COLLEGE STATION, Texas (Talk1370.com) -- Saturday's football game between Texas A&M and Tennessee has been postponed, following coronavirus protocols established by the Southeastern Conference.
Officials made the announcement Tuesday afternoon. In addition to A&M-Tennessee, this weekend's Alabama-LSU matchup is also being postponed.
The postponements follow a combination of positive tests, contact tracing and subsequent quarantining of individuals within the LSU and Texas A&M football programs, consistent with Southeastern Conference COVID-19 management requirements.
"While it is unfortunate to have multiple postponements in the same week, we began the season with the understanding interruptions to the schedule were possible and we have remained focused throughout the season on the health of everyone around our programs," SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement. "We must remain vigilant, within our programs and in our communities, to prevent the spread of the virus and to manage activities that contribute to these interruptions."
"First, and foremost, is the health and safety of our players in our football program," A&M Head Coach Jimbo Fisher said in a statement. "I would never jeopardize their well-being and we will continue to follow all protocols. Our football team roster has fallen below the SEC threshold in order to compete this week due to two players testing positive for COVID, the contact tracing associated with the road trip, to go along with the players who have opted out and who are injured. We look forward to getting back out there because our team has been practicing and playing well."
Monday, conference officials announced that this weekend's Auburn-Mississippi State game was also postponed, due to positive tests and subsequent quarantining of individuals within the Mississippi State football program.
The Auburn at Mississippi State and Texas A&M at Tennessee games have been tentatively rescheduled for December 12. Because LSU has a game tentatively scheduled for December 12, the opportunity to reschedule the Alabama at LSU game will need to be evaluated. The rescheduling of games on the remaining SEC football schedule may include December 19 as a playing date.
