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Power 5 Conferences Remain Torn as College Football Faces a Pivotal Decision - Bama Maven
Aug 11, 2020 3 mins, 2 secs
A potential shutdown of college football evoked an outpouring of support Monday for playing a 2020 season, from the President of the United States to the head coach at Ohio State, sending a divided sport’s nation into what could be a Tuesday of cataclysmic conference decisions.

Adhering to its fractured nature, the NCAA’s richest five conferences formed factions over the idea of playing a season this fall or not, splitting off into warring parties: the Pac-12 and Big Ten are expected to cancel or postpone their seasons; the SEC and ACC would like to play; and the Big 12 is “really split,” according to multiple sources.

All of this was sparked by the Big Ten’s impending move to cancel its season.

“Kevin encountered a lot more blowback today than he thought he would,” says an industry source.

That could turn into one of the most consequential days in college football history, in which a host of Power 5 conference presidents decide to either shut down the season, continue moving forward—or, in more of an anticlimax, delay the season’s start even more than they already have.

The Pac-12 is expected to vote on a 2020 season during a presidential meeting Tuesday.

While many high-ranking sources within the industry expect them to end their attempt at a fall season, the conference could choose to significantly delay kickoff.

One industry source called the Big 12 the “linchpin,” and multiple administrators describe the conference as “split” on a decision.

“I think the dialog can swing it one way or another,” a conference source said.

A separate league source described the split thusly: "a small group that absolutely wants to postpone the season; a small group that absolutely wants to play; and a majority group that is right in between, saying we don't have to decide right now." ADs and presidents are expected to meet on a joint call Tuesday evening, sources tell SI, where a vote is expected on whether to cancel, proceed or delay the fall season.

The Big 12's status as the Power 5 swing conference has become clear.

A source with knowledge of the situation said ACC presidents reached out to Big 12 presidents this week to get a gauge for what that league was going to do, communicating that it will influence the ACC's position.

If the Big 12 were to join the Pac-12 and Big Ten in postponing until 2021, the ACC would feel compelled to go along, the source said, essentially leaving the SEC on an island.

“If the SEC, ACC and Big 12 can play, I think they will,” says one industry source?

It can’t be, ‘Well, because the Pac-12 decided to.’ We’re trying to get people who think we should cancel right now to take a deep breath.

By the time the Big 12 meets, the Pac-12 is expected to have announced a decision, along with its medical report, a document that could potentially shift views of decision-makers in other conferences, namely the waffling Big 12.

According to insiders, the conference was “leaning” toward the Big Ten and Pac-12 at the start of the day.

Three of the remaining Group of Five conferences—the AAC, Conference USA and Sun Belt—are trudging ahead, taking cues from its Power 5 brethren.

Still, the conference over the weekend engaged with other Power 5 conferences about canceling its season, which at some point seemed like a foregone conclusion.

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