[Farm93]

so the over/under on games starting at 5pm or earlier is looking like 2.5  >:(

With the Pac-12's broadcast deal the only way to get more than a game or two at that coveted 2PM time slot is to start off as a bad team and then to keep losing big enough to remain undesirable to the broadcast partners for the entire season.

At least the preseason top tier teams get a number of games announced early.  With known times one can plan other events for that date, invite colleagues to games/tailgates/etc. 

FWIW Pac-12 is a west coast conference, and broadcasters want games after 9PM Eastern to fill out their Saturday schedule.  For now, only the Pac-12 can really provide Power 5 FBS level games in those later time slots.  Even when the Pac-12 returns to negotiate the next TV deal(s) it is hard to imagine the conference will get more early games.  Given the debt around the conference I would expect the next deal will provide broadcasters with more late night options, not less.

[Farm93]

so the over/under on games starting at 5pm or earlier is looking like 2.5  >:(

With the Pac-12's broadcast deal the only way to get more than a game or two at that coveted 2PM time slot is to start off as a bad team and then to keep losing big enough to remain undesirable to the broadcast partners for the entire season.

At least the preseason top tier teams get a number of games announced early.  With known times one can plan other events for that date, invite colleagues to games/tailgates/etc. 

FWIW Pac-12 is a west coast conference, and broadcasters want games after 9PM Eastern to fill out their Saturday schedule.  For now, only the Pac-12 can really provide Power 5 FBS level games in those later time slots.  Even when the Pac-12 returns to negotiate the next TV deal(s) it is hard to imagine the conference will get more early games.  Given the debt around the conference I would expect the next deal will provide broadcasters with more late night options, not less.