Ohio State AD Ross Bjork makes major statement about what the Buckeyes have done for FOX, but the kickoff time issue isn’t going away
When the Ohio State Buckeyes open the 2025 season, they’ll do so in a rematch of the Cotton Bowl by hosting the Texas Longhorns. Despite the matchup being a highly anticipated clash between two of college football’s biggest programs, fans will have to settle for a noon kickoff. Ohio State attempted to move the game […]
When the Ohio State Buckeyes open the 2025 season, they’ll do so in a rematch of the Cotton Bowl by hosting the Texas Longhorns.
Despite the matchup being a highly anticipated clash between two of college football’s biggest programs, fans will have to settle for a noon kickoff. Ohio State attempted to move the game to Sunday night to allow FOX to broadcast it in primetime, but Texas declined.
That was Texas’s right — and the Buckeyes can only point to the Big Ten’s television deal as the main reason for the noon start. FOX has the first pick of games for its “Big Noon Kickoff” slot, and Ohio State consistently draws the highest viewership. From a business perspective, FOX would be foolish not to choose the Buckeyes.
“What we need is more flexibility. Can that happen anytime soon? I don’t know, but I think every program deserves the right to have more flexibility,” Ohio State Athletic Director Ross Bjork said on Thursday. “We have carried the day for Big Noon. There’s no question about it if you look at the viewership. We understand why FOX went with Big Noon. We understand why we’re picked all the time, but we’re hoping for just more flexibility. That’s what we’re looking for.”
The Buckeyes are scheduled to play nearly every home game at noon this season, with the exception of an early matchup against the Ohio Bobcats. When Ohio State hosts Penn State — a game likely to carry major Big Ten implications — it, too, is expected to kick off at noon.
Fans hoping for a change shouldn’t hold their breath. These television contracts are locked in for years, with no changes expected until the end of the 2029–2030 athletic year.
“Can anything change anytime soon? Probably not,” Bjork said. “Those contracts are rigid and locked in for several years.”
