In an effort to enhance their coverage of college football, Fox has announced their plans to debut a new package of Friday night games. This expansion will include matchups from popular conferences such as the Big Ten, Big 12, and Mountain West.

Although the schedule for these Friday night games has yet to be announced, fans can expect to hear more details in late May or early June. The selection meetings held by the conferences and networks will play a crucial role in determining the teams and matchups.

Friday night games are not entirely uncommon for all three conferences. Previously limited to only the opening week of the season and the day after Thanksgiving, such games have gradually gained popularity. The Big Ten, for instance, has had a limited package since 2017, though those games were primarily showcased on the Big Ten Network and FS1. Similarly, the Big 12 featured three Friday night matchups on ESPN last season, while the Mountain West aired a package of games on the CBS Sports Network along with two on FS1.

Fox's decision to introduce Friday night college football games aims to fill the void left by the move of WWE's "Friday Night SmackDown" to the USA Network in October. As a result, a few games might air on Fox in September, with "SmackDown" transitioning to FS1 during the baseball playoffs and World Series.

This is not the first time Fox has sought to capitalize on an underutilized timeslot. Their successful launch of "Big Noon Saturday" in 2019 has demonstrated the network's ability to stake its claim in the college football landscape. Last season, this package garnered an average of 6.74 million viewers on Fox, representing an impressive 8% increase over the previous year.

As anticipation builds for the upcoming college football season, the addition of Friday night games to Fox's lineup promises to deliver more thrilling matchups and further engage fans across the nation. Be sure to stay tuned for the announcement of the complete schedule as the kickoff draws near.