When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit, many people surmised that it wouldn’t be a major issue by the time football season rolls around. However, as certain states like California, Texas and Florida appear to be spiking right now, it has raised a lot of questions as to how the 2020 college football season will play out. Let’s take a look back at some of the latest developments to see how the pandemic has impacted college football.
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Sept. 22
Report: Notre Dame-Wake Forest Postponed
SCHEDULE UPDATE
Notre Dame's upcoming game on Sept. 26 against Wake Forest has been postponed.
RELEASE: https://t.co/Qtp5hfz4Sh pic.twitter.com/YEWOxvR7wt
— Notre Dame Football PR Team (@NDFootballPR) September 22, 2020
Sept. 21
‘Gambling Night’ led to BYU players’ Covid-19 Outbreak
BYU QB Zach Wilson and some of his teammates contracted COVID-19 after they got together for a "gambling night." He said they felt symptoms for a few days and then were fine after that. #BYU #BYUFootball
— John Coon (@johncoonsports) September 21, 2020
UMass Switches Course, Will Play Football in October
The University of Massachusetts announced Monday that it intends to schedule and play a limited number of football games this fall. The decision was reached following a positive review of the football program’s stringent COVID-19 safety protocols and rigorous testing regimen, in place since players’ return to campus in June. It follows announcements from college football conferences across the country also returning to play this fall and reverses a department decision on August 11 to postpone football competition until the spring.
Sept. 19
Big Ten Releases 2020 Football Schedule
The Big Ten Conference announced today the schedule for the 2020 football season, including an eight-game Conference-only schedule starting the weekend of October 24 plus a ninth game for all 14 teams during a newly created Big Ten Champions Week the weekend of December 19. pic.twitter.com/jaDXMhh2C8
— Big Ten Conference (@bigten) September 19, 2020
Florida State Head Coach Mike Norvell Tests Positive
Mike Norvell tests positive for COVID and won’t coach this week pic.twitter.com/HnIKyrapn7
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) September 19, 2020
Sept. 18
Baylor-Houston Joins Covid-19 Postponements
Baylor-Houston Match-Up Postponed
» https://t.co/XpouuQJDCZ pic.twitter.com/xsaSQXGKnl
— Baylor Football (@BUFootball) September 18, 2020
Per Baylor Athletics: This decision comes as a result of Baylor not meeting the Big 12 Conference COVID-19 game cancellation thresholds. Both Baylor and Houston have agreed to honor the future home and home schedule, as well as monitor dates for future scheduling opportunities.
Sept. 17
Could the MAC Be the Next Conference to Return?
Maybe some #MACtion? Momentum growing in MAC to try to play in fall, sources told @Stadium. 1st report by Toledo Blade. There are several hurdles to clear, but hopes are 8-game season culminating with MAC title game Dec. 16 or 17. Unknown if all schools would play, sources said
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) September 17, 2020
Charlotte-North Carolina Game Canceled
Charlotte announced Thursday morning that its football game at No. 11 North Carolina, scheduled for Saturday, has been canceled. Charlotte reported three positive cases of coronavirus among football players during the past two weeks. Fourteen-day quarantining of players who came into contact with those who tested positive has hit the 49ers’ offensive line especially hard.
Sept. 16
UCLA, USC ADs Trying to Kick-Start Pac-12 Back to Football
Breaking: #USC #UCLA athletic directors join forces, get approval needed from L.A. County to begin practicing once Pac-12 signs off on return-to-play. This is big for a Halloween restart, folks.https://t.co/VGJ1ZaK6Zy
— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) September 17, 2020
Report: Mountain West Mulling Return with 8-Game Season
Mountain West “aggressively exploring” options to play 8-game fall season, culminating w/Dec. 19 MW title game, sources told @Stadium. This would allow league to be eligible for NY6 bowls. Not all schools might play w/Hawaii, Fresno & Air Force biggest unknowns for full season
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) September 17, 2020
Big Ten Returning to Football Oct. 24
Sources: The Big Ten is coming back and will begin the weekend of Oct. 24. It'll include daily, rapid testing as a fixture of the plan. A statement from the league is imminent.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 16, 2020
Per B1G-sources, as of now, games will be played on campus with no fans (other than families). That situation could change. Rapid testing should make 8 games in 8 weeks doable. Title game 12/19.
