Pac-12 outlines forfeiture policy for 2021-22 season

The Pac-12 has announced a change to its forfeiture policy, counting forfeits as losses for teams who are unable to play due to COVID-19 outbreaks.

The change is actually just a reversion to how the policy was prior to the 2020-21 seasons, when the pandemic caused the conference to declare a canceled game a “no contest.” Now, if a team is unable to play “through its own fault” it will result in a loss in the standings and a win for the opponent.

Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff will have sole discretion to determine if a team is at fault, according to the policy.

Nine of 12 Pac-12 schools are requiring COVID vaccinations for players and team personnel, though Arizona is not due to a pending state law that prohibits vaccine mandates on schools. UA coach Jedd Fisch announced before preseason camp began last week that 115 of 118 players had been vaccinated.

That gives us a competitive advantage in my mind, as we should not miss any time as a football team due to COVID,” he said. “Obviously if somebody tests positive on a breakthrough, then the rest of the team does not have to quarantine because they’re vaccinated, and that’s a huge part of it. So we’re excited. Our team is ready to go. Our team is healthy.”