Ohio State Athletic Director Ross Bjork leading crusade for more football night games
Ohio State Athletic Director Ross Bjork leading crusade for more football night games
If you are an Ohio State football fan, you've endured more than your fair share of Buckeye noon games thanks to FOX's bet on placing its marquee game of the weekend in the early viewing window. It's been known as the Big Noon Game and falls just after the network's answer to ESPN College GameDay, a similar show with former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer, Big Noon Kickoff.
To say that OSU fans are fed up with a lack of night games for the biggest of games would be an understatement. It's no secret that Ohio State games have carried the day for the Big Noon window, and many fans are clamoring for Athletic Director Ross Bjork and others to pull their weight to change what has become the status quo. The realization that the Ohio State vs. Texas game will also be highlighted at Noon seemed to make those calls even louder.
But never fear, Bjork seems to be in your corner Buckeye fans. When meeting with the media last week, the new AD spoke to the so-called issue with game times, and it sure sounds like he'll be working to change OSU fans' viewing big games just after breakfast.
"I think our program, our fans deserve some marquee night games. ... Really, at the end of the day, there's no flexibility in the contracts," Bjork told the media. "FOX bought the noon window. ... What we need is we need more flexibility. Can that happen anytime soon? I don't know. ... 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."
Same here, Ross. Flexibility in anything is good, especially when it comes to creating the type of environment a night game in the 'Shoe can present. How it's done, or how long we'll have to wait is the question. The current television contracts run through 2029, so it sure seems like we've got a few years before there's language that can be official. So, what we seem to be left with is people sitting down in a room or having a phone conversation to shift things a bit.
We feel good about Bjork making a run at that, but ultimately, it's up to the executives at FOX to get on board with that sort of thing.
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
17 minutes ago
- USA Today
Aaron Rodgers looking to be a mentor for former Ohio State QB Will Howard in Pittsburgh
Aaron Rodgers looking to be a mentor for former Ohio State QB Will Howard in Pittsburgh If there's been an Ohio State athlete make the one-year impression like the one Will Howard made in Columbus, I can't recall it. Originally from Pennsylvania and then a college quarterback with Kansas State, Howard came to the Buckeyes last season to improve his NFL draft stock and have a chance at winning a College Football Playoff national championship. If you're keeping track on your bingo card, he hit both of those. Along the way, he did it with grace, professionalism, and an excitement that endeared him to Ohio State fans. Though Howard wore the Scarlet and Gary for just one season, he'll forever call himself, and be known as a Buckeye through and through for what the one year meant to him in life, with his professional career, and where hearts are from the fanbase. Now that Howard is with the Pittsburgh Steelers, having been selected in the sixth round of this year's NFL draft, he'll get a chance to prove himself again. But before he does, he'll get a chance to be mentored by a future Hall of Fame quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, who was recently signed to a one-year free agent deal. So yeah, Howard gets a chance to soak up all he can while Rodgers is in and around Pittsburgh. For Rodgers' part, he seems to be embracing being a mentor for Howard and trying to provide him with invaluable advice and direction from so many years in the League and so many memorable and high-profile games and moments. According to ESPN, Rodgers has been nothing but gracious with the rookie Howard. 'He is a great mentor. He's already treated me with the utmost respect and just been really good to me,' Howard told ESPN. 'And a guy like that, he doesn't have to do that. I really just appreciate him being willing to take me under his wing a little bit and give me pointers and tips here and there. There are already some things that he's said to me that have helped me.' It's one thing to hear it from the receiver of the input, it's another to get a feel for a guy that's been through it all and providing the daily advice. According to Rodgers, he's more than happy to be a sounding board and example for Howrad. 'I just want to be a servant leader here,' Rodgers said, 'and just pass on the knowledge that I have for 20 years, the experience, and just try and fit in with the guys, get to know 'em, let them get to know me and just enjoy the process ... 'Will's a good kid. Thought he looked good today. I'm gonna be with him every single day and every single meeting. … I'm gonna help him as much as I can.' It would be hard to find a better situation for Howard. Not only does he get a year to learn from one of the best to ever do it, but he's at a place where there is opportunity, and he's shown an ability to make plays during minicamp. We'll see where this whole thing leads and if Howard can bank the odds and wiggle his way into a starting role with the Steelers down the line after being selected late in the draft. I like his chances based on what we've seen so far. Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
USA Today
22 minutes ago
- USA Today
Marcus Freeman speaks about Notre Dame with Joel Klatt
