Tennessee Resumes Travel to Texas A&M, Game to Proceed as Scheduled

No. 9 Tennessee resumed its travel to College Station, Texas, on November 13 after a Federal Aviation Administration ground stop ended.

The Vols planned to leave McGhee Tyson Airport at 4 p.m. ET for Texas A&M, but an air traffic control issue grounded flights nationwide across the United States. The FAA cited extraordinary circumstances and safety concerns for the stoppage, which halted all departing domestic flights.

The team left the airport at 6:01 p.m. Football sports information director Bill Martin said they returned to the facility for dinner while awaiting updates. Texas A&M athletic officials confirmed they talked with the Southeastern Conference and Tennessee about the schedule before the airspace cleared.

“Tennessee was scheduled to depart @FlyKnoxville at 4 p.m. ET for College Station (CLL). We are currently returning to the @Vol_Football facility for dinner and will await further direction,” Martin wrote on social media.

The FAA lifted the ground stop at 8:30 p.m., more than four hours after it began. Team officials returned to the airport shortly after 9 p.m. and departed at 10:10 p.m. for Easterwood Field Airport, arriving past midnight ET. Texas A&M and conference officials announced that Saturday’s game would proceed as originally scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on ESPN at Kyle Field.

The travel disruption comes as the Vols manage a heavy injury list during their first nine-game league schedule in conference history. Eight players suffered season-ending injuries, including sack leader Tyree Weathersby, starting left guard Wendell Moe, and starting tight end Ethan Davis.

Sophomore Nic Moore was ruled out for the Texas A&M game. Moore started the last five games and played every offensive snap in the 34-6 win against Kentucky on November 7.

The Southeastern Conference is aware of the nationwide ground stop and any potential impact it could have on team travel for weekend competitions. Head coach Josh Heupel said players are either prepared for their moment or they are not. Freshmen Hezekiah Harris and Kedric Golston could get into the mix for the Vols, though they played 38 defensive snaps combined this season.

Sham Umarov could start at left guard, or right tackle Jesse Perry could slide into a guard spot while Ory Williams starts at right tackle. The Aggies won in double overtime when Tennessee last played at Texas A&M in 2016.

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