Ole Miss football game against Texas A&M postponed due to COVID-19 requirements

Any speculation surrounding Ole Miss football’s game at Texas A&M on Saturday is over. The Rebels will not face the No. 5-ranked Aggies this weekend as the home team continues to struggle with COVID-19 issues, the Southeastern Conference announced on Monday.

2020’s fall football season has been riddled with coronavirus-related scheduling issues, and the conference implemented an intentional off week on December 12th to account for any unsuspected cancellations. However, after having its game against Tennessee that was scheduled for this past weekend postponed, Texas A&M is already using the makeup week. Thus, it is unclear if Lane Kiffin and Jimbo Fisher’s squads will square off this season.

A small positive cluster within the Aggie program forced an increased number of players to quarantine, which put their roster below the SEC threshold to compete. This year, the conference set a 53-man requirement for scholarship players available to play, and due to the mandatory 14-day quarantine period for athletes who have been in close contact with a positive case, that number will not be met for the second-straight week.

Rumors have floated regarding a potential rescheduling for this weekend, including the possibility of an early Egg Bowl, but the likelihood of the Rebels facing an unscheduled opponent is unclear. More than likely, it is slim to none.

Unfortunately for the 3-4 team in Oxford, it will not have the opportunity to compete for an upset bid over a top-five team. What is perhaps more disappointing is that Ole Miss will not have the opportunity to spoil Ross Bjork’s SEC Championship and College Football Playoff hopes in a revenge game. The former athletic director who complied with the NCAA during its investigation and paid Matt Luke a boatload of money before dipping out to College Station will not have to face the wrath of the nation’s third-ranked offense.