SMW confirmed Frank's comment the Rose Bowl won't be in the early slot. In addition, the Fiesta Bowl in future years won't either.

https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/06...sible-cfp/

"The Rose Bowl could air in the same 4 PM ET window it occupied last season or in a primetime 8 PM ET slot. Neither the Rose nor Fiesta Bowl will be able to air in the Noon ET window (or 9 AM local time) in any year of the new six-year CFP rights deal, Sports Media Watch has learned."

Now in January 2028 the January 1 SF's are the Rose, Fiesta, and Peach. We can lock in the Peach for the early SF then.



The flexibility probably comes from the fact that the Sugar Bowl won't be New Year's Night in either year (it will be a SF in 2027 and New Year's Eve in 2028). Had the Sugar Bowl remained a NYD QF chances are the schedule would've been more likely to have been locked in.

Saw this on Reddit. I believe thrill_house has mentioned game value on similar threads before...



By Date:
Sept. 5: Clem/LSU (7:30pm, ABC)
Sept. 6: Wisc/ND (7:30pm, NBC)

Sept. 12: OSU/Tex (7:30pm, ABC)
Sept. 12: Okl/Mich (noon, FOX)

Sept. 19: LSU/Miss (7:30pm, ABC)

Sept. 26: Tex/Tenn
Sept. 26: Okl/Ga

Oct. 10: Texas/Okl
Oct. 10: Ga/Ala
Oct. 10: USC/PSU

Oct. 17: ND/BYU
Oct. 17: Ala/Tenn
Oct. 17: OSU/Ind
Oct. 17: Aub/Ga

Oct. 31: ND/Navy (noon, ABC or ESPN)

Nov. 7: BYU/Utah
Nov. 7: Mia/ND (7:30pm, NBC)
Nov. 7: Ore/OSU
Nov. 7: Ga/Miss

Nov. 14: Tenn/A&M
Nov. 14: Tex/LSU

Nov. 21: LSU/Tenn

Nov. 27: Texas/A&M (7:30pm, ABC)
Nov. 28: Mich/OSU (noon, FOX)
Nov. 28: Aub/Ala

How is Alabama/LSU not on the list? With Alabama/LSU set to only play every other year the next time Alabama will be coming to Baton Rouge will be 2030. You would think people would want to see Alabama. Tiger fans would rather see Clemson than Alabama?

The Brazil game is off. NC State-Virginia will be played at Virginia.

https://virginiasports.com/news/2026/06/...ottesville

Picture:

Bowl Games:

https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-relea...27-season/

On Dec. 26 (Sat. between Playoff 1st round and New Year's Day), ABC has a triple header, the Pinstripe Bowl, Duke's Mayo Bowl (also known as the annual Schmolik punching bag bowl), and the Cactus Bowl (formerly Rate).



On Wed. Dec. 30 on ESPN before the Fiesta Bowl is the Gator Bowl starting at 11:30am and the Liberty Bowl.

On New Year's Eve on ESPN is the Reliaquest, Las Vegas, and Texas (going head to head vs. an NFL game).

Finally on Sat. Jan. 2 is a tripleheader on ABC, the Citrus Bowl, First Responder Bowl, and Liberty Bowl.

The Holiday Bowl is not listed on the schedule.

- Gasparilla still has an atrocious date/time. This used to be a primetime game that drew very well. But like all the Florida bowl games, they're highly dependent on local teams (UCF, USF, UF, etc.) being in the matchup to draw attendance on weeknights.

- Armed Forces got relegated to made-for-TV bowl game status (pre-Christmas weeknight). This was one of the better-performing non-CFP bowl games.

- Looks like the Xbox Bowl is still on, just operating as the "Frisco Football Classic" until they find a sponsor. Don't hate the venue, it works well for teams with little to no traveling fans.

- 68 Ventures with a rare Saturday afternoon slot. Here's hoping they land two local teams who will travel for the game. Last year's game was empty.

- A win for the Mayo Bowl, which took the Pop-Tarts Bowl slot (Saturday afternoon between Christmas and New Year's). The only issue is that the SEC will struggle to send a team to that game, especially after moving to a 9-game conference schedule. This could very easily become an Appalachian State / East Carolina / James Madison vs. ACC matchup.

