COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- An Ohio state lawmaker has proposed a bill that would issue fines of $10 million any time Ohio State is scheduled for a noon kickoff, except for its game against Michigan.
Rep. Tex Fischer (R-Boardman) proposed the bill on Wednesday, which would apply any time a state university football team plays in a game in which both teams are ranked in the top 10 of the Associated Press poll.
In those circumstances, games would not be allowed to have kickoffs before 3:30 p.m.
The bill does not apply to games in which an earlier start time is a "college football tradition," which would include the Michigan game.
Columbus spent $95,000 on Department of Public Utilities rebrand, records showIf a game is scheduled before 3:30 p.m., the host team's athletic conference or the TV network broadcasting the game -- whichever one scheduled the start time -- would be fined $10 million.
The bill also states that "No state university shall enter into or renew a contract with the national collegiate athletic association, an athletic conference, or a media entity under which any entity, directly or indirectly, may compel or permit the university's football team to commence a college football game before 3:30 p.m."
"A few weeks ago, I said it would be a crime for FOX to put Ohio State vs. Texas at noon," Fischer said. "Promises made, promises kept!"
The kickoff time for Ohio State vs. Texas in week one on Aug. 30 has not been announced.
In the past five full seasons (excluding 2020 due to COVID-19), over 50% of Ohio State's games have been scheduled for noon kickoffs, while 30% of them were considered a marquee matchup.
List: Big Lots stores reopening in central Ohio on ThursdayMarquee matchups in recent years scheduled for noon kickoffs:
2024: Nebraska, Penn State, Indiana, Michigan 2023: Penn State, Michigan 2022: Penn State, Michigan, Iowa 2021: Oregon, Michigan State, Michigan 2019: Wisconsin, Penn State, Michigan, CincinnatiIn the noon kickoff games the past five full seasons, Ohio State is 26-5, with four of those losses against Michigan. The other loss was against Oregon at Ohio Stadium in 2021.
Another bill surrounding Ohio State football was introduced in March by Sen. Bill DeMora (D-Columbus), which would prohibit any public university in Ohio from granting broadcast rights to a game exclusively to a streaming service.
DeMora was inspired to work on the bill after an October 2023 Ohio State-Purdue football game aired exclusively on Peacock — a platform not owned by NBC4's parent company, Nexstar. The sporting event marked the first time in 315 games that a Buckeyes game was not nationally televised, according to Ohio State’s College of Arts and Sciences.
DeMora also argued the exclusive airing of Ohio State games on streaming platforms hurts business at local bars and restaurants, many of whom make a large portion of their profits from game days. He said Peacock charged membership fees per television during the 2023 game and that Varsity Club, across Lane Avenue from campus, spent $3,600 to stream it.
The bill would also require state universities to “work out a deal” with streaming companies that would allow all enrolled students to watch university athletic events for free, DeMora said.
This story includes reporting from Ava Boldizar.
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