Fox Sports is set to acquire the rights to broadcast the Big Ten football championship game from NBC in a deal reportedly valued between $45 million and $55 million.
The agreement marks a notable shift in the Big Ten’s media landscape, as the championship game returns to FOX, which originally held strong ties to the conference’s football inventory through its broader control of Big Ten media rights via the Big Ten Network.
According to reports, NBC had initially obtained the rights as part of its broader media package with the conference, but later sought to sell the single championship game. FOX emerged as the buyer, effectively regaining rights to a marquee event it previously helped control.
As part of the transaction, NBC will reportedly receive an additional regular-season Big Ten game in compensation, helping balance the overall value exchange between the networks.
The deal highlights the evolving economics of sports media rights, where individual high-profile events can be separated and traded independently of larger rights packages. It also reflects the continued competition among major broadcasters to secure premium college football inventory, even as streaming platforms remain active contenders in the space.
The Big Ten Championship game has consistently drawn large audiences, including record viewership figures in recent seasons, reinforcing its value as one of the most attractive properties in college sports broadcasting.