CFP boss: Title game still Monday
College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock said Tuesday the national championship game between Alabama and Ohio State is still a go for Monday night amid a report that the Buckeyes are having COVID-19 issues.
Ohio State has been in contact with CFP officials about possible player availability problems that could force the game to be delayed, according to reports.
Ohio State AD Gene Smith said in a statement that the Buckeyes continue to follow the same protocols they have all season. “We plan to play January 11,” Smith said.
Hancock said there were no changes and the game in Miami Gardens, Fla., between the Crimson Tide and Buckeyes was still scheduled for Monday night as planned.
Hancock has previously said Jan. 18 is a potential makeup date if necessary.
College basketball: Top-ranked Gonzaga was scheduled to play West Coast Conference rival Santa Clara on Thursday afternoon, but the game was postponed because of COVID-19 protocols in the Santa Clara program. Instead, the undefeated Bulldogs will face rival BYU that night. BYU’s originally scheduled game against Pacific on Thursday was postponed due to COVID19-related protocols within the Pacific program.
NFL: QB Peyton Manning was among 15 finalists announced for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2021. Owner of a record five MVP awards and two Super Bowl titles, Manning had 14 seasons with 4,000-plus yards passing. When he retired after leading the Broncos to the 2015 league title, Manning held league records for career passing yards (71,940), career passing TDs (539) and consecutive seasons with at least 25 passing TDs (13). He also guided the Colts to the 2006 NFL championship. Other first-time finalists of note: Former Lions WR Calvin Johnson and DB Charles Woodson, who played for the Raiders and won a Super Bowl with the Packers. ... Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said All-Pro S Jamal Adams will be a game-day decision for Saturday’s wild-card matchup against the Rams. Adams hurt his left shoulder during the fourth quarter of the Seahawks’ regular-season finale against the 49ers.
Soccer: U.S. women’s team star Alex Morgan announced that she and her family contracted the coronavirus over the holidays in California. Morgan, 31, recently returned to the U.S. from England, where she played this fall with Tottenham in the FA Women’s Super League. Morgan is married to fellow soccer player Servando Carrasco. They have a 7-month old daughter named Charlie. “We are all in good spirits and recovering well,” Morgan posted on Twitter. “After our isolation is completed, I will follow US Soccer’s return to play guidelines to ensure my body is fully recovered and I can join my teammates back on the field soon.” The USWNT is expected to open its January training camp Saturday. The team is preparing for the Olympics in Tokyo, set for this summer. ... Jozy Altidore is back with the U.S. men’s team for the first time in 1 ½ years. The 31-year-old Toronto FC forward was among 12 players invited to a training camp starting Saturday, ahead of a contemplated exhibition against Serbia. Altidor last played for the U.S. at the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup.