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ESPN Events

ESPN Events is a division of ESPN, Inc., that owns and operates a portfolio of collegiate sporting events nationwide. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, at 11001 Rushmore Drive, the organization produces live in-person sports entertainment featuring top Division I programs from more than 20 conferences annually. In the 2025–26 academic year, ESPN Events' schedule encompasses 35 major events, including three early-season college football kickoff games, 17 college bowl games, and 10 college basketball events, alongside premier competitions in softball and gymnastics, as well as the Band of the Year National Championship. The division's broader operations support 166 in-person live events each year, involving over 4,000 student-athletes and incorporating numerous Division I conference games. Through strategic partnerships and sponsorships—such as Engine for the and JLab for the —ESPN Events enhances fan experiences with elements like tailgate zones, live music, and interactive activations, while building relationships with schools, communities, and broadcasters to elevate collegiate athletics visibility.

Overview

Ownership and Structure

ESPN Events operates as a division of , a multinational sports that is 80 percent owned by through its indirect subsidiary ABC Inc. and 20 percent owned by . This ownership structure positions ESPN Events within Disney's expansive entertainment and , enabling integrated production, , and marketing capabilities across ESPN's networks. As part of , ESPN Events functions as the dedicated entity responsible for owned-and-operated collegiate sporting events, distinct from ESPN's broader rights-based operations. The division's primary role involves promoting and organizing more than 35 annual collegiate events, with a focus on bowl games, tournaments, and early-season matchups that feature teams from major conferences. These initiatives highlight ESPN Events' emphasis on high-profile athletics, including 17 bowl games and multiple multi-team events that drive fan engagement and revenue through ticket sales, sponsorships, and exposure. Collectively, the generates over 400 hours of live programming broadcast across ESPN platforms, attracting more than 650,000 live attendees each year and reaching an estimated 60 million viewers. ESPN Events evolved from ESPN Regional Television (ERT), originally focused on syndicating broadcasts to local and regional stations, into a full-service event ownership and operations model. This rebranding, completed in the mid-2010s, shifted the division's emphasis from distribution partnerships to direct control over event production, , and , aligning with the decline of traditional amid the rise of cable and streaming dominance. Today, it serves as the centralized hub for ESPN's proprietary properties, streamlining operations under the parent company's integrated sports ecosystem.

Headquarters and Leadership

ESPN Events is headquartered at 11001 Rushmore Drive in , a location established following the merger of 's acquired entities, including Creative Sports and OCC Sports, to form ESPN Regional Television, the precursor to the current events division. The Charlotte base serves as the central hub for operations, supporting satellite offices in over 10 cities nationwide and facilitating coordination for programming. Leadership of ESPN Events transitioned in 2021 with the retirement of Pete Derzis, who had served as senior vice president of programming and events since 2017, overseeing the division's growth in bowl games and multi-sport events during his 31-year tenure at . Derzis's role emphasized strategic partnerships and event innovation, paving the way for continued expansion under new executive direction. Clint Overby, a 24-year veteran at since joining in 2001, currently serves as vice president of ESPN Events, a position he has held since 2016, where he manages day-to-day operations, including event execution, budgetary priorities, sales strategies, and key partnerships. Under Overby's leadership, the division coordinates a portfolio of 35 events for the 2025-26 season, encompassing early-season kickoff games, bowl games, tournaments, and a invitational, while collaborating closely with the NCAA and athletic conferences to ensure seamless production and broadcast integration. Overby also contributes to broader industry governance as a member of the 2025-26 Bowl Season Executive Committee, which runs through June 30, 2026, and focuses on advancing postseason initiatives.

