Gov. Gavin Newsom says state guidelines aren’t preventing Pac-12 from playing football

A day after USC football players made their public plea for California state officials to loosen restrictions and let them play, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared there’s nothing in the state’s guidelines that’s stopping them.

“I want to make this crystal clear,” Newsom said. “Nothing in the state guidelines denies the ability for the Pac-12 to resume. Quite the contrary. That’s been a misrepresentation of the facts.”

What isn’t clear is how teams would practice or play games when state guidelines do limit gatherings of cohorts to 12 or fewer. UCLA, USC and other college programs have players and staff that total more than 100 people.

The governor said he spoke with Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott earlier Wednesday and would work with the conference and the NCAA on addressing the guidelines.

Sports

Larry Scott has some optimism that Pac-12 can get clearance to play football

On the day the Big Ten announced it would play fall football, the Pac-12 said discussions with officials created optimism about the conference playing this season.

Sept. 16, 2020

But as the Big Ten announced its return on Wednesday morning, the Pac-12 remains stuck in place, waiting for approval from state government officials.