Saturday's contest between Florida and LSU has been postponed due to a growing number of positive tests for COVID-19 within the Gators program, the SEC announced Wednesday.
It's believed the Gators' outbreak may have started last weekend during Florida's trip to play Texas A&M. Some players experienced "allergy-like symptoms" but did not report them, Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin told ESPN's Adam Rittenberg.
The school confirmed five positive tests Tuesday. Eighteen players have tested positive, Stricklin said, according to ESPN. Players and staff members who tested positive are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms Another 10 players are reportedly facing quarantine due to contact tracing.
Two members of the coaching staff have tested positive, head coach Dan Mullen announced, according to Rittenberg.
Florida's contest against LSU is tentatively set to be played on Dec. 12, the SEC added in its announcement. It's the second SEC matchup to be rescheduled this week following the postponement of Missouri's game against Vanderbilt. Thirteen FBS games have been postponed this season due to the ongoing pandemic.
Mullen added that his program has administered coronavirus testing for four straight days following a spike Sunday, The Advocate's Wilson Alexander reports.
According to SEC guidelines, teams must meet a minimum threshold of 53 scholarship players to be eligible for a game this season.
Florida is scheduled to play Missouri on Oct. 24. LSU is set to host South Carolina in two weeks.