Pac-12 Lands Deal For Daily Coronavirus Testing For Student Athletes

We may be closer to watching Oregon Football in 2020 with the announcement of a Pac-12 partnership announced late last week.

The Pac-12 is the first conference in the country to have a deal in place that provides daily testing for student-athletes. Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott called it a game-changer and will provide some options for the conference looking for an earlier start to the 2020 season for multiple sports including football.

So far my football watching has included a very exciting Alabama High School game from a week ago and I caught a glimpse of UAB. While some schools in the Pac-12 could technically start some semblance of camp soon, others are in areas of greater risk of spread and are still not able to. The Big Ten has also talked about a potential return for football around Thanksgiving, rather than waiting until 2021. With this deal in place, that may also be an option for the Pac-12 Conference.

Scott has also had discussions with Big Ten officials about a tied in shortened season which may allow a modified bowl schedule for both conferences, which could be interesting. Could the Ducks get their game with Ohio State after all?

While the announcement of the coronavirus testing deal with Quidel Corporation is a good first step, it is just that for the moment. There are a lot of logistics to work out but it gives fans hope that there will be something on the field to support perhaps even in 2020. The conferences are also working on a plan for a possible spring season with camp starting in January. Being in a rainy/misty Autzen Stadium for a few months is also a possibility.

Right now fall sports are on hold or cancelled for conferences across the country as they wait for things to subside. If the Pac-12 can strike a deal for daiy coronavirus testing, others will likely follow suit and the hope is that we can return to this new sense of normal sooner rather than later.