MAC cancels football season, plans to play fall sports in spring

Mid-American Conference commissioner Jon Steinbrecher announced Saturday that the conference has canceled its 2020 football season this fall due to player health and safety concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, according to The Athletic's Chris Vannini.

The MAC becomes the first FBS conference to opt against its teams playing in 2020.

The 12-team league reached its decision Saturday after a unanimous vote from its presidents. Steinbrecher added that he will attempt to schedule fall sports in spring 2021.

"There are simply too many unknowns to put our student-athletes in these situations," he told reporters, according to Stadium's Brett McMurphy. "This is simply a miserable decision. I am heartbroken we are in this place."

Other FCS conferences, including the Patriot and Ivy League, have canceled fall sports in recent weeks. Connecticut - a 2020 independent - became the first FBS team to opt out of the upcoming season.

Although a meeting was held Thursday to finalize the MAC's 2020 scheduling format, Northern Illinois president Lisa Freeman insisted her school wouldn't play football this fall, according to McMurphy.

The MAC was greatly impacted financially by the Power 5's decision to deploy a conference-only schedule. Eleven of its games against Big Ten opponents were canceled, costing schools a combined $10.5 million.

Miami (OH) captured the conference title last year after defeating Central Michigan in the championship game.