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It’s official, Saturday’s scheduled game between Michigan and Ohio State will not happen.
In an announcement Tuesday, the University of Michigan Athletic Department announced the game is canceled due to an increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the football program and athletes placed in quarantine.
“The number of positive tests has continued to trend in an upward direction over the last seven days,” said University of Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel. “We have not been cleared to participate in practice at this time. Unfortunately, we will not be able to field a team due to COVID-19 positives and the associated quarantining required of close contact individuals.”
Manuel said the decision to cancel the annual game against Ohio State is disappointing for the Wolverines, but they are taking health and safety as the top priority.
As would be expeted, the media reaction was rapid.
It's official: The Ohio State vs. Michigan game has been canceled due to COVID-19 cases at Michigan.
➡️ https://t.co/ADwrYCT0Fs pic.twitter.com/4e6oWC9asX
— Yahoo Sports College Football (@YahooSportsCFB) December 8, 2020
Big Ten conspiracy twitter assembles. https://t.co/1ouszTeM4C pic.twitter.com/y3p9bKX9RX
— Ben Jones (@Ben_Jones88) December 8, 2020
OK guys. Let's think about this for a second.
The current CFP No. 4 (Ohio State) and No. 5 (Texas A&M) teams are both available THIS WEEKEND!
Make. It. Happen.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 8, 2020
This qualifies as a….BOOM! https://t.co/kvVjQulnbD
— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961) December 8, 2020
If Big Ten is shopping for a new opponent for Ohio State, the likely one would be Nebraska Part II of Minnesota cannot play the Cornhuskers. But Minn intends to play and has practiced twice this week. So …
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) December 8, 2020
This is official now: #OhioState–#Michigan has been canceled due to an "increasing number of positive COVID-19 cases and student-athletes in quarantine over the past week" inside the Wolverines program. https://t.co/7PJePujfme
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 8, 2020
https://twitter.com/audsnyder4/status/1336376549608738817
Sad, sad day. Michigan-Ohio State is officially canceled.
Forget the CFP/Big Ten title stuff, it's one of the sport's most iconic rivalries not going to get played.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 8, 2020
SOURCE tells me Michigan's COVID numbers are too high right now to play this game according to their medical experts. https://t.co/7PJePujfme
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 8, 2020
Michigan-Ohio State is canceled. Now we wait for the Big Ten's next move, if there is one. #iufb https://t.co/fHdBmMK5JH
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) December 8, 2020
Whats next? Who knows, but Buckeyes, Big Ten need an answer ASAP. https://t.co/Fw6GuRt6Ad
— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) December 8, 2020
Scott Schultz covers Michigan State Football, along with Breaking News for B1G Football & Basketball for Saturday Tradition. He also serves as an Automotive News Editor & Writer, and Softball Writer elsewhere on the web. Follow him on Twitter @SRSchultz.