A GRIP ON SPORTS • There are about 100 interesting things happening to college sports this morning, but we’ll concentrate on just a couple. That’s because football’s rankings and basketball’s possible start date seem to rise to the top of the heap.

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• It looks as if the Big Ten and Pac-12 could have as many as three teams in this year’s four-team college football playoffs. After all, with Ohio State (2), Penn State (7) and Oregon (9) beginning the season ranked in the Associated Press’ top 10, the Rose Bowl partners seem poised to have three undefeated teams when 2020 finally exits the stage.

Of course, it will be because those conferences (along with a few others) won’t be playing this fall. A small bobble, probably. After all, college football is a beacon of sensibility, from its fans to those who run the billion-dollar enterprise. And just because some conferences feel it is unsafe to play football this fall (as does the NCAA’s medical folks), that’s no reason to exclude those schools from the playoffs.

Except it is. The playoffs will go on as scheduled, finished before the Pac-12, Big Ten and others even start – if they do. So it’s going to be impossible for those schools to be a part of it.

But what happens if the college football season has to take breaks, or multiple breaks, this fall due to viral outbreaks? What if the University of Alabama (ranked third in the preseason AP poll), has to skip a few weeks due to its students spreading the coronavirus like answer sheets to the Biology 101 final? Will the Crimson Tide still be considered? How about if Mike Leach’s new team, Mississippi State, somehow misses three games – at Georgia, at Alabama and at LSU – because of outbreaks and wins the rest? Will the Bulldogs be included in the final four?

Heck what if the plug is pulled on the entire fall season three or four games in, due to some calamity related to the virus? Does the CFP punt to spring, after a vaccine may become available? Will the SEC, ACC and Big 12 schools finish up their schedules then or will Ohio State run away with a tainted national title?

Who knows? The only given seems to be the 2020 national championship is going to be, at best, split. And will be tarnished some.

If a fall season does finish, then a spring season, in some form, will have to happen. If the fall season fails, the spring season could still happen. And somewhere in the next 50 years, there is going to be a fight started at trivia night over the answer to the question “who won the 2020 championship in college football?”

• Though the NCAA’s health experts have been hinting they don’t feel college football should be played just yet, they must not have much trepidation about playing college basketball later in the fall.

After all, the organization is looking at four start dates to the season, according to CBS Sports, and all of them are about a month before the Pac-12 has said its hoops teams can take the court.

The organization is trying to come up with a schedule for men’s and women’s hoop by Sept. 16, a date picked out because it will give the schools time to plan.

Which begs another question: If the NCAA says hoops can start practice, say, Oct. 24 (the latest date under consideration currently) and games can begin Dec. 4, does the Pac-12 do an about-face on its after-the-new-year edict?

It’s another one of those bridges the conference will have to cross, akin in some degree to getting across the Golden Gate Bridge on a foggy night. There’s no turning around but, boy, what’s up ahead sure is hard to see.

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WSU: Skyler Thomas has decided to turn around. The senior defensive back, who announced last week he was leaving Pullman, has decided to stay with the Cougars. Theo Lawson’s story explains Thomas’ decision. … Rodrick Fisher, who decided not to play this season a while ago, has entered the transfer portal. Theo also has that story. … Around the Pac-12 and college sports, the split football season will impact recruiting, that’s for sure. … There was finally another positive test at Oregon State. It’s the first for the Beavers in a month. … AP’s college football rankings are a big deal at the schools ranked. By that, we mean Oregon (9) and Utah (22).  Arizona State seems happy to receive votes. Other places, like USC (17), don’t seem to care much. … The latest college football blowup has roots in history.

Gonzaga: The NCAA and basketball starting dates impacts the Zags as much as anyone, so Jim Meehan took a look at the upcoming decision in this story.

Seahawks: Bruce Irvin is older and wiser. But he hopes he plays like he did when he was younger. … Earl Thomas will probably have an adverse effect on any team he joins at this stage of his career. Still, Pete Carroll feels bad for him. Ouch. … Branden Jackson was back with the Hawks yesterday but not practicing. … Rookie Alton Robinson is wowing folks.

Mariners: We asked this question yesterday. Is Kyle Lewis good? Seems like it. Probably Rookie of the Year good.

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• As we said yesterday, we won’t be here tomorrow morning. Have to leave the house really early. We are planning to be here Thursday. If that changes, we will let you know via Twitter. You can follow me @vinceg55. Until later …