No makeups for College Football Playoff semis, title game could be delayed

(AP) — If a squad is unavailable to play successful College Football Playoff semifinals connected Dec. 31 due to the fact that of COVID-19 issues, the crippled volition beryllium forfeited and the disposable squad volition beforehand to the title game.

With COVID-19 cases spiking crossed the state owed to the omicron variant, the CFP announced Wednesday contingency plans for the semifinals and nationalist title game, which is scheduled for Jan. 10 successful Indianapolis.

No. 1 Alabama is scheduled to look No. 4 Cincinnati successful the Cotton Bowl successful 1 New Year’s Eve semifinal and No. 2 Michigan is acceptable to play No. 3 Georgia successful the Orange Bowl successful the nightcap of the CFP doubleheader.

“As we hole for the Playoff, it’s omniscient and indispensable to enactment into spot further precautions to support those who volition play and manager the games,” College Football Playoff Executive Director Bill Hancock said successful a statement. “These policies volition amended support our students and staffs portion providing clarity successful the lawsuit worst-case scenarios result.”

The contingency plans were agreed to by the CFP absorption committee, comprised of the 10 FBS league commissioners and Notre Dame’s diversion director.

While determination volition beryllium nary rescheduling of either semifinal, the title crippled could beryllium delayed until arsenic precocious arsenic Jan. 14.

If a squad cannot play successful the rubric game, the disposable squad volition beryllium declared nationalist champion. If neither squad has capable disposable players to play by Jan. 14, the title volition beryllium considered vacated.

For the semifinals, if some teams scheduled to play each different are unavailable, that crippled shall beryllium declared a nary contention and the victor of the the different semifinal volition beryllium declared nationalist champion.

If 3 semifinal teams are unavailable to play connected Dec. 31, the squad that is capable to play volition beryllium declared nationalist champion.