ACC finalizes COVID-19 forfeiture rules for 2021 season

On Thursday, the ACC formally announced a COVID-19 forfeiture policy for the upcoming season. 

“If a 2021 ACC game cannot be played on its originally scheduled date by a team unable to play due to an insufficient number of available players related to COVID-19, that team shall be deemed to have forfeited, with a loss assigned to the team unable to play and a win assigned to its scheduled opponent, with both the loss and win, respectively, applied to the conference standings,” the conference said in a statement.

Additionally, should both teams be unable to field a team due to COVID-19 issues, they will both have to forfeit and both will earn a loss. Unvaccinated student-athletes, coaches and staff will still be required to test for the virus regularly. If the team vaccination level is less than 85%, the unvaccinated individuals will test at least three times a week. If the vaccination rate on the team exceeds 85%, the protocols require once-a-week testing. 

At ACC media days, new commissioner Jim Phillips said the conference would wait to make a decision based on new information gathered, particularly pertaining to the delta variant. The conference’s athletic directors approved the plan. The policy was released as part of an updated ACC Medical Advisory Group Report.

The ACC is the third Power Five conference to make a decision

The Big 12 announced their plan on Tuesday. They will have the same rules surrounding an instance in which one team cannot play, but in the event that both teams cannot play, the game will be declared a no contest. 

On Aug. 12, the Pac-12 was the first Power Five conference to make a decision on forfeitures this season. While the conference statement did not mention COVID-19 directly, it was clear that the decision is an attempt to increase vaccination rates among its member teams. 

“If an institution is unable to play a contest through its own fault, it shall forfeit such contest to its opponent,” the statement said.

The Big Ten and SEC have yet to make formal decisions on forfeitures for the season. The Big Ten is requiring conference members to submit a plan for their handling of COVID-19. The school presidents and chancellors will meet to decide how to proceed. 

New Nebraska athletic director Trev Alberts, whose Cornhuskers play Illinois in just over a week on Aug. 28, said Tuesday that schools are still awaiting a final decision. 

At SEC media days, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said games would not be rescheduled. A formal forfeiture policy has not yet been formalized for the league.