Wednesday, December 17, 2014
- ESPN’s Weekend Schedule includes Post-Season Games from Four College Levels
- Inaugural College Football Playoff Highlights ESPN’s 38-Game Post-Season Bowl Schedule
- ESPN Radio to Showcase 30 Postseason College Bowls including Inaugural College Football Playoff
- SEC Network Bowl Preview Airs Thursday
- SEC Network Warms Up Christmas Morning with Yule Log and Fight Songs
- ESPNU to Televise Inaugural BURGER KING State Champions Bowl Series on December 27
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ESPN’s Weekend Schedule Includes Post-Season from Four College Levels
contact: michael.c.humes@espn.com
ESPN will televise post-season games from four college football divisions this weekend, including the first games of a 38-game Football Bowl Subdivision schedule, both Football Championship Subdivision semifinals and the Division II and Division III championships.
ESPN will kick off its FBS bowl coverage – 38 total games highlighted by the entire inaugural College Football Playoff – will begin Saturday, Dec. 20, with five games (four on ESPN and ESPN Radio and one on ABC). ESPN and ESPN Radio will combine to cover the new post-season format – four teams meeting in semifinals followed by a championship contest between the winning programs – with a New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day tripleheaders as part of a New Year’s Six schedule featuring both semifinals and four additional premier bowls. Both networks will provide exclusive coverage of the first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship on January 12. ESPN’s bowl schedule with commentator assignments: https://es.pn/1whoswx
- ESPNU’s telecast of Wisconsin-Whitewater against Mount Union in the NCAA Division III Football Championship on Friday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. ET will mark the ninth title game showdown between the programs in the past 10 post-seasons. Whitewater-Wisconsin has won five of games.
- ESPN2 will televise Colorado State-Pueblo vs. Minnesota State-Mankato in the NCAA Division II Football Championship on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 4 p.m. It will mark the first meeting between the programs and first NCAA Division II title game appearance for each.
- ESPN2 and ESPNU will combine to televise the NCAA Division I Football Championship semifinals over two days:
- ESPN2 will televise Sam Houston State against three-time defending National Champion North Dakota State on Friday, Dec. 19, at 8 p.m. North Dakota State has defeated Sam Houston State twice in the last three FCS championship contests.
- The second semifinal on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 2 p.m. on ESPNU will pit fifth-seeded Illinois State against No. 1 overall seed New Hampshire. The winner will advance to the first FCS National Championship appearance in school history.
ESPN’s extensive coverage of the FCS championship – every game on an ESPN platform – will conclude with the championship from Frisco, Texas, on Saturday, Jan. 10, at 1 p.m.
Full Schedule: https://es.pn/1z5c8Dp
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Inaugural College Football Playoff Highlights ESPN’s 38-Game Post-Season Bowl Schedule
Note: Release includes College Football Playoff Rankings
contact: michael.c.humes@espn.com
ESPN’s extensive coverage of the 2014-15 college football season will culminate with 38 post-season games, highlighted by every matchup of the inaugural College Football Playoff format. With the new post-season format – four teams meeting in semifinals followed by a championship contest between the winning programs – ESPN and ESPN Radio will provide New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day tripleheaders as part of a New Year’s Six schedule featuring both semifinals and four additional premier bowls. Both networks will provide exclusive coverage of the first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship on January 12.
College Football Playoff & New Year’s Six Schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Network |
| Wed, Dec 31 | 12:30 p.m. | Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: No. 9 Ole Miss vs. No. 6 TCU TV: Joe Tessitore, Brock Huard & Shannon Spake Radio: Dave Neal, Andre Ware & Laura Rutledge |
ESPN & ESPN Radio |
| 4 p.m. | VIZIO Fiesta Bowl: No. 20 Boise State vs. No. 10 Arizona TV: Sean McDonough, Chris Spielman & Todd McShay Radio: Dave Flemming, Danny Kanell & Allison Williams |
ESPN & ESPN Radio | |
| 8 p.m. | Capital One Orange Bowl: No. 7 Mississippi State vs. No. 12 Georgia Tech TV: Brent Musburger, Jesse Palmer & Maria Taylor Radio: Bill Rosinski, David Norrie & Joe Schad |
ESPN & ESPN Radio | |
| Thu, Jan 1 | 12:30 p.m. | Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: No. 8 Michigan State vs. No. 5 Baylor TV: Dave Pasch, Brian Griese & Tom Luginbill Radio: Brad Sham, Kelly Stouffer & Ian Fitzsimmons |
ESPN & ESPN Radio |
| 5 p.m. | Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual College Football Playoff Semifinal: No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 3 Florida State TV: Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Heather Cox & Tom Rinaldi Radio: Sean McDonough, Chris Spielman & Todd McShay |
ESPN & ESPN Radio | |
| 8:30 p.m. | Allstate Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff Semifinal: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Ohio State TV: Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge & Holly Rowe Radio: Bill Rosinski, David Norrie & Joe Schad |
ESPN & ESPN Radio | |
| Mon, Jan 12 | 8:30 p.m. | College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&T: TBD vs. TBD TV: Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Heather Cox & Tom Rinaldi Radio: Mike Tirico, Todd Blackledge, Holly Rowe & Joe Schad |
ESPN & ESPN Radio |
The schedule will kick off on Saturday, Dec. 20, with five games, four on ESPN and ESPN Radio and one on ABC. An ESPN outlet will present at least one game a day for 12 out of the 14 days from December 22 to January 4. Highlights:
- Every bowl game on ESPN, ABC and ESPN2 will also be available through WatchESPN, accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app, through ESPN on Xbox LIVE to Gold members, on Apple TV and Roku to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider.
