Top-ranked Clemson quarterback and Heisman contender Trevor Lawrence tests positive for COVID-19 after leading the push for a fall college football season amid the pandemic

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence has tested positive for COVID-19 following his off-season push for a college football season amid the pandemic. 

Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said in a statement released by the school Thursday night that Lawrence is in isolation with mild symptoms. 

Per Atlantic Coast Conference protocol under the guidance of the CDC, individuals who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate for a minimum of 10 days, which means Lawrence will miss the top-ranked Tigers' upcoming game against Boston College. 

However, Lawrence may become available for one of the most anticipated games of the college football season when Clemson travels to South Bend, Indiana to face fourth-ranked Notre Dame on November 7.   

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence has tested positive for COVID-19 following his off-season push for a college football season amid the pandemic. Freshman quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei has been the first in after Lawrence this season when games get out of hand. Uiagalelei, at 6-4 and 250 pounds, was rated the country's second-best college prospect by Rivals.com last season

Lawrence said in a statement on Twitter that his symptoms have been 'relatively mild' and he was following protocol from Clemson and the ACC about the virus

Lawrence said in a statement on Twitter that his symptoms have been 'relatively mild' and he was following protocol from Clemson and the ACC about the virus.

'The only thing that hurts is missing an opportunity to be with my teammates this weekend and play the game I love,' he said.

Lawrence said he'd be watching and cheering for the Tigers from isolation.

In August, Lawrence led a successful social media movement among college football players to push for a fall season amid the pandemic. At the time, major conferences such as the Big Ten and Pac-12 were postponing their seasons until the spring of 2021, but have since reversed those decisions and have started playing condensed schedules.  

In August, Lawrence led a successful social media movement among college football players to push for a fall season amid the pandemic. At the time, major conferences such as the Big Ten and Pac-12 were postponing their seasons until the spring of 2021, but have since reversed those decisions and have started playing fall football

'People are at just as much, if not more risk, if we don't play,' Lawrence tweeted in August. 'Players will all be sent home to their own communities where social distancing is highly unlikely and medical care and expenses will be placed on the families if they were to contract covid19.

'Not to mention the players coming from situations that are not good for them/ their future and having to go back to that,' he continued. 'Football is a safe haven for so many people. We are more likely to get the virus in everyday life than playing football.'

Lawrence went on to argue that having a football season 'incentivizes being safe and taking all of the right precautions to try to avoid contracting covid because the season/ teammates safety is on the line.'

'Without the season, as we've seen already, people will not social distance or wear masks and take the proper precautions.'

The junior from Georgia is a leading contender for the Heisman Trophy and potentially the top overall pick in next year's NFL draft. 

He led the Tigers (6-0, 5-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) to a national championship as a freshman and back to the College Football playoff championship game last season. Clemson's loss to LSU in the title game was the first - and still only - game the Tigers have lost in Lawrence's 32 career starts 

Clemson is tested three times a week per ACC protocol. 

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said that while COVID-infected QB Trevor Lawrence will be missed against the Eagles (4-2, 3-2), it was an 'opportunity for other guys to step up'

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence could return to face quarterback Ian Book and fourth-ranked Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana on November 7

Lawrence created a stir earlier this week when asked about his NFL future said he still had the option to stay or leave.

'My mindset has been that I'm going to move on,' Lawrence said Tuesday. 'But who knows? There's a lot of things that could happen.'

Swinney said that while Lawrence will be missed against the Eagles (4-2, 3-2), it was an 'opportunity for other guys to step up.'

Freshman quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei has been the first in after Lawrence this season when games get out of hand. Uiagalelei, at 6-4 and 250 pounds, was rated the country's second-best college prospect by Rivals.com last season.  He enrolled in January and went through spring drills until the coronavirus pandemic shut down college sports last March.

Uiagalelei has completed 12 of 19 passes for 102 yards. The Tigers also have used sophomore Taisun Phommachanh and Hunter Helms at quarterback this season. 

The announcement followed reports that quarterback Graham Mertz (No. 5) had tested positive twice - which would require him to sit out at least 21 days under Big Ten protocols - and that backup quarterback Chase Wolf had tested positive at least once

Meanwhile the pandemic has already hit Big Ten football just two weeks into its season as No. 9 Wisconsin canceled its upcoming game at Nebraska and paused team activities for at least a week after a dozen people in the program - including coach Paul Chryst - tested positive for COVID-19.

Athletic director Barry Alvarez, the former Badgers football coach, and Chancellor Rebecca Blank made the decision in consultation with Big Ten officials. Alvarez said the team had only one positive test two days before Friday's season-opening 45-7 victory over Illinois and 12 positive tests afterward.

'With the number of positives in that short a timeline, the chancellor and I felt we have an issue, that we have to make this decision and get our arms around this and control the COVID and virus now before it got out of hand,' Alvarez said.

Chancellor Blank commended the 'trainers, doctors and public health staff' who protected the 'heath of our student-athletes'

Nebraska had planned on playing the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga instead, but the Big Ten rejected that scenario, according to multiple reports. 

Alvarez said Wisconsin had reached the 'orange/red' levels in the Big Ten protocols based on its rate of positive tests. The Big Ten says teams in that area must proceed with caution; among the steps is considering the viability of playing.

Chryst said he underwent a polymerase chain reaction test Tuesday and learned Wednesday morning he was positive. 

'Physically, I feel good,' Chryst said. 'Certainly disappointed for what's happened. ... As we've gone about this, we were wanting the opportunity, and our players were wanting the opportunity to play. To not have that opportunity, and I know why and I support and understand why we're not , but when you have a hand in it ... that's where there's disappointment.'

School officials said six players and six staff members tested positive over the last five days. Additional test results were pending.

Wisconsin becomes the first Big Ten school to cancel a game since the league started its pandemic-delayed season five days ago. It was the 37th game involving Football Bowl Subdivision teams to be postponed or canceled since August 6.

School officials said six players and six staff members - including quarterback Graham Mertz and coach Paul Chryst (red hat) - tested positive over the last five days Photos started circulating on social media over the weekend, showing Chryst's mask didn't cover his nose at times during Friday's game against Illinois 

The announcement followed reports that quarterback Graham Mertz had tested positive twice - which would require him to sit out at least 21 days under Big Ten protocols - and that backup quarterback Chase Wolf had tested positive at least once.

Last year's starting quarterback, Jack Coan, is already out indefinitely following foot surgery. The Badgers' only other scholarship quarterback is junior Danny Vanden Boom. 

Rescheduling the Nebraska game would have been problematic because the Big Ten's nine-game schedule doesn't give teams any off weeks.

Nebraska had no immediate comment on the cancellation. Alvarez said he contacted Nebraska athletic director Bill Moos.

'I thought Bill was very professional and understanding,' Alvarez said. 'He felt disappointed for us and I'm sure disappointed that we weren't going to play a game.'

Wisconsin's next scheduled game is November 7 at home against Purdue, but that matchup also could be in jeopardy.

'We'll see where we are as far as testing, and we'll make that decision as we move closer to the game,' Alvarez said. 

Last year's starting quarterback, Jack Coan , is already out indefinitely following foot surgery. The Badgers' only other scholarship quarterback is junior Danny Vanden Boom