What would be one of the most consequential games in Sanford Stadium history could be just six weeks away.

Georgia football fans shouldn’t be upset if the game never happens.

College Football Playoff games are coming to campuses next month and Sanford Stadium would be the site if the Bulldogs are one of the first-round host teams.

That would only happen if Georgia, which is 7-1 and No. 3 in the first CFP rankings, doesn’t win the battle royale to be in position to get to Atlanta and leave with the SEC championship.

Preparations have been underway for more than a year.

“We prep for every single scenario,” Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks said.

Georgia’s event operations staff and ticketing staff, like at other schools, have been in contact with the College Football Playoff staff which has hosted calls and webinars to discuss details.

“We’ll be ready for whatever comes,” Brooks said.

First-round games are on the third weekend of December with one game on Friday Dec. 20 and three on Saturday Dec. 21. Georgia will host if it is the No. 5, 6, 7 or 8 seed. Possible opponents could be the likes of SMU, Boise State, Notre Dame or even an SEC team.

Hotels rooms in Athens have been reserved just in case.

There were none available online Tuesday for those dates at Hyatt Place Athens Downtown, Springhill Suites Downtown, Springhill Suites Athens West, the Holiday Inn Express Athens and the Hampton Inn.

The Fairfield Inn had rooms for $619 on Dec. 20 but none on Dec. 21.

The CFP worked with travel company Collegiate Sports Travel over the past year to reserve rooms “in almost all of the FBS school campus sites,” according to Brett Daniels, CFP’s senior director of communications and branding. “We are holding rooms for the visiting team, band, travel party and media."

Starting next week, rooms will be released in locations that no longer seem viable to host first-round games, Daniels said. Host schools are responsible for lining up rooms if they need them.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey was on a four-man working group that came up with the 12-team playoff.

“Pretty early on there was a feeling that the home game opportunity was healthy for fans,” Sankey said. “It provided access to games without having to travel.”

Sankey said a lot of SEC athletic directors backed the idea. Brooks served on a committee to discuss logistics of hosting games.

College Football Playoff staff attended the SEC spring meetings in Destin to go over what to expect if a school is in line to host a game.

Sankey said discussions included conflicts with end of academic semesters and graduation ceremonies. At Georgia, that’s not an issue because final exams end Dec. 11 and commencement is Dec. 13.

The Classic City Championship boys and girls basketball games between Cedar Shoals and Clarke Central at the new Akins Ford Arena are set for Dec. 20. That’s because there’s a better chance to avoid playing on the same day as a Georgia football first-round playoff game. The games were originally scheduled for Dec. 21, according to cedarblueprints.com, Cedar Shoals' student-led website.

Georgia football season ticket holders will have the first right to buy same seat locations for a first-round playoff home game and any remaining tickets will then be available to Hartman Fund and Magill Society donors, according to The Georgia Bulldog Club website.

Schools could choose to host a first-round game at a different venue like a nearby NFL stadium, but none that are likely to host have done that, according to CFP executive director Rich Clark.

The CFP surveyed schools in the spring to get detailed information on their stadium and requirements to host a game and have followed up with any concerns about facilities. On-site visits will be held Dec. 9—the day after the bracket is announced--for sites that are hosting.

“It holds on to the traditions and some of the pagentary of college football,” Clark said. “Some of these teams when they bring that home game to their school, it might be the biggest game they’ve ever had on their campus. That’s going to be pretty spectacular.”

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia football, CFP prepare for possible first-round game in Athens