The Saturday game between Louisiana-Monroe and host Arkansas State was postponed Tuesday due to COVID-19 concerns within the ULM program.
The contest between the two Sun Belt Conference programs was rescheduled for Dec. 12.
The game was postponed after Louisiana-Monroe contacted Arkansas State and the Sun Belt to say it was unable to play on Saturday.
“Out of an abundance of caution along with following the CDC and Sun Belt Conference protocols, a recent round of positive COVID tests within the ULM football program combined with contact tracing have led to the postponement of Saturday’s game at Arkansas State,” Louisiana-Monroe athletic director Scott McDonald said in a statement. “Our No. 1 priority remains fostering a safe campus environment for our student-athletes, coaches and administrators, and it became apparent that the team wouldn’t be able to safely resume practice in time to prepare for Saturday’s game.”
This is the second COVID-19 outbreak in the Warhawks’ program this season. The first led to the scheduled Sept. 5 season opener against Troy to be rescheduled for Dec. 5.
Louisiana-Monroe (0-8, 0-5 Sun Belt) is next scheduled to play on Nov. 21 against Louisiana Tech in Shreveport, La. Arkansas State (3-5, 1-4) is slated to visit Texas State on Nov. 21.
Red Wolves athletic director Terry Mohajir said he understood the situation.
“Our football team was excited to be back home in front of our fans this week,” Mohajir said in a statement. “We certainly understand these tough outcomes due to COVID-19.”
Arkansas State had to pull out of games with Central Arkansas on Sept. 19 and Tulsa on Sept. 26 due to its own outbreak. The Red Wolves beat the Bears 50-27 in a makeup game on Oct. 10, but the Golden Hurricane game has yet to be rescheduled.
