Hurricane Idalia: Tracking LSU-Florida State game status as weather threatens season opener

The biggest game of the SEC's 2023 season-opening schedule — No. 5 LSU vs. No. 8 FSU in Orlando, Florida — is in jeopardy as Tropical Storm Idalia bears down on the Sunshine State.

The Tigers' much-heralded rematch against the Seminoles, to whom they lost in the 2022 season opener, is under threat of postponement or being canceled outright. Idalia made landfall on Wednesday as a Category 4 hurricane, with the most-affected areas being the panhandle and parts of central Florida.

Here's everything you need to know about Idalia and its potential effect on the LSU-Florida State game in Orlando:

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Hurricane Idalia college football game updates

LSU vs. Florida State

All times Central

Wednesday, Aug. 30

3:50 p.m.: Idalia has been downgraded to a tropical storm, though it still presents risk of flooding and strong winds in parts of Georgia and the Carolinas, per the National Hurricane Center.

4:11 a.m.: Idalia has been reclassified as a Category 4 hurricane, per the National Hurricane Center.

Tuesday, Aug. 29

3:56 p.m.: Idalia has been reclassified as a Category 2 hurricane, capable of creating life-threatening conditions on Tuesday into Wednesday.

8:54 a.m.: The National Weather Service provided another update to Idalia on Tuesday, warning of life-threatening flood potential and high-speed winds. The areas that will be most affected are along the Florida Gulf Coast:

Monday, Aug. 28

1:48 p.m.: Kelly, speaking to reporters at his Monday news conference, appeared not to be worried about the potential effect Idalia could have on the LSU-Florida State game:

“We’re just tracking it like everybody else," Kelly said. "The latest model for us has the storm being passed out to sea and that there’ll be some light winds on the back end of it.

“We’re gonna keep a close track on it. We’ll start wet ball drills to prepare for it but we’ll watch it just like everybody else. Unless something drastic happens in the next 24-48 hours it looks like it’s clearly gonna pass through and there will be heavy rain through that area. It should be out to sea by the time we get there.”

10:57 a.m.: Florida State coach Mike Norvell told reporters on Monday he does not feel Idalia will impact the Seminoles' game vs. the Tigers:

"It's obviously something that we're tracking for the guys here," Norvell said. "We have great communication from the university, athletic department and all the things we're aware of. We'll always have plans if we have to adapt and adjust.

"It's not something that at this time we think is going to make a huge impact for this week or what that would be toward the end of the week toward the game."

10:41 a.m.: Neither of LSU or Florida State has announced any change in plans for the teams' scheduled kickoff at 6:30 p.m. CT. The SEC and ACC have yet to comment on the game, either. As of now, the game will continue as planned in Orlando's Camping World Stadium.

That said, Florida State University on Monday said it was monitoring Idalia and "will take appropriate actions should conditions warrant" them for its Tallahassee campus.

A report by the NWS indicates adverse weather conditions could begin as early as late Tuesday on the west coast of Florida and in the panhandle, including "life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force."

This story will be updated.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Hurricane Idalia: Tracking LSU-Florida State game status