Alabama Crimson Tide-LSU Tigers, Texas A & M-Tennessee Volunteers postponed games

The SEC canceled Saturday’s Alabama-LSU and Texas A & M-Tennessee games on Tuesday due to COVID-19 testing draining the Tigers and Aggies’ available rosters.

This follows Monday’s decision to postpone the Auburn-Mississippi State game after the Bulldogs had similar issues with positive test results and subsequent contact tracing.

All three games were considered postponements. Texas A&M-Tennessee and Auburn-Mississippi State are tentatively postponed for the December 12 opening date; LSU already has a rescheduled game for that date against the Florida Gators.

The SEC said in a statement that “the advisability of rescheduling Alabama’s game at LSU will need to be evaluated” and that “the rescheduling of games on the remaining SEC football schedule may include Dec. 19 as the date of. Game”.

The 14 SEC athletic directors agreed on Tuesday that the conference should use Dec. 19 as the makeup date for all teams whose games have been postponed and are not playing in the SEC title game that day, Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek told ESPN. SEC presidents and chancellors have yet to approve the unanimous recommendation.

LSU had fallen below the 53 stock player threshold due to positive COVID-19 tests, contact tracing and injuries unrelated to the virus, according to a statement from LSU athletic director Scott Woodward.

“We are disappointed that there will be no football at Tiger Stadium this weekend,” said Woodward, “but we will always put the health and well-being of our student-athletes first. We will continue. to follow league protocols in order to return safely and responsibly. to play. “

LSU coach Ed Orgeron said Monday that several players, including starters, would not be available. Some have tested positive, while the majority are screened out as a result of contact tracing.

Testing has left the quarterback’s slender program, and the number of players quarantined includes starters in attack, defense and special teams, a source told ESPN. According to the SEC protocol, anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 must be quarantined for at least 10 days. Anyone considered to be a high-risk contact should be quarantined for 14 days.

In addition to concerns about COVID-19, Orgeron said starting quarterback Myles Brennan will not be available to play as he continues to face a lower body injury.

LSU, who won the national championship and went undefeated last season, has had a rough start this season, losing their last game to Auburn on Oct. 31 to drop to 2-3.