Tournament of Roses Still Planning on Jan. 1 Game

[UPDATED] Tournament of Roses CEO David Eads on Monday told Pasadena Now that plans remain in place to host a College Semifinal Playoff game in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.

“We are currently planning for a CFP [College Football Playoff] Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game on January 1. We continue to work with the College Football Playoff, the City of Pasadena and Los Angeles County to adhere to COVID-19 protocol and guidelines,” Eads said in an email.

“While we are open to date flexibility at the Rose Bowl Stadium, we are working with the CFP to host one of the two semifinals that are both slated to take place on January 1,” Eads wrote.

Last week officials announced that no fans would be allowed in the stadium to view the game, dubbed “The Granddaddy of Them All,” live.

Due to COVID-19 concerns, the Rose Parade, which started in 1890, was canceled for the first time since the World War II years of 1942, 1943 and 1945.

Pushing the games back came up last month when it was announced that at least two of three CFP games were prepared to push back their scheduled kickoff dates if the COVID-19 pandemic necessitates postponements.

Besides the Rose Bowl, the other semifinal game is scheduled to be held in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, also on Friday, Jan. 1.

The CFP National Championship is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 11 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

Several bowl games will not be played this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, including:

Bahamas Bowl (C-USA vs. MAC)
Celebration Bowl (MEAC vs. SWAC)
Fenway Bowl (AAC vs. ACC)
Hawaii Bowl (AAC vs. Mountain West)
Holiday Bowl (ACC vs. Pac-12)
Las Vegas Bowl (Pac-12 vs. SEC)
Los Angeles Bowl (Pac-12 vs. Mountain West)
Pinstripe Bowl (ACC vs. Big Ten)
Quick Lane Bowl (ACC, Big Ten, MAC)
Redbox Bowl (Big Ten vs. Pac-12)
Sun Bowl (ACC vs. Pac-12)”

On Sunday, a new Safer-At-Home went into effect for 21 days, shutting down all non-essential businesses.

At least 58 FBS games this season have been postponed or canceled because of COVID-19 issues. With time ticking in the regular season, conferences are running out of dates to reschedule games.