Fox Is Taking Over Friday Nights With 12 College Football Games and Indiana's Title Defense Kicks It Off

Fox just announced it's going all in on Friday night college football, and the schedule they dropped is loaded. Three teams that made the College Football Playoff last season, Indiana, Oregon and Texas Tech, are all getting prime Friday real estate this fall. Indiana's Big Ten opener against Northwestern on September 26? That's the marquee matchup Fox is leading with, and it's perfect timing for the defending national champion to make a statement on the biggest stage possible.

Fox Went From 9 Games to 12 and the Numbers Back It Up

This is Fox's third season flexing Friday night college football on its broadcast network, and they're doubling down. Last year, Friday games averaged 2.3 million viewers, which crushed their Saturday mid-afternoon slot (2.1 million) and Saturday primetime (1.9 million). That's not a fluke. Derek Crocker, Fox's senior vice president for college sports, spelled it out: "It provides opportunities for teams to be the marquee game on a Friday night, versus on Saturday, you'd be competing against other marquee games."

The full Friday lineup is stacked. Missouri-Kansas Border War in Week 2, Texas Tech hosting Houston in a potential Top 25 matchup in Week 3, Penn State at Northwestern on October 2 at the Wildcats' new stadium, Iowa at Washington on October 9, and Oregon at Michigan State on November 20. That's the kind of slate that makes you clear your calendar.

Not Everyone's Happy About It

Not all boosters are thrilled. When Fox moved Texas Tech's home game with Houston to Friday back in late March, board chair and mega-booster Cody Campbell wasn't shy about his anger. He tweeted that the decision was "absurd" and went after Fox, the Big 12, and commissioner Brett Yormark. Yormark fired back in the Lubbock Avalanche Journal, telling Campbell bluntly: "Cody Campbell does not run the Big 12." The message was clear: this is happening whether the boosters like it or not.

But here's the thing. Fox argues that these Friday slots aren't hurting anyone. Without Friday on the broadcast network, these games end up on cable or streaming. The exposure difference is massive for schools and conferences. ESPN has already announced they're doing a full-season Friday lineup with ACC teams starting September 4. Fox moved Friday college football to broadcast in 2024 after their WWE deal ended, and it's paying off.

The full early-season schedules for all networks should drop by the end of May. Until then, mark September 26 on your calendar and get ready for Indiana to put on a show.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.