AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts Athletics and multimedia rightsholder UMass Sports Properties of LEARFIELD announced a three-year rights agreement with ESPN, as well as the kickoff times for all five Massachusetts football home games at McGuirk Alumni Stadium on Thursday.
“We are pleased to enter into a broadcast agreement with ESPN to promote Massachusetts football throughout the world the next three years,” said Ryan Bamford, Director of Athletics. “UMass football games and special events will be showcased on a widely accessible streaming platform with ESPN also producing linear opportunities annually that enhance the visibility of our program. In totality, this agreement, and ESPN’s relationships with the Atlantic 10 and Hockey East provides UMass fans with one consistent central media home for Massachusetts athletics content for the foreseeable future.”
ESPN will provide live coverage for all five of the program’s 2022 home games, with the home opener against Stony Brook aired on ESPN3, while the remainder of the home contests are subject to the standard 12-day selection process throughout the season to stream on ESPN3 or ESPN+. In the 2023 and 2024 seasons, at least one home game will be televised on ESPN networks in addition to streaming.
“We are excited to showcase Massachusetts home football games exclusively on ESPN platforms in the years ahead through this multi-year agreement, “said Dan Margulis, ESPN senior director of programming and acquisitions. “Between this new collaboration and our deals with the Atlantic 10 and Hockey East, ESPN networks will be the go-to for UMass fans.”
2022 UMass Football Season • Home Game Kickoff Times
Sat., Sept. 17 • Stony Brook • 3:30 p.m. • ESPN3
Game promotion: Youth Day and Hall of Fame Celebration
Sat., Oct. 8 • Liberty • 3:30 p.m. • ESPN3 or ESPN+
Game promotion: Band Day
Sat., Oct. 15 • Buffalo • 1:00 p.m. • ESPN3 or ESPN+
Game promotion: Family Weekend
Sat., Oct. 29 • New Mexico State • 3:30 p.m. • ESPN3 or ESPN+
Game promotion: Homecoming
Sat., Nov. 26 • Army • 12 p.m. • ESPN3 or ESPN+
Game promotion: Military/First Responders Appreciation Day and Senior Day
Fans can listen to Massachusetts football through the UMass Sports Network flagship station WEEI 105.5 FM Springfield and WCRN 830 AM, with select games aired on WHMP 101.5 FM, 1240 AM and 1400 AM. Fans can also tune in for every game online on the Varsity App, or through the Varsity Network website.
Football pregame coverage begins 30 minutes prior to the kickoff of each contest hosted by the Voice of the Minutemen Jay Burnham, Tyler Murray, Pete Brock, Adam Frenier and Nathan Strauss. Home football games can be streamed through ESPN3 or ESPN+ (subscription required) with Burnham on play-by-play, Andy Gresh as analyst and Matt Goldstein reporting from the sidelines.
Single game tickets for the 2022 football season are available now, through the UMass Athletics Ticket Office. For more information, click here.