Pac-12 reverses field, will play 7-game conference football schedule

The Pac-12 conference, reversing its field, announced Thursday that it will play a seven-game conference football season beginning Nov. 6.

The decision was reached in a vote by the conference’s CEO group on Thursday, the Pac-12 said in a news release. It is a reversal from its announcement in August that the Pac-12 would postpone all sports through the end of 2020 because of concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, ESPN reported.

The Pac-12 Championship Game will be played on Dec. 18, KPIX reported.

In a news release, the Pac-12 said men’s and women’s basketball can begin Nov. 25 while other winter sports can begin in line with their respective NCAA seasons.

The Pac-12 move comes in the wake of a similar announcement last week from the Big Ten, which will start its football season Oct. 24. Both the Pac-12 and the Big Ten announced in August that they would postpone their 2020 football schedules.

“Based upon updated Pac-12 COVID-19 Medical Advisory Committee recommendations that take into account material changes to testing capabilities, the prevalence of COVID-19 and cardiac issues, along with updated state and local health official guidance, the conference will resume its football, basketball and winter sport seasons,” the Pac-12 said in a statement.

While the games will resume, fans will not be allowed into the stadium’s, the league said, adding that the decision about attendance at games will be revisited in January.

“The health and safety of our student-athletes and all those connected to Pac-12 sports remains our guiding light and No. 1 priority,” Pac-12 CEO Group Chair and University of Oregon President Michael Schill said. “Our CEO Group has taken a measured and thoughtful approach to today’s decision, including extensive consultation with stakeholders on the evolving information and data related to health and safety.”

“From the beginning of this crisis, our focus has been on following the science, data and counsel of our public health and infectious disease experts,” Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said. “Our agreement with Quidel to provide daily rapid-results testing has been a game-changer in enabling us to move forward with confidence that we can create a safe environment for our student-athletes while giving them the opportunity to pursue their dreams. At the same time, we will continue to monitor health conditions and data and be ready to adjust as required in the name of the health of all.”

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