Monday, October 31, 2016

Notes on 11/5 Six Day & 11/12 TV Selections

* I was a bit surprised to see the Washington at California game pushed to the late Pac-12 window on ESPN while the Oregon at USC game will precede it at 7pm ET.  Maybe more that the Washington at California game wasn't at 3:30pm ET.  Both games involve schools at the top of their respective divisions with USC, Utah and Colorado tied on record (Utah defeated USC, USC defeated Colorado, Utah & Colorado will play the final weekend).

I suppose the reasoning for the order is two-fold:
  • Folks may be more likely to stay up for the higher ranked Huskies compared to the Trojans.
  • Nebraska at Ohio St. and Alabama at LSU will draw plenty of viewers.  Similar to FS1 showing Kansas at Oklahoma at 7pm ET on 10/29 where a large portion of the game would be played opposite the World Series, Clemson at Florida St. and Nebraska at Wisconsin, it made more sense to have Washington at Utah outside of that fray.  Same with the placement of the two Pac-12 games, plus Kansas at West Virginia at 7pm ET.
* Use of the ACC Network split telecast window works only when you have a pair of games that don't have schools sharing any geography, such as Pittsburgh at Miami (FL) & Georgia Tech at North Carolina.  The split for distribution is rather easy:  western Pennsylvania and most of Florida for the former and at least Georgia & North Carolina for the latter.  The Georgia Tech at UNC game, in my opinion, should be the game more affiliates should have interest in.

* 11/5's Syracuse at Clemson & Oklahoma St. at Kansas St. pairing is a somewhat rare 3:30pm ET ABC window where a reverse mirror was set up not involving a Big Ten.  The most recent of these was 11/28/15 involving North Carolina at NC State & UCLA at USC.  Prior to that was 10/4/14 between Baylor at Texas & Wake Forest at Florida St.

* For the 11/12 games held for six day selections, I don't think it can be assumed that the Big 12 games being held would be split where the game airing on ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 will be at 3:30pm.  Putting the Big 12 game at 3:30pm would make it a near lock that the ABC 12pm game is a national Big Ten game.

* It will be interesting to see where Northwestern at Purdue is slotted.  There's a bit of an aversion to kickoffs at 3:30pm or later at Ross-Ade and all home games in 2016 have started at 12pm ET.  The most recent game to start at 3:30pm ET was the Minnesota game on 10/10/15, televised by ESPNU.  The opening on BTN may not be for this game either.  The last BTN game hosted by Purdue that started later than noon was 2012's visit by Michigan which started at 4pm ET, which was kinda, sorta, tacked onto the Big Ten's night game release for 2012, at least by the Boilermakers, because the conference didn't note it in their release.

* In their release regarding the SEC games being held for six day selections, the conference happens to note CBS's second selection will be after their first and an ESPN selection.  What I take this to mean is that CBS and ESPN had a pair of games in mind at the top, then ESPN selected Mississippi St. at Alabama, because it is reasonable to assume that this will be the main ESPN's last Alabama game until the College Football Playoff provided they reach it, and for CBS, they appear to be holding their final Crimson Tide appearance for the Iron Bowl.  Whether Mississippi St. at Alabama was officially 2nd or 3rd, I don't know if it matters, but I believe it was half of the meat in a CBS selection sandwich.

* The selection of Stanford at Oregon by Pac-12 Networks unlocks all games for all Pac-12 TV partners for the rest of the season.  Stanford was the only Pac-12 school that had the possibility of having their final game, vs. Rice, locked into a TV partner based on the selection of the TV partner for the The Big Game vs. California.

* I believe that the TV windows for the Pac-12 Networks were adjusted slightly.  Once the decision was made to start Oregon St. at UCLA at 6pm PT, which is the earliest it could start once FOX elected to use its primetime telecast window, a decision was made to put a gap between the Pac-12 Networks windows instead of having them run back-to-back.  If they would have run back to back, a 2:30pm PT start for Stanford at Oregon would have been "legal" based on the start time, but my guess is that, unless an exception was made, FOX would have preferred to have either a game start at 2:30pm PT or 6pm PT, but not both.

* Colorado at Arizona is the first Colorado game to be selected by ESPN or FOX as part of the rolling 12 day selection process in 2016 for the Pac-12.  Their other scheduled appearances on those two platforms were previously scheduled weeknight games.

* FOX's primetime window minimum of four Pac-12 games was met by the selection of Washington at USC.  Six Pac-12 broadcast network windows have been used by FOX.  Two more are required and can be at any available time.

CFB TV Selections for 2016 Week Eleven (11/8/16 - 11/12/16)

This post will be updated as announcements come out for start times for 11/8, 11/9 & 11/12 from the twelve day selection process that most TV networks adhere to (yes, the two midweek dates are closer than twelve days, I know).  Please understand that games can be held until next Sunday if a broadcaster wants to wait on the results of the Week Ten games.  Most conferences have the possibility of having all or part of their games held for a six day hold of the start time.

The list of available TV windows are based on media websites, TV listings and press releases.  They can change based on the needs of the broadcaster or the conference.

Here's what I guessed based on the available openings (they'll prove to be incorrect) and here is the current schedule for the week as several FBS games do have their time & television/webcast assignments already accounted for.  


All Times Eastern

Six Day Holds
Baylor at Oklahoma & West Virginia at Texas - 12pm (ABC/ESPN2/FS1) & 3:30pm (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2)
Penn St. at Indiana, Ohio St. at Maryland, Northwestern at Purdue,  - 12pm (ABC/ESPN2) & 3:30pm (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/BTN) 
Illinois at Wisconsin - 3:30pm (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/BTN)
LSU at Arkansas, Auburn at Georgia, South Carolina at Florida, Kentucky at Tennessee and Ole Miss at Texas A&M - 12pm (CBS & SEC Network), 3:30pm (CBS), 7pm (ESPN), 7:30pm (SEC Network)

Tuesday
7:30pm ESPN2: Western Michigan at Kent St.
7:30pm CBSSN: Eastern Michigan at Ball St.

Wednesday
8pm ESPN2: Toledo vs. Northern Illinois
8pm ESPNU: Bowling Green at Akron

Saturday
12pm ESPN: Mississippi St. at Alabama
12pm ESPNU/ESPNEWS: SMU at East Carolina
12pm ESPNU/ESPNEWS: Cincinnati at UCF
12pm FSN: Iowa St. at Kansas
12pm BTN: Rutgers at Michigan St.
12:30pm ACC Network: NC State at Syracuse
1pm ESPN3: Miami (OH) at Buffalo
2pm ACC RSNs: Miami (FL) at Virginia
2pm ESPN3: UL-Monroe at Georgia St.
3pm ESPN3: New Mexico St. at Arkansas St.
3:30pm ABC/ESPN/ESPN2: Pittsburgh at Clemson
3:30pm FS1: Texas Tech at Oklahoma St.
3:30pm ESPNU: Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech
3:30pm SEC: Vanderbilt at Missouri
3:30pm CBSSN: Tulane at Houston
3:30pm ASN: Nicholls at Central Arkansas
3:30pm ESPN3: Appalachian St. at Troy
4pm Pac-12: Stanford at Oregon
4pm Spectrum-TX: Idaho at Texas St.
4pm ESPN3:  Tennessee Tech at Tennessee St.
7pm ESPN2: Wake Forest at Louisville
7pm ESPNU: USF at Memphis
7pm ESPN3: Sam Houston St. at Northwestern St.
7:30pm FOX: Washington at USC
8pm ABC: Michigan at Iowa
9pm Pac-12:  Oregon St. at UCLA
10pm FS1: Colorado at Arizona
10:15pm ESPN2/ESPNU: New Mexico at Utah St.
10:15pm ESPN2/ESPNU: Colorado St. at Air Force
10:30pm ESPN: California at Washington St.

