College football on television
Encyclopedia
College football on television includes the broadcasting of college football
games, as well as pre- and post-game reports, analysis, and human-interest stories. Within the United States
, the college version of American football
annually garners high television ratings
.
College football games have been broadcast since 1939
, beginning with the 1939 Waynesburg vs. Fordham football game
on September 30 in New York City
. The introduction of sports-specific television networks
has increased the amount of air-time available for coverage. Today, dozens of games are available for viewing each week of the football season. Other coverage includes local broadcasts of weekly coach's programs. These programs have become an important sources of revenue for the universities and their athletics programs.
Televising the games allows alumni to follow their alma mater
's team, as well as competing schools and top-ranked schools nationally. Not all games are televised. Coverage is dependent on negotiations between the broadcaster and the college football conference or team. In general, major programs will be televised more often than smaller programs. The televised games may change from year-to-year depending on which teams are having a strong season, although some traditional rivalry
games are broadcast each year. Major match-ups between top-ranked teams or major rivals are often broadcast nationally. Some games are traditionally associated with a specific event or holiday, and viewing the game itself can become a holiday tradition for fans. Post-season bowl game
s, including the Bowl Championship Series
, are presently all televised, most of them by the ESPN
networks.
occurred during the "experimental" era of television's broadcasting history
, when a game between Fordham University and Waynesburg College was broadcast on September 30, 1939. One month later, Kansas State
's homecoming
contest
against the University of Nebraska
was the second to be broadcast on October 23, 1939 . The following season, on October 5, 1940, what is described as the "first commercially televised game" between the University of Maryland
and the University of Pennsylvania
was broadcast by Philco
. Fairly sporadic broadcasts continued throughout World War II
.
By 1950, a small number of prominent football schools, including Penn (ABC
) and the University of Notre Dame
(DuMont Television Network
) had entered into individual contracts with networks to broadcast their games regionally. In fact, all of Penn's home games were broadcast on ABC
during the 1950 season
under a contract that paid Penn $150,000. However, prior to the 1951 season
, the NCAA
– alarmed by reports that indicated television decreased attendance at games – asserted control and prohibited live broadcasts of games. Although the NCAA successfully forced Penn and Notre Dame to break their contracts, the NCAA suffered withering attacks for its 1951 policy, faced threats of antitrust
hearings and eventually caved in and lifted blackouts of certain sold-out games. Bowl games were always outside the control of the NCAA, and the 1952 Rose Bowl
at the end of that season was the first truly national telecast of a college football game, on NBC
.
For the 1952 season
, the NCAA relented somewhat, but limited telecasts to one nationally-broadcast game each week. The NCAA sold the exclusive rights to broadcast the weekly game to NBC for $1,144,000. The first game shown under this contract was Texas Christian University
against the University of Kansas
, on September 20, 1952. In 1953
, the NCAA allowed NBC to add what it called "panorama" coverage of multiple regional broadcasts for certain weeks – shifting national viewers to the most interesting game during its telecast.
The NCAA believed that broadcasting one game a week would prevent further controversy while limiting any decrease in attendance. However, the Big Ten Conference
was unhappy with the arrangement, and it pressured the NCAA to allow regional telecasts as well. Finally, in 1955 the NCAA revised its plan, keeping eight national games while permitting true regional telecasts during five specified weeks of the season. This was essentially the television plan that stayed in place until the University of Oklahoma
and the University of Georgia
filed suit against the NCAA in 1981, alleging antitrust
violations.
ruled in NCAA v. Board of Regents of Univ. of Oklahoma
that the NCAA's television plan violated the Sherman Antitrust Act
. As a result, individual schools and athletic conferences were freed to negotiate contracts on their own behalf. Together with the growth of cable television
, this ruling resulted in the explosion of broadcast options currently available.
However, in the immediate wake of the ruling, most schools still decided to jointly negotiate their television contracts through the now-defunct College Football Association
. The Big Ten Conference
and Pacific-10 Conference were not members of the CFA, opting to negotiate their own TV deals.
When Notre Dame left the CFA to sign an exclusive deal
with NBC
in 1991
, it shocked the college football world and marked the true beginning of the modern era. By 1995, the CFA had fallen apart completely.
One of the most significant side-effects of the changes in television policy since 1991 has been the sharp decrease in independent schools and realignment of athletic conferences, as schools sought to pool and increase their bargaining power. Television has also driven the trend of universities (generally mid-major
s) playing football on weekdays rather than the traditional Saturdays, in order to have their games broadcast.
Each college playing a televised football game is allowed to run a commercial
for its school during the halftime break, as is each school's conference (if applicable).
and Bud Wilkinson
were the number one broadcast team. Keith Jackson
, its best-known college football play-by-play man, announced games from 1966 through 2005 on ABC (and for 14 years before that for various outlets), and was considered by many to be "the voice of college football." From 1966 through 1981, ABC was the exclusive network home for regular season NCAA football telecasts. In 1982 and 1983, ABC and CBS
split the package. In 1984, after the NCAA television contract was invalidated by the U.S. Supreme Court
, ABC began a three-year deal televising CFA games, featuring most major college teams except members of the Big Ten and Pacific-10, the Atlantic Coast Conference and the University of Miami, the games of which were televised by CBS. From 1987 to 1990, ABC televised Big Ten and Pacific-10 games. Since 1991, ABC has had contracts with most of the major BCS
conferences, which leads it to broadcast many of its games regionally. ABC began airing a weekly Saturday night primetime football game in the fall of 2006, when the network's sports division converted to ESPN on ABC
. Nearly all regional ABC games that air on a given Saturday are also available as part of a pay-per-view package called ESPN GamePlan
, and online via ESPN3.
when ABC took over. It had the Orange Bowl from 1965 through 1995. NBC has an exclusive contract with Notre Dame
, which began in 1991. Since that time, NBC has carried nationally all of Notre Dame's home games, paying at least $9 million per season for broadcast rights. Recently, Notre Dame's ratings have been down significantly due to relatively poor play; Notre Dame games on NBC drew less than half the ratings that CBS and ABC averaged for their college football games in 2008. NBC is also the home of the annual "Bayou Classic
" between Grambling State University
and Southern University
at the Louisiana Superdome
. The game is well known for its Battle of the Bands between the schools at halftime.
–Miami
game that ended with Doug Flutie
's Hail Mary on November 23, 1984, and the "Catholics vs. Convicts" showdowns between Notre Dame
and Miami
from 1987 to 1990. CBS did not televise any regular season college football games from 1991 to 1995. The network aired Big East
games from 1996–2000, and since 1996
has broadcast SEC
games. CBS currently holds the right for the first pick for any game where an SEC team is at home, along with the rights to televise the SEC Championship game. The network also broadcasts the annual Army–Navy Game, the Navy–Notre Dame game in even-numbered years (where Navy is the home team and chooses to play in a larger stadium), and the Sun Bowl
on New Year's Eve.
did not broadcast any regular season games through 2010, but had the rights to the Bowl Championship Series from the 2006 through the 2009 seasons. They covered all BCS games except for the Rose Bowl (the Sugar Bowl
, Fiesta Bowl
and Orange Bowl
as well as the BCS Championship Game, except when the championship game is held at the Rose Bowl). In 2010, the BCS title game was be carried by ABC at the Rose Bowl. Fox also has broadcast the Cotton Bowl Classic since 1999, which is currently the only college football game on Fox each year. Fox will air the Big Ten Championship Game
, which starts in 2011 in a contract that runs until 2016. Fox will also broadcast the first Pac-12 Championship in 2011. Beginning in 2012, Fox will broadcast regular season college football games from the Pac-12 and will rotate the Pac-12 Championship game with the ESPN family of networks for a period of 12 years. They will also broadcast some college basketball games from the Pac-12 men's tournament.
and ESPN Plus
syndicate games to broadcast stations and regional sports networks on a market-by-market basis.
. The games were aired under a special "supplemental" television contract with the NCAA. ESPN
followed later the same year, starting with a simulcast of the Independence Bowl
match-up between Kansas State and the University of Wisconsin
on December 11, 1982, which was the first college football game shown live on ESPN. (TBS subsequently left the field for several years, but again broadcast college football games from 2002–2006, showing Big 12 and Pac-10 matchups sublicensed from Fox Sports Net
.)
In the wake of the 1984 Supreme Court ruling that broke the NCAA monopoly, ESPN immediately began airing regular season games live, starting with a contest between Pittsburgh
and BYU on September 1, 1984. The network aired a 48-game package that year. ESPN2
began broadcasting live games in 1994, ESPNU
began in 2005.
ABC gets first choice of games over the ESPN networks, especially from the Big East, Big Ten, and ACC, because ABC and ESPN are owned by the same company
. Many marquee games will still air on ESPN so they can air in prime-time, without being limited to regional viewers or GamePlan subscribers, but not giving non-cable owners a chance to see the games (unlike the NFL, games on ESPN are not required to be simulcast on over-the-air stations in local markets). This also occurs because CBS, not ABC, owns broadcast TV rights to the SEC, and thus only the ESPN networks can air the second and third-choice games (normally on Saturday nights); CBS having made the first pick. Likewise, FSN is the cable partner for Big 12 and Pac-10 games, and so only ABC can air games from those conference packages (it normally has the first pick), aside from a handful of games from each conference that ESPN purchases each year.
FSN sublicensed games to TBS from 2002-2006 from the Big 12 and Pac-10 Conferences and to Versus from 2007-2010. In 2011, FSN is moving those games to FX. Joining the Big 12 and Pac 12 Conferences on FX will be Conference USA.
BET
carried college football games from historically black colleges and universities
under the Black College Football banner from 1981 through 2005 (in later years, the coverage was co-produced by CBS). This ended after the breakup of CBS and Viacom. Black college football games are now seen on the ESPN networks as well as on Bounce TV
.
In the early 2000s, entire networks devoted to college sports, including college football, began to appear. Fox College Sports
began in 2002. College Sports Television (now CBS Sports Network) debuted in 2002, becoming a CBS subsidiary in 2005. ESPNU
began in March 2005. In the late 2000s, networks devoted to a single conference (e.g. Big Ten Network, MountainWest Sports Network
) or team (Longhorn Network
) began to appear.
Regional cable networks have long devoted coverage to one or two conferences. The Pac 12 and Big 12 have had deals with FSN
since 1996, which airs games on its regional family of networks. As noted above, FX and ESPN have also acquired the rights to certain games. The Mountain West Conference has entered into an arrangement with CBS Sports Network and Comcast
that developed the "MountainWest Sports Network
" or "the mtn" that is devoted to broadcasting the league's games. The contract also placed 8 MWC football games and 5 men's basketball games along with the MWC Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament Championships on Versus
. The Big Ten also has a similar regional network, with the Big Ten Network having made its debut in August 2007. The Texas Longhorns will debut the Longhorn Network
in the fall of 2011, and the Pac-12 will debut the Pac-12 Network
and Pac-12 Digital Network in fall of 2012. While it isn't a national network, the Western Athletic Conference
and Learfield Sports started the WAC Sports Network in 2010 to broadcast games to local affiliates.
In contrast to the National Football League
, which uses the visiting team's conference affiliation to determine who broadcasts afternoon games, college football telecasts are assigned based on the home team's conference affiliation.
, which began in 1998, was driven from the start by television revenue. In 2007, the Fox Broadcasting Company
started broadcasting all the BCS games with the exception of the Rose Bowl
. ABC previously aired two full cycles of the BCS between 1998 and 2006. Before this, CBS
aired the Bowl Coalition
and the Bowl Alliance
, with the exception of the Sugar Bowl
from 1995-1997. The Rose Bowl has aired on ABC since 1989. All BCS games will shift to cable in 2010-11 as ESPN will begin a four-year deal.
/ESPN2
/ABC
Note: All ABC crews may appear on ESPN and vice versa.
