Tide’s Saban tests positive for virus

Alabama coach Nick Saban and athletic director Greg Byrne tested positive for COVID- 19, four days before the Southeastern Conference’s biggest regular- season showdown.

Both said their tests Wednesday morning came back positive, but Saban said he didn’t have any symptoms by late afternoon. The secondranked Crimson Tide is set to face No. 3 Georgia on Saturday, and may be without their 68- year- old coach.

“I immediately left work and isolated at home,” Saban said.

Saban said he informed the team via a Zoom session at 2 p. m. Wednesday and that offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian will oversee game preparations while he works from home.

“I didn’t leave the country or anything,” Saban said. “I’m just right down the street. And we have this technology, so it’s really unique.”

The SEC postponed Saturday’s game between No. 10 Florida and defending national champion Louisiana State a day after the Gators had 19 players and coaches test positive for COVID- 19. Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin said the number was up to 21 positives with considerably more in quarantine because of contact tracing.

The game was tentatively rescheduled for Dec. 12, the league’s built- in bye week before its annual championship. It’s the second SEC game bumped this week, following Missouri- Vanderbilt.

Massimo Biscardi kicked a 40- yard f ield goal with four seconds to play to give Coastal Carolina a 30- 27 upset over No. 21 Louisiana. Grayson McCall completed 17 of 24 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns for the Chanticleers ( 4- 0). Levi Lewis passed for 173 yards and ran for 84 for the Cajuns ( 3- 1)