FOX will be preempting SmackDown during the month of October due to MLB Playoffs coverage.
FOX recently released their full schedule of sports programming for the month of October which revealed at least one episode of SmackDown will be preempted on the network with the potential for a second episode to also be preempted.
The October 23rd episode of SmackDown will be preempted due to FOX airing Game 3 of MLB’s 2020 World Series on their network instead. It is currently assumed that this episode will air on FS1.
The October 16th episode of SmackDown could also be preempted on FOX should MLB’s National League Championship Series go to five games. This episode would also be assumed to air on FS1 if that situation were to happen.