Missouri unable to play in TransPerfect Music City Bowl due to COVID-19

By Kevin Kelley -

The Missouri Tigers are unable to play in the 2020 TransPerfect Music City Bowl due to COVID-19, the school announced on Sunday.

Missouri’s TransPerfect Music City Bowl opponent was set to be the Iowa Hawkeyes. The two schools were scheduled to meet at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Wednesday, Dec. 30. As a result, the bowl game has been canceled.

“I want to thank the hard work of those involved in helping plan this year’s bowl, which we were prepared to host this week,” Scott Ramsey, President & CEO of the TransPerfect Music City Bowl said. “Unfortunately, Missouri’s high positive COVID-19 numbers have resulted in the cancelation of this game. We look forward to planning for 2021.”

Missouri finishes their 2020 SEC-only season 5-5 overall. The Tigers are currently scheduled to open the 2021 season at home at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo., on Saturday, Sept. 4 against the Central Michigan Chippewas.

“Since concluding our regular season and conducting four rounds of tests over the last eight days, we have seen a significant increase in positive COVID-19 tests among our student-athletes, coaches and staff, and after consulting with local health officials, our team physicians and MU Health’s Dr. Steve Whitt, who is our representative on the SEC Medical Task Force, we unfortunately must pause all football team-related activities until at least January 2 to help contain the virus’ spread and ensure the health and well-being of everyone within our program and the community,” Missouri Director of Athletics Jim Sterk said.

“Our student-athletes have been extremely diligent in following all of the SEC’s COVID-19 testing protocols since returning to campus back in the summer, and we are incredibly proud of their efforts to play every regular-season game this fall, as well as the success they have had on the field against a 10-game all-SEC schedule that included five games against nationally-ranked opponents, and in the classroom during the fall semester,” he added. “However, this eight-day uptick within our program is significant and has made it impossible for us to play in the bowl game, which I know comes as a disappointment to our student-athletes, coaches and fans, who were excited about the opportunity to play a great Iowa team in Nashville.”

Iowa, which opened the season with back-to-back losses, finished the season on a six-game winning streak. The Hawkeyes’ 2021 schedule is set to kickoff on Saturday, Sept. 4 at home at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa, against the Indiana Hoosiers.

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