Ivy League Shuts Fall Athletics, Stanford Permanently Cancels 11 Sports, Ohio State/N.Carolina Pause Workouts, NFL Allows Opt Out
COLLEGE SPORTS
The Ivy League announced it is shutting down all athletics this fall due to the coronavirus pandemic. There is no decision yet on what the “Power Five” schools will do, especially considering these schools generate significant football revenue. The Power Five consists of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Big Ten Conference, Big 12 Conference, Pac-12 Conference, and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). For comparison, in 2019 the Ivy League generated approximately $30 million in football revenue, while the Big Ten generated $1 billion in revenue.
Stanford University announced it is permanently cutting 11 of its 36 varsity sports due to COVID-19 related deficits. The sports affected are field hockey, lightweight rowing, men’s rowing, squash, co-ed and women’s sailing, men’s and women’s fencing, synchronized swimming, men’s volleyball, and wrestling.
Ohio State will pause all voluntary athletic workouts (including football) due to many athletes testing positive for COVID-19. North Carolina also paused voluntary football workouts when 37 COVID-19 tests came back positive.
NFL
The NFL and NFLPA (National Football League Players Association) agreed to allow players to sit out the 2020 season if they have concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic.
