Texas Athletic Director Reveals Key Reasons Behind Denial of Ohio State’s Request to Move Game to Sunday Night Slot

Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte has never been one to shy away from making firm decisions when it comes to protecting the integrity, exposure, and logistics of his athletic programs. So when Ohio State approached Texas about the possibility of moving their upcoming high-profile non-conference matchup from Saturday to Sunday night, Del Conte and his staff gave the request a thorough review—but ultimately decided to deny it.

At first glance, it might seem like a harmless shift. After all, college football games are increasingly scattered across non-traditional days and time slots, with some of the sport’s marquee games now played on Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. But for Del Conte and the University of Texas, the proposed change was not a matter of simply accommodating a television network’s wish or one school’s preference. It was a decision rooted in long-term strategy, existing commitments, and protecting both the student-athlete experience and the broader university community.

Ohio State’s request reportedly stemmed from a desire to seize a high-visibility window on Labor Day weekend. With the NFL not yet in full swing and fewer primetime sporting events competing for viewers, Sunday night has increasingly become an attractive showcase slot. ESPN and other media partners have taken notice, lobbying schools to help fill the Sunday void with top-tier college football content.

Texas vs. Ohio State certainly qualifies as such. Both programs boast immense national followings, elite rosters, and decades of tradition. It’s the kind of matchup that could draw millions of viewers and help define the early-season narrative. But Del Conte made it clear that Texas had to consider more than just television ratings.

“We certainly understand the appeal of playing in a primetime window,” Del Conte said in a statement. “But our responsibility is to our student-athletes, our fans, and our university as a whole. After careful consideration, we felt it was in the best interest of all parties to keep the game on Saturday.”

Behind that diplomatic language lies a series of practical and philosophical reasons that factored into Texas’ decision. According to sources close to the program, one of the biggest concerns was recovery and preparation time for the following week. Playing on a Sunday night would shorten the turnaround ahead of the next Saturday game, a disadvantage that coaches often lament, particularly in the early part of the season when teams are still building rhythm and depth.

There were also logistical concerns related to the University of Texas’ broader calendar. Sunday evenings in Austin are not just about football; they also involve returning students, family activities, and the closing acts of the university’s orientation events for new students. Moving the game would have disrupted campus operations and required additional coordination across departments—something administrators felt was not justified by the potential TV bump.

“We’re proud of how we operate as a university,” said a senior athletics staffer familiar with the decision. “Football is important, of course, but it doesn’t exist in a vacuum. There are a lot of moving parts to any game day, and even more when you shift to an unusual time slot like Sunday night.”

Another major issue: fan travel. The matchup is scheduled to be played at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium, a venue that holds more than 100,000 fans and requires a massive logistical operation involving traffic, public safety, university coordination, and hotel accommodations. While Saturday is the traditional day for college football, Sunday poses a series of additional complications. Many out-of-town fans would be forced to travel back home on a national holiday, with increased costs and limited flight options. For a fan base as widespread as Texas’, that was a red flag.

“Our fans are a huge part of what makes Texas football special,” Del Conte said. “We owe it to them to provide an experience that is not just exciting, but also accessible and manageable.”

Additionally, there’s the question of setting precedent. As more television networks jockey for exclusive windows and ratings-friendly matchups, athletic departments face growing pressure to accommodate non-traditional game times. Del Conte, who has long advocated for stability and structure in college athletics scheduling, did not want to open the door to more frequent disruptions down the line.

“It’s a slippery slope,” said a Big 12 administrator who spoke on background. “Once you start moving games for one-off TV requests, you lose control of your schedule. Chris [Del Conte] is trying to hold the line on that.”

There’s also the matter of competitive fairness. While both teams would theoretically be dealing with the same short week, Texas coaches felt it was important to preserve the standard cadence of game-week preparation. Playing on Saturday allows teams to maintain a rhythm, and for a high-level matchup like this one—between two College Football Playoff hopefuls—that rhythm could be the difference between winning and losing.

“We respect Ohio State immensely, and we’re looking forward to hosting them,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said. “But our focus is on getting our team ready to play at its best. We feel that playing on Saturday gives us the best chance to do that.”

Notably, this isn’t the first time Texas has pushed back against attempts to reschedule high-profile games. In 2022, the Longhorns resisted efforts by a network partner to shift their game against Alabama to a different time window, citing similar concerns about campus logistics, fan impact, and recovery time.

Del Conte’s track record on these issues has earned him both praise and criticism. Television partners appreciate his candor but have at times been frustrated by his unwillingness to yield. Still, many in the industry say his approach reflects a broader tension within college athletics: the push and pull between media-driven interests and institutional priorities.

“ADs are in a tough spot,” said a veteran TV executive. “They want exposure, but they also have to look out for what’s right for their school. Chris Del Conte is one of the few who consistently draws that line.”

For Ohio State, the denial is likely a disappointment, but not a deal-breaker. The Buckeyes have had plenty of success playing in traditional Saturday time slots and remain one of the sport’s premier brands. Still, the episode highlights how even the biggest programs must navigate complex webs of interests and priorities in today’s college football landscape.

As the sport continues to evolve, and as media rights drive more of the scheduling decisions, the Texas-Ohio State case could serve as a bellwether. Athletic directors will be watching closely to see how it plays out—both in terms of competitive outcomes and in the ongoing tug-of-war between tradition and television.

In the end, Del Conte framed the decision not as a rejection of innovation or entertainment value, but as a reaffirmation of what Texas believes college football should stand for.

“We’re always open to new ideas and ways to grow the game,” he said. “But not at the expense of our values or the experience we’re trying to create for our students, our fans, and our university.”

So the game will remain on Saturday, under the bright Texas sun, with a packed house and two proud programs meeting in a clash of titans. It may not have the exclusivity of a Sunday night broadcast, but for the Longhorns, it will be college football the way it’s meant to be played.