The NAIA has announced that they will not play their football championship this fall. Instead, the league will move it to the spring of 2021. The decision was made by the NAIA Council of Presidents (COP).
The decision will still allow NAIA conferences to compete in the fall and winter, if they so choose.
"Moving the football championship to the spring was the right thing to do for the well-being of our student-athletes,” NAIA President and CEO Jim Carr shared. “The decision also provides additional flexibility for our conferences and institutions to account for regional differences and plan their regular season accordingly.”
Coaches that we've talked with at the NAIA level following the announcement share that there are still a lot of details to work out. One of those questions that came to mind is the schools or conferences that opt to play this fall. If they're able to get a bunch of games in and go undefeated, will they be considered for the post season in the spring? Early on, the understanding from coaches is that yes, teams that play in the fall will be able to compete in post season play come spring.
Will that time off, not having to roll from a tough in-season schedule into the playoffs, be an advantage, or disadvantage for teams? All very interesting questions moving forward.
Lots of things to still work out, but coaches seem to like the ability the NAIA is granting them to make the best decisions for their conferences, schools, and athletes in the COVID age.
See their full release below.
NAIA postpones football championship to spring 2021
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Council of Presidents (COP) voted on Tuesday, July 31 to postpone the fall national football championship to spring 2021. This decision came after the COP voted earlier this week to postpone championships in all other fall sports until spring. This decision still allows NAIA conferences to compete in the fall and winter, if they so choose.
“The decision regarding the football championship required additional attention since the sport often operates outside of the regular conference structure,” said Dr. Arvid Johnson, COP Chair and University of St. Francis President. “The extra time allotted was to ensure that the COP representatives had adequate opportunity to gain feedback from their conference colleagues.”
The COP noted that the decision to move the football championship from the fall to spring is more inclusive for all NAIA member institutions, especially those schools that are restricted by local or state mandates from holding athletics competitions this fall.
“Moving the football championship to the spring was the right thing to do for the well-being of our student-athletes,” said NAIA President and CEO Jim Carr. “The decision also provides additional flexibility for our conferences and institutions to account for regional differences and plan their regular season accordingly.”