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The opening weekend of the 2025 college football season will be headlined by Ohio State and Texas. The Longhorns will travel to Columbus to face the Buckeyes in a rematch of last year’s CFP semifinals.
Ohio State won that postseason bout, 28-14. Texas appears to be doing everything in its power to avoid a repeat. That includes not bending the knee to demands of a kickoff time adjustment.
The last meeting between the two came with an appearance in the national championship game on the line. The contest was highly competitive throughout with the game being decided in the final moments.
The Buckeyes led by a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. The Longhorns moved the ball to the goal line for a potential game-tying score. Then, disaster.
Head coach Steve Sarkisian was blasted for his play calling near the endzone. A second-down pitch play resulted in a significant loss of yardage.
From there, Texas was forced to throw. It eventually led to a strip sack and 83-yard scoop and score.
That game was played in the Lone Star State at the Cotton Bowl. This year’s edition will take place on the Ohio State campus. A noon start time was reported with the matchup being selected for FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff. The Buckeyes were infuriated.
Ohio State hates noon football games.
The Buckeyes were forced to play the majority of their 2024 season in the early time slot. That included six straight noon games to end the season.
Fans enjoyed one night game in Ohio Stadium last year, a 56-0 blowout of Western Michigan in Week 2. They’d hoped to see fortunes change with the heavyweight bout vs. Texas kicking off 2025. It didn’t happen.
Seeing the unhappiness of the fanbase, Ohio State reportedly reached out to Texas in hopes of making a deal. They asked the Longhorns about moving the matchup to Sunday night. Texas said no.
Texas denied Ohio State’s attempt to move their game from noon on Saturday to primetime on Sunday.
Fox gave the OK to the Buckeyes to play the Longhorns under the lights, but Texas blocked it, FOS has confirmed. pic.twitter.com/tq3wrjSd1F
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) May 27, 2025
The news further enraged Ohio State fans, though it’s one that wouldn’t make much sense for Texas. Why move away from a potentially sleepy noon start to instead play in a raucous road environment under the lights?
There’s a high likelihood the atmospheres produced would differ vastly.
Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte spoke on the proposed change this week. He blamed church in his reasoning for the refusal.
“Why would I want to move the game to Sunday night and have a short week? I’ve got to go to church.”
-Chris Del Conte
Del Conte wasn’t going to come out and say, “Yeah, Ohio State at night would produce an intimidating scene.” Instead, he turned to a cop out.
Church was one “reason” for keeping the early slot. Avoiding a short week ahead of a Week 2 meeting with San Jose State was the other. Neither were the biggest factor, though.
The refusal ensures that the game will be played at noon. Ohio State fans aren’t thrilled, but Texas is looking to grab any advantage possible before facing the reigning national champions on their home field.