The Pac-12 Conference announced Tuesday that it has postponed all sports through the end of 2020 due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
The Pac-12 CEO Group unanimously voted to postpone the fall sports calendar after consulting with the conference’s Medical Advisory Committee over concerns for player and coach safety.
Pac-12 officials also said they would consider a return of postponed sports in spring 2021 if conditions improve.
University of California at Berkeley and Stanford University are the two Bay Area schools in the Pac-12. “Unlike professional sports, college sports cannot operate in a bubble,” Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said. “Our athletic programs are a part of broader campuses in communities where in many cases the prevalence of COVID-19 is significant.”
Pac-12 officials said that student-athletes will have their scholarships guaranteed despite the cancellation of sports in 2020. Conference officials also encouraged the NCAA to grant an additional year of eligibility to students who opt out of their sports during the 2020-2021 academic year.
“Ultimately, our decision was guided by science and a deep commitment to the health and welfare of student-athletes,” University of Oregon President Michael Schill said. “We certainly hope that the Pac-12 will be able to return to competition in the new year.”