Because UVA is playing at 3:30 too and how many games have they won?
Winning has little to do with it, and honestly sometimes it hurts you more than it helps you. If we had more wins making the Duke game a matchup of two teams unbeaten in the conference, I would argue they would put us in the noon spot to avoid the loss of viewers due to the SEC games of either Bama/Tenn or A&M/Miss.
Baylor was 4-0 and WVU was 3-0, both ranked in the top 25 when the game was decided to be played at noon this week.
There is no formula.
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My guess is there's a lot of moving parts. Baylor/WVU is on Fox. Fox probably realized that they had the least amount of competition at the 12pm slot and chose to place it there. If you look at all the noon games, this is the only one that will appeal to a national audience. All the other games are more regional.
I'm sure there's analysis involved, maybe even some game theory. If you can win viewership at two different 'bad' time slots, it might make sense to throw a bad game in the 'good' time slot in order to maximize overall viewership.
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The 3:30 pm slot is a throwaway to ESPN due to the CBS SEC game. They usually put one decent game on (GT/Clemson last week, UM/MSU this week) and let the rest be duds.
The 7pm ESPNU slot is also a throwaway slot - LSU/WKU in week 8, Clemson/BC in week 7, Easten Mich./LSU in week 5. I couldn't find week 6, but feel it is probably the same.
So the idea that better teams get later games isn't exactly true - there are a ton of variables. Do they have a better chance? Sure. But in the end - it is all about viewers. Many people smarter than me have made good arguments that VT gets a lot of noon games not because of their record, but because they have great ratings at the noon time slot.
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UVA is playing UNC at 3:30, who will likely be 2-0 in the ACC since they play Wake as well. Bigger match-ups get later start times. UNC's 4-1 (likely 5-1) start combined with the "rivalry" between UNC and UVA gets them a 3:30 slot.
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If it was in a vacuum sure, better teams get later games. But there are 5 different ESPN/ABC channels and local networks. The very top games are going to get the 7-8pm times. Anything else is a crap shoot - based on how ESPN thinks they are going to get the best ratings. They also have to fight the SEC 3:30 CBS game who gets the first pick of SEC games, which will often be the best game of the day.
To further this point - this is how the top 25 is broken down in game times:
Week 7:
ESPN wants a solid lineup all day - so if that means playing top teams at noon, so be it. They don't "reward" teams, they couldn't give a crap. VT could run the entire table in 2016 and play a bunch of noon games until Charlotte... it is just the way it goes with ESPN.
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Go look at those six top 25 teams that took the noon slot, all but Oklahoma were playing really shitty teams. You're right, ESPN wants a good balance. But generally speaking, when you win, you get put in the later time slots. When VT last won the ACC in 2010, we played nooners against Boston College, Central Michigan, Duke, and UVA. Those were terrible teams then (UVA still is). We had later kickoffs against GT (obviously), UNC, Miami, Wake (was still relevant then), and NC State (an awesome game).
I guess the point I'm trying to make is, yes you're right. ESPN will distribute the Top 25 games throughout the day, but the opponent and their success and the weight of the contest is still a big factor.
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Go look at those six top 25 teams that took the noon slot, all but Oklahoma were playing really shitty teams.
That is my whole point - winning is only a small factor in what time you play. Your opponent, audience, tv ratings, and the multiple other games being played all factor in.
The statement that winning created a 3:30 game just doesn't really hold up IMO.
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The statement that winning created a 3:30 game just doesn't really hold up IMO.
I'm just saying, in the past, we lose and get relegated to a 12:00 slot. This year we win a big primetime game and move up to a 3:30. Not sure why you keep trying to put down my statement.
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Leg back, I have no animosity in these discussions.
You're right, ultimately we can't do much about it but when it boils down to it the teams that win more are the teams people want to see. IE Alabama, Ohio State, now Utah is getting a lot of national coverage.
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Hmmm... interesting... I always heard "if we win more games" was the reason we had so many nooners. Now, we're into our 4th 'down' season, currently sitting at a rather underwhelming 3-3, and through 9 announced kickoffs, only 1 was a nooner.
interesting....
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Eyeballs on TV sets wise, this is actually a worse TV slot than the ESPN or ESPN2 games at noon. It's all priority. There was probably a noon slot open on one of these two networks that went to one of the ACC teams who are currently drawing better than we are.
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Puke ranked #25/24 in rankings as of this week
Wow what a change a year can make with TV start times. Anyone having a tailgate I can stop by that day? I'll bring something also.
This game is a nooner if VT loses against NC State. This is what happens when you win.
Then how does LOLUVA keep getting late starts?
Because their opponents keep winning.
Sorry the /s was missing
Because UVA is playing at 3:30 too and how many games have they won?
Winning has little to do with it, and honestly sometimes it hurts you more than it helps you. If we had more wins making the Duke game a matchup of two teams unbeaten in the conference, I would argue they would put us in the noon spot to avoid the loss of viewers due to the SEC games of either Bama/Tenn or A&M/Miss.
Baylor was 4-0 and WVU was 3-0, both ranked in the top 25 when the game was decided to be played at noon this week.
There is no formula.
