US College Sport
Women’s college basketball title decider shatters viewership records
The NCAA women's basketball championship game drew a record-shattering 18.7 million viewers, peaking at 24 million as South Carolina won a second title in three years.
Iowa-LSU smashes women’s basketball record viewership on ESPN
The highly anticipated NCAA women's basketball Elite Eight matchup between Iowa and Louisiana State drew a record 12.3 million viewers on ESPN, eclipsing the record of 9.9 million during last year's clash between the same teams.
Pac-12 settlement to total $65m withheld from 10 departing schools
Oregon State and Washington State have finalised their settlement over financial distributions with the 10 schools leaving the Pac-12 Conference, which will amount to $65m (€60m) withheld from the departing u…
Legends, Blueprint announce NIL deal for Power Five colleges
Global experiences company Legends has announced a strategic partnership with name, image and likeness (NIL) collective-backer Blueprint Sports (BPSE) to provide Power Five schools with operational capacities,…
US judge blocks NCAA from enforcing NIL rules
A US federal judge temporarily blocked the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) on Friday from enforcing prohibitions against recruits signing name, image and likeness (NIL) endorsement deals…
ESPN, CFP ‘agree six-year extension’ worth $7.8bn
ESPN and the College Football Playoff have agreed a six-year, $7.8bn (€7.3bn) extension as the new era of the college football postseason begins.
SEC reports record $853m in revenue, each school gets $51m
US college sport's Southeastern Conference (SEC) has reported a record $852.5m (€791.2m) in revenue for its 2023 fiscal year, bouncing back from a dip reported last year.
NCAA bundles women’s basketball into $920m, eight-year ESPN deal
The National Collegiate Athletic Association has agreed a new eight-year domestic and international rights deal with ESPN for 40 of its championships in an agreement worth $920m (€840m).
Oregon State, Washington State reach Pac-12 settlement
Oregon State and Washington State Universities have reached an agreement in principle with the 10 departing Pac-12 schools regarding revenue distribution, settling a legal complaint that was launched in September.
NCAA faces antitrust lawsuits from athletes, seven states
Seven states have filed a lawsuit in a federal court in West Virginia that challenges the NCAA's transfer rules while three college athletes filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in California saying the prohibition…
NCAA president proposes major change to allow schools to pay athletes
NCAA president Charlie Baker has called on the US college athletics governing body to create ways for Division I schools to enter into name, image and likeness (NIL) deals directly with their athletes.
Big Ten agrees Greenfly deal to help college athletes monetise their content
US college athletes competing in the Big Ten Conference are to be given the chance to build their personal brands and explore commercial opportunities via the use of digital media clips featuring them…
Sky makes opportunistic college sports move in the UK
UK pay-television broadcaster Sky has stepped in to show US college football and basketball in the UK for the remainder of the 2023-24 season and the whole of 2024-25, ensuring that NCAA Division I football and basketball will receive coverage after almost three months without a deal.
Legends ramps up college sports activities
Global premium experiences company Legends is planning to expand its business in the US college sports sector with the launch of Legends College, a new division that will increase the range of services…
NCAA extends fan experiences deal with On Location
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has renewed its hospitality and ticket partnership with Endeavor-owned On Location in a multi-year deal
Fanatics signs up CLC for global college merchandise deal
Sports merchandise company Fanatics has announced a long-term agreement with the Collegiate Licensing Co. (CLC) to sell licensed fan merchandise from US colleges to an international fanbase
Learfield cuts $600m of debt, adds $150m in equity investment
College athletics media and technology company Learfield has announced a "comprehensive deleveraging transaction" with its lenders to reduce its outstanding debt by more than $600m (€559m) as the company s…
Oregon State, Washington State file legal complaint against Pac-12
Oregon State and Washington State Universities, the two remaining Pac-12 schools following the mass exodus to three other conferences, have filed an emergency temporary restraining order against the collegiate…