The Pioneer Football League has cancelled its 2020 season, the league announced in a statement Friday morning.
“The Pioneer Football League’s (PFL) Presidents Council has announced the league’s schools will not conduct conference competition in fall 2020,” the league stated. “The PFL membership is spread from coast-to-coast and throughout the Midwest which poses challenges related to team travel, as well as difficulties meeting applicable state, local and institutional health requirements and COVID-19 mitigation strategies.”
The PFL’s initial plan for the 2020 season was to only play in-conference opponents starting in late September. The Pioneer League ultimately decided to scrap those plans and cancel the upcoming season in its entirety this morning, leaving 11 teams without an FCS season.
“Recognizing competition is an integral part of the student-athlete’s educational experience,” the statement read. “The PFL is committed to exploring meaningful opportunities and experiences for football student-athletes this academic year, if this can be done reasonably and safely.“
Marist’s out-of-conference opponents would have been Georgetown, Cornell, and Dartmouth, with the games against the latter two opponents being away from Tenney Stadium.
Last season, the Red Foxes went 4-7 overall and 4-4 against PFL foes. The Red Foxes joined the PFL in 2009, going 53-86 overall with a record of 45-43 against PFL opponents and splitting the 2013 championship with Butler.
Edited by David Connelly