This is the last season under the current media contracts and the last season conference games and Big Ten home games will appear on ABC/ESPN.

Matt Sarzyniak's list of Big Ten Games:
https://mattsarzsports.com/Contract/Game...wpKfS7MLrc

Network Games:

Michigan (10): Colorado State (9/3, ABC), Connecticut (9/17, ABC), Maryland (9/24, FOX), at Iowa (10/1, FOX), at Indiana (10/8, FOX), Penn State (10/15, FOX), Michigan State (10/29, ABC), Nebraska (11/12, ABC), Illinois (11/19), at Ohio State (11/26, FOX) - 5 FOX, 5 ABC

Ohio State (10): Notre Dame (9/3, ABC), Toledo (9/17, FOX), Wisconsin (9/24, ABC), at Michigan State (10/8, ABC), Iowa (10/22, FOX), at Penn State (10/29, FOX), Northwestern (11/5, ABC), Indiana (11/12, FOX), at Maryland (11/19, ABC), Michigan (11/26, FOX) - 5 FOX, 5 ABC

Penn State (7): at Purdue (9/1, FOX), Ohio (9/10, ABC), at Michigan (10/15, FOX), Minnesota (10/22, ABC), Ohio State (10/29, FOX), Indiana (11/5, ABC), Maryland (11/12, FOX) (Appeared on CBS at Auburn 9/17 as part of the SEC package) - 4 FOX, 3 ABC

Nebraska (4): Northwestern in Dublin (8/27, FOX), Oklahoma (9/17, FOX), Illinois (10/29, ABC), Michigan (11/12, ABC)

Wisconsin (3): Washington State (9/10, FOX), at Ohio State (9/24, ABC), at Michigan State (10/15, FOX)
Michigan State (3): Ohio State (10/8, ABC), Wisconsin (10/15, FOX), at Michigan (10/29, ABC). (Appeared on ABC at Washington 9/17 as part of the Pac 12 package).
Indiana (3): Michigan (10/8, FOX), Penn State (11/5, ABC), Ohio State (11/12, FOX)
Maryland (3): Michigan (9/24, FOX), Penn State (11/12, FOX), Ohio State (11/19, ABC)

Northwestern (2): Nebraska in Dublin (8/27, FOX), Ohio State (11/5, ABC)
Illinois (2): at Nebraska (10/29, ABC), at Michigan (11/19, ABC)
Iowa (2): Michigan (10/1, FOX), Minnesota (11/19, FOX)
Minnesota (1): at Penn State (10/22, ABC), Iowa (11/19, FOX)

Purdue (1): Penn State (9/1, FOX)

No FOX/ABC Games: Rutgers

Likely 1st picks per week:
Sept. 3: ABC (Notre Dame/Ohio State)
Sept. 10: FOX (Washington State/Wisconsin) - My guess is among the 1st picks this was one of the last ones chosen.
Sept. 17: FOX (Oklahoma/Nebraska)
Sept. 24: ABC (Wisconsin/Ohio State)
Oct. 1: FOX (Michigan/Iowa)
Oct. 8: ABC (Ohio State/Michigan State)
Oct. 15: FOX (Penn State/Michigan)
Oct. 22: FOX (Iowa/Ohio State)
Oct. 29: FOX (Ohio State/Penn State)
Nov. 5: ABC (Ohio State/Northwestern)
Nov. 12: ABC (Nebraska/Michigan)
Nov. 19: ABC (Ohio State/Maryland or Illinois/Michigan)
Nov. 26: FOX (Michigan/Ohio State)

Big Nooners:
Michigan: 5 (Maryland, at Iowa, at Indiana, Penn State, at Ohio State)
Ohio State: 4 (Iowa, at Penn State, Indiana, Michigan)
Penn State: 2 (at Michigan, Ohio State)
Indiana: 2 (Michigan, at Ohio State)
Iowa: 1 (Michigan)
Nebraska: 1 (Oklahoma)
Maryland: 1 (at Michigan)

SNF:
Ohio State: 2 (Notre Dame, Wisconsin)
Penn State: 1 (Minnesota)
Michigan: 1 (Michigan State)
Wisconsin: 1 (at Ohio State)
Minnesota: 1 (at Penn State)
Michigan State: 1 (at Michigan)

Michigan State's game at Washington was a SNF game but was part of the Pac 12 package.

This thread will be used for further speculation and announcements.

(08-27-2022 12:01 PM)schmolik Wrote:  This is the last season under the current media contracts and the last season conference games and Big Ten home games will appear on ABC/ESPN.

