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Texas Bowl canceled because of coronavirus concerns

HOUSTON – The Mercari Texas Bowl has been canceled because of concerns over the coronavirus. The New Year’s Eve matchup between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the TCU Horned Frogs was set to be played at NRG Stadium. According to PigTrail Nation, Head Coach Sam Pittman said the Razorbacks had no positive COVID-19 tests on his team. “While we are disappointed in canceling this year’s game, we look forward to hosting both the Texas Kickoff and Texas Bowl next season,” David Fletcher, executive director of the Texas Bowl, said in a statement issued on Twitter. Those refunds will be processed through the vendor through which the tickets were purchased.

Smith's TD return sparks No. 1 Tide's 52-3 tour of Arkansas

– Alabama has been the dominant program in college football for more than a decade and Arkansas coach Sam Pittman has been coaching in the Southeastern Conference almost all of it. “On tape, it’s the best Alabama team I’ve seen,” said Pittman, a longtime assistant at Tennessee, Arkansas and Georgia in his first season has head coach. “(Alabama coach Nick Saban) is going to hate me for saying that. Arkansas: An encouraging first regular season under coach Sam Pittman ended with a four-game losing streak. Alabama: Another trip to Atlanta for the SEC title game, the Tide's third in five years.

Heisman front-runner? Trask, No. 6 Florida thump Hogs 63-35

Trask repeatedly torched the Razorbacks (3-4), who were without coach Sam Pittman and without much of a chance by halftime. It was the second time this season Trask tossed six TDs in a game. “I think I did a great job of executing and being efficient,” said Trask, who now has an SEC-record 28 TD passes and just three interceptions in six games. He became the third player in school history with at least 25 touchdown passes in multiple years, joining Heisman Trophy winners Tim Tebow and Danny Wuerffel. Florida: The Gators have the offense to beat anyone and the defense to keep everyone in games.

Virus postponements hit SEC, Big Ten; 8 games across FBS

Among the three SEC games still on for this Saturday, Arkansas will visit No. Orgeron said he expects most of his players in quarantine due to contact tracing back next week. Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said his team only had two positive cases as of Wednesday afternoon, but contact tracing had taken a toll. “Candidly, the numbers around contact tracing have emerged as one of our biggest challenges to playing. “The contact tracing has the potential to magnify even one positive test,” Sankey said.

The Latest: Arkansas coach Pittman tests positive for virus

The reserve/COVID-19 list is either for players who have tested positive or have been in close contact with someone who has. ___Italian basketball team Olimpia Milano has suspended all team activity after “numerous” members of the squad tested positive for the coronavirus. ___The Danish soccer federation has put eight national team players and some staff members in quarantine after two positive tests for COVID-19. Robert Skov of German club Hoffenheim is one of the people who tested positive. ___European qualifying in December for the Women's Rugby World Cup next year in New Zealand has been postponed.

Postponement, outbreaks: SEC takes a hit from COVID-19

The conference on Monday postponed Saturday’s game between No. 20 Auburn and Mississippi State because of positive COVID-19 cases and quarantining within the Bulldogs’ program. 5 Texas A&M paused in-person activities after a player and a staff member tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from a win at South Carolina. LSU is battling an outbreak that could put Saturday's game against No. ___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25.