Over the Fox Time Slot Decision, Former Ohio State Players Threaten to Boycott the Texas Game
Ohio State football has long been a program steeped in tradition, elite talent, and national prominence. But the recent announcement that the Buckeyes’ highly anticipated matchup against the Texas Longhorns will air at noon ET on FOX has ignited a firestorm — and not just among fans. A growing chorus of former Ohio State players are threatening to boycott the game entirely, raising concerns about how television time slot decisions are impacting player health, recruiting, and program legacy.
This issue strikes at the intersection of television contracts, athlete welfare, and the unyielding power of networks like FOX. What should be a celebratory showdown between two blue bloods of college football — a potential College Football Playoff preview — has become a battleground for broader tensions across the sport.
FOX’s announcement that the Ohio State-Texas game, scheduled for September 6 at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium, will kick off at 11 a.m. local time (noon ET), instantly triggered backlash. While early kickoffs are nothing new for Big Ten teams, this specific decision was seen as especially egregious.
Not only will this be Ohio State’s first road trip to Austin since the iconic 2006 battle, but it also marks one of the most hyped non-conference matchups of the year — possibly of the entire decade. Both teams are expected to be ranked in the top five, with Heisman candidates, first-round NFL talent, and playoff implications on the line.
For many, this was the type of primetime game that should have drawn millions of viewers under the lights — not been tucked into the noon slot as part of FOX’s “Big Noon Saturday” agenda.
Leading the charge against the time slot is Joshua Perry, a former linebacker and current analyst, who posted a fiery message on social media:
“Enough is enough. Noon kickoffs in early September in Texas? That’s player safety. That’s competitive equity. That’s disrespect. I won’t watch it. And I know a lot of us won’t either.”
Perry’s frustration was soon echoed by other Buckeye greats, including Michael Thomas, Malik Hooker, and Beanie Wells, who blasted FOX and the Big Ten for allowing one of the marquee games of the season to be “sacrificed” for ratings.
Hooker, a standout safety who now plays for the Dallas Cowboys, was especially vocal about the impact on player health:
“It’s 100+ degrees in Texas in early September. I’ve played down there. Asking college athletes to perform at that time is dangerous. I’m seriously thinking of boycotting. Not watching. Not supporting.”
While most of the commentary has come via social media, sources close to the Ohio State athletic department confirmed that several former players have reached out directly to Gene Smith and new head coach Ryan Day to express concern — some even suggesting they might skip any in-person support of the program in Austin.
FOX has defended its decision by citing the success of its “Big Noon Saturday” branding, which has delivered solid ratings and big wins for the network. The noon slot allows the game to stand alone without direct competition from other major primetime matchups.
But critics argue that ratings shouldn’t trump reality, especially when weather, travel, and player fatigue are considered. September in Texas can reach sweltering temperatures, and the idea of Ohio State players adjusting to morning body clocks, heat, and travel just for the sake of a TV window has rubbed many the wrong way.
Even within FOX’s own studio, tensions reportedly flared. According to a report from The Athletic, a handful of analysts raised internal objections, warning that the optics of a potential top-5 game being buried at noon, while a lesser Pac-12 or Big 12 game gets primetime treatment, would cause backlash — and now, that’s exactly what’s happened.
What makes this growing boycott threat so potent is the strength of the “Buckeye Brotherhood” — the tight-knit fraternity of former Ohio State players who still wield enormous influence over the program’s culture and public image.
When former stars speak out, recruits listen. Fans listen. The media listens. And when they threaten to boycott a major game, it becomes a referendum not just on a kickoff time, but on the deeper dynamics between players, schools, and television networks.
Former wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., who rarely wades into controversy, made a rare public statement:
“I played in front of 100,000 at night in Columbus. That’s what Buckeye football is. You don’t move a game like Texas-Ohio State to noon unless you don’t respect what it means. I’m not showing up for that.”
Ohio State’s head coach Ryan Day has walked a careful line, refusing to directly criticize FOX while acknowledging the unique challenges presented by the early kickoff.
“We’ll be ready, no matter the time,” Day said during a recent press conference. “But of course, we’d love a later slot. That’s a big game, a big moment, and we want it to reflect that.”
Privately, though, Day and his staff are said to be frustrated with the impact on preparation, particularly the altered travel schedule, disrupted pre-game rituals, and recruiting optics. A primetime setting in Texas would have been an elite showcase opportunity — instead, it’s now a logistical hurdle.
One of the more overlooked angles is the impact on recruiting. For many high school athletes, seeing Ohio State play in primetime against the best teams is part of the allure. The idea of a potential national championship preview being tucked into brunch hour sends the wrong message.
A top-100 recruit in the class of 2026 told Rivals:
“Ohio State vs. Texas? I wanted to watch that at night, man. Like a real big game. Not at 11 a.m. when I’m barely awake.”
Others echoed similar sentiments on social media, with several prospects joking that they’d have to “set five alarms” just to catch kickoff.
The early time slot, once seen as a harmless TV quirk, now risks alienating both alumni and future players.
While a full-scale boycott by former players may be unlikely, the threat alone is telling. Ohio State’s rich football history is supported by a long line of legends who give back to the program as mentors, boosters, and public ambassadors. Their visible absence from a major game — or their vocal criticism in the lead-up — could cast a long shadow.
Some have proposed more creative forms of protest:
- Coordinated social media blackout of game promotion
- Public letters to FOX and the NCAA
- Refusal to attend associated events or alumni gatherings in Austin
- Live alternative commentary calling out the network during the game
So far, Ohio State’s athletic department has not issued a formal statement, but insiders say the pressure is mounting internally to engage in private discussions with FOX to explore alternatives — even though a change is highly unlikely.
This controversy reignites an ongoing debate in college football: who really owns the game — the schools or the networks?
The Big Ten’s massive media rights deal with FOX, CBS, and NBC was celebrated as a financial windfall, but it also placed scheduling power squarely in the hands of broadcasters. The trade-off was clear: big checks in exchange for less control.
Now, the consequences are becoming more tangible. Games are moved to Friday nights, weather conditions are overlooked, and fan-friendly atmospheres are secondary to advertising revenue.
As college football continues its transformation into a semi-professional, media-driven enterprise, the fallout from decisions like this one will become more frequent — and more vocal.
The backlash to the Texas-Ohio State time slot decision may feel like an overreaction to some — just a few angry tweets, a few disillusioned alumni. But it’s emblematic of a growing frustration in college football: the sense that the sport’s heart is being sacrificed at the altar of corporate convenience.
When former players — those who bled for the jersey — are threatening to boycott one of the biggest games of the year, it’s a clear sign that the balance between tradition and television has tilted too far.
Whether or not FOX reconsiders, the message is out: Buckeye Nation doesn’t just want to win — it wants to win the right way, in the right spotlight, and with respect for the game’s integrity.
The September 6 matchup in Austin will still be must-watch TV. But thanks to a time slot and a growing player-led protest, it may be remembered for more than just the scoreboard.
