Epidemics
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

FILE - In this Aug. 31, 2019, file photo, Houston Baptist running back Ean Beek (2) takes a hand-off from quarterback Bailey Zappe (4) during the first half of an NCAA football game against UTEP in El Paso, Texas. Houston Baptist still had three games scheduled for its eighth football season when its FCS Southland Conference decided only a few weeks ago to not play league games this fall. Even with expanded protocols and more costly virus testing, the Huskies are moving forward with their remaining games. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton, File)
Texas schools carry apprehension into kickoff amid pandemic

By Stephen Hawkins Sep. 05, 2020 04:14 PM EDT

TCU-SMU game postponed by COVID outbreak among Horned Frogs

Sep. 04, 2020 06:47 PM EDT
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — TCU and SMU postponed their Sept. 11 game as TCU announced Friday a cluster of Horned Frogs players and team support staff tested...

FILE - In this June 4, 2019, file photo, Minnesota Vikings chief operating officer Kevin Warren talks to reporters after being named Big Ten Conference Commissioner during a news conference in Rosemont, Ill. After the Power Five conference commissioners met Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, to discuss mounting concern about whether a college football season can be played in a pandemic, players took to social media to urge leaders to let them play.(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
Big Ten's Warren, under fire, elaborates on virus concerns

By Eric Olson Aug. 19, 2020 07:10 PM EDT

University of Nebraska athletes train in Lincoln, Neb., Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020. The Big Ten won't play sports this fall because of concerns about COVID-19, becoming the first of college sports' power conferences to yield to the pandemic. The move announced Tuesday. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
NCAA cancels fall championships as major football marches on

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 13, 2020 02:26 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 16, 2019, file photo, Indiana coach Tom Allen watches the second quarter of the team's NCAA college football game against Penn State in State College, Pa. The Big Ten and Pac-12 became the first Power Five conferences to cancel their fall football seasons because of concerns about COVID-19. The Big Ten said it hopes to compete in the spring, and the Pac-12 pushed even basketball back to Jan. 1. “My heart breaks for our players. I couldn’t be prouder of the commitment and focus they have demonstrated from the start of this pandemic," Allen said of the Big Ten's decision Tuesday, Aug. 11. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger, File)
Coaches' emotions on edge as pandemic questions linger

By Hank Kurz Jr. Aug. 11, 2020 06:33 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 7, 2019, file photo, Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields (1) runs with the ball against Wisconsin during the first half of the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game, in Indianapolis. The Big Ten won't play football this fall because of concerns about COVID-19, becoming the first of college sports' power conferences to yield to the pandemic. The move announced Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020, comes six day after the conference that includes historic programs such as Ohio State, Michigan, Nebraska and Penn State had released a revised conference-only schedule that it hoped would help it navigate a fall season with potential COVID-19 disruptions. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Big Ten, Pac-12 pull plug on fall football amid pandemic

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 11, 2020 03:20 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 7, 2019, file photo, members of the Miami of Ohio team pose on the field after the Mid-American Conference championship NCAA college football game against Central Michigan, in Detroit. The Mid-American Conference on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020, became the first league competing at college football’s highest level to cancel its fall season because of COVID-19 concerns. A person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press the university president’s voted to not play in the fall and consider a spring season. The person spoke to AP on condition of anonymity because an official announcement was still being prepared.(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
After MAC surrenders to pandemic, will other leagues follow?

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 08, 2020 11:38 AM EDT