It was earlier this week that the SEC announced its altered schedule for the 2020 college football season to take into account conference-only games.
This comes on the heels of two other Power Five conferences in that of the Big Ten and Pac-12 canceling fall sports due to the pandemic.
One day after the schedule release, the SEC has come up with guidelines for how to play college football in the age of COVID-19. They are somewhat interesting in the grand scheme of things.
SEC football programs to decide whether fans will be in attendance
“Institutions shall determine the number of guests permitted to attend in accordance with applicable state and local guidelines, policies and/or regulations,” the conference said, via its official website. “In the absence of state and/or local guidelines, policies and/or regulations, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations on physical distancing should be applied.”
- Face coverings will be required for all fans attending games or other events leading up to games.
- Stadium workers and athletics staff should wear face coverings at all times (only a recommendation).
- Institutions will decide whether tailgating will take place before games. CDC physical distancing recommendations should be applied.
- Team walks will be allowed if physical distancing is possible.
2020 SEC college football schedule
The season is now expected to start Sept. 26, about a month after the campaign was slated to begin before the pandemic postponed things. For the SEC, this means some rather interesting games on the opening week schedule.
- Alabama at Missouri
- Florida at Mississippi
- Georgia at Arkansas
- Kentucky at Auburn
- Mississippi State at LSU
- Tennessee at South Carolina
- Vanderbilt at Texas A&M
Whether this games actually take place remains to be seen. The SEC has joined with the Big 12 and ACC in deciding to play the 2020 season as scheduled. Obviously, the status of the COVID-19 pandemic will play a role here.