History

Formation and Early Years

ESPN Events traces its origins to the 1996 merger of Creative Sports, Inc., a North Carolina-based sports programming syndicator acquired by in 1994, and the sports division of Ohlmeyer Communications Corporation (OCC), which purchased in 1993. This combination formed ESPN Regional Television (ERT), headquartered in , initially focused on syndicating broadcasts across linear television networks. In its early years, ERT specialized in producing and distributing syndicated packages of and basketball games, serving major conferences such as the (SEC) and Big 12. By the late 1990s, it had established itself as the nation's largest live sports syndicator, handling over 600 events annually and totaling more than 2,000 hours of programming. A pivotal shift occurred in 2001 when ERT expanded beyond into event ownership and management by acquiring the rights to the Las Vegas Bowl from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. This move marked the beginning of ERT's transition toward organizing postseason events, laying the groundwork for its evolution into a full-fledged events portfolio. The company's early syndication efforts culminated in a landmark 2008 agreement with the , a 15-year deal valued at $2.25 billion that granted comprehensive rights to the conference's sports, including and , while incorporating ERT's role in assuming of the previously syndicated game packages. This pact, effective from the 2009-10 season through 2023-24, significantly boosted ERT's profile and integrated its syndication expertise directly into 's broader broadcast strategy.

Key Expansions and Milestones

In 2014, ESPN Regional Television was rebranded as ESPN Events to better reflect its growing focus on event ownership and production. In the , ESPN Events significantly expanded its portfolio of bowl games, growing from seven owned-and-operated events in 2013 to 17 by 2020, including acquisitions like the and enhancements to existing properties such as the . This expansion positioned ESPN Events as the dominant organizer in the postseason landscape, with its bowls frequently integrated into the structure through ESPN's exclusive media rights agreement, which was extended through the 2031-32 season to ensure seamless broadcast coverage of semifinal and national championship games. The shift away from traditional models, exemplified by the launch of the dedicated on August 14, 2014, further streamlined operations by consolidating content on ESPN's linear and digital platforms, reducing reliance on over-the-air syndication partners that had been prominent in earlier decades. A pivotal milestone came in 2024 with the NCAA's new eight-year media rights agreement with ESPN, valued at approximately $920 million and commencing September 1, 2024, which encompasses 40 championships across 24 sports and bolsters ESPN Events' role in producing and promoting high-profile postseason events. This deal enhances the integration of ESPN Events' portfolio into NCAA-wide coverage, including expanded women's championships, and aligns with broader strategic shifts toward multi-sport diversification. By the 2025-26 season, ESPN Events' lineup grew to 35 events, incorporating new women's sports initiatives such as the inaugural Peraton Armed Forces Classic featuring a women's college basketball matchup and the Broadway Block Party volleyball tournament in Nashville, which pits Big Ten and SEC teams including Nebraska vs. Kentucky. On November 4, 2025, ESPN Events announced its comprehensive 2025-26 season schedule, highlighting three early-season kickoff games, the slate of 17 bowl games, and 10 events, underscoring the organization's continued evolution into a year-round multi-sport powerhouse. This announcement emphasized operational efficiencies gained from prior expansions, such as unified production under ESPN's networks, and set the stage for record viewership potential amid the growing popularity of women's athletics.

Broadcast Rights

Current Agreements

In January 2024, the NCAA and finalized an eight-year media rights agreement valued at $920 million, effective September 1, 2024, through 2032, granting exclusive domestic rights to 40 NCAA championships across 21 women's and 19 men's events, including the Division I men's and tournaments, the , and various bowl games. This deal, which triples the value of the prior contract, encompasses live coverage, highlights, and digital distribution on platforms, ensuring comprehensive production for postseason events operated by ESPN Events. ESPN maintains ongoing multimedia rights partnerships with major college conferences that underpin ESPN Events' programming. The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) extended its agreement with ESPN through the 2035-36 in January 2025, providing exclusive coverage of , , and other sports on ESPN, ABC, and , including neutral-site kickoff games and bowl tie-ins. Similarly, the (SEC) operates under a 10-year deal with ESPN and ABC through the 2033–34 , featuring over 60 games annually on and ABC primetime slots, alongside and championship events that integrate with ESPN Events' portfolio. The Big 12 Conference's rights agreement with ESPN and , renewed through the 2030-31 season, includes linear and streaming coverage of and , with ESPN holding options for postseason and early-season showcases produced by ESPN Events. These agreements facilitate seamless integration between ESPN and ABC for high-profile college football events, with ABC serving as the primary primetime broadcaster for select SEC, ACC, and Big 12 games during the 2025-26 season, including marquee matchups like Alabama at Florida State and Marshall at Georgia. The partnership enhances production quality for ESPN Events' signature properties, such as the Camping World Kickoff—broadcast exclusively on ESPN from Camping World Stadium—and the State Farm Champions Classic, featuring top-ranked men's basketball teams on ESPN and ABC. Under the NCAA deal and conference pacts, ESPN Events holds broadcast rights to 17 college football bowl games for the 2025-26 postseason, including the Cure Bowl, Gasparilla Bowl, and Birmingham Bowl, all airing on ESPN networks.

