The Rose Bowl has long been regarded as the Granddaddy of Them All, the quintessential college football experience replete with an epic sunset, ornate parade and a rich tradition of being played annually since 1916.
But in a college football season that’s sputtering to a finish because of a global pandemic and significant spikes in COVID-19 cases, the fate of the Rose Bowl — or at least a conventional one playing in its namesake — appears to be in flux. And with the Rose Bowl slated to be one of the College Football Playoff semifinals this season, there are even more complications.