Football Television Schedule Predictions

[scott715]

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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.

[YNot]

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.

[scott715]

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.

[CAFB_04-12]

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!

[scott715]

That should get you most games.

[CAFB_04-12]

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