CornerstoneColumbia.com
*** With Thursday's announcement by the Big Ten that it would adopt a conference-only slate, that's led to plenty of questions regarding the potential domino effect across college football.
Because we cover the Gamecocks, we've dug in over the last 24 hours to find out more about the program's season outlook and where things stand with the SEC and nationally. Here's what I've rounded up...
- We've written in the past about how the outlook for the 2020 season has evolved. At the outset of the coronavirus outbreak that resulted in a suspension of in-person team and recruiting activities, folks were concerned as to whether or not there would be a season at all, or if football would need to be played in the spring of 2021. That evolved into a line of thinking that, yes, there would be football in 2020, but with limited fan capacity - that being the part that would require the most work heading into the year.
Over the last few weeks, people in positions of power across the college football landscape have become increasingly concerned about the how the season could look. Up until yesterday, however, there were no certain changes or direction that had been implemented, and now know that it appears seasons will be shortened across the board. More on the "why" here in a bit.
- I've been told that other conferences are not going to be far behind on moving to a conference-only model. It's looking like the Pac-12 is going to do the same, and Stadium's Brett McMurphy (and others) are reporting that the ACC is expected to play only conference games.
- One aspect worth pointing out: even if a league (let's just use the SEC for an example) wanted to play a full schedule, one has to consider the ramifications of having most or all other conferences opting to shorten their seasons. South Carolina has games against an FCS team in Wofford, plus an ACC (Clemson), Sun Belt (Coastal Carolina), and Conference-USA (East Carolina) team. If all of those conferences choose not to play games outside of their own, then you're left where you are. From that standpoint, there may end up being lockstep here.
- There were rumors swirling yesterday that the SEC was ready to announce a move in short order to a conference only schedule, but in doing checking of my own, it appears that's not happening yet. Commissioner Greg Sankey released another statement yesterday indicating that the conference was going to continue meeting with campus leaders and consulting with the medical community to determine the "best path forward."
If one had to put money on it, it would appear wise to lay odds on the SEC ultimately following suit here. It may just take some time.
- Another question I have been asked is this: What would happen with the money that is due to be paid from "guarantee" games such as Wofford if they didn't happen? I'm working to confirm, but have been told in the past that there is insurance for situations such as this that could help to cover costs. Whether or not it would definitely apply in this scenario is not something I know as of this writing.
- One thing that the Big Ten mentioned in its statement announcing the move to conference-only slates relates to flexibility, meaning that having some extra "open weeks" in the season allows for the possibility of shifting games around in case of an outbreak at one institution that would necessitate cancellation. That, according to several folks I've spoken with, has long been a concern for the 2020 season. This *could* help alleviate that to some degree by leaving some open space.
Another reason we've seen this move is that it allows each conference, which sets minimum parameters for testing and procedures, to bubble things up within its own conference a bit.
As one source I spoke with mentioned to me, pertaining to the potential of the SEC staying within its own conference for games:
"We don't know how careful non conference schools are being about quarantine and testing."
- There have been several models proposed behind the scenes to shorten the season in the SEC. Some programs want to play the conference season plus another one or two, but it's unknown if that will ultimately be feasible.
As it relates to Clemson and South Carolina, we're told that both programs would like to play that game. Yet, as mentioned earlier, it appears that the ACC is already heading in the direction of a conference-only slate. It just may not be able to happen at the end of the day.
- Another byproduct of all this - shortening to conference-only - is that it very much puts the college football playoff in doubt. If schools around the country are only going to play 8 or 9 (The Big Ten, for instance, already plays 9 conference contests) in-conference games, many folks are wondering where that leaves the playoff at year's end and what could be done to determine a national champion.
One option would be to add another in-conference game - or two - to get to 10, which some believe would be an acceptable number to be able to determine conference division winners/playoff participants.
- One last note: we've been told to expect testing around the conference for COVID-19 to expand even more beginning in August.
- Let me know if you have any questions!
*** Thanks for reading, and we appreciate you being a member of GamecockCentral.com!
***
Today's Insider Report is brought to you by Cornerstone Financial Management. Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Good Life Advisors, LLC, a registered investment advisor. Cornerstone Financial Management and Good Life Advisors, LLC are separate entities from LPL Financial.
