No one will forget this year of 2020, amid all the uncertainties that is around the world of sports from the stoppage of the NBA, MLB, MLS, and NHL many wondered how would fall sports handle the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Well for college football we’ve seen two Power-5 conferences (Big 10, Pac 12) postpone their seasons due to their concerns of the pandemic. However, it is not just those conferences that are being affected by COVID-19, even with the conferences (ACC, Big 12, and SEC) that are planning to play conference only games some of the biggest names in college football are deciding to not risk their health and opt out of the season.
LSU Junior WR Ja’Marr Chase is probably the biggest name that opted out of the 2020 season. Chase was the Biletnikoff Award winner after tallying 84 catches, 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns. Other stars like Oregon OT Penei Sewell, Memphis RB Kenneth Gainwell and Georgia QB transfer Jamie Newman are also opting out for the 2021 NFL Draft.
Although the college football season has started for other schools, how will this season play out? Will the teams who are missing key players due to opting out suffer? Do preseason predictions change for certain schools? If the ACC, Big 12, and SEC find a way to continue their seasons how bad does the Big 10 and Pac 12 look? Especially when Ohio St. has a legitimate chance of making the College Football Playoff and possibly contending with Clemson or Alabama again.
The Big 10 still has hopes of playing in the fall as of now, but it still seems to be a no go as the conference hasn’t reached a consensus on whether to play or not. The only thing to do now is to just sit and watch how this all unfolds in the most unpredictable season ever.
