College Football Games Are Coming to NFL Network

During the AAF’s short run, I was always surprised that NFL Network broadcast some of their games. They weren’t officially linked so I figured the NFL wouldn’t want to promote someone else’s brand on their flagship channel. It was good, though, and made sense; the NFL Network should really be the FB Network (Football Network), where quality football can always be found.

The NFL Network isn’t changing their name anytime soon but they are leaning more towards football all the time, not just NFL football all the time.

Starting this fall, NFL Network will broadcast college football all season. Specifically, they’ll broadcast Conference USA games, a mid-level FBS conference that features two DMVish teams — Marshall and Old Dominion — as well as Lane Kiffin’s Florida Atlantic squad, Rice, North Texas, and nine others.

Conference USA Commissioner Judy MacLeod and the NFL announced today a new four-year contract for a 10-game package of C-USA football games to be broadcast on NFL Network. The partnership will begin in the 2019 football season with one game each week on Saturday afternoon.

“While exploring new media options for football, NFL Network stood out as an excellent opportunity for national exposure,” said MacLeod. “We look forward to showcasing our conference through their tremendous platform and reach.”

(via Conference USA)

NFL Network hasn’t aired actual college football since 2008, according to Awful Announcing, when they featured a few HBCU and bowl games. Since then, the only college football they’ve really dabbled in are post-season exhibitions (Senior Bowl, etc.).