Sunday, October 30, 2016

CFB TV Guesses for 2016 Week Eleven (11/8/16 - 11/12/16)

Here are the games already set for television and/or webcast.  Here are the known available telecast windows.

* CBS has a SEC doubleheader for the second week in a row.  The selection rules around this doubleheader are slightly different.  The 12pm game for CBS is selected fourth, after the 3:30pm CBS game and two ESPN selections.  Also, the 12pm game can have concurrent games on ESPN, ESPN2 and/or ESPNU.
* Because of the available games, I could see a six day pick being used here.  What I would expect is that CBS would stay away from Alabama at Mississippi St. because that choice would be Alabama's 5th appearance on CBS, which is the maximum when no exceptions are used by CBS.  And, unfortunately, no, I do not know what triggers a sixth CBS appearance (SEC champ game excluded), but one was used on Alabama last season.
* Since it was asked already, SEC games on CBS that were picked via sublicense from ESPN (UCLA at Texas A&M & Kentucky at Florida) are not counted as appearances on CBS.
* FOX Sports will carry three Big 12 and two Pac-12 games.  FSN's 12pm window belongs to the Big 12 and the 10pm game is a Pac-12 game. It is reasonable to assume that the 12pm FS1 game is a Big 12 game as well, so the flexible windows for the two conferences are 3:30pm ET on FS1 and 7:30pm on FOX.
* Illinois at Wisconsin is set for a 3:30pm ET start as a homecoming game.  Michigan at Iowa is either a 7pm or 8pm ET start, depending on the choice of network.
* The Pac-12 window at 5:30pm ET allows for ABC or FOX to air a night game.
* The ACC RSN window is at 2pm.  Many FOX RSNs are bookending the football game with basketball games from the Big East (USC Upstate at Georgetown, 12pm) and the ACC (Grand Canyon at Duke, 5:30pm).
* My heart said Appalachian St. at Troy had more at stake than SMU at East Carolina.  ESPNEWS it is for the matchup of two schools currently at 4-0 in the Sun Belt.

All times Eastern

Tuesday
7:30pm ESPN2: Western Michigan at Kent St.
7:30pm CBSSN: Eastern Michigan at Ball St.

Wednesday
8pm ESPN2: Toledo vs. Northern Illinois
8pm ESPNU: Bowling Green at Akron

Saturday
12pm ABC: Pittsburgh at Clemson
12pm CBS: South Carolina at Florida
12pm ESPN: Ohio St. at Maryland
12pm ESPN2: Auburn at Georgia
12pm FS1: Texas Tech at Oklahoma St.
12pm ESPNU: Northwestern at Purdue
12pm FSN: Iowa St. at Kansas
12pm ESPNEWS: Appalachian St. at Troy
12pm SEC: Kentucky at Tennessee
12pm BTN: Rutgers at Michigan St.
12:30pm ACC Network: NC State at Syracuse
2pm ACC RSNs: Miami (FL) at Virginia
2pm Pac-12: Stanford at Oregon
3:30pm CBS: Ole Miss at Texas A&M
3:30pm ABC: Baylor at Oklahoma
3:30pm ESPN: Wake Forest at Louisville
3:30pm ESPN2: Penn St. at Indiana
3:30pm FS1: West Virginia at Texas
3:30pm ESPNU: USF at Memphis
3:30pm CBSSN: Cincinnati at UCF
3:30pm BTN: Illinois at Wisconsin
3:30pm ASN: Sam Houston St. at Northwestern St.
4pm SEC: Vanderbilt at Missouri
5:30pm Pac-12: Oregon St. at UCLA
7pm ESPN: Mississippi St. at Alabama
7pm ESPN2: Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech
7pm ESPNU: Tulane at Houston
7:30pm FOX: USC at Washington
7:30pm SEC: LSU at Arkansas
8pm ABC: Michigan at Iowa
10pm FS1: Colorado at Arizona
10:15pm ESPN2: New Mexico at Utah St.
10:15pm ESPNU: Colorado St. at Air Force
10:30pm ESPN: California at Washington St.

ESPN3 Exclusives
Miami (OH) at Buffalo
SMU at East Carolina
UL-Monroe at Georgia St.
New Mexico St. at Arkansas St.
Idaho at Texas St.
Jacksonville St. at Murray St. (OVC wildcard selection)

Friday, October 28, 2016

Guesses for CFB TV Six Day Picks for 11/5/16 Games

This set of guesses takes into account the two Thursday night results (Virginia Tech over Pittsburgh & USC over California).  I'll give you my main scenario (two ACC Network games) and an alternate (an ABC split national window with ESPN3 outermarket coverage).  I do not believe any of the ACC games will end up as ACC Network Extra exclusives.

Remember that some of these games are already locked into a start time, such as Wisconsin at Northwestern, Maryland at Michigan, the two SEC games listed at 12pm and the two Mountain West games at 10:15pm.  Also, the two Big 12 games were specifically slotted to air at 3:30pm and 7pm.  Noon ET was not presented as an option.

12pm ABC/ESPN2: Wisconsin at Northwestern
12pm ABC/ESPN2: Syracuse at Clemson
12pm ESPN: Texas A&M at Mississippi St.
12pm SEC: Vanderbilt at Auburn
12:30pm ACC Network: Louisville at Boston College
12:30pm ACC Network: Pittsburgh at Miami (FL)
3:30pm ABC: Washington at California
3:30pm ESPN: Maryland at Michigan
3:30pm ESPN2: Oklahoma St. at Kansas St.
3:30pm ESPNU: Georgia Tech at North Carolina
4pm Pac-12: Oregon at USC
7pm ESPN: Virginia Tech at Duke
7pm ESPN2: Kansas at West Virginia
7pm ESPNU: Florida St. at NC State
10:15pm ESPN2: Utah St. at Wyoming
10:15pm ESPNU: Nevada at New Mexico
10:30pm ESPN: Arizona at Washington St.

The alternate affects the 12:30pm ET ACC Network and 3:30pm ET telecast windows.  To the best of my knowledge, the Big 12 and ACC still allow for games to be shown regionally on ABC without television coverage on ESPN or ESPN2 for those not receiving the game on their ABC affiliate.

All others remain the same:

12:30pm ACC: Pittsburgh at Miami (FL)
3:30pm ABC: Oklahoma St. at Kansas St. & Georgia Tech at North Carolina
3:30pm ESPN: Washington at California
3:30pm ESPN2: Maryland at Michigan
3:30pm ESPNU: Louisville at Boston College

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Notes on 11/1 & 11/5 CFB TV Selections and Six Day Holds

* Again, 11/1 is included because the television decision was made today.  Should be no surprise that Western Michigan's game is on ESPN2 while they are still undefeated.

* For the six days holds, yes, it does seem like too many games are being held for the number of openings.  Thosee openings are:
  • 12pm & 3:30pm (ABC)
  • 12pm, 3:30pm, 7pm & 10:30pm (ESPN)
  • 12pm, 3:30pm and 7pm (ESPN2)
  • 3:30pm & 7pm (ESPNU)
  • 12:30pm (ACC Network)
  • Sometime between 4pm & 7pm (Pac-12 Networks)
The Mountain West having both of their games on ESPN2 and ESPNU in the late evening throws off a few things, at least from my perspective, and keeps a few split window options in place, either for two games on ACC Network at 12:30pm or the possibility of a split national window on ABC at 3:30pm between the ACC and Big 12 where the game that isn't available in your area is only on ESPN3 (this appears to still be allowed).

