Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
PROVO — Rob Stone didn't mean to make the reference, given the nature of the host school for "Big Noon Kickoff" on FOX, the one owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
But as he thought about it, and as he kept peering over his shoulder at the majestic Wasatch Mountains behind him, he realized it fit — perhaps a bit tongue-in-cheek or even ironically, but it still fits, even if not in any sort of religious context before Saturday's sold-out college football game.
"We love showing up at new locations," Stone said after rehearsal for the FOX Sports' college football pregame part of the past five years. "And you know, the story coming out of Provo this year is fantastic and underrated, just like the (Big 12) conference.
"We enjoy spreading the gospel, if you will, of college football to different spots that maybe aren't getting the attention that they deserve. And clearly, BYU is one of those programs this season."
Founded in 2019, Big Noon Kickoff will broadcast from the state of Utah for the first time in the Saturday morning program's history when No. 14 BYU hosts Arizona in a key Big 12 matchup for both programs (2 p.m. MDT, FOX).
The show often features news, highlights and analysis from host Stone and a panel of college football experts including former USC quarterback Matt Leinart, Alabama running back Mark Ingram II, Notre Dame alum Brady Quinn, and Urban Meyer, the former Florida and Ohio State coach who will be back in Utah after turning the Utes into contenders on the biggest stage.
But "Big Noon," as many call it, is more than a pregame show. It bills itself as "the best pregame party in all of college football," and is coming off a record-setting attendance at UCF — a record several BYU fans and students have already told KSL.com they plan to break as early as 6:30 a.m. MDT when fans will begun being let into the pit area.
Ingram says, bring it on.
"I hope it's a bigger party (than UCF). UCF came out a few weeks ago and showed out, Colorado came out last year and showed out," Ingram said. "Now we need BYU and Provo to pull up and show out for us. Big Noon is the best college football party in the nation, in the world. We have fun, we celebrate the game of football — and we've got Cosmo doing some acrobatic tricks tomorrow.
"We're going to be celebrating the game and the players that play it," he added. "We're just going to have a lot of fun. We hope that all of Provo and all of BYU nation comes out and has a great time with us tomorrow."
Listen to Stone, Ingram and Quinn preview the show, as well as the Cougars' conference tilt with Arizona, in the podcast player below, as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
