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ASU football game against Utah Sunday canceled

Posted at 5:11 PM, Nov 24, 2020
and last updated 2020-11-24 19:17:45-05

TEMPE, AZ — Arizona State University says this weekend’s game scheduled against Utah has been canceled because of coronavirus protocol.

Vice President for Athletics, Ray Anderson said Tuesday that the team did not have enough players available to meet the Pac-12’s requirement to play.

"We have had to invoke the Pac-12's football game cancellation policy for this week's game versus Utah due to not having the minimum number of scholarship players available on account of return-to-play protocols involving CDC-prescribed quarantines by virtue of contact tracing and cardiac testing evaluation results,” Anderson said. “The timing of the previously reported positive results coupled with the return-to-play guidelines have stretched over parts of three weeks, which makes it unsafe for several of our players to compete this Sunday.”

Coach Herm Edwards tested positive for the coronavirus in recent weeks but was expected to be on the sidelines for the game after self-quarantining.

"I sympathize for our student-athletes and everyone associated with Sun Devil Athletics, as well as Sun Devil Nation,” Anderson said. “This also has an impact on the University of Utah football program and we extend our appreciation for their understanding of the situation.”

ASU lost its first game of the season against USC, and has had tocancel their next three games because of coronavirus concerns.

ASU says it is hopeful the team will be able to play its next scheduled game against UCLA on December 5.