This also allows for a Pac-12 game to be shown earlier in the evening, presumably Washington at California provided both have positive results this weekend.  It also feels like FS1 was at the back of the bus when it came to Pac-12 Saturday, though they'll have the school currently leading the Pac-12 South on Thursday 11/3 (UCLA at Colorado).

* An interesting move by FOX to move its broadcast network game to 3:30pm ET out of its previously scheduled time of 7:30pm ET.  With Alabama at LSU & Nebraska at Ohio St. at 8pm ET on CBS and ABC, respectively, coupled with available selections from the Big 12 and Pac-12, it may have been a wise move to bow out of that timeslot.

* So far, 21 American Athletic Conference games have been scheduled for ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU, including the conference championship game.  I believe they'll need another five total scheduled for those networks on 11/12, 11/19 and 11/26.  Black Friday will provide them with two games on those networks, which should get them to 28.

* Stanford still needs another game on Pac-12 Networks, which is why I think FS1's Saturday selection was behind both ESPN's two picks and the Pac-12 Networks.  They should make up for it with the Rice game on 11/26.

* The Pac-12 should occupy three of FOX's five broadcast network games on 11/12, the 11/19 doubleheader, 11/25 & 11/26 to get to the minimum number of eight broadcast network telecasts.  My expectation is that the Apple Cup will be selected over TCU at Texas on Black Friday, so that should take care of one game.  Also, FOX should owe the conference one more 7:30pm ET game.  They have had three evening games so far with four primetime games expected by the conference as part of the FOX Sports package.

Monday, October 24, 2016

CFB TV Selections for 2016 Week Ten (11/1/16 - 11/5/16)

This post will be updated as announcements come out for start times for 11/1 & 11/5 from the twelve day selection process that most TV networks adhere to (yes, 11/1 is eight days away, I know).  Please understand that games can be held until next Sunday if a broadcaster wants to wait on the results of the Week Nine games.  Most conferences have the possibility of having all or part of their games held for a six day hold of the start time.

The list of available TV windows are based on media websites, TV listings and press releases.  They can change based on the needs of the broadcaster or the conference.

Here's what I guessed based on the available openings (they'll prove to be incorrect) and here is the current schedule for the week as several FBS games do have their time & television/webcast assignments already accounted for.  


All Times Eastern

Six Day Holds
Oklahoma St. at Kansas St. (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 at 3:30pm ET or ESPN/ESPN2 at 7pm ET)
Kansas at West Virginia (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 at 3:30pm ET or ESPN/ESPN2 at 7pm ET)

All ACC games except Virginia at Wake Forest for the following networks & times:
  • ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 at 12pm
  • ACC Network at 12:30pm
  • ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU at 3:30pm
  • ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU at 7pm 
Oregon at USC, Arizona at Washington St. & Washington at California - one at 10:30pm on ESPN, one at either 3:30pm or 7pm (probably same networks as Big 12, maybe including ESPNU which makes it like ACC) and a flexible Pac-12 Networks start between 4pm & 7pm ET.

Tuesday
7:30pm ESPN2: Western Michigan at Ball St.
7:30pm ESPNU: Bowling Green at Northern Illinois

Saturday
12pm ABC/ESPN/ESPN2: Wisconsin at Northwestern
12pm ESPN/ESPN2 or SEC: Vanderbilt at Auburn
12pm ESPN/ESPN2 or SEC: Texas A&M at Mississippi St.
12pm FS1: Texas at Texas Tech
12pm ESPNU: Georgia Southern at Ole Miss
12pm ESPNEWS: Michigan St. at Illinois
12pm BTN: Indiana at Rutgers
2pm ESPN3: Jacksonville St. at Southeast Missouri
3pm ACC RSNs: Virginia at Wake Forest
3:30pm CBS: Florida at Arkansas
3:30pm FOX: TCU at Baylor
3:30pm ABC/ESPN/ESPN2: Maryland at Michigan
3:30pm FS1: Oregon St. at Stanford
3:30pm CBSSN: BYU at Cincinnati
3:30pm BTN: Purdue at Minnesota
3:30pm ASN: Central Arkansas at Stephen F. Austin
3:30pm ESPN3: Massachusetts at Troy
3:30pm ESPN3: Texas St. at Appalachian St.
4pm ESPNEWS: Memphis at SMU
4pm SEC: Missouri at South Carolina
4pm SEC Alt: Tennessee Tech at Tennessee
5pm ESPN3: Tulane at UCF
5pm ESPN3: Idaho at UL-Lafayette
5pm ESPN3: South Alabama at UL-Monroe
7pm ESPN3: McNeese at Sam Houston St.
7:30pm SEC: Georgia at Kentucky
8pm CBS: Alabama at LSU
8pm ABC: Nebraska at Ohio St.
8pm ESPNEWS: East Carolina at Tulsa
10:30pm ESPN2/ESPNU: Nevada at New Mexico
10:30pm ESPN2/ESPNU: Utah St. at Wyoming

Sunday, October 23, 2016

CFB TV Guesses for 2016 Week Ten (11/1/16 - 11/5/16)

Here are the games already set for television and/or webcast.  Here are the known available telecast windows.

* CBS has a doubleheader with a primetime game.  This means that they'll have the first two choices among SEC games.  Verne Lundquist acknowledged the (relatively) obvious on Dallas radio this week that Alabama at LSU will be the 8pm game.  ESPN can only show games on SEC Network while CBS has their telecast windows, so expect any SEC games on ESPN, ESPN2 and/or ESPNU at 12pm ET.
* The SEC Network is scheduled to have two games at 4pm ET.
* Nebraska at Ohio St. is locked as an 8pm ET start.
* FOX Sports is scheduled to air two Big 12 games and one Pac-12 game between their three telecast windows on FS1 and FOX.
* The 3:30pm ASN selection is for the Southland.
* To squeeze in every Power 5 & American game on TV, I went with an ACC Network split window, trying to pick two games that would be shown in two unique "home" markets.  If that doesn't happen, and later weeks may be more suited to split windows, move Tulane at UCF to ESPN3 and move an ACC game to ESPNEWS in its place.  That game was moved to this date due to preparations for Hurricane Matthew.
* I am hesitant to place any more Big 12 games on ESPNU, which is why Texas at Texas Tech is on ESPN2.  There is a stated limit of four or five games on ESPNU and the Big 12 has hit the lower end of the limit and I do not know what circumstances allow for a fifth game.
* You might see more six day picks used starting this week.  By doing as many selections as ESPN does where the set the kickoff time, but not the network, inside the games they select, they can be more flexible later in the season.

All Times Eastern

Tuesday
7:30pm ESPN2: Western Michigan at Ball St.
7:30pm ESPNU: Bowling Green at Northern Illinois

Saturday
12pm ABC: TCU at Baylor
12pm ESPN: Wisconsin at Northwestern
12pm ESPN2: Vanderbilt at Auburn
12pm FS1: Oklahoma St. at Kansas St.
12pm ESPNU: Texas A&M at Mississippi St.
12pm ESPNEWS: BYU at Cincinnati
12pm SEC: Georgia at Kentucky
12pm BTN: Michigan St. at Illinois
12:30pm ACC Network: Pittsburgh at Miami (FL)
12:30pm ACC Network: Virginia Tech at Duke
3pm ACC RSNs: Virginia at Wake Forest
3:30pm CBS: Florida at Arkansas
3:30pm ABC: Maryland at Michigan
3:30pm ESPN: Florida St. at NC State
3:30pm ESPN2: Louisville at Boston College
3:30pm FS1: Kansas at West Virginia
3:30pm ESPNU: Indiana at Rutgers
3:30pm CBSSN: Tulane at UCF
3:30pm BTN: Purdue at Minnesota
3:30pm ASN: McNeese at Sam Houston St.
4pm ESPNEWS: Memphis at SMU
4pm SEC: Georgia Southern at Ole Miss
4pm SEC: Tennessee Tech at Tennessee
4pm Pac-12: Oregon St. at Stanford
7pm ESPN: Syracuse at Clemson
7pm ESPN2: Texas at Texas Tech
7pm ESPNU: Georgia Tech at North Carolina
7:30pm FOX: Washington at California
7:30pm SEC: Missouri at South Carolina
8pm CBS: Alabama at LSU
8pm ABC: Nebraska at Ohio St.
8pm ESPNEWS: East Carolina at Tulsa
10:15pm ESPNU: Utah St. at Wyoming
10:30pm ESPN: Oregon at USC
10:30pm ESPN2: Arizona at Washington St.

