Reports: Big 12 intends to play college football this fall as planned

By Benton Smith     Aug 11, 2020

Associated Press
Kansas head coach Les Miles, left, congratulates Kansas running back Pooka Williams, right, after a touchdown by Williams during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State won 41-31. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney)

Despite the decisions by the Big Ten and the Pac-12 to call off fall football, the Big 12 appears to be forging ahead toward a football season during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hours after two of college football’s Power Five conferences canceled their games for at least the remainder of 2020, Big 12 leadership decided Tuesday night over a teleconference to stay the course, according to tweets from several national sports reporters, including Sports Illustrated reporter Ross Dellenger.

Dellenger reported that before Big 12 presidents approved moving forward with a season, the conference’s athletic directors were briefed for 90 minutes by a medical panel. The debate that ensued, Dellenger reported, led to more protocols involving heart imaging tests for those who test positive for COVID-19.

Yahoo Sports reporter Pete Thamel said in a tweet that Big 12 leadership would be moving forward with a previously planned — but not yet announced — revised schedule.

The two other conferences in the Power Five, the SEC and the ACC, have both come out in favor of playing a fall season.

The Kansas football team is expected to open its season versus Southern Illinois, but not on the originally scheduled Aug. 29 date.

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