I currently don't have traditional cable (we stream a "skinny bundle") and even when I did have cable in the past, for whatever reason, I don't recall ever having CBSSN. I don't think I missed it a whole lot because if it were a home game, I was there anyway, and I can't really recall missing viewing any away games. It's possible I just tuned into the radio broadcast, I'm in a town on the network, watched online or maybe popped into Bdubs or Roosters. Anyway, I used a free sample of Fubo for the week and I must say the CBSSN treatment of that MAC game was stellar. When games MAC games are on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU (I have had all of those over the years) the games just seem slapped on almost haphazardly. Like MACtion is interrupting their regularly scheduled programming. On CBSSN, there was a nice lead-in with a 30 minute pregame, solid post-game coverage with Frank, and the duo actually did their homework. That is all. I look forward to any other Bobcat games being on this outlet although eventually I'll run out of dummy emails to get it. :)

They also do a great job on basketball.

I really didn't like the color analyst.

CBSSN carries mostly G5 and 1AA games, so it tends to treat the teams with more respect than ESPN. ESPN tends to treat G5 games as promo material for its "P" weekend games; sometimes they don't even have live in-studio halftime shows. We've discussed elsewhere that ESPN treats the MAC like a "crazy aunt," over-exaggerating the strangeness of what happens during games. Last night they mentioned that CMU-NIU had the first 9-0 halftime score in 1A football this season and punctuated it with "Only in the MAC." Although CBSSN uses most of the halftime to talk about "P"s, they at least spend the first five minutes actually discussing the game they're airing as well as other MAC games that night. And the broadcast team concentrates on the game they're doing, not the "P" game of the week. CBSSN and the on-air CBS network even run scores from midweek MAC games during their weekend telecasts. They take G5 teams much more seriously than ESPN does.

I concur with everyone else here. CBS Sports does a much better job on MAC games than the "world wide leader." Last night, I will say, I experienced somewhat of an exception as I watched much of the second half of the UT-WMU game. For the most part the announcers were really into the game they were broadcasting and gave some good analysis. The crazy ending really got them into high gear, and they exclaimed it one of the most entertaining games of whole college football season. And, that it truly was!

In normal years, CBS SN often sends a sideline reporter to the MAC games. The only time I remember that happening for us on an ESPN-produced game was last year against Miami for the 150th anniversary and the Pitt game.

The crew we had wasn't that great (Hey did you know Kurtis is Nathan's younger brother?!!!!) but the crew who did Ball State/EMU last night is really good. Ben Holden always sounds genuinely excited to do PBP. He practically screams when anything cool happens.

Sometimes ESPN does not even have the talent on site, or the producer. All they bring is the truck and cameras

CBSSN is clearly better than ESPN in covering the MAC in both basketball and football. They do a very good job.

That is because ESPN anymore is a clown show full of jokes more than serious sports journalism. I can't even watch Sportscenter for more than 2 minutes before wanting to turn it off.