EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State and Washington will kick off later than planned on Saturday, Nov. 14, after a nationwide flight ground stop on Friday left the Huskies stuck in Seattle for hours. The Big Ten game at Spartan Stadium is now set for 2:30 p.m. Pacific, which is 5:30 p.m. Eastern, a 75-minute delay.
Washington had been due to leave on a team charter from King County International Airport, known as Boeing Field, at 1:15 p.m. Pacific on Friday when the Federal Aviation Administration halted departing flights across the country, citing air traffic control communication problems. The players got off the plane and went back to campus. After the FAA lifted the stop Friday night, the team boarded buses and left campus around 6:30 p.m. to resume the trip.
Washington was not alone. Several other college football teams had travel plans scrambled by the stoppage, among them ranked programs Utah, Texas, Tennessee and Ole Miss.
The Spartans come in at 3-6 overall and 1-5 in the Big Ten, but riding a lift from last week’s 15-6 win at Michigan, which ended a four-game skid in the rivalry. Kicker Liam Boyd made all five of his field goal tries in that game. Michigan State is still chasing its first home conference victory of the season after losses in East Lansing to Nebraska, Illinois and Northwestern.
Washington lost 28-25 to Penn State at home last week after falling behind 28-6 by halftime. The Huskies have been better away from Seattle in league play, going 2-1 with wins at Purdue and Nebraska. Quarterback Demond Williams Jr. threw for 172 yards and two touchdowns against Penn State in his first start since Oct. 9 after a rib injury.
From the HERE City State Desk.
Section: More Lansing MI sports news
Filed under: Lansing MI Sports News
