Florida State commit and top 100 overall player Branden Jennings. 82 overall recruit in the 2021 class. He had 42 official scholarship offers, including from Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, LSU, Auburn, Texas and Penn State. 7 in the country, behind only Ohio State in the Big Ten. 474 overall player) committed to the 2021 class.

Michigan has often been ranked among the top five or 10 teams in the country, and that’s thanks to strong defensive performances. Kwity Paye #19 of the Michigan Wolverines tries to sack Peyton Ramsey #12 of the Indiana Hoosiers at Michigan Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. According to Harbaugh, they’ve only gotten better this offseason, and if Michigan can get some help from the defensive tackles, it’ll make their jobs even easier. READ: Defensive line is X-factor for Michigan against quarterback-loaded scheduleWith a less experienced secondary -- particularly at cornerback -- Hutchinson and Paye will be more important than ever. Defensive tacklesStarters: Carlo Kemp and Chris HintonConfidence: 100% and 95%Kemp will be one of the starters at defensive tackle -- that’s a slam dunk.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The 2020 Michigan football season will kick off with a top 25 matchup under the lights. 24 Minnesota will begin at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Minnesota is one of four ranked teams on Michigan’s eight-game regular season schedule. One week after the opener against Minnesota, Jim Harbaugh’s team will host in-state rival Michigan State on Halloween. More Michigan football storiesPredictions:Lists:Player profiles: