Another SEC game postponed over virus
The pandemic wrecked more plans across college football Wednesday, with No. 12 Georgia at Missouri becoming the fourth game postponed in the SEC alone and No. 3 Ohio State’s visit to Maryland canceled because of a coronavirus outbreak among the Terrapins.
“This is certainly a week unlike any other,” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said. “I’ve repeatedly said ( since March) that the circumstances around the virus will guide our decisions.”
Though the SEC will assess rescheduling options, there are no open dates built into the Big Ten’s nineweek schedule, and teams must play at least six games to qualify to play for the league championship. The Buckeyes are down to seven games at most and No. 13 Wisconsin, which was favored to meet the Buckeyes in the league championship game, has had two games canceled because of its own outbreak.
“Obviously, we are disappointed at not being able to compete this week, but I am incredibly proud of our team and the way they have handled themselves throughout this entire pandemic,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said.
Among the three SEC games still on for this Saturday, Arkansas will visit No. 6 Florida without Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman after he tested positive for the virus. Pittman said he has had some body aches, but is otherwise doing OK.
“I’d be lying to you if I said I wasn’t somewhat depressed,” Pittman said.
No. 24 Auburn at Mississippi State; No. 1 Alabama at LSU; and No. 5 Texas A& M at Tennessee were all called off this week. Both the Tigers Bulldogs and Aggies Volunteers games have been rescheduled for Dec. 12.
In all, eight games across major college football have been called this week and 55 games involving FBS teams have been canceled or postponed since major college football conferences had their revised fall schedules in place Aug. 26.
Alabama head coach Nick Saban said his team will practice Saturday to try to keep the rhythm of a normal week, despite now having consecutive Saturdays off with last week’s bye. He said players were given some time off to visit home, but it came with strict rules and a warning to be careful.
“Everyone trusts their family. I trust my family,” Saban said. “But no one knows where Uncle Tommy has been.”
CalArizona State: After Cal’s scheduled season opener against Washington was canceled last week because of coronavirus issues in the Bears’ program, the school could not say Wednesday whether the team will be able to play Arizona State on Saturday.
“We continue to have conversations with the medical health professionals on campus and with the City of Berkeley,” the school said in a release. “We have no further update on the status of Saturday’s game at Arizona State and will have our next media availability once we have a final determination.”
Briefly: Penn State running back Journey Brown says he has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a heart condition that is forcing him to give up football. Brown led the Nittany Lions last season with 890 yards rushing. ... Florida State defensive tackle Marvin Wilson, a preseason AllAmerican, will miss the rest of the season because of a leg injury. ... Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze agreed to a contract extension through the 2026 season. The No. 22 Flames are 70 in Freeze’s second year with the program.