Pac- 12 needs delay while COVID roars

I wasn’t a math major. I wasn’t even a math minor. I was more like a Never Mather.

But when it comes to basic addition, we’ve got that covered.

Massive disruption to the regular season + conversations about delaying the College Football Playoff + a conference desperate for a berth = super- mega- colossal opportunity.

The Pac- 12 should start shouting from the rooftops about changing the CFP’s timeline ( while wearing a mask and standing six feet apart, of course).

Who should be doing the pushing?

We recently asked Merton Hanks, the Pac- 12’ s chief of football operations, about delaying the playoff, and he deferred to Commissioner Larry Scott, a member of the CFP management committee.

“Larry’s been in those conversations,” Hanks said. “They are just beginning to take shape as we move into the season.”

Except the season is moving in the wrong direction. Games have been canceled this weekend in the SEC and Big Ten, in addition to two in the Pac12. COVID- 19 is raging and curves are rising.

And the question is finally being asked of the playoff power brokers:

Is it time to consider moving the CFP into late January to give conferences a chance to make up postponed games and add new ones?

Big 12 Commissioner

Bob Bowlsby was asked about it this week on Sirius XM College radio and said:

“We’ve spent some time talking about that. We haven’t come to any closure on it, but there is some latitude to postpone if that need should arise and the same is true with some of the New Year’s Six games.”

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey was asked about it this week on a media Zoom call and said:

“We’re all going to have to be flexible. So I’m not going to hypothesize about change, but I’m not inattentive to the potential that change may need to occur.”

Meanwhile, Scott ... has not commented on it, at least not lately.

But the next time he has the opportunity — and every time thereafter — he should push for a delay.

If the current course continues, the Pac- 12 champ simply won’t have as many wins over .500- orbetter opponents — or as many victories over ranked teams — as the other contenders.

But delay the playoff, and the Pac- 12 has a chance to add games and balance the competitive field.