CHICAGO - BTN today announced it has selected six games to air in primetime this fall, with teams including the conference?s 2013 Big Ten Champion Michigan State, Ohio State, Michigan and Big Ten newcomers Rutgers University and the University of Maryland.

Nine of 14 Big Ten schools are part of the primetime selections, and five of the six games are conference contests.

?This year?s selections reflect the expanded geography and nationwide appeal of the conference and the network,? said BTN President Mark Silverman, ?and gives us our best primetime lineup ever.?

The first selection features Penn State at Rutgers on Sept. 13 for the Scarlet Knights? first Big Ten game. It also will be the first conference game for Penn State coach James Franklin and marks the return of last season?s Big Ten Freshman of the Year, quarterback Christian Hackenberg.

On Sept. 27, BTN airs a doubleheader with Cincinnati visiting in-state rival Ohio State followed by Illinois at Nebraska. Ohio State already has received a top-10 preseason ranking in many polls and will welcome back Big Ten Quarterback and Offensive Player of the Year Braxton Miller. Nebraska also is ranked in the top 25 in preseason polls.

Michigan visits Rutgers at High Point Solutions Stadium on Oct. 4 for the teams? first-ever meeting, and the Wolverines are again expected to contend for a Big Ten title. Nebraska visits Northwestern on Oct. 18 in the latest installment of this budding rivalry, in which the last three games have been decided by a total of 7 points. Last year, Nebraska came from behind to win on a Hail Mary pass as time expired.

Michigan State at Maryland on Nov. 15 will see the 2013 Big Ten Champion and Rose Bowl victor take on the Terrapins in BTN?s first outdoor November primetime game. The Spartans ended last season ranked No. 3 in both national polls and are a preseason top-10 team.

In all, BTN will televise at least 40 football games this fall. Start times and television arrangements for other early season games will be announced at a later date.

BTN Primetime Selections (All times Eastern)

Saturday, Sept. 13

8 PM - Penn State at Rutgers

Saturday, September 27

6 PM - Cincinnati at Ohio State

9 PM - Illinois at Nebraska

Saturday, October 4

7 PM - Michigan at Rutgers

Saturday, October 18

7:30 PM - Nebraska at Northwestern

Saturday November 15

8 PM - Michigan State at Maryland

About BTN: A joint venture between the Big Ten Conference and Fox Networks, BTN is the first internationally distributed network dedicated to covering one of the premier collegiate conferences in the country. With more than 800 events, all in HD, the 24/7 network is the ultimate destination for Big Ten fans and alumni across the country, allowing them to see their favorite teams, regardless of where they live. BTN2Go is the 24/7 simulcast of BTN that delivers live and on-demand programming via the internet, smartphones and tablets to customers of participating video providers. Events include football, men?s and women?s basketball games; dozens of Big Ten Olympic sports and championship events; studio shows; and classic games. Original programming highlights activities and accomplishments of some of the nation?s finest universities. The groundbreaking Student U initiative provides real-world experience for students interested in careers in sports television. The network is in more than 52 million homes across the United States and Canada, including carriage by all the major video distributors, such as DIRECTV, DISH, Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-Verse, Charter Communications, Comcast Xfinity, Time Warner Cable, Cablevision, Cox Communications, Mediacom, RCN, WOW!, Rogers Cable, Shaw and Shaw Direct (Canada) and approximately 300 additional video providers across North America.For additional information, go to www.BTN.com.