Georgia-Alabama still on for Saturday night as Isaias nears
No. 2 Georgia and No. 6 Alabama are still set to kick off Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC in Tuscaloosa, even as Hurricane Isaias heads for the Gulf Coast. Alabama has barred tailgating and closed campus parking until noon Saturday, and ESPN's College GameDay has moved indoors to Coleman Coliseum.
One of the biggest college football games of the season is still on, at least for now. No. 2 Georgia and No. 6 Alabama remain scheduled to kick off Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, with the game on ABC.
Hurricane Isaias is the reason for the worry. Alabama said Wednesday night that kickoff "remains scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT Saturday" and that it is talking with the National Weather Service, the SEC and Georgia. The SEC will make the final call on any change, Covers reported, and no new time or site has been announced.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart told ESPN's Scott Van Pelt that he had heard about "options on different kick times on Saturday," according to the Athens Banner-Herald, as cited by Covers. He also said the storm could pass through before the scheduled kickoff.
The school has already changed much of the day around the game. The University of Alabama said tailgating will not be allowed on campus before noon Saturday, and only uncovered tailgating will be allowed after that. Campus parking lots and shuttles will not open until noon, no tailgate setups are allowed Friday, and all activities on the Quad have been canceled.
ESPN's College GameDay, which was set to broadcast outdoors on campus, will instead be held inside Coleman Coliseum, where doors open at 5:30 a.m. local time and overnight camping is not allowed.
The forecast for the game itself has been changing. A National Weather Service hourly forecast cited by Covers on Thursday called for sustained winds of 16 to 17 mph and gusts of 31 to 32 mph near kickoff, with a high chance of rain early in the evening. Later on Thursday, Alabama meteorologist James Spann, quoted by Sports Illustrated, said the weather "looks favorable" for the game, with lingering clouds, a small chance of a passing shower and winds below 15 mph.
The storm has been moving faster than earlier projections, Sports Illustrated reported, so the worst weather may come Saturday morning instead of during the game.
The betting market has noticed. Alabama is a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 51.5 points, down from an opening total of 54.5, according to Kalshi prices cited by Covers.
What we know: Kickoff is still 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday, with tailgating and parking delayed until noon.
What we don't: Whether the SEC moves the kickoff time.
Where outlets agree Covers and Sports Illustrated both report that Alabama says kickoff remains scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Central time on Saturday.
Where they differ Covers cites a National Weather Service forecast of wind gusts of 31 to 32 mph near kickoff, while James Spann, quoted by Sports Illustrated, says winds should stay below 15 mph.