Florida vs. LSU: Has the game been moved due to Hurricane Matthew?
By John Buhler
The No. 18 Florida Gators will play the LSU Tigers in Week 6 on Saturday. Will this SEC rivalry game be moved from Gainesville due to Hurricane Matthew?
Week 6 of the 2016 college football season has many high-profile rivalry games on the slate. One of those games on the schedule features SEC rivals in the No. 18 Florida Gators hosting the LSU Tigers.
The game is supposed to be played at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville at 12:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 8. However, will it be relocated due to Hurricane Matthew? Officials from both schools and the SEC will release an update on the situation at 3:00 p.m. ET on Thursday afternoon, according to NOLA.com.
The University of Florida has wanted to keep the game in Gainesville. Louisiana State University has been open to bringing this rivalry game to their campus in Baton Rouge.
Walt Disney World in nearby Lake Buena Vista has closed its theme parks. The University of Florida has cancelled its classes on Thursday starting at 5 p.m. ET and all day Friday.
Hurricane Matthew was originally a Category 5 hurricane, but has dipped down to a Category 4 in the last few hours. The National Hurricane Center has the tropical storm generating winds at 140 miles per hour and moving at 14 miles an hour. It is currently in the Bahamas and will hit the Florida Coast by Thursday night.
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LSU should welcome the Gators to Baton Rouge to keep this SEC rivalry game alive in 2016. It’s better to be proactive when dealing with a Category 4 hurricane. While the game is still on to be played at 12:00 PM ET on Saturday afternoon in Gainesville, one has to believe that the three-party conference will result in the game being moved to Baton Rouge.
We are hoping that all in the potentially affected area stay safe and find shelter. Stay tuned for more updates.