The Reseau du sport etudiant du Quebec is still pursuing a fall football season in 2020 for all levels and what that might look like is beginning to take shape.
“I’ve been told by an industry source that the 2020 RSEQ CEGEP football season has been delayed until after Labour Day. It has not been cancelled,” TSN 690 host Moe Khan reported on Twitter Monday.
CEGEP is a level between high school and university that is unique to Quebec, but its athletics are run by the same organization that operates as a conference in U Sports. The return timeline of CEGEP football should closely mirror that of Quebec universities.
Last week, Alexandre Pratt of La Presse reported that football was approved to return in the fall with several health protocol adjustments. University programs have until Monday, August 31 to decide on whether they wish to play in the 2020 season. Sources indicate that Sherbrooke and Laval are set to return, while McGill is anticipated to opt out. The positions of Concordia and Montreal are unknown, as well as Quebec-based Atlantic University Sport school Bishop’s, which could opt in.
Every other Canadian university conference — AUS, Ontario University Athletics and Canada West — including the governing body, U Sports, cancelled fall sports in June due to the uncertainty of the coronavirus crisis. The Canadian Junior Football League followed suit earlier this month, while there is much speculation that the NCAA season could be next with several conferences canceling games for 2020.
Quebec could be the only post-secondary football played in North America this fall if they are successful in their plan, but there are still many hurdles that must be overcome before that becomes a reality.
