Washington vs Michigan State kickoff delayed to 5:30 p.m. after FAA ground stop
The Washington vs Michigan State football game in East Lansing has been pushed back to 5:30 p.m. after a nationwide FAA ground stop delayed the Huskies' flight from Seattle.
The Big Ten football game between Michigan State and Washington in East Lansing has been moved to a 5:30 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, after a nationwide ground stop disrupted air travel and delayed the Huskies' trip. The game had originally been scheduled for 4:15 p.m. at Spartan Stadium.
Why the Huskies were delayed
According to WILX, the Huskies' flight out of Seattle was held up by several hours because of Friday's ground stop. The Detroit Free Press reported that Washington did not leave Seattle until after the stop was lifted, shortly before 9 p.m. ET on Friday.
The Detroit Free Press reported that the team was expected to arrive in Michigan at about 2:20 a.m. Saturday. The Big Ten pushed the start time back in response, while keeping the game on Big Ten Network.
Gameday schedule for fans
Parking lots at Spartan Stadium will open at 7 a.m., according to WILX. The MSUFCU Club & Suites and the student section gates will open at 3:30 p.m., and all other gates will open at 4 p.m.
The Spartans were already in East Lansing and set to host, so the delay mainly affects the visiting team's travel.
Other Michigan teams hit by the grounding
The Detroit Free Press also listed other teams affected by the disruption. The Michigan Wolverines were due to play Oregon in football at 3:30 p.m. Saturday after travelling to Eugene on Thursday. The men's basketball team is scheduled to host William & Mary at 2 p.m. Sunday.
The Detroit Lions are scheduled to face the New England Patriots in Munich, Germany, at 9:30 a.m. ET on Sunday. The Pistons flew to Miami before a Saturday night game, and the Red Wings are on a road trip that includes a Saturday game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
What we know so far
The Michigan State and Washington game is now set for 5:30 p.m. Saturday in East Lansing, with the Huskies due in Michigan in the early hours of that day. Both reports tie the revised timing to the ground stop's effect on travel. The cause of the ground stop has been described only as a nationwide FAA grounding of flights.
A Seattle Times live update also covered the delayed Huskies and their bowl eligibility, but its details were not part of the material available for this story.
