A new SEC football documentary is set to premiere in just a few weeks.

SEC Football: Any Given Saturday, a Netflix Sports series that followed the conference in 2024, will premiere August 5. The show will feature eight, 45-minute episodes.

Netflix released the official trailer for the show on Monday.

“This series places viewers inside some of college football’s most storied programs in the SEC through unfiltered access to their coaches and players on and off the field: on the buses, in the locker rooms, at the barbershops, around the fire pits, running out of the tunnels, and more,” according to the original announcement on December 18, 2024. “We take an exclusive look at key matchups throughout the SEC season to show the passion and drama of college football’s leading conference.”

The show followed the SEC throughout the 2024 season and allowed access to the conference that had multiple teams make the College Football Playoff and featured multiple historic upsets.

“This behind-the-scenes docuseries will bring all the drama and pageantry of Southeastern Conference Football to a worldwide Netflix audience,” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said after the original announcement of the documentary.   “Football in the SEC will be presented in a way never seen before through the elite storytelling skills of Box To Box, the content studio that has produced numerous award-winning Netflix docuseries. We are excited about this new delivery of content for SEC fans everywhere.”

Netflix’s sports lineup has grown immensely over the last few years, including NFL shows Quarterback and Receiver, Starting Five — which follows NBA players — and Full Swing, which features professional golfers.The production company for the SEC football documentary, Box To Box Films, is the same one that produced Full Swing.

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The Southeastern Conference will discuss player availability reports during meetings this week in Florida, according to multiple reports. According to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo! Sports, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said to a group in Destin that the conference “will hold conversations this week” upon the meetings’ start on Tuesday about the use of availability reports.

READ: Lou Groza Award will be included in EA Sports College Football 25

Availability reports are common within sports and reveal which players may be questionable or not going to play in that week’s game. The Big Ten Conference started requiring its teams to send the list of players’ names to the conference office no more than two hours before kickoff last season.

Before the Big Ten, no other Power 5 conference had an availability report required to be distributed during the season.

READ: Charlie Baker believes antitrust settlement will ‘reshape the future of college sports’ in memo sent to members of NCAA

According to Brett McMurphy of Action Network, the SEC “does not expect a decision this week” regarding availability reports.

College football’s 2024 season will kick off in August with Week 0, and among the first games to be played include Florida State at Georgia Tech on Aug. 24 at noon EST which will broadcast on ESPN.

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NCAA President Charlie Baker sent a memo to members of the NCAA on Friday, and he stated the settlement of the House v. NCAA, Hubbard v. NCAA and Carter v. NCAA cases will help “in our ongoing effort to create a stable, sustainable and equitable model for the future of college sports.” The Ohio State athletic department published the memo, and a full read of it is below.

READ: Report: Former Nebraska, Washington RB Will Nixon transferring to Syracuse

The NCAA and each of the Power 5 conferences jointly announced Thursday that schools can share “up to $22 million with student-athletes per year.” Baker acknowledged there will be future compensation for Division I student-athletes and back damages, though, he thanked everyone within Division I for their “dedication and hard work in getting us to this point.” Baker stated “there is still much work to be done” and NCAA members’ “continued support and collaboration will be crucial.”

Baker stated the “nearly $2.78 billion” in back damages from the settlement will be split 42% paid by the NCAA and 58% among the Division I conferences “based on their distributions over the past nine years.” It will be paid over 10 years, about $280 million per year.

“This will be funded through careful expense management, new revenue initiatives and the use of reserves,” Baker stated.

Baker bulleted three “specific contributions” from a trio of sources, as outlined below.

• Football Bowl Subdivision conferences: $95 million annually (33%).
• Football Championship Subdivision conferences: $37 million annually (13%).
• Nonfootball Division I conferences: $34 million annually (12%).

Had the settlement not happened and trials unfolded, Baker stated the NCAA could have been on the hook to pay potentially $9 billion in “treble damages,” which he stated “would be financially devastating and unsustainable.”

