There Will Be a New Way to Watch Ohio State Football on FOX This Season Called Buckeye Breakfast, Starting This Fall
Ohio State football fans will experience something fresh and exciting this fall as FOX unveils a brand-new broadcast concept designed to change how and when they tune in to watch the Buckeyes. The network is launching “Buckeye Breakfast,” a morning kickoff window dedicated specifically to showcasing Ohio State games, bringing a new flavor to Saturdays and reshaping the viewing habits of one of the most passionate fanbases in all of college sports.
The “Buckeye Breakfast” idea is simple yet bold: start the game day early. FOX has confirmed that it will be scheduling certain Ohio State home games in the 10:00 a.m. ET time slot as part of its evolving college football broadcast strategy. While the network has found great success with its “Big Noon Saturday” lineup in recent years, featuring premier matchups at noon, this move takes the early-game concept even further. The introduction of 10:00 a.m. kickoffs is a first for Ohio State and represents a calculated risk by FOX as it looks to further carve out a dominant presence in the college football television landscape.
FOX Sports executives believe “Buckeye Breakfast” will add a new layer of intrigue and entertainment to Saturdays in the fall. The network’s success with early-window games, particularly those involving Big Ten programs, has demonstrated the market’s appetite for morning matchups. With Ohio State being one of the biggest brands in college football, featuring a national fanbase and a perennial championship-contending team, the Buckeyes were an obvious candidate for this experimental slot. According to network insiders, the early start times will allow FOX to avoid competition from other marquee games later in the day and give Buckeye fans an exclusive time window in which their team is the undisputed centerpiece.
This move comes during a transformative period in college football media rights and conference realignment. The Big Ten’s recent media deal, worth over $7 billion, was structured around giving its primary media partners—FOX, CBS, and NBC—significant inventory and flexibility. FOX holds the top slot in terms of broadcast priority, and the creation of “Buckeye Breakfast” is part of that strategic vision to own the start of the college football Saturday. By putting Ohio State in an earlier-than-ever window, FOX is betting on the drawing power of the Buckeyes to anchor the morning slate and capture national attention before other networks begin airing their biggest matchups.
The timing is also advantageous from a programming standpoint. With the NFL dominating Sundays and a saturated college football schedule on Saturdays, FOX’s “Buckeye Breakfast” gives fans a reason to start watching earlier and stick with the network longer. It’s a play for audience retention as much as it is for ratings growth, and Ohio State is central to that plan. The Buckeyes routinely deliver massive viewership numbers regardless of kickoff time or opponent. Their national brand, storied history, and passionate following make them a ratings juggernaut, and FOX is positioning them as the anchor of its new early morning football offering.
From the perspective of Ohio State, the decision comes with mixed implications. On one hand, it provides the Buckeyes with increased national exposure and an exclusive timeslot in which they won’t be overshadowed by other high-profile games. On the other hand, it introduces some logistical challenges for players, coaches, and fans. A 10:00 a.m. kickoff means adjusting pregame routines, travel schedules, and game-day preparations. Players will have to wake up earlier for walkthroughs and meals, while fans attending the game at Ohio Stadium will have to begin tailgating and parking well before sunrise.
Still, Ohio State has long been a willing participant in the Big Ten’s media vision, and there is a clear understanding within the program of the value of national visibility. Under head coach Ryan Day, the Buckeyes have consistently embraced the spotlight, and this latest shift aligns with that philosophy. The coaching staff will need to ensure the team is physically and mentally ready for earlier starts, but there’s confidence that Ohio State’s elite preparation and talent will make the adjustment seamless.
Fan reaction to “Buckeye Breakfast” has been mixed but largely intrigued. While some traditionalists prefer afternoon or evening games, others welcome the idea of starting the day with their favorite team and having the rest of Saturday free. For fans watching from home, particularly those in Eastern and Central time zones, the earlier window means less competition for viewing and the convenience of wrapping up a full Buckeye experience before noon local time. For those on the West Coast, however, it presents a unique challenge. A 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time kickoff translates to 7:00 a.m. Pacific Time—certainly early, but not without precedent, as NFL fans on the West Coast have long been accustomed to similar start times.
FOX’s confidence in this strategy is also backed by the long-term growth of college football as a television product. With cord-cutting trends reshaping the media landscape, networks are placing increased value on live sports content—particularly college football, which has shown resilient ratings and immense loyalty among viewers. By staking a claim to Saturday mornings with a powerhouse program like Ohio State, FOX is aiming to dominate a segment of the day that has historically been underutilized. “Buckeye Breakfast” could prove to be a model for other programs and networks to follow if successful.
There is also a branding opportunity here for Ohio State. Embracing the “Buckeye Breakfast” label gives the program a chance to own the early window in a way no other school has. Much like the “Midnight Madness” concept in college basketball helped define preseason hype, “Buckeye Breakfast” could become a signature identity for early-season or early-day games in Columbus. With the right marketing and media support, Ohio State could turn this unique scheduling quirk into a celebratory tradition—one that includes themed merchandise, fan events, and digital content to match the energy of morning football.
It remains to be seen which games will fall into the “Buckeye Breakfast” slot in 2025, but network sources suggest it will likely feature non-conference matchups and early-season conference games that might otherwise be overshadowed in traditional time slots. FOX is expected to coordinate closely with Ohio State and the Big Ten office to ensure the matchups are compelling enough to draw national interest while also logistically feasible for the program and its fans. The atmosphere in Columbus is among the most electric in the sport, and even with an earlier start, Ohio Stadium is expected to be rocking once the games begin.
Of course, the long-term success of this concept will depend on ratings performance and fan engagement. If “Buckeye Breakfast” delivers strong viewership numbers and adds value to FOX’s college football portfolio, it could become a recurring feature—and possibly spread to include other major programs in different time slots. But for now, Ohio State stands at the center of the experiment. It’s another sign of how the Buckeyes remain one of the most influential forces in college athletics, capable of shaping television strategy and redefining how fans experience the sport.
As the college football landscape continues to evolve with the expansion of the College Football Playoff, increased NIL activity, and realignment shaping new rivalries, “Buckeye Breakfast” represents a forward-thinking approach that prioritizes accessibility, brand power, and broadcast innovation. Fans will have to get used to setting their alarms a little earlier on game day, but the payoff is a morning filled with touchdowns, tradition, and the unmistakable energy of Ohio State football. It’s a bold step by FOX—and one that the Buckeyes are ready to lead.
Whether it becomes a beloved tradition or a short-lived experiment, “Buckeye Breakfast” is sure to make noise. College football Saturdays are changing, and this fall, they’ll be starting with scarlet and gray.
