Now that the Pac-12 has joined the Big Ten in going conference only for fall sports, will the rest of the Power 5 follow suit? Are we looking at a spring season? And which games are we going to miss the most?
The Pac-12 has decided to go to a conference-only model for fall sports, following the lead of the Big Ten, which announced the same move on Thursday.
It’s the latest setback during a college football offseason that has been upended by the coronavirus pandemic, and is almost assuredly not the last domino to fall as conferences attempt to cobble together a season.
While so much about the season remains unknown, here’s what we know now that 40% of the Power 5 has moved to conference-only football schedules.
Are the ACC, Big 12 and SEC going to follow suit? If so, when?
It seems to be trending that way.
«Over the last few months, our conference has prepared numerous scenarios related to the fall athletics season,» ACC commissioner John Swofford said. «The league membership and our medical advisory group will make every effort to be as prepared as possible during these unprecedented times, and we anticipate a decision by our board of directors in late July.»
One ACC source said it is «very likely» the ACC is headed to a conference-only season but reiterated it is a week-to-week discussion that continues to evolve.
Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby told ESPN on Friday that his conference is on the same timeline as the ACC, pointing toward a decision by late July.
The SEC will discuss its options during a meeting Monday with athletic directors and league officials that was scheduled before the Big Ten’s decision.
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement last week there should be more clarity about the season by late July, and issued a similar statement to ESPN on Friday, referencing «the coming weeks.»
«The Southeastern Conference will continue to meet regularly with our campus leaders in the coming weeks, guided by medical advisors, to make the important decisions necessary to determine the best path forward related to the SEC fall sports,» the statement read. «We recognize the challenges ahead and know the well-being of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans must remain at the forefront of those decisions.»
How likely is a spring season at this point?
More likely than a couple of weeks ago, but it’s still viewed as a last resort by many. A spring season raises a new batch of questions around player safety — can they physically handle two seasons, even shortened ones, in one calendar year? — the NFL draft and uncertainty about the state of the virus and a vaccine by the new year.
Spring football is an option, Duke coach David Cutcliffe said on Friday, «when it’s the only option left,» echoing sentiments by Penn State AD Sandy Barbour and Bowlsby, who both called it a «last resort.
