NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The Tennessee Vols will not be playing in the Liberty Bowl against West Virginia due to COVID-19 cases in the Vols' program.
Multiple players and coaches, including head coach Jeremy Pruitt, have tested positive for COVID-19, meaning the Vols will be unable to play in the Dec. 31 bowl game.
The team's test results were returned Monday after the team had already accepted the bowl invitation. The number of positive tests and subsequent contact tracing doesn't leave Tennessee with enough players or coaches to participate in the bowl game. This makes Tennessee the first SEC team unable to play a bowl game due to COVID-19.
According to an ESPN report, the AutoZone Liberty Bowl or Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl could potentially be a landing spot for Army. The latter would be an option especially if Mississippi State were to slide into Tennessee's spot in the Liberty Bowl. Army went 9-2, but is not in a bowl game.
Tennessee ends the 2020 season with 3 wins and 7 losses.
