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Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Louisville football could be sleeper in ACC race: Transfer QB Miller Moss holds key
CHARLOTTE, NC — This episode of The C.L. Brown Show was taped live on location at the ACC Kickoff and features college football reporter David Ubben of The Athletic, Fiesta Bowl CEO Erik Moses and California head coach Justin Wilcox. Ubben tells why, even though Clemson is the favorite, he wouldn't be surprised if Louisville finds itself competing in the ACC championship game. Moses explains why even if the College Football Playoff expands, first-round games belong on campus. As Wilcox brings Cal to its first game at Louisville, he tells why he always expects a quarterback under U of L coach Jeff Brohm to play well. A new episode of this podcast, hosted by Courier Journal sports columnist C.L. Brown, posts each Wednesday. You can listen to The C.L. Brown Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcast, Audible, CastBox and iHeartRadio, among others. More from C.L. Brown Louisville football doesn't need to top Clemson. Being second in ACC should rate CFP bid Pat Kelsey has Louisville basketball recruiting at all-time high Kentucky basketball's Mark Pope has landed homegrown stars. Tyran Stokes would be big win Fear shouldn't derail Run 4 Roses basketball tournament or city of Louisville Kentucky football's Mark Stoops is on ropes. But don't count him out in SEC Reach sports columnist C.L. Brown at clbrown1@ follow him on X at @CLBrownHoops and subscribe to his newsletter at to make sure you never miss one of his columns. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville football: Jeff Brohm team will be factor in ACC race
New York Times
20 minutes ago
- New York Times
ESPN and NFL closing in on ‘Next Era'-defining media deal
In 1987, an eight-year-old cable network in just 41 million homes acquired the rights to eight NFL regular season Sunday night games and the Pro Bowl. The then-up-and-coming ESPN paid a now-quaint $51 million per season to the NFL for the three-year package, and it changed the trajectory of what became arguably the most powerful sports media company of all time. ESPN was built on a lot of things, but the most notable was its nearly four-decade relationship with the league. Advertisement Now, according to sources briefed on negotiations, ESPN and the NFL are inside the five-yard line on another ground-breaking deal that may not have the impact of 1987 but could be historic, as the all-sports network makes its programming available in a direct-to-consumer product this fall that will cost $29.99 per month. ESPN is hyping this upcoming iteration as 'The Next Era.' While a contract between ESPN and the NFL is not signed, the two sides have been closing in on talks that first began four years ago, heated up a little more than a year and half ago and now are the closest they have ever been, with the league even informing its owners they may be needed for a vote on it early next month, as first reported by Sports Business Journal. Until a deal is across the goal line, it is not done – and the minute details, which the sides are said to be working around the clock on, matter. All that said, it's a big deal. The NFL and ESPN declined to comment for this column. In 1987, ESPN used NFL games as a battering ram to increase the fees it charged cable subscribers. By 2011, that once-little network was in 100 million homes, it called itself, 'The Worldwide Leader in Sports,' and it wasn't wrong. Today, still strong, but diminished, ESPN charges more than $10 per month for its services, but with the digital revolution, the rise of Netflix and other streaming options has resulted in just 65.3 million homes receiving ESPN through cable, satellite and services like YouTube TV and Fubo, according to Nielsen. ESPN wants to maintain as many of those viewers as it can. Those subscribers will be able to have access to ESPN in its traditional format, while adding the ability to log on to the new and improved direct-to-consumer app, launching soon. The same way a generation first turned to ESPN on cable, the Disney-owned network hopes the ESPN app becomes the ultimate go-to for sports fans. That leads back to the NFL. Advertisement The NFL has tried for years to unload many of its media assets, including NFL Media (which operates NFL Network and Red Zone Channel, among other entities), and there is optimism that it will finally happen. The league has had some success with its in-house creations, but in a media ecosystem that is more scattered, it may finally be ready to let someone else manage them – for a pretty penny, of course. The exact amount of money or equity that Disney/ESPN would pay is not yet known, but it will be enormous. There is expected to be a regulatory period that will need approval before everything goes into effect. The process may take nine months, give or take. What could be in the deal is the Red Zone Channel, NFL Network, seven regular-season games that appear on NFL Network, enhanced betting and fantasy league possibilities. There may be more. Red Zone is the Sunday afternoon show that takes viewers inside all the stadiums when teams are threatening to score. This could be a boon for ESPN's app, as well as in its future negotiations with cable and operators for its slew of networks. It could upsell Red Zone in the app, as well as demand more from operators (like YouTube TV, Fubo or cable systems) to continue to offer the service on its platform every Sunday in the fall. The NFL Network, under ESPN, would likely be enhanced. ESPN's main channels would still feature the NFL a lot of the time, but the devoted network would be on 24/7. NFL Network has seen years of layoffs and downsizing, and while ESPN will likely take advantage of overlapping jobs to cut costs, it will also want to make NFL Network even more of a must-watch. With sports betting and fantasy becoming an increasing part of the fan experience, ESPN can be expected to use its potentially enlarged user base integration into its new direct-to-consumer app for what it will likely hope is a transformative experience and increased subscriber growth. Advertisement In 2024, of the 100 highest-rated programs on television, 72 were NFL games. This does not appear to be changing anytime soon. With increased NFL competition from Amazon Prime Video on Thursday nights, Netflix on Christmas and now, for the first time, YouTube, for the second game of the 2025 season from Brazil, to go along with fellow traditional players such as Fox, NBC and CBS, a closer relationship for ESPN with the league would seem to make sense. ESPN already pays $2.7 billion per season for 25 games a year, mostly on Monday Nights. It will have ESPN's first Super Bowl on its platforms, including its sister network, ABC, in February 2027. This potential new agreement is probably not as transformative as 1987, but the sports streaming battle is about to have a historic marker in the fall when ESPN's direct-to-consumer launches, with possibly even more NFL in its portfolio. When 'The next era begins,' ESPN's first big move may be using its old playbook. (Top photo of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell: Stacy Revere / Getty Images)
