Big 12, WWE partner to bring ‘SmackDown’ to select Big 12 markets during football season
By Paul Harvey
Published:
The Big 12 and the WWE are expanding on their partnership with an interesting announcement on Wednesday morning.
The partnership began in 2023 with the WWE producing a custom-made championship belt to be awarded to the Big 12 Championship Game’s Most Outstanding Player. WWE superstars are also involved in helping to market and promote the event leading up to the game.
Now, Big 12 football and the WWE are partnering to bring Friday Night SmackDown to select Big 12 markets during the college football season. This year, WWE will host 4 SmackDown events on the eve of some of the marquee matchups on the schedule within the same city.
The first such event will take place in Dublin, Ireland, ahead of the Week 0 matchup between Iowa State and Kansas State. The other 3 events will come in October.
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Here is the full schedule and the corresponding matchups:
- Friday, August 22 – SmackDown at 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland (Iowa State vs. Kansas State on Saturday, August 23)
- Friday, October 3 – SmackDown at Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, Ohio (Iowa State at Cincinnati on Saturday, October 4)
- Friday, October 24 – SmackDown at Mullet Arena in Tempe, Arizona (Houston at Arizona State on Saturday, October 25)
- Friday, October 31 – SmackDown at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah (Cincinnati at Utah on Saturday, November 1)
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
