Georgia‘s scheduled game against Vanderbilt on Saturday has been postponed because of COVID-19 cases, contact tracing issues and injuries within the Commodores program, sources told ESPN on Friday.
The game was scheduled for a 4 p.m. ET kickoff on Saturday at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia.
The No. 8 Bulldogs don’t currently have another regular-season game scheduled, although they are expected to make up a previously postponed road game at Missouri.
Vanderbilt, which fired coach Derek Mason on Sunday, also doesn’t have another regular-season game scheduled. The Commodores might make up a previously postponed game against Tennessee. The Commodores (0-8) have never finished a season with a winless record.
Earlier this week, Vanderbilt interim coach Todd Fitch said his team had at least 53 players with two COVID-19 tests remaining this week. He also acknowledged that some players were considering opting out after Mason’s firing.
“There’s been a couple guys we’ve talked to,” Fitch said. “I don’t have any specifics right now on where we’re at with all that. But there’s discussions that have been going on the last 24 hours or so with some of the players. Later in the week, we’ll have a better idea of where we’re at with all the numbers and where we’re sitting at. It’s an emotional time, and when these things happen on a staff, there’s a reaction right away. So we’re trying to teach patience, communicate with our guys.”
The SEC is expected to announce rescheduled games on Friday.