Weekend viewing includes BTN special on Iowa tailgating, ex-Hawks moving up and 1980s Iowa FB rehash

BTN likes former Iowa players

Ex-Hawkeyes are moving up in Big Ten Network circles, both on analysis shows and at the arena.

Former Iowa football player Anthony Herron now appears on "Big Ten Football: Sites and Sounds," a weekly show that breaks down the games. Herron got his start at the network in early 2008 as a sideline reporter. He's still raw in that role but appears comfortable and insightful in the studio.

Former Iowa basketball player Kenyon Murray  apparently will get his shot with the BTN as an analyst this winter. Murray, who resides in Cedar Rapids, likely will broadcast Iowa's non-conference games from Carver-Hawkeye Arena. My guess is this will vault him into a starring role, either with the BTN or another network, within a few years. He's knowledgeable, well-respected and has a smooth delivery.

Big Ten's Best includes Iowa-Michigan 1985

Friday, the BTN airs "Big Ten's Best: Football Finishes of the 80s." At least half the show could come from Iowa games -- Iowa-Michigan in 1983, Iowa-Michigan and Iowa-Michigan State in 1985, Iowa-San Diego State in 1986, and Iowa-Ohio State and Iowa-Wyoming in 1987. We'll see what they've decided at the Chicago headquarters this weekend. Charissa Thompson hosts the show.

Baseball heats up, and cools down

MLB's championship round opens tonight with the National League Championship Series on TBS. The ALCS opens Friday on Fox. Here's a game-by-game glance on television.

National League Championship Series on TBS

• Philadelphia at Los Angeles, 7:07 p.m. (Thursday)
• Philadelphia at Los Angeles, 3:07 p.m. (Friday)
• Los Angeles at Philadelphia, 7:07 p.m. (Sunday)
• Los Angeles at Philadelphia, 7:07 p.m. (Monday)
• Los Angeles at Philadelphia, 7:07 p.m. if necessary (Wednesday, Oct. 21)
• Philadelphia at Los Angeles, 7:07 p.m. if necessary (Friday, Oct. 23)
• Philadelphia at Los Angeles, 7:07 p.m. if necessary (Saturday, Oct. 24)

American League Championship Series on Fox

• L.A. Angels at N.Y. Yankees, 7:07 p.m. (Friday)
• L.A. Angels at N.Y. Yankees, 7:07 p.m. (Saturday)
• N.Y. Yankees at L.A. Angels, 3:13 p.m. (Monday)
• N.Y. Yankees at L.A. Angels, 6:57 p.m.  (Tuesday)
• N.Y. Yankees at L.A. Angels, 6:57 p.m. if necessary (Thursday, Oct. 22)
• L.A. Angels at N.Y. Yankees, 3:13 p.m. or 7:07 p.m. if necessary (Saturday, Oct. 24)
• L.A. Angels at N.Y. Yankees, 7:20 p.m. if necessary (Sunday, Oct. 25)

Iowa football at Wisconsin

Iowa football returns to ESPN on Saturday in the Big Ten's best match-up. Iowa plays at rival Wisconsin, and ESPN is sending a three-man crew for the game. Dave Pasch will have the play-by-play, while Bob Griese and Chris Spielman are the analysts.

ESPN is the fourth different network airing Iowa football games this fall, joining the BTN, ABC, ESPN2 and Fox Sports Midwest (Mediacom Connections in Eastern Iowa). Next week, Iowa will play its third night game this year at Michigan State. The BTN will air that game at 6 p.m. It's likely the BTN will air two of Iowa's final four games as well. Iowa hosts Indiana (Oct. 31), Northwestern (Nov. 7) and Minnesota (Nov. 21), any of which could land on the BTN. Iowa's final road game, Nov. 14 at Ohio State, seems likely for ABC, which would be the Hawkeyes' fourth game on the over-the-air network.

Here's Saturday's college football lineup:

11/11:30 a.m. games

• ABC/KCRG-TV9: Oklahoma vs. Texas at Dallas
• ESPN: Iowa at Wisconsin
• ESPN2: Northwestern at Michigan State
• Big Ten Network: Ohio State at Purdue (overflow: Delaware State at Michigan)
• ESPNU: Mississippi State at Middle Tennessee State (11:30 p.m.)
• Versus: Princeton at Brown (11:30 p.m.)

2:30 p.m. games

• Fox Sports Midwest: Indiana State at Illinois State (2 p.m.)
• ABC/KCRG-TV9: Minnesota at Penn State
• CBS/KGAN: Arkansas at Florida
• NBC/KWWL: Southern Cal at Notre Dame
• ESPN: Texas Tech at Nebraska
• Versus: Colorado State at Texas Christian (3 p.m.)
• ESPNU: Virginia at Maryland (3 p.m.)
• Mediacom Connections: Southern Illinois at Northern Iowa (4 p.m.)
• ESPN2: Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech

Evening games

• Comcast Sports: Kansas at Colorado (6 p.m.)
• Big Ten Network: Illinois at Indiana (6 p.m.)
• Versus: Stanford at Arizona (6:30 p.m.)
• ESPNU: Kentucky at Auburn (6:30 p.m.)
• ESPN: South Carolina at Alabama (6:45 p.m.)
• ESPN2: Missouri at  Oklahoma State (8:15 p.m.)
• Comcast/Fox Sports: Washington at Arizona State (9:15 p.m.)
• ESPNU: Florida A&M at South Carolina State (9:30 p.m.)

Sunday's NFL lineup:

• Fox/KFXA: Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers (noon)
• CBS/KGAN: Baltimore Ravens at Minnesota Vikings (noon)
• CBS/KGAN: Tennessee Titans at New England Patriots (3:15 p.m.)
• NBC/KWWL: Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons (7:30 p.m.)