SPRING FOOTBALL 2023

Updates from around the league.  

 https://www.si.com/college/illinois/football/analysis-project-what-a-big-ten-winter-football-schedule-could-look-like

  https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-football/college-football-hasnt-given-up-on-big-ten-is-big-ten-really-going-to-give-up-on-college-football/ 

 https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-playoff-to-be-played-as-scheduled-after-2020-season-with-no-plans-for-spring-2021/ 

 https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-playoff-to-be-played-as-scheduled-after-2020-season-with-no-plans-for-spring-2021/ 

 https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/pac-12-cancels-fall-2020-college-football-season-aims-to-play-in-spring-2021/ 

 https://www.si.com/college/arizonastate/football/arizona-state-lands-outside-of-the-ap-preseaon-poll-asu-poll-sun-devils 

High school football status: Playing this fall

The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference released its plan for fall sports seasons on July 31, moving the start of football practice to Aug. 17 in groups of no larger than 15. First practice with full teams and full pads is Sept. 11, first scrimmage date is Sept. 18 and first game date is Sept. 24. Each team is allowed to play no more than six games. The postseason would snap Nov. 2-15.

High school football status: Moved to start of 2021

The Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Associated voted 15-0 on Aug. 6 to move fall sports, including football, into 2021 after winter sports are concluded, according to a report by Town Square Live. All seasons would consist of six weeks of regular-season play and two weeks for the state tournament. Fall sports practices would begin Feb. 19 with games played between March 12 and April 21.

High school football status: To be determined

The Maine Principals’ Association delayed a decision on Tuesday on whether or not to hold high school sports this fall, according to a report by the Portland Press Herald. Per the story, the MPA is seeking clarification from state officials on guidelines that will allow a safe return to sports amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Last month, fall sports practices including football were pushed back to Sept. 8. Under that timeline, games would not be allowed to begin until Sept. 18.

High school football status: Moved season to 2021

The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association postponed fall and winter sports seasons to the 2021 calendar year, according to an Aug. 3 report by the Capital Gazette. The Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association and Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland, which governs private schools, recently announced they were postponing start of fall practices to Sept. 1 or later. Per the report, the MPSSAA was working to finalize modified competition seasons for all sports during the second semester.

High school football status: To be determined

According to a report by MassLive, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association announced Tuesday night a joint recommendation for a four-season athletic calendar to the MIAA board of directors. The board is scheduled to meet this morning. The guidance follows a recommended proposal reportedly made by the MIAA’s COVID-19 Task Force committee. Starting Sept. 18, football would be able to practice but not play games. Following the winter sports season, a second fall season including football would take place.

High school football status: Playing this fall

The New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association is proceeding with fall sports, including football, with practice set to begin Sept. 8. This is according to an Aug. 6 report by Noontime Sports. The first football game may be played Sept. 25. Plans for the football postseason are yet to be announced.

High school football status: Playing this fall, for now

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association has already announced it is bumping back its fall sports schedule by a month, meaning football can begin Oct. 2. According to a report Saturday by the Bridgewater Courier News, NJSIAA officials met with Gov. Phil Murphy last week and they anticipate an announcement regarding the fall sports seasons and whether or not they will remain on track. The NJSIAA recently stated that student-athletes studying virtually may still participate in athletics, as long as their boards of education agree.

High school football status: Playing this fall

Last month, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association decided to delay fall sports seasons in the state, including football. The proposed start of the season is Sept. 21, according to a report by the Albany Times Union.

High school football status: Moving season to 2021

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association announced last week that it’s moving the football season to the next calendar year. Football practice will begin Feb. 8 with the first game set for Feb. 26. According to a report by HighSchoolOT.com, the football season will consist of seven games and that the NCHSAA plans to hold playoffs.

High school football status: On hold for now

The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association postponed the start of fall sports including football for two weeks while it seeks clarification on how to start sports safely, according to an Aug. 7 report by PennLive. Gov. Tom Wolf recommended on Aug. 6 not to play fall sports until 2021. The PIAA and governor’s office are scheduled to meet Friday to discuss the starting of fall sports, according to the PIAA.

High school football status: To be determined

The Rhode Island Interscholastic League is pushing back the start of fall sports to Sept. 14 with the possibility of creating a fourth sports season that would include football, per an Aug. 5 report by Fosters.com. Football will not begin on Sept. 14 because it is not allowed within Phase 3 of Gov. Gina Raimondo’s COVID-19 guidelines. It could be added back to the fall sports schedule should Raimondo’s guidelines change. If football is not allowed in the fall, then it would fall into the “Season 3” category, following the traditional fall and winter sports seasons and before the traditional spring sports season.

