Pac-12 Postpones 2020 Football Season

SEATTLE, WA — The Pac-12 2020 season has officially been postponed, meaning the Huskies will not be taking on any of their fellow conference members through the end of the year.

The move is a reversal of an announcement made in late July, when the Pac-12 revealed plans for a 10 game conference-only schedule, which would have started in late September. Now instead of that plan, Pac-12 management has announced that they have postponed all competitions through the end of this calendar year, with the hope of returning sometime in the spring.

“All of the Pac-12 presidents and chancellors understand the importance of this decision, and the disappointment it will create for our student-athletes, the coaches, support staff and all of our fans,” Michael H. Schill, president of the University of Oregon said. “Ultimately, our decision was guided by science and a deep commitment to the health and welfare of student-athletes. We certainly hope that the Pac-12 will be able to return to competition in the New Year.”

The decision was made in part with the guidance from the Pac-12 Medical Advisory Committee, who Monday issued a report warning that it would be unsafe to resume a regular season, citing three major concerns:

• The high number of coronavirus cases in cities represented in the Pac-12, and the concern that traveling to those places could transmit the virus.
• Low testing capacity for players, coaches and staff and difficulties enforcing mask mandates and physical distancing.
• The lack of knowledge about the virus' long-term impact on the human body, including the potential that it could cause serious cardiac side effects in athletes.

As a result, their report ultimately recommended that the 2020 fall season be canceled, which the Pac-12 CEO Group has now voted to do. The group says they are now focusing on bringing games back in the new year if the pandemic improves.

“The health, safety and well-being of our student-athletes and all those connected to Pac-12 sports has been our number one priority since the start of this current crisis,” said Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott.

That sentiment was echoed by UW President Ana Mari Cauce shortly after the announcement.

"It's tremendously disappointing to reach this point, but the continued spread of the coronavirus around the country, plus the new questions being raised about its potential health effects, forced our hand," said Cauce. "We've said all along that our decisions would be guided by our commitment to our students' health and welfare, and that will continue to be our focus."

The Pac-12 says any students who are impacted by the announcement will be allowed to keep their athletic scholarships. The conference is also asking that the NCAA grant students who have opted out of competition another year of eligibility.

“We have made clear that all of their scholarships will be guaranteed, and that as a Conference we are strongly encouraging the NCAA to grant them an additional year of eligibility,” said Scott.

The Pac-12's announcement came the same day that the Big Ten officially postponed their football season as well. Meanwhile, the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12 and Southeastern Conference are all still planning on a delayed fall season.

The move comes amid a surge of new coronavirus cases in Washington state, which has pushed state leaders to halt any potential business reopenings or the lifting of restrictions. Schools and universities across the state have also been encouraged to resume remotely wherever possible.

Read the full statement for UW President Cauce, Director of Athletics Jen Cohen, and UW Head Coach Jimmy Lake below: