SMU has agreed to move up its season-opening football game against Texas State to Aug. 29, per a Texas State press release.

The game, originally scheduled for Sept. 5, is still to be played in San Marcos. Keff Ciardello, of the Austin American-Statesmen, reported the Bobcats have been discussing the potential for fans to be in the stands in some capacity. No tailgating would likely be allowed.

Oklahoma University made a similar move last week, also bumping up its game against Missouri State by a week. The athletic department, in that case, said it was a decision that would allow for more flexibility in scheduling as games are canceled.

It is notable that both the American Athletic Conference and the Sun Belt Conference, which houses Texas State, have delayed Olympic sports until September. The AAC has pushed back men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball and cross country until the Sept. 1. The Sun Belt did so until Sept. 17.

The AAC announced in a press release two weeks ago the decision to not play nonconference games for those sports in the month of August was driven by safety.

“The decision allows member institutions additional time to implement protocols for a safe return to competition for student-athletes, coaches, and staff members,” the press release read.

Neither conference has officially commented on football. But, as of now, this rescheduling would allow football programs to travel and play when other sports were sequestered.

Athletic Director Rick Hart said on Thursday he still feels SMU will play all four of its nonconference games. The Mustangs have an all in-state schedule through the first four weeks of the season, with road games against Texas State and North Texas. SMU remains one of only six college football teams to have its schedule completely intact.

“Most of our early games are in the state of Texas. So, our eyes are on that ball. We are trying to play all of those games and get through our fall seasons,” Hart said on Thursday. “We are well positioned to compete in a number of sports, including football. Until we can’t do that, that is our goal and that is our focus.”

“If that, for some reason, gets disrupted we do have other plans that we can adjust to and pivot to. But, right now, we are just focused on beginning to prepare for our fall seasons in about a month,” Hart continued.

This morning, SMU started fall camp for football. It is unclear if the athletic department has moved to Phase III of its return to play plan. That would include full contact hitting and the sharing of game balls.

SMU moved to Phase II of its safety protocols several weeks ago. That allows for groups of 50 people to congregate with increased access to weight rooms.