The Weekender: Bowls Getting Canceled, Big Ten Reconsidering Forfeiture Policy, and Big Ten Coaches Talk Christmas Movies

By Kevin Harrish on December 26, 2021 at 4:45 pm
Big Ten
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Own the group chat with The Weekender, highlighting the biggest stories in college sports, standout writing from Eleven Warriors, and a glance at what's next.

Cancelations Ahoy

We got through pretty much the entire college football regular season without COVID-19 impacting games, but that sure can't be said about the postseason.

First, we had Texas A&M pulling out of the Gator Bowl, seemingly putting that game at risk, but a cancelation was ultimately avoided with Rutgers getting the invitation to replace the Aggies.

Unfortunately, the Hawai'i Bowl was not so lucky.

On one hand, it sucks that Memphis went all the way there and now doesn't get to play in the bowl game. On the other hand, they're now effectively on an all-expenses-paid work trip to Hawai'i and... work just got canceled. They'll be fine.

But there was even more bowl attrition after Christmas with both the Fenway Bowl and the Military Bowl getting canceled.

And it's unlikely these will be the last cancelations.

Forgoing Forfeits?

Under current Big Ten rules, a team that's unable to play a conference game due to positive COVID-19 tests would be slapped with a forfeit to go in the loss column. But with fully vaccinated teams now seeing outbreaks causing cancelations, it sure sounds like that policy will be changing.

The Big Ten office said, "The conference is in the process of evaluating its 2021-22 forfeiture policy for conference contests, including whether a contest should automatically be considered a forfeit. The health, safety, and well-being of our student-athletes and our campus communities is our top priority."

League sources told CBS Sports that the Big Ten has "every intention of changing" the rule back. The Big Ten doesn't have as much urgency around this as other leagues because the conference doesn't resume league play until Jan. 2.

For Ohio State's part, Chris Holtmann said Ohio State "fully intends" to play New Orleans later this week after a COVID-19 outbreak caused its past two games to be canceled.

Happy Holidays

Christmas movies are a universal American holiday tradition, and (almost) everyone has their personal favorite that they'll go to battle for – Big Ten coaches included.

Kirk Ferentz coming up completely blank was oddly on-brand.

ICYMI

Seven Ways From Sundown

Ramzy Nasrallah explores the complicated history of Ohio State's bowl games feeling like a consolation prize. Should this year's Rose Bowl feel the same way?

Let's Get Physical

After getting dominated in the trenches against Michigan and Wolverine offensive coordinator Josh Gattis publicly questioning their toughness, the Buckeyes are looking to prove they can play tough and physical football against Utah.

Matchup Nightmare?

Our resident scheme guy Kyle Jones breaks down why Utah's offense will be particularly threatening to a Buckeye defense that struggled to slow down Michigan's rushing attack in its last game.

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