High school football status: Still being determined

Traditional 11-on-11 tackle football is not being allowed in Vermont this fall. Football programs will be permitted to conduct low-contact practices and plans were being made to offer 7-on-7 touch football in place of 11-on-11 tackle football, Vermont Principals’ Association executive director Jay Nichols was cited in an Aug. 11 Burlington Free Press story.

High school football status: Moving season to spring

The Virginia High School League voted 34-1 during a special executive session on July 27 to delay the start of fall sports for the 2020-21 school year, according to a report by NBC29.com. That means a condensed football season will be played in Virginia Feb. 15-May 1. The first football game would be allowed March 1.

High school football status: Playing this fall

The first football games in West Virginia may be played Sept. 3, according to a July 10 report by WCHS-TV. Practice for fall sports in West Virginia were originally scheduled to start Aug. 3, but they were pushed back to Aug. 27.

High school football status: Moving to spring

The Illinois High School Association board of directors met July 29, when it was determined that an adjustment would be made to 2020-21 sports, including moving football to the spring. Now, football practice may begin Feb. 15 and the season ends May 1. Football, boys soccer and girls volleyball are the medium- to higher-risk sports moving from the fall to the spring. The 2020-21 school year goes from three sports seasons (fall, winter, spring) to four shortened versions (fall, winter, spring, summer).

High school football status: Playing this fall

Football season stayed on schedule for the fall, according to a July 29 tweet by the Indiana High School Athletic Association. Practices for football and other sports began on Aug. 3, while girls golf practice started July 31. The football season is slated to begin this Friday.

High school football status: Playing this fall

According to a tweet by the Iowa High School Athletic Association, football remains on schedule. The first games may be played Aug. 27 with the playoffs starting Oct. 16 and state finals set for Nov. 19-20. The regular season will be seven weeks and all teams in all classes will qualify for the playoffs, per a story by the Cedar Rapids Gazette. High school baseball and softball seasons continued deep into the summer in Iowa.

High school football status: Playing this fall

Per a July 28 release by the Kansas State High School Activities Association, all fall activities including football were permitted to begin as scheduled on Aug. 17. The first football games are scheduled to be played Sept. 3.

High school football status: Moving season to spring

The Michigan High School Athletic Association announced on Friday that it was postponing the football season to the spring. Teams are allowed to continue practicing in helmets through today, when more guidelines for football training are expected to come from the MHSAA. Also today, the MHSAA is expected to announce what will happen this fall with volleyball, boys soccer and girls swimming and diving.

High school football status: Moving season to spring

 The Minnesota State High School League announced on Aug. 4 it is moving football and volleyball to the spring, while allowing other fall sports to remain in place as scheduled. According to KSTP.com, there will be fewer football games and no scrimmages during the season. 

High school football status: Playing this fall

 The Missouri State High School Activities Association said last week that it will allow schools moving into virtual learning to participate in all sports, including football, according to a report by KMBC.com. Schools have until Sept. 11 to notify the MSHSAA if they have a sport that will not be able to participate in the postseason. Also last week, KMBC.com reported that the MSHSAA board of directors approved alternate seasons if a school has a sport that cannot continue in the traditional timeline because of a COVID-19 outbreak. 

High school football status: Playing this fall

The Nebraska School Activities Association is moving forward with high school football this fall, per a July 6 report by News Channel Nebraska. Practices started Aug. 10 with the first games scheduled for Aug. 27. Schools with week zero games began practice Aug. 5 and may begin playing games this Friday.

High school football status: Playing this fall

 The North Dakota High School Activities Association board of directors voted unanimously on July 16 to proceed with all fall sports. Football practices began Aug. 10. The first games are scheduled for the weekend of Aug. 28. 

High school football status: Playing this fall

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Tuesday that all high school sports for the fall season will move forward, including football, with some attendance restrictions in place. Football games are slated to kick off in Ohio on Aug. 28. The Ohio High School Athletic Association passed a proposal earlier this month to shorten the football season from 10 games to six and allow all participating teams to qualify for the playoffs, which are scheduled to begin Oct. 9.

