1985 College Football Season
Regular season
Originally compiled by Jeff79:
- CBS added ACC rights to its B10/P10 package. CBS also had separate deals with Miami, Army, and Navy.
- The football syndication bubble that popped up following 1984's deregulation of college football TV rights immediately bursted:
- SportView, which originally held the Big Ten rights, was sued by the conference for non-payment of fees. (For the 1985 season, the Big Ten awarded its syndication contract to Turner Sports, which simulcast some of the games on the main TBS network,) Indianapolis Star, 11/7/84
- MetroSports immediately renegotiated its deal with the Pac-10 to cut its rights fees by half and later filed for bankruptcy. Spokane Spokesman-Review, 1/25/85 LA Times, 3/22/85
- Katz Sports, which had the rights to the Big 8 and several independents, was acquired by Raycom. Raleigh News & Observer, 6/23/85
Week 1
Thu 8/29, BYU vs Boston College (at East Rutherford - Kickoff Classic), synd, 8 pm, Merle Harmon, Bud Wilkinson, Kevin Kiley
Sat 8/31, Florida State @ Tulane, WTBS, 12 pm - Bob Neal, Tim Foley
Sat 8/31, Purdue @ Pittsburgh, ESPN, 7:30 pm, Jim Simpson, Paul Maguire
Sat 8/31, Oregon @ Washington State, WTBS, 8 pm - Lindsey Nelson, Paul Hornung
Mon 9/2, Alabama @ Georgia, ABC, 8 pm, Keith Jackson, Frank Broyles, Tim Brant
Week 2
Sat 9/7, Penn State @ Maryland, USA, 12pm, Eddie Doucette, Kyle Rote
Sat 9/7, Southwestern Louisiana @ Auburn, WTBS, 12 pm - Bob Neal, Tim Foley
Sat 9/7, Florida St @ Nebraska, ABC, 3 pm, Keith Jackson, Frank Broyles, Tim Brant
Sat 9/7, UCLA @ BYU, ESPN, 7:30 pm, Jim Simpson, Paul Maguire
Sat 9/7, Oklahoma State @ Washington, WTBS, 8 pm - Lindsey Nelson, Paul Hornung
Week 3
Sat 9/14, Maryland @ Boston College, USA, 12pm, Eddie Doucette, Kyle Rote
Sat 9/14, Baylor @ Georgia, WTBS, 12 pm - Bob Neal, Tim Foley
Sat 9/14, Notre Dame @ Michigan, CBS, 1:30 pm, Brent Musburger, Ara Parseghian
Sat 9/14, UCLA @ Tennessee, ABC, 3 pm (regional), Keith Jackson, Frank Broyles, Tim Brant
Sat 9/14, Washington @ BYU, ABC, 3 pm (regional), Al Michaels, Lee Grosscup, Al Trautwig
Sat 9/14, Texas A&M vs Alabama (at Birmingham), ESPN, 7:30 pm, Jim Simpson, Paul Maguire
Sat 9/14, Pittsburgh @ Ohio State, WTBS, 8 pm - Lindsey Nelson, Paul Hornung
first night game in Ohio Stadium history
Week 4
Sat 9/21, Boston College @ Pittsburgh, USA, 12pm, Eddie Doucette, Kyle Rote
Sat 9/21, Memphis State @ Florida State, WTBS, 12 pm - Bob Neal, Tim Foley
Sat 9/21, Michigan @ South Carolina, ABC, 3 pm, Keith Jackson, Frank Broyles, Tim Brant
Sat 9/21, Georgia @ Clemson, CBS, 3:30 pm, Brent Musburger, Ara Parseghian
Sat 9/21, Michigan St @ Notre Dame, ESPN, 7:30 pm, Jim Simpson, Paul Maguire
Sat 9/21, West Virginia @ Maryland, WTBS, 8 pm - Lindsey Nelson, Paul Hornung
Week 5
Sat 9/28, Miami @ Boston College, USA, 12pm, Eddie Doucette, Kyle Rote
Sat 9/28, Alabama @ Vanderbilt, WTBS, 12:30 pm - Bob Neal, Tim Foley
Sat 9/28, Auburn @ Tennessee, ABC, 3:30 pm (regional), Keith Jackson, Frank Broyles, Tim Brant
Sat 9/28, Iowa @ Iowa St, ABC, 3:30 pm (regional), Al Michaels, Lee Grosscup, Al Trautwig
Sat 9/28, Texas @ Stanford, CBS, 3:30 pm (regional), Brent Musburger, Ara Parseghian
Sat 9/28, UCLA @ Washington, CBS, 3:30 pm (regional), Gary Bender, Steve Davis
Sat 9/28, SMU @ TCU, ESPN, 7:30 pm, Jim Simpson, Paul Maguire
Sat 9/28, Oklahoma @ Minnesota, WTBS, 8 pm - Lindsey Nelson, Paul Hornung
Week 6
Thu 10/3, Cal St Fullerton @ San Jose St, ESPN, 9 pm, Jim Kelly, Mouse Davis
Sat 10/5, South Carolina @ Pittsburgh, USA, 12pm, Eddie Doucette, Kyle Rote
Sat 10/5, Northwestern @ Indiana, WTBS, 12 pm - Pete Van Wieren, Ron Kramer
Sat 10/5, Michigan St @ Iowa, CBS, 2:30 pm (regional), Brent Musburger, Ara Parseghian
* Sat 10/5, Arizona St @ UCLA, CBS, 2:30 pm (regional), Gary Bender, ??
