ACC rescinds COVID forfeit rule; Is the SEC next?

With COVID case numbers on the rise as the Omicron variant sweeps the nation, many conferences are adjusting their policies in hopes of keeping the 2021-22 basketball season on track. Today, the Big 12, Big West, and ACC reversed their COVID forfeit policies, effective immediately. Previously, these conferences, like the SEC, required teams to forfeit games if they could not meet roster minimums due to COVID. That team would be assigned a loss in the conference standings and its opponent would be credited with a win. Now, if the game cannot be played or rescheduled, the ACC will declare it a no contest.

Currently, over 40 Division I men’s college basketball programs are on pause due to COVID. Several football teams — including Texas A&M — are on pause as well. The Aggies even had to pull out of the Gator Bowl because they didn’t have enough players, per Ross Dellenger. As players go home for the holidays, the case numbers will only rise.

Although the rules differ by league, and sometimes even by school, a big factor in cancellations is contact tracing. All of Kentucky Basketball’s players are vaccinated and boosted. Per the SEC’s current policy, vaccinated players do not have to quarantine if they come into close contact with someone who tests positive for the virus as long as they are asymptomatic and are two weeks past their final vaccine dose. Of course, if a vaccinated individual tests positive for the virus, they are not allowed to play and must quarantine for 10 days, even if they have mild symptoms or are asymptomatic.

“Seven-and-one” rule

The ACC will also move to a “seven-and-one” rule, meaning that a team must play if it has seven players and one coach available. If they can’t meet those roster minimums, the game will be declared a no contest; if they can meet the minimums and decide not to play, it will be a forfeit.

After Kentucky’s game vs. North Carolina — a matchup that was the result of Ohio State having to pull out due to positive tests — John Calipari called for the SEC to change its policies to allow teams to play if they have at least eight players and one coach available.

“The other thing is if you have eight guys, play. Well, I have three starters now. So do I, now let’s play. We’ve got healthy guys that we’ve got to coach. Let Brad (Calipari) coach the game. I want him to coach anyway. I’ll make the other guys be sick and have my son coach.”

Yesterday, Calipari doubled down on a possible eight-and-one rule.

“If you have eight scholarship players and a coach, you must play the game. I mean, there’s got to be that. This is not going to be perfect. I like the fact that we’ve had our vaccines, 100%. We’ve had the booster. And what it means to me is that if someone gets it, it’s not going to (make them real sick).”

SEC spokesperson Herb Vincent told the Knoxville News Sentinel that the conference is reviewing its policy. With other leagues changing their rules, more bowls coming up, and conference play starting next week (!), I don’t think we’ll have to wait long to hear something from Hoover.