SPORTS

LSU × Alabama Record Ratings

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ESPN networks had one of their strongest overall weekends of the 2021 college football season, as ESPN and ESPN2 both aired their most-watched games in years during Week 10. Fueling the