Vanderbilt-Georgia football game postponed due to Commodores' shortage of players
Vanderbilt's football game against No. 10 Georgia scheduled for Saturday has been postponed due to a shortage of available players on the Commodores' roster, the SEC office confirmed Friday.
The Vanderbilt at Georgia game will be rescheduled for Dec. 19. Should Georgia qualify for the SEC Championship Game on that date, the game against Vanderbilt would be declared a no-contest, and Georgia would represent the Eastern Division in the SEC title game.
Vanderbilt's lack of players stems from circumstances surrounding COVID-19, injuries and opt-outs, according to a university release.
The SEC recommends 53 scholarship players available to play a game. On Tuesday, interim coach Todd Fitch said Vanderbilt had at least 53, with two COVID-19 tests still ahead. But he also acknowledged that a few players had considered opting out after coach Derek Mason was fired.
Vanderbilt (0-8) has games remaining against Tennessee and Georgia and at least two dates to play the games on Dec. 12 and Dec. 19, according to the SEC's scheduling format.
The Commodores' number has hovered around the 53-player mark most of the season, due to COVID-19 infections, contact tracing, opt-outs, injuries and transfers. Its game against Missouri was initially postponed Oct. 12 because of COVID-19, and Vanderbilt's available roster dropped into the 40s during the ensuing off week, according to Mason.
Vanderbilt had at least 10 players opt out before this week, which led the SEC. Eight players have transferred since spring practice. Starting safety Donovan Kaufman was lost to a season-ending injury.
The postponement means that kicker Sarah Fuller, the first woman to play in a Power Five college football game, will wait at least another week before possibly getting a chance to score.
And even then, Ryley Guay may be the team's primary placekicker.