Nebraska Athletic Director Not Happy With Big Ten's Friday Night Games
09/25/2024 03:45 PM
Nebraska's football team suffered its first loss of the 2024 season on Friday night. Following the game, athletic director Troy Dannen expressed his preference to avoid more Friday showcases.
On Friday, a reported 86,936 people packed Memorial Stadium to see the Huskers fall 31-24 to Illinois in overtime. The matchup was a ratings hit for FOX, who said 4.2 million viewers watched the Big Ten showcase. Yet Dannen wasn't sharing the network's jubilation.
During a Huskers Radio Network interview on Tuesday, Dannen said he sent a letter to the Big Ten asking that Nebraska not host future Friday night games, excluding an annual Black Friday matchup against Iowa. He attributed that desire to the university having to call off classes last Friday.
"Because of the size of the stadium and your locale, I don't think we want to be canceling classes, canceling in-person classes," Dannen said (h/t On3). "I'm sure the students didn't mind, but at the end of the day, the more we can avoid that, I think the better off everybody will be."
Dannen isn't the first Big Ten athletic director opposed to Friday scheduling. Warde Manuel recently declared that Michigan would "absolutely not" have a Friday night game.
Along with the Wolverines, Ohio State and Penn State aren't scheduled for a Friday showcase as part of FOX's new package this season. Dannen wouldn't take as harsh of a stance as Manuel.
"If it happens again, it happens again," Dannen said. "I don't like seeing other athletic directors in the league saying, 'My golly, we will not do that,' and laying their foot down. I'm not sure any institutions should have the unilateral ability to do that."
Rutgers will host this Friday's FOX game against Washington at 8 p.m. ET.
Related: Dylan Raiola Got Crushed By College Football Fans After Upset Loss To Illinois
