Big Noon Kickoff: What to know for the pregame show

IOWA CITY — Rob Stone, Matt Leinhart, Brady Quinn, Mark Ingram II, Chris Fallica and Bruce Feldman. Welcome to Iowa City.

Fox Sports’ college football pregame show, Big Noon Kickoff, is set to go live from University of Iowa’s campus Saturday morning before No. 20 Iowa football hosts No. 9 Oregon. The two-hour national broadcast discusses the biggest stories and matchups in college football ahead of the 11 a.m. kickoff slot.

“It's an incredible opportunity for us,” Director of Athletics Beth Goetz told The Gazette. “It's exciting for our team, it's exciting for our fans, but from an institutional perspective, just the chance to showcase your brand and your campus to a broader audience ... These are opportunities that you look forward to each and every year and hope that the alignment works, that your team's going to track and that the weekends line up that make it work. And so we're incredibly excited.”

The team arrives Thursday evening, but the set already is being built in front of the Old Capitol Building on campus. Interested in seeing the show and heading to the game afterward? Here’s what you need to know.

Events details

The show itself starts at 9 a.m., but fans can start tailgate at the Pentacrest as early as 7:30 a.m.

Iowa Athletics’ website is encouraging parking in downtown Iowa City, using parking ramps and street parking as available. Parking lots at Kinnick Stadium will open at 7:45 a.m.

The weather is expected to be cold and rainy, with a high of roughly 45 degrees. Rain is expected to start after the show ends, but it’s possible to shift into the morning.

According to the Big Noon Kickoff website, free food will be available on a first come, first serve basis once the tailgate starts. There’s also giveaways happening before and during the show, including a sign contest — where the best sign can win $500.

The show will run for two hours, and it’s roughly a 22-minute walk (one mile) from the Pentacrest to Kinnick Stadium.

For fans wanting to be in the pit, it’s recommended to arrive before the preshow tailgate begins. Admission into the pit also is on a first come, first serve bases.

In addition to Big Noon Kickoff, Big Ten Network also is hosting a pregame tailgate at KFP Plaza in front of Kinnick Stadium, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Big Noon Kickoff will be available on Fox, and Iowa’s game against Oregon kicks off at 2:30 p.m. on CBS.

Comments: madison.hricik@thegazette.com, sign up for my weekly newsletter, Hawk Off the Press, at thegazette.com/hawks.