FCS and Group of Five Programs Gain More Rare Exposure from PAC-2 CW Games

The PAC-2 announced the continuation of its partnership with The CW, releasing the time slots and network designations for Washington State and Oregon State's games. The PAC-2 stays relevant with frequent network TV appearances, and the many Group of Five programs dotting their schedule benefit substantially from the announcement.

While this site previously documented the monumental occasion of a then-potential appearance on The CW for Lafayette and the Patriot League, other programs visiting Washington State and Oregon State end lengthy over-the-air (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX) appearance droughts.

Washington State's battle with Palouse rival Idaho on August 30 ends an over five-decade gap between over-the-air appearances. The Vandals last appeared on an over-the-air network in 1972 when ABC regionally televised its game against Idaho State. The Washington State game marks Idaho's third appearance on over-the-air TV, with the other appearance being a 1967 game against Montana, regionally televised by ABC.

Luckily for Louisiana Tech, they are less of a stranger to over-the-air TV. The Bulldogs travel to Washington State on November 15. Louisiana Tech has appeared on ABC twelve times, but the most recent appearance was their Division 1-AA (now Football Championship Subdivision) semifinal game against Delaware in 1982. Around 40 percent of the country witnessed the Blue Hens punch their ticket to the Division 1-AA championship. The Bulldogs' last regular season over-the-air TV appearance came two years earlier against McNeese State. ABC stations in Shreveport, Alexandria, and Beaumont, Texas picked up a game that featured Yankees great Reggie Jackson on the call.

Washington State's game with Toledo and Oregon State's faceoff with Sam Houston gives those schools rare over-the-air appearances. Both schools have appeared on over-the-air TV this decade, but this strays from a history away from the network TV limelight.

Before the 2023 Arizona Bowl, Toledo's only exposure on anything resembling network TV was their three Tangerine Bowl appearances from 1968 to 1970. New York City, Ohio, Charlotte, Philadelphia, and Virginia television stations aired the Rockets' three straight Tangerine Bowl triumphs. Toledo should have received an appearance on NBC against Notre Dame in 2021. However, their game with the Irish instead became the first Notre Dame game ever streamed exclusively on Peacock.

Sam Houston's clash with Oregon State will be the Bearkats' fourth appearance on network TV. Before their 2021 Spring FCS Championship run gave them two games on ABC, the Bearkats' lone over-the-air appearance was against the late Steve McNair in 1994. ABC only made the trip to Huntsville to showcase the Heisman candidate McNair to a regional audience in the south. Despite not being the headliner, Sam Houston spoiled Alcorn State's closeup, winning 48-23.

The PAC-2's contract with The CW continues to be the gift that keeps giving for Group of Five and FCS conferences. It is a mutually beneficial agreement between two schools abandoned by their conference and an opportunistic network trying to catch up with its counterparts. Thus, plenty of overshadowed programs receive rare over-the-air TV exposure.