The latest surge in COVID-19 cases, driven by the omicron variant, has upended postseason plans for a number of college football programs in Texas.
Texas A&M University from playing in the Gator Bowl on New Year鈥檚 Eve, citing COVID-19 issues and season-ending injuries.
鈥淭he Aggie football roster is not in a position to safely participate in the upcoming Dec. 31 Taxslayer Gator Bowl against Wake Forest,鈥� the school鈥檚 athletics department said in a statement Wednesday. Rutgers University is slated to replace Texas A&M for the bowl game in Jacksonville, Florida.
Also last week, the lost their chance to play in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl on Dec. 29 after their scheduled opponent, University of Virginia, dropped out due to an outbreak of the virus among team members. Organizers on Sunday the at the Red Sox鈥檚 historic ballpark in Boston would not be rescheduled this year.
Wasabi Fenway Bowl Update:
— Wasabi Fenway Bowl (@FenwayBowl)
In West Texas, COVID-19 cases among athletes have disrupted plans for the upcoming in El Paso. The Miami Hurricanes withdrew from the game on Sunday, saying they wouldn鈥檛 be able to field a team against Washington State. Game organizers on Monday Central Michigan University will replace Miami.
Across the U.S, at least five college bowl games had been impacted by a rise in COVID-19 cases as of Monday, but others are moving forward as planned. In Texas, that includes the , which kicks off Tuesday night at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas with the Louisville Cardinals up against the Air Force Falcons. Oklahoma and Oregon are still set to face off Wednesday in the in San Antonio.
COVID-19 cases have also impacted professional sports in Texas as well. When it comes to the NFL, 10 of the Houston Texans鈥� starters were out due to the coronavirus during Sunday鈥檚 stunning win over the Los Angeles Chargers. The NHL on Monday two additional Dallas Stars games against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday and Friday, due to coronavirus cases among players. All three NBA teams in Texas 鈥� the Dallas Mavericks, the San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets 鈥� have faced an increase in COVID-19 cases, much like the rest of the league.
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