Report: Pac-12 considering mid-to-late November for return to play

The Pac-12 has been discussing its return to play and the conference's "most aggressive" plan currently targets mid-to-late November as an ideal date, a source told Heather Dinich of ESPN.

The Pac-12 wants its teams to have six weeks of practice and physical preparation for a football season, Dinich adds.

Commissioner Larry Scott said earlier in September he was confident the Pac-12 would be playing football by January, and he didn't rule out staging games in 2020.

Among the reasons for Scott's optimism is the partnership between the Pac-12 and a company that will supply daily rapid-result coronavirus testing for student-athletes. The tests can yield results in 15 minutes and are expected to be available to athletic departments by the end of September.

But schools in the states of California and Oregon have not yet been cleared to resume contact activities, and the conference's presidents and chancellor reportedly won't consider a return-to-play vote until that changes.

The Pac-12 was one of two Power 5 conferences - along with the Big Ten - to postpone its fall season in August due to COVID-19 concerns.

The Big Ten is reportedly also considering staging a football season this year. The conference's presidents have recently held meetings, and a vote to return to play is expected soon, according to Bruce Feldman of The Athletic.