The first ever Union Jack Classic will unfold at Wembley Stadium on September 19, pitting the Kansas Jayhawks against the Arizona State Sun Devils in a groundbreaking college football event that will be televised live across the United States.
FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff will originate from London, with the pre‑game show kicking off at 9 a.m. Central Time before the 11 a.m. CT kickoff on FS1, giving American audiences a full‑day experience of the sport on British soil.
The broadcast comes on the heels of a season that saw FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff achieve its highest ever ratings, averaging 1.8 million viewers and underscoring the growing appetite for early‑day college football programming.
A Historic Kickoff
Kansas head coach Lance Leipold expressed genuine excitement about the opportunity, emphasizing the historic significance of playing at Wembley and the chance to showcase the program on a global stage.
The Jayhawks will field a roster that includes standout players such as Calvin Clements and Cam Pickett, while also welcoming a talented transfer portal class and a group of highly anticipated freshmen who could shape the team’s future.
The partnership between the Big 12 Conference and FOX has proven mutually beneficial, with Big 12 on FOX averaging 2.25 million viewers last season — a six percent increase from 2024 — and Big 12 on FS1 posting a 41 percent rise in viewership year over year.
Looking Forward
Executive Vice President of FOX Sports Jordan Bazant highlighted the event’s broader implications, noting that the Union Jack Classic not only celebrates the sport’s international reach but also reinforces FOX’s commitment to delivering premium college football content to diverse audiences.
As the game approaches, the excitement extends beyond the field, with fans and analysts alike anticipating how the experience will influence future cross‑continental matchups and the evolving landscape of college football broadcasting.