Image Credit: Alex de la Osa / UAA
The Florida Gators will not play their Week 5 football game as originally scheduled as the first major storm that will touch down in the United States this hurricane season will impact their opponent’s travel plans. Due to Hurricane Ian, Florida will now host Eastern Washington on Sunday at noon ET, 24 hours after the game was set to be played.
EWU is set to receive $750,000 for the game as originally agreed upon. The program was set to arrive in Gainesville, Florida, on Thursday, but that is when Hurricane Ian will likely be affecting the town, making such an arrival unsafe. Instead, the Eagles will now arrive Friday with the game pushed a day later.
All tickets issued for the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday will be honored on Sunday with the contest still airing live via ESPN+ and SEC Network+. It was never scheduled to be available on linear television.
Furthermore, the University of Florida has decided to cancel classes Wednesday through Friday. Other than University Avenue remaining open and the Gator Walk being modified, all other game day activities, including tailgating, will continue as scheduled, just one day later.