If the Big Ten does not play football this fall, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is reportedly prepared to take legal action.
Yost told the Columbus Dispatch that he is ready to recommend Ohio State file a lawsuit against the Big Ten and member schools voting against a fall football season and that he believes the school has an “excellent contract claim for several tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue.”
Yost believes the Big Ten and member schools violated contracts and lacked legal authority to cancel or delay the football season.
“I think we have a cause of action,” Yost told The Dispatch. “If these negotiations (over playing football) fall apart, we will be recommending legal action to our client, Ohio State University.”
Last month, the Big Ten presidents and chancellors voted 11-3 to postpone the fall athletics season with only Ohio State, Nebraska and Iowa voting against postponement.
Since the postponement announcement, there have been several calls from coaches, players, parents and fans for the conference to reconsider its decision.
Though Big Ten commisioner Kevin Warren initially said the decision to postpone fall sports would not be revisited, the Big Ten reportedly continues to discuss a potential return date for its fall sports, including dates in the fall. However, no vote is expected until this weekend "at the earliest," according to the Chicago Tribune.
