College football weekends are about to get a whole lot more entertaining. WWE is doubling down on its Big 12 partnership by bringing Friday Night SmackDown to four conference cities during the 2025 season, creating weekend-long spectacles that blend wrestling and college football in ways fans haven’t seen before.
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How Will WWE’s SmackDown Events Transform Big 12 Football Weekends?
The Big 12 Conference announced that four episodes of Friday Night SmackDown will take place in Big 12 markets during key football weekends in 2025. This expanded partnership builds on the collaboration that started in November 2023, when the conference presented custom WWE championship belts to the Big 12 Football Championship’s Most Outstanding Player.
WWE® & Big 12 Conference to Bring Friday Night Smackdown to Big 12 Markets During 2025 College Football Season
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) July 9, 2025
The schedule starts with international flair on Friday, August 22, when SmackDown broadcasts live from the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. That timing perfectly sets up the Big 12 Football season opener between Iowa State and Kansas State the following day, Saturday, August 23, at Aviva Stadium as part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.
The complete SmackDown schedule tied to Big 12 matchups is as follows:
- Friday, August 22: 3Arena, Dublin, Ireland (Iowa State vs. Kansas State on August 23)
- Friday, October 3: Heritage Bank Center, Cincinnati, Ohio (Iowa State at Cincinnati on October 4)
- Friday, October 24: Mullet Arena, Tempe, Arizona (Houston at Arizona State on October 25)
- Friday, October 31: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah (Cincinnati at Utah on November 1)
This partnership expansion shows WWE’s strategy to connect with prominent sports properties and tap into college football’s passionate fan base. By scheduling SmackDown events in cities hosting Big 12 matchups, WWE creates a dynamic, weekend-long atmosphere that brings both audiences together.
What Makes This Big 12 and WWE Partnership Different?
The Big 12’s relationship with WWE goes beyond typical sponsorship deals. Since joining forces in 2023, they’ve integrated WWE elements directly into football championship festivities.
The standout tradition involves presenting custom WWE championship belts to the Big 12 Football Championship’s Most Outstanding Player, starting with Texas in 2023 and continuing with Arizona State in 2024.
Commissioner Brett Yormark highlighted the partnership’s value in connecting different audiences.
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“WWE is a global brand that connects with a wide array of audiences,” Yormark said. “With this partnership, we will integrate WWE and its brand power into one of the Conference’s biggest moments, further strengthening the bridge between sports and entertainment throughout the Big 12.”
This announcement comes during a period of innovation for the Big 12. Earlier this offseason, the league partnered with PayPal and Venmo to manage athlete revenue-sharing payments. Yormark’s approach to building crossover opportunities continues positioning the conference at the intersection of sports and entertainment.