Breaking news has come out of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Alabama football head coach Nick Saban, as well as Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne have tested positive for COVID-19, per ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi.
Breaking: Nick Saban has tested positive for COVID-19, team sources tell Tom Rinaldi. pic.twitter.com/VpkI9QuYLJ
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 14, 2020
This is a major shakeup for the college football world as Georgia was scheduled to play the Crimson Tide this Saturday in a heavyweight showdown.
Reports say that both Saban and Byrne left the facility immediately and are now quarantining in their homes. Saban announced that offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian will act as head coach while Saban works from home.
“I found out earlier this afternoon that I had tested positive for COVID-19. I immediately left work and isolated at home. At this time, I do not have any symptoms relative to COVID,” Saban released in his statement today. “I informed our team of my positive test at 2 p.m. today on a Zoom call and let them know offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian will oversee preparations at the complex while I work from home.”
There have been positive player tests at Ole Miss, who Alabama beat last week, and the SEC has already bumped two games this week due to COVID-19 outbreaks. The Missouri vs Vanderbilt game and the Florida vs LSU game will both be played the week of December 12 due to positive tests at Florida and Vanderbilt. Nineteen players tested positive for Florida.
No statements have been released on the status of Saturday night’s game between Georgia and Alabama.