Florida State University has canceled its Saturday noon game because of Hurricane Irma, the school announced late Thursday night.

The school also announced it will be closed Friday through Tuesday in anticipation of Hurricane Irma, a Category 5 storm threatening to hit the southern part of Florida this weekend.

“In the interest of safety of individuals throughout the state, and to allow our student-athletes, staff and fans to prepare for a storm of significant magnitude, we have decided to cancel all athletics events including the ULM football game on Saturday,” FSU President John Thrasher said in a statement. “The cancellations will help reduce the consumption of fuel and congestion on major travel arteries.”

Irma has forced college football teams around the state to change their game and/or travel plans this week.

FSU, which was originally scheduled to play against Louisiana-Monroe in Doak Campbell Stadium at 7 p.m., moved its game time up to noon earlier this week. The game will not be rescheduled this season.

Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher talks Hurricane Irma, game with Louisiana-Monroe during talk with media on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017. Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher talks Hurricane Irma, game with Louisiana-Monroe during talk with media on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017.

“This is a wise decision made for the safety of all involved,” FSU vice president and athletics director Stan Wilcox said in the same statement.

“With Florida currently under a government state of emergency and the need to dedicate all resources to the evacuation effort we felt this was the best decision for everyone. All relocation and rescheduling possibilities were exhausted. Under these circumstances and on such short notice, the two teams will not be able to reschedule this year as there is no common open date.”

The Seminoles football team’s next game is scheduled for Sept. 16 against Miami at 8 p.m. in Doak Campbell Stadium.

FSU football coach Jimbo Fisher said Thursday that the school has provided assistance to players’ families in need of transportation to evacuate, but a list of players was not specified.

“The NCAA has allowed us to help some of the families out of there that didn’t have the resources to get them out — some of the kids and children — which we have gladly done, and will do,” Fisher said.

“This is a football game. That’s life and death, and very critical. It can be very disturbing, but our guys have handled it very well.”

All other athletic events, including the FSU-FAMU Classic volleyball matches and the soccer match scheduled for Friday in Gainesville, have also been canceled.

Email Safid Deen at sdeen@orlandosentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter at @osfsu or @Safid_Deen and like our Florida State Facebook page for the latest updates on the Seminoles.