The Big Ten and Pac-12 have canceled their 2020 football seasons, launching a tidal wave of change across the college football landscape that was already in flux.
First it was UConn. Then it was the MAC and the Mountain West. Now the Big Ten, one of the largest and most financially incentivized conferences in the nation has called it quits on college football in 2020, per Bruce Feldman. Hours later, the Pac-12 also shut its doors. An idea that seemed unthinkable a few months ago has become the new reality.
With the first Power 5 conference cancellations out in the open, others will likely follow suit. What happens in the south, from the Big 12 to the SEC and ACC, remains to be seen.
The cancellation of non-conference games against the Big Ten was part of the decision making that led to the MAC cancellations. The remainder of the Group of 5 conferences find their financial situation more closely mirrors the MAC than it does the Big Ten.
Here’s the running tally of programs not playing football this fall:
- UConn
- UMass
- Old Dominion
- Mid American Conference
- Mountain West Conference
- Big Ten
- Pac-12
That’s 53 of the 130 FBS teams, more than 40% of all FBS programs.
What’s next for Conference USA and the Group of 5?
Several programs, including Rice football, opted not to return to scheduled fall camp practices this week even though the calendar permitted them to do so. Others, like Louisiana Tech, returned to practice only to suspend it because of positive COVID-19 test results.
Whether there are sports this fall or not, there’s going to be plenty to process as everyone works to find a new equilibrium in college sports. Stay current on those updates and following the always-active recruiting cycle by subscribing to The Roost on Patreon today.
