Question re: start times for remaining football games
I know that none of the times for our remaining games (other than OSU) are set yet, and that they times are generally formally announced until 1-2 weeks before each game, but I am trying to do some weekend planning, and was curious what everyone predicts for the start times of our remaining games. I am not as familiar as others on this board, but I recall discussion about big ten rules regarding night games in November, number of night games per team and other discussions regarding network selection order impacting the games. I am assuming the following, but would appreciate info from anyone who is more informed:
NW - noon
Sparty - night game in EL?
Indiana - noon?
PSU - I would figure night game, but I believe that both teams would have to agree, so more likely 3:30?
Maryland - noon or 3:30
THE Great Evil - noon
October 11th, 2021 at 11:22 AM ^
Who doesn't love a nooner?
I think your forecast is reasonable, as we'd need to approve more than 1 additional night game, and think Sparty is probably it. Let's give EL a Halloween Horror
October 11th, 2021 at 11:28 AM ^
Nothing quite like a game in East Lansing lit by the glow of couch fires...
October 11th, 2021 at 11:36 AM ^
wasn't the deal with sparty that there was an informal agreement between sparty and us re: no night games in EL? something like the AD had the wisdom to know that EL really would devolve into an arsonist's dream if that happened, no matter the outcome?
October 11th, 2021 at 11:43 AM ^
I believe so, but I think Michigan hosting a UTL game in 2017 really forced their hand. The alumni/donor class was pissed that Michigan got the first night game in the series.
October 11th, 2021 at 12:16 PM ^
Pissed about a 1st night game in the series....1st World Problems for sure!
October 11th, 2021 at 1:58 PM ^
All of the EL couches are shaking with dread!
October 11th, 2021 at 4:02 PM ^
I think it had more to do with it being a rivalry and letting people tailgate and get drunk all day would cause some issues inside and around the stadium by the time the game kicked off.
October 11th, 2021 at 7:46 PM ^
Correct. MSU might be 3:30...but no night games for either team.
Too much alcohol and people don't know how to behave.
October 11th, 2021 at 11:24 AM ^
I don’t fully understand the night game rules, but I think each side has a cap for how many they do (I know Warde said a few years ago that our home night game cap was 3 over 2 years). Since MSU has already had 3 night games this year (2 home, 1 road) and they never have had more than that in recent years, I think it’s a fair inference that they’ve hit their cap and won’t have anymore this year, at least not at home. So probably noon or 3:30, depending on whether Fox or ESPN has the game
October 11th, 2021 at 7:43 PM ^
I think people are underestimating the likelihood it’ll be Big Noon. With Clifford’s status uncertain (both PSU and OSU are also off this week), Fox may opt for the unbeatens
October 11th, 2021 at 11:24 AM ^
I have zero inside information on this but I would not be surprised if NW was a night game. We've only had one at home, and by the next time we play a night game the "away team can refuse a night game in November" clause will have kicked in.
Edit: I should also say i'm not sure if B1G has a "total" night game cap or just a "home" night game cap, so not sure how many night away games you play matters.
October 11th, 2021 at 11:45 AM ^
I've been putting this out there for weeks, but since Northwestern is a trophy game now and the Big Ten wants to make a big deal of it, I think it's likely to be the Saturday night BTN game. Which would give Michigan three night games, lessening the chance of any more later in the season.
Game times are announced 13 days out, so we should hear about the timing of that one today. Unless it is deferred to the 6 day lock.
October 11th, 2021 at 11:49 AM ^
I wouldn't mind that at all. The NW game isn't exactly a big game from a matchup perspective, so making it a night game under the lights might make the atmosphere a bit better. Plus, 6-0 coming off of a bye week, the crowd should be pretty hyped (as opposed to what the crowd would be for a nooner against NW).
October 11th, 2021 at 11:59 AM ^
For those of us who either completely overlooked or forgot about this:
The University of Michigan and Northwestern University have established the first rivalry game trophy named for an African American player in Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) history, creating the George Jewett Trophy, announced jointly by the two institutions today (Thursday, Feb. 25).
Jewett was the first African American to play football at each institution and was the first Black player in the history of the Big Ten Conference. The George Jewett Trophy will be played for each time the two programs meet on the football field.
It's unclear to me if there will be a physical trophy, but I would assume so.
October 11th, 2021 at 1:15 PM ^
A worthy reason for a new trophy.
October 11th, 2021 at 2:21 PM ^
NW game is officially at noon.
October 11th, 2021 at 1:37 PM ^
Northwestern is a noon kickoff. Announced today.
October 11th, 2021 at 11:25 AM ^
NWstern = night game
October 11th, 2021 at 11:44 AM ^
Seems like Michigan only likes to break out the night game lights at Michigan Stadium for significant games. NW doesn't really qualify.
October 11th, 2021 at 11:55 AM ^
Middle Tennessee was a night game, as was minnesota one year
October 11th, 2021 at 8:44 PM ^
wasn't minnesota a night game years ago because an epic storm came through around game time and caused noah to build and ark and put the two-deep into the ark to keep them from drowning? delayed a 3:30 start to something like 7:30.
