AUSTIN, Texas — Alabama and Texas will officially kick off at Noon ET (11 a.m. CT) Sept. 10, the teams announced Thursday in conjunction with FOX. It will mark the first time Alabama has played in a game broadcasted by FOX in the Big Noon window as the two schools meet for a marque Week 2 non-conference clash in Austin.
A Noon ET/11 a.m. CT kick was the growing expectation for the game after the FOX confirmed earlier in the spring the contest between the Longhorns and Crimson Tide would air on the network. Recent years have seen FOX slot its premier games of the week at the Noon ET window as opposed to a traditional primetime viewing window.
The idea of a midday kickoff was not exactly well-received, however, given historical temperatures in Austin hovering in the 90s that time of day in September. Fans recently started a Change.org petition as a result, entitled "Make Fox Put the Alabama Game at Night," but to no avail given Thursday's decision.
"Instead of competing with whatever game ESPN will choose to have at prime time, Fox Sports, like the cowards they are, elects to broadcast their marquee matchup of the day at noon. Noon," the petition states. "If Fox Sports wants fans to consider them as the ultimate college football broadcaster they should compete with ESPN during prime time, not opting out from the challenge and submissively showing their best game at noon to ensure people will watch it."
This season's early-slate showdown will mark Alabama's first game on FOX since the 2009 Sugar Bowl against Utah, per BamaOnLine's Charlie Potter. Coming off a 5-7 season, the Longhorns have generated considerable hype ahead of Steve Sarkisian's third campaign due to an aggressive showing in the transfer portal, including the addition of two former Alabama players — Jahleel Billingsley and Agiye Hall — along with five-star quarterback Quinn Ewers.
Alabama and Texas last met during the 2009 BCS National Championship Game, one that resulted in the Crimson Tide's first of six titles and counting under Nick Saban after the Longhorns saw star quarterback Colt McCoy go down with an injury early. Texas and Alabama are soon to become SEC foes, with the Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners joining the conference no later than 2025 season. Oklahoma was also the recipient of a Big Noon window for a marquee game this fall Thursday, as it was announced the Oklahoma-Nebraska game on Sept. 17 will have an 11 a.m. CT kick for a second consecutive year.