Matt Sarzyniak's list of Big Ten Games:
https://mattsarzsports.com/Contract/Game...wpKfS7MLrc

Network Games:
Ohio State (4): Notre Dame (9/3, ABC), Toledo (9/17, FOX), Wisconsin (9/24, ABC), Michigan (11/26, FOX)

Michigan (3): Colorado State (9/3, ABC), Connecticut (9/17, ABC), at Ohio State (11/26, FOX)

Nebraska (2): Northwestern in Dublin (8/27, FOX), Oklahoma (9/17, FOX)
Penn State (2): at Purdue (9/1, FOX), Ohio (9/10, ABC)
Wisconsin (2): Washington State (9/10, FOX), at Ohio State (9/24, ABC)

Northwestern (1): Nebraska in Dublin (8/27, FOX)
Purdue (1): Penn State (9/1, FOX)

Likely 1st picks per week:
Sept. 3: ABC (Notre Dame/Ohio State)
Sept. 10: ??
Sept. 17: FOX (Oklahoma/Nebraska)
Sept. 24: ABC (Wisconsin/Ohio State)
Nov. 26: FOX (Michigan/Ohio State)

All games up to September 17 have been scheduled except for Rutgers at Temple. This thread will have speculation and announcements throughout the season.

Rutgers at Temple -- 2 pm kickoff, ESPN+ (AAC contract)

Good thing that I will be at the Linc for RU-Temple!

Even I have to wonder...

Ohio U at Penn State on ABC?
Iowa State at Iowa on BTN??

It's not that Iowa has to play a non conference game on BTN, they're playing Nevada on BTN on Sept. 17. I've always said that Penn State is one of the "Big Three" in the Big Ten but you've got a rivalry in state game vs. a MAC opponent. If I were ABC even I would have chosen ISU-Iowa over Ohio U-PSU. I've complained about Notre Dame getting their cupcake games on NBC but Penn State getting Ohio U on ABC doesn't make my argument look good.

Sept. 24 games will be scheduled next Monday unless the Big 10/networks exercise a six day hold.

ABC has reserved Wisconsin at Ohio State. I am guessing a SNF game.

Maryland at Michigan is Michigan's Homecoming and locked in to a noon ET start. It would be perfect for FOX's Big Nooner?

Florida Atlantic at Purdue is already reserved for 7:30pm on BTN. Miami Ohio at Northwestern and Central Michigan at Penn State are locked into BTN. Chattanooga at Illinois is on Thursday 8:30pm ET on BTN.

Remaining games are Minnesota at Michigan State, Iowa at Rutgers, Indiana at Cincinnati (AAC controlled).

Oct. 1 Speculation:

Rutgers-Ohio State is OSU's Homecoming and locked into a 3:30pm start. I'm guessing ABC. That would leave Michigan at Iowa (last year's Big 10 Championship Game rematch) for FOX's Big Nooner?

Northwestern's egg likely cost Penn State an ABC game. I have them as ESPN's noon game. That's usually an SEC slot but I'm hoping we beat them out and do they really want to show Auburn after today? NW/PSU will definitely air on an ESPN Network.

BTN has three windows. Purdue at Minnesota is Minnesota's Homecoming and a noon ET/11am CT start. That looks like BTN's noon game. Other Big 10 games are Illinois at Wisconsin, Michigan State at Maryland, and Indiana at Nebraska. I think MSU/Md might have a chance to get on FS1, Ill/Wisc and Ind/Neb look to be the other BTN games.

Oct. 1 official: (Courtesy of Matt's College Sports Website)

Michigan at Iowa: Big Nooner on FOX

Ohio State at Rutgers: 3:30pm on BTN - Even 3-0 Rutgers can't escape getting dumped to BTN!

Penn State at Northwestern: 3:30pm on ABC or ESPN

Illinois at Wisconsin: noon on BTN

Indiana at Nebraska: 7:30pm on BTN

Michigan State at Maryland: 3:30pm on FS1

Purdue at Minnesota: noon on ESPN2

(09-19-2022 03:40 PM)schmolik Wrote:  Oct. 1 official: (Courtesy of Matt's College Sports Website)

Michigan at Iowa: Big Nooner on FOX

Ohio State at Rutgers: 3:30pm on BTN - Even 3-0 Rutgers can't escape getting dumped to BTN!

