**Weather Forces Significant Changes to Game Schedule and Protocols**

In an effort to avoid a severe weather system forecasted by the National Weather Service, a game originally scheduled for 4 p.m. MST was moved up to 12:30 p.m. A flood watch remains in effect through Monday, further impacting scheduling decisions.

Under NCAA rules, any lightning delay must last at least 30 minutes. Guidelines state that before resuming activities, officials should wait 30 minutes after both the last sound of thunder and the last lightning flash is at least six miles away. Notably, lightning seen without thunder may indicate a lesser threat due to its likely greater distance.

At night, lightning can appear more distant due to cloud illumination, potentially indicating a reduced threat. Therefore, officials should use both thunder and the visual lightning channel at night to decide when to restart the 30-minute return-to-play clock.

ASU athletic director Graham Rossini mentioned on the pregame radio show that one possible contingency plan for weather delays is to call the game after halftime, a strategy that aligns with Big 12 bylaws.