Following the Ohio State Buckeyes’ historic run through the College Football Playoff—where they defeated Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame en route to their first national title since the 2014 season—the program is kicking off 2025 with a highly anticipated Week 1 showdown on August 30 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.
The Buckeyes will face SEC powerhouse Texas in a rematch that will feature two new starting quarterbacks. The Longhorns will turn to fan-favorite Arch Manning, while Ohio State has yet to name its starter—though all signs point to former five-star Alabama transfer Julian Sayin taking the reins.
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While the game is still months away, major news dropped Monday that has already stirred controversy: the marquee matchup will air on Fox Sports as part of the network’s “Big Noon Kickoff,” meaning it will likely begin shortly after 12 p.m. ET. That decision has not been well-received by many college football fans.
“Big Noon Kickoff is the worst thing to happen to american sports,” a fan said.
“This should be prime time. Noon games are awful,” another fan posted.
Someone else added, “Literally nobody on the planet wants this game at noon so please do not make it noon.”
One morefan commented, “The fact that this game is going to be a noon game is a travesty.”
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day and Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian shake hands following a press conference at AT&T Stadium prior to the College Football Playoff semifinal.© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Fox has hosted some of college football’s biggest games in recent years, but the noon kickoff time has drawn growing criticism—especially from West Coast fans, who would see a game of this magnitude start at 9 a.m. local time.
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Many argue that a high-profile clash like Texas vs. Ohio State deserves a primetime slot, not a midday kickoff that clashes with the spirit of Saturday college football atmospheres.
Ohio State’s Week 14 season finale against archrival Michigan will also air on Fox, as it traditionally does, and will once again feature a “Big Noon Kickoff” start time.
Related: Ryan Day Makes Major Announcement About Ohio State’s Starting QB Battle
