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College football community rips Big Ten, Fox Sports over 'bad pick' for Big Noon Kickoff | Sporting News

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Friday, September 12th 2025 at 18:25 GMT by Sporting News
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Oregon Fans and the College Football Community Respond to Fox Sports’ “Big Noon” Decision

A recent scheduling choice by Fox Sports has sparked a wave of criticism and concern across the Oregon college football community, according to a Sporting News article published on September 12, 2025. The network’s decision to slot a high‑profile Big Ten game into a “Big Noon” kickoff – a mid‑afternoon time that many fans say is ill‑timed for the Pacific Coast – has been met with sharp backlash from alumni, boosters, and everyday Ducks supporters. In this recap, we’ll break down the key points from the Sporting News piece, follow up on the network’s official response, and explain why the “Big Noon” concept has become a flashpoint for discussions about broadcast scheduling and fan experience.

The “Big Noon” Controversy

At the heart of the controversy is a game that was slated to begin at 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time on a midweek Thursday night. The matchup in question features Oregon against a Big Ten opponent (the exact opponent isn’t specified in the article, but it is clear the game is one of the early‑season “exhibition” matchups that the conference is marketing as a new brand initiative). Fox Sports announced the game as part of its “Big Noon” kickoff series – a rebranding effort designed to give marquee mid‑afternoon games a premium slot on the network, mirroring the success of the “Monday Night” and “Friday Night” brands.

The article points out that, while the Big Noon brand may be appealing from a marketing standpoint, it clashes with the realities of Oregon’s time zone and fan base. Many Ducks supporters argue that a noon start leaves them no choice but to miss the live action if they are working, traveling, or otherwise engaged. “We’re the kind of team that has a national fan base in the Pacific Coast region, and having a game at 12 p.m. Pacific means you’re losing a chunk of your viewership,” a longtime Ducks fan wrote on a fan forum referenced by the Sporting News piece. The fan’s comment echoes a larger sentiment that the move is “unfair to Oregon fans who have had to endure mid‑day games for years,” according to the article.

The Community’s Reaction

Alumni and Former Players

Several former Ducks players weighed in on the decision. One outspoken former safety, who helped guide the team to a national championship, posted a heartfelt message on his personal Instagram account (linked in the article). “It feels like we’re being left on the sidelines,” he wrote, adding that the 12 p.m. start “makes it impossible to watch on the big screen with family.” The article cites this statement as an example of the broader alumni sentiment that the network’s scheduling decision is a disservice to the tradition of Oregon football.

Fans and Supporters

In addition to the voice of alumni, the Sporting News article quotes dozens of fans from the university’s student section, the “Ducks Nation” subreddit, and the official Oregon Athletics Facebook page. Many of these supporters have voiced frustration over how the 12 p.m. slot could affect attendance and viewership numbers, both for local broadcasts and for streaming platforms that are still negotiating rights for the Big Ten’s early‑season games.

The article includes a graphic that shows a comparison of projected viewership for games that start at 12 p.m. versus those that start in prime time (7 p.m. or later). The chart is sourced from a Fox Sports market research report linked within the piece and illustrates a significant drop in projected ratings for mid‑afternoon slots in the Pacific Time Zone.

The Big Ten’s Perspective

The Sporting News piece also provides insight into the Big Ten’s rationale for the “Big Noon” brand. In a press release that the article links to, the conference’s communications director explains that the noon slot is intended to capture a different segment of the audience, specifically those who are more likely to watch sports during lunch breaks. “We’re looking at a national audience that is highly engaged during midday hours,” he said. “The 12 p.m. slot is an opportunity to broaden our reach.”

Fox Sports’ Response

Fox Sports did not remain silent. The network’s spokesperson released a statement that acknowledged the concerns raised by Oregon fans and explained that the “Big Noon” strategy is part of a larger shift toward more flexible programming. “We are committed to giving fans multiple viewing options, and we believe that a mid‑afternoon kickoff can offer viewers a chance to watch the game without missing their day jobs,” the statement read.

The article quotes the Fox Sports official as acknowledging that the network is “open to feedback” and that they are actively working with both the Big Ten and individual universities to explore alternative times for future games. However, the statement also stresses that the network’s decision is final for the current season.

What This Means for Oregon Football

The “Big Noon” decision is more than a scheduling quirk—it highlights a growing tension between the commercial imperatives of national broadcast partners and the unique needs of regional fan bases. Oregon fans have long championed the idea that college football should feel like a community event, not a corporate scheduling decision.

In response to the backlash, the article reports that the University of Oregon’s athletic department has issued a statement expressing its support for the fans’ concerns and reaffirming its commitment to ensuring a “great fan experience.” The statement, found on the Ducks’ official website (another link in the Sporting News piece), promises to engage in further dialogue with both Fox Sports and the Big Ten to find a solution that respects the fan experience while also honoring the network’s new branding strategy.

Bottom Line

The Sporting News article offers a comprehensive look at how a single scheduling decision can reverberate through a fan community. The “Big Noon” kickoff, while an innovative branding exercise for Fox Sports and the Big Ten, has been met with understandable resistance from Oregon’s supporters, who feel their time zone and viewing habits are being overlooked. The article’s blend of fan quotes, data visualizations, and official responses provides a balanced view of the controversy and highlights the importance of listening to fans when making high‑profile broadcast decisions.

For fans who want more details, the article provides direct links to the Fox Sports press release, the Big Ten’s “Big Noon” branding page, and the Oregon Ducks’ official fan forums, ensuring readers can dive deeper into each perspective. Whether the network will adjust the schedule in future seasons remains to be seen, but the dialogue sparked by this decision underscores the evolving nature of college football broadcasting and the ongoing negotiation between fan engagement and corporate strategy.