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BYU football: BYU, ESPN announce more television plans for 2017-18 season

By Nathan Cunningham

Oct 20, 2016; Boise, ID, USA; Boise State Broncos wide receiver Cedrick Wilson (1) is tackled by Brigham Young Cougars linebacker Fred Warner (4) during first half action at Albertsons Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 20, 2016; Boise, ID, USA; Boise State Broncos wide receiver Cedrick Wilson (1) is tackled by Brigham Young Cougars linebacker Fred Warner (4) during first half action at Albertsons Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports /
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BYU football fans won’t have to look far to find the Cougars on television in 2017-18. The majority of the schedule will be on major networks.

BYU football’s season opener against the Portland State Vikings will air on ESPN. The Aug. 26 game has a 1 pm MT/3 pm ET kickoff.

BYU made the announcement last week.

Also announced were plans for the Holy War game, along with home matchups against Wisconsin and UMass.

The Utah game will air on either ESPN, ESPN 2 or ESPNU (this last one seems highly unlikely). The Utes and Cougars square off on Sept. 9 with a 8:15 pm MT/10:15 pm ET kickoff.

BYU’s game with Wisconsin will be broadcast on either ABC or ESPN. The Badgers comes to Provo on Sept. 16, and the game’s kickoff is 1:30 pm MT/3:30 pm ET.

ESPN/ABC will announce the final network assignments following Week One of the college football season. Remember that BYU football’s clash with Portland State is a week earlier than most games, because the Cougars were allowed a 13th game after scheduling Hawaii on the road.

Finally, plans were announced for BYU’s game with the UMass Minutemen. BYUtv will air that contest on Nov. 18, with a 1 pm MT/ 3 pm ET kickoff.

As it stands, 10 of BYU’s 13 games have network broadcast delegations. The ESPN family of networks have seven games, (LSU, Boise State, UNLV, Fresno State, plus the three games listed above). CBS will show two games (Utah State and Hawaii).

Without having a conference affiliation, it’s always up in the air for the Cougars in terms of scheduling. Obviously, getting on national television is a great thing for the program. Now, step two is winning those games when you have an audience.

That will be a tall order, with LSU, Wisconsin and Utah on the docket, but it isn’t impossible, especially with two of those games at home.

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