SoCon announces Nexstar football broadcast schedule

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc., Ingles Markets and the Southern Conference announced Monday the Ingles SoCon Game of the Week football broadcast package on select Nexstar affiliates for the 2025 season. Eight SoCon squads will make at least one appearance over the course of the six-game broadcast schedule.

"We're excited to partner once again with Nexstar Media Group and Ingles Markets to bring SoCon football to television screens across our region," said Southern Conference Commissioner Michael Cross. "These six games showcase the competitive excellence and regional rivalries that make our conference special. Fans will witness the passion and tradition that defines SoCon football. With Ingles Markets' continued support of our student-athletes and institutions, we're able to provide enhanced visibility for our member schools and the communities they represent. In the Southern Conference, It's All Here – and now more fans than ever can experience it."
 
The schedule kicks off on Thursday, Aug. 28, with Samford hosting West Georgia at 7:30 p.m. in its season opener.
 
The first Saturday game in the package will be on Aug. 30, when defending national champion North Dakota State travels to The Citadel for a noon kickoff.

Furman will appear twice on the schedule, the first coming on Oct. 18, when the Paladins takes on rival Wofford at noon. The second game to feature Furman will be on Nov. 8, as the Chattanooga Mocs welcome the Paladins for a noon start.

Western Carolina plays in a pair of games on the schedule. The Catamounts’ first appearance will be on Nov. 15, when ETSU travels to Cullowhee. One week later, Western Carolina will head north to take on VMI in the regular season finale for both clubs.

 
Each game in the Nexstar package will air concurrently on ESPN+.

“Ingles and The Southern Conference have partnered for over 15 years, delivering the best in education, tradition and community outreach. Ingles’s locations and Southern Conference schools along with alumni destinations offer a wonderful opportunity for Ingles both from a marketing and public relations standpoint,” Melissa Leavell, the Advertising Director of Ingles Markets, said. “Offering this television schedule provides the schools and the conference with the deserved exposure that make SoCon Saturday’s great. Ingles is proud to bring these exciting games and tremendous athletes into homes across the Southern Conference marketing area.”

Nexstar affiliates with the opportunity to air games include: ECBD (Charleston), WMYT (Charlotte), WWCW (Lynchburg/Roanoke) and WYCW (Greenville/Spartanburg/Asheville). Although not Nexstar stations, WMUB (Macon) and EFLI (Chattanooga) can also air select contests.

Nexstar football broadcast schedule (all times Eastern)
8/28 – West Georgia at Samford, 7:30pm 

8/30 – North Dakota State at The Citadel, Noon

10/18 – Furman at Wofford, Noon 

11/8 - Furman at Chattanooga, Noon

11/15 – ETSU at Western Carolina, Noon 

11/22 – Western Carolina at VMI, Noon