Penn State at Northwestern: 3:30pm on ABC or ESPN

Illinois at Wisconsin: noon on BTN

Indiana at Nebraska: 7:30pm on BTN

Michigan State at Maryland: 3:30pm on FS1

Purdue at Minnesota: noon on ESPN2

It's the annual beatdown by Ohio State. We're lucky it's not radio only.

Oct. 8 Speculation:

Michigan-Indiana is officially at noon ET (somehow Indiana decided to schedule Michigan for Homecoming??

I have ABC having the first pick and even though MSU sucks this year they will use it on Ohio State-Michigan State. FOX will have Michigan-Indiana as the Big Nooner. Penn State has a bye this day. CBS has their prime time game so will ABC want to schedule Ohio State in prime time vs. likely Alabama or schedule it vs. 3:30pm?

Matt Sarzyniak is keeping track of Big Ten (and Big 12/Pac 12) "first pick" by week as well as BTN requirements.

https://mattsarzsports.blogspot.com/2022...x-day.html

As of the games of Oct. 1, Maryland, Michigan, Northwestern, Penn State, and Purdue have not fulfilled their BTN requirement. Purdue at Maryland will appear on BTN on Oct. 8 and both schools have had a non conference game on BTN so they will both be good after Oct. 8. Northwestern will play Wisconsin on BTN and has had a non conference game on BTN so they will have fulfilled their BTN requirement as well. That leaves Michigan and Penn State as the only two schools left. Both have played a non conference game on BTN so they both must play a conference game on BTN. I guess they could just play each other on BTN? Yeah, I didn't think so. Michigan has at Rutgers, Nebraska at home, and Illinois at home. Penn State has Minnesota at home, at Indiana, Maryland at home, at Rutgers, and Michigan State at home. I will forget either Michigan's or Penn State's games vs. Ohio State (FOX already reserved UM-OSU).

Michigan hosted the last Big Nooner (home vs. Maryland) and is scheduled for the next two Big Nooners (at Iowa and at Indiana). Joel Klatt on a video said he will call Penn State-Michigan so it will probably be four consecutive Big Nooners for Michigan.

Michigan/ Indiana is an odd big noon kickoff. Could Fox move that game to FS1 and put TCU/ Kansas as the Big Noon Kick? So everyone isn't seeing Michigan 4 weeks in a row.

(09-27-2022 10:10 AM)utpotts Wrote:  Michigan/ Indiana is an odd big noon kickoff. Could Fox move that game to FS1 and put TCU/ Kansas as the Big Noon Kick? So everyone isn't seeing Michigan 4 weeks in a row.

(09-27-2022 10:39 AM)cubucks Wrote:  After week 4, top 10 ratings y-t-d.

1. Notre Dame/Ohio State (ABC) 10,531,000
2. Wisconsin/Ohio State (ABC) 4,587,000
3. Nebraska/Nortwestern (FOX) 4,419,000
4. Maryland/Michigan (FOX) 4,378,000
5. Penn State/Auburn (CBS) 4,054,000
6. Colorado State/Michigan (ABC) 3,929,000
7. Washington State/Wisconsin (FOX) 3,920,000
8. Penn State/Purdue (FOX) 3,512,000
9. Oklahoma/Nebraska (FOX) 3,414,000
10. Toledo/Ohio State (FOX) 3,048,000

Michigan sells. They get over 4 million viewers vs. Maryland. They get almost 4 million vs. COLORADO STATE. I highly doubt TCU/Kansas gets 4 million.

Oct. 15:

Joel Klatt (Gus Johnson's partner) said Penn State-Michigan would be a Big Nooner.

Minnesota-Illinois, noon and Wisconsin-Michigan State, 3:30pm or 4pm are Homecoming Games.

Other games are Maryland-Indiana and Nebraska-Purdue.

The Big Ten Network is scheduled for women's volleyball in the middle slot so Wisc-MSU can't be on BTN despite the fact that both teams deserve to be. Minnesota-Illinois looks to be the noon ET (11am CT) BTN game. Either Maryland-Indiana or Nebraska-Purdue could be the prime time BTN game.

How in the world did Wisconsin-Michigan State wind up on FOX? Did FOX not know Wisconsin fired their coach and MSU sucks this year? The two teams are both 0-2 in the Big Ten! Why not take Maryland-Indiana instead? At least Maryland is 4-1 with their only loss at Michigan.

(10-03-2022 03:52 PM)schmolik Wrote:  How in the world did Wisconsin-Michigan State wind up on FOX? Did FOX not know Wisconsin fired their coach and MSU sucks this year? The two teams are both 0-2 in the Big Ten! Why not take Maryland-Indiana instead? At least Maryland is 4-1 with their only loss at Michigan.

