Is College Football Happening in 2020?
With the country continuing to fight the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the state of the college football season remains uncertain, and the annual fall schedule seems unlikely as August approaches. Each conference has already put out information on whether they will be playing in the 2020 season and if so, what games will be canceled due to the pandemic.
Here are the latest updates from the college football world.
AAC
AAC will require testing before games: The AAC announced that it will require coronavirus testing for teams at least 72 hours before football games. The protocol will be in place throughout the regular season and bowl season.
Games canceled: Cincinnati at Nebraska; Norfolk State at East Carolina; Houston at Washington State; Memphis at Purdue; Bethune-Cookman at South Florida; Rutgers at Temple; Tulane at Northwestern; Florida A&M at UCF.
ACC
Chick-fil-A Kickoff Games up in the air: The status of the Chick-fil-A kickoff games, each of which features an ACC team, remains uncertain as the ACC, Big 12 and SEC continue to weigh the options pertaining to the upcoming season.
ACC to announce football decision in late July/early August
Games canceled: Purdue at Boston College; Holy Cross at Boston College; Elon at Duke; Miami at Michigan State; Syracuse at Rutgers, Colgate at Syracuse; Penn State at Virginia Tech.
Big 12
Chick-fil-A Kickoff Games up in the air: The status of the Chick-fil-A kickoff games, which features West Virginia, a Big 12 team, remains uncertain as the ACC, Big 12 and SEC continue to weigh the options pertaining to the upcoming season.
Big 12 to announce football decision in late July/early August
Games canceled: Iowa State at Iowa; Oregon State at Oklahoma State; TCU at California; Texas Tech at Arizona; Maryland at West Virginia.
Big Ten
Big Ten cancels nonconference: Sad news for Big Ten fans as Big Ten directors and presidents announced that the conference will move to a “conference-only” model for all fall sports, including football.
Games canceled: Illinois State at Illinois; UConn at Illinois; Bowling Green State at Illinois; Western Kentucky at Indiana; Ball State at Indiana; Indiana at UConn; UNI at Iowa; Iowa State at Iowa; Northern Illinois at Iowa; Towson at Maryland; Northern Illinois at Maryland; Maryland at West Virginia; Michigan at Washington; Ball State at Michigan; Arkansas State at Michigan; Michigan State at BYU; Toledo at Michigan State; Miami at Michigan State; FAU at Minnesota; Tennessee Tech at Minnesota; Minnesota at BYU; Central Michigan at Nebraska; South Dakota State at Nebraska; Cincinnati at Nebraska; Bowling Green State at Ohio State; Ohio State at Oregon; Buffalo at Ohio State; Kent State at Penn State; Penn State at Virginia Tech; San Jose State at Penn State; Memphis at Purdue; Air Force at Purdue; Purdue at Boston College; Monmouth at Rutgers; Syracuse at Rutgers; Rutgers at Temple; Southern Illinois at Wisconsin; Appalachian State at Wisconsin; Notre Dame at Wisconsin.
Conference USA
Games canceled: Norfolk State at Charlotte; FAU at Minnesota; Western Kentucky at Indiana.
The Independents
Games canceled: Bucknell at Army; Princeton at Army; BYU at Utah; Michigan State at BYU; BYU at Arizona State; BYU at Minnesota; BYU at Stanford; North Carolina A&T at Liberty; New Mexico State at UCLA; Notre Dame at Wisconsin; Stanford at Notre Dame; Notre Dame at USC; UConn at Illinois; Indiana at UConn.
Pac-12
Pac-12 moves to conference-only football this season: The Pac-12 followed in the Big Ten's footsteps and announced the upcoming 2020 football schedule will be conference-only. All of the nonconference games have been canceled, including Ohio State at Oregon and USC vs Alabama in Arlington, Texas.
Games canceled: Northern Arizona at Arizona State; Arizona State at UNLV; BYU at Arizona State; Hawaii at Arizona; Portland State at Arizona; Arizona at Texas Tech; California at UNLV; TCU at California; Cal Poly at California; Colorado at Colorado State; Fresno State at Colorado; Colorado at Texas A&M; North Dakota State at Oregon; Ohio State at Oregon; Hawaii at Oregon; Oregon State at Oklahoma State; Colorado State at Oregon State; Portland State at Oregon State; William and Mary at Stanford; Stanford at Notre Dame; BYU at Stanford; New Mexico State at UCLA; UCLA at Hawaii; UCLA at San Diego State; USC vs Alabama (in Arlington, Texas); New Mexico at USC; Notre Dame at USC; BYU at Utah; Montana State at Utah; Utah at Wyoming; Michigan at Washington; Sacramento State at Washington; Utah State at Washington; Washington State at Utah State; Houston at Washington State; Idaho at Washington State.
SEC
SEC delays football decision: SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said “there will be more clarity” near the end of July regarding a decision about the football season. The conference will likely follow the ACC and Big 12 in announcing a decision by the end of the month.
Games canceled: Alabama vs USC (in Arlington, Texas); Colorado at Texas A&M.
As an avid college football enthusiast, I am saddened by the thought of not having a regular college football season, but I am aware of the situation that we all face and hope to get past it soon so we can go back to a normal life with sports. It will take time and adjustments, but we can get through this hurdle!