Ohio Legislators Propose Bill on Timings for College Soccer Games
Legislators in Ohio have reportedly crafted a bill that would prohibit universities from hosting soccer games before 3:30 PM, unless certain exceptions apply.
State Rep. Tex Fisher, a Republican, aims to alter the timing of kickoffs. This change appears to align with Ohio’s frequent scheduling on Fox’s “Big Noon Saturday.”
Fisher remarked, “Fox indicated that it would be unacceptable to hold Ohio vs. Texas at noon. They keep their promises!”
The bill, shared through Fisher’s social media, clarifies that college football games cannot kick off earlier than 3:30 PM unless both teams are in the top 10 of the Associated Press polls or are from state colleges.
In cases where a game starts earlier without the necessary conditions, a hefty fine of $10 million would be enforced by the Ohio Attorney General, directed either at the host team’s football conference or the broadcasting network.
Many fans have expressed frustration over early game times, finding it inconvenient when they need to wake up early and prepare for tailgating.
When asked about the potential impact of earlier game times on tax revenue from sales and alcohol, Fisher’s office did not respond immediately to inquiries.
Since 2019, the Buckeyes have participated in 35 games set for noon, a time slot scheduled by Fox as it began airing Big Ten games. The network typically schedules high-profile matches earlier in the day, hoping to avoid competition with the popular 3:30 timeslot dominated by CBS and ESPN.
With Ohio State now holding the title of the defending national champion, the proposed legislation seeks to shift how future games are orchestrated.
Fisher announced the proposed bill’s details in a post, emphasizing, “Not too long ago, I stated it would be wrong for Fox to schedule Ohio vs. Texas at noon.”
The bill also acknowledges traditional rivalries, noting that the early start time does not apply if it is customary for the two teams involved—specifically for long-standing matchups where they have faced each other at least 50 times, maintaining the same kickoff time in 95% of those games.
