College Football Has A Non-Conference Conundrum

If I am being honest, I am tired of writing about the coronavirus. I am tired of talking about how this pandemic has taken away the sports I love, leaving me with a helpless feeling of emptiness and desolation. However, as a journalist I have the responsibility to cover “the now,” and this virus is very much, still living in the present.

Friday morning, the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) confirmed fall football will not take place.

The CAA announced, as we reported Thursday, the suspension of Fall football as a conference. JMU says it remains committed to an open exploration of various options for its competitive seasons for all sports in keeping with evolving guidance on health and public safety. pic.twitter.com/YL0A6ObQIf

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) July 17, 2020

The most recent activity that has been averted due to COVID-19 is the act of nonconference play. Major conferences such as the Big Ten and Pac-12 have already decided they will only be competing within their own division come this fall.

With this news, it is anticipated that the rest of the Power 5 conferences, which include the SEC, ACC and Big 12 will soon follow suit with this accord.

The Pac-12 will become the second conference to move its fall football season to a conference-only schedule, multiple people with direct knowledge of the situation told The Athletic.

Latest details here ⤵️https://t.co/sbb5lgtDtp

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 10, 2020

In regards to how this might affect college football, it is safe to say that the allure that comes with a big nonconference matchup will be thrown out the window this fall. Big 12 schools will not get a chance to travel to SEC country and Big Ten programs will not get the chance to make their way out west to battle the best the Pac-12 has to offer.

Aware of this, I thought it would be a good idea to look at the upcoming CFB schedule and decide the biggest non-conference games we could potentially miss during the 2020 season.

Week 0 – Saturday, August 29

Notre Dame @ Navy – Officially Postponed; Game was originally set to take place Dublin, Ireland

Week 1 – Saturday, September 5

Michigan @ Washington – Officially Cancelled

Alabama vs USC – Officially Cancelled

Georgia vs Virginia – Pending (Game to take place that Monday)

Week 2 – Saturday, September 12

Ohio State @ Oregon – Officially Cancelled

Auburn vs North Carolina – Pending

Texas @ LSU – Pending

Tennesse @ Oklahoma – Pending

Penn State @ Virginia Tech – Officially Cancelled

Week 3 – Saturday, September 19

Florida State @ Boise State – Pending

NC State @ Troy – Pending

Appalachian State @ Wisconsin – Officially Cancelled

Week 4 – Saturday, September 26

BYU @ Minnesota – Officially Cancelled

Oklahoma @ Army – Pending

TCU @ SMU – Pending

Miami @ Michigan State – Officially Cancelled

Cincinnati @ Nebraska – Officially Cancelled

Week 5 – Saturday, October 3

Notre Dame vs Wisconsin @ Lambeau field – Officially Cancelled

Navy @ Air Force – Pending

Week 6 – Saturday, October 10

Stanford @ Notre Dame – Officially Cancelled

Princeton @ Army – Officially Cancelled

Week 7 – Friday, October 16

Houston @ BYU – Pending

Week 8 – Saturday, October 24

Uconn @ Ole Miss – Pending

Week 9 – Saturday, October 31

Duke @ Notre Dame – Pending

Holy Cross @ Boston College – Officially Cancelled

Week 10 – Saturday, November 7

Clemson @ Notre Dame – Pending

Week 11 – Saturday, November 14

San Diego State @ BYU – Pending

Week 12 – Saturday, November 21

Georgia Southern @ Ole Miss – Pending

Week 13 – Saturday, November 28

Notre Dame @ USC – Officially Cancelled

Honorable Mention

Navy vs Army – 12/12/20 (Pending)

* The game was initially slated to take place at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on Dec. 12, but this may be put into jeopardy as the city of Philadelphia recently announced that, “No large events” may take place until at least February of 2021. While the Eagles and private events are exempt from this, it remains unclear what the future may hold.