From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about unpopular opinions. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all our “Unpopular Opinion” articles here.
FOX began broadcasting sports in 1994, when they outbid CBS for the NFL’s NFC package. It was a landmark moment in television history.
This, at the time, fledgling network, led by Rupert Murdoch, outbid one of the three main networks for the NFL, a league that rapidly became the most popular sport in America just 20 years prior and was in a great place in the mid-90s.
At a time when the Cowboys were a dynasty and had all the celebrities, Steve Young still had the 49ers perennially competing for Lombardi Trophies, and Brett Favre was restoring excellence to the Packers, FOX struck gold.
Since 1994, FOX has arguably been the gold standard for modern-day Sunday afternoon NFL Football broadcast productions. From their deep lineup of announcers to the production crew for their No. 1 America’s Game of the Week, to the iconic FOX NFL Sunday studio show, FOX makes every game and every week feel like a big game.
They were the first network to have a scorebug on the screen for the entire duration of an NFL game, and they have evolved tremendously over the last three-plus decades with their game broadcasts and studio shows. FOX is innovative and progressive, finding new ways to make every game feel big, like a playoff game.
It’s that notion as to why, I believe, FOX and Big Noon Kickoff are not ruining College Football.
Look, is it disappointing that there aren’t as many night games in The Shoe as there used to be? Yes. In the same breath, it is disappointing that Ohio State isn’t on ESPN or ABC during the regular season as often as it used to be.
Again, though, FOX does a tremendous job of making every game feel big. Ohio State-Michigan being on FOX every season; They do a great job of promoting the game and then making most of that Saturday after Thanksgiving devoted to The Game.
Indiana-Penn State last year wasn’t supposed to be as close as it was. It was, though, and FOX made it feel like a Playoff game. The game-winning drive, led by Fernando Mendoza, was excellent, and FOX had incredible camera shots of Omar Cooper Jr.‘s game-winning touchdown.
It helps that Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt are really good together. Gus’s passion oozes out of him, and Joel is as smart and knowledgeable an analyst as there is.
A lot of the Big Ten’s big games are being relegated to Big Noon Kickoff. Yes, that’s frustrating. But don’t you want to not have to wait until the evening to watch a big game? That’s what Big Noon Kickoff gives you.
Everybody gathers at noon at their watch parties, FOX makes it feel like a big game even in Weeks 2 and 3, and doesn’t every college football game feel big to the fanbases of every team? After all, every team is only guaranteed 12 of them.
Prime time games are fun, no question. But so is watching college football in the early afternoon with the sun shining or with gray skies and a deep, crispy chill in the air.
In October and November, with some of the best matchups in the Big Ten, those games being on FOX and Big Noon Kickoff are awesome. FOX puts a lot into every sport they broadcast. Their games feel original, important, and not at all like they’re ruining college football.
Big Noon Kickoff’s studio show has an incredibly tight crew, and each brings something unique to the show.
If the only thing people are upset about is that FOX and Big Noon Kickoff are taking away night games, then so be it. College Football was made for Saturday afternoon. You wake up, watch College Gameday or Big Noon Kickoff, get the food spread ready, and watch your team play.
Getting excited for a big game on Saturday, and if it’s at noon, means you don’t have to wait for long to watch your team play, or any other two teams play. There are benefits for FOX and Big Noon Kickoff in College Football and for Ohio State.
It’s not ruining it in the slightest.