CBS
NBC
Mtn.
Fox
/FX/FSN
/FCS
Versus
ESPNU
CBS Sports Network
BTN
ESPN Plus
BYUtv
WAC Sports Network
Sun Belt Network
Longhorn Network
ACC Network
Southland Conference TV Network
Altitude Sports and Entertainment
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
games, as well as pre- and post-game reports, analysis, and human-interest stories. Within the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the college version of American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
annually garners high television ratings
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
.
College football games have been broadcast since 1939
1939 in sports
1939 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.Note — many sporting events did not take place because of World War II-American football:NFL championship...
, beginning with the 1939 Waynesburg vs. Fordham football game
1939 Waynesburg vs. Fordham football game
The 1939 Waynesburg vs. Fordham football game was a college football game between the and the played on September 30, 1939. The game was played at Triborough Stadium on New York City's Randall's Island. Fordham won the game by a score of 34 to 7...
on September 30 in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The introduction of sports-specific television networks
Sports channel
Sports channels are television specialty channels broadcast sporting events, usually live, and when not broadcasting events, sports news and other related programming....
has increased the amount of air-time available for coverage. Today, dozens of games are available for viewing each week of the football season. Other coverage includes local broadcasts of weekly coach's programs. These programs have become an important sources of revenue for the universities and their athletics programs.
Televising the games allows alumni to follow their alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
's team, as well as competing schools and top-ranked schools nationally. Not all games are televised. Coverage is dependent on negotiations between the broadcaster and the college football conference or team. In general, major programs will be televised more often than smaller programs. The televised games may change from year-to-year depending on which teams are having a strong season, although some traditional rivalry
College rivalry
Pairs of schools, colleges and universities, especially when they are close to each other either geographically or in their areas of specialization, often establish a college rivalry with each other over the years. This rivalry can extend to both academics and athletics, the latter being typically...
games are broadcast each year. Major match-ups between top-ranked teams or major rivals are often broadcast nationally. Some games are traditionally associated with a specific event or holiday, and viewing the game itself can become a holiday tradition for fans. Post-season bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
s, including the Bowl Championship Series
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
, are presently all televised, most of them by the ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
networks.
History
The first televised college football game1939 Waynesburg vs. Fordham football game
The 1939 Waynesburg vs. Fordham football game was a college football game between the and the played on September 30, 1939. The game was played at Triborough Stadium on New York City's Randall's Island. Fordham won the game by a score of 34 to 7...
occurred during the "experimental" era of television's broadcasting history
History of television
The history of television records the work of numerous engineers and inventors in several countries over many decades. The fundamental principles of television were initially explored using electromechanical methods to scan, transmit and reproduce an image...
, when a game between Fordham University and Waynesburg College was broadcast on September 30, 1939. One month later, Kansas State
Kansas State Wildcats football
The Kansas State Wildcats football program is the intercollegiate football program of the Kansas State University Wildcats. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big 12 Conference...
's homecoming
Homecoming
Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni of a school. It most commonly refers to a tradition in many universities, colleges and high schools in North America...
contest
1939 Nebraska vs. Kansas State football game
The 1939 Nebraska vs. Kansas State football game was a college football game between the and the Nebraska Cornhuskers played on October 28, 1939...
against the University of Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
was the second to be broadcast on October 23, 1939 . The following season, on October 5, 1940, what is described as the "first commercially televised game" between the University of Maryland
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
and the University of Pennsylvania
Penn Quakers football
The Penn Quakers football team is the college football team at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA. The Penn Quakers have competed in the Ivy League since its inaugural season of 1956, and are currently a Division I Football Championship Subdivision member of the National...
was broadcast by Philco
Philco
Philco, the Philadelphia Storage Battery Company , was a pioneer in early battery, radio, and television production as well as former employer of Philo Farnsworth, inventor of cathode ray tube television...
. Fairly sporadic broadcasts continued throughout World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
By 1950, a small number of prominent football schools, including Penn (ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
) and the University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
(DuMont Television Network
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
) had entered into individual contracts with networks to broadcast their games regionally. In fact, all of Penn's home games were broadcast on ABC
ESPN on ABC
ESPN on ABC is the brand used for sports programming on the ABC television network. Officially the broadcast network retains its own sports division; however, for all practical purposes, ABC's sports division has been merged with ESPN, a sports cable network majority-owned by ABC's parent, The...
during the 1950 season
1950 college football season
The 1950 college football season finished with the unbeaten and untied Oklahoma Sooners being the overwhelming choice for national champion. On New Year’s Day, the 9-0-0 Sooners were upset by the 10-1-0 Kentucky Wildcats in the Sugar Bowl. The #2 team, the United States Military Academy had been...
under a contract that paid Penn $150,000. However, prior to the 1951 season
1951 college football season
The 1951 college football season finished with seven unbeaten major college teams, of which five were unbeaten and untied. Ultimately, the Tennessee Volunteers were voted the best team by the Associated Press, followed by the Michigan State Spartans, with the Vols having a plurality of first place...
, the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
– alarmed by reports that indicated television decreased attendance at games – asserted control and prohibited live broadcasts of games. Although the NCAA successfully forced Penn and Notre Dame to break their contracts, the NCAA suffered withering attacks for its 1951 policy, faced threats of antitrust
Antitrust
The United States antitrust law is a body of laws that prohibits anti-competitive behavior and unfair business practices. Antitrust laws are intended to encourage competition in the marketplace. These competition laws make illegal certain practices deemed to hurt businesses or consumers or both,...
hearings and eventually caved in and lifted blackouts of certain sold-out games. Bowl games were always outside the control of the NCAA, and the 1952 Rose Bowl
1952 Rose Bowl
The 1952 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1952 at the end of the 1951 college football season. It was the 38th Rose Bowl Game. It holds the distinction of being the first nationally televised college football game...
at the end of that season was the first truly national telecast of a college football game, on NBC
NBC Sports
NBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others...
.
For the 1952 season
1952 college football season
The 1952 college football season ended with the unbeaten Michigan State Spartans and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets each claiming the national championship according to different polls. Michigan State finished first according to two of the "wire service" polls which also both placed Georgia Tech...
, the NCAA relented somewhat, but limited telecasts to one nationally-broadcast game each week. The NCAA sold the exclusive rights to broadcast the weekly game to NBC for $1,144,000. The first game shown under this contract was Texas Christian University
TCU Horned Frogs football
The TCU Horned Frogs football team is the intercollegiate football team of Texas Christian University. TCU competes as a member of the Mountain West Conference in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, but will move to the Big 12 Conference for the 2012 season. TCU began playing football...
against the University of Kansas
Kansas Jayhawks football
The Kansas Jayhawks football program is the intercollegiate football program of the University of Kansas Jayhawks. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big 12 Conference....
, on September 20, 1952. In 1953
1953 college football season
The 1953 college football season finished with the Maryland Terrapins capturing the AP, INS, and UPI national championship after Notre Dame held the top spot for the first nine weeks. The #4 Oklahoma Sooners defeated Maryland in the Orange Bowl, but there was no further polling after the November...
, the NCAA allowed NBC to add what it called "panorama" coverage of multiple regional broadcasts for certain weeks – shifting national viewers to the most interesting game during its telecast.
The NCAA believed that broadcasting one game a week would prevent further controversy while limiting any decrease in attendance. However, the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
was unhappy with the arrangement, and it pressured the NCAA to allow regional telecasts as well. Finally, in 1955 the NCAA revised its plan, keeping eight national games while permitting true regional telecasts during five specified weeks of the season. This was essentially the television plan that stayed in place until the University of Oklahoma
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
and the University of Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
filed suit against the NCAA in 1981, alleging antitrust
Antitrust
The United States antitrust law is a body of laws that prohibits anti-competitive behavior and unfair business practices. Antitrust laws are intended to encourage competition in the marketplace. These competition laws make illegal certain practices deemed to hurt businesses or consumers or both,...
violations.
Decentralization
On June 27, 1984, the U.S. Supreme CourtSupreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
ruled in NCAA v. Board of Regents of Univ. of Oklahoma
NCAA v. Board of Regents of Univ. of Oklahoma
NCAA v. Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma, 468 U.S. 85 , was a case in which the Supreme Court of the United States held that the National Collegiate Athletic Association television plan violated the Sherman and Clayton Antitrust Acts...
that the NCAA's television plan violated the Sherman Antitrust Act
Sherman Antitrust Act
The Sherman Antitrust Act requires the United States federal government to investigate and pursue trusts, companies, and organizations suspected of violating the Act. It was the first Federal statute to limit cartels and monopolies, and today still forms the basis for most antitrust litigation by...
. As a result, individual schools and athletic conferences were freed to negotiate contracts on their own behalf. Together with the growth of cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
, this ruling resulted in the explosion of broadcast options currently available.
However, in the immediate wake of the ruling, most schools still decided to jointly negotiate their television contracts through the now-defunct College Football Association
College Football Association
The College Football Association is the name of a now-defunct body through which American college football schools negotiated TV contracts with networks. The CFA was an alliance of 64 schools from the major conferences and selected independents....
. The Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
and Pacific-10 Conference were not members of the CFA, opting to negotiate their own TV deals.
When Notre Dame left the CFA to sign an exclusive deal
Notre Dame Football on NBC
Notre Dame Football on NBC is a presentation of the Notre Dame football television package on NBC. The television network broadcasts all Notre Dame home games.-History:...
with NBC
NBC Sports
NBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others...
in 1991
1991 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1991 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with a split champion for the second consecutive season. Both the Miami Hurricanes and the Washington Huskies finished the season undefeated and with the top ranking in a nationally recognized poll...
, it shocked the college football world and marked the true beginning of the modern era. By 1995, the CFA had fallen apart completely.
One of the most significant side-effects of the changes in television policy since 1991 has been the sharp decrease in independent schools and realignment of athletic conferences, as schools sought to pool and increase their bargaining power. Television has also driven the trend of universities (generally mid-major
Mid-major
Mid-major is a term used in American Division I college sports, to refer to athletic conferences that are not among the major six conferences...
s) playing football on weekdays rather than the traditional Saturdays, in order to have their games broadcast.
Each college playing a televised football game is allowed to run a commercial
Television advertisement
A television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
for its school during the halftime break, as is each school's conference (if applicable).
ABC
ABC has been airing college football since acquiring the NCAA contract in 1966. Chris SchenkelChris Schenkel
Christopher Eugene "Chris" Schenkel was an American sportscaster. Over the course of five decades he called play-by-play for numerous sports on television and radio, becoming known for his smooth delivery and baritone voice.-Early life and career:Schenkel began his broadcasting career at radio...
and Bud Wilkinson
Bud Wilkinson
Charles Burnham "Bud" Wilkinson was an American football player, coach, broadcaster, and politician. He served as the head football coach at the University of Oklahoma from 1947 to 1963, compiling a record of 145–29–4. His Oklahoma Sooners won three national championships and 14...
were the number one broadcast team. Keith Jackson
Keith Jackson
Keith Jackson is an American sportscaster, known for his long career with ABC Sports , his coverage of college football , his style of folksy, down-to-earth commentary, and his distinctive voice, with its deep cadence, and operatic tone considered "like Edward R...
, its best-known college football play-by-play man, announced games from 1966 through 2005 on ABC (and for 14 years before that for various outlets), and was considered by many to be "the voice of college football." From 1966 through 1981, ABC was the exclusive network home for regular season NCAA football telecasts. In 1982 and 1983, ABC and CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
split the package. In 1984, after the NCAA television contract was invalidated by the U.S. Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
, ABC began a three-year deal televising CFA games, featuring most major college teams except members of the Big Ten and Pacific-10, the Atlantic Coast Conference and the University of Miami, the games of which were televised by CBS. From 1987 to 1990, ABC televised Big Ten and Pacific-10 games. Since 1991, ABC has had contracts with most of the major BCS
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
conferences, which leads it to broadcast many of its games regionally. ABC began airing a weekly Saturday night primetime football game in the fall of 2006, when the network's sports division converted to ESPN on ABC
ESPN on ABC
ESPN on ABC is the brand used for sports programming on the ABC television network. Officially the broadcast network retains its own sports division; however, for all practical purposes, ABC's sports division has been merged with ESPN, a sports cable network majority-owned by ABC's parent, The...
