Big 12 Announces Game Cancellation Thresholds for Football

The Big 12 has announced how it will be decided if football games this season will be canceled or not.

The following benchmarks must be met by teams in order to play:

• minimum of 53 total players
• minimum of seven available offensive linemen
• minimum of four available interior defensive
• minimum of one available quarterback

If a team is below any of these thresholds, it may elect to to play the game as scheduled, otherwise the game will either be moved to a later date or declared a no-content upon approval of Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby.

The Big 12 mentions that the 9+1 schedule format the conference has adopted this year gives each team two bye weeks when any necessary rescheduling could happen. The Big 12 Championship could also be pushed back one week to Dec. 19 if needed.

This announcement comes on the same day TCU announced its opener against SMU was being called off due to positive COVID-19 tests withing the TCU program.

“We are disappointed to announce that our upcoming football game against SMU will not be played as scheduled on September 11,” TCU athletic director Jeremiah Donati said in a release. “We have agreed with WMU to monitor dates throughout the season to potentially make up the game.

“We will continue to follow prevention and testing protocols and look forwards to our Big 12 Conference opener against Iowa State on September 26.”