Missouri will be without 12 players due to COVID-19 testing for its season-opening game against Alabama on Sept. 26, coach Eli Drinkwitz told reporters on Wednesday.
Drinkwitz, who is in his first year coaching the Tigers, declined to say how many of the 12 players have the virus versus those who are being held out due to contact tracing.
“Out is out,” he said. “Whether they got it or whether they contact trace, out is out. They can’t be around us, so there’s no reason to get into the numbers game and hype. It’s just we’re down 12 guys. It is what it is.”
Drinkwitz said that the 12 players being held out were the result of Sunday’s tests.
“We tested again today,” he said. “So … who knows? We’ll see. But as of right now, yes, 12.”
Drinkwitz also reported that two players have opted out: defensive tackle Chris Daniels and wideout Maurice Massey.
Daniels, a redshirt senior, played in two games last season.
Massey is a redshirt freshman and former three-star recruit.