- Cactus Bowl FINALLY moves back to an outdoor football stadium and is rewarded with a Saturday primetime game. Now we have to keep our fingers crossed that the game will produce a solid matchup. The Mountain West has been carrying this bowl recently. If the Big 12 doesn't send a team, this could become North Dakota State's debut to bowl season vs. potentially Minnesota (although the Gophers went to Phoenix last year).

- Gator Bowl gets a death sentence time slot this year (11:30 AM on a Wednesday). The game hasn't featured a team from the Sunshine State since 2012. EverBank is going to be under construction with a capacity of 42,500 for the 2026 season.

- First Responder and Liberty Bowl both got solid spots and ABC games a year after having dud matchups. Networks are probably rotating the bowls so that every few years, you get a decent date/time. Like the Mayo, the SEC might struggle to send a team to the Liberty thanks to the 9-game conference schedule. Just too far down the pecking order.

- Still missing 4 bowl games (Arizona, Holiday, Poinsettia, Sun). Sun is traditionally NYE on CBS. Will be interesting to see how the Arizona Bowl counters with the Cactus essentially taking their slot. (EDIT: ESPN edited the article, Arizona Bowl will air at 4:30 PM on Sunday, December 27th, on The CW; Sun Bowl is in its traditional slot).

- I'm going to miss the Detroit Bowl. That was the MAC's Super Bowl.

Brazil game is moving back to Charlottesville. Waiver sought to keep the game on Week 0.

(06-02-2026 05:31 AM)schmolik Wrote:  Saw this on Reddit. I believe thrill_house has mentioned game value on similar threads before...



By Date:
Sept. 5: Clem/LSU (7:30pm, ABC)
Sept. 6: Wisc/ND (7:30pm, NBC)

Sept. 12: OSU/Tex (7:30pm, ABC)
Sept. 12: Okl/Mich (noon, FOX)

Sept. 19: LSU/Miss (7:30pm, ABC)

Sept. 26: Tex/Tenn
Sept. 26: Okl/Ga

Oct. 10: Texas/Okl
Oct. 10: Ga/Ala
Oct. 10: USC/PSU

Oct. 17: ND/BYU
Oct. 17: Ala/Tenn
Oct. 17: OSU/Ind
Oct. 17: Aub/Ga

Oct. 31: ND/Navy (noon, ABC or ESPN)

Nov. 7: BYU/Utah
Nov. 7: Mia/ND (7:30pm, NBC)
Nov. 7: Ore/OSU
Nov. 7: Ga/Miss

Nov. 14: Tenn/A&M
Nov. 14: Tex/LSU

Nov. 21: LSU/Tenn

Nov. 27: Texas/A&M (7:30pm, ABC)
Nov. 28: Mich/OSU (noon, FOX)
Nov. 28: Aub/Ala

How is Alabama/LSU not on the list? With Alabama/LSU set to only play every other year the next time Alabama will be coming to Baton Rouge will be 2030. You would think people would want to see Alabama. Tiger fans would rather see Clemson than Alabama?

Roughly 2/3 of those games are intense rivalries, unsurprising. One that is not is A&M - Tennessee. Tennessee was a great place to visit a few years ago (until game time), I’m hoping to return the favor this year. I have nothing but respect for that school and its fans.

(06-03-2026 12:24 PM)schmolik Wrote:  The Brazil game is off. NC State-Virginia will be played at Virginia.

https://virginiasports.com/news/2026/06/...ottesville

Picture:

Embarrassing for Brazil…I guess we won’t see any more CFB games scheduled down there going forward.

(06-05-2026 09:54 PM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  

(06-02-2026 05:31 AM)schmolik Wrote:  Saw this on Reddit. I believe thrill_house has mentioned game value on similar threads before...



By Date:
Sept. 5: Clem/LSU (7:30pm, ABC)
Sept. 6: Wisc/ND (7:30pm, NBC)

Sept. 12: OSU/Tex (7:30pm, ABC)
Sept. 12: Okl/Mich (noon, FOX)

Sept. 19: LSU/Miss (7:30pm, ABC)

Sept. 26: Tex/Tenn
Sept. 26: Okl/Ga

Oct. 10: Texas/Okl
Oct. 10: Ga/Ala
Oct. 10: USC/PSU

Oct. 17: ND/BYU
Oct. 17: Ala/Tenn
Oct. 17: OSU/Ind
Oct. 17: Aub/Ga

Oct. 31: ND/Navy (noon, ABC or ESPN)

Nov. 7: BYU/Utah
Nov. 7: Mia/ND (7:30pm, NBC)
Nov. 7: Ore/OSU
Nov. 7: Ga/Miss

Nov. 14: Tenn/A&M
Nov. 14: Tex/LSU

Nov. 21: LSU/Tenn

Nov. 27: Texas/A&M (7:30pm, ABC)
Nov. 28: Mich/OSU (noon, FOX)
Nov. 28: Aub/Ala

How is Alabama/LSU not on the list? With Alabama/LSU set to only play every other year the next time Alabama will be coming to Baton Rouge will be 2030. You would think people would want to see Alabama. Tiger fans would rather see Clemson than Alabama?

