The recent surge in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant has led to changes to the College Football Playoff and its policies moving forward.
One such change is that in the event that none of the College Football Playoff semifinals are able to be played, a national champion will not be crowned.
“We certainly wish we were not in this position,” Executive Director of the College Football Playoff Bill Hancock said in a statement, “but the only responsible thing is to take whatever actions we can reasonably take to better protect those who play and coach the game.”
The College Football Playoff Management Committee also announced the protocols for what were to happen if one team or multiple teams were unable to play. Georgia takes on Michigan in one semifinal, while Alabama faces Cincinnati in the other.
- Playoff Semifinals (Cotton and Orange Bowls) if one team is unavailable to play – The unavailable team shall forfeit the game and its opponent would advance to the national championship game.
- Playoff Semifinals (Cotton and Orange Bowls) if both teams are unavailable to play in one semifinal – The semifinal game would be declared “no contest” and the team winning the other semifinal game would be declared the CFP National Champion.
- Playoff Semifinals (Cotton and Orange Bowls) if three teams are unavailable to play – The semifinal game in which two teams are unable to play would be declared “no contest.” In the other semifinal game, the team unable to play shall forfeit the game and its opponent would be declared CFP National Champion.
The College Football Playoff committee also announced that the latest the national championship game could be played is on Jan. 14. As it stands, the national championship game is currently scheduled to be played in Indianapolis on Jan. 10.
“If one team is able to play and the other is not and the game cannot be rescheduled or is rescheduled and cannot be played, then the team unable to play shall forfeit the game and the other team shall be declared CFP National Champion,” the statement said. “If both teams are unable to play on either an original or rescheduled date, then the game shall be declared “no contest” and the CFP National Championship shall be vacated for this season.
Georgia and Michigan are set to play on Dec. 31. The College Football Playoff committee also announced changes in its policies for teams once they arrive on site.
Schools are now allowed to arrive as late as Dec. 29, and all bowl activities are optional. Georgia is currently set to arrive in Miami on Sunday, Dec. 26 but that is now subject to change.
Georgia is dealing with multiple players and coaches in COVID protocol at the moment, including JT Daniels and George Pickens. If a player is symptomatic and tests positive, a player must quarantine for 10 days per current NCAA and SEC policy, even if said player is vaccinated.
Alabama announced on Wednesday that offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien and offensive line coach Doug Marrone had tested positive for COVID-19 as well. Texas A&M also announced that it would not be able to play in the Gator Bowl due to positive tests within its program.
The Bulldogs are expected to break for the holidays following Wednesday’s practice and return to Athens on Christmas day.
The game against is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. ET start on Dec. 31. The Bulldogs had their game against Vanderbilt canceled last year due to the Commorodores not being able to field enough players.
More Georgia football stories from around DawgNation
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- Kirby Smart shares where things stand with George Pickens entering College Football Playoff
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- ‘It refocused us and made us look ourselves in the mirror’: Alabama loss sends Georgia back to the basics as it preps for Michigan
- Georgia football-Michigan: Live updates, injury report, practice news for College Football Playoff game
- Georgia football secondary still figures to be a concern, even with all-time defensive back 2022 recruiting class
- Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean sets Orange Bowl tone: ‘it’s a one-game season’