CFP sets contingency dates for semifinals, final
The College Football Playoff has set contingency dates for the national semifinal and championship games, should any of the four teams not be able to compete, ESPN reported Wednesday.
CFP executive director Bill Hancock said last week that the games could be postponed if COVID-19 issues impacted any of the teams’ ability to play. No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 Notre Dame are scheduled to play in the Rose Bowl Game in Arlington, Texas, on Friday. That game is set to be followed by the Sugar Bowl between No. 2 Clemson and No. 3 Ohio State in New Orleans.
If both semifinals need to be postponed, the Rose Bowl will be moved to Jan. 11 and the Sugar Bowl to Jan. 12, ESPN reported. If only one game is postponed, then the other semifinal will be played on Jan. 11.
The CFP national championship game then would be moved to Jan. 18 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
The title game currently is set for Jan. 11.
“Everyone is planning to play the games as scheduled,” Hancock said, per ESPN. “The teams, schools’ staffs and bowl staffs have been working really hard to provide an opportunity for the players. COVID procedures are in place at hotels and stadiums. We have prepared thoroughly, and we are ready. But it always makes sense to be prepared, even for circumstances we don’t believe will happen.”
All four teams lost games in the regular season because of COVID-19 issues among their teams or an opponent.
CLEMSON OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR IN COVID-19 PROTOCOL, WILL MISS PLAYOFF GAME >> Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott will miss the Sugar Bowl against Ohio State due to COVID-19 protocol, the school announced.
Elliott did not travel with the team Wednesday when it left for New Orleans for Friday’s game. WISCONSIN DOWNS WAKE FOREST IN DUKE’S MAYO BOWL >> Quarterback Graham Mertz scored two of Wisconsin’s five rushing touchdowns and also threw for a score as the Badgers
defeated Wake Forest 42-28 in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte, N.C.
Wisconsin (4- 3), which completed the season with back-to-back victories following a three-game skid, won despite being outgained 518-266.
After a fast start, Wake Forest (4- 5) fizzled under an avalanche of mistakes. Quarterback Sam Hartman was intercepted four times in a 12-pass stretch, though he threw three touchdown passes to Jaquarii Roberson.
GEORGIA RB COOK TO MISS PEACH BOWL AFTER FATHER’S DEATH >> Georgia
running back James Cook is expected to miss the upcoming Peach Bowl after his father passed away Tuesday.
Cook and his brother, Dalvin Cook of the Minnesota Vikings, planned to return home to Miami after learning that their father — also named James — died at the age of 46.
The ninth-ranked Bulldogs (7-2) are facing No. 8 Cincinnati (9- 0) in the Peach Bowl on Friday.
Cook, a junior, is second on the team in carries (45), rushing yards (303) and rushing touchdowns (three). He ranks fourth on the team in catches (16), receiving yards (225) and receiving scores (two). HERBSTREIT TO CALL SUGAR BOWL FROM HOME AFTER POSITIVE COVID TEST >> ESPN’s top college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit said he tested positive for COVID-19 and will call Friday’s Sugar Bowl from home.
He said he plans to take part in the network’s “College GameDay” in the morning and call the game with Chris Fowler in the evening.
Also late Tuesday, ESPN analyst Greg McElroy said he tested positive for the virus and won’t be part of the network’s coverage of Wednesday night’s Cotton Bowl. He also was scheduled to work the radio coverage of the Rose Bowl.
C O A S TA L C A R O L I N A’ S CHADWELL IS AP COACH OF THE YEAR >>
Coastal Carolina’s Jamey Chadwell is The Associated Press college football coach of the year after leading the Chanticleers to a surprising, nearperfect season. San Jose State’s Brent Brennan finished fifth.
Chadwell finished ahead of Indiana’s Tom Allen, who was second. Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell was third and
Alabama’s Nick Saban was fourth.
Chadwell is the first Sun Belt Conference coach to win the AP award, which was established in 1988, and the third coach to earn it with a team from outside the Power Five leagues.
T EX AS OVE RCOME S EHLINGER INJURY, ROUTS COLORADO >> Casey Thompson passed for 170 yards and four touchdowns, and No. 20 Texas overcame an injury to senior quarterback Sam Ehlinger and beat Colorado 55-23 in the Valero Alamo Bowl late Tuesday night in San Antonio.
Freshman running back Bijan Robinson had 183 yards on 10 carries with a TD for Texas (7- 3). The Longhorns are undefeated in five bowl games under Tom Herman.
Ehlinger missed the second half after sustaining a shoulder injury in second quarter. He returned to the field in the third quarter in warmups, with his right arm in a sling. There was no immediate word on the extent of Ehlinger’s injury.
Jarek Broussard rushed for 82 yards and two touchdown on 27 carries for Colorado (4-2).