Oklahoma is gearing up to face Florida in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl set for Dec. 30th in Arlington, Texas.
One of the bigger questions surrounding the preparation for the game was what the two teams were going to do in regards to the Christmas holiday coming just five days prior to when the game is set to be held. Gators head coach Dan Mullen said on Sunday that they intended to allow the players to go home for a few days to be with family, but Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley elected to hold off announcing any official plans.
That changed on Tuesday, as Riley announced that the team would be allowing the players to go home for the holiday before going to Arlington for final preparations. He said that they just “couldn’t get past” the fact that the players all had not been home since the summer.
Oklahoma will be leaving to go home on Wednesday and then returning on Saturday.
I am told Florida sent its players home on Sunday and they will be returning on Saturday, too. #Sooners
— Kegan Reneau (@KeganReneau) December 22, 2020
It isn’t all that surprising of a decision by the two programs, but noteworthy due to the obvious risk of it with the COVID-19 pandemic still raging all across the country. Players being smart and following protocols as best as they can while being away from campus will be vital to keeping this game afloat.
Oklahoma and Florida are set to tee it up next Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. CT.
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