Pac-12 soon expects 'definitive answer' on college football

The Pac-12 is nearing a decision on whether college football will played this fall. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Pac-12 expected to have 'definitive answer' on return to college football later today

By Blake Harper | Last updated 9/24/20

The presidents and chancellors of the Pac-12 Conference will be meeting Thursday afternoon to discuss the possibility of playing the football season this fall and according to ESPN's Heather Dinich, a firm decision should be reached by the end of the meeting.

"We should expect a definite answer one way or another," Dinich said on "Get Up." "The chancellors and presidents are meeting later this afternoon."

Several conferences that had postponed their seasons are now in the process of deciding if they will play with a delayed schedule or not. The Pac-12 was among the first to do so, but as the SEC, Big 12 and others have managed to play their seasons without any major outbreaks thus far, they are considering making fall football happen. One of the biggest things they need to figure out is when exactly the season will begin.

.@CFBHeather says we should expect a "definitive answer one way or another" coming today whether the Pac-12 will return to college football this fall. pic.twitter.com/CuLyuug8gJ
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) September 24, 2020

"If they decide to go ahead with this, then they are going to have decide whether it's a late October start or early November," Dinich said.

One hurdle the Pac-12 seems to be facing moving forward is how to treat student-athletes in this context, as the increased risk of an outbreak would likely increase playing football, so players may need to be handled differently than your average student.

"[T]hese presidents and chancellors are wrestling with whether or not they can handle the idea of treating student-athletes differently than the general student body," Dinich explained.

The Big Ten announced last week that they would be starting their football season on Oct. 24, while the Mountain West is considering a similar timeline.

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