FOX Sports has reportedly finalized a deal to re-acquire the broadcast rights to the 2026 Big Ten Championship Game from NBC, according to On3.
NBC received between $45 million and $55 million for the game. FOX will also hand NBC one additional Big Ten game this season as part of the arrangement.
Jon Miller, NBC Sports President of Acquisitions & Partnerships, told Puck’s John Ourand that NBC had “interests from streamers” for the broadcast. However, according to the report, NBC’s only real option was to air the game if FOX Sports passed.
NBC had no authority to block FOX from buying back the rights. FOX Sports wanted desired the game, and reportedly have closed the deal for it.
Under its current Big Ten deal, FOX Sports now controls the championship game in five of seven years. CBS Sports holds the other two.
The 2025 title game between undefeated Indiana and Ohio State drew 18.3 million viewers — the sixth most-watched college football game last season and the top-rated game of championship weekend. It topped the SEC title game between Georgia and Alabama by nearly 1.5 million viewers. FOX also owned the two biggest regular-season games. Ohio State vs. Michigan pulled 18.4 million viewers. Ohio State vs. Texas drew 16.6 million.
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