Why was South Dakota-Portland State game canceled? Exploring the reason and latest update

South Dakota Coyotes (1-1) and Portland State Vikings (0-2) were scheduled to play each other on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET at Hillsboro Stadium in Hillsboro, Oregon. However, this game was canceled before a pass was even thrown.

Why was South Dakota vs. Portland State game canceled?

The game was cancelled due to a decision made by Portland State. According to the Vikings, an outbreak of whooping cough has affected the team. As a result of this highly contagious disease, the game was canceled to ensure player safety.

Portland State released the following statement after canceling the game.

"A case of pertussis (whooping cough) got into the Viking team two days ago. Pertussis is a highly contagious disease that affects the lungs. As a result, many team members have been exposed to the disease.

"The two programs and their team doctors have been in discussions regarding the situation. It was determined by Portland State that the game would not be played in the interest of the health of the student-athletes."

The team reported that no players are seriously ill and should be able to play again once they have recovered from their illnesses.

South Dakota vs. Portland State ticket information

As of writing, there has been no specific information on what fans who bought a ticket to this game should do. However, in their statement, Portland State said:

"Information on ticketing and refunds will be announced at a later date."

It is highly unlikely that the game will be replayed. This is due to the tightly compacted schedule each college football program has.

Also, it was a non-conference game, so this cancellation's impact is minimal in terms of each program's hunt for a conference championship.

In Week 4, Portland State will face Boise State and South Dakota will host Drake.