STANDSTILL

“This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to the spread of the pandemic and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities,” a statement from the NCAA read.

This of course means Mississippi State, nor any other school, will play for a national championship the remainder of this academic year. The

MSU men's basketball team was set to begin play in the Southeastern Conference Tournament in Nashville today to try and work its way into an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament. However the SEC event was canceled just hours before the NCAA announced there'd be no “Big Dance” either.

The MSU women's basketball team was set to host a selection show viewing party on Monday at Humphrey Coliseum. The Bulldogs were almost assuredly going to host NCAA women's tournament games, but now that won't happen.

MSU baseball and softball were still in the early portion of their seasons and both teams were playing exceptionally well lately, but now neither of those programs, or any other winter/spring sport, will have the chance to play for a national title.

Before the NCAA canceled its upcoming championships, the SEC had already announced Thursday the suspension of regular season competition in all league sports, as well as championship events, until at least March 30. Also, Mississippi State announced it is not allowing coaches to conduct off-campus recruiting activities or host recruits on official or unofficial campus visits until at least March 30. Currently, it's unknown how MSU will handle spring football, which is set to start next week.

“Putting the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, staff and entire Mississippi State community first is our top priority and we stand firmly with (SEC) Commissioner Greg Sankey and MSU President Mark E. Keenum on these decisions made (Thursday),” MSU Athletic Director John Cohen said. “We will continue to work with our university leadership, the SEC and NCAA in regard to this rapidly-changing issue. This situation remains fluid and anything is subject to change at a moment's notice. We appreciate the understanding and patience of our university, fans, partners and community during this time.”

There does seem to be a disconnect between the NCAA and the SEC in regards to how the remainder of this winter/spring will play out. Despite the NCAA canceling its championships, the SEC seemed caught off guard at that news.

“I've been through enough surprising statements or events in the last 36 hours and I'm a bit numb, as you might imagine,” Sankey said on The Paul

Finebaum Show. “Surprised that we've made a decision now in mid-march to not play a baseball or softball national championship event, so I look forward to learning what informed that decision.”

A source told 247Sports that the SEC hasn't contemplated the possibility of canceling seven spring sports' seasons or their postseason championships and tournaments. That at least leaves open the possibility that the SEC Baseball Tournament or other events could still happen.

However there are no guarantees of that and at this point, it is unknown when, or if, college sports might return this year.