Friday nights within the fall have at all times appeared a bit gentle on televised soccer. With excessive colleges enjoying their varsity video games on Friday nights, and NFL video games dominating Sunday, Monday and Thursday, Friday TV has usually gone to probably the most unhinged faculty soccer video games of the season (see: Stanford @ Colorado final 12 months). Most video games on Friday are between West Coast groups who get the after darkish discover, probably the most insane of video games that we find yourself fondly remembering on the finish of the season.
Nevertheless, with the Pac-12 merging into the Massive Ten and Massive 12, now we have the potential to get into probably the most incredulous faculty soccer video games of the season. By no means earlier than have we thought in regards to the concept of USC touring to Piscataway, New Jersey on a Friday evening, have we? Properly that field is now extensive open, and the potential for wild video games is able to unlock.
Right here’s how we rank the Friday evening common season primetime video games that’ll be on Fox, the ultimate remnants of #Pac12AfterDark.
11. Purdue @ Michigan State, 8:00 pm EST Nov. 22
Oh, man. This sport may get fairly dreary, fairly shortly. We must always know what these two groups are at this level of the season, however Michigan State is beneath a brand new regime and Purdue remains to be figuring it out. Good luck.
10. Illinois @ Nebraska, 8:00 pm EST Sept. 20
This sport is greater than doubtless going to finish 15-12 with extra turnovers than touchdowns, and it’s going to rule.
9. Michigan State @ Oregon, 9:00 pm EST Oct. 4
Oregon ought to be superb this 12 months. Bringing in switch QB Dillon Gabriel helps maintain the RPO-based offense buzzing, and the Geese’ expertise at each place rivals any faculty within the nation.
Michigan State…doesn’t. Below first-year head coach Jonathan Smith and new QB Aidan Chiles, the Spartans are going to be dealing with an uphill battle once they go to Eugene. May need to skip this one.
8. Oregon @ Purdue, 8:00 pm EST Oct. 18
Second verse, similar as the primary. Purdue’s protection ought to be intriguing, however offensively they continue to be a piece in progress. An October in West Lafayette ought to be intriguing, nevertheless.
7. UCLA @ Washington, 9:00 pm EST, Nov. 15
The primary sport on right here between two former Pac-12 members, this one ought to be fairly attention-grabbing. Jedd Fisch comes over from Arizona and brings Mississippi State switch Will Rogers at QB. DeShaun Foster takes the UCLA job, and could be in for extra of a rebuild than traditional in Los Angeles. Nevertheless, the protection ought to stay pretty stingy. Might be a enjoyable one.
6. Iowa @ UCLA, 9:00 pm EST, Nov. 8
Primetime Iowa, of us. Get able to see loads of punts and a few stingy protection.
5. Northwestern @ Maryland, 8:00 pm EST, Oct. 11
Northwestern of their second 12 months beneath David Braun ought to be an attention-grabbing workforce, particularly after making a bowl sport within the first 12 months. The Wildcats return receiver AJ Henning and a dynamic group of working backs. Nevertheless, that is the primary sport after September for Maryland, so the slide will most likely start now.
4. Washington @ Rutgers, 8:00 pm EST, Sep. 27
Rutgers may very well be sneaky attention-grabbing this 12 months. Greg Schiano’s unit has a stingy protection and an offense that will get sufficient out of RB Kyle Monagai to frustrate opposing defenses. Plus, that is early sufficient within the season to tackle a Washington workforce that may very well be nonetheless making an attempt to determine itself out. This sport is ripe for an upset.
3. Rutgers @ USC, 11:00 pm EST, Oct. 25
That is it, of us. This is the reason we #Pac12AfterDark. For moments like this one, the place a Rutgers workforce from New Jersey has to journey throughout the nation for an 11:00 pm kick towards USC. That is what desires are product of. As a result of this sport is kicking off at 11:00 pm, anticipate this one to be probably the greatest video games of the season.
2. Arizona @ Kansas State, 8:00 pm EST Sep. 13
The primary sport between now Massive 12 rivals, this one has loads of potential for fireworks. Regardless of shedding their head coach within the offseason, Arizona returns QB Noah Fifita and WR Tetairoa McMillan, making certain that the offense received’t collapse an excessive amount of. They’ll be heading to Manhattan, the place Kansas State returns intriguing QB Avery Johnson. Lot of potential on this sport.
1 . Utah @ UCF, 8:00 pm EST, Nov. 29
A sport this late has main Massive 12 implications, with the potential to determine who goes to the convention title sport. Utah returns nearly everybody on an offense that’s going to try to beat and batter opponents on the bottom. Cam Rising returns for an additional season beneath middle, and if he can keep wholesome, they are often particular. UCF brings in former Arkansas QB KJ Jefferson to assist juice up the Knights’ offense, and a floor sport of he and RJ Davis may very well be completely sick. Make this one precedence viewing of us.