ESPN’s linear television networks are slated to feature 135 NCAA baseball games during the 2017 regular season, in addition to carrying five conference championships and 153 post-season games across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, LHN and SEC Network. More than half of the games showcase a team in the USA Today Coaches Poll Top 25* and 33 games compromise at least one Top 5 team.

ESPN’s expansive schedule of digitally exclusive games streaming on ESPN3, ACC Network Extra and SEC Network + via the WatchESPN and the ESPN app will be released at a later date.

2017 college baseball schedule highlights: 

• Ranked vs. Ranked: In total the schedule includes 30 matchups of ranked teams vs ranked team highlighted by the following games with a Top 10 team:
  • No. 1 TCU vs. No.22 Oklahoma State (Mar. 25, 26) and vs. No. 19 Texas Tech (Apr. 30)
  • No. 3 LSU at No.2 Florida series (March 24-26)
  • No. 6 Vanderbilt at No. 4 South Carolina series (Apr. 6-8)
  • No. 2 Florida at No. 6 Vanderbilt (Apr. 13,15)
  • No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Florida State (Apr. 17)
  • No. 4 South Carolina at No. 2 Florida  (Apr. 20, 22)
  • No. 8 Louisville at No. 12 Clemson (May 14)
  • No. 5 Florida State at No. 8 Louisville (May 20)

• ACC Mondays on ESPNU: ESPNU will once again televise a battle among ACC schools most Mondays throughout the season. In addition to the afore mentioned high-profile baseball matchup of No.12 Clemson at No.5 Florida State, this year’s ESPNU schedule includes two softball games. The full ESPN softball schedule will be released next week. ESPN will also provide more than 250 games on the newly launched ACC Network Extra platform on WatchESPN and the ESPN app.
• SEC Thursday Night Baseball: SEC Thursdays continue on ESPNU and SEC Network, highlighted with a preseason Top 25 team scheduled each week. SEC Network’s schedule also features a Bases Loaded special on opening night of conference play, March 17. The SEC’s 98-game television schedule is available here.
• Wildcard: Similar to last year, ESPNU and SEC Network have designated May 18 as a “wildcard day”, where the two networks will select the most compelling SEC game on the last weekend of conference play. SEC Network has additional wildcard selections slated for April 21,May 12 and May 19.
• Big 12 Gets Bigger: ESPN is televising its largest selection of Big 12 matchups on record, highlighted with the No. 22 Oklahoma State at No.1 TCU series March 25 and 26 on ESPN2.
• Hook ‘Em: Longhorn Network, the home of Texas baseball, will televise more than 30 home games this season including No. 25 Rice (Feb. 19) and No. 19 Texas Tech (March 17, 19).
• Championship Games: American, ACC, Big South, SEC and SWAC Championship games will all air on ESPN, ESPNU or ESPNEWS
• Home of the Post Season: ESPN will cover up to 153 postseason games beginning with the Regionals. Complete details will be announced at a later date. The NCAA Baseball Selection Show swings ESPN into the postseason on Monday, May 29 at noon on ESPNU.
• ESPN3: The network-leading 450+ game schedule for ESPN3 streaming games begins in February, with season long  contests from 13 different conferences— Atlantic Sun, Big 12, Big East, Big South, Big West, Horizon League, Ivy League, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Missouri Valley, Southern, Southland, Sun Belt and Western Athletic.

Television Commentators
The 2017 baseball roster of accomplished ESPN network list commentators includes:

• Nick Belmonte: Played at Florida where he holds the school record for stolen bases; spent time in the minor leagues
• Chris Burke: Three-time All-American and SEC Player of the Year at Tennessee; Named to the all CWS all-tournament team in 2001. Was a first round pick of the Houston Astros and played parts of five MLB seasons with the Astros, Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres
• Wes Clements: All-American and CWS Champion at Arizona; Drafted by the Houston Astros
• Rusty Ensor: Was a captain and power hitter at Tennessee
• Gabe Gross: All-American for the Auburn Tigers, where he also played quarterback. First round draft pick of the Toronto Blue Jays
• Ben McDonald: All-American and Golden Spikes Award winner at LSU; Helped the Tigers reach the CWS twice and was also a member of the basketball team. First round selection of the Baltimore Orioles and went on to play eight MLB seasons.
• Keith Moreland: 12-year MLB veteran; three-time All-American baseball player while at Texas and College World Series All-Decade Team member; Inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009
• Kyle Peterson: Played in two different College World Series as a member of Stanford; National Freshmen of the Year and two-time Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year with the Cardinal. He was a first round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers
• Mike Rooney: Versatile position player at Notre Dame; Helped lead the Fighting Irish to the Super Regionals
• Greg Swindell: 1985 Baseball America National Play of the year while playing at Texas; three time finalist for the Golden Spikes Award and 17-year career in the MLB as a left-handed pitcher
• Jay Walker: Former football player and current Hall of Famer at Howard; has transition into multi-sport analyst

Roxy Bernstein, Mike Couzens, Lowell Galindo, Tom Hart, Steve Lenox, Clay Matvick, Mike Morgan, Dave Neal, Mark Neely, Matt Stewart, Alex Perlman and Taylor Zarzour will handle the play-by-play throughout the season.

*Rankings based on USA Today Coaches Poll as of January 26, 2017

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