The AAC by the end of the month "almost certainly" will announce "whether it will start the football season on time," according to Sam Blum of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco on Wednesday "went in-depth on what the decision to play or cancel would be based upon." Asked if the decision of many FBS schools to continue on amid the pandemic is based on financial need, Aresco said, "It's not. It's a health and safety decision. Pure and simple. Obviously there are financial ramifications, no question ... with the FCS, it is more of whether they can afford testing." Blum noted several schools in the conference "have already been forced to cut programs," and around the country, athletic department jobs are "being cut." Aresco said, "The financial considerations have been on the back burner. They're enormous, we fully understand that. But they are not driving this." Blum wrote as the league evaluates over the next week whether to delay or play the season, it is "still somewhat unknown what the exact criteria is that would allow a season to happen" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 7/23).
