Intrigue Increases For Clemson-Notre Dame With Trevor Lawrence’s Positive COVID-19 Test

Thursday’s thunderbolt that Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence had contracted COVID-19 and would miss this week’s game against Boston College sent tremors all the way up to South Bend, Ind., and beyond. 

Suddenly, college football’s top player on its top-ranked team was in jeopardy of missing the latest Game of the Century on Nov. 7 against fourth-ranked Notre Dame. 

Even though Lawrence, the likely No. 1 overall pick in next year’s NFL Draft, termed his symptoms “relatively mild,” the timing of his return remained somewhat of a mystery. Under Atlantic Coast Conference protocols, student-athletes must self-isolate for 10 days after a positive COVID-19 test before they can rejoin team activities. 

In addition, according to ACC guidelines announced in late August, players that test positive must undergo a cardiac evaluation that includes an electrocardiogram, an echocardiogram and a troponin test before being cleared for action. 

There’s also an extra required day of “fever free” status. 

Considering Clemson tests its players three times a week — Sunday, Wednesday and Friday — Lawrence, who handled his media availability on Tuesday, likely tested positive on Wednesday. 

Now do the math. 

Does a 10-day isolation period expire on Nov. 6 or Nov. 7? And does the “fever free” deal mean 24 hours of rest or does the 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Notre Dame Stadium provide enough wiggle room for Sir Locks-a-Lot to ride to the rescue? 

In addition, you have the matters of practice time, which Lawrence doesn’t figure to get any of before facing one of the nation’s stingiest defenses, as well as travel logistics. Would Lawrence be cleared in time to head north with the rest of the Clemson traveling party or would he have to make the 685-mile drive on his own? 

Freshman DJ Uiagalelei, a five-star recruit from California and the top-rated quarterback in the 2020 recruiting class, will replace Lawrence against Boston College. In five mopup outings, the young talent has thrown for 102 yards on 12-of-19 passing and scored two rushing touchdowns. 

Could he beat the Irish should Lawrence need more recovery time? It’s certainly possible, but for now DraftKings.com has taken the much-anticipated showdown off the board after seeing the Tigers pushed out to as much as a 15 1/2-point favorite in recent days.

All of it is enough to spur memories from 1993, when another top-ranked power from the South (Florida State) made a November trek to the Midwest as a two-touchdown favorite against an unbeaten Irish title contender. Like Lawrence, Seminoles quarterback Charlie Ward had to sit out the previous week’s game, only in his case it was due to sore ribs. 

Ward, perhaps hampered, managed to play, but Lou Holtz’s inspired Irish sprung the 31-24 upset in a game that still shimmers in the mind’s eye.

Whether Lawrence makes it to the post remains to be seen, but the parallels of intrigue have been drawn.