Games to begin 10/24. I anticipate the Pac-12 to follow suit and get a plan together for Nov/Dec football. Correct me if I am wrong, but this would leave just the MAC and Mountain West to not play in 2020?

Is there any chance the MAC reconvenes on this following the Big Ten's reversal of their decision? Are we really going to play a spring season while practically no one else in the country is playing football? That will be super weird, arguably pointless, and disruptive of our 2021 season and the annual schedule of the program.

My sources in Athens tell me the Bobcat football team has been practicing.

You must have better sources.

This is an evergreen description of MAC football.

I'd prefer to play in the fall, but ultimately, we're not really eligible for anything but the MAC championship anyhow, so we could play our season anytime.

I didn't think about that factor, makes some sense except I think most all of those programs would have indoor practice facilities and you have to think it will be cleared up before these games would start up. Just hard to imagine just 1 of the P5 conferences sitting at home while everyone else plays.

The B10's return was driven more by state-level political pressure, the fear that more star players will opt out of the season in favor of NFL draft prep, O$U's desire to compete for a national championship and the schools' desire to get back some football-related revenue. Any health and safety concerns for students were secondary.

We're already seeing three to four games a week being postponed because of covid issues among players. Expect that to increase as we get into the traditional flu season. Some teams have been able to put together hodgepodge schedules with last-minute fill-in games, but that won't be available so much as the season progresses and open dates become fewer.

Don't expect Pac-12 to follow suit right away. The Mariners game was called off last night because of air quality issues. Seattle, San Francisco and Portland were listed as having the worst air quality in the world. All the Pac-12 teams play outdoor games, so they can't move forward until the fires are under control. I could be wrong; it's been known to happen.

Playing a spring schedule would at least give the MAC more opportunities for TV time. We would have only the MWC and likely Pac-12 to compete with. We could see games scheduled for Friday nights, Saturdays and even Sundays. No midweek games. Might also help attendance if there aren't too many restrictions on number of spectators. Nick Saban said that spring football would feel like JV games. Well, the games they've had so far this season in empty or nearly stadiums look and feel very much like the JV games I've been to.

I am encouraged to hear we have been practicing. I had assumed we were not...

While I agree playing in the Spring when no one else is seems silly, from a publicity standpoint for the MAC that would be huge. We'd be the only show in town. Football fans would eat that up like crazy. Additionally, outside of injuries I would think playing in the Spring could actually help us as we'd come into next fall in mid-season form.

The day that the MAC is competing with it's own baseball and softball for fans and interest in their markets is a day they should just consider, closing up shop.

I have a friend out near LA who can't stand outside for more than 5 minutes because the air is so toxic right now. There won't be any football there any time soon.

And damn I was just getting used to that taste of those Buckeye tears because they're weren't playing. :'(

The Mountain West, contrary to the MAC, made it sound like they might return to play, saying it is "finalizing a plan for frequent, rapid response testing and continuing to monitor the status of public health directives in our MW states and communities."

In my opinion we need to get back to a fall season now. Eight games or whatever.
Waiting until spring will have us out of synch with the rest of D1 college football.I think there is a statement of weakness if we don't play this fall. Why is it ok for everyone else but not the MAC.

"The day that the MAC is competing with it's own baseball and softball for fans and interest in their markets is a day they should just consider, closing up shop."

Billy is correct as the MAC will not worry about softball/baseball fans if they want to play in the spring. Fans should hope that spring ball gets to play in March because if that happens, then maybe basketball and some winter sports will occur.

Politics. Nobody cares if the MAC plays. The Big 10 playing football, on the other hand, has become a political issue. The President needs football being played in swing states to support his message that things are back to normal and the Covid response was great. That's why he offered tests to Big 10 schools and Conservative politicians involved themselves in the decision.

If anybody cared about the MAC, that would've happened for us, too.