Report: Utah Pulls Out of Crossover Classic Amid COVID Concerns

Matt Norlander of CBS Sports is reporting that Utah has pulled out of the South Dakota-based Crossover Classic, which includes the West Virginia University men’s basketball team, scheduled for Nov. 25-27.

Breaking: Utah has left the South Dakota-based Crossover Classic, sources told CBS Sports. This is the field with WVU, Memphis, Texas A&M, Ohio St, Wichita St, Creighton & Dayton. Concerns over S. Dakota’s escalating COVID case rate was the force behind Utah bailing on the event.

— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) October 30, 2020

In the same thread, Norlander reports that Utah is concerned that the rising rate of COVID-19 infections in the state could jeopardize its Pac-12 season, scheduled to start on Dec. 3.

Wheels in motion to replace Utah, per sources, but team is TBD. P-12 brethren Oregon would make for good substitute—but Ducks have games scheduled for when Crossover takes place. Sources also said Ducks, Mizzou and Saint Mary’s heavily flirting w/ 4-team MTE for early Dec. in SD.

— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) October 30, 2020

This event, originally the 2020-21 Battle 4 Atlantis, originally included Duke, but the Blue Devils withdrew and were replaced by Dayton. The field right now is West Virginia, Dayton, Memphis, Texas A&M, Ohio State, Wichita State, and Creighton.

The Crossover Classic is scheduled to start on Nov. 25 with the first game being WVU against Texas A&M. West Virginia could only have played Utah on the final day of the event, Nov. 27.