USC 'preparing for the possibility' that fans could attend football games

The key words here are “possibility” and “reduced capacity.”

Considering comments California Governor Gavin Newsom has made about fans in the stands this fall, it’s clear there will be no packed stadiums.

The University of Southern California recently announced that it is bringing back in-person classes this fall, along with an online curriculum. Earlier in the year, the sentiment around college football was that games could be played as long as students were attending classes on campus.

College football COVID-19 concerns rising

Schools around the nation have started allowing student-athletes to return to campus for voluntary workouts and eventually team workouts. The influx of young people coming back to school has resulted in plenty of positive COVID-19 tests. The University of Houston, as an example, had to shut down voluntary workouts after a number of student-athletes tested positive.

The University of Alabama had a bit of a scare when nearly 50 football players were exposed to teammates who tested positive after they worked out with their peers.

So, while there is optimism from the top brass at these schools that football will be played this fall, it might not be as linear as it appears.