With news that Boise State has withdrawn from the Arizona Bowl amid COVID related concerns, the number of Bowl games now affected by the pandemic has reached 5. The Military and Fenway Bowls were previously cancelled, while Rutgers replaced Texas A&M in the Gator Bowl earlier this month. Miami also withdrew from the Sun Bowl on Sunday citing COVID as the driving factor behind their decision.
In Boise State’s news release, Athletic Director Jeramiah Dickey stated “We feel for the young men in our program who were very much looking forward to closing out their season, and for some, their football careers”, but that at the end of the day the school’s decision was based on health and safety best practices.
There are 22 remaining bowl games on the schedule, followed by the National Championship on January 10th. With rising COVID case counts around the country, there are increasing concerns that additional Bowl games could be at risk of cancellation as well. While there are financial implications regarding cancelling a Bowl game, the main concern surrounds the CFP semi final and championship games.
Per the College Football Playoff Management Committee, the semifinals and championship games will have the following protocols should there be any outbreaks involving Michigan, Cincinnati, Alabama or Georgia:
- Fiesta and Peach Bowls – The CFP, bowl game and ESPN shall attempt to identify an alternate date for the game within one week of the scheduled date; if no date can be identified, the game would be considered no contest.
- 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.
- CFP National Championship – If the team’s unavailability is determined after the Playoff Semifinals have been conducted, the national championship game in Indianapolis may be rescheduled to no later than Friday, January 14. 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. 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.
While the Broncos may be the latest team to pull out of a Bowl game, in all likelihood, they won’t be the last this holiday season.