Reports: Big 12 intends to play college football this fall as planned

photo by: Associated Press

Kansas head coach Les Miles, left, congratulates Kansas running back Pooka Williams, right, after a touchdown by Williams during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State won 41-31. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney)

Despite the decisions by the Big Ten and the Pac-12 to call off fall football, the Big 12 appears to be forging ahead toward a football season during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hours after two of college football’s Power Five conferences canceled their games for at least the remainder of 2020, Big 12 leadership decided Tuesday night over a teleconference to stay the course, according to tweets from several national sports reporters, including Sports Illustrated reporter Ross Dellenger.

Dellenger reported that before Big 12 presidents approved moving forward with a season, the conference’s athletic directors were briefed for 90 minutes by a medical panel. The debate that ensued, Dellenger reported, led to more protocols involving heart imaging tests for those who test positive for COVID-19.

Yahoo Sports reporter Pete Thamel said in a tweet that Big 12 leadership would be moving forward with a previously planned — but not yet announced — revised schedule.

The two other conferences in the Power Five, the SEC and the ACC, have both come out in favor of playing a fall season.

The Kansas football team is expected to open its season versus Southern Illinois, but not on the originally scheduled Aug. 29 date.

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