The University at Buffalo Bulls will play their first two football games on national television, pending final approval from the New York State Department of Health.
The Mid-American Conference has announced that the Bulls season opener at Northern Illinois on Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. will be broadcast on ESPN2. The home opener Nov. 10 at 8 p.m. versus Miami of Ohio will air on ESPN.
Earlier this month, the MAC announced a six-game conference-only football schedule would start Nov. 4, with a conference championship game scheduled for Dec. 18 at Ford Field in Detroit.
There will be no fans at UB home games this season, per state health department COVID-19 guidelines.
On Monday, the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) also announced it is canceling winter sports for this season.
Men's and women's basketball, men's ice hockey, men's and women's swimming and diving, and men's and women's indoor track and field are the sports where schedules and championships are being canceled.
“Our priority must be the health and safety of everyone involved with intercollegiate athletics, and our campuses as a whole,” said Erik Bitterbaum, chair of the SUNYAC presidents, in a statement.
So far, planning is continuing for spring sports, although a final decision will be made at a later date.