READ: College Football Playoff, TNT Sports reach 5-year sublicensing agreement; TNT Sports to begin broadcasting 2 first-round games in 2024

Baker also listed “several critical objectives” reached through the settlement, as outlined below.

1. It replaces potentially crippling lawsuits with a negotiated settlement and a 10-year injunction.
2. It enables student-athletes to receive up to 22% of the average DI Power 5 athletics revenues — in addition to tuition and other benefits currently provided. Adding all these benefits together, many A5 schools would be devoting nearly 50% of athletics revenue to student-athletes. 
3. It ends decades of antitrust litigation, stabilizing college sports while permitting conferences and the NCAA to enforce rules that set a level playing field and emphasize the educational mission of college athletics.
4. It binds DI together, enabling the NCAA to contribute $120 million annually for 10 years toward back damages.

While Baker stated in closing that the settlement is “a massive step forward for student-athletes and college sports,” he accompanied that sentiment by acknowledging “it does not address every challenge.” Baker stated pending legal issues “such as those related to employment with the NLRB and the Johnson case” are among the obstacles still in need of a solution.

There is the possibility that “if the NCAA outperforms revenue projections and has unplanned surplus net assets, there will be an opportunity to determine how those additional assets can be used to offset the local impact of the damages payment,” Baker stated. 

The NCAA aims “to provide more direct benefits to student-athletes,” and Baker stated “this is a vital opportunity to positively reshape the future of college sports” amid the challenges ahead.

READ: Reports: Big Ten Conference made $880 million in revenue during 2023

Here is Baker’s full memo, via Ohio State.

“Good afternoon,

“I would like to share an update on an important step forward in our ongoing effort to create a stable, sustainable and equitable model for the future of college sports. We have now reached a proposed settlement in three major cases — House, Hubbard and Carter — involving back damages and future compensation for Division I student-athletes. 

“I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you in Division I for your dedication and hard work in getting us to this point. Your efforts have been instrumental in negotiating this complex settlement and in shaping a more stable future for Division I college athletics. We acknowledge that there is still much work to be done, and your continued support and collaboration will be crucial as we implement these changes.

“The media has covered these lawsuits extensively, with varying degrees of accuracy. The plaintiffs’ demand for back damages is substantial. In the House case alone, the plaintiffs sought approximately $3 billion. If the NCAA were to lose at trial, the courts could impose “treble damages,” potentially resulting in a $9 billion judgment. Such a verdict would be financially devastating and unsustainable.

“The lawsuits address three main issues: compensation for academic-related expenses; name, image, and likeness opportunities; and restrictions on scholarships. We have managed to negotiate the total back damages for these cases down to nearly $2.78 billion, to be paid over 10 years, equating to approximately $280 million annually.

“To address this obligation, we have developed a plan where the NCAA will contribute $1.2 billion over 10 years, representing 42% of the total back damages. This will be funded through careful expense management, new revenue initiatives and the use of reserves.

“The remaining 58% will be distributed among the Division I conferences based on their distributions over the past nine years. This translates to an annual contribution of $165 million, or a 20% total reduction in distributions.

“Specific contributions are as follows:

• Football Bowl Subdivision conferences: $95 million annually (33%).
• Football Championship Subdivision conferences: $37 million annually (13%).
• Nonfootball Division I conferences: $34 million annually (12%).

“While these contributions represent only 1%-2% of total revenues for FCS and nonfootball conferences, individual conferences will need to manage these contributions based on their members’ budgets. I understand this change will not be easy to manage, but given the challenges facing college sports over the last few decades, change is inevitable. I believe the change before us now presents massive new opportunities for student-athletes and all of Division I. 

“And to be clear, the financial estimate is just that. If the NCAA outperforms revenue projections and has unplanned surplus net assets, there will be an opportunity to determine how those additional assets can be used to offset the local impact of the damages payment (e.g., supplemental, pay down).