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) September 16, 2020
The Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors (COP/C) adopted significant medical protocols and has voted unanimously to resume the football season starting the weekend of October 23-24, 2020: https://t.co/b5yHShGb1D
— Big Ten Conference (@bigten) September 16, 2020
Sept. 15
USC Players Take to, Gov. Newsom, Social Media Seeking to Play
@gavinnewsom We have sat by for two weeks watching teams across the country play the game we love safely. Most schools have a fraction of the resources that our school and conference have provided to play safely. You are the only thing holding us back. Please #LetUsPlay . pic.twitter.com/au4JZ5PNbz
— Kedon Slovis (@Kedonslovis) September 15, 2020
Ed Orgeron Says Most of LSU Players Have Caught the Virus
LSU Coach Ed Orgeron told the media Tuesday most of his players have had Covid-19. Orgeron said, as of now, the team has “about three or four guys” who have Covid-19, and the team does not have “a lot of guys in quarantine.” “I think most, not all of our players, but most of our players have caught it,” Orgeron said. “So hopefully they won’t catch it again, and hopefully they’re not out for games.”
Sept. 14
Shocking Numbers Out of Texas Tech
According to numbers released by Texas Tech, 75 players on the football team have tested positive for COVID-19. 69 have recovered and 6 cases are active. There are currently 123 players on the team’s active roster.
Sept. 12
Army-BYU Postponed Due to Covid Concerns with Cougars
The BYU-Army football game scheduled for Sept. 19 has been postponed. The two schools will work together to try and reschedule the contest.
Read more -> https://t.co/KMhEzVjNRQ#BYUFootball pic.twitter.com/hxv0oXrjY9
— BYU Cougars PR (@BYUCougarsPR) September 12, 2020
Big Ten Vote on When to Start Football Season on Tap
Source tells @TheAthleticCFB that the Big Ten's Return to Competition Task Force's presentation is over. It went well, so league pushes forward with the process. All 14 Big Ten Chancellors and Presidents (COP/C) will meet tomorrow and could vote on return to play then.
— Nicole Auerbach 😷 (@NicoleAuerbach) September 12, 2020
5 Auburn Starters Missing Practice
Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn said Saturday the Tigers had two new positive tests this week and that 10 players in total are sidelined from practice because of the coronavirus or close contact. He didn’t identify the players and declined to say if a particular position group had been hit hardest. Five of the players are among the starters.
Virginia Tech Opener Against Virginia Off Due to Covid-19
Schedule Alert 🗓
Tech’s contest vs. UVA postponed, now set to open season vs. NC State on 9/26.
👉🏽 https://t.co/GKZ8CKynn4 #Hokies 🦃 pic.twitter.com/3o4vO4ZLY9
— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) September 12, 2020
“After consultation with Atlantic Coast Conference officials, our counterparts at the University of Virginia, campus leadership at Virginia Tech and Dr. Mark Rogers, Chief Medical Officer for Virginia Tech Athletics, the mutual decision has been made to move the football game between Virginia Tech and Virginia at Lane Stadium to a later date stemming from COVID-19 issues at Virginia Tech,” Virginia Tech said in a statement.
Also learned was at least eight of the 15 ACC football teams need to move forward with games in order for the season to continue. Anything below that threshold could lead to a postponement.
Sept. 11
Memphis Hits Pause Button on Football
Memphis football‘s Sept. 18 game against Houston is in jeopardy of being postponed or canceled, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told the Commercial Appeal Friday, as the school announced football activities have been paused due to positive Covid-19 tests.