Roughly 2/3 of those games are intense rivalries, unsurprising. One that is not is A&M - Tennessee. Tennessee was a great place to visit a few years ago (until game time), I’m hoping to return the favor this year. I have nothing but respect for that school and its fans.

The last time Tennessee came to College Station was 2016 so it could be A&M fans wanted to see the Vols specifically. Other than Texas and Tennessee the only other SEC home games are poor opponents (Arkansas's a rivalry but they literally were winless in the SEC last year).

(06-06-2026 04:59 AM)schmolik Wrote:  

(06-05-2026 09:54 PM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  

(06-02-2026 05:31 AM)schmolik Wrote:  Saw this on Reddit. I believe thrill_house has mentioned game value on similar threads before...



By Date:
Sept. 5: Clem/LSU (7:30pm, ABC)
Sept. 6: Wisc/ND (7:30pm, NBC)

Sept. 12: OSU/Tex (7:30pm, ABC)
Sept. 12: Okl/Mich (noon, FOX)

Sept. 19: LSU/Miss (7:30pm, ABC)

Sept. 26: Tex/Tenn
Sept. 26: Okl/Ga

Oct. 10: Texas/Okl
Oct. 10: Ga/Ala
Oct. 10: USC/PSU

Oct. 17: ND/BYU
Oct. 17: Ala/Tenn
Oct. 17: OSU/Ind
Oct. 17: Aub/Ga

Oct. 31: ND/Navy (noon, ABC or ESPN)

Nov. 7: BYU/Utah
Nov. 7: Mia/ND (7:30pm, NBC)
Nov. 7: Ore/OSU
Nov. 7: Ga/Miss

Nov. 14: Tenn/A&M
Nov. 14: Tex/LSU

Nov. 21: LSU/Tenn

Nov. 27: Texas/A&M (7:30pm, ABC)
Nov. 28: Mich/OSU (noon, FOX)
Nov. 28: Aub/Ala

How is Alabama/LSU not on the list? With Alabama/LSU set to only play every other year the next time Alabama will be coming to Baton Rouge will be 2030. You would think people would want to see Alabama. Tiger fans would rather see Clemson than Alabama?

Roughly 2/3 of those games are intense rivalries, unsurprising. One that is not is A&M - Tennessee. Tennessee was a great place to visit a few years ago (until game time), I’m hoping to return the favor this year. I have nothing but respect for that school and its fans.

The last time Tennessee came to College Station was 2016 so it could be A&M fans wanted to see the Vols specifically. Other than Texas and Tennessee the only other SEC home games are poor opponents (Arkansas's a rivalry but they literally were winless in the SEC last year).

Arkansas hasn't been to CS in a while, either, and we only get them every other year now. And even though we keep beating them with 13 of the last 14 going in our favor, the victory margin has been very thin:

2025: +3
2024: +4
+12
+2
-10
+11
+4
+7
OT (eventually +7)
+21
OT
2014: OT

Going back to 2014, counting OT games as 0 point differential, we are +54 against Arkansas and 11-1 over the last 12 contests, a ridiculously unlikely record to have with only a +4.5 point differential. We are 7-1 in one score games!

Arkansas is every bit the rival that LSU is, they've just been a bit down of late and we've been able to capitalize. But that wheel will inevitably turn, and the Old Ags remember what it was like to have the shoe on the other foot.

SEC Update:

Many early game window slots announced including some IMO surprising ones:

Sept. 26: Texas at Tennessee (Noon kickoff)
Oct. 3: Vanderbilt at Georgia
Oct. 17: Florida at Texas (Good chance this is vs. Ohio State vs. Indiana)
Nov. 14: Alabama at Vanderbilt

I don't see these are "throwaway" games vs. FOX Big Nooners. Could ESPN/ABC be targeting FOX? Do they really want to throw away Florida/Texas vs. Ohio State/Indiana? Maybe they know FOX doesn't have first pick that week?

