The Mid-American Conference cancels fall sports due to COVID-19

The Mid-American Conference has canceled its fall sports including the 2020 football season.

MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher announced the decision Saturday morning after the league presidents met.

“Clearly we are charting a conservative path — and it is one that has been recommended by our medical advisory group,” Steinbrecher told reporters on a video conference. “There are simply too many unknowns for us to put our student-athletes in situations that are not clearly understood. We have traditionally been a leader on student-athlete well-being issues. This has not been an easy decision. For the Mid-American Conference, it is the right decision.”

MAC is attempting to make plans to have fall sports played in spring 2021, if possible. Sports that have been canceled are football, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey and women’s volleyball.

Central Michigan football coach Jim McElwain also expressed his opinion of the situation on Twitter this morning.

While we are disappointed to not be playing this fall, we respect the decision made by the MAC today. Our main priority is ensuring the safety of our players, staff, their families and loved ones. This is a difficult time, but we will get through it, and we’ll do it together.

— Jim McElwain (@CoachMcElwain) August 8, 2020

MAC is the first FSB conference (formerly Division I-A) to cancel fall sports, although several other conferences have already done so. There is no word on when the MAC will announce whether fall sports will be played in the spring.