Three Big 12 Week 1 Games are at Risk if FOX and YouTube TV Can’t Agree on a New Deal

YouTube TV and Fox are engaged in tense negotiations over a new carriage agreement, with the deadline set for 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 27.

If no deal is reached by then, YouTube TV subscribers could lose access to all Fox channels, including Fox Sports, right as the college football season begins in full.

That possibility puts several key games at risk for viewers this weekend. Among them are Auburn at Baylor, South Dakota at Iowa State, and Utah at UCLA. Each is slated to air on Fox-owned networks and carries major implications across the Big 12, SEC, and Big Ten landscapes.

YouTube TV has notified customers that Fox is seeking higher carriage fees than what the service pays comparable providers. The streaming platform says it is working to secure fair terms while keeping subscription costs stable for its users. In the event that Fox channels go dark, YouTube TV has promised subscribers a $10 credit.

Fox has responded by claiming that Google, YouTube TV’s parent company, is leveraging its market position to push for below-market terms. The network maintains that it wants a resolution but insists that its channels deserve rates consistent with other major networks.

The dispute comes at a critical point in the sports calendar. College football’s first full weekend is immediately followed by the start of the NFL season. If the blackout takes effect, subscribers will lose access not only to college football matchups but also to NFL broadcasts, MLB coverage, and programming from FS1 and the Big Ten Network.

This is not the first time YouTube TV has faced this type of conflict. Earlier this year, the service nearly lost Paramount-owned channels, including CBS, before striking a last-minute deal. Many subscribers are hoping for a similar resolution in this case, though there is no guarantee an agreement will be reached before the deadline.

For now, fans are left waiting while two media giants battle over pricing and distribution. With Auburn-Baylor, Iowa State’s home opener, and Utah-UCLA all scheduled for this weekend, the outcome of these talks could determine how millions of fans watch college football in Week 1.