Former Rights

ESPN Events, through its ESPN Regional Television (ERT) division, previously held syndicated broadcast rights for select games from the () and . For the , ERT syndicated non-premium football games starting with the 2009 season under a 15-year agreement, distributing them via local stations and regional sports networks until the launch of the dedicated in August 2014, which absorbed these rights into ESPN's linear and digital platforms. Similarly, ERT managed syndicated packages for Big 12 football games as part of earlier media agreements, including overflow and regional matchups, which were phased out following the conference's 2012 renewal with and ; this new 13-year deal shifted distribution primarily to national ESPN networks starting in the 2012-13 season, reducing reliance on syndication. In the realm of , ERT handled early of regional games across multiple conferences beginning in the late 1990s after its rebranding from Creative Sports in 1997, providing over-the-air broadcasts before ESPN expanded its full coverage to encompass more comprehensive . The decline of these rights accelerated in the late 2000s due to the emergence of conference-specific networks, such as the in 2007, which centralized broadcasts and diminished the need for third-party ; this shift prompted ESPN Events to pivot toward producing and managing owned events rather than external packages. Under the SEC's 2008 agreement with —effective from 2009 through 2023—ERT initially assumed syndication duties for select and games, but as elements expired with the 2014 SEC Network debut, remaining content transitioned to ESPN's core linear channels like and ESPN2.

On-Air Talent

The on-air talent for ESPN Events' college football coverage in the 2025-26 season was announced on August 26, 2025, featuring over two dozen commentator teams assigned to the slate of games. These crews will handle the broadcast duties for ESPN Events' three early-season kickoff games and 17 bowl games, which form part of the broader portfolio of more than 1,000 college football games across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, and ACC Network. The lead broadcast team consists of play-by-play announcer , analyst , and sideline reporter , marking their 12th year together in the booth and 30th year as teammates overall. This trio is frequently assigned to marquee matchups, including high-profile bowl games within ESPN Events' portfolio. Other prominent teams include on play-by-play with analyst and reporter , entering their third year as a unit; with analyst and reporter Katie George, also in their third season together; and paired with analyst and reporter Taylor McGregor, returning for their second year as a trio. These groups often cover key postseason contests, such as the Kickoff and various bowl matchups. Additional crews supporting the coverage encompass on play-by-play with analyst and reporter , who will handle select kickoff games like the Aflac Kickoff; as well as with analyst and reporter Stormy Buonantony. Network-specific teams, such as Tom Hart with analysts and Cole Cubelic on , provide dedicated coverage for conference-affiliated events within ESPN Events' bowls. This extensive roster ensures comprehensive commentary across the season's kickoff and postseason slate.

