Florida reschedules Eastern Washington to noon Sunday

GAINESVILLE — Florida is moving Saturday’s visit from Eastern Washington University to noon Sunday at the Swamp because of Hurricane Ian, the school announced.

The storm is on track to reach Gainesville Thursday when the visiting Eagles’ traveling party originally was due to arrive in the area.

Hurricane concerns have led UF to push games in the past until later in the season. Hurricane Charley postponed the 2004 season opener against Middle Tennessee State and Hurricane Matthew postponed a 2016 visit from LSU.

UF and EWU officials decided to move the game a day later to allow for more time after Ian’s forecast departure from the region.

The Eagles have to travel three time zones for a game postponed from 2020 because of the COVID19 pandemic.

The Gators (2-2) are coming off a 38-33 loss Saturday at Tennessee while Eastern Washington (1-2) lost 38-35 at home to Montana State. The Eagles are 30-point underdogs.

Eastern Washington is due $750,000 for this weekend’s game, a significant revenue source for a university with an athletics budget in $17.5 million range and on track to lose $5 million going into fiscal year 2022.

Florida actually has played one known Sunday game — Jan. 2, 1977, vs. Texas A&M in the Sun Bowl, a 37-14 loss to the Aggies.