We knew this would be messy and disjointed and probably make some people uncomfortable, if not disgusted.
We knew the possibility existed — more inevitable than probable — that games would be impacted, postponed or canceled once college football decided it was Game On.
The Gophers found themselves smack dab in the middle of that chaos Friday night. They took the field without 20-something players and three staff members, not all because of COVID-19 but enough to make national headlines and add fuel to the discussion about whether college football is making a mistake by trying to forge ahead during a pandemic.
For the record, the Gophers overcame being shorthanded to defeat Purdue 34-31 at TCF Bank Stadium thanks to a highly questionable pass interference call that negated a Boilermakers touchdown in the final minute.
The controversial finish overshadowed the main topic pregame.
The Gophers didn't officially announce who or why individual players didn't participate, only that 22 players did not suit up, leaving them with only 61 scholarship players available.
To reiterate, not all were because of COVID-19 positives. Some players were injured. The school does not provide specifics when players miss games.
But hearing that news — 20 players sidelined — is jolting and impossible to simply brush aside as, oh well, that's just 2020.