Significant non early game slots
Oct. 10: Texas vs. Oklahoma (Dallas), 3:30pm, Georgia at Alabama, Night (Not officially SNF but might as well be)
Oct. 17: Auburn at Georgia, Afternoon
Oct. 31: Florida vs. Georgia (Atlanta), 3:30pm (ABC)
Nov. 14: Mississippi at Oklahoma, Afternoon
Nov. 28: Tennessee at Vanderbilt, Night

Significant Flex Games:
Sept. 26: Oklahoma at Georgia (With Texas-Tennessee at noon, chances are pretty good this one's SNF)
Oct. 17: Alabama at Tennessee (With Auburn-Georgia an afternoon game, chances are pretty good this one's SNF)
Oct. 24: Texas A&M at Alabama
Nov. 7: Alabama at LSU and Georgia at Mississippi
Nov. 21: LSU at Tennessee
Nov. 28: Auburn at Alabama (They put Tenn/Vandy at night which is interesting. Could this force the Iron Bowl back to 3:30pm?)

I also noticed Auburn had an unusual number of early games:
Oct. 24: LSU (Noon)
Oct. 31: at Mississippi
Nov. 7: Arkansas
Nov. 14: at Mississippi State

Four consecutive weeks, all vs. former SEC West opponents.

Joel Klatt hints he and FOX will be at Ohio State/Indiana Oct. 17 (he doesn't say it officially). This would hint FOX has first pick that week. Considering FOX already locked up The Game and Oklahoma/Michigan they can only have first pick on Oct. 17 (Ohio State/Indiana) or Nov. 7 (Oregon/Ohio State) but not both. I'd have to believe FOX already knows which week they have the #1 pick for.





It's a long video but IMO worth it. Joel lists his ten games that will shape the upcoming college season. Ohio State at Indiana is one of the ten. Oregon at Ohio State is not one of them. Joel doesn't list all Big Ten games or games involving only Big Ten teams.

The biggest surprise to me was USC at Penn State. I don't see either team winning the Big Ten but Joel said the winner has a decent chance to make the Playoff and the game could make the difference between 9 wins and 10 wins. Joel said LSU-Mississippi could do the same. I know the PSU fans want a White Out but the game is the same week as Georgia-Alabama and Oklahoma-Texas. I personally want a Big Nooner:) If it were a week where the SEC game of the Week were two mediocre teams, put it in prime time!

Joel pointed out Ohio State-Indiana and Penn State-Michigan are both October 17. So one of those games won't be a Big Nooner and either CBS or NBC will get one of them. ABC likely airs Alabama-Tennessee in prime time.

So my updated guess assuming FOX had to choose between Ohio-State/Indiana and Oregon/Ohio State would be Ohio State-Indiana and CBS will have Oregon-Ohio State Nov. 7. NBC then has 5th pick and I would take Ohio State-USC on Oct. 31 although that is against the World Series. They could also take Oct. 10 for USC-Penn State but that's against Georgia-Alabama. More people watched the 2025 World Series Game 2 than last year's Alabama-Georgia regular season game but Georgia-Alabama would potentially take away more college football viewers away. If I'm NBC I'd take my chances with the World Series (not to mention I get Ohio State as opposed to Penn State).

I don't know who has the "6th" pick but could FOX be next? And if FOX has the 6th pick, would this scenario have been far fetched?

#1: FOX: Nov. 28 (Michigan-Ohio State)
#2: FOX: Oct. 17 (Ohio State-Indiana)
#3: FOX: Nov. 7 (Oregon-Ohio State)
#4: CBS: Oct. 31 (Ohio State-USC)
#5: NBC: Oct. 10 (USC-Penn State)
#6: FOX: Sept. 12 (Oklahoma-Michigan)

The Oklahoma-Michigan game we thought was the #3 pick was actually the #6 pick and Oregon-Ohio State winds up on FOX anyway? This assumes FOX has the #6 pick of course.

It's not hard to see Oregon-Ohio State as a top 3 pick. Ohio State and USC have yet to play a Big Ten conference game and I can easily see CBS or NBC taking it over Oklahoma-Michigan.

