Utah schedules Washington game after Arizona state game canceled due to COVID-19

SALT LAKE CITY – Following an opening weekend loss, Utah saw its third game of the season canceled due to COVID-19.

This time, however, it wasn’t because of the Utes – but it didn’t take long to find a replacement, either.

The Pac-12 announced Tuesday night that Utah’s game against Arizona State on Sunday had been called off due to the influx of positive cases into the Sun Devils’ program. The game has already been delayed by one day to Sunday to help Arizona State in its hopes of playing this week.

“After consultation with Arizona State University, the Pac-12 Conference announced that the game involving Utah against Arizona State scheduled for Sunday, November 29 will not be played,” the conference said in a statement.

This move was made as part of Pac-12 football policy because Arizona State University does not have the minimum number of scholarship recipients available for the game due to return-to-play protocols involving local quarantines prescribed by public health for contact tracing, as well as the time needed for the results of the evaluation of cardiac tests to be completed, ”the statement continued.

But three hours later, Utah was paired with Washington to play Saturday at 8:30 p.m. MT on ESPN. The Huskies were scheduled to play a rivalry game against Washington State on Saturday, but the game was called off due to the virus outbreak in the program.

“The programming of this match is consistent with the conference’s commitment to provide opportunities for student-athletes through maximum programming flexibility while prioritizing health and safety,” the conference said in a statement. separate release.

Utah Head Coach Kyle Whittingham said earlier Tuesday the team had prepared the “majority” of the time for the Sun Devils, but had some preparation in case they were called to play in Washington. . On his coaching show on ESPN 700, he said preparation for Washington was around 40% compared to the 60% spent in Arizona state.

“Well, right now the whole focus is on ASU until we’re told differently; that’s where we’re going to put the majority of our attention – I say the majority because you always have to pay attention to the other possibility – but that’s what our main focus is, “said Whittingham in the morning.” And we hope to find out as soon as possible. It would be ideal if we could find out today. “

Whittingham’s wish was granted.

“I understand that we will be on the road no matter which player we play,” Whittingham said at the time. “It looks like there’s no home game possibility this week,” despite playing for Washington last season. But 2020 doesn’t allow the nuances of a schedule to line up perfectly, so Utah will travel to Seattle once again to try their luck in their first win of the season.

Utah athletic director Mark Harlan tweeted Tuesday night, the game’s lineup in Seattle was all about television partnerships.

“The problem was that the TV partner needed a location yesterday, due to the vacation week. A lot of TV production trucks are based in the Northwest etc. Otherwise the game would be in SLC. well … without fans, it’s a whole different matter this year. Just happy to play- “

Utah will be without starting quarterback Cameron Rising, who suffered a late season injury in Utah’s loss to USC on Saturday. His injury, Whittingham said on his coaching show, was a “pretty big injury.” Rising will undergo surgery for what Whittingham has called a “chance” injury and will be held out of spring practice.

In the absence of Rising, senior quarterback Jake Bentley will take the start. The veteran quarterback threw for 171 yards and one touchdown on 16 of 28 passes in the loss to USC.

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