Time for change: Why Ohio State football fans deserve better than Big Noon Kickoff

The Ohio State football team is stuck as Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff darling. With the news of Ohio State playing ANOTHER game at noon this season, over half of Ohio State's schedule in 2024 will be played at noon (Marshall, Nebraska, Penn State, Purdue, Northwestern, Indiana, and Michigan).

Whether it is a big game or a potential blowout game, Buckeye Nation brings eyeballs, and there will be a ratings bump. I get it; the noon games might make life easier for the coaches and the TV executives to get the ratings they don't usually get earlier in the day, but they’re hurting Ohio State and their fans' experiences in ways that are hard to ignore.

It’s time for Ohio State to demand better scheduling, especially for the biggest matchups of the season. Ohio State deserves the energy and excitement of prime-time games, not these early kickoffs that sap the life out of the atmosphere, recruiting efforts, and even the broadcasters.

The atmosphere is just not the same for a noon game. Most fans don’t want to roll into the stadium after tailgating in the early hours of the morning. By the time the game starts, half the crowd is still waking up, and the energy inside the ‘Shoe is nowhere near the intensity we’re known for.

Games that start later in the day get fans excited. They've been waiting all day, watching football, talking about the game, and enjoying food and drinks. Even the Ohio State coaches see the excitement and the energy from the crowd is not there at the beginning of the games.

But no one needs to say that for night games. When the stadium is rocking at night, it’s one of the most intimidating places in college football. Think back to the season opener vs Notre Dame in 2022. The Navy parachute team flew in, fans were pumped, and celebrities, young and old, made appearances.

It felt like a premiere atmosphere in College Football. Which it should! But at noon? It feels like we’re just going through the motions. The students aren't excited, people aren't arriving there early, and the fans aren't loud, itching for the kickoff.

The only difference is when Ohio State faces Michigan because the rivalry brings all the juice fans need. We wait all season for that game and we get it delivered as early as possible. But the feeling just isn't the same against Purdue.

Ohio State will likely play its third top-five matchup of the year vs Indiana in a couple of weeks, and it will be the second one at noon. Top-five matchups at home are rare. Ohio State's previous two games this year were both on the road, and we saw and felt the difference between Oregon's night game and Penn State's noon kickoff.

Now, Ohio State fans won't be able to cheer for their team under the lights. They must endure what Penn State fans did just last week with a big game at home that the eyes of tens of millions of college football fans should be watching. Instead, fans will be finishing their coffee as they enter the stadium, and people across the country will have to keep an eye on the game while they are busy with their various other Saturday activities.

Noon kickoffs hurt the Ohio State football team in recruiting

Imagine playing your heart out for your team on Friday night just to have to be at the airport at 6 am just to catch a flight to Columbus in time. These noon games make it nearly impossible for recruits who had Friday night high school games to make it to Columbus in time for a noon kickoff. How are coaches, staffers, and fans supposed to showcase the magic of Ohio Stadium when recruits are stuck rushing to get here or, worse, can’t make it at all?

Location is already a massive disadvantage in recruiting. It's not just about convincing a 16 or 17-year-old to move hours away from family or get mom and dad to trust you will take care of their son. It's about making the visits worth it. Let recruits see how game day doesn't just change the Ohio State campus but impacts all of Columbus, one of the largest cities in the nation.

Plus, when Ohio State competes with schools that regularly get prime-time slots, allowing recruits to experience the full game-day hype. If Ohio State wants to keep attracting the best talent in the country, there needs to be more home games that create opportunities for recruits to attend and experience everything Ohio State has to offer.

The Broadcasters

Have you noticed that even the broadcasters seem tired of the noon games? Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt used to bring energy to their calls, but lately, you can tell they’ve had enough. On fourth down at the goal line for the first touchdown of the day, Gus Johnson can't even be bothered to say much more than, "And Howard runs it and scores."

But this wasn't the only instance of low energy for Gus. He’s known for his over-the-top excitement and barely had any juice left throughout the game. It was especially evident during Jack Sawyer’s first career touchdown late in the game.

Although the game was over, it was a special moment for Jack Sawyer that should’ve been celebrated more, as the hometown senior who left NFL money on the table to come back and play one more season felt like a half-hearted afterthought. Ohio State was up 38-0, and Gus sounded like he was already ready to leave.

That’s not the Gus we know. Gus is a good broadcaster who brings excitement from the field through the speakers with his energetic and sometimes wacky commentary. But it’s clear that Big Noon Kickoff has worn out its welcome with Ohio State, even for the people paid to make them exciting.

Let’s face it, Ohio State is being shortchanged by Big Noon Kickoff. While ESPN and ABC are showcasing prime-time matchups that dominate national attention, Ohio State fans are stuck in the same early slot for half of the season. Fox is conceding the night to other networks, handing them the spotlight while expecting us to settle for noon.

Ohio State is one of the premier programs in the country, and fans shouldn’t be relegated to playing at a time when the rest of the country is still waking up or out tailgating. Our biggest games—Penn State, Indiana, or any other ranked opponent—should be under the lights, where they belong.

In the end, Ohio State football is more than just a team. It’s a tradition, a culture, and an experience that deserves to be showcased on the biggest stages. These noon kickoffs are robbing fans of that. The fans, the recruits, and even the broadcasters have had enough.

It’s time for Ohio State to stop bowing to Fox’s scheduling and start pushing for more prime-time games where we belong. Bring the energy back to the ‘Shoe and show the nation what Ohio State football is really about.