The Big 12 conference took the opening kickoff and downed it in the Chris Day end zone.

After months of study, the conference decided last week to go with a 10-game schedule for the 2020 football season. The nine-game conference schedule will start in mid-to late-September. The teams must hold Outdoors their one nonconference contest before league play starts.

It’s now, first down with 100 decisions to go. The Big 12 will be reworking its conference schedule. The conference title game will be held either on Dec. 12 or Dec. 19. If it’s held Dec. 19, it can’t be held at AT&T Stadium in Dallas because the high school state championship games are scheduled at the home of the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys also will be playing at home Dec. 20.

The Big 12 followed the lead of other Power Five conferences by going to a one nonconference game format. The SEC, ACC and PAC-12 are following the same pattern.

So, it’s first and about 100 decisions to go.

The biggest one is attendance.

Will fans or cardboard cutouts watch the games?

If fans are in the stands, how many – 10 percent, 20 percent or 30 percent of capacity?

If fans are allowed, will they be required to wear masks and practice social distancing? How do you sanitizThe Big 12 followede an entire stadium? I’m guessing beer sales at concession stands will be out this season. Buzzed fans and COVID-19 are not a good match. Will concession stands even be open? How do you protect workers and fans from the virus?

How many cardboard cutouts will be needed? Or will the stands be empty as all of us watch the games on TV In golf and NASCAR, the broadcast announcers aren’t on site. They are watching the camera feeds and calling the tournament or race from afar. Will that happen in college football too?

With empty stands, you don’t need cheerleaders or marching bands for that matter. I remember when the networks would air at least a portion of the marching band performance at halftime. The pomp of the halftime show has been replaced on TV by highlights from other games and sports commentary.

If a limited number of fans are allowed, who will get the tickets? Will it be big donors? Will the universities hold a ticket lottery with the winners getting season tickets or individual game tickets?

Oklahoma State University’s Alumni Association already has called off America’s Greatest Homecoming for this season. It was scheduled Oct. 26-31.

At least at OSU, another football tradition has been canceled this year. The alumni association hopes to mark the centennial Homecoming celebration in the 2021 season now.

I’m sure other universities will follow OSU lead, and cancel Homecoming celebrations as well.

How do you keep student-athletes safe?

Major League Baseball has had to postpone or cancel games as players contract COVID-19 in a season that just started up. The National Basketball Association is playing all its games in Orlando with players quarantined in hotels when they aren’t playing games.

Student-athletes are students first and players second.

They should be going to school to get a degree. They need to go to classes to get their degrees. Will football players take all OPINION from page 6 their classes online to stay within the bubble? Will they miss interacted with their classmates?

Player safety must be a priority.

Coaches don’t want to lose any of their players to COVID-19 during the season.

We have one answer for now — the Big 12 will play a 10-game schedule — and even that could be change if COVID-19 flare-ups continue.

The other 100 or so questions must be answered in the next four to five weeks.

Can it be done? Only time will tell.