• Loading stock data...
Friday, October 31, 2025
Want a chance to win $250 and free FOS gear? Take our quick reader survey. Take the survey here

Sugar Bowl to Proceed Despite Louisiana AG’s Desire for Delay

Despite calls from Louisiana’s attorney general to delay it further, the Sugar Bowl will be played Thursday, and its full slate of pregame events will begin at noon ET.

Jan 1, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Fans line at the front desk of the Sheraton hotel after the Sugar Bowl CFP quarterfinal between Georgia and Notre Dame was postponed after an attack on Bourbon Street.
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The Sugar Bowl was postponed a full day following a deadly attack in the early hours of New Year’s Day on Bourbon Street on Wednesday. On Thursday morning, the Sugar Bowl announced a new schedule of pregame festivities beginning at noon, leading up to kickoff at 4 p.m. ET on Thursday—despite vocalized concerns from Louisiana’s attorney general.

The game, featuring a College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup between Notre Dame and Georgia, was originally slated for 8:45 p.m. ET on New Year’s Day in the Caesars Superdome, but it was postponed after a white Ford pickup truck rammed through Bourbon Street early Wednesday, a popular tourist destination filled with partygoers celebrating the new year, killing at least 15 and injuring dozens.

On Wednesday night, Louisiana attorney general Liz Murrill told NBC that she would’ve preferred the Sugar Bowl be delayed at least another day. “You know, it’s not my decision, but I would like to see it delayed at least another day,” she said. “If they asked my opinion, I would tell them that I think it was a wise decision to delay it at least a day.” But in its press release, the Sugar Bowl said that the game-time decision had been made in conjunction with federal, state, and local officials, as well as college football administrators. 

Front Office Sports has reached out to the attorney general’s office for clarification.

Sugar Bowl officials said in a press release Wednesday night that safety resources normally available for the game were preoccupied with the fallout from the attack, and that the postponement would “maintain the typical standards of a major event in the Caesars Superdome.”

The FBI is investigating the incident as an act of terror, and said in a statement that it found the flag of ISIS, as well as several explosives. The driver, identified as 42-year-old U.S. citizen Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was killed in a shootout with police. Local officials also said that explosives had been placed throughout the French Quarter and that detonation specialists spent the day Wednesday sweeping the area—another potential reason for the game’s postponement.

Despite Murrill’s concerns, however, the game is on. 

On Wednesday night, photos and videos on social media showed the Georgia team leaving its hotel, boarding buses to a closed walk-through practice.

ESPN adjusted its schedule to accommodate the new kickoff time, by moving the entire game megacast to Thursday afternoon. As part of the shuffle, the Gator Bowl between Duke and Ole Miss, taking place in Jacksonville, will be postponed 30 minutes from 7:30 p.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET to accommodate the Sugar Bowl.

ESPN announced its full team will be available for the game, and a spokesperson told Front Office Sports on Wednesday that all talent and crew members were safe and accounted for following the attack. 

It’s still somewhat unclear what game day will look like on the ground, however.

Because of the postponement, fans would have had to stay at least one more night, purchasing extra hotel rooms and moving flight reservations. On social media, reports emerged Thursday morning of fans clad in both Georgia and Notre Dame gear at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, presumably choosing to skip the game altogether.

The Sugar Bowl made a thread on X/Twitter on Wednesday night with updates for game day, appearing to suggest all pregame festivities, like the “Tailgate Town” event outside the Superdome, would take place in addition to the matchup. 

The Sugar Bowl has not made announcements for specific enhanced security for game time, but CEO Jeff Hundley said Wednesday: “We have full faith and confidence in the governor and the mayor and all the federal, state, and local first responders. … Any time we have an event like the Sugar Bowl, public safety is paramount, and all parties involved agree that could only be achieved with a postponement. Now we will move ahead to take care of the details to make the Sugar Bowl the first-class, fun, and safe event that it has been for over 90 years.”

During a news conference Wednesday, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry assured fans that the Sugar Bowl would be safe to attend—saying he knew because he would be there. “The facility is safer today than it was yesterday,” he told reporters.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Oct 28, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) pitches during the fifth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during game four of the 2025 MLB World Series at Dodger Stadium.

Shohei Ohtani Card Market Is Surging—With No Signs of Slowing

Cards have spiked hundreds of thousands of dollars from their initial value.
Florida Gators linebacker Shemar James (6) tackles Georgia Bulldogs tight end Oscar Delp (4) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football matchup Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Georgia Bulldogs defeated the Florida Gators 34-20.

Florida-Georgia Rivalry Hits the Road—Still Nets Almost $10M Payouts

The annual rivalry game in Jacksonville is taking a two-year road trip.
Dec 10, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) talks with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) after a game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

CBS Bets Big on Chiefs-Bills Rivalry As AFC Landscape Changes

Big viewership likely awaits the revival of the NFL rivalry.

Featured Today

September 21, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell before the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium

NFL Fall Meeting: 7 Big Topics Among Team Owners 

Media, facilities, and labor highlight some of the key areas of concern.
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Isaiah West (32) runs the ball in the second half at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin
October 25, 2025

NIL Has Birthed a Third-Party Cottage Industry—and It’s a Mess

There’s no limit to how much players can make from NIL deals.
Christie's
October 21, 2025

Lou Gehrig’s $4M Jersey and the Exploding Sports Memorabilia Market

An ultra-rare sports collection is about to hit the auction block.
@chef__tezz/Instagram
October 19, 2025

Inside the NFL’s Private Chef Network

Private chefs are the unsung architects of player performance.
Sep 6, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly looks on against Louisiana Tech Bulldogs during the second half at Tiger Stadium.

The Governor Who Inserted Himself Into a College Football Coaching Search

The governor said he was concerned taxpayers would be left paying Kelly’s buyout.
Sponsored

How HOKA is Reimagining the NIL Relationship

TNT Sports is going all-in on college athletics—bringing fans closer and giving brands a powerful new way to connect.
Oct 4, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) takes hits from UCLA Bruins linebacker Jalen Woods (9) and defensive back Rodrick Pleasant (18) during the fourth quarter at Rose Bowl.
October 30, 2025

Rose Bowl Lawsuit Claims UCLA Tried to Move Games to SoFi Stadium

UCLA has called the Rose Bowl home since the early 1980s.
Sponsored

How HOKA is Reimagining the NIL Relationship

TNT Sports is going all-in on college athletics—bringing fans closer and giving brands a powerful new way to connect.
Harold Perkins Jr interception as LSU Tigers take on the Texas A&M Aggies. October 25, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; at Tiger Stadium. Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025.
October 29, 2025

Louisiana Governor Says LSU Athletic Director Will Not Choose Next Football Coach

Jeff Landry has little confidence in Scott Woodward.
Sankey
October 28, 2025

SEC’s Sankey Blasts NCAA Plan to Allow Pro Sports Betting

NCAA athletes can bet on professional sports starting Nov. 1.
October 28, 2025

SEC Coaches Kiffin, Smart Question LSU’s Firing of Kelly: ‘Ridiculous’ 

Three SEC teams have fired their football coaches midseason.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry speaks to an audience at Louisiana Tech University on Aug. 25, 2025.
October 28, 2025

Why Louisiana’s Governor Was Involved in the Brian Kelly Firing

Jeff Landry reportedly hosted a meeting at the governor’s mansion Sunday.