WVU Football: Game Times for First Three Games Announced

November 17, 2012; Morgantown, WV, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers running back Andrew Buie (13) carries the ball against Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Tony Jefferson (1) during the third quarter at Milan Puskar Stadium. The Oklahoma Sooners won 50-49. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier today, West Virginia University officially released the game times for the first three games of the 2013 WVU football season. The times for the August 31 home game against William & Mary, September 7 road game at Oklahoma, and September 14 home game against Georgia State were announced as:

The first two games of the season will be televised nationally while the home date with Georgia State will likely only be available regionally.

WVU’s season opener against former Southern Conference opponent William & Mary Tribe on August 31 will be televised on the all new Fox Sports 1, formerly known as Speed Network. The game will come with the standard low profile start time of noon. This is usually the start time for Mountaineers home games against FCS foes.

What is surprising about the game is that it will be available on a national channel and not restricted to regional coverage. This speaks volumes to the lack of match-ups the opening weekend. No matter the reason, WVU fans will be appreciative of the chance to see the old gold and blue on opening weekend.

The rematch of last year’s thrilling Oklahoma vs West Virginia match-up will get a prime time spot on Fox in week 2 of the college season. You can be sure that Fox will dig up footage of the classic 1982 upset by the Hostetler led Mountaineers over Barry Switzer’s Sooners given the parallels in the early season nature of the match-up of a seemingly superior Sooners squad vs a Mountaineers squad that little is expected of.

Regardless of the outcome in this game, this will be great exposure for the Mountaineers program across the country and will be a benefit to WVU’s recruiting efforts.

Finally, the Georgia State match-up will also draw a noon match-up given the lack of luster in this one. The Panthers are coming off a terrible 1-10 season at the FCS level last season. The 2013 season will be the Panthers first as a FBS member. The lack of appeal in this match-up must have kept Fox from picking it up on any of their platforms.

Now that we know when the games are scheduled, fans can adjust their tailgating schedule accordingly. What do you think of the schedule times? Leave your comment below.