The college football world received a shock on Wednesday when Alabama announced that football coach Nick Saban and athletic director Greg Byrne both tested positive for the coronavirus.
The Crimson Tide coach has never missed a game, a mark that includes 183 contests through 13-plus seasons at Alabama. That streak is in jeopardy, however, as the Tide prepare to face No. 3 Georgia at home on Saturday. His absence from that game would mark a huge hole in the 2020 college football season, and presumably give Kirby Smart's Bulldogs a leg up in the game.
Saban will be able to coach Saturday's game against the Bulldogs, however, as he met the criteria for an early return in accordance with the revised SEC COVID-19 protocols regarding asymptomatic individuals.
Here's everything you need to know about Saban's positive coronavirus test: his quarantine length; SEC COVID-19 protocols; and the latest news regarding his diagnosis.
MORE: Saban 'feeling great,' would 'hate' to miss Georgia game
How long is Nick Saban out with COVID-19?
Saban will coach Alabama vs. the Bulldogs after having produced three negative PCR tests — while remaining asymptomatic — on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The University of Alabama on Saturday released the following statement on Saban's condition:
“Upon evaluation today, Coach Saban remains completely asymptomatic. To address the potential for a false positive, the SEC Return to Activity and Medical Guidance Task Force Protocol allows for follow-up testing to clear the individual’s return to activity. That protocol requires three negative PCR tests 24 hours apart.
Because Coach Saban remained asymptomatic, he received PCR testing at 7 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and today through the SEC appointed lab. Each of those tests were negative and were reported via the SEC’s third-party testing provider to the conference office in Birmingham. Those three negative tests satisfied the SEC protocol for a false positive. Out of an abundance of caution, two additional PCR tests were administered at the same time on Thursday and Friday and were tested by a separate lab. Those tests were also negative.
Due to the fact that Coach Saban has remained completely symptom-free and had five negative PCR tests, split between two separate labs, the initial test from Wednesday is considered a false positive under the SEC protocols. Again, that initial positive result came from an outside lab we’ve used to supplement the SEC mandated testing. We have been in constant communication with the conference office throughout this process to ensure compliance with all applicable protocols. In accordance with the SEC Return to Activity and Medical Guidance Task Force Protocol and with the approval of The University of Alabama System Health and Safety Task Force, Coach Saban is medically cleared to safely return to activity effective immediately.”
COVID-19 rules for NCAA, SEC, Alabama
The SEC's protocols mandate at least a 10-day isolation period for infections, confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction tests administered by third-party member PAE. But Saban's asymptomatic status presents him a path to return in as few as 72 hours.
Below are the SEC's guidelines for asymptomatic individuals:
Asymptomatic individuals with a positive COVID-19 RT-PCR test will be placed immediately into isolation. Within 24 hours of receiving the results of the positive PCR test, the individual may receive a second PCR test at the direction of team medical personnel (test to be administered by PAE).
- If the 2nd PCR test is positive, this will confirm an active COVID-19 infection.
- If the 2nd PCR test is negative, the individual should receive two (2) additional PCR tests 24 hours apart administered by PAE. If the individual has three (3) successive negative PCR test, and remains asymptomatic, they may be released from isolation and medically cleared to return to athletics activities only. The individual should also return to the surveillance testing program. Contacts associated with the exposure, who are in the SEC’s surveillance testing program, may be released from quarantine for athletics activities only.
Under the SEC's protocols, Saban can since he remained asymptomatic and produced three successive negative PCR tests — one within 24 hours of diagnosis and two more, 24 hours apart — prior to Saturday's game.
On Friday, Alabama released more information regarding Saban's tests that suggest he will attempt to coach vs. Georgia:
“Coach Saban was evaluated again today by Dr. Robinson," team doctor Jeff Allan said in the statement. "He continues to be asymptomatic and without fever. We are continuing to follow the SEC Return to Activity and Medical Guidance Task Force Protocol for testing asymptomatic positives. A PCR test was repeated Thursday by the SEC appointed lab and was negative.
"For clarification, the initial positive result came from an outside lab we’ve used to supplement the SEC-mandated testing. He will continue to remain in isolation and receive daily PCR tests. Should he have three negative PCR tests through the SEC appointed lab, each 24 hours apart, the initial test would be considered a false positive pursuant to SEC protocols and he would be allowed to return.”
On Saturday, Alabama confirmed Saban would be on the sidelines against the Bulldogs. That was later confirmed by a statement from the SEC:
“Upon being notified by the University of Alabama of a potential positive COVID-19 test result involving Nick Saban, the SEC Office provided and reviewed with the university the COVID-19 management requirements established by the SEC’s Medical Guidance Task Force and emphasized the need to comply with all local and state health policies.
Consistent with the Conference’s COVID-19 management requirements, PAE, the third-party provider secured by the SEC to standardize and provide testing for the 14 member institutions, has utilized the authorized laboratory in processing and reporting the three tests 24 hours apart as necessary to satisfy the requirements of the Task Force policy regarding the handling of asymptomatic PCR positive tests.”
Nick Saban COVID-19 news
— Wednesday, Oct. 14: Alabama football announces that Saban and athletic director Greg Byrne tested positive for the coronavirus.
"I found out earlier this afternoon that I had tested positive for COVID-19," Saban said in a statement. "I immediately left work and isolated at home. At this time, I do not have any symptoms relative to COVID, and I have taken another PCR test to confirm my diagnosis."
That said, Saban was upbeat with reporters with whom he spoke later that evening, saying he felt fine despite the diagnosis.
"I feel fine, so I'm not really concerned that much about my health, but you never know," Saban said. "Look, I basically feel like when we're in our own personal bubble here, everybody is in a much safer place. I think as soon as you travel, you get exposed to a lot more things and a lot more people."
— Thursday, Oct. 15: Alabama team doctor Jeff Allen provides an update on Saban's health:
“Coach Saban was evaluated by our team physician Dr. Jimmy Robinson today. Coach remains asymptomatic at this point and is doing fine. He is continuing to self-isolate and will remain in the SEC testing protocol while being evaluated daily."
— Thursday, Oct. 15: Saban, speaking remotely on his weekly radio show, says he is "feeling great" and would "hate" to miss Saturday's game vs. the Bulldogs.
— Friday, Oct. 16: Allen provides further clarification on Saban's status, suggesting it's possible for him to return in time for Alabama-Georgia:
"For clarification, the initial positive result came from an outside lab we’ve used to supplement the SEC-mandated testing," Allen said. "He will continue to remain in isolation and receive daily PCR tests. Should he have three negative PCR tests through the SEC appointed lab, each 24 hours apart, the initial test would be considered a false positive pursuant to SEC protocols and he would be allowed to return."
— Saturday, Oct. 17: The University of Alabama and the Southeastern Conference confirm Saban is available to coach Alabama against Georgia, citing five negative PCR tests he produced to render his initial positive diagnosis a false positive.
