ESPN to Air Two CMU Games in 34 Markets

MOUNT PLEASANT - The defending Mid-American Conference champion Central Michigan University football team will have a pair of games televised on ESPN Regional this season.

The Sept. 29 home game against Northern Illinois and the Oct. 6 game at Ball State are part of a six-week Mid-American Conference “Game of the Week” regionally syndicated package. The games will air in 34 markets reaching 24 million television households, or 22 percent of the U.S.

“This is a positive step for the Mid-American Conference and for Central Michigan University,” Athletics Director Dave Heeke said. “A lot of people will be able to see our games and Chippewa football will have great exposure in areas where people are passionate about college football.”

All games in the package will begin at noon ET, with the telecast window extending to 3:30 p.m. The games will be distributed nationally via the ESPN GamePlan pay-per-view package, which is available to fans via cable, DirecTV and Dish Network.

“Exposure like this helps us reach the goals we are trying to accomplish,” first-year head coach Butch Jones said. “Individuals from all over the country will get a good look at Central Michigan University and our football program.”

Stations carrying the games in Michigan include: WXYZ (ABC) in Detroit; WXSP (MNT) Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo/Battle Creek; WHTV (MNT) in Lansing; WNEM (CBS) in Flint/Saginaw/Bay City; WFQX (FOX) in Traverse City/Cadillac; and WMXF (FOX-MNT) in Marquette.

Additional major markets include Chicago, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Columbus (OH), Cincinnati, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Buffalo, Dayton (OH), Toledo (OH), Youngstown (OH) and Rockford (IL),

Currently, five of CMU’s 12 regular season games are scheduled to air on the ESPN family of networks, including two games on ESPN2.

Kickoff times have also been set for all five of the Chippewas’ home games this season.



Date Opponent Time

Sept. 8 Toledo 7 p.m.

Sept. 22 North Dakota State 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 29 Northern Illinois Noon

Oct. 13 Army 3:30 p.m.

Nov. 16 Eastern Michigan 7 p.m.