The Big Ten continues to cement itself all across the college football television landscape.
There was a Reddit comment I saw a few years ago that has stuck with me despite its very unassuming nature:
I feel actual nostalgia for random Michigan games on ABC with the windows open and fall’s first breaths blowing through the house as you finish up Saturday’s chores while Michigan slowly grinds down some overmatched opponent.
For fans around the country, Michigan occupying a prominent ABC spot — often at noon — has been so common that it is just part of college football. Of course, the new landscape looks much different. It is now FOX who has taken over the noon window, as Michigan fans experienced four times last year. Add in marquee spots with CBS (3:30) and NBC (7:30) suddenly it is much harder to predict what channel the game may land on any given week. Some love this variety, but everyone has a preference.
What is your preferred Michigan kickoff time?
The allure of night games has been the biggest change over the last decade since the Notre Dame thriller in 2011. While the station has changed from ABC and ESPN to NBC, nationally the primetime window seems to get the hype. However, it does feel like half of the time these games in Ann Arbor end up being against Purdue, Bowling Green, Indiana, and Hawaii, which does kind of wear off the charm.
That has moved me to the noon camp. Maybe I am drinking the Big Noon kool-aid, but I think it is perfect to start the weekend as the biggest game and get to relax the rest of Saturday. As a frequent attendee, it gives me plenty of time afterward as well, as opposed to gearing up all day for a night game. No offense to CBS, but the 3:30 window just feels like a weird in between. Regardless, expect to see the defending champs all over the three main Big Ten tv spots this fall.
What do you think? Do you have a favorite game time and/or tv channel? Let us know in the comments below!