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The No. 14 Oklahoma football team has temporarily paused organized team activities due to recent positive COVID-19 tests and contact tracing, the school said Wednesday.
As a result, the Sooners’ scheduled Saturday night game at West Virginia has been postponed. The game has been rescheduled to Dec. 12.
It is the third Big 12 conference game postponed this season, joining Oklahoma State at Baylor and Texas at Kansas. Those two games will also be made up on Dec. 12.
Colorado State-Air Force game cancelled
The Mountain West Conference on Wednesday cancelled Thursday night’s scheduled Colorado State at Air Force game because of coronavirus cases in the Rams’ program.
The league will not reschedule the game, so it will be considered a no-contest.
Saban tests positive
Alabama coach Nick Saban tested positive for COVID-19 for a second time and is not expected to coach Saturday against Auburn, the school said in a statement Wednesday.
Saban previously tested positive for COVID-19 on Oct. 14, days before the Georgia game. Saban entered self-isolation and continued daily testing, eventually registering the three negative tests required to confirm the first one as a false positive, allowing him to coach against Georgia.
“This morning we received notification that Coach Saban tested positive for COVID-19,” Dr. Jimmy Robinson and Alabama head trainer Jeff Allen said in the statement. “He has very mild symptoms, so this test will not be categorized as a potential false positive. He will follow all appropriate guidelines and isolate at home.”
Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian will be acting head coach against the Tigers and for the remainder of Saban’s time in quarantine.
Cincinnati cancels Saturday’s game vs. Temple
For the second time this season, the Cincinnati football team has canceled a game because of COVID-19 concerns within the program. The American Athletic Conference announced Wednesday that the No. 7 Bearcats game at Temple on Saturday has been canceled.
“Though the schools share a common open date Dec. 5, The American’s return-to-play protocols would not allow for a sufficient number of student-athletes to be available for competition on that date,” the statement said.
The Bearcats will return to play Dec. 12 at Tulsa, with the AAC Championship Game taking place the following week.
Contributing: Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY; Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman; Charlie Goldsmith, Cincinnati Enquirer; Brett Hudson, The Tuscaloosa News
