From The Tribune staff reports
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is postponing its fall sports competitions and championships because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and has begun plans to push the fall schedule to the 2021 spring semester, according to reports that surfaced on Monday, July 20.
This decision means Auburn’s season opener against Alcorn State will not be played. Alabama’s Week 1 contest against USC has also been called off, due to complications created by COVID-19.
The SWAC announced the plan of a seven-game football schedule beginning with an eight-week training period in January 2021. Each program would play six conference games (four divisional and two cross-divisional) with the option to play one nonconference game.
“The continued increase of COVID-19 cases across many portions of the league’s geographic footprint and southern regions of the country played a significant role in the council’s decision, along with data that suggests African-American communities have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,” read a statement from the conference.
“The SWAC shares in the disappointment that will undoubtedly be felt by student-athletes, fans and supporters impacted by the postponement of fall sports competition.”