. Nearly all regional ABC games that air on a given Saturday are also available as part of a pay-per-view package called ESPN GamePlan
ESPN PPV
ESPN PPV is the banner for pay-per-view events that ESPN broadcasts, including the out-of-market sports packages ESPN GamePlan and ESPN Full Court . The network was originally launched in 1999 as ESPN Extra and was renamed to ESPN PPV in 2001 .-External links:* *...
, and online via ESPN3.
NBC
NBC broadcast the Rose Bowl beginning in 1952 until the 1988 Rose Bowl1988 Rose Bowl
The 1988 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1988. It was the 74th Rose Bowl Game. The Michigan State Spartans defeated the USC Trojans 20-17. Michigan State Linebacker Percy Snow was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game. This was the last Rose Bowl game to air on NBC...
when ABC took over. It had the Orange Bowl from 1965 through 1995. NBC has an exclusive contract with Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
, which began in 1991. Since that time, NBC has carried nationally all of Notre Dame's home games, paying at least $9 million per season for broadcast rights. Recently, Notre Dame's ratings have been down significantly due to relatively poor play; Notre Dame games on NBC drew less than half the ratings that CBS and ABC averaged for their college football games in 2008. NBC is also the home of the annual "Bayou Classic
Bayou Classic
The State Farm Bayou Classic is the annual college football game between the Grambling State University Tigers and the Southern University Jaguars, first held under that name in 1974 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana, although the series itself actually began in 1936...
" between Grambling State University
Grambling State Tigers football
The Grambling State Tigers are the college football team representing the Grambling State University. The Tigers play in NCAA Division I Football Championship as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.-Black College Football National Championships:...
and Southern University
Southern Jaguars football
The Southern Jaguars are the college football team representing the Southern University. The Jaguars play in NCAA Division I Football Championship as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.-National championships:*1948*1949*1950*1952*1954*1957...
at the Louisiana Superdome
Louisiana Superdome
The Mercedes-Benz Superdome, previously known as the Louisiana Superdome and colloquially known as the Superdome, is a sports and exhibition arena located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA...
. The game is well known for its Battle of the Bands between the schools at halftime.
CBS
CBS shared the NCAA package with ABC in 1982 and 1983. From 1984 to 1986, CBS televised games involving the Big Ten, Pacific-10, and Atlantic Coast Conferences, plus the University of Miami. From 1987 to 1990, CBS televised CFA, ACC and Miami games. CBS broadcast several important games in the 1980s, such as the classic Boston CollegeBoston College Eagles football
The Boston College Eagles football team is the collegiate football program of Boston College. The team is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, a Division I Bowl Subdivision league governed by the NCAA. Within the ACC, the Eagles are one of six teams in the Atlantic Division...
–Miami
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
game that ended with Doug Flutie
Doug Flutie
Douglas Richard "Doug" Flutie is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League...
's Hail Mary on November 23, 1984, and the "Catholics vs. Convicts" showdowns between Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
and Miami
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
from 1987 to 1990. CBS did not televise any regular season college football games from 1991 to 1995. The network aired Big East
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
games from 1996–2000, and since 1996
1996 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with the Florida Gators crowned National Champions, but not as unanimously as the Bowl Alliance would have hoped....
has broadcast SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
games. CBS currently holds the right for the first pick for any game where an SEC team is at home, along with the rights to televise the SEC Championship game. The network also broadcasts the annual Army–Navy Game, the Navy–Notre Dame game in even-numbered years (where Navy is the home team and chooses to play in a larger stadium), and the Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl
The Sun Bowl is an annual U.S. college football bowl game that is usually played at the end of December in El Paso, Texas. The Sun Bowl, along with the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl are the second-oldest bowl games in the country, behind the Rose Bowl...
on New Year's Eve.
Fox
FoxFox Sports (USA)
Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...
did not broadcast any regular season games through 2010, but had the rights to the Bowl Championship Series from the 2006 through the 2009 seasons. They covered all BCS games except for the Rose Bowl (the Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
, Fiesta Bowl
Fiesta Bowl
The Fiesta Bowl, now sponsored by Frito-Lay and named with their Tostitos brand, is a United States college football bowl game played annually at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Between its origination in 1971 and 2006, the game was hosted in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil...
and Orange Bowl
Orange Bowl
The Orange Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It has been played annually since January 1, 1935 and celebrated its 75th playing on January 1, 2009...
as well as the BCS Championship Game, except when the championship game is held at the Rose Bowl). In 2010, the BCS title game was be carried by ABC at the Rose Bowl. Fox also has broadcast the Cotton Bowl Classic since 1999, which is currently the only college football game on Fox each year. Fox will air the Big Ten Championship Game
Big Ten Football Championship Game
The Big Ten Football Championship Game is a college football game that will be held by the Big Ten Conference each year to determine the conference's season champion. The inaugural game will be held on December 3, 2011. The games during the next two seasons will be held on December 1, 2012 and...
, which starts in 2011 in a contract that runs until 2016. Fox will also broadcast the first Pac-12 Championship in 2011. Beginning in 2012, Fox will broadcast regular season college football games from the Pac-12 and will rotate the Pac-12 Championship game with the ESPN family of networks for a period of 12 years. They will also broadcast some college basketball games from the Pac-12 men's tournament.
Syndication
In addition, Raycom SportsRaycom Media
- History :Although Raycom Media dates its birth to 1996, the core of the company was formed in 1992 when Atlanta native Bert Ellis formed Ellis Communications. He eventually controlled 13 television stations and two radio stations....
and ESPN Plus
ESPN Plus
ESPN Plus, the popular name of ESPN Regional Television, is an American television program syndicator. ERT is based along with sister network ESPNU in Charlotte, North Carolina...
syndicate games to broadcast stations and regional sports networks on a market-by-market basis.
Cable stations
TBS became the first cable station to nationally broadcast college football live when it began airing games during the 1982 season1982 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season saw Paul "Bear" Bryant retire as head coach at Alabama with 323 career victories in 38 seasons.The Penn State Nittany Lions won their first consensus national championship, closing out an 11-1 season by defeating Georgia and Heisman Trophy winner Herschel...
. The games were aired under a special "supplemental" television contract with the NCAA. ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
followed later the same year, starting with a simulcast of the Independence Bowl
Independence Bowl
The Independence Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I college football bowl game that is played annually at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, so named because it was inaugurated in the United States bicentennial year, 1976....
match-up between Kansas State and the University of Wisconsin
Wisconsin Badgers football
The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
on December 11, 1982, which was the first college football game shown live on ESPN. (TBS subsequently left the field for several years, but again broadcast college football games from 2002–2006, showing Big 12 and Pac-10 matchups sublicensed from Fox Sports Net
Fox Sports Net
The Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net , are a collection of cable TV regional sports networks in the United States owned and operated by News Corporation.- Beginnings :...
.)
In the wake of the 1984 Supreme Court ruling that broke the NCAA monopoly, ESPN immediately began airing regular season games live, starting with a contest between Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
and BYU on September 1, 1984. The network aired a 48-game package that year. ESPN2
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
began broadcasting live games in 1994, ESPNU
ESPNU
ESPNU is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced by, affiliated with and owned by parent network ESPN. ESPNU originates out of ESPN Regional Television's ESPNU (often referred to as The U) is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced...
began in 2005.
ABC gets first choice of games over the ESPN networks, especially from the Big East, Big Ten, and ACC, because ABC and ESPN are owned by the same company
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
. Many marquee games will still air on ESPN so they can air in prime-time, without being limited to regional viewers or GamePlan subscribers, but not giving non-cable owners a chance to see the games (unlike the NFL, games on ESPN are not required to be simulcast on over-the-air stations in local markets). This also occurs because CBS, not ABC, owns broadcast TV rights to the SEC, and thus only the ESPN networks can air the second and third-choice games (normally on Saturday nights); CBS having made the first pick. Likewise, FSN is the cable partner for Big 12 and Pac-10 games, and so only ABC can air games from those conference packages (it normally has the first pick), aside from a handful of games from each conference that ESPN purchases each year.
FSN sublicensed games to TBS from 2002-2006 from the Big 12 and Pac-10 Conferences and to Versus from 2007-2010. In 2011, FSN is moving those games to FX. Joining the Big 12 and Pac 12 Conferences on FX will be Conference USA.
BET
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
carried college football games from historically black colleges and universities
Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Historically black colleges and universities are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the black community....
under the Black College Football banner from 1981 through 2005 (in later years, the coverage was co-produced by CBS). This ended after the breakup of CBS and Viacom. Black college football games are now seen on the ESPN networks as well as on Bounce TV
Bounce TV
Bounce TV is a United States television network airing on digital terrestrial television stations. Promoted as "the first 24/7 digital multicast broadcast network created exclusively for African Americans," Bounce TV launched on September 26, 2011 and features programming geared toward blacks in...
.
In the early 2000s, entire networks devoted to college sports, including college football, began to appear. Fox College Sports
Fox College Sports
Fox College Sports is a group of three United States digital cable networks, FCS Atlantic, FCS Central and FCS Pacific owned by News Corporation, that specialize primarily in showing collegiate programming, live events, coaches shows & various DI, DII, & DIII content surrounding college athletics...
began in 2002. College Sports Television (now CBS Sports Network) debuted in 2002, becoming a CBS subsidiary in 2005. ESPNU
ESPNU
ESPNU is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced by, affiliated with and owned by parent network ESPN. ESPNU originates out of ESPN Regional Television's ESPNU (often referred to as The U) is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced...
began in March 2005. In the late 2000s, networks devoted to a single conference (e.g. Big Ten Network, MountainWest Sports Network
MountainWest Sports Network
MountainWest Sports Network, informally known as the mtn. , is an American regional sports network dedicated to the Mountain West Conference.-History:...
) or team (Longhorn Network
Longhorn Network
The Longhorn Network is an American regional sports network focusing on sports-related programming for The University of Texas at Austin...
) began to appear.
Regional cable networks have long devoted coverage to one or two conferences. The Pac 12 and Big 12 have had deals with FSN
Fox Sports Net
The Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net , are a collection of cable TV regional sports networks in the United States owned and operated by News Corporation.- Beginnings :...
since 1996, which airs games on its regional family of networks. As noted above, FX and ESPN have also acquired the rights to certain games. The Mountain West Conference has entered into an arrangement with CBS Sports Network and Comcast
Comcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
that developed the "MountainWest Sports Network
MountainWest Sports Network
MountainWest Sports Network, informally known as the mtn. , is an American regional sports network dedicated to the Mountain West Conference.-History:...
" or "the mtn" that is devoted to broadcasting the league's games. The contract also placed 8 MWC football games and 5 men's basketball games along with the MWC Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament Championships on Versus
Versus (TV channel)
Versus is a sports-oriented cable television channel in the United States. It was previously known as Outdoor Life Network and was launched on July 1, 1995, focusing on fishing, hunting, and other outdoor sports...
. The Big Ten also has a similar regional network, with the Big Ten Network having made its debut in August 2007. The Texas Longhorns will debut the Longhorn Network
Longhorn Network
The Longhorn Network is an American regional sports network focusing on sports-related programming for The University of Texas at Austin...
in the fall of 2011, and the Pac-12 will debut the Pac-12 Network
Pac-12 Network
Pac-12 Network is the national network in a group of 7 upcoming American sports television networks dedicated to the Pac-12 Conference, scheduled to begin broadcasts in August 2012...
and Pac-12 Digital Network in fall of 2012. While it isn't a national network, the Western Athletic Conference
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
and Learfield Sports started the WAC Sports Network in 2010 to broadcast games to local affiliates.
