FAA ground stop threatens college football weekend

Ground stop halts college football travel

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a nationwide ground stop late Friday afternoon, leaving college football teams unable to travel for their weekend games.

Communication issue caused the disruption

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said there had been a communication issue impacting air traffic control centers. The ground stop was lifted at around eight thirty pm Eastern time.

Duffy urges teams to reschedule flights

At a press conference, Duffy said larger movements would be prioritized, which could include college football teams on large charter planes. He encouraged teams to reach out to the FAA to schedule flight times.

“I would encourage those football teams to reach out to the FAA to schedule their flight times and make sure they can move to make sure we have games going off tomorrow.”

Multiple teams grounded across the country

The University of Texas, University of Utah, Kansas State, and Baylor all confirmed they were grounded and waiting to determine travel plans for Saturday games.

Conferences assess schedule changes

The Southeastern Conference and Big 12 said they were monitoring the situation and coordinating with member institutions to determine whether schedule changes are needed for Saturday games.

“The Conference will continue to monitor the travel disruptions alongside its member institutions and provide updates for Saturday's games.”

Some teams find alternative travel options

Purdue University confirmed its team was traveling to Iowa City via bus Friday evening after its plane was grounded. Other sports including college basketball and professional leagues were also affected.