2 more college football bowl games canceled because of Covid-19

The Sun Bowl featuring the Miami Hurricanes and the Washington State Cougars was searching for a new team to participate Sunday after the University of Miami said it was withdrawing due to Covid-19 protocols.

Washington State said it’s working with the Pac-12 conference and the Sun Bowl Association to “hopefully find a replacement for the game.”

Boston College did not have enough players available due to a rise in Covid-19 cases, Director of Athletics Pat Kraft said.

“Unfortunately, due to cases of Covid-19 rising within our program since our arrival, along with season-ending injuries, opt-outs and transfers, we just do not have enough players to field a team,” Kraft said. “We are disappointed not to be able to finish the season together as a team, but the health and safety of our program is our highest priority.”

Having to cancel is a “terrible situation,” the bowl’s president and executive director, Steve Beck, said in a statement.

“We appreciate everyone who worked so hard to try to make the game happen. Of course, the health and safety of the players and coaches is top priority,” he said. “The decision not to play is understandable, but disappointing.”

The Military Bowl Parade and the Military Bowl Tailgate Festival, scheduled for Monday morning, also are canceled.

The University of Virginia team’s number of Covid-19 cases also prevented it from safely participating in the Fenway Bowl in Boston, it said.

The team was “extremely disappointed,” Virginia Athletics Director Carla Williams said.

“We appreciate all of the hard work by our team and coaching staff. They earned this bowl invitation, and it is unfortunate they will not be able to compete in the game to complete the season,” she said. “We regret how this also impacts our fans who were planning on attending the game as well as the SMU program and its fans.”

All activities associated with the Fenway Bowl will no longer take place, Fenway Sports Management said.

“Though we all are disappointed that the Wasabi Fenway Bowl will not be played this year, we are grateful to our community partners, sponsors, volunteers, and stakeholders for their hard work to introduce college bowl season to Fenway Park,” Fenway Sports Management said in a statement. “We’d like to extend that appreciation to both schools and fanbases for their enthusiastic support. We look forward to seeing everyone at the 2022 Wasabi Fenway Bowl.”

Miami’s deputy director of athletics, Jennifer Strawley, echoed the other teams’ statements, saying they were “extremely disappointed” not to participate in the Sun Bowl.

“But due to the number of Covid-19 cases impacting our…