We are now getting a first glimpse as to the fate of college football this year.

The Mid-American Conference has canceled its football season this fall amid the ongoing the COVID-19 pandemic. The MAC, made up of 12 teams, is the first Football Bowl Subdivision conference to make the decision not to play this season. 

According to reports, the conference reached its decision Saturday morning in a vote by the league’s presidents. The Mid-American Conference came to the decision because of player health and safety concerns regarding COVID-19. The MAC does hope to try to play in the spring. 

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The league took an earlier hit with a financial impact when the Power Five made the decision to reduce play in non-conference games . In total, the MAC lost 11 games from their schedule against Big 10 members resulting in millions lost. MAC schools stood to make $10.5 million alone this season from non-conference games against the Big Ten. Reports say this also added to the decision to cancel the season. 

Currently, the MAC members are Western Michigan, Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green State, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Northern Illinois, Ohio, and Toledo. The were founded in 1946. 

Colleges and universities across the county are facing big decisions this year when it comes to sports. There have been several smaller Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) conferences that have also canceled their fall football seasons. Just Wednesday, the NCAA made the announcement that all Division II and III fall sports championships would be canceled.

This week,  Big Ten schools Michigan State and Michigan announced their season schedules. Michigan State will take on Minnesota on September 5th at home, and the Wolverines will host Purdue in the Big House the same day tentatively.

 

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