South Carolina will not play in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl on Saturday against UAB because of COVID-19 issues, the school announced Tuesday.
There has yet to be a decision on the status of the game.
“Between members of the coaching staff and student-athletes, COVID and contact tracing has taken a toll too high for us to overcome,” South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner said in a statement. “I have notified the bowl and the SEC office that we are not able to play in the game on Saturday.”
Sources told ESPN’s Mark Schlabach that the Gamecocks’ entire offensive staff with the exception of one coach — interim coach Mike Bobo — would have been unable to coach in the game because of positive coronavirus cases and contact tracing. Offensive analysts and graduate assistants were also unavailable.
South Carolina (2-8) was able to get through the regular season without any disruptions in the schedule. Bobo was scheduled to coach the Gamecocks in the game in place of Will Muschamp, who parted with the program in November.
Shane Beamer was hired as South Carolina’s new head coach earlier this month.
South Carolina joins Tennessee as the second SEC team unable to play in a bowl game because of COVID-19 issues.