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CFP: College football champs could be the “last team standing” due to COVID-19

Media guide from the 2019 College Football Playoff game between Alabama and Clemson
Pat Duggins
Media guide from the 2019 College Football Playoff game between Alabama and Clemson

Organizers of this year’s College Football Playoff championships are adding more COVID-19 contingencies. Alabama, Cincinnati, Michigan, and Georgia are scheduled to play in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas and the Orange Bowl in south Florida, with the winners playing for the title. The CFP committee now says if only one team has enough healthy players due to the coronavirus, that remaining team could be declared the national champion. Organizers are also including the possibility of delaying the title game in Indianapolis from January 10th to the 14th. One factor driving this decision could be the number of bowl games unrelated to the championship that have already been cancelled due to teams dropping out because of COVID infections among the players. For example, Texas A & M and Hawaii withdrew for their bowls because of the coronavirus. The Arizona Bowl was called off when Boise State pulled out. Their opponent, Central Michigan, will replace Miami in Friday's Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.

Pat Duggins is news director for Alabama Public Radio.
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  • The Crimson Tide only has a few days of practice left before Friday’s Cotton Bowl in Dallas. That championship playoff game will be against the Cincinnati Bearcats which are making their first ever try for the college football title. One Tide player is expecting a tough game. Two Alabama assistant coaches have COVID-19.
  • Alabama is in practice for this Friday’s Cotton Bowl playoff against Cincinnati. COVID-19 is already complicating things for all four teams contending for the college football title. The Crimson Tide may be without its offensive coordinator when the team plays Cincinnati in the Cotton Bowl.
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