- ESPN Radio will broadcast 30 bowl games, including all of the New Year’s Six matchups and the College Football Playoff National Championship.
- ESPN platforms will cover all 11 ESPN Events owned-and-operated bowl games:
- Four on Saturday, Dec. 20: Gildan New Mexico Bowl (2:20 p.m. on ESPN & ESPN Radio); Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl (3:30 p.m. on ABC); Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (5:45 p.m. on ESPN & ESPN Radio) and Raycom Media Camellia Bowl (9:15 p.m. on ESPN & ESPN Radio).
- Additional pre-Christmas Day games on ESPN and ESPN Radio include the Boca Raton Bowl (Tuesday, Dec. 23, at 6 p.m.) and Hawaii Bowl (Wednesday, Dec. 24, at 8 p.m.).
- Two matchups on Friday, Dec. 26, include the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl (1 p.m. on ESPN) and the Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl (8 p.m. on ESPN & ESPN Radio)
- Additional games include: AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl (Monday, Dec. 29, at 9 p.m. on ESPN & ESPN Radio), Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl (Friday, Jan. 2 at noon on ESPN); and Birmingham Bowl (Saturday, Jan. 3, at noon on ESPN & ESPN Radio).
Full Schedule: https://es.pn/1whoswx
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ESPN Radio to Showcase 30 Postseason College Bowls including Inaugural College Football Playoff
contact: Tara.C.Chozet@espn.com
ESPN Radio’s season-long coverage of the 2014 college football campaign will culminate with a 30-game postseason bowl schedule, including all matchups from the inaugural College Football Playoff, capped by the College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&Ton Monday, Jan. 12, at 8:30 p.m. ET. Veteran play-by-play voice Mike Tirico will call the much-anticipated inaugural final alongside analyst Todd Blackledge, with reporters Holly Rowe and Joe Schad.
ESPN Radio will also broadcast each of the “New Year’s Six” bowls featuring the College Football Playoff Semifinals and four additional premier games, starting Wednesday, Dec. 31, with the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl as No. 6 TCU faces No. 9 Ole Miss. Dave Neal and Andre Ware will describe the action with reporter Laura Rutledge. The College Football Playoff Semifinals will include the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual (No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 3 Florida State) on December 31, and the Allstate
Sugar Bowl (No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Ohio State) on Thursday, Jan. 1.
Additional schedule highlights:
- ESPN Radio’s lead college football commentating team of Bill Rosinski, David Norrie and Joe Schad will call six bowl games, including the Capital One Orange Bowl (December 31) and the Allstate Sugar Bowl College Football Semifinal, adding to their 22 regular season games (out of 30);
- This year’s schedule includes four more bowls than last season;
- Four games on the first day of the postseason, Saturday, Dec. 20: R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (11 a.m.); Gildan New Mexico Bowl (2:20 p.m.); Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (5:45 p.m.) and Raycom Media Camellia Bowl (9:15 p.m.).
Full Schedule: https://es.pn/1DOD5hy
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SEC Network Bowl Preview Airs Thursday
contact: Gracie.Blackburn@espn.com
On Thursday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. ET, SEC Network will preview all 12 bowl matchups featuring Southeastern Conference football teams in the SEC Nation Bowl Preview. Hosted by Joe Tessitore the special will feature analysis from the SEC Nation pregame show commentators – Marcus Spears, Tim Tebow and Paul Finebaum. The show will also discuss the first-ever College Football Playoff Semifinal matchups of Ohio State vs. Alabama and Florida State vs. Oregon.