Conference affiliations (by home team)
- All conferences, games and teams are Bowl Subdivision teams unless otherwise noted.
- ESPN on ABCCollege Football on ABCESPN College Football on ABC presented by Kay Jewelers is a presentation of the American Broadcasting Company's regular season American college football television package...
: ACCAtlantic Coast ConferenceThe Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
, Big 12Big 12 ConferenceThe Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
, Big EastBig East ConferenceThe Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
, Big TenBig Ten ConferenceThe Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
, BYU, and Pac-12. - CBSSEC on CBSThe SEC on CBS is a presentation of the college football television package owned by CBS Sports...
: SECSoutheastern ConferenceThe Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
, along with the Army–Navy Game (every year) and Notre Dame-NavyUnited States Naval AcademyThe United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
(even-numbered years) - NBCNBC SportsNBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others...
: Notre DameNotre Dame Football on NBCNotre Dame Football on NBC is a presentation of the Notre Dame football television package on NBC. The television network broadcasts all Notre Dame home games.-History:...
and Bayou ClassicBayou ClassicThe State Farm Bayou Classic is the annual college football game between the Grambling State University Tigers and the Southern University Jaguars, first held under that name in 1974 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana, although the series itself actually began in 1936...
(FCS) - Fox: Pac-12 (Beginning Fall 2012), Big Ten Championship Game, Pac-12 Championship Game (2011)
- ESPN, ESPN2ESPN2ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
, ESPNUESPNU College FootballESPNU College Football is a promotion of NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision college football on ESPNU...
, ESPN PlusESPN PlusESPN Plus, the popular name of ESPN Regional Television, is an American television program syndicator. ERT is based along with sister network ESPNU in Charlotte, North Carolina...
, ESPN ClassicESPN ClassicESPN Classic is a sports channel that features reruns of famous sporting events, sports documentaries, and sports themed movies. Such programs includes biographies of famous sports figures or a rerun of a famous World Series or Super Bowl, often with added commentary on the event...
and ESPN3: ACCAtlantic Coast ConferenceThe Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
, Big 12Big 12 ConferenceThe Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
, Big EastBig East ConferenceThe Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
(ESPN Plus games branded Big East Network), Big TenBig Ten ConferenceThe Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
, BYU, Conference USAConference USAConference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
Championship Game, MACMid-American ConferenceThe Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
, Pac-12, SECSoutheastern ConferenceThe Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(ESPN Plus games branded SEC NetworkSEC NetworkThe SEC Network, or SECN is a syndication package featuring college football and basketball events from the Southeastern Conference. The package is owned and operated by ESPN Regional Television and is shown in more than 50 percent of households in the United States, mostly Southeastern United...
), Sun BeltSun Belt ConferenceThe Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
, WACWestern Athletic ConferenceThe Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
, MEACMid-Eastern Athletic ConferenceThe Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is a collegiate athletic conference of historically black colleges and universities in the Southeastern United States...
(FCS), and Turkey Day ClassicTurkey Day ClassicThe Turkey Day Classic is a college football game, traditionally held annually on Thanksgiving Day. It is played between Alabama State University and Tuskegee University, two historically black colleges and universities. The game is played at the home of Alabama State, in the Cramton Bowl stadium...
(FCS/D-II). - FSNFox Sports NetThe Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net , are a collection of cable TV regional sports networks in the United States owned and operated by News Corporation.- Beginnings :...
, FX, and Fox College SportsFox College SportsFox College Sports is a group of three United States digital cable networks, FCS Atlantic, FCS Central and FCS Pacific owned by News Corporation, that specialize primarily in showing collegiate programming, live events, coaches shows & various DI, DII, & DIII content surrounding college athletics...
: ACCAtlantic Coast ConferenceThe Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
(Classified as ACC Regional Network), Big 12Big 12 ConferenceThe Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
, Conference USAConference USAConference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
, SECSoutheastern ConferenceThe Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(Classified as SEC Regional Network), and Pac-12. - Raycom SportsRaycom SportsRaycom Sports is an American syndicator of sports television programs. It is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and owned and operated by Raycom Media.-Founding:...
: ACCAtlantic Coast ConferenceThe Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
(branded ACC Network) - CBS Sports Network: Mountain West ConferenceMountain West ConferenceThe Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...
, Conference USAConference USAConference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
, ArmyArmy Black Knights footballThe Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946....
, and NavyNavy Midshipmen footballThe Navy Midshipmen football team represents the United States Naval Academy in NCAA Division I-A college football. They are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision independent school and coached by Ken Niumatalolo since December 2007... - VersusCollege Football on VersusThe television channel Versus currently aired college football games from various college football conferences. At the time this program began, the channel was known as OLN but, in 2006, it was renamed Versus...
: Mountain West ConferenceMountain West ConferenceThe Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...
, Ivy LeagueIvy LeagueThe Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
(FCS), Pac-12 - Bounce TVBounce TVBounce TV is a United States television network airing on digital terrestrial television stations. Promoted as "the first 24/7 digital multicast broadcast network created exclusively for African Americans," Bounce TV launched on September 26, 2011 and features programming geared toward blacks in...
: CIAACentral Intercollegiate Athletic AssociationThe Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association is a college athletic conference, mostly consisting of historically black colleges and universities. Recent addition Chowan University is the first non-HBCU to play in the conference. Conference teams participate in the NCAA's Division II...
(D-II) - MountainWest Sports NetworkMountainWest Sports NetworkMountainWest Sports Network, informally known as the mtn. , is an American regional sports network dedicated to the Mountain West Conference.-History:...
(the mtn.): Mountain West ConferenceMountain West ConferenceThe Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999... - Big Ten Network: Big TenBig Ten ConferenceThe Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
- BYUtvBYU Television__NOEDITSECTION__Brigham Young University Television is a cable/satellite television channel operated by Brigham Young University...
: BYU - Longhorn NetworkLonghorn NetworkThe Longhorn Network is an American regional sports network focusing on sports-related programming for The University of Texas at Austin...
: TexasTexas Longhorns footballThe Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate football team representing The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. The team currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National... - Pac-12 NetworkPac-12 NetworkPac-12 Network is the national network in a group of 7 upcoming American sports television networks dedicated to the Pac-12 Conference, scheduled to begin broadcasts in August 2012...
: Pac-12 Conference
- ESPN on ABC
In contrast to the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, which uses the visiting team's conference affiliation to determine who broadcasts afternoon games, college football telecasts are assigned based on the home team's conference affiliation.
Annual televised games
Some games are traditionally played on a specific date (often a holiday), and are nationally-televised every single year. These include:- AuburnAuburn Tigers footballOnly Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the...
and AlabamaAlabama Crimson Tide football|TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team...
– Known as "The Iron Bowl", it is one of the most heated rivalries in all of sports and has generally been the last game of the regular season. Since 2007, the game has been scheduled for either the Friday or Saturday after Thanksgiving. - Notre DameNotre Dame Fighting Irish footballNotre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
and MichiganMichigan Wolverines footballThe Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
– Played in September in all but six seasons since 1978. Every one of these games has been on national network television, except the 1980 game (won by Notre Dame, 29-27, on a game-ending 51-yard field goal by Harry Oliver. The 1982 showdown was the first night game in the history of Notre Dame StadiumNotre Dame StadiumNotre Dame Stadium is the home football stadium for the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team. The stadium is located on the campus of the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States, just north of the city of South Bend....
, with the use of portable lights from Musco LightingMusco LightingMusco Lighting is an American privately owned company, based out of Oskaloosa, Iowa that is noted for providing permanent or temporary lighting at major sports events and stadiums including the Super Bowl and Olympics....
, and was televised in prime time on ABC. The 1988 and 1990 games at Notre Dame were prime time telecasts on CBS, with both won by Notre Dame. The 2011 game, the first night game ever at Michigan StadiumMichigan StadiumMichigan Stadium, nicknamed "The Big House," is the football stadium for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan Stadium was built in 1927 at a cost of $950,000 and had an original capacity of 72,000. Before playing football at the stadium, the Wolverines played on Ferry Field...
and won by Michigan, was televised nationally by ESPN. - Ohio StateOhio State Buckeyes footballThe Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
and MichiganMichigan Wolverines footballThe Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
– Traditionally played the third Saturday of every November, and normally broadcast on ABC. With the Big TenBig Ten ConferenceThe Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
adding a bye week, the game was moved to the Saturday after ThanksgivingThanksgiving (United States)Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday,...
in 2010. - West VirginiaWest Virginia Mountaineers footballThe West Virginia Mountaineers football team represents West Virginia University in the NCAA FBS division of college football. Dana Holgorsen is the team's 33rd head coach. He has held the position since he was promoted in June 2011 after the resignation of Bill Stewart. The Mountaineers play their...
and PittsburghPittsburgh Panthers footballPittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
(Backyard BrawlBackyard BrawlThe Backyard Brawl is an annual football game between the University of Pittsburgh Panthers and the West Virginia University Mountaineers. The term "Backyard Brawl" has also been used to refer to college basketball games played annually or semi-iannually and may also be used to refer to other...
) – Usually played towards the end of the football season and always on national television. In the past, the Backyard Brawl games were on ABC, CBS, ESPN and ESPN2. - TennesseeTennessee Volunteers footballThe Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
vs. AlabamaAlabama Crimson Tide football|TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team...
–Known as the "Third Saturday in OctoberThird Saturday in OctoberThe Third Saturday in October, also known as the Alabama–Tennessee football rivalry, is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Alabama Crimson Tide football team of the University of Alabama and the Tennessee Volunteers football team of the University of Tennessee...
". This game has been played between the two schools on or around the same day of every year since 1901. Recently it has been either the third or fourth Saturday of October, depending on the calendar. - TexasTexas Longhorns footballThe Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate football team representing The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. The team currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National...
and OklahomaOklahoma Sooners footballThe Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
(Red River RivalryRed River RivalryThe Red River Rivalry, commonly known as the OU-Texas Game or Texas-OU Game, is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Oklahoma Sooners football team of the University of Oklahoma and the Texas Longhorns football team of the University of Texas. The series is considered...
) – Played during the State Fair of TexasState Fair of TexasThe State Fair of Texas is an annual state fair held in Dallas, Texas . The fair season usually begins the last Friday in September and ends 24 days later. The fair is held at the historic Fair Park where it has been held since 1886. The 2012 State Fair of Texas will run from September 28th...
in Dallas on the second Saturday of October and broadcast on ABC. The 2009 game was moved back a week to the third Saturday in October, and the 2010 game was moved up to the first Saturday in October. - USC and Notre DameNotre Dame Fighting Irish footballNotre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
– USC–ND has had a national television audience every year since 1986, with the exception of 2002 when the game was a split-national telecast with FloridaFlorida Gators footballThe Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
–Florida StateFlorida State Seminoles footballThe Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in college football. The Florida State Seminoles compete in NCAA Division I-FBS and are members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
. Notre Dame hosts the game in odd years in mid-October, and USC hosts the game in even years on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. In the former case, NBC airs the game, while in the latter case, it is carried on the ESPN family of networks (ABC was the longtime carrier of games from Los Angeles, but in 2008 it aired on ESPN while ABC aired Oklahoma-Oklahoma State). - FloridaFlorida Gators footballThe Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
and Florida StateFlorida State Seminoles footballThe Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in college football. The Florida State Seminoles compete in NCAA Division I-FBS and are members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
– Usually played on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, during odd years the game is played in GainesvilleBen Hill Griffin StadiumBen Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field is the football stadium for the University of Florida and the home field of the university's Florida Gators football team. It is located on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus. The stadium was originally built in 1930, and has been regularly...
