Brian Bennett, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

More night games added to 2015 B1G slate

More and more, the night time is becoming the right time for Big Ten teams.

Most league teams have been embracing prime-time kickoffs, even in the previously off limits month of November. On Monday, the Big Ten Network released the slate of nationally-televised night games it will broadcast in 2015. Here they are:

Sept. 4

Kent State at Illinois*

Sept. 12

South Alabama at Nebraska

Sept. 19

Rutgers at Penn State

Sept. 26

Hawaii at Wisconsin

Oct. 3

Michigan at Maryland

Oct. 10

Michigan State at Rutgers

Nov. 14

Minnesota at Iowa

* -- previously announced

The one that jumps out here immediately is the Floyd of Rosedale game. Not only will the Minnesota-Iowa rivalry be held at night, it will be in mid-November. It's good to see prime-time games finally returning to Kinnick Stadium -- the Pitt game on Sept. 19 will also be a night contest (that one, plus Florida International at Indiana on Sept. 12 and Ball State at Northwestern on Sept. 26, will be broadcast in prime time in the home team's market and on BTN2Go). That should create a great atmosphere in Iowa City, even if fans likely will have to bundle up for the Minnesota game.

Rutgers-Penn State also will go off under the lights, as it did last season in Piscataway, and Beaver Stadium likely will be rocking for that early-season Big Ten matchup. Michigan's first-ever visit to Maryland and Michigan State's first Big Ten game at Rutgers could also get some added spice by being played in prime time.

Remember, this is just the Big Ten Network schedule, and more prime-time games on the ABC/ESPN family of networks are likely to be added. Michigan State-Ohio State on Nov. 21 seems like a natural fit, though the early word is that one will stay in the afternoon.

Whether you like night games or prefer the noon and 3:30 p.m. (ET) starts, it's hard to dispute that college football is tilting more toward prime-time kickoffs and that those games bring extra exposure. It's good to see the Big Ten embracing the trend instead of running away from it.

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