Democracy Dies in Darkness

Pac-12 moves toward playing football this fall after Big Ten announces its reversal

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“Our California and Oregon universities will now each individually and immediately reach out to their relevant county public health officials,” said Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott, “to seek clarification on what is required to achieve the same clearance [as governors provided] to resume contact practice and competition.” (D. Ross Cameron/AP)

On a day the Big Ten announced it will reverse course and pursue a football season starting in October, the Pac-12 subsequently announced that officials in a pair of key states were clearing the way for “contact practice and a return to competition.”

In a statement Wednesday, Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott hailed California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) for helping remove “state restrictions on our ability to play sports in light of our adherence to strict health and safety protocols and stringent testing requirements.”