Cal-Arizona State Game Canceled; Cal May Play UCLA Instead

Cal's football season continues to take odd twists and turns, and the Bears have not even played a game yet.

On Friday morning the Pac-12 announced that the Cal-Arizona State game scheduled for Saturday night in Tempe, Ariz., has been canceled. However, the reason for the cancellation was COVID-19 issues on the Arizona State team, not the Cal team, which apparently would have been cleared to play.

Here is part of the Pac-12 statement:

This decision was made under the Pac-12’s football game cancellation policy due to Arizona State not having the minimum number of scholarship players available for the game as a result of a number of positive football student-athlete COVID-19 cases and resulting isolation of additional football student-athletes under contact tracing protocols.".

Apparently ASU coach Herm Edwards was among those who tested positive for the virus.

But that's not the end of the never-ending story for Cal, which now may be headed for a game against UCLA this Sunday (yes, day after tomorrow). UCLA's game against Utah scheduled for Saturday at the Rose Bowl was canceled, leaving an open date for both Cal and UCLA.

Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury-News tweeted this:

Expect Cal-UCLA on Sunday https://t.co/zY6PnOuAye
— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) November 13, 2020

Earlier Friday there was a report from Bruce Feldman via twitter that there was a possibility that Cal might play Washington instead on Sunday. The Cal-Washington game scheduled for last Saturday was canceled, but since the Cal-ASU game has been canceled and the Washington game against Oregon State was in jeopardy because of virus-related issues, there were discussions about pairing Washington at Cal this Sunday.

There is also some concern around the Pac-12 now about Saturday's Oregon State-Washington game as well on the Beavers side. I'm told there is talk inside the Pac-12 about Cal possibly playing Washington on Sunday. This Sunday.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) November 13, 2020

However, the Beavers apparently are still expecting to play Washington on Saturday because the team is scheduled to leave Corvallis, Ore., tonight on a flight bound for Seattle. All reports indicate the Oregon State-Washington game is on as scheduled for Saturday.

Oregon State football is still scheduled and planning to board a plane for Seattle at 6 p.m., per university source.

As of now, the Beavers appear to be planning to play vs. Washington tomorrow night.

Of course, this is 2020. Will update.
— John Canzano (@johncanzanobft) November 13, 2020

So that leaves open the distinct possibility of Cal playing UCLA on Sunday. The site of a potential Cal-UCLA game is uncertain. The Bears were not scheduled to play UCLA in the original seven-game 2020 schedule.

It would be the second game of the season for UCLA, which lost to Colorado 48-42 in its opener last Saturday. It would be the opener for Cal.

Utah is facing a more challenging task than Cal. The Utes have had their first two games canceled and their ongoing virus-related issues may lead to more of their games being canceled.

Utah reportedly has 17 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Cal had just one confirmed case, and that was last week, although the contact tracing led to the cancellation of the Washington game.

Here is the entire Pac-12 statement about the cancellation of the Cal-ASU game:

The Pac-12 today, Nov. 13, issued the following statement regarding the Cal at Arizona State football game, previously scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 14:

"The Pac-12 has cancelled the Cal at Arizona State football game scheduled for November 14. This decision was made under the Pac-12’s football game cancellation policy due to Arizona State not having the minimum number of scholarship players available for the game as a result of 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, the game will be declared a no contest.

The cancellation of this game is very disappointing to our student-athletes and our fans. At the same time it is further indication that our health and safety protocols are working in identifying positive cases and contact tracing cases. While all of us want to see our football 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."

Here is an ASU statement:

And a statement by ASU coach Herm Edwards:

If Cal does not play a game this weekend, it would play no more than four games before Pac-12 championship game participants are determined. However, it is believed that under the Pac-12's complicated method of determining each division's representative, that Cal conceivably still could qualify for the conference title game if other cancellations or results occur in the conference.

Basically, the division champion is determined by winning percentage, although other issues are involved.

Cal still has not issued a statement regarding the cancellation or when coaches or administrators will be available to comment.

Cal had its home game and original season opener against Washington last Saturday canceled after one defensive lineman tested positive for COVID-19 and the entire position group — plus others — were placed in quarantine.

Without any available scholarship defensive linemen, the Bears felt no alternative but to ask the Pac-12 to declare the game a no contest.

Berkeley Public Health did not allow Cal to play the game against Washington because of the 14-day quarantine period required in contact tracing -- which in this case involved all of the Bears' defensive linemen.

Cal officials had been talking with City of Berkeley officials throughout this week to determine whether the Bears would be cleared to play the Arizona State game.

Here is a Friday statement from Arizona State athletic director Ray Anderson:

"We have had to invoke the Pac-12's football game cancellation policy for this week's game. The cancellation of a game is very difficult to accept for all of us, but it is the right decision under the circumstances. In every case we continue to consider the health, safety and welfare of our student-athletes as our number one priority.

"I feel for our student-athletes and everyone associated with Sun Devil Athletics, as well as Sun Devil Nation. This also has an impact on the University of California football program and we extend our appreciation for their understanding of the situation.

"In the past few days our test results included a number of positive cases, including multiple student-athletes and coaching staff members, one of which is Head Coach . This put our team below the Pac-12's minimum threshold of 53 available scholarship student-athletes under the league's game cancellation policy. After consultation with our medical advisors and Coach Edwards, we immediately began a conversation with the Pac-12 office and California Athletics Director Jim Knowlton to make them aware of the situation.

"We are continuing to take every precaution to safeguard the health and welfare of our student-athletes and staff, in accordance with the Pac-12 COVID-19 Medical Advisory Committee's procedures. Those with positive test results and those in contact tracing protocols are in isolation and receiving the appropriate medical care.

"We will continue to monitor our testing results and stay in close communication with our University, local public health officials and the Pac-12 Conference."

Follow Jake Curtis of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jakecurtis53

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