A nationwide travel crisis disrupted the schedule for the University of Washington football team on Friday afternoon.
The squad was at the airport preparing to depart for its game against Michigan State when the Federal Aviation Administration issued a “communication issue” that grounded all departing flights, according to the Detroit News.
The Huskies initially returned to campus to await further instructions as the travel suspension impacted various collegiate programs, per USA Today.
The team reversed course and prepared for departure once the FAA lifted the order later that evening.
In a statement posted to X, the university noted, “With the FAA lifting the nationwide ground stop, the Washington football team anticipates resuming travel to Michigan State this evening.”
The statement added that no final decision had been reached regarding the kickoff time for the Saturday matchup.
The Huskies, holding a 5-4 record, are scheduled to face the 3-6 Spartans at Spartan Stadium, as reported by the Detroit News.
Michigan State athletics officials confirmed they are actively coordinating with the Big Ten Conference and the University of Washington to monitor the evolving situation.
Other institutions within the conference have explored alternative logistics to ensure their teams arrive on time for weekend contests.
Purdue University, for instance, opted to travel by bus for its road game against Iowa, expecting to arrive late Friday night, according to reports from ESPN.
The Big Ten Conference has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the widespread impact of the ground stop on its member schools.
University of Washington representatives indicated they remain in constant communication with league officials as they work toward a resolution for the travel delay.
Further updates regarding the game schedule will be provided as more information becomes available to the public and the participating universities.