To predict the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the upcoming 2020 college football season is merely comparable to throwing darts while blindfolded.
We just don’t know at this point. However, Brett McMurphy of Stadium broke down the responses of 114 athletic directors, out of the 130 that were contacted in the anonymous survey, to gauge their predictions on the upcoming college football season.
On the bright side, 99% of them believe a season will be played in one form or another. When it would begin remains the biggest question mark.
If the season does not start on time, 61% of the athletic directors believe it would begin in October or November. Would this include a 12-game season? That remains up in the air as well. While 41% believe it would be a full season, 20% are predicting an eight or nine game conference-only schedule to take place.
In a worst case scenario, 14% believe the season would not start until after the Christmas holiday break. If this were to happen, the season would not take place until the spring semester.
A spring season may be the least likely case, as it would impact the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft prospects, a very minimal break between the 2021 college football season, and the overlapping of recruiting calendar and signing days.
While a split season between the fall and spring semesters remains a possibility, there are concerns about the weather in certain regions as well as sacrificing some bowl games due to scheduling conflicts with the Super Bowl and March Madness.
No matter when the season begins or how many games it entails, all athletic directors are in agreement that football must be played.