LEXINGTON, Ky. – There won't be a Governor's Cup game in Kentucky this year. The Southeastern Conference announced Thursday it is delaying the start of the 2020 football season. The SEC will only play 10 games against conference opponents. The season kicks off September 26.

The announcement comes a day after the University of Louisville and the Atlantic Coach Conference announced it would also play a 10 game conference schedule, but the ACC allowed for a bonus non-conference game, which would have permitted the in-state rivalry between the Cards and the University of Kentucky.

UK head football coach Mark Stoops said, “I’m glad there is a plan in place so we can move forward with preparations for the season.  I understand and support the decision to begin on September 26. Everyone would like to play a full schedule, including our rivalry game with Louisville, but this timing and format gives us our best opportunity to adjust to these unique circumstances.”

“I fully support the SEC’s decision to move to conference-only games, though we are disappointed we won’t have the chance to compete with Louisville for the Governor’s Cup this season,” Barnhart said. “That series means a great deal to the Commonwealth and we look forward to working with Louisville to continue the series in seasons to come.”

The revised 2020 SEC schedule will be released at a later time. But UK will have two open dates, one in the middle of the season and one at the end. The SEC Championship will now be played Dec. 19 at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta instead of the previously scheduled date of Dec. 5.  

“Our adjusted schedule puts us in the best possible position to play the 2020 football season,” Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart said. “We are excited to focus as a football program and an athletics department on preparing to kick off the season on Sept. 26.”

UK Athletics is working with university, SEC, and state officials to determine capacity and attendance protocols for its five home games. If you have questions you can call the UK ticket office at 800-928-2287 and choose option 4. 

 Other notes related to university athletics include: 

• The SEC announced in July that the sports of men’s and women’s cross country, soccer, and volleyball would be postponed through at least August 31. Start dates and schedules for those sports, as well as sports in their non-traditional seasons during the fall, will be announced at a later date.

 • The SEC announced in July that student-athletes in all sports who elect to not participate in intercollegiate athletics during the fall 2020 academic semester because of health and/or safety concerns related to COVID-19 will continue to have their scholarships honored by their university and will remain in good standing with their team.

 • The SEC’s Return to Activity and Medical Guidance Task Force continues to meet on policies and procedures for the safe return of student-athletes to competition, including the development of comprehensive testing and reporting policies, building on the NCAA’s Resocialization of College Sports Guidelines.

 • Each athletics program has been engaged in evaluating best practices for game operations to prepare a safe environment for student-athletes, coaches, staff, officials, and other individuals necessary to conduct games.