Vanderbilt vs. Missouri Postponed Because of COVID-19; 1st SEC Game Rescheduled

The scheduled college football matchup between Vanderbilt and Missouri for Saturday, Oct. 17 has been postponed until Dec. 12, the conference announced Monday.  

The news doesn't come as a major surprise after Vanderbilt was only able to dress 56 scholarship players for a 41-7 loss to South Carolina this past weekend, only three players above the NCAA's required minimum of 53. 

The Commodores are dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak, though the school hadn't publicly acknowledged as much before the SEC's announcement Monday. 

"The league and universities have been prepared for the likelihood of disruptions within the season while we all navigate the various challenges and complexities of competing during a global pandemic," Vanderbilt athletic director Candice Lee said in a statement, per Barrett Sallee of CBS Sports. "As always, we are committed to taking whatever steps necessary for the health and safety of our students and community."

Players like Donovan Kaufman, Ja'Veon Marlow, Dashaun Jerkins, Alston Orji and Randall Haynie all missed the Gamecocks matchup. Quarterbacks Jeremy Moussa and Danny Clark also had to quarantine during the preseason, while Oren Milstein, Feleti Afemui, Cole Clemens, Bryce Bailey, Jonathan Stewart and Stephen Spanellis all opted out of the season because of the coronavirus pandemic. 

It's been a tough go for the Commodores in the 2020 season as they attempt to navigate the complications inherent in attempting to play football during a global pandemic with unpaid amateur athletes. Head coach Derek Mason spoke about the team's short-handed roster against South Carolina, per Michael Gallagher of the Nashville Post:

"You can't control everything, and I think that's probably the toughest thing for college coaches nowadays—the inability to control everything is what we're used to, and we're sitting in this new normal of every day is a new day. What you've got to do is make sure that you come in with your plan, figure out exactly what you need to do, let's get through the day and let's fight to see another day."

Vanderbilt has started the season 0-3 following losses to Texas A&M, LSU and South Carolina. Missouri is 1-2 with losses to Alabama and Tennessee, though it shocked the college football world with a 45-41 upset over LSU this past weekend.