We talked to college football players about their experiences on campus during the pandemic. Their message?

"We need help." https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/aug/03/college-football-coronavirus-athletes

College football players we spoke with didn't trust "that there would be no repercussions" for sitting out the season.

“It’s laughable to many of us that anyone could expect a lack of backlash if you were to sit out… You risk being blackballed as a player."

If a college football player did opt out, they were "not allowed to be involved in any team activities. I was told that I should clean my locker out... Coaches just showed their true colors.”

College football players were required to participate in studies and sign waivers forgiving their university of harm caused by the pandemic.

They "were told things were voluntary, but things were framed in a way that felt manipulative."

"We feel like our protocols are inadequate, and that they don’t properly protect us."

Testing for one college football player we spoke to was so scarce that his team went months between receiving tests.

Despite the promise of scholarship protection, college football players were not assured of additional years of eligibility if they had already red-shirted a season.

On one team, a college football player felt coaches violated “a bunch of the protocols and testing standards we expected when we came.” After having concerns ignored and downplayed by coaches, that player elected to “boycott” workouts and was planning to opt out of the season.

College football players also objected to the economics of the sport.

"We genuinely feel like we need to be compensated. Allow athletes to share in the revenue. If you don’t want to directly pay us then set up a trust or something for after we graduate."

College football players outside the PAC-12 have discussed labor action.

"There have been talks of boycotting or striking. I don’t think anyone else will actually do anything, though, because... at the end of the day who is going to support us or protect us?"

One college football player broke it down in stark terms:

“I’m honestly the most stressed out I’ve been in my life. I have a teammate [near] me who tested positive and has complained to me about how much his lungs hurt. This is coming from an incredibly fit, athletic guy."

So, what has this summer been like for college football players?

“We’re just out here getting gaslit en masse by our university.”