Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

UNLV football pegged for two ESPN2 games, including tilt with BYU

Spring Football Practice

L.E. Baskow

UNLV head coach Tony Sanchez works with his players as the football team conducts their first spring practice of the year on Wednesday, March 1, 2017.

At least two UNLV football games will be televised on ESPN2 in the fall, marking the first time since 2004 the program is assured to appear on ESPN or ESPN2 twice in a season.

The Rebels’ home game Nov. 10 against BYU and a game Nov. 17 at New Mexico have been pegged for ESPN2, the Mountain West announced today. Both games were moved up one day, from Saturday to Friday, to accommodate television.

But unlike past seasons, that doesn’t mean UNLV will receive extra television money. A new media-rights revenue-distribution formula begins with the 2017 season that equally pays the league’s schools, regardless of which plays on ESPN or ESPN2.

In the past, Boise State made millions for the Mountain West’s TV arrangement — the means of keeping them in the league — while the other schools only saw money for ESPN or ESPN2 games.

Additionally, two other home games in 2017 will be picked up by one of the ESPN Networks, such as ESPNU or the webcast ESPN3, or if the network decides ESPN or ESPN2. Those are: Sept. 30 vs. San Jose State and Oct. 7 vs. San Diego State.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21

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