Army vs. BYU football postponed due to COVID-19

Army’s football team will not have the opportunity to improve its record to 3-0 next week.

The Black Knights’ highly-anticipated match-up against fellow FBS Independent BYU — which was set to be broadcast by CBS — has been indefinitely postponed. The two sides are working on rescheduling the game for a later date this season.

In a statement, Army’s athletic department said the postponement was due to “a small number of positive COVID-19 test results and the resulting tracing exposures within the BYU football program.” The decision to postpone the game was mutual, according to Army’s statement.

“We appreciate the university administration, state health officials and a variety of medical experts who have helped us navigate these unprecedented times,” BYU director of athletics Tom Holmoe said in a statement. “While we share the disappointment of everyone involved in the game between BYU and Army, safety as well as the physical and mental well-being of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and the opposing team is our top priority.”

BYU was off this weekend after delivering a 55-3 beatdown of Navy in Annapolis on Labor Day. Meanwhile, Army is 2-0 after their second straight blowout victory, topping Louisiana Monroe 37-7 on Saturday.

The game between the two longtime Independents was going to be the first-ever meeting between Army and BYU. After cancellations due to concerns from the coronavirus, both teams needed to fill empty dates on their schedules. The two sides agreed to the game in mid-August, and Army agreed to play a return game at BYU in 2032.

Both Army and BYU have a mutual open date on Nov. 28. If the game is rescheduled for this season, that could be the day the Black Knights and Cougars finally meet on the gridiron. If the game is played that day, it would be BYU’s final game of the season and give Army 13 days of rest before playing Navy.

Jeff Monken’s side now has a bye-week before facing No. 20 Cincinnati on the road on Sept. 26.