May 24, 2010
Some have stated recently that they wish "ASU played more night football games like they used to..." and ASU has already said its first three games will kick off at 7 p.m. or later this season. But still there seems to be talk that early-season games are played in the afternoon.
With that came some research, and going back six seasons, the results are pretty clear...ASU still plays mostly night games and hardly ever plays an afternoon game in September.
With the sun still glaring early in the year, the administration has worked with the Pac-10 and its television partners and helped them understand afternoon games aren't ideal here in September.
In the past six seasons, ASU has played 19 home games in September or August, and 16 of those kicked no earlier than 7 p.m. The three that were not were a national ABC game vs. Georgia on Sept. 20, 2008 (5:15 p.m.), a Sept. 30, 2006 game vs. Oregon (12:30 p.m. on ABC) and the Hurricane Katrina game vs. LSU at 6:15 on Sept. 10, 2005 on ESPN.
ASU's first three games this year all will kick off at night, as the opener vs. Portland State (Sept. 4) and the NAU game on Sept. 11 will both kick at 7 p.m. ASU's Sept. 25 Pac-10 opener against defending Pac-10 champion Oregon will kick-off at 7:30 p.m. on FOX Sports Net.
Here is a breakdown of early season kick times for the past six seasons and notes on the overall schedule are at the bottom.
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER HOME GAMES (2004-2010)
2010
Sept. 5 vs. Portland State/7 p.m.
Sept. 11 vs. NAU/7 p.m.
Sept. 25 vs. Oregon/7:30 p.m.
2009
Sept. 5 vs. Idaho State/7 p.m.
Sept. 19 vs. La.-Monroe/7 p.m.
2008
Aug. 30 vs. NAU/7 p.m.
Sept. 6 vs. Stanford/7 p.m.
Sept. 13 vs. UNLV/7 p.m.
Sept. 20 vs. Georgia/5:15 p.m.
2007
Sept. 1 vs. San Jose State/7 p.m.
Sept. 8 vs. Colorado/7 p.m.
Sept. 15 vs. San Diego State/7 p.m.
Sept. 22 vs. Oregon State/7 p.m.
2006
Aug. 31 vs. NAU/7 p.m.
Sept. 9 vs. Nevada/7 p.m.
Sept. 30 vs. Oregon/12:30 p.m.
2005
Sept. 1 vs. Temple/7 p.m.
Sept. 10 vs. LSU/6:15 p.m.
Sept. 17 vs. Northwestern/7 p.m.
2004
Sept. 2 vs. UTEP/7 p.m.
Sept. 18 vs. Iowa/7:45 p.m.
Sept. 25 vs. Oregon State/7 p.m.
SOME NOTES ON EACH SEASON'S START TIMES
2009
*In 2009, three of ASU's first four home games kicked off at 7 p.m, as contests vs. Idaho State (Sept. 5), La.-Monroe (Sept. 19), and Washington (Oct. 17) all kicked at 7 p.m. The Oct. 3 Oregon State game kicked at 4 p.m. on Versus.
*The Oct. 31 California game kicked at 12:30 p.m., as it was a national television game on ABC.
*The Nov. 17 game vs. USC kicked at 6 p.m. on ABC.
*The Nov. 28 game vs. Arizona kicked off at 1:30 on ABC.
2008
*In 2008, ASU's first three home games vs. NAU (Aug. 30), Stanford (Sept. 6), UNLV (Sept. 13) and Oregon (Oct. 25) all kicked no earlier than 7 p.m.
*The Sept. 20 Georgia game kicked at 5:15 p.m., as it was a national television game on ABC.
*The Nov. 15 game vs. Washington State kicked at 3:30 for homecoming purposes.
*The Nov. 28 game vs. UCLA kicked off at 7:30 for ESPN2.
2007
*ASU's first six home games kicked off no earlier than 7 p.m., as they were vs. San Jose State (Sept. 1), Colorado (Sept. 8), San Diego State (Sept. 15), Oregon State (Sept. 22), Washington (Oct. 13) and California (Oct. 27).
*Games vs. USC (Nov. 22) and Arizona (Dec. 1) kicked off at 6 p.m., both for ESPN purposes.
2006
*Games vs. NAU (Aug. 31), Nevada (Sept. 9) and Washington State (Nov. 11) all kicked at at 7 p.m.
*Games vs. USC (Nov. 22) and Arizona (Dec. 1) kicked off at 6 p.m.
*The Oct. 21 Stanford game kicked at 12:30 p.m. but this was done for homecoming purposes. The game was not televised.
*The Sept. 30 game vs. Oregon kicked at 12:30 p.m. for ABC purposes.
*The Nov. 18 UCLA game kicked at 8:15 p.m. on FOX Sports Net.
2005
*Games vs. Temple (Sept. 1), Northwestern (Sept. 17) and Oregon (Oct. 8) all kicked at 7 p.m.
*The LSU game on Sept. 10 kicked at 6:15 p.m. (this was the Hurricane Katrina game) on ESPN.
*The Oct. 1 USC game kicked at 12:30 p.m. for ABC, the Oct. 29 Washington game kicked at 3:30 p.m. for homecoming (no TV), while the Nov. 25 Arizona game kicked at 1 p.m. for FOX Sports Arizona.
2004
*ASU's first three home games (vs. UTEP on Sept. 2, vs. Iowa on Sept. 18 and vs. Oregon State on Sept. 25 all kicked off after 7 p.m.
*The Oct. 23 UCLA game kicked at 12:30 p.m. for ABC.
*The Nov. 6 Stanford game kicked at 4:40 p.m. for FOX Sports Net, while the Nov. 13 WSU game kicked at 5:10 p.m. for TBS.