Big Ten kick times, TV for first 3 weeks

The Big Ten on Tuesday announced kickoff times and some TV plans for the first three weeks of games this coming season.

Details for Penn State's Week 3 matchup at Temple, Wisconsin's Week 3 matchup against Northern Illinois at Chicago's Soldier Field and Indiana's opener against Ball State at Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium will be announced at a later date.

Several of these already have been revealed, but let's check out the full list from the league. I've broken this up by team:

ILLINOIS

• Sept. 3: Arkansas State, 3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network
• Sept. 10: South Dakota State, noon ET, Big Ten Network
• Sept. 17: Arizona State, 7 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

INDIANA

• Sept. 3: vs. Ball State (at Indianapolis), kickoff and TV plans TBA
• Sept. 10: Virginia, 7 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network
• Sept. 17: South Carolina State, 3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network
• Sept. 24: at North Texas, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN3

IOWA

• Sept. 3: Tennessee Tech, noon ET, Big Ten Network
• Sept. 10: at Iowa State, noon ET, Fox Sports Net
• Sept. 17: Pittsburgh, noon ET, ESPN or ESPN2

MICHIGAN

• Sept. 3: Western Michigan, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC (ESPN2 mirror)
• Sept. 10: Notre Dame, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Sept. 17: Eastern Michigan, noon ET, Big Ten Network

MICHIGAN STATE

• Sept. 2: Youngstown State, 7:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network
• Sept. 10: Florida Atlantic, noon ET, ESPN or ESPN2
• Sept. 17: at Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC

MINNESOTA

• Sept. 3: at USC, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
• Sept. 10: New Mexico State, 3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network
• Sept. 17: North Dakota State, 7 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

NEBRASKA

• Sept. 3: Chattanooga, 3:30 p.m. ET, TV TBA
• Sept. 10: Fresno State, 7 p.m. ET, TV TBA
• Sept. 17: Washington, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC

NORTHWESTERN

• Sept. 3: at Boston College, noon ET, ESPNU
• Sept. 10: Eastern Illinois, 3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network
• Sept. 17: at Army, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS College Sports

OHIO STATE

• Sept. 3: Akron, noon ET, ESPN or ESPN2
• Sept. 10: Toledo, noon ET, Big Ten Network
• Sept. 17: at Miami, 8 p.m. ET, ABC or ESPN or ESPN2

PENN STATE

• Sept. 3: Indiana State, noon ET, Big Ten Network
• Sept. 10: Alabama, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC (national)
• Sept. 17: at Temple, kickoff and TV plans TBA

PURDUE

• Sept. 3: Middle Tennessee, noon ET, Big Ten Network
• Sept. 10: at Rice, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network
• Sept. 17: Southeast Missouri State, noon ET, Big Ten Network

WISCONSIN

• Sept. 1: UNLV, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Sept. 10: Oregon State, noon ET, ESPN or ESPN2
• Sept. 17: vs. Northern Illinois (at Chicago), kickoff and TV plans TBA

So there you have it.

The thing that stands out is more early-season games are moving to afternoon kickoffs, a change most Big Ten fans will welcome (more drinki ... er, tailgating!). In addition to the 14 prime-time games, the league has three games in the 3:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. CT window in each of the first three weeks. Although several games remain in the noon ET/11 a.m. CT window, we're gradually seeing more Big Ten football moved to later in the day. I'm all for it.

Other thoughts:

• Wisconsin has to be giddy about its TV exposure. The Badgers already have four games in prime time plus an ESPN or ESPN2 game against Oregon State. Having the early kickoff against a Pac-12 team should benefit Bret Bielema's crew.
• I know Penn State fans are disappointed that the Alabama game isn't at night, but the 3:30 p.m. ET window isn't small potatoes, especially when it's a national broadcast on ABC. A lot of eyes will be on Beaver Stadium that day.
• Teams like Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana and Northwestern are seeing the benefits of games in the afternoon or under the lights.

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/42854/big-ten-kick-times-tv-for-first-3-weeks

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