The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Big moves in the TV landscape for Big Ten
The Ohio State-Penn State matchup would have been a prime-time game on ABC in the past. But FOX has a stake in the Big Ten this year, and with World Series on at night, a 3:30 kickoff it is.
For as long as Big Ten football fans can remember, the conference and ABC/ESPN have been associated with each other.
That won’t be the case this week.
FOX not only owns the rights to college football’s biggest game of the season to date, it’s claiming in TV commercials it will own the entire sports viewing weekend. It might have a point. FOX owning the TV rights to the 3:30 p.m. showdown between Penn State and Ohio State on Oct. 28 might be enough, but wait, there’s more.
FOX will also televise Games 3 and 4 of the World Series on Oct. 27 and 28. Then on Oct. 29, its featured NFL game of the week is Cowboys at Redskins at 4:25 p.m.
ESPN claims to be the Worldwide Leader in Sports, but it won’t be this upcoming weekend.
FOX reportedly outbid ESPN for the right to be first in the pecking order to the best Big Ten matchups this fall.
Big spending on other sports such as the NBA (the network reportedly pays the league $1.4 billion per year for TV rights) and NFL reportedly forced ESPN to make fiscally responsible decisions elsewhere and it appears its stranglehold on college football games has been loosened. In came FOX to jump on that opportunity.
The Oct. 28 Penn State at Ohio State matchup would have been a nobrainer for prime time had ABC/ESPN had the rights to that game, but FOX has Game 3 of the World Series at 8 p.m. on Oct. 28.
FOX will also televise the Ohio State at Michigan game on Nov. 25 with kickoff set for noon.
ABC did televise one of the country’s biggest nonconference games this season on Sept. 9 when Oklahoma defeated the Buckeyes. It also televised the Oct. 21 MichiganPenn State game.
However, down the stretch it appears FOX — not ABC/ESPN — is the network with the best and most important Big Ten games down the stretch.
One area is no concern for ESPN, at least for a while. The network’s partnership with the College Football Playoff runs through the 2025 season.
Top 10
1. Alabama 8-0 (1) 2. Penn State 7-0 (3) 3. Georgia 7-0 (2) 4. Notre Dame 6-1 (8) 5. TCU 7-0 (4) 6. Oklahoma 6-1 (5) 7. Ohio State 6-1 (7) 8. Miami (Fla.) 6-0 (8) 9. Wisconsin 7-0 (NR) 10. Clemson 6-1 (10) WATCH LIST » N.C. State, Michigan State, Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech, Washington
Top games to watch Oct. 28
Oklahoma State at West Virginia, noon (WEWS)
Miami (Fla.) at North Carolina, noon (ESPN2)
Wisconsin at Illinois, noon (ESPN)
Michigan State at Northwestern, 3:30 (ESPN)
North Carolina State at Notre Dame, 3:30 (WKYC)
Penn State at Ohio State, 3:30 (WJW) TCU at Iowa State, 3:30 (ESPN)
Heisman watch
1. Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
2. Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
3. Bryce Love, RB, Stanford
4. J.T. Barrett, QB, Ohio State
5. Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
Browns QB draft watch list
Each during the rest of the college football season, we’ll track the top college quarterback prospects the Browns are likely eyeing for the 2018 NFL Draft.
Here’s this week’s list in no particular order: • BAKER MAYFIELD, OKLAHOMA, SR. » At 6-foot1, Mayfield doesn’t jump off the TV screen as a bonafide NFL QB prospect, but the Sooners QB continues to produce at an elite level. This season, he’s completing 73.8 percent of his passes for 2,347 yards, 19 touchdowns and two interceptions. MAYFIELD METER » Very high. The senior knows how to operate an offense and win. The Browns should be interested. • SAM DARNOLD, USC, SO. » The Darnold bandwagon is on fumes right now. Against Notre Dame in a 49-14 loss Oct. 21, Darnold’s stats were fine (229 yards, two TD passes) but a lot of that was with the game already decided. His 10 interceptions in 2017 are a concern after nine last season in 11 games. DARNOLD METER » In reverse, but all is not lost. Darnold is a redshirt sophomore, so there’s always the option of returning for another year at USC. Plus, there’s also this: Does Darnold want to join a jumbled mess of a franchise such as the Browns as potentially the No. 1 overall pick? It’s easily avoidable if the Browns are in that spot — go back to school. • MASON RUDOLPH, OKLAHOMA STATE, SR. » Rudolph had his first games this season without a TD pass in a 13-10 overtime win against Texas. He was 25 of 38 passing for 282 yards. RUDOLPH METER » He’s the best NFL QB prospect for Oklahoma State since Brandon Weeden was drafted No. 22 overall by the Browns in 2012. We all know how that worked out. That’s not fair to Rudolph, but it will be a topic if and when the senior appears on the Browns brass’ radar. • JOSH ROSEN, UCLA, JR. » Rosen rebounded from his worst game of the year in a loss to Arizona with a solid game in a win vs. Oregon Oct. 21. He threw for 266 yards and two touchdowns in that game. ROSEN METER » It would be a big surprise if Rosen, a junior, returned for his senior season. His last four regular-season games and possible bowl game are big for Rosen’s draft stock. • LAMAR JACKSON, LOUISVILLE, JR. » Jackson was average throwing with 156 yards vs. Florida State. He made up for it with a second straight great rushing day. A week after 180 yards vs. Boston College, Jackson has 178 vs. FSU. JACKSON METER » He’s only 20, so if he enters the draft, Jackson will be as raw as DeShone Kizer, who’s just 21 and struggling big time with the Browns.