Live Updates: Big Ten, Pac-12 Will Not Play Football This Fall
The 2020 college football season is at a tipping point.
The Big Ten and Pac-12 announced today that they won’t play football in the fall, following similar decisions by the Mid-American Conference (MAC) on Saturday and the Mountain West on Monday. The ACC, though, is standing pat for now.
Follow along here with our live blog of the latest updates from around college athletics.
Pac-12 Cancellation Official (4 p.m. ET Aug. 11)
The Pac-12 has suspended all sports through 2020, the conference announced, wiping out its planned 10-game football season and early portions of basketball schedules. It will attempt to play a spring football season.
The Pac-12 CEO Group’s vote to cancel was unanimous.
“Ultimately, our decision was guided by science and a deep commitment to the health and welfare of student-athletes,” said Michael H. Schill, Oregon’s president. “We certainly hope that the Pac-12 will be able to return to competition in the New Year.”
Big Ten Cancellation Official (3 p.m. ET Aug. 11)
The Big Ten announced it will not play football this fall and will attempt to move the season to the spring. It joins the MAC and Mountain West as the third Football Bowl Subdivision conference to cancel its season.
“The mental and physical health and welfare of our student-athletes has been at the center of every decision we have made regarding the ability to proceed forward,” Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren said in a statement. “As time progressed and after hours of discussion with our Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee, it became abundantly clear that there was too much uncertainty regarding potential medical risks to allow our student-athletes to compete this fall.”
The Big Ten planned to start a 10-game conference-only schedule on Sept. 5.
ACC ‘Absolutely’ Moving Forward With Playing (6 p.m. ET Aug. 10)
On what felt like the start of a doomsday week for college football this fall, the ACC is reportedly holding firm in its plans, for now, according to a report from CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd. The conference’s athletics directors and presidents held separate calls Monday.
“We are trying to move forward [with playing] absolutely,” an ACC official told Dodd after the meetings ended.
Presidents are set to meet again Monday night. A formal announcement is not expected Monday.
“[Canceling football in the next couple of days] could happen for some leagues,” the ACC official told Dodd. “I’m not sure it's going to happen in the Atlantic Coast Conference.”
Big Ten Reportedly Cancels Season (11:25 a.m. ET; UPDATE at 2 p.m. Aug. 10)
The Big Ten became the first Power Five conference to cancel its season, according to a report from The Detroit Free Press. An official announcement is expected Tuesday after Big Ten presidents reportedly voted 12-2 in favor of not holding a season. Several Big Ten teams took the day off workouts and practices due to the uncertainty.
Additionally, Conference USA member Old Dominion has canceled its football season, according to multiple reports. It is the second team to do so individually, joining independent Connecticut.
Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel, though, relayed a Big Ten spokesperson’s statement that no vote has been taken by conference presidents and chancellors.
SEC Commissioner Weighs In (1 p.m. ET Aug. 10)
Greg Sankey, the SEC commissioner, tweeted his thoughts on the season Monday afternoon.
“Best advice I’ve received since COVID-19: ‘Be patient. Take time when making decisions. This is all new & you’ll gain better information each day,’” Sankey wrote on Twitter. “SEC has been deliberate at each step since March … slowed return to practice … delayed 1st game to respect start of fall semester … Developed testing protocols … We know concerns remain. We have never had a FB season in a COVID-19 environment. Can we play? I don’t know. We haven’t stopped trying. We support, educate and care for student-athletes every day, and will continue to do so … every day.”
SEC Presidents Meeting Monday (12:40 p.m. ET Aug. 10)
The SEC presidents are holding a Monday meeting that was not previously scheduled, according to a report from Sports Illustrated. The meeting “isn’t necessarily expected” to include a vote on the state of the season. The SEC plans to start Sept. 26.
SEC athletics directors held a previously scheduled meeting Monday.
Nothing Final With Pac-12 (12:35 p.m. ET Aug. 10)
The Pac-12 has not made any final decision on its season, according to a report from The San Jose Mercury News. The league’s presidents will not decide until Tuesday at the earliest. The conference announced in late July a 10-game schedule that begins Sept. 26.
Louisville Coach Speaks Out (12 p.m. ET Aug. 10)
Louisville coach Scott Satterfield said during a Monday news conference he expects the ACC to continue on its plan to play this fall.
“What we understand is the ACC is moving forward,” Satterfield told reporters.
The ACC season is scheduled to start the weekend of Sept. 12. Notre Dame is a member of the conference for this season and opens with Duke at home.
----
• Learn more about our print and digital publication, Blue & Gold Illustrated.
• Watch our videos and subscribe to our YouTube channel
• Sign up for Blue & Gold's news alerts and daily newsletter
• Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes
• Follow us on Twitter: @BGINews, @BGI_LouSomogyi, @Rivals_Singer, @PatrickEngel_, @ToddBurlage and @AndrewMentock.
• Like us on Facebook.