, and aired on CBS. In even years, the game is played in TallahasseeBobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell StadiumBobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium is the football stadium on the campus of the Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. It is the home venue for the university's football team, nicknamed the Seminoles. The stadium was named for Doak S...
on and aired or ABC, ESPN, or ESPN2. - Texas A&MTexas A&M Aggies footballThe Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18...
–TexasTexas Longhorns footballThe Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate football team representing The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. The team currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National...
– Played on the day after Thanksgiving and televised annually on ABC through 2007. In 2008, Texas A&M vs. Texas was played on Thanksgiving night in Austin, and in 2009 was played on Thanksgiving night in College StationKyle FieldKyle Field is the football stadium located on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. It has been the home to the Texas A&M Aggie football team in rudimentary form since 1904, and as a complete stadium since 1927. It is known as The Home of the 12th Man...
, with ESPN telecasting both games. The 2010 game in Austin was again played on Thanksgiving night. This annual game will no longer be played due to Texas' refusal to play Texas A&M after their move to the Southeastern Conference beginning in July 2012. A&M has publicly stated they wish to continue the annual game. Texas however states that their schedule is full until at least 2019. - LSULSU Tigers footballThe LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
and ArkansasArkansas Razorbacks footballThe Arkansas Razorbacks football program is a college football team that represents the University of Arkansas. The team is a member of the Southeastern Conference's Western Division, which is in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
– Known as "The Battle for the Golden Boot." Played on the day after Thanksgiving and broadcast on CBS from 1996-2008. The game was moved back a day to Saturday due to the Iron Bowl moving to the Friday slot for 2009 and 2010, but was broadcast by ESPN and CBS, respectively. CBS will once again broadcast the game on the day after Thanksgiving in 2011. - Army–Navy Game – generally played on the last weekend of the regular season and broadcast on CBS since 1996. Since 2009, the game has been played on the second Saturday in December, and is the only FBS game that weekend.
- USC and UCLAUCLA Bruins FootballThe UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
– played during the last week of the regular season (2004–2008), when the game was broadcast on ABC between the ACC Championship GameACC Championship GameThe Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game is an American college football game held on the first Saturday in December by the Atlantic Coast Conference each year to determine its football champion. The game pits the champion of the Coastal Division against the champion of the Atlantic Division in a game...
and the Big 12 Championship Game. (NOTE: For the 2009 season USC played their final game against ArizonaArizona Wildcats footballThe Arizona Wildcats football team is the football team of the University of Arizona, located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level.-Early years:...
, but USC-UCLA was again each team's final game in 2010.) - BYU and UtahUtah Utes footballThe Utah Utes football program is a college football team that currently competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I and represents the University of Utah. The Utah college football program began in 1892 and has played home games at Rice–Eccles...
– Known as "The Holy WarHoly War (Utah vs. BYU)The Holy War is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the University of Utah Utes and the Brigham Young University Cougars. The game is part of the larger Utah–BYU rivalry...
" and as the "Deseret First Duel." The game was typically played the week before Thanksgiving until the 2011 season, when the schools separated into different conferences. The game was broadcast by ABCAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, ESPNESPNEntertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, ESPN2ESPN2ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
, or ESPN PlusESPN PlusESPN Plus, the popular name of ESPN Regional Television, is an American television program syndicator. ERT is based along with sister network ESPNU in Charlotte, North Carolina...
before 2007 and was simulcast on Mtn.MountainWest Sports NetworkMountainWest Sports Network, informally known as the mtn. , is an American regional sports network dedicated to the Mountain West Conference.-History:...
and CBS Sports Network from 2007-2010. The game returns to the ESPN Family of Networks beginning in 2011, and could be seen on one of the Fox family of networks in even-numbered years. For the 2011 and 2012 seasons the game will take place during the third week of the season. Discussions are in place to have the game take place between September 29 and October 5, depending on what day the first Sunday in October falls on, for the 2013 season on. - GramblingGrambling State Tigers footballThe Grambling State Tigers are the college football team representing the Grambling State University. The Tigers play in NCAA Division I Football Championship as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.-Black College Football National Championships:...
and SouthernSouthern Jaguars footballThe Southern Jaguars are the college football team representing the Southern University. The Jaguars play in NCAA Division I Football Championship as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.-National championships:*1948*1949*1950*1952*1954*1957...
– Known as the Bayou ClassicBayou ClassicThe State Farm Bayou Classic is the annual college football game between the Grambling State University Tigers and the Southern University Jaguars, first held under that name in 1974 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana, although the series itself actually began in 1936...
, the Grambling-Southern rivalry airs annually on NBC on the last Saturday afternoon in November (i.e., the Saturday following ThanksgivingThanksgiving (United States)Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday,...
). It is the only black college football classic, and the only non-FBS college football game, to air regularly on a nationwide broadcast television network.
Bowl games
- Rose BowlRose Bowl GameThe Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
– Annually broadcast since the 1952 Rose Bowl. Traditionally held on New Year's DayNew Year's DayNew Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...
along with the Rose Parade; however, after joining the Bowl Championship SeriesBowl Championship SeriesThe Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
, the 2002 game was played January 3 and the 2006 game was played January 4 due to the Rose Bowl being the national championship game. NBC was the longtime home of the Rose Bowl until the late 1980s, when ABC took over. ABC's final Rose Bowl was the 2010 game, and the network aired the BCS Championship Game from the Rose Bowl on January 7, 2010. ESPN began televising the game in 2011. - Orange Bowl – Traditionally held on New Year's Day. It was a New Year's night staple for many years on NBC, with NBC's last telecast being the 1995 game. CBS aired the game for three years, followed by ABC for eight years, and Fox for four years, with 2010 being the last Orange Bowl to air on Fox. ESPN began televising the game in 2011.
- Sugar BowlSugar BowlThe Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
– Traditionally held on New Year's Day. Its traditional time slot was early afternoon and was first telecast by the DuMont Network in 1953 and then by ABC from 1954 to 1958. From 1959 until 1969 NBC broadcast the game as a part of its New Year's Day trio of the Sugar, Rose and then Orange. ABC returned in 1970 and for 1972 convinced the Sugar Bowl committee to move the game to primetime on New Year's Eve where it remained through 1975. ABC aired the game up until 2006 when Fox purchased the rights for the BCS Bowl games through 2010. ESPN began televising the game in 2011. - Cotton Bowl Classic – Traditionally held on New Year's Day. CBS was the long-time home of the Cotton Bowl Classic, airing it up through 1992, and again from 1996-1998. NBC aired the game from 1993–1995, and Fox has aired the game since 1999. The game has been played on January 2 multiple times in recent years, as was the case in both 2009 and 2010. The 2011 game aired in primetime for the first time ever, on Friday, January 7.
BCS games
The Bowl Championship SeriesBowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
, which began in 1998, was driven from the start by television revenue. In 2007, the Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
started broadcasting all the BCS games with the exception of the Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
. ABC previously aired two full cycles of the BCS between 1998 and 2006. Before this, CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
aired the Bowl Coalition
Bowl Coalition
The Bowl Coalition was a predecessor of the Bowl Championship Series that was formed through an agreement among college football bowl games and conferences for the purpose of forcing a national championship game between the top two teams and to provide quality bowl game matchups for the champions...
and the Bowl Alliance
Bowl Alliance
The Bowl Alliance was an agreement among college football bowl games for the purpose of trying to match the top two teams in a national championship bowl game and to provide quality bowl game matchups for the champions of its member conferences...
, with the exception of the Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
from 1995-1997. The Rose Bowl has aired on ABC since 1989. All BCS games will shift to cable in 2010-11 as ESPN will begin a four-year deal.
Announcers
Current lineup (for 2011)
ESPNESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
/ESPN2
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
/ABC
ESPN on ABC
ESPN on ABC is the brand used for sports programming on the ABC television network. Officially the broadcast network retains its own sports division; however, for all practical purposes, ABC's sports division has been merged with ESPN, a sports cable network majority-owned by ABC's parent, The...
Note: All ABC crews may appear on ESPN and vice versa.
- Brent MusburgerBrent MusburgerBrent Woody Musburger is an American sportscaster for the ESPN and ABC television networks. Formerly with CBS Sports and one of the original members of their legendary program The NFL Today, Musburger has covered NASCAR, NBA, MLB, NCAA football and basketball games. Musburger has also served as a...
, Kirk HerbstreitKirk HerbstreitKirk Herbstreit is an Emmy Award-winning analyst for ESPN's College GameDay, a television program covering college football and a provider of color commentary during college football games on ESPN and ABC. He appears annually as a commentator in EA Sports' NCAA Football. He was a quarterback on...
, and Erin AndrewsErin AndrewsErin Jill Andrews is an American sportscaster, journalist, and television personality. As of 2011 she is a co-host of the ESPN entertainment show College GameDay and a contributor for Good Morning America on the ABC network... - Brad NesslerBrad NesslerBradley "Brad" Nessler is an American sportscaster, who currently calls college basketball and college football games for ESPN with occasional appearances on ESPN on ABC. He will also call Thursday Night Football on NFL Network beginning in 2011, and appears annually as a commentator in EA Sports'...
, Todd BlackledgeTodd BlackledgeTodd Alan Blackledge was an American football quarterback in both the NCAA and National Football League. In college, he led the Penn State Nittany Lions to a national championship; and, as a pro, he played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers...
, and Holly RoweHolly RoweHolly Rowe is a sports telecaster currently working for the sports television network, ESPN. Rowe is best known as a sideline reporter for college football games which are telecast on ESPN.- History with ESPN :... - Sean McDonoughSean McDonoughSean McDonough is an American sportscaster, currently employed by ESPN.-Early life and career:The son of Boston Globe sportswriter Will McDonough, Sean graduated from Syracuse University in 1984. It was in Syracuse where McDonough began his broadcasting career in 1982 as the play-by-play announcer...
, or Joe TessitoreJoe TessitoreJoe Tessitore is a national sports TV broadcaster.-Recent work:Joe Tessitore is a well known football, horse racing and boxing TV broadcaster. In 2011 Tessitore also was named executive producer of the new ESPN Film Roll Tide, War Eagle set to premiere in November. Among his primary assignments...
Matt MillenMatt MillenMatthew George "Matt" Millen is an American former National Football League linebacker and a former executive. Millen played for the Oakland Raiders, the San Francisco 49ers and the Washington Redskins. In Millen's 12-year NFL playing career, he played on four Super Bowl-winning teams...
, and Heather CoxHeather CoxHeather Cox is an American Sportscaster who is a sideline reporter for WNBA, NBA, college basketball and college football games on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC Sports. As Heather Schoeny, she played college volleyball at University of the Pacific... - Rece DavisRece DavisRece Davis is a sports television journalist for ESPN. Davis works as an anchor on SportsCenter, and host of various other programs on the network.-Early life and career:...
, Craig James, Jesse PalmerJesse PalmerJesse James Palmer is a Canadian-born sports commentator and former college and professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League for four seasons in the early 2000s...
