NewsNational News

Actions

Pac-12 teams will play a conference-only schedule in fall 2020, following in footsteps of Big Ten

Pac-12 teams will play a conference-only schedule in fall 2020, following in footsteps of Big Ten
Posted

The Pac-12 Conference announced Friday that member athletic teams in several sports — including football — would play a limited schedule against only conference opponents.

The conference also announced that it was delaying the start of mandatory athletic activities "until a series of health and safety indicators...provided sufficient positive data to enable a move to a second phase of return-to-play activities."

The conference did not say in its statement what those "indicators" were.

Men's and women's soccer and women's volleyball teams will also be limited to a conference-only schedule this fall.

The Pac-12 added that it would honor scholarships for players who choose to sit out the season for fear of contracting the virus.

The conference's decision eliminates a number of high-profile non-conference matchups that would have netted members' schools a significant paycheck from broadcasters. It could also negatively impact any Pac-12 football team's chance of playing in a postseason bowl game.

The decision comes a day after the Big Ten made a similar announcement. The Ivy League announced earlier this week that its athletic teams would not compete in the fall.

Sign up for the Headline Newsletter and receive up to date information.