Are they curious of the novelty of witnessing the spectacle of a slaughter in person?

Are they dying to see the massive crowd of 15 thousand in the wind and rain?

I just can't conceive this is one of the two best games next week.

Edited 15 hours ago15 hr by Solar

Weak slate of B1G games and ABC had the “big one”. OBD are top-5 with a conference game, probably the best choice.

If you look at the Big Ten slate this week it's a nothing burger. Bama-Wiscy is on ABC since the game is at Bama. The only other game that you might choose is Purdue-USC and at least Northwestern had a pulse last year. There just aren't any good game this week other than if you think Wisconsin has a chance on the road, but they can't even pick that game, so the battle on the shores of Lake Michigan it is!

Being as these games get drafted before the season starts by all the networks that carry B1G games what probably happened was this... Fox (who has the most picks) either took this game because Oregon-Northwestern is the most interesting B1G conference game. USC-Purdue is the only other conference game. I suppose it's a toss up as to which would be more interesting but CBS has USC-Purdue.

the only other interesting games are on ESPN/ABC which means Fox wasn't able to carry them probably based on the home team. Minn at Cal could be interesting but that's on ESPN.

Ohio State gets a late afternoon game but they are playing Ohio and that game shouldn't be all that interesting.

Michigan plays Central Michigan at the same time...

So that leaves Oregon-Northwestern as the only B1G conference game or only Power 4 match-up worth watching in that time slot.

Thanks for all the replies. I guess it is still the preseason so not very many good games to be had.

The Northwestern campus is in a beautiful setting despite the temporary stadium. It certainly is a hot ticket this week. There is nothing under $220 on StubHub which is likely due to limited seating. My guess is the show's producers chose to go with the great visuals (Chicago skyline, Lake Michigan, Ducks uniforms) instead of what Purdue and West Lafayette, IN had to offer.

10 hours ago, Solar said:

Are they curious of the novelty of witnessing the spectacle of a slaughter in person?

Are they dying to see the massive crowd of 15 thousand in the wind and rain?

I just can't conceive this is one of the two best games next week.

Because and as well noted above, it's a very weak slate of Week 3 B1G games.

The headliner is 2-0 Wisconsin at 1-1 No. 19 Alabama - 9 AM on ABC.

College GameDay will be in Knoxville for No. 6 2-0 Georgia at 2-0 No. 15 Tennessee. ABC 12:30.

The only other B1G P4 vs P4 sees 2-0 No. 30 USC at 2-0 Purdue (double the wins from 2024!) 12:30 CBS and 2-0 Minnesota at 2-0 Cal 7:30 ESPN.

I thought Big Noon might have been in Iowa City to watch the Hawkeyes defeat UMass for Ferentz's 207th win and the record. But OBD, Penn State, and Indiana all play at Iowa later in the season.

I expect USC at Illinois in Week 5 will be a Big Noon game.

NW's temporary stadium is high school-sized at 12,000 capacity, but in a beautiful setting on the shore of Lake Michigan.

Ducks Wire with more on the B1G Noon game. 9 AM body clock time for OBD. 11 AM for NW

https://duckswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/ducks/football/2025/09/08/oregon-ducks-football-big-noon-kickoff-northwestern/86043685007/?utm_source=smg-duckswire-strada&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=SMGbaseline&

If you go and have free time on Friday night, check out Chicago's Blues clubs on Halsted Street.

Week 4's Civil War game will be a Noon Pacific kickoff on the Big Ten Network.

https://duckswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/ducks/football/2025/09/08/oregon-ducks-oregon-state-beavers-game-time-set/86045485007/?utm_source=smg-duckswire-strada&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=SMGbaseline&utm_term=Content%20List%20-%

Stay with Fox Saturday to watch Pac-12 behemoth Beavis battle No. 21 Texas Tech in Lubbock.

Good ruck, Beavers, yuck, yuck. 😊

Fox knows they have a captive national audience for a quarter when folks who just want to see what’s all the fuss about the Ducks will tune in. Probably back loaded the high priced add spots for those 15 minutes before they move on.