🏟️ A New Look for the NFL Calendar

Welcome to this week’s edition of Sports Industry Weekly.
We’re breaking down the biggest headlines, boldest moves, and emerging trends shaping the business of sports. From major deals to industry shifts, here’s what you need to know. Let’s dive in.

The NFL’s 2026 schedule is expected to look different as the league pushes for more standalone broadcast windows and greater global reach. The league is exploring new scheduling formats that could place more games outside traditional Sunday slots to increase viewership.

Several changes are under consideration. The season kickoff game could move to Wednesday to accommodate the NFL’s first regular season game in Australia. The league is also considering adding a Thanksgiving Eve game and expanding international play to a record nine games across England, Germany, Spain, France, Australia, Mexico, and Brazil.

These moves reflect the NFL’s broader strategy to grow global exposure and maximize TV audiences. By shifting games into standalone windows, the league can turn matchups that typically draw about 20 million viewers into broadcasts that reach 30 million or more. (read more)

🏀 The Miami RedHawks men's basketball team sparked a major NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament debate after their first loss raised questions about whether a 31–1 mid-major résumé deserves an at-large bid.

⚽ The National Women's Soccer League enters a pivotal 2026 season with expansion teams, returning stars like Trinity Rodman, and a major opportunity to grow alongside the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.

⚾ World Baseball Classic viewership is surging as a stacked knockout stage is expected to draw record TV audiences.

🎥 Omaha Productions and Overtime are producing a Roku docuseries following Sacramento State Hornets men's basketball, led by coach Mike Bibby with Shaquille O’Neal serving as the program’s general manager.

📺 The Los Angeles Angels bought out Main Street Sports Group to take full ownership of FanDuel Sports Network West, creating a unique local media strategy among Major League Baseball teams.

💰 The College Sports Commission says its NIL Go clearinghouse is under strain as a surge in “associated entity” deals slows approvals after already processing $166.5 million in Name, Image, and Likeness deals.

📱 The Tampa Bay Buccaneers mistakenly engaged with a fake Emeka Egbuka social media account for months before it was suspended following a controversial post about CTE.

⛸️ Alysa Liu was honored in her hometown of Oakland with a rally and a key to the city after winning two gold medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

🏀 NCAA is considering expanding the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament beyond 68 teams, but critics argue it would reward struggling power-conference programs rather than deserving mid-majors.

🏈 The NFL is exploring a Thanksgiving Eve game after record 2025 viewership showed the league’s holiday broadcasts continue to drive massive TV audiences.

🏀 The WNBA and WNBPA entered a third straight day of marathon negotiations as both sides push toward a new collective bargaining agreement before the upcoming season.

⛳ The PGA Tour is taking a wait-and-see approach on sports prediction markets despite platforms from DraftKings and FanDuel expanding into the space.

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