🏈 LSU vs Bama cancelled for this weekend.

[MunchyOs]

I repeat. The more of these we see, the more likely we will NOT see Auburn in Tuscaloosa.

My money is on them getting out of the Iron Bowl. But yet they will be just fine to play Tennessee, Texas A&M, and the make up game with MSU

 

[Bama News]

What LSU postponement means for Alabama’s season

Alabama played six weeks without a major COVID-19 issue but now questions face the rest of the season after outbreaks in multiple SEC locker rooms threaten an orderly resolution of the regular season.

www.al.com

This was always a possibility in a season of recalibrated expectations. You saw a few dozen college football games fall victim to COVID-19 outbreaks and that inevitability finally reached the Alabama schedule.

There will be no trip to LSU this Saturday after the Tiger roster was rocked by positive tests and subsequent contact tracing. It’s one of three SEC games already nixed for this weekend as a once-relatively clean league season is taking some serious pandemic hits.

So, the questions begin.

Will this Alabama-LSU game be rescheduled?

Is this a one-off or are bigger issues to come for Alabama scheduling related to the pandemic?

And what does all of this mean in the grand scheme of the 2020 season for the top-ranked Crimson Tide?

First, the SEC’s official announcement calls the Alabama-LSU move a “postponement” and not a straight cancellation. A few paragraphs later, the league acknowledges the issue there. LSU’s Oct. 17 game at Florida was already postponed and rescheduled for the Dec. 12 backstop the SEC added to the backend of the season in case of a COVID-19 issue.

Both Alabama and LSU have games scheduled for every other Saturday until then. And the SEC championship game is Dec. 19, the Saturday after that extra week that now includes Florida-LSU.

That’s notable since, as things stand now, Alabama and Florida are on track to meet in Atlanta that Saturday before Christmas. The Gators aren’t going to love the idea of having to play a rival like LSU a week before facing Alabama especially if the Tide is idle.

As it stands, Alabama is the only unbeaten team in either SEC division. The complicating factor here is the SEC tiebreaking scenario should one present itself in a season where teams could finish with a different number of games. How would a potential Alabama-Texas A&M tie be handled if the Tide lost a game and the LSU game wasn’t rescheduled? The Aggies could have a better winning percentage at 9-1 but a head-to-head 52-24 loss to Alabama.

An SEC spokesperson told AL.com the amended tiebreakers for the 2020 season will be announced soon, so stay tuned there.

Alabama, whether the LSU game is rescheduled or not, will still have favorable odds to avoid that scenario. The final three opponents include Kentucky (2-4), No. 24 Auburn (4-2) and the finale with an improved 3-3 Arkansas program. The Nov. 28 visit from Auburn would easily be the biggest obstacle in the undefeated season bid but Alabama would likely still be a healthy home favorite.

In terms of a College Football Playoff résumé, Alabama has a solid case. That Week 2 blowout of Texas A&M is looking even better after the Aggies beat Florida and now sit at No. 5 in the AP poll. The 41-24 win over then-No. 3 Georgia lost some steam with the way the Bulldogs have played since but it’s still an AP top-12 win as it stands.

Of course, as this week reminds us, everything in this upside-down season is subject to change.

Alabama, from what we know, has done a good job of managing the pandemic with no known in-season roster hits of significance. Nick Saban on Monday, however, spoke about the apprehension of allowing players to visit family last weekend when the Tide was idle.

With COVID-19 exposures, it’s a game of probability. Odds only rise when the number of people with close contact climbs, so the daily testing conducted in Tuscaloosa will be watched closely. With infection rates exploding nationwide, there’s no guarantee this downward spiral will slow.

Either way, Alabama will sit for a second consecutive in-season weekend for the first time since 1978 because of the LSU outbreak.

The Tide dodged this reality for something that resembled a normal six weeks of football. Now, the uncertainty that peppered this season nationwide claimed a highly-anticipated rematch circled on the Alabama schedule.

Whether it’s the first domino or an anomaly is perhaps the biggest question facing an Alabama program that’s hitting its groove as the neighborhood burns.

