WWE and the Big 12 Conference have announced plans to bring Friday Night SmackDown to several Big 12 markets during the 2025 college football season. This expansion includes WWE SmackDown Big 12 Expansion through live broadcasts aligned with key college football events, introducing an international stop for the first time.
The partnership between WWE and the collegiate football conference will see SmackDown produce multiple episodes from locations connected to Big 12 football games, enhancing the connection between the wrestling brand and the college football fanbase.
International Debut in Dublin to Kick Off the Season
The inaugural SmackDown event under this expanded partnership will take place on Friday, August 22, 2025, at 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. This show will precede the 30th anniversary of Big 12 football, highlighted by a Week 0 matchup between the Iowa State Cyclones and Kansas State Wildcats at the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, held on August 23 at Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
This international debut marks a major expansion for WWE, reflecting its global reach by aligning its SmackDown brand with significant college football milestones.
Scheduled SmackDown Events Across Key Big 12 Locations
Following the Dublin event, WWE will host three additional SmackDown shows in U.S. venues associated with Big 12 matchups throughout the 2025 season. The schedule includes:
Friday, October 3 – Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, ahead of the Iowa State vs. Cincinnati football game on October 4.
Friday, October 24 – Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona, before the Houston vs. Arizona State matchup on October 25.
Friday, October 31 – Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, prior to the football game between Cincinnati and Utah on November 1.
Understanding the Big 12 Conference and Its Place in College Football
The Big 12 Conference is made up of sixteen full-member universities and competes in NCAA Division 1 athletics. Alongside the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Big Ten Conference, and Southeastern Conference (SEC), it forms the Power Four conferences, which represent the highest competitive level in college football.
This partnership with WWE showcases the conference’s growing prominence and its appeal as a platform for expanding entertainment options around college football weekends.
WWE’s Continued International Presence During 2025
In addition to SmackDown’s new stops in Big 12 markets, WWE will maintain its international momentum with Clash in Paris on August 31, 2025. The event will be held at the Paris La Défense Arena in Nanterre, France, solidifying WWE’s global appeal during the college football season.
Significance of the WWE SmackDown Big 12 Expansion
This strategic move to broadcast SmackDown from Big 12 markets, including the international debut in Dublin, represents a unique fusion of college football culture and sports entertainment. It provides WWE an opportunity to tap into passionate football audiences while raising the visibility of Big 12 football at a global level.
Fans of both wrestling and college football can anticipate these events to create memorable cross-sport experiences leading into key game weekends, with further developments expected as the 2025 season approaches.