Sept. 8
Lousiana Tech-Baylor Opener Postponed
BREAKING | @LATechFB, Baylor season opener postponed. https://t.co/QiQqLOYzTy#EverLoyalBe pic.twitter.com/eip8aq2Prr
— LA Tech Football 🏈 (@LATechFB) September 9, 2020
“We are incredibly disappointed to announce the postponement of our upcoming football game against Louisiana Tech,” said Baylor Director of Athletics Mack B. Rhoades. “However, in the interest of the health and wellness of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff, we are confident in this unfortunate but necessary course of action. To the Baylor and Louisiana Tech student-athletes and communities, we share in your disappointment and look ahead to resuming play.”
California Unversity of Pa. Player Dies of Covid-19 Complications at 20
California University of Pennsylvania defensive lineman and former Central Catholic standout Jamain Stephens died Tuesday “after suffering from complications of covid-19,” his former high school said in a statement.
His father Jamain Stephens, also, was an offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers, drafted in the first round out of North Carolina A&T in 1996..
Oklahoma Audibles, Won’t Reveal Covid-19 Test Results
Lincoln Riley says OU won't be releasing football COVID testing data moving forward because of "competitive advantage." OU has decided to start treating these things like injuries when it comes to public disclosure.
— Jason Kersey (@jasonkersey) September 8, 2020
Rice Pauses Opening of Football Practice
The Rice Athletics Department will delay the opening of football practice until late September. The Owls would have needed to begin their preseason practice schedule this weekend in advance of opening the season in early October. However, current conditions related to the infection rate in Houston forced a delay in a decision to move forward. “Our top priority is the safety of our community,” said Rice Athletics Director Joe Karlgaard. “Rice has safely welcomed back a majority of its student body and will continue to prioritize an on-campus college experience. The very low rates of infection among our campus community are the result of a communal effort and one that requires continued vigilance and dedication. At the same time, we will continue to explore options to allow a football season to happen in 2020.”
Tulsa-Oklahoma State Game Pushed Back a Week
“The safety and health of our student-athletes is always at the core of all of our discussions and decisions. Without time to properly prepare physically we would be putting our student-athletes at a greater risk of injury,” – Dr. Gragg
— Tulsa Football (@TulsaFootball) September 8, 2020
Sept. 5
Dozens of Tennessee Players Miss Practice
Tennesee coach Jeremy Pruitt said Saturday there are seven or eight active positive coronavirus cases on the team currently. The Vols have continued to practice over the last couple of days, but because of contact tracing, 44 players did not participate. Only 30 offensive players practiced.
Sept. 4
Coronavirus Positives Force Postponement of TCU-SMU
Statement from TCU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jeremiah Donati:
“We are disappointed to announce that our upcoming football game against SMU will not be played as scheduled on September 11. We have agreed with SMU to monitor dates throughout the season to potentially make up the game.
“In the course of following CDC guidelines and our aggressive testing and contact tracing strategy, we discovered that some student-athletes and support staff in our football program have tested positive for COVID-19. Those individuals were notified immediately and are currently abiding by CDC protocols.
“No one is currently facing serious health issues, and we intend to continue our enforcement of strict standards to protect the program and our community. Everyone’s health and safety remains our top priority. We share in your disappointment, but firmly believe we will be ready to resume football activities soon. We will continue to follow prevention and testing protocols and look forward to our Big 12 Conference opener against Iowa State on September 26.”
Pac-12 Commish Sees Season Starting in January or Sooner
Pac-12 commish Larry Scott tells @dpshow: “I've got a high degree of confidence that we'll be playing (football) in January. It's possible we could play sooner.”
