College football and coronavirus — Answering the most pressing questions for a 2020 season – ESPN

Video game officials are also anticipated to go through testing weekly, but particular testing guidelines for any other personnel working the game stay unclear at this time.
The plan still needs approval from league presidents however it would include 5 department games and 5 crossover games. The ACC, Big 12 and SEC have looked at models that feature conference schedules plus one nonconference game, something that would permit all 3 leagues to keep some of their greatest matchups– consisting of ACC/SEC rivalry video games, Auburn-North Carolina (Sept. 12), LSU-Texas (Sept. 12) and Oklahoma-Tennessee (Sept. 12). As for the video games themselves, they stay on as scheduled, including the national championship video game in Miami on Jan. 11. All bowl video games are on as set up, and if teams are able to play a minimum of 10 video games, those that end up.500 would remain qualified under current guidelines.

Depends on where you live. Texas, for instance, is proceeding with strategies to have its arena at 50% capacity. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo stated no fans will be permitted at sporting occasions in the state in the fall. Syracuse athletic director John Wildhack said the school is seeking further assistance from the governors office.
Athletic directors are modeling out different scenarios for capacity, consisting of 25 and 50%, and have actually polled season-ticket holders about whether they would participate in games. If capability is restricted, athletic directors would need to choose which video games season-ticket holders can attend. In addition, operations personnel have worked on how seating would look in reduced-capacity stadiums (aisles clear, alternate rows), how to ensure social distancing at tailgate lots, and including additional entry gates to avoid long lines and crowds event.
All those models may be for naught. Whether fans are permitted to go to eventually depends on decisions from state, regional and university authorities.

