SMU’s new contract with Conference USA this July allows all Mustang football games to be viewedàon national TV and online.

“This exposure will help increase national interests in SMU athletics, from average sports fans to potential recruits,” said Brad Sutton, assistant athletic director.

College Sports TV, a new cable channel currently available on Dish Network and Direct TV, has asked SMU to nationally broadcast certain football games this season, including last week’s TCU game and the Rice game on Nov. 5. The SMU Athletics Department has plans to expand coverage to other SMU sports.

CSTV games will start at 8:30 p.m. instead of at 7 p.m.

CSTV is also hosting SMU’s Mustang Web site, which means new additions, such as streaming video of the games, weekly press conferences and “Runnin’ with the ‘Stangs,” a new short segment of the football players’ perspective.

Although SMU has broadcast its games locally, this is the first time in many years that the games will be broadcast nationally. It will allow fans, parents and alumni not in the Metroplex to watch the games without coming to Dallas.

There are also plans to have DVDs of the games available for purchase.