ESPN analyst Chris Fowler thinks college football will be delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Sharing a video to his Instagram account, Fowler said there is “gaining momentum” to push back the upcoming season to the spring of 2021, citing “informed speculation.”
“Beginning some point in February, getting into March, April, May, maybe have the postseason in June,” Fowler said. “That would have to be reshuffled a bit, it would be bizarre, it would wreak havoc on some other sports in that time of year, but to avoid the financial disaster of having no football in the academic year, I think it might be a fallback position.”
Fowler shared three scenarios he heard were a possibility. The first, he said, was starting the season on time — but added, “time is running out” to make that decision.
“I’m told by the end of May, there has to be clarity and if you are going to have college campuses open, which you will have to bring the players back,” Fowler said. “That’s about the deadline to get things going on time.”
The second idea Fowler floated was a delayed season in the fall.
“Scenario 2, the season starts late and maybe gets shortened a bit,” Fowler said. “Maybe you get going in November and you go through January and have to reshuffle the Playoff. To me, that sounds problematic. People are worried about a second wave of this virus coming back when the temperatures up north turn colder. You want to start a season then have to shut it down? To me, that would be disastrous.”
The third scenario would be to start the season in the spring.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Chris Fowler (@chrisfowler) on Apr 11, 2020 at 10:44am PDT
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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