 WASHINGTON -- Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump says he doesn't like that he'll be going up against NFL games when he debates Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton this fall. Photo 
 
 The bipartisan commission responsible for arranging presidential debates on Sunday rebuffed Donald J. Trump’s complaints that two of the three debates were scheduled to take place during pro football games, after Mr. Trump hedged about whether he would still participate. He replied: "Well, I'll tell you what I don't like. "The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) started working more than 18 months ago to identify religious and federal holidays, baseball league playoff games, NFL games, and other events in order to select the best nights for the 2016 debates," the statement said. "I got a letter from the NFL saying, 'This is ridiculous.'" Asked about Trump's assertion, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy tweeted: "While we'd obviously wish the Debate Commission could find another night, we did not send a letter to Mr Trump." I don't know why those particular dates," Trump told ABC. Trump did say three debates were "fine" and that he'd rather have three than one. In an interview with ABC's Sunday show "This Week," Trump was asked whether he would accept the commission's schedule. The commission responded to Trump on Saturday afternoon by saying that it "announced the number, dates and sites for the 2016 general election debates in September 2015." The commission "did not consult with any political parties or campaigns in making these decisions," according to a statement issued Saturday. On Sept. 26, the night of the first debate, ESPN will carry the Monday night game featuring the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints. "As a point of reference, in a four-year period, there are four general election debates (three presidential and one vice presidential) and approximately 1000 NFL games. On Oct. 9, the second debate will air opposite the Sunday night game featuring the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers on NBC. The Commission on Presidential Debates has many critics too, but it was specifically formed to provide a nonpartisan structure for debates that doesn't favor one candidate over another. The parties are not involved in the debate scheduling, a point that Spicer made on CNN: The commission "announces the dates without consultation of the parties or the candidates." Another interpretation is that Trump wants to make sure he has the biggest possible audience for the debates.
– Donald Trump is deeply unhappy about this fall's presidential debate schedule—and apparently a little confused about who created it. Two of the three debates clash with NFL games, and Trump tweeted Friday that Hillary Clinton and the Democrats were "trying to rig the debates," though the debates were scheduled by the non-partisan commission that has been organizing presidential debates since 1988, McClatchy reports. The schedule, which also includes one vice presidential debate, was set in September last year, long before the NFL released this season's schedule. The Commission on Presidential Debates, which consulted with officials in both parties before creating the schedule, says it's impossible to avoid all sporting events and it stands by the schedule, the New York Times reports. In an interview with ABC's This Week, Trump accused Clinton of rigging the debate schedule to minimize the audience. "I'll tell you what I don't like. It's against two NFL games," he said. "I got a letter from the NFL saying, 'This is ridiculous.'" An NFL spokesman said they would prefer a different debate schedule but that there was no letter to Trump. "Mr. Trump was made aware of the conflicting dates by a source close to the league," a Trump aide tells CNN. "It's unfortunate that millions of voters will be disenfranchised by these dates." The Republican National Committee has also complained about the debate schedule, which can be seen here. The presidential debates will be on Monday, Sept. 26; Sunday, Oct. 9; and Wednesday, Oct. 19; the VP debate is set for Tuesday, Oct. 4.