Extreme Heat Impacts College Football Games in Week 1

A significant heatwave is affecting the opening week of college football across the United States, resulting in alterations to at least two games due to extreme temperatures.

In Columbia, South Carolina, the fourth quarter of the season opener between South Carolina and Kent State was reduced to 10 minutes as temperatures soared into the triple digits, with a feels-like temperature nearing 110 degrees. Meanwhile, in Topeka, Kansas, a Division II matchup between Washburn and Colorado School of Mines ended in a tie at 16-16 after being cut short due to dangerous heat levels.

Both teams in Kansas had attempted to mitigate the heat by starting the game early, but conditions worsened as the game progressed. This marked Washburn's first tie since 1977. Other games, such as Georgia's opener against Tennessee State, also faced extreme heat, with kickoff temperatures reaching 100 degrees, the highest in the program's history. The National Weather Service has issued Heat Advisories for areas including Austin, Texas, and Knoxville, Tennessee, where heat indexes are expected to approach 105 degrees. As college football adapts to these conditions, the NCAA has proposed a new calendar that could start the season earlier, potentially impacting future scheduling.