The last thing any football coach wishes to deal with before a big game is a distraction. Unfortunately for Arkansas State, there’s no avoiding this one, as the Red Wolves have been devastated by an illness this week.

In fact, it has gotten so bad in Jonesboro that head coach Blake Anderson revealed 12 players have had to be sent to the hospital, according to Arkansas Democratic-Gazette reporter Troy Schulte. Anderson claims the illness affecting his team is believed to be a virus.

Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn of course has ties to Arkansas State, as he was the head coach in Jonesboro in 2012 after leaving Auburn following his stint as the team’s offensive coordinator. Malzahn went 9-3 in his lone season at Arkansas State before returning to Auburn as its new head coach.

Arkansas State travels to Auburn this Saturday for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff. The game will be televised on the SEC Network.