While a significant portion of the country is watching the Super Bowl on Sunday, other channels can't just close up shop. They have to offer something.

What's always been mildly comical about alternative programming to the Super Bowl, though, are those channels which dare to run sports opposite the Super Bowl.

It's, with all due respect, like running a karaoke contest at a local bar against "American Idol" in its prime. Yet they do it anyway.

For the third consecutive year, it's time to take a look in this space at what other channels are running against the Super Bowl.

ESPN: "30 for 30" (No Mas)
ESPN2: 2013 World Series of Poker main event
Fox Sports 1: UFC Ultimate 100 Knockouts (Nos. 70-41)
SportsTime Ohio: Maryland at Syracuse women's college basketball
Big Ten Network: B1G Classic - Ohio State at Wisconsin men's college basketball (tape delay from Saturday)
Golf Channel: European PGA Tour (Dubai Desert Classic, final round)
NBC Sports Network: U.S. Olympic Trials (long track speed skating - men's and women's 1,500)
MLB Network: "Cobb" (1994 Ty Cobb biopic starring Tommy Lee Jones)
Universal Sports: World Cup - women's slalom
PAC 12 Network: California at UCLA women's college swimming
ESPNU: Nine for IX - "Pat XO"
ESPNews: "SportsCenter"
ESPN Classic: Nine for IX - "Runner"
TVG: 2013 horse racing year in review
NBATV: Euroleague
Fox Sports 2: "Fantastic Finishes"
Tennis Channel: Davis Cup first round - Great Britain vs. USA

To those programming executives who have to make such choices, good luck.

- Chris Lillstrung | @CLillstrungNH