Michigan State’s home game against Washington will now start at 5:30 p.m. ET on Saturday after the Huskies faced significant travel delays. The Big Ten Conference announced the new kickoff time following a nationwide FAA ground stop on Friday that disrupted flights across the United States and left Washington’s team stranded in Seattle.
Washington’s football squad was unable to leave Seattle as planned after the Federal Aviation Administration temporarily halted all flights due to communication problems. According to Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press, the Huskies finally departed around 10:50 p.m. ET on Friday and are expected to land in Lansing near 2:30 a.m. Saturday. This late arrival posed challenges for the team’s preparation ahead of the Big Ten contest.
The Big Ten Conference cited Washington’s travel delays as the reason for pushing the kickoff back from its original 4:15 p.m. ET slot. The extra 75 minutes provide the Huskies additional time to settle in and prepare for the game at Spartan Stadium.
Michigan State has confirmed the updated game-day schedule for fans attending the matchup. Parking lots will open at 7:00 a.m., student section gates and the MSUFCU Club & Suites will open at 3:30 p.m., and all other stadium gates will open at 4:00 p.m. The game will still be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.
The Spartans enter the game at 3-6 following their 15-6 upset over Michigan, which ended a six-game losing streak. Michigan State needs to win its last three games to become bowl eligible, starting with Washington. The Huskies hold a 5-4 record and require just one more win to reach six victories.
Head coach Pat Fitzgerald and his team face a critical stretch, but the altered kickoff time does not change the stakes. Washington’s travel ordeal adds an unusual wrinkle to the day, with the team arriving after an exhausting overnight flight.
The Big Ten confirmed the game remains on schedule despite the disruptions, and fans can expect the contest to begin at the revised 5:30 p.m. ET kickoff.
According to Yahoo Sports.
