A nationwide FAA ground stop on Friday delayed hundreds of flights, leaving the University of Utah football team grounded in Salt Lake City and postponing Saturday’s kickoff times for both Utah and Brigham Young University (BYU) games, a development that directly impacts Provo’s college‑sports community.
According to Fox 13, Utah’s road game at Arizona will now start at 8:30 p.m., later than originally scheduled, after the Utes were unable to fly to Tucson and remained at the Eccles Football Center, where players were seen leaving the facility just after 6 p.m. BYU announced via social media that its game at LaVell Edwards Stadium will now begin at 5 p.m., pushed back from the 1:30 p.m. start time.
KGUN echoed the flight disruptions, noting that Baylor’s team, also grounded by the FAA order, could not leave Waco and announced it would travel to Utah on Saturday morning. Both Utah and BYU games will still be broadcast on FOX 13.
The Big 12 Conference released a statement acknowledging the travel impacts, saying it is “evaluating potential changes to Saturday’s football schedule” and will continue to monitor the situation with its member institutions.
Other Utah‑based programs are feeling the ripple effect. Utah State, slated to play San Diego State on Saturday night, remains grounded with future plans still undecided. Weber State’s Wildcats, scheduled to face Northern Arizona at 2 p.m. in Flagstaff, were also unable to fly, as reported by assistant athletic director Paul Grua on social media.
Additionally, the Utah men’s basketball game against Washington, originally set for Saturday, has been moved to Sunday at noon, according to the same sources.
What’s next: Fans can attend Utah’s 8:30 p.m. kickoff against Arizona on Saturday and BYU’s 5 p.m. home game later that day. The rescheduled basketball matchup will take place Sunday at noon. Both games will continue to air on FOX 13, and the FAA ground stop remains under review as travel authorities work to lift the restrictions.
Sources: fox13now.com, kgun9.com, fox13now.com
