Southern states are preparing for incoming Hurricane Isaias — potentially the first hurricane to make landfall in the US in two years — by canceling school and issuing evacuation orders. The weather may also have an impact on college football.
According to CBS Sports, the SEC and several of its member schools addressed the impending storm, assuring fans and students that the situation is being monitored and effected schools will take necessary precautions.
"Like we do every week at this time, we're keeping an eye on forecasts and staying in communication with schools with games that could be impacted by weather," an SEC spokesperson said in a statement.
If Isaias makes landfall, it is expected to reach Alabama’s coastline on Friday night or very early Saturday morning, directly in the path of Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. Alabama vs. Georgia football game in Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
As of Thursday morning, no football games have been rescheduled or canceled. The last time an SEC school took that rare measure was in 2022 when South Carolina moved up its Saturday game to Thursday and Florida pushed its game back to Sunday during Hurricane Ian.
“Alabama athletics is closely monitoring the weather forecast ahead of Saturday’s football game vs. Georgia. At this time, there are no plans to alter the contest. We will continue to observe conditions throughout the week and remain in communication with the Southeastern Conference office, as needed,” Alabama athletics said in a statement, adding, “Fans are encouraged to rely on official Alabama Athletics and SEC channels for the latest information.”
If Alabama and Georgia kick off as scheduled, President Trump is also planning a trip to the game. Similar to his appearance at the Tennessee vs. Texas game a few weeks ago, this would mean additional security and radio blackouts during the stormy weather.