ESPN3 Exclusives
Nevada at New Mexico
Massachusetts at Troy
Texas St. at Appalachian St.
Idaho at UL-Lafayette
South Alabama at UL-Monroe

Monday, October 17, 2016

Notes on 10/27 - 10/29 CFB TV Selections

Alright, I included 10/27 in the title because the MAC had two games on the date were part of today's announcements, but there was nothing out of the ordinary there.

The entire week

* So...Washington at Utah....

FOX Sports, ESPN and Pac-12 Networks, at some point, all get the top selection on a given week during the season (at least I think Pac-12 Networks still gets a top choice at some point).  But to clear about a few things:

1) FOX Sports or ESPN having the top choice doesn't necessarily mean they'll have a broadcast network window available or have to use it, or that the broadcast network is the top choice.   It has, for the most part, seemed to work out that way, though you can look back at the opening weekend when neither entity had a game on ABC or FOX.

2) Of the four games available, this particular game was the least likely to be played in the late evening windows that both FS1 & ESPN2 had available, which would have been after 8:30pm local time.  The other three are all currently on the same offset vs. Coordinated Universal Time and are an hour behind Salt Lake City for another couple weeks.  So it had to air earlier in the day than what was available, which made one of the 3:30pm & 7pm FS1, or an afternoon Pac-12 Networks window, more likely unless ESPN did some major shifting.  Trust me, I tried "running the numbers" and initially had the game on ABC until realizing that they late evening window was for the Pac-12 and it was ESPN's only Pac-12 selection.

3) FOX has to manage some risk for the particular week they carry a Saturday World Series game.  We just saw a near five hour game in the SEC (Tennessee at Texas A&M).  FOX themselves had a situation where they moved a game to FOX News a few years back due to weather delays so they could join the World Series on time as the football game was a 3:30pm ET start.  Could they have put the Pac-12 on the broadcast network at a 12pm MT / 11am PT / 2pm ET start?  Maybe, but maybe they weren't willing to take on the risks if the game, for whatever reason, runs into the World Series. They appear to have had the top choice, so FS1 it is while the broadcast network carries West Virginia at Oklahoma St. at 12pm ET.

* I can't quite figure out why Northwestern at Ohio St. was moved off of 5:30pm, but maybe it involves some of the other selections ESPN made with respect to the Big 12 and SEC.  Maybe a desire to not start a game after 8pm Central in Fort Worth, Austin or Oxford.  The last game that I could find from the Big 12 that started at or after 8pm Central in the Big 12 was Oklahoma at Kansas in 2011.  The SEC has already had three 8pm CT starts this year, which, based on going back to 2011, could be the maximum number of starts at that time per year as each year had no more than three of those games.

* Might be relatively obvious, but at 3:30pm, don't expect a reverse mirror between the two Big 12 games.  Same with the two Big Ten games at 12pm ET.  Has it happened before where two games from the same conference were reverse mirrored against each other? Yes, back on 9/22/07 with very small distribution of one of the games on ABC.  Look at 3:30pm ET.

* Initial schedules sent to RSNs had an ACC doubleheader on October 15th and that appears to have been replaced with the doubleheader scheduled for 10/29.

* Having the ACC RSN doubleheader here may have been why ESPN was able to carry five out of six available Big Ten games.  BTN initially TV listings to services that included telecast windows at 12pm & 3:30pm.  In the end, the 3:30pm window was dropped.

* American Sports Network listed a open game at 12pm which appears to be not used, though the window itself already has two games.

* Of the four in-season MAC selections that CBS Sports Network has taken, all have involved either Western Michigan or Central Michigan.  Overall, eight out of eleven games on CBSSN will involve one of the three directional Michigan schools with a twelth game to be selected from Black Friday options.  Can't blame them.  The three schools are a combined 17-4.

CFB TV Selections for 2016 Week Nine (10/27/16 - 10/29/16)

This post will be updated as announcements come out for start times for 10/27 & 10/29 from the twelve day selection process that most TV networks adhere to.  Please understand that games can be held until next Sunday if a broadcaster wants to wait on the results of the Week Eight games.  Most conferences have the possibility of having all or part of their games held for a six day hold of the start time.

The list of available TV windows are based on media websites, TV listings and press releases.  They can change based on the needs of the broadcaster or the conference.

Here's what I guessed based on the available openings (they'll prove to be incorrect) and here is the current schedule for the week as several FBS games do have their time & television/webcast assignments already accounted for.  


NOTE: While the Northwestern at Ohio St. game was moved off of its 5:30pm ET start time, I am leaving the TV window up until more selections take shape for the week, along with the 9pm window.  ESPN3 and ESPN MediaZone still list both.


All times Eastern


Thursday 10/27

7:30pm CBSSN: Ohio at Toledo
7:30pm BCSN/Spectrum: Akron at Buffalo

Saturday 10/29

12pm ABC/ESPN/ESPN2: Michigan at Michigan St.
12pm ABC/ESPN/ESPN2: Louisville at Virginia
12pm ABC/ESPN/ESPN2: Penn St. at Purdue
12pm FOX: West Virginia at Oklahoma St.
12pm ESPNU: UCF at Houston
12pm FSN: Kansas St. at Iowa St.
12pm ESPNEWS: Connecticut at East Carolina
12pm SEC: Kentucky at Missouri
12pm CBSSN: Kent St. at Central Michigan
12pm BTN: Minnesota at Illinois
12pm ACC RSNs: Duke at Georgia Tech
12pm ASN:
12:30pm ACC Network: Boston College at NC State
3pm ESPN3: Eastern Illinois at Jacksonville St.
3:30pm ABC/ESPN/ESPN2: Northwestern at Ohio St.
3:30pm ABC/ESPN/ESPN2: Texas at Baylor
3:30pm ABC/ESPN/ESPN2: Texas Tech at TCU
3:30pm FS1: Washington at Utah
3:30pm ESPNU: Maryland at Indiana
3:30pm SEC: Samford at Mississippi St.
3:30pm CBSSN: Cincinnati at Temple
3:30pm ACC RSNs: Army at Wake Forest
3:30pm ASN: Miami (OH) at Eastern Michigan
4pm ESPNEWS: SMU at Tulane
5pm Pac-12: Arizona St. at Oregon
7pm ESPN/ESPN2: Nebraska at Wisconsin
7pm FS1: Kansas at Oklahoma
7:15pm ESPN/ESPN2/SEC: Tennessee at South Carolina
7:15pm ESPN/ESPN2/SEC: Auburn at Ole Miss
7:30pm ESPNU: New Mexico St. at Texas A&M
8pm ABC: Clemson at Florida St.
8pm ESPNEWS: Tulsa at Memphis
10:45pm ESPN2: Washington St. at Oregon St.
11pm FS1: Arizona at Stanford

Sunday, October 16, 2016

CFB TV Guesses for 2016 Week Nine (10/27/16 - 10/29/16)

Here are the games already set for television and/or webcast.  Here are the known available telecast windows.

