Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The Indiana football team will not be going home for Christmas in 2020, but that does not mean Christmas is canceled. The Hoosiers are in the middle of preparing for the Outback Bowl against Ole Miss and while the Rebels may be allowed to travel, the Hoosiers have to stay in their bubble. IU had their final two weeks canceled due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the program and aren’t taking any chances on it happening again.

“We have the protocols that we have to follow so we're we unfortunately are not allowed to have anybody to go outside of our bubble for Christmas and so they can't leave.” Allen explained on Wednesday.

IU finished up their third bowl practice on Wednesday and will hit the field again on Thursday for before getting Christmas Day off. Allen will try and make Christmas as special as possible for his players who have not seen their families in a long time.

“They're going to stay here, we will practice tomorrow, like I mentioned we will have Sunday off person will have Christmas day off from football or I have a dinner together, got some presents for the guys got big old Christmas tree and have a big ol' Christmas get together for our team. It's one sacrifices that these guys will have to make, which is not easy I get that it's hard and we're gonna be together as our football family." Allen said.

If the Hoosiers would let players leave to see their family, it would put that player’s availability at stake for the Outback Bowl. “We're not allowed because if we let them leave then they'd be out the whole next week of protocol to testing which obviously doesn't work because you're getting ready to play your game.” Allen stated.

The Hoosiers are set to take on the Ole Miss Rebels on January 2, 2021 at 12:30pm. The game will be aired on ABC.

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