, and Jenn BrownJenn BrownJennifer "Jenn" Lynne Brown is an American television personality who is a sportscaster, TV host, producer, and a model. Brown currently works for ESPN as a reporter. She is a reporter for both College GameDay and College GameDay as well co-host of ESPNU's Road Trip with Jonathan Drubner... - Mike PatrickMike PatrickMike Patrick is an American sportscaster.-Career:Patrick began his broadcasting career in the fall of 1966 at WVSC-Radio in Somerset, Pa. In 1970, he was named Sports Director at WJXT-TV in Jacksonville, Fla., where he provided play-by-play for Jacksonville Sharks' World Football League telecasts...
or Justin Kutcher and Craig James - Bob WischusenBob WischusenBob Wischusen is an American sports commentator who is currently a college football and basketball voice for ESPN and the radio voice for the New York Jets on WABC and WEPN.-Early life and career:...
and Bob Davie or Rod GilmoreRod GilmoreRodney "Rod" Gilmore is an American college football analyst for ESPN. He works with Joe Tessitore on the network's Friday and Saturday night telecasts. Prior to joining ESPN in 1996, Gilmore worked for Prime Time Sports, SportsChannel Bay Area, and Pacific Sports Network... - Carter BlackburnCarter BlackburnCarter Blackburn is an American sportscaster. He currently works for ESPN and ESPNU as play-by-play announcer on various telecasts. By age thirty-one, Blackburn had called the NFL on Fox, NCAA Basketball Tournaments on CBS, and college football on ABC...
and Brock HuardBrock HuardBrock Xavier Huard is a former American football quarterback in the NFL. Brock's brother, Damon, also played quarterback at the University of Washington and later played in the National Football League... - Dave PaschDave PaschDave Pasch is an American sportscaster. Pasch works for ESPN, for which he calls play-by-play of college football, college basketball, NBA, WNBA, and Arena football games. He has also been the radio voice for the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL since 2002, teaming with Ron Wolfley. In 2007, Pasch...
, Urban MeyerUrban MeyerUrban Frank Meyer, III is an American football coach and former player. He is head football coach at Ohio State University, having been hired for the position in November 2011...
, and Chris SpielmanChris SpielmanCharles Christopher "Chris" Spielman is a former American football player and is currently an analyst for ESPN's coverage of college football games.-Football career:... - Joe TessitoreJoe TessitoreJoe Tessitore is a national sports TV broadcaster.-Recent work:Joe Tessitore is a well known football, horse racing and boxing TV broadcaster. In 2011 Tessitore also was named executive producer of the new ESPN Film Roll Tide, War Eagle set to premiere in November. Among his primary assignments...
or Dave LamontDave LamontDave Lamont is an American sports commentator. He formerly hosted South Florida's First News weekday mornings from 5 to 9 on WIOD . He was the ringleader of SFFN and does everything from reporting to getting interactive with listeners. Lamont currently calls college football for ESPN and ABC.Lamont...
and Rod GilmoreRod GilmoreRodney "Rod" Gilmore is an American college football analyst for ESPN. He works with Joe Tessitore on the network's Friday and Saturday night telecasts. Prior to joining ESPN in 1996, Gilmore worked for Prime Time Sports, SportsChannel Bay Area, and Pacific Sports Network...
or Mark MayMark MayMark Eric May is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League. He is currently a football analyst for ESPN.-Football career:...
and Lou HoltzLou HoltzLouis Leo "Lou" Holtz is a retired American football coach, and active sportscaster, author, and motivational speaker in the United States... - Joe TessitoreJoe TessitoreJoe Tessitore is a national sports TV broadcaster.-Recent work:Joe Tessitore is a well known football, horse racing and boxing TV broadcaster. In 2011 Tessitore also was named executive producer of the new ESPN Film Roll Tide, War Eagle set to premiere in November. Among his primary assignments...
or Dave LamontDave LamontDave Lamont is an American sports commentator. He formerly hosted South Florida's First News weekday mornings from 5 to 9 on WIOD . He was the ringleader of SFFN and does everything from reporting to getting interactive with listeners. Lamont currently calls college football for ESPN and ABC.Lamont...
and Tim Brown (ESPN 3D) - Mark Jones and Ed CunninghamEd CunninghamEd Cunningham is a former professional American football player who played center for five seasons for the Arizona Cardinals and the Seattle Seahawks. Prior to his professional career, Cunningham played center for the University of Washington Huskies, helping them win a National Championship in 1991...
- Beth MowinsBeth MowinsBeth Mowins is a play-by-play announcer and reporter for ESPN and CBS. She mostly calls women's college sports but became only the second woman to call nationally televised football games for ESPN in 2005...
or Dave LamontDave LamontDave Lamont is an American sports commentator. He formerly hosted South Florida's First News weekday mornings from 5 to 9 on WIOD . He was the ringleader of SFFN and does everything from reporting to getting interactive with listeners. Lamont currently calls college football for ESPN and ABC.Lamont...
and Mike BellottiMike BellottiRobert Michael "Mike" Bellotti is a college football analyst for ESPN and ABC. A native of California, he was hired as football offensive coordinator by the University of Oregon in 1989. From 1995 to 2009, he was the head coach of the Oregon Ducks football team... - Dave LamontDave LamontDave Lamont is an American sports commentator. He formerly hosted South Florida's First News weekday mornings from 5 to 9 on WIOD . He was the ringleader of SFFN and does everything from reporting to getting interactive with listeners. Lamont currently calls college football for ESPN and ABC.Lamont...
or Mark Neely and Ray BentleyRay BentleyRay Russell Bentley is a former professional American football linebacker.-Playing career:...
or Robert SmithRobert Smith- Music :*Robert Smith , lead singer/guitarist of The Cure*Bob Smith , founder, singer, keyboards and drums for Cat Mother & the All Night Newsboys...
or David Diaz-InfanteDavid Diaz-InfanteGustavo David Miguel Diaz-Infante is a former professional American football guard and center and current sports analyst. In the National Football League, he played for the San Diego Chargers, Denver Broncos, and the Philadelphia Eagles...
or Tim BrownTim BrownTimothy Donell Brown is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football for Notre Dame, where he won the Heisman Trophy, becoming the first wide receiver to win the award. He spent sixteen years with the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, during which he established himself as one... - Tom Werme and Jay WalkerJay WalkerJay Scott Walker is an American inventor, entrepreneur and chairman of Walker Digital, a privately held research and development lab focused on using digital networks to create new business systems...
- Mike MorganMike MorganMichael Thomas Morgan is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He competed for twelve different teams over 25 years, and is one of only 29 players in baseball history to date to have played Major League baseball over four decades...
and Charles ArbuckleCharles ArbuckleCharles Edward Arbuckle is a former professional American football tight end in the National Football League. He played four seasons for the Indianapolis Colts...
CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
- Verne LundquistVerne LundquistMerton Laverne "Verne" Lundquist, Jr. is an American sportscaster, currently employed by CBS Sports television.-Early life and career:Lundquist was born in Duluth, Minnesota...
, Gary DanielsonGary DanielsonGary Danielson is a former professional football player, a quarterback in the National Football League . He played for the Detroit Lions from 1976 to 1984 and for the Cleveland Browns in 1985, 1987, and 1988...
, and Tracy WolfsonTracy WolfsonTracy Wolfson is an American sportscaster for CBS Sports. She is a University of Michigan graduate with a degree in communications.-Early life and career:... - Spero DedesSpero DedesSpero Dedes is a Greek-American sportscaster born in Paramus, New Jersey. He is a graduate of Paramus High School and a 2001 graduate of Fordham University in New York....
, Steve BeuerleinSteve BeuerleinStephen Taylor "Steve" Beuerlein is a former football quarterback, and currently is an NFL and college football analyst for CBS.-Education:...
, and Otis Livingston - Ian EagleIan EagleIan Eagle is an American sports announcer calling National Football League games on CBS, New Jersey Nets games on the YES Network and hosts Full Court Press, a basketball talk show with former player Kenny Smith on Sirius Satellite Radio...
, Randy CrossRandy CrossRandall "Randy" Laureat Cross , is a football analyst and former NFL offensive lineman. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in July 2011.-High school years:...
, and Lewis JohnsonLewis JohnsonLewis Johnson is a reporter for ESPN, and NBC Sports. He formerly worked for Versus. He was the sideline reporter for Notre Dame football home games and in 2001 and 2002 was a sideline reporter for the NBA Finals on NBC and for the network's Arena Football telecasts from 2003 through 2006... - Tim BrandoTim BrandoTim Brando is a radio host and CBS Sports studio host and play-by-play announcer.-Biography:...
, Spencer TillmanSpencer TillmanSpencer Tillman is a former professional American football player who played running back for eight seasons for the Houston Oilers and San Francisco 49ers.-College Football:...
, and Lewis JohnsonLewis JohnsonLewis Johnson is a reporter for ESPN, and NBC Sports. He formerly worked for Versus. He was the sideline reporter for Notre Dame football home games and in 2001 and 2002 was a sideline reporter for the NBA Finals on NBC and for the network's Arena Football telecasts from 2003 through 2006...
NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
- Tom HammondTom HammondTom Hammond is an American sportscaster for NBC Sports television. Hammond is one of the network's staple on-air presenters, along with Bob Costas and Dan Hicks...
or Dan HicksDan HicksDan Hicks is the name of:*Dan Hicks , singer and musician*Dan Hicks , sportscaster*Dan Hicks , British historical archaeologist/anthropologist*Dan Hicks , American actor...
, Mike MayockMike MayockMichael Francis Mayock is a former professional football player, a safety with the New York Giants of the National Football League...
, and Alex FlanaganAlex FlanaganAlex Flanagan is an American sportscaster who is a graduate of the University of Arizona and Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson, Arizona...
Mtn.
- Todd HarrisTodd HarrisTodd Harris is a play-by-play announcer for ESPNU college football coverage and Ultimate Fighting Championship airing on Versus.Prior to those duties, he was the lead play-by-play announcer for ABC and ESPN's coverage of the Indy Racing League's IndyCar Series...
, Todd ChristensenTodd ChristensenTodd Jay Christensen is a former professional American football player and a current sports broadcaster for the MountainWest Sports Network.-Early life:... - Ari WolfeAri WolfeAri Wolfe is a play-by-play announcer of college and professional sports on both television and radio.-Early life and career:As a student at USC, Wolfe did both play-by-play and color commentary for the Trojans' basketball, football, and baseball teams on KSCR in Los Angeles.Born in Philadelphia...
, Blaine FowlerBlaine FowlerBlaine Fowler is a college football and men's college basketball sports analyst in the Mountain West Conference for Mtn. and Versus. When his contract with Mtn. doesn't conflict, Fowler calls football games for the Independent Brigham Young University and men's basketball West Coast Conference... - Bill Doleman, Jay LeeuwenburgJay LeeuwenburgJay Robert Leeuwenburg is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, Cincinnati Bengals, and the Washington Redskins...
Fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
/FX/FSN
Fox Sports Net
The Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net , are a collection of cable TV regional sports networks in the United States owned and operated by News Corporation.- Beginnings :...
/FCS
Fox College Sports
Fox College Sports is a group of three United States digital cable networks, FCS Atlantic, FCS Central and FCS Pacific owned by News Corporation, that specialize primarily in showing collegiate programming, live events, coaches shows & various DI, DII, & DIII content surrounding college athletics...
- Gus JohnsonGus Johnson (sportscaster)Augustus Cornelius "Gus" Johnson, Jr. is an American sportscaster. Formerly employed by CBS Sports, he currently calls play-by-play for Fox Sports, Showtime, the Big Ten Network and EA Sports.-Education:...
, Charles Davis, and Tim BrewsterTim BrewsterTim Brewster is an American football player and coach. He most recently served as the head coach of the University of Minnesota from 2007 until he was fired midway through the Golden Gophers' 2010 season.-Playing career:...
(FX) - Craig BolerjackCraig BolerjackCraig Bolerjack is an American sportscaster. He is currently an announcer for FOX Sports, working mostly college football and college basketball games.-Biography:...
, Joel KlattJoel KlattJoel Klatt is no longer a talk radio personality on 102.3FM "The Ticket" in Denver, Colorado, partnered with fellow former University of Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Charles "C.J." Johnson. Klatt played college football for the University of Colorado Buffaloes before turning professional...
, and Petros Papadaikas (Pac-12 on FSN) - Joel MeyersJoel MeyersJoel Meyers is an American sportscaster and former play-by-play announcer of the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association on Fox Sports West and KCAL. Meyers left the Lakers at the end of the 2010-2011 season when the team did not renew his contract.-Career:Meyers joined the Lakers...
