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The SEC sets cancellation policies for the 2021-22 academic year

 Chris Lee   in Football

SEC logo courtesy of the Southeastern Conference.

The SEC made official what commissioner Greg Sankey hinted at during SEC Media Days: teams that don't play games due to Covid-19 will forfeit games this year.

"In the event a team is unable to begin or complete a regular season Conference event due to the unavailability of participants (due to COVID-19, injuries or other reasons), that team will forfeit the contest and will be assigned a loss in the Conference standings,"a press release the league issued on Tuesday reads. "The opposing team that is ready to play will be credited with a win in the Conference standings. Both teams will be deemed to have played and completed the contest for purpose of the Conference standings."

"Any direct financial loss on the part of the school that was able to play a cancelled event may be submitted for consideration for reimbursement subject to approval from the SEC Executive Committee," the release added later. 

Last year, Vanderbilt canceled its football game with Georgia due to opt-outs that dropped the Commodores to 39 scholarship players. That game, declared a "no contest," would be a forfeit this year.

Vanderbilt's women's basketball team also voted to end its season after three league games last season