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman visits with Joel Klatt. Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman will be the first guest on Joel Klatt's Big Noon Conversations show as it returns ahead of the 2025 season. The Fox show is available now on platforms such as YouTube and Spotify. Among the topics covered are Notre Dame's independence, the rivalry with USC and last year's march to the national championship game. We'll have another post today with thoughts and takeaways from what Freeman had to say. Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle Follow Tim on X: @tehealey
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Recruiting Rumor Mill: Massive recruiting month of June hits the midpoint
Another loaded weekend of camps and visits means even more rumors than ever. Here's the latest from Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney in this week's Recruiting Rumor Mill. MORE: Floodgates open as coaches call 2027 prospects for the first time CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker RIVALS CAMP SERIES: Rivals Five-Star heading back to Indy | Rivals Five-Star roster | Schedule/info Auburn has emerged as the front-runner after his official visit with the Tigers but trips to Maryland and Miami remain before a decision is made. UCF and Rutgers are the others to watch for the three-star safety from Winter Garden (Fla.) West Orange and if Auburn can dodge a late push from the in-state programs, it should look good heading into his early July decision. Atkinson took his 15th visit to Georgia and it was an official he 'will never forget.' If the five-star linebacker from Loganville (Ga.) Grayson doesn't end up with the Bulldogs it would be a major surprise after he spent a ton of time with coach Kirby Smart, defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann and co-DC Travaris Robinson. Ohio State, Clemson, Oregon and others are involved but Georgia keeps setting the pace here. If Ohio State ends up landing Bala it's because the 2027 running back from Melville (N.Y.) St. Anthony's loved working with position coach Carlos Locklyn at camp and landed an offer from the Buckeyes. Ohio State is 'high up' on Bala's early list but he also loved his experience at Nebraska. Rutgers, Boston College, Syracuse, Michigan, Michigan State and Maryland are others to watch. There are a lot of moving pieces in Bergeron's recruitment as Georgia Tech has been the favorite but he absolutely loved his visit to Florida Atlantic and then a bunch of other stuff is happening. The three-star from Lafayette (La.) St. Thomas More threw for LSU on Thursday and the Tigers said they'll follow up after he visits Georgia Tech. He threw for Florida State on Sunday and then will throw for the Hokies on Wednesday. Still a lot going on so Bergeron is not expected to commit yet. After working out with position coach Brian Hartline and assistant Devin Jordan at Ohio State's camp and landing an offer from the Buckeyes, they're 'definitely near the top' in Burrell's recruitment. The 2027 four-star receiver from Chicago (Ill.) Mt. Carmel has also loved Notre Dame, Michigan and Missouri and then sees Arizona State, Alabama and Penn State soon as his front-runners are taking shape. Georgia is 'definitely in a good spot' in Eisenhower's recruitment following his offer at the Bulldogs' summer camp in recent days. There is also a 'good possibility' that the 2027 offensive tackle from Valdosta (Ga.) Lowndes makes an early commitment as Georgia has always been high on his list. Florida State offered on Sunday. After his recent trip to Florida State, the Seminoles unseated Florida as the front-runner. But there has been another change as Michigan looks to be the team to beat after he was in Ann Arbor over the weekend. The four-star linebacker from Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy loves that Michigan 'has it all' and that even after football he could 'accomplish anything in life' if he went there. Any decision has now been pushed back. In the end, it could be tough to beat LSU for the high four-star defensive end from New Orleans (La.) Jesuit but USC has made great in-roads there along with numerous SEC teams. Add Georgia to that list of top contenders as he's 'been waiting for the longest' to get that offer and he's 'beyond excited' to have the Bulldogs under consideration now. Ohio State could be tough to beat but LSU recently blew Geralds away and now a visit to Ole Miss has him thinking even more about his future home. An Ole Miss legacy whose dad played for the Rebels, playing for Randall Joyner and Pete Golding is a massive draw and how they'd let him use his skillset on the defensive line is another major draw as well. Others are absolutely heavily in the running but Ole Miss definitely has the Suwanee (Ga.) Collins Hill standout thinking. He was at Oregon, another favorite, over the weekend. Georgia Tech, Georgia and Alabama have been the front-runners in Gilbert's recruitment but after getting a Clemson offer, the Tigers have moved into that top list as well. The 2027 four-star safety from Sharpsburg (Ga.) East Coweta knows not many players get Clemson offers so it's big and the religious aspect of the Tigers could be a key consideration as his recruitment continues. It's early for the 2028 defensive end from Louisville (Ky.) Christian Academy but Ohio State is definitely in his top three after visiting there in recent days and getting his newest offer. All the resources within the program from academics to player development and beyond along with some great conversations with position coach Larry Johnson impressed Hall, who also has Tennessee, Notre Dame, Alabama, Michigan, SMU and Oklahoma high on the list. Florida, Tennessee, Auburn, Alabama, Oregon, Georgia Tech and Miami are the other ones to watch but after Georgia offered in recent days, the Bulldogs could have shot right to the top. The Georgia offer 'means a lot' as he's been a Dawgs fan his entire life and after working out for them recently and getting offered, Georgia