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As Southeastern Conference leaders and athletic directors weigh the possibility of expanding the league’s football schedule to nine conference games, ESPN is signaling its willingness to boost its financial commitment to the SEC, according to reports released on Thursday.
The Athletic revealed that sources informed them ESPN is prepared to pay between $50 million and $80 million more annually if the SEC adds a ninth league game to its regular season slate. The network currently pays the conference $811 million per year under its existing media rights agreement. No formal offer has been made, and both ESPN and the SEC declined to comment on the ongoing discussions.
The potential increase in media rights revenue comes as the SEC continues to debate its scheduling format, especially with the recent additions of Oklahoma and Texas and the ongoing evolution of the College Football Playoff. Commissioner Greg Sankey has publicly supported the idea of a nine-game schedule but has emphasized the need to balance competitive opportunities for all teams.
"I'm one who said I really think we ought to be trying to move towards a nine-game conference schedule. I think that can be positive for a lot of reasons. You watch the interest around conference games. But not if that causes us to lose opportunities," Sankey said during an appearance on the Paul Finebaum Show.
The prospect of additional high-profile matchups is attractive for ESPN, which saw strong ratings during the first year of its exclusive SEC deal in 2024. However, the final decision on expanding the schedule may hinge on the forthcoming playoff format and further negotiations between the conference and its broadcast partner.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: ESPN prepared to pay for SEC nine game regular season
Continue reading...
The Athletic revealed that sources informed them ESPN is prepared to pay between $50 million and $80 million more annually if the SEC adds a ninth league game to its regular season slate. The network currently pays the conference $811 million per year under its existing media rights agreement. No formal offer has been made, and both ESPN and the SEC declined to comment on the ongoing discussions.
The potential increase in media rights revenue comes as the SEC continues to debate its scheduling format, especially with the recent additions of Oklahoma and Texas and the ongoing evolution of the College Football Playoff. Commissioner Greg Sankey has publicly supported the idea of a nine-game schedule but has emphasized the need to balance competitive opportunities for all teams.
"I'm one who said I really think we ought to be trying to move towards a nine-game conference schedule. I think that can be positive for a lot of reasons. You watch the interest around conference games. But not if that causes us to lose opportunities," Sankey said during an appearance on the Paul Finebaum Show.
The prospect of additional high-profile matchups is attractive for ESPN, which saw strong ratings during the first year of its exclusive SEC deal in 2024. However, the final decision on expanding the schedule may hinge on the forthcoming playoff format and further negotiations between the conference and its broadcast partner.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: ESPN prepared to pay for SEC nine game regular season
Continue reading...
