Ohio State No. 3 boarded a plane to Miami, as scheduled on Saturday, to face Alabama’s No. 1 in the National College Playoff Championship on Monday, a school spokesman said Friday afternoon. ESPN, officially ending speculation that the biggest game of the season could be postponed.
“The plan is to fly tomorrow,” Buckeyes spokesman Jerry Emig said.
Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne also confirmed that Crimson Tide will travel, tweeting: “We just got the test results and we’re good to go.”
Alabama lands in Miami at 8 pm ET on Friday, for a school spokesman.
“As I said all week, the game is on,” 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 look forward to a great night for college football.”
On Friday, the state of Ohio refused to make public when the latest results of the COVID-19 test will be available, but the team is expected to land on Saturday at 6 p.m.
Hancock and officials from both schools have repeatedly said the national championship game will remain on Monday, despite reports of ongoing COVID-19 issues under the Ohio state program.
On Thursday, Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Buckeyes would have “a lot of players” available without providing specific numbers or player updates.
“We got a new set of challenges this week,” Day said. “We’re going to have to figure it out, go down to Miami and play.”
ESPN’s Holly Rowe has announced that she has tested positive for COVID-19, has symptoms and will not be part of ABC / ESPN’s coverage of the championship game.