has moved way up for the 2027 athlete from Buford, Ga. USC is making Houston its clear top priority in the 2027 class and there is significant mutual interest as the four-star quarterback made another trip to Los Angeles recently to work out with a select group of top recruits and commits. Oklahoma has been considered an earlier front-runner with Texas, Texas A&M and LSU all involved but the Trojans are shopping hard to get the Shreveport (La.) Evangel Christian standout aboard. Tennessee is coming hard after the 2027 four-star linebacker from Chicago (Ill.) Mt. Carmel and it was one of the teams standing out most early in is recruitment. Igwebuike already has more than 30 offers and beyond Tennessee, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Florida and Missouri have been making the biggest impression. Oregon is 'definitely a top-three school' for the five-star edge rusher after his weekend visit as he loves the consistency and how the coaches have treated him throughout the process along with so much more about Eugene. The Ducks have made a big impact but the question is whether Oregon can eclipse Alabama, Texas A&M and others. Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer told the four-star Miami running back commit he fits perfectly in the Crimson Tide's offensive system and then the coaching staff sold Mallory on how many elite running backs have been produced in Tuscaloosa. The Boca Raton (Fla.) West Boca Raton standout sees DeBoer 'continuing that coach (Nick) Saban culture and adding his own touch to it' as he remains committed to the Hurricanes but Alabama has given him a lot to think about. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH MIAMI FANS AT Ole Miss has been very high with Florida State, North Carolina and others involved but LSU is the front-runner now in his recruitment as the four-star receiver from Morton, Miss. absolutely loved his time in Baton Rouge. The message from the LSU coaches was that he would have a 'better opportunity' for success there and that a degree from LSU would set him up for life after football. They made a convincing pitch because the Tigers look strongest. Nothing has been set in stone but UCLA made a serious move for the four-star Texas A&M edge commit over the weekend. Washington, Texas and others are working on a flip but the coaching staff has been really aggressive and laid out a lot this weekend to have him thinking. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH TEXAS A&M FANS AT His brother, Elijah, who's in the NFL played at Washington but the Huskies aren't one of the front-runners for the 2027 four-star cornerback from West Linn, Ore. Molden's visit to Ohio State was 'way better than expected' as he loved the culture and the coaches in Columbus and is already planning a return trip. Alabama and Texas are two others to watch and of course Oregon since it's so close to home and recruiting him hard already. Ohio State was the dream school for Moses growing up even though his one brother, Dylan, signed with Alabama and his other, Keylan, signed with LSU in its 2025 recruiting class. Moses was offered by the Buckeyes after camp in recent days and they're now right at the top of his recruitment with Texas A&M. The 2027 safety from Baton Rouge (La.) University Lab should also get considerable attention from LSU as his recruitment continues but Ohio State will be one right at the top until the end. The 2028 quarterback from Princeton (N.J.) Hun School has all the time in the world to figure out his recruitment but getting an offer from Ohio State in recent days is huge. The Buckeyes are already 'very high' in Prock's recruitment as he builds a relationship with coach Ryan Day and position coach Billy Fessler. Illinois a place where Prock feels like a top priority and Penn State has started to show more serious interest. Alabama was the dream school of his growing up. The standout four-star tight end from Bowdon, Ga., was at Florida over the weekend as the Gators remain one of the four front-runners - and they could have moved up after his visit to Gainesville - but the word is still that Georgia is No. 1 on his list and Auburn is second in the running. With five-star TE Mark Bowman picking USC over the Bulldogs, Prothro becomes an even bigger target for the in-state power. The four-star tight end has been committed to Tennessee since last August but the Nashville (Tenn.) Donelson Christian Academy has been taking visits amid concerns that the Vols don't throw to their tight ends enough and Florida made a significant impression over the weekend. The Gators 'shot up' on his board and a final decision on everything should happen in the next couple weeks. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH TENNESSEE FANS AT Miami is making a serious move for the four-star tight end from Duncanville, Texas after his visit there as he loved the development piece especially at his position and the history there. SMU, Pitt and Oklahoma are the three others to watch. The Sooners are believed to have an edge but Miami is making this one very interesting. Arguably the top 2028 quarterback nationally, the Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy standout who's originally from the Los Angeles area worked out at Oregon and 'loved working with their staff' as the Ducks are one of the early favorites. Oregon is right there but Georgia and Ohio State could be battling it out early for him with Washington and Texas rounding out an early top list. A new offer from LSU could be a game-changer in Williams' recruitment as it was 'one of my dreams' growing up to get an offer from the Tigers. The 2027 four-star receiver from New Orleans (La.) St. Augustine has more than 20 offers but now with an offer, LSU is 'playing a big part' in Williams' recruitment and could be considered the team to beat.
