When USC football might return to practice under NCAA’s proposed preseason model

USC football’s return to football practice should follow the NCAA’s newly proposed preseason schedule.

The return of USC football appears more real than ever thanks to the NCAA’s newly-proposed preseason schedule.

The NCAA’s Football Oversight Committee finalized the plan on Thursday, but it will have to be approved by the Division I Council before it goes into effect.

Under the model, college football programs like USC football will be able to resume mandatory team activities by mid-July.

USC football’s likely preseason schedule:

• July 13: Mandatory workouts can begin
• July 24: Enhanced training can begin
• August 6: Fall Camp can begin

The Trojans have been given the go-ahead by the Pac-12 to bring athletes back to campus and hold voluntary workouts beginning on June 15. However, USC has yet to announce a plan for resuming athletic activities.

The university is beholden to state and county regulations, but even those are slowly easing. On Friday, LA County will allow the reopening of gyms and fitness facilities in the latest wave of easing the coronavirus shutdown measures.

That will open the door for USC to reopen their athletic facilities as well.

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Once they do, the Trojans will be able to begin voluntary workouts, but they will have to wait until July 13 to have coaches and strength and conditioning staff present for mandatory workouts.

Under the NCAA’s proposal, from July 13 through July 23 athletes can “be required to participate in up to eight hours of weight training, conditioning and film review per week.”

Beginning on July 24, a period of enhanced training could begin. From July 24 through Aug. 6, USC could organize 20 hours of mandatory activities, including “up to eight hours per week of weight training and conditioning,” “up to six hours per week for walk-throughs, which may include the use of a football,” and “up to six hours per week of film review, team meetings, position meetings, one-on-one meetings, etc.”

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Fall Camp could then begin on Aug. 7, but the NCAA will still mandate a five-day acclimatization period. The Trojans will be able to hold up to 25 on-field practices from then to the start of the season on September 5.