USC-Penn State over Oklahoma-Michigan might be a harder sell. NBC would know it would be up against Georgia-Alabama. On the other hand Oklahoma-Michigan would be up against Ohio State-Texas if they took it. If NBC had to choose between USC-Penn State vs Georgia-Alabama or Oklahoma-Michigan vs. Ohio State-Texas, pick your poison. The Big Ten probably wouldn't want to see Oklahoma-Michigan head to head vs. Ohio State-Texas (the SEC wouldn't either as would the four schools involved). Maybe a "deal" was made so NBC was given Oct. 10 and FOX Sept. 12 to keep Oklahoma-Michigan away from Ohio State-Texas and Oregon-Ohio State was still a top 3 pick.

Maybe Oregon-Ohio State is still on FOX anyway...

I would be very surprised if Ohio State-USC is on FOX though

(05-15-2026 11:26 AM)schmolik Wrote:  More Friday Night discussion... The ACC.

https://theacc.com/news/2026/5/15/acc-fi...edule.aspx

I notice that while Miami, Florida State, and Clemson all play Friday night games all of them are on the road (FSU plays UF on Black Friday in the afternoon). Could these schools be saying the same thing the top Big Ten and SEC teams are saying on Friday night games?

Also last year ay least three ACC Friday night games were clear upsets (at least at the time): Virginia beating Florida State, Louisville over Miami, and Clemson over Louisville. Is it a coincidence all these upsets happen on Friday night? One less day of prep. You wonder why Duke won the ACC last year? Maybe if the ACC protected the "top" teams like the Big Ten and SEC did then Miami would've won the ACC. They're lucky Miami got an at large bid last year.

Clemson will not voluntarily play a home game on Friday night - there would have to be some mechanism by which the ACC could force a Friday home game on Clemson but I don't think that mechanism exists (at least I hope it doesn't).

People just assume Penn State is going to be in playoff contention every year. This year's team is going to be ISU with the serial number scratched off. Is that good enough,given the weak schedule? Guess we'll find out.

(07-04-2026 01:48 PM)The Beaver Wrote:  People just assume Penn State is going to be in playoff contention every year. This year's team is going to be ISU with the serial number scratched off. Is that good enough,given the weak schedule? Guess we'll find out.

The networks won't care when choosing Penn State games, they just see Penn State ratings. As long as FOX, CBS, and NBC think a PSU game will draw they'll choose them. Last year we all knew Penn State sucked, FOX still chose the Ohio State and Indiana games as Big Nooners, and they still got decent ratings. I'm sure Penn State isn't the only team this applies to.

Updated Projections:


Big Ten:

Network listed has first pick.
Games are FOX, CBS, NBC
** Locked in.
9/26/2026 NBC Iowa at Michigan Illinois at Ohio State Oregon at USC
10/3/2026 CBS Michigan at Minnesota Ohio State at Iowa Washington at USC
10/10/2026 FOX USC at Penn State UCLA at Oregon Indiana at Nebraska
10/17/2026 FOX Ohio State at Indiana Penn State at Michigan Nebraska at Oregon
10/24/2026 CBS Oregon at Illinois Indiana at Michigan Iowa at Minnesota
10/31/2026 NBC Minnesota at Indiana Washington at Nebraska Ohio State at USC
11/7/2026 CBS Michigan State at Michigan Oregon at Ohio State Miami at Notre Dame **
11/14/2026 NBC USC at Indiana Minnesota at Penn State Michigan at Oregon
11/21/2026 FOX Ohio State at Nebraska Indiana at Washington SMU at Notre Dame **
11/28/2026 FOX Michigan at Ohio State ** USC at UCLA Washington at Oregon

Assuming Oklahoma-Michigan was one of FOX's "first three picks", FOX can't take both Ohio State-Indiana and Oregon-Ohio State so I dropped the latter to CBS.

Nov. 7 is interesting. Penn State-Washington is likely the 2nd best game that Saturday. FOX can't take it since it's in Seattle. NBC is airing Miami-Notre Dame at 7:30pm ET. A few things could happen...

NBC could ask to take the game and air it after the Miami-Notre Dame game (11pm ET). They have aired 10:30pm games before but not 11pm to my knowledge. They could move the Mia/ND game to 7pm ET to accommodate this.

NBC could take PSU-Wash and Peacock it. There is precedent here since the exact scenario happened in 2024 when Wash-PSU was taken by NBC and Peacocked.

