The first hurricane of the Atlantic season is barreling toward the Gulf Coast, but the marquee matchup between Alabama and Georgia in Tuscaloosa is looking more and more like a go.
According to team sources and SEC officials, the game remains on track for its scheduled 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on Saturday. The storm, now named Hurricane Isaias, is expected to make landfall near the Alabama-Florida border Friday night, then sweep north through Alabama and Mississippi overnight and into Saturday morning. Projections show it passing Bryant-Denny Stadium well before the game gets underway.
"The Georgia–Alabama game appears on the track to kick off as scheduled on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET," Andy Staples reported on Thursday. "The storm, which had been moving 8 mph, is now moving 10 mph and projections have it moving through Tuscaloosa well in advance of the game."
The storm's increased forward speed is the key factor. The eye is expected to be about 150 miles away from Tuscaloosa by the time the ball is teed up, a comfortable distance that should allow the stadium to be dry and ready for the SEC showdown.
While the game itself is a green light, the same can't be said for ESPN's College GameDay. The popular pregame show, which typically sets up outside the stadium, will instead broadcast from inside Coleman Coliseum to avoid the weather. It's a minor adjustment, but one that underscores the lingering uncertainty.
The Georgia Bulldogs, for their part, are sticking with their original travel plans, indicating confidence that the storm won't disrupt their preparation. Alabama has also made no changes to its schedule, per the latest reports.
President Donald Trump, who has said he'll attend the game, also appears undeterred by the weather. His presence adds an extra layer of intrigue. The last time he attended an Alabama-Georgia game, the Crimson Tide rolled to a national title. But the last time he was in Tuscaloosa for a game, Alabama fell to LSU. Which omen will hold true this time?
As the storm continues to develop, officials will keep monitoring conditions, but for now, all signs point to a full slate of football in the heart of the South.
