Report: MAC becomes first FBS conference to cancel college football 2020

The Mid-American Conference is the first to cancel college football 2020 due to the pandemic.

The Mid-American Conference canceled its football season this fall because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report.

The decision was first reported by Brett McMurphy of Stadium.com.

Per Stadium.com: 

The MAC reached its decision Saturday morning in a vote by the league’s presidents, sources said. The conference presidents initially met Thursday to finalize the league’s scheduling format. However, Northern Illinois president Lisa Freeman, a former research scientist at the University of Rochester School of Medicine, indicated her school would not play this fall because of the health and safety concerns, sources said.

“The league didn’t like the look of NIU going out on their own and not playing,” said a source, explaining the MAC’s non-vote on Thursday.

The Huskies have made a league-record eight MAC title game appearances and won four of the last nine MAC titles. After the league didn’t reach a decision Thursday, it voted Saturday not to play this fall, sources said.

The MAC is comprised of Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan — along with Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Northern Illinois, Ohio, and Toledo.

Western Michigan was scheduled to play Notre Dame in South Bend Sept. 19.