MINNEAPOLIS — For the first time in 114 years, the Minnesota-Wisconsin game has been bumped off the schedule.
Minnesota called off its annual battle with Wisconsin for Paul Bunyan’s Axe — which was slated for Saturday afternoon — because of an uptick in covid-19 cases within the program. The decision made Tuesday by Minnesota also likely will make the 18th-ranked Badgers ineligible for the Big Ten championship game, because of two earlier canceled games.
Utah’s game against Arizona State — scheduled for Sunday — also was added Tuesday to the cancellation list because the Sun Devils still don’t have enough scholarship players available because of numerous covid-19 cases that includes coach Herm Edwards. No. 24 Tulsa’s game Saturday against Houston also was postponed because of Houston’s covid-19 issues.
Ten scheduled games this week involving FBS teams have been postponed or canceled. The Minnesota-Wisconsin game and the Utah-Arizona State game won’t be made up. Tulsa and Houston have no common open dates left and only will be able to reschedule the game if neither team is in the American Athletic Conference championship game Dec. 19.
Minnesota athletic director Mark Coyle and president Joan Gabel made the decision at the recommendation of athletic medical director Dr. Brad Nelson, who’s on the conference’s covid-19 task force, after consultation with Big Ten officials.
Minnesota said nine players and six staff members have tested positive for covid-19 in the last five days. There were additional presumptive positive tests that turned up Wednesday from daily antigen testing, with the program awaiting confirmation of those results.
