ESPN College Football
Encyclopedia
ESPN College Football is the branding used for broadcasts of NCAA Division I FBS college football
across ESPN properties, including ESPN
, ESPN2
, ABC
, ESPN Classic
, ESPNU
, and ESPN Radio
. ESPN College Football debuted in 1982.
to NBC
.
ESPN also produces ESPN College Football on ABC
and ESPN Saturday Night Football on ABC in separate broadcast packages.
, Big Ten
, Big East
, MAC
, Pac-12, SEC
, Sun Belt
, and WAC
. ESPN will also televise games for the independent Brigham Young University beginning in 2011.
game. Both networks also air primetime games, typically featuring teams from the ACC
and/or SEC
.
With the expansion of ESPN, including multiple networks and outlets, their coverage has likewise increased. In 2005, with the creation of ESPNU
, over 300 games were aired on its networks.
In 2007, the ESPN family of networks aired over 450 games. Also, they aired a weekly game on ESPN Radio
for the first time ever. ESPN started that season with 25 hours of college football programming.
Also, ESPNU has rapidly increased the coverage of spring intermural team scrimmages with entire programs dedicated to this phenomenon. In 2008, ESPN aired College GameDay from Florida Field prior to their spring scrimmage game.
Starting with the 2007 season, ESPN began sublicensing games from Fox Sports Net
, with the Big 12 Conference (later extended until 2009) and with the Pac 10 Conference. However, the games cannot air during the “reverse mirror” slot.
During the 2008 season, ESPN aired over 400 games.
Beginning in the 2010 season, ESPN acquired exclusive broadcast rights to the Bowl Championship Series
in a four year contract, where all games in the BCS would be aired on ESPN.
ESPNU programs
During the regular season, ESPN airs pre-selected Thursday night marquee matchups. ESPN2 airs pre-selected Friday night contests from lesser known Division I schools.
The weekend games with the exception of the regular season are typically selected a week or two weeks out. ABC gets the first pick of games for all the major conferences, with the exception of the SEC, in which case CBS get their first selection.
ESPN/ESPN2 airs coverage of ABC
games in a "reverse mirror" format. Both networks will also air other selected midweek games and Sunday games, typically teams from more “minor” conferences.
ESPN Radio airs a weekly game as well as selected BCS games including all BCS games.
ESPNU usually airs 5 games per week.
ESPN Classic airs selected games throughout the year.
and other non-conference action.
Championship Weekend always features the MAC Championship Game
and will feature the Pac-12 Championship game every other year beginning in 2013. Previously it has featured the WAC Championship Game, the C-USA Championship Game, and the Big 12 Championship game before they changed affiliates or dropped below the minimum 12 teams required for a football championship.
The ESPN family of networks air the Division I FCS conference playoffs as well as other lower NCAA division championships.
ESPN and ESPN2 air the bulk of the games during ‘‘Bowl Week’’. ESPN Radio also owns the rights for many games including BCS matchups.
. The show airs several awards.
. It is typically an hour long program featuring interviews with past winners and nominees (with their families and/or coaches).
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...
across ESPN properties, including 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....
, 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...
, ESPN Classic
ESPN Classic
ESPN 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...
, 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...
, and ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
. ESPN College Football debuted in 1982.
Coverage overview
ESPN College Football consists of four to five games a week, with ESPN College Football Primetime, which airs at 7:30 on Thursdays. Saturday includes ESPN College Football Noon at 12:00 Saturday, a 3:30 or 4:30 game that isn't shown on a weekly basis, and ESPN College Football Primetime on Saturday. A Sunday game, Sunday Showdown, was added for the first half of 2006 to make up for the loss of Sunday Night FootballESPN Sunday Night Football
ESPN Sunday Night Football is the ESPN cable network's weekly television broadcasts of Sunday evening National Football League games. The first ESPN Sunday night broadcast occurred on November 8, 1987, while the last one aired on January 1, 2006....
to NBC
NBC Sunday Night Football
NBC Sunday Night Football is a weekly television broadcast of Sunday evening National Football League games on NBC that began airing on Sunday, August 6, 2006 with the pre-season opening Hall of Fame Game. Al Michaels serves as the play-by-play announcer, with Cris Collinsworth as the color...
.
ESPN also produces ESPN College Football on ABC
College Football on ABC
ESPN College Football on ABC presented by Kay Jewelers is a presentation of the American Broadcasting Company's regular season American college football television package...
and ESPN Saturday Night Football on ABC in separate broadcast packages.
Major conference rights
ACCAtlantic Coast Conference
The 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 Ten
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...
, 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...
, MAC
Mid-American Conference
The 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, 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...
, Sun Belt
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...
, and WAC
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...
. ESPN will also televise games for the independent Brigham Young University beginning in 2011.
History
In recent years, ESPN and ESPN2 air games at noon, which usually includes a Big TenBig 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...
game. Both networks also air primetime games, typically featuring teams from the ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The 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...
and/or 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...
.
With the expansion of ESPN, including multiple networks and outlets, their coverage has likewise increased. In 2005, with the creation of 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...
