An air traffic control communications failure disrupted flights nationwide Friday, forcing several programs to reconsider travel plans before Saturday’s games. Although the FAA lifted the ground stop, delays continued as teams worked to reach their destinations.
College football teams faced an unexpected travel challenge Friday, November 13, after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a nationwide ground stop following communications problems within the nation's air traffic control system.
The disruption affected departing flights across the United States, leaving several programs scrambling to adjust transportation arrangements ahead of their Week 11 matchups on Saturday, November 14.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that the communications failure was affecting air route traffic control centers. Citing safety concerns, the FAA temporarily restricted departures while technicians investigated the issue. International arrivals were handled on a case-by-case basis.
Multiple Programs Forced to Change Travel Plans
Among the teams facing complications were Utah, Texas and Tennessee, all scheduled for important road games Saturday. Utah was preparing to visit Arizona, Texas was scheduled to face LSU in Baton Rouge, and Tennessee was set to travel to College Station for its matchup against Texas A&M.
Texas had already boarded its aircraft when the disruption prevented departure. The Longhorns considered alternative transportation, including a lengthy bus journey to Baton Rouge. Tennessee, meanwhile, returned to campus while awaiting further instructions.
Other programs also adjusted their plans. Auburn opted to travel by bus to Mississippi State, while Purdue switched to ground transportation for its trip to Iowa. Washington returned to campus as officials evaluated available options.
San Jose State encountered a similar setback after its aircraft reached the runway before turning around and returning to the gate ahead of its scheduled trip to Air Force.
Conferences Monitor the Situation
Conference officials worked with affected schools to assess the potential impact on Saturday's schedule.
The Southeastern Conference confirmed that it was communicating with member institutions, emphasizing that the safety of student-athletes, coaches and staff remained its priority. The Big 12 also monitored the situation while evaluating possible scheduling adjustments.
Meanwhile, the Big Ten offered some reassurance, confirming that its game officials had already arrived at their assigned destinations for Saturday's contests.
Not every program experienced delays. According to the Associated Press, several teams, including Missouri, Duke and Texas Tech, had already departed before the restrictions took effect.
FAA Lifts Ground Stop as Teams Resume Travel Plans
The FAA later lifted the nationwide ground stop, allowing aircraft departures to resume. However, the announcement did not immediately restore normal operations.
Duffy cautioned that returning air travel to normal would take time, leaving affected programs to coordinate with airlines and transportation providers to finalize their journeys.
At the time of the reported developments, there was no confirmation that the affected Saturday matchups had been postponed because of the disruption.
With the travel restrictions lifted, the priority shifted toward getting teams, personnel and equipment safely to their respective venues ahead of kickoff.
The incident underscored how quickly an unexpected transportation problem can complicate college football preparations, particularly during a busy weekend when teams depend on carefully coordinated travel schedules.