Having swept through college campuses, the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is causing havoc with the college football bowl season, causing the cancelation of one and a lineup change in another.
Friday’s Hawaii Bowl was abruptly canceled Thursday after one of the two competing teams, the University of Hawaii, pulled out because so many of their players had tested positive for the coronavirus, were injured, or were transfering from the school. With a losing 6-8 record, Hawaii normally would have been excluded from a bowl appearance, but because so many eligible teams declined the invitation, they were selected.
The Gator Bowl, to be played on New Year’s Day, will have a new lineup as Texas A&M, the 23rd ranked team in the nation, pulled out because the team’s roster was devastated by the coronavirus, with the head coach saying “we just don’t have enough scholarship players available to field a team.” The Rutgers Scarlet Knights will now take on #20 Wake Forest on New Year’s Eve.