Southland Conference announces TV selections for first four weeks

Over two dozen matchups schedules for coverage over first four weeks of 2018 season

FRISCO, Texas – The Southland Conference’s 2018 football television plans for the first four weeks of the season include over two dozen matchups set for coverage across ESPN platforms, Cox Sports Television, Eleven Sports, FOX Sports Networks and other outlets.

For games in the remaining weeks, the Southland will reveal its television selections 12 days prior to kickoff. This will allow for the best matchups to be selected each week for various broadcast partners.

The Southland schedule begins with a pair of games on Thursday night of week one, August 30. Southeastern Louisiana visits former Southland member ULM, set for coverage on ESPN+, the premium multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International group in conjunction with ESPN. Northwestern State goes to Texas A&M that evening, with the broadcast carried on the SEC Network.

The first Saturday of the season features four games on ESPN platforms, another on the league’s portal, plus one produced for regional FOX audiences. The day begins with McNeese at Northern Colorado on Pluto TV. Lamar’s opener against Kentucky Christian on September 1, Central Arkansas-Tulsa and Nicholls-Kansas are locked into ESPN3. Stephen F. Austin’s matchup with Mississippi State will receive national coverage on ESPNU. Houston Baptist’s home game vs. Southwest Baptist will stream on the Southland Digital Network, available via Southland.org and Southland Conference apps. To cap the night, Abilene Christian vs. Baylor will air regionally on FOX Sports Southwest, in addition to other FSN affiliates across the country.

Week 2 includes the first conference game of the season, as McNeese travels to Houston Baptist for a nationally televised game on Eleven Sports, also available on the Southland Digital Network. Earlier in the day, FOX Sports Southwest will broadcast Lamar at Texas Tech regionally, while additional FSN affiliates are set to carry it elsewhere. Two Southland home games will stream on ESPN+, as Sam Houston hosts Prairie View and Stephen F. Austin welcomes Tarleton State. UIW-North Texas is also set for ESPN+ coverage, while Nicholls-Tulane will reside on ESPN3. Southeastern Louisiana makes the short trek to LSU, and its television home on ESPN2 or ESPNU will be determined closer to game day.

Conference play kicks into full gear on September 15. Week 3 features Nicholls-McNeese on Cox Sports Television, which will be available on ESPN3 outside CST territory. ESPN+ will carry Northwestern State-Lamar and Central Arkansas-Southeastern Louisiana. ESPN3 will have exclusive coverage of Abilene Christian at Houston Baptist, while Sam Houston’s home game vs. North Dakota will be available on ESPN3 throughout most of the country. KXMB will carry the game in the Bismarck market, while other local affiliates in the Dakotas will be announced closer to game time.

September 22 features a pair of playoff teams from last season, as Sam Houston State goes to Nicholls on ESPN+. Abilene Christian-Stephen F. Austin will also be streamed on ESPN+, while Southeastern Louisiana-Lamar is set for ESPN3. McNeese also goes to BYU as part of Week 4 action, with BYUtv producing the game and ESPN3 simulcasting.

The schedule is subject to change. Additional early games may be selected at a later date.

SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE FOOTBALL: EARLY SEASON TV SCHEDULE
ALL TIMES CENTRAL

WEEK 1
Thursday, August 30
Southeastern La. at ULM, 7 pm, ESPN+
Northwestern State at Texas A&M, 7:30 pm, SEC Network

Saturday, September 1
McNeese at Northern Colorado, 3 pm, Pluto TV
Kentucky Christian at Lamar, 6 pm, ESPN3
Central Arkansas at Tulsa, 6 pm, ESPN3
Nicholls at Kansas, 6 pm, ESPN3
Southwest Baptist at Houston Baptist, 6 pm, Southland Digital Network
Stephen F. Austin at Miss. State, 6:30 pm, ESPNU
Abilene Christian at Baylor, 7 pm, FSN

WEEK 2
Saturday, September 8
Prairie View at Sam Houston State, 6 pm, ESPN+
Lamar at Texas Tech, 3 pm, FSN
Southeastern La. at LSU, 6 pm, ESPN2/ESPNU
Tarleton State at Stephen F. Austin, 6 pm, ESPN+
McNeese at Houston Baptist, 6 pm, Eleven Sports
Incarnate Word at North Texas, 6:30 pm, ESPN+
Nicholls at Tulane, 7 pm, ESPN3

WEEK 3
Saturday, September 15
North Dakota at Sam Houston State, 6 pm, KXMB/ESPN3
Nicholls at McNeese, 6 pm, Cox Sports TV
Abilene Christian at Houston Baptist, 6 pm, ESPN3
Northwestern State at Lamar, 6 pm, ESPN+
Central Arkansas at Southeastern La., 7 pm, ESPN+

WEEK 4
Saturday, September 22
Sam Houston State at Nicholls, 3 pm, ESPN+
McNeese at BYU, 5 pm, BYUtv/ESPN3
Abilene Christian at Stephen F. Austin, 6 pm, ESPN+
Southeastern La. at Lamar, 6 pm, ESPN3

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