Mountain West announces fall schedule format; NCAA sets guidelines for season, championships
The Mountain West announced Wednesday afternoon it will go with an eight-game conference football schedule this fall and give each team the option to play two nonconference games.
Fall competition can’t begin any earlier than the week of Sept. 26, according to Wednesday’s press release, which means the Broncos’ season opener against Georgia Southern (Sept. 5) is off and unless the teams can find an open date later in the season.
Following the conference’s announcement, Boise State — which was scheduled to open fall camp on Friday — opted to postpone camp until the week of Aug. 17, according to a team spokesperson.
“Today’s decision by the Mountain West Board of Directors gives us more time to prepare for the fall season while allowing us to continue monitoring the COVID-19 situation - not just in Boise, but across each of our conference campuses,” Boise State Athletic Director Curt Apsey said in a statement. “We have been and will continue to work with local health experts in regards to safety precautions for our student-athletes, coaches and staff.”
The Broncos’ road game at Air Force on Sept. 12 will also have to be rescheduled. Idaho State will have to reschedule or cancel games against Fresno State (Sept. 5) and New Mexico (Sept. 19).
Boise State already lost a home game against Florida State (Sept. 19) when the ACC announced its nonconference games had to be played in the home state of the ACC school. The Broncos are scheduled to travel to Marshall on Sept. 25, and BYU is scheduled to be in Boise on Nov. 6.
Potential dates for the Mountain West championship game are Dec. 5, 12 and 19.
Fall Olympic sports will also consist of conference-only play, and women’s soccer and volleyball champions will be determine by regular-season standings. Options for men’s and women’s cross country are still being reviewed, according to Wednesday’s release.
All fall competition in men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis, indoor track and field, baseball and softball have been canceled.
NCAA sets COVID-19 guidelines
The NCAA Board of Governors announced Wednesday schools and conferences will have to adhere to a specific set of requirements if there’s going to be a fall season, and the board left the decision on championships up to each of its three divisions.
Each division has until Aug. 21 to determine whether it will hold a fall season and championship, according to a press release, and if 50 percent of eligible teams in a particular sport cancel their fall season, that division will not hold a championship.
The board expressed serious concern about the high levels of COVID-19 infections in many parts of the country and said it will only support regular and postseason play if a strict set of guidelines are followed.
Chief among them are protections for players, including allowing any athlete to opt out without fear of losing their scholarship, and schools covering COVID-19 related medical expenses to prevent out-of-pocket expenses for athletes and their families.
Each division has until Aug. 14 to determine the accommodations that must be made for athletes who opt out, and schools may not require athletes to waive their legal rights regarding COVID-19 as a condition of athletics participation.
“Our decisions place emphasis where it belongs — on the health and safety of college athletes,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said in Wednesday press release. “Student-athletes should never feel pressured into playing their sport if they do not believe it is safe to do so. These policies ensure they can make thoughtful, informed decisions about playing this fall.”
Several high-profile college football players have already opted out of the season, including a pair of potential first-round picks in the 2021 NFL Draft in Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley and Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons.
Other guidelines released Wednesday by the NCAA include:
- All fall sports must follow the recently released return-to-sport guidelines from the NCAA Sport Science Institute for all athletic activity. As the guidelines change based on the ever-changing pandemic, schools must follow any future modifications.
- The NCAA will establish a phone number and email to allow college athletes, parents or others to report alleged failures. School and conference administrators will be notified, and they will be expected to take immediate action.
- All member schools must adhere to federal, state and local guidelines related to COVID-19.
- Any NCAA fall championship or other postseason contests must be conducted within enhanced safety protocols for athletes and essential personnel. These safety enhancements will include regular testing, separation of college athletes and essential personnel from all other nonessential personnel, and physical distancing and masking policies..
- NCAA championships may use reduced bracketing, a reduced number of competitors, predetermined sites and, where appropriate, single sites to limit exposure to COVID-19.
- If fall sports championships are postponed in any division, a decision to conduct that championship at a later date will be based upon the scientific data available at that time regarding COVID-19, along with other considerations.
This story was originally published August 5, 2020 at 12:30 PM.
