Oregon Football: Will We See Fans At Autzen Stadium This Fall?

The coronavirus pandemic is the issue of 2020 and could be an issue long into the future as college football fans prepare for something this upcoming season, but what?

What will the 2020 College Football season look like? This week the numbers of those with Coronavirus has increased in key areas of the country including Florida who announced over 5000 new cases in a day. Yesterday, California saw numbers skyrocket in the Bay Area, close to the home of the Pac-12. While Conferences seem to be making their own decisions, one, the SEC, will be announcing plans soon as to what their season may look like. Four staffers of their headquarters were recently diagnosed with coronavirus.

As schools around the country return for college football and camps are opening, the infections are increasing. Texas and Clemson are two of the higher-profile programs with positive tests. The University of Oregon has had five students test positive, but not necessarily athletes. A recent trend cites an increase due to college parties, rather than the recent and ongoing riots around the country.

While all this is going on the Pac-12 Conference has not said a word. If we do have football this fall, what will it look like? How will things play out logistically with some areas bigger hot spots than others.  Schools are introducing plans without fans or with a very limited number of fans allowed to attend games in person. Would you feel safe attending a game at Autzen Stadium this fall?

The NFL has announced the cancellation of the Hall of Fame Game in Canton Ohio that traditionally kicks off the NFL Preseason. I expect that the respective conferences of college football may fall in line once one makes a decision on how they plan to move forward with the pandemic still in the forefront and student and fan safety right there with it.

The NCAA allowed voluntary workouts to begin on June 1st with a limited number of student-athletes on campus. We now prepare to ramp that number up as we approach Fall Camp next month. The number of coronavirus cases around the country is currently at the highest it has been since the start of the pandemic as the hopes for sports returning this fall hangs in the balance for everyone involved.