BleedGopher
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per Auerbach:
At least three Power 5 conferences are considering pushing back their football championship games, if necessary, to allow space for potential makeup games to be played if there are in-season cancellations due to COVID-19.
Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby first mentioned the idea earlier this week to the Dallas Morning News and later expanded on the topic in an interview with The Athletic. The Pac-12 confirmed through a spokesperson that it, too, “has discussed the option of moving back the Pac-12 Championship Game a week, if necessary.” A person with knowledge of the situation told The Athletic that Big Ten athletic directors have considered doing the same thing with their championship game, adding that it’s important to “keep all options open right now.” Currently, those championship games are scheduled for the weekend of Dec. 5, 2020. (The Pac-12’s title game is set for Friday, Dec. 4.)
Pushing back those title games by one week — to the weekend of Dec. 12 — would mean that Dec. 5 would be an open date for all members of their leagues. That flexibility could allow the Power 5 to make up any conference games that are canceled due to outbreaks within a roster or other unexpected events this fall as college football attempts to play a season amid a pandemic. (Already, schools like Houston, Kansas State and Boise State have shut down voluntary workouts temporarily amid a rash of positive test results.) Rescheduling games pivotal to determining the title game matchup could be prioritized.
Bowlsby said “you almost have to” coordinate a decision like this across all of the Power 5 leagues because of the implications championship weekend holds for the College Football Playoff selection process and the general bowl selection process. Both typically take place on ESPN the Sunday afternoon after all the title games are played.
theathletic.com
Go Gophers!!
At least three Power 5 conferences are considering pushing back their football championship games, if necessary, to allow space for potential makeup games to be played if there are in-season cancellations due to COVID-19.
Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby first mentioned the idea earlier this week to the Dallas Morning News and later expanded on the topic in an interview with The Athletic. The Pac-12 confirmed through a spokesperson that it, too, “has discussed the option of moving back the Pac-12 Championship Game a week, if necessary.” A person with knowledge of the situation told The Athletic that Big Ten athletic directors have considered doing the same thing with their championship game, adding that it’s important to “keep all options open right now.” Currently, those championship games are scheduled for the weekend of Dec. 5, 2020. (The Pac-12’s title game is set for Friday, Dec. 4.)
Pushing back those title games by one week — to the weekend of Dec. 12 — would mean that Dec. 5 would be an open date for all members of their leagues. That flexibility could allow the Power 5 to make up any conference games that are canceled due to outbreaks within a roster or other unexpected events this fall as college football attempts to play a season amid a pandemic. (Already, schools like Houston, Kansas State and Boise State have shut down voluntary workouts temporarily amid a rash of positive test results.) Rescheduling games pivotal to determining the title game matchup could be prioritized.
Bowlsby said “you almost have to” coordinate a decision like this across all of the Power 5 leagues because of the implications championship weekend holds for the College Football Playoff selection process and the general bowl selection process. Both typically take place on ESPN the Sunday afternoon after all the title games are played.
Power 5 commissioners weigh pushing back league title games to allow for makeups
Rescheduling games necessary to the conference title matchup, and thus the Playoff, would be key for leagues hit by in-season outbreaks.
theathletic.com
Go Gophers!!