What is the story about?
What's Happening?
Conference USA is set to begin a series of mid-week football games, starting with Missouri State visiting Middle Tennessee and Liberty heading to UTEP. This marks the beginning of a seven-week period where there will be at least one NFL or top-level college football game every day. The schedule is part of a broader trend in 2025, where the college football season is extended to 14 weeks, allowing for more games. This year, Labor Day fell on September 1, and Thanksgiving is on November 27, contributing to the extended season. The Mid-American Conference (MAC) will continue this trend in November with its traditional weekday games.
Why It's Important?
The introduction of mid-week games by Conference USA highlights a growing trend in college football to maximize viewership and engagement by spreading games throughout the week. This approach not only increases exposure for the teams involved but also provides fans with continuous football entertainment. The extended season and additional games can lead to increased revenue for the conferences and schools through broadcasting rights and sponsorships. However, it also raises concerns about player fatigue and the impact on student-athletes' academic commitments.
What's Next?
Following the conclusion of Conference USA's mid-week games in October, the MAC will take over with its weekday games in November. This continuous schedule will lead up to Thanksgiving, after which there will be a brief pause before the college football regular season concludes. Stakeholders, including broadcasters and advertisers, are likely to monitor the success of this extended schedule to assess its viability for future seasons. Additionally, there may be discussions around the balance between athletic commitments and academic responsibilities for student-athletes.
AI Generated Content
Do you find this article useful?
