One key step in the Big 12's discussions about going ahead with the football season that "made all involved more comfortable with moving forward" was the conference's schools "agreeing to enhanced testing protocols," according to Max Olson of THE ATHLETIC. Big 12 athletic departments "will test their athletes three times a week during the season." Testing capacity "has become an especially critical issue in the Big 12's efforts to kick off a football season." Olson writes three tests a week is a "good plan that will require excellent execution." All 10 schools in the conference "have their own lab arrangements." The schools are "going to need significant testing supply and faster turnaround times in order to safely make this season work." Big 12 leaders are "hoping that, by staying patient, they're buying more time for COVID-19 testing to continue to evolve and improve." Olson: "That needs to be the case if they're going to withstand the return of students to their campuses." This is a "unique predicament for college athletic departments." There is a "bit of a disparity across the conference when it comes to these lab partnerships." Half of the schools in the Big 12 are running their testing through "campus labs or university medical centers, which is certainly advantageous." The rest of the Big 12 programs are "relying on third-party labs to run their testing" (THEATHLETIC.com, 8/17).
