College football 2015 TV schedule: Which games to watch this week
There are several interesting matchups early in the 2015 college football season, including games involving ranked teams from different conferences.
In this Nov. 15, 2014, file photo, TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin (2) avoids a tackle by Kansas linebacker Michael Reynolds (55) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Lawrence, Kan.
Orlin Wagner/AP/File
The 2015 NCAA college football season gets underway this week with games on both Thursday and Friday nights, leading into action on Saturday.
Looking at the Thursday night slate of contests on television, we start with North Carolina taking on South Carolina in Charlotte on ESPN at 6 p.m. Eastern time. Neither of these teams is currently ranked by The Associated Press. The last time the neighboring states met on the football field was two years ago, with the S.C. Gamecocks winning, 27-10.
New Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh makes his debut on Thursday night at 8:30 p.m. on the road against Utah. The Utes beat the Wolverines in Ann Arbor last season, 26-10. Michigan and Utah can be seen on Fox Sports 1.
No. 2 Texas Christian University opens its 2015 schedule with a road game in Big Ten country. The Horned Frogs, who were 12-1 last season, will take on the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. The Golden Gophers won eight of 13 games in 2014. Brian Bennett of ESPN.com reports Minnesota has not defeated a Top 10 team at home in 38 years. This contest will be televised on ESPN at 9 p.m. Eastern.
Finally on Thursday, Arizona, ranked 22nd in The Associated Press preseason Top-25 poll, will play host to Texas-San Antonio at 10 p.m. Eastern. The Wildcats, under fourth-year head coach Rich Rodriguez, are looking to build upon a 10-4 record from last year. That game will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network.
On Friday, there will be a trio of ranked teams hitting the field for the first time this season. Fourth-ranked Baylor travels north to Dallas, where they will meet Southern Methodist University. You can watch the Bears and Mustangs at 7 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.
At the same time, fifth-ranked Michigan State takes on Western Michigan. The Spartans are led by third-year starting quarterback Connor Cook, a preseason Heisman Trophy hopeful. That game can be seen on ESPNU.
The last game of the evening pits No. 23 Boise State against the University of Washington. Former Boise State head coach Chris Peterson is now the head coach at Washington. He will be returning to Boise, Idaho, for the first time since he changed jobs. This contest will be broadcast on ESPN, beginning approximately at 10:15 p.m. Eastern.