BIG TEN ANNOUNCES SEVEN MORE FOOTBALL GAMES TO APPEAR ON ABC, ESPN AND ESPN2 IN SEPTEMBER!

Coverage of 2007 Campaign Begins on Saturday, Sept. 1 

 

Park Ridge, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference office today released the game times and television plans for seven additional football contests to appear on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 during the first three weekends of non-conference action in September. The Big Ten is kicking off the first season of a new 10-year national rights contract with the networks, a schedule which now features nine afternoon contests and seven prime-time games. 

 

The Big Ten’s lineup of games on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 starts on the opening weekend on Saturday, Sept. 1. Michigan State will begin its season at home against UAB in a Noon EDT start to be televised by ESPN2. Wisconsin will kick off its campaign at home against Washington State at 2:30 p.m. CDT with regional coverage on ABC and outer-market coverage on ESPN. As part of the Big Ten’s new television agreement, all regional afternoon football games aired on ABC will also be aired by ESPN or ESPN2 in outer-markets, making the game nationally available. Also on Sept. 1, Illinois will start its season at 2:30 p.m. CDT on ESPN2 by taking on Missouri in St. Louis. 

 

Big Ten non-conference coverage continues on Saturday, Sept. 8 with Michigan hosting Oregon at 3:30 p.m. EDT, a contest featuring national coverage by ABC. The conference office previously announced another Sept. 8 televised game with the Notre Dame at Penn State contest to appear on ESPN at 6 p.m. EDT. 

The final full weekend of non-conference action will feature three Big Ten contests appearing on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 on Saturday, Sept. 15. The Wolverines will welcome the Fighting Irish to Michigan Stadium for a 3:30 p.m. EDT tilt to appear nationally on ABC. At Noon EDT, Michigan State will host Pittsburgh on ESPN while Purdue will face Central Michigan on ESPN2. 

 

The up-to-date schedule of Big Ten football games slated to appear on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 appears below. Remaining ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 game selections beginning Sept. 22 and continuing through the end of the season will be made six or 12 days in advance of the game. 

 

The Big Ten will hold the 2007 Football Media Days and 36th annual Kickoff Luncheon on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 31 to August 1, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, featuring all 11 head coaches and some of the conference’s top returning players. The 112th season of Big Ten football kicks off on Saturday, Sept. 1, with all 11 schools in action. 

 

2007 BIG TEN FOOTBALL ON ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 

Sept. 1 

UAB at MICHIGAN STATE, Noon EDT, ESPN2 

Washington State at WISCONSIN, 2:30 p.m. CDT, ABC (regional) and ESPN (outer-market) 

Missouri vs. ILLINOIS, 2:30 p.m. CDT, ESPN2 

Sept. 8 

Oregon at MICHIGAN, 3:30 p.m. EDT, ABC 

Notre Dame at PENN STATE, 6 p.m. EDT, ESPN 

Sept. 15 

Pittsburgh at MICHIGAN STATE, Noon EDT, ESPN 

Central Michigan at PURDUE, Noon EDT, ESPN2 

Notre Dame at MICHIGAN, 3:30 p.m. EDT, ABC 

Sept. 22 

IOWA at WISCONSIN, 7 p.m. CDT, ABC 

PURDUE at MINNESOTA, 8 p.m. CDT, ESPN2 

Sept. 29 

OHIO STATE at MINNESOTA, 7 p.m. CDT, ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 

Oct. 6 

OHIO STATE at PURDUE, 8 p.m. EDT, ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 

Oct. 13 

WISCONSIN at PENN STATE, 3:30 p.m. EDT, ABC 

Oct. 20 

MICHIGAN STATE at OHIO STATE, 3:30 p.m. EDT, ABC 

MICHIGAN at ILLINOIS, 7 p.m. CDT, ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 

Oct. 27 

OHIO STATE at PENN STATE, 8 p.m. EDT, ABC, ESPN or ESPN2