Pac-12 Non-Conference Football Games That Are Canceled For 2020 Season
Jul 12, 2020, 4:43 PM
Utah defensive end Mika Tafua (42) runs out of the pile with a recovered fumble giving the Utes possession in BYU territory during the second half of the Utah-BYU game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019. (Colter Peterson, Deseret News)
(Colter Peterson, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Pac-12 announced on Friday, July 10 that they will play a conference-only schedule because of coronavirus concerns.
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That means 36 games that were scheduled to be played against opponents outside of the Pac-12 have been canceled.
For Utah, they will not play rival BYU for the first time since 2014 when the Utes put the rivalry on hiatus because Utah scheduled a home-and-home series with Michigan.
The Utes also will not travel to Laramie to face former Mountain West Conference foe Wyoming. It was going to be the first meeting between the two schools since Utah made the move to the Pac-12. Also, Utah will not face Montana State.
Here are the other Pac-12 non-conference games that have been canceled.
Arizona State Sun Devils
The Sun Devils were scheduled to open the season on Thursday, September 3 against Big Sky’s Northern Arizona. Then they were going to play UNLV in Las Vegas at the new Raiders stadium on Saturday, September 12.
Finally, Arizona State will not face BYU in Provo on Saturday, September 19. The Sun Devils are one of three Pac-12 schools that will not play the Cougars.
Pac-12 CEO Group announces decision to schedule conference-only play for several Fall sports & to delay move toward mandatory athletics activities.
Full announcement ➡️ https://t.co/4kj9UJyvMk pic.twitter.com/pabfrBc5Bu
— Arizona State Sun Devils (@TheSunDevils) July 10, 2020
Arizona Wildcats
The Wildcats were scheduled to start the season during “Week zero” at home against Hawai’i on Saturday, August 29. One week later on September 5, Arizona was set to host Portland State.
The only non-conference road game for Arizona was in Lubbock to face former Utah State head coach Matt Wells and the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
AD @Dave_Heeke on yesterday’s decision from @pac12 pic.twitter.com/7wkEjgFate
— Arizona Athletics (@AZATHLETICS) July 11, 2020
California Golden Bears
Cal was going to start the 2020 season on the road against UNLV during “Week zero” on Saturday, August 29 at Allegiant Stadium. A tough task the following week as their home opener was going to be against the TCU Horned Frogs on Saturday, September 5.
They were going to wrap up their non-conference slate at home on Saturday, September 12 against Cal Poly.
Pac-12 Statement On Fall Seasons.https://t.co/PmISlSdsig
— Cal Athletics (@CalAthletics) July 10, 2020
Colorado Buffaloes
Under new head coach Karl Dorrell was going to have a tough non-conference schedule that was scheduled to start on Saturday, September 5 in Fort Collins against rival Colorado State. Then the home opener was set to be against Fresno State on Saturday, September 12.
The final non-conference game was against Jimbo Fisher and the Texas A&M Aggies in College Station, Texas on Saturday, September 19.
Chancellor DiStefano on the Pac-12 decision: it "gives us time to develop the consistent testing and mitigation protocols across the conference that will protect the health and safety of all of our student-athletes, coaches, fans and campus communities."https://t.co/rudebe9Vpe
— Colorado Buffaloes (@CUBuffs) July 11, 2020
Oregon Ducks
The defending Pac-12 Champion Oregon Ducks are probably disappointed about the announcement because they were scheduled to play the FCS Champion North Dakota State squad at home to open the season on Saturday, September 5. The big one was against Ohio State on Saturday, September 12 at Autzen Stadium.
They were scheduled to end the non-conference slate at home against Hawai’i on Saturday, September 19.
Oregon State Beavers
The rebuild in Corvallis was supposed to take another step in the right direction and the perfect test was going to be their season opener on the road in Stillwater against Oklahoma State on Thursday, September 3. Game number 2 on the schedule was going to be at home against Colorado State on Saturday, September 12.
The final non-conference game was against FCS Portland State at home on Saturday, September 19.
Stanford Cardinal
David Shaw and his Stanford squad had their non-conference games scattered around throughout the season. They were scheduled to open the season at home on Saturday, September 5 against William & Mary. Then the historic clash between the Cardinal and Notre Dame was going to be played in South Bend, Indiana in October.
The final game of the regular season for Stanford was supposed to be at home against BYU on Saturday, November 28.
UCLA Bruins
The third season of the Chip Kelly era was going to begin during “Week zero” at home against New Mexico State on Saturday, August 29. The next two non-conference games were on the road against Hawai’i on Saturday, September 5.
A bye week was scheduled after the Hawai’i game before taking on San Diego State on Saturday, September 19.
A statement from @MartinJarmond on the @pac12 decision about the fall conference season.
🔗: https://t.co/00G3Io4ep6 pic.twitter.com/yEOwrJIQUL
— UCLA Athletics (@UCLAAthletics) July 11, 2020
USC Trojans
The Trojans had a fantastic non-conference schedule. They were going to play Alabama in the season opener on Saturday, September 5 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Then the home opener against New Mexico was scheduled for Saturday, September 12.
The final non-conference game was going to be the regular season finale against Notre Dame on Saturday, November 28 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
— Mike Bohn (@USC_mikebohn) July 11, 2020
Washington Huskies
This was a challenging non-conference schedule for Jimmy Lake in his first season as head coach of Washington. All three games at home were going to help. Washington was scheduled to begin the season on Saturday, September 5 against Michigan. Then they would host former Utah offensive coordinator Troy Taylor and Sacramento State on Saturday, September 12.
The final game of the non-conference slate impacted the state of Utah as the Huskies were set to face Utah State on Saturday, September 19.
Statement from Director of Athletics, Jen Cohen: #GoHuskies https://t.co/wCLN0C9sNv pic.twitter.com/ukceky1ihe
— Washington Athletics (@UWAthletics) July 11, 2020
Washington State Cougars
In Nick Rolovich’s first season at the helm on the Palouse, the Cougars were scheduled to begin the 2020 season on the road against the Utah State Aggies on Thursday, September 3. Washington State’s home opener was supposed to be Saturday, September 12 against the Houston Cougars.
The non-conference slate was scheduled for Saturday, September 19 at home against Idaho State.
The Pac-12 will announce schedule details no later than July 31.
Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.
