Ray Tanner Maintains Other Power 5 Decisions Shouldn't Impact SEC

With the Big 10 and the Pac-12 pulling the plug on a fall season, South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner said the SEC is still trying to move forward.

The dominoes continue to fall in college football as the Big 10 and Pac-12 conferences announced they will not be playing football this fall. 

Ray Tanner made an appearance on 107.5 The Game and reportedly maintained that other conferences wouldn't have an impact on the decisions of the SEC moving forward. 

South Carolina AD Ray Tanner tells @1075thegame: "Although we would all love to be one the same page, especially in football, that appears like it might not be the case this fall. We are trying to do everything we can in the SEC to move ahead with our sports."

— Josh Kendall (@JoshTheAthletic) August 11, 2020

Ray Tanner on @1075thegame: “There’s a lot that we don’t know. We continue to learn each day.” Tanner says there’s always liabilities - cites other illnesses. Says there’s a lot of time between now and Sept. 26 so they have time to figure out the safest protocals. @wachfox

— Mike Uva (@Mike_Uva) August 11, 2020

South Carolina AD Ray Tanner just learned live while on @1075thegame that the Big Ten was postponing: "I don’t think it affects us a whole lot. I know we would love all the (Power) 5s to be playing. That’s a decision they felt like they needed to make... @TheAthleticCFB

— Josh Kendall (@JoshTheAthletic) August 11, 2020

Tanner also reportedly said they are still exploring the possibility of having fans in the stadium, something that South Carolina officials have been discussing for months now. 

Sports Illustrated's Pat Forde and Ross Dellenger have been talking to NCAA officials on the matter and it's still unclear what the effects of the Pac-12 and Big 10's decisions will be. 

CFP executive director Bill Hancock, to SI: "It's too soon to say" what the impact of the Big Ten and Pac-12 fall shutdown will mean for the playoff. "We are awaiting guidance from the CFP board and management committee."

— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) August 11, 2020

The idea of spring football has been thrown around, but that presents issues on how to pull that off without interfering with the 2021 season. 

Bowlsby has suggested that a spring football season could look like this:

- Fall ball: late January-February
- Kickoff: late February
- Postseason: May

Many ADs believe that a spring season is a non-starter without a vaccine. Some think a spring season will include 6-8 games https://t.co/2HHZ5WgTqs

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) August 11, 2020