West Virginia has paused all football activities — forcing the cancellation of Saturday’s game against No. 11 Oklahoma — for the next seven days due to a surge in positive tests for COVID-19 and contact tracing, the school announced Thursday.
“Our intent is to get this spread under control as soon as possible for the health and safety of all involved,” West Virginia athletic director Shane Lyons said in a statement. “We are beyond disappointed not to play our final home game of the season and honor our seniors, but we need to act now and reevaluate our situation after Dec. 17.”
The Mountaineers (5-4, 4-4 Big 12) were scheduled to host the Sooners (7-2, 6-2) on Saturday. Oklahoma is slated to play Iowa State on Dec. 19 in the Big 12 championship game in Arlington, Texas.
Also Thursday, the Mid-American Conference announced the cancellation of Saturday’s game between Miami (Ohio) and Bowling Green due to COVID-19 issues and contact tracing within the Miami program. The game has been declared a no contest, per the MAC.
Also postponed or canceled from Saturday’s schedule: Michigan at No. 4 Ohio State, Purdue at No. 12 Indiana, No. 8 Cincinnati at No. 24 Tulsa, and Ole Miss at No. 5 Texas A&M.