Pandemics
FILE - Richmond quarterback Reece Udinski looks for a receiver during the team's NCAA college football game against Stony Brook, Sept. 24, 2022, in Richmond, Va. Danny Rocco knows the job he's taken as the football coach at Virginia Military Institute will be harder than any of his three previous head coaching positions. Reece Udinski, who set the school record for passing yards as a Keydet, four years marked the end of his eligibility and he transferred to Maryland, where he was a seldom-used backup.(Shaban Athuman/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP, File)
Rocco facing unique challenge as he takes VMI reins

By Hank Kurz Jr. Dec. 14, 2022 01:38 PM EST

Rose Queen Nadia Chung waves to the crowd at the 133rd Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
New Year's Rose Parade marches on despite COVID-19 surge

Jan. 01, 2022 12:13 AM EST

Alabama head coach Nick Saban leaves the field after the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game between Georgia and Alabama, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Atlanta. Alabama won 41-24. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
'Stay focused': CFP games arrive with pandemic raging, again

By Tim Reynolds Dec. 27, 2021 03:27 PM EST

A Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan holds a sign during the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
Crowded stadiums, pandemic create combustible mix this fall

By Tom Murphy Sep. 11, 2021 07:55 AM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 31, 2020, file photo, Clemson fans arrive early before an NCAA college football game against Boston College in Clemson, S.C. Clemson, which has played in four of the past six national title games, estimated a university-wide loss of between $70 million and $135 million due to COVID-19 in the last fiscal year. About a third came from lost athletics revenue, and the vast majority of that came from reduced football ticket sales to ensure proper social distancing. ( Josh Morgan/Pool Photo via AP, File)
EXPLAINER: Why pandemic rules differ across college football

By Dave Skretta Aug. 25, 2021 03:31 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 6, 2019, file photo, Rice University football players run onto the field for an NCAA football game in Houston. The Wild West nature of the upcoming college football season can be illustrated in part by 160 miles of Texas highway that connects the trendy college city of Austin with the bustling metropolis of Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson, File)
College football kicking off in pandemic all over again

By Dave Skretta Aug. 25, 2021 03:00 PM EDT

FILE - Boston College offensive lineman Zion Johnson (77) plays against Georgia Tech during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Boston, in this Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, file photo. Johnson was selected to The Associated Press Preseason All-America first team offense, Monday Aug. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
In Year 2 of pandemic, Boston College won't let guard down

By Jimmy Golen Aug. 23, 2021 07:19 PM EDT

FILE - Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) rushes the passer during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Cleveland, in this Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, file photo. Browns defensive star Myles Garrett was activated from the COVID-19 list after missing two games, clearing the end and sack specialist to return this week against Tennessee. (AP Photo/David Richard, File)
The Latest: Boise State-UNLV football game canceled

By The Associated Press Dec. 02, 2020 11:30 AM EST

FILE - This Feb.16, 2020, file photo shows South Florida's Shae Leverett, left, and Connecticut's Olivia Nelson-Ododa during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Tampa, Fla. UConn, one of the original members of the Big East Conference, is hoping a return to the league will help put the Huskies back among the elite programs in college basketball. The Huskies spent seven years in the American Athletic Conference, on a mostly downward trajectory since winning a fourth national title in 2014. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson, File)
The Latest: Iowa St women's hoops coach in quarantine

By The Associated Press Nov. 23, 2020 01:46 PM EST

Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason watches from the sideline in the first half of an NCAA college football game against LSU Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. Southeastern Conference officials continue adapting to navigate setbacks in their pursuit of a league title and possible national championship. “We hope to get through the end of the season," Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason said of the SEC. "But I’m not a soothsayer, and I don’t have a crystal ball. I’m just trying to go day to day, week to week.”(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
SEC adapting to help league crown champion during pandemic

By Teresa M. Walker Nov. 18, 2020 12:53 PM EST

Louisville fans sit socially distant during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, in Charlottesville, Va. (Erin Edgerton/The Daily Progress via AP)
The Latest: No. 15 Marshall postpones game vs Charlotte

By The Associated Press Nov. 16, 2020 11:18 AM EST

Fans attending the NCAA college football game between Northern Illinois and Buffalo on Wednesday night, Nov. 4, 2020, in DeKalb, Ill., follow guidelines about mask-wearing and social distancing. (Mark Busch/Daily Chronicle via AP)
The Latest: Thai golfing sisters contract COVID-19

By The Associated Press Nov. 13, 2020 09:27 AM EST

Georgia defensive back Eric Stokes (27) returns an interception for a touchdown during the second quarter of a NCAA college football, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Virus postponements hit SEC, Big Ten; 8 games across FBS

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 11, 2020 11:20 AM EST

Fans wearing protective face masks watch the Formula One Portuguese Grand Prix at the Algarve International Circuit in Portimao, Portugal, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. (Jose Sena Goulao, Pool via AP)
The Latest: Lions put Jalen Elliott on reserve/COVID-19 list

By The Associated Press Nov. 05, 2020 10:37 AM EST

Illinois quarterback Brandon Peters runs during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin Friday, Oct. 23, 2020, in Madison, Wis. Wisconsin won 45-7. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Column: Lawrence just wanted to play, now he must watch

By Paul Newberry Oct. 31, 2020 12:24 PM EDT

FILE - In this Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, file photo, Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops points at an official during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi in Lexington, Ky. Sloppy play has been common over the first few weeks of the season, and much of it has been attributed to there having been little or no spring practice and disrupted summer workouts and preseason practices. As a result, game officials' preparation also was impacted. They typically hone their craft at game speed by working live scrimmages in the spring and preseason. There weren't nearly as many opportunities this year. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston, file)
Pandemic makes tough job even tougher for football officials

By Eric Olson Oct. 08, 2020 02:26 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 9, 2019, file photo, Minnesota football players hold up the Governor's Victory Bell after winning 31-26 against Penn State during an NCAA college football game in Minneapolis. Big Ten is going to give fall football a shot after all. Less than five weeks after pushing football and other fall sports to spring in the name of player safety during the pandemic, the conference changed course Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020, and said it plans to begin its season the weekend of Oct. 23-24. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs, File)
Column: College football whiffs in tackling the coronavirus

By Paul Newberry Sep. 16, 2020 06:57 PM EDT

Cuban boxer Yunier Menen, right, and his trainer Carlos Agrazal train at the Amador causeway amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Panama City, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. Panama lifted a months-old coronavirus measure on Monday that restricted women to going out one day, and men the next. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco)
The Latest: Florida athletics seeing a rise in COVID cases

By The Associated Press Sep. 15, 2020 04:58 PM EDT

COVID-19 knocks out Virginia-Virginia Tech football opener

By Hank Kurz Jr. Sep. 12, 2020 11:21 AM EDT
The pandemic disrupted college sports again Saturday, with Virginia and Virginia Tech postponing their Sept. 19 football opener because of COVID-19 issues at...

Real Salt Lake fans wearing masks wait for the team's MLS soccer match against Los Angeles FC on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020, in Sandy, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
The Latest: 2 South Carolina football players test positive

By The Associated Press Sep. 10, 2020 05:50 PM EDT