Auburn, SEC to play through COVID-19 with modified 2020 schedule
Auburn-North Carolina, we hardly knew you.
Auburn’s 2020 football season is beginning to take shape. The SEC announced Thursday that the conference would adopt a 10-game, conference-only scheduling format for the 2020 season due to coronavirus concerns, officially canceling the Tigers’ scheduled game against the Tar Heels.
That’s the only real notable game Auburn will miss out on: The Tigers were originally scheduled to face out-of-conference foes UNC, Southern Miss, Alcorn State and UMass.
“After careful consideration of the public health indicators in our region and following advice of our medical advisors, we have determined that this is the best course of action to prepare for a safe and healthy return to competition for SEC student-athletes, coaches and others associated with our sports programs,” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said.
A full, revised schedule for the SEC’s programs will be released at a later date, following approval by conference ADs, according to the conference.
The league has also moved back the start of the season to Sept. 26 and the SEC Championship Game to Dec. 19. The schedule will include one mid-season open date for each school and an open date on Dec. 12 for all schools.
“The health and safety of our student-athletes, staff and fans remains our top priority,” Auburn AD Allen Greene said. “In that spirit, we deeply appreciate Commissioner Sankey’s leadership and the tireless efforts of the Conference staff during ongoing discussions related to fall competition.”
The decision comes after the SEC’s presidents and chancellors met virtually on Thursday.
“The Presidents and Chancellors’ decision to implement a 10-game, conference-only schedule for the 2020 football season is prudent and the Tigers are fully supportive,” Greene said.
Further decisions regarding safety standards related to athletics events, tailgating and other game day activities, including social distancing, face covering and other health measures, will be announced at a later date.
“We believe these schedule adjustments offer the best opportunity to complete a full season by giving us the ability to adapt to the fluid nature of the virus and the flexibility to adjust schedules as necessary if disruptions occur,” Sankey said. “It is regrettable that some of our traditional non-conference rivalries cannot take place in 2020 under this plan, but these are unique, and hopefully temporary, circumstances that call for unconventional measures.”
This story was originally published July 30, 2020 at 4:52 PM.