“Additionally, the forward-looking aspect of this settlement includes a revenue-sharing model allowing schools to provide more direct benefits to student-athletes, including for NIL. This model, starting in the 2025-26 fiscal year, proposes that 22% of average Autonomy 5 revenues can be shared with student-athletes, potentially amounting to $1 billion to $1.5 billion annually.

“This settlement achieves several critical objectives:

1. It replaces potentially crippling lawsuits with a negotiated settlement and a 10-year injunction.
2. It enables student-athletes to receive up to 22% of the average DI Power 5 athletics revenues — in addition to tuition and other benefits currently provided. Adding all these benefits together, many A5 schools would be devoting nearly 50% of athletics revenue to student-athletes.
3. It ends decades of antitrust litigation, stabilizing college sports while permitting conferences and the NCAA to enforce rules that set a level playing field and emphasize the educational mission of college athletics.
4. It binds DI together, enabling the NCAA to contribute $120 million annually for 10 years toward back damages.

“This is a massive step forward for student-athletes and college sports, but it does not address every challenge. There are still pending legal issues, such as those related to employment with the NLRB and the Johnson case. 

“While challenges remain, this is a vital opportunity to positively reshape the future of college sports. In the weeks ahead, the DI governance team will be working through all relevant committees to discuss next steps with you all. 

“There is a lot of work to be done, and we look forward to getting it done with you in the coming months. 

“Sincerely,

“Charlie Baker”

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NCAA President Charlie Baker and each of the Power 5 conferences — the Atlantic Coast, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and Southeastern — jointly announced Thursday that they’ve agreed to settlement terms regarding antitrust and class-action lawsuits. According to Ralph D. Russo of The Associated Press, the NCAA and Power 5 will pay nearly $2.8 billion, expected to be paid over 10 years, to settle several antitrust claims, notably House v. NCAA, Hubbard v. NCAA and Carter v. NCAA, and the joint statement claimed it “is an important step in the continuing reform of college sports that will provide benefits to student-athletes and provide clarity in college athletics across all divisions for years to come.”

Among the longstanding aspects that made up the foundations of the NCAA is set to change: schools can directly pay players.

Here is the full joint statement from Baker, ACC commissioner Jim Phillips, Big Ten commissioner Tony Petititti, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark, Pac-12 commissioner Teresa Gould and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey.

“The five autonomy conferences and the NCAA agreeing to settlement terms is an important step in the continuing reform of college sports that will provide benefits to student-athletes and provide clarity in college athletics across all divisions for years to come. This settlement is also a road map for college sports leaders and Congress to ensure this uniquely American institution can continue to provide unmatched opportunity for millions of students. All of Division I made today’s progress possible, and we all have work to do to implement the terms of the agreement as the legal process continues. We look forward to working with our various student-athlete leadership groups to write the next chapter of college sports.”

READ: College Football Playoff, TNT Sports reach 5-year sublicensing agreement; TNT Sports to begin broadcasting 2 first-round games in 2024

READ: Reports: Big Ten Conference made $880 million in revenue during 2023

Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. also reportedly released a statement, calling the settlement “necessary to avoid what would be the bankruptcy of college athletics.” Here is his full statement according to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo! Sports.

“The settlement, though undesirable in many respects and promising only temporary stability, is necessary to avoid what would be the bankruptcy of college athletics. To save the great American institution of college sports, Congress must pass legislation that will preempt the current patchwork of state laws; establish that our athletes are not employees, but students seeking college degrees; and provide protection from further antitrust lawsuits that will allow colleges to make and enforce rules that will protect our student-athletes and help ensure competitive equity among our teams,” Jenkins stated via Yahoo! Sports.

Among the expected outcomes from the settlement include the NCAA and universities sharing revenue directly with student-athletes. There could be “millions of dollars” paid to players as soon as fall 2025, according to the AP.

The model for revenue sharing with student-athletes “will cost major conferences a cumulative $1 billion-plus annually,” according to Yahoo! Sports, and schools can share up to $22 million with student-athletes per year — a figure that “was derived from 22% of an average of power conference revenues” and subject to change and exceptions.

