A nationwide ground stop imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration on Friday has created significant logistical challenges for college football teams.
The agency cited a “communication issue” that forced the shutdown, according to reports from news outlets.
The stoppage, which lasted more than four hours, resulted in over 800 diverted flights and impacted more than 10,000 travelers.
The transportation secretary insisted that an old system and radar instability were the root of the airspace shutdown.
College football programs across the country were forced to adapt quickly to the travel ban.
The University of Alabama opted to drive to Nashville, while Purdue and Auburn also utilized bus transportation to reach their respective away game sites.
Other institutions were not as fortunate, as the University of Texas and the University of Washington were among teams forced to deplane before takeoff.
The disruptions could impact the broadcast schedules for major networks including ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, Fox and The CW.
Professional sports leagues also faced hurdles due to the extraordinary circumstances of the flight halt.
The Brooklyn Nets were reportedly stranded on the tarmac in New Orleans while attempting to travel to Memphis for a scheduled game.
The NFL, however, appears largely unaffected as teams traveling for international games in Germany were already onsite.
Most remaining NFL teams are within busing distance for their Sunday matchups, with only a few exceptions requiring air travel.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Men’s National Team successfully arrived in Miami prior to the ban for their Saturday match.
The FAA eventually lifted the stop, allowing flights to resume operations late Friday, though the ripple effects across the sports world are expected to persist throughout the weekend.