LSU-Tennessee Game Is Moved to Monday

Louisiana State’s home opener has been delayed by a hurricane once again, and this time it was Rita that forced the Tigers’ game against Tennessee scheduled for Saturday to be moved to Monday night.

The Southeastern Conference made the announcement Thursday after a conference call with school officials. The game will start at 4:30 PDT and be televised by ESPN2.

“After reviewing all of the information I felt this was the best decision for the game,” SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said. “The safety of our student-athletes, coaches and fans is our priority. I understand this puts a burden on LSU and its administration, however, the travel safety issues necessitate this decision.”

Hurricane Rita was heading toward the Texas Gulf Coast and extreme Western Louisiana. It was expected to hit by late today or early Saturday.

LSU’s first home game against North Texas was scheduled for Sept. 3, just a few days after Katrina ravaged the New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.

Then LSU’s game against Arizona State, slated for Sept. 10 at Tiger Stadium, was moved to Tempe because of the hurricane aftermath.

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Houston officials told its team to pack for a lengthy trip to Tulsa, Okla. The team, coaches and support staff -- about 125 people -- will leave by bus this morning.

The Cougars’ next scheduled game is Oct. 1 at Tulsa. The Cougars then play Tulane in Lafayette, La., on Oct. 8, then are scheduled to play Memphis in Houston on Oct. 15. Houston’s home game against Southern Mississippi scheduled for Saturday was postponed on Wednesday because of Rita.

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Brian Johnson passed for 305 yards and two touchdowns and ran for three scores, and Utah avoided its first losing streak in three years by beating Air Force, 38-35, at Salt Lake City.

The Utes (3-1, 1-1 Mountain West), whose 18-game winning streak ended a week earlier in an overtime loss at Texas Christian, scored twice in seven seconds to break a 14-all tie and led the rest of the way.

Ryan Williams ran for two touchdowns for Air Force (2-2, 1-2).

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Reggie McNeal threw for 317 yards and two touchdowns and Texas A&M; (2-1) beat Texas State, 44-31, at College Station, Texas.

The Aggies’ Kyle Field was rendered unusually bare in an area choked with evacuating traffic as Hurricane Rita crept closer. Barrick Nealy threw for 378 yards for Texas State (2-1).

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Calvin Dawson ran for a game-high 115 yards, including a six-yard touchdown run with 1:23 remaining, to lift Louisiana Monroe (1-3, 1-0) to a 28-21 victory over Florida Atlantic at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in the Owls’ first-ever Sun Belt Conference game. Florida Atlantic fell to 0-4, 0-1.

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Georgia Tech quarterback Reggie Ball looked recovered from viral meningitis and took the majority of snaps with the first team in preparation for Saturday’s Atlantic Coast Conference game at Virginia Tech.... The NCAA has approved the use of video replay review of on-field officials’ calls during all 28 Division I-A bowl games.