# ESPN fumbles the Holy War by forcing Utah and BYU into a dreaded early-morning kickoff for fans

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/espn-fumbles-the-holy-war-by-forcing-utah-and-byu-into-a-dreaded-early-morning-kickoff-for-fans/
- Published: 2026-10-26T20:33:46+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-26T21:27:10+00:00
- Original publisher: Fox News (publisher lean: Far right)
- Original article: https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/espn-fumbles-holy-war-forcing-utah-byu-dreaded-early-morning-kickoff-fans
- Topics: Football, Sport, World

## Key points

- Utah-BYU kicks off at 10 a.m. local time.
- The game has Big 12 and CFP implications.
- The writer argues it should have been scheduled later.

## Summary

ESPN has scheduled the Utah-BYU “Holy War” for 10 a.m. local time on 7 November, prompting criticism that the rivalry and its College Football Playoff implications deserved a more fan-friendly slot. The article argues that the early start leaves supporters of both teams facing an unusually early arrival for a significant game.

The game is set for noon Eastern on ABC/ESPN, alongside Texas-Missouri, while several other high-profile match-ups fill the afternoon and evening. The writer says ESPN could instead have placed Utah-BYU in a late window, potentially after the primetime games, though acknowledges the network’s scheduling constraints and the Big 12’s lower selection priority.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.