ESPN Announces Early Broadcast Schedule For 2020-21 College Basketball Season

Courtesy: ESPN

College basketball is back!

The ESPN networks will kick off the 2020-2021 college basketball season at 2 p.m. Wednesday. The season opens with Illinois on the road against No. 23 Ohio State on ESPN and Kansas State hosting Drake on ESPNU. Memphis and St. Mary’s will face off in the Quarterfinal #2 of the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic on ESPN2.

Play continues at 4 p.m. ET as Louisville hosts Evansville on the ACC Network. Quarterfinal #1, featuring a matchup of Northern Iowa and Western Kentucky follows at 4:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU. No. 10 Kentucky will host Morehead State at 6 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.

Over on ESPN+, Northwestern State will visit No. 14 Texas Tech. That game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. An hour later at 8 p.m. ET No. 19 Texas will host UT Rio Grande Valley on The Longhorn Network.

The opening day of ESPN’s college basketball opening day winds down at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Quarterfinal #4 of the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic, featuring a matchup of VCU and Utah State, finishes the day.

The full broadcast schedule for the ESPN networks’ first two weeks of the 2020-2021 college basketball season is noted below.

ESPN Networks Television Schedule (subject to change)
Please note: Due to the ongoing changes related to the college basketball season, ESPN will unveil TV and digital schedules on a week-to-week basis. Schedule changes will be reflected here, as well as @ESPNPR.

