INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -  The Saginaw Valley State University football team added another first for the fall of 2011, when Division II and CBS Sports Network announced its six-game football television package for the 2011 season and, for the first time, the Cardinals were included.  Saginaw Valley will host Ashland University for a contest on Thursday, Oct. 20, with kickoff set for 8 p.m.

"This is a tremendous honor to be representing SVSU, the GLIAC and Division II in this nationally televised game against Ashland," commented Athletic Director Mike Watson.  "This game will give us (Saginaw Valley), Ashland and the GLIAC the opportunity to showcase to college football fans the high level of talent that plays in our schools and conference."

CBS and the NCAA will produce and broadcast six games in 2011 that will be aired live on CBS Sports Network, syndicated on regional and local networks and simulcast live on www.NCAA.com.  This is the sixth year of Division II and CBS Sports Network's partnership to provide Division II schools the opportunity to have live national television exposure for their football and basketball programs. CBS Sports Network is available to over 95 million United States households through a variety of cable and satellite providers.

The Cardinals and Eagles will both be making their first appearance as a part of the CBS Sports Network partnership.  In total, 10 of the 12 schools playing this season will be making their first appearance. Central Washington and Indiana (Pa.) have each appeared previously.

"Anytime you can play on television it is a huge deal, but to be playing a team like Ashland, a team that has been one of the premier teams in the conference the past several years, makes it that much bigger of a game," commented head football coach Jim Collins. 

Saginaw Valley will be opening up its renovated football facility for the start of the 2011 season; which will include a modern synthetic playing surface, lights and a new scoreboard in the south endzone.  The addition of the new surface and lights made this opportunity possible for 2011.

The 2011 Cardinals will play all five home games under the lights and seven of their 10 total games will be played at night this season.

Listed below is the schedule of games on this year's package.  All games are scheduled for 8 p.m., Eastern time.

Sept. 15           Bloomsburg at Indiana (Pa.)

Sept. 22           Missouri Western State at Washburn

Oct. 6              Colorado School of Mines at Colorado State-Pueblo

Oct. 20            Ashland at Saginaw Valley State

Oct. 27            Augustana (S.D.) at Minnesota State-Mankato