SEC teams hobbled by virus will forfeit
SEC teams that don’t have enough available players will have to forfeit games this year.
The league released its policy on dealing with coronavirus issues during the 2021-22 seasons in all sports.
Unlike last season, the shorthanded team will forfeit and will take a loss in the SEC standings for regular-season games. The opponent will be credited with a win.
If neither team has enough available athletes to compete because of COVID-19, injuries or other factors, both teams will have to take a forfeit.
Commissioner Greg Sankey can declare a no contest if there are “extraordinary circumstances,” the league said.
⏩ No. 2 Oklahoma and Tulane announced that their season opener has been moved from New Orleans to Norman, Okla., in the fallout from Hurricane Ida.
Tulane will be the designated home team and will retain net proceeds from ticket sales. Kickoff was still set for 9 a.m. PDT Saturday and the game will be shown on ABC.
⏩ New head coach Steve Sarkisian of No. 21 Texas said that his starting quarterback for Saturday’s opener against No. 23 Louisiana-Lafayette will be Hudson Card, who has one career completion, though fourth-year player Casey Thompson will play.
⏩ Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel named Michigan transfer Joe Milton as the Volunteers’ starting quarterback four days before the season opener against Bowling Green.
College basketball: Jay Morris, a former assistant at San Jose State, San Diego State, Nevada and Cal State Northridge, is joining Andy Enfield’s USC staff as an assistant.
NHL: The Nashville Predators signed forward Eeli Tolvanen to a three-year, $4.35 million deal.
Soccer: Forward Tim Weah is hurt and will miss the opening three World Cup qualifiers for the U.S. men’s team, which begin Thursday at El Salvador. Weah was injured Saturday in training with Lille in France.