BYU’s clash with Baylor moved back after travel troubles

The Baylor Bears are scheduled to make their first visit to Provo to face the BYU Cougars since 2022. However, the much-anticipated road game has been postponed due to travel difficulties resulting from the nationwide Federal Aviation Administration ground stop. ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that Baylor and BYU will now face off at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo.

The game had originally been slated for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff. Yet, Baylor's travel plans were left in limbo after the FAA imposed a nationwide ground stop on Friday. Deseret News noted that the Bears had not yet left Waco when the travel restrictions were enacted, forcing them to remain in the city until the restrictions were lifted.

Thamel also revealed an additional hurdle facing Baylor's travel arrangements. The Cougars cannot play on Sunday due to religious restrictions, which leaves them with a tight schedule as they cannot depart until the travel restrictions are resolved. Baylor is expected to travel to Provo early Saturday morning.

The FAA's decision impacted other college football programs with Week 11 road games as well. The nationwide ground stop was announced on Friday due to safety concerns, causing travel disruptions for teams across the country. The restriction was lifted later that night, but several programs still had to modify their travel plans ahead of Saturday's games.

For BYU, playing at home in LaVell Edwards Stadium offers a significant advantage. However, the delayed kickoff will require the Cougars to make adjustments to their original game-day preparations. Headed into the matchup against Baylor, BYU boasts a 7-2 overall record and a 4-2 mark in Big 12 play.