What are the chances the ACC, Big 12 & SEC kick off in September?
After a wild day where the Big 10 and Pac-12 folded up shop until 2021, Dan Wetzel, Pete Thamel & SI’s Pat Forde debate if the rest of the Power 5 will join them or will they make it to Week 1?
Video Transcript
DAN WETZEL: Right now they're playing. That's right now. There, I didn't think at all that everyone was going to say, we're out, and then get they get criticized for following the Big Ten's lead. If nothing else, they're going to wait.
But in your prediction right now, Pete, you don't think any of those three leagues play this fall. And I'm going to give you-- the prediction is 51% yes or no, right, like I'm not saying, we're not putting you down, it's 100% it won't happen.
PETE THAMEL: The three leagues will not play. If I have to give a simple prediction, that's my prediction. You really think like three weeks from now we're going to be like, yeah, remember that day when everybody hated Kevin Warren and then, because everything will have-- I think everyone will eventually be joining them on the sidelines.
I hope I'm wrong. I would love to see a fall season and then a spring season, as specifically designated.
PAT FORDE: It's all dependent on what happens in the next month, right? OK? Before we get to games. But I think they're, I think they're going to try. I think they're going to try. And if they can keep virus numbers down, which again, gonna be real hard when student body comes back. But if they can, yeah, I think if they, if they can report low or no positive tests for their teams for three more weeks or four more weeks, or whatever it is to kickoff, yeah, I think they're going to play. But again, that's 51% guess.
DAN WETZEL: Man, I think they might play too. I think I'm on with Pat. This-- this has gotten political. And I don't just mean--
[? PETE THAMEL: ?] Just now, Dan?
DAN WETZEL: --Republican. Yeah, well, this has gotten really political. Not just Republican, Democrat, although there's plenty of that. OK? But it's now like, yes, if you, whoever, if you shut down the season, you're a total wuss. Or if you're still going, you're crazy and reckless, right? And so it's all political pressure. And I think that's what Kevin Warren wasn't expecting is the more politicians, governors get in, the more everything is like, I don't know that some of these schools are even going to have the opportunity to say we, you know, in Ohio and Michigan and Pennsylvania, those governors weren't saying, you're playing. Those governors didn't say anything.
PAT FORDE: Right. Right.
DAN WETZEL: And [? there's ?] a Republicans and Democrats in those states. They didn't get involved.
PAT FORDE: Nope.
DAN WETZEL: And that isn't going to be the case down south.