The Big Ten returns to football this week, providing fans a much-needed reunion with their favorite teams, coaches and players.
That said, the conference has seen an influx of players (such as Michigan quarterback Dylan McCaffrey) who have opted out of the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. That includes a handful of players — such as Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons — who have already declared for the 2021 NFL Draft. Add to that the players who reversed their initial opt-out decisions, such as Purdue receiver Rondale Moore, and it can be a confusing situation to track.
Below is a list of Big Ten football players who have opted out of — and then back in to — the 2020 college football season:
MORE: Big Ten Week 8 football schedule
Big Ten Players who opted out
Players listed in alphabetical order by school
*Indicates players who have declared for 2021 NFL Draft
| Name | Position | Class | School |
| Ra'Von Bonner | RB | Sr. | Illinois |
| Dawson Degroot | LB | Sr. | Illinois |
| Djimon Colbert | LB | Jr. | Iowa |
| Taajhir McCall | DL | R-Fr. | Iowa |
| Jalen Alexander | DL | So. | Maryland |
| Vincent Flythe | DB | So. | Maryland |
| Josh Jackson | QB | Sr. | Maryland |
| TJ Kautai | LB | Jr. | Maryland |
| Dylan McCaffrey | QB | Jr. | Michigan |
| Ambry Thomas* | CB | Sr. | Michigan |
| Nico Collins* | WR | Sr. | Michigan |
| Camaron Cheeseman | LS | Sr. | Michigan |
| Jordan Reid | OT | Sr. | Michigan State |
| Justin Stevens | OT | Fr. | Michigan State |
| Demetrius Douglas | WR | R-So. | Minnesota |
| Rashawn Slater* | OL | Sr. | Northwestern |
| Samdup Miller | DE | Sr. | Northwestern |
| Aidan Smith | QB | Sr. | Northwestern |
| Travis Whillock | S | Sr. | Northwestern |
| Jason Whittaker | TE | Jr. | Northwestern |
| Micah Parsons* | LB | Jr. | Penn State |
| Everett Wormley | WR | Sr. | Rutgers |
| Mike Lonsdorf | OL | R-Sr. | Rutgers |
| Matt Thomas | DL | R-So. | Rutgers |
Big Ten players who opted back in
| Name | Position | Class | School |
| Austin Fontaine | OL | So. | Maryland |
| Johnny Jordan | OL | Sr. | Maryland |
| Christian Turner | RB | Jr. | Michigan |
| Jalen Mayfield | OT | Jr. | Michigan |
| Jacub Panasiuk | LB | Sr. | Michigan State |
| Marcel Lewis | DE | Fr. | Michigan State |
| Rashod Bateman | WR | Jr. | Minnesota |
| Shaun Wade | CB | R-Jr. | Ohio State |
| Wyatt Davis | OL | Jr. | Ohio State |
| Rondale Moore | WR | So. | Purdue |