DateTime (ET)Matchup/CommentatorsNetwork
Feast Week Presented by Lowe’s (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU)
Wed, Nov 252 p.m.Illinois State at No. 23 Ohio State
Anish Shroff, Cory Alexander
ESPN
 Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic
Quarterfinal #2
Memphis vs. St. Mary’s
Rich Hollenberg, Dan Dakich
ESPN2
 Drake at Kansas State
Chuckie Kempf, Tim Welsh
ESPNU
4 p.m.Oklahoma State at UT Arlington
Mark Neely, Fran Fraschilla
ESPN
 Bowling Green at No. 25 Michigan
Jason Benetti, Robbie Hummel
ESPN2
 Evansville at Louisville
Mike Couzens, David Padgett
ACCN
4:30 p.m.Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic
Quarterfinal #1
Northern Iowa vs. Western Kentucky
Rich Hollenberg, Dan Dakich
ESPNU
6 p.m.College of Charleston at No. 16 North Carolina
Jay Alter, Malcolm Huckaby
ACCN
 Morehead State vs. No. 10 Kentucky
Paul Sunderland, Jimmy Dykes
SEC Network
7 p.m.2K Empire Classic
Semifinal #1
No. 18 Arizona State vs. Rhode Island
Jon Sciambi, Jay Bilas
ESPN
 Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic
Quarterfinal #3
South Dakota State vs. No. 15 West Virginia
Doug Sherman, Chris Spatola
ESPN2
 Northwestern State at No. 14 Texas TechESPN+
8 p.m.Jacksonville State at Alabama
Richard Cross, Mark Wise
SEC Network
 UT Rio Grande Valley at No. 19 Texas
Lowell Galindo, Lance Blanks
Longhorn Network
 Charleston Southern vs. NC StateACCN
 Houston Baptist at TCUESPN+
 9:30 p.m.2K Empire Classic 
Semifinal #2
No. 3 Villanova vs. Boston College
Jon Sciambi, Jay Bilas
ESPN
 Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic 
Quarterfinal #4
VCU vs. Utah State
Doug Sherman, Chris Spatola
ESPN2
Thu, Nov. 26NoonBad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic 
Semifinal #1
Rich Hollenberg, Dan Dakich
ESPN
2:30 p.m.Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic 
Semifinal #2
Rich Hollenberg, Dan Dakich
ESPN
5 p.m.Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic 
Consolation Game
Doug Sherman, Chris Spatola
ESPN or ESPN2
7 p.m.2K Empire Classic 
Third Place Game
Jon Sciambi, Jay Bilas
ESPN
7:30 p.m.Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic 
Consolation Game
Doug Sherman, Chris Spatola
ESPN2
9:30 p.m.2K Empire Classic 
Championship
Jon Sciambi, Jay Bilas
ESPN
Fri, Nov. 2711:30 a.m.HomeLight Classic  ESPN
1:30 p.m.Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic 
Championship
Rich Hollenberg, Dan Dakich
ESPN
 Sam Houston State vs. No. 14 Texas Tech
Mark Neely, TBD
ESPNU
3 p.m.Bryant at Syracuse
Jay Alter, Malcolm Huckaby
ACCN
4 p.m.Seton Hall at Louisville
Mike Couzens, Fran Fraschilla
ESPN2
 Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic
Seventh Place Game
Rich Hollenberg, Dan Dakich
ESPNU
6:30 p.m.Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic
Fifth Place Game
Doug Sherman, Chris Spatola
ESPN2
7 p.m.Valparaiso at VanderbiltSEC Network
 Longwood at Wake ForestACCN
8:30 p.m.Colorado at Kansas State
Chuckie Kempf, Tim Welsh
ESPNU
9 p.m.Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic
Third Place Game
Doug Sherman, Chris Spatola
ESPN2
 Sat, Nov. 284 p.m.Hall of Fame Classic Powered by ShotTracker 
Semifinal #1
South Carolina vs. Liberty
Chuckie Kempf, Mark Adams
ESPNEWS
5:30 p.m.Air Force Reserve Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic 
Rhode Island vs. South Florida
Kevin Brown, Jon Crispin
ESPN3
7:30 p.m.Hall of Fame Classic Powered by ShotTracker
Semifinal #2
Tulsa vs. TCU
Chuckie Kempf, Mark Adams
ESPN3
Texas Southern vs. Oklahoma StateESPN+
8 p.m.Air Force Reserve Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic 
Virginia Tech vs. Temple
Kevin Brown, Jon Crispin