* CBS does not have a SEC selection as they pre-selected Georgia vs. Florida over the summer.
* FOX Sports will have three Big 12 and two Pac-12 selections.  The broadcast network window, due to the World Series, plus the FSN game, are at 12pm & will be Big 12 games while one of the two Pac-12 games on FS1 will be at 11pm ET.
* Northwestern at Ohio St. is locked for 3:30pm ET after being moved from 5:30pm, as is Nebraska at Wisconsin for 7pm ET.  Minnesota at Illinois is locked into a 12pm ET start.
* As an aside, if I had the ability to move that Nebraska at Wisconsin game back one hour, I'd ask the schools if they be willing to do it.  Right now, I am under the impression that this isn't an option, but I wasn't expecting Northwestern at Ohio St.'s start time to change either.
* With Northwestern at Ohio St. being an option for ESPN or ESPN2 along with ABC, I'm under the impression that the 5:30pm has completely been abandoned.  I've swtiched the 9pm window to a 7pm window.
* It appears that the opening on ASN at 12pm is for a Sun Belt game.  The opening at 3:30pm is for the MAC.  The Southland has an opening at 7pm that ASN's website lists as being Abilene Christian at McNeese.
* The single Pac-12 Networks window, at 6pm ET, would need to be moved 30-90 minutes earlier to allow for a Pac-12 telecast window on ABC at 8pm ET.  More on that in the next point.
* ESPN has only one Pac-12 selection with California at USC on their network on Thursday 10/27.  Since ESPN's Saturday window is late in the evening, I think this is one of those situations where a good matchup like Washington at Utah is a "good" problem to have for someone.  The window is moved to 10pm ET is always possible.  I think that's the only situation where Washington at Utah ends up on ESPN without sending an ACC or American game exclusively to ESPN3, or in the case of the ACC, a split Raycom Sports window.  Otherwise I think it ends up on FS1 at either 3:30pm ET or 7pm ET.
* If the 5:30pm window hasn't completely disappeared, or can be repurposed, consider the following, though its highly unlikely as I don't think at 8pm split national window is an option with the quality of available games.  Big Ten games don't have to be reverse mirroed in the 8pm telecast window.  See 11/1/14, though the Big Ten matchup wasn't as high profile as Nebraska at Wisconsin could be.  This also cuts out the need for the late ESPN/ESPN2 Pac-12 window:

3:30pm ABC/ESPN2: Northwestern at Ohio St.
3:30pm ABC/ESPN2: Louisville at Virginia
3:30pm FS1: Arizona St. at Oregon
5:30pm ESPN: Baylor at Texas
7pm ESPN2: Auburn at Ole Miss
8pm ABC with ESPN3 outermarket: Clemson at Florida St.
8pm ABC with ESPN3 outermarket: Nebraska at Wisconsin
9pm ESPN: Washington at Utah

All times Eastern

Thursday 10/27
7:30pm CBSSN: Ohio at Toledo
7:30pm BCSN/Spectrum: Akron at Buffalo

Saturday 10/29
12pm ABC: Michigan at Michigan St.
12pm FOX: West Virginia at Oklahoma St.
12pm ESPN: Tennessee at South Carolina
12pm ESPN2: Texas Tech at TCU
12pm ESPNU: Penn St. at Purdue
12pm FSN: Kansas St. at Iowa St.
12pm ESPNEWS: Cincinnati at Temple
12pm SEC: New Mexico St. at Texas A&M
12pm CBSSN: Kent St. at Central Michigan
12pm BTN: Minnesota at Illinois
12pm ASN: Georgia St. at South Alabama
12:30pm ACC Network: Army at Wake Forest
3pm ACC RSNs: Duke at Georgia Tech
3pm ESPN3: Eastern Illinois at Jacksonville St.
3:30pm ABC/ESPN2: Northwestern at Ohio St.
3:30pm ABC/ESPN2: Baylor at Texas
3:30pm FS1: Washington at Utah
3:30pm ESPN: Louisville at Virginia
3:30pm ESPNU: Boston College at NC State
3:30pm CBSSN: Tulsa at Memphis
3:30pm BTN: Maryland at Indiana
3:30pm ASN: Miami (OH) at Eastern Michigan
4pm ESPNEWS: Connecticut at East Carolina
4pm SEC: Samford at Mississippi St.
6pm Pac-12: Washington St. at Oregon St.
7pm ESPN: Nebraska at Wisconsin
7pm ESPN2: Auburn at Ole Miss
7pm ESPNU: UCF at Houston
7pm FS1: Kansas at Oklahoma
7:30pm SEC: Kentucky at Missouri
8pm ABC: Clemson at Florida St.
8pm ESPNEWS: SMU at Tulane
10:30pm ESPN: Arizona St. at Oregon
11pm FS1: Stanford at Arizona

Friday, October 14, 2016

Some CFB & 2016-17 MBK scheduling notes

* With the move of Florida vs. LSU to 11/19, plus the earlier move of two American Athletic Conference games to 11/5 (Tulane at UCF) and 11/19 (Navy at East Carolina), you might be curious about how that affect the number of TV windows for the two dates.

From what I can tell about November 5th, the effect will be minimal.  The American Athletic Conference allows for games on ESPN3 and should be within the tolerances that are allowed for as part of their TV deals should a game go to ESPN3, those tolerances being that 80-90 percent of their games appear on linear television outlets.  ESPNEWS was already scheduled for three telecast window and both ESPN and ESPN2 were scheduled for four.  ESPNU intended to have a tape delayed SWAC game at approximately 10:30pm ET, but could move that to Sunday if needed (something I believe they've done before) since 11/5 has two Mountain West selections, though both could also air on ESPN3 if necessary.

As for 11/19, the cancellation of Florida & LSU's originally scheduled games to face each other slims the number of games down by one, which allows for Navy at East Carolina to be added into the inventory without any major shifting.  This date had each SEC Network telecast window showing two concurrent games, six total games for the day over two feeds, which they could continue to do.

* ESPN and CBS released their men's college basketball television schedules yesterday, and FOX has provided a slightly revised schedule as they elevated a handful of Big 12 games to "national" FSN status.

Here are a few interesting items from those releases:

  • The Sun Belt's two ESPN2 telecasts are at two of the times would not necessarily consider looking for college basketball: 
    • January 2nd, towards the end of the Rose Bowl and during the first part of the Sugar Bowl
    • Janaury 16th in the afternoon.  The MLK Jr. holiday tends to have a lot of NBA, some NHL and, this year, a Big East marathon on FS1.
  • There are still some holes in the ESPNU schedule on Thursdays & Saturdays after cross checking against ESPN's women's basketball coverage.  Last week I questioned whether that space was being held for the CAA.  I believe the question is still valid, at least until their media day in just over ten days.
    • There's also an interesting date switch for the Tulsa at Tulane basketball game in the ESPN release from Sunday 3/5 to Saturday 3/4 (neither school nor the American has acknowledged the switch yet) that may be helping to clear the road for ESPNU to air the CAA semis, provided that the date change is accurate.
  • For CBS Sports Network, we got an answer as to what the space was between the C-USA and Mountain West semifinals on Friday 3/10 & the time between the Atlantic 10 semis and C-USA men's final on Saturday 3/11 would get used for.  On Friday, ESPN sublicensed the MAC men's semifinals to CBSSN with an earlier start time than usual (5:30pm instead of 6:30pm or 7pm for the first game).  On Saturday, the C-USA women's championship will precede the men's championship.
So what don't we know yet, and to be clear, what hasn't been finalized yet to make it to, say, one of the releases already provided:
  • Who is televising the Under Armour Reunion event at Madison Square Garden on Monday 12/12?  NBCSN seems to be open, as do ESPN2, FS1, CBSSN and American Sports Network should they want it.  ESPN happens to televise the Under Armour All American Game for high school football players, so they could still be involved.  On the flipside, ESPN is heavily involved as a broadcaster of the upcoming Nike/Phil Knight college basketball event in Portland next season, so Under Armour could look elsewhere.
  • The broadcaster for the Ivy League tournament is still not known.  NBCSN continued on with the conference in football and that commitment could extend to basketball too as they don't have any NHL commitments in the afternoon on 3/11 or 3/12.  

