Mike Hlas, CR Gazette –
“Black Friday” at Kinnick Stadium will have an early start.
As it was last year in Lincoln, this year’s Nebraska-Iowa football game in Iowa City the day after Thanksgiving will be played at 11 a.m., Iowa time.
So, there will still be time to join the millions of shoppers after the game. Or before it.
Or not at all if you have a shred of common sense.
Also, Iowa’s home game with Minnesota (Sept. 29) and games at Michigan State (Oct. 13) and Northwestern (Oct. 27) are 11 a.m., CT, kickoffs.
Here’s the release from ABC/ESPN:
A rematch of last year’s inaugural Big Ten Football Championship Game – a 42-39 Wisconsin victory over Michigan State – is one of four 2012 Big Ten Conference football games ESPN has selected for broadcast on ABC. Michigan State defeated Wisconsin 37-31 on a last play Hail Mary in the 2011 regular-season showdown between the defending division champions. Each game includes at least one team in the recently released College Football Live preseason top 25, including the No. 12 Michigan State at No. 16 Wisconsin contest on Saturday, Oct. 27, at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Three of the games will be on a Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. while one will be a special Friday after Thanksgiving matchup at noon. Additional telecasts will be announced before the season begins.
This year’s Friday after Thanksgiving telecast will pit Nebraska, entering its second year as a Big Ten Conference member, at Iowa on November 23, at noon. It will mark Nebraska’s 23rd consecutive Friday after the holiday matchup and the second straight against Iowa. The 2011 contest, won by Nebraska 20-7, was the first meeting between the border-state programs since 2000.
Illinois will be showcased in back-to-back Saturdays, both on the road against teams in the College Football Live rankings: Defending Big Ten Champion Wisconsin on October 6 at 3:30 p.m. and No. 10 Michigan on October 13. Both teams defeated Illinois in consecutive November weekends last year.
Date Time (ET) Game Network
Sat, Oct 6 3:30 p.m. Illinois at No. 16 Wisconsin ABC
Sat, Oct 13 3:30 p.m. Illinois at No. 10 Michigan ABC
Sat, Oct 27 3:30 p.m. No. 12 Michigan State at No. 16 Wisconsin ABC
Fri, Nov 23 Noon No. 17 Nebraska at Iowa ABC
