COVID-19 has put the college football landscape in flux with every program operating under unprecedented uncertainty about how scheduled games and the season at large will be affected.
With many sports leagues implementing or discussing limiting travel amidst the COVID-19 crisis, it seems increasingly likely that early-season matchups between programs on opposite ends of the country could be threatened.
Alabama and TCU are already planning for that possibility.
Alabama has had talks with TCU in case USC has to be replaced on the Week 1 schedule for the upcoming season according to @finebaum.
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) May 12, 2020
TCU is scheduled to play Cal on Sept. 5, the same date as Alabama vs. USC is scheduled in Arlington.
If college football does try to limit travel, this would also put Ohio State's matchup with Oregon in jeopardy as the two schools are separated by well over 2,000 miles. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has already called for no sporting events with large crowds through September, which would impact the game even if it is played.
Obviously, nothing is set in stone and the situation is constantly evolving, but at least two programs are making preparations for pretty drastic last-minute changes to schedules that are usually set years in advance.
Unprecedented times lead to unprecedented changes.
