Virus forces Gophers to cancel game vs. No. 16 Northwestern

Minnesota announced Monday it has called off this weekend's game against No. 16 Northwestern, the second straight cancellation for the Gophers due to a spike in COVID19 cases within the program.

University officials made the decision in consultation with the Big Ten after seven additional positive cases were confirmed. The Wildcats, who lead the West Division by one game at 5-1, were scheduled to play Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium.

Four games on this week's schedule have been postponed or canceled. Over the last three weeks, 52 games have been called off because of COVID-19 issues out of 179 that were scheduled. Since late August, the total number of canceled or postponed games is 103.

Minnesota's football team has turned up 47 positive cases since Nov. 19 — 21 players and 26 staff members.

ALABAMA: Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban expects to be back on the sidelines Saturday at LSU. Saban, who tested positive for COVID-19 last Wednesday, had to watch the top-ranked Crimson Tide's 42-13 victory over rival Auburn from home over the weekend while offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian ran the show. GEORGIA: The Bulldog's Greg McGarity is retiring after 10 years as Georgia's athletic director. The 66-year-old McGarity said Monday his retirement will begin Dec 31. He served a variety of roles in two stints at Georgia, his alma mater, covering 25 years. He also is a former administrator at Florida from 1992 to 2010.

INDIANA: On Monday, Allen announced the Hoosiers starting quarterback suffered a seasonending torn anterior cruciate ligament, marking the second time in three years he's injured the right knee. Redshirt sophomore Jack Tuttle, who started his career at Utah, replaced Penix during Saturday's victory over Maryland and now steps into the leading role for one of the nation's most surprising teams.

VANDERBILT: The Southeastern Conference has named Vanderbilt kicker Sarah Fuller as the league's co-special teams player of the week after she made history becoming the first woman to play in a Power 5 conference football game. Fuller shared the award Monday with Florida punt returner Kadarius Toney after the senior soccer player served as Vanderbilt's primary kicker in a loss to Missouri.

VIRGINIA TECH: Virginia Tech backup quarterback Quincy Patterson has decided to transfer. Patterson appeared in 13 games for Virginia Tech, starting at Notre Dame in 2019 when Hendon Hooker was injured. For his career, he has 359 career passing yards with four touchdowns and one interception and 333 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

SUN BOWL: The Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, played every year since Jan. 1, 1935, has been canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.