Big Noon Kickoff Heads Across the Pond for Kansas-Arizona State
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
College football is heading across the Atlantic, and FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff will be part of the historic occasion.
The popular college football pregame show will make its first international trip when it travels to London for the Kansas Jayhawks’ matchup against Arizona State in the Union Jack Classic on Sept. 19.
For Kansas, the trip provides another opportunity to put the program on a national stage. The Jayhawks will be playing their first international game in program history, while Wembley will become the site of a new chapter in college football history.
Big Noon Kickoff will begin its coverage at 10 a.m. ET on FOX, two hours before Kansas and Arizona State are scheduled to kick off at noon ET on FS1. In Kansas, kickoff will take place at 11 a.m. CT.
The decision to bring Big Noon Kickoff to London adds even more attention to a game that was already going to be unique. FOX has built the program around some of college football’s biggest games and environments, and the network sees Wembley as another opportunity to showcase the sport.
FOX Sports executive vice president Jordan Bazant said the network could not pass up the opportunity to bring the show to Wembley because of the stadium’s history and significance in sports.
The matchup also comes at an important point in Kansas’ season.
The Jayhawks are coming off a 38-21 loss to No. 23 Missouri, a game in which Kansas struggled to move the football consistently after halftime. Kansas managed 255 total yards compared with Missouri’s 469. The Jayhawks will now have a week to regroup before traveling overseas.
Playing in London could provide Kansas with a chance to create a different kind of momentum. Instead of simply being another game on the schedule, the Union Jack Classic gives the Jayhawks an opportunity to be part of an event that will receive attention from college football fans around the country.
Kansas head coach Lance Leipold has already embraced the significance of the occasion. He said having Big Noon Kickoff in London will help create a special environment and showcase the pageantry of college football.
The game is also part of the Big 12’s larger effort to expand its international presence. The conference has already played games in Europe, and Kansas-Arizona State represents another step toward making college football more recognizable outside the United States.
For Kansas, the goal will ultimately remain the same: win the football game. But with Big Noon Kickoff, Wembley Stadium and the international spotlight surrounding it, the Jayhawks will have a chance to make history while doing it.
JOIN THE COMMUNITY
Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news
It's completely free to join, simply by clicking the yellow button at the top of the homepage. Share your thoughts, engage with our ROUNDTABLE writers, and chat with fellow members
Jimmy Adeniran is a contributor to JayhawksROUNDTABLE. He can be reached at mayor@iw2j.com
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos