How new Big 12 schedule format affects Kansas football for 2020 season
The Big 12 Conference has officially moved to a “nine plus one” schedule format for the 2020 season. Here’s how that impacts Kansas football.
Along with every other Power Five conference, the Big 12 has now restricted its member schools’ non-conference schedule. The Big 12 will be following the lead of the ACC, allowing its schools to play one non-con game in addition to a nine-game Big 12 slate (hence the name nine plus one). From a pure football standpoint, this isn’t great news for Kansas football.
The Jayhawks really needed those three non-con games considering those were their three best chances for wins in the 2020 season. On the other (and more important) hand, if the conference believed canceling the other two games would improve the safety of the players, coaches, staff, and fans, then it was 100 percent the right call.
Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby had this to say about the transition and the future of the uncertain 2020 football season:
"“We believe this change provides the best opportunity going forward. However, we will undoubtedly need to be flexible as we progress through the season in order to combat the challenges that lie ahead.” (via Big 12)"
For Kansas football, this is the nail in the coffin for their game on the road against Coastal Carolina, since the non-con game must be played in the member school’s home stadium. The Jayhawks’ non-con game will likely be their matchup against Southern Illinois on 8/29.
As it stands now, here are the first few games on Kansas football’s 2020 schedule:
- 8/29, Home vs. Southern Illinois
- 9/12, Away vs. Baylor
- 10/3, Home vs. Iowa State
Yes, that’s right. The Jayhawks’ first three games of the 2020 season will be in three different months barring a schedule adjustment by the Big 12. This is wacky, to say the least, and it must be difficult to be a college football player or coach right now.
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All these variables can’t make it easy to prepare, and the uncertainty must be stressful. Every team including Kansas football will have to do what they can to prepare given the circumstances, even with the threat of total cancelation being a very real possibility.