COVID-19 issues could jeopardize Liberty-Coastal Carolina game, with BYU an option to fill



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An episode of COVID-19 issues in Liberty’s football schedule endangered the Top 25 AP game between the Flames and Coastal Carolina on Saturday, sources told ESPN.

Liberty officials expect to know by Thursday whether the Flames will be able to play in the game after speaking to medical officials. If Liberty is unable to play, sources told ESPN that BYU and Coastal Carolina were set to agree to play instead on Saturday at Brooks Stadium in Conway, South Carolina.

ESPN’s College GameDay is scheduled to air Saturday on the Coastal Carolina campus.

BYU (9-0) has just one more game scheduled, against San Diego State on Dec.12, and hasn’t played since Nov.21. BYU, ranked No. 13 in the latest college football playoff standings, is looking for games during the layoff.

Coastal Carolina (9-0) is No.18 in the latest college football playoff standings and is having his best start in school history. The Chanticleers are only in their fourth full season as FBS members.

These are the first issues Liberty (9-1) has had with COVID-19 this season. Even if the Flames are able to play in the game, they will be without star quarterback Malik Willis, who sources at ESPN said tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday and then tested positive two more times this week. .

Liberty coach Hugh Freeze declined to discuss this week’s details and told ESPN: “I’m in the office working on the game plan for Coastal Carolina until I’m told otherwise . “

Liberty practiced all week without Willis, along with all but one of the defensive staff, due to COVID-19 issues. In addition to Willis, at least 10 other Liberty players have tested positive or have been quarantined under contact tracing protocols, sources say.

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