Decision on USC-Georgia game will be made later this week

A decision regarding Saturday night’s South Carolina football game against Georgia will be made later this week in consultation with state and local officials, according to a university release on Tuesday.

But South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley didn’t sound so confident that the game will take place without a hitch.

The governor, in a news conference Tuesday to declare a state of emergency because of Hurricane Matthew, said the ultimate decision on whether the USC-Georgia game happens as scheduled is up to the school and the SEC.

“It’s a complete decision based on the schools,” Haley said. “As of now, I can’t imagine that happening but certainly we’re going to continue to watch this. I would love nothing more than to see this take a right-hand turn and go out to sea. As it looks right now, we’re looking at Friday afternoon into Saturday being pretty brutal.”

The game is set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium.

USC said earlier Tuesday that it is monitoring the progress of Hurricane Matthew. “Once forecasts call for action, we will use all means necessary to inform the public,” according to a statement.

The updated forecast track for the hurricane projects a possible brush with the coast near the Carolinas’ border Saturday morning.

USC’s downtown Columbia campus will close Wednesday in preparation for Hurricane Matthew.

USC expects classes to remain canceled the rest of the week, according to a news release sent Tuesday afternoon.

Gamecocks head coach Will Muschamp said Tuesday at his press conference, “Our administration is handling all that through the SEC office. All of my energy is game planning for the game. Whatever happens, happens. I’m not the least bit worried about it.

“I know our fans will be ready to go regardless of what the weather is,” he said.

Georgia athletics director Greg McGarity, when approached at Tuesday’s practice by a reporter from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, did not seem overly concerned, and said the decision rests with South Carolina officials.

He also said he didn’t know what a contingency plan would be.

In anticipation of Hurricane Matthew, USC’s equestrian and volleyball matches versus Georgia, scheduled for Friday, have been postponed.

This story was originally published October 4, 2016 at 2:31 PM with the headline "Decision on USC-Georgia game will be made later this week."