According to Dan Murphy and Pete Thamel of ESPN, any Division I athlete dating back to 2016 is eligible to receive a share as part of the settlement class. These athletes therefore drop their claims in three antitrust lawsuits — House v. NCAA, Hubbard v. NCAA and Carter v. NCAA — and cannot sue the NCAA for other antitrust-related reasons.

Roster size could also be affected as a result of the changes expected after the settlement. According to Yahoo! Sports, scholarship restrictions could be eliminated while roster limits would be implemented.

Bankruptcy was reportedly at risk had the settlement not been reached among the NCAA and Power 5 regarding the lawsuits.

READ: Penn State Board of Trustees approves Beaver Stadium renovation before 2027 season

The ability for student-athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness began when the NCAA implemented policy in July 2021. Since, college athletics has seen a flurry of changes in almost the past three years, including in areas such as the conference realignment and the transfer portal. Texas senator Ted Cruz hosted an NIL roundtable on Capitol Hill in March discussing its impacts and urging Congress to pass college athletics legislation.

According to Yahoo! Sports, there is likely a five-to-eight month time period before finalization of the settlement to account for official filing, judge approval and individual plaintiff objections among other things.

Final details will be submitted to the court and Judge Claudia Wilken in the next 30 days, according to ESPN.

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Beginning with the 2024-25 seasons, TNT Sports will broadcast two first-round games, according to a release. TNT Sports will air two quarterfinal games additionally in 2026-28 through the agreement.

Additional details about programming plans for the College Football Playoff “will be announced at a later date,” according to a release.

“It is exciting to add TNT Sports, another highly respected broadcaster, to the College Football Playoff family,” Executive Director of the College Football Playoff Bill Hancock stated in a release. “Sports fans across the country are intimately familiar with their work across a wide variety of sports properties over the past two decades, and we look forward to seeing what new and innovative ideas they bring to the promotion and delivery of these games.”

READ: Reports: Big Ten Conference made $880 million in revenue during 2023

READ: Penn State Board of Trustees approves Beaver Stadium renovation before 2027 season

According to a release, TNT Sports will be “the primary network” televising its select games, and it will also distribute coverage among its additional platforms.

The playoff field expanded from its original four teams to 12 for the first time since it was implemented before the 2014 season.

What’s different under the new format include a range of changes. Notably, the entire first round will be played on-campus while the four highest-ranking conference champions will make up the first four seeds and receive byes in the opening round.

“We’re delighted to reach this agreement with ESPN, providing TNT Sports the opportunity to showcase these College Football Playoff games on our platforms for years to come,” TNT Sports Chairman and CEO Luis Silberwasser stated in a release. “TNT Sports aims to delight fans and drive maximum reach and engagement for these marquee games.”

The first round of the expanded playoff is scheduled for Dec. 20-21, then the quarterfinals will take place at familiar New Year’s Six locations, including the Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl, before the semifinals at the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9, 2025, and Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10, 2025, all leading up to the national championship in Atlanta on Jan. 20, 2025.

READ: Colorado announces season-ticket sellout for 2nd-straight season

It’s been a historic offseason for the College Football Playoff. It and ESPN agreed to a new media rights deal in March that will keep the playoff on the network through 2031.

The College Football Playoff also signed a six-year contract establishing a revenue distribution plan. That solidified the 12-team format through at least 2026, and the possibility of more teams joining the field could be a reality come that season.

ESPN “will also continue to manage the sponsorship program for the presentation of the CFP,” according to a release.

“ESPN is pleased to sublicense to TNT Sports a select number of early round games of the College Football Playoff, an event we’ve helped to grow – alongside the CFP – into one of the preeminent championships,” ESPN executive vice president of programming & acquisitions Rosalyn Durant stated in a release. “We’re confident in the reach and promotion that this new agreement will provide as we enter the new, expanded playoff era.”