Monday, October 10, 2016

CFB TV Selections for 10/22/16 (Week Eight)

This post will be updated as announcements come out for start times for 10/22 from the twelve day selection process that most TV networks adhere to.  Please understand that games can be held until next Sunday if a broadcaster wants to wait on the results of the Week Seven games.  Most conferences have the possibility of having all or part of their games held for a six day hold of the start time.

The list of available TV windows are based on media websites, TV listings and press releases.  They can change based on the needs of the broadcaster or the conference.

Here's what I guessed based on the available openings (they'll prove to be incorrect) and here is the current schedule for the week as several FBS games do have their time & television/webcast assignments already accounted for.  


All times Eastern.  


12pm ABC/ESPN/ESPN2: NC State at Louisville
12pm ABC/ESPN/ESPN2: Texas at Kansas St.
12pm ABC/ESPN/ESPN2: Wisconsin at Iowa
12pm FS1: Oklahoma St. at Kansas
12pm ESPNU: Rutgers at Minnesota
12pm ESPNEWS: UCF at Connecticut
12pm SEC: Massachusetts at South Carolina
12pm BTN: Indiana at Northwestern
12pm BCSN: Central Michigan at Toledo
12pm ESPN3: Miami (OH) at Bowling Green
12:30pm ACC Network: Syracuse at Boston College
1pm ESPN3: Ohio at Kent St.
3pm Pac-12: Colorado at Stanford
3pm ESPN3: Akron at Ball St.
3pm ACC RSNs: North Carolina at Virginia
3:30pm CBS: Texas A&M at Alabama
3:30pm ABC/ESPN2: TCU at West Virginia
3:30pm ABC/ESPN2: Purdue at Nebraska
3:30pm BTN:  Illinois at Michigan
3:30pm ASN: Eastern Michigan at Western Michigan
3:30pm ASN:  Sam Houston St. at Nicholls
3:30pm ESPN3: Buffalo at NIU
3:30pm ESPN3: Idaho at Appalachian St.
3:30pm ESPN3: UT-Martin at Georgia St.
3:45pm ESPNU: Tulane at Tulsa
4pm FOX: Utah at UCLA
4pm SEC: Middle Tennessee at Missouri
6pm ESPN: Arkansas at Auburn
6:30pm Pac-12: Oregon St. at Washington
7pm ESPN2: Houston at SMU
7pm CBSSN: East Carolina at Cincinnati
7:30pm ESPNU: Tennessee St. at Vanderbilt
7:30pm SEC: Mississippi St. at Kentucky
7:30pm TX State Sports: UL-Lafayette at Texas St.
8pm ABC: Ohio St. at Penn St.
8pm FOX: Oklahoma at Texas Tech
9pm ESPN: Ole Miss at LSU
10pm Pac-12: Washington St. at Arizona St.
10:30pm ESPN2: Wyoming at Nevada

Sunday, October 9, 2016

CFB TV Guesses for 2016 Week Eight (10/22/16)

Here are the games already set for television and/or webcast.  Here are the known available telecast windows.

* Indiana at Northwestern & Rutgers at Minnesota (12pm), Illinois at Michigan (3:30pm) and Ohio St. at Penn St. (8pm) are locked into their start times.  With Michigan needing an intraconference game on BTN, I figured this was a good time to do so.
* FOX Sports is scheduled to air two Big 12 and one Pac-12 game.  FS1 only has one game at 12pm ET, so I expect them to show a Big 12 game at 12pm.  NLCS Game Six is currently set for FS1, though its time is not known as it is dependent on a) if its needed and b) if there is an ALCS Game Seven.
* Pac-12 Networks windows are currently scheduled for 2pm ET, 5:30pm ET and 10:30pm ET, which are times that will allow for an exclusive broadcast network window.
* The Pac-12 choice for FOX, assuming it is a top choice for them, was a bit tough. "Showcasing" Oregon St. isn't ideal, but it is for Washington.  On the other side of that, Stanford needs to make two appearances on Pac-12 Networks, so this spot makes sense.
* I removed the 10:30pm ET ESPN2 window.  Wyoming at Nevada is the only ESPN Networks' Mountain West selection for Saturday and with the Mountain West having games on ESPN & ESPN2 on Thursday & Friday, I figured ESPN3 would be OK for this game.
* I placed the MAC's BCSN telecast at 3pm, though it could be slotted anywhere.

All times Eastern.

12pm ABC: Purdue at Nebraska
12pm ESPN: Oklahoma at Texas Tech
12pm ESPN2: Indiana at Northwestern
12pm FS1: Oklahoma St. at Kansas
12pm ESPNU: Houston at SMU
12pm ESPNEWS: East Carolina at Cincinnati
12pm SEC: Massachusetts at South Carolina
12pm BTN: Rutgers at Minnesota
12:30pm ACC Network: North Carolina at Virginia
2pm Pac-12: Washington St. at Arizona St.
3pm ACC RSNs: Syracuse at Boston College
3pm BCSN: Central Michigan at Toledo
3:30pm CBS: Texas A&M at Alabama
3:30pm ABC/ESPN2: Wisconsin at Iowa
3:30pm ABC/ESPN2: NC State at Louisville
3:30pm ESPNU: Tulane at Tulsa
3:30pm BTN: Illinois at Michigan
3:30pm ASN: Eastern Michigan at Western Michigan
3:30pm ASN: Sam Houston St. at Nicholls
4pm FOX: TCU at West Virginia
4pm SEC: Tennessee St. at Vanderbilt
5:30pm Pac-12: Utah at UCLA
6pm ESPN: Arkansas at Auburn
7pm ESPN2: Texas at Kansas St.
7pm ESPNU: Middle Tennessee at Missouri
7pm CBSSN: UCF at Connecticut
7:30pm SEC: Mississippi St. at Kentucky
8pm ABC: Ohio St. at Penn St.
8pm FOX: Oregon St. at Washington
9pm ESPN: Ole Miss at LSU
10;30pm Pac-12: Colorado at Stanford

ESPN3 Exclusives
UT-Martin at Georgia St.
Idaho at Appalachian St.
UL-Lafayette at Texas St.
Miami (OH) at Bowling Green
Ohio at Kent St.
Buffalo at Northern Illinois
Akron at Ball St.

Saturday, October 8, 2016

Guesses for 10/15 CFB TV Six Day Picks

Start times are set for all these games.  TV network designations are what is to be finalized.  All times Eastern

Current Week Seven Schedule

12pm ABC/ESPN2: NC State at Clemson
12pm ABC/ESPN2: Iowa at Purdue
12pm ESPN: Kansas St. at Oklahoma
12pm ESPNU: Minnesota at Maryland
3:30pm ABC/ESPN2: Nebraska at Indiana
3:30pm ABC/ESPN2: North Carolina at Miami (FL)
3:30pm ESPN: Wake Forest at Florida St.
10:15pm ESPN: Colorado St. at Boise St.
10:30pm ESPN2: UCLA at Washington St.

