Southland Conference Moves Football to the Spring

The Southland Conference will reportedly be moving the conference schedule to the spring as they will cancel fall sports according to Randy McIlvoy of KPRC2.

The Southland members can pursue a non-conference schedule this fall if they so choose, a move that has also been allowed by the Big South and Missouri Valley Football Conference.

The Southland Conference confirmed the news on Thursday morning in a press release.

The Southland’s decision means only two FCS conferences are still planning to play non-conference and conference schedules are the Ohio Valley Conference and Southern Conference.

An additional 60 games could be canceled or postponed by the decision. 11 non-conference games, which are still eligible to be played, are marked with an asterisk while 49 conference games will be moved to the spring.

Five Southland teams are currently planning on non-conference games while another five will not. The five programs considering playing are Abilene Christian, Central Arkansas, Houston Baptist, Lamar, and Stephen F. Austin. SFA has moved its September 12 game versus SMU to September 26.

The six teams who have opted not to pursue non-conference games are McNeese, Nicholls, Northwestern State, Sam Houston State, Southeastern Louisiana, and Incarnate Word.

One non-conference game that will not be played is Southeastern Louisiana at Tulane. The Lions informed Tulane they would not play the opening game schedule for Thursday, September 3.

DateAwayHome
8/29*Austin PeayCentral Arkansas
9/3Incarnate WordNorthwestern State
9/3*Southeastern LouisianaTulane
9/5*McNeeseLouisiana
9/5*Houston BaptistNorth Texas
9/12Incarnate WordLamar
9/12NichollsNorthwestern State
9/12Central ArkansasAbilene Christian
9/12*Stephen F. AustinSMU
9/12*Houston BaptistTexas Tech
9/19Abilene ChristianMcNeese
9/19*Southeastern LouisianaJacksonville State
9/19LamarStephen F. Austin
9/19*Northwestern StateTulsa
9/19Sam Houston StateNicholls
9/19*Houston BaptistLouisiana Tech
9/19*Central ArkansasArkansas State
9/26Sam Houston StateIncarnate Word
9/26Houston BaptistNorthwestern State
9/26Abilene ChristianStephen F. Austin
9/26*LamarRice
9/26McNeeseSoutheastern Louisiana
9/26NichollsCentral Arkansas
10/3Central ArkansasMcNeese
10/3Southeastern LouisianaLamar
10/3Incarnate WordAbilene Christian
10/3Stephen F. AustinSam Houston State
10/10Abilene ChristianSam Houston State
10/10LamarCentral Arkansas
10/10McNeeseHouston Baptist
10/10Northwestern StateSoutheastern Louisiana
10/10Stephen F. AustinNicholls
10/17Southeastern LouisianaIncarnate Word
10/17Houston BaptistLamar
10/17Sam Houston StateNorthwestern State
10/17NichollsAbilene Christian
10/24McNeeseSam Houston State
10/24Central ArkansasStephen F. Austin
10/24Abilene ChristianSoutheastern Louisiana
10/24NichollsHouston Baptist
10/31Stephen F. AustinMcNeese
10/31Incarnate WordNicholls
10/31Houston BaptistSoutheastern Louisiana
10/31LamarAbilene Christian
10/31Northwestern StateCentral Arkansas
11/7Central ArkansasSam Houston State
11/7Northwestern StateLamar
11/7NichollsMcNeese
11/7Houston BaptistIncarnate Word
11/7Southeastern LouisianaStephen F. Austin
11/14Stephen F. AustinIncarnate Word
11/14Sam Houston StateLamar
11/14McNeeseNorthwestern State
11/14Abilene ChristianHouston Baptist
11/14Central ArkansasSoutheastern Louisiana
11/19Northwestern StateStephen F. Austin
11/19Southeastern LouisianaNicholls
11/21LamarMcNeese
11/21Sam Houston StateHouston Baptist
11/21Incarnate WordAbilene Christian

As it stands, over 650 games featuring FCS teams have now been canceled or postponed for the 2020 season.

Photo courtesy of the Southland Conference.

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