Ryan Day Says Ohio State Is on Track to Play Alabama in CFP Title Game Monday

Amid COVID-19 concerns with the Ohio State Buckeyes, head coach Ryan Day believes his team will be ready for the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday.

Day said "correct" when asked by reporters if his team was on track to play Monday against Alabama.

"We'll have plenty of players," he added.

John Talty and Matt Zenitz of AL.com reported Tuesday there have been "concerns related to Ohio State’s player availability for the game" after the Buckeyes "informed key parties involved it could be without a position group due to COVID-19 testing and related protocols."

Talty and Zenitz noted officials from Ohio State, Alabama, the SEC, the Big Ten and the College Football Playoff have had discussions about potentially postponing the game.

However, Bill Hancock, the executive director of the College Football Playoff, told ESPN's Heather Dinich on Tuesday the game will be played as scheduled.

"I can tell you there are no changes," Hancock said. "The game is scheduled for Jan. 11, as planned, and we look forward to it."

Radio host Dan Patrick reported Thursday morning that Ohio State "is very close to the availability limit right now" and that the Big Ten is pushing for the game to be postponed.

A College Football Playoff spokesperson told Kyle Rowland of The Blade last month that conference COVID-19 testing protocols will apply to teams in the playoff.

The Big Ten's adjusted rules require players who test positive to sit out at least 17 days. Games during the regular season were canceled if a team had a positivity rate of at least 5 percent.

Ohio State played the Big Ten Championship Game against Northwestern on Dec. 19 without 22 players, including three starters, because of COVID-19 issues.

The Buckeyes beat Clemson 49-28 in the College Football Playoff semifinals on Jan. 1.