Because the two 12pm Big Ten games were given the options of ABC, ESPN2 or ESPNU, it looks like they were set up to be part of a reverse mirror scenario.  Iowa at Purdue isn't great, but if showing it in the Midwest helps maximize ratings at 12pm, you might as well use it.

I slotted Colorado St. at Boise St. over UCLA at Washington St. since it looks like Boise St. is now the top Group of Five school with Houston's loss to Navy.

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Is ESPN carving out space for CAA men's basketball?

Has the CAA's relationship, on a national level, with NBCSN already ended?  This was to be the final athletic year of a five year with Comcast where games would be shown on NBCSN.  This football season has no such games.  At the conference's media day, the media rights topic came up and commissioner Joe D'Antonio mentioned that the conference wouldn't likely continue with NBCSN (last item here).

I found it interesting that ESPN would be carrying the conference's football media day and seemed like an indicator as to where they might be headed.  Around that time, NBCSN's NHL schedule and one thing that I missed was that NBCSN is scheduled to carry a game on March 6th, the same date as the men's basketball championship game and in a timeslot that would seem to overlap, though its certainly possible that CNBC could end up with the basketball game as they've carried a lot of live sports.  The bold emphasis is mine because the remaining paragraphs are pure speculation using existing known college basketball openings.

There's also the Kentucky vs. Hofstra basketball game that ESPN is airing.  While it is being played at Barclays Center after originally being scheduled for the not-yet-renovated Nassau Coliseum, my thought was that this game was considered a Hofstra "home" game before being moved to Brooklyn due to the game being played on Long Island where Hofstra's campus is located.  To put this in further perspective:



Yeah, a mile away from campus. At least a virtual home game.  ESPN has the rights, but I don't know if they had them from the game being played in Uniondale originally and being classified as a Hofstra "home" game or if it is due to the common management of the Barclays Center & the Nassau Coliseum (Forest City Enterprises).

Coming into basketball season, there might be a few other signs that ESPN is carving out space and could be taking over NBCSN's remaining CAA commitments.  On March 6th, the Horizon League semifinals are scheduled for ESPNEWS at 7pm, then ESPNU at 9:30pm.  My expectation is the Metro Atlantic final will air on ESPN2 at 9pm along the first WCC semifinal.  At 7pm is where there could be some shifting with the SoCon men's championship and the American Athletic Conference's women's championship game scheduled for ESPN and/or ESPN2.  So the CAA's championship game, provided I haven't checked on another conference's women's tournament, could air on ESPNU.

Also on March 5th, the day of the CAA semifinals, Tulsa's basketball game with Tulane is listed for ESPNU or ESPNEWS, which could be for the flexibility of the CAA semifinals.  On ESPNU at 7:30pm ET is the second AAC women's basketball semifinal.  For a few years, the CAA semifinals were scheduled to air on NBCSN at 2:30pm & 5pm, though last year 1pm & 3:30pm were the start times.  If they went back to 2:30pm & 5pm, and assuming there isn't another women's basketball championship or semifinal that I'm missing, the CAA men's semifinals would fit in between the Atlantic 10 women's basketball championship (12pm) & the 2nd AAC semifinal (7:30pm), plus Tulsa at Tulane on ESPNEWS.  Conversely, ESPNEWS could also be used for the semifinals or one semifinal game if there are other programming considerations.

There are a handful of open ESPNU slots on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays that could fit a few CAA games as I'm making the assumption that open Friday slots on ESPNU are for the Metro Atlantic & MAC.  The CAA conference schedule is set up on a Thursday-Saturday rotation and occasionally have had Sunday telecasts when requested by television partners:

Sunday 1/8/17 6pm
Saturday 1/14/17 2-2:30pm
Sunday 1/22/17 12 and/or 4pm (ACC women's basketball game could be at 12pm)
Thurday 1/26/17 7pm or 9pm (one is a Big South game)
Thursday 2/2/17 7pm
Thursday 2/9/17 7pm or 9pm (one is a Big South game)
Saturday 2/18/17 2pm

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Notes on 10/8 Six Day & 10/15 CFB TV Selections

Full schedule for Week Six
Full schedule for Week Seven

* Looking at the reasoning for placing BYU at Michigan St. instead of Indiana at Ohio St. on ABC on 10/8, and the reasons I can see for the assignments are:

  1. BYU at Michigan St. could remain close and draw on a lot of fans external to the Midwest
  2. Desire to deliver Indiana at Ohio St. on a single platform
    1. Indiana at Ohio St. *could* get out of hand and switching for reverse mirror games isn't easy or ideal since you're also dealing with multiple ESPN2 feeds.
* My gut feeling is if NC State beats Notre Dame, the game vs. Clemson could be full national on ABC.  Otherwise it could get reverse mirror treatment with either Kansas St. at Oklahoma or Minnesota at Maryland.  I have Iowa at Purdue down the list.

* At 3:30pm, I think we'll see another reverse mirror scenario depending on results of 10/8.  I think one of the ACC games will get full national treatment on ESPN or ESPN2, with the other on ABC with Nebraska at Indiana.

* As mentioned in the guesses for 10/15, there was flexibility to move the Pac-12 Networks windows since no Pac-12 game is being shown in a exclusive network window.  The early afternoon Pacific Time / mid-afternoon Eastern Time window is not an exclusive broadcast network window.


* No, as far as I know, there is no rule regarding consecutive appearances by a team on CBS.  Tennessee will appear four straight times after being selected by CBS for the Alabama game.  What does matter is the maximum number of appearances, which is five (conference championship game excluded).  Six appearances is allowed under certain exceptions.  Tennessee is the only school close to the max at this time.

* Stanford has yet to appear on Pac-12 Networks with their first five Pac-12 controlled games airing on ESPN or FOX platforms.  With eleven of their twelve games belonging to the Pac-12's television contract (all except road game at Notre Dame), two of their final six games games must air on Pac-12 Networks since the Pac-12 allows for a total of nine conference controlled games to air on the two primary partners' TV packages.  The season finale vs. Rice seems like safe bet to be one of those games.

* Michigan has not yet been scheduled for a intraconference game on BTN and is the only Big Ten school that has yet to have one air on the network.  One of their remaining games needs to air there.  Illinois or Indiana may be the opponent for a BTN game as the Iowa game will air on ABC or ESPN, Ohio St. looks like a safe bet for ABC and the Michigan St. game should be in demand for ESPN too.

* Counting the conference championship game, which is scheduled to air on ABC or ESPN, twenty American controlled games have been scheduled to air on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU.  It is my understanding that 28 games must air on those four networks over the course of the season.  One more American Athletic Conference game must appear on ABC at some point this season. 

Monday, October 3, 2016

CFB TV Selections for 10/15/16 (Week Seven)

This post will be updated as announcements come out for start times for 10/8 from the twelve day selection process that most TV networks adhere to.  Please understand that games can be held until next Sunday if a broadcaster wants to wait on the results of the Week Six games.  Most conferences have the possibility of having all or part of their games held for a six day hold of the start time.

The list of available TV windows are based on media websites, TV listings and press releases.  They can change based on the needs of the broadcaster or the conference.

Here's what I guessed based on the available openings (they'll prove to be incorrect) and here is the current schedule for the week as several FBS games do have their time & television/webcast assignments already accounted for.  


All times Eastern.  


