Hurricane Irma Forces Sports Teams and TV Networks to Change Plans

The games can wait. Given Hurricane Irma’s catastrophic potential, most of the major sports events in Florida this weekend have been postponed or canceled, forcing TV networks to replace the originally scheduled games.

Here’s a look at the major sports events affected by Hurricane Irma:

NFL
The NFL has postponed the Week 1 game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Dolphins in Miami originally scheduled for Sunday afternoon on FOX in the local markets. The game has been rescheduled for Week 11, when the teams both had bye weeks. Dolphins players, staff and their families have been evacuated to Southern California and will stay there through their Week 2 game against the L.A. Chargers. The Jacksonville Jaguars are playing Sunday afternoon in Houston — itself the recent victim of Hurricane Harvey — and may remain in Houston following the game depending on Florida weather conditions.

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College Football
The Miami Hurricanes’ game at Arkansas State originally scheduled for Saturday on ESPNU has been canceled with no plans to reschedule.

The Florida Gators’ home opener vs. Northern Colorado originally on SEC Network Saturday has been canceled.

Florida State’s home opener Saturday in Tallahassee against Louisiana-Monroe on ACC Network has been canceled.

Saturday’s Memphis at Central Florida game in Orlando on ESPNU had been rescheduled for Friday night but then was canceled outright.

UConn at South Florida originally Scheduled for Saturday has been canceled.

Florida International’s home game vs. Alcorn State was moved to Friday night in Birmingham, Ala.

Florida Atlantic is at Wisconsin Saturday on BTN, and the game will happen as scheduled, though Florida Atlantic’s team and staff may remain in Madison, Wisc., following the game if conditions require.

Major League Baseball
The N.Y. Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays have moved their Sept. 11-13 series from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., to Citi Field in Queens, N.Y. The Miami Marlins are on the road against the Atlanta Braves this weekend before traveling to Philadelphia, but the team has allowed players and employees to bring their families on the road trip.