SEC moves Oklahoma-Ole Miss game to Sunday after FAA ground stop

Summarised from 3 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 15 Nov, 01:38 · Archive

The SEC postponed Oklahoma's home game against Ole Miss from Saturday to Sunday after a nationwide FAA ground stop prevented the Rebels from leaving Oxford on Friday.

A nationwide FAA ground stop on Friday stranded college football teams across the country. Ole Miss, ranked No. 19, was unable to leave Oxford after the ground stop was lifted because their charter operator could no longer accommodate a Friday night departure. Flight crew duty limits had expired, preventing the team from taking off that evening.

With Ole Miss unable to reach Norman for the scheduled Saturday kickoff, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey moved the game to Sunday at 1pm. Oklahoma athletic director Roger Denny strongly objected. In a statement posted early Saturday morning, Denny said Sankey had informed him the Sooners would forfeit if they refused to play at the directed time on Sunday.

"After multiple conversations with the league office, Commissioner Sankey informed us of his decision to move our game to Sunday, over our strong objection," Denny wrote. He added that "this decision isn't fair to our athletes, our institution, or to Sooner Nation." Denny noted the move created disruption for fans who had made travel and accommodation arrangements for a Saturday game.

Ole Miss defended its efforts in a statement on Saturday. The school said it worked through "unprecedented challenges" posed by the ground stoppage and aimed to depart Friday night. However, flight crew duty time constraints forced them to wait until Saturday afternoon at the earliest. The Rebels determined an eight-hour bus journey was not feasible for student-athletes. Ole Miss noted that other SEC teams had either available Friday charters or could bus to games within four hours, advantages it did not have.

Commentator Paul Finebaum criticised Denny's response, suggesting the Oklahoma AD was "pathetically pandering" to fans. Finebaum said the SEC commissioner's decision prioritised the safety and logistics of the entire conference over individual team concerns.

How it is being reported

• Ole Miss pushes back after Oklahoma AD blasts game’s postponement over travel issuesOle Miss on Saturday defended its efforts to get to Norman in time for its SEC clash against Oklahoma.New York Post · 15 Nov, 01:04
• Paul Finebaum blasts Oklahoma AD for ‘pathetically pandering’ after ripping SEC for Ole Miss postponementPaul Finebaum didn't hold back.New York Post · 14 Nov, 19:26
• Oklahoma AD rips into SEC over Ole Miss showdown postponement after FAA's rare nationwide ground stopThe scheduling drama stems from Friday's nationwide ground stop, which prevented the No. 19 ranked Rebels from flying out of Oxford on time for the Saturday game.Daily Mail Sport · 14 Nov, 14:29
• Oklahoma AD furious with SEC after postponing Ole Miss showdown to Sunday: ‘Wrong outcome’Oklahoma has a "strong objection" to the game being moved.New York Post · 14 Nov, 13:15
• Play Sunday or forfeit: Oklahoma AD rips SEC commissioner over controversial Ole Miss FAA scheduling decisionOklahoma AD Roger Denny says SEC commissioner Greg Sankey forced the Sooners to play Sunday or forfeit after Ole Miss couldn't fly to Norman.Fox News · 14 Nov, 12:53

In this story: Oklahoma · Ole Miss · SEC · Greg Sankey · Roger Denny · Norman · Oxford · Paul Finebaum

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