Live From CFP National Championship: BTN Makes Presence Felt at AT&T Stadium

In the days of the BCS, Ohio State wouldn’t even be here. As the No. 4 team in the nation, the Buckeyes would have gotten a very nice bowl game send off, but they certainly wouldn’t be here; staring down the program’s eighth national championship. Thus is the impact of the new College Football Playoff format and Big Ten Network couldn’t be more thrilled that the Buckeyes have silenced doubters to bring the conference its first title game trip since 2007.

“Its tremendously exciting,” says Michael Calderon, VP, Programming and Digital Media at BTN. “You can feel the buzz in our studios and in our offices and it all started after Ohio State dominated Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game with everyone wondering if that may have done enough to get into the Playoff. When it was announced, everyone got excited. We are anxiously awaiting for this game to start.”

BTN has an on-site studio set erected outside Gate H of AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX and a lengthy slate of programming planned to surround tonight’s showdown between the Bucks and Ducks.

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The network’s lead on-air football crew of host Dave Revsine and analysts Gerry DiNardo, Howard Griffith, and Glen Mason are part of an 11-person BTN contingent that have made the trip to North Texas. On-site hits and programs will be run for a Sure Shot Transmissions mobile production truck utilizing four cameras (two on the set outside the stadium and two inside the stadium for postgame coverage.

All day Monday, BTN has dedicated its programming slate to Ohio State, airing re-broadcasts of key games from the season (including the Big Ten Championship and the Sugar Bowl), documentaries, and more.

At 6 p.m. ET, the network’s Chicago-based studio show BTN Live hits the air to preview the game with hits and segments coming from Texas. At 7 p.m., the on-site set goes live as Ohio State fans are expecting to be pouring into the stadium past the set up. The one-hour pregame show will feature segments from both Texas and Chicago.

BTN will come back live at halftime of the game from their Chicago studio for a commercial-free, Ohio State-centered breakdown of the first half. Than after the final whistle, BTN will roll out its postgame coverage – win or lose for the Buckeyes.

Calderon noted that BTN has camera feeds stationed at a watch party in Columbus, Ohio that the network will use for reaction shows barring an Ohion State victory tonight. He also said plans are in place for BTN to cover hatever a celebration may be back on campus in the coming week should Ohio State come home as national champs.