• Loading stock data...
Thursday, October 9, 2025

Fox’s Friday Night College Football Experiment Off to Strong Start

  • Fox is airing major college football games on Friday nights this season.
  • Kansas State–Arizona drew 2.58 million viewers in the debut broadcast.
The Topeka Capital-Journal

Fox’s attempt to take over another college football TV window on Friday nights is off to a nice start.

Kansas State’s 31–7 victory over Arizona last week averaged 2.58 million viewers, kicking off a 12-game Friday prime-time slate on the main Fox network channel, featuring schools from the Big Ten, Big 12, and Mountain West.

Fox is using college football to replace WWE SmackDown, which is moving to USA Network thanks to a five-year, $1.4 billion deal. In a comparable window last fall on Sept. 15, 2023, also the second Friday after Labor Day, SmackDown drew 2.57 million viewers on Fox—just barely below KSU-Arizona. That was the highest Friday WWE audience for Fox for the remainder of the year.

Ahead of the Friday package of games, Fox Sports president of insights and analytics Mike Mulvihill predicted college football would do equal, if not better, viewership numbers than professional wrestling, in an interview with Front Office Sports. And with game windows of three-plus hours, compared to two-hour SmackDown broadcasts, the network’s expectations are high.

Friday Night Lights

This week, Fox gets a second straight matchup between ranked opponents for its next Friday prime-time showcase, after KSU and Arizona entered last week’s game ranked No. 14 and No. 20, respectively (KSU has since moved up to No. 14 and Arizona fell out of the top 25).

Here are the next three Friday night games on Fox:

  • Sept. 20: No. 24 Illinois at No. 22 Nebraska
  • Sept. 27: Washington at Rutgers
  • Oct. 4: Michigan State at No. 9 Oregon

Rolling Effect

Fox also got a rare opportunity to broadcast an Alabama game this past weekend. The Crimson Tide’s 42–10 victory at Wisconsin drew 5.02 million viewers in the network’s Big Noon Saturday window. That followed a massive audience of 9.35 million for Texas’s 31–12 win at Michigan the previous Saturday.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Sep 1, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick on the field before the game at Kenan Stadium

UNC’s Disastrous Season Continues With Report of NCAA Rules Violation

A UNC cornerbacks coach reportedly gave sideline passes to a player’s family.

NFL and College Football TV Ratings Continue to Surge, Especially for CBS

The network’s singleheader coverage Sunday drew huge viewership.

MLB’s Rare October Day: Four Playoff Games, Four Possible Clinchers

Four separate clinching opportunities are available during the day.

Featured Today

Paul Cartier

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
Kōloa Rum Company Rum Rusher
September 27, 2025

Panthers Bubbly, Jets Wine, Manning Whiskey: The Sports Booze Boom

A sommelier dives into the sports booze trend—and tries Jets wine.
Nov 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers fans wave Terrible Towels against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium
September 26, 2025

Steelers’ Irish Roots Are Deeper Than NFL Dublin Game

The Steelers have history and the foundation for a future in Ireland.
October 6, 2025

Mark Sanchez Charged With New Felony in Indianapolis Case

The broadcaster and ex-NFL quarterback faces up to six years in prison.
Mar 19, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; USA shortstop Trea Turner (8) throws to first base for an out during the first inning at LoanDepot Park.
October 7, 2025

Fox Picks Up Media Rights to 2026 World Baseball Classic

The network will repeat its role in the international baseball tournament.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
Sep 27, 2025; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Josh McCray (2) runs against Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green (41) and defensive back Keon Sabb (3) in the second half at Sanford Stadium.
exclusive
October 2, 2025

College Football Viewership Is Up Double Digits. Here’s Why

Average game viewership is up by more than 10% so far.
The NBC Sports broadcast team works Michigan State's football game against Boston College on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
October 2, 2025

NBC Sports, Peacock Stay on YouTube TV With Long-Term Deal

The broad-based agreement keeps NBC channels with the key distributor.
Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) throws the ball during the first half of a NCAA college football game against Alabama in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, September 27, 2025.
October 1, 2025

Alabama-Georgia Draws 10.4M Viewers, Drives Record CFB Season Pace

ABC drew 10.4 million viewers for Alabama-Georgia.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) pulls down a touchdown reception against Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (26) in the fourth quarter during their football game Sunday, November 13, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
September 24, 2025

Packers-Cowboys Game Is Getting Super Bowl–Like NBC Treatment

The network will bring its pregame show to Dallas.