College Football Goes International
FOX's Big Noon Kickoff Heads to London for First International College Football Broadcast
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FOX said Big Noon Kickoff reached its most-watched season ever in 2025, averaging 1.8 million viewers in the hour leading up to the 11 a.m. games—up 14% from 2024—an additional rationale for taking the show to London.
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The broadcast schedule is set precisely: Big Noon Kickoff will begin at 10:00 a.m. ET on FOX (and is described elsewhere as starting at 9 a.m. local/CT), followed by the Union Jack Classic kickoff at 12:00 p.m. ET on FS1.
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FOX rolled out the announcement during its FIFA World Cup coverage: Big Noon Kickoff was promoted on FOX’s “FIFA WORLD CUP LIVE” ahead of the England–Croatia match, and host Rob Stone later announced the London plans during that coverage.
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FOX Sports Executive VP Jordan Bazant said the network “couldn’t pass up an opportunity to bring BIG NOON KICKOFF to the historic Wembley Stadium,” adding that FOX Sports is “the home of big events,” and specifically thanked Brett Yormark, Scott Draper, Travis Goff and Graham Rossini for bringing the event to life.
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The broader international slate includes other high-profile Big 12 involvement: TCU will play North Carolina in Dublin, Ireland to open the 2026 season, underscoring how conferences are sequencing Europe trips back-to-back across years.
For the first time ever, FOX's Big Noon Kickoff will broadcast live from outside the United States. The show is heading to Wembley Stadium in London ahead of the inaugural Union Jack Classic on September 19, 2026, when Kansas faces Arizona State in what will be the first FBS college football game ever played in the United Kingdom, according to FOX Sports.
Host Rob Stone made the announcement during FOX's FIFA World Cup coverage on June 17, promoting the London show ahead of the England vs. Croatia match. Big Noon Kickoff kicks off at 10:00 a.m. ET on FOX, with the Union Jack Classic itself starting at 12:00 p.m. ET on FS1, according to On3.
FOX Cites Record Ratings to Justify London Trip
FOX Sports Executive VP Jordan Bazant said the network "couldn't pass up an opportunity to bring BIG NOON KICKOFF to the historic Wembley Stadium." He credited Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark, Scott Draper, KU Athletic Director Travis Goff, and ASU Athletic Director Graham Rossini for making it happen, per FOX Sports.
The move is backed by hard numbers. Big Noon Kickoff averaged 1.8 million viewers in the hour before its 11 a.m. games during the 2025 season — a 14% jump from 2024 — making it the show's most-watched season ever, according to FOX Sports. The network called the London broadcast a natural next step for a show on the rise.
Stadium Construction Pushed Kansas to Play in London
The game wasn't born purely from ambition. Kansas originally listed the Arizona State matchup as a home game in Lawrence. But Phase 2 of the $809 million Gateway District renovation at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium slashed the venue's capacity to 41,052, according to KU Sports. Rather than play in front of a reduced crowd, Kansas relocated the game to Wembley.
Wembley seats up to 90,000 fans. Kansas coach Lance Leipold called the trip a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" for his players. The Big 12 has partnered with travel companies to offer alumni packages, mirroring the model used for Notre Dame and Navy's annual game in Dublin, Ireland, according to On3.
Big 12 Builds a European Footprint, Season by Season
The Union Jack Classic is part of a deliberate multi-year push by the Big 12 to plant a flag in Europe. TCU and North Carolina are set to open the 2026 season in Dublin, Ireland — just weeks before Kansas and Arizona State play in London — effectively giving the conference back-to-back European games, according to Front Office Sports.
Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark has been direct about the goal. He said expanding internationally "will elevate our brand and open the door to meaningful commercial growth." Industry analysts note the Big 12 is following the NFL's London playbook — using unique time slots and international settings to create new broadcast inventory, per Extra Points.
Fans Split Between Excitement and Frustration Back Home
Not everyone is cheering. Some Kansas season-ticket holders pushed back on social media, frustrated that a home conference game against a high-profile opponent like Arizona State was moved 4,000 miles away. KU responded by pointing out that the Jayhawks still have six home games scheduled for 2026, according to On3.
Critics also argue the move hollows out the local feel of college football. The game takes money and attention away from Lawrence businesses and fans who can't afford the trip, as noted by Extra Points. FOX and the Big 12 counter that the global platform more than offsets those concerns — and that recruiting pitches now include the phrase "play at Wembley."
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