Mountain West Conference Implores Possibilities to Return for Fall Football Season

On Tuesday, the Big Ten announced that they will be returning to play an eight-game conference only season beginning the weekend of Oct. 24. Even the Pac-12, which earned support to return from the governors of California and Oregon, will meet Friday to discuss options.

For the Group of 5 conferences, there might be another league developing a return-to-play model for the fall football season.

The Mountain West Conference had previously postponed its fall football season a month ago and didn't guarantee a return for spring activities. This new proposal, reported by McMurphy, sets the league up to play an accelerated eight-game season with a chance to start the weekend of Oct. 24. By playing in late October, the schools allow their members to be eligible for New Year's Six bowl games.

Though, there are roadblocks that the league will need to hash out before deciding on a return to play scenario.

Schools in California, including Fresno State, San Diego State and San Jose State, along with Hawaii and New Mexico are dealing with strict state health guidelines that might prevent them from playing college football.

Air Force earned an exemption to the conference's postponement and scheduled both Navy (Oct. 3) and Army (Nov. 17) before this updated news from the league was reported.

Colorado State suspended its football program a month ago after an investigation revealed the program was mishandling COVID-19 testing and reporting. Since then, the team returned for weight training and there isn't any indication of their possibility to return.

Other programs like Boise State, Nevada, UNLV, Wyoming and Utah State are eligible to return to play, should the MWC allow for a fall football slate.

Because of the shortened schedule, it is doubtful that these programs will face any non-conference opponents and keep it within a league-only schedule.