Clemson at Florida State postponed hours before start

The game between No. 4 Clemson and Florida State was postponed hours before kickoff Saturday when medical personnel from both schools could not agree it was safe to play.

The Tigers learned a day earlier one of their players tested positive for COVID-19, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.

The Atlantic Coast Conference announced the postponement, although it did not detail whether the game at Florida State was called off because of coronavirus issues.

The person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity said the postponement stemmed from a positive test Clemson received Friday after traveling to Tallahassee. That unidentified player had tested negative on campus this week despite displaying symptoms.

The person did not wish to be identified because Clemson had not disclosed the reason for the postponement.

Another person with knowledge of the decision told AP that Florida State officials were informed late Friday night that Clemson had an offensive lineman return a positive test earlier in the day. The person said Clemson officials told Florida State that the Tigers player had taken part in practice and meetings throughout the week while showing symptoms.

The second person also spoke to AP on condition of anonymity because the schools were not publicly revealing details about why the game was off.

Medical of ficials and athletic directors from both schools held another call Saturday morning to exchange medical reports, which is routine under ACC protocol. During that call, the schools could not agree on playing.

“We listened to our medical folks and their assessment of the risk and we decided it wasn’t safe to play today,” Florida State athletic director David Coburn told the AP.

No makeup date was announced, but Florida State coach Mike Norvell said he hoped it would be in December.

“We woke up this morning ready to play this game,” Norvell told ESPN. The first-year coach tested positive for the virus in September, missing the Seminoles’ game with Miami.

T he Sem inole s are scheduled to play Virginia next Saturday.

Clemson’s lone open date is Dec. 12. The ACC championship game is Dec. 19.

Star Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence was scheduled to make his first start since Oct. 24. He has missed the past two games, including the 47-40 double overtime loss at Notre Dame, after testing positive for COVID-19.

Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich said the school had followed all ACC protocol in the week leading to the game.

“We now look ahead to returning to action next week against Pitt for Senior Day and Military Appreciation Day at Memorial Stadium,” Radakovich said in a statement.