TCU-SMU rivalry game postponed due to COVID-19

TCU postponed its season opener against SMU due to positive COVID-19 tests but the programs hope to reschedule the Iron Skillet game later in the season. 

The risk with continuing the college football season is that COVID-19 outbreaks could occur and teams are trying to make sure that doesn’t happen. TCU is the latest program to put a halt on their season opener, which was slated to take place on Sept. 11 against SMU.

Jeremiah Donati, the Director of Athletics at TCU, released a statement announcing the news,

“No one is currently facing serious health issues, and we intend to continue our enforcement of strict standards to protect the program and our community. Everyone’s health and safety remains our top priority. We share in your disappointment, but firmly believe we will be ready to resume football activities soon. We will continue to follow prevention and testing protocols and look forward to our Big 12 Conference opener against Iowa State on September 26.”

In these circumstances, postponing the game was the only option for TCU.

The state of Texas has been hit incredibly hard by the coronavirus and Fort Worth obviously falls into that category. Chip Stewart notes in the tweet below that two of the biggest hot spots are TCU with one location being the campus and the other being the surrounding area.

Donati mentioned in his statement that the program is eyeing a start date of Sept. 26, which is three weeks out. That will hopefully give TCU some time to get their positive tests to decline so that their season can begin.

This is going to be the risk that schools run all season. The Big 12 made the decision to have fall sports despite four teams being located in Texas, which has been a huge hot spot for COVID-19. Not only will these four teams be playing games each week, but they’ll be traveling throughout the country for five games as well, furthering the spread.

Fortunately, no one at TCU has had any serious health issues and hopefully, that remains the case.