The Music City Bowl between Missouri and Iowa was canceled on Sunday because editions of COVID-19 prevented Tigers from playing.
The Nashville, Tennessee-based game scheduled for Wednesday is the second bowl canceled since the postseason schedule was set on December 20, joining the Gasparilla Bowl.
Missouri athletic director Jim Sterk said in a statement that the football team has seen a “significant increase in positive COVID-19 tests among our student athletes, coaches and staff” since the end of the regular season.
Overall, 18 bowl games scheduled for this season have been canceled.
Missouri is the third team at the Southeast Conference that had to give up its bowling game, joining Tennessee and South Carolina
The Army managed to replace Tennessee in the Liberty Bowl against West Virginia to save the game. South Carolina’s COVID-19 issues left UAB without an opponent in the Gasparilla Bowl.
Iowa was in the same situation, with no replacement available in the short term.
“I am disappointed that we were unable to finish the season against a tremendous opponent at the TransPerfect Music City Bowl later this week,” said Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz. “I am extremely proud of the struggle and resilience that our players have shown throughout this challenging season. This is the eighth time in 11 games that we faced a schedule adjustment, but we were able to fight and finish while competing at a very high level throughout the season, which I believe shows the true character of our team. “
The Music City Bowl appeared to be in danger last week because Iowa interrupted football activities due to COVID-19 cases, but the Hawkeyes resumed training this weekend.
Iowa (6-2) had all eight games scheduled for the regular season before having their first weekend match of the Big Ten championship against Michigan canceled and now their bowl.
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