NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — The Southeastern Conference announced that No. 19 Mississippi’s game at Oklahoma would be postponed a full day to Sunday following the FAA decision to ground all flights.
The SEC said the Ole Miss football team was unable to leave Oxford Friday night.
“After the shutdown was lifted, a late night departure could not be arranged by the charter company with which Ole Miss had contracted,” the SEC said. The Rebels (6-3) will now travel to Oklahoma (5-4) on Saturday afternoon.
The game originally scheduled for 4:15 p.m. Eastern Time will now begin at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday.
Oklahoma athletic director Roger Denny reversed the decision, which he said was made by SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey over the Sooners’ “strong objection.” He said the SEC threatened Oklahoma with a forfeit if it did not accept Sunday’s decision.
“We were told that Ole Miss explored every possibility to travel to Norman and play Saturday as scheduled,” Denny posted on X. “But unlike every other team traveling for tomorrow’s competition, they were unable to find a solution.”
He said the change would cause “unnecessary disruption and hardship” for fans.
“I understand that sometimes difficult decisions must be made in extraordinary circumstances,” Denny wrote. “Simply put, this decision is not fair to our athletes, our institution or Sooner Nation. But we were left with no other choice. … we remain firmly convinced that the wrong result was reached tonight.”
Former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops also criticized the decision.
“This decision by Greg Sankey is absolutely wrong,” Stoops said in a statement published on didn’t do it!!
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