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According to Daniel Libit of Sportico, tax reports show the Big Ten took in the $880 million figure between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023.

The Big Ten distributed “about $60.5 million” to the 12 longest-tenured members in the conference, according to Steve Berkowitz of USA TODAY. Maryland and Rutgers received “about $2 million less” than the other 12 members of the Big Ten.

READ: Penn State Board of Trustees approves Beaver Stadium renovation before 2027 season

The Big Ten’s revenue earnings allow it to pass the Southeastern Conference for most revenue among college conferences, and the SEC had $853 million in revenue in fiscal year 2023, according to Sportico. The SEC distributed “an average of about $51.3 million” to each of its 14 members.

The Big Ten spent, including its distributions to member programs, “just over $897 million” in 2023 and “operated at a deficit of just over $17.5 million for the year, but still had net assets totaling $247 million,” according to USA TODAY.

Despite retirement in 2020, former commissioner Jim Delaney was the Big Ten’s “highest-paid employee” having received $5.8 million from retirement or deferred compensation and bonus or incentive compensation, according to Sportico. Delaney remains on the conference’s payroll as an outside consultant.

READ: Colorado announces season-ticket sellout for 2nd-straight season

The Big Ten entered a new media rights deal it signed in 2022 worth nearly $7 billion. It reached agreements with CBS, FOX, NBC, NBCUniversal’s Peacock, Big Ten Network and FS1 and will continue through the 2029-30 season.

Now over a year into its new media agreement, the Big Ten will likely see the beginnings of its impact financially. For comparison on revenue between fiscal years 2023 and 2022, the $880 million last year “represent about a 4% increase in total revenue and a nearly 3% increase in per-school payouts” according to USA TODAY.

The Big Ten also saw Tony Petitti take over after Kevin Warren as conference commissioner in May 2023, and Petitti’s pay was not reported because the report only covered the 2022 calendar year, according to USA TODAY.

ALSO WATCH

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A suspect has been arrested in a shooting that killed Tommie L. Battie IV and injured Brian Battie in Sarasota on Saturday.

According to the Sarasota County Sherrif’s Office, Darryl Bernard Brookins of Sarasota “has been identified as the suspect in the shooting that occurred in the Tallywood Centre Plaza parking lot on 17th Street in Sarasota” and was arrested Wednesday afternoon. Brookins “has been charged with murder, attempted murder, and as a felon in possession of a firearm.”

Brian Battie in addition to three other men were injured in the shooting, according to The Associated Press.

UPDATED AT 10:18 P.M. EDT ON MAY 20, 2024

Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze posted Monday on social media an update about Brian Battie, who is a senior running back and was injured in a shooting Saturday morning in Sarasota, Florida, stating, “Auburn family. Please continue to pray for Brian Battie. There was a set back last night and he’s still on a ventilator. #AUSTRONG”

According to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, Saturday morning “deputies initially responded to the Tallywood Centre Plaza at approximately 3:30am where they observed a large crowd with multiple shooting victims in the parking lot.” Brian Battie’s brother Tommie L. Battie IV was pronounced deceased at the scene and “four additional victims were transported to local hospitals in both Manatee and Sarasota counties.”

A GoFundMe page was organized by Kelli Raines and Tanya Babinski, who state they are the godmothers of Brian Battie and Tommie L. Battie IV. Over $73,000 has been raised as of Monday.

According to Ainslie Lee of AL.com, an Auburn spokesperson confirmed Brian Battie was among the victims in the shooting. Auburn is “aware of the situation” and “continuing to gather information.”

The shooting appears to be an isolated incident, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. It remains an active criminal investigation.

READ: EA Sports College Football 25 features, gameplay shared in full reveal

Anyone who may have information related to the shooting is encouraged by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office “to contact the SCSO Criminal Investigations Section at 941-861-4900 or Sarasota Crimestoppers at 941-366-8477.”

