ESPN fumbles the Holy War by forcing Utah and BYU into a dreaded early-morning kickoff for fans
Fox News • • sports
Key Points:
- ESPN scheduled the Utah vs. BYU 'Holy War' college football game for a 10 a.m. local kickoff, drawing criticism for the early start despite the game's high stakes and CFP implications.
- The game was overshadowed by other major matchups on November 7th, including SEC and Big 12 showdowns, with prime-time slots given to games like Alabama vs. LSU and Georgia vs. Ole Miss.
- Critics argue ESPN should have placed the Utah-BYU game in a later time slot, such as after the Kentucky vs. Tennessee game, to better accommodate fans and highlight the rivalry.
- The early kickoff forced fans to arrive at the stadium very early, which many view as unfair given the importance of the matchup and its impact on College Football Playoff standings.
- The decision has reportedly frustrated Big 12 officials, who feel the conference and its teams, like BYU, are being undervalued in national broadcast scheduling.