ESPNEWS
Sun, Nov. 291 p.m.Richmond vs. No. 10 Kentucky
Dan Shulman, Jimmy Dykes
ESPN
Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Iowa StateESPN+
 Hall of Fame Classic Powered by ShotTracker 
Third Place Game
Chuckie Kempf, Mark Adams
ESPN2
3:30 p.m.Hall of Fame Classic Powered by ShotTracker  Championship
Chuckie Kempf, Mark Adams
ESPN2
 5:30 p.m.No. 17 Houston vs. No. 14 Texas Tech
Mark Neely, Fran Fraschilla
ESPN2
 Air Force Reserve Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic  
Jon Sciambi, Jon Crispin
ESPNU
6 p.m.North Florida at Miami
Dave O’Brien, Jordan Cornette
ACCN
8 p.m.Air Force Reserve Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic  
South Florida vs. Virginia Tech
Jon Sciambi, Jon Crispin
ESPN2
Mon, Nov. 30NoonCamping World Maui Invitational 
Quarterfinal #1
No. 19 Texas vs. Davidson
ESPN2
2:30 p.m.Camping World Maui Invitational 
Quarterfinal #2
Indiana vs. Providence
ESPN2
6 p.m.Bubbleville  
St. John’s vs. Boston College
ESPNU
7 p.m.Camping World Maui Invitational 
Quarterfinal #3
No. 16 North Carolina vs. UNLV
ESPN2
 William & Mary at NC StateACCN
8 p.m.UM Kansas City vs. Kansas StateESPNU
 Texas State at Mississippi StateSEC Network
9:30 p.m.Camping World Maui Invitational 
Quarterfinal #4
Stanford vs. Alabama
ESPN2
Tue, Dec. 11:30 p.m.Camping World Maui Invitational 
Semifinal #1
ESPN
2:30 p.m.Roman Legends Classic
Semifinal #1
USC vs. BYU
ESPN2
4 p.m.Camping World Maui Invitational 
Semifinal #2
ESPN
 Saint Francis at No. 4 VirginiaACCN
5 p.m.Roman Legends Classic 
Semifinal #2
UConn vs. Vanderbilt
ESPN2
6 p.m.Western Kentucky at LouisvilleACCN
7 p.m.Camping World Maui Invitational 
Consolation Game
ESPN2
7:30 p.m.State Farm Champions Classic  
No. 13 Michigan State vs. No. 9 Duke
ESPN
9:30 p.m.State Farm Champions Classic  
No. 6 Kansas vs. No. 10 Kentucky
ESPN
 Camping World Maui Invitational 
Consolation Game
ESPN2
 Wed, Dec. 21:30 p.m.Camping World Maui Invitational
Third Place Game
ESPN
4 p.m.Camping World Maui Invitational 
Championship
ESPN
 Troy at Wake ForestACCN
5 p.m.Florida vs. OklahomaESPN2
6 p.m.South Carolina State at ClemsonACCN
7 p.m.Jimmy V Men’s Classic Presented by Corona  
No. 12 Tennessee vs. No. 1 Gonzaga
ESPN
 Camping World Maui Invitational 
Fifth Place Game
ESPN2
 Tarleton State at Texas A&MSEC Network
8 p.m.North Florida at No. 21 Florida StateACCN
9 p.m.UT Arlington at ArkansasSEC Network
9:30 p.m.Camping World Maui Invitational 
Seventh Place Game
ESPN2
10 p.m.Jimmy V Men’s Classic Presented by Corona 
No. 8 Illinois vs. No. 2 Baylor
ESPN
 7 p.m.South Dakota State vs. Iowa StateESPN+
 Youngstown State vs. No. 15 West VirginiaESPN+
Thu, Dec. 37 p.m.Roman Legends Classic 
Championship
ESPN
9 p.m.St. John‘s vs. No. 14 Texas TechESPN
9:30 p.m.Roman Legends Classic 
Third Place Game
ESPN2
8 p.m.VMI vs. Virginia TechACCN
 Northwestern State vs. TCUESPN+
Fri, Dec. 42 p.m.UNCG at LouisvilleACCN
4 p.m.Rhode Island at Boston CollegeACCN
6 p.m.Kent State at No. 4 VirginiaACCN
7 p.m.Jacksonville at GeorgiaSEC Network
8 p.m.No. 12 Tennessee at Notre DameACCN
9 p.m.South Alabama at AuburnSEC Network
Sat, Dec. 5NoonBubbleville
NC State vs. UConn
ESPNU
TBDOakland vs. Oklahoma StateESPN+
8 p.m.UNLV vs. Kansas StateESPN+
Sun, Dec. 6NoonElon at No. 9 DukeACCN
1 p.m.No. 3 Villanova at No. 19 TexasESPN
2 p.m.Missouri at Wichita StateESPN2
 Grambling State at No. 14 Texas TechESPNU
 Stetson at FloridaSEC Network
3 p.m.Xavier at CincinnatiESPN
4 p.m.Oklahoma at TCUESPN2
 UTRGV at Texas A&MSEC Network
5 p.m.Hoopsgiving  
No. 10 Kentucky at Georgia Tech
ESPN
6 p.m.DePaul at Iowa StateESPNU
 Louisiana Tech at LSUSEC Network
8 p.m.Oklahoma at TCUESPN+

