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July 2, 2008

Big Ten Network Announces Early-Season and Primetime Football Schedule

Network to carry season openers for seven Big Ten teams

CHICAGO – The Big Ten Network revealed its early-season and primetime football schedule on Wednesday. The network will televise the season openers for seven Big Ten teams including Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin.

The vast majority of games will be presented in stunning high definition.

"We are tremendously pleased with our early-season and primetime selections," Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman said. "Last year's football season featured many great storylines and unexpected surprises. We can't wait to see what's in store during year two on the Big Ten Network.""

Highlights include:

• Ohio State, seeking to become the first team to ever win three consecutive outright Big Ten titles, will open its 2008 season on the Big Ten Network at noon ET on Aug. 30 against in-state opponent Youngstown State. The Buckeyes return 20 starters, the most of any Big Ten team, including Heisman Trophy candidate Chris ""Beanie"" Wells

• The Big Ten Network will televise the first two games in the newly-renovated Memorial Stadium in Champaign as the Illini host Eastern Illinois (Sept. 6) and Louisiana-Lafayette (Sept. 13). Both games will kick off at noon ET. Head coach Ron Zook and the Fighting Illini are coming off a nine-win season and a Rose Bowl appearance.

• The rise of Illinois and Indiana were two of the Big Ten's top storylines in 2007. The two teams meet under the lights when the Illini host the Hoosiers at 8 PM ET on Oct. 18.

• Wisconsin, with one of the nation's deepest and most talented backfields, will play its first two games of the season on the Big Ten Network. The Badgers will host Akron on Aug. 30 and Marshall on Sept. 6. Both games kick off at noon ET. Last season, the network televised 20 games involving nationally ranked teams including the Wisconsin-Ohio State matchup.
  

• Penn State's season opener against Coastal Carolina on Aug. 30 and its Sept. 20 contest against Temple will be carried by the Big Ten Network at noon ET. Joe Paterno, whose 372 coaching victories rank fourth all-time, begins his 43rd season as the Nittany Lions' head coach.

• Iowa's first three games, Maine (Aug. 30), Florida International (Sept. 6) and the rivalry game vs. Iowa State (Sept. 13), will be televised by the Big Ten Network. All three games will kick off at noon ET. The Hawkeyes look to reclaim the coveted Cy-Hawk Trophy after last year's loss in Ames. Iowa has won three of the last five meetings against the Cyclones and hold a 20-11 advantage since the series was renewed in 1977.
  

• Two of Purdue's first three games will air on the Big Ten Network, including the season-opener against Northern Colorado (Sept. 6) and Central Michigan (Sept. 20). Both games kick off at noon ET. The Boilermakers are seeking to send head coach Joe Tiller out on a high note with an 11th bowl appearance during his 12th and final year at the helm.
  

• Indiana's first three games will be televised by the Big Ten Network. The Hoosiers begin their quest for a second straight bowl appearance under head coach Bill Lynch at noon ET on Aug. 30 against Western Kentucky. The network will have the Hoosiers in primetime at 7 PM ET on Sept. 6 against Murray State and Sept. 20 against Ball State.

• The Big Ten Network will televise the home opener for Michigan State and second-year coach Mark Dantonio against Eastern Michigan at noon ET on Sept. 6.

• Northwestern will make consecutive appearances on the network against Southern Illinois (Sept. 13) and Ohio University (Sept. 20). Both games kick off at noon ET at Ryan Field in Evanston.

• The Big Ten Network's five-game primetime package kicks off at 7 PM ET on Aug. 30 when Tim Brewster's Minnesota squad hosts Northern Illinois. Golden Gopher fans will get a first look at a recruiting class that was nationally ranked in the top 25.

• The network will televise Minnesota's final game at the H. H. H. Metrodome as the Gophers battle Iowa for the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy in primetime at 7 PM ET on Nov. 22.

The Big Ten and its television partners will announce all other game times either six or 12 days before each game.

When the Big Ten Network is producing simultaneous games, the network will split the feeds regionally to allow Big Ten fans to watch the game with the most regional interest. In addition, cable and satellite providers will be able to carry the additional games via ""overflow channels."" Fans can check local listings, their on-screen channel guide or www.BigTenNetwork.com to find overflow channel assignments for specific games.

Last year, the Big Ten Network televised 20 games involving Big Ten football teams that were ranked or receiving votes for the top 25, 10 down-to-the-wire games that were decided by seven points or less and four of those matchups went to overtime. Some of the most high-profile games that aired on the Big Ten Network included Appalachian State-Michigan, Wisconsin-Ohio State, Michigan-Purdue, Penn State-Illinois, Indiana-Michigan State, Northwestern-Michigan State, Michigan State-Purdue, Minnesota-Iowa, Purdue-Indiana and Wisconsin-Minnesota.

Big Ten Network's Early-Season and Primetime Schedule

Saturday, August 30
Indiana vs. Western Kentucky, Noon ET
Iowa vs. Maine, Noon ET
Ohio State vs. Youngstown State, Noon ET
Penn State vs. Coastal Carolina, Noon ET
Wisconsin vs. Akron, Noon ET
Minnesota vs. Northern Illinois, 7 PM ET

Saturday, September 6
Illinois vs. Eastern Illinois, Noon ET
Iowa vs. Florida International, Noon ET
Michigan State vs. Eastern Michigan, Noon ET
Purdue vs. Northern Colorado, Noon ET
Wisconsin vs. Marshall, Noon ET
Indiana vs. Murray State, 7 PM ET

Saturday, September 13
Illinois vs. UL-Lafayette, Noon ET
Iowa vs. Iowa State, Noon ET
Minnesota vs. Montana State, Noon ET
Northwestern vs. Southern Illinois, Noon ET

Saturday, September 20
Minnesota vs. Florida Atlantic, Noon ET
Northwestern vs. Ohio, Noon ET
Ohio State vs. Troy, Noon ET
Penn State vs. Temple, Noon ET
Purdue vs. Central Michigan, Noon ET
Indiana vs. Ball State, 7 PM ET

Saturday, October 18
Illinois vs. Indiana, 8 PM ET

Saturday, November 22
Minnesota vs. Iowa, 7 PM ET

About the Big Ten Network:
The Big Ten Network is the first national network dedicated to covering one of the premier collegiate conferences in the country. With more than 400 live events, and nearly all of them in HD, the network is the destination for Big Ten fans across the country and allows fans to see their favorite team, regardless of where they live. Operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the Big Ten Network showcases a wide array of classic-to-current sports and televises more Olympic sporting events and women's sports than has ever been aired on any other network. Original programming highlights activities and accomplishments of some of the nation's finest universities. Each year, the network offers approximately 40 football games, 140 regular season men's basketball games, 55 women's basketball games, dozens of Big Ten Championship events, a nightly studio show, coaches' shows and classic games. Available to all cable and satellite providers nationwide, the network currently has agreements with Comcast, DirecTV, DISH Network, AT&T U-Verse and 230 cable operators.

For updated information on the Big Ten Network, go to www.BigTenNetwork.com.

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