NCAA Cancels Fall Championships
Today the NCAA Division II and Division III Presidents Council voted to cancel fall championships in its sports. The cancellations affect football, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, field hockey, women's volleyball and men's waterpolo at both levels.
The decision was made after the NCAA Board of Governors directed each division to make its own decision on fall sports championships.
“Looking at the health and safety challenges we face this fall during this unprecedented time, we had to make this tough decision to cancel championships for fall sports this academic year in the best interest of our student-athlete and member institutions,” said Tori Murden McClure, chair of the Presidents Council and president at Spalding, said in an official statement.
This decision affects several Alabama schools soccer programs this fall. UAH, Auburn University at Montgomery, University of Montevallo, Spring Hill College and University of West Alabama at the Division II level all have men's and women's soccer programs. Birmingham-Southern College and Huntingdon College have Division III men's and women's soccer programs.
No decision has been made yet on Division I fall sports championships but today's decisions will certainly play a factor in the optics of whether they are held or not.
The NCAA Board of Governors may suspend NCAA championships, however the FBS postseason operates outside of their jurisdiction.
Would the cancellation of fall championships in all three levels create enough pressure that the College Football Playoff is forced to follow suit and cancel?
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