Hurricane Florence Forces Cancellation of Multiple Top 25 College Football Games
Two major college football games already have been cancelled because of Hurricane Florence, which is barreling toward the Carolinas and is expected to make landfall late Thursday or Friday.
The Category 4 hurricane is expected to be the most powerful storm to hit the region since Hurricane Hugo in 1989.
Saturday’s game between the No. 18 University of Central Florida and North Carolina at Chapel Hill was canceled Monday.
SCHEDULE ALERT: Due to Hurricane Florence, Saturday’s game against @UCF_Football will not be played.
Details: https://t.co/fKROX3MzCi pic.twitter.com/dJyVedCi52
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) September 11, 2018
“First and foremost, our thoughts are with everyone who may be affected by this storm,” UCF athletic director Danny White said, reported the Orlando Sentinel. “The priority must be safety for everyone in the path of the hurricane. Having been through similar situations the past two years, we certainly understand this decision. We wish UNC the best of luck through this storm and for the rest of the year.”
The game will not be moved or made up later in the year as there is no room in either team’s schedule.
Also, No. 14 West Virginia’s game Saturday at N.C. State also has been canceled.
Due to the increasing likelihood of severe and unsafe conditions associated with Hurricane Florence, our game with @WVUfootball will not be played this weekend.https://t.co/An5ShiiLDt
— NC State Football (@PackFootball) September 11, 2018
There was no word on whether the Wolfpack-Mountaineers game will be rescheduled later in the season, but it won’t be moved to West Virginia or pushed up a few days before the hurricane hits.
“We’re not going to try to outsmart this system,” West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen said Monday, according to The Sporting News. “I’m not going to move to a different location, try to move it up or push it back. Hopefully we can play. If not, life moves on.”
Boston College was scheduled to play Wake Forest in Winston-Salem on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET, but the game was moved up two hours to start Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
To recap CFB games being affected by Hurricane Florence.
Cancelled: UCF at North Carolina, West Virginia at NC State.
Moved earlier in day: Boston College at Wake Forest (now 5:30 p.m. ET Thursday on ESPN).
Moved up: Coastal Carolina at Campbell… https://t.co/Q22mwGuBf0
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) September 11, 2018
Also, the game between Coastal Carolina and Campbell, played in Charleston, S.C., was moved from Saturday to Wednesday at 2 p.m. to get in front of the storm.
The University of Virginia and No. 13 Virginia Tech are also considering their options.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported Tuesday that Virginia is considering moving its game Saturday against Ohio to Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville. Vanderbilt is traveling to Notre Dame on Saturday.
BREAKING: #UVA in talks to move Saturday's football game against Ohio to Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville because of Hurricane Florence. https://t.co/LsE9Aw0NUX
— Mike Barber (@RTD_MikeBarber) September 11, 2018
Virginia Tech, which is hosting East Carolina, is also looking at its options for its game Saturday.
Our staff & (obviously) many experts are monitoring weather situation in coordination w/ ACC, ECU & others. We may change this plan, but as of now, we will have an update re: game on Wednesday. Most likely nothing today or tomorrow. #staytuned. Thank you 👍🏽🦃
— Whit Babcock (@WhitBabcock) September 10, 2018
“Our staff (and) obviously many experts are monitoring weather situation in coordination (with) ACC, ECU and others. We may change this plan, but as of now, we will have an update (regarding the) game on Wednesday,” Virginia Tech athletic director Whit Babcock tweeted.
Since 1851 there have only been three category 4 hurricanes (and zero cat. 5) to make landfall in the Carolinas. They were:
Hugo 1989
Gracie 1959
Hazel 1954Hurricane Florence is projected to make landfall in this area as a category 4 hurricane late Thursday. pic.twitter.com/N0VhoJYCEY
— Brad Nitz (@BradNitzWSB) September 10, 2018
About 1.5 million people have been evacuated along the coast of North Carolina and South Carolina. Meteorologists said Tuesday morning that winds were at 140 miles per hour but could intensify by the time the storm makes landfall to 150 miles per hour or more, which would make it a Category 5 storm.
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