A Division II football showdown between Colorado School of Mines and Washburn in Topeka, Kansas, concluded in an unexpected 16‑16 tie as relentless heat forced officials to halt play and eventually settle for a draw.
With the air temperature climbing to 99°F and the heat index soaring to 108°F, the game was repeatedly suspended while staff waited for the wet‑bulb temperature to fall below the conference’s 92.1°F safety threshold before allowing the match to resume.
In the final minutes, Washburn added a 48‑yard touchdown with 1:48 left on the clock, and Colorado School of Mines’ subsequent 64‑yard field goal attempt missed, preserving the unusual stalemate.
The contest, originally slated for a noon start, had been pushed back several times as temperatures rose, highlighting how extreme weather can reshape even the most routine schedules.
Heat Becomes a Growing Concern in College Football
The Topeka game is part of a broader pattern in which heat has emerged as a significant challenge for college football, with a 100°F kickoff in Georgia’s matchup against Tennessee State setting a new high for the Bulldogs and USC facing criticism after a Week 0 opener played under a 110°F heat index.
Next season’s shift of the Week 1 game to a Week 0 slot is expected to increase exposure to early‑season heat, while a high school contest in Kansas was postponed Friday night and a college hockey player collapsed from heatstroke in Arizona last month, underscoring the widespread nature of the risk.
As temperatures continue to climb, the sport faces mounting pressure to adopt clearer monitoring protocols and to rethink scheduling practices to protect player health and maintain the integrity of competition.