Miami football season could be cancelled if ACC has less than 8 teams

The Miami football season could be canceled if the ACC has less than eight teams that are unable to play according to Andrea Adelson of ESPN as reported on Saturday afternoon.

The Miami football team was able to play its season opener without any issues on Thursday against UAB. Andrea Adelson of ESPN reported on Saturday that the ACC will suspend its season if the league drops below eight, or half of the teams to continue the season. Adelson learned of the protocol from Virginia Tech.

The Hokies announced they will not play their game next week against Virginia due to a COVID-19 outbreak in Blacksburg. The Hokies and Cavaliers were scheduled to play at 7:30 ET in the ABC primetime game. The cancellation of VA Tech and UVA moved the Louisville Miami football game from 3:30 ET into the 7:30 timeslot.

Miami had three undisclosed players test positive for COVID-19 in July. The Hurricanes suspended workouts for four days before resuming without any cases made public for Miami since in the last six weeks. Miami is scheduled to play at Virginia Tech on November 14.

Adelson reported a list of requirements from the ACC to continue playing. The requirements that Adelson referenced included the potential that the ACC could be part of a decision that could lead to the cancelation of the College Football Playoff and National Championship Game which is scheduled for Hard Rock Stadium January 11.

The list of what the ACC expects to keep the season active was tweeted out by Adelson on Saturday afternoon. The schedule for many teams is fluid. The cancelation for Virginia Tech means the Hokies are not scheduled to begin their season until September 26. Miami will be playing its third game of 2020 that weekend.

Bye weeks could be utilized throughout the ACC to move games around and try to ensure that everyone is able to complete their schedule. The top two teams in the ACC this season as determined by winning percentage will play in the ACC Championship game. A minimum number of games has not been started by the ACC.

Miami has bye weeks October 3 and 31. The Hurricanes host Florida State September 26 before their first bye. Miami is scheduled to play at Clemson on October 10 and host Virginia and Pittsburgh the following two weeks before the second bye on Halloween. Virginia Tech at Duke has been moved.

The Hokies and Blue Devils will now play on October 3 instead of November 28. Virginia and Virginia Tech do not have mutual bye weeks. The Hokies now only have November 28 as a bye week by not starting the season until two weeks after everyone else. UVA does not begin its season until September 26.

The Cavaliers host Duke. Because of their late start, UVA does not have a bye week. The potential could be the play the season out and if the Virginia-Virginia Tech game has an impact on the ACC Standings in the to play it December 12 and play the ACC Championship game to December 19.

The potential of COVID impacted the ACC schedule is why the Championship Game is listed as December 12 or 19 on the revised ACC schedule. The problems that have arisen at other schools is indicative of the job the leadership at Miami has done in keeping the Hurricanes athletes healthy.