Latest news with #OhioState
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Business
- Yahoo
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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement It's just one more storyline added to what will be an epic opener. This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Texas blocked Ohio State's attempt to move opener to prime time
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- General
- Yahoo
Chris Del Conte responds as Texas blocks prime-time move for 2025 opener at Ohio State
The Texas Longhorns will open their 2025 football season against the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus — and it will remain a Big Noon Saturday kickoff despite efforts to move the game to Sunday night. According to multiple reports, including one from Horns247, it was the Texas athletic department that declined a proposal from Ohio State and Fox Sports to shift the highly anticipated matchup into a Sunday prime-time slot. Advertisement Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte didn't mince words when asked about the decision. 'Why would I want to move the game to Sunday night and have a short week? I've got to go to church,' Del Conte said Wednesday, citing concerns over recovery time and personal priorities. When Fox Sports initially announced it had secured the rights to the game, the kickoff time was noticeably absent, prompting speculation the network was eyeing a marquee evening slot. Ohio State's athletic department reportedly lobbied for the move in hopes of avoiding yet another noon kickoff — a time slot that many Buckeyes fans believe stifles the game-day experience and tailgating atmosphere in Columbus. But that effort hit a wall. Since a Sunday move would alter the scheduled date of the game, Texas had to sign off on the change — something it was unwilling to do. Sources indicate that Texas believed its chances of winning would be stronger with a noon start and preferred not to compromise its preparation for the following week's game against San Jose State. Advertisement Fox has faced criticism from Ohio State fans in recent seasons for placing the Buckeyes in the Big Noon Saturday window for several high-profile games, diminishing the typical energy associated with late afternoon or evening kickoffs at Ohio Stadium. Had the game remained on Saturday but simply moved into a later time slot, Texas would have had no jurisdiction. But the proposed shift to Sunday required mutual agreement, and UT made its position clear. Texas and Ohio State are set to rematch after the Cotton Bowl win that advanced Ohio State to the National Championship, and then to win it all. This will also be the first game Texas has Arch Manning at the helm of the team. The 2025 showdown is expected to be one of the premier non-conference games of the season, drawing national attention — regardless of the time slot. This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Chris Del Conte shares thoughts on Ohio State game scheduling
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ohio State vs Texas could have been a night game but the Longhorns had better ideas
Well, this should be fun fodder for the college football game this fall between Ohio State and Texas. Not only is there the backdrop of a rematch of last year's College Football Playoff semifinal Cotton Bowl, but now, it appears as though the Longhorns wouldn't play nice in the sandbox in trying to create a better environment in the 'Shoe for the matchup of what should be two top ten (maybe top five) teams in Week 1 of 2025. At least according to a report from 247Sports. There was a collective Scarlet and Gray exhale and roll of the eyes when it was announced that the game would be on FOX because, well -- the love/hate (OK mostly hate) relationship between the network and a slew of sterile Noon games Ohio State has been a part of through the years. Many believed -- and probably rightfully so -- that the game of that magnitude would again be a part of the "Big Noon Kickoff" that has been an unwelcome staple of Ohio State brisk air autumns the last few years. Advertisement However, it now appears as though there was some negotiating going on in the background to actually move the game to a Sunday night affair, from Saturday, Aug. 30 to Sunday, Aug. 31, to make the game a better atmosphere and a made for television early-season experience. That was apparently not met with grand favor by the brass at Texas however. And while I guess you can't blame the Longhorns for trying to keep the game in a time slot and vacuum that gives them the best chance to win, I wonder if Ohio State would feel the same way if things were reversed. Actually, I'm quite sure the fine folks making decisions on the banks of the Olentangy would want to make it a marquee night game and play it up because there aren't too many programs that shy away from the spotlight less than OSU. After all, it's why you go to a place like Texas and Ohio State, right? Oh well, at least there is next year when the Buckeyes travel to Austin for a return trip. That one will most assuredly be a night game with the contract ABC has with the SEC, it's just too bad it's a road game and OSU fans won't get to fill the venerable Ohio Stadium for a magical setting. Advertisement Horns down on this one. 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. This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Texas blocks attempt to make Ohio State game a night game on FOX.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fox announces game time for Texas at Ohio State, and fans won't be happy
Ohio State fans got another gut punch from the network that seems to love the Buckeyes just a little too much. Fox announced that it will air two OSU games in its Big Noon slot. One is obvious. The Game, featuring Ohio State vs. Michigan, will be a Fox game. While Fox didn't specify that the game would be a noon kickoff, it traditionally has been so in the past. The other game... well, fans are not going to be happy about this one. Fox announced that the matchup between Texas and the Buckeyes will be a Big Noon featured game of the week when the Longhorns come to town on August 30 in what will most likely be a top-five matchup. Advertisement Athletic Director Ross Bjork has been vocal in advocating for Ohio State to get more football games in primetime. The Buckeyes have carried the weight of the conference when it comes to the Fox Big Noon Game of the Week. Since the inception of the show in 2019, Ohio State has been the network's featured game 22 times. Michigan is next on the list with 17 Big Noon games. In 2024 alone, OSU was the network's featured game five times and had a total of seven noon starts. To say fans are getting tired of the early time slot would be an understatement. Especially after the electric atmosphere that was Ohio Stadium when it hosted Tennessee in the first round of the College Football Playoff. We've had a taste and we want more. It's time for Fox to start spreading the Big Noon love with others. This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Gametime for Ohio State vs Texas has been announced by Fox
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas AD Chris Del Conte explains why he wouldn't move Ohio State game to Sunday
Fox Sports confirmed to Front Office Sports on Tuesday that it had offered to move Ohio State's season-opening game against Texas to Sunday night. ESPN usually has Sunday and Monday games for Labor Day weekend, and it appears Fox wanted a high-profile game to compete--and, obviously, Buckeye fans would love to not be playing at noon again. Of course, we reported on rumors of that last week, but it's good to have confirmation. Now that it's been confirmed and widely reported, no one is scared of offering their thoughts. So, at the SEC meetings in Florida this week, Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte explained his reasoning. 'Why would I want to move the game to Sunday night and have a short week?' Is this reasoning believable? It would mean going from six full prep days for the next game to basically five. But Texas' next opponent is San Jose State. The Spartans are a middle-of-the-road Mountain West team and did go bowling in 2024. Still, they're not really a threat to Texas. (I also assume the church line was mostly in jest, but there's no video of it to be sure.) Advertisement I get it. Football programs like their schedules and consistency. Short weeks are never fun. And it's not like this game will get any more attention on a Sunday night as opposed to a Saturday morning. Neither program needs it more. It's just another example of an SEC school giving up an opportunity to be of service to the fans. This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Texas AD explains not moving Ohio State game to Sunday
