ESPN announces six 2013 college football games for TV

By Kevin Kelley -

ESPN announced six 2013 football games for television this morning, five of which are on opening weekend.

Thursday, Aug. 29 will feature back-to-back games on ESPN beginning with North Carolina at South Carolina at 6 p.m. ET. That will be followed by Ole Miss at Vanderbilt at 9:15 p.m. ET. Ole-Miss-Vandy was moved from Saturday to Thursday.

Saturday’s action features two neutral site “kickoff” games plus a big ACC-SEC match-up. Up first is the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game featuring Virginia Tech at Alabama at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The game will kickoff at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN.

Then at 8 p.m. ET, the Georgia Bulldogs travel to face the Clemson Tigers on ABC. The nightcap features TCU vs. LSU in the Cowboys Classic at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.

It was also announced today that the Kentucky at Mississippi State game has moved to Thursday, Oct. 24 and will be broadcast on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Below is a complete list of the games that were announced today:

Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013

North Carolina at South Carolina – 6 p.m. ET, ESPN

Ole Miss at Vanderbilt – 9:15 p.m. ET, ESPN

Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013

2013 Chick-fil-a Kickoff Game
Virginia Tech vs. Alabama – 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Georgia at Clemson – 8 p.m. ET, ABC

2013 Cowboys Classic
TCU vs. LSU – 9 p.m. ET, ESPN

Thursday, Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m. ET

Kentucky at Mississippi State – 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Comments (9)

I hate how SCAR plays on Thursday AGAIN the week before UGA. The SEC should step in and do something. SCAR will have 3 extra days rest before the big game in Athens… Unfair!!!

And as a Dawg fan, who hasn’t seen many night games in a while, maybe SCAR and LSU (home games) will be on Primetime. Nothin like a night game between the hedges!!!

True Night games IN ATHENS since 2010:

2010: One game, vs. Georgia Tech

2011: No games, (Boise State was in a dome)

2012: Two games, Florida Atlantic and Vanderbilt

Total of 3 games in 3 years!

Games that have ended in darkness IN ATHENS (and JACKSONVILLE):

2010: Florida

2011: South Carolina, Florida, Auburn

2012: Tennessee, Florida, Ole Miss

7 games in 3 years

I know we have had double night games on the road in this time period, but it would be nice to have some more night games at home. It seems they are all away.

I agree. I want an epic night atmosphere here at Athens, and not some crap like last year. They better give us at least South Carolina or LSU at night. It’s also our luck that the year that Georgia-Clemson is this important, it’s AT Clemson, so like always a mega primetime game with GameDay in town will be somewhere other than Athens. I want to experience that for once. The 2014 Clemson game won’t be nearly as important.

Heads up, ESPN has already contacted UVA about moving our season opener against BYU to Friday, August 30th with the promise it would be on ESPN. There is some concern over HS football conflicts, my friend in the Athletics Department said it is only a “vocal minority” and its a done deal. The AD wants to be on ESPN to open the season.