Sat 10/5, Notre Dame @ Air Force, ABC, 3:30 pm, Keith Jackson, Frank Broyles, Tim Brant
Sat 10/5, Mississippi @ Auburn, ESPN, 7:30 pm, Jim Simpson, Paul Maguire
Week 7
Sat 10/12, NC State @ Pittsburgh, USA, 12pm, Eddie Doucette, Kyle Rote
Sat 10/12, Michigan @ Michigan St, CBS, 2:30 pm (regional), Gary Bender, Ara Parseghian
On 10/12, Bender worked with Parseghian as Musburger was working the NLCS.
Sat 10/12, Alabama @ Penn St, ABC, 3:30 pm, Keith Jackson, Frank Broyles, Tim Brant
Sat 10/12, UCLA @ Stanford, CBS, 4:30 pm (west coast), Ted Robinson, Steve Davis
Sat 10/12, Nebraska @ Oklahoma St, ESPN, 7:30 pm, Jim Simpson, Paul Maguire
Sat 10/12, Purdue @ Minnesota, WTBS, 8 pm - Lindsey Nelson, Paul Hornung
Week 8
Sat 10/19, Purdue @ Ohio St, CBS, 12 pm, Gary Bender, Dick Vermeil
Sat 10/19, Army @ Notre Dame, USA, 12pm, Eddie Doucette, Kyle Rote
Sat 10/19, Tennessee @ Alabama, WTBS, 12:30 pm - Bob Neal, Tim Foley
Sat 10/19, Miami @ Oklahoma, ABC, 3:30 pm (regional), Keith Jackson, Frank Broyles, Tim Brant
Sat 10/19, Texas @ Arkansas, ABC, 3:30 pm (regional), Al Trautwig, Lee Grosscup
ABC used Trautwig on pbp on 10/19 and Brant on 10/26 as Michaels was calling the WS.
