BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (July 30,
2020) – The Southeastern Conference has established September 26 as the new
kickoff for it 2020 football season to allow its universities to focus on the
healthy return of its campus communities and the gradual re-introduction of
athletics, as the 14 members of the SEC continue to monitor developments
related to COVID-19, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey announced Thursday.The 2020 SEC
football schedule will be comprised of a 10-game Conference-only schedule and
the SEC Football Championship Game will be played December 19 at Mercedes Benz
Stadium in Atlanta, rescheduled from the original date of December 5.“This new plan for a football
schedule is consistent with the educational goals of our universities to allow
for the safe and orderly return to campus of their student populations and to
provide a healthy learning environment during these unique circumstances
presented by the COVID-19 virus,” Sankey said.&nbsp; “This new schedule supports
the safety measures that are being taken by each of our institutions to ensure
the health of our campus communities.”The actions were
taken following extensive discussions and thorough deliberation among the SEC’s
Presidents and Chancellors, Athletics Directors, Conference Office staff, and
medical advisors, led by the SEC’s Return to Activity and Medical Guidance Task
Force.“After careful consideration of
the public health indicators in our region and following advice of our medical
advisors, we have determined that this is the best course of action to prepare
for a safe and healthy return to competition for SEC student-athletes, coaches
and others associated with our sports programs,” said Sankey.The decision to
limit competition to Conference-only schedules and rescheduling of the SEC
Championship Game is based on the need for maximum flexibility in making any
necessary scheduling adjustments while reacting to developments around the
pandemic and continued advice from medical professionals.“We believe these schedule
adjustments offer the best opportunity to complete a full season by giving us
the ability to adapt to the fluid nature of the virus and the flexibility to
adjust schedules as necessary if disruptions occur,” Sankey said.&nbsp; “It is
regrettable that some of our traditional non-conference rivalries cannot take
place in 2020 under this plan, but these are unique, and hopefully temporary,
circumstances that call for unconventional measures.”The rescheduled start to the
season will allow the SEC to continue to monitor health trends across its
11-state footprint, as well as monitor developments in technology around mitigation
and treatment of the virus, including:<ul>
 <li>Trends
 in public health indicators throughout the SEC’s 11-state footprint,
 including positive cases of COVID-19, hospitalizations and recovery
 statistics</li><li>State,
 local and campus heath directives, including restrictions on gatherings,
 isolation requirements for travelers, and other health and travel
 restrictions</li><li>Continued
 development of risk mitigation strategies</li><li>Continued
 advancement in COVID-19 testing reliability and availability</li><li>Continued
 evolution of time-based strategies for resuming activities after positive
 test results, including contact tracing, isolation and quarantine
 requirements</li><li>Observation
 of successes and challenges presented by return to competition in other
 sports</li>
 </ul>A revised schedule for the 2020
SEC football season will be announced at a later date following approval by the
Conference’s athletics directors.&nbsp; The 10-game schedule will include one
mid-season open date for each school and an open date on December 12 for all
schools.Further decisions will be
announced at a later date regarding attendance at events and safety standards,
including social distancing, face coverings and other health measures
consistent with CDC, state and local guidelines, related to athletic events,
tailgating and other game day activities.Other notes related to the
resumption of competition:<ul>
 <li>The
 SEC announced in July that the sports of men’s and women’s cross country,
 soccer and volleyball would be postponed through at least August 31.&nbsp;
 Start dates and schedules for those sports, as well as sports in their
 non-traditional seasons during the fall, will be announced at a later
 date.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>The SEC announced in July that
 student-athletes in all sports who elect to not participate in
 intercollegiate athletics during the fall 2020 academic semester because
 of health and/or safety concerns related to COVID-19 will continue to have
 their scholarships honored by their university and will remain in good
 standing with their team.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>The
 SEC’s Return to Activity and Medical Guidance Task Force continues to meet
 on policies and procedures for the safe return of student-athletes to
 competition, including the development of comprehensive testing and
 reporting policies, building on&nbsp;the NCAA’s Resocialization of College
 Sports Guidelines.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Each
 athletics program has been engaged in evaluating best practices for game
 operations to prepare a safe environment for student-athletes, coaches,
 staff, officials and other individuals necessary to conduct games.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>--- SEC Press Release ---

SEC to play a 10-game, conference only football schedule