The Sun Belt Conference Championship Game between Louisiana and Coastal Carolina scheduled for this weekend has been canceled due to a positive COVID-19 test within the Coastal Carolina program.
Because of contact tracing, an entire position group would not be available to play due to possible exposure, and therefore the game cannot be played, officials say.
"We are very disappointed that the championship game cannot be played, but we are so proud of all of the players and staff members and their hard work during this truly challenging season," said Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill. "We will honor both teams as 2020 Sun Belt Conference Co-Champions."
Louisiana football released a statement after the news broke, saying the program is "severely disappointed for our student-athletes and staff to not have the opportunity to play in what would have been a truly exciting championship game for the Sun Belt Conference."
Ragin' Cajuns head coach Billy Napier posted a tweet on Thursday asking if the game would be rescheduled.
Surely we are going to reschedule this game, right...?
— COACH BILLY NAPIER (@coach_bnapier) December 18, 2020
Director of Athletics Bryan Maggard said the team looks forward to learning of its bowl destination this weekend.
Update on the @SunBelt Football Championship, which has been canceled due to COVID-19 issues within Coastal Carolina's football program >> pic.twitter.com/DEUvKHhF1c
— Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns® (@RaginCajuns) December 18, 2020
Several other games scheduled for this weekend have also been canceled due to COVID-19. Read more here.
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