Nine of the ten PAC-10 games this weekend will be widely available on television, assuming you have a prevalent sports programming package. None will be an option "over the air".
Oregon State's home game against Portland State starts a Fox Sports Northwest doubleheader, at 11:30 AM (All times PDT) Saturday, to be followed at 3:00 by the only conference game of the weekend, Stanford at Washington State.
The weekend kicks off for the nation, not just the PAC-10, on Thursday night, with the Oregon at Boise St. game, on ESPN and over the web on Bronco Vision, at 7:15. This is the only game where both teams are ranked.
The other Fox regional channels in the West (Fox Sports Arizona, Fox Sports West, Fox Sports Southwest, Fox Sports Pacific, etc.) have the LA double header, starting at 12:30 with the San Jose St. at USC game, featuring the debut of Trojan freshman QB Matt Barkley, who will be the first freshman to ever start for USC at QB,
The LA doubleheader continues with the San Diego St. at UCLA game at 4:30, a game UCLA initially considered having to postpone due to the wildfire in Southern California. The fire burned within 10 miles of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, and also raised concerns about air quality. At this point, the game is on, though.
Fox Sports Arizona will continue with PAC-10 coverage at 7:00, with the Idaho State at Arizona State game.
ESPN has national broadcasts for Cal and Washington, with Maryland at Cal at 7:00 on ESPN2, and LSU at Washington at 7:30 on ESPN.
The Cal game will see the Golden Bears seeking revenge for last year's 35-27 loss to the Terrapins. The Husky game is primarily a national game due to the presence of the LSU Tigers, who are making their longest trip ever. The game will also be the latest starting game ever at Husky Stadium, as well as the head coaching debut of Steve Sarkisian.
Interestingly, many Husky fans are unhappy about the late start, which seems odd, given the significant number of night games many college teams, and most from the PAC-10, now play.
This week's poster child for the need for a PAC-10 network is Arizona. The Wildcats' home opener against Central Michigan, the preseason favorite to win not only the Mid American Conference (MAC) West title, but that conference's overall title as well, will only be aired on local TV in the Tucson area, and carried by Gametracker on the web.
Notably, though delayed until 10:00, a replay of the Idaho at New Mexico St. game will be included as an Alternate on Direct TV.
Fire up those Tivos and VCRs!
