One of the more interesting conference championship games is no more.
The Sun Belt championship between once-defeated Louisiana and unbeaten Coastal Carolina is off due to a positive COVID-19 test in the Chanticleers’ program.
The Sun Belt football championship game between Louisiana and Coastal Carolina has been canceled due to a positive COVID-19 test within the Coastal Carolina program, the conference announced. pic.twitter.com/RswbOeNZJt
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 18, 2020
The teams had played earlier in the season with Coastal coming away with a thrilling, 30-27 victory.
Combined, the teams were 21-1.
“We are very disappointed that the championship game cannot be played, but we are so proud of all of the players and staff members and their hard work during this truly challenging season,” said Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill in a statement.
Louisiana Athletic Director Bryan Maggard said in a separate statement released by the Ragin’ Cajuns, “We are severely disappointed for our student-athletes and staff to not have the opportunity to play in what would have been a truly exciting championship game for the Sun Belt Conference. For our football program, fans and alumni, we look forward to learning of our bowl destination this weekend.”
It would be great if the conference and schools could work something out with one of the bowl games in this bizarro season to have the teams eventually play, anyway.
With Sun Belt title game canceled, Louisiana open to discussion of playing Coastal Carolina in a bowl game, sources told @Stadium. Sun Belt potentially could stage it in Cure or Camellia Bowl if a team from another conference could be switched to another bowl
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 18, 2020