Ohio State is on the bye week, more fans will watch Wisconsin/MSU than Maryland/ Indiana.

Oct. 22:

There are FOUR Homecoming Games this weekend so their game times are locked in.

Iowa at Ohio State
Indiana at Rutgers, noon
Purdue at Wisconsin, 3:30pm
Northwestern at Maryland, 3:30pm
Minnesota at Penn State, 7:30pm

Matt Sarzyniak does not have BTN scheduled for a prime time game on Oct. 22.

FOX is scheduled for baseball in prime time on Oct. 22.

I would have to think Minnesota-Penn State is going to ABC and SNF. ESPN is a possibility but they are usually 7pm starts and there is a decent chance Alabama will be available for them and ESPN isn't going to pass them up. Now if ESPN has the first pick this week, they could wind up with both Iowa-Ohio State AND Minnesota-Penn State although the fact that Minnesota-Penn State was scheduled for 7:30pm makes me believe ABC wanted it for SNF. I can't remember the last time Homecoming at Penn State was a night game.

I predict Iowa-Ohio State will be FOX's Big Nooner. If ESPN/ABC had the top pick this week, the most attractive game before the season started likely would have been Iowa-Ohio State. So they probably would have thought of scheduling that game for their SNF game and Penn State probably doesn't schedule their Homecoming for prime time to go against Iowa/OSU when it likely would have been chosen by FOX. Because there were four Homecoming games, they had to give times to those four games so they probably planned on ABC getting Minnesota-Penn State which means FOX likely has the first pick on Oct. 22. If ABC had the first pick, Minnesota-Penn State likely goes to FOX and it probably gets scheduled for noon at the beginning of the season.

One thing I guarantee: Michigan will not be on the Big Nooner for a fifth week in a row.

Oct. 29:

Ohio State/Penn State is locked into the Big Nooner. Second week in a row that Ohio State will be featured in the Big Nooner.

Penn State will be the fifth different Big Ten game site Big Noon Saturday will travel to in the month of October: Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State. They were also at Purdue (Thursday night appearance) and Nebraska.

I predict Michigan State/Michigan will be the SNF game and Illinois/Nebraska ESPN at 3:30pm. Other Oct. 29 games are Rutgers at Minnesota and Northwestern at Iowa.

Nov. 5:

Ohio State at Northwestern
Michigan at Rutgers
Penn State at Indiana
Michigan State at Illinois
Minnesota at Nebraska
Iowa at Purdue
Maryland at Wisconsin

This looks like an ugly TV week for the Big Ten as the "Big Three" play arguably the worst three Big Ten teams. If you're FOX or ABC, do you want any of these games?

Michigan and Penn State still owe a Big Ten Network game. Michigan's remaining games are at Rutgers, Nebraska, Illinois, and at Ohio State (already committed to FOX). It's to me a gimme Rutgers is going to BTN this week. Penn State's schedule is at Indiana, Maryland, at Rutgers, Michigan State. I think PSU at Rutgers is the BTN game.

ESPN/ABC likely has the first pick this week but the choices aren't great. Do you take Ohio State or Penn State in games that will likely be blowouts or one of the more competitive games without a team with a big fanbase? If you're FOX, are you really going to send Big Noon Saturday to (gasp) Northwestern? Indiana again?

OSU/ Northwestern at Noon on ABC
Michigan/ Rutgers at 7:30 on BTN

Nov. 12:

Indiana at Ohio State
Nebraska at Michigan
Maryland at Penn State
Purdue at Illinois
Wisconsin at Iowa
Northwestern at Minnesota
Rutgers at Michigan State

Purdue-Illinois likely is a big battle in the Big Ten West but will it get the viewership or potential viewership of Ohio State, Michigan, or Penn State? Penn State is now pretty much out of the Big Ten race so their value has declined although Maryland is having a good season. Nebraska always has good brand value but they lost their starting QB and their backup looked terrible vs. Illinois so Nebraska at Michigan, especially at Michigan, could be blowout city. Indiana at Ohio State, especially in Columbus, looks like blowout city. The Big Ten really should have saved one of its Penn State Big Three battles (Ohio State or Michigan) for November. Next year, Penn State plays Michigan in November. It looks like both Ohio State and Michigan will sleepwalk to their showdown on Nov. 26 although Illinois at Michigan could be interesting (too bad the game will be in Ann Arbor).