The NFL has its fun Tuesday night by unveiling the entire 2015 schedule. College football is a little different in that bits and pieces of the schedule are unveiled over time, thanks in large part to the process the networks have in determining which games they will carry. The Big Ten Network has already confirmed a handful of games that will appear on primetime in 2015, including Penn State’s home game against Rutgers on September 19. There could be more primetime action coming at Penn State this fall too, but we will have to wait to see what ESPN decides to do.
Or we can try guessing right now.
Let’s go straight down Penn State’s schedule and see if I can accurately predict what time each game of Penn State’s 2015 schedule will be scheduled to start. Ready? Let’s begin.
September 5: Penn State @ Temple
Prediction: Noon kickoff, ESPN 2
This game has noon kickoff written all over it, but a 3:30 kickoff may not be entirely out of the question. Whatever time it kicks off, look for it to air on ESPN 2 in most locations, and perhaps on ESPN if they base channel on geography and you are in Pennsylvania. I would bank on a noon kickoff to get the season started in Philadelphia.
September 12: Penn State vs. Buffalo
Prediction: Noon kickoff, Big Ten Network
Another week, another likely noon kickoff. There is not much to market here, so look for this to be sitting on your Big Ten Network line-up in week two. Book it.
September 19: Penn State vs. Rutgers
Prediction/Confirmed: 7:00 p.m., Big Ten Network
This one is pretty much confirmed, but we’re just waiting for the official kick time. Big Ten Network has already announced this game will air in primetime on the network, and a 7 p.m. start should be the likely starting time. I’ll take absolutely no credit for this one.
September 26: Penn State vs. San Diego State
Prediction: 3:30 p.m., ESPN
This game could very well be given a noon kick, but I think a mid-afternoon start time might be somewhat desirable for ESPN since the game involves San Diego State. Because it involves a west coast team is why I think ESPN steps in and snatches this one from Big Ten Network.
October 3: Penn State vs. Army
Prediction: Noon, Big Ten Network
The final non-conference game on the schedule likely is left for Big Ten Network to pick up, although ESPN stepping in might be a possibility. For now, I’ll go with BTN to air the game against Army in the early timeslot.
October 10: Penn State vs. Indiana
Prediction: Noon, ESPN 2
This is Penn State’s homecoming game, which may help influence this game getting an early kickoff. Penn State tends to like the homecoming game being played earlier when possible, and Indiana is not exactly a huge draw for TV. Penn State might be undefeated at this point, which might change the equation just a bit, but I would count on an early kick against the Hoosiers. I think ESPN picks this up for ESPN 2.
October 17: Penn State @ Ohio State
Prediction: 8:00 p.m., ABC
Now things get interesting. Ohio State will likely be your preseason No. 1 and they should enter this game without a loss. It is also very realistic to suggest Penn State will be without a loss (or perhaps at worst 5-1). Throw in Urban Meyer and James Franklin, some of the best quarterbacks in the Big Ten (Hackenberg, Braxton Miller/J.T. Barrett/Cardale Jones), and first place in the Big Ten East potentially being on the line in mid-October and I would be surprised if ESPN passed on a chance to put this game on primetime on the big network, ABC. They’ll have Ohio State in primetime at Virginia Tech in week one.
Also keep in mind ESPN may not have a chance to air Ohio State in prime time with games against Michigan State and Michigan not being played until late November. If ESPN is going to get the Buckeyes at home in primetime, this is the one they will want, even if Penn State has more than one loss.
October 24: Penn State @ Maryland (Baltimore)
Prediction: 3:30 p.m., ESPN 2
This game was aired on Big Ten Network last season, and it may be likely to be put there again this season, but for now I’ll go out on a limb and say it gets placed on ESPN 2 and played in the mid-afternoon time slot.
October 31: Penn State vs. Illinois
Prediction: Noon, Big Ten Network
Penn State and Illinois have played some games later in the day in recent years, but I’ll go back and say they get an early kick on Halloween. Honestly, I am not too confident in this one.
November 7: Penn State @ Northwestern
Prediction: Noon, ESPN
The first game of November seems likely to get an early kickoff too. It may even be left for Big Ten Network, but for some reason I am guessing ESPN picks it up. Must be that Northwestern influence at ESPN.
November 21: Penn State vs. Michigan
Prediction: 6:00 p.m., ESPN (ABC?)
Pay attention to this one, because if things go really well for either school or both, this one could become very attractive to ESPN. A full primetime start may be out of the question this late in November, but it seems it could be more attractive for a time somewhere after the 3:30 p.m. lineup. Throwing it at 6 p.m. is rare, but not unheard of. You would get the primetime atmosphere without going all in on a primetime game. It could work.
November 28: Penn State at Michigan State
Prediction: 3:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN
The final game of the regular season could potentially have a stake at the division on the line for one or the other (or both?), so the odds it gets placed on ABC seem rather strong. It could get the split telecast treatment, but I think the chances this gets network coverage are pretty good.
Feel free to share your schedule predictions in the comments section if you see anything developing differently. One thing I admit to not going all in on was comparing Penn State’s schedule against other games going on around the country. For the most part, I don’t know if it would change my opinions anyway, but if you want to use some of that logic by all means have at it.
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