The Pac-12 Conference formally announced Thursday that its league-wide modification to forfeiture rules put in place last year due to COVID-19 would no longer apply.

This means a team unable to play a conference game this season because of an outbreak will have to forfeit rather than have the matchup declared a no-contest.

“Following consultation with the Pac-12 Athletic Directors Committee, the Pac-12 has determined that its prior longstanding game forfeiture rule … that was temporarily modified for this past season due to COVID-19, shall once again be applied for this coming athletic season,” the league said in a statement. “In accordance with that rule, if an institution is unable to play a contest through its own fault, it shall forfeit such contest to its opponent.

"Any forfeited contest shall be regarded as a conference loss for the team making the forfeit and a conference win for its opponent. The Pac-12 rule provides the Commissioner with discretion to determine whether an institution is at fault or primarily at fault for an inability to play a contest based on the facts of the situation.”