OVC, Sun Belt push back opening of fall sports — except football

The Ohio Valley Conference has postponed the start of competition for fall Olympic sports until Sept. 17, and the league also plans to compete in conference only events for women’s soccer and volleyball.

The decision, a result of the coronavirus pandemic, does not include a ruling yet on OVC football due to what the league calls “existing contractual matters.”

The OVC Board of Presidents announced the decision Wednesday evening. This delays the fall schedule for men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf and men’s and women’s tennis.

The delay also applies to the non-traditional seasons for baseball and softball. The board will be monitoring the coronavirus pandemic to make sure the OVC’s plans are supported by current medical evidence and guidance.

OVC schools affected in Kentucky are Eastern Kentucky, Murray State and Morehead State.

Sun Belt delays start

The Sun Belt Conference announced Thursday that it will delay the first permissible date of competition for 2020-21 until at least Sept. 3.

The rescheduling of games because of those adjustments will be determined by each individual school.

Like in the OVC, the Sun Belt’s decision does not yet affect football, which is scheduled to kick off Sept. 3.