Cal-USC game postponed due to Golden Bears' COVID-19 issues
Saturday's game between California and Southern Cal will not be held because the Golden Bears have additional players who tested positive for COVID-19 and can not play.
It is the first game in the Football Bowl Subdivision this season to be postponed due to the coronavirus.
The game was set to be played at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California.
The schools announced the game is rescheduled for Dec. 4 since both teams have been eliminated from the Pac-12 title game, which will be held the day before.
"It was a difficult decision to postpone this Saturday's game against USC," Cal athletic director Jim Knowlton said. "We know how important every one of our games is to our student-athletes, especially our seniors who have been incredible representatives of the program, but it was the right thing to do. Due to additional impact on specific position groups, we have decided to postpone Saturday's game. We have had multiple COVID-19 positives within our program, and we are taking every step we can to mitigate the spread and protect the greater community."
The virus had decimated the Cal team over the past two weeks.
The team, who says that 99% of the roster is vaccinated, played without starting quarterback Chase Garbers, six other starters and three position coaches last Saturday against Arizona. Overall, the Golden Bears played with less than 50 scholarship players and lost 10-3, ending Arizona's 20-game losing streak.
The teams next play on Nov. 20, with Cal taking on rival Stanford and USC playing rival UCLA.