This is going to be a showdown that Ohio State and Ryan Day will have serious revenge on their minds for. You're not alone if you've circled Oct. 17 on your schedule, as the Buckeyes will travel to Indiana for a rematch of the Big Ten title game last December. We now know that contest will get started at 12 p.m., with Big Noon Kickoff on the way.
What?! Chairs have been thrown in anger, while both fanbases are annoyed beyond belief that this epic contest is going to have an early start. We get it. At the same time, could this end up being a blessing in disguise for Day and his players? Here's why this 12 p.m. kickoff is actually beneficial.
Indiana vs. Ohio State will be played at noon on FOX, according to a report from @ScottDochterman.
— Colin McMahon (@ColinMcMahon31) August 31, 2026
The rematch of the 2025 Big Ten title game won't be played in primetime because FOX selected it with the 2nd pick in the Big Ten media rights draft.
Story: https://t.co/WPnlgIjK0t pic.twitter.com/mu24e32w1F
Ohio State vs. Indiana getting the Big Noon Kickoff treatment has fans on both sides annoyed
Sure, on one hand you can make the case these two of the top teams in the country should never go to war in the opening window. However, nothing can be done if FOX prioritized making sure they had the rights for this one. On top of that, it truly could end up being a good thing for the Buckeyes.
Think about it: there's a reason so many Ohio State fans hate when this is the case for a home game, blasting it for being awful left and right. People aren't able to tailgate for as long as they want, and their day has to get started much earlier. If this was a night game or something, Hoosiers fans would be FIRED UP in the stands, after a full day of eating and drinking with their friends.
Do we really expect the same kind of energy for a noon start? Definitely not. There's no question that Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith, and others are going to benefit from the atmosphere in Bloomington not being the same as a night game showdown. Yes, it's still going to be a tough environment, no one is arguing with that.
Still, with it being a road contest for the Buckeyes, every little thing makes a difference, and an early start over an evening one is much better for Ohio State compared to Indiana. Obviously, things are going to have to get settled out on the field, but Ohio State's players will 100 percent have some payback on their minds for this one.
No one has forgotten about the Big Ten title game last year - it was a matchup that Ohio State let slip away, with terrible mental mistakes shooting the 2024 natty winners in the foot. Following that loss, Day's players lost to Miami, while also watching the Hoosiers cruise in the College Football Playoff. Their dream run was wrapped up with a nail-biting win over the Canes and Carson Beck.
Now that the 2025 campaign is in the rearview mirror, Ohio State is ready to wipe away the brutal memories from last year, with some heavyweight wins hopefully on the way. That includes this upcoming showdown with the Hoosiers, where people will be ready to count out this group. That'll be a mistake, and if Ohio State takes down IU in FOX's edition of primetime with a 12 p.m. start, maybe the respect this team deserves will start to come in. Indiana won't be ready for what's coming.
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