The Southwestern Athletic Conference has postponed fall sports competition and championships because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The conference may  push the fall schedule to the 2021 spring semester.

The plans for football include a seven-game conference schedule that begins with an eight-week training period in January. SWAC commissioner Charles McClelland said games would begin near the end of February or the beginning of March.  Each school will play six conference games (four divisional/two non-divisional) with the option to play one nonconference game.

McClelland said spring games still might not happen.

The geographic footprint of the SWAC, located in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, has seen a continued increase of COVID-19 cases in many of those states.

“If there is no vaccine, if the numbers are still high, there won’t be a spring,” McClelland said. “We’re not going to force playing. All of this is predicated on the fact the pandemic by March is under control.”

Members are Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Alcorn State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Grambling State, Jackson State, Mississippi Valley State, Prairie View A&M, Southern and Texas Southern.

Tulsa is scheduled to play Arkansas Pine-Bluff in Tulsa on December 4.