Look, let’s be real. If you’re a fan of either of these programs, the last thing you want to be doing on the Saturday after Thanksgiving is fumbling with your remote or scrolling frantically through a streaming app. You’ve got the leftovers heating up, the family is arguing in the other room, and the stakes for "The Game" are usually somewhere between "national title hopes" and "bragging rights for the next 365 days."
When people ask ohio state michigan what channel, they aren’t just looking for a number on a dial. They’re looking for the certainty that they won’t miss the opening kickoff.
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For the 2025 season, the answer was straightforward but critical: the game aired on FOX. Specifically, it held down that iconic noon ET slot that has basically become a religious holiday in the Midwest. FOX has been the home of this rivalry since 2017, and honestly, it’s hard to imagine it anywhere else right now.
Why the Channel Matters More Than You Think
You might wonder why we can't just assume it’s always on the same station. In the old days, you basically just turned on ABC and called it a day. But the Big Ten’s massive media rights deal—which kicked in fairly recently—split the conference's games across FOX, CBS, and NBC.
While CBS and NBC have been picking up some massive primetime slots, FOX has fought tooth and nail to keep the Buckeyes and Wolverines as the crown jewel of their "Big Noon Saturday" window. They want you waking up to Gus Johnson’s voice. It’s a branding thing.
If you were watching on November 29, 2025, you saw Ohio State finally snap that brutal four-game losing streak against the Wolverines with a 27-9 win in Ann Arbor. It wasn't just a win; it was a statement. But if you didn't have FOX—or a way to stream it—you were stuck following a text thread.
The Streaming Reality in 2026
We're moving into a world where "what channel" is a multi-part question. For the 2025 game, if you didn't have traditional cable, your best bets were:
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- The FOX Sports App: You needed a provider login for this one.
- Fubo: Probably the most reliable for sports fans because it carries the local broadcast networks.
- YouTube TV & Hulu + Live TV: Both carried the FOX feed nationally.
One thing to keep in mind for future matchups: while Peacock (NBC) and Paramount+ (CBS) have been snatching up Big Ten games, "The Game" has a special status. There are actually specific stipulations in the TV deals that keep this game from being shoved into a night slot or buried on a streaming-only platform. Fans have been pretty vocal about keeping the noon kickoff tradition alive, and so far, the networks are listening.
The History of Keeping Track
It’s kinda wild to think that from 1987 all the way through 2016, ABC was the exclusive home for this matchup. For thirty years, you didn't even have to ask what channel it was on. You just knew.
Since the switch to FOX in 2017, the production value has definitely shifted. You’ve got Big Noon Kickoff competing with ESPN’s College GameDay. Often, both shows are at the stadium simultaneously, creating this weird, high-energy media circus outside the Horseshoe or the Big House.
Honestly, the "channel" is now an entire ecosystem. You’re not just watching the 60 minutes of football; you’re watching three hours of pre-game hype and another hour of post-game analysis.
What’s Coming Up Next?
Looking ahead to the 2026 matchup, the game moves back to Columbus. History and current contracts tell us that FOX will almost certainly be the broadcaster again. The date is already circled on calendars: November 28, 2026.
Expect the same noon ET kickoff. Why? Because the ratings for that time slot are consistently the highest of the entire regular season. Networks don't mess with what works, and 19 million people tuning in at lunch time is a gold mine.
How to Prepare for the Next Kickoff
If you want to make sure you're ready for the 2026 edition of Ohio State vs. Michigan, here is the "expert" way to do it:
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- Check your local FOX affiliate: If you use an antenna, make sure your signal is clear. In cities like Columbus or Detroit, the signal is usually strong, but it's worth a scan a few days before.
- Audit your streaming service: If you're a cord-cutter, double-check that your service hasn't dropped FOX. Some localized disputes between station owners (like Nexstar or Sinclair) and streaming platforms can lead to temporary blackouts.
- The App Backup: Download the FOX Sports app on your phone or smart TV now. Log in with your credentials ahead of time. There is nothing worse than trying to remember a password while the teams are running out of the tunnel.
- Internet Bandwidth: If you’re streaming in 4K (which FOX often does for this game), make sure nobody else in the house is downloading a 100GB game update at noon.
The rivalry has never been more intense, especially with the Big Ten expanding and the 12-team playoff format changing how we value a loss. But regardless of the rankings, the question of ohio state michigan what channel will always lead back to the same place for the foreseeable future. Get your FOX feed ready, grab your jersey, and hope your team's defense actually shows up this time.