So Colorado has you hooked, huh? Us too.
But if you’re looking to watch this weekend’s matchup with Arizona State, it might prove a little difficult.
The game is on the Pac-12 Network, a somewhat infamously elusive channel that launched more than a decade ago to much fanfare and has, it’s safe to say, not lived up to the hype. The Buffaloes’ first five games of the season aired on either Fox, ESPN or ABC.
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Here’s what you need to know:
What is the Pac-12 Network?
Why is Colorado, the most-watched team in college football this season, buried on a network a small fraction of the country has access to this weekend?
Blame Larry Scott, the Pac-12’s commissioner from 2009 until 2021. He spearheaded the creation of the Pac-12 Network and family of Pac-12 regional channels in the wake of the Big Ten Network. But unlike the Big Ten Network, which paired with Fox, and the SEC Network, which teamed up with ESPN, the Pac-12 Network set sail into the choppy waters of cable television without a partner.
That decision, among others, led to a consistent struggle to earn distribution into American households throughout the networks’ lifespan. Teams are required to make a minimum number of appearances on the network depending on the total home nonconference games, and this will be the Buffaloes’ first appearance under coach Deion Sanders. They will be required to make at least one more in the second half of the season.
A group of networks that Scott initially pitched as a financial boon quickly became a financial anchor and were a factor in the conference falling behind its peers in the SEC and Big Ten financially — in the span of just one television contract.
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Oral history of Pac-12 Networks: The rise and fall of a conference TV dream
It’s not just Colorado. USC’s Week 0 debut this season, featuring the first game from the returning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams, was also on the network.
Now, 10 of the league’s members are headed to new conferences as the league splintered this offseason. The Pac-12 Network wasn’t the only reason why, but it was a huge reason why the conference was on shaky ground long before this summer’s breakup.
Fans who don’t have access to the Pac-12 Network this weekend will find it difficult to (legally) get the game on their televisions, outside of signing up for select streaming services.
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And for Colorado, which has commanded eye-popping audiences of at least 7.24 million each week this season, that number will dip significantly as it goes on the road to 1-4 Arizona State on Saturday. — David Ubben, national college football writer
How to watch Colorado on the Pac-12 Network
Streaming options are limited if you don’t get the Pac-12 Network from a cable TV provider. The full list of TV providers who carry the network can be found here.
You can get it as part of FuboTV of Sling, or log in via a cable provider (if they happen to offer the channel) on Pac-12.com. YouTube TV and Hulu Live TV don’t carry the Pac-12 Network.
The game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET from Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.
Storylines for Colorado vs. ASU
Both teams are seeking their first Pac-12 win of the season.
The Buffaloes are coming off two losses and are still without two-way star Travis Hunter. Colorado, after getting out to a 3-0 start, is now giving up a Pac-12-worst 36.6 points per game.
But coincidentally, Arizona State’s 17.6 points per game on offense is also the worst in the conference and the Sun Devils are allowing 28.6 points per game. Freshman quarterback Jaden Rashada has been out since Week 2.
Further reading
(Photo: John Leyba / USA Today)
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