Saturday’s football game in Lincoln between Nebraska and Wisconsin has been canceled after positive COVID-19 tests in the Wisconsin football program.
The game was to be the home opener for the Huskers.
The joint decision to pause football activities in Madison and cancel Saturday's game was made by Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez and UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank, in consultation with the Big Ten Conference.
The Wisconsin athletics department says the game will not be rescheduled, with schedules in this late-starting season so tight.
"We have said from the beginning that the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches and staff members comes first," Alvarez said. "Over the past several days we have seen a rising number of student-athletes and staff contract the virus. The responsible thing for us to do is to pause football-related activities for at least seven days."
"We thank and appreciate our athletic trainers, doctors and public health staff who are supporting the health and safety of our student-athletes and program," said Blank.
As of Wednesday morning, a total of 12 people within the Wisconsin football program had tested positive for COVID-19 in the past five days.
That figure includes six student-athletes and six staff members, including head coach Paul Chryst.
Additional test results are pending.
"This morning I received the news that I had tested positive via a PCR test I took yesterday," Chryst said. "I informed my staff and the team this morning and am currently isolating at home. I had not been experiencing any symptoms and feel good as of this morning.
"I am disappointed for our players and coaching staff who put so much into preparing to play each week. But the safety of everyone in our program has to be our top priority and I support the decision made to pause our team activities."