WWE Announces SmackDown Broadcast Dates in Big 12 Markets During 2025 CFB Season

During the 2025 college football season, four episodes of WWE SmackDown will be held in Big 12 markets on the eve of major college football games.

The Big 12 and WWE announced an expansion of their partnership Wednesday, pledging to provide back-to-back days of entertainment in four different cities this summer and fall.

It starts with the Aug. 22 episode of SmackDown, which will take place at 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland, ahead of the Aug. 23 game between Iowa State and Kansas State at Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

In what has become something of an annual tradition, the college football season will kick off in Ireland once again in 2025 with the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, marking the fourth straight year a Week 0 game has been held at Aviva Stadium.

Following the WWE and Big 12 takeover of Ireland, three U.S. cities will welcome SmackDown and a Big 12 football game later in the season.

SmackDown will emanate from the Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati on Oct. 3, followed by Cincinnati vs. Iowa State on Oct. 4. Then, SmackDown will be held at Mullet Arena in Tempe, Arizona, on Oct. 24 with Arizona State facing Houston on Oct. 25. Finally, the Delta Center in Salt Lake City will play host to SmackDown on Halloween night, and Utah will take on Cincinnati on Nov. 1.

This is not the first time WWE and the Big 12 have worked in tandem, as WWE had a major presence at the Big 12 Championship Game last season.

In addition to the WWE logo being featured on the pylons, WWE Superstars Jey Uso and Sami Zayn presented a special championship belt to then-Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo after the game.

Skattebo, who has since been drafted by the New York Giants, rushed for 170 yards and scored three total touchdowns in the Sun Devils' 45-19 thrashing of Iowa State, earning him Most Outstanding Player honors.

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