ACC/Big Ten Challenge Presented by Continental Tire

DateTimeMatchupNetwork
Tue, Dec. 85 p.m.Purdue at MiamiESPN2
7 p.m.Boston College at MinnesotaESPNU
7:30 p.m.North Carolina at IowaESPN
 Ohio State at Notre DameESPN2
9 p.m.Penn State at Virginia TechESPNU
9:30 p.m.Illinois at DukeESPN
 Syracuse at RutgersESPN2
 Wed, Dec. 95 p.m.Maryland at ClemsonESPN2
7:15 p.m.Louisville at WisconsinESPN
 NC State at MichiganESPN2
 Georgia Tech at NebraskaESPNU
9:15 p.m.Michigan State at VirginiaESPN
 Indiana at Florida StateESPN2
 Pittsburgh at NorthwesternESPNU

More information on the ESPN networks’ men’s college basketball coverage is available online now along with all of the latest men’s college basketball headlines at:

Websitehttp://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball

Facebookhttp://www.facebook.com/ESPNCBB

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

MAC, PAC-12 Return To Play This Weekend On ESPN’s Networks

Courtesy: ESPN

The Mid-American Conference and Pac-12 will make their official return to play this weekend.

The ESPN networks will have full coverage of the conferences’ return to mark the occasion. It all starts at 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday with five games from the MAC spread across the ESPN networks. Western Michigan will face Akron on ESPN3 while Eastern Michigan will be on the road against Kent State on ESPN+.

Ohio will face Central Michigan at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Over on ESPN2, Buffalo will visit Northern Illinois, also at 7 p.m. ET.

Rounding out the evening’s MAC coverage is a matchup of Toledo and Bowling Green at 8 p.m. ET on ESPNU.

PAC-12 RETURN

Courtesy: ESPN

The Pac-12’s return will come in the form of a matchup between Stanford and No. 12 Oregon. The matchup will headline this weekend’s college football schedule. The teams will play live on ABC’s Saturday Night Football Presented by Capital One.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

The ACC will open this weekend’s college football schedule as North Carolina State University will host ACC foe No. 11 Miami at 7:30 p.m. ET Friday on ESPN.

Saturday’s day-long schedule launches at noon with nine games at noon across ESPN’s networks. No. 22 Texas will host West Virginia on ABC. The game will simulcast on ABC Radio.

Another key noon matchup is #25 Liberty visiting Virginia Tech on the ACC Network. No. 18 SMU will visit Temple on ESPN+.

No. 16 Marshall will host UMass at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN+.

Even more Top 25 matchups follow at 3:30 p.m. ET. No. 10 Wisconsin will host Purdue on ABC while No. 6 Cincinnati will host Houston on ESPN. No. 19 Oklahoma will host Kansas on ESPN2.

Later in the evening, No. 7 Texas A&M will visit South Carolina on ESPN. That game will simulcast on ESPN Radio.

No. 15 Coastal Carolina will host South Alabama at 8 p.m. ET on ESPNU.

The ESPN networks’ full college football broadcast schedule for this week is noted below.

