A surge in COVID-19 cases in Terrapins’ football program have forced Maryland’s Big Ten college football game against the Buckeyes on Saturday to be canceled.
The football game between No. 3 Ohio State University and the University of Maryland, scheduled for this Saturday at 3 p.m. in College Park, Md., on the Big Ten Network, has been cancelled and will not be rescheduled.
Maryland announced today in a release that it has paused all team-related activities due to an elevated number of COVID-19 cases within the Terrapin’s program. The release also stated “the joint decision to pause football activities and cancel Saturday’s game was made by Director of Athletics Damon Evans and University of Maryland President Darryll Pines, following a recommendation from University health officials, and in consultation with the Big Ten Conference.”
“The health, safety and well-being of our student-athletes is our main concern,” head football coach Ryan Day said. “Obviously, we are disappointed at not being able to compete this week, but I am incredibly proud of our team and the way they have handled themselves throughout this entire pandemic.
“We wish Maryland, their student-athletes and programs well as they battle through this issue.”
Maryland director of Athletics Damon Evans and University of Maryland President Darryll Pines, following a recommendation from University health officials, and in consultation with the Big Ten Conference. Over the past seven days, eight football players have tested positive for COVID-19.
“There is nothing more important than the health and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches and staff,” Evans said.
“We realize that this news is disappointing to all of the Maryland fans out there who were looking forward to the Terps taking on an outstanding Ohio State team, but the responsible thing for us to do is pause football activities, given the number of positive cases currently in our program.”
“We’re obviously extremely disappointed that we’ll be unable to host Ohio State this Saturday,” said head coach Michael Locksley. “It was an opportunity that our team was preparing for and excited about.
However, we have and always will keep our players, coaches and staffs safety at the forefront of our decision making process. We’ll continue to operate as much as we can virtually as we monitor the situation in hopes of returning to play when it’s deemed safe.”
