Sankey says SEC staying course towards Sept. 26 start for season

With the Big Ten and Pac-12 cancelling their fall sports that puts the SEC, Big 12 and ACC on the clock … and most people are predicting no college football this fall.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey isn’t ready to go there … at least as of Tuesday afternoon after two of the Power 5 schools bailed out.

“I look forward to learning more about the factors that led the Big Ten and Pac-12 leadership to take these actions today,” Sankey said in a press release. “I remain comfortable with the thorough and deliberate approach that the SEC and our 14 members are taking to support a healthy environment for our student-athletes.

“We will continue to further refine our policies and protocols for a safe return to sports as we monitor developments around COVID-19 in a continued effort to support, educate and care for our student-athletes every day.”

Maybe almost as interesting as the cancellation of the seasons was Wisconsin athletics director Barry Alvarez saying the football team will continue working out 20 hours a week, per Sean Callahan of the Nebraska site on Rivals:

Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez said teams will get to stay on a 20-hour week in the fall with workouts and drill work. #BigTen

— Sean Callahan (@Sean_Callahan) August 11, 2020

Exactly how long players would stay interested what would amount a year-long jumping up and down and studying film plays out remains to be seen.

The Big 12 is now the next conference people are watching with some reporting they are the key to what the SEC and ACC will decide to do, but neither appears to be in a big hurry to make a decision.

But leave it to Steve Spurrier to weigh in with maybe the most logic of all from Pat Dooley of GatorSports:

Coach Spurrier called a few minutes ago. Said the SEC and ACC should just play their seasons and winners face off for national title because one conference was going to win it anyway.

— Pat Dooley (@pat_dooley) August 11, 2020

Stick around … this thing ain’t over yet.