Powerful Hurricane Matthew has forced several changes to the college football schedule, including the cancellation of a key Southeastern Conference game.
According to multiple reports, the LSU at Florida game has been cancelled and may not be rescheduled.
LSU AD Joe Alleva says on ESPN 104.5 in Baton Rouge: “The (UF) game is not going to happen at this point”
— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) October 7, 2016
Gridironnow.com believes Florida has a different agenda:
But now, instead of playing LSU, the Gators get an extra week to get healthy before a layup against Missouri and an open date.
The Florida duo insisted the game only be played in Gainesville — a scenario they knew to be impossible as early as Tuesday. A weak SEC commissioner refused to intervene. If Florida knew this game wouldn’t be played in Gainesville and were unwilling to play elsewhere, I would argue they knew this game would not be played. The only thing that was played was Sankey.
As for Florida’s financial hit of losing a home game, a delicious insurance policy should wipe away that concern.
Slow clap.
The only thing left to do to pull off this heist was purporting to exercise all options to play the game later in the season. Because the teams do not share a common open date, opportunities to make up the game are limited. On Nov. 19, both schools host non-conference games – LSU against South Alabama and Florida versus Presbyterian.
“We told the league we’re 100 percent committed to whatever scenario they come up with,” Foley said.
Any scenario, of course, other than moving the game out of Gainesville this weekend.
Someone at Florida leaked to ESPN’s Brett McMurphy that LSU declined to play on Nov. 19, something Alleva vehemently denied Thursday. Still, why would LSU possibly concede that date? Should LSU cancel the game with South Alabama, they would lose a home game and a November breather. Instead of the financial boost of playing in Baton Rouge and hosting a light opponent before a short week at Texas A&M, LSU would go on the road to Florida. If you’re keeping score at home, that means LSU would lose a home game, the revenue associated with it and would have to play three road SEC games in 13 days.
Florida does have more than 50 players from places directly impacted by the devastating hurricane:
Y’all, Florida has 52 players on its current roster from the PINK area on this map.
You want them to worry about a football game???? pic.twitter.com/cFwWTg3kdj
— Barrett Sallee (@BarrettSallee) October 6, 2016
Other cancellations and changes:
– The Tulane at UCF game that was scheduled for tonight has been postponed and rescheduled for November 5
– The Charlotte at Florida Atlantic game that was scheduled for Saturday will now be played Sunday at Noon
– The Georgia at South Carolina game that was scheduled for Saturday will now be played Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
– Florida State at Miami will still be played as scheduled Saturday night at 8:00 p.m.
