Alabama vs. SEC rival LSU postponed due to COVID-19

The LSU-Alabama rivalry is one of the premier matchups in college football, but it will not take place this weekend and might not happen at all this season.

The LSU-Alabama rivalry is one of the premier matchups in college football, but it will not take place this weekend and might not happen at all this season. This weekend's scheduled bout between the two SEC teams has been postponed due to the Tigers' issues with COVID-19.

LSU released a statement on the matter:

The LSU-Alabama game scheduled for Nov. 14 has been postponed. The opportunity to reschedule the game will be evaluated.

🔗 https://t.co/pX2ET1Nftq pic.twitter.com/sbEMfFrXV1

— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) November 10, 2020

But this is not the only postponement in the conference this weekend.

The SEC announced the scheduled showdown between Texas A&M and Tennessee was also put on hold, for similar reasons:

Breaking: The SEC has announced that Alabama vs. LSU and Texas A&M vs. Tennessee have been postponed due to positive coronavirus tests, contact tracing and subsequent quarantine of individuals within the LSU and A&M programs. pic.twitter.com/Xhlf05vZ1d

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 10, 2020

The pandemic has had a very real impact on the 2020 NCAA football season.

Naturally, COVID-19 pushed back the start dates for some conferences, with other major conferences –including the Ivy League and MAC — canceling fall football altogether. The MAC ultimately decided to return to play.

The Big Ten gradually developed its plan for a return to play, but has since experienced some issues of its own with outbreaks in the Wisconsin program causing cancellations.

It remans to be seen whether the Power Five can make up some of these games, and what kind of impact permanent cancellations would have on the College Football Playoff at the end of the season.

The Crimson Tide are certainly hoping it will not change their status as the top team in the country.

Alabama took the No. 1 spot in the polls for the first time in over a calendar year after the Clemson Tigers were upset by Notre Dame on Saturday.

Nick Saban's team was hoping to have the opportunity to defend the top spot against the Tigers this weekend.

But that matchup will have to wait, if it will even be played at all. A rescheduling of the game is being explored. Alabama surely wants to get this game in, but there's no guarantee that it actually happens.