Live United canceled until 2021

TEXARKANA, Ark. - It will have to wait another year.

The eighth annual Farmers Bank and Trust Live United Bowl game has been canceled. This annual Division II college football bowl game features a Great American Conference team against an at-large opponent from the Lone Star Conference or the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

"The decision to cancel the bowl was in the best interest of the students', fans' and community's health and well-being," Allen Brown, the Farmers Bank and Trust Live United Bowl game chairman said. "As we look forward to the bowl game in 2021, we remain committed to offering the students, fans and our community a first-class football experience."

The NCAA canceled all fall championship games in all sports for Division II as well as the conferences, usually involved in the bowl game, cancelling their seasons.

The Great American Conference suspended all fall and winter sports through Dec. 31.

The Council made its recommendation in response to last week's directive from the NCAA Board of Governors regarding additional requirements as well the cancellation of 2020 NCAA Division II fall championships.

"I'm disappointed for our student-athletes, coaches, and communities," GAC Commissioner Will Prewitt said. "Our membership's presidents and athletic administrators did not arrive at this difficult decision lightly. Our hopes and work to date have been to proceed with fall competition following federal and state health guidance.

"However, recent decisions by the NCAA Board of Governors make this possibility unrealistic. We now turn our focus as a conference on how to best support our student-athletes during this challenging time and craft options that will allow them to experience meaningful and safe competition during spring 2021."

All NCAA athletically related activities are permitted this fall based on each institution's ability to comply with the recent NCAA Board of Governors directive.

"The suspension of our fall and winter sports through December 31 is a heartbreak for all of us," said Harding President and GAC Council of Presidents Chairman Dr. Bruce McLarty. "Our athletes and college athletics are important to every GAC campus. The presidents are continuing our work to ensure that our student-athletes have a great college experience this year, in spite of the challenges we are facing."

Eric Moyer contributed to this report.

Upcoming Events