USC's football game against Colorado canceled due to Trojans' COVID-19 cases
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 07: A general view during the second half of a game between the Arizona State Sun Devils and the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Coliseum on November 07, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Im
LOS ANGELES - USC's football game against Colorado has been canceled due to coronavirus concerns.
The Pac-12 Conference announced on Thursday night that the game -- which was originally scheduled for Saturday, November 28 -- is being called off after the conference determined the Trojans won't be able to field enough scholarship players for the game.
The Pac-12 Conference has established minimum thresholds to play. A team must have at least 53 scholarship players available, including at least seven offensive linemen, one quarterback and four defensive linemen.
USC announced on Tuesday one player had tested positive. The university announced on Wednesday a second player tested positive for COVID-19 and five others were quarantined after being identified through the contact tracing process.
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After being cleared to resume practice Wednesday, USC announced Thursday it would conduct its activities virtually as a precautionary measure because a player was being tested due to symptoms of possible COVID-19 infection. The test was later determined to be positive.
On Thursday night, the Pac-12 announced the cancellation of the game planned for the Coliseum "due to USC not having the minimum number of scholarship players available for the game at a specific position group as a result of a number of positive football student-athlete COVID-19 cases and resulting isolation of additional football student-athletes under contact tracing protocols."
The game will be declared a "no contest," Pac-12 said in a statement.
USC enters this weekend with a 3-0 overall record while Colorado had only played two games so far this season -- both resulting in Buffaloes wins.
"We are disappointed for our players and fans and those from Colorado that Saturday's game will not be played, but the health and safety of everyone in both programs is of the utmost priority," USC coach Clay Helton said in a statement Thursday night.
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"Our players have worked hard since the summer not only to prepare for this season, but to do so in a safe manner by following all health protocols. I applaud their discipline and sacrifice in doing so. We will continue to test and monitor our players, coaches and staff and take guidance from health officials as we prepare for our remaining games."
Helton told reporters Thursday morning "there are starters involved" among the first two players who tested positive and five quarantined, none of whom have been publicly identified because of privacy laws.
According to USC's season schedule, the Trojans will host the Washington State Cougars on Friday, December 4 at the LA Memorial Coliseum.
Players who test positive for the virus are placed in a 10-day quarantine and those placed in protocol through contact tracing are sidelined for 14 days, threatening the Washington State at USC game.
CNS contributed to this report.