Details on Pac-12 Return to Play Plan

It hasn’t gotten nearly as much attention as the Big Ten, because quite frankly no one cares as much, but the Pac-12 has had its own whirlwind couple months. While no one really would’ve bet on this as recently as a few weeks ago, the Pac-12 is indeed poised to return:

Source: The #Pac12 voted to play.

— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) September 24, 2020

Pac-12 season will begin Nov. 6, a source confirms. Everyone will play 7 games. Title game Dec. 18.

— Kyle Bonagura (@BonaguraESPN) September 24, 2020

Sources: There will be no fans at Pac-12 games this year.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 24, 2020

So, a six-game season followed by a title game and other divisional games, like the Big Ten is doing. While it’s been since 2016-17 since Washington made the College Football Playoff out of the Pac-12, it’ll be be interesting to see if the committee would select an undefeated conference champion.

It also bears watching how this goes with local regulators. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom has said nothing was standing in the Pac-12’s way for returning to play, but their pandemic restrictions would make it nearly impossible to stage a football practice. There are also air quality issues due to wildfires across the West Coast.

Nonetheless, the Pac-12 has a path to return. All Power-Five conferences will be playing football this Fall.