ESPN and the School Soccer Playoff on Tuesday introduced a finalized settlement granting the community unique rights by way of the 2031-32 season. Monetary phrases weren’t disclosed, however The Athletic has beforehand reported the deal is a six-year extension price a median of $1.3 billion yearly.
Two seasons stay on ESPN’s authentic 12-year deal for the New Yr’s Six bowls (two of them CFP semifinals) and nationwide championship sport. As a part of the deal, ESPN provides the 4 new first-round video games concerned within the expanded 12-team format that begins this season. The six-year extension begins in 2026-27.
ESPN, which up to now has aired all CFP video games on its flagship cable community, mentioned it’s going to transfer the nationwide championship sport to ABC starting in 2026-27. The corporate additionally has the choice to sublicense “a choose variety of video games” to different networks starting this season, probably permitting the likes of Fox, NBC and CBS to change into a part of the CFP lineup. The events have a dedication to air a minimal of 1 sport per spherical on an over-the-air community starting in 2026-27, a supply briefed on the discussions advised The Athletic.
The $1.3 billion annual common marks a rise from the $608 million common in ESPN’s authentic seven-game deal that started in 2014-15. Within the 12-team format starting this season, 4 of these bowls change into quarterfinal Playoff video games, with two different bowls internet hosting the semifinals on a rotation.
Community executives beforehand advised The Athletic the deal will stay on the identical greenback determine even when the CFP opts to develop the sector from 12 to 14 groups. The CFP met with quite a few potential media companions throughout latest negotiations, however no different community made a bid for any video games.
“We sit up for enhancing our valued relationship (with the CFP) over the following two years, after which persevering with it for six extra as we embark on this new, expanded playoff period,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro mentioned in an announcement.
The phrases of the ESPN deal have been set for a while, in accordance with executives, however the conferences had delayed approving it on account of a scarcity of readability over the long run construction of the occasion. Lastly final Friday, the 9 persevering with FBS conferences and Notre Dame signed off on a primary framework that features uneven income distribution among the many main conferences. A number of sources briefed on the mannequin confirmed the Large Ten and SEC will obtain greater than $21 million per college, the ACC round $13 million every and the Large 12 round $12 million every, with round $1.8 million for the Group of 5 conferences collectively. The rest goes to independents, together with greater than $12 million for Notre Dame, and the Soccer Championship Subdivision.
The CFP’s inside contract features a look-in clause in 2028, permitting the events to probably reshape the settlement primarily based on efficiency or additional convention realignment, in accordance with a number of folks accustomed to the negotiations.
— The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand and Chris Vannini contributed reporting.
(Picture: Vivien Killilea / Getty Photos for ESPN & CFP)