Who is commentating Villanova vs LIU? How to watch the FCS matchup on NEC Front Row
Match date:
Villanova meet Long Island University in a NCAA Division I FCS clash on Saturday, 19 September 2026, with the game shown digitally on NEC Front Row and also available via the NEC on the Run App and Ryz Sports Network. The broadcast team is led by Mike Murabito on play-by-play with Jim Wright as co-commentator, giving viewers a familiar local-college-football presentation rather than a national cable feed.[5][15]
The game is scheduled for a 12:00 p.m. ET kickoff at Shark Stadium in Brookville, New York, which corresponds to 5:00 p.m. UK time. LIU’s athletics department has confirmed the Homecoming fixture and the digital television coverage, while ESPN’s matchup listings also point to the NEC Front Row broadcast.[5][3]
For British and American fans alike, this is the type of FCS game that often sits outside the main ESPN, Fox, CBS, NBC or Sky windows, which makes conference streaming platforms especially important. Here, the primary way to watch is via the Northeast Conference’s own distribution, rather than a major national channel, and that will be the key point for anyone searching from either side of the Atlantic.[5][15]
Mike Murabito is described by LIU as a veteran college sports broadcaster and producer, which suggests a long background in covering university athletics and handling both live-game narration and production duties.[5] That experience matters on a stream like NEC Front Row, where the commentator often has to carry much of the game’s atmosphere for viewers following online.
Jim Wright brings a different but complementary profile to the booth. LIU identifies him as a former college coach, which should give the telecast a more tactical angle, especially on formation, game management and in-game adjustments.[5] In college football broadcasts, that coach’s perspective is often valuable because it helps explain why a team is making a certain call rather than simply describing the result.
The matchup itself has Villanova coming in as the stronger side on the available preview and odds pages, with multiple listings showing the Wildcats as clear favourites.[7][8][14] LIU’s own preview frames the contest as a significant Homecoming game at Shark Stadium, adding a lively campus setting to a broadcast that should be very much focused on the local atmosphere.[5]
Villanova’s 2026 schedule also lists this trip to LIU as part of its regular season, while ESPN’s game pages provide the central match information and confirm the venue and broadcast context.[11][1] For viewers looking beyond the stream itself, that combination of ESPN game data and LIU’s official announcement gives the clearest picture of when and where the game will be available.[3][5]
In practical terms, the safest viewing route is NEC Front Row, with the NEC on the Run App and Ryz Sports Network listed as additional ways to access the telecast.[5] For more background on LIU football and the program hosting the game, see the university’s athletics site here: LIU Athletics.
Article generated: 19 September 2026, 17:05 GMT