On Nov. 14, 2026, the UNLV football team secured travel to Albuquerque to play New Mexico on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. PT following a lengthy flight delay, according to the team.
The Federal Aviation Administration grounded flights nationwide for several hours on Friday, creating severe travel hurdles for the Rebels.
The squad missed its scheduled 2.30 p.m. charter flight after the stoppage grounded departures across the country, a UNLV Athletics statement read.
Players and staff entered a private jet terminal at Harry Reid International Airport before moving to standby status and returning to the campus football facility roughly an hour later, Bea Martinez reported for FOX5’s “Reb Zone Sports Show.”
“We made our way back after we had no update,” Martinez said in the afternoon. “We don’t know if or when we will head to Albuquerque, New Mexico. We don’t even know if there will be a game tomorrow.”
The team boarded a flight once the ground stop lifted, later sharing arrival visuals in Albuquerque on social media alongside Martinez.
Travel disruptions impacted athletic programs nationwide as teams prepared for weekend matchups during the FAA stoppage.
The SEC said that league officials monitored the nationwide ground stop closely, emphasizing that student-athlete and staff safety remained the highest priority.
Stanford men’s basketball traveled to Las Vegas for a Friday night game against UNLV, with team representatives preparing for potential overnight stays or bus travel depending on flight clearance.
The NHL’s Nashville Predators planned an overnight stay in Las Vegas following their game against the Vegas Golden Knights before traveling to face the San Jose Sharks, while the Sharks arrived later in Utah after initial delays.
