Utah’s Season Opener Against Arizona Cancelled Due to COVID-19
Nov 6, 2020, 12:38 PM | Updated: 12:57 pm
Rice-Eccles Stadium is Salt Lake City is photographed on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. (Courtesy of Deseret News)
(Courtesy of Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah football’s season opener against the Arizona Wildcats has been canceled due to COVID-19.
According to a statement from the conference, Utah requested to cancel the game because they did not have the minimum number of scholarship players available as a result of a number of positive COVID-19 tests.
The positive tests among football student-athletes resulted in even more student-athletes being put into isolation based on contact tracing protocols, according to the Pac-12
BREAKING: Utah's game vs. Arizona for tomorrow is now canceled. More coming shortly on https://t.co/4kU961CZ7h https://t.co/VRQXhY2kN8
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 6, 2020
“The health and safety of our student-athletes and all associated with our program is our highest priority and we will continue to follow all applicable Pac-12 and local health policies and guidelines,” read a statement from the University of Utah Athletics Department.
Under Conference policy, the game will be declared a no contest.
This is the second Pac-12 game to be canceled. The first was Washington versus California.
“The cancellation of this game, following yesterday’s cancellation of Washington at Cal football game, is of course incredibly disappointing to our student-athletes and our fans. At the same time it is an indication that our health and safety protocols are working in identifying positive cases and contact tracing cases. While all of us want to see our football student-athletes on the field competing, our number one priority must continue to be the health and safety of all those connected to Pac-12 football programs,” read a statement from the Pac-12.
Statement regarding Saturday's Arizona at Utah #Pac12FB game: pic.twitter.com/W9fLZia1H1
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) November 6, 2020
The game was slated to be played at Rice Eccles Stadium on Saturday, November 7 at 1:30 p.m. with no fans in attendance.
The 2020 Pac-12 schedule consists of sevens games in seven weeks, so there will be no chance for either the Utes or the Wildcats to make up the game.
