Sports leagues struggle to play during pandemic

Both Georgia and Georgia Tech football programs are sidelined this week because of coronavirus cases. The pandemic continues to test the ability of sports leagues to adjust to the new reality.

The Rice-louisiana Tech game became the 10th scheduled for this weekend to be postponed or canceled. In all, 57 college football games this season have been canceled or postponed due to COVID-19related reasons.

Other pandemic-related developments Thursday included:

Ivy League cancels fall sports: The Ivy League on Thursday became the first Division I conference this year to cancel all winter sports, including men’s and women’s basketball.

The decision came 13 days before the scheduled start of the college basketball season. The league had decided this past summer, when it canceled fall sports, not to allow any of its sports to start play before early December. The Ivy League announcement affects basketball, wrestling, indoor track and field, swimming, fencing and other sports.

Cal State can’t field team: The women’s basketball team at Cal State University in Northridge doesn’t have enough athletes to safely compete this season after six women opted out of playing because of concerns about the novel coronavirus, the school said Thursday.

Athletic Director Mike Izzi said in a statement: “Student-athlete safety will always be our priority. Given the number of students that have voluntarily elected to opt-out of competition this year, our women’s basketball team will not be able to have a healthy and safe opportunity to compete this season.”

Raiders linebacker out: The Las Vegas Raiders have placed linebacker Cory Littleton on the COVID-19 list. Littleton joins right tackle Trent Brown as Raiders currently on the COVID-19 list.

The list is used for players who either test positive for COVID-19 or have been quarantined after having been in close contact with someone who has been infected.

Dolphins add 3 to COVID19 list: Miami Dolphins linebacker Kyle Van Noy and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins went on the COVID19 list Thursday, the latest setback for a team already in the NFL’S intensive protocol for the coronavirus. Both players are starters. Reserve receiver Matt Cole also went on the list. The Dolphins had five assistant coaches unavailable for last week’s game at Arizona because of COVID-19 protocols, and at least one assistant tested positive.

Positive tests won’t delay game: Oregon State says one player has tested positive for COVID-19, and three others have been isolated. The Beavers (0-1) continued to prep for Saturday’s game at Washington, Athletic Director Scott Barnes said. The four players impacted will not be available.

Georgia’s Boenig sidelined: Georgia equestrian head coach Meghan Boenig tested positive for COVID-19. The school says she went into isolation and will miss today’s meet at South Carolina. Assistant coaches Sara Parr and Anna Becker will guide the team in Boenig’s absence.