I can’t wait until I can write NBC Sports Network in January. Anyway, NBC Sports and Versus will team up for 2 games today. The NBC Mothership will have the annual Bayou Classic between traditional rivals Southern University and Grambling State. The best part of the game is halftime when the two schools also fight it out in the “Battle of the Bands” and both institutions have tremendous bands. I don’t know how much NBC plans to show of halftime, but I hope it’s at least 10 minutes because it’s always fun. That game airs at 2:30 p.m. East.
Versus is in the act with the annual Apple Cup between Washington and Washington State at 7:30.
The particulars are below.
NBC SPORTS GROUP WILL AIR TWO COLLEGE FOOTBALL RIVALRY GAMES THIS SATURDAY – THE STATE FARM BAYOU CLASSIC ON NBC AND THE APPLE CUP ON VERSUS
Grambling State University and Southern University at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC
Washington State at Washington at 7:30 p.m. ET on VERSUS
Pre- and Post-Game Shows and Halftime Reports from 30 Rock Studio Surrounding GamesNEW YORK (November 23, 2011) –The NBC Sports Group will air two college football rivalry games this Saturday beginning with the State Farm Bayou Classic at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC, followed by the Apple Cup at 7:30 p.m. ET on VERSUS.
NBC kicks off the day’s college football coverage with the network’s annual broadcast of the State Farm Bayou Classic between Southern University and Grambling State at 2:30 p.m. ET from the Louisiana Superdome. This marks the 21st year NBC will present the Classic between Grambling State University and Southern University. Additionally, VERSUS will re-air the game later that day at 12 a.m. ET.
VERSUS will once again present the Apple Cup, the annual rivalry game between the University of Washington Huskies and Washington State University Cougars at 7:30 p.m. ET live from Husky Stadium in Seattle. The two teams have met 103 times for this classic with the Huskies winning last year’s game, 35- 28.
VERSUS will surround the college football game coverage this weekend with pre- and post-game coverage as well as halftime reports from NBC’s Football Night in America studio (Studio 8G) at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The coverage will feature extensive highlights from other rivalry games that take place on Thanksgiving weekend across the country. The show will be hosted by Liam McHugh with 1984 Heisman Trophy-winner Doug Flutie and Super Bowl champion and former NFL tight end Roland Williams serving as studio analysts. NBC will also present a halftime report featuring McHugh and Flutie providing scores and highlights. Additionally, the halftime show for the Bayou Classic features the marching bands of both teams putting on an exciting display of talent for the fans which includes a drum line battle between the bands.
COMMENTATORS: Paul Burmeister (play-by-play) will helm NBC’s coverage of the State Farm Bayou Classic. The former University of Iowa quarterback and host for NFL Network will be joined by former NFL quarterback Shaun King as analyst with Anthony Herron and Lewis Johnson reporting from Southern and Grambling’s sidelines, respectively. Ted Robinson and Glenn Parker will lead VERSUS’ Pac-12 Conference coverage as play-by-play announcer and analyst, respectively. They will be joined by Akbar Gbaja-Biamila on the field as the sideline analyst.
ADDITIONAL ONLINE FEATURES – NBCSports.com’s college football coverage will also feature video highlights and features from all of VERSUS’ Mountain West, Pac-12 and Ivy League games. In addition, NBCSports.com will feature online-only analysis from all of the VERSUS’ college football experts.
NBC Sports Group’s College Football Schedule (all times ET, subject to change):
NBC
Nov. 26 The State Farm Bayou Classic 2:30 p.m.
- Grambling vs. Southern
VERSUS
Pac-12 Conference
- Nov. 26 Washington State at Washington 7:30 p.m.
That’s going to do it.