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) September 4, 2020
Sept. 3
Pac-12 Signs Deal for Rapid COVID Testing
Pac-12 sports could return sooner with partnership allowing the implementation of rapid COVID-19 testing https://t.co/rZZjk2D27X via @USATODAY
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) September 3, 2020
Penn State Medical Expert Reveals Scary COVID News
During a State College Area school board of directors meeting on Monday night, Wayne Sebastianelli — Penn State’s director of athletic medicine — made some alarming comments about the link between COVID-19 and myocarditis, particularly in Big Ten athletes. Sebastianelli said that cardiac MRI scans revealed that approximately a third of Big Ten athletes who tested positive for COVID-19 appeared to have myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle that can be fatal if left unchecked.
“When we looked at our COVID-positive athletes, whether they were symptomatic or not, 30 to roughly 35 percent of their heart muscles (are) inflamed,” Sebastianelli said. “And we really just don’t know what to do with it right now. It’s still very early in the infection. Some of that has led to the Pac-12 and the Big Ten’s decision to sort of put a hiatus on what’s happening.”
BREAKING: #PennState's director of athletic medicine, Wayne Sebastianelli, says that cardiac MRI scans revealed that roughly 30-35 percent of Big Ten athletes who tested positive for COVID-19 appeared to have myocarditis. https://t.co/md4p1IoaLh
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) September 3, 2020
10 UCF Players Opt-Out due to COVID Concerns
UCF will be shorthanded this season. Head coach Josh Heupel announced this week 10 players have opted-out due to COVID-19 concerns. The list of opt-outs includes cornerback Tay Gowan and defensive tackle Kalia Davis, who each started nine games last season. Backup quarterback Darriel Mack Jr., who started three games in 2018 and entered the 2019 season as the projected starter before a preseason injury, also is among those opting out.
“We’ve tried to educate our guys continuously as to what the practices are,” Heupel said. “Educate them as to what we’re doing here to keep them as safe as possible. Each of these kids who chose to opt-out have different reasons behind their decisions. They’re valid, they’re real, and we support those guys and we’ll continue to help them.”
Aug. 31
Big Ten Execs Vote to Postpone Season, Again
#B1G presidents and chancellors voted 11-3 to postpone the fall season, the league confirms in a brief responding to #Nebraska players' lawsuit. Brief also outlines that decision based on multiple medical factors applying to all 14 schools. Two groups of experts advised league.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) August 31, 2020
League sources tell ESPN that #Nebraska, #OhioState and #Iowa are the three schools that voted against postponing the fall season. This will surprise absolutely no one who has followed the story.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) August 31, 2020
Notre Dame to Allow Limited Attendance at Home Games
We are excited to have students in Notre Dame Stadium this fall! #GraduatingChampions https://t.co/RNP4H4eB9B pic.twitter.com/CO69Br9T8f
— Brian Kelly (@CoachBrianKelly) August 31, 2020
Report: Iowa Football Pausing Workouts After 11 Positive Tests
Per source, Iowa football is pausing workouts (likely for the rest of the week) after 11 positive COVID-19 tests on Friday.
— Chad Leistikow (@ChadLeistikow) August 31, 2020
And in other Iowa (State)-related COVID news:
Iowa State, located in Ames where there is a significant coronavirus outbreak right now, will allow 25k fans for its opening football game on September 12.https://t.co/6w5SMswjm4
— Caroline Cummings (@CaroRCummings) August 31, 2020
Aug. 30
16 Auburn Player to Miss Practice Tuesday
More than 1,000 Alabama students have tested positive for COVID-19 since school started. Now comes word there is an outbreak at Auburn that will cause 16 football players to miss practice Tuesday. Nine players who have tested positive for the coronavirus and seven others are considered high risk. Head coach Gus Malzahn indicated two position groups were particularly affected. School protocols require at least 17 days before a player can return from a positive COVID-19 test, including a 10-day quarantine and a seven-day re-acclimation period before being fully cleared.
Aug. 28
Big Ten Weighs Options for Start to Season
The Big Ten postponed its college football season and it led to a furor among players and parents. Now come reports the conference is mulling options for a college football season, including starting as soon as Thanksgiving.
