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The annual showdown between LSU and Alabama could now be at risk following a COVID-19 outbreak in LSU’s football program.
On Monday, LSU head coach Ed Orgeron revealed that a number of LSU players have tested positive for COVID-19 or are in quarantine following contact tracing.
“We’re dealing with COVID and contact tracing. I can’t go into specifics. It’s a very fluid situation,” Orgeron said. “We have players who have COVID and some are in quarantine.”
Orgeron has confirmed that the team’s starters are part of the outbreak, but has not confirmed which players.
“Oh sure,” said Orgeron. “With people in quarantine and with COVID, there will always be starters.”
Orgeron would not comment on where LSU’s total scholarship count stood and whether they would push for the game to be canceled or postponed.
“I’m going to let the medics and (LSU athletic director Scott Woodward) handle these things,” Orgeron said. “These numbers are very fluid at the moment.”
The outbreak began a week ago, with numbers now referring to Alabama week.
“It started last week,” Orgeron said. “Probably Tuesday or Wednesday, I was told about some guys who had COVID. And the numbers are high because of the quarantine. That’s when you get into the low number (of scholarships). “
This is the second LSU game that could be disrupted this season as a result of COVID-19 testing, with the Florida game postponed to December 12 due to an outbreak in the Gators’ schedule.
Ahead of the 2020 season, the Southeastern Conference issued a guideline for the teams and the required number of fellows needed for a conference match to take place.
SEC teams must have at least 53 fellows available to participate in a game, including a quarterback, seven offensive linemen and four defensive linemen. That said, if a team cannot meet the minimum requirements or is below the 53-man purse threshold, the program could choose to play the game anyway. Otherwise, the game would be rescheduled or declared uncontested.
LSU and Alabama both arrive from a week off, and LSU’s built-in break week on December 12 has already been filled by the Gators following the game postponed to October.
Orgeron also revealed that starting quarterback Myles Brennan was ruled out of the game in Alabama as he battled a lingering lower-body injury. Orgeron has not confirmed whether TJ Finley and Max Johnson’s two true first-year quarterbacks are available or are among the quarantined players on the squad.
Alabama entered the week as the nation’s No.1 team, and William Hill Sportsbook posted the line for Saturday’s contest with the Tide favored by 23 points. Monday morning, the line progressed to 24 points, via SportsLine.
The Crimson Tide (6-0, 6-0 SEC) climbed to first place in the Top 25 in the AP and Coaching polls after Notre Dame knocked out top-ranked Clemson in double overtime on Saturday. Notre Dame climbed to No.2 in both polls with Ohio State at No.3, while Clemson fell to No.4.
LSU (2-3, 2-3 SEC) has been in survival mode all season, after the program’s worst loss since 1996 with a 48-11 loss to Auburn on Halloween. Ed Orgeron’s schedule has been stung by key injuries every week, including quarterback Myles Brennan, and with several players serving suspensions, the Tigers have failed to find a sense of consistency.
A year ago, LSU ended Alabama’s eight-game winning streak in the series with a 46-41 victory at Tuscaloosa. The win reduced Crimson Tide’s lead in the series to 53-26-5 and gave the Tigers the program’s first win between the two since 2011.
Stay tuned to Geaux247 and 247Sports for more on this developing story.
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