If the Pac-12 can’t play football in the fall, prepare for a mass exodus of players leaving the conference to head to the SEC, ACC, Big Ten and Big 12.
Go east, young man.
That’s going to be the rallying cry for college football players who may not be able to play this season if their university and/or conference isn’t cleared due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The California State Universities already announced their universities will not be open for the fall semester and online education will continue. More decisions are expected to come from the Pac-12 commissioner and Pac-12 university presidents as well as the governors of the member states that could result in the league sitting out this fall with the hopes of being able to play a spring season.
A spring season likely would only be with the Pac-12 and perhaps the Mountain West schools who are in a similar situation as the Power 5 conference. But the SEC, ACC, Big Ten and Big 12 seem adamant about playing in the fall, particularly the SEC where Alabama, Georgia and Florida have championship aspirations. There’s no way the SEC is not going to play football this fall. There’s no way Clemson is not going to play this fall.
And that’s why if I was a junior or senior at a Pac-12 or Mountain West school and there’s uncertainty whether I’ll get to play this year, I’m entering the transfer portal and exploring my options in states where there is a better chance of playing a season in the fall.
I’m trying to get to the NFL and provide for my family. If I can’t play at my school, I’m looking for a school where I can play. It’s that simple. And as complicated as being in the transfer portal where you can’t travel to visit campuses and meet coaches and potential teammates in person.
Plus, there’s so much uncertainty and the data is changing so swiftly that there is no guarantee that the places a prospective transfer would want to play, will be allowed to play at his new school.
But it’s a time of full-blown free agency. The transfer portal the last two seasons have been an appetizer for what’s about to come this summer if the schools west of Texas can’t play football.
ESPN’s Paul Finebaum thinks it’s already happening. The SEC Network host said as much on Thursday morning’s episode of Get Up.
"[It would mean] free agency, and I think it's probably already going on."@finebaum on the possibility that the Pac12 will not have football this fall. pic.twitter.com/5u5hBQ5Mh4
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) May 14, 2020
The student-athlete has all the power now. They can control where they want to be and for how long they want to be there. If a player is unable to play at his current school because of COVID-19, I anticipate the NCAA would give them the green light to be eligible immediately at his new school.
This wouldn’t be a situation where a player has to sit for a season due to transfer rules.
If I’m a player like Oregon left tackle Penei Sewell, I may not be inclined to transfer because I’m already a projected top-3 pick and my younger brother is a freshman on the roster. And if I’m a player like USC sophomore quarterback Kedon Slovis, I’m probably not thinking of leaving either because I still have another year before I’m eligible for the NFL Draft. And I don’t want to leave USC offensive coordinator Graham Harrell either.
But every other junior and senior interested in playing college this fall, if the Pac-12 and Mountain West can’t play, I have to do what’s in my best interest and head east where I have a chance to finish my career and get to the NFL.
They have to fulfill their Manifest Destiny.
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