Big Ten discussing start of college football season on week of Thanksgiving, per @jaypo1961: https://t.co/kBFX3fNeWe via @usatoday
— Steve Berkowitz (@ByBerkowitz) August 28, 2020
Aug. 27
ULM-Troy Game Postponed Until Dec. 5
Source: The game between Troy and Louisiana-Monroe on Sept. 5 has been postponed. It'll be played on Dec. 5 at Troy. ULM had a significant COVID outbreak, prompting the re-scheduling.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 27, 2020
AAC Shifts College Football Schedule
The AAC has moved six conference games. Some Thursday/Friday games move to Saturday and vice-versa. pic.twitter.com/qd0IXmQ3yF
— Chris Vannini 😷 (@ChrisVannini) August 27, 2020
Nebraska Football Players Sue Big Ten
Eight Cornhusker football players sued The Big 10 in Nebraska state court this morning in Lincoln. Our attorneys are at the Courthouse now.https://t.co/sLzrJZB7AE pic.twitter.com/yExzcWp1kv
— Nebraska Cornhusker Football Parents (@ParentsNebraska) August 27, 2020
East Carolina-Marshall Game Off Due to COVID-19
ECU Athletics Director Jon Gilbert announced today the football game against Marshall on September 12 in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium will be postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Read the full release 👉 https://t.co/YeuwivsC0V pic.twitter.com/87Xb51EetI
— ECU Athletics (@ECUAthletics) August 27, 2020
Aug. 25
North Carolina State Pauses Practice, Opener in Question
Breaking News: NC State could delay football season opener; sources say coronavirus cases in football program https://t.co/gbDuzE9kjD
— WRALSportsFan (@WRALSportsFan) August 25, 2020
Aug. 24
University Louisiana Monroe Puts Football on Pause
BREAKING: @ULM_FB is pausing preseason football practice because of 34 positive Covid-19 tests between athletes and staff.
— CJ Maclin (@CJMaclinTV) August 21, 2020
Aug. 20
5 Notre Dame Football Players Test Positive for COVID-19
August 20 – Testing Update pic.twitter.com/uoOletseBJ
— Notre Dame Football PR Team (@NDFootballPR) August 20, 2020
Georgia State QB Diagnosed With COVID-19 Related Heart Condition
Georgia State QB Mikele Colasurdo has been diagnosed with a heart condition as a result of contracting the coronavirus and won't be able to play football this season. https://t.co/ufnp42Pdvt
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) August 20, 2020
Aug. 19
Notre Dame Hits Pause Button
Notre Dame has had an outbreak of COVID-19 on its campus since students returned. That has led to the school taking action on how students will be taught this semester. And, in bigger news, the football program and practices have been paused.
Aug. 18
COVID-19 Outbreak Hits Appalachian State
One day after Appalachian State’s fall semester began, school reported a cluster of 11 positive COVID tests (7 football student-athletes & 4 staff members). Football practice has been suspended indefinitely
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 19, 2020
Aug. 17
North Carolina Athletes to Stay Despite School Going Remote
A statement from Carolina Athletics#GoHeels pic.twitter.com/SdYNdBY0lx
— UNC Tar Heels (@GoHeels) August 17, 2020
Aug. 15
9 Oklahoma Players Test Positive for COVID-19
Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley announced Saturday nine Sooners players tested positive for COVID-19
Per Eric Bailey of the Tulsa World, an undisclosed number of Sooners players were put in isolation due to contact tracing.
“Disappointed by the news. We’ve done such a tremendous job this entire time. You know when [you] give players time, there is risk in that. … This isn’t the NBA. … We don’t have a bubble. We all have to continue to work to do a better job by all accounts. We’re still confident in the plan that we have. We reference the [month-long] success that we’ve had,” Riley told reporters, via Bailey.
