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SEC Sports
While the moves of the Big Ten and Pac-12 to conference-only football schedules season suggest the 2020 season won't start on time, one of Tennessee's opponents is attempting to get a head start on the campaign. Per a report from The Oklahoman, Oklahoma has petitioned the NCAA for a waiver to move up its season opener against Missouri State from Sept. 5 to Aug. 29. If the game against the Football Championship Subdivision's Bears is moved up (not to mention played at all), the Sooners would have an extra week before playing the Vols.
Tennessee is slated to play at Oklahoma on Sept. 12, the second visit to Norman in the past decade for the Vols, who lost 34-10 there in 2014.
The Vols are slated to open the season against Charlotte on Sept. 5.
According to the report from Barry Tramel, the rationale for Oklahoma and athletic director Joe Castiglione in moving up the season opener is to give the Sooners open dates after each of their first two games. Oklahoma currently has an open date after Tennessee's visit ahead of a game at Army on Sept. 26. The extra time between games "could be valuable with the testing of players for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19," per Tramel's report.
Of course, there's an increasing chance Tennessee's game at Oklahoma and the Sooners' games against Missouri State and Army could get the axe if the Big 12 and/or the SEC follow suit with the Big Ten and Pac-12 in moving to conference-only schedules for the season.
The other Power 5 conferences eventually may follow suit, but the Big 12 and the SEC both don't appear to be making any imminent decisions.
āThe Big Ten decisions are interesting and provide additional information to inform our discussions,ā Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said in a statement. āAt this time our medical and scientific advisors have suggested we should move ahead slowly and with constant re-evaluation. We plan to continue to prepare for all available scenarios until we are informed that some are no longer viable.ā
