Pac-12 Conference Announces Postponement Of Football, Fall Sports For 2020

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 02: Justin Herbert #10 of the Oregon Ducks hands off to CJ Verdell #7 during the first half against the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 02, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 02: Justin Herbert #10 of the Oregon Ducks hands off to CJ Verdell #7 during the first half against the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 02, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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The Pac-12 Conference announced there will be no sports this Fall including football and basketball due to the coronavirus pandemic.

On Sunday, there was still hope for college football with the release of the Amway Coaches Poll. That dream came crashing down on Tuesday as both the Big Ten and Pac-12 Conferences announced the suspension of Fall Sports. For the Pac-12 this includes football, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball. This postponement will affect football as both basketball programs don’t start their respective conference games until January.

As far as getting started again, the hope is to look to Spring at least for football. The coronavirus pandemic has already put a big tear in our lives as we are working from home. Now, sports that have taken the ‘bubble model seem to be doing well. The NBA, WNBA, and the NHL have all had success playing games in one area and limiting their respective teams’ exposure in the process.

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With distance and logistics, it would be impossible for a bubble type scenario to work for college football. Just ten days ago, both the Big Ten and Pac-12 announced conference only schedules, but after meeting over the weekend, it was decided by both conferences to postpone athletic events for the Fall.

Oregon Football Athletic Director Robb Mullens said the decision that was made was not an easy one, “I feel for our student-athletes, coaches, and staff on such a difficult day, and I appreciate their leadership during this time.”

Student health is and has always been a top priority and the decision to postpone events this Fall started with the student-athletes. With the decision today, practices will stop. As of yesterday, both the U of O and Oregon State were conducting football workouts in preparation for the season.

It will now be interesting to see how this plays out. Football in the Spring? Student Athletes will be given a year of eligibility due to the decision. What will they do with it? Wil they stay and play? Will they take their talent to the NFL? There will still be plenty of storylines to follow in the coming months.