, Joel KlattJoel KlattJoel Klatt is no longer a talk radio personality on 102.3FM "The Ticket" in Denver, Colorado, partnered with fellow former University of Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Charles "C.J." Johnson. Klatt played college football for the University of Colorado Buffaloes before turning professional...
or Brian BaldingerBrian BaldingerBrian David "The Facemask Fingerer" Baldinger is a former professional American football player and former color commentator for National Football League telecasts on the Fox network. He also covers Atlanta Falcons preseason games as an analyst on WXIA-TV with Randy Waters...
or Dave LaphamDave LaphamDave Lapham , is a former professional football offensive lineman for the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals from 1974 to 1983 and the United States Football League's New Jersey Generals...
, or Gary ReasonsGary ReasonsGary Phillip Reasons is a former American football linebacker for the New York Giants of the National Football League, winning Super Bowl XXI and Super Bowl XXV as a member of the team.-Biography:...
, and Jim Knox (Big 12 on FSN) - Ron Thulin, J.C. Pearson, and Jeremy BloomJeremy BloomJeremy Ryan Bloom is a three-time World Champion, two-time Olympian and eleven-time World Cup gold medalist in freestyle moguls skiing. In 2005, he won a record six straight World Cup events, the most in a single season in the sport's history....
(CUSA on FSN) - Bill Land, Dave LaphamDave LaphamDave Lapham , is a former professional football offensive lineman for the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals from 1974 to 1983 and the United States Football League's New Jersey Generals...
, or Gary ReasonsGary ReasonsGary Phillip Reasons is a former American football linebacker for the New York Giants of the National Football League, winning Super Bowl XXI and Super Bowl XXV as a member of the team.-Biography:...
, and Emily JonesEmily JonesEmily Jones McCoy is a television anchor and reporter for FSN.-Education:Jones graduated from Texas Tech University in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast journalism.-Broadcasting career:...
(Big 12 and CUSA on FSN) - Steve Physioc, or Tom Helmer, Yogi RothYogi RothYogi Roth is an American football coach. He played high school football at Lackawanna Trail High School in Dalton, PA and college football at Pitt, where he was a wide receiver. After working as a video assistant at the University of Southern California, he was promoted to Quarterbacks graduate...
, and Desmond Purnell (Big 12 and CUSA on FCS) - Bob RathbunBob RathbunBob Rathbun is a sports television announcer. He has been the announcer for the Atlanta Hawks basketball games on FSN South since 1996. He is currently partnered with Dominique Wilkins...
, Tim CouchTim CouchTimothy Scott "Tim" Couch is a former American football quarterback. He played college football at the University of Kentucky...
, and Kristina Akra (SEC Regional Network) - Rich WaltzRich WaltzRich Waltz is the current play-by-play commentator for Miami Marlins baseball, SEC Football-Basketball, and ACC Football-Basketball broadcasts on FSN. Waltz is currently in his 7th year as the television Play-by-Play Voice of the Marlins on FOX Sports Florida/Sun Sports and his 15th consecutive...
, Keith JonesKeith JonesKeith Jones may refer to:*Keith Jones , former American football running back*Keith Jones , English former footballer...
, and Jenn Hildreth (ACC Regional Network) - Mike HogewoodMike HogewoodMichael "Mike" Hogewood is an American sportscaster. He is a freelance play-by-play announcer who is primarily associated with Raycom Sports . Hogewood is best known for his work on ACC football games, ACC men's and women's basketball, as well as for anchoring Raycom's coverage of Nextel Cup...
, Ron Bunting, (ACC Regional Network) - Bill MacdonaldBill MacdonaldBill Macdonald is an American sportscaster who works for Fox Sports West/Prime Ticket. Macdonald joined the network, then called Prime Ticket, at its inception in 1985.Currently, Macdonald hosts the following pre-game and in-game shows:...
, and JJ Stokes, - Mitch Strohman, Kevin StephensKevin StephensKevin Alexander Stephens in Enfield, London, England, is an English professional footballer who plays for Boreham Wood. He played as a defender for Leyton Orient in the Football League.-External links:...
, and Marc Buckhout (Northern Arizona) - James Verrett, Doug ChapmanDoug ChapmanDoug Chapman is a stunt performer and actor, a member of Stunts Canada, who works in film and television.-Biography:Height: 5 ft 10in...
,
Versus
Versus (TV channel)
Versus is a sports-oriented cable television channel in the United States. It was previously known as Outdoor Life Network and was launched on July 1, 1995, focusing on fishing, hunting, and other outdoor sports...
- Ted RobinsonTed RobinsonTed Robinson is the name of:*Ted Robinson , Golf course architect*Ted Robinson , American sportscaster...
, Glenn ParkerGlenn ParkerGlenn Andrew Parker is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League who played for the Buffalo Bills, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the New York Giants...
, and Akbar Gbaja-BiamilaAkbar Gbaja-BiamilaAkbar Oluwakemi-Idowu Gbaja-Biamila is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football at San Diego State. He currently works for NBC Sports as a college football analyst, previously...
(Pac-12) - Paul BurmeisterPaul BurmeisterPaul Burmeister is an analyst for the NFL Network, hosting such shows as College Scoreboard, Path to the Draft and Playbook....
, Shaun KingShaun KingShaun Earl King is a former Tulane University and National Football League quarterback.-High School:King is a 1995 graduate of Gibbs High School .-College:...
, and Anthony Herron (MWC) - Randy MossRandy Moss (sports reporter)Randy Moss is an American sports reporter who currently covers horse racing for NBC Sports, ESPN, Versus, and Daily Racing Form and football for the NFL Network.-Early life:...
, Ross TuckerRoss TuckerRoss Finch Tucker is a former American football offensive lineman, and currently an online journalist for ESPN....
, and Carolyn Manno or Akbar Gbaja-BiamilaAkbar Gbaja-BiamilaAkbar Oluwakemi-Idowu Gbaja-Biamila is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football at San Diego State. He currently works for NBC Sports as a college football analyst, previously...
(Ivy League)
ESPNU
ESPNU
ESPNU is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced by, affiliated with and owned by parent network ESPN. ESPNU originates out of ESPN Regional Television's ESPNU (often referred to as The U) is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced...
- Clay MatvickClay MatvickClay Matvick is an American sportscaster, who works primarily as a play-by-play announcer for ABC and the ESPN networks.- Background :Matvick received a degree in mass communications from St...
and Brian GrieseBrian GrieseBrian David Griese is a former American football quarterback. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played high school football at Christopher Columbus High School and later college football at Michigan.... - Rob StoneRob StoneRob Stone is a sports commentator for ESPN. He has covered various sports including Major League Soccer, NCAA and NFL football, and is now the play-by-play announcer for PBA Tournament Bowling alongside color commentator and 13-time PBA titleist Randy Pedersen.-Early life and career:A native of...
or Mike MorganMike MorganMichael Thomas Morgan is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He competed for twelve different teams over 25 years, and is one of only 29 players in baseball history to date to have played Major League baseball over four decades...
and Danny KanellDanny KanellDaniel Paul Kanell is a former professional American football quarterback in the National Football League, and Arena Football League.-College career:... - Pam WardPam WardPam Ward is an on-air personality for the cable sports television network ESPN.She is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park with a degree in communications....
or Adam Amin and Dan Hawkins - Anish ShroffAnish ShroffAnish Shroff has been an anchor for ESPNews since 2008. Anish was born in Bloomfield, New Jersey and earned a bachelor's degree from Syracuse University. He was featured on the second season of ESPN reality show Dream Job in 2004. Following his stint on Dream Job, Shroff worked as an anchor, talk...
and Jay Walker - Adam Amin or Mike MorganMike MorganMichael Thomas Morgan is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He competed for twelve different teams over 25 years, and is one of only 29 players in baseball history to date to have played Major League baseball over four decades...
and David Diaz-InfanteDavid Diaz-InfanteGustavo David Miguel Diaz-Infante is a former professional American football guard and center and current sports analyst. In the National Football League, he played for the San Diego Chargers, Denver Broncos, and the Philadelphia Eagles...
or Jay Walker - Sam Gore or Justin Kutcher and Tom LuginbillTom LuginbillTom Luginbill is a college football analyst for ESPN. Luginbill grew up in Tempe, Arizona and San Diego. He is the son of the professional and college coach Al Luginbill.-Playing career:...
or Jay WalkerJay WalkerJay Scott Walker is an American inventor, entrepreneur and chairman of Walker Digital, a privately held research and development lab focused on using digital networks to create new business systems... - Dave Neal and Andre WareAndre WareAndre Ware is a sports analyst and commentator and a former American football player. He was the 1989 Heisman Trophy winner as a quarterback for the University of Houston, becoming the first African-American quarterback to win the award. In the 1990 NFL Draft, Ware was the first round selection ...
CBS Sports Network
- Dave Ryan or James BatesJames BatesJames Bates or Jim Bates may refer to:*James Bates , American politician from Maine*James K. Bates , New York physician and politician*James L. Bates , brigadier general in the American Civil War*James T...
and Rich RodriguezRich RodriguezRichard A. "Rich" Rodriguez is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Arizona. Rodriguez previously served as the head football coach at Salem University , Glenville State College , West Virginia University , and the University...
(CUSA and MWC) - James Bates and Aaron Taylor (CUSA and MWC)
- Gary ThorneGary ThorneGary Thorne is a play-by-play announcer for ESPN and ABC, working Major League Baseball, College football and Frozen Four hockey contests. He is also the television play-by-play voice of the Baltimore Orioles...
and Randy CrossRandy CrossRandall "Randy" Laureat Cross , is a football analyst and former NFL offensive lineman. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in July 2011.-High school years:...
or Tim BrantTim BrantTim Brant is an American sportscaster and Vice President and Director of Sports for ABC 7 / WJLA-TV in Washington DC. He has spent nearly thirty years covering sports nationally for CBS and ABC....
(Army) - Tim BrantTim BrantTim Brant is an American sportscaster and Vice President and Director of Sports for ABC 7 / WJLA-TV in Washington DC. He has spent nearly thirty years covering sports nationally for CBS and ABC....
or Josh LewinJosh LewinJosh Lewin is an American sports play-by-play announcer who most recently called television games for the Texas Rangers baseball club. He serves as radio voice of the San Diego Chargers football team...
and Randy CrossRandy CrossRandall "Randy" Laureat Cross , is a football analyst and former NFL offensive lineman. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in July 2011.-High school years:...
(Navy) - Todd HarrisTodd HarrisTodd Harris is a play-by-play announcer for ESPNU college football coverage and Ultimate Fighting Championship airing on Versus.Prior to those duties, he was the lead play-by-play announcer for ABC and ESPN's coverage of the Indy Racing League's IndyCar Series...
or Dave RyanDave RyanDave Ryan is a play-by-play announcer and reporter for CBS. He previously worked for ESPN., and began his start in broadcasting at UUTV, now called CitrusTV, the student-run TV studio at Syracuse University.He was born on June 20, 1967...
and Doug ChapmanDoug ChapmanDoug Chapman is a stunt performer and actor, a member of Stunts Canada, who works in film and television.-Biography:Height: 5 ft 10in...
(CUSA and NCAA D2)
BTN
- Eric CollinsEric Collins (sportscaster)Eric Collins is a play-by-play sports announcer, working primarily in baseball and softball.Currently, Collins serves as the part-time television voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers, taking over the duties of current Dodger radio voice Charley Steiner, who was the team's play-by-play announcer on...
, Chris Martin, and Dionne Miller - Tom Hart, Derek RackleyDerek RackleyDerek Rackley is a National Football League long snapper/tight end who is currently a free agent. Rackley is also currently a football analyst and broadcaster for the Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast nightly television show, SportsNite...
