College football fans, primarily Alabama and Auburn football fans, will be disappointed to find that CBS will not have the sport’s unofficial marquee rivalry game on Nov. 29. ESPN will air it, while CBS instead airs the Egg Bowl, played between Ole Miss and Mississippi State, at 3:30 p.m. EST.
What gives? CBS has practically made out the Iron Bowl to be college football’s orgasmic zenith every year between 2008 and, well, now.
From The (Jackson) Clarion-Ledger:
There are certain appearance limitations within the agreements the SEC has with its partners. CBS has exhausted the number of appearances for Alabama this season. The Tide’s games against Florida, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and LSU were also on CBS, which has the first pick each week among SEC games.
CBS contractually can only show one SEC school’s football program a total of five times per season. Since the Egg Bowl potentially means more this year–Mississippi State is currently ranked no. 1 and Ole Miss no. 10–the channel has instead opted to show Alabama for the final time on Nov. 22 when the Crimson Tide takes on the Bulldogs.
We’re assuming the network brass at ESPN are thrilled they got the Iron Bowl, which could still hold playoff implications if the Crimson Tide beats Mississippi State next weekend. Auburn’s probably out of the national championship picture, but a possible 9-2 Auburn taking on an at-worst 9-2 Alabama team still makes for great viewing.
The Iron Bowl kicks off at 7:45 p.m. EST on Nov. 29.
