We crunched the numbers to figure out the necessary COVID testing requirements to safely complete a full football season in the current environment. Here's what we found:

258 FBS+FCS teams w/ ~130 roster+staff per team, a 12 game season, and weekly tests eclipse 400,000.

Given that someone may be infectious for a week before showing symptoms, tests would likely have to be administered at least twice weekly. Given the risk for false negatives, testing rates might be even higher.

The numbers do not factor in people encountered with:

* travel
* food
* lodging
* postseason play

And also omits:

* medical staff
* trainers
* media members
* athletic department staff
* television and radio personnel

With 165 D2 teams, roughly 10 games per team, and an estimate of 110 roster+coaching staff, this amounts to 188,000 tests. Roughly 250 D3 teams brings it to a grand total of roughly 876,000 weekly tests just for players+coaching staff+game officials or over 1.5m 2x weekly tests.

These data points do not factor in the nearly 100 NAIA or 130 JUCO football teams across the country, or the greater impact on NCAA sports in general. As the scope expands beyond football, the amount of testing will skyrocket—so will costs to an already financially strained NCAA.

This also does not speak to policy regarding a positive test on a team. Can that team continue to compete? Do they have to forfeit any coming games? Will necessary quarantine responses affect all teams they've played?