Tiger Football Season Opener at Central Oklahoma will be Televised

FHSU Sports Information Department

Fort Hays State opens the 2015 season on television Thursday night (Sept. 3) in Edmond, Okla., when it takes on Central Oklahoma at 7 pm. The MIAA TV Network Game of the Week features a rematch of last year’s season opener between teams that finished third and fourth in the MIAA in 2014.

Channels That Carry MIAA TV Network Game of the Week

• KSMO-TV (Kansas City) – 100% of KC’s DMA. Broadcast over the air on Channel 62. Check local cable/satellite programming guides for specific channel number.
• Cox Channel KS – Channels 22 and 2022 (HD). There is also a replay on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 6:30 p.m. and Monday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m.
• Cox Oklahoma – Broadcast will be on a tape-delayed basis on Sunday, Sept. 6 at noon. On Channel 703 in Oklahoma City and Channel 1333 in the Tulsa Market.
• KGCS-TV (Joplin) – Broadcast over the air on channel 22. It will also be available on Channel 6 for CableOne subscriberts. Check other cable providers for availability/specific channel number.
• News-Press NOW Channel (Northwest MO) – The News-Press NOW Channel is broadcast over the air on 26.2 and channel 3 and 603 (HD) on Suddenlink cable.
• Eagle Communications (Western KS) – Channels 204 and 601 on Eagle Television. Channel 204 is in Eagle Digital package and 601 is in high definition.
• Nex-Tech Television (Western KS) – Channels 109 and 609 on Nex-Tech Television. Channel 109 is in Nex-Tech’s Premiere package and 609 is in high definition

Fort Hays State and Central Oklahoma were two teams that took big strides in 2014. The Tigers finished at 7-4 to tie for fourth in the MIAA standings, claiming their highest finish in the conference since joining in 2006. It was also the first time FHSU won seven games in a season since 1996. Central Oklahoma had a huge turnaround from 2013 by finishing third in the MIAA at 8-3, earning the conference’s bid to the Mineral Water Bowl where they fell to Sioux Falls to finish 8-4. The Bronchos had a six-win improvement after going just 2-8 in 2013.

The Tigers and Bronchos faced each other in the season opener last year in Hays with UCO winning by a score of 26-7. The Tigers are looking to snap a streak of three consecutive season-opening losses, with their last win in a season opener occurring in 2011.

The Tigers were great on the road last year, going 5-1. The only road loss was in overtime at Washburn. Big road wins last year included the 7-6 upset of No. 8 ranked Pittsburg State to snap a 35-year winless drought against the Gorillas, a 24-21 decision at Emporia State to snap six consecutive losses in Emporia, and a 45-17 drubbing of Central Missouri in the season finale to give the Tigers their first win over the Mules since joining the MIAA.

Central Oklahoma has dominated the all-time series with FHSU by a count of 7-1. Fort Hays State’s only win over UCO occurred the last time the teams met in Edmond, a 38-21 decision in 2011, Chris Brown’s first year as head coach of the Tigers. This will be only the second time the teams have met in MIAA play since UCO joined the conference in 2012. FHSU and UCO did not meet in MIAA play the first two years that UCO was a member.