Football Television Schedule Predictions

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Week 1

Saturday, September 5, 2015

BYU at University of Nebraska

3:30 PM Eastern

ESPN2



Justification: Primetime ESPN slots are taken for the NFL venue games in Dallas and Atlanta (Wisconsin vs. Alabama as an example). Top two games that fall under the Big Ten TV contract in week 1 are BYU @ Nebraska and Stanford @ Northwestern. The Big Ten normally owns the Saturday Noon slots on ESPN and ESPN2 and both of these games could end up there, but normally it is eastern time zone teams that occupy those slots. Look for the mid-afternoon slot instead as a result. There are plenty of games to fill the BTN’s schedule that week so relegation there shouldn’t be a worry.



Option 2: Noon Eastern on ESPN/2



Week 2

Friday, September 11, 2015

Boise State University at BYU

8:00 PM Eastern

ESPN



Justification: Week 2 is always the week for BIG matchups, and the 2015 season is no different.

Oklahoma at Tennessee

Oregon at Michigan State

Oregon State at Michigan

LSU at Mississippi State



These games headline a decent week that also features some good G5 vs. P5 matchups:

ECU at Florida

Fresno State at Ole Miss

Arizona at Nevada

Houston at Louisville

UCF at Stanford

Minnesota at CSU



The SEC should really lay claim to the Saturday primetime ESPN/2 slots with OU at UT and several in conference matchups. With Saturday most likely on lockdown and BSU/BYU history being a guide, look for a move to Friday primetime at 8 PM on ESPN with the added benefit of bumping USU at Utah to a lower tier channel for their 9 PM matchup.



Option 2: Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 8:00 PM Eastern on ESPN



Week 3

September 19, 2015

BYU at UCLA

10:00 PM Eastern

ESPN



Justification: Falls under the Pac 12’s TV contract. Top matchups under their contract week 3 are Stanford at USC (Fox broadcast network) and BYU at UCLA. Only the late night time slot will be possible for an ESPN broadcast with all the matchups that week:

Ole Miss at Alabama

Texas Tech at Arkansas

South Carolina at Georgia

Auburn at LSU

Nebraska at Miami (FL)

Pitt at Iowa

Cal at Texas (LHN candidate)



Option 2: 9:30 PM Eastern on FS1



Week 4

Saturday, September 26, 2015

BYU at University of Michigan

Noon Eastern

ESPN



Justification: Top matchup for the Big Ten’s TV contract in Week 4 is definitely the BYU at Michigan matchup. The only other P5 vs. P5 matchup is Kansas at Rutgers leading to the obvious noon eastern ESPN slot.



Option 2: not really another option as this is the most obvious prediction other than the Wagner and UConn games.



Week 5

Friday, October 2, 2015

University of Connecticut at BYU

8:00 PM Eastern

ESPN



Justification: Classic Friday TV slot for the Friday of General Conference. At least it’s not Utah State as the opponent finally.



Option 2: 9:00 PM Eastern on ESPN2



Week 6

Thursday, October 8, 2015

East Carolina University at BYU

8:00 PM Eastern

ESPN



Justification: With the NFL’s move to a weekly Thursday night matchup, the sexiness of the Thursday night college football matchup has lost much of its luster opening the slot up to BYU home games again. The Houston game last year was the first Thursday night Provo matchup since the 2007 game hosting TCU—not surprisingly under the piss poor CSTV/The mtn. TV contract.



Currently Washington at USC (likely Pac 12 Network or FS1) and SMU at Houston (likely CBS College Sports Network) are the only Thursday night games scheduled. ESPN will still be looking to move a game to Thursday night.



Option 2: Saturday, October 10, 2015 at 10:15 PM Eastern on ESPN2



Week 7

Saturday, October 17, 2015

University of Cincinnati at BYU

10:15 PM Eastern

ESPN2



Justification: Here’s your “they’re not in the afternoon anymore” crowd’s crying game. Conference schedules are in their full swing by this point with prime matchups in all the P5 conferences. BYU’s willingness to fill the late primetime slot in order to get on ESPN/2 leads to these types of TV slots.



