According to sports gaming site Pasta Padre: Gamestop and Walmart no longer display a release date, Amazon has changed it to 12/31 which represents a placeholder for what is an undetermined 2011 date, and Best Buy lists 8/1 also likely acting as a placeholder. Generally these retailers don’t make changes to listings unless they have received specific reason to do so. That all four no longer list the 8/9 date suggests something might be happening behind the scenes.
There are two possible reasons for the move if the game is really being delayed. One is that the NFL labor strife is threatening the schedule, and the season may be shortened or even in a worst case scenario canceled.
The other, less likely scenario is that Electronic Arts is trying to give NCAA Football 12 more room, but it has never been an issue before.