REPORT: Texas blocked Ohio State's attempt to move opener to prime time
REPORT: Texas blocked Ohio State's attempt to move opener to prime time
When Fox Sports announced it had secured the rights to broadcast the Texas Longhorns 2025 season opener at Ohio State, there was one piece of information missing -- the time. Speculation swirled that, instead of the usual "Big Noon Saturday" time slot Fox uses for its top weekly game, the matchup would be moved to prime time. A new report suggests it was the Longhorns that blocked moving the game's start time.
A few days after the original announcement, It was leaked that the game on Fox Sports would indeed be a Big Noon Saturday game. Ohio State fans have grown frustrated with Fox broadcasting the majority of their games at Noon. Many feel the early start diminishes the game-day atmosphere and excitement, especially for Ohio State fans accustomed to late afternoon or evening games that allow for a long tailgate.
But the apparent reason Fox left the time off of the original graphic was because the Buckeyes' athletic department was lobbying for the Cotton Bowl rematch against Texas be moved to prime time on Sunday, either in the late afternoon or evening.
According to a new report by Chip Brown at Horns247, it was the Longhorns athletic department that rejected that proposal. Apparently, the feeling was Texas would have a better chance winning a Big Noon game on Saturday than a night game on Sunday. It's also possible Texas didn't want to disrupt travel or preparation for the next week's game against San Jose State. Obviously, those things could have been overcome if Texas actually wanted to facilitate the move.
If the game could have been moved to prime time on Saturday night, Texas would have very little say in the matter. But the fact Ohio State wanted to move the game to another date (the next day) meant they had to get Texas' sign off. UT apparently did not sign off on the move.
Saturday, August 30 has a slew of season openers, including LSU-Clemson in prime time on ABC. Sunday's only game is Notre Dame-Miami, also on ABC. Ohio State wanted the game to be played either in the late afternoon or at night on Sunday. Texas said no.
It's just one more storyline added to what will be an epic opener.
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