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Posted on Thu, Nov. 13, 2008 10:15 PM
College viewership up thanks to Big 12
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“Saturday Night Football” on ABC is running 33 percent ahead of last year’s ratings pace, and if you’ve tuned in lately, all you’ve seen in that slot is a Big 12 game.
Saturday’s Oklahoma State at Colorado regionally televised game will be the fourth time in five weeks a Big 12 game has appeared in the 7 p.m. time slot, and Texas Tech at Oklahoma will make it five out of six next week.
The Red Raiders’ thrill-ride victory over top-ranked Texas on Nov. 1 was the highest-rated game of the season and the network’s fifth-most viewed regular-season college football game ever.
“Matchups play a huge role, and the Big 12 has had many compelling games,” said ESPN’s Mike Humes.
It all comes at a time when the BCS games and national championship game are up for grabs between current rights holder Fox and ABC/ESPN. According to SportsBusiness Daily, ABC/ESPN is offering more than Fox for the BCS games with the idea that the events would go to sports cable giant ESPN starting with the 2010 season.
College football would be the first major sport to have its premier events not televised on a non-cable network.
1. TEXAS AT KANSAS (11:30 a.m. on Fox Sports KC): The Jayhawks are reeling on defense, surrendering at least 45 points in three of their last four games. Coach Mark Mangino cites poor tackling and said Kansas was often in the right gap against Nebraska last week and still didn’t make the tackle. The Longhorns need to keep winning, and doing it impressively will help. Texas is third in the BCS standings, but the Longhorns could slip if they don’t knock off Kansas and Texas A&M in impressive fashion. Look for Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo to return, though center Chris Hall has been ruled out because of a knee sprain. Longhorns running back Fozzy Whittaker had his best game last week against Baylor with 77 yards, and Texas is counting on him to improve the team’s running game.
2. NEBRASKA AT KANSAS STATE (2:35 p.m. on pay-per-view): Will the Wildcats be as inspired as the Cornhuskers were last week? Nebraska got some revenge on Kansas for the Jayhawks’ 76-point tap dance last season. The Huskers rolled up 73 on the Wildcats. “I don’t know if you ever forget anything like that,” Cats defensive end Ian Campbell said. Nebraska coach Bo Pelini handed out black shirts to 11 defensive players on Monday. One of them wasn’t linebacker Cody Glenn, one of the team’s top defenders this season. He was suspended indefinitely Monday.
3. MISSOURI AT IOWA STATE (5:30 p.m. on Fox Sports KC): It’s never easy for the Tigers in Ames, where they’ve lost three of the last four and the victory was in overtime. Second-year coach Gene Chizik’s job security became a topic earlier this week, and Iowa State A.D. Jamie Pollard quickly doused flames. “I’m very pleased where we’re at,” Pollard told The Des Moines Register.
4. OKLAHOMA STATE AT COLORADO (7 p.m. on Chs. 2, 9): The Buffaloes pulled one out of the fire against Iowa State last weekend, and now they have to deal with an angry Oklahoma State team that got crunched at Texas Tech. Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant looks for his first road touchdown this season. If Colorado can pull it off, it becomes bowl eligible. If it doesn’t happen Saturday the Buffaloes’ last chance comes Nov. 28 at Nebraska.
5. TEXAS A&M AT BAYLOR (3:05 p.m., no TV): Baylor is an eight-point favorite over A&M. Let that sink in. The league’s first-year coaches square off with first-year quarterbacks. The Bears’ Robert Griffin and the Aggies’ Jerrod Johnson will rank among the league’s best next year.
Posted on Thu, Nov. 13, 2008 10:15 PM
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