NCAA president Mark Emmert announced yesterday that the NCAA will not require a uniform return to college sports, as documented by a report yesterday by ESPN’s Heather Dinich.
The announcement comes on the heels of California updating its outlook on hosting sporting events, one which put the PAC 12’s fall 2020 season in doubt–at least if they hope to play any games in their home stadiums.
Emmert’s announcement then makes it possible for some conferences to move their schedules or maybe even not play a season, and conferences in other regions at the same time to proceed as planned.
Fox Sports radio host Colin Cowherd echoed this sentiment last night when he tweeted an update about USC’s Week 1 matchup against Alabama.
Told by two people I trust — USC v Alabama isn’t happening. Trojans can’t even practice in LA potentially for several months. This is why Bama already talking to other possible opponents. Not official but understood. Feeling now that Pac 12 football in spring — much more likely.
— Colin Cowherd (@ColinCowherd) May 13, 2020
This all increases the likelihood that were a college football season to happen this fall, it would likely occur without the participation of many schools nationwide–namely those in California and possibly Rutgers in New Jersey.
With three-and-a-half months left before the season is supposed to kick off a lot can change. But there’s no doubt the college football season this fall won’t look like anything we’ve seen before.