There's no plan to reschedule the game.
Colorado State University's football home opener vs. New Mexico, which was scheduled to take place Saturday evening in Fort Collins, has been canceled due to the prevalence of COVID-19 in Bernalillo County, where UNM is located.
"Due to the prevalence of the COVID-19 virus in Bernalillo County and in accordance with state guidelines, the University of New Mexico is unable to participate in the scheduled football game on Saturday, Oct. 24, at Colorado State University," said a statement released Monday by the Mountain West Conference. "Therefore, the Mountain West is canceling the game and declaring it a no contest. There is no plan to reschedule the game."
Due to the prevalence of COVID-19 in Bernalillo County and in accordance with state guidelines, @UNMLoboFB is unable to participate in the game on Oct. 24 at @CSUFootball.
— Mountain West (@MountainWest) October 20, 2020
The MW is canceling the game and declaring it a no contest. There is no plan to reschedule the game. pic.twitter.com/NbWHIiKAQB
The New Mexico Department of Public Health said it experienced its worst week of COVID-19 infections last week and that it ranks among the highest states in the country for rate of spread and new cases. In a statement released by UNM, Director of Athletics Eddie Nuñez said the decision to cancel Saturday's match was not based on COVID-19 cases within the Lobos football program.
Rams players and coaches expressed disappointment at the cancellation of the much-anticipated first game of the delayed season.
"It's kinda frustrating. I had just recently got off the phone with my auntie, telling her how excited I was, telling her about the possibility of having fans at the game and to hear the news, it's frustrating, but you've just got to keep going," cornerback Rashad Ajayi said. "You just keep focus on the next opponent. I mean, 2020's been crazy for everybody. You get frustrated, but I've just learned to deal with it."
Just a month ago, it appeared CSU and many other college football programs would not play this fall due to the pandemic. The Mountain West Conference indefinitely suspended the football season for its teams in August. However, on September 24, the conference approved plans to resume college football among its teams with an amended regular season schedule beginning October 24. The amended season was set to include eight games as well as a championship match in December. The conference instituted protocols that called for athletes, coaches, trainers, and others to undergo testing three times per week.
CSU's next scheduled game is at Fresno State on Thursday, October 29. The game will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network.
