USC is forgoing bowl opportunities this season over concerns about COVID-19 and other reasons, the team announced on Saturday.
The 13th-seeded Trojans lost to Oregon in the Pac-12 championship game Friday-evening in Los Angeles. The USC would have landed a six shell berth had it beaten Oregon to remain undefeated. The Trojans finished the season 5-1.
The school said the decision to forgo bowl games was made by USC’s medical team, players, coach Clay Helton and athletic director Mike Bohn. USC said in a press release that the number of cases of COVID-19 within the program has increased and that, in addition to injuries, the Trojans are nearing the 53-player threshold needed to play a game.
The team played three games between December 6 and Friday. USC also noted that the number of COVID-19 cases in the Los Angeles area has increased and the out-of-season athletic teams have paused operations until January 4.
The Trojans are the fifth known Pac-12 team to opt out of bowl season for COVID-19 and other reasons, joining Stanford, Washington, UCLA and Utah.
“We are a student-athlete-centered athletics program, so we fully support the decision not to participate in a bowl game this year,” Bohn said in a prepared statement. “The physical, mental health and safety of our student athletes is paramount, and this season has put an unimaginable strain on our players in particular. This allows them to be with their families they haven’t seen in a long time and begin preparing for their academics in the spring semester.
“We are truly grateful for the way our student athletes, coaches and staff have handled this unprecedented season and worked through so many setbacks.”
USC will not appear in a bowl game for consecutive seasons for the first time since 2010 and 2011, when it received a two-year post-season ban from the NCAA.
“We all share a desire to stay healthy and be with loved ones over the holidays and I fully support this collective decision,” Helton said in a prepared statement. “I would like to thank our players for their remarkable efforts.
“We are all disappointed with the end of our season, but I am extremely proud of our players and it is an honor to be their coach.”