Ohio State's string of 12 pm kickoffs draws heated pushback from fans
Ohio State will finish the 2024 season on an unprecedented string of early kickoffs, leading to some pushback from fans on social media.
Ohio State opened the season with a 3:30 pm game against Akron and then a primetime kickoff against Western Michigan. After that, the Buckeyes would play their first 12 pm kickoff against Marshall, but it would not be the last.
On Monday, it was confirmed that Ohio State’s Week 13 matchup with Indiana will be featured in FOX’s “Big Noon” time slot. That means Ohio State will finish the season on 6 straight games to kickoff at 12 pm ET with The Game vs. Michigan traditionally reserved for that time slot.
This means … six consecutive 12 noon starts to close the season for the @OhioStateFB Buckeyes as the conference announced today that the Nov. 23 game vs. No. 5 Indiana at Ohio Stadium will kick off at 12 noon with FOX televising to a national audience.
— Jerry Emig (@BuckeyeNotes) November 11, 2024
It hasn’t all been bad. The Buckeyes will end the year with 6 appearances in FOX’s marquee kickoff slot for prime media coverage.
However, that also means Ohio State will have played 5 home games with an early kickoff and just 1 night game at home. That fact does not sit well with many fans who want the hype of a game under the lights and a full Saturday to gear up for nighttime kickoffs.
Part of that has to do with the introduction of 4 West Coast programs which will traditionally require a mid-day or primetime kickoff time on the East Coast, though Washington was featured in a Big Noon game vs. Iowa (a 9 am PT kickoff for the Huskies).
With a program the stature of Ohio State, the Buckeyes are always liable to net a national broadcast in the current B1G media rights deal. But it’s clear some fans are just about fed up with 12 pm kickoffs this season, and it will be interesting to see if that pushback leads to a change in the network distribution for games next season.
Here’s a look at how fans responded to the late-season scheduling for Ohio State:
C’mon Jerry, @RossBjorkAD and co. This ain’t it.
— Robbie Hendricks (@roberthendricks) November 11, 2024
Ohio St carrying Big Noon this year
— Fisherman (@NeilRausch) November 11, 2024
Think I’m going to pass on my season tickets next year. No fun going to snooze-nooners every single game.
— Robbie Hendricks (@roberthendricks) November 11, 2024
I mean, play the cards you’re dealt. I get it. But it doesn’t change the fact that this is ridiculous.
— Nobody (@textual_content) November 11, 2024
If the Oregon game was in Columbus it would have absolutely been in the Noon time slot. What a terrible TV deal the Big Ten is tied into
— Justin Epure (@jpure90) November 11, 2024
Brutal
— Chuck D (@ChaseDisPaper1) November 11, 2024
That’s a yikes from me dawg
— Buckeye HQ (@RealisticBuck) November 12, 2024
They better be getting compensated for carrying Big Noon Kickoff and that compensation better go towards NIL
— Legendary Energy (@legendryenergy) November 11, 2024
Not a Buckeye fan but no team should have to deal with this garbage week in and week out. FOX is paying a lot of money, but the fans of the B1G are losing having their best games this early in the day.
— Tim Buckley (@TimBuckleyWX) November 11, 2024
Jerry this is pathetic. This game (if we take care of business at Wrigley) is a top 5 game, it deserves a day of buildup, it should be a prime time game, 3:30 at the earliest.
— BuckeyeCommander (@rudybux) November 11, 2024