Rose Bowl on ESPN Starting in 2011

The Rose Bowl game will move from network television to ESPN for the 2011 game, joining the rest of the BCS on the network, ESPN executives announced today.

The 2010 Rose Bowl and BCS National Championship Game — both in Pasadena at the end of the upcoming season — will be on ABC, ESPN said in a press release.

“Having all BCS matchups on one home, especially within ESPN’s year-round college football environment, is the very best scenario,” ESPN executive vice president of programming and acquisitions John Wildhack said. “Fans will welcome ESPN’s all-encompassing approach, and the additional opportunities and value resulting from our multi-platform presentation will benefit the college football community and our business partners.”

Beginning in January 2011, the Fiesta, Orange and Sugar Bowls, as well as the BCS National Championship game, will be on ESPN in a contract that runs through 2014. All of the BCS games will remain on ESPN Radio, as well, according to the broadcaster.

This year the Rose Bowl will host two games on ABC, the Jan.1 game and the BCS national title game  Jan. 7.

ESPN kicks off its 2009 college football coverage on Thursday, Sept. 3, with South Carolina visiting North Carolina State. More than 400 regular-season and postseason games are on the schedule.