AFTERNOON SPORTS BRIEFS 12/23/21

College Football

Multiple reports indicate Rutgers University may receive the chance to play in the Gator Bowl against Wake Forest. Texas A&M has dropped out of the game due to COVID issues. A Gator Bowl official told ESPN that there had been no contact with Rutgers as of last night. Sources say Illinois has communicated its desire to replace Texas A&M and could be a preferred option. The game is scheduled for December 31st at 10 am Central time in Jacksonville.

College Basketball

The Southeastern Conference announced today they have revised policies for basketball game postponements, cancellations, rescheduling of games and no-contest declarations. An SEC men’s or women’s basketball team will be required to play if it has at least seven scholarship student-athletes and one countable coaching staff member available to participate. The impacted institution has the option to play the game with fewer than the seven players and-or one countable coach, if it elects to do so. Otherwise, upon approval by the Commissioner, the game will be rescheduled or declared a no contest.

MLB

ESPN reports sources as saying slugger Cody Bellinger and the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed on a one-year, $17 million deal to avoid arbitration before the December 1st lockout that has shut down Major League Baseball and frozen transactions. Bellinger is coming off his worst big league season where he hit just .240 with 10 home runs.