UPDATED - Friday, Aug. 7, 2020 at 8:30 PM:

UNI will not be playing football this fall.

Less than 24 hours after Missouri Valley Football Conference officials announced the indefinite postponement of Monday's scheduled virtual Media Day, league officials moved the 2020 season to the spring of 2021. The MVFC President's Council voted in favor of the delay Friday night.

“Without question the most important part of our decision-making process was listening to our student-athletes and hearing their feelings,” stated Jim Tressel, chair of the MVFC Presidents Council and President at Youngstown State University. “What we clearly heard was that they want to play this year for a chance to participate in the FCS Playoffs. It's great to know that they believe we are taking all the steps necessary to keep them safe in the process. All 11 MVFC teams weighed in with their positions on the options we considered, and all thoughts and concerns guided our thinking.”

An MVFC press release announcing the move said the Council also voted that any competition in Fall 2020 will be conducted at institutional discretion.

The action taken by the President's Council wasn't a surprise. Ross Uglem of 247sports.com, broke the news earlier Friday.


Seven other FCS conferences already had announced plans to move their 2020 season to the spring. The Pioneer Football League (PFL), of which Drake is a member, made the move Friday morning.

Questions about UNI's season intensified Thursday when Big Sky Conference officials decided to move the 2020 fall football season to spring. The Panthers were scheduled to play at Idaho State on Sept. 12, prior to hosting Weber State on Sept. 19. Their original season-opener at Iowa was canceled late last month when the Big 10 decided to play a 10-game, conference-only schedule.

Now, UNI is planning to play an eight-game schedule in the spring. The schedule and timeline of the spring season have not been determined.

Fans who have already purchased season tickets for UNI football games have four options to redeem them. UNI athletic officials posted the information on the school's website. Season ticket holders have until Sept. 1 to make a decision.

According to UNI athletic officials, the MVFC's decision to postpone football has no impact on the school's other fall athletic teams. In a press release, they said UNI's volleyball, soccer and cross country teams are still preparing for their seasons, each of which is slated to begin Sept. 18.

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