I don’t think there is a single issue that’s united Penn State fans like the one that will rear its head on Saturday morning.
In a sports heavy college town, there’s been endless debates over coaching styles, play calling, and why, for some reason, some of you thought Rob Bolden was a better quarterback than Matt McGloin. All of which have or will divide Nittany Nation on one side or another.
In fact, very rarely are Penn Staters this on-the-same-page about something.
Penn State fans with almost unanimous decisiveness do not like Fox’s Big Noon and this Saturday, they will get a chance to prove it.
As ESPN’s College GameDay and Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff invade Happy Valley this Saturday for the Ohio State game, Penn State’s faithful will get a unique opportunity to perform a referendum – or protest – or stick-it-to-the-man moment against Fox’s morning kickoff crew and maybe even their sports media executive team. All they have to do is quite literally pick a side – or gate – of the Bryce Jordan Center.
Again, Penn State fans do not like Fox’s Big Noon or more specifically, the grant of rights that Fox has to select the first batch of Big Ten games throughout the season and Fox’s using those rights for a noon centerpiece for the conference. Why? Well, the reasoning varies with who you ask.
For starters, it’s forced Penn State to play its biggest home games of the year (generally against Michigan and Ohio State) during the day. With that, it all but eliminated the opportunity for White Outs against those teams. Instead, it’s been average attempts at recreating the environment with Stripe Outs and Helmet Stripe games that do not generate the same spark.
It also cuts into tailgate time, which cuts into alcohol consumption, which may or may not have an impact on crowd rowdiness and volume levels inside the 107,000-plus seat stadium.
Noon games have also made getting to State College, already a headache, a migraine. Truly the only benefit from them may be smoother postgame exits.
For those watching at home, Gus Johnson’s style has rubbed many the wrong way – and maybe rightfully so – with seemingly favorable nicknames for Ohio State and Michigan players and rarely awarding them to Penn State players even if he is a professional. After all, they’re the “World Famous Ohio State Buckeyes” and just the “Nittany Lions of Penn State.” Plus those broadcasts of Penn State games in 2023 and 2024 have lasted nearly 20 minutes longer on average than other core broadcasting partners when measuring by time of game.
I’d also argue Penn State fans hate Big Noon because when it mattered, Penn State hasn’t won the big Big Noon games.
But I recognize that won’t dissuade your feelings.
Again, Penn State fans hate Big Noon. Minds have already been made up. Decisions have already been made. Even those who haven’t made their decision in the upcoming election would confidently offer a negative answer on Big Noon-related polling.
Penn State fans dislike Big Noon so much that the brand has earned the ultimate sign of (dis)respect in forms of t-shirts in downtown shops too.
And I do agree that some of it is warranted as well. Night games at Beaver Stadium are a whole hell of a lot more fun than noon games. Fireworks look much better at night than they do during the day as well and in general, college football’s biggest game should be played at night for cinematic and dramatic reasons.
Most of all, Big Noon has been a corporate initiative by Fox to fill the slot with the biggest game as a ratings (and cash) grab — summarily feeling like the proverbial Man holding fun hostage.
Much of Fox’s ethos with that kickoff slot has been unwelcoming, seemingly aligning with the corporate vision too. It’s plain. It’s bland. It feels AI generated. It does not have the rapport that ESPN offers. It has felt insincere, like a forced celebration at a company meeting, missing the boat on what college football really is. It also doesn’t help Fox’s case that they’ve also got one of Penn State’s chief villains as the centerpiece to programming in Urban Meyer – even if his praise of Penn State is often even keeled.
And when Big Noon comes to town, it means the game is guaranteed to be at noon unlike with GameDay’s old offering.
Meanwhile, College GameDay has still remained warm, fuzzy and comforting. Even if Lee Corso hasn’t been the Corso of yesteryear, the guidance and comfort that Kirk Herbstreit brings to him is sincere and authentic. It’s a new chapter in the friendship we’ve invited into our homes every Saturday morning in the fall that’s become as quintessential as pumpkin carving and apple picking.
Plus Herbstreit’s loyal companion Ben has been a great addition to another set of characters while Nick Saban, college football’s ultimate villain, has become now likable by showcasing his ability to help you understand the game better. And party boy turned sports media supernova Pat McAfee fits the vibe of what college football fan debauchery truly is.
Saturday will shine brightly on that television divide for viewers at home, too, as the programs both broadcast from Happy Valley. It can be made more stark and serve as Penn State fans opportunity to cash in on the animosity by offering a lack of signs and crowd behind Rob Stone or whoever else is on their set.
Will Fox make less money? Will Fox revert their entire strategy because of it? No. Absolutely not. Again, much like any other Man holding you down, they can’t lose.
But that doesn’t matter. For all of the complaining you’ve done, now Penn State fans get a chance to do something about it.
All of this is also a bit silly and a bit goofy yet serves as a reminder of how much fun college football can be. It feels almost trivial to be upset over something largely inconsequential like kickoff times for a football game. But it sure is fun.
It’s also harmless to the suits that Penn State fans avoid Fox and head to ESPN’s set. They’ll still cash a fat check, regardless if a Murdoch or a mouse is the one writing it. The protest will be also virtually unimpactful because like many other changes in college football, there’s very little fans can do about the changes steamrolling the sport.
But it will feel good for Penn State fans to walk past Gate B and head to Gate C of the BJC just to stick it to the Man, and sometimes, you just need to do something that will feel rebelliously good.
For all the complaining that Penn State fans have done, Saturday will actually be the opportunity to do it in a meaningful way and not in a Facebook comment section or message board post. That’s even if it will result in the same futile outcome.
If you’ve enjoyed this content, please subscribe to Stuff Somers Says With Steve on YouTube. Or join our newsletter by entering your email below.
