Missouri’s game vs. Georgia, initially scheduled for Nov. 14, has been postponed due to “positive tests, contact tracing, and subsequent quarantine of individuals within the Missouri football program,” the Southeastern Conference announced on Wednesday.
Tuesday marked exactly one month since the Tigers last had players miss a game due to COVID-19, but the virus wreaked havoc throughout the SEC, and Missouri was no exception.
“The action is consistent with SEC COVID-19 management requirements,” the SEC said in a tweet.
Missouri suggested that fans with tickets to Georgia at Missouri should hold onto them, because the game could be rescheduled for Dec. 19 if neither team makes the SEC Championship.
The announcement came one day after a team spokesperson told reporters that Drinkwitz’s weekly press conference, normally scheduled for Tuesdays at noon, would be rescheduled to 5:15 p.m. due to “an unforeseen schedule conflict” after the Tigers discovered a positive test.
Drinkwitz declined to say which position group was affected by the virus. The first report that the Tigers had issues with the virus came from Gabe DeArmond of Power Mizzou.
Missouri is the fourth team to experience a positive COVID-19 case which resulted in the cancelation of a game this week, following LSU, Texas A&M and Mississippi State.
The Tigers only had 64 scholarship players available last week due to injuries and NCAA sanctions.
Missouri came into Georgia Week at 2-3, fresh off a scheduled bye week that followed a 41-17 loss to Florida. The Tigers hoped to end their six-game losing streak against the Bulldogs, but Tuesday’s announcement guarantees that it will continue for at least another month/year.
Drinkwitz’s crew hopes to continue their season on Nov. 21 at South Carolina, and Power Mizzou reported that the team is “optimistic” that the game can be played.
_Edited by Eli Hoff | ehoff@themaneater.com_