ACC cancels Canes’ game vs. Ga. Tech

The Atlantic Coast Conference canceled the University of Miami’s home game against Georgia Tech on Dec. 19, meaning UM’s regular-season finale will be Saturday against North Carolina.

According to an ACC announcement on Friday evening, Georgia Tech “informed the conference office that it will not be able to meet several of the ACC Medical Advisory Group’s COVID-19 game discontinuation considerations.”

The Hurricanes (8-1) will end up playing a 10-game regular season. Miami had hoped to play 11 games in this COVID-abbreviated season.

With a win on Saturday, UM likely would play in a major bowl game, perhaps the Orange Bowl. Florida is one potential opponent.

Pittsburgh and Boston College both announced this week that they won’t accept bowl bids because the nation is dealing with a pandemic and they don’t want to ask their players to play another game.

But there’s no indication that UM will do the same, with the Canes positioned to play in a major bowl.

PLENTY ON LINE FOR NO. 6 FLORIDA

It would be understandable for No. 6 Florida to look ahead to next week’s SEC Championship Game against top-ranked Alabama.

But there is plenty of reason for the Gators to maintain focus against struggling defending national champion LSU.

Losing to LSU in The Swamp on Saturday night would eliminate any chance Florida has of sneaking into the College Football Playoff with a loss to the heavily favored Crimson Tide.

Florida (8-1, 8-1 SEC, No. 6 CFP) will be trying to extend its home winning streak to 13 games when it hosts the reeling Tigers (3-5, 3-5). The Gators are favored by 231⁄ points.

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The game also has significance for UF quarterback Kyle Trask’s continued pursuit of the Heisman

Trophy. Trask, the frontrunner, has 38 touchdown passes and just three interceptions this season.

Meanwhile, LSU is a team in turmoil, on a twogame losing streak and also dealing with apparent NCAA rules violations. The school self-imposed a oneyear ban on postseason play this week as part an effort to cooperate with the investigation.

No one should expect the Gators to have any sympathy for their West Division rivals. If anything, coach Dan Mullen’s team is trying to be more efficient and consistent on both sides of the ball — hoping to peak in time for next week’s SEC championship game.

“I think we can play a lot better than we have,” Mullen said.

The Gators have overcome slow starts defensively and mid-game lulls offensively since blowing out Arkansas 63-35 a month ago. They scored

38, 34 and 31 points in the last three weeks.

UF refused to look ahead to the Crimson Tide, partly because it’s Senior Night for a class that made a smooth and successful transition from uJim

McElwain’s underwhelming regime to Mullen’s three-year run that’s included steps forward each season.

The Gators also haven’t forgotten last year’s loss to LSU, a 42-28 setback in which Florida led 28-21 in the second half before eventual Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow and running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire led the Tigers to 21 unanswered points down the stretch.

“That definitely left a bad taste in our mouth last year and we’re coming out ready to dominate this week,” Florida defensive end Zach Carter said.

The Gators have the better roster in the rematch, led by Trask, standout tight end Kyle Pitts, and big-play receivers

Kadarius Toney and

Trevon Grimes.

Pitts is Trask’s top target. He has 36 catches for 641 yards and 11 touchdowns in 61⁄ games.

He missed 10 quarters because of a concussion and a broken nose.