Aug. 13
NCAA Calls Off All Fall Sports … Except FBS Football
The NCAA officially cancels all its Division 1 championships.
FBS football is now the only fall sport at any level still proceeding. https://t.co/0VGzs8nKvL
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) August 13, 2020
Aug. 11
Report: 10 Big Ten Players Suffer COVID-19 Related Heart Condition
And if you were wondering why college football in the Big Ten was postponed:
A high-ranking Big Ten source tells @TheAthletic that the conference is aware of at least 10 players who have myocarditis, the rare heart condition: https://t.co/PfLQswTZa0
— Nicole Auerbach 😷 (@NicoleAuerbach) August 11, 2020
There Will be No Pac-12 Football Season This Fall
Pac-12 has canceled fall football season, source told @Stadium. “We’re done,” source said. Official announcement at 4:30 p.m. ET
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 11, 2020
Big Ten Canceling Fall Football, Will Eye Spring Season
Sources: Big Ten is announcing that the fall is cancelled. League will attempt to play in the spring.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 11, 2020
Aug. 10
Mountain West Postpones 2020 Football Season
Another hour, another conference has decided not to battle COVID-19 with fall sports and its football season. The Mountain West will cancel its football season, according to multiple reports.
Update: Big Ten Presidents to Vote on College Football 2020 Season
The Big Ten's presidents are scheduled to meet again on a call at 6 o'clock ET tonight, when they'll make the final decision on the football season, per source.
— Graham Couch (@Graham_Couch) August 10, 2020
Big Ten to Cancel College Football 2020, Per Report
Sources: Big Ten cancels football season; no games for Michigan, Michigan State in 2020 https://t.co/ir96jXjCE1 via @freep @reporterdavidj @ByChrisThomas
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) August 10, 2020
Update: The Free Press has updated its story to say the Big Ten “is expected” to cancel its fall football season.
Aug. 9
Multiple Reports Indicate 2020 Season Heading to Postponement
College football usually dominates fall Saturdays. When it is atop the news on a summer Sunday amid the pandemic it can’t be good news. Multiple reports indicate Power 5 conferences are getting ready to pull the plug on fall sports in 2020. The likelihood would be a spring football season, assuming the COVID-10 pandemic is gotten under control in the USA.
Aug. 8
Oklahoma Hits Pause Button on Practices
#Sooners briefly pausing practice due to altered season schedule.
➡️ https://t.co/BLqPmranDX pic.twitter.com/np3ImoizWv
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) August 9, 2020
“We decided it’s best to give our players some time off,” coach Lincoln Riley said in a statement. “We were able to start camp before the vast majority of teams because our Aug. 29 season-opening game date was the earliest in the country. With that first game pushed back a week or two, it only makes sense to spread out our practices and give our guys some time away. They’ve done a great job so far.
“We’re also mindful of all the conversations across the country with regard to the 2020 season. The added benefit of temporarily breaking from training camp is that it gives us a few more days to monitor those talks.”
Riley said his players will be able to go home Sunday for several days.
Big Ten Calls off Full-Padded Practices
Big Ten Statement:https://t.co/fY7kEWFY8g
— Big Ten Conference (@bigten) August 8, 2020
MAC Cancels 2020 College Football Schedule
Huge news reported by Brett McMurphy of Stadium.com. The MAC has become the first FBS conference to cancel its 2020 fall college football season.
