The downside of all the TV money pouring into big-time college football is that TV gets to dictate terms and conditions on nearly everything.
That’s how the Huskies and Cougars get to play the Apple Cup in Pullman at 12:30 p.m. Friday, the lunch hour after Thanksgiving. For those full-bellied Huskies fans making the early morning drive, parking should be plentiful, since the long holiday weekend means no one will be in Pullman but the team and maybe one bartender.
The Huskies and their TV partners released Wednesday the start times for five games. The Nov. 23 rivalry game, either on FOX or FX, is destined to produce many howls.
The one-time-only UW season in CenturyLink Field starts at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 1 on the new Pac12 Network, when the Huskies host San Diego State.
Two weeks later, another home game against Portland State will kick at 1 p.m. on FX cable channel.
Schedules were released for the non-Saturday games, of which the Huskies have two besides the Apple Cup — Stanford at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27 (ESPN) and at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, Washington play at Cal (ESPN2).
Washington’s game at LSU on Sept. 8 was not announced yet because it is a road game handled by the Southeastern Conference and its TV partners, who will make the time call.
Washington State will open its season at 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 30 at BYU (ESPN). It will mark the first time since the 2005 season, a 55-21 win at Nevada, that WSU has been televised by ESPN.
The following week WSU hosts Eastern Washington at noon, Sept. 8 in the home opener on the new Pac-12 Networks in newly remodeled Martin Stadium. The non-conference schedule concludes at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14 when WSU travels to UNLV (ESPN).
The kickoff times and television information for the remaining games will be announced either 12 or six days prior to each game. Orders that viewers stand on their heads while watching will be issued no later than three days prior.