Sat 10/19, Michigan @ Iowa, CBS, 3:30 pm (regional), Brent Musburger, Ara Parseghian
Sat 10/19, Auburn @ Georgia Tech, CBS, 3:30 pm (regional), Mike Patrick, Steve Davis
Sat 10/19, Kentucky @ LSU, ESPN, 7:30 pm, Jim Simpson, Paul Maguire
Week 9
Sat 10/26, Houston @ Arkansas (at Little Rock), USA, 1pm, Eddie Doucette, Kyle Rote
Sat 10/26, Kentucky @ Georgia, WTBS, 12 pm - Bob Neal, Tim Foley
Sat 10/26, West Virginia @ Penn St, ABC, 3 pm (regional), Keith Jackson, Frank Broyles
Sat 10/26, Colorado @ Nebraska, ABC, 3 pm (regional), Tim Brant, Lee Grosscup
Sat 10/26, Ohio St @ Minnesota, CBS, 3:30 pm, Brent Musburger, Ara Parseghian
Sat 10/26, Georgia Tech @ Tennessee, ESPN, 7:30 pm, Jim Simpson, Paul Maguire
Sat 10/26, California @ UCLA, WTBS, 8 pm - Lindsey Nelson, Paul Hornung
Week 10
Thu 10/31, New Mexico St @ UNLV, ESPN, 9 pm, Jim Kelly, David Humm
Sat 11/2, Oklahoma State @ Colorado, USA, 1pm, Eddie Doucette, Kyle Rote
Sat 11/2, LSU @ Ole Miss, WTBS, 12 pm - Bob Neal, Tim Foley
Sat 11/2, Iowa @ Ohio St, CBS, 2:30 pm, Brent Musburger, Ara Parseghian
Sat 11/2, Navy @ Notre Dame, ABC, 3:30 pm (regional), Keith Jackson, Frank Broyles
Sat 11/2, Miami @ Florida St, ABC, 3:30 pm (regional), Tim Brant, Lee Grosscup
Sat 11/2, SMU @ Texas A&M, ESPN, 7:30 pm, Jim Simpson, Paul Maguire
Sat 11/2, West Virginia @ Virginia, WTBS, 8 pm - Lindsey Nelson, Paul Hornung
Week 11
Thu 11/7, San Jose St @ Long Beach St, ESPN, 9 pm, Jim Kelly, David Humm
Sat 11/9, Ole Miss @ Notre Dame, USA, 12pm, Eddie Doucette, Kyle Rote
Sat 11/9, Kentucky @ Vanderbilt, WTBS, 12 pm - Bob Neal, Tim Foley
Sat 11/9, Alabama @ LSU, ABC, 3 pm (regional), Keith Jackson, Frank Broyles, Tim Brant
Sat 11/9, Baylor vs Arkansas (at Little Rock), ABC, 3 pm (regional), Al Michaels, Lee Grosscup
Sat 11/9, Miami vs Maryland (at Baltimore), CBS, 3:30 pm (regional), Brent Musburger, Ara Parseghian
* Sat 11/9, Washington @ Arizona St, CBS, 3:30 pm (regional), ??, ??
Sat 11/9, South Carolina @ Florida St, ESPN, 7:30 pm, Jim Simpson, Paul Maguire
Sat 11/9, Oregon State @ Stanford, WTBS, 8 pm - Lindsey Nelson, Paul Hornung
Week 12
Thu 11/14, South Carolina St @ Grambling, ESPN, 9 pm, Jim Kelly, David Humm
Sat 11/16, Boston College @ Syracuse, USA, 12pm, Eddie Doucette, Kyle Rote
Sat 11/16, Ole Miss @ Tennessee, WTBS, 12 pm - Bob Neal, Tim Foley
Sat 11/16, Iowa @ Purdue, CBS, 2:30 pm (regional), Brent Musburger, Ara Parseghian, Pat O'Brien
Sat 11/16, Maryland @ Clemson, CBS, 2:30 pm (regional), Gary Bender, Steve Davis
Sat 11/16, Notre Dame @ Penn St, ABC, 3 pm (regional), Keith Jackson, Frank Broyles, Tim Brant
Sat 11/16, Auburn @ Georgia, ABC, 3 pm (regional), Al Michaels, Lee Grosscup, Al Trautwig
Sat 11/16, Arkansas @ Texas A&M, ESPN, 7:30 pm, Jim Simpson, Paul Maguire
Sat 11/16, Stanford @ Arizona State, WTBS, 8 pm - Lindsey Nelson, Paul Hornung
Week 13
Thu 11/21, Wichita St @ Fresno St, ESPN, 9 pm, Jim Kelly, David Humm
Sat 11/23, LSU @ Notre Dame, USA, 12pm, Eddie Doucette, Kyle Rote
Sat 11/23, Ole Miss @ Kentucky, WTBS, 12 pm - Bob Neal, Tim Foley
Sat 11/23, Ohio St @ Michigan, CBS, 1:30 pm, Brent Musburger, Ara Parseghian, Pat O'Brien
