Alabama’s postponement of last week’s game at Texas A&M leaves Crimson Tide less than a competition from a full 18-game schedule, but that can be fixed at the end of the season.
When the SEC announced its regular season schedule in November, the last Saturday was left open to accommodate replacement games due to expected cancellations related to COVID-19.
Coach Nate Oats said during his radio show on Monday night that Alabama could have the opening date, March 6, filled in or make up for the Aggies or adding a previously unscheduled game.
“[The SEC hasn’t] already told us, ”said Oats. “Texas A&M has a lot of games to invent. They lost a lot. I don’t know if ours would be what they would invent if they could invent one. So we can end up playing someone else. We may end up not playing. I don’t know what’s going to happen. “
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Texas A&M is currently on a stretch of seven games postponed because of the COVID-19 protocols or climate in that region.
“THE [conference is] you should let us know this weekend, I hope, ”continued Oats. “We will have time. We lost a road game, so we would most likely take a road game if we took a game. We don’t know who it would be against. My guess wouldn’t be Texas A&M, but who knows.
“They are waiting maybe Thursday or Friday to get an answer about these things. I think they will wait to see how the midweek games are going, Tuesday and Wednesday, and make a decision after that. “
If the SEC replaces Alabama’s road game in Texas A&M with one against another opponent, the other schools that Tide hasn’t played on the road this season are Georgia, Vanderbilt, Florida and Ole Miss.
Alabama (18-5, 13-1 in the SEC) can secure the regular season title with a win on Wednesday night in Arkansas. Even with a defeat, a victory this Saturday in the state of Mississippi would guarantee a part of the conference title.
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If the SEC does not schedule a game for Alabama on March 6, the team will spend 10 days between its final against Auburn on March 2 and its expected opening of the SEC tournament in the quarterfinals on Friday, March 12 in Nashville .
Here is a summary of Alabama’s next schedule:
- Wednesday, February 24 in Arkansas, 8 pm CT
- Saturday, February 27 in the state of Mississippi, 19:30 CT
- Tuesday, March 2 vs. Auburn, 18h CT
- Saturday, March 6: opening date
- Friday, March 12: SEC tournament quarter-finals (Nashville)
- Saturday, March 13: SEC tournament semifinals (12 pm and 2 pm CT)
- Sunday, March 14: SEC tournament championship (12h CT); NCAA tournament selection show (5 pm CT, CBS)
- Friday, March 19 and Saturday, March 20: first round of the NCAA tournament (Indianapolis)
Mike Rodak is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mikerodak.