College Sports Fall Season in Jeopardy

With each passing day, it’s becoming more and more unlikely a fall sports season will happen for many college programs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recently three small NCAA Division I conferences announced the indefinite postponement of scheduled fall sports, according to a report from CNN. The Mountain West Conference (MWC) shared its decision on Monday, while the final four schools of the 10-team Colonial Athletic Conference (CAA) also decided to opt-out of fall sports in light of the pandemic.

And over the weekend the Mid-American Conference (MAC) announced it too will forgo the fall season — becoming the first NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision to postpone its football season, according to CNN.

Additionally, reports from The Detroit Free Press and Fox Sports Radio’s Dan Patrick say both the Big Ten and Pac-12 Conferences will join the MAC this week in postponing the football season — meaning two of the “Power 5” conferences to potentially not have football this fall.

In follow-up reporting, the Big Ten and Pac-12 are both expected to announce a decision this week. The potential decision by the Big Ten would undoubtedly be disappointing to some high-profile head football coaches.

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Ohio State’s Ryan Day, Nebraska head coach Scott Frost, and Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh have all lobbied for some semblance of a college football season. Joining those big-name coaches have been some equally big-name players. Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence has been outspoken on Twitter with his desire to play, using the hashtag #WeWantToPlay.

People are at just as much, if not more risk, if we don’t play. Players will all be sent home to their own communities where social distancing is highly unlikely and medical care and expenses will be placed on the families if they were to contract covid19 (1)

— Trevor Lawrence (@Trevorlawrencee) August 9, 2020

Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields also tweeted out the #WeWantToPlay hashtag, joining his ACC counterpart.

There’s been too much work put in!! #WeWantToPlay

— Justin Fields (@justnfields) August 10, 2020

The status of the college sports season has also gotten the attention of President Donald Trump, who also weighed in on Twitter, stamping his opinion with the #WeWantToPlay hashtag.

The student-athletes have been working too hard for their season to be cancelled. #WeWantToPlay https://t.co/lI3CCKZ4ID

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2020

To read the full report from CNN on the current state of fall sports and football in college amid the COVID-19 pandemic, click here.