Oklahoma State and Oklahoma are scrambling to piece together a fall football schedule as major conferences are eliminating nonconference games.
The Big Ten Conference and the Pac-12 Conference have already decided to not have nonconference play this fall due to the Chinese coronarvirus pandemic.
That applies to all sports – not just football.
That decision cancelled the scheduled football rematch between OSU and Oregon State, from the Pac-12, in September in Stillwater.
Similar decisions could come from the Big 12, Atlantic Coast and Southeastern conferences.
“Over the last few months, our conference has prepared numerous scenarios related to the fall athletics season,” ACC commissioner John Swofford said. “The league membership and our medical advisory group will make every effort to be as prepared as possible during these unprecedented times, and we anticipate a decision by our board of directors in late July.”.
Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said the Big 12 will make a final decision by the end of July. Discussions are underway among SEC athletic directors.
“The Southeastern Conference will continue to meet regularly with our campus leaders in the coming weeks, guided by medical advisors, to make the important decisions necessary to determine the best path forward related to the SEC fall sports,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement. “We recognize the challenges ahead and know the well-being of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans must remain at the forefront of those decisions.”
Oklahoma State now has two nonconference games, hosting Tulsa on September 12 and hosting Western Illinois on September 19.
Should the Big 12 go with nonconference games only, OSU’s first game would be October 3 at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas.
Oregon State loses home games against Colorado State and Portland State plus the road trip to Stillwater. Oregon State athletic director Scott Barnes said he didn’t know if those games would be rescheduled. Oregon State doesn’t have a non-conference opening until 2026.