Brian Battie joined Auburn before last season. He played at South Florida from 2020-22 earning Second Team All-American Athletic Conference and becoming the sixth 1,000-yard rusher in Bulls history in 2022.

This is a developing story and will be updated with more information as it is available.

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Set to launch worldwide on July 19, a full reveal of the modes and features of EA Sports College Football 25 was announced on Friday.

Dynasty and Road To Glory modes will be available in College Football 25, according to a release. Those two modes will allow players “to construct their own powerhouse program as a created coach or vie for the Heisman as a player” in what the video game introduces as CampusIQ, which will be “a suite of features that brings to life the true depth of college football through wide open, fast-paced gameplay across all 134 FBS schools in all areas of the game.”

READ: ESPN, FOX and Warner Bros. Discovery introduce Venu Sports streaming service

Over 10,000 players have opted into College Football 25, it was announced in March. Any student-athlete who opts in and has their name, image and likeness used will receive $600 and a copy of the video game.

College Football 25 will also offer “the all-new Road to the College Football Playoff and College Football Ultimate Team” that will “bring fresh online experiences and ways to play.”

“EA SPORTS College Football is BACK! We’ve felt the passion and anticipation of college football fans every step of the way since we first announced this game, and we’re ecstatic to finally be able to show everyone what we’ve been building,” EA Sports SVP and Group GM Daryl Holt stated in a release. “College Football 25 is built with authenticity at its core, inspired by experiences our fans have loved from our games, and fully evolved to reflect modern college football – all of which will immerse them in the sights, sounds, and true-to-life gameplay of the sport they love.”

READ: Northwestern announces 2024 schedule, will play 2 games at Wrigley Field

READ: ABC, ESPN unveil Weeks 0-1 broadcast schedule

EA Sports unveiled the cover of College Football 25 on Thursday, showcasing Michigan running back Donovan Edwards, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and Colorado defensive back/wide receiver Travis Hunter. They will star on the covers of the Standard and Deluxe editions.

“Donovan, Quinn and Travis are extraordinary talents who impressed and entertained millions of college football fans on the field last season and are poised to do so again this year,” Holt stated in a release. “We’re proud to be able to incorporate thousands of current athletes in College Football 25, and featuring this trio of playmakers and their iconic college programs on the cover is a perfect fit as we usher in a new era for EA SPORTS and college football. I can’t wait for the world to learn more about the game tomorrow.”

ESPN broadcasters such as Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will “call marquee matchups,” along with other broadcast teams such as Rece Davis, Jesse Palmer and David Pollack will comprise the virtual booth and “take the mic for all other games.”

Among the gameplay features include Homefield Advantage, which will allow players to “through distractions like screen shaking, missing pre-play icons, and moving play art.” Additional features consist of Pre-Snap Recognition and the Wear & Tear System, which means virtual player stamina is affected by more play so it will be important to “manage your players’ health, limit fatigue, assess risk of injury, and avoid on-field mistakes by using strategic substitutions to ensure your players are at their best when it counts the most.”

The traditions within college football that make it one of a kind will be immersed in College Football 25. Along with team mascots and fight songs, the video game will include “unique team run-outs, rivalry rituals, synchronized crowd-chants, loudness meters as well as real game-day audio.”

READ: Colorado-Nebraska primetime kickoff announced for Week 2 matchup on NBC

Dynasty and Road To Glory modes are also offered in the video game alongside Road to the College Football Playoff, where players will “experience a new way to play competitively across consoles” and “earn rank by upsetting the toughest opponents and securing the votes you need to progress and level up divisions,” as well as College Football Ultimate Team.

College Football Ultimate Team will allow players to “build your dream team of college football stars and legends” in Solo Challenges or H2H seasons, and they can test their skill across consoles “in more competitive formats like College Football Ultimate Team Champs and Champs Gauntlet.”

EA Sports College Football 25 is available for pre-order now. According to Matt Brown of Extra Points, the video game will not be available for PC at launch. EA Sports is also offering an MVP bundle on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S that will include deluxe editions of College Football 25 and Madden NFL 25 “with 3-day early access and unlocks a multitude of benefits across both titles.”

