NFL Network's deal for 10 Conference USA football games annually will not be a one-off. Sources expect the channel to show up at the Mountain West’s negotiating table looking for a similar package that would start in '20. Sources also said those NFL Net games will start at 3:30pm ET -- a time that sets up nicely for a college football doubleheader. C-USA schools like the deal -- it provides them strong distribution on a football-centric linear channel and keeps games in traditional Saturday time slots (Michael Smith, SBJ College).
NOTHING COULD BE FINER: In Charlotte, David Scott notes C-USA's efforts to "raise its football profile went outside-the-box" with its NFL Network deal, and UNC Charlotte AD Mike Hill "couldn't be happier about it." Hill said, "Having a national television partner like the NFL Network gives tremendous exposure to our football programs, but also provides a cache for Conference USA that's really strong." Hill added, "The financial piece is important. But as much as anything, the national exposure the league will get is every bit as important as that" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/22).
