ABC Sports is switching its college football over to prime-time
coverage, and UCLA will be one of the teams benefitting from the
added exposure.
The network and ESPN have interchanged broadcasting programs
ever since both were bought by the Walt Disney Company, and the
tandem will once again give sports broadcasting a face-lift.
ABC Saturday Night College Football will spotlight the game
anticipated to be the biggest of the week at 8 p.m. ET, in the same
vein as ESPN’s (formerly ABC’s) Monday Night Football
and NBC’s (formerly ESPN’s) Sunday Night Football.
Notre Dame kicks off the 12-week season Sept. 2 at Georgia Tech,
followed by Ohio State at defending national champion Texas the
next week.
Three of UCLA’s 2006 football games are scheduled for
ABC’s early selections of Pac-10 games.
ABC will televise UCLA’s game at California on Nov. 4 as
part of its new Saturday night package.
The Bruins’ game against Washington State at the Rose Bowl
on Oct. 28 will also televised by ABC.
UCLA’s season finale against USC at the Rose Bowl on Dec.
2 will be nationally televised at 1:30 p.m. as part of ABC’s
contract with the Pac-10.
UCLA’s trip to South Bend, Ind. will also bring the
program more national exposure.
The Bruins’ game against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame
on Oct. 21 will be broadcast as part of NBC’s contract with
Notre Dame.
“This prime-time series will be terrific for fans as more
top-quality sports product comes to the ABC Television
Network,” said George Bodenheimer, president of ESPN/ABC
Sports, in a statement .
Commentator Brent Musburger will be the play-by-play voice,
along with Bob Davie as the analyst. They will be joined by ESPN
College GameDay and ESPN College Football Thursday prime-time
analyst Kirk Herbstreit on certain weeks.
Lisa Salters, an NBA sideline reporter and general assignment
correspondent for multiple ESPN news outlets, will report from the
sidelines.
“College football has extremely devoted fans, and we look
forward to bringing the excitement of the game to them on Saturday
nights this fall,” Stephen McPherson, president of ABC
Entertainment, said in a statement.
Compiled by Bruin Sports senior staff.