Kickoff times set for state’s college teams
Three of UCF’s first four home games this upcoming season will take place in the evening as the conferences and television networks released early schedules for next season.
The Knights’ secondweek matchup against Memphis will kick off at 8 p.m. and will air on ESPNews. A week later, Georgia Tech comes to Orlando with the game against UCF set to start at 7:30 p.m. and air on ESPNews. Two weeks later, UCF hosts Maine at Spectrum Stadium at 6:30 p.m. and the game will be streamed on ESPN3.com.
UCF wasn’t the only school in the state of Florida to find out kickoff times and networks Wednesday.
Florida State’s season opener against Alabama at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday, Sept. 2, was already set for an 8 p.m. kickoff on ABC. But the Seminoles’ home opener against LouisianaMonroe the following week — Saturday, Sept. 9 — will start at 7 p.m. and will air on on network to be announced.
Jimbo Fisher’s team has a rare Friday night meeting with Boston College on Oct. 27 at 8 p.m. The game will air on ESPN.
South Florida’s home opener against Stony Brook on Sept. 2 will kick off at 4 p.m. and will air on ESPN3.com. The Bulls hit the road the following week to take on UConn at noon and the game will air on ESPNews. On Friday, Sept. 15, USF will host Illinois at Raymond James Stadium at 7 p.m. The game will air on ESPN.
USF hosts Temple on Thursday, Sept. 21, at 7:30 p.m. or 8 p.m. on ESPN. The team’s Thursday, Nov. 16, matchup with Tulsa set to kick off at either 7:30 p.m. or 8 p.m. on ESPN.
Miami will open its season at home against Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 2, and the Atlantic Coast Conference announced Wednesday that game is set to kick off at 12:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on a network to be announced.
It will mark the first time since 2012 at Boston College the Hurricanes will open a new season with an afternoon game. All four of Miami’s openers since have been in the evening.
A week later, a national audience on ESPNU will watch the Hurricanes play another afternoon game when they travel to Arkansas State for a 3:30 kickoff against the Red Wolves.
After that, the Hurricanes will see a handful of their games move into prime time.
Last week, the ACC announced Miami’s Sept. 16 showdown against Florida State in Tallahassee was set for an 8 p.m. kick on ABC. The Hurricanes’ Sept. 29 game at Duke, set for a 7 p.m. kick on ESPN, and Miami’s Oct. 12 game against Georgia Tech, which will be broadcast nationally on ESPN kick off at 8 p.m. and