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CEO Pete Distad, who has previous experience at Apple and Hulu, announced Thursday that the name of the platform will be Venu Sports.

READ: Northwestern announces 2024 schedule, will play 2 games at Wrigley Field

The collaborative relationship “will bring together the companies’ portfolios of sports networks and certain direct to consumer services in a compelling new streaming sports service to allow underserved fans to get the most out of every game,” according to a release. The platform will include content from all major professional sports leagues and college sports.

Customers who purchase subscriptions can access Venu Sports directly “via a new app,” and subscribers “would also have the ability to bundle the product, including with Disney+, Hulu or Max.”

“We are excited to officially introduce Venu Sports, a brand that we feel captures the spirit of an all-new streaming home where sports fans outside of the traditional pay TV eco-system can experience an incredible collection of live sports, all in one place,” Distad stated in a release. “As preparations for the platform continue to accelerate, we are singularly focused on delivering a best-in-class product for our target audience, built from the ground up using the latest technologies to engage and entertain discerning sports fans wanting one-stop access to live games.”

READ: ABC, ESPN unveil Weeks 0-1 broadcast schedule

READ: Colorado-Nebraska primetime kickoff announced for Week 2 matchup on NBC

FOX, The Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros. Discovery will have equal ownership shares in Venu Sports, according to Stephen Battaglio of the Los Angeles Times.

The formation and launch of Venu Sports “is subject to regulatory approval and the finalization of definitive agreements amongst the parties,” according to a release.

Venu Sports aims to provide a way for viewers to access “an extensive, dynamic lineup of sports content to serve sports fans, particularly those outside of the traditional pay TV bundle,” according to a release. It targets a younger audience and individuals who aren’t subscribed to major or traditional television streaming services.

According to Joe Reedy of The Associated Press, FuboTV filed an antitrust lawsuit against ESPN, FOX, Warner Bros. Discovery and Hulu in February. FuboTV seeks cash damages and to prevent Venu Sports, or have restrictions imposed on the joint service to ensure competition within the market.

ESPN and the College Football Playoff reached an agreement on a new media rights deal in March keeping the Playoff on the network through 2031.

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Beginning this season, the “SEC on ABC franchise” will debut with the Miami–Florida matchup Aug. 31 at 3:30 p.m., according to a release. The SEC on ABC brand will include “a new graphics package, theme music and more.”

According to a release, all special date games and ESPN’s broadcast schedule for the first three weeks of the season will be revealed May 30. The network’s Bowl Season schedule will also be unveiled June 6.

READ: Colorado-Nebraska primetime kickoff announced for Week 2 matchup on NBC

READ: Joe Alt cherishes Notre Dame career, hopes to put ‘best foot forward’ with Los Angeles after No. 5 overall NFL Draft selection

ESPN’s College GameDay, which will welcome former Alabama head coach Nick Saban on set this fall, will begin the season in Dublin, Ireland, at noon on Aug. 24 when Florida State matches up in Week 0 with Georgia Tech. It will be the first time the show originates from outside the United States.

Saban and College GameDay will return stateside Aug. 31 from College Station where new Aggies head coach Mike Elko and Texas A&M will face Notre Dame at 7:30 p.m.

ESPN will also broadcast the Southeastern Conference debuts for Oklahoma and Texas. The Sooners will open at home Aug. 30 against Temple at 7 p.m., and Texas will host Colorado State on Aug. 31 at 3:30 p.m.

Deion Sanders and Colorado will also make their debut in the Big 12 Conference Aug. 29 when the Buffaloes host North Dakota State at 8 p.m. on ESPN.

READ: Former Penn State SAF King Mack transfers to Alabama

ESPN’s run of teams in new conferences continues in the Atlantic Coast Conference on Aug. 30 when Stanford, departing the Pac-12 Conference, plays TCU at 10:30 p.m.

