We still have no idea if or when college football will be played in the fall of 2020, but here’s a look at how we got here with the schedule timeline starting with the Big Ten’s decision to move to conference only in early July all the way to UMass canceling its season on Tuesday morning.
July 9 The Big Ten became the first FBS conference to announce it would move to a conference-only season.
July 10 The Pac-12 followed the Big Ten’s lead and announced it would move go to a conference-only schedule.
July 23 The Sun Belt announced it moved the start date of games to Sept. 3 at the earliest.
July 29 The ACC announced it would increase conference games from eight to 10 with one out-of-conference game with the earliest start date the week of Sept. 7-12. Notre Dame joined the ACC to add a 15th team for the 2020 season, which will feature one division. The ACC title game was scheduled for Dec. 12 or Dec. 19 in Charlotte.
July 30 The SEC announced it would increase its conference schedule from eight games to 10 to start on Sept. 26. The SEC Championship was rescheduled to be played on Dec. 19 in Atlanta.
July 31 The Pac-12 released its schedule that would feature 10 conference games to start on Sept. 26 with the Pac-12 title game on Dec. 18 or Dec. 19 to be hosted at a campus location.
August 3 The Big 12 announced it would stick with its nine-game conference schedule with the exception of one out-of-conference game. It was expected that non-conference games are played prior to conference play. The conference title is scheduled for Dec. 5 but may move to Dec. 12 or Dec. 19 if necessary...The AAC announced an eight-game conference slate that may start on Sept. 19 at the earliest with the option to schedule up to four non-conference games. The conference title game may be played on Dec. 5, Dec. 12 or Dec. 19.
August 4 The Sun Belt became the first Group of 5 conference to announce its scheduling plans for the 2020 season. Each team will play eight conference games on their original dates with the option to add up to four out-of-conference matchups starting as early as Aug. 29. The conference title game is scheduled for Dec. 5, but it may be rescheduled.
August 5 The Big Ten announced it would move from nine conference games to 10 for the 2020 season starting as early as Sept. 3. The schedule was released with the expectation to play the Big Ten title on Dec. 5, which could be delayed as late as Dec. 19 in Indianapolis…The Mountain West announced its football season would be delayed until Sept. 26 with an eight-game conference schedule on its original dates with the option for teams to add two non-conference games. Potential championship dates include Dec. 5, Dec. 12 and Dec. 19…UConn became the first FBS school to announce it will not play football in the fall of 2020.
August 6 The ACC releases its new schedule with the first game on Sept. 10.
August 7 The SEC released its new schedule. Conference USA announced teams will play their originally scheduled eight conference games starting Sept. 12. Teams would be allowed to schedule up to four non-conference matchups. The conference championship is scheduled for Dec. 5, but it may be adjusted.
August 8 The MAC became the first FBS conference to announce it would not play football in fall of 2020. The conference intends to play in the spring of 2021.
August 10 Old Dominion announced it would not play football this season with the hope of playing in the spring of 2021. The Mountain West announced it would not play football during the fall 2020 season. The conference is hoping to play in the spring.
August 11 UMass announced it will not play football in the fall with the hope of playing in the spring of 2021.
Photo by Allison Thornton, The Observer
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