Skip to content

Pac-12 to begin football season Nov. 6

Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Pac-12's CEO group voted to open the conference's football season Nov. 6, the Pac-12 announced Thursday.

It will play a seven-game conference-only schedule and hold a title game Dec. 18. The full schedule will be released in the coming days.

The Pac-12 had initially decided to postpone play until the spring due to COVID-19 concerns. It has chosen to begin action in November after updated state and local health guidance and new information in regards to COVID-19 testing.

The conference announced in September access to daily rapid-result COVID-19 testing for its athletes.

"With respect to football, there was agreement that these advances permitted either a fall or a winter season," the Pac-12 said in a statement. "After extensive discussion of the relative merits of the two approaches, a strong preference emerged for a fall season, and the CEOs unanimously agreed to proceed with that schedule."

The Pac-12 will be the last of the Power Five conferences to return to play amid the coronavirus pandemic. The SEC and Big 12 will start their seasons this weekend, the ACC began play in September, and the Big Ten will commence its campaign in late October.

No fans will be allowed in attendance at any Pac-12 contests, though the conference said that decision will be revisited in January 2021.

Though the seven-game schedule will allow Pac-12 teams to be considered for the College Football Playoff, it could be a hindrance to the conference.

However, there will be no win requirements this season for a school to make a bowl game, according to Brett McMurphy of Stadium.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox