Apparently, the Power 5 Conferences are to each its own.

Midway through Monday, you would have thought that college football this fall was toast. Reports from ESPN and other outlets said announcements from the Big Ten and Pac 12 were imminent, with the other three big-boy leagues to follow.

Then came tweets from star players, among them UNC’s Sam Howell, that they want to play, and when you consider the 1500 gridders in all of the Power 5 compared to the relatively few who have opted out or will, then you know how one-sided that vote is.

Next came a tweet from SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey warning that any conference opting out of the entire season is acting on its own, because his league hasn’t made a decision yet. Crickets from the ACC and Big 12, to this point, meanwhile.

The SEC is football crazy and will likely be the last to announce whatever it will do. Sankey strategically reset the schedule to play only conference games so his schools can stick together. And if Sankey favors cancellation, he is also risking his $4 million job.

We’re talking about a national pandemic here, but you can see why underlying reasons make this is a tough call. Besides the $4 billion that college football brings in, recruiting is also hanging in the balance.

Let’s just say the SEC goes ahead and plays its 10 games, and gets through the season, while the ACC and Big 10 sit out the fall.

Will the SEC promote itself as the toughest conference, the place where young men become grizzled veterans ready for the NFL? ACC coaches may favor safety first, but they probably don’t want to get into that recruiting grinder for the 4 and 5 stars both leagues go after.

Then there is Nebraska coach Scott Frost, whose school is a new-bee to the Big Ten. He is on record saying if the rest of the conference goes dark, his Huskers are ready, willing and able to play anyone and anywhere they can get a game.

Clearly, the Power 5 won’t be acting in concert. It looks much more like the Wild West. Hang on for the ride.

 

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