12pm ABC/ESPN/ESPN2: NC State at Clemson
12pm ABC/ESPN/ESPN2: Kansas St. at Oklahoma
12pm ABC/ESPN2/ESPNU: Minnesota at Maryland
12pm ABC/ESPN2/ESPNU: Iowa at Purdue
12pm FS1: West Virginia at Texas Tech
12pm ESPNews: Illinois at Rutgers
12pm SEC: Vanderbilt at Georgia
12:30pm ACC Network: Pittsburgh at Virginia
12:30pm ACC RSNs: Georgia Southern at Georgia Tech
2pm ESPN3: Eastern Michigan at Ohio
2:30pm ESPN3: Kent St. at Miami (OH)
3:30pm CBS: Alabama at Tennessee
3:30pm FOX: USC at Arizona
3:30pm ABC/ESPN/ESPN2: Nebraska at Indiana
3:30pm ABC/ESPN/ESPN2: Wake Forest at Florida St.
3:30pm ABC/ESPN/ESPN2: North Carolina at Miami (FL)
3:30pm FS1: Kansas at Baylor
3:30pm ESPNews: New Mexico vs. Air Force
3:30pm CBSSN: Western Michigan at Akron
3:30pm BTN: Northwestern at Michigan St.
3:30pm ASN: Bowling Green at Toledo
3:30pm ESPN3: Central Michigan at Northern Illinois
3:30pm ESPN3: Ball St. at Buffalo
3:30pm ESPN3: Georgia St. at Troy
3:45pm ESPNU: Virginia Tech at Syracuse
4pm SEC: Missouri at Florida
4pm Pac-12: Utah at Oregon St.
7pm ESPN: Ole Miss at Arkansas
7pm ESPN2: Tulsa at Houston
7pm CBSSN: Connecticut at USF
7pm Longhorn/Cyclones.TV: Iowa St. at Texas
7pm ESPN3: Texas St. at UL-Monroe
7pm ESPN3: South Alabama at Arkansas St.
7:30pm SEC: Southern Miss at LSU
7:30pm ESPNU: Temple at UCF
8pm ABC: Ohio St. at Wisconsin
8pm Pac-12: Arizona St. at Colorado
10:15pm ESPN/ESPN2: Colorado St. at Boise St.
10:30pm ESPN/ESPN2: UCLA at Washington St.

Sunday, October 2, 2016

CFB TV Guesses for 2016 Week Seven (10/15/16)

Here are the games already set for television and/or webcast.  Here are the known available telecast windows.

* Ohio St. at Wisconsin will be on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 at 8pm.  Also, Iowa at Purdue & Illinois at Rutgers (12pm) and Nebraska at Indiana & Northwestern at Michigan St. (3:30pm) are also locked into their start times.  The four afternoon games are homecoming games.
* I struggled a bit with the placing of New Mexico vs. Air Force, which is being played at the Cotton Bowl, which has no lights, so I prioritized its start time a bit.  Because of that, Iowa at Purdue, which isn't flexible on the start time, gets the bump to ESPN2 even though Minnesota at Maryland, based on records, may be more worthy.
* Right now, I'm assuming two BTN windows, but programming for the network on that day has switched to TBA from 12pm to 8:30pm ET, so it is possible that BTN will drop a telecast window.
* FOX & FS1 are carrying two Big 12 games and a Pac-12 game.  Note that the broadcast network's television window is earlier due to the possibility of airing of  NLCS Game 1 in primetime, though I think FS1 will be carrying the baseball game, or at least intends to with several hours of "To Be Announced" programming that night.
* ACC RSN package will have a doubleheader at 12pm & 3:30pm.
* Iowa St. at Texas has been claimed for Longhorn Network, with Cyclones.TV providing a broadcast in Iowa.  What is being determined is the start time.
* After filling in the MAC's two windows on CBS Sports Network and American Sports Network, I looked over the remaining games from the MAC & Sun Belt and did not see a reason to use the two ESPNEWS windows and discarded them.
* Since the Pac-12 isn't likely to have a telecast window on ABC or FOX that requires exclusivity, the Pac-12 Networks telecast windows could be moved slightly to allow for the first telecast window to start after noon Pacific Time.

All times Eastern.

12pm ABC: North Carolina at Miami (FL)
12pm ESPN: Kansas St. at Oklahoma
12pm ESPN2: Iowa at Purdue
12pm FS1: Kansas at Baylor
12pm ESPNU: New Mexico vs. Air Force
12pm SEC: Missouri at Florida
12pm BTN: Illinois at Rutgers
12pm ACC RSNs: Pittsburgh at Virginia
12:30pm ACC Network: Virginia Tech at Syracuse
2pm Pac-12: UCLA at Washington St.
3:30pm ABC: NC State at Clemson
3:30pm CBS: Alabama at Tennessee
3:30pm FOX: West Virginia at Texas Tech
3:30pm ESPN: Nebraska at Indiana
3:30pm ESPN2: Tulsa at Houston
3:30pm FS1: Arizona St. at Colorado
3:30pm ESPNU: Minnesota at Maryland
3:30pm CBSSN: Eastern Michigan at Ohio
3:30pm BTN: Northwestern at Michigan St.
3:30pm ASN: Western Michigan at Akron
3:30pm ACC RSNs: Georgia Southern at Georgia Tech
4pm SEC: Vanderbilt at Georgia
5:30pm Pac-12: Utah at Oregon St.
7pm ESPN: Ole Miss at Arkansas
7pm ESPN2: Wake Forest at Florida St.
7pm ESPNU: Temple at UCF
7pm CBSSN: Connecticut at USF
7pm Longhorn/Cyclones.TV: Iowa St. at Texas
7:30pm SEC: Southern Miss at LSU
8pm ABC: Ohio St. at Wisconsin
10:15pm ESPN2: Colorado St. at Boise St.
10:30pm ESPN: USC at Arizona

ESPN3
Ball St. at Buffalo
Kent St. at Miami (OH)
Central Michigan at Northern Illinois
Bowling Green at Toleddo
South Alabama at Arkansas St.
Georgia St. at Troy
Texas St. at UL-Monroe

Now, based on the possibility of only one BTN window (let's say no 3:30pm window), add back one ESPNEWS window.  Here's the games affected:

12pm ESPN2: Minnesota at Maryland
12pm ESPNEWS: Iowa at Purdue
3:30pm ESPNU: Northwestern at Michigan St.

Saturday, October 1, 2016

Throwaway Guesses for 10/8 Six Day Holds

Some quick guesses for 10/8 since there are quite a few games awaiting time & television assignments.

12pm ABC: Virginia Tech at North Carolina
12pm ESPN2: Iowa at Minnesota
3:30pm ABC: Indiana at Ohio St.
3:30pm CBS: Tennessee at Texas A&M
3:30pm ESPN: Notre Dame at NC State
3:30pm ESPN2: BYU at Michigan St.
3:30pm ESPNU: Iowa St. at Oklahoma St.
7pm ESPN: Alabama at Arkansas
7pm ESPN2: Michigan at Rutgers
7pm ESPNU: Texas Tech at Kansas St.
8pm ABC: Florida St. at Miami (FL)
10:30pm ESPN: UCLA at Arizona St.
10:30pm ESPN2: Washingston St. at Stanford

Though Florida St. has now lost twice, I think the competitiveness of their game vs. Miami should be greater than Michigan at Rutgers will be.

I could be swayed into a reverse mirror at 12pm or 3:30pm with the combo being Big Ten & ACC in both places.  Wrote about it in the original 10/8 guesses with the same four games in their slots, though in a reverse mirror situation I'd prefer to mirror Notre Dame at NC State with Iowa at Minnesota & Indiana at Ohio St. with Virginia Tech at North Carolina.

Also, if ESPN2 is the pay TV mirror network at 3:30pm, move BYU at Michigan St. up to ESPN with the reverse mirror between ABC & ESPN2.