[quote=@Raptorman]
Also I am sorry to cause issues but I am not really a sports guy. So whatever way of explaining it would be great. So thank you to those with solutions. It did not take place in the past. So I guess the early game thing or and sort of wacky schedule due to the invasion and other drama would be best.
[/quote]

I would say, after what Eddie Brock mentioned, that the best "solution" is that the game in your post was the Spring game (i.e. the team scrimmages with themselves and the fans come out to see how the team is shaping up to be).  The only change you need to make is your 3rd paragraph (the one after the one sentence 'paragraph').  Just edit out the playoff reference and maybe insert something along the lines of the university moving the Spring game up so that the city has something positive to look forward to.