Much like last season, when the game against Western Michigan was moved from a Saturday to a Friday, the Wisconsin Badgers will now open up their season on a weekday after a schedule change. The Badgers are set to host Miami (Ohio) on Thursday, August 28th after originally planning on a Saturday matchup, and it's safe to say that fans are not pleased with the updated game day.
Fans react to new home opener game time on social media
No one wants Thur or Friday night games, NO ONE! Leave those to the midmajor conferences. This is the Big Ten (now 18) keep it to Saturdays at 11am, 230pm and 630/7pm. Not that difficult.
— Kyle O'Connell (@pureoc85) March 5, 2025
Thursday 😬
— Ryan (@BrewPack8) March 5, 2025
I knew this game was going to get moved just don’t understand why a Thursday tho
— Badgers4life! (@badgers4ever48) March 5, 2025
An earlier start to the football season is usually a welcome sight, but in this case, moving the game to a Thursday is not a popular move with fans. In fact, the last time the Badgers played a home opener game on a Thursday was all the way back in 2011. Six of the last eight openers though have been night games, with Wisconsin going 6-0. So while the team doesn't seem to mind, fans certainly aren't happy with the new schedule.
It's no secret that people generally don't like the weekday games, as Badger fans were equally upset with last year's home opener change. But with the current landscape of lucrative TV and streaming deals, they are bound to happen at times. There's something special about Camp Randall on a Saturday, and it just doesn't feel quite the same to have the game on Thursday. Fans will just have to make the most if it.
Luckily for frustrated fans, the remainder of the season will be entirely played on Saturdays.