The longest college football season in history comes to a close this weekend after a grueling, haphazard stretch that included the Football Championship Subdivision pushing the majority of its games into the spring for the first time because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While Football Bowl Subdivision teams staged a shortened season last fall, the FCS took the unusual step of putting off its games until spring even though some teams had been preparing since last summer. Players and coaches alike say the constant specter of a sudden shutdown for coronavirus protocols made for a mentally exhausting season and one that athletic directors said only slightly mitigated the revenue lost.
But, they add, at least they got to play the games.
South Dakota State and Sam Houston will play for the FCS championship at 2 p.m. Eastern on Sunday in Frisco, Texas, capping an abbreviated season marked by high-level football and some historic performances, but also dozens of games lost to COVID-19 outbreaks.
The day will also start a countdown that has raised concerns: Many programs will be idle for less than two months before reconvening to prepare for fall football. Coaches have tried to adjust.