Huge news: Mid-American cancels fall football season because of COVID player health & safety concerns, sources told @Stadium. MAC took a huge financial hit when Power 5’s cut nonconference games & intends to try & play in spring, sources said #RIPMACtion https://t.co/V8F488nrF0
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 8, 2020
Aug. 7
SEC Reveals Revised Schedule
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) August 7, 2020
Big Sky Plans for Spring Football
Big Sky Postpones Football Conference Competition Until Spring #BigSkyFB 👉https://t.co/bdOR6o8Mn9 pic.twitter.com/VacYyYBiju
— Big Sky Football (@BigSkyFB) August 7, 2020
Aug. 6
Report: UCLA Coach Chip Kelly Overcame Bout with COVID-19
UCLA coach Chip Kelly tested positive for coronavirus early in the pandemic https://t.co/cUlJtIHlC0
— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) August 7, 2020
Purdue WR Leaving Boilermakers
Another star playing opting out https://t.co/Eti1XdVaQN
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) August 6, 2020
Miami Star Defensive End to Skip Season
Miami Hurricanes defensive end Gregory Rousseau is the latest college football star to opt-out for the 2020 season, head coach Manny Diaz announced Thursday.
Penn State Star Opts-Out of 2020 Season
Penn State OLB Michah Parsons, a top five prospect in @MelKiperESPN’s initial 2021 rankings, officially opted out of the college football season and will enter the 2021 NFL Draft, as @Eric_Edholm said he would.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 6, 2020
In more Nittany Lion news, the school is planning for no fans at home games in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Aug. 5
8 UCLA Football Players Test Positive for Coronavirus
Eight UCLA football players test positive for COVID-19; Divisions II and III cancel fall sports https://t.co/4NEj6upYuh
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) August 5, 2020
NCAA Div. II, III Fall Championships Canceled
Division III fall sports championships have been canceled for the 2020-21 season, the NCAA announced Wednesday, citing "the COVID-19 pandemic and related administrative and financial challenges." https://t.co/OYZ2i2hDdR
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) August 5, 2020
“Looking at the health and safety challenges we face this fall during this unprecedented time, we had to make this tough decision to cancel championships for fall sports this academic year in the best interest of our student-athlete and member institutions,” said Tori Murden McClure, chair of the Presidents Council and president at Spalding, in a statement. “Our Championships Committee reviewed the financial and logistical ramifications if Division III fall sports championships were conducted in the spring and found it was logistically untenable and financially prohibitive. Our Management Council reached the same conclusion.”
It was announced later in the day Div. II sports in the fall also are off.
UConn Cancels 2020 Season
The University of Connecticut became the first FBS school to cancel its college football season due to the pandemic. The decision was announced Wednesday. “After receiving guidance from state and public health officials and consulting with football student-athletes, we’ve decided that we will not compete on the gridiron this season,” athletic director David Benedict said in a statement. “The safety challenges created by COVID-19 place our football student-athletes at an unacceptable level of risk.”
Emotionally this stinks. But I get it with the schedule challenges and the burden placed on the players via protocol. Applaud them for making the best decision they felt for them. https://t.co/EyLWcJxXNt
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) August 5, 2020
Big Ten Announces Plans for 2020
The football schedule starts as early as the weekend of Sept. 5 with final games slated for Nov. 21 to align with academic calendars. The Big Ten Football Championship Game remains scheduled for Dec. 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium, though it could be moved as late as Dec. 19. pic.twitter.com/vWp3OSifBc
— Big Ten Conference (@bigten) August 5, 2020
Aug. 4
Minnesota Star WR Opts-Outs of 2020 season
Minnesota wide receiver and potential first-round pick Rashod Bateman is opting out of the upcoming college football season and will begin preparing for the NFL Draft.
Wishing well❤️ pic.twitter.com/fxV1FI7r7o
— Rashod Bateman (@R_bateman2) August 4, 2020
Aug, 3
COVID-19 Outbreak Strikes Rutgers Football
The Rutgers football program is in the midst of a huge COVID-19 outbreak with 28 players with multiple staff members testing positive for the coronavirus, NJ.com reported.
July 30
SEC Decides on Conference-Only Schedule, Pushes Kickoff to Sept. 26
Huge news on the college football front. The powerhouse SEC will follow the ACC and PAC-12 and go with a conference-only schedule. That means schols will play 10 games and will start Sept. 26. The conference championship won’t take place until Dec. 19.
