What time is KU football's game against Tennessee Tech? How to watch Kansas' season-opener

The college football season is almost here, and the Jayhawks find themselves opening their season on a Friday night.

Kansas hosts Tennessee Tech at 7 p.m. CT on Friday. The game will be televised on Big 12 Now, part of ESPN+.

The Jayhawks finished 2-10 last season — nothing spectacular by any means — but proved competitive in the final stretch of Lance Leipold's first season with the program. Kansas defeated Texas 57-56 in a thrilling overtime game. The Jayhawks went on the lose their final two contests of the regular season by a combined nine points. Earlier in the year, Kansas gave Oklahoma a run for its money, leading by 10 points in the third quarter of an eventual 12-point loss.

With Kansas returning 17 of its starters from last year — the most of any Big 12 program — another season in Leipold's system and clear positive steps toward the end of the season, there's room for optimism in Lawrence. That optimism was solidified Thursday, when the school agreed to a contract extension with Leipold.

More: Here are Kansas football’s best- and worst-case scenarios in 2022 with coach Lance Leipold

Here's how you can watch KU's season-opening game.

How to watch, stream KU football vs. Tennessee Tech

When: 7 p.m. CT on Friday, Sept. 2

Where: Lawrence, Kansas

Livestream: Big 12 Now, ESPN+

What channel is Big 12 Now? How can I watch ESPN+?

Unfortunately for television viewers, Big 12 Now is not a channel. It's a subsection of ESPN+, ESPN's primary streaming service.

To watch Big 12 Now, you'll need an ESPN+ subscription. ESPN offers the streaming service for $6.99 a month or in a $13.99 bundle with Hulu and Disney +.

More: Kansas extends head football coach Lance Leipold 1 year through 2027 season

What's the spread of Kansas football vs. Tennessee Tech? A look at betting odds

Kansas football opens as a 30.5-point favorite against Tennessee Tech, according to the Tipico Sportsbook. The KU moneyline is -4000 and the total for the game is projected at 59.5 points.

Kansas legalized sports betting on Thursday. DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars and FanDuel headline the list of legal sportsbooks Kansans can use.

More: Sports betting is now legal in Kansas. Here's what to know when gambling on Chiefs, K-State, KU

Who are the TV announcers for the Kansas football game?

Noah Reed is on the call as ESPN+'s play-by-play announcer alongside analyst Jay Sonnhalter.

Read more about KU football

• Rich Miller has become ‘kind of the heart’ of what Kansas football’s defense is about

• Where Kansas football quarterbacks coach Jim Zebrowski sees the separation at his position

• Here’s where things stand with Kansas football’s special teams units as opener approaches

• Kansas football hasn’t quite found its O-line depth, but Lance Leipold says it's developing

Adam Hensley is a digital producer with the USA Today Network. You can follow him on Twitter @A_Hens83 or reach him at ahensley@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas football vs. Tennessee Tech: How to watch, stream, betting odds