FOX could take it and air it in prime time against Mia-ND. FOX did air a Big Ten game last year vs. another NBC game (not Notre Dame). They are airing a Big Ten game this year however against a Notre Dame game (VT/Md or Colo/NW vs. MSU/ND Week 3). Could this happen this year? This could allow NBC to take MSU/UM and air it at noon ET.

ABC:
* Time slot locked in
** Game locked in
9/26/2026 Texas at Tennessee * Texas A&M at LSU Oklahoma at Georgia
10/3/2026 Van/Ga or Ala/Miss St * Auburn at Tennessee Miami at Clemson
10/10/2026 SC/Fla or A&M/Mo * Texas vs. Oklahoma (Dallas)* Georgia at Alabama*
10/17/2026 Florida at Texas * Notre Dame at BYU Alabama at Tennessee
10/24/2026 LSU at Auburn * Texas A&M at Alabama Mississippi at Texas
10/31/2026 Auburn at Mississippi * Florida vs. Georgia (Atlanta)** Mississippi State at Texas *
11/7/2026 Texas at Missouri * Georgia at Mississippi Alabama at LSU
11/14/2026 Alabama at Vanderbilt * Mississippi at Oklahoma Texas at LSU
11/21/2026 Texas A&M at Oklahoma * Virginia Tech at Miami LSU at Tennessee
11/28/2026 Lville/Ky or LSU/Ark * Georgia Tech at Georgia Auburn at Alabama

Most of ABC's noon games are SEC early slot games.
Clemson and Virginia Tech are two of Miami's biggest opponents. Florida State is October 17 which is loaded for ABC so it's unlikely that makes it on ABC. Look out for Pittsburgh at Miami October 24.

BYU/Utah is November 7. I can't see ABC wanting to air BYU/Utah at either 3:30pm or prime time over Georgia/Mississippi or Alabama/LSU. I guess they could talk them into a noon game. My guess is that will be on ESPN in the graveyard shift. Could it wind up on FOX? I'd find it hard to believe ESPN would pass on it four times (first four ESPN picks). Then again, last year FOX did get Utah/BYU.

If Florida State is decent by Halloween, Clemson-Florida State might wind up on ABC. The SEC has only five conference games with Fla/Ga locked into 3:30pm, Tex/Miss St locked into a night game, Aub/Miss early, and the other games SC/Okl and Mo/Ark (yikes!) Arizona State-BYU might be worth a look.

ABC doesn't have really good choices Nov. 28 early. Louisville/Kentucky and LSU/Arkansas are the only SEC hosted options available. Florida State at Florida is set for Black Friday. Miami if they win at Notre Dame could be going for an undefeated season but they host Boston College. Notre Dame if they are going for an undefeated season is at Syracuse.

Some Penn State news:
https://gopsusports.com/news/2026/08/5/p...e-out-game

A Reddit post:
https://www.reddit.com/r/CFB/comments/1v...ew_count=4
"As for the whiteout this is the latest we’ve ever gone without having it announced. I think it’s safe to say the tv networks are not guaranteeing us a single night game, if they were that would’ve been announced as it by now."

I am wondering if this is telling us that USC-Penn State won't be this season's White Out and (cover your ears PSU fans) FOX wants it for a Big Nooner.

(07-31-2026 06:35 AM)schmolik Wrote:  Updated Projections:


Big Ten:

Network listed has first pick.
Games are FOX, CBS, NBC
** Locked in.
9/26/2026 NBC Iowa at Michigan Illinois at Ohio State Oregon at USC
10/3/2026 CBS Michigan at Minnesota Ohio State at Iowa Washington at USC
10/10/2026 FOX USC at Penn State UCLA at Oregon Indiana at Nebraska
10/17/2026 FOX Ohio State at Indiana Penn State at Michigan Nebraska at Oregon
10/24/2026 CBS Oregon at Illinois Indiana at Michigan Iowa at Minnesota
10/31/2026 NBC Minnesota at Indiana Washington at Nebraska Ohio State at USC
11/7/2026 CBS Michigan State at Michigan Oregon at Ohio State Miami at Notre Dame **
11/14/2026 NBC USC at Indiana Minnesota at Penn State Michigan at Oregon
11/21/2026 FOX Ohio State at Nebraska Indiana at Washington SMU at Notre Dame **
11/28/2026 FOX Michigan at Ohio State ** USC at UCLA Washington at Oregon

Assuming Oklahoma-Michigan was one of FOX's "first three picks", FOX can't take both Ohio State-Indiana and Oregon-Ohio State so I dropped the latter to CBS.

