SALT LAKE CITY — Although reports are surfacing that the Pac-12 will follow the lead of the Big Ten and play a conference-only schedule in fall sports this year, the league released a statement noting that no decisions have been reached.
“The Pac-12 has not yet made a determination on fall sports. The health and safety of our student-athletes and all those connected to Pac-12 sports is our number one priority, and we have been working closely with our Pac-12 COVID-19 Medical Advisory Board and campus leadership over the past months to help guide our decision making.”
Earlier in the day, a University of Utah athletics department spokesperson said the school had no comment on the matter.
The Utes are scheduled to play BYU (Sept. 3), Montana State (Sept. 12) and Wyoming (Sept. 19) in nonconference football games this fall. The first two were scheduled for Rice-Eccles Stadium, while the latter was set for Laramie.
It remains to be seen if those games will be replaced — at least in part — by the two Pac-12 teams Utah isn’t scheduled to face this season. The Utes are currently on a conference rotation that doesn’t include Oregon or Stanford.
In announcing its decision, the Big Ten cited safety of the student-athletes, coaches, game officials and others associated with the conference’s campus and sports programs as priority.
“We are facing uncertain and unprecedented times, and the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes, coaches, game officials, and others associated with our sports programs and campuses remain our No. 1 priority,” read the announcement. “To that end, the Big Ten Conference announced today that if the conference is able to participate in fall sports (men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, football, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball) based on medical advice, it will move to conference-only schedules in those sports.”
The conference explained that by limiting competition to other Big Ten institutions it would provide the greatest flexibility for adjustments and quick decisions based on current and evolving medical advice in the fluid nature of the coronavirus pandemic.
“This decision was made following many thoughtful conversations over several months between the Big Ten council of presidents and chancellors, directors of athletics, conference office staff, and medical experts including the Big Ten task force for emerging infectious diseases and the Big Ten sports medicine committee,” it said.
Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic is reporting that “multiple industry insiders” have said “that they expect the Pac-12 to go to conference-only scheduling as well in the coming days.”
Bryan Fisher of College Football Talk and Athlon Sports confirmed that Washington’s Sept. 5 opener against Michigan in Seattle has been canceled.
Scheduled 2020 Pac-12 nonconference football games
- ARIZONA: Hawaii (Aug. 29), Portland State (Sept. 5), at Texas Tech (Sept. 19).
- ARIZONA STATE: Northern Arizona (Sept. 3), at UNLV (Sept. 12), BYU (Sept. 19).
- CALIFORNIA: at UNLV (Aug. 29), TCU (Sept. 5), Cal Poly (Sept. 12).
- COLORADO: at Colorado State (Sept. 5), Fresno State (Sept. 12), at Texas A&M (Sept. 19).
- OREGON: North Dakota State (Sept. 5), Ohio State (Sept. 12), Hawaii (Sept. 19).
- OREGON STATE: at Oklahoma State (Sept. 3), Colorado State (Sept. 12), Portland State (Sept. 19).
- STANFORD: William & Mary (Sept. 5), at Notre Dame (Oct. 10), BYU (Nov. 28).
- UCLA: New Mexico State (Aug. 29), at Hawaii (Sept. 5), at San Diego State (Sept. 19).
- USC: Alabama (Sept. 5 at Arlington, Texas), New Mexico (Sept. 12), Notre Dame (Nov. 28).
- UTAH: BYU (Sept. 3), Montana State (Sept. 12), at Wyoming (Sept. 19).
- WASHINGTON: Michigan (Sept. 5), Sacramento State (Sept. 12), Utah State (Sept. 19).
- WASHINGTON STATE: at Utah State (Sept. 3), Houston (Sept. 12), Idaho (Sept. 19).