Ron Jenkins / Associated Press
Alabama coach Nick Saban confirmed that there were at least discussions about transferring the College Football Playoff National Championship game on Monday because of COVID-19’s concerns about the state of Ohio.
“There were discussions about whether it was fair to continue or reverse the game and all that,” he said, John Zenor from the Associated Press.
However, Saban pointed to the fact that January 18 is the deadline for senior students to declare their call to the NFL and suggested that doing so “would have been difficult management”, even guaranteeing “the player’s safety at any time. team as the most important factor in this decision. “
There have been doubts about how many players the Buckeyes will have available because of the concerns of COVID-19.
On thursday, Dan Patrick reported that a source told him “The state of Ohio is very close to the availability limit now.” Yet, Austin Ward Letterman Row reported that the Buckeyes continued to practice and did not close their facilities this week, which he wrote would have happened if they were “too close” to the limit.
Head coach Ryan Day told reporters on Thursday, “many players” will be available, even if he is not sure how many will be excluded.
Playing the Crimson Tide would be a difficult enough task for the State of Ohio, even if it was totally healthy. After all, quarterback Mac Jones, wide receiver DeVonta Smith and running back Najee Harris were all candidates for the Heisman Trophy, with Smith taking the trophy home.
The Buckeyes looked to the task when they easily dealt with Clemson in the semifinals in a 49-28 victory. Justin Fields stayed in the game after a hard blow by Clemson’s linebacker James Skalski and launched for six touchdowns in a brilliant individual performance.
Ohio State will likely need it to be just as good, if not better, to win the national title, especially if it is shorthanded.