Texas A&M will not take part in the Gator Bowl this year as originally scheduled due to COVID-19 issues within the program, but officials are working to find a replacement for the Aggies. According to one report, it is possible that replacement could be a team that already played in a bowl game.
Wake Forest was supposed to play Texas A&M in the Gator Bowl on New Year’s Eve. The Demon Deacons are coming off a 10-3 regular season and are hoping to find a new opponent. That will not be easy. Sources told Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports that one possibility is a school playing in two different bowl games.
Gator Bowl officials are going to exhaust all options to put on a game. Wake Forest (10-3) really wants to play after one of the best seasons in school history.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 22, 2021
As Thamel notes, that would require a waiver. It has never been done before, but perhaps an exception can be made.
Gator Bowl officials could also wait to see if another bowl game encounters COVID-related issues. Though, one bowl game would likely have to be canceled if that scenario unfolded. Shortly after the Texas A&M news was announced, Wake Forest’s athletic director said several schools have already expressed interest in taking the Aggies’ place.
Wake Forest AD John Currie said “four teams have reached out” about playing in Gator Bowl to replace Texas A&M
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 22, 2021
The theme of players opting out of bowl games to prepare for the NFL has continued this year, but the Gator Bowl is clearly important to Wake Forest. Hopefully they can find an opponent rather than seeing their successful season end prematurely.
