Ohio State tried to give its fans the primetime heavyweight battle at home they've demanded for years

Ohio State fans almost got their wish when it came to hosting a primetime, marquee matchup that could be a historical moment. Their season-opening home game against Texas is a rematch of their College Football Playoff semifinal from last year, making it the perfect candidate for a night game in the Horseshoe.

The Buckeyes tried to make it a primetime game on Sunday, Aug. 31 instead of being Fox's Big Noon Kickoff feature on Saturday. 

According to 247Sports, Texas declined the request to reschedule, so the game will remain on Saturday as planned. It's expected to be a noon kickoff, though the official start time will be finalized later this month. 

From Texas' perspective, pushing the game to Sunday to suit Ohio State’s preference for a prime-time slot could be seen as a disadvantage, potentially hurting their chances of leaving Columbus with a win.

Had the game shifted to Sunday night, it would have aired opposite Notre Dame vs. Miami on ABC—the only other football game scheduled in that time slot.

Ohio State is set to visit Texas in Austin on September 12, 2026. That matchup will be the Buckeyes’ second game of the season, meaning the NFL will already be underway, limiting the chances of moving it to a standalone Sunday window. 

However, given the SEC’s media deal with ABC, it’s likely that game will land in a prime-time slot regardless.

No matter when this season's Texas–Ohio State showdown is played, it’s bound to deliver plenty of compelling storylines.

It should not be a surprise the Buckeyes won't be on primetime TV or streaming services. Outgoing Athletic Director Gene Smith announced this time last year that Ohio State wouldn't volunteer for later kickoffs. 2023's 7:30 p.m. kickoff against Michigan State was an aberration. 

Smith doesn't value the benefits of a later start time, instead caring for season-ticket holders and players.

“We will not do it in the future at home. We might do it away,” Smith said last year. “If a colleague calls from another school and said, 'Hey, would you be willing to play a night game at our place?' We have to make that call. Both athletic directors have to agree on that. And so usually I would talk to Ryan (Day) and see if we're interested in doing that and we will say yes or no. But it depends on who it is, where it is or what time our team might get back. That always plays a role into their plan. If there's a second Saturday in November and we're somewhere and our team doesn't get back until 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning, that might be a problem.”