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Gridiron Boot Camp: Buckeye Trail football builds brotherhood with 'Military Games'
OLD WASHINGTON −The July heat isn't the only thing cranking up the intensity for the Buckeye Trail High School football team as they prepare for a new season on the gridiron. Trail head coach Donnie Kerns has set about trying to mold his players into an cohesive, tough and hard working unit, and has split his Warriors' squad into four separate "military-style" teams for a unique "Military Games" competition. Those four squads, the Scout Snipers, Navy Seals, Green Berets and Force Recon have been waging daily battles in a Military Games series of competitive athletic events such as tug of war, relay races with players carrying weights, and others drills specifically designed to challenge them both mentally and physically. Each day in July, the teams face off in these various challenges that test physical strength, mental toughness, and the ability to work as a team to accomplish a goal. Traits that will hopefully lead to some successful Friday nights this upcoming fall. "Anytime we have a chance to breed competition we want to do that," Kerns said. "Football is not an easy game, and I tell the kids its not for everybody. It's a lot of hard work and comes with a lot of responsibilities, expectations and requires lots of sacrifice from the players." "Sometimes in summer workouts it gets a little dry and kind of complacent almost," the Trail head coach continued. "But since we started the Military Games here in July, it's been super intense and the kids have just been getting after it with everything they have. They battle every day, and it just brings out the best in all of them." A helping hand from veteran football coach Kerns credits former Massillon Perry head coach Keith Wakefield for the idea about putting in the Military Games program into his off-season workout schedule. "A few years ago coach Keith Wakefield came in and gave us the idea, and helped us get started," Kerns said. "It was an idea that he brought about the values, hard work, and the grit that our military forces show every day.- And we kind of emulate that into our football team with this program." "By no means at the same level as our military forces," Kerns added. "We just want to take some of their work ethic, ability to battle through hard times and a strong working together mentality. Coach Wakefield was a highly successful coach at Massillon Perry High School. Who I would venture to say was one of the best football coaches in Ohio." Kerns mentioned that both legendary college football coaches Nick Saban and Urban Meyer both included military style workouts within their highly successful football programs. "Heck if it's good enough for Urban Meyer and Nick Saban, I think it's good enough for Donnie Kerns and the Buckeye Trail Warriors," Kerns joked. "So maybe we are on the right track by implementing this into our program. Just like the military, it builds a brotherhood among the players by pulling together towards a common goal." Senior captains confident Military Games can aide return to playoffs Buckeye Trail is coming off a strong 6-4 regular season a year ago that earned the Warriors a berth into the Ohio High School Athletic Association postseason. And despite dropping a hard fought 30-22 first round setback to Fort Frye, the Warriors have their sights set on a return trip to the OHSAA playoffs. A pair of Buckeye Trail seniors, 4-year lettermen fullback/outside linebacker Mason Todd and wide receiver/cornerback Sammy Brown are convinced that hard work being done with July's military games workload will help the Warriors return to OHSAA postseason action. "We are building a really strong brotherhood with our military game workouts," Todd, who serves as the captain of the Navy Seals squad said. "My teammates are pushing me and getting the best out of me with our tough competitions. I think this will really show up in tight games, knowing we have each others back. And will pull together to get those wins on Friday nights." "It's kind of sad this is my last year with being a senior," Todd added. "And I want to make it the best year we can. And I think our military games experience can make a difference for us. It gives us a huge advantage over our opponents by already pushing through the adversity of these intense, physical battles we are going through now." In addition to the playoffs, Brown, the captain of the Scout Snipers team pointed out another Warriors' goal this season of wanting to add a championship season in the always tough Inter-Valley Conference. "We want to win the IVC this season, and then make a return trip to the playoffs," Brown said. "And I think these workouts have helped us push each other to our limits. By going through these together, gives us confidence we can lean on each other. And know nobody is going to quit when it gets tough on Friday nights." Military games champion already decided?? Despite the Military Games competition continuing until Friday, July 25th, a confident Todd feels a champion has already been decided. "My team and it's not even close," Todd said with a big smile when asked about who was leading the way atop the leaderboard. "We've got it wrapped up already." Kerns explained whichever squad takes the title will receive some sort of award that has yet to be decided. Maybe with a pizza party, or special Military Games championship shirts or pullovers. But Kerns feels his entire team will be winners having gone through the experience. "It's just been a great thing for our entire team," Kerns said. "Everybody wins by all of them getting stronger, tougher and forming a great brotherhood with each other. It's been a truly rewarding experience for our entire program, and we are excited for the upcoming season." More: Summer Fun in Ohio: A list of 10 popular outdoor activities "We have done this the last two July's now," Kerns continued. "And I would never do it any other way now. Military Games will be what we do in July every year as long as I'm the head football coach here at Buckeye Trail. I'm a believer in the benefits it brings to our team." Buckeye Trail travels to Caldwell to open the new season on Friday, August 22nd, 7 p.m. KSutton1@ X: @KSuttonDJSports; Instagram: kevinsutton_dailyjeffsports This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Buckeye Trail football embraces hard work, mental toughness with Military Games program
