The news surrounding adjusted schedules in college football continues to create a tidal wave of speculation. Reports emerged on Saturday that Alabama might replace USC with BYU in Week 1 of the 2020 season. That rumor, in itself, points to the idea that SEC teams are going to try to play as many games as possible, with 10 being the floor and 12 being the ceiling.
While we wait for solid news — not just rumors and possibilities and ideas floated as options — there is something more substantial to discuss.
Alabama’s attempt to play one team in one week is a “micro” story, but a story involving three games and three Power Five conferences — more precisely, the three Power Five conferences which have not committed to a specific scheduling plan — is a “macro” story with much more reach in and through the college football industry.
The Big 12, ACC, and SEC — the three Power Five conferences indirectly referred to above, which have kept their cards to the vest unlike the Big Ten and Pac-12 — are attempting to save at least one if not two nonconference games on their 2020 schedules. A key player in this process? The Peach Bowl.
Seth Emerson of The Athletic reported that Peach Bowl Executive Director Gary Stokan — who is supervising the operations for three Atlanta games in early September — is trying to save his collection of games: West Virginia-Florida State on Sept. 5, Georgia-Virginia on Sept. 7, and North Carolina-Auburn on Sept. 12.
Emerson’s story notes that UNC-Auburn on Sept. 12 isn’t in immediate danger, but that there are concerns about Georgia-Virginia on Sept. 7 (Labor Day night). If Georgia bails out, Stokan is considering the possibility of having West Virginia move from its Sept. 5 slot against Florida State to Sept. 7 against Virginia.
It isn’t a fact that this switch of games will happen, nor is it a fact that these games are guaranteed to be played (as with any other college football game in a pandemic). It IS a fact, however, that the Big 12 (West Virginia), ACC (Florida State, Virginia, North Carolina), and SEC (Georgia, Auburn) are involved in these three Atlanta games. It is also a fact that the Peach Bowl is trying very hard to make them happen.
It is true that the Power Five conferences are operating on different wavelengths, but this immense energy behind an attempt to play football could create a sense of confidence in other conferences that maybe some games can be played.
Confidence, of course, isn’t nearly enough reason — or basis — for actually playing, but it is one part of the politics which might nudge the season into existence, instead of causing every conference to give up on the possibility of playing.
Yes, players need to be protected. In an ideal world, players would be given hazard pay as well. These concerns ought to be addressed. Yet, while we wait for those matters to be dealt with, it remains that in this fluid and uncertain situation, the Peach Bowl is trying to make early-September football happen. Given that the Big 12, ACC, and SEC are involved in these games, the three conferences might be attempting to play more regular-season games than the Big Ten and the Pac-12.
As always, stay tuned to see if these movements by the Peach Bowl — and all other movements in college sports — will lead to actual progress, or if they will be snuffed out.