MAC will resume action in November
The Mid-American Conference, the first major college football league to postpone its season because of the pandemic, became the final one to jump back in, making it 10 out of 10 conferences that will play in the fall.
As university presidents in the Big Ten, Pac-12 and Mountain West have done over the last 10 days, MAC leaders on Friday voted unanimously to reverse their August decision to push football to spring. The MAC will instead open its season Nov. 4.
Just like the other conferences returning to fall ball, the MAC cited advancements in COVID-19 antigen testing as key to the change of direction. The conference will begin testing athletes four times per week, starting Oct 5.
If all goes well, by the first weekend of November, there will be college football from coast-to- coast. That seemed highly unlikely throughout much of the summer as the United States struggled to contain a virus that has killed more than 200,000 people across the country.
The pandemic is still not under control in many states, but college football will go on in front of empty stadiums or limited attendance.
The MACtion will start on a Wednesday, and the championship game will be played Dec. 18 or 19. A full schedule will be released later, along with the conference’s full medical protocols.
“The risk is much more for coronavirus off the field than it is on the field,” said Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease expert and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security.
Miami-Florida State ready for prime time
No. 12-ranked Miami (2-0), led by Houston transfer D’Eriq King, is hosting ESPN’s “College GameDay,” and for the second straight week playing in primetime. King has accounted for five touchdowns (four passing and one rushing) and not yet thrown an interception.
Florida State (0-1) will play without coach Mike Norvell, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week.
The best Top 25 game pits No. 23 Kentucky at No. 8 Auburn.
The Wildcats have one of the nation’s best offensive lines and could qualify as a dark horse in an East Division race that has No. 4 Georgia and No. 5 Florida as favorites.
Kentucky and Auburn don’t play often — just once since 2010 — and when they do the Tigers usually win. Auburn is 17-1 in the series going back to 1967.
The Tigers debut an offense led by new coordinator Chad Morris and sophomore quarterback Bo Nix.