STILLWATER LOSES OUT

The NCAA Cross Country Championships in Stillwater have been called off due to COVID-19 concerns

STILLWATER — For the second time, the COVID- 19 pandemic has wiped out an NCAA championship event at Oklahoma State.

OSU was set to host the NCAA cross country championships in November, but that event — along with all non- football Division I championships for fall sports — was canceled by the NCAA on Thursday.

The NCAA also canceled the Football Championship Subdivision ( formerly Division I-AA) playoffs.

The cancellations were made because the number of participating schools in those sports dropped below 50% of the total competing programs, a requirement by the NCAA's Board of Governors to hold championships. Among the NCAA's fall sports are cross country, soccer and volleyball.

Earlier this year, OSU lost out on the NCAA tennis championships, which were set to be held at the Michael and Anne Greenwood Tennis Center in May.

The decision to cancel fall championship came as conference after conference in Division I postponed fall sports.

“We cannot, at this point, have fall NCAA championships,” said NCAA President Mark Emmert in a video interview posted Thursday evening. "Sadly, tragically, that's going to be the case this fall.

"That doesn't mean we shouldn't and can't turn toward winter and spring and say, 'OK, how can we create a legitimate championship for all those students.' ... I'm completely confident that we can figure this out."

Fall championships in Divisions II and III had already been put on hold.

It should be noted, however, that this decision does not apply to the College Football Playoff, which is not an NCAA event but is run by the conferences. As of now six of the 10 FBS leagues, including the SEC, ACC and Big 12, are still hoping to play football starting in September.