Pac-12 To Begin Play Nov. 6

The Pac-12 has reached an agreement to play an abbreviated schedule in 2020. The conference will begin play Nov. 6, according to ESPN.com’s Kyle Bonagura and Heather Dinich.

The last of the Power 5 conferences to finalize a 2020 start date, the conference will play seven games before a Dec. 18 conference championship game. This date comes two days before the College Football Playoff committee is scheduled to determine its four playoff-bound teams.

While none of the college conferences are operating normally in this historically unusual season, the Pac-12’s seven-game season will be the shortest among the leagues. The western-based conference nixed its fall season shortly after the Big Ten did in August, but an agreement to conduct daily testing helped push the league toward an earlier-than-expected return. The Big Ten moved to begin play Oct. 24 earlier this month.

Multiple first-round-caliber talents from the Pac-12 have opted out of the season, with the conference previously tabling all sport start dates until at least New Year’s Day. Oregon tackle Penei Sewell — a top-five 2021 prospect — was the most notable player to do so, with Stanford tackle Walker Little also declaring he will prepare for the draft early. A few prominent Big Ten opt-outs backtracked on their decisions after the conference’s announcement of an October start date. It would not be surprising to see Pac-12 players follow suit.

View Comments (30)