San Diego State will enter its first-ever Pac-12 conference game against Texas State this Saturday with a significantly reduced roster due to a mumps outbreak that has sidelined 14 players. The university’s Student Health Services Medical Director, Dr. T. Ghosh, confirmed on Wednesday that San Diego County Public Health Services had verified the cases, all contained within a single athletic team, reportedly the football squad.
Mumps, a contagious viral infection causing painful swelling of the salivary glands, spreads through saliva or respiratory droplets. Ghosh noted that symptoms can appear 12 to 25 days after exposure, which means the outbreak has been spreading within the team for some time. The university and local health authorities have isolated those infected, and the players who tested positive are no longer contagious.
San Diego State’s head coach Sean Lewis confirmed that about 17 players are currently listed as doubtful or out for the Week 5 matchup. Lewis described the situation as a “nice storm,” referring to the combination of injuries and illness affecting nearly three dozen players. The team’s tight end room is particularly hard hit, with all seven players listed as either out, doubtful, or questionable.
Lewis declined to specify which players tested positive, citing privacy laws including FERPA and HIPAA. He told reporters on Wednesday that the team’s focus is on preparing those who must step up to fill the gaps. “Guys have got to be ready to step into the light when the time comes,” he said. “This too shall pass, and we’ve got to be able to see our way through it.”
The university has made MMR booster vaccines available for free to all students at an on-campus clinic or through their health providers in response to the outbreak. The timing of the announcement and the confirmed cases come just days before San Diego State’s scheduled 9:30 p.m. CT game against Texas State, adding another layer of challenge to the Aztecs’ preparation.
Texas State has not publicly confirmed whether it will implement additional health precautions ahead of the game. The team has yet to respond to inquiries about any measures to prevent potential exposure during the match.
The situation adds an unusual twist to Texas State’s first Pac-12 road game. While the Bobcats prepare to face a historically significant opponent in conference play, they will do so against a San Diego State side notably depleted by illness and injury. The full impact of the absences on the field remains to be seen once kickoff arrives.
According to Yahoo Sports.