Lincoln Riley says Oklahoma not releasing COVID-19 results moving forward due to 'competitive advantage'

Don’t expect to see any more COVID-19 testing updates out of Oklahoma’s football program. With the Sooners season beginning next Saturday against Missouri State, there will not be any further public updates.

Head coach Lincoln Riley reportedly said that Oklahoma will no longer provide a public update on the COVID-19 testing situation within the program. He cited a “competitive advantage” for the decision.

Jason Kersey of The Athletic reported on Riley’s comment on Tuesday.

Lincoln Riley says OU won't be releasing football COVID testing data moving forward because of "competitive advantage." OU has decided to start treating these things like injuries when it comes to public disclosure.

— Jason Kersey (@jasonkersey) September 8, 2020

Schools across the country have regularly updated their COVID-19 testing results among players, coaches and staff within the athletic department. Names have been withheld and typically the totals include individuals from all sports, and it’s rarely been broken down by athletic program.

There has been no regulation or rules on teams reporting on COVID-19 cases or positive results around college football. How teams handle these circumstances will likely vary campus to campus.