The first college football game in the U.K., Saturday’s Kansas–Arizona State matchup in London, is also giving Fox its first run at broadcasting its Big Noon Kickoff pre-game show outside the U.S.
“We love getting to our Michigans and our Ohio States, but when we get to a new venue, there’s definitely an extra little giddy up in our step,” Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff host Rob Stone tells Front Office Sports. “Now taking it internationally for the first time ever. You know, these guys have been all smiles for weeks.”
Fox will be set up just outside Wembley Stadium, where the Jayhawks and Sun Devils will face off in the inaugural Union Jack Classic. Stone will be joined by analysts Urban Meyer, Brady Quinn, Matt Leinart, and Mark Ingram II. While the on-site presence will be a slightly scaled down version of what Big Noon Kickoff does on college campuses, the show will feel uniquely British, including hosts on a classic London double-decker tour bus and an appearance from Gordon Ramsey.
Big Noon Kickoff didn’t travel to Ireland when Fox broadcasted its first international college football game in 2022—that season’s Aerlingus Classic between Nebraska and Northwestern. ESPN took College GameDay to Dublin in 2024, but hasn’t sent its weekly pre-game show abroad during either of the past two seasons.
FS1 will broadcast Kansas–Arizona State at noon ET on Saturday while Fox airs Kent State–Ohio State.
College Football’s Expanding Borders
Union Jack Classic organizers have a multiyear deal with Wembley to play college football games in London, but no teams have been finalized for 2027. Fox’s broadcast of this year’s Big 12 matchup is part of its long-term media-rights deal with the conference, but other international games could be broadcast by other conference partners in the future, the network told FOS.
College football’s London debut comes shortly after what was supposed to be the sport’s first game in Brazil—a N.C. State–Virginia matchup last month—was moved back to the U.S. due to logistical problems.
Stone believes the international experiments are good for the sport.
“One thing we learned about hosting the World Cup this summer is that foreigners love coming to the U.S. and learning about some of the uniqueness of the things that we offer, whether that’s food or sporting events,” he said. “College football is singularly unique to American culture, and if we’re able to share that and spread some of that beautiful chaos and tradition to people—whether it’s in London or Italy or Spain or Germany or wherever—I think we’re all better for it.”
Travel Plans
Arizona State departed for London directly following their 48–20 loss at Texas A&M on Saturday night, and Kansas flew across the pond on Tuesday.
Both teams are getting much more time to shake off the jet lag than the NFL’s Rams did when they flew to Australia just 24 hours before their season-opener against the 49ers in Melbourne, which former All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh called an “asinine decision” during an interview at the Front Office Sports Asset Class event this week.
“If I’m a head coach, I’m going to make this trip Week 1. Bring your family. Do everything. You get the first two days to enjoy yourself. New continent, new everything. Enjoy that, and then we’re gonna lock in for the game,” Suh said. “And the 49ers, in my opinion, did that. And they executed the game in easy fashion.”