My guess is there's a lot of moving parts. Baylor/WVU is on Fox. Fox probably realized that they had the least amount of competition at the 12pm slot and chose to place it there. If you look at all the noon games, this is the only one that will appeal to a national audience. All the other games are more regional.
I'm sure there's analysis involved, maybe even some game theory. If you can win viewership at two different 'bad' time slots, it might make sense to throw a bad game in the 'good' time slot in order to maximize overall viewership.
Bingo.
The 3:30 pm slot is a throwaway to ESPN due to the CBS SEC game. They usually put one decent game on (GT/Clemson last week, UM/MSU this week) and let the rest be duds.
The 7pm ESPNU slot is also a throwaway slot - LSU/WKU in week 8, Clemson/BC in week 7, Easten Mich./LSU in week 5. I couldn't find week 6, but feel it is probably the same.
So the idea that better teams get later games isn't exactly true - there are a ton of variables. Do they have a better chance? Sure. But in the end - it is all about viewers. Many people smarter than me have made good arguments that VT gets a lot of noon games not because of their record, but because they have great ratings at the noon time slot.
UVA is playing UNC at 3:30, who will likely be 2-0 in the ACC since they play Wake as well. Bigger match-ups get later start times. UNC's 4-1 (likely 5-1) start combined with the "rivalry" between UNC and UVA gets them a 3:30 slot.
If it was in a vacuum sure, better teams get later games. But there are 5 different ESPN/ABC channels and local networks. The very top games are going to get the 7-8pm times. Anything else is a crap shoot - based on how ESPN thinks they are going to get the best ratings. They also have to fight the SEC 3:30 CBS game who gets the first pick of SEC games, which will often be the best game of the day.
To further this point - this is how the top 25 is broken down in game times:
Week 7:
6/25 - Noon
5/25 - 3:30
5/25 - 7/8 pm
1/25 - 10 pm
ESPN wants a solid lineup all day - so if that means playing top teams at noon, so be it. They don't "reward" teams, they couldn't give a crap. VT could run the entire table in 2016 and play a bunch of noon games until Charlotte... it is just the way it goes with ESPN.
Go look at those six top 25 teams that took the noon slot, all but Oklahoma were playing really shitty teams. You're right, ESPN wants a good balance. But generally speaking, when you win, you get put in the later time slots. When VT last won the ACC in 2010, we played nooners against Boston College, Central Michigan, Duke, and UVA. Those were terrible teams then (UVA still is). We had later kickoffs against GT (obviously), UNC, Miami, Wake (was still relevant then), and NC State (an awesome game).
I guess the point I'm trying to make is, yes you're right. ESPN will distribute the Top 25 games throughout the day, but the opponent and their success and the weight of the contest is still a big factor.
That is my whole point - winning is only a small factor in what time you play. Your opponent, audience, tv ratings, and the multiple other games being played all factor in.
The statement that winning created a 3:30 game just doesn't really hold up IMO.
I'm just saying, in the past, we lose and get relegated to a 12:00 slot. This year we win a big primetime game and move up to a 3:30. Not sure why you keep trying to put down my statement.
I'm not trying to put it down?
Glad we won - but I am just pointing out the fact that this is something we really can't do much about.
I guess I am being preventative because as soon as we lose and we get a nooner - here comes the complaints from everyone.
Leg to you for the positivity - even though we disagree.
Leg back, I have no animosity in these discussions.
You're right, ultimately we can't do much about it but when it boils down to it the teams that win more are the teams people want to see. IE Alabama, Ohio State, now Utah is getting a lot of national coverage.
So...I don't get espnU. Can someone help a brother out? Or can I watch it on espn3?
You should be able to stream it on ESPN3. I think any games on ESPN networks or ABC (primetime) are also streamed on 3
You're confusing 3 with WatchESPN. But one's access on WatchESPN is tied to their TV package.
To stream it you would need to have ESPNU as part of your TV subscription.
http://liveball.tv/ncaa-football/
It will be here 15 minutes max, before kickoff.
Thanks, all
Woah, that is homecoming game... you mean I will actually be able to get a buzz going before the game? This is awesome!
Crap, was hoping for a noon start as I'll be at W&M-Hampton and that's a 3:30 kickoff. Guess I'll be watching VT on my phone from the end zone.
Hmmm... interesting... I always heard "if we win more games" was the reason we had so many nooners. Now, we're into our 4th 'down' season, currently sitting at a rather underwhelming 3-3, and through 9 announced kickoffs, only 1 was a nooner.
interesting....
We beat anOSU last year and just 36 hours later ESPN gives us a nooner against an ACC opponent and rival GT.
Cheer for the later games, shrug your shoulders for the nooners.
The first 3 weeks of TV times and networks are scheduled before the season starts.
We played GT in week 4. So after week 2, game times for week 4 were decided.
WM
OSU
ECU
GT
I see what you're saying.
Eyeballs on TV sets wise, this is actually a worse TV slot than the ESPN or ESPN2 games at noon. It's all priority. There was probably a noon slot open on one of these two networks that went to one of the ACC teams who are currently drawing better than we are.
3:30. Noon. 1 AM. JUST NO RAIN. PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD