ESPN has announced the addition of seven more Big Ten football games to its schedule. These games will be seen Saturday afternoons either on ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC. The schedule and selections are below.
Additional 2011 Big Ten College Football Telecasts Selected
ESPN has selected seven additional Big Ten Conference college football games for Saturday afternoon telecasts across ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 during the 2011 season. More telecasts will be determined as the season progresses. Highlights:
- The early selections include five games involving teams ranked in ESPN’s College Football Live preseason top 25 poll. ABC will televise two of the matchups: Penn State against No. 2 Alabama of the SEC on Saturday, Sept. 10, at 3:30 p.m. ET and No. 13 Nebraska against Washington of the Pac-12 on Saturday, Sept. 17, at 3:30 p.m. (also on ESPN as part of a reverse mirror).
- ESPN will televise the debut of two new head coaches Saturday, Sept. 3: No. 10 Ohio State and head coach Luke Fickell against Akron at noon on ESPN or ESPN2 and Michigan, led by Brady Hoke, against Western Michigan at 3:30 p.m. on ABC and ESPN2.
- No. 14 Wisconsin will host Oregon State in the second meeting ever between the programs Saturday, Sept. 10, at noon on ESPN or ESPN2. Wisconsin won the first game in 1961.
- A non-conference showdown pitting Iowa at Pittsburgh — Saturday, Sept. 17, at noon on ESPN or ESPN2 — will mark the fifth time the schools have played each other and the first since 2008. Pittsburgh has won three of the four previous games against Iowa, including in 2008.
- ESPN or ESPN2 will televise defending Big Ten Conference co-champion No. 16 Michigan State against Florida Atlantic Saturday, Sept. 10, at noon.
Additional ESPN 2011 Big Ten Telecasts (additional selections will be announced):
Date Time (ET) Game Network Sat, Sep 3 Noon Akron at No. 10 Ohio State ESPN or ESPN2 3:30 p.m. Western Michigan at Michigan ABC and ESPN2 ** Sat, Sep 10 Noon Florida Atlantic at No. 16 Michigan State ESPN or ESPN2 Noon Oregon State at No. 14 Wisconsin ESPN or ESPN2 3:30 p.m. No. 2 Alabama at Penn State ABC Sat, Sep 17 Noon Pittsburgh at Iowa ESPN or ESPN2 3:30 p.m. Washington at No. 13 Nebraska ABC and ESPN ** * Previously announced
** Reverse mirror in which ESPN or ESPN2 will regionalize two games on ABC to markets not receiving the telecast
Another Big Ten press release is on the way.
