While many of you spent the better half of the last 72 hours constantly refreshing sports sites waiting for an answer to come from the chaos that has been college football – some of you may not be as in tune with what has been going on in the sports world.
So, ICYMI: It looks as though the Southeast will see football this fall. 🏈
However, there is an exception for the Southern Conference. On Thursday evening, the SoCon officially announced that football, among other fall sports like soccer + volleyball, will be postponed until the spring season. Read the statement from UTC Mocs’ Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics, Mark Wharton, here.
On Tuesday evening, statements from SEC + ACC officials made it clear that both conferences are planning to move forward with football this fall, following Big 10 + Pac-12’s decisions to cancel fall seasons due to COVID-19 concerns. See SEC statement here + ACC statement here.
During an emergency meeting on Monday, an ACC official stated, “I don’t know if there is a drop-dead time period [to decide]. We don’t start play until Sept. 12 as a league.”
“We know concerns remain. We have never had a [football] season in a COVID-19 environment. Can we play? I don’t know. We haven’t stopped trying.” – SEC Commissioner Greg Sanky
What this translates to is — although these conferences are planning to have fall seasons — things could change in the coming weeks. But for now, here’s what the 2020-21 season is slated to look like for our most-cheered-for teams. 👇
Schedules
🏈 University of Tennessee, Knoxville | Conference-only schedule here | The Volunteers will participate in a 10-game schedule, with the team’s first game date still to be determined.
🏈 University of Georgia, Athens | Schedule here | The Bulldogs will participate in a 10-game schedule, with the team’s first game date still to be determined.
🏈 University of Alabama | Schedule here | Crimson Tide will participate in an 11-game schedule, with the team’s first game slated for Sat., Sep. 26.
Did we leave out your favorite team? Find all things college football here.
The highlight reel
Let’s roll it back. Over the course of the week, social media was alive with players, coaches + fans weighing in on the possibilities of the season. Here are some of the highlights:
○ Who’s going with the Big 10? Anyone?
○ Well, definitely not the SEC
○ Even Trevor Noah knows how important football is to Vols fans
○ But really, though, is Coach Spurrier wrong?
Turning it over to you, the fans
No official decision has been announced regarding spectator attendance.
As a fan, what scenario would allow you to enjoy the 2020-21 football season as much as possible while still feeling comfortable during the COVID-19 pandemic? Let us know in the poll below.
