Mountain West Conference Postpones Fall Sports

The Mountain West Conference announced on Friday it will postpone all fall sports indefinitely amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The conference will now "begin to explore the feasibility of rescheduling fall sports competition," per a statement. Moving fall sports to the spring is an option for the conference.

“Since the start of the pandemic, our membership and staff have been working diligently to prepare for a fall sports season,” Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson said. “We were hopeful we could carefully and responsibly conduct competition as originally scheduled with essential protocols in place. However, numerous external factors and unknowns outside our control made this difficult decision necessary

The Mountain West is the second major conference to cancel football for the fall of 2020. The on Sunday, while UConn—an independent—decided to cancel football in 2020. Conference USA school Old Dominion has also canceled football for the fall of 2020.The Mountain West is the second major conference to cancel football for the fall of 2020. The MAC canceled fall sports on Sunday, while UConn—an independent—decided to cancel football in 2020. Conference USA school Old Dominion has also canceled football for the fall of 2020.

College football is currently in jeopardy for the fall of 2020 as the United States continues to battle the COVID-19 crisis. Sports Illustrated's Pat Forde and Ross Dellenger reported on Sunday that Power 5 conferences were considering canceling the 2020 season, with the Big Ten leading the push. The Big Ten and Pac-12 could cancel their respective seasons as early as Tuesday, and SEC Presidents reportedly held a meeting on Monday.

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence and a host of other NCAA players tweeted a statement on Sunday night with the hashtags #WeAreUnited and #WeWantToPlay. The statement detailed players' wish to play in 2020, and also outlined a slate of protocols and procedures necessary to hold the 2020 season. The statement also noted the goal to "ultimately create a college football players’ association.”

The 2020 season is currently slated to begin on Aug. 29. Multiple Power 5 conferences have moved their starting date for 2020, including the ACC and SEC.