ESPN announces television plans for BYU-Texas game

PROVO, Utah (June 4, 2013) — ESPN and BYU today announced the Cougars’ 2013 home opener against the University of Texas on Sept. 7 will be televised nationally on ESPN2 in a 5 p.m. MT (7 p.m. ET) kickoff from LaVell Edwards Stadium. BYU also announced its home game against Idaho State on Nov. 16 will start at 1 p.m. MT (3 p.m. ET) and be televised nationally on BYUtv.

Available in nearly 100 million homes, ESPN2 will carry the BYU-Texas game in an East Coast primetime matchup of two of the winningest programs in college football over the past four decades. BYU ranks No. 5 in total wins (357) since 1972 when Hall of Fame coach LaVell Edwards took over the program while Big 12 power Texas is No. 7 in overall victories (349) in the same timeframe.

One of seven teams that participated in a 2012 bowl game on the Cougars’ 2013 schedule, Texas will face off with BYU for the fourth time in series history. The Longhorns edged the Cougars, 17-16, in the last meeting in Austin in 2011 after BYU won the first two matchups with a 22-17 win in Austin in 1987 and a 47-6 triumph in Provo in 1988.

BYUtv will televise the fifth meeting between BYU and Idaho State in a series that started in 1932. The Cougars are 4-0 against the Bengals after a 56-3 win in 2011 at LaVell Edwards Stadium. BYUtv is available in more than 65 million homes on Dish Network, DirecTV and more than 600 cable operators in North America.

Television plans for seven of BYU’s 12 games have been announced to date. TV plans and start times for the remaining games on the Cougars’ 2013 football schedule will be announced at a later date.

In 2013, BYU enters its third season of an eight-year exclusive agreement with ESPN. A minimum of three home games will be televised annually on ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC with an additional game on ESPNU and at least one game on BYUtv.  Adding to the national exposure for Cougar fans and college football followers, BYUtv also airs for the third straight season a live one-hour pregame show and 30-minute postgame show before and after every BYU game throughout the season.

2013 BYU Football Schedule