College Basketball

ESPN announced its on-air talent roster for the 2025-26 season on November 4, 2025, assigning commentators to cover more than 7,000 men's and women's games across its networks, including 10 ESPN Events-produced tournaments. For men's coverage, the lead team consists of play-by-play announcer , analyst , and reporter , who debut the season on November 4 at the Dick Vitale Invitational. Other men's teams include the pairing of Dave O’Brien and for the Dick Vitale Invitational, joined by Bilas and Budden for select games. Analysts feature returning contributors such as and , alongside new additions including and . The women's lead team comprises play-by-play voice , analyst , and reporter , with rules analyst Dee Kantner joining them starting November 4 at the Peraton Armed Forces Classic. A prominent secondary duo, on play-by-play and as analyst, returns for its 30th season together, with their first assignment on November 11 for Clemson at No. 2 . Women's analysts include returning members like and newcomers such as .

Events Portfolio

Football Events

ESPN Events manages a portfolio of events, prominently featuring early-season kickoff games and a extensive slate of postseason bowl games. These events are designed to showcase competitive matchups, often involving teams from multiple conferences, and are produced in partnership with and for national broadcast. In the 2025-26 season, the portfolio includes three early-season kickoff games, highlighting FCS and HBCU programs to kick off the calendar. The early-season kickoffs provide marquee openings to the season, with games scheduled in late . For instance, the FCS Kickoff on August 23, 2025, at in , pits UC Davis against at 7 p.m. ET on , featuring two recent FCS quarterfinalists. Later that evening, the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff at in matches North Carolina Central versus at 7:30 p.m. ET on . Rounding out the trio, the Red Tails Classic on August 31, 2025, at brings Winston-Salem State against Tuskegee at 7 p.m. ET on , commemorating HBCU heritage. These events, produced by ESPN Events, contribute to over 400 hours of live programming across the ESPN networks for the season. Postseason, ESPN Events oversees 17 bowl games, forming the core of its football offerings and representing nearly half of its overall 35-event portfolio. These bowls, held from mid-December 2025 through early January 2026, feature matchups from 10 FBS and two FCS conferences, with games broadcast exclusively on platforms and reaching approximately 60 million viewers annually. Notable examples include the SRS Distribution on December 31, 2025, at , pitting a Big Ten team against a former Pac-12 opponent at 3:30 p.m. on ; the StaffDNA on December 17, 2025, at in , at 5 p.m. on ; and the on January 2, 2026, at in , at 1 p.m. on , which incorporates elements of the Armed Forces Classic to honor members. The Scooter's Frisco Bowl, scheduled for December 23, 2025, at 9 p.m. on , marks a venue shift to the in , due to renovations at Toyota Stadium. Several of these bowls tie into the expanded structure, serving as potential host sites for first-round or quarterfinal games, though the 2025-26 schedule emphasizes non-playoff contests to provide opportunities for a broad range of teams. Collectively, the 17 bowls draw over 650,000 attendees each year, underscoring their role in driving fan engagement and economic impact for host communities.

