TCU was scheduled to be the first Big 12 team to take the field in 2020. The Horned Frogs’ scheduled game against SMU on Sept. 11, however, has been called off. With the game postponed and no makeup date set yet, the Big 12 has shared its game cancelation thresholds for the 2020 season.

The Big 12 announced that the minimum number of players required to play a game has been set at 53. The number is based on the entire roster, including all scholarship and walk-on players, the Big 12 release notes.

Additional minimum thresholds of available players were also established for offensive linemen (7), interior defensive linemen (4) and quarterback (1). Teams falling below any of these benchmarks, based on game week test results, could still elect to play as scheduled if so desired, per the Big 12.

As for teams in TCU’s situation of having a game canceled:

Teams falling below any of these benchmarks, based on game week test results, could still elect to play as scheduled if so desired. Otherwise, upon approval by the Commissioner, the game would be declared a no-contest if it cannot be moved to a later date.

TCU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jeremiah Donati released a statement on the SMU game:

“We are disappointed to announce that our upcoming football game against SMU will not be played as scheduled on September 11. We have agreed with SMU to monitor dates throughout the season to potentially make up the game.

“In the course of following CDC guidelines and our aggressive testing and contact tracing strategy, we discovered that some student-athletes and support staff in our football program have tested positive for COVID-19. Those individuals were notified immediately and are currently abiding by CDC protocols.

“No one is currently facing serious health issues, and we intend to continue our enforcement of strict standards to protect the program and our community. Everyone’s health and safety remains our top priority. We share in your disappointment, but firmly believe we will be ready to resume football activities soon. We will continue to follow prevention and testing protocols and look forward to our Big 12 Conference opener against Iowa State on September 26.”

We’ll see if the SEC and other conferences announce similar roster-thresholds for games.