Even with the addition of USC and UCLA to the Big Ten, the conference’s biggest rivalry game of the season won’t be changing its date and timeslot. That had 92.9 The Game host Steak Shapiro questioning why the conference wouldn’t want to capitalize on viewership.
The athletic directors at both Michigan and Ohio State confirmed over the weekend that the annual football game between the two schools will remain at noon the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It appears FOX will continue to broadcast the game in its Big Noon Kickoff window.
Shapiro said Monday on The Steakhouse that it didn’t make sense that the Big Ten wouldn’t want to open up viewership to the LA market with USC and UCLA coming in by giving the broadcast to CBS.
“Why would they want to play that game a noon?” Shapiro asked. “Maximum numbers are going to be at 3:30.”
The annual battle between the Wolverines and the Buckeyes has always kicked off at noon the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and Shapiro said he understands why the time wouldn’t be changed. But he still thought allowing CBS to carry the contest was the better move.
“For the fans, I guess that’s a tradition,” he said. “I get it, but I would move that game to 3:30. Just one man’s opinion.”
