College football is continuing to adjust to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, and the Duke football program is likely to only play ACC teams this season.
Dominoes are falling across the country surrounding a fall college football season, and things are certainly foggy around the Duke Blue Devils and the rest of the ACC.
Earlier this week, the Ivy League canceled all fall sports, including football, and on Thursday the Big Ten announced its fall sports, including football, will only play conference opponents this season.
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There are still many questions to be answered about the Big Ten’s latest announcement, but it has impacted other power conferences like the PAC-12 and ACC, who are likely to follow in the Big Ten’s footsteps, according to multiple reports.
If the ACC were to only play conference games this season, it would also include Notre Dame, who is a full member of the conference in every other sport outside of football; however, the Fighting Irish play a six-game ACC schedule as a part of their contract to partially join the conference.
Duke would lose its first three games of the season, all of which were scheduled to be played at Wallace Wade Stadium against Middle Tennessee, Elon, and Charlotte, but no official statement has been made on the potential 2020 football schedule for the Blue Devils.
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In a virtual press conference on Friday morning, head coach David Cutcliffe said that he hopes the ACC only plays conference games this season and, as of right now, does not expect the season to start on time.
Duke University outlined its plan to bring athletes back to campus last week, which begins with football players returning to Durham on July 12.
ALSO READ: Duke outlines guidelines in which football, basketball can resume
The idea of a fall college football season will continue to be a major question mark and revolving door as coronavirus cases continue to surge around the country, but it will definitely be something to keep a close eye on in the coming days and weeks ahead.