Ole Miss delayed Oklahoma game because it believes in CFP pipe dream
USA Today • • sports
Key Points:
- Ole Miss did not drive from Oxford, Mississippi to Norman, Oklahoma to play their scheduled Saturday game against Oklahoma after an FAA ground stop, opting instead to delay the game to Sunday.
- The decision appears motivated by Ole Miss's slim hopes of reaching the College Football Playoff, aiming to avoid fatigue from overnight travel and preserve their team's performance for upcoming games.
- Despite official statements citing flight crew availability, other teams managed to navigate the ground stop, suggesting Ole Miss could have arranged alternative travel, such as a bus trip.
- The SEC allowed the game to be moved to Sunday, but some argue the conference should have enforced a strict "play or forfeit" policy to uphold the Saturday schedule.
- Critics contend that student-athletes, being young and fit, can handle travel inconveniences, and that the priority should be maintaining the integrity of scheduled games rather than accommodating last-minute travel issues.
