SEC sets 10-game conference only football schedule
The Southeastern Conference on Thursday adopted a 10-game, conference-only football schedule for this fall, with opening games now set for Sept. 26.
That means Missouri will not play its previously scheduled non-conference games to open the season, instead starting Sept. 26 against a yet-to-be determined SEC opponent.
The individual SEC football teams’ fall 2020 schedules were not announced Thursday. That will come later once they are approved by the conferences’ athletic directors
The change was made because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The conference said it wants to allow member universities to “focus on the healthy return of their campus communities and the gradual re-introduction of athletics,” according to a news release.
Further adjustments to the fall schedule could still be forthcoming as conditions warrant.
“This new plan for a football schedule is consistent with the educational goals of our universities to allow for the safe and orderly return to campus of their student populations and to provide a healthy learning environment during these unique circumstances presented by the COVID-19 virus,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement. “This new schedule supports the safety measures that are being taken by each of our institutions to ensure the health of our campus communities.”
Mizzou’s current 2020 SEC schedule included six SEC East opponents: Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina and Vanderbilt. Its two SEC West opponents were Arkansas (an annual rivalry) and Mississippi State (a rotational matchup).
While the other two slots are not yet determined, speculation has centered on the Tigers’ rotational opponents for the next two years: Texas A&M (2021) and at Auburn (2022).
All teams’ 2020 schedules will be announced following their approval by the SEC’S athletic directors.
The non-conference cancellations ensure this much: Mizzou won’t be playing Central Arkansas, Eastern Michigan,
BYU or Louisiana-lafayette – its four previously scheduled non-conference foes – this fall. Canceling those games, based on each game’s unique contract, could be costly, but that will be for the schools to negotiate.
MU athletic director Jim
Sterk recently said there were certain perks to playing only in-conference games – namely, the knowledge and peace of mind that testing protocols and precautions would be uniformly administered. An FCS opponent might not have the resources in place for diligent testing, for instance, which could adversely affect the Tigers.
“It’s a comfort level of how protocols are being enacted, how testing is done and then keeping it within that family – it’s an expanded social circle or social pod,” Sterk said earlier this month.