FOX Big Noon Kickoff is heading to the University of Minnesota campus on Saturday, giving Gophers fans a rare chance to see one of college football’s biggest weekly stages set up in Minneapolis before Minnesota hosts Michigan.
The show will air live at 9 a.m. CT in front of 3M Arena at Mariucci, with gates opening at 7:30 a.m. for fans who want to get there early and claim a spot near the FOX set. Kickoff for the game itself is set for 11 a.m.
The University of Minnesota said Saturday’s Big Noon Kickoff setup will include the usual giveaways and promotions, plus a P.J. Fleck lookalike contest.
One winner could end up featured live on air. Fleck drew attention last week with his bloody celebration after Minnesota’s win at Washington.
There’s more than just the television spotlight on the line, too. Minnesota and Michigan will play for the Little Brown Jug, which the University of Minnesota says is one of the oldest rivalry trophies in college football, dating back to the 1900s.
Saturday is also the Gophers’ annual “Stripe Out” game, with fans asked to wear maroon or gold based on their seating section.
Coverage starts with the FOX 9 Gopher Pregame at 8 a.m., then Big Noon Kickoff at 9 a.m., followed by Minnesota and Michigan at 11 a.m. All of it will be on FOX 9, and the FOX 9 Gopher Pregame Show will also be available on smart TV through the free FOX LOCAL app.
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Minnesota Gets A Rare Game Day Spotlight Before Michigan
The buildup to Minnesotas matchup with Michigan is starting well before kickoff, as FOXs Big Noon Kickoff will air from the University of Minnesota campus for the first time. The pregame show is expected to bring a fan pit, giveaways and a set inside Huntington Bank Stadium, turning what is already a major Big Ten stage into an all-day spotlight for the Gophers and their home environment.
For P.J. Fleck, the value goes beyond a single Saturday. He pointed to the exposure the university gets from hosting a national pregame show, noting the boost it can provide in front of recruits and the broader college football audience. With about 170 people involved in production, Minnesota is getting a rare showcase moment before one of its biggest home games of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Minnesota Gets A Rare Shot At Michigan With Doubt Growing Around The Wolverines
Michigans trip to Minnesota comes at an interesting moment, with the Wolverines coming off a loss to Iowa and now facing another Big Ten road test. The matchup has drawn a split in outside predictions, which says plenty about how unsettled Michigan looks right now and how much respect Minnesota is getting for having a real chance to make this a difficult afternoon.
Minnesota will be watching closely to see whether Michigan cleans up the issues that showed up against Iowa, because the margin in a conference game like this tends to come down to discipline and execution. Some analysts still see enough recent individual play and overall strength to trust the Wolverines, but the Gophers are in position to take advantage if the visitors are not sharp from the start. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Could Look Different Against Minnesota For One Big Reason
Michigans buildup for Minnesota has been shaped by more than just the matchup itself. With John Henry Daley and Dom Nichols listed as questionable, the Wolverines are looking at a game plan that could ask a few more players to step into the rotation, and Nichols is still expected to play despite the designation.
That opens the door for names such as Tariq Boney, Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, Jaime Ffrench and Mason Bonner to factor in more prominently if the staff decides to spread the workload around. For Minnesota, it means the prep work could be a little trickier than usual, with Michigan potentially showing a different look depending on who is available and how much it wants to lean on depth. [Read more 🡒]