Last second decision: College football game cancels game 20 minutes after previously-scheduled kickoff time

COVID-19 has claimed another college football game, this one of the last-minute variety.

Saturday afternoon’s Rice vs. University of Texas El Paso has been cancelled due to the coronavirus. The game was originally postponed but now has been cancelled according to Stadium’s Brett McMurphy.

Today’s UTEP at Rice game has been canceled, sources told @Stadium

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) November 28, 2020

The cause for the cancellation is due to positive testing for the virus within the UTEP team.

The game was originally scheduled for noon but was delayed an hour for a second round of testing. When those results came back positive as well as evidence of contact tracing on the UTEP roster, the game was cancelled.

BREAKING: Today’s game between Rice and UTEP has been canceled due to positive tests and contact tracing within the UTEP program. pic.twitter.com/p83dkXx4lP

— Rice Football (@RiceFootball) November 28, 2020

Rice won the meeting between these two teams last year, 30-19.

The UTEP immediately went back to El Paso following the announcement, per the reporting of Colin Deaver.

Official from UTEP: Today’s game against Rice has been canceled due to positive tests and contact tracing at UTEP.

Team is getting ready to head back to El Paso now.

— Colin Deaver (@ColinDeaverTV) November 28, 2020