The College Football Playoff management committee updated its COVID-19 postseason policies in the wake of the rising number of positive COVID-19 cases and the growing threat of the omicron variant across the country.
“As we prepare for the Playoff, it’s wise and necessary to put into place additional precautions to protect those who will play and coach the games,” said Bill Hancock, Executive Director of the College Football Playoff. “These policies will better protect our students and staffs while providing clarity in the event worst-case scenarios result.”
The news comes after Texas A&M announced it couldn’t participate in this year’s Gator Bowl against Wake Forest because of a combination of COVID-19 issues within the program as well as a number of season-ending injuries. The Aggies reportedly are down to 42 scholarship players available for the game, which kicks off on Jan. 1, which is 13 players below the SEC’s 2020 minimum to play a game.
Miami paused preparations for the Sun Bowl Tuesday with the Hurricanes hoping to still participate in the game against Washington State on Dec. 31.
According to the new CFP policies, if one of the semifinal teams is unable to participate due to a COVID-19 outbreak, the unavailable team will forfeit the game and the opponent advances to the national championship game.
If both semifinal teams are unable to participate, then the other semifinal game would become a de facto national championship game with the winner crowned the national champion. If three semifinal teams can’t participate then the remaining team is crowned national champion.
If either of the two semifinal teams that advanced to the national championship game is unable to participate, the game may be rescheduled no later than Friday, Jan. 14. If a team cannot play and the game cannot be rescheduled, then the other team is declared national champion.
If both teams cannot play in the national championship game, then the championship shall be vacated.
No. 1 Alabama is set to take on No. 4 Cincinnati in the Cotton Bowl while No. 2 Michigan will face No. 3 Georgia in the Orange Bowl. Both games are set for Dec. 31 with the Cotton Bowl kicking off at 3:30 p.m. and the Orange Bowl set for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
Alabama announced Wednesday that offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien and offensive line coach Doug Marrone had tested positive for COVID-19 but they would be able to participate in next week’s Cotton Bowl.
