GAC announces changes for 2020-21 football, basketball seasons

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  • Kenny Graham scores a touchdown in SWOSU’s final game in 2019. ProvidedProvided
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RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas — Friday, The Great American Conference announced its Council of Presidents approved changes to the league’s upcoming football and basketball schedules, as well as alterations to the conference’s championship formats.

The 2020 football season now consists of the GAC’s 12 member schools playing a tengame conference schedule which can begin Thursday, September 10. The 10-game slate corresponds with changes to maximum playing seasons passed by the NCAA Division II Presidents Council earlier this month.

For the 2020-21 basketball season, the league still will compete in a double round-robin format, but will eliminate non-conference contests. That season opens Friday, November 13. The 22-game season represents the maximum playable contests set forth by the NCAA.

“The Great American Conference athletic administrators, Commissioner Will Prewitt and Council of Presidents have worked very diligently to modify sports schedules to comply with new NCAA Division II guidelines,” Northwestern Oklahoma State President and GAC Council of Presidents Chairwoman Dr. Janet Cunningham said. “I believe we have struck a good balance of cost efficiencies and student-athlete safety while also preserving the student-athlete experience.”

With regards to the 14 conference championships the GAC contests, the number of competing teams will remain the same as in years past. However, a series of championships will see a reduction in length and multiple events will move to campus locations. The volleyball, basketball, golf, women’s tennis, baseball, and softball championships see oneday reductions in their formats.

“I’m appreciative our leadership identified ways to retain championship experiences for as many teams and individuals as possible,” Prewitt said. “These decisions are not pleasant to make, but our presidents, athletic directors, and additional administrators have worked hard to balance the financial realities that we are battling with allowing student-athletes to compete for championships.”

2020-2021 GAC Championships Schedules:

Men’s and women’s cross country — October 24 — hosted by Southwestern Oklahoma State University (all teams)

Women’s soccer — November 12-14 — hosted by highest seed (four teams)

Men’s soccer — November 13-15 — hosted by highest seed (four teams)

Volleyball — November 20-21 — hosted in Hot Springs, Arkansas (eight teams)

Men’s and women’s basketball — March 5-7 — host TBD (eight men’s and women’s teams each)

Men’s and women’s track and field — April 15-17 — hosted by Southern Arkansas University (all teams)

Men’s and women’s golf — April 19-20 — hosted in Hot Springs, Arkansas (all teams)

Women’s tennis — April 23-24 — host TBD (six teams)

Baseball — May 6-8 — host TBD (eight teams, single-elimination)

Softball — May 7-8 — host TBD (eight teams, single-elimination)

2020 SWOSU football

Sept. 12 — Harding Sept.

Sept. 19 — at Arkansas Tech

Sept. 26 — at East Central

Oct. 3 — SE Oklahoma St.

Oct. 10 — Oklahoma Baptist

Oct. 17 — at Southern Nazarene

Oct. 24 — Henderson State (HC)

Oct. 31 — at Ouachita Baptist

Nov. 7 — at Southern Arkansas

Nov. 14 — NW Oklahoma St.

2020-21 SWOSU basketball

Nov. 13 — at Southern Nazarene

Nov. 17 — East Central

Nov. 27 — Arkansas-Monticello

Nov. 29 — Southern Arkansas

Dec. 3 — SE Oklahoma St.

Dec. 5 — Oklahoma Baptist

Jan. 7 — at Ouachita Baptist

Jan. 9 — at Henderson State

Jan. 14 — NW Oklahoma St.

Jan. 16 — SE Oklahoma St.

Jan. 21 — Arkansas Tech

Jan. 23 — Harding

Jan. 28 — at Southern Arkansas

Jan. 30 — at Ark.-Monticello

Feb. 4 — at NW Oklahoma St.

Feb. 6 — at Oklahoma Baptist

Feb. 11 — Henderson State

Feb. 13 — Ouachita Baptist

Feb. 18 — at Harding

Feb. 20 — at Arkansas

Feb. 25 — at East Central

Feb. 27 — Southern Nazarene