Earlier Friday, Ohio State announced that the kickoff time for the Buckeyes' home game against Northwestern on Oct. 29 was moved up two hours from 5:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The move was made due to a request from ESPN and the Big Ten and both participating institutions agreed to the change.
While kickoff changes for Ohio State games happen from time to time, we all know how much Urban Meyer loves his primetime games and the university considers 5:30 p.m. in that window, so why the switch?
Could it have something to do with game four of a potential Indians–Cubs World Series taking place that night?
Typically, football – both college and the NFL – doesn't have much to fear when going head-to-head with baseball. Despite lower ratings this season, the NFL still crushes every other sport in the United States when it comes to eyeballs glued to sets. College football ratings are no slouch, either, routinely quadrupling the ratings for Major League Baseball games. Even World Series games don't normally pose a threat to football's lock on the viewing habits of the American sporting public.
However.
A potential World Series featuring the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago Cubs is not any old World Series. The Cubs, lovable losers that they are, last made the World Series in 1945 and haven't won a title since 1908. The Indians' World Series history is better, but not by much. The Tribe last appeared in the World Series in 1997. The last time they won it all was 1948.
Their shared history of ineptitude almost guarantees monster ratings. Bringing the nation's third-largest television market to the table, can't hurt, either.
Game four of this hypothetical World Series is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 29, the same night Ohio State and Northwestern were to meet. Having lived in Chicago for over a decade, I can say that if the Cubs make it to the World Series, exactly none of the Northwestern fans I know will be watching the Wildcats that night. Ohio State is still a big draw in Ohio, even with Indians fans splitting the fanbase and a marquee game featuring the Buckeyes and a highly-ranked opponent would fare well, but this isn't that game.
We see you, ESPN, Big Ten, et al, and we approve.
