USC football vs. Colorado game officially canceled over COVID-19

USC football’s game against Colorado was canceled as the Trojans fell below the threshold for playing

USC football will not be playing on Saturday, and the rest of 2020 season is now in serious doubt.

On Thanksgiving night, the Pac-12 officially announced the cancelation of USC’s game against Colorado.

The Trojans had a player test positive for COVID-19 on Monday. By Wednesday, two players were confirmed positive and five players were put in quarantine. Then on Thursday, disaster struck as a third player was believed to be infected.

USC football had too many players out at one position to play Colorado

The Pac-12 announced the cancelation while multiple people, including Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News and Kyle Bonagura of ESPN reported that the offensive line was the root of the problem. The Trojans were under the minimum number of players available at that one position.

On Thursday, Clay Helton confirmed that starters were involved in the confirmed cases.

USC was supposed to take on Colorado at the Coliseum on Saturday with the Pac-12 South title on the line. The Buffaloes are 2-0 but two of their most recent games have been canceled because of COVID-19. The Trojans made it through three games with three wins, but their first positive of the season has gotten in the way of any more victories.

The trouble for USC is what this might mean for additional games down the line. The guidelines for dealing with COVID-19 cases and contact tracing quarantines involve 14 days of isolation. The Trojans are supposed to play Washington State next Friday night in eight days. That game could be in serious jeopardy as well.

USC has had an undefeated record against Colorado in every game they have played. The Buffaloes have not managed to overcome the Trojans since they joined the Pac-12 conference. That record will remain intact, which is likely the only silver lining to this situation.