New Pac-12 schedule’s start date — Sept 26 — is a puzzling move

Important notes about the new Pac-12 schedule

Yes, I know why the Pac-12 chose to start its adjusted season on Sept. 26:

The league wants to contain COVID-19 in August and buy time to create ideal conditions for its season opener. The conference is also allowing for interruptions in training camp; if they occur — which is likely or at least highly possible — such an interruption will not derail preparations by teams for a Sept. 26 season opener. If the season was scheduled to start on Sept. 5, a two-week interruption in training camp — which could begin as early as Aug. 7 — would have a much bigger negative impact on a team’s preparations for Week 1. Now, with Sept. 26 being the Week 1 date, an August COVID-19 outbreak isn’t as much of a threat to Week 1.

I get it. I understand the thought process.

However, here is where the Pac-12 and the SEC, which is also trying to start on Sept. 26, are not thinking the way they ought to:

You can’t design a season solely or primarily for Week 1. You need to design a season so that the FULL season (or something close to it) can be played.

How does a late start date increase the chances of playing a full season?

If you wanted to increase your chances of playing the largest possible number of games, wouldn’t it make sense to start the season earlier but have three-week gaps between games? That way, if players test positive for COVID-19 right after a game (which is certainly possible), they can isolate for two weeks and still be able to get in some practice before the next game on the schedule, provided they test negative a sufficient number of times after the two-week period of isolation.

The Big 12 wants to play (at least by most indications) a 12-game season or something close to it. I disagree with the attempt to play 12 games (good luck with that!), but where I actually DO agree with the Big 12 is its (tentative, not-yet-approved) plan to start on August 29.

Doesn’t it make sense to try to start the season on Aug. 29? If interruptions and postponements occur, the Big 12 is still in a position where it is more likely to bank games (and accordingly, bank TV revenue while also giving FCS or other nonconference schools the game checks those schools need to stay financially afloat). The Big 12 is, with its Aug. 29 start date, doing more to tangibly reach out to other smaller athletic programs. It is therefore being a good neighbor and an economic partner for schools outside the conference.

The Pac-12 and SEC, by starting Sept. 26 and not having any nonconference games, are being particularly selfish and narrow-minded.

They are also inviting more of a mess if any COVID-19 postponements occur, because by (possibly) starting four weeks later than the Big 12, they are conceding nearly a month of time in which to potentially play games.

Yes, the Big 12 is being selfish by trying to play 12 games (or close to it),  given that such an attitude is overly ambitious and is inviting a wave of postponements. However, the Big 12’s selfishness is still a more sensible form of selfishness than what the Pac-12 and SEC are displaying.

Starting the season on Sept. 26 reduces the chances of a full season being played, instead of increasing the odds.