Colorado State football game vs. New Mexico canceled due to COVID-19 issues

FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- The eight-game football season is now down to seven.

The Mountain West has called off the Colorado State football team's season opener for due to coronavirus concerns in New Mexico. The Rams were scheduled to host New Mexico Saturday night.

"Due to the prevalence of the COVID-19 virus in Bernalillo County and in accordance with state guidelines, the University of New Mexico is unable to participate in the scheduled football game on Saturday, Oct. 24, at Colorado State University," read a release from the Mountain West. 

"Therefore, the Mountain West is canceling the game and declaring it a no contest. There is no plan to reschedule the game."

This is the 30th FBS game canceled or postponed for COVID-19 issues since the season began according to a list compiled by USA TODAY. 

The Mountain West schedule is set to begin Saturday, the first of eight consecutive weeks for an eight-game schedule. That leaves no room for makeups. 

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New Mexico hasn’t been able to hold full-team practices since the middle of last week because of COVID-19 cases and concerns. Eight players and one assistant coach tested positive last week.

Because of high case counts in Bernalillo County, where the school's main campus in Albuquerque is located, a variance to state and county public-health orders allowing the Lobos and other college sports teams to practice has been rescinded.

The statewide order without a variance limits group gatherings to five people. New Mexico has been practicing the past few days in small groups to comply with the restriction, athletic department spokesman Frank Mercogliano said Monday.

CSU has had troubles of its own in prep for the originally scheduled season opener. 

“We’re down 20s of players per practice,” Addazio said in a virtual news conference Monday. “It’s kind of been that way for the last 10 days."

The Rams twice had to cancel scheduled scrimmages during training camp, once due to not enough players available and once due to unhealthy air caused by wildfire smoke.

In Monday's press conference, Addazio mentioned the uncertainty and reality of knowing any game could be called off. 

"Today's Monday. I don't know what tomorrow brings. I don't know what Thursday brings. You just don't know," Addazio said.