California postpones high school football, other sports due to pandemic

The worsening coronavirus pandemic has led to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) postponing high school football and other fall sports.

In an official statement, the CIF announced on Monday that the uncontrolled virus outbreak led to the organization pushing the sports calendar back and deciding that seasons "will commence in December 2020 or January 2021" if possible:

We are continuously monitoring the directives and guidelines released from the Governor's Office, the California Department of Education, the California Department of Public Health, and local county health departments and agencies as these directives and guidelines are followed by our member schools/school districts with student health and safety at the forefront. As these guidelines change, CIF Sections may allow for athletic activity to potentially resume under the summer period rules of the local Section.

With Gov. Gavin Newsom announcing that counties experiencing coronavirus outbreaks must start the school term via distance learning, per KPIX out of San Francisco, sports seasons throughout the state remain in serious doubt.

Meanwhile, the Pac-12 collegiate conference moved to a league-only season to limit travel. As Brad Crawford of 247Sports wrote over the weekend, some Pac-12 players may threaten boycotts amid the pandemic.