PAC-12 WILL PLAY FOOTBALL

The Pac-12 will join the Big Ten in attempting to play football this fall, the league announced Thursday, reversing a decision made in August to postpone until the winter or spring at the earliest due to the health concerns posed by the coronavirus pandemic. Pac-12 play will begin Nov. 6 with a seven-game schedule consisting of only league games and culminating with the conference championship game Dec. 18. The schedule will enable teams from the Pac-12 to be considered for the College Football Playoff, the league said in a statement. The seven-game schedule would be the shortest of any Bowl Subdivision conference currently in competition or with plans to resume play before the winter. The Big Ten, which will return on Oct. 24, is planning to play up to nine games. Teams in the SEC can play 10 games, all in conference, beginning on Saturday. Pac-12 teams can begin practice immediately “with the necessary public health approvals,” the league said. There will be no fans allowed at games. Adding the Pac-12 brings the entire Power Five into competition and leaves only two FBS leagues, the MAC and Mountain West, still determining whether to play this fall. Both conferences are expected to decide before the end of the month.