ABC/ESPN B1G Night Games in the Fall
Sept. 7: Notre Dame at Michigan, 8 p.m. ET, ABC or ESPN or ESPN2
Sept. 14: Notre Dame at Purdue, 8 p.m. ET, ABC or ESPN or ESPN2
Sept. 28: Wisconsin at Ohio State, 8 p.m. ET, ABC or ESPN or ESPN2
Oct. 5: Ohio State at Northwestern, 8 p.m. ET, ABC or ESPN or ESPN2
Oct. 12: Michigan at Penn State, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN or ESPN2
Oct. 26: Penn State at Ohio State, 8 p.m. ET, ABC or ESPN or ESPN2
UTL Part II!
5pm start at Penn St.? That seems really odd, especially for a major network.
Apparently Penn State did the same thing last year:
I really liked the late-afternoon/early evening kickoff for Ohio State-Penn State last year at Beaver Stadium. Penn State gets another of these as Michigan comes to town on Oct. 12. Could a whiteout be on tap? Let's hope so.
Here's the complete schedule for the ESPN networks (as well as ABC) to date - (HERE)
Another thing that makes it interesting if you look at the entire schedule regardless of conference is that, of those games picked up by networks to date, there is one 5:30 PM game - the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game (Virginia Tech vs. Alabama), but our game against Penn State is the only 5 PM game so far.
Here's the week 7 matchup listing per ESPN (HERE). It would be interesting to know which one of these games - if any - ends up being the lead-in for ours.
Usually I'd be weary of a night game at psu. I'm not afraid anymore. They should take a huge step back this year.
Yeah but...5??? That's not really a night game. Not sure I understand the late afternoon/evening kickoff idea
But I personally like it as I am going to try to go to the game & this will make it easier to get home w/o having to get a hotel
Getting a hotel there is a huge pain in the ass. We went in 2010 when we played them and had to stay about an hour East of Happy Valley. We looked for hotels like 4-5 months before the game as well. The experience there was a little overrated although their tailgate setup is pretty sweet, it's just one huge field around the stadium.
that you had to witness that game in person. I offer my condolensces.
Grad school doesn't begin until Septmeber 9. Trip? Trip.
what the heck is with the penn state start time?.. i'll still go .. just saying what the heck
Why do we play Penn State in Happy Valley at night again? We did that in 2010 and they haven't had to come to the Big House in a LONG time.
It's just one of those things that happens with scheduling sometimes. We played them at home in 2002, took a two-year break, and then played them at home against in 2005.
Oct. 5: Ohio State at Northwestern, 8 p.m. ET, ABC or ESPN or ESPN2
This is a game that the media will try to hype and say, "watch out, Buckeyes" but we all know that NW will get their teeth kicked in. That game is not prime time worthy and I will say right now that Ohio beats them by 25+.
Agreed. Has NW ever had a home game televised on ESPN?
Holy Non Sequitur, Batman!
and Northwestern won that one, 33-27 (their only victory over the Buckeyes since 1971).
Besides that, I know they've hosted Michigan a few times over the years at night too (ESPN games).
If I'm not mistaken the Michigan vs. Northwestern game in 2000 was a night game. Correct me if I'm wrong...
Michigan played at NU at night in the early '00s twice after that 2000 game. The one Jason Avant catch was a Comcast commercial for several years after that.
I was at that game (it was in 2003), but I don't think it was a night game. I think it was a 3:30 game. I know it was in November, so the sun set before it was over.
2000 was not a night game, it was a 230pm CT kickoff. I had to rush out of there to take my girlfriend to work at the hospital 7pm. It was just a very dark overcast autumn day.
2004 we beat Ohio State and it is, last I heard, still the highest ratings ever for a FB game on ESPN 2
For the record, everyone said Troy Smith and S Holmes and Ginn etc were going to kick our teeth in that year too. So there is a chance.
Wait, are you a Michigan fan or a Northwestern fan? Both?
April 29th, 2013 at 10:26 PM ^
I am just guessing, but he may be a M football fan and NW alumnus.
The 5pm start is odd but I am assuming there will be another maquee game at 8pm or 8:30 to give them a double header. You would have to assume they will take a big drop this year but winning on the road is winning on the road. Sometimes primetime national TV can make even the worst of teams tough to squash.
Yeah, like the last time we played in Happy Valley. Evan Royster looked like Barry Sanders and Matt McGloin looked like Tom Brady.
That team had already quit on Rich Rod, should be a major difference now
they have a NASCAR race instead in Prime Time ----- so you're right, the Brent/Herbie marquee game of the week should be at 8:30 ET on ESPN.
Wow, Northwestern is getting a prime time slot? Interesting....I mean obviously both teams will be good next year, but who outside of Evanston really cares about watching Northwestern football? 80-90% of Ryan Field will be OSU fans that night.
This game struck me more as a 3pm slotted game that would be played on ESPN regionally.
Check the ratings of 2004 NU vs Ohio on ESPN2. A double instant classic that was the highest ratings for any college football game ever on ESPN2. Yes people were watching. Has Ohio played at night in Evanston since?
I am slightly off topic with this but does anyone else think our game against Northwestern could be one of the toughest or closest of the year? We will be coming off playing Mich. St. and Nebraska in consecutive weeks then at Northwestern. Also, it could be one of those early day start times that is sometimes hard for the team to get up for. Might be one of those ugly win games.
Woo hoo what a great prime time schedule, the big ten sucks
Only a few schools are willing to play night games IIRC, and none are allowed by rule in November. This seems not awesome, but decent anyway.
Especially that early Notre Dame game, it is going to be such an incredible atmosphere and the penn state game won't be too shabby either.
Are you afraid of the dark?
No MSU games in primetime? Must be too busy laying in the weeds.
Well, their first game is on Friday night again, which TECHNICALLY is prime time, but there are reasons why some shows get moved to Friday nights, one being because most people aren't watching them. Thursday is a good night for football, Friday is not. Now, I do watch the Friday games, but that is because I'm a college football junky and need my fix, but I will say that most people don't watch the Friday night game(s).
might be primetime. That will be on NBC and this only lists the ESPN/ABC games.
Recently, beginning in 2011, one significant Notre Dame home game is aired during the 7:30pm time slot per year, and this year it is USC.
The 9/21/13 Notre Dame vs. Sparty game is a 3:30 pm kickoff on NBC.
All of the other Sparty games are TBA. However, if Sparty runs the early season gauntlet . . . Western MI, USF, Youngstown State, Notre Dame, Iowa, Indiana, Purdue, Illinois?
What???????!!!!!
Is that even a football schedule?!
I guess Sparty could end up on primetime television as some sort of consolation prize for having the weakest schedule in the history of college football.
Seriously, someone needs to look at this thing, the 2013 Sparty schedule is a total hilarious joke. It looks as if a Big Ten team decided to pretend they were in the Mountain West or something. They avoid Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Penn State. Wow, thanks, let's have a playoff now, I guess.
I'm fairly certain the 5:00 start on the Penn State game is related to the sanctions. I don't believe PSU is allowed to host night games under their probation, and they are pushing the game as far back as the NCAA will allow.
Is there starting times for any of the regular season games?
They're probably not going to be very good. Great for us though, hopefully we can get two huge wins in primetime. Always good for recruiting
Oh yeah, our conference doesn't like to play prime time games during the time of year where they take on increased importance.
Maybe since we keep playing at PSU at night, we'll get a night game from them next year. You know, like at 5:00.