USA TODAY International Edition
NCAA fall championships for Division I postponed
As conference after conference in Division I postponed fall sports, the NCAA has made the inevitable decision that there will be no fall championships in the organization’s top tier in 2020 due to the ongoing COVID- 19 pandemic.
“We cannot, at this point, have fall NCAA championships,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said in a video interview posted Thursday evening, adding it is hoped championships can be moved to the 2021 calendar year.
He noted that the board of governors requirement of 50% of schools playing to hold the postseason wouldn’t be achievable. “Sadly, tragically, that’s going to be the case this fall,” Emmert said. “That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t and can’t turn toward winter and spring and say ‘ OK, how can we create a legitimate championship for all those students.’ ... I’m completely confident that we can figure this out.”
Fall championships in Divisions II and III had already been put on hold. This now means there will be no FCS football playoff this fall. Other sports affected are men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, women’s field hockey and women’s volleyball.
Emmert said the possibility of playing next year will have to come with a few contingencies. He says first that priority must be given to the fall and winter sports that lost their championships this past year.
It should be noted that this decision does not apply to the College Football Playoff, which is not an NCAA event but is run by the conferences. Six of the 10 FBS leagues, including the SEC, ACC and Big 12, are still hoping to play football starting in September.
Contributing: Curt Weiler, Tallahassee ( Fla.) Democrat