Pac-12 CEO’s couldn’t afford to kick the can down the road any further. On Thursday, they announced plans to kick off a shortened 2020 football season on Nov. 6.

There will be a 7-game season as the Pac-12 joins the other Power 5 conferences with some version of a 2020 season.

In addition, the Pac-12 announced that men’s and women’s basketball and other winter sports can begin on Nov.  25, which is consistent with the start date set forth by the NCAA previously.

The CEO Group met last Wednesday to discuss the same issues they finally ironed out on Thursday, most notably the football start date, but did not make a decision. Some wanted to start play on Oct. 31, with some, most notably Stanford and UCLA, saying they could not be ready that soon.

There is finally a game plan.

The official schedule will be announced at a later date, but teams will play seven games: five against the other teams in their division, one against an opponent from the other division, and a final game the weekend of the conference championship game on Dec. 18 or 19. Teams that don’t make the title game would square off against the team in the the other division who finished at the same level in the standings, e.g. second place vs. second place, and so forth.

The conference also announced that spectators will not be in attendance at any games held on campuses, with that decision to be re-evaluated “based upon health and safety considerations” in January.

It was six weeks ago the Pac-12 called off all sports for the calendar year, following the Big Ten which made the decision on football earlier the same day.

The fact that the conference could even consider a fall return was made possible when Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott announced the partnership with California-based Quidel Corp, which gives the schools rapid testing capabilities, with results coming as quickly as 15 minutes. That deal was finalized three weeks ago.

Without that it would be difficult to control spread, keep asymptomatic players off the field and meet the contact-tracing demands that would insure the safest circumstances for teams to be able to play.

Equipment to perform those tests has been shipped to the 12 member schools. Arizona State has not yet received it however, according to a school spokesman. The University of Arizona already has it in place and has been using it since May.

“From the beginning of this crisis, our focus has been on following the science, data and counsel of our public health and infectious disease experts,” Scott said.  “Our agreement with Quidel to provide daily rapid-results testing has been a game-changer in enabling us to move forward with confidence that we can create a safe environment for our student-athletes while giving them the opportunity to pursue their dreams. At the same time, we will continue to monitor health conditions and data and be ready to adjust as required in the name of the health of all.”

Despite being the first conference to secure the daily rapid testing capabilities, the Pac-12 is the last conference to finalize a return.

The ACC and Big 12 have already started play, with the SEC doing so this weekend. The Big Ten is slated to kick off a nine-game schedule on Oct. 23. Even the Mountain West — which also includes California reps — is favoring an Oct. 24 season opener, according to Yahoo’s Pete Thamel.

The consensus is that six weeks are needed for teams to prepare for the first game. That would consist of  two weeks of workouts and walk-throughs, followed by four weeks of contact practices.

What has complicated matters for the Pac-12 are factors that haven’t slowed the return of other conferences. It took many Western states, particularly California and Oregon, longer to get control of the coronavirus.

After the meeting of CEOS last week, the governors of Oregon and California said they would lessen restrictions so schools could begin preparation for a a season although they had to work with local health agencies on proper guidelines.

California did so only moderately. It still has a limit of gatherings to 12 or fewer which would make it hard for a team to actually practice.

There are also still issues with air quality as a result of fires long the West Coast.

Stanford is having classes on-line and its players are just now returning to campus. They also have to be tested and quarantined before they could start preparations.

Yet another complication came up on Thursday as the city of Boulder, home of the Colorado Buffaloes, issued an order prohibiting gatherings for residents between the ages of 18 and 22  to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, which has risen since the start of the semester.

The order affects gatherings of any size, whether indoors, outdoors, on or off campus and includes athletics.

Of course, best-laid plans could change. So far 21 FBS football games have already been postponed since Aug. 26, according to the Associated Press’ Ralph Russo. The University of Houston has had three games called off, all because of virus issues on the part of its opponent.

The Mid-American Conference presidents will meet on Friday to vote on the return of the 2020 football season. According to Yahoo Sports, the 12 MAC presidents are considering a six-game schedule with the MAC Championship returning to Ford Field in Detroit. 

Further details regarding basketball schedules will be released later.

For the winter sports — wrestling, women’s gymnastics, and men’s and women’s swimming and diving — each university will determine when practice can begin based on local public health official guidance and the situation on campus.

Fall sports for which post-season championships were postponed by the NCAA until the spring will be conducted starting January 2021, with preparation and practice occurring during the fall as permitted by NCAA rules.

In all cases, competition with non-conference opponents will be contingent upon such non-conference opponents implementing minimum testing protocols in accordance with NCAA and Pac-12 COVID-19 Medical Advisory Committee recommendations.

Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 602 444-4783.  Follow her on Twitter @MGardnerSports.

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