The last time the University of North Carolina went this long between games during a football season was in 1952, when a polio outbreak on campus forced the Tar Heels to cancel two contests.
For the 25th-ranked Memphis Tigers, 28 days will separate their season-opening win against Arkansas State from Saturday’s game at SMU in Dallas, with the gap resulting from a COVID-19 outbreak that shut down the Tennessee program’s facility.
One way or another, the coronavirus has caused the postponement or cancellation of at least two dozen games involving Football Bowl Subdivision teams since Aug. 26. On Thursday, Appalachian State postponed next week’s game against against Sun Belt rival Louisiana-Lafayette. The Mountaineers’ next game is scheduled for Oct. 14, while the Ragin’ Cajuns are idle until Oct. 17.
The delays and disruptions have created long layoffs, unusual practice schedules and short-handed rosters, leaving coaches wracking their brains for ways to keep players engaged mentally and physically.
“Does it still hold true that you improve the most between your first and second game if there’s two weeks between them, really three weeks between them?” North Carolina coach Mack Brown asked. “I think probably not. We’re starting over.”