College football waits for no one! Except for a nationwide communication issue that completely shuts down air traffic...
The Purdue Boilermakers are reeling after three consecutive losses to Washington, Penn State, and Maryland, and it isn't getting easier. The Boilermakers end the 2026 regular season with games against Iowa, Wisconsin, and Indiana, and the trip to Iowa City this weekend just took an unexpected turn for the worse.
Purdue was forced to travel to Iowa City by bus for its Week 11 game at Iowa
If Purdue wasn't suffering enough, the squad was forced to find alternative travel after a rare nationwide air traffic issue. The Boilermakers were on an airplane about to take off for Iowa City and were reportedly stuck on the runway for 75 minutes before learning they wouldn't be flying to Iowa City.
Purdue will now take buses to Iowa City for the Saturday night game at Kinnick Stadium.
— Scott Dochterman (@ScottDochterman) November 13, 2026
Purdue changed its travel plans from the sky to the ground thanks to a rare communication issue at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA grounded all air traffic Friday afternoon, forcing thousands of people nationwide to adjust travel plans. College football wasn't immune, and the issue has affected multiple games this weekend.
The issue that forced a rare ground stop across the United States
ABC News reports that the FAA issued a rare nationwide ground stop because a communications issue is affecting air traffic control nationwide. The FAA and the Department of Homeland Security have repeatedly said it doesn't appear nefarious, and the order was given for safety reasons. This is the second time since 9/11 that a nationwide ground stop has been enacted, with the most recent occurrence in 2023. The investigation is ongoing, and no initial report has identified what caused the communication failure and the fallout from the issue.
All flights have been grounded for an undetermined amount of time, and any aircraft currently in the air have been diverted to the nearest airports.
How this stoppage is affecting college football
The widespread issue is affecting everyone, including college football programs on the road. Multiple programs are either stuck or returning to campus, causing uncertainty for some Week 11 games. Minnesota, Michigan State, and Purdue are the Big Ten teams affected by the stoppage, putting conference games in limbo. Purdue is traveling to Iowa City by bus, but it is currently unknown whether Michigan State can get to Washington or if Minnesota can get to Pennsylvania for its game against Penn State.
Rumors suggest games across the country could move to Sunday or later, but nothing has been released regarding that possibility. Reports say all referees are in place for this weekend, so if the games are played, they will be properly staffed. It will be interesting to see how long the stoppage is in effect and whether programs opt to wait it out, move the game, or find other transportation. For now, the Iowa-Purdue game is still on track for 6:30 p.m. Central Time on Saturday, November 14. This is a developing story and will be updated when more information becomes available.
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