How many football teams would a Metro delay affect?

Less than 24 hours after Gov. Bill Lee’s executive order gave Tennessee high school teams the green light to begin practice with contact, Metro Nashville appears to have put that plan on hold for its teams.

A letter sent Wednesday to public and private school administrators within Davidson County requests that all competitions be delayed until at least after Labor Day, then clarified the date in a tweet stating that no games shall occur until at least Sept. 8.

At this point, every fall sport may continue conditioning and non-contact skills workouts as they have been the past few weeks consistent with the MNPS Interscholastic Sports Activities Guide. 2/ pic.twitter.com/CCadQw9fRd
— Metro Schools (@MetroSchools) July 29, 2020

A follow-up tweet detailed that Metro Nashville Public Schools are to continue with non-contact practice through Aug. 7.

The MNPS Interscholastic Sports Activities Guide continues to be in effect for the rest of this week and the week of August 3 through August 7 3/3 pic.twitter.com/jVXkksjTCK
— Metro Schools (@MetroSchools) July 29, 2020

Who gets affected by Metro Nashville’s announcement?

The short answer: Many teams statewide could be indirectly affected, as region games will need to be rescheduled. That could force some swaps for several teams down the line.

There are 13 Division I and 10 Division II programs within Davidson County’s limits, and those 23 teams could see each of their first three games disappear as a result of the decision. None of the Division II programs fall under Metro Nashville Public Schools’ jurisdiction, so the decision solely lies with each individual program as to whether they’ll take the field or not. But the Division I schools will fall under the request.

As many as 20 games in Week 1 could be affected, with opponents of Davidson County teams potentially needing to find alternative opponents or take the week off. Area teams scheduled to play Davidson County opponents in Week 1 include Brentwood, Cheatham County, Mt. Juliet Christian, Nolensville, Northwest, Pope John Paul II and Smyrna.

Week 2 games (potentially 15 total) would affect Brentwood, Cheatham County, Green Hill, Independence, Pope John Paul II, Stewarts Creek and Wilson Central, among others.

Nineteen more area games in Week 3 could change, with Beech, Friendship Christian, Gallatin, Green Hill, La Vergne and Smyrna as area teams affected that week. With Week 3 being a region week, those games are necessary for region standings and will have to be rescheduled.