, over 300 games were aired on its networks.
In 2007, the ESPN family of networks aired over 450 games. Also, they aired a weekly game on ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
for the first time ever. ESPN started that season with 25 hours of college football programming.
Also, ESPNU has rapidly increased the coverage of spring intermural team scrimmages with entire programs dedicated to this phenomenon. In 2008, ESPN aired College GameDay from Florida Field prior to their spring scrimmage game.
Starting with the 2007 season, ESPN began sublicensing games 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 :...
, with the Big 12 Conference (later extended until 2009) and with the Pac 10 Conference. However, the games cannot air during the “reverse mirror” slot.
During the 2008 season, ESPN aired over 400 games.
Beginning in the 2010 season, ESPN acquired exclusive broadcast rights to 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...
in a four year contract, where all games in the BCS would be aired on ESPN.
Programs
- College Football LiveCollege Football LiveCollege Football Live is a show that airs weekdays on ESPN or ESPN2, and ESPNU. Its premiere was on Monday, July 23, 2007. Rece Davis is the lead host, but it also features ESPN college football analysts Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, Lou Holtz, Mark May, Desmond Howard, Bob Griese, and others...
- Daily program during the season and weekly show in the offseason - College Gameday - Weekly show (in-season) from the site of the biggest day of the game and/or significance
- 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...
- Saturday show reviewing the highlights of the days and the biggest stories
ESPNU programs
- ESPNU Inside The PollsESPNU Inside the PollsESPNU Inside the Polls is a television program that breaks down the latest college football polls. The program airs every Monday for one hour from 6pm ET to 7pm ET on ESPNU during the college football season. Since debuting on September 5, 2005, the host has been ESPNU signature anchor Mike Hall...
- ESPNU Coaches SpotlightESPNU Coaches SpotlightESPNU College Coaches Spotlight is a television program that showcases live college football coaches press conferences from around the country. The program airs every Tuesday for three hours from 12pm ET to 4pm ET on ESPNU during the college football season...
- ESPNU Recruiting InsiderESPNU Recruiting InsiderESPNU Recruiting Insider is a television program that focuses on college football recruiting. Debuting on September 8, 2006, ESPNU Recruiting Insider now airs every Thursday at 5 pm ET on ESPNU...
Coverage
ESPN airs Spring Football games and coverage. Coverage includes College Football Final which wraps the annual Spring Games.During the regular season, ESPN airs pre-selected Thursday night marquee matchups. ESPN2 airs pre-selected Friday night contests from lesser known Division I schools.
The weekend games with the exception of the regular season are typically selected a week or two weeks out. ABC gets the first pick of games for all the major conferences, with the exception of the SEC, in which case CBS get their first selection.
ESPN/ESPN2 airs coverage of ABC
College Football on ABC
ESPN College Football on ABC presented by Kay Jewelers is a presentation of the American Broadcasting Company's regular season American college football television package...
games in a "reverse mirror" format. Both networks will also air other selected midweek games and Sunday games, typically teams from more “minor” conferences.
ESPN Radio airs a weekly game as well as selected BCS games including all BCS games.
ESPNU usually airs 5 games per week.
ESPN Classic airs selected games throughout the year.
Typical games
Kickoff Week is the first weekend of the college football weekend. Games include the Chick-fil-A College KickoffChick-fil-A College Kickoff
The Chick-fil-A College Kickoff is an annual college football game played on the opening weekend of the college football season in Atlanta, Georgia at the Georgia Dome.- History :...
and other non-conference action.
Championship Weekend always features the MAC Championship Game
MAC Championship Game
The Marathon MAC Football Championship is a football game between the winners of the East and West divisions of the Mid-American Conference to determine the conference champion. The game has been played since 1997, when the conference was first divided into divisions and since 2003 has been...
and will feature the Pac-12 Championship game every other year beginning in 2013. Previously it has featured the WAC Championship Game, the C-USA Championship Game, and the Big 12 Championship game before they changed affiliates or dropped below the minimum 12 teams required for a football championship.
The ESPN family of networks air the Division I FCS conference playoffs as well as other lower NCAA division championships.
ESPN and ESPN2 air the bulk of the games during ‘‘Bowl Week’’. ESPN Radio also owns the rights for many games including BCS matchups.
College GameDay
ESPN airs the nationally renowned College GameDay. Since 1993 and almost exclusively in recent years, it has aired from the top game of the week or one of significance. For the 2010 season, the show was expanded to three hours, with the first hour airing on ESPNU.Home Depot College Football Awards
Since 1990, ESPN has aired the show live from the Boardwalk in Orlando, FloridaOrlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. The show airs several awards.
Heisman Trophy Presentation
Since 1993, ESPN has aired the Heisman Trophy from New York CityNew 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...
. It is typically an hour long program featuring interviews with past winners and nominees (with their families and/or coaches).
Personalities
See also
- ESPN College Football Primetime
- ESPN College Football Primetime
- ESPNU College FootballESPNU 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...
- College Football 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...
- 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...