Big Noon Kickoff Backlash: Fans Livid as Ohio State-Texas College Football Playoff Rematch Gets Early Slot
In what should be one of the most anticipated matchups of the college football season, the College Football Playoff rematch between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Texas Longhorns has instead ignited widespread fan outrage — not over ticket prices or officiating controversies, but because of its scheduled time: Big Noon Kickoff. Once again, FOX’s flagship early broadcast slot is drawing fierce criticism, with many calling it the worst thing to happen to American sports broadcasting.
The decision to schedule the high-stakes playoff showdown at noon Eastern Time (11 a.m. Central for Texas fans) has left fans from both programs livid. Social media exploded shortly after the announcement, with hashtags like #BanBigNoon and #LetThemPlayAtNight trending within hours. For two of college football’s most passionate and tradition-rich fanbases, a playoff clash of this magnitude deserved the bright lights of prime time — not brunch hour.
“This is a disgrace,” one Ohio State alum tweeted. “You don’t put two blue-bloods like Ohio State and Texas in a game with national title implications and kick it off before lunch.” A Texas fan echoed the sentiment, posting, “11 a.m. in Austin for a College Football Playoff game? This is criminal. Our fans and players deserve better.”
Big Noon Kickoff has long been a point of contention in college football circles. Introduced by FOX to compete with ESPN’s dominant College GameDay and ABC/ESPN’s prime time games, the Big Noon strategy prioritizes placing marquee matchups in the early slot to draw in larger national audiences. While the ratings have often validated the strategy, the decision-making continues to come at the expense of in-stadium atmosphere and viewer experience — especially for West Coast and Central Time Zone fanbases.
For student sections, tailgates, and traditions that define college football Saturdays, the early start can be a buzzkill. Fans and alumni have complained about having to show up to tailgate lots at dawn, stadiums losing their electric night-game atmospheres, and decreased visibility for recruits watching from across the country.
Coaches and players haven’t held back either. An assistant coach from a playoff-bound SEC program, speaking anonymously, said, “It’s frustrating. You train all year for this moment, and the game gets shoehorned into a time slot that doesn’t maximize the spectacle.”
Even neutral fans and analysts have weighed in, questioning why a Playoff game with national interest isn’t being given a slot that would naturally allow for a more dramatic buildup and bigger audience. “Imagine if the NFL scheduled the NFC Championship at 9 a.m. Pacific. That’s what this feels like,” one analyst noted on a sports radio segment.
As college football continues to wrestle with the balance between tradition, television contracts, and fan experience, the backlash against Big Noon Kickoff — particularly in this playoff scenario — serves as a reminder that not every ratings-driven decision aligns with the spirit of the sport.
For now, the stage is still set for a thrilling Ohio State vs. Texas showdown. But for many fans, the bitter taste of an early kickoff may linger long after the final whistle.
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