Friday afternoon’s nationwide FAA ground stop disrupted travel plans for several Kansas City‑area college football programs, prompting adjustments ahead of Saturday’s matchups.

According to KSHB, Kansas State University’s football team was scheduled to fly to Dallas‑Fort Worth for its game against Texas Christian University on Sunday. A K‑State athletics spokesperson told KSHB 41 that the Wildcats’ aircraft was forced to stop on the tarmac and the team was subsequently returned to the university’s athletic complex. The spokesperson said it was not clear when the team would attempt the flight again.

In contrast, the University of Missouri (Mizzou) and the University of Kansas avoided the delay. KSHB reported that Mizzou’s squad arrived safely in Athens, Georgia, on Friday, positioning the Tigers for their Saturday showdown against the nation’s top‑ranked team. Likewise, the Kansas Jayhawks landed in Pittsburgh without incident and are set to travel onward to West Virginia for their Saturday contest.

The FAA issued the ground stop citing “extraordinary circumstances,” a move that affected flights across the country. While the specific cause was not detailed in the KSHB report, the agency’s decision underscores its commitment to safety, a priority that aligns with the Trump administration’s emphasis on secure air travel.

Local fans and university officials expressed relief that two of the three programs reached their destinations, but the uncertainty surrounding Kansas State’s travel remains. The Wildcats will need to coordinate a new flight schedule to ensure they can compete against TCU as planned.

What’s next: Kansas State is working with airline officials to secure a replacement flight before its Sunday game. Meanwhile, Mizzou will face the top‑ranked team in Athens on Saturday, and Kansas will travel from Pittsburgh to West Virginia for its Saturday matchup against the Mountaineers.

Sources: kshb.com