Utah-Arizona game cancelled

The Pac-12 released a statement on Friday, announcing the cancellation of the upcoming Utah Utes vs Arizona Wildcats game, originally scheduled for November 7 at 1:00 pm local time.

According to the conference’s statement, the request to cancel the game came from Utah and came on the backs of an influx of positive Covid-19 test results.

“The Pac-12 has approved a request from Utah to cancel the Arizona at Utah football game scheduled for November 7,” the statement started.

The Pac-12 went on to touch on their cancellation guidelines that they updated before the season began.

“This decision was made under the Pac-12’s football game cancellation policy due to Utah not having the minimum number of scholarship players available for the game as a result of a number of positive football student-athlete COVID-19 cases and resulting isolation of additional football student-athletes under contact tracing protocols. Under Conference policy, the game will be declared a no contest.”

“The cancellation of this game, following yesterday’s cancellation of the Washington at Cal football game, is of course incredibly disappointing to our student-athletes and our fans. At the same time it is an indication that our health and safety protocols are working in identifying positive cases and contact tracing cases. While all of us want to see our football student-athletes on the field competing, our number one priority must continue to be the health and safety of all those connected to Pac-12 football programs.”

Utah also released a statement following the cancellation:

“Over the last 24 hours, the University of Utah Department of Athletics has been informed of a number of positive COVID-19 cases among student-athletes within the football program, which necessitates that Utah’s game versus the University of Arizona scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7 be canceled. The decision was made following the Pac-12’s football game cancellation policy as Utah does not have the minimum number of scholarship student-athletes available for the game due to the positive cases and resulting isolation of additional football student-athletes under contact tracing protocols. The health and safety of our student-athletes and all associated with our program is our highest priority and we will continue to follow all applicable Pac-12 and local health policies and guidelines.”

That’s now four of the conference’s 12 teams who will be watching on Week 1 when the conference returns. And just one more week until we got to see what the Utes were going to do to replace a ton of talent on defense, a record-breaking running back and longtime quarterback. And also another week before we get to see the promising Grant Gunnell take over for Khalil Tate officially at Arizona.