Utah AD Mark Harlan 'disappointed' Utes are on 'ESPN after dark' for second straight week

The 10th-ranked Utah Utes have been dealt a bad hand when it comes to games with late kickoffs.

This has been a problem over the past decade, but this year seems a bit excessive. For being a top team in the nation, there should be more of a push to have them featured in a prime-time slot or during the day. 

After Utah was slotted into another 10:15 p.m. ET game this week, Mark Harlan expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation. The Utes athletic director is excited to have ESPN College GameDay on campus for a second straight year. But being scheduled to play No. 14 Houston when most of the people in the country are turning in for the night is a devastating blow for the Big 12. This is one of the Big 12's best games thus far, and it feels like a walk-out fight in a championship title fight lineup.

“As happy as I was, quite candidly, about [ESPN’s ”College GameDay" coming], I was equally disappointed that we got another night game on ESPN,” Harlan said via the Salt Lake Tribune. 

“I like our record at night, and I know our players love playing at night. But I know that is a sacrifice, and I just want to acknowledge that. Obviously, we’ve had four of these. I know one moved up a little bit because of the weather, and certainly one’s been on the road. But ESPN is a great partner. We’ve talked to them. We’ve certainly talked to [Big 12 commissioner] Brett Yormark about spreading this out.” 

Noon: Pittsburgh vs. No. 1 Miami — The top team in the country is on for everyone

3:30 p.m.: No. 11 Tennessee vs. South Carolina — SEC to the masses

7 p.m.: Virginia Tech vs. Clemson — An underwhelming ACC matchup

10:15 p.m.: No. 14 Houston vs. No. 10 Utah — One of two Top 25 matchups this week

Harlan's complaint is legitimate. ESPN is airing Virginia Tech and Clemson, which should be on ESPN+. To push one of two Top 25 battles to a late-night time slot is a rating killer.

The Pac-12 was notorious for pushing games off until they ended at 2 a.m. on the East Coast. Obviously, the current arrangement with the Big 12 has a similar feel. But the Pac-12 tried to protect games from getting shoved off into a space with less viewership. 

Utah's game against Kansas on Oct. 10 was moved up to 8 p.m. ET to avoid potential inclement weather. While it was less-than-ideal to force the game to start in prime time after committing to the later slot, the game worked out for the better. There's nothing stopping a network from scheduling a team in the late slot every week. USC made a name for themselves in that space in the early 2000s. 

“We’re honored to play. We’re honored to play anywhere. But I do know for the fans, it’s tough, and I know it’ll be a late night for everybody,” Harlan added.

None of this makes sense due to one reason. The Utah-Houston game has the hottest in terms of ticket sales for this week's slate of games.  

ESPN College GameDay comes to Salt Lake City this weekend. But there will be a 10-hour game from the time the show goes off the air until kickoff at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Why would fans wait that long? Show up on campus and find something to do for the entire day and then come back for the game when the rest of the world is drained from getting up at 4 a.m. local time? Sounds like audience retention isn't high on anyone's priority list. 

Utah hosts Houston on Saturday night for a blackout game in Salt Lake City.