University of Arizona President Says Fall Football 'Unlikely' Amid COVID-19

University of Arizona President Dr. Robert Robbins does not envision that college football will be played this fall because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Appearing on Arizona radio station KVOI-AM (h/t ESPN's Mark Schlabach), Robbins expressed doubt over whether the 2020 season can go on as scheduled: "I'm really concerned about whether we're going to be playing football in the fall. My sense, right now, I just don't see that happening."

Robbins added:

"We're waiting to see what the NCAA does, what the Pac-12 does. As much as I want it, you know, it just seems as though if we do play any football in the fall, it's going to be delayed because I've heard nothing and we're headed to May 1. My hope is we're going to get some clarity on this very soon, but it seems unlikely to me. I'd love to see it happen, but we're waiting every day to get some guidance."

Essentially every major American sports league is shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the NBA, MLB and NHL. The coronavirus also prompted the NCAA to cancel the men's and women's basketball tournaments, as well as all spring sports' seasons.

The 2020 college football season is scheduled to start in late August, but with stay-at-home orders in place and large gatherings banned across the nation, those plans could be in jeopardy.

It is also increasingly unlikely that teams will be able to hold spring practices, so they may not be ready to start playing in late August even if coronavirus-related measures are softened or no longer in place.

Robbins noted that he expects the start of the season to be delayed at the very least and has heard the possibility that fall and winter sports begin in January or February 2021 and run through the spring.

ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit discussed the situation during a conference call this week and said he too has heard the season could start as late as February or March with the College Football Playoff postponed until June.

Herbstreit also noted that he would be "shocked" if the college football and NFL seasons begin in the fall.

While a winter start into the spring may be on the table for college football if starting in August isn't possible, several issues could arise with such a decision.

If the NFL still holds its 2021 draft in April next year, it may require players who want to enter to sit out the college football season so as not to risk injury. Even if players are willing to risk it, they may not be eligible to play after getting drafted and signing a contract.

That would seem to suggest it could only work if college football and the NFL both agree to start their seasons at roughly the same time. Otherwise, college football would have to be played primarily with underclassmen.