Pac-12: Fate of College Football in Flux for 2020
PNWS Staff
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Pac-12 football in 2020 is teetering on the brink of collapse. The ripple of no season this fall will affect more than what happens between the sidelines.
The rumors keep leaking out. First, the Big Sky and MAC, then the PAC-12 and Big 10, and now possibly all Big 5 conferences are following suit. It looks like there will not be any college football this fall. The fallout is going to be larger than a few extra Saturdays fans get to spend fishing this September. While spring football is on the table, nothing is guaranteed at this point.
What’s at Stake
As much as nobody likes to admit it, there is a business behind all sports at this level. Top football programs typically bring in profits that provide enough funding to keep all sports at their schools afloat. In most colleges, basketball is the only moneymaker after football. Other sports that don’t bring in as much money could be in danger. Schools such as Boise State have already cut programs like baseball, swimming, and diving. If money can’t be made on football ticket sales in the spring, athletic directors are going to have to make some difficult decisions. Even the delayed revenue could cause problems.
The effect of cutting sports can run deeper at a university than just the loss of a team. Many schools attract walk-ons in lesser-known sports who will choose a university for the chance to play at an elite level. That loss in tuition revenue could affect schools negatively and go largely unnoticed. Schools count scholarships awarded negatively against a sports program like swimming. However, they do not count the tuition of walk-ons as a net gain within the sports department. This leaves non-revenue sports on the chopping block in a tight spot.
As scholarships and sporting opportunities in college are reduced, the lost opportunities trickle down to high schools. Since high schools don’t make money through sports, cuts there are going to be easier to justify. The money and motivation of college sports reach deep into the sports community.
Why the NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA Should Care
Beyond just hoping that things turn out well, the bog four sports should be invested in helping colleges through this. As much as they have their own problems, for the most part, they are dependent upon the college ranks to develop players.
There are questions that need good answers.
- On April 29th, 2021, will NFL teams be ready to invest big money into draft picks who aren’t even done with their college season yet?
- When players make is to professional sports, are they going to have had the same development that previous athletes have had?
- Would the NFL look at bypassing the college level altogether and start a developmental league as the NBA did?
This could have major impacts on the focus of professional sports when it comes to developing athletes. The loss of football revenue would have ripples that affect everything from the NBA to the NWSL and into Olympic sports. All sports rely heavily on athletes developing in college or high school programs. The greater sports community needs to rally around NCAA Football.
Impact on local Pac-12 teams
Washington coach Jimmy Lake, and Washington State coach Nick Rolovich continue their introduction to their new roles by dealing with one of the more difficult situations any coach could face. They won’t have the prestige of Apple Cup victories or Bowl Games to ride on. Instead, the Pac-12’s newest football head coaches will have to earn the trust of players, their university, and their fans through other means.
There is no guarantee that COVID-19 will be any less of a problem six months from now. Even if football can be played with fans in the stands this spring, both Washington programs will be set back. It will be yet another year with no spring practice and an even longer time for Lake and Rolovich to implement their full game plans.
The future of sports is in flux right now. College football holds plenty of sway over what happens next.