Ohio State fans have grown used to noon kickoffs on Saturdays thanks to FOX's "Big Noon Kickoff," but the latest scheduling news has many Buckeyes supporters less than thrilled.
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FOX's "Big Noon Kickoff" has featured Ohio State games regularly, making the Buckeyes a centerpiece of the network's Saturday football lineup. The noon time slot follows FOX's pregame show, which competes directly with ESPN's "GameDay." Naturally, Ohio State games draw big ratings, so FOX is keen to keep them there.
This week, Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork told WOSU's "All Sides" program he expects the Ohio State-Penn State matchup on November 1 to kick off at noon.
"I think we know the Buckeyes drive Big Noon Kickoff," Bjork said. "That'll be a high-powered game. So I think we probably know what's going to happen around game time for that one. FOX, they love the Buckeyes. And Big Noon is a big deal. They've invested in that time slot. So we'll presume it's a 12 noon kickoff."
The trouble? Ohio State has declared the Penn State game a "blackout" game, meaning players will wear black jerseys and fans are encouraged to wear black to create an intimidating atmosphere. The problem is blackout games are far more effective under the lights. Having one at noon loses some of its punch.
Fans took to social media quickly to voice their displeasure. One post on X read, "Ross Bjork told a news outlet today that he expects Ohio State vs. Penn St to be a noon kickoff for the BLACKOUT. That, IMO, is football scheduling malpractice." Another said, "Defeats the purpose of it being a BLACKOUT during a NOON GAME."
The frustration isn't new. In fact, Ohio state lawmakers have even weighed in. Representative Tex Fischer from Boardman introduced legislation that would prevent Ohio's state universities from playing games before 3:30 p.m. ET if both teams are ranked in the top 10 of the AP Poll. The bill carves out an exception for Ohio State vs. Michigan games but proposes a $10 million fine for conferences or networks that schedule pre-3:30 p.m. kickoffs involving Ohio schools.
It's a bold move that signals some folks in Ohio want to push back against the early kickoff trend, especially when it affects how their beloved Buckeyes look and feel on game day.
Whether that legislation gains traction remains to be seen, but for now, Buckeyes fans are hoping FOX will rethink that noon blackout kickoff.
