The College Football Playoff semifinal games are set to proceed as originally scheduled, despite a formal request for a modification. Greg Sankey, the commissioner of the Southeastern Conference, expressed his desire on “The Paul Finebaum Show” to the CFP committee to consider swapping the dates for the Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl matchups.
Sankey’s plea came in the aftermath of the Sugar Bowl game where Notre Dame emerged victorious over Georgia with a score of 23-10. This game faced a one-day delay due to a tragic truck attack in New Orleans that resulted in the loss of 15 lives and left several others injured. As per the revised schedule, Notre Dame is now slated to face Penn State in the Orange Bowl on January 9, while Ohio State and Texas are set to clash in the Cotton Bowl the following day, vying for the coveted spot in the national championship game.
Expressing his concerns to ESPN, Sankey highlighted his unease that the winner of the Sugar Bowl might be placed at a disadvantage by having two fewer days of rest and preparation compared to Penn State, who played on New Year’s Eve. However, CFP executive director Rick Clark affirmed to ESPN on Friday that there would be no alterations to the existing schedule. Clark stated, “We’re not going to flip the games. The concession we made with the athletic directors was to start the Sugar Bowl earlier—an 18-hour or so delay. We slipped the game 18 hours to ensure we could provide safety and security for teams, coaches, staffs, fans, and others involved. (New Orleans) and Sugar Bowl officials were amazing.”
Sankey underscored to Finebaum the gravity of the “incredible horrible tragedy” in New Orleans, emphasizing the need for deliberation on a potential change in dates. “Sometimes just like within a game you have to adapt, you have to adjust,” Sankey remarked.
Clark contended that implementing such a change would have far-reaching implications, stating, “Logistics are very complicated, disruptive to the other teams involved that have schedules in place, especially Texas and Ohio State. Fans have made arrangements already, and this creates issues for them. There’s more, but these are some of the major points.”
The decision to maintain the current schedule for the College Football Playoff semifinal games stands firm, despite the circumstances surrounding the Sugar Bowl and the concerns raised regarding potential competitive disadvantages. The CFP committee and officials involved have emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety, security, and logistical integrity of the upcoming matchups, acknowledging the complexities involved in any last-minute alterations.