High school football status: Playing this fall

The high school football season is still on as planned in Oklahoma. Football scrimmages will be Aug. 20-21 and the season starts Aug. 27-29. The situation could change, but the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association’s board of directors took no action during last week’s meeting, according to a report by Tulsa World.

High school football status: Playing this fall

The South Dakota High School Activities Association board of directors unanimously approved fall sports starting on time in its state. Smaller-division teams started practice Aug. 6, while larger-division squads began Aug. 10. The SDHSAA released a 17-page document laying out guidelines related to COVID-19.

High school football status: Playing in the fall, but with a spring option

Wisconsin was thinking outside the box when it came to deciding what season to play high school football in the state. Per a report by High School Football America, the Wisconsin Interscholastic Association voted last week to allow schools to play football in the fall, but if they were unable, they can play an alternate season in the spring. Fall football practice begins Sept. 7 with the first games on Sept. 23. Spring football practice begins March 8 with games starting March 24.

High school football status: Playing this fall

High school football in Alabama is expected to start on time, as the first games are scheduled for this Thursday. According to AL.com, on July 22 the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Central Board of Control approved an on-time, return-to-play plan. In that story, it was reported that fall sports teams had the option to begin workouts on July 27 with the first week used by football for acclimation purposes with helmets being the only equipment allowed.

High school football status: Playing this fall

According to WhiteRiverNow.com, the Arkansas Department of Health granted approval to the Arkansas Activities Association to go ahead with regular-season sporting events, including football. Arkansas is scheduled to start its season on time, beginning with the Aug. 27-29 weekend.

High school football status: Playing this fall

The Florida High School Athletic Association board of directors voted 11-5 on Aug. 14 in favor of Option 1, meaning football practice may begin Aug. 24 and the first game kicking off in the first week of September, according to Wink News. An amendment would allow FHSAA member schools by or before Sept. 18 to opt out of the official state tournaments and approved state season calendars. Those schools would work with the FHSAA to set up a regional calendar in order to permit play outside of the official school calendar.

High school football status: Playing this fall

The Georgia High School Association’s board of trustees voted 12-0 on July 20 to postpone football two weeks, according to a report by the Atlanta Journal Constitution. The regular season will begin Sept. 4 instead of Aug. 21. The state finals could be played Dec. 24-26 instead of Dec. 10-12, but those dates have not been officially reset.

High school football status: Planning to play in the fall, for now

Football practice is on schedule to begin in Kentucky on Aug. 24 with the first game set for Sept. 11. All fall sports with the exception of golf will be playing abbreviated schedules. According to a report by Kentucky.com, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Board of Control is scheduled to meet today to discuss its plan to return to sports.

High school football status: Playing this fall

 The Louisiana High School Athletic Association plans to start the high school football season Oct. 8 but that will require the state to move through Phases 3 and 4 with no incident, according to a report by the Monroe News-Star. Per the story, the earliest Louisiana can enter Phase 3 is Aug. 28 and the LHSAA has targeted Oct. 2-4 for possible scrimmage dates. An eight-game regular season appears to be a possibility, followed by playoffs. 

High school football status: Playing this fall

On July 14, the Mississippi High School Activities Associated voted to begin the process of scheduling fall sporting events, according to a report by the Mississippi Clarion Ledger. The start of the football season is being delayed by two weeks, meaning practices could begin Aug. 17 with games starting Sept. 4.

High school football status: Playing this fall

The South Carolina High School League, governing body for high school sports in the state, unanimously passed a proposal recently to move the start of football practice back three weeks to Sept. 8 and move the first games to Sept. 25, per a report by The (Columbia) State. The regular season will be shortened to seven games, followed by 16-team playoff brackets leading to state championship games Dec. 4-5.

High school football status: Playing this fall

Gov. Bill Lee’s office announced July 28 that he issued an executive order to allow contact sports in the state to resume, according to a report by the Tennessean. The high school football season in Tennessee is set to kick off this Friday. The state championships are scheduled for Dec. 3-5. At the moment, there are no changes or reductions to the 2020 football schedule.

High school football status: Moving season to spring

 According to the Colorado High School Activities Association calendar, the first date of football practice has been moved to Feb. 22 with the first contest set for March 4. A maximum of seven contests will be allowed. The regular season ends April 17 and the playoffs start April 23, with the state finals set for May 8. 

