AAC announces plans for fall sports
The AAC has a plan and a timeline for fall sports, the league announced Wednesday. The Conference Board of Directors unanimously approved regular-season intraconference play and conference championship for football, volleyball and men’s and women’s soccer.
We have announced the conference's plan and timeline for the start of athletics competition for the Fall 2020 season.https://t.co/59CTngWr9P
— The American (@American_Conf) August 5, 2020
Additionally, only four qualifying teams are required for conference championships in volleyball and men’s and women’s soccer.
“We have developed a collaborative and comprehensive plan that will allow us safely and reasonably to play our fall sports,” conference commissioner Mike Aresco said in a statement. “Our plan provides us with the flexibility to adapt to potential disruptions to our schedules.”
Health and safety protocols developed by the Medical Advisory Group will be announced at a later date, and the conference will continue to “meet regularly regarding protocols for the safe return of fall competition.”
Here are the plans for each sport.
Football
Conference play is set to begin Sept. 19, and each team will play eight league games. Nonconference games are left up to the choice of individual schools, but non-league opponents must adhere to the AAC’s standards and protocols for testing.
The championship will be played on either Dec. 5, 12 or 19, depending on if regular-season games need to be rescheduled.
A date for the championship game will be locked in by Nov. 1.
Men’s soccer
All six teams will play a 10-match double-round-robin conference schedule beginning Sept. 5. Games are expected to be played on Saturdays but are subject to be moved to Friday or Sunday if they conflict with football games.
Nonconference midweek games may be scheduled on or after Sept. 1, but only if air travel or an overnight hotel stay is not required.
A four-team championship will be held Nov. 12 and 14 or Nov. 13 and 15 at the No. 1 seed team of the regular-season standings. If the No. 1 seed can’t host the championship due to travel restrictions, then the next-highest seed will host.
Women’s soccer
All nine teams will play an eight-match single-round-robin conference schedule. League games will be played on Sundays, starting Sept. 6.
The guidelines for scheduling nonconference games for women’s soccer are the same as the men’s soccer requirements.
A four-team championship will be held Nov. 6 and 8. Similar to men’s soccer, the No. 1 seed will host the tournament.
Volleyball
A two-division format will be implemented, and each team will play the other teams in its division twice at the same site. USF will be in The East along with UCF, Cincinnati, East Carolina and Temple. The West will consist of Houston, Memphis, SMU, Tulane and Wichita State.
Conference play will begin Sept. 24 and will end Nov. 15. League games are available to be scheduled between Thursday and Sunday.
Nonconference games will start on or after Sept. 1.
The championship will be held Nov. 21-22 at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati. The top two teams from each division will play in the championship.
Cross country
Regular-season competitions will be scheduled on or after Sept. 1. The championships for both men’s and women’s teams will be held Oct. 31 at 4 Mile Creek Resort in Augusta, Kansas.
Other fall and winter sports
The status of fall baseball, softball, men’s and women’s golf, and men’s and women’s tennis haven’t been decided yet but are set to be announced “at a later date,” according to the release.
Potential changes to men’s and women’s basketball and track and field have yet to be decided and will also be announced at a later date.
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