In a move that could prove an omen for the college football season, the Mid-American Conference has cancelled its football season for the fall, citing “continuing concerns” over the COVID-19 pandemic. With that move, the MAC is the first conference in the Football Bowl Subdivision — the top division in college football — to suspend its season, potentially signaling a change of plans across the board with regards to the pandemic.
As first reported by Stadium, the league decided early on Saturday in a vote of its presidents to postpone the season, after Northern Illinois University president Lisa Freeman informed the league that her school will not play this year. The MAC made it official on Saturday, tweeting out a statement confirming the postponement:
— #MACtion (@MACSports) August 8, 2020
On top of the pandemic, the MAC was one of the conferences hardest hit financially by the pandemic, as the bigger conferences had announced that they would not play games out of conference this year, robbing MAC teams from lucrative games that were scheduled ahead of the spread of COVID-19. The news also follows the NCAA’s decision to cancel all Division II and III sports for the fall.
According to Stadium’s Brett McMurphy, a source has told him that they believe this will be the first domino in cancelling the entire college football season for the fall, with the MAC’s decision potentially opening the floodgates on postponements:
Power 5 source to @Stadium: “College football season is done. I don’t think everyone immediately follows MAC, but it gives other league presidents 1 more reason to make an easier decision. Biggest thing is unknown long-term impact of COVID & liability issues involved"
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 8, 2020
As of now, the other conferences in the FBS are committed to playing this fall, but with the MAC announcement on Saturday, it would not be surprising if the rest followed suit over the coming weeks.
Subscribe here for our free daily newsletter.
Read the full story at Stadium
Whether you’re looking to get into shape, or just get out of a funk, The Charge has got you covered. Sign up for our new wellness newsletter today.
