Minnesota's Big Ten title chances take hit with star receiver Rashod Bateman opting out of season

The University of Minnesota is +3000 on the William Hill sportsbook moneyline odds to win the Big Ten title in football for the first time in decades, but those odds are likely to get longer with Tuesday's news that star receiver Rashod Bateman will pass on playing during a coronavirus pandemic and has already declared for the 2021 NFL Draft.

"Unfortunately, in light of the uncertainty around health and safety in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, I have to set my wishes aside for the wellness of my family, community and beyond. Because of this, I have decided to opt-out of the 2020 college football season. I will be taking the next steps in my journey by declaring for the 2021 NFL Draft," Bateman said in a video statement.

Last year as a sophomore, Bateman caught 60 passes for 1,219 yards (second-most in school history) and 11 touchdowns (also second) in being named the Big Ten's Receiver of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten. He was also one of 12 finalists for the Biletnikoff Award that goes to the nation's top receiver. Bateman had the top two receiving yardage games in school history at TCF Bank Stadium (opened in 2009) with 203 yards and 147 yards in games last year vs. Penn State and Wisconsin, respectively.

On the CBS Sports Big Board for the 2021 NFL Draft, Bateman ranks as the No. 2 overall receiver behind LSU's Ja'Marr Chase (he won the Biletnikoff Award last year) and No. 6 player in the entire class.

Bateman's decision is a crushing blow for a program on the rise under Coach PJ Fleck. The Gophers went 11-2 last year, the most ever wins at the school. They played for a spot in their first Big Ten title game but lost the regular-season finale at home vs. Wisconsin.

While quarterback Tanner Morgan is back and is +10000 on the William Hill Heisman odds, Morgan also lost his other top wideout, Tyler Johnson (86 catches, 1,318 yards, 13 TDs), to the 2020 NFL Draft. He was a fifth-round pick by Tampa Bay. Morgan's top returning receiver is now Chris Autman-Bell (28/371/5).

It's not yet clear when Minnesota will open the 2020 season with the Big Ten going to a conference-only 10-game schedule (that should be released any day). The Gophers were to open Sept. 3 vs. Florida Atlantic. A William Hill spokesperson said the site will wait until the Big Ten schedule is released to make any futures odds changes with the Bateman news, etc.. 

Ohio State is currently the -270 favorite to win the conference again and that's not going to change (unless Heisman favorite Justin Fields opts out). 

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