LSU Football: Ja’Marr Chase has a decision to make if college football gets pushed back

LSU football’s 2020 season could end up being altered.

We’re still a little over two months away from the expected start of LSU football’s 2020 season, but we’re already starting to see some changes.

The Athletic’s Nicole Auerback reported on Thursday that at least three Power-5 conferences are considering moving their conference championship games back a week. This would allow a week for any make-up games that are canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

I think this is a smart move. But I doubt it works.

If we get to a point where a weekend of games is canceled, there’s a reasonably good chance that it won’t be just one weekend of games canceled.

Games being canceled would either mean that we’re seeing a spike in nationwide cases, or we’re seeing outbreaks among teams. Considering how slow the restarts have moved this summer, it’s hard to imagine that college football stops for a week and then starts right back up.

Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean I think college football season is doomed this fall. I have no idea what to expect. I don’t think anyone does.

However, I think we need to be cognizant of the possibility that the 2020 season might not happen.

Or it could be pushed back to the spring (which is something that ESPN’s Chris Fowler suggested in April).

And if it gets pushed back, LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase will have a big decision to make.

LSU football’s Ja’Marr Chase is a top 2021 NFL Draft prospect

If the 2020 season gets pushed back to winter/spring 2021, it would likely mean that the season doesn’t conclude until May.

And that could be bad for players heading to the NFL.

Injuries in the fall can cost college football players millions.

An injury in the spring could cost a player even more.

Chase would’ve been a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He’ll probably be a top-five pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

But what if he tears his ACL (or suffers another significant injury) in March? That would put his 2021 season in jeopardy. Would a team still select Chase in the top-five knowing that he isn’t likely to contribute as a rookie?

Probably not.

If the season gets pushed back, I would understand if Chase didn’t play. He already has a national championship under his belt and he doesn’t have anything left to prove on the field. His draft stock is already as high as it will go. Why risk that?

Ultimately, Chase has to do what’s best for his future in this scenario (and I hope we don’t get to this scenario).

None of this ideal for any of us. And it’s forcing a lot of folks to make unorthodox decisions. College football players are no different.