Ohio State No. 3 boarded a plane to Miami as scheduled Saturday to face No. 1 Alabama in the university’s National Football Playoff Championship on Monday, a spokesman for the school on ESPN on Friday afternoon, officially ending speculation about the biggest game of the season. it may need to be postponed.
“The plan is to fly tomorrow,” Buckeyes spokesman Jerry Emig said.
Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne also confirmed that the Crimson Tide will travel by tweeting, “We just got the test results and we’re good to go.”
Alabama lands in Miami at 8 p.m. (ET) Friday, by a school spokesman.
“Like I said all week, the game is up and running,” College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock said Friday. “Nothing has changed. The Alabama team will travel to Miami tonight and the Ohio State boys will arrive tomorrow. We are looking forward to a great night for college football.”
On Friday, the state of Ohio refused to make public when its latest COVID-19 test results were available, but the team is expected to arrive at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Hancock and officials from both schools have repeatedly said the national championship game will be held Monday, despite reports of ongoing COVID-19 problems within the Ohio State program.
On Thursday, Ohio State coach Ryan Day said the Buckeyes would have “many players” available without providing specific numbers or player updates.
“This week we have a new set of challenges,” Day said. “We’ll have to find out, go down to Miami and play.”
ESPN’s Holly Rowe announced that she has tested positive for COVID-19, which has symptoms and will not be part of ABC / ESPN coverage of the championship game.