Texas A&M vs UTSA playing despite ESPN detecting lightning in area, network limits broadcast

If you are tuning into ESPN for the Week 1 matchup between Texas A&M and UTSA, you might notice a high camera angle from Kyle Field. Weather in the area has restricted ESPN due to lightning within an eight mile radius. However, the game is still being played on the field.

Turns out, ESPN’s meteorology group was able to detect the lightning but Texas A&M did not find the same. So, the players are still out on the field and there is no delay. An interesting situation in College Station.

“If you’re wondering why the cameras are showing you what you’re seeing on the monitor, it’s because ESPN with its own meteorology detected lightning in an 8 mile radius; so we had to shut down a few of our cameras,” ESPN play-by-play announcer Anish Shroff said. “Why are they playing? Well Texas A&M meteorology did not detect the lightning. We’re just the messengers here, sending it back to you”

Weather has affected a few games in the early portions of the college football season, especially in the Lone Star State. If ESPN’s meteorologists were running the show, we might have gone into a delay. But Texas A&M appears willing to push through and get the game going.

Hopefully, the normal camera angle is able to come back in the near future. If/when the lightning clears out of the area, ESPN should return to its usual placement.

Mike Elko making sure Texas A&M does not overlook UTSA

Texas A&M opens its 2025 season on Aug. 30 at home against UTSA, a program that has won at least seven games in five consecutive seasons. The Roadrunners are projected to finish fourth in the American Conference this season and return starting quarterback Owen McCown, who passed for 3,424 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season.

The Roadrunners could prove to be a challenge for an Aggie program looking to ease into the brand new season. This is why A&M head coach Mike Elko pushed back against a question which was looking ahead to their Sept. 13 game against Notre Dame this week.

“We certainly don’t care about Notre Dame two weeks away,” Elko said. “I certainly think we have a really challenging opener with a returning quarterback and all those skill kids we talked about and all the talent coming back. So let’s make sure we say that the right way.”

On3’s Daniel Hager contributed to this report