Two games called off for Saturday
Baylor’s season opener against Houston, scheduled less than a week ago, was one of two Football Bowl Subdivision games postponed Friday — a day before they were supposed play.
Florida Atlantic’s opener against Georgia Southern was postponed earlier in the day, after the results Thursday of FAU’s COVID- 19 testing. In both cases, the schools involved said they would try to find make- up dates.
The postponements illustrate the uncertainty surrounding college sports. The number of FBS games postponed or canceled because of COVID- 19 issues since Aug. 26 is 16 and the pandemic’s impact is being felt in other sports; one of college basketball’s premier tournaments is moving from Hawaii to North Carolina and the
NCAA delayed the start of the basketball season to Nov. 25.
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Bateman has re- joined his team after opting out of the season, and hopes to be able to play when the Big Ten Conference starts in late October. A similar return played out earlier this week at Ohio State.
In putting off its opener, Baylor said it was unable to meet COVID19 roster thresholds set by the Big 12. The school did not provide specifics on the players or positions affected by the coronavirus or the number of players who were quarantined due to contact tracing.
Baylor is scheduled to open its Big 12 season next week against Kansas. The Big 12 said that game is still on for now, but Baylor athletic director Mack Rhoades told SicEm365 Radio in Waco, Texas, he had not yet spoken to Kansas athletic director Jeff Long. The Big 12 said a minimum 53- player roster is necessary to play a game, and must include at least seven offensive linemen, four defensive linemen and one quarterback.
The Southeastern Conference released similar thresholds Friday with one key difference. The SEC said it would only count scholarship players among those minimums. The Big 12’ s minimums include walk- ons.
N. C. State fans
N. C. State University said it received permission from the state to allow up to 350 fans to attend its Saturday home football game against Wake Forest University. An executive order from Gov. Roy Cooper ( D) presently limits outdoor gatherings to 50 people. The public health department said it would allow two family members per player to attend live football games up to 350 people as long as the college follows certain health protocols.