Temple-Rutgers football game postponed to Saturday due to flooding

The remnants of Hurricane Ida have continued to cause damage throughout portions of the United States and impact sports calendars ahead of Labor Day weekend. 

Both the Temple Owls and Rutgers Scarlet Knights football programs confirmed in statements that Thursday's game to be held at Rutgers' SHI Stadium has been postponed to Saturday because of the massive amounts of flooding caused by historic rain in the area on Wednesday night and early Thursday morning. 

Kickoff for the contest is scheduled at noon on Saturday. 

 "I said all summer that we went through a lot last year and that has prepared us for anything," Temple head coach Rod Carey said for the prepared statement. "My thoughts are with those families who have lost their homes due to this storm. Delaying our football game for 48 hours is not as devastating as their situations." 

NJ Advance Media reported that the Temple and Rutgers teams stayed at hotels near Piscataway, N.J. on Wednesday, but roads all over the area remained close as of Thursday morning because of flooding. 

"While Piscataway is a strong supporter of Rutgers University and fervent fans of Rutgers Football, if the Rutgers-Temple football game is still going to take place this evening, the Township is calling on the University to do so without fans," Piscataway Township officials said in a statement shared by NJ Advance Media before the game was postponed. "Township infrastructure is overwhelmed by the damage of Hurricane Ida and evacuations are still taking place this morning. Most importantly, search and rescue operations are ongoing. Piscataway Public Works and our first responders worked through the night to help residents and significant work continues today. Roadways in the Township cannot handle an influx of tens of thousands of people coming to the football game."

Earlier in the week, a college football matchup between the Oklahoma Sooners and Tulane Green Wave and also a Week 1 NFL game featuring the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints had to be relocated from New Orleans because of Ida.