Badgers-Nebraska game canceled due to COVID-19 cases

Saturday’s game between Wisconsin and Nebraska has been officially canceled due to a number of COVID-19 cases in the Badgers program.

The game will not be rescheduled.

In addition, Wisconsin will put all football activities on pause for at least one week.

“We have said from the beginning that the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches and staff members comes first,” Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez said in a statement. “Over the past several days we have seen a rising number of student-athletes and staff contract the virus. The responsible thing for us to do is to pause football-related activities for at least seven days.”

On Wednesday, 12 people within the Badgers program – six student-athletes and six staff members – tested positive for COVID-19.

Head coach Paul Chryst was one of those 12 positive tests.

“This morning I received the news that I had tested positive via a PCR test I took yesterday,” Chryst said in a statement. “I informed my staff and the team this morning and am currently isolating at home. I had not been experiencing any symptoms and feel good as of this morning.”

Over the weekend, it was reported that quarterback Graham Mertz tested positive for the coronavirus on Saturday, one day after Wisconsin defeated Illinois 45-7 to open the season.

“I am disappointed for our players and coaching staff who put so much into preparing to play each week,” Chryst said. “But the safety of everyone in our program has to be our top priority and I support the decision made to pause our team activities.”

The Badgers’ next game on the schedule is a home tilt against Purdue on Nov. 7.