UConn has canceled its football season over concerns regarding COVID-19, the school announced Wednesday morning in a press release.

With the decision, UConn becomes the first FBS team to cancel its season. The Huskies had an independent schedule after leaving the American Athletic Conference for the Big East this summer. The Big East no longer plays football at the FBS level, so UConn — similar to Army and Notre Dame — was on its own.

And as time has passed, the possibility of a football season has looked gloomier and gloomier for UConn. Plans the Big Ten, SEC and Colonial Athletic Association implemented canceled UConn’s matchups with Illinois, Indiana, Maine and Mississippi. On top of this, there was ongoing uncertainty about UConn’s games against ACC schools North Carolina and Virginia.

Putting players on the field simply wasn’t worth the risk, athletic director David Benedict said in the release.

“The necessary measures needed to mitigate risk of football student-athletes contracting the coronavirus are not conducive to delivering an optimal experience for our team,” Benedict said. “Ultimately, the student-athletes would rather preserve their year of eligibility with an eye to competing under more typical circumstances during the 2021 season.”

Per the release, the team has had zero positive tests since players began arriving on campus in early July. UConn was uniquely able to complete a full spring schedule, Benedict pointed out. However, the team has had limited opportunities to collectively practice this summer.

The football team offered “full support of the decision” in a joint statement through the press release. They also cited fear of potential long-term effects of COVID-19 as the main reason why they aren’t comfortable playing.

The players said in the statement they haven’t had enough time to adequately prepare for this season.  “We came to campus in the beginning of July knowing there would be challenges presented by the pandemic,” they said. “But it is apparent to us now that these challenges are impossible to overcome.”