Pac-12 makes decision on COVID-19 forfeitures for 2021 season

If a team is unable to play a Pac-12 game this season because of COVID-19 issues, it will forfeit, the conference said in a statement on Thursday. Last season’s rules dictated this situation would yield a no-contest, but it will now result in a loss for the offending team.

Pac-12 statement on 2021-22 Forfeiture Policy.

(2021-22 Policy: https://t.co/6bElpPSquq) pic.twitter.com/4ON10EKmQ3

— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) August 12, 2021

While the statement does not specifically cite COVID-19 reasons, it is clear that the decision is an attempt to increase vaccination rates among its member teams. 

In late July, new Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff reported that eight teams in the conference had reached 80% vaccination. Four of those teams had eclipsed the 90% mark. 

Regular testing will be required for those within the program that are not vaccinated.

Top conferences are not all on the same page on this issue, yet

The Pac-12 is the first Power 5 conference to formalize its decision, but it seems likely that other conferences will follow in the coming weeks.

New ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said his league will look for more information, especially pertaining to the delta variant, prior to making a final decision. 

“I think there’s more information that we’re going to be able to gather,” Phillips said at ACC media days. “I think we’ll understand the variant a little bit. It’s really the recommendation of our medical group, along with our ADs and our presidents. So, there’s direct alignment, at least this week, we didn’t need to make that kind of statement.”

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey discussed the issue at SEC media days as well, saying that games would not be rescheduled but avoiding confirmation of forfeitures.

“That means your team needs to be healthy to compete,” Sankey said. “If not, that game won’t be rescheduled. And thus, to dispose of the game, the forfeit word comes up at this point.”

In July, Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor said the Big 12 is not planning to allow teams to postpone games. 

The Big Ten is taking a different approach for now, even though they could end up with the same result. All conference members are required to submit a plan for their handling of COVID-19, and the presidents and chancellors will meet to decide how to proceed. At Big Ten media days, commissioner Kevin Warren stated that plans would be collected in early August. Nebraska and Illinois kick off in just over two weeks as part of a Week 0 game on Aug. 28.

The Big Ten and Pac-12 often work closely together, as is evidenced by their decision to cancel their football seasons last year before ultimately overturning their decisions.