Colorado at No. 18 USC canceled due to COVID-19 protocols

No. 18 USC's game against Colorado (2-0) that was scheduled for Saturday has been canceled, the Pac-12 announced Thursday.

The conference said USC (3-0) did not have enough scholarship players available in a position group due to positive COVID-19 tests and contact tracing. The position group is the offensive line, a source told ESPN's Kyle Bonagura.

The game will be declared a no-contest.

Colorado will instead host San Diego State on Saturday (3 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network) at Folsom Field. 

"We are disappointed for our players and fans and those from Colorado that Saturday's game will not be played, but the health and safety of everyone in both programs is of the utmost priority," coach Clay Helton said in a statement. 

USC canceled in-person activities Thursday and was preparing virtually for Colorado after a player showed symptoms for COVID-19, the school said earlier Thursday.

Two players tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week and another five were in quarantine for contact tracing. USC canceled practice and closed its facility Tuesday but returned to in-person practice Wednesday after PCR testing and contact tracing was completed under the guidance of Los Angeles County health officials.

The Pac-12 canceled two games earlier this week, which led to a pairing of Utah and Washington on Saturday in Seattle. USC and UCLA are the only teams in the Pac-12 South that played all of their first three games. Oregon and Oregon State also haven't missed a game in the Pac-12 North.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.