Michigan’s COVID-19 outbreak cancels game against Ohio State
Michigan canceled its annual rivalry game at Ohio State on Tuesday because of the COVID-19 outbreak within the Wolverines football program.
“The number of positive tests has continued to trend in an upward direction over the last seven days,” Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said. “We have not been cleared to participate in practice at this time. Unfortunately, we will not be able to field a team due to COVID-19 positives and the associated quarantining required of close contact individuals. This decision is disappointing for our team and coaches but their health and safety is paramount, and it will always come first in our decision-making.”
The third-ranked Buckeyes played through what coach Ryan Day called a “mini outbreak” on Saturday in a 52-12 win at Michigan State after he was relegated to watching the game from home. Day is among the coaches and players in the program that tested positive for the coronavirus, leading to Ohio State canceling a game at Illinois.
While outbreaks have disrupted more than 100 games across major college football since late August, the problems with the Wolverines were closely watched in part because the Buckeyes have a lot to gain.
T he Buckeye s have missed two games in this pandemic- shortened season because of COVID-19 issues and one more would leave them unable to reach a conference- mandated minimum to be eligible for the Big Ten championship game.
The Big Ten, however, could decide Ohio State will still represent the East Division at least in part because the conference doesn’t want to hurt the Buckeyes chances of earning a playoff berth.
MIchigan coach Jim Harbaugh fell to 0- 5 in the rivalry last year, continuing a trend that has seen Michigan lose 15 of its past 16 games to Ohio State.
TWO STARTING STANFORD RECEIVERS RULED OUT >> On top of the challenges posed by being unable to practice at home, Stanford will also be shorthanded on the field when it faces Oregon State on Saturday night.
Starting wide receivers Michael Wilson and Connor Wedington will miss the game because of undisclosed injuries, coach David Shaw said from Corvallis, Oregon, where the Cardinal is practicing. Wilson leads the team with 19 catches for 261 yards and a touchdown, the only score by a wide receiver this season. Wedington had 15 catches, tied for the second-most on the team, for 157 yards.
Sophomore Elijah Higgins and junior Brycen Tremayne will replace Wilson and Wedington in the starting lineup for the Cardinal (2-2), coming off wins against Cal and Washington .
fter spending the week in Seattle before playing Washington, Stanford has relocated to Corvallis, where it will stay leading up to the game against Oregon State (2-3).
TIDE, IRISH, TIGERS, BUCKEYES HOLDSTEADY ATOP CFP
RANKINGS >> For the third straight week, Alabama, Notre Dame, Clemson and Ohio State held on to the top four spots in the College Football Playoff rankings.
The selection committee’s second-from-last rankings had only a little movement in the top 10. Texas A& M is still fifth and Florida held at sixth.
Iowa State moved up a couple of spots to seventh after earning a spot in the Big 12 title game.
COVID CONCERNS:
• The regular- season football finale between No. 7 Cincinnati and No. 18 Tulsa was canceled due to COVID-19 cases and contact tracing within the Bearcats’ program. The two teams are scheduled to play Dec. 19 in the American Athletic Conference title game.