MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Big 12 released a new conference schedule Wednesday for its football season, as well as an updated list of medical protocols the conference will follow across all fall sports.
The Mountaineers are still expected to play Eastern Kentucky on Sept. 12 in its only nonconference game as part of the league’s “9 + 1” model is announced last week. However, the conference schedule changed drastically from what was previously announced.
Six home dates and four Big 12 road dates comprise the schedule. West Virginia’s Big 12 home dates are Baylor (Oct. 3), Kansas (Oct. 17), Kansas State (Oct. 31), TCU (Nov. 14) and Oklahoma (Nov. 28).
Road conference games are Oklahoma State (Sept. 26), Texas Tech (Oct. 24), Texas (Nov. 7) and Iowa State (Dec. 5).
“When the Big 12 announced a revised 10-game season, we knew that the schedule would change and there would be some flexibility built in to handle any COVID-19 disruptions,” WVU athletic director Lyons said. “This new schedule provides us with the nine league games, the one nonconference date and the ability to plan accordingly.”
The top two finishers in the regular-season standings will compete for the conference title in the Big 12 Football Championship Game, which is scheduled for Dec.12. The championship game will be played in Arlington, Texas, at AT&T Stadium through 2021.
The times and television schedule will be announced at a later date, and all dates are subject to change.
WVU said it will continues to work with university, local and state authorities for the potential plan for fan attendance at Milan Puskar Stadium this season. Once a final plan is determined, the details will be shared with Mountaineer Athletic Club members and football season ticket holders. For information on tickets, visit the 2020 football season ticket FAQ Page – http://WVUsports.com/2020FAQ.
2020 Football Schedule
Day Date Opponent Time
Sat. Sept. 12 Eastern Kentucky TBA
Sat. Sept. 19 OPEN
Sat. Sept. 26 at Oklahoma State * TBA
Sat. Oct. 3 Baylor * TBA
Sat. Oct. 10 OPEN
Sat. Oct. 17 Kansas * TBA
Sat. Oct. 24 at Texas Tech * TBA
Sat. Oct. 31 Kansas State * TBA
Sat. Nov. 7 at Texas * TBA
Sat. Nov. 14 TCU * TBA
Sat. Nov. 21 OPEN
Sat. Nov. 28 Oklahoma* TBA
Sat. Dec. 5 at Iowa State * TBA
* Big 12 Conference Game
The Big 12 Board of Directors agreed to proceed with plans for the fall sports’ seasons late Tuesday night.
“The Board continues to believe that the health and well-being of our student-athletes must guide all decisions,” Board of Directors Chairman and TCU Chancellor Victor Boschini said in a news release. “To that end, the Board has consistently relied on the advice and counsel of top medical experts to determine the viability of available options. Our student-athletes want to compete, and it is the Board’s collective opinion that sports can be conducted safely and in concert with the best interests of their well-being. We remain vigilant in monitoring the trends and effects of COVID-19 as we learn more about the virus. If at any point our scientists and doctors conclude that our institutions cannot provide a safe and appropriate environment for our participants, we will change course.”
Big 12 schools committed to enhanced COVID-19 testing that includes three tests per week in “high contact” sports, like football, volleyball and soccer. Additionally, return to play protocols after positive occurrences will include an EKG, troponin blood test, echocardiogram and cardiac MRI. Nonconference football opponents must also adhere to COVID-19 testing protocols that conform to Big 12 standards during the week leading up to competition.
“The virus continues to evolve and medical professionals are learning more with each passing week,” Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said. “Opinions vary regarding the best path forward, as we’ve seen throughout higher education and our society overall, but we are comfortable in our institutions’ ability to provide a structured training environment, rigorous testing and surveillance, hospital quality sanitation and mitigation practices that optimize the health and safety of our student-athletes. We believe all of this combines to create an ideal learning and training situation during this time of COVID-19. Ultimately, our student-athletes have indicated their desire to compete in the sports they love this season and it is up to all of us to deliver a safe, medically sound, and structured academic and athletic environment for accomplishing that outcome.”
Each team will have a minimum of two bye dates and potentially a third bye late in the season. All nonconference games must be completed before Sept. 26 and the matchups will be announced by each individual conference member. Stadium capacities will be determined by each member institution in accordance with local and/or state health ordinances, and working with government officials.
All Big 12 sports’ competitions will commence after Sept. 1. To ensure consistent health and safety protocols, volleyball and soccer matches will be limited to conference opponents only.
