Another Gophers game canceled
Minnesota announced Monday it had called off this weekend’s game against No. 16 Northwestern, the second straight cancellation for the Gophers because of a spike in COVID- 19 cases within the program.
University officials made the decision in consultation with the Big Ten after seven additional positive cases were confirmed. The Wildcats, who lead the West Division by one game at 5- 1, were scheduled to play Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium.
College football is limping toward the postseason in late December as multiple programs deal with COVID- 19 outbreaks and contact tracing protocols. Four games on this week’s schedule have been postponed or canceled. Michigan announced it had suspended all in- person activities because of coronavirus concerns. Over the last three weeks, 52 games have been called off because of COVID- 19 issues out of 179 that were scheduled.
Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall said he and athletic director Carla Williams have contacted the Atlantic Coast Conference calling for updated protocols and procedures after the Cavaliers f lew to Florida on Friday only to learn their game against Florida State would not be played because of COVID- 19 issues involving the Seminoles. No. 4 Clemson also made the trek to Tallahassee recently only to learn the Seminoles had an outbreak hours before kickoff.
After USC’s matchup with Washington State was moved from Friday night to Sunday to allow Trojans players in quarantine to return, the game has now been moved up 90 minutes to 4: 30 p. m.
Alabama coach Nick Saban, who tested positive for COVID- 19 last Wednesday, expects to be back on the sidelines Saturday at Louisiana State. ... Georgia quarterback D’Wan Mathis, who opened the season as the starter, has entered the NCAA transfer portal after losing the starting job to former USC quarterback JT Daniels. ... Oklahoma State offensive tackle Teven Jenkins has decided to skip the remainder of the season to prepare for the NFL draft. ... Indiana quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will miss the rest of this season with a torn anterior ligament. ... The Southeastern Conference named Vanderbilt kicker Sarah Fuller as the league’s co- special teams player of the week after she made history by becoming the f irst woman to play in a Power Five conference football game.