An Auburn Tigers cheerleader waves her flag (Photo by Michael Chang / Getty Images)
Another game unlikely to happen on Auburn’s 2020 calendar
Earlier in the month, it was reported that ACC would likely move to a fall sports conference-only schedule. With North Carolina slated as Auburn’s second soccer week, the announcement essentially took that game off the table.
Well if you’re a fan of Auburn hoping that that’s the only game lost this season, I have bad news for you.
According to the stadium’s Brett McMurphy, the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is planning to cancel all of its fall sports.
Auburn was slated to start his season against reigning SWAC Alcorn State champions at Jordan-Hare Stadium. With recent news, it is becoming increasingly clear that Auburn’s 2020 season will look very different from what was originally planned, if it ever happens.
ACC’s decision to switch to a conference-only schedule earlier in the month came shortly after both Big Ten and Pac-12 announced the same. On a smaller level, several other FCS leagues such as MEAC, Patriot League, Ivy League, and CAA have canceled their respective soccer seasons, while JUCO soccer is expected to be brought to spring.
As for Alcorn State, the Braves were 9-4 last season and won their second straight conference championship behind the arm of star quarterback Felix Harper.
With the number of games canceled for Auburn now likely at two, it wouldn’t be surprising for the SEC to announce a conference-only schedule for 2020 soon. The remaining non-conference games on the Tigers schedule are a battle of four. weeks against Southern Miss and a home game against UMass in November.
If an off-conference schedule is not attractive to the SEC, the conference could vote to cancel the season entirely or possibly try to move the season to spring. Either way, the current coronavirus pandemic has affected college football significantly.
