Big Ten to play 6 Friday night games a year starting in 2017

Published 8:45 am Friday, November 4, 2016

The Big Ten will play six Friday night football games a year starting in 2017 and continuing through at least 2022.

Senior Associate Commissioner Mark Rudner said the games are being added as part of the conference’s new television agreements with ESPN/ABC and Fox. The six games will be spread over September and October and allow more Big Ten schools to get national exposure.

The Big Ten already has had Friday night games on Labor Day weekend. Those games will continue and be counted among the six each year.

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Rudner said the conference expects to announce the 2017 Friday night schedule within the next week.

Michigan and Penn State already have declined to host Friday night games on their campuses.