Miami Hurricanes football dealing with COVID outbreak ahead of Dec. 31 bowl game

Miami announced Tuesday its team is currently in COVID-19 protocols, but remains committed to playing in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl against Washington State on Dec. 31.

The school did not provide any other information.

A source indicated multiple players, across several position groups, had tested positive for COVID-19. Miami is scheduled to leave for El Paso, Texas, to begin bowl preparations on Dec. 26, but there is a possibility the Hurricanes could fly in at a later date and still play.

Further, the source said Miami has moved to virtual meetings. The Hurricanes were able to practice on Tuesday but did so in smaller groups. Back in August, then-Miami coach Manny Diaz said his team had crossed the 85-percent vaccination threshold.

According to the ACC Medical Advisory Group guidelines last issued Sept. 27, all student-athletes, regardless of vaccination, must be tested if a team has a cluster of players infected at the same time. A cluster is defined as either three student-athletes or 5 percent of players on a team, whichever is greater.