Oct 20, 2018; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back Karan Higdon (22) is tackled by Michigan State Spartans defensive tackle Raequan Williams (99) during the first half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

The noon game between Michigan and Michigan State had to be delayed for over an hour due to lightning. For a network, this is one of the most frustrating things about live TV because you’re literally just waiting for the delay to be over and that doesn’t really result in riveting television.

The other problem is that a massive delay in one game really screws over what is being shown afterward because there’s no way the first game will end in time. That’s what happened to Fox and unfortunately for Colorado and Washington fans, their game got moved from a national broadcast on network TV to Fox Business Network until things ended in East Lansing. Due to the length of the delay, Colorado-Washington will most likely be late in the second quarter or at halftime before they head to Fox.

It’s certainly a move that will upset people, specifically fans of Colorado and Washington, but it’s not like Fox was going to go from Michigan-Michigan State to Colorado-Washington in the middle of the first game and risk some sort of Heidi situation. Since then, networks have kept the original broadcast on TV if things are running late unless it’s a complete blowout. Other than those in local markets in Washington and Colorado, people can either go to Fox Business Network (if they have that channel) or stream the game on Fox Sports Go.

While Fox had no choice but to move Colorado-Washington to another channel, it’s not ideal that the network decided to put the game on Fox Business Network and not FS2, which is currently having an Ultimate Fighter marathon. FS2 is the better fit for that type of content being a sports channel and all and it’s not a big programming headache to move around reruns of the Ultimate Fighter in favor of a marquee college football game. (EDIT: Pac-12 actually has an agreement with Fox where overflow of their games must go on Fox Business Channel and not FS2)

The reality though is that Fox Business Network is in more households than FS2 and hence is and has been Fox’s dumping channel of preference when these situations arise. The Pac 12 actually endorsed the decision despite the odd programming fit as they’re preference is to just have the game on in as many households as possible.  The logic makes sense but that doesn’t help aggrieved Pac 12 fans as Larry Scott television strategy has continued to underwhelm fans of the conference.

About Phillip Bupp

Producer/editor of the Awful Announcing Podcast and Short and to the Point. News editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. Highlight consultant for Major League Soccer as well as a freelance writer for hire. Opinions are my own but feel free to agree with them.

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