Gophers Playing in BTN’s First-Ever Virtual Reality-Produced Football Game Saturday

The Minnesota Golden Gophers football team will be a part of technological history when they take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Lincoln, Nebraska on Saturday night. The game will mark the first time the Big Ten Network, or any college sports network, will broadcast a college football game in virtual reality.

The Big Ten Network is partnering with Santa Clara, California-based virtual reality company VOKE to create and produce this new experience. The process involves the use of four 180-degree HD cameras that will literally immerse viewers in the action on the field.

According to a post on the Big Ten Network's website, "Fans will be able to access the TrueVR experience by downloading VOKE’s GearVR app from the Oculus Store and using a Gear VR headset and Samsung mobile phone. The game will be available on the BTN channel within the VOKE GearVR app. There will also be 'live' highlights posted in the app in near real time throughout the game, a first for a live VR broadcast."

For those who don't have virtual reality technology - and we're guessing that's most of you - the game will also be available for viewing on the Big Ten Network via traditional television, the Big Ten Network's online stream and on the radio through our sister station KROC-AM.