CUSA, the MAC and the Sun Belt will comprise the football schedule these nights in October and November. I'll put the games or conference involved, with where I think it will end up. Its not rocket science since CBSSN has CUSA and MAC options where the Sun Belt is only ESPN.
Tue 10/6: Southern Miss at Troy
Tue 10/6: Southern Miss at Troy
Wed 10/7: One CUSA on CBSSN & one on ESPN2/ESPNU
Tue 10/13: One CUSA on CBSSN & one on ESPN2/ESPNU
Wed 10/14: One CUSA on CBSSN & one on ESPN2/ESPNU
Tue 10/20: South Alabama at Marshall (likely ESPN2), one CUSA on CBSSN & one on ESPNU
Wed 10/21: One CUSA on CBSSN & one on ESPN2/ESPNU
Tues 10/27: One CUSA on CBSSN & one on ESPN2/ESPNU
Wed 10/28: One CUSA on CBSSN & one on ESPN2/ESPNU
Tue 11/3: One MAC on ESPN2/ESPNU and one on CBSSN
Wed 11/4: Two MAC on ESPN2/ESPNU and one on CBSSN
Tue 11/10: Two MAC on ESPN2/ESPNU and one on CBSSN
Wed 11/11: Two MAC on ESPN2/ESPNU and one on CBSSN
Tue 11/17: Two MAC on ESPN2/ESPNU and one on CBSSN
Wed 11/18: Two MAC on ESPN2/ESPNU
Thursdays used to be ESPN's premier weeknight game. Over the past decade with the NFL occupying Thursdays permanently throughout the season, its reasonable to assume that the prestige of Thursdays and Friday nights have flipped.
Here's what ESPN's Thursday night schedule looks to be. Expect ESPN2 to have games too with the occasional ESPNU game. I'd expect a few HBCU games on Thursday nights too, likely on ESPNU.
9/3: Colorado at Georgia Tech
9/10: Skip for US Open tennis (and NFL opening Thursday night)
9/17: Syracuse at Pitt
9/24: Liberty at Coastal Carolina
10/1: North Texas at Tulsa
10/8: One of South Florida at UTSA, South Alabama at Arkansas State and either Missouri State at WKU or Sam Houston at Liberty. I would expect games on ESPN2 and ESPNU too.
10/15: East Carolina at UAB & Georgia Southern at Old Dominion (one on ESPN2/ESPNU)
10/22: East Carolina at Memphis & James Madison at App State (one on ESPN2/ESPNU)
10/29: Florida Atlantic at North Texas & Troy at James Madison (one on ESPN2/ESPNU)
11/5: UTSA at Florida Atlantic & James Madison at Southern Miss (one on ESPN2/ESPNU)
11/12: Memphis at South Florida & Louisiana at ULM (one on ESPN2/ESPNU)
11/19: Rice at Temple (Arkansas State at Louisiana Tech might move to this date too and if it does, one on ESPN2/ESPNU)
11/26: TCU at Texas Tech (Thanksgiving)
It looks like CBSSN might televise a pair on Thursday night games in mid-October. One on 10/8 would be a CUSA game (either Missouri State at WKU or Sam Houston at Liberty) and the second could be on 10/15 if Colorado State at Texas State is moved.
Fridays
We know a decent portion of the Friday night football schedule, so what might it look like for ESPN, ESPN2, FOX Sports and CBS Sports Network?
9/4: Bryant at Army West Point
Fridays
We know a decent portion of the Friday night football schedule, so what might it look like for ESPN, ESPN2, FOX Sports and CBS Sports Network?
Unless designated, main ESPN should air these games. All times Eastern and I've skipped Black Friday for all networks listed.
ESPN/ESPN2
9/4: Miami (FL) at Stanford (9pm)
For 10/23, 10/30 & 11/6, multiple ACC games were designated as "may move to Friday", so I picked one.
9/4: Miami (FL) at Stanford (9pm)
9/11: Rutgers at Boston College (7:30pm, ESPN2)
9/18: Miami (FL) at Wake Forest (7:30pm)
9/25: Army West Point at Temple (7pm), Navy at UAB (8pm, ESPN2) & Clemson at California (10:30pm)
10/2: Pitt at Virginia Tech (7:30pm)
10/9: Florida State at Louisville (7pm) & Iowa State at BYU (10:15pm)
10/16: App State at Coastal Carolina (6pm) & Memphis at Tulane (9:15pm)
10/23: Duke at Virginia (7:30pm) & Army West Point at Tulsa (8pm, ESPN2)
10/23: Duke at Virginia (7:30pm) & Army West Point at Tulsa (8pm, ESPN2)
10/30: Tulane at Charlotte (7pm, ESPN2), SMU at Syracuse (7:30pm) & Kent State at Sacramento State (10:30pm, ESPN2)
11/6: South Florida at East Carolina (7pm, ESPN2) & Virginia Tech at SMU (7:30pm)
11/13: Florida State at Pitt (7pm) & Houston at Colorado (10:15pm)
11/20: Virginia Tech at Miami (FL) (7:30pm)
FOX/FS1
For FOX, I expect them to skip a few weeks on the broadcast network for other events like the World Series and other MLB playoffs.
Please note that I'm guessing which Big Ten games will move to Friday nights.
Please note that I'm guessing which Big Ten games will move to Friday nights.
9/4: Toledo at Michigan State (7pm, FS1) & UNLV at Hawai'i (11pm, FS1)
9/11: Missouri at Kansas (8pm, FOX)
9/18: Houston at Texas Tech (8pm, FOX)
9/18: Houston at Texas Tech (8pm, FOX)
9/25: Northwestern at Indiana (8pm, FOX)
10/2: Penn State at Northwestern (8pm, FOX)
10/9: Minnesota at Purdue (8pm, FS1)
10/16: Rutgers at Maryland (8pm, FS1)
10/23: Completely skip or MW on FS1
10/30: Baylor at UCF (8pm, FS1)
11/6: UCLA at Minnesota (8pm, FOX)
11/13: Illinois at UCLA (9pm, FOX)
11/20: Iowa State at UCF (8pm, FOX)
CBSSN
CBSSN
I'm expecting the five Pac-12 games that were marked as possibilities for moving to Thursday & Friday to be moved. Also don't think they'll carry games every Friday.
Just about everything in here is a guess in terms of which games move.
Just about everything in here is a guess in terms of which games move.
9/4: Bryant at Army West Point
10/2: Liberty at Delaware & Fresno State at Washington State
10/9: Washington State at Utah State
10/16: Skip
10/23: Air Force at Wyoming
10/30: Oregon State at Fresno State
11/6: Skip for Veterans Classic
11/13: UNLV at New Mexico
11/20: San Diego State at Boise State
I'm less certain the Army game on 9/4 gets moved now that a 2nd Army road game has been set for a Friday night, but Army has regularly moved their Labor Day weekend opener to Friday to allow cadets a weekend away.
I'm less certain the Army game on 9/4 gets moved now that a 2nd Army road game has been set for a Friday night, but Army has regularly moved their Labor Day weekend opener to Friday to allow cadets a weekend away.
