Okay, this isn’t the crossover we saw coming, but we’re totally here for it. The Big 12 is stepping outside the box (or should we say, ring) and expanding its partnership with WWE, and it’s as wild and fun as it sounds.
Yep, you read that right. According to a report from The Athletic, the Big 12 is teaming up with WWE to bring Friday Night SmackDown to cities that are hosting big-time Big 12 football games during the 2025 season. And this isn’t just about a one-off event or a random promo spot. We’re talking full-blown WWE shows, glitz, pyro, body slams, the whole thing happening the night before some marquee college football matchups.
Let’s start with the most eyebrow-raising part of this deal: the Big 12’s Week 0 opener between Kansas State and Iowa State is being played in Dublin, Ireland. Yes, seriously. And WWE is tagging along for the trip. SmackDown will go international and hit the stage in Dublin the night before the Cyclones and Wildcats square off in what’s already being hyped as one of the more intriguing opening-week matchups.
It’s a bold move, but also kinda genius. Football fans will already be flocking to Ireland for the game, and throwing in a WWE event turns the whole weekend into something way bigger. Think of it like a mini festival, college football fans rubbing shoulders with wrestling diehards, everyone yelling, tailgating, and soaking it all in with a pint of Guinness nearby. Sounds like a vibe. And then there’s the Orlando stop, which might be even juicier.
On Friday, Sept. 19 WWE SmackDown is setting up shop in Orlando the night before UCF hosts North Carolina in what might be one of the more bizarre yet fascinating coaching matchups we’ll see all year. Yep, it’s the return of Scott Frost to UCF, where he had one magical (and undefeated) run back in 2017. And he’s going up against waiting for it.
Yes, that Bill Belichick. The six-time Super Bowl-winning coach who spent over two decades turning the Patriots into a dynasty. Now, in an absolute curveball move, he’s coaching North Carolina in his first-ever college football gig. Still weird to say out loud, but here we are.
So now, Orlando’s got this huge football storyline and WWE’s bringing its Friday fireworks to town the night before? That’s just good chaos. And you know Belichick is gonna be laser-focused and totally ignoring all the noise, while Frost is probably leaning into the circus, trying to soak it all in with the fans who once cheered him like a rock star.
At first glance, it might seem kinda gimmicky. Football and wrestling? Why? But if you really think about it, it makes a lot of sense. Both are high-energy, entertainment-heavy sports with rabid fan bases. And the overlap is probably bigger than people realize.
Plus, the Big 12 has been pushing the envelope lately. With expansion, new media deals, and a growing desire to keep pace with the SEC and Big Ten, the conference is all-in on creative ways to build hype. Partnering with WWE might just be another way of saying, “Yeah, we’re different and proud of it.”
And WWE gets something out of this, too. Tapping into college football crowds gives them a fresh wave of potential fans, especially younger ones or people who haven’t watched wrestling in years. It’s the perfect kind of controlled chaos that both organizations thrive on.
Who knows. But honestly? Even if it’s a little weird, it sounds like a ton of fun.
It brings something extra to the cities hosting games. It gives fans another reason to travel, to stay an extra day, to make a weekend out of it. And maybe most importantly, it turns these games into events. Not just kickoff times on a schedule, but full experiences. That’s where sports are headed, and the Big 12 is clearly trying to stay ahead of the curve.
So whether you’re screaming “Let’s go Cats!” or throwing up the “W” for Iowa State or you’re just there to see someone get hit with a steel chair before kickoff, the Big 12 and WWE are ready to deliver.