DateTime (ET)Game/TalentNetwork
Wed, Nov 46 p.m.Western Michigan at Akron
Michael Reghi, Dustin Fox
ESPN3
  Eastern Michigan at Kent State
David Wilson, John Gregory
ESPN+
 7 p.m.Ohio at Central Michigan
Kevin Brown, Mike Golic Jr., Quint Kessenich
ESPN
 Buffalo at Northern Illinois
Anish Shroff, Tom Luginbill, Taylor McGregor
ESPN2
8 p.m.Bowling Green at Toledo
Mike Couzens, Rocky Boiman
ESPNU
Fri, Nov 67:30 p.m.No. 11 Miami at NC State
Jason Benetti, Andre Ware, Marty Smith
ESPN
Sat, Nov 7NoonWest Virginia at No. 22 Texas
TV: Joe Tessitore, Greg McElroy, Holly Rowe
Radio: Marc Kestecher, Ben Hartsock
ABC/ESPN Radio
 Michigan State at Iowa
Bob Wischusen, Dan Orlovsky, Paul Carcaterra
ESPN
 North Carolina at Duke
Roy Philpott, Kelly Stouffer, Alex Chappell
ESPN2
 Arkansas State at Louisiana
Dave Neal, DJ Shockley
ESPNU
 No. 25 Liberty at Virginia Tech
Chris Cotter, Mark Herzlich, Taylor Davis
ACC Network
 Louisiana-Monroe at Georgia StateESPN3
 Tulane at East Carolina
Evan Lepler, Jay Sonnhalter
ESPN+
 South Florida at Memphis
Lincoln Rose, LaDarrin McLane
ESPN+
 No. 18 SMU at Temple
Dave Leno, Ken Dunek
ESPN+
1 p.m.Troy at Georgia SouthernESPN3
2 p.m.Boston College at SyracuseESPN3
2:30 p.m.UMass at No. 16 MarshallESPN+
3 p.m.North Alabama at Southern MississippiESPN3
 Appalachian State at Texas StateESPN+
3:30 p.m.Purdue at No. 10 Wisconsin
Dave Pasch, Mike Golic Sr., Jerry Punch
ABC
 Houston at No. 6 Cincinnati
Sean McDonough, Todd Blackledge, Todd McShay, Molly McGrath
ESPN
 Kansas at No. 19 Oklahoma
Anish Shroff, Tom Luginbill, Kris Budden
ESPN2
 Vanderbilt at Mississippi State
Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb, Dawn Davenport
SEC Network
 UTSA at RiceESPN3
 Charlotte at Middle TennesseeESPN+
4 p.m.Arizona at Utah
Clay Matvick, Rocky Boiman
ESPNU
 Pittsburgh at Florida State
Wes Durham, Roddy Jones, Lericia Harris
ACC Network
 Florida International at UTEPESPN3
7 p.m.No. 7 Texas A&M at South Carolina
TV: Mark Jones, Dusty Dvoracek, Quint Kessenich
Radio: Sean Kelley, Barrett Jones
ESPN/ESPN Radio
 UCLA at Colorado
Beth Mowins, Kirk Morrison, John Schriffen
ESPN2
7:30 p.m.Stanford at No. 12 Oregon
Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Maria Taylor
ABC
 Tennessee at Arkansas
Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers, Cole Cubelic
SEC Network
8 p.m.South Alabama at No. 15 Coastal Carolina
Courtney Lyle, Rene Ingoglia
ESPNU
 Louisville at Virginia
Dave O’Brien, Tim Hasselbeck, Katie George
ACC Network
10:30 p.m.Washington at California
Dave Flemming, Rod Gilmore, Allison Williams
ESPN

Note: Not all digital games are exclusive

More information on the ESPN networks’ college football coverage is available online along with all of the latest college football news at:

Websitehttp://www.espn.com/college-football

Facebookhttp://www.facebook.com/CFBonESPN

Twitterhttp://twitter.com/espncfb

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Cardinals, Hurricanes To Headline This Weekend’s ESPN Networks CFB Broadcast Schedule

Corutesy: ESPN

ABC’s weekly Saturday Night Football broadcast will feature a showdown of two Top 20 college football teams this week.

No. 18 Louisville will host No. 17 Miami in this week’s broadcast.  Coverage is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET.  The broadcast team of Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Allison Williams will cover the game.

Each team will come in to Saturday night’s game on the heels of a Week 1 win.  The Hurricanes defeated the University of Alabama at Birmingham 31-14 in Week 1 while the Cardinals won their game against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 35-21.

Saturday night’s showdown is just one of the games on tap for ESPN’s weekly CFB schedule.  The Campbell Camels and Coastal Carolina Chanticleers open the weekend’s slate at 7:30 p.m. ET Friday on ESPN.

Saturday’s day-long schedule opens at noon with games across the ESPN family of networks.  Tulane will host Navy on ABC;  No. 11 Oklahoma State will host Tulsa on ESPN; No. 19 Louisiana will be on the road against Georgia State on ESPN2; The ACC Network will carry coverage of the Syracuse Orange taking on host No. 25 Pittsburgh.

Liberty and Western Kentucy will face off live on ESPNU at noon while No. 13 Cincinnati will take on the 0-2 Austin Peay at noon on ESPN+; Boston College and Duke will broadcast live at noon on ESPN3.

