The big decisions made by the NBA, Major League Baseball and other sports amid the coronavirus pandemic have been steered by powerful commissioners weighing input from advisers and medical staff. They have presented a narrow list of options to team owners and players unions, pushing forward with a singular voice after reaching a consensus.
College football leaves these high stakes calls up to those in charge of each individual conference, totaling 10 at the FBS level and many more at the lower divisions. The Big Ten, the biggest money-maker of them all, announced plans last week to pursue a conference only schedule in the fall, leading the Pac-12 to follow suit a day later.