Weather Delay Between ASU Football and Oklahoma State: Lightning Delays Game

The ASU Football vs. Oklahoma State game is delayed due to weather due to lightning in the area.

Given the strikes and the expected update by 4:00 p.m. MST, there is no telling how the situation will develop. One interpretation doing the rounds is that the leading team at halftime (ASU) will be declared the winner.

But we are still a long way from that. The guidelines include the phrase beginning after “more than a half,” seemingly suggesting that the game would have to begin in the third quarter before a delay and subsequent cancellation occurs.

Who knows at this point?

The game was moved from 4:00 p.m. MST to 12:30 p.m. to avoid the lightning and thunderstorms, but the game in Stillwater, Oklahoma was suspended due to these issues.

As a precaution, they cleared the seating area of Boone Pickens Stadium of fans. The scoreboard reads: “Thunderstorms with lightning are in the area and we are suspending play until further notice. If you are in outdoor seating, proceed quietly to the area that is under the stadium seats at that time.”

What the NCAA says about weather delays

The NCAA's lightning safety rules state: “To resume athletics activities, lightning safety experts recommend waiting 30 minutes after both the last sound of thunder and the last flash of lightning are at least six miles away and moving away from the venue. If there is lightning.” If lightning is seen without thunder being heard, it may be out of range and therefore less likely to pose a significant threat.

“Note that lightning can be visible from a much greater distance at night than during the day because clouds are illuminated from within by lightning. This greater distance may mean that lightning no longer poses a significant threat. At night, use both the sound of thunder and the sight of the lightning channel itself to decide when to reset the 30-minute return-to-play clock before outdoor athletics activities resume.”

What happens if the ASU Football vs. Oklahoma State game does not continue?

According to one interpretation of Big 12 rules, the game could be canceled if inclement weather persists because Arizona State and Oklahoma State have played two quarters. If the game were canceled, ASU would win the game 21-14, which would make that late first-half touchdown very important for the Sun Devils.

But not everyone agrees with this. The wording states that “when more than half” of the game is completed. ASU and Oklahoma State played a half, not more than half of their game.

However, it is likely that the conference will do everything in its power to move forward with the rest of the game if it is safe to do so.

Reach Jeremy Cluff at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

What the NCAA says about weather delays

What happens if the ASU Football vs. Oklahoma State game does not continue?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply