College football COVID-19 updates: ACC game canceled; Washington opts out of bowl consideration
The University of Washington football team, which had to pull out of Friday's Pac-12 championship game because of COVID-19 issues, has now opted out of bowl consideration as well, the school announced Friday.
"We have made a medical decision to not pursue a bowl bid this year," AD Jennifer Cohen said in a statement on the athletic department website. "I'm truly disappointed for our players, coaches and staff who dedicated themselves to this very challenging season. ... The last 10 days we have made every effort, including pausing all football-related activities and continued aggressive testing protocols, to be able to have our team ready to return to the field. However, with the number of positive cases, specifically at the offensive line position, we will not have a team ready for competition due to our comprehensive return to play medical protocols."
The Huskies were to meet Southern California for the title. Instead, Oregon is playing the Trojans. Bowl bids become official on Sunday.
FSU-Wake Forest game canceled
Florida State The Seminoles (3-6, 2-6 ACC) were set to travel to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for a noon kickoff on Saturday against Wake Forest, but the ACC announced on Friday afternoon the game has been canceled.
"Earlier today, Florida State informed the conference office of a positive test, subsequent quarantining, and contact tracing resulting in Florida State having an insufficient number of available offensive linemen as outlined in the ACC Medical Advisory Group’s COVID-19 game discontinuation considerations," the league said in a statement.
Florida State played just one game since Nov. 14, when it traveled to North Carolina State. The Seminoles defeated Duke 56-35 at home last weekend in a rescheduled game.
Antwan Staley, Tallahassee Democrat
Iowa coach tests positive
Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a university release.
Ferentz, 65, initially tested positive Thursday as part of the Big Ten Conference's daily testing in return-to-play protocols. A PCR test confirmed the positive diagnosis.
According to the university, he is asymptomatic and will remain home until Dec. 27. Ferentz was coughing frequently during a signing-day news conference with reporters Wednesday and again that night on his weekly radio show with host Gary Dolphin.
Iowa, which has a 6-2 record and is ranked No. 16 in the College Football Playoff rankings, is waiting to learn its bowl fate Sunday. The Hawkeyes plan to prepare for their bowl game without Ferentz.
Players, coaches and staff members are tested daily as part of the Big Ten return to play protocols.
“We have been fortunate this season to have played eight games and to have very few positive cases,“ Ferentz said in a statement. “When the team returns to practice on Tuesday, I will participate via zoom and our collective focus will be on preparing for the bowl game.”
According to the CDC, adults ages 65 to 74 are five times more likely to require hospitalization than 18- to 29-year-olds as a result of contracting coronavirus and 90 times more likely to die. Ferentz is known to be physically fit and work out five or more times per week.
Chad Leistikow, Des Moines Register