The 2020 BYU Cougars at Army Black Knights football game has been postponed due to the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, both schools have announced.
The game, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020 at Michie Stadium in West Point, N.Y., was postponed due to “…a small number of positive COVID-19 test results and the resulting tracing exposures within the BYU football program.” The two teams will attempt to reschedule the game for a later date.
“We appreciate the university administration, state health officials and a variety of medical experts who have helped us navigate these unprecedented times,” said BYU director of athletics Tom Holmoe. “While we share the disappointment of everyone involved in the game between BYU and Army, safety as well as the physical and mental well-being of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and the opposing team is our top priority.”
The two schools share common open dates on Nov. 28 and Dec. 5 should they choose to reschedule the game that late in the season. Other dates would require coordination with multiple other teams.
BYU opened the 2020 season on Labor Day with a crushing 55-3 win over the Navy Midshipmen in Annapolis, Md. The Cougars’ next game is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26 against the Troy Trojans at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah.
Army is off to a 2-0 start this season following decisive victories over the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, 42-0, and the ULM Warhawks, 37-7, both in West Point. The Black Knights will hit the gridiron next on the road against the 20th-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday, Sept. 26.
Football Schedules
It’s not so much the game itself, but the giving up of the “Prime-Time” slot that makes this postponement sting a little bit. I can only imagine the two teams were feeling the same thing.