NEWS | @SEC establishes new football start date of September 26 and Conference-only football competition.https://t.co/UhFFOfQ2lK
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) July 30, 2020
UGA President Jere Morehead statement: pic.twitter.com/22D5TtUnJI
— Seth Emerson (@SethWEmerson) July 30, 2020
NCAA Football: July 29
Report: Rutgers Outbreak Linked to Dorm Party
The COVID-19 outbreak among Rutgers football players has been linked to a dorm party, NJ.com reported:
Athletes from various Rutgers sports programs, including the football team, gathered for a recent on-campus party, two people with knowledge of the situation told NJ Advance Media on Wednesday, and it has been cited by state health officials as the reason why the Scarlet Knights football team needed to halt workouts last Saturday due to a series of positive tests.
ACC Posts Schedule for Football, Fall Sports
The Atlantic Coast Conference announced Tuesday it will be going forward with college football and Fall sports. The plan for football is 10 conference games and one non-conference foe. One of the bigger nuggets in the announcement is Notre Dame will be eligible to play in the ACC Championship Game in November.
The 2020 Football Schedule Model has been announced.
More info: https://t.co/D6iCbHIY1x pic.twitter.com/dfhTqr4YTd
— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) July 29, 2020
Virginia Tech star DB opts-out
Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley announced Wednesday he will forgo the 2020 college football season due to COVID-19 health concerns and instead start preparing for the NFL draft. Farley is the highest-profile college player to do so
NCAAF College Football Updates: July 15
Ivy League Bows Out
One of the first leagues to cancel all football and fall sports was the Ivy League. That includes teams like Princeton, Yale, Harvard, and Cornell. Truth be told, this won’t have any major impact on the college football season but it will have an impact on the 20-2021 college basketball season – if they aren’t participating.
NCAAF Schedule Has Been Changed
Many college football teams have already adjusted their 2020 schedules to only hold conference games in 2020. That means that we’re going to see virtually no non-conference games on the calendar. While the schedules are still being ironed out, what we do know is that the Big Ten and Pac-12 have already announced that they are only playing conference games in 2020. The Big Ten announced their conference-only model back on July 9th while the ACC and Big 12 are going to wait until late July to make their decision.
With the announcements already made, we’re going to miss out on Michigan-Washington, Ohio State Oregon and Iowa State-Iowa. We’ll see what other cancellations come up if the conference-only model takes flight across all of the conferences.
Clemson, Texas Players Test Positive
One of the teams that has been hit hard with the COVID-19 pandemic has been the Clemson Tigers. A total of 37 players have tested positive and that’s all we know about. Apparently other athletes in other Clemson sports have also been battling the pandemic too. So far, we haven’t heard of anyone really having too many problems in terms of symptoms but it’s something to keep an eye on.
Other teams have also been dealing with the virus as 13 players at Texas have tested positive, 14 at Kansas State and six at Houston. Alabama, Florida State, Auburn, Mississippi, South Florida, Iowa State, California and Oklahoma State have also all reported some positive cases.
Students On Campus?
One of the biggest questions for the 2020 season will be whether or not schools will have players on campus. We’ve been hearing this battle play out politically as it’s unclear whether or not young adults are at risk. The mortality rates for anyone under 60 are extremely low but the concern is that students can pass the virus on to others, and then the pandemic will continue to rage on. Beyond that, many teachers, professors and admi stuff are within age groups where they could be more vulnerable. That being the case, it’s hard to know what schools plan to do.
Harvard, for example, has already said that they won’t have students on campus in the fall semester. If other major colleges follow that game plan, it will be impossible for those schools to have college football teams and participate in the season.
When Will College Football Season Start?
As of now, nothing has changed with the start date of the 2020 College Football schedule. We’re going to have to see some updated schedules if more teams decide to go the conference-only route but as of now, the 2020 college football season starts on August 29th.
