With wildfires in the Pacific Northwest threatening air quality, the Nebraska-Oregon and/or Minnesota-Oregon State games might be adjusted.
A Pac-12 news release Tuesday stated that that Oregon and Oregon State officials are “working closely with the relevant regional air protection agency, the Pac-12, and their own medical personnel to monitor and assess the air quality situation … A decision will be made on whether to adjust game times and/or dates with the safety of student-athletes and fans as a priority.”
Minnesota-Oregon State is a primetime Saturday game, and Nebraska-Oregon is scheduled to be played at 1:30 p.m. local time Saturday.
“I was talking to my daughter about the fires and the smoke in the valley,” Nebraska coach Mike Riley said Tuesday.
“So I’m not surprised by it, and I read an article about it this morning. But I don’t know about the possibilities (of a change). (School officials) may be in talks, but I’m unaware of any information coming from that. You just plan for what’s head of us and adjust if need be.”
Riley had two coaching stints at Oregon State, going 1-6 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene.
“It’s in my top five noisiest places,” Riley said. “(The noise) is something you have to handle very well so you can function.”
Twitter @TeddyGreenstein