Pac-12 football to return with seven-game schedule and title bout

Pac-12 football will have a season after all, as it will begin on Nov. 6.

Pac-12 football fans can rejoice, as there will be a football season for them after all.

The Pac-12 voted to bring their dead season back to life on Thursday evening. While an Oct. 31 start date was discussed, the Pac-12 will return the following week beginning on Nov. 6. The Power 5 conference will play a seven-game conference-only schedule with a conference championship game being held on Dec. 18. We now have all five Power 5’s slated to play!

“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,” said Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott.

“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.”

Will a seven-game season schedule be enough to get a team into the playoff?

By going with a Nov. 6 start date, this is about as late as a college football season could start and realistically have teams be considered for the 2020 College Football Playoff. The good news for the Pac-12 is it has at least one formidable contender this year in the Oregon Ducks, as well as a few others who could be interesting, such as the USC Trojans or the Arizona State Sun Devils.

Going conference-only is smart, as that will ensure the testing protocols will be universal across all 12 member institutions playing ball in their six-state geographical footprint. However, there is absolutely no margin for error when it comes to postponement. If a game can’t happen, it will be canceled, just like it will in the Big Ten with their Oct. 24 return date. There is no wiggle room.

Overall, you have to feel the happiest for the players on these 12 teams. They have worked so hard and wanted to play with the other Power 5 schools competing. While players did opt out, maybe they can return like some of the more notable guys did in the Big Ten, such as Purdue Boilermakers wide receiver Rondale Moore and Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Shaun Wade.

The updated Pac-12 schedule has not been released, but when it is, we will let you know who all the Pac-12 teams will be playing. One plausible solution would be five within a division and two cross-divisional foes. That way, it would allow all four California schools to play each other. Could this be a scheduling advantage or disadvantage for any particular teams? Who cares because Pac-12 football is back!

What are the chances any team can run the seven-game Pac-12 gauntlet to make the playoff?

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