Northwestern Game Time?

Submitted by Jeff M on

Hi all,

I'm looking at attending the football game vs. Northwestern on Sep 29. I'm just in town for a work thing and would fly out Saturday evening. Wanted to check in with the MGoHiveMind on:

  • Chance it will be flexed to a night game - is there any possibility?
  • Speculation on whether it's more likely to be a noon or 3:30 kick
  • When we expect game time to be announced

Sorry if I missed something obvious. Thanks in advance for any help/guidance.

robbyt003

August 10th, 2018 at 6:38 AM ^

Ohio State plays Penn Statte that same day, and my guess is that’s the night game, and Mich/NW is at 3:30 if both teams have strong starts and noon if not.

All speculation at this point though because it hasn’t been officially announced and probably won’t be for another month. 

UM Fan from Sydney

August 10th, 2018 at 6:39 AM ^

It will be announced when it is announced. If it isn’t on the website, then they don’t know yet. That said, I’d wager it’s 3:30.

Jeff M

August 10th, 2018 at 7:02 AM ^

Ah, thanks everyone! That's really helpful as I was looking to pull the trigger on game ticket and plane ticket soon. If night game is ruled out then it's safe to consider, and I should probably assume 3:30 kick.

 

While the thread's still front page and offseason is in effect - anyone else planning on going? Anyone gone to NW in the past - any tips?

doughboy

August 10th, 2018 at 9:06 AM ^

We will be there. Fun road game to go to.  Evanston is pretty laidback as is the rest of the North shore (Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe...).  Each have quaint downtowns to grab lunch or dinner or drinks.   We were able to get tickets from UM ticket office. I think they were about $60 each.  

Bando Calrissian

August 10th, 2018 at 10:21 AM ^

Keep in mind if you're trying to schedule a flight, getting from Evanston to O'Hare on a gameday may not be particularly quick, and I'd definitely recommend against flying out of Midway. Schedule accordingly, as in late. Even if it's a 2:30 kickoff, if you don't get out of Ryan Field until around 6, you could very well not get to O'Hare until well after 7, possibly much later.

JDeanAuthor

August 10th, 2018 at 7:28 AM ^

Not likely to be a night game if it's at home.  Harbaugh doesn't like night games (frankly, neither do I; it's frustrating to wait til nightfall to watch).

lilpenny1316

August 10th, 2018 at 8:31 AM ^

OSU/PSU was a 3:30 kickoff last year.  Wouldn't surprise me if that's at 3:30/4:30 and we're at 7PM on BTN.

Also, FSU @ Louisville is the same day.  It wouldn't surprise me if ABC put that in prime time.

Perkis-Size Me

August 10th, 2018 at 9:16 AM ^

I wouldn't be surprised if it's a night game. Especially if Michigan comes in undefeated. I know OSU-PSU is that night so it wouldn't be THE game to watch, but there can be more than one night game. 

Michigan and ND are Northwestern's two biggest home games of the year. And I believe ND comes to Evanston in November, so my guess is a night game against ND is kaput. 

I'll be going to the game as well, and to be honest I hope the game is 3:30 or earlier. I went to the game in 2011 and Ryan Field is anything but rowdy. Glorified high school stadium. 

WolverineHistorian

August 10th, 2018 at 11:52 AM ^

If Pat Fitzgerald had his way, he would make every NU home game a night game.  He asked the networks a couple years ago to give him as many night games as possible and he actually ended up having four in one season.  Though, I think the opponents were cupcakes.  

Every game Michigan has had at Northwestern in the last 20 years has been either a 3:30 start or a night game, with the exception of 2007.

Wolverine91

August 10th, 2018 at 9:16 AM ^

What about the Wisconsin game? Will we play them at night? Msu-psu is also that day so that might be a night game

Leaders And Best

August 10th, 2018 at 11:06 AM ^

I think it is going to be pretty hard to predict the game time on this one. I see a lot of people saying for sure it won't be at night, but I don't think it is that definitive. If the game ends up on BTN (which I think is the unlikeliest outcome), couldn't it still end up at night?

There are a lot teams on bye in conference that week so I would keep that in mind. I think it still ends up at 3:30 or noon, but won't know for certain until a week or two before the game when networks are decided.