The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a stop to major sports with increasing concerns for whether or not the 2020 college football season will start on time. As coaches and college administrators continue to navigate their way through an unprecedented time, there is reportedly talk about moving the upcoming season into 2021.
According to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman, one possibility being discussed around the NCAA is playing the season in spring 2021. The idea, which has reportedly been talked about by coaches and administrators, would allow teams more time to prepare for a potential season.
The University of Oklahoma announced Friday that it is suspending in-person activities through July 31. The decision comes at a time when states throughout the country are extending their stay-at-home orders with the COVID-19 pandemic worsening.
Oklahoma’s decision cast further doubt on the college football season starting on time. Coaches have said they would need two months to prepare their players for the season. In the best-case scenario, the Sooners could just start practicing in August and that would still require the university not further extending its suspension of in-person activities.
Even if the college football season could be moved to spring 2021, the consequences would likely be devastating for colleges across the country. As one coach mentioned, per The Athletic, schools might have to cut down to just football, basketball and four women’s sports due to budgetary restrictions.
The NCAA already canceled March Madness and spring sports, which could cost it more than $400 million in revenue. If the 2020 college football season doesn’t happen, the NCAA could lose billions and hundreds of universities across the country would feel the financial fallout.
Of course, this all is happening at a time when more than 300,000 people in the United States already tested positive for COVID-19 and cases continue to skyrocket. While sports fans miss the excitement of sports, it is understandably on hold during this crisis.