FAA Nationwide Ground Stop Disrupts U.S. Sports Travel, Forcing Schedule Changes and Logistics Challenges
A nationwide ground stop issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday, November 13, 2026, caused widespread disruption to U.S. sports travel, affecting NBA, NHL, and college teams. The FAA cited 'extraordinary circumstances' due to communications issues at regional air traffic control centers for the several-hour stoppage. This led to numerous teams scrambling to reach their destinations, with some rescheduling flights, others chartering buses, and leagues adjusting game times. For instance, No. 19 Mississippi's football game at Oklahoma was moved from Saturday to Sunday due to travel issues, a decision that upset Oklahoma athletic director Roger Denny. Many college football teams, including No. 2 Utah, No. 8 Texas, and No. 9 Tennessee, were left stranded as they typically travel the day before games. NBA teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers had to re-book hotel rooms and adjust their travel plans for Saturday games. The disruption also impacted college women's basketball, with No. 3 Souther...