BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Southeastern Conference signed a 15-year deal with ESPN to televise football games and other league sports.

The deal announced today begins with the 2009-10 season. The SEC had already announced a 15-year pact with CBS earlier in August. The league had been considering starting its own network.

The football coverage will include games on Saturday night and two primetime Thursday games. The deal adds a second and third night of SEC basketball games on ESPN and ESPN2 and includes coverage of league championships in women's basketball, baseball, softball and gymnastics.