Oklahoma athletics director protests SEC's decision to move Ole Miss game to Sunday

The SEC moved Oklahoma's home matchup with No. 19 Ole Miss from Saturday afternoon to Sunday at 1 p.m. ET after a nationwide FAA groundstop halted flights on Friday, leaving the Rebels unable to secure a charter to Oklahoma. Oklahoma athletics director Roger Denny said the league's directive came "over our strong objection" and warned that refusing to play at the new time would result in a forfeit.

"Put simply, this decision isn't fair to our athletes, our institution or to Sooner Nation," Denny said in a statement released early Saturday.

The FAA groundstop, ordered shortly before 3 p.m. CT, lasted more than four hours before being lifted at 7:15 p.m. CT, marking only the third full groundstop in U.S. aviation history. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy attributed the shutdown to overloaded switches and routers that produced inconsistent data.

Ole Miss officials were unable to book an alternative flight until Saturday afternoon, and the team sent its players home on Friday pending further arrangements. An Ole Miss spokesperson said the school continued to explore travel options and coordinate with relevant parties.

While most SEC teams managed to adjust travel plans and keep their games on schedule, Ole Miss was the sole exception, and the league sided with the Rebels in the rescheduling. Denny argued the decision disrupted fans' travel and accommodation plans, adding that the team's supporters deserved greater consideration.

The game, originally set for 3:15 p.m. CT Saturday on the SEC Network, will now be played on Sunday, with television details yet to be announced. Oklahoma (5-4, 4-4 SEC) seeks one more win for bowl eligibility, while Ole Miss (6-3) fell to No. 19 in the College Football Playoff rankings after a loss to Georgia.