For the first time ever this season, the Southeastern Conference is mandating its members to release multiple availability reports before each intraleague game. The Texas A&M football team and its upcoming opponent, South Carolina, released their first ones Wednesday.
The No. 10 Aggies (7-1, 5-0 SEC) will challenge the Gamecocks (4-3, 2-3) on the road Saturday, beginning at 6:30 p.m. CDT in Williams-Brice Stadium (TV: ABC). Their initial availability reports for the game – followed by an explanation of how the new rules work this season – can be seen here and below.
Texas A&M
OUT: OL Chase Bisontis, OL Mark Nabou Jr., RB Rueben Owens II, DB Tyreek Chappell, WR Jahdae Walker (for the first half due to targeting).
DOUBTFUL: None.
QUESTIONABLE: QB Jaylen Henderson.
PROBABLE: None.
South Carolina
OUT: OL Jakai Moore, DT DeAndre Jules.
DOUBTFUL: None.
QUESTIONABLE: None.
PROBABLE: WR Jared Brown.
Nabou, Owens and Chappell have long been out for the season.
Bisontis suffered a lower left-leg injury in the first half against Mississippi State on Oct. 19 and did not suit up vs. LSU last Saturday. He wore a boot around his left foot throughout the game against the Tigers while moving around with the help of a scooter. Without Bisontis, A&M leaned on redshirt freshman TJ Shanahan and junior Kam Dewberry.
Henderson, who is the third-team quarterback for the Aggies, suffered an undisclosed injury in practice before the Mississippi State game. He did not suit up for each of the last two games.
On the first play of the fourth quarter against LSU, Walker received a targeting penalty for a block over the middle. Because that penalty occurred in the second half, Walker will not be eligible to play in the first half against South Carolina.
For intraleague play this season, SEC football teams will be required to publicly disclose initial availability reports three days prior to the game by 7 p.m. CT. That report must be updated on both Thursday and Friday following the conclusion of practice and before 7 p.m. CT. On the day of the game, teams must release a final update no later than 90 minutes before kickoff.
If a player might not be able to participate in a game for any reason (including injury, illness, ineligibility or personal reasons), teams must accurately designate their projected availability status (out, doubtful, questionable or probable) for the first three updates without disclosing why. Here are the definitions for each availability designation:
• Out (will not play/0% chance to play).
• Doubtful (unlikely to play/25% chance to play).
• Questionable (uncertain to play/50% chance to play).
• Probable (probable to play/75% chance to play).
Teams must list a player as “Available” if he previously appeared on any availability report for the upcoming game and, “due to a change of circumstances,” is expected to participate in that matchup. The only permissible designation statuses for the game-day update are as follows:
• Available (will dress for the game and be available to play).
• Game-time Decision (coaches and/or medical personnel need to evaluate the student-athletes in pre-game warmups before deciding whether he can participate in the game).
• Out (not dressed or available for the game).
There are various compliance rules and punishments for the availability reports, including when there are any instances of inaccurate or late reporting. Those fines range between $25,000 and $100,000 for football.
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