Pac-12 Cancels Huskies-Ducks Game, Citing Coronavirus Infections

SEATTLE — The rivalry matchup between the University of Washington and the University of Oregon football teams will not take place Saturday, due to a lack of available players on the Huskies, the Pac-12 Conference announced Thursday.

The Huskies (3-1) and Ducks (3-2) were set to face-off at Autzen Stadium in Eugene at 1 p.m. Saturday. As a result, the planned evening game between the Washington State University Cougars and the California Golden Bears will shift to the afternoon.

Earlier in the week, the Huskies suspended all football operations, including practices, after more student-athletes were sidelined with positive test results or quarantined due to potential exposure.

The Pac-12 Conference formally announced the cancellation shortly before 4 p.m. Thursday, releasing this statement:

"After consultation with Washington, the Pac-12 Conference announced the game involving Washington at Oregon scheduled for Saturday, December 12 has been cancelled. This decision was made under the Pac-12's football game cancellation policy due to Washington not having the minimum number of scholarship student-athletes available for the game due to a number of positive football student-athlete COVID-19 cases and resulting isolation of additional football student-athletes under contact tracing protocols. Under Conference policy, this game will be declared a no contest.

Not contesting this game is very disappointing to our student-athletes and our fans. While all of us want to see our student-athletes on the field competing, our number one priority must continue to be the health and safety of all those connected to Pac-12 football programs."

Following the cancelation, UW Director of Athletics Jennifer Cohen and UW football head coach Jimmy Lake also released statements:

From Cohen:

"I'm so disappointed for everyone involved here. Every year our student-athletes, coaches, staff and Husky Nation circle this game on our calendar and so look forward to this amazing rivalry. The student-athletes from both schools have worked so hard, and I'm just really disheartened we are this point where we are unable to play due to our COVID-19 positives within the program, but we will always put the health and well-being of our students, coaches and staff as our greatest priority when making decisions. We will continue to work in collaboration with our medical professionals as they advise us on how to best move forward."

From Lake:

"We are disappointed for our players and fans and for our opponent that our game will not be played this weekend. We are doing everything we can to resume football activities as soon as we can safely do so."