October 11th, 2021 at 12:00 PM ^
See comments just before this one. This will be the very first game featuring the George Jewett Trophy, so it very well may be a night game.
October 11th, 2021 at 1:36 PM ^
Northwestern is a noon kickoff. Announced today.
October 11th, 2021 at 1:55 PM ^
Dammit. It should be a night game played under MOONlight.
October 11th, 2021 at 2:07 PM ^
Not this year. Gonna be more like M300N
October 11th, 2021 at 3:44 PM ^
Nope. Gonna be a N00M game
October 11th, 2021 at 11:33 AM ^
NO MOAR NITEGAMES!
October 11th, 2021 at 12:00 PM ^
NO, MOAR NITEGAMES!
October 11th, 2021 at 11:37 AM ^
Follow up:
In 2016, Michigan played a night game at Kinnick in November.
Did they agree to that? Or did the rules change?
October 11th, 2021 at 11:58 AM ^
Rules changed when FOX got more of the B1G contract rights in I think 2018.
October 11th, 2021 at 11:38 AM ^
I think you've got it mostly correct, but I think there's a chance that MSU is a noon game for Fox Big Noon or whatever they're calling it.
October 11th, 2021 at 11:45 AM ^
It's B1G Nude Saturday - get it right!
October 11th, 2021 at 1:14 PM ^
I don't know....there may not be much call for watching the tuba player in the marching band hit the high reaches of the scale while trouserless. Then again, that might very well BE the atmosphere for the game depending on which one they ae covering.
October 11th, 2021 at 11:45 AM ^
Yeah, I could see that. I love the night game atmosphere generally, but for that game, I'd prefer noon.
October 11th, 2021 at 11:48 AM ^
Osu penn state will probably get big noon
October 11th, 2021 at 12:30 PM ^
I would doubt it, They will want two markets instead of 1. I think michigan/msu will be at noon
October 11th, 2021 at 12:23 PM ^
Depends on which network has the first selection for games that weekend. If it is ESPN/ABC, I would guess that PSU-OSU would be the night game, which would probably make UM-MSU the Big Noon Saturday on Fox, with Fox also maybe having Iowa-UW and putting that on at 4.
October 11th, 2021 at 11:52 AM ^
I used to be a big proponent of night games, but damn do I like noon games against good teams. Get that shit over with.
Watching UM football pretty much feels like a 3-4 hour dentist appt.
October 11th, 2021 at 12:09 PM ^
OSU/PSU also on the 30th. Fox will take one of the two for the noon slot and I'd imagine the other is ESPN's primetime game.
October 11th, 2021 at 12:24 PM ^
Also Wisconsin vs Iowa that day for good measure and that game has already been announced as a noon game but without a network. Fox may have it and is waiting to decide to put it on Fox National or FS1 or something. Wisconsin has a couple winnable games the next two weeks and Iowa will likely still be undefeated so that might not be a bad noon spot with them then putting another big game at 4pm.
October 11th, 2021 at 12:11 PM ^
If I recall a night game needs to be scheduled at least 12 days in advance and the others 6 days in advance. If Northwestern is a night game we should know by today.
October 11th, 2021 at 12:13 PM ^
Take it for what it's worth (friend of a friend scenario) but I've heard that the PSU game is going to be a night game, just hasn't been officially announced yet. The source, through a friend, is an associate AD at PSU.
October 11th, 2021 at 12:20 PM ^
Nooooooooooooooo
October 11th, 2021 at 12:24 PM ^
I don't doubt your sources, but I think November 13th might be the latest I have ever heard of a night game in PSU. I could see 3:30/4pm with half the game at night, but I think a full night game at PSU would be logistically difficult that late in the season.
October 11th, 2021 at 12:29 PM ^
Trust me, I have the same reservations.
October 11th, 2021 at 12:42 PM ^
And I'm not sure PSU will have a choice. I thought the new B1G TV contract limited teams night games from 3 to 5 (home and away total) based on each school's preference. Each school said how many night games it would play overall and how many it would take at home, and I think that was put in the contract.
If Michigan plays MSU at night, Michigan will have played 2 road night games along with a home game against Washington. Unless Michigan indicated to the conference a willingness to play 3 road night games (highly doubt it), I don't think that game can happen at night if MSU is a night game. But if MSU is noon/3:30, disregard this post.
October 11th, 2021 at 12:33 PM ^
Doesn't michigan have to agree to that?
October 11th, 2021 at 12:36 PM ^
I think with the new TV contract, I'm not sure that provision exists any more. Our AD might have some input, but I don't think we can fully veto game times any more.
October 11th, 2021 at 12:17 PM ^
i went to the last UM vs. UM (murrland) game a couple years ago. It was a night game in november and it was f-ing brutally cold. I hope its a day game.
That said - for any DMV locals - is the home section still Section 3-4 area?
Ticket prices jumped the past few days and I'm thinking of getting a couple for my older son and i to go watch again.