 

[rocknthefreeworld]

I expect the LSU-Florida game will be changed to LSU-Bama or both will be dropped completely. It makes no sense to force Florida to finish their season against a cross division team and it would be pretty fair to let both have that week off if they are headed to Atlanta (especially if the game doesn't impact the standings any as I expect it wouldn't) . Either both play or neither play.

 

[RTB X Bot]

 

[ColAngus]

I expect the LSU-Florida game will be changed to LSU-Bama or both will be dropped completely. It makes no sense to force Florida to finish their season against a cross division team and it would be pretty fair to let both have that week off if they are headed to Atlanta (especially if the game doesn't impact the standings any as I expect it wouldn't) . Either both play or neither play.

Why would Alabama do this and allow Florida an extra week to prepare while we play LSU? Makes zero sense.

 

[rocknthefreeworld]

Why would Alabama do this and allow Florida an extra week to prepare while we play LSU? Makes zero sense.

Why is Florida going to accept playing LSU that week while we are off?

 

[TerryP]

I expect the LSU-Florida game will be changed to LSU-Bama or both will be dropped completely. It makes no sense to force Florida to finish their season against a cross division team and it would be pretty fair to let both have that week off if they are headed to Atlanta (especially if the game doesn't impact the standings any as I expect it wouldn't) . Either both play or neither play.

Why would Alabama do this and allow Florida an extra week to prepare while we play LSU? Makes zero sense.

Moreso, why give UF a break here when it was their lackadaisical approach to reporting that led to their earlier cancelation?

They are in a similar situation as LSU in my eyes. Their actions affected the rest of the conference and they shouldn't get a simple "bye."

 

[c5vetman]

That's probably the most infuriating thing I've ever heard regarding football.

 

[NickelDoubleDog]

Why is Florida going to accept playing LSU that week while we are off?

They got their game canceled vs. LSU. It was rescheduled - because of Florida. It's already on the books.

Alabama has had no games postponed due to their own COVID outbreaks

 

[50+yeartidefan]

The one other thing. Is the affect it could have on Mac. And HT run
While I know thats not as important as playing the games. Still for him ... certainly no help

while I believe its Fields to lose regardless.
unless big 10 n osu get in covid trouble
The whole thing is a negative for mac

 

[PurlJam]

Damn, getting down to the point where its gonna be the Corn Hole championship reruns on TV Saturday..... Not sure about the younger generation, but growing up, corn hole had a totally different meaning than tossing a bean bag in to a hole cut out in a piece of plywood.

 

[RTB X Bot]

 

[Davestwin]

Coach O must have changed his ways and started living right because his prayers were answered in not having to play the Tide this season. Their makeup game with Florida on the 12th will most likely take precedence over a makeup of the Bama game on the same date unless Bama loses two games. So, Coach O doesn’t get the well deserved beat down in BR he would have taken had the game been played Saturday. His comments and his players antics following their win in Tuscaloosa last season absolutely deserved what LSU had coming. I’ve been waiting for this game an entire year ... and though Coach Saban won’t admit it ... I bet he’s been looking forward to it as well. Huge disappointment!!!

 

[mando]

He indeed dodged a bullet. Yep a huge disappointment....

 

[BamaFan334]

The one other thing. Is the affect it could have on Mac. And HT run
While I know thats not as important as playing the games. Still for him ... certainly no help

while I believe its Fields to lose regardless.
unless big 10 n osu get in covid trouble
The whole thing is a negative for mac

Fields is down a game now wit Maryland-Ohio State cancelled.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

Ed, LSU fanbase, and their administration couldn't buy class even with Warren Buffett's money

 

[im4uainva]

I can hear him now...Yaw, Yaw, YAW YAW...amen.

Roll Tide!

 

[252BAMA]

Why did we ever dislike this guy?

 

[rammerjammer]

I would think a western division game would take precedence over a cross division opponent in Florida. If any game should be dropped it should be UF and we take that date.

 

[rick4bama]

We have more game from the SEC to be postpone?