Fox buys back 2026 Big Ten championship game from NBC

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FOX has finalized an agreement to regain the 2026 Big Ten Championship Game from NBC, ending a transient window in which NBC explored alternative options for the event, college football insider Brett McMurphy of On3 reported on Wednesday. NBC did not have the authority to prevent FOX from reclaiming the game, as FOX ultimately controls the conference’s media rights through its ownership of Big Ten Network, according to Murphy.

NBC’s original deal for the championship was effectively a sublicense, meaning FOX retained final say over its distribution. NBC president Jon Miller acknowledged interest from streaming platforms but confirmed FOX approached the network about taking the game back. FOX will reportedly pay between $45 million and $55 million, below NBC’s reported $70 million asking price from potential streamers. As part of the agreement, NBC will also receive one additional Big Ten regular-season game that would have otherwise aired on FOX.

With the deal complete, FOX will now broadcast the Big Ten Championship in five of the seven years under the current rights cycle, while CBS holds the other two.

The championship remains one of the biggest ratings draws. The 2025 title game between Indiana and Ohio State averaged 18.3 million viewers on FOX, ranking as the sixth-most-watched college football game of the season. It also outperformed the SEC title matchup between Georgia and Alabama by nearly 1.5 million viewers. FOX also aired the two most-watched regular-season games: Ohio State vs. Michigan Wolverines football (18.4 million) and Ohio State vs. Texas Longhorns football (16.6 million).

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Fox buys back 2026 Big Ten championship game from NBC

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