Basketball Events

ESPN Events organizes a portfolio of 10 owned-and-operated or partnered tournaments for the 2025-26 season, encompassing both men's and women's competitions that integrate with the broader NCAA schedule of over 7,000 games across the regular season. These events, announced on November 4, 2025, feature 41 teams from 15 conferences, including eight preseason Top 10 squads, and provide early-season matchups broadcast across platforms for more than 80 hours of programming. The tournaments emphasize high-profile rivalries, multi-team formats, and charitable initiatives, tipping off in early November 2025 to set the tone for the campaign. Among the marquee men's events is the State Farm Champions Classic, held on November 18, 2025, at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY, pitting Michigan State against Kentucky and Kansas against Duke in a doubleheader that highlights perennial powers. The Jimmy V Men's Classic, presented by Modelo, follows on December 9, 2025, at Madison Square Garden, with Clemson facing BYU and Florida taking on UConn to support cancer research through the V Foundation. The inaugural Dick Vitale Invitational, presented by Belk, honors legendary broadcaster Dick Vitale with a matchup between Texas and Duke on November 4, 2025, at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC. The Terry's Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational stands out as a 16-team event during Thanksgiving week (November 24-28, 2025) at State Farm Field House in Kissimmee, FL, featuring three distinct brackets: the eight-team Adventure Bracket (Bradley, Liberty, Princeton, Rhode Island, Temple, Towson, UC San Diego, Vermont), the four-team Imagination Bracket (Charlotte, Furman, Illinois State, Richmond), and the four-team Magic Bracket (BYU, Dayton, Georgetown, Miami), each crowning its own champion. Brackets for this tournament were revealed on August 12, 2025, following field announcements in May, with examples including Richmond versus Furman on November 27, 2025, in the Imagination Bracket. The Shriners Children's Charleston Classic, on November 21 and 23, 2025, at TD Arena in Charleston, SC, divides into the Palmetto Bracket (Clemson, Georgia, West Virginia, Xavier) and Lowcountry Bracket (Boston College, Davidson, Tulane, Utah State). Women's basketball receives prominent coverage through ESPN Events' integration with NCAA broadcasting rights, including the Peraton Armed Forces Classic on November 4, 2025, at Alumni Hall in Annapolis, MD, marking the first women's edition with Louisville facing UConn as part of a Veterans Day tribute. The Ally Tipoff on November 9, 2025, at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC, features USC versus NC State. Additional women's events include the Jimmy V Women's Classic, presented by Modelo, on December 10, 2025, at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, IA (Iowa at Iowa State); the inaugural Sprouts Farmers Market espnW Invitational on December 14, 2025, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, TX (Baylor vs. Texas); and a standalone Louisville versus Baylor game on February 14, 2026, at the same venue. These tournaments collectively showcase 21 teams that appeared in the previous season's NCAA Tournament, fostering competitive early benchmarks.

Other Events

ESPN Events extends its portfolio beyond and through a range of events in emerging sports, particularly emphasizing women's athletics and special programming to capitalize on growing audience interest. These initiatives include tournaments, invitationals, and expanded military-themed classics, all produced in collaboration with partners like local sports councils and the NCAA. A key addition is the inaugural Broadway Block Party, a women's college tripleheader held on August 31, 2025, at in , in partnership with the Nashville Sports Council. The event featured three Big Ten vs. matchups— vs. , Purdue vs. , and vs. —broadcast live on and networks, drawing over 11,200 attendees and serving as a fan-focused kickoff to the college sports season with ties to upcoming action. This highlights ESPN Events' push into as part of its broader non-core sports lineup. In gymnastics, ESPN Events produces the Collegiate Quad, its owned-and-operated early-season invitational showcasing elite NCAA teams. The 2025 edition, held January 10-11 at in , , featured five of the previous year's national semifinalists, including , , and , with quad meets on and a championship broadcast on . Complementing this, ESPN Events supports production of NCAA gymnastics championships under the NCAA's eight-year media rights deal with , effective September 1, 2024, which encompasses nearly 100 hours of coverage across women's and men's events in 2025. ESPN Events is actively expanding into to align with surging viewership trends, as evidenced by enhancements to longstanding events like the Armed Forces Classic. In 2025, the event introduced its first matchup, pitting UConn against Louisville on November 4 at the U.S. Naval Academy in (originally planned for , , but relocated due to a U.S. ), broadcast on , marking a historic step in gender-inclusive programming for the series. These diverse offerings form a critical part of ESPN Events' 35-event slate for the 2025-26 academic year, generating over 250 programming hours outside of and to enhance overall audience engagement across ESPN platforms.

College Marketing Division

The College Marketing Division was established in 2000 by ESPN Regional Television, leveraging the company's expertise in college tournament operations and broadcasting. It provided universities with integrated services, including sponsorship sales, local media rights management, and comprehensive marketing campaigns. Initial clients included the , , and . As of November 2025, there is no recent public information on active operations under this division, indicating it may have been discontinued or absorbed into broader ESPN Events functions.

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    When ESPN expanded its coverage of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in 2021, the audience reach of the first round doubled when compared to 2019. That ...
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    ESPN Events will host the first-ever women's college basketball matchup in the Peraton Armed Forces Classic to tip off the 2025-26 season.