:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67768074/1188105315.jpg.0.jpg)
COVID-19 is sweeping through the SEC, which is leading to several games set for this week to be postponed.
On Tuesday, the SEC announced this week’s Alabama vs. LSU and Tennessee vs. Texas A&M matchups have been postponed due to a combination of positive tests, contact tracing and quarantining of individuals within the LSU and Texas A&M football programs.
This comes after Auburn vs. Mississippi State was also postponed Monday due to positive tests and quarantining within the Bulldogs football program, which means three SEC games set for this Saturday are now postponed.
“While it is unfortunate to have multiple postponements in the same week, we began the season with the understanding interruptions to the schedule were possible and we have remained focused throughout the season on the health of everyone around our programs,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said in a press release. “We must remain vigilant, within our programs and in our communities, to prevent the spread of the virus and to manage activities that contribute to these interruptions.”
The Auburn at Mississippi State and Texas A&M at Tennessee games have been tentatively rescheduled for December 12. Because LSU has a game scheduled for December 12, the opportunity to reschedule the Alabama vs. LSU game will need to be evaluated. The rescheduling of games on the remaining SEC football schedule may include December 19 as a playing date for teams not playing in the SEC Championship game.
Earlier today, it was reported that UK’s clash with Vanderbilt this Saturday is also in danger of being postponed. However, UK has since released a statement that the game is still set to be played this week.
“Kentucky looks forward to hosting Vanderbilt Saturday as currently scheduled,” the school said.
So, unless things get worse, it looks like Cats vs. Dores is still a go for this week. But if it does get postponed, the SEC is now willing to have games played the week of Dec. 19.
Of course, the teams that would play that week can’t be in the SEC Championship, which isn’t a problem for UK or Vanderbilt since both teams are out of the mix to win their division.