The Mountain West football teams will play eight conference match ups with an optional two non-conference games, with kickoffs set for no earlier than Sept. 26.
Mountain West Board of Directors announced Wednesday fall sports, which include football, women's soccer, women's volleyball and cross country, will begin no earlier than the week of Sept. 26.
Football programs will play an eight-game conference schedule, but can opt to play two non-conference opponents. The Mountain West Football Championship Game date has not been set, but could be scheduled for Dec. 5, Dec. 12 or Dec. 19, the conference announced. The final plan will be announced once it has been set.
Fall competitions for golf, tennis, swimming and diving, indoor track and field, softball and baseball has been canceled, according to the conference.
Updates regarding 2020 Football and Fall Sports have been announced. pic.twitter.com/tONFKLWlCC
— Mountain West (@MountainWest) August 5, 2020
“The health and well-being of our students, student-athletes, coaches, staff and overall communities remain the first and foremost priority,” Dr. Mary Papazian, president at San José State University and chair of the MW Board of Directors, said in a statement. “An incredible amount of thought and discussion from multiple perspectives went into making this decision. The modified fall structure supports the measures being taken by each of our institutions to ensure responsible return to play. We will continue to gather the best medical information available and lean on advice from public health professionals, as well as state and local officials, as we make decisions and necessary adjustments in the future.”
Fall Olympic Sports competition will be conference games only, the conference announced. Fall Olympic sports include women's soccer and women's volleyball. The conference champions will be determined by regular season games. Men's and women's cross country continue to be reviewed, according to the Mountain West.
The Mountain West follows a string of conferences canceling out-of-conference competition. The ACC is one of several Power Five conferences that has canceled most non-conference games, many of which had direct impacts on the Mountain West 2020 football season. Boise State's faceoff against Florida State in Boise fell through as part of the schedule shift.
The Broncos were slated to open the season against Georgia Southern Sept. 5 at home before welcoming FSU Sept. 19.
