It’s a Big Game, on the wrong channel

Looking ahead to the Big Game, with hopes for clearing skies:

The travesty of the Pac-12’s television contract has never been more evident. Stanford vs. Cal, two bowl-bound teams with plenty of intrigue, will be shown only on the Pac-12 Network, thus shutting out thousands of fans who subscribe to DirecTV because it offers the most thorough sports coverage.

At the worst possible time — November, the very heart of the season — Pac-12 Network is showing more games than at any point this year. Under terms of the deal, it’s up to Fox and ABC/ESPN to air games of their choosing, and it’s understandable that ones involving top-10 teams such as Oklahoma, Michigan, Clemson and West Virginia will be shown by those networks Saturday, along with USCUCLA (always worth watching, even though an L.A. Times headline this week asked, “Will this be the worst USC-UCLA game ever?”).

But why would ESPN choose Miami-Virginia Tech over a game with the tradition and coolness factor of the Big Game rivalry? And it’s totally inexcusable that ESPN2 will be showing Alabama-Birmingham against Texas A&M at 4 p.m (Stanford-Cal kicks off at 4:30).

Hey, no worries, though. The Pac-12’s current TV contract runs through 2099. Or so it would seem. On so many levels, including the overload of night games throughout the season, it is a dismal failure.

Interesting that Brandon McIlwain, Cal’s ill-fated quarterback, could get some playing time at wide receiver. It’s painfully evident that the Bears could have two more wins (against Arizona and Washington State) if they’d stuck entirely with Chase Garbers, but that’s not so important now. Cal has a postseason game in the bank, and a win Saturday would make this season a smashing success.

Second to a Big Game victory in the “Isn’t that sweet?” category: Cal eliminated USC from the South Division race Saturday night, perhaps costing head coach Clay Helton his job in the process. (Sources say he’s definitely out if the Trojans don’t beat the Bruins.)

Meanwhile, in the SEC, what a blockbuster Saturday lineup at this critical stage, including The Citadel-Alabama, Liberty-Auburn, UMass-Georgia, Chattanooga South Carolina and IdahoFlorida. Absolutely shameless. It’s like they’re kidding.