It’s been reported by multiple outlets that the Big 10 won’t play football this year, though there’s no official confirmation from the conference itself.

That means players and parents are taking it upon themselves to save the season, and now we’ve got Ohio State’s Ryan Day and Penn State’s James Franklin offering the following takes:

Franklin’s message is a little more vague, but it’s clear as Day, that Day wants to play. Of course he does. He coaches the best team in the league.

Jim Harbaugh does not coach the best team in the league, but he wants to play, too, and released a statement today noting that Michigan now has zero positive tests out of the last 353 administered. He adds that his program implemented strict contract tracing and has taken the COVID-19 threat seriously, saying this, in part:

It is proven that the conduct, discipline and structure within our program have led to these stellar results. We respect the challenge that the virus has presented however we will not cower from it.

We have developed a great prototype for how we can make this work and provide the opportunity for players to play. If you are transparent and follow the rules, this is how it can be done.

I am forever proud of our players, parents, coaches and staff for being leaders and role models in our sport, at our institution and in society. We will continue to follow all health and safety guidelines, teach, train, and coach those young men and their families that have put their trust in us, while advocating for a football season in the fall.

We’ll see. The Big 10 has a new commissioner, and I bet he wasn’t expecting to start the gig this way.

Edit: I missed Scott Frost, who said this –