The ESPN networks’ full CFB broadcast schedule for this weekend is noted below.

 

Date Time (ET) Matchup/Talent Network
Fri, Sep 18 7:30 p.m. Campbell at Coastal Carolina
Tom Hart, Andre Ware, Cole Cubelic
ESPN
Sat, Sep 19 Noon Navy at Tulane
Mark Jones, Dusty Dvoracek, Quint Kessenich
ABC
    Tulsa at No. 11 Oklahoma State
Sean McDonough, Todd Blackledge, Todd McShay, Kris Budden
ESPN
    No. 19 Louisiana at Georgia State
Wes Durham, Roddy Jones, Paul Carcaterra
ESPN2
    Liberty at Western Kentucky
Clay Matvick, Rocky Boiman
ESPNU
    Syracuse at No. 25 Pittsburgh
Chris Cotter, Mark Herzlich, Kelsey Riggs
ACC Network
    Austin Peay at No. 13 Cincinnati
David Saltzman, Keith Moreland
ESPN+
    Boston College at Duke ESPN3
  3 p.m. Stephen F. Austin at UTSA ESPN3
  3:30 p.m. No. 14 UCF at Georgia Tech
Joe Tessitore, Greg McElroy, Marty Smith
ABC
    Florida Atlantic at Georgia Southern
Dave Flemming, Rod Gilmore, Lericia Harris
ESPN
    Charlotte at No. 12 North Carolina ESPN3
  4 p.m. Troy at Middle Tennessee
Dave Neal, Jay Walker, Dawn Davenport
ESPN2
    The Citadel at No. 1 Clemson
Anish Shroff, Tom Luginbill, Eric Wood
ACC Network
  7:30 p.m. No. 17 Miami at No. 18 Louisville
Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Allison Williams
ABC
    Louisiana Tech at Southern Mississippi
Dave Pasch, Mike Golic, Sr., Lauren Sisler
ESPN2
    Texas State at Louisiana-Monroe
Roy Philpott, Kelly Stouffer
ESPNU
  8 p.m. Wake Forest at NC State
Dave O’Brien, Tim Hasselbeck, Katie George
ACC Network
  9 p.m. Abilene Christian at UTEP ESPN3

 

More information on the ESPN networks’ college football coverage is available online now at:

 

Websitehttp://www.espn.com/college-football

Facebookhttp://www.facebook.com/CFBonESPN

Twitterhttp://twitter.com/espncfb

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

The ACC Network Is Coming

Courtesy: ESPN

The ACC Network is going to become a reality next year.

ESPN announced this week that it will launch its new college sports network Aug. 22.  The network’s first college football broadcast will feature Georgia Tech on the road against Clemson on Aug. 29 for a Thursday night showdown.

According to a news release from ESPN, the ACC Network is expected to broadcast 1,300 live ACC events annually on its TV and digital platforms.  Those events will come from all 15 of the conference’s schools and 27 sponsored sports.

ESPN President and Disney Media Networks Co-Chairman James Pitaro said he is optimistically anticipating the network’s launch.

“With just under nine months until launch, we are all systems go with ACC Network preparations,” Pitaro said.  “The strength of the season-opening game between Georgia Tech and Clemson is indicative of the robust schedule and programming we have planned for ACC fans.”

ACC Commissioner John Swofford echoed Pitaro’s comments in a prepared statement.

“We continue to look ahead to the launch of the ACC Network with great anticipation,” Swofford said.  “Showcasing all of our outstanding programs remains a top priority, and our partnership with ESPN allows fans to have greater access than ever before.  I also commend our schools, who have done an outstanding job in their preparations for a successful launch.”

The ACC Network’s first TV spot is scheduled to air live Dec. 1 during the Dr. Pepper ACC Football Championship game.  The game is scheduled to air at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

More information on the ACC Network is available online now at http://www.getaccn.com.

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.