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Everyone wants answers. Everyone wants to know immediately the skinny for college football in the 2020 fall. Whos trying to play a full schedule? Whos scrubbing non-conference opponents? What happens if everyone doesnt test for COVID-19 comparably? Will some football programs whose names we actually recognize, shut it down?

The FCS Ivy League said last week that no football will be played this fall. The FCS Patriot League was expected to do likewise Monday. Could the FCS Missouri Valley, of which Northern Iowa is a member, be on the verge of announcingalterations to its fall football schedule?

I posedsome of those questions early Monday to Iowan Troy Dannen, the newest member of the prestigious NCAA Division-I football oversight committee. Hes been the AD at Northern Iowa. Hes now the AD at Tulane. Hes an up-and-comer in the college football administration world. He knows his stuff.

Iowa State Cyclones tight end Chase Allen (11) carries the American Flag on to the field before their game with the Texas Longhorns at Jack Trice Stadium.(Photo: Reese Strickland, Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports)

So what about it?Whats the prognosis for fall football, as weve known it for years and years?

Iowa State is doing its darndest to play,as long as it can continueto keepfootball players and staff as healthy as possible.

While we cannot eliminate all of the risk associated with athletic competition, under current conditions we believe that moving forward with fall sports can be accomplished, athletics director Jamie Pollard wrote in a letter to fans. We understand that the COVID-19 pandemic presents a constantly changing decision-making environment and changing health and safety conditions may not allow sports to proceed.This is why it is so important to discuss and develop contingency plans should the pandemic worsen.

In the last six weeks, our football team and medical staff have proven how we can successfully combat the COVID-19 virus if we collectively commit to the necessary precautions.

Since the football team returned to campus in early June for voluntary workouts, we have recorded just three positive cases among 160 football players and staff.

Thats great news. Updates are important. All Power Five conferences should be on the same page or at least reading from the same book. Are all Power Fives testing the same, for example?

How many positive tests equal no game? What happens if someone needs a last-minute opponent replacement, whos in charge?

In a crisis where there is no captain, its every man for himself, Dannen told the Des Moines Register. And basically, thats where were at. Theres five captains the five commissioners.

Tulane athletics director Troy Dannen(Photo: Tulane athletics department)

Hes referring, of course, to the NCAA assuming no leadership in college football. Hes talking about the commissioners of the five major conferencesthe ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC having their own rules, doing what they want, and like last week, possibly even surprisingtheir peers.

Thats what happened when the Big Ten declared it would play conference football games only, and the Pac-12 followed.

Big 12 Conference commissioner Bob Bowlsby last week told Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com that its a little early to be making a decision like that.

"We need to do what our doctors and our scientists are telling us, which is move slowly ahead and constantly reevaluate," Bowlsby told CBS after the Big Ten announcement. "The virus is going to decide whether we're ready and able to play."

Conference-only announcements led to a public relations fiasco, people wanting to know why the other Power Five conferenceswerent immediately doing likewise. If its right for the Big Ten and Pac-12 to dramatically shorten schedules, why isnt it right for the others?

No ones in charge, thats why.

Now, its hard to tell what anybodys going to do, Dannen said.

I reached Dannen before he started a round of radio interviews. Hes the new guy at the committee table. And second Iowan, for those keeping score. The other is Mountain West deputy commissioner Bret Gilliland (an Iowa State grad) from Adel.

Everybody wants decisions, but my thought is we have to wait until we get the most information, Dannen said. Even if things seem inevitable, prudence demands you wait as long as you can to make decisions. Get all the available information.

A rainbow lights up the sky during a lightning delay at the Cy-Hawk football game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in Ames. With the Big Ten playing only conference games for the college football 2020 season, the rivalry game between the Hawkeyes and the Cyclones will not happen.(Photo: Brian Powers/The Register)

SEC administrators were expected to meet Monday. Big 12 athletics directors meet Tuesday. Both were planned before the Big Ten/Pac-12 announcements. All conferences have discussed schedules ranging from uninterrupted (long shot) to conference games only (more likely). Theyve talked either formally or informally about moving the 2020 fall football season to the 2021 spring.

There are no guarantees that well be virus-free in the spring, said Dannen, emphasizing that hes speaking for himself and not the committee. All of a sudden will it be fixed? Maybe.

Hopefully.

Theres adverse implications for the fall of 2021 season by adding games to the spring 2021 season, Dannen said. Could it happen? Sure, but a lot more discussion is warranted.

Dannen stressed more than once that hes giving his own opinion, and not the opinion of the committee.

It could be interesting this week, Dannen, of Marshalltown, said. Much like last week, we didnt have expectations. Nobody knows whats going to happen this week.

Tighten your seat belt. It could be a wild ride.

Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson has been writingfor the Des Moines Register for parts of sixdecades. Reach him at rpeterson@dmreg.com, 515-284-8132, and on Twitter at @RandyPete. No one covers the Cyclones like the Register. Subscribe today at DesMoinesRegister.com/Deal to make sure you never miss a moment.

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Peterson: Will more college football dominoes tumble this week? Buckle up. It could be a wild ride. - Des Moines Register