High school football status: Playing this fall

The Idaho High School Activities Association announced on July 16 that it was opening fall sports practices Aug. 10 as scheduled, according to a report by the Idaho State Journal. Football teams may play their first games on Aug. 28. The IHSAA must follow a detailed list of recommendations and safety considerations.

High school football status: Playing this fall

The Montana High School Association announced its plans for sports to take place this fall, per a July 27 report by 406 MT Sports. Football practice began on Monday with the first contest set for Aug. 27. Several guidelines are in place for football, as reported in the story.

High school football status: Moving season to spring

The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association has moved all fall sports to spring, according to a July 23 report by the Reno Gazette Journal. Football practice may begin Feb. 13. The first football game may be played March 5 with the last one allowed April 10. The report said that seasons will be much shorter so there is no overlap and students can still play more than one sport. Six competitive weeks will include playoffs and there will not be any state tournaments.

High school football status: Moving season to spring

The New Mexico Activities Association announced last month that it is moving its football season to the spring. That means football practice will begin in February and the season will wrap up in April with three rounds of playoffs, per a report by the Las Cruces Sun-News.

High school football status: Playing this fall

The high school football season is still on as planned in Oklahoma. Football scrimmages will be Aug. 20-21 and the season starts Aug. 27-29. The situation could change, but the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association’s board of directors took no action during last week’s meeting, according to a report by Tulsa World.

High school football status: Playing this fall

The University Interscholastic League announced that Texas high school football, at least for the bigger schools, was being pushed back a month, per a report last month by the Houston Chronicle. The Class 6A and 5A schools, the largest classifications in Texas, saw the start of practice pushed back to Sept. 7 and first week of games rescheduled for Sept. 24-26. Playoffs for those schools will not begin until Dec. 3, meaning the state finals will be pushed back to January. The smaller schools have started practices on time and the same goes for their games.

High school football status: Playing this fall

Utah is the first state to get its high school football season started. According to OregonLive, Utah schools played 51 season-opening games last Thursday and Friday. In the story, Utah High School Activities Association director of football Brenan Jackson said that the state plans to finish the fall with state championship games but that the season could end easily if health officials deem it unsafe.

High school football status: Playing in the fall

Per a report by the Cowboy State Daily, Wyoming’s fall sports are starting on time as originally scheduled and that includes football. Practices were scheduled to begin Aug. 10 for Class 4A football, while classes 1A, 2A and 3A were beginning Aug. 17.

High school football status: Playing this fall

The earliest practice date for Anchorage schools was pushed back to Aug. 20, according to a report by the Anchorage Daily News. With the Alaska School Activities Association’s requirement for a minimum of 10 practices before a game is played, the first contest in Anchorage would be allowed Sept. 1. Per the ASAA website, state playoffs would start Oct. 9 or 10 and wrap up Oct. 23.

High school football status: Playing this fall

The Arizona Interscholastic Association’s executive board on Aug. 5 approved a fall sports calendar, which has the first football practice scheduled for Sept. 7, the first game Sept. 30-Oct. 3 and state championships Dec. 11-12.

High school football status: Moving season to January

On Aug. 5, the Hawaii High School Athletic Association executive board approved by majority vote to postpone the start of moderate- to high-risk fall sports, including football, to January 2021. On Monday, the HHSAA executive board voted unanimously to extend the no-contact period for the high school sports calendar through Sept. 13. That means no instructional or developmental sport-specific activity is allowed between high school coaches and student-athletes.

High school football status: Moving season to spring

 The Oregon School Activities Association on Aug. 5 announced it was shifting its traditional fall sports seasons, including football, to the spring. Under the new plan, football practices will begin in late-February and the season will run into early-May. 

High school football status: Moving season to spring

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association announced a modified sports calendar for the 2020-21 school year on July 21, including moving football to the spring, per a report by The News Tribune. Football would begin in March as part of WIAA Season 3 in the four-season setup. Washington was the fourth state in the nation to move football to the spring.

High school football status: Moving start of season to winter

On July 20, the California Interscholastic Federation announced it was moving the high school sports season back to December or January, according to a Los Angeles Times report. Each of the 10 sections were to release their own schedules built around the CIF calendar. The City Section and Southern Section announced football practice starting Dec. 14 with games beginning Jan. 8. The last day for section playoffs will be April 10 and the last day for regional/state championships will be April 17. Per MaxPreps, the Northern Section was pushing for a normal start for football but it has since fallen in line with the rest of the state.