Nov. 7 is interesting. Penn State-Washington is likely the 2nd best game that Saturday. FOX can't take it since it's in Seattle. NBC is airing Miami-Notre Dame at 7:30pm ET. A few things could happen...

NBC could ask to take the game and air it after the Miami-Notre Dame game (11pm ET). They have aired 10:30pm games before but not 11pm to my knowledge. They could move the Mia/ND game to 7pm ET to accommodate this.

NBC could take PSU-Wash and Peacock it. There is precedent here since the exact scenario happened in 2024 when Wash-PSU was taken by NBC and Peacocked.

FOX could take it and air it in prime time against Mia-ND. FOX did air a Big Ten game last year vs. another NBC game (not Notre Dame). They are airing a Big Ten game this year however against a Notre Dame game (VT/Md or Colo/NW vs. MSU/ND Week 3). Could this happen this year? This could allow NBC to take MSU/UM and air it at noon ET.

ABC:
* Time slot locked in
** Game locked in
9/26/2026 Texas at Tennessee * Texas A&M at LSU Oklahoma at Georgia
10/3/2026 Van/Ga or Ala/Miss St * Auburn at Tennessee Miami at Clemson
10/10/2026 SC/Fla or A&M/Mo * Texas vs. Oklahoma (Dallas)* Georgia at Alabama*
10/17/2026 Florida at Texas * Notre Dame at BYU Alabama at Tennessee
10/24/2026 LSU at Auburn * Texas A&M at Alabama Mississippi at Texas
10/31/2026 Auburn at Mississippi * Florida vs. Georgia (Atlanta)** Mississippi State at Texas *
11/7/2026 Texas at Missouri * Georgia at Mississippi Alabama at LSU
11/14/2026 Alabama at Vanderbilt * Mississippi at Oklahoma Texas at LSU
11/21/2026 Texas A&M at Oklahoma * Virginia Tech at Miami LSU at Tennessee
11/28/2026 Lville/Ky or LSU/Ark * Georgia Tech at Georgia Auburn at Alabama

Most of ABC's noon games are SEC early slot games.
Clemson and Virginia Tech are two of Miami's biggest opponents. Florida State is October 17 which is loaded for ABC so it's unlikely that makes it on ABC. Look out for Pittsburgh at Miami October 24.

BYU/Utah is November 7. I can't see ABC wanting to air BYU/Utah at either 3:30pm or prime time over Georgia/Mississippi or Alabama/LSU. I guess they could talk them into a noon game. My guess is that will be on ESPN in the graveyard shift. Could it wind up on FOX? I'd find it hard to believe ESPN would pass on it four times (first four ESPN picks). Then again, last year FOX did get Utah/BYU.

If Florida State is decent by Halloween, Clemson-Florida State might wind up on ABC. The SEC has only five conference games with Fla/Ga locked into 3:30pm, Tex/Miss St locked into a night game, Aub/Miss early, and the other games SC/Okl and Mo/Ark (yikes!) Arizona State-BYU might be worth a look.

ABC doesn't have really good choices Nov. 28 early. Louisville/Kentucky and LSU/Arkansas are the only SEC hosted options available. Florida State at Florida is set for Black Friday. Miami if they win at Notre Dame could be going for an undefeated season but they host Boston College. Notre Dame if they are going for an undefeated season is at Syracuse.

for 10/31, ABC/ESPN also has Notre Dame at Navy (in Foxboro MA) at noon. They went with ABC in '22 and '24.

Your goal is to not be on this list (or have fewer games...)



Florida State? FOUR! (Labor Day vs. SMU, two Friday Night games at Louisville and Pittsburgh, Black Friday vs. Florida
Miami? THREE! Two Friday nights at Stanford and Wake Forest, Thursday Night vs. Florida A&M.

(08-05-2026 11:30 AM)schmolik Wrote:  Some Penn State news:
https://gopsusports.com/news/2026/08/5/p...e-out-game

A Reddit post:
https://www.reddit.com/r/CFB/comments/1v...ew_count=4
"As for the whiteout this is the latest we’ve ever gone without having it announced. I think it’s safe to say the tv networks are not guaranteeing us a single night game, if they were that would’ve been announced as it by now."

I am wondering if this is telling us that USC-Penn State won't be this season's White Out and (cover your ears PSU fans) FOX wants it for a Big Nooner.

Not surprised, just disappointed.