We knew this was a possibility.

COVID-19 has made this a year of uncertainty everywhere, and SEC football is no different.

Florida was forced to stop practice for 2 weeks after members of the team tested positive for the virus. Nick Saban nearly missed the Alabama-Georgia game because of a false positive. This Tuesday, Texas A&M became one of the latest schools impacted by coronavirus.

After suspending practice Monday because of positive tests, the Aggies postponed their game at Tennessee, originally scheduled for Saturday. That game has been moved to Dec. 12 as the Aggies hope to be ready to play against Ole Miss on Nov. 21.

They aren’t alone. Alabama-LSU was also postponed this week because of positive tests for the Tigers. Mississippi State postponed its game against No. 24 Auburn. Georgia’s game against Missouri was the 4th to fall this week. It’s just another thing that bites about 2020.

But it does seem to come at an extremely unfortunate time for an A&M squad that was jelling more each week.

The Aggies moved up to No. 5 in the AP poll this week, their highest ranking of the Jimbo Fisher era. They have looked like one of the most balanced teams in the country, and national attention has come with it. Should the Aggies be worried about missing the mandatory 10 days?

Not overly.

So long as A&M picks up where they left off in Saturday’s 48-3 win over South Carolina, they should remain squarely in the discussion for the College Football Playoff. The Gators didn’t seem to suffer any ill effects from their quarantine, returning to beat Missouri and Georgia and rise to No. 6 in the nation.

Whether they can clear protocol in time for the game against Ole Miss remains the biggest question for the Aggies. Because they suspended practice Monday, the earliest they would be able to return is Nov. 19. That would mean nearly all of their preparation for the game against the Rebels would have to be done virtually. Who knows whether that is even possible.

If that game is also postponed, it potentially puts the Aggies in a bind. They are already scheduled to play every week until the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 19. If they don’t play in the championship (which they likely won’t), would the conference allow them to play the Bulldogs that same day?

Either way, I don’t see much difference between an 8-1 A&M team and 9-1, as long as they keep winning as handily as they have been. At this point, the Aggies really can’t do much, outside of losing, to hurt their chances. What isn’t in their control ultimately will hold the key to the postseason.

Notre Dame beating Clemson in overtime this past week hurt the Aggies a lot more than this COVID-19 mess should. Now A&M will have to hope the Fighting Irish are good enough to get the job done again in the ACC Championship Game, when Trevor Lawrence is expected to be available for the Tigers. Either that, or pray that North Carolina upsets the Irish on Nov. 27.

Florida beating Georgia was a big win. Now the Aggies just have to hope Alabama takes care of the Gators in a likely SEC Championship matchup, and A&M instantly becomes the second-best candidate from the SEC.

So while the news this week is upsetting, it doesn’t really affect A&M’s goals for this year. Hopefully, the Aggies can get back to full health soon and return to bulldozing through the rest of the SEC schedule.

In the meantime, the Notre Dame-Boston College game on Saturday could draw some interest for a few people in College Station whose schedule just opened up.