Apple Cup cancelled due to COVID-19-driven player shortage

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- The Pac-12 announced on Sunday that the annual Apple Cup football game between the University of Washington and Washington State football game has been cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns.

"After consultation with Washington State University, the Pac-12 Conference announced the game involving Washington at Washington State scheduled for Friday, November 27 will not be played. This decision was made under the Pac-12's football policy due to Washington State not having the minimum number of scholarship players available for the game as a result of a number of positive football student-athlete COVID-19 cases and resulting isolation of additional football student-athletes under contact tracing protocols. Under Conference policy, the game will be declared a no contest.

"Not contesting this game is very disappointing to our student-athletes and our fans.  While all of us want to see our football student-athletes on the field competing, our number one priority must continue to be the health and safety of all those connected to Pac-12 football programs."

The school must have at least 53 scholarship student-athletes available for the game, and based on the number of players who have tested positive for COVID-19, school officials say they can't meet that threshold.

This weekend's game between WSU and Stanford was also cancelled for the same reason.

"While this is another heartbreaking week for our football program, the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes, coaches and staff remains our top priority," said WSU Athletics Director Pat Chun.

Chun said the school is optimistic that it will be able to reschedule the Apple Cup game for later in the season.