ABC, ESPN to Air Six Prime Time Big 10 College Football Games in 2013

ESPN announced six Big Ten Conference college football games for Saturday prime-time telecasts on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 during the 2013 season. Each game includes at least one team ranked in an early ESPN.com preseason top 25 poll for 2013: No. 1 Ohio State three times, No. 9 Michigan twice, and No. 24 Northwestern and No. 25 Wisconsin once each. Two of the telecasts will involve a Big Ten member hosting independent Notre Dame, which is ranked No. 10 in the ESPN.com poll. Additional games will be announced in the coming months.

Highlights:

· An ESPN platform will televise a Big Ten matchup in prime time five of six straight Saturdays from September 7 to October 12.

· Ohio State, the only Football Bowl Subdivision team to finish the 2012 campaign undefeated at 12-0, will play three night games: against defending Conference champion Wisconsin (September 28), at Northwestern (October 5) and against Penn State (October 26).

· ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 will televise Notre Dame at Michigan in prime time on September 7, marking only the second night game at the Big House since its opening in 1927. The first, a 35-31 victory over Notre Dame in 2011, was ESPN's most-viewed and highest-rated regular-season college football game that season, averaging 7,541,000 viewers and a 4.5 U.S. rating (5.2 ESPN coverage rating). In addition, Purdue will host Notre Dame The Following Saturday, September 14.

· Penn State will host Michigan on October 12 and visit Ohio State on October 26.

2013 Big Ten Schedule as of April 29 (additional selections will be announced):

Date Time (ET) Game Network
Sat, Sep 7 8 p.m. No. 10 Notre Dame at No. 9 Michigan * ABC, ESPN or ESPN2
Sat, Sep 14 8 p.m. No. 10 Notre Dame at Purdue ABC, ESPN or ESPN2
Sat, Sep 28 8 p.m. No. 25 Wisconsin at No. 1 Ohio State ABC, ESPN or ESPN2
Sat, Oct 5 8 p.m. No. 1 Ohio State at No. 24 Northwestern ABC, ESPN or ESPN2
Sat, Oct 12 5 p.m. No. 9 Michigan at Penn State ESPN or ESPN2
Sat, Oct 26 8 p.m. Penn State at No. 1 Ohio State ABC, ESPN or ESPN2

* Previously announced

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