Texas Bowl canceled after COVID-19 outbreak within TCU football program
TCU football won’t be going bowling after all.
The Texas Bowl was canceled on Tuesday afternoon after TCU saw a COVID-19 spike within its program. The Horned Frogs (6-4) had been scheduled to face Arkansas (3-7) at NRG Stadium in Houston on New Year’s Eve (Thursday).
TCU’s season started with COVID-related issues when it had to pull out of a scheduled season opener against SMU.
TCU athletic director Jeremiah Donati said in a post that the team would have fallen below the standards set forth by the Big 12 this season. The Big 12 thresholds call for 53 players to be eligible, including at least seven offensive linemen, four defensive linemen and one quarterback.
As one TCU source put it, “We simply ran out of guys.”
“Over the last 24 hours, between a combination of COVID-19 related issues, injuries and other circumstances, we have fallen below the established Big 12 Conference threshold for student-athlete availability that we have abided by all season. As such, we very regrettably will not be able to participate in Thursday night’s Mercari Texas Bowl against Arkansas,” Donati said in his statement.
“Health and safety considerations for our student-athletes are always our top priority. Our entire football program, from our student-athletes to coaches and staff, is incredibly saddened, disappointed and heartbroken. We are very appreciative of the Mercari Texas Bowl for the invitation to participate in this year’s game. While we have experienced these issues all season, the past 24 hours have been too much to overcome on such short notice for Thursday’s game.
“I am very proud of our student-athletes and coaches for how they finished the season with victories in five of our last six games. We were playing our best football and are excited about the momentum we have going into the 2021 season. We appreciate the commitment, dedication and perseverance of our student-athletes, coaches and everyone in our football program this season.”
Fans who have already purchased tickets will be refunded, bowl game officials said.
“While we are disappointed in canceling this year’s game, we look forward to hosting both the Texas Kickoff and Texas Bowl next season,” David Fletcher, the bowl game’s executive director, said in a statement. “We appreciate everyone’s support, including our new title sponsor, Mercari.”
Thursday would have marked TCU’s first bowl game in Houston since joining the Big 12 in 2012. The Frogs last played in a Houston-based bowl in 2007, a 20-13 victory over Houston in the Texas Bowl at then-Reliant Stadium (now NRG Stadium).
The Frogs have played in two other Houston-based bowl games under Gary Patterson. TCU defeated Iowa State 27-24 in the 2005 EV1.net Houston Bowl at Reliant Stadium, and lost to Texas A&M 28-9 in the 2001 galleryfurniture.com Bowl at the old Astrodome.
Prior to the Patterson era, TCU made two trips to the now-defunct Bluebonnet Bowl in Houston. The Frogs lost to Clemson 23-7 in 1959 at Rice Stadium, and lost to West Virginia 31-14 in 1984 at the Astrodome.
TCU finishes its 2020 season at 6-4. The Horned Frogs won five of their final six games, recovering from a 1-3 start.
TCU’s 2021 schedule will feature nonconference home games against Cal, SMU and FCS foe Duequesne. The Big 12 home games will be against Baylor, Kansas, Texas and West Virginia.
The game against Cal is scheduled for Sept. 11, while SMU will be on Sept. 25. Other dates are to be determined.
This story was originally published December 29, 2020 at 2:14 PM.
