SEC commissioner 'prepared' to adapt if college football can't start on time

As of May 7, it's anybody's guess when the 2020 college football season will begin amid the coronavirus pandemic or if games will be played during the fall months.

Earlier this week, Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick hinted the virus outbreak could prevent all conferences from kicking off at the same time. On Wednesday, Penn State head coach James Franklin told ESPN he believes conferences shouldn't need all of its programs to start playing if a majority of universities are ready at the end of August.

On Thursday, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey spoke with CBS Sports about the state of college football. While Sankey left no doubt he wants a full season to start and complete as scheduled, he's also realistic with so much unknown before the summer months:

"I think it's important to communicate that we're focused on playing the season as scheduled. First, we want to make sure we're prepared. But if you have to adapt, you adapt off of that preparation," Sankey told Denis Dodd of CBS. "I also think it's important that young people who had the foundation of their education, the rhythm, the support right there … that's gone. It's important to communicate to them we're working on a daily basis to get back to operations. What does that look like? I know what I want it to be, but I can't predict on what it will be. I'm going to focus on that normal start-up. It may vary, but I can vary off of that plan rather than trying to have to play for all the problematic 'what ifs.'"

Sankey added: "What state or local issues are in play as we move into the summer are going to provide that determination rather than early-May predictions." 

As noted by Lexington, Ky., television station Lex 18, the majority of SEC schools are planning to reopen campuses to students for fall semesters. This is a must for college football to even be considered by universities in question. 

It's not known if fans will be welcomed to stadiums for games. Future coronavirus testing protocols for teams also haven't been announced by any parties.