COLUMBUS – The Big Ten has announced its schedule of Friday night football games for 2017 and the Buckeyes aren’t on it.
Ohio University will travel to Purdue on Sept. 8.
2017 Big Ten Friday night schedule:
Fri., Sept. 1 – Washington at Rutgers
Fri., Sept. 1 – Utah State at Wisconsin
Fri., Sept. 8 – Ohio at Purdue
Fri., Sept. 29 – Nebraska at Illinois
Fri., Oct. 13 – Northwestern at Maryland
Fri., Oct. 27 – Michigan State at Northwestern
The conference said Tuesday that the games would be televised by ESPN and Fox. Game times will be announced later.
Big Ten officials said last week there would be six Friday night football games a year starting in 2017 and continuing through at least 2022. The games are being added to the conference’s new television agreements with ESPN/ABC and Fox.
The decision drew immediate criticism from high school football coaches and fans, especially in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
The Big Ten Conference appreciates the significance of high school football within the region and has worked to minimize the impact of this initiative by limiting the number of Friday night games. -Big Ten statement
The Big Ten already has had Friday night games on Labor Day weekend.