, and Lisa Byington - Matt Devlin, Glen MasonGlen MasonGlen O. Mason is an American football coach. Mason previously served as the head football coach at Kent State University, the University of Kansas, and the University of Minnesota, compiling a career college football record of 123–121–1.-Playing career:Mason played college football at...
and Rebecca Haarlow - Kevin KuglerKevin KuglerKevin Kugler is a radio personality at 1620 the Zone in Omaha, Nebraska, co-host of the afternoon program "Unsportsmanlike Conduct" from 2:00pm to 6:00pm Central Time. He is also the lead play-by-play announcer on the Westwood One/NCAA Radio Network for college football and college basketball. He...
, Kelly StoufferKelly StoufferKelly Wayne Stouffer is a former American football quarterback in the NFL. He spent most of his career with the Seattle Seahawks from 1988–1992. He graduated from Rushville High School in Rushville, Nebraska and attended Colorado State University...
or Danan HughesDanan HughesRobert Danan Hughes is a former American football wide receiver that played in the National Football League.-College career:...
and Ahman GreenAhman GreenAhman Rashad Green is a retired American football running back. He is the all-time leading rusher for the Green Bay Packers. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 3rd round of the 1998 NFL Draft... - Tom Werme, Danan HughesDanan HughesRobert Danan Hughes is a former American football wide receiver that played in the National Football League.-College career:...
or Gerry DinardoGerry DiNardoGerard DiNardo is a former American football player and coach. He played college football as a guard for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish where he was selected as an All-American in 1974...
or Jon JansenJon JansenJonathan Ward Jansen is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He previously played for the Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft...
and Stacy Paetz - Wayne LarriveeWayne LarriveeWayne Larrivee is an American sportscaster, who is the radio play-by-play voice of the Green Bay Packers and football and basketball play-by-play voice for the Big Ten Network.-Early life and career:...
, Joe TillerJoe TillerJoe Tiller is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Wyoming from 1991 to 1996 and Purdue University from 1997 to 2008, compliling a career college football record of 126–92–1...
or Brett BasanezBrett BasanezBrett Stephen Basanez is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at Northwestern....
and Jon JansenJon JansenJonathan Ward Jansen is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He previously played for the Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft...
ESPN Plus
ESPN Plus
ESPN Plus, the popular name of ESPN Regional Television, is an American television program syndicator. ERT is based along with sister network ESPNU in Charlotte, North Carolina...
- Dave Neal, Andre WareAndre WareAndre Ware is a sports analyst and commentator and a former American football player. He was the 1989 Heisman Trophy winner as a quarterback for the University of Houston, becoming the first African-American quarterback to win the award. In the 1990 NFL Draft, Ware was the first round selection ...
, and Cara CapuanoCara CapuanoCara Capuano is an American sports anchor for ESPNU. Before joining ESPNU in 2008, she was a former sports reporter for FSN. She joined Fox Sports Northwest in August 2004, as a reporter and anchor for the Northwest Sports Report, and the Detroit Sports Report...
(SEC) - Mike GleasonMike GleasonMike Gleason is an ESPN anchor, who appears primarily on ESPNU and ESPN Classic. Before joining ESPN, Gleason worked for WBNS-AM in Columbus, Ohio, from 1994-96 as a show host and doing play-by-play. He also worked at WBNS-TV in Columbus from 1987-98 as an anchor and handling a variety of...
, John CongemiJohn CongemiJohn Congemi is a former Canadian Football League quarterback and current college football analyst for ESPNU and the Big East Network.Congemi played quarterback for the Pittsburgh Panthers football team from 1982-1986. He finished second all time in passing yards and led his team to the 1984 Fiesta...
, and Eamon McAnaney (Big East) - Michael ReghiMichael ReghiMichael J. Reghi is an American television play-by-play announcer and radio sports talk show host. He is best known for being the former television play-by-play announcer of the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball , and the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association...
and Doug Garber (MAC) - Jim Barbar and John GregoryJohn GregoryJohn Charles Gregory is an English former footballer and currently works as a manager. He has previously managed: Portsmouth, Plymouth Argyle, Wycombe Wanderers, Aston Villa, Derby County, Queens Park Rangers, Maccabi Ahi Nazareth and F.C. Ashdod...
(MAC)
BYUtv
BYU Television
__NOEDITSECTION__Brigham Young University Television is a cable/satellite television channel operated by Brigham Young University...
- Dave McCannDave McCann (sportscaster)Dave McCann is a morning anchor for KLAS-TV in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he has been for the past 19 years. He is also the studio host for BYUtv's True Blue, is one of the hosts of the Countdown to Kickoff Pregame Show along with Alema Harrington and David Nixon, and is the lead sports announcer for...
, Blaine FowlerBlaine FowlerBlaine Fowler is a college football and men's college basketball sports analyst in the Mountain West Conference for Mtn. and Versus. When his contract with Mtn. doesn't conflict, Fowler calls football games for the Independent Brigham Young University and men's basketball West Coast Conference...
or Gary SheideGary SheideGary Sheide is a former American football quarterback for Brigham Young University. He was the first quarterback to come out of LaVell Edwards's BYU "quarterback factory."...
, and Jarom Jordan or Robbie Bullough
WAC Sports Network
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
- Barry TompkinsBarry TompkinsBarry Tompkins is a well-known American sportscaster. He is better known for his work as a boxing commentator, but he has covered football and another number of sports as well.-San Francisco, New York City and NBC:...
and Joe GlennJoe Glenn (American Football)Joe Glenn was the 30th head coach at the University of Wyoming since the school began playing football in 1893. Glenn took over Wyoming's football program in December 2002 after Wyoming fired the previous coach, Vic Koenning...
Sun Belt Network
Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
- Joe Davis, Cole Cubelic, and Erin Cofiell
Longhorn Network
Longhorn Network
The Longhorn Network is an American regional sports network focusing on sports-related programming for The University of Texas at Austin...
- Mark JonesMark JonesMark Jones is the name of:* Mark Jones * Mark Jones , English footballer* Mark Jones , full back who played for Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Birmingham City and Hereford United...
and Ed CunninghamEd CunninghamEd Cunningham is a former professional American football player who played center for five seasons for the Arizona Cardinals and the Seattle Seahawks. Prior to his professional career, Cunningham played center for the University of Washington Huskies, helping them win a National Championship in 1991...
and Samantha SteeleSamantha SteeleSamantha Steele is an American sportscaster from Phoenix, Arizona who is currently a reporter/host for the Longhorn Network and ESPN college football and basketball sideline reporter.-Biography:... - Dave LamontDave LamontDave Lamont is an American sports commentator. He formerly hosted South Florida's First News weekday mornings from 5 to 9 on WIOD . He was the ringleader of SFFN and does everything from reporting to getting interactive with listeners. Lamont currently calls college football for ESPN and ABC.Lamont...
and Tim BrownTim BrownTimothy Donell Brown is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football for Notre Dame, where he won the Heisman Trophy, becoming the first wide receiver to win the award. He spent sixteen years with the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, during which he established himself as one...
and Ray BentleyRay BentleyRay Russell Bentley is a former professional American football linebacker.-Playing career:...
ACC Network
- Steve MartinSteve Martin (sportscaster)Steve Martin is a sportscaster, calling primarily college football and both pro and college basketball. He has called Atlantic Coast Conference football and football. On the professional side, he has served as a broadcaster for the Charlotte Hornets and Charlotte Bobcats.-External links:*...
, or Tim BrantTim BrantTim Brant is an American sportscaster and Vice President and Director of Sports for ABC 7 / WJLA-TV in Washington DC. He has spent nearly thirty years covering sports nationally for CBS and ABC....
, Dave Archer, and Mike HogewoodMike HogewoodMichael "Mike" Hogewood is an American sportscaster. He is a freelance play-by-play announcer who is primarily associated with Raycom Sports . Hogewood is best known for his work on ACC football games, ACC men's and women's basketball, as well as for anchoring Raycom's coverage of Nextel Cup... - Tim BrantTim BrantTim Brant is an American sportscaster and Vice President and Director of Sports for ABC 7 / WJLA-TV in Washington DC. He has spent nearly thirty years covering sports nationally for CBS and ABC....
, Riley SkinnerRiley SkinnerRiley Skinner is a former American football quarterback. He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Wake Forest.-College career:...
Southland Conference TV Network
Southland Conference
The Southland Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the south central United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it participates in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision...
- Randy McIlvoy, Shea Walker, and Jane Slater
Altitude Sports and Entertainment
Altitude Sports and Entertainment
Altitude Sports and Entertainment is a regional sports network that serves the Rocky Mountain region, specifically Denver. It officially launched on Sept...
- Rich Winter and Bryant Boyer
- Chris MarloweChris MarloweChristian "Chris" Marlowe is a former volleyball standout and current professional American sportscaster based in Denver, Colorado....
and Scott HastingsScott Hastings (basketball)Scott Alan Hastings is a retired American player in the National Basketball Association. His career spanned from 1982–1993 and he played forward/center for the New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons and Denver Nuggets.- College :Hastings played collegiate ball at the... - Glen Cerny and Danny Knee (New Mexico State)
Famous calls or catchphrases
- "You are looking live at (insert stadium)!" – Brent MusburgerBrent MusburgerBrent Woody Musburger is an American sportscaster for the ESPN and ABC television networks. Formerly with CBS Sports and one of the original members of their legendary program The NFL Today, Musburger has covered NASCAR, NBA, MLB, NCAA football and basketball games. Musburger has also served as a...
- "Not so fast, my friend!" – Lee CorsoLee CorsoLeland "Lee" Corso is a sports broadcaster and football analyst for ESPN. He has been featured on ESPN's College GameDay program since its inception and he appeared annually as a commentator in EA Sports' NCAA Football through NCAA Football 11...
- "Whoa Nellie!" – Keith JacksonKeith JacksonKeith Jackson is an American sportscaster, known for his long career with ABC Sports , his coverage of college football , his style of folksy, down-to-earth commentary, and his distinctive voice, with its deep cadence, and operatic tone considered "like Edward R...
- "How do you do!" - Verne LundquistVerne LundquistMerton Laverne "Verne" Lundquist, Jr. is an American sportscaster, currently employed by CBS Sports television.-Early life and career:Lundquist was born in Duluth, Minnesota...
- "Holy Cow!" - Mike PatrickMike PatrickMike Patrick is an American sportscaster.-Career:Patrick began his broadcasting career in the fall of 1966 at WVSC-Radio in Somerset, Pa. In 1970, he was named Sports Director at WJXT-TV in Jacksonville, Fla., where he provided play-by-play for Jacksonville Sharks' World Football League telecasts...
- "See you later!"- Tim BrantTim BrantTim Brant is an American sportscaster and Vice President and Director of Sports for ABC 7 / WJLA-TV in Washington DC. He has spent nearly thirty years covering sports nationally for CBS and ABC....
See also
- ESPN College Football Primetime (disambiguation)
- College GameDay
- College Football Scoreboard
- College Football FinalCollege Football FinalCollege Football Final is a one hour program totally devoted to college football and airs every Saturday night during the college football season. The official name is College Football Final driven by Pontiac. It was previously named College Gameday Final until 2006...
- College football on radioCollege football on radioCollege football on radio includes the radio broadcasting of college football games, as well as pre- and post-game reports, analysis, and human-interest stories.College football games have been broadcast since 1921, beginning with the 1921 West Virginia vs...
- List of media markets and college football
- Men's College Basketball on TelevisionMen's college basketball on televisionMen's College basketball on television includes the broadcasting of college basketball games, as well as pre- and post-game reports, analysis, and human-interest stories...
- Big 12 Championship Game broadcastersBig 12 Championship Game broadcastersThe following is a list of the television networks and announcers who have broadcast the college football's Big 12 Championship Game throughout the years.-2010s:-2000s:-1990s:-2000s:-External links:*...