Option 2: Thursday, October 15, 2015 at 9:00 PM Eastern on ESPN2



Week 8

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Wagner College at BYU

3:00 PM Eastern

BYUtv



Justification: do you really need justification?



Option 2: there isn’t an option 2.



Week 9

Saturday, October 31, 2015

BYE



Week 10

Saturday, November 7, 2015

BYU at San Jose State University

4:00 PM Eastern

CBS College Sports Network



Justification: Not enough to this matchup to warrant much more than this. Still unsure about the clusterbomb that is what’s left of the Mountain West Conference’s TV contract. Games can get picked by the ESPN family of networks, but CBSSN is the most likely destination. Army at Air Force is going to get the CBSSN primetime slot given their contracts with the MW and Army. Leaves the afternoon tilt for BYU at San Jose State



Option 2: Oh shoot, can’t really think of another option here other than a late night start given the Pacific Time Zone location for the game.



Week 11

Saturday, November 14, 2015

BYU vs. University of Missouri

Kansas City, MO

7:00 PM Eastern

ESPN2



Justification: Top games of the day will be:

Oklahoma at Baylor

Oregon at Stanford

Georgia at Auburn

Arkansas at LSU

Alabama at MSU

Florida at South Carolina



Fox Network should have their hands all over the Big 12 and Pac 12 matchups while CBS and ABC Primetime should snatch up two of the SEC matchups leaving BYU vs. Missouri as a good candidate for the primetime ESPN2 slot.



Option 2: 3:30 PM Eastern on ESPN or ESPN2/ABC mirror.



Week 12

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Fresno State University at BYU

7:00 PM Eastern

ESPNU



Justification: Still some debate among BYU fans about whether there is a one game minimum appearance on ESPNU. Tom Holmoe was good enough to try to offer clarification last year that there isn’t a mandated minimum if ESPN wants all our games to appear on ABC/ESPN/ESPN2. Choosing ESPNU not because of a rumor mandating a one game minimum, but because of all of the prime matchups this week:

Mississippi State at Arkansas

Tennessee at Missouri

LSU at Ole Miss

Georgia Tech at Miami (FL)

Arizona at Arizona State

USC at Oregon

Cal at Stanford

TCU at Oklahoma

Baylor at Oklahoma State

Michigan State at Ohio State

Michigan at Penn State



There is just not enough airtime to go around for a slot on ESPN or ESPN2 when all these games with ESPN ties are on the docket.



Option 2: 10:15 PM Eastern.



Week 13

Saturday, November 28, 2015

BYU at Utah State University

10:15 PM Eastern

ESPNU



Justification: Rivalry week options are helped by the fact that Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are all filled with games. However, it is still rivalry week. Lots of great matchups making the late night ESPNU slot the best that can be hoped for. BYU would have to be undefeated (not happening) seeking a playoff spot for there to be enough national interest to push this game to a better channel and time slot.



Option 2: 4:00 PM Eastern on CBS College Sports.



SUMMARY

ABC/ESPN/2 Games: 8

ESPNU Games: 2

CBS Sports Network Games: 1

BYUtv Games: 1



Probably ends up being the best TV coverage year in BYU football history.

Well done! Excellent work, Scotty.



I think you nailed just about every week. I do think that ESPNU or even ESPN2 late prime time are legitimate options for the San Jose St. game. The 2012 game in San Jose was the ESPN2 late prime time game and the 2015 SJSU team could actually be a surprise bowl contender.



The BYU-Utah St. game on late prime time ESPNU is a good bet. But, the more likely back-up option is ESPN2 than CBSSports. Utah St. should have a decent record in 2015.

Sorry but I did not do it. Note the link at the top. I am disappointed about the TV for the Missouri game though. That should be a big time game.

I'm trying to decide if I can cancel my DirecTV and go with Sling.com on my Roku this next season...$20/month gets you ESPN and ESPN2, and an extra $5/mo gets you ESPNU and SEC Network... I'm hoping that ESPN carries as many games as possible!

That should get you most games.

Just read online that sling.com crashed during the NCAA Final Four. Hopefully they get those bugs worked out before football season.