New details emerge in replacement process for Sun Bowl

After having their bowl game opponent opt out due to COVID-19 complications, Central Michigan is in talks to be the replacement team for the Sun Bowl. Central Michigan was scheduled to play in the Arizona Bowl against Boise State, but the Broncos opted out due to COVID-19 issues similar to how Miami opted out of the Sun Bowl.

Sun Bowl replacement process

“The process for Central Michigan to take part in the Sun Bowl starts with first brokering an agreement with the MAC,” detailed Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel. “Then an invitation will go to Central Michigan. Discussions between Sun Bowl officials and MAC officials have begun.”

If the negotiations between the MAC and the Sun Bowl are successful, Central Michigan and Washington State will still be able to play in their bowl games. According to Thamel’s report, the decision will rely on MAC officials before Central Michigan even gets the invitation.

Before the emergence of Central Michigan as a replacement, the Sun Bowl officials feared it may be too short of notice to find a new opponent for the Cougars. Just hours before Miami announced their decision to opt out, Sun Bowl executive director Bernie Olivas said he thinks they would not be able to find a replacement in time for the Dec. 31 matchup.

“I personally think it’s too late in the game unless it happened right now,” Olivas said of Miami potentially opting out. “Those teams that got canceled, they might be available right now. Any later than this, it would probably be impossible to get anybody but, to be honest with you, we’re counting on Miami and Washington State. As far as a backup plan — since where we are, we don’t have one because I think it’s too late to start looking for somebody and be a replacement team.”

Olivas mentioned teams whose games have been canceled, presumably meaning East Carolina, Memphis, and SMU. According to Brett McMurphy, none of those three teams would accept an invite to the Sun Bowl. Once their individual bowl games were called off, their seasons were as well.

According to Chris Vannini of The Athletic, the hometown UTEP Miners was not an option either. He spoke with head coach Dana Dimel once the news broke, saying his team would not be an option. UTEP has already played in a bowl game this year as well, losing to Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl.

On3’s Griffin McVeigh contributed to this article.