The Pac-12 is expected to release its early-season broadcast schedule this week. It will include TV assignments and kickoff times, which are of particular interest to fans eager to make travel arrangements ASAP.
Here?s an explanation of the process and preview of what to expect:
*** We?ll get the specifics for games on the weekends of Aug. 31, Sept. 7 and Sept. 14 and possibly the 21st, as well.
The conference will also announce a smattering of mid- and late-season assignments (more on those below).
But the vast majority of games will be left for in-season selections as the networks attempt to retain flexibility for Oct/Nov. It?s not ideal for fans, especially when Homecoming is involved, but it?s in the best interest of TV ratings and, alas, that?s what it?s all about.
*** Before the three networks begin their so-called draft, Fox and ESPN will make four initial selections. (The entire season of Pac-12-owned games is available.)
Fox has already announced it will broadcast Notre Dame at Stanford on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, a strong indication that it had the first pick in the four-game draft.
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Assuming Fox picked first, ESPN owned the No. 2 and 3 selections, with Fox picking the fourth and final game.
And yes, Fox has the right to move Pac-12 games to its new, all-sports network, Fox Sports 1, which is set to launch in August.
*** I have to think ESPN used one of its picks on Stanford-Oregon, a Thursday showdown (Nov. 7) that could very well be the Pac-12 game of the year (and has the added benefit of not conflicting with Alabama-LSU, which is two days later).
But it?s important to note that the four games pulled off the table by Fox and ESPN aren?t necessarily what the networks would consider the four best games.
The process is a bit more nuanced, with value coming into play:
If there?s a weekend with one game that?s vastly superior to the others ? even if it?s not one of the four best of the season ? then Fox/ESPN might grab it.?The fact that Oregon and USC miss each other this fall reduces by one what the networks would consider must-have games.
The initial selections mean that every game available in the so-called draft ? thus every game on the Pac12Nets ? has been initially passed over by Fox and ESPN.
*** Not every game was available for initial selection or the ensuing, three-network draft.
The Pac-12 doesn?t own the broadcast rights to non-conference road games like UCLA-Nebraska and Washington-Illinois (both owned by the Big Ten) or USC-Notre Dame (NBC).
Oh, and the Arizona State-Notre Dame showdown Oct. 5 in Arlington, Tex., counts as an Irish home game. Kickoff is 4:30 Pacific on NBC.
(Please note: When the conference releases the early-season broadcast assignments/kickoff times this week, it could very well include non-Pac-12-owned games that have already been set.)
*** My guess on the initial selections:
1) Notre Dame at Stanford (Fox)
2) Oregon at Stanford (ESPN)
3) Stanford at USC (ESPN)
4) UCLA at USC (Fox)
*** After the four initial selection, the draft began.
The weekly selection order was determined in advance, with the Pac12Nets having the No. 1 pick twice and the No. 2 pick on six occasions?(don?t hold me to that: it might be seven).
The Boise State-Washington duel on Aug. 31 ? the first game in renovated Husky Stadium ? stands as the most attractive game of Week 1, by far.?(USC-Hawaii is owned by the Mountain West and will be shown on the CBS Sports Network.)
If the Pac12Nets have the Huskies-Broncos, it probably came via one of the league?s precious No. 1 picks.
Then again, it wouldn?t come as a complete surprise if ESPN/Fox used one of the four initial selections on that Week 1 showdown.
*** Week 5 ? the weekend of Sept. 28 ? is a big one for television.
It includes Arizona State-USC, Cal-Oregon and Arizona-Washington, any of which would be quality inventory for the Pac12Nets ? especially if the Huskies are a top-25 team at that point.
*** If you?re looking at potential Pac12Nets selections from the perspective of leverage with DirecTV, then it?s probably best to focus on USC and UCLA games ? Southern California is DTV?s home market, after all.
The early-season schedule doesn?t provide the Pac12Nets with any must-have games, in my opinion.
After opening at Hawaii, the Trojans play Washington State, Boston College and Utah State.
The Bruins, who have two byes in the first five weeks, open with Nevada, then visit Nebraska (owned by the B1G) and play New Mexico State.
The first Pac-12-owned, must-have game involving the L.A. schools is Sept. 28, when the Trojans visit ASU.
Then again, if there?s no deal with DTV by that point, the chances of the parties reaching an agreement at any time in 2013 are mighty slim.
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* My e-book, ?Andrew Luck: Inside the Making of a No. 1 Pick,? is available for $2.99 on Amazon for Kindles and for other devices (PCs, iPads and iPhones) with the free Kindle app.
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