With the ACC most likely to decide today about its scheduling design and a possible season start date, and the Big 12 and SEC likely not too far behind, here are the most important concerns surrounding the college football season.
What does MLBs Miami Marlins break out mean for CFB?
While it clearly shows the obstacle of playing a sport outside of a bubble– even in a sport where athletes can naturally socially range, unlike football– it hasnt altered the point of view of college football power brokers right now.
” We see everything thats going on around us, and I believe we always said that if were able to go forward and play sports throughout the year, there will be disruptions,” Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby informed ESPN. “I believe this is an excellent example of that.”
Where does screening stand?
The testing element might be the greatest key if college football has any shot at playing in the fall. The NCAA issued screening guidelines that advise testing professional athletes and coaches 72 hours before video games, but the Power 5 conferences are expected to have their own guidelines and screening treatments– and will anticipate all challengers to follow the same testing standards. It remains uncertain how typically schools will check as soon as practice starts Aug. 7, but NCAA guidelines suggest weekly screening for any high contact-risk sport during the preseason, routine season and postseason.
Schools have 10- to 14-day quarantine and contact tracing procedures in location for anyone who checks favorable, but there remain big unknowns, consisting of: How numerous favorable tests are a lot of to play a video game? If someone begins revealing symptoms in the 72 hours between testing and the game, whom does agreement tracing determine as those needing to quarantine? If somebody tests favorable after playing in a video game, who would be considered a close contact and in requirement of quarantine? The NCAA used CDC standards to keep in mind that anyone with high threat of direct exposure– consisting of opponents and colleagues– would need to quarantine for 14 days. Among those thought about high danger: An individual who was within 6 feet of somebody with COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes; somebody who has direct physical contact or was touched by respiratory droplets from a contaminated individual.2 Related
Preferably, a rapid test would be readily available to allow testing to happen as close to video game time as possible. Commissioners stay enthusiastic there will be advancements made in screening that permit them to close the existing 72-hour window, but up until that happens, they will go with PCR tests. Game authorities are likewise expected to go through testing weekly, however particular screening standards for any other personnel working the video game remain unclear at this time.
The greatest concerns are how regularly the testing happens and what to do when there are favorable cases. If that occurs during the season, the potential is there for two to three video games to be canceled or delayed.
What will practice look like?
In a sport as physical as football, practicing in the middle of a pandemic is uncharted territory for gamers and coaches. The enhanced summertime gain access to period started late recently, and permits walk-throughs with a football for 2 weeks before most teams start fall practice on Aug. 7.
NCAA guidelines motivate making use of masks or facial coverings, and keeping gamers in specific groups to help alleviate the possible spread. Florida State, for example, will only permit physical contact for a maximum of 15 minutes over the next 2 weeks. North Carolina coach Mack Brown and his staff will utilize stay with stay 6 feet apart from players. Coaches throughout the nation will wear face shields. Some will use electronic whistles.
But there is no uniform method schools are managing practices. Some have plans to work with their very first and 3rd groups at one time, and their 2nd and fourth teams at a different time. Some have strategies to keep quarterbacks and offensive linemen in separate practice groups in order to avoid entire workers groups getting ill. But beyond what practice looks like, the greatest unidentified might be this: If screening is just done weekly, could physical, contact practices suggest possible spread of the infection?
Steven King/Icon SportswireWhat will schedules look like?
According to sources, the Pac-12 prepares to play a 10-game league schedule that starts Sept. 19 and has built-in bye weeks in case there are games that can not be played as set up. There also is versatility on the date of the conference championship video game. The plan still needs approval from league presidents however it would feature 5 division video games and 5 crossover video games.
The ACC, Big 12 and SEC have looked at designs that feature conference schedules plus one nonconference video game, something that would enable all three leagues to keep some of their greatest matches– including ACC/SEC competition video games, Auburn-North Carolina (Sept. 12), LSU-Texas (Sept. 12) and Oklahoma-Tennessee (Sept. 12). When It Comes To Notre Dame, the Irish will figure into the ACC scheduling model (they already have 6 scheduled games), in some way. One proposal has the ACC transferring to a 10-game conference schedule plus one nonconference video game, with Notre Dame playing a complete ACC schedule. Notre Dame has 9 video games presently arranged, including Navy in the opener and Arkansas on Sept. 12.
It is also crucial to keep in mind that the SEC and ACC play 8 conference video games, compared to 9 for the Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12. So the largest discussions in the SEC and ACC center around how lots of conference video games they need to play.
Will the season start on time?
No one truly understands. At the very minimum, the Pac-12 will not, as it has actually already announced it will press back the start to its conference-only season. But any choices conferences announce now do not ensure the season will begin on time, or that the schedules as they are laid out will be played in their whole, if at all.
And they all highlight they will not play unless they can do so safely and reduce the threats. One more thing to think about: The season may begin on time, however then have actually to be stopped ought to favorable cases spread throughout teams.
The Pac-12, along with the Big Ten, has actually relocated to a conference-only schedule for 2020. The ACC, Big 12 and SEC are all expected to make a decision on the upcoming season quickly. Kirby Lee/USA TODAY SportsWhat is the possible College Football Playoff effect?
College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock has steadfastly stated the CFP “will be ready for whatever comes down,” without entering into additional information on what that could imply for the way the selection committee examines teams or whether it is possible to press the whole playoff back must there be substantial hold-ups to the season. Set up evaluation is constantly an important element, and so are marquee nonconference games.
Now that the Pac-12 and Big Ten are going conference-only, how does that assessment change? If the Big 12, ACC and SEC choose designs that permit them to play a nonconference game, does that offer them an advantage in the critical strength of schedule factor? “This is why the committee has 13 football professionals,” Hancock told ESPN earlier this month. “Their task is to pick the very best four teams based upon play on the field and schedules that conferences establish.”
Certainly, the conference commissioners and Jack Swarbrick set the playoff protocol and will more than most likely identify the number of video games that need to be played to qualify for the four-team playoff once all leagues come up with scheduling models. But even then, we might not have a response to this concern until we remain in season– What if the groups in the hunt for the playoff have played a different variety of video games due to the fact that of cancellations due to the virus?
As for the video games themselves, they remain on as arranged, including the championship game in Miami on Jan. 11. But as Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl CEO Gary Stokan stated, “Were adaptable also. If we require to push back and I believe Bill has said this, if they require to push back the national championship, they and Florida have had those discussions, and they stay versatile to do that also.”
What is the impact to bowl season?
All bowl video games are on as set up, and if groups are able to play a minimum of 10 games, those that end up.500 would stay eligible under current rules. Stokan included that all Football Bowl Association directors stay flexible on when their games can be played.
Exists any chance at a spring season?
There is a reason the Power 5 are preparing schedules for a fall season. Moving the season to the spring brings its own set of unpredictabilities, to say the least. Amongst the biggest: Nobody understands whether it will be safer to play in January as opposed to October.
The SEC and Big Ten have actually opposed a spring season, although Big 12 coach Lincoln Riley has actually stated he would have no concerns playing in the spring. No matter the viewpoint about when to play, one thing is certain: In order for athletics departments to make it through economically, the powers-that-be must figure out how to securely play the 2020 season.
What would the NFL do if college football relocated to spring?
The NFL has actually not provided any sign it would move the Senior Bowl (Jan. 30) or the NFL combine (February), although there is a chance the draft could move back a couple of weeks depending on when the college season starts. The NFL is waiting to see what occurs with the college season before making any choices.
Will fans be permitted to go to?