July 2, 2008

The Big Ten Conference office today released the game times and television plans for every home non-conference contest during the first four weekends of the 2008 football season. The 2008 pre-conference schedule will feature 30 home matchups televised by ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 or the Big Ten Network, beginning with eight contests on Saturday, August 30.

The Big Ten is in the midst of a series of milestone media agreements which provide the conference with its greatest television exposure ever. During the 2007 football season, the Big Ten’s media agreements resulted in the broadcast of every home game for the first time and nearly every contest was available on a national basis. In addition, all regional afternoon football games aired on ABC will also appear on ESPN or ESPN2 in outer-markets, making those games nationally available. Remaining television selections beginning Sept. 27 and continuing through the end of the season will be made six or 12 days in advance of the game.

The Big Ten will hold the 2008 Football Media Days and 37th annual Kickoff Luncheon on Thursday and Friday, July 24-25, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, featuring all 11 head coaches and some of the conference’s top returning players. The 113th season of Big Ten football kicks off on Saturday, August 30, with 10 of 11 schools in action.

The complete list of television games announced today appears below.

Saturday, Aug. 30

Western Kentucky at Indiana, Big Ten Network, 12:00 p.m. EDT

Maine at Iowa, Big Ten Network, 11:00 a.m. CDT

Syracuse at Northwestern, ESPN or ESPN2, 11:00 a.m. CDT

Youngstown State at Ohio State, Big Ten Network, 12:00 p.m. EDT

Coastal Carolina at Penn State, Big Ten Network, 12:00 p.m. EDT

Akron at Wisconsin, Big Ten Network, 11:00 a.m. CDT

Utah at Michigan, ABC, 3:30 p.m. EDT

Northern Illinois at Minnesota, Big Ten Network, 6:00 p.m. CDT

Saturday, Sept. 6

Eastern Illinois at Illinois, Big Ten Network, 11:00 a.m. CDT

Florida International at Iowa, Big Ten Network, 11:00 a.m. CDT

Miami (Ohio) at Michigan, ESPN or ESPN2, 12:00 p.m. EDT

Eastern Michigan at Michigan State, Big Ten Network, 12:00 p.m. EDT

Ohio at Ohio State, ESPN or ESPN2, 12:00 p.m. EDT

Northern Colorado at Purdue, Big Ten Network, 12:00 p.m. EDT

Marshall at Wisconsin, Big Ten Network, 11:00 a.m. CDT

Oregon State at Penn State, ABC, 3:30 p.m. EDT

Murray State at Indiana, Big Ten Network, 7:00 p.m. EDT

Saturday, Sept. 13

Louisiana-Lafayette at Illinois, Big Ten Network, 11:00 a.m. CDT

Iowa State at Iowa, Big Ten Network, 11:00 a.m. CDT

Florida Atlantic at Michigan State, ESPN or ESPN2, 12:00 p.m. EDT

Montana State at Minnesota, Big Ten Network, 11:00 a.m. CDT

Southern Illinois at Northwestern, Big Ten Network, 11:00 a.m. CDT

Oregon at Purdue, ABC, 3:30 p.m. EDT

Saturday, Sept. 20

Florida Atlantic at Minnesota, Big Ten Network, 11:00 a.m. CDT

Ohio at Northwestern, Big Ten Network, 11:00 a.m. CDT

Troy at Ohio State, Big Ten Network, 12:00 p.m. EDT

Temple at Penn State, Big Ten Network, 12:00 p.m. EDT

Central Michigan at Purdue, Big Ten Network, 12:00 p.m. EDT

Notre Dame at Michigan State, ABC, 3:30 p.m. EDT

Ball State at Indiana, Big Ten Network, 7:00 p.m. EDT