Oregon exempts Pac-12 from restrictions, L.A. County reportedly approves practices

The Big Ten announced Wednesday it would begin its postponed 2020 football season with a targeted start date of Oct. 24, and the Pac-12 may not be too far behind.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown granted the Oregon Ducks and Oregon State Beavers, both Pac-12 schools, an exemption from state sports restrictions.

Despite the announcement, the Pac-12 still must submit plans for the upcoming season regarding COVID-19 testing before football games can proceed.

"Let me stress that, up to this point, we have received no written plans from the Pac-12 for the upcoming season, and we have no details from the conference about their new rapid testing proposal," Brown's statement read. "Until we have those details, we can’t move forward in the process.

"We want Oregon and Oregon State's players to be able to focus on football while protecting their health and safety. We also want to ensure that team practices will not be derailed by a COVID-19 outbreak that would threaten the health not only of the players and coaches, but of their university communities and the wider communities in Eugene and Corvallis."

Following the Big Ten's decision to return to play, Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said California and Oregon are preventing schools in those states from holding contact practices.

California Gov. Gavin Newsome denied these claims, affirming there is nothing in his state guidelines stopping the conference from holding games, according to 247's Kevin Wade.

Scott responded to both governors, stating schools in Oregon and California will reach out to their respective county health officials to determine what is required to receive clearance for contact practices.

USC's and UCLA's athletic directors held a joint video call with Los Angeles County health officials later Wednesday evening and received the green light to resume on-field work pending the conference's approval, a source told Jon Wilner of the Mercury News.

The statements are a positive step toward the Pac-12 returning to play this year. Football players collectively asked Scott and various governors to allow them to hit the field this fall after the Big Ten's announcement.

A source told ESPN's Heather Dinich that if California and Oregon schools gain clearance at a local level, it's possible the conference could kick off its 2020 season as soon as late October.

A recent partnership between the Pac-12 and Quidel Corporation will allow rapid COVID-19 to be administered during a potential campaign.