Sat 11/23, Nebraska @ Oklahoma, ABC, 3:30 pm, Keith Jackson, Frank Broyles, Tim Brant
Sat 11/23, Penn St @ Pittsburgh, ESPN, 7:30 pm, Jim Simpson, Paul Maguire
Sat 11/23, Colorado State @ Miami, WTBS, 8 pm - Lindsey Nelson, Paul Hornung
Week 14
Thu 11/28, Texas @ Texas A&M, ESPN, 8 pm, Jim Simpson, Paul Maguire
Fri 11/29, Virginia @ Maryland, CBS, 2:30 pm, Verne Lundquist, Steve Davis
Sat 11/30, Vanderbilt @ Tennessee, WTBS, 12 pm - Bob Neal, Tim Foley
Sat 11/30, Auburn vs Alabama (at Birmingham), ABC, 3:30 pm, Keith Jackson, Frank Broyles, Tim Brant
Sat 11/30, Notre Dame @ Miami, CBS, 3:30 pm, Brent Musburger, Ara Parseghian, Pat O'Brien
Sat 11/30, Oklahoma @ Oklahoma St, ESPN, 7:30 pm (regional), Jim Simpson, Paul Maguire
Sat 11/30, West Virginia @ Syracuse, ESPN, 7:30 pm (regional), Jim Kelly, David Humm
Sat 11/30, Georgia @ Georgia Tech, WTBS, 8 pm - Lindsey Nelson, Paul Hornung
Week 15
Sat 12/7, Army vs Navy (at Philadelphia), CBS, 2:30 pm, Brent Musburger, Ara Parseghian, Pat O'Brien
Sat 12/7, SMU @ Oklahoma, ABC, 3 pm, Keith Jackson, Frank Broyles, Tim Brant (see note below)
Jackson and Broyles called the first half. Jackson became sick at halftime, so Brant and Broyles called the second half.
Sat 12/7, BYU @ Hawaii, ESPN, 7 pm, Jim Simpson, Paul Maguire
Sat 12/14, North Dakota St vs North Alabama (at McAllen, TX - D2 champ), ESPN, 1 pm, Frank Fallon, Donny Duncan
Sat 12/21, Georgia Southern vs Furman (at Tacoma - D1-AA champ), ESPN, 3:30 pm, Mike Patrick, Sam Adkins
Bowl games
Originally compiled by sportas2:
December 14
California Bowl: Bowling Green vs. Fresno State, 3:00, ESPN: Duane Dow, Ed Biles
December 21
Cherry Bowl: Maryland vs. Syracuse, 1:00, Mizlou syndication/USA: Ray Lane, Jim Branstetter
Independence Bowl: Clemson vs. Minnesota, 8:00, Mizlou syndication/USA: Howard David, Bob Casciola
December 22
Holiday Bowl: Arizona State vs. Arkansas, 8:00, USA: Eddie Doucette, Kyle Rote
December 27
Liberty Bowl: Baylor vs. LSU, 8:30, Raycom syndication: Merle Harmon, Kevin Kiley
December 28
Florida Citrus Bowl: BYU vs. Ohio State, 1:00, NBC: Jay Randolph, Dave Rowe
Sun Bowl: Arizona vs. Georgia, 3:00, CBS: Gary Bender, Steve Davis
Aloha Bowl: Alabama vs. USC, 8:00, Innovative Sports syndication: Harry Kalas, Dennis Green
December 30
Freedom Bowl: Colorado vs. Washington, 8:00, USA: Eddie Doucette, Kyle Rote
Gator Bowl: Florida State vs. Oklahoma State, 8:00, ABC: Al Michaels, Lee Grosscup
December 31
Bluebonnet Bowl: Air Force vs. Texas, 2:45, Lorimar syndication/USA: Tom Hammond, Gifford Nielsen
Peach Bowl: Army vs. Illinois, 3:00, CBS: Gary Bender, Steve Davis
All-American Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Michigan State, 8:00, TBS: Bob Neal, Tim Foley, Paul Hornung
January 1
Cotton Bowl: Auburn vs. Texas A&M, 1:30, CBS: Brent Musburger, Ara Parseghian
Fiesta Bowl: Michigan vs. Nebraska, 1:30, NBC: Charlie Jones, Sam Rutigliano
Rose Bowl: Iowa vs. UCLA, 5:00, NBC: Dick Enberg, Merlin Olsen
Orange Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Penn State, 8:00, NBC: Don Criqui, Bob Trumpy, Bob Griese
Sugar Bowl: Miami-FL vs. Tennessee, 8:00, ABC: Keith Jackson, Frank Broyles