SEC announces new start dates, formats for Mizzou fall sports
The Missouri Tigers’ soccer, volleyball and cross country teams finally know what their seasons will look like: The Southeastern Conference on Thursday unveiled new schedules and formats.
The SEC announced the affected sports will compete in the fall and then finish their seasons in the spring based on when the NCAA schedules those modified championships.
The Mizzou men’s and women’s cross country teams’ season will consist of a minimum of two or a maximum of three competitions ahead of the SEC Championship, which is scheduled for Oct. 30 at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The season takes place from Sept. 11 to Oct. 23.
The Mizzou soccer team will play eight SEC games over eight weeks starting Sept. 18. The SEC soccer championship is scheduled to take place Nov. 13-22 in Orange Beach, Alabama. All 14 schools will compete for the championship and each team is guaranteed at least two games.
The Mizzou volleyball team will also play eight times in SEC competition, but over a period six weeks starting Oct. 16. Each school will compete against four opponents twice in the same weekend over back-to-back days.
MU volleyball and soccer will be the sports competing in the spring, when the NCAA has said it will be conducting its championships.
The MU men’s and women’s golf teams, along with MU men’s and women’s tennis, had their seasons affected for the fall portion of the schedule. The SEC stipulates teams are allowed to compete in up to three team events beginning no earlier than Oct. 1. Both golf and tennis teams are limited to events with other SEC members or non-conference teams in MU’s geographical region.
Mizzou softball and baseball are allowed to conduct fall practices and intra-squad games, but are prohibited from playing outside competition during the fall.
The MU football team is not affected by these changes and is continuing preparations toward a modified, 10-game SEC schedule. The Football Bowl Subdivision conducts its own championship, unlike the rest of MU’s fall sports.
The SEC announced in July any student-athlete who does not compete or participate during fall 2020 because of COVID-19 concerns will continue to have his or her scholarship honored and remain in good standing with their team.
While the Tigers in fall sports grapple with a modified season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, they will not lose a year of eligibility. The NCAA approved Aug. 21 a blanket waiver that grants an extra year of eligibility to all fall athletes, regardless of whether they play this season. It’s similar to when spring sports athletes were granted an extra year of eligibility shortly after the pandemic began.