Weather Channel meteorologist Jim Cantore warned that the James Madison at Georgia Southern college football game in Statesboro, Georgia, faces the highest tornado concern as Hurricane Isaias brings severe weather risks around Saturday's 7:30 p.
m. ET kickoff.
Cantore reviewed several Southeastern college football sites and identified Georgia Southern's Paulson Stadium as the location most likely to face dangerous storms.
The game remains scheduled on ESPNU.
"The Georgia Southern game has the possibility of tornadoes, so that's actually my biggest fear right now," Cantore said.
Cantore said storms affecting Georgia Tech and Florida were expected to weaken later in the day. He separated Florida's concern from the weather threat in Gainesville.
"The biggest question there in Gainesville is which Gators team is going to show up, right? It's not about the weather," Cantore said.
The meteorologist continued discussing the storm's path toward Statesboro and the potential impact on the game environment.
"At that game, we have a lot of storms that could produce some severe weather with some tornadoes," Cantore said.
Cantore described the storm's movement after it passed the coast and continued northward, while Georgia Southern monitored conditions with the Sun Belt and James Madison.
"It came and went on the coast and continues to move north," Cantore said.
Georgia Southern delayed parking lot openings, tailgating and suite operations from 8 a. m.
to noon ET because of possible severe weather, according to the university. The school said the game and pregame activities remained scheduled.
James Madison entered the matchup at 5-0 overall and 2-0 in Sun Belt play under first-year coach Billy Napier.
Georgia Southern was 2-3 after a 31-24 win over Coastal Carolina.
Georgia Southern coach Clay Helton praised James Madison's performance after reviewing the Dukes, who were seeking to continue their unbeaten start.
"When I look at them on tape, they look like a top-25 football team and are playing like it right now," Helton said.
Hurricane Isaias forced seven college football games to change dates or kickoff times, according to the report. Rice at East Carolina moved to a 1 p.
m. ET kickoff, while Georgia at Alabama remained scheduled.