ESPN will also carry Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama debut against Western Kentucky at 7 p.m. on Aug. 31.

ABC will begin its Week 1 coverage in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium where Dabo Swinney and Clemson will take on Kirby Smart and Georgia at noon.

Here is ABC and ESPN’s Weeks 0-1 schedule.

Week 0

Florida State at Georgia Tech — Aug. 24 at noon on ESPN

Florida A&M at Norfolk State — Aug. 24 at 7:30 p.m. on ABC

Week 1

North Dakota State at Colorado — Aug. 29 at 8 p.m. on ESPN

Temple at Oklahoma — Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. on ESPN

TCU at Stanford — Aug. 30 at 10:30 p.m. on ESPN

Clemson at Georgia — Aug. 31 at noon on ABC

Miami at Florida — Aug. 31 at 3:30 p.m. on ABC

Colorado State at Texas — Aug. 31 at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN

Western Kentucky at Alabama — Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. on ESPN

Notre Dame at Texas A&M — Aug. 31 at 7:30 p.m. on ABC

USC at LSU — Sept. 1 at 7:30 p.m. on ABC

Boston College at Florida State — Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN

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King Mack, a rising sophomore safety who played in all 13 games with the Nittany Lions last season, posted his commitment Friday to Alabama on social media.

“1000% committed,” Mack posted.

READ: Conference USA expanding to add Missouri State in 2025

READ: Former Colorado, Houston RB Alton McCaskill IV transfers to Arizona State

Mack saw most of his playing time on special teams in 2023. The first two tackles of his career came in Week 2 against Delaware in addition to a quarterback hurry.

The 5-foot-10, 188-pound safety won multiple state championships in three years at St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Mack was twice named a team captain on his way to being considered a consensus four-star recruit after being named 3M Defensive Player of the Year two times.

READ: Former Mississippi State, Vanderbilt QB Mike Wright transfers to Northwestern

Mack’s uncle is Keith Ferguson, who played at Ohio State from 1977-80 and in the NFL from 1981-90. He’s also related to former Miami Hurricane Tremain Mack, who played from 1993-96 and also in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals from 1997-2000.

Alabama’s secondary in particular will be part of a revamped defense under new head coach Kalen DeBoer. The Crimson Tide are tasked with replacing former starters Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry, who were selected among the 2024 NFL Draft’s top 41 picks, as well as safety Jaylen Key who was picked with the final choice in the seventh round.

King is the third defensive back DeBoer and Alabama have added through the portal this offseason. Former Wake Forest cornerback DaShawn Jones and former Charlotte defensive back Kam Howard also transferred into the program this spring, according to Alex Scarborough of Bama247 via 247 Sports.

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Mike Wright, who played in all 12 games and started three at Mississippi State last season, announced Thursday on social media his commitment to the Wildcats.

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According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, Wright visited Northwestern and was hosted by receivers A.J. Henning, Calvin Johnson II and Bryce Kirtz, who combined for 1,151 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023.

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Wright will enter his fifth season of college football this fall. He arrived at Vanderbilt in 2020 as a three-star recruit from Fayetteville, Georgia. The 6-foot-4, 195 pound quarterback also claimed Woodward Academy’s record in the 200-meter dash.

Wright spent three seasons at Vanderbilt earning 11 starts, 2,067 passing yards, 21 touchdowns to 11 interceptions and a nod as one of the Commodores captains in 2022.

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Overall, Wright has played in 38 games, passing for 2,520 yards and 24 touchdowns and rushing for 1,229 more yards and 10 more scores at the college level.

The talented multi-sport athlete also joined Mississippi State’s track and field team in apiary. He competed in his first track meet Jan. 13 at the Vulcan Invite part of the Bulldogs 4x200m Relay Team.

Wright will use his final year of eligibility with Wildcats head coach David Braun and Northwestern. The Wildcats saw starter Ben Bryant graduate from the program after last season, and backup Brendan Sullivan transferred to Iowa, according to ESPN.

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