Division II and CBS College Sports have announced a six-game football television package for the 2009 season that features last year’s championship finalists in the first two contests.

The package – the fourth since Division II and CBS College Sports established their partnership to give Division II schools live TV exposure for their football and basketball programs (in addition to live postseason coverage in those and other sports) – is the first to feature both premium-game match-ups and “conference rotation games” that league commissioners help select.

The 2009 schedule opens Thursday, August 27, with last year’s runner-up, Northwest Missouri State, visiting 2008 Lone Star Conference Champion Abilene Christian in a rematch of a 2008 quarterfinal game (Northwest Missouri State won that encounter, 45-36).

The next Thursday (September 3), Central Washington, a playoff team a year ago, visits defending national champion Minnesota Duluth.

“These marquee match-ups are appropriate to lead off the 2009 live TV package,” said Division II Vice President Mike Racy. “Our partnership with CBS College Sports is established enough now that we can begin to mix in some of these selected out-of-conference match-ups to go along with compelling conference contests from leagues that have yet to have a live-televised football game.”

Examples of the latter for 2009 include a game involving West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference powers when Shepherd visits Glenville State on November 5 and an intriguing match-up of in-state rivals from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association in Virginia Union and Virginia State on October 15.

North Alabama and new coach Terry Bowden visit Valdosta State (the 2007 national champion) in a rivalry game October 22, and the South Atlantic Conference will take center stage September 24 when Wingate visits Tusculum.

All six games are on Thursdays at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

Division II and CBS College Sports also televise an annual package of men’s and women’s basketball games. In all, the football and basketball packages have given live TV exposure to more than 70 Division II institutions. The 2010 basketball package will be announced at a later date.

The 2009 Division II/CBS College Sports Football Schedule:

Thursday, August 27 – Northwest Missouri State at Abilene Christian

Thursday, September 3 – Central Washington at Minnesota Duluth

Thursday, September 24 – Wingate at Tusculum

Thursday, October 15 – Virginia Union at Virginia State

Thursday, October 22 – North Alabama at Valdosta State

Thursday, November 5 – Shepherd at Glenville State