Fansided

Florida vs LSU cancelled because of Hurricane Matthew

By John Buhler

Oct 17, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Florida Gators wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (11) runs past LSU Tigers safety Rickey Jefferson (29) during the second half of a game at Tiger Stadium. LSU defeated Florida 35-28.Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Florida Gators wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (11) runs past LSU Tigers safety Rickey Jefferson (29) during the second half of a game at Tiger Stadium. LSU defeated Florida 35-28.Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Florida Gators’ game versus the LSU Tigers has been cancelled due to Hurricane Matthew. The SEC will try to reschedule the game at a later date.

With Hurricane Matthew rapidly approaching the Atlantic Coast of Florida, it makes sense for the SEC to intervene and cancel the game being played in Gainesville between the No. 18 Florida Gators and the LSU Tigers.

Ross Dellenger of the Baton Rouge Advocate first broke the news that the SEC rivalry game was going to be cancelled. The SEC wrote that it “will work to reschedule the game later in the 2016 season if possible.”

Obviously the game needed to be moved with a Category 4 hurricane set to hit Florida on Thursday night. Walt Disney World closed its theme parks on Thursday and the University of Florida cancelled its afternoon classes on Thursday and all of them on Friday.

It’s more importantly here, though, is to think of the safety of the people involved to not play this game on Saturday. However, waiting until the last second to reach a decision ensures that Florida and LSU will play 11-game 2016 regular seasons.

Florida and LSU do not have a common open date on the schedule. LSU stepped up and offered to host the game, but the SEC opted to cancel the game due to the ‘lack of emergency personnel and the uncertainty of the impact of the people, facilities, and travel’.

With a lack of a common open date, there is a strong chance that this SEC rivalry won’t be played this season. This hurts Florida more than LSU, as the Gators have a better shot at winning their SEC division than do the Tigers.

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If Florida needs that 12th game to potentially win the SEC East over the Tennessee Volunteers, then maybe the game will be played in early December. Otherwise, we’ll probably have to wait until 2017 to see the next installment of the Florida/LSU rivalry.

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