The coronavirus pandemic has now reached one of college football's most iconic faces as Alabama head coach Nick Saban has tested positive for COVID-19 along with athletic director Greg Byrne, the school announced on Wednesday.
"I found out earlier this afternoon that I had tested positive for COVID-19," Saban said in a statement. "I immediately left work and isolated at home. At this time, I do not have any symptoms relative to COVID, and I have taken another PCR test to confirm my diagnosis."
If a second test confirms Saban's diagnosis, the Alabama coach will be sidelined for Saturday night's showdown between No. 2 Alabama and No. 3 Georgia – arguably the Tide's biggest game of the regular season.
In Saban's absence, offensive coordinator and former USC and Washington head coach Steve Sarkisian “will oversee operations,” Saban said in a statement.
Saban's positive test headlines what appears to be a COVID-19 outbreak throughout the SEC. Saturdays Vanderbilt-Missouri and Florida-LSU games have already been postponed due to positive cases, and Lane Kiffin said on Wednesday that Ole Miss had positive tests within its program.
