College football insider Paul Finebaum has little confidence in the season being held this year. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Paul Finebaum: 'College football season is slipping away'

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 7/9/20

It appears some within the college football community are realizing the harsh reality before them amid the coronavirus pandemic that isn't improving in the United States anytime soon.

As the Ivy League postponed all fall sports through at least the end of December and both North Carolina and Ohio State temporarily halted student-athlete workouts, both SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and SEC insider Paul Finebaum gave bleak outlooks on a season that, more likely than not, isn't happening as planned.

Sankey told ESPN’s "Freddie and Fitzsimmons:" "I’ve been optimistic, but I’m prepared that optimism is not reality."

.@GregSankey reacts to @IvyLeague's decision not to hold fall sports. pic.twitter.com/BFjCWg8vMX
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) July 9, 2020

Finebaum was even more direct during a Thursday appearance on ESPN's "Get Up" program.

"The reality is that the college football season is slipping away."@finebaum reacts to the news that the Ivy League has ruled out playing fall sports. pic.twitter.com/7U1JrUxC9p
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) July 9, 2020

“It is a dreadful indicator for college football. And I think what you heard Sankey say there a minute ago was fascinating. He’s talking about reality now. And I think it’s about time that commissioners, athletic directors, and football coaches start dealing with the reality. And the reality is that the college football season is slipping away. They can hold onto hope, but if you look at what is going on in the country, it is dreadful news. Yesterday, with not only with the Ivy League, but the stories at Ohio State and North Carolina shutting down practice at least temporarily -- it was the worst day college athletics has had since that March day when the whole world shut down. I don’t see it getting any better."

Host Mike Greenberg then asked Finebaum if postponing football to a spring schedule was a realistic option.

"I think it would be easier," Finebaum said. "By then there may be a vaccine. Therapeutics will be better. I think the country will be further along. What happened yesterday sent a tsunami through this country from a college football standpoint. It may not be an inflection point, but it is the biggest story in sports, and that’s saying a great deal."

It's believed the Ivy League is hoping to host a conference-only spring football schedule, but the uncontrolled virus outbreak has all plans on hold for the foreseeable future.

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