Full Release: https://es.pn/1r0ryWK
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SEC Network Warms Up Christmas Morning with Yule Log and Fight Songs
contact: Gracie.Blackburn@espn.com
While stockings are hung by the chimney with care, a Yule Log with fights songs on SEC Network will air.
On Christmas morning, from 6 -10 a.m. ET, SEC Network will warm up any living room with a fireplace featuring a burning blaze, accompanied by a playlist of Southeastern Conference college fight songs and holiday music. Tiny tots can watch the fire glow to the tune of:
- Yea Alabama
- Arkansas Fight
- War Eagle (Auburn)
- Orange & Blue (Florida)
- Glory, Glory (Georgia)
- On! On! U of K (Kentucky)
- Fight for LSU
- Forward Rebels (Ole Miss)
- Hail State (Mississippi State)
- Fight, Tiger (Missouri)
- Step to the Rear (South Carolina)
- Down the Field (Tennessee)
- Aggie War Hymn (Texas A&M)
- Dynamite (Vanderbilt)
The songs will be interwoven with holiday favorites like “Oh Christmas Tree”, “Jingle Bells” and the “12 Days of Christmas”, all commercial free.
Once the ribbons and wrappings, trimmings and trappings, are all put away, 10-hours of SEC Storied will play:
| Date | Time (ET) | Program |
| Thu, Dec. 25 | 6 a.m. | SEC Yule Log |
| 10 a.m. | SEC Storied: The Book of Manning presented by Chick-fil-A | |
| 11:30 a.m. | SEC Storied: Herschel Walker | |
| 12:30 p.m. | 30 for 30: You Don’t Know Bo presented by Buick | |
| 2 p.m. | SEC Storied: The Play That Changed College Football | |
| 3 p.m. | SEC Storied: The Stars Are Aligned | |
| 4 p.m. | SEC Storied: The Believer | |
| 5:30 p.m. | SEC Storied: It’s Time | |
| 7 p.m. | SEC Storied: Bo, Barkley & The Big Hurt presented by Regions Bank & Chick-fil-A | |
| 8 p.m. | SEC Storied: Miracle 3 | |
| 9 p.m. | Nine for IX: Pat XO | |
| 10 p.m. | SEC Storied: Abby Head On | |
| 11 p.m. | SEC Storied: Lolo Jones |
No football, no basketball, no volleyball to see, just good tidings to all, and a yule log on TV.
Full Release: https://es.pn/1zw7KLl
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ESPNU to Televise Inaugural BURGER KING State Champions Bowl Series on December 27
contact: Derek.Volner@ESPN.com
ESPNU will televise the inaugural BURGER KING® State Champions Bowl Series on Saturday, Dec. 27, from FAU Stadium on the campus of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla. The three-game, six team, premier high school football event (12 p.m., 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET) will feature a state champion against another state champion for the first time in an official capacity. Three state champions from Florida, one from Utah and two from Washington will participate in the event.
BURGER KING® State Champions Bowl Series Teams:
- Florida: 3 Booker T. Washington (4A), No. 6 Miami Central (6A), and Trinity Christian (3A)
- Utah: 8 Bingham (5A)
- Washington: 16 Bothell (4A) and No. 23 Eastside Catholic (3A)
Rankings are per USA Today (Dec. 15). State classification is represented (inside).
BURGER KING® State Champions Bowl Series Matchups:
- 23 Eastside Catholic, Wash. vs. Trinity Christian, Fla.
Time: 12 p.m.
Commentators: Mike Couzens and Rene Ingoglia
Note: Eastside Catholic (13-1) rides a 13-game winning streak vs. a talented Trinity Christian (11-2) team that has five players in the ESPN 300
- 16 Bothell, Wash. vs. No. 6 Miami Central, Fla.
Time: 4 p.m.
Commentators: Jason Benetti, Craig Haubert
Note: Matchup of nationally ranked teams, with Bothell finishing the regular season undefeated (14-0) and Miami Central’s (14-1) lone loss coming to No. 3 Booker T. Washington
- 8 Bingham, Utah vs. No. 3 Booker T. Washington, Fla.
Time: 8 p.m.
Commentators: Jason Benetti, Craig Haubert
Note: In a battle of top ten teams, Bingham (13-1) will look to snap Booker T. Washington’s (14-0) 40-game winning streak
Full Schedule: https://es.pn/1wLuCp7
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