MAC becomes first FBS conference to cancel 2020 college football season for the fall, per report

[TheComputerGroup]

The Mid-American Conference (MAC) is expected to officially cancel its 2020 college football season on Saturday because of concerns about the health and safety of its players amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Stadium's Brett McMurphy. As such, the 12-member league will become the first FBS conference to decide not to play this fall.

The MAC intends on attempting to play a football season in spring 2021. A press conference is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. ET where the MAC should make its decision public.

The school presidents representing the MAC were expected to vote on whether to play in 2020 on Saturday morning after initially planning earlier in the week to meet about finalizing a scheduling format for the season. It was reported throughout the week that Northern Illinois and its president, Lisa Freeman, had been pushing the league not to play at all with NIU reportedly suggesting it would not compete even if the MAC decided to build a schedule with the intent to compete in the fall.

NIU has been one of the MAC's best programs since it rejoined the league in 1997, competing in eight conference championships games. It is the MAC's most accomplished team over the last 10 years, winning four MAC titles out of seven title game appearances since 2010.

UConn became the first FBS team to decide against playing college football in fall 2020 on Thursday. It is an independent program unaffiliated with a conference.


While the MAC appears to have canceled its fall season largely due to health and safety, the conference was also hit hard by the Big Ten's decision to play conference-only games this season. There were 11 Big Ten vs. MAC nonconference games scheduled in 2020 with payouts to MAC schools set to approach nearly $11 million. Many athletic departments count on those big-money games against Power Five opponents to cover operating costs each season.

Though MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher insisted his league would play college football in 2020 despite losing those games, the coronavirus pandemic has not eased or shown significant signs of improvement over the last month.

Multiple FCS conferences have already canceled college football for the fall, and neither Division II nor Division III football will stage fall championships in any sports. Division I will make that decision for the FCS at some point, though that will not affect the FBS, which competes in the College Football Playoff outside Division I or NCAA purview.



https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cb...-football-season-for-the-fall-per-report/amp/

 

[Ilovetobet]

I hate this so much.

 

[TheComputerGroup]

I hate this so much.

I could be wrong, but I don't see the Big-10, SEC, ACC or PAC shutting down football .....

 

[CaptainLee]

Another covid casualty.

 

[slapshot]

Oh well at least something to bet on on the spring

 

[Cheddar]

Good, I always lose money on this conference anyway

 

[slapshot]

I could be wrong, but I don't see the Big-10, SEC, ACC or PAC shutting down football .....

not so fast Big 14 looks like they might be done also

 

[bigwang]

I could be wrong, but I don't see the Big-10, SEC, ACC or PAC shutting down football .....

Unfortunately I do see a few of the p5 conferences not playing in fall.

 

[TheComputerGroup]

not so fast Big 14 looks like they might be done also

Sources: Big Ten commissioner prefers spring college football season


Big Ten presidents are expected to meet Saturday afternoon to discuss the future of the conference’s fall sports seasons, two people with direct knowledge of the situation told the Free Press.

And it’s possible a spring football season could be on the table.

The sources were briefed about the call but were not authorized to speak publicly about it. The Big Ten confirmed the presidents had a regularly scheduled meeting Saturday, but according to the sources, the topic of the conversation has shifted to the college football season.

Going into the call, the sources were told Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren preferred a spring football season, although no decision has been made.

The presidents meeting comes hours after the Mid-American Conference — which includes Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan and Western Michigan — became the first from the FBS to cancel its fall college football season in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The MAC will instead pursue a spring football season, commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said Saturday in a conference call.

Michigan and Michigan State opened fall camp Friday. On Saturday, after the MAC's announcement, the Big Ten said all schools must remain in the helmets and shorts phase of practice. It's unclear when full-padded practice will begin.

The MAC's decision to cancel the season wasn't made for financial reasons, Steinbrecher said, even though the conference is set to lose millions in game-guarantee revenue from cancelled games, as Power Five conferences shifted to mostly conference-only schedules. (The ACC and Big 12 are allowing teams one nonconference game; the Big Ten, SEC and Pac-12 are conference-only.)

"This was a health and well-being decision, first and foremost," Steinbrecher said. "We don't know what this will mean financially."

Kent State was facing a $5 million loss in game guarantees, the most in the country among Group of Five schools. Buffalo ($2.7 million), Bowling Green ($2.2 million) and Central Michigan ($2.15 million) also were expected to see significant losses, according to data compiled by USA Today Sports.

Central Michigan's losses come from games against Nebraska ($1.3 million) and Northwestern ($850,000). Eastern Michigan will miss $1.45 million from canceled games against Missouri ($1.1 million) and Kentucky ($350,000).




https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.freep.com/amp/3326536001

 

[TheComputerGroup]

I wouldn't mind if college football was played in the spring as long as the NFL played normal this fall & winter.

Let's see what comes out of this meeting.......

 

[michael777]

Liberalism ruins everything,this Country has became so soft,not the land of the brave any longer,pathetic,no excuses accepted.Young men like this fought to save the world,now they are afraid of a virus,FUCK LIBERALS

 

[MAGAking1]

Liberalism ruins everything,this Country has became so soft,not the land of the brave any longer,pathetic,no excuses accepted.Young men like this fought to save the world,now they are afraid of a virus,FUCK LIBERALS

A strong indicator of how powerful the fear mongering MSM can be.

 

[JavyBaez9]

The march by the left continues... they will make Americans miserable every chance they get until November.

 

[michael777]

Mac not playing has nothing to do with money,it is 100% based on fear of the virus,Liberals suck COCK

 

[TheComputerGroup]

Yeah, it doesn't look for college football for this fall .......will be interesting to see if they play in the spring......start the season in March & finish end of May, & have bowls in June in the hot weather?

 

[TomGshotput]

This is a good thing. It means the liberals will be unable to steal tax money for wasteful public education programs. If anyone really wanted to see MAC football this year, the entire blame goes on the schools and the teams for putting together such big money losers.

 

[TomGshotput]

The march by the left continues... they will make Americans miserable every chance they get until November.

It's ironic that you say this, when the only people who are miserable with anything going on are the Liberals. If someone else is really making you miserable over this stuff, that's because you are allowing them to have that much control over yourself and your emotions. You are once again showing that your ideology is as far left as anyone.

 

[JavyBaez9]

It's ironic that you say this, when the only people who are miserable with anything going on are the Liberals. If someone else is really making you miserable over this stuff, that's because you are allowing them to have that much control over yourself and your emotions. You are once again showing that your ideology is as far left as anyone.

swing and a miss

 

[TomGshotput]

swing and a miss

It is quite obvious other people are making you miserable, just like you said.

 

[JavyBaez9]

It is quite obvious other people are making you miserable, just like you said.

I love college football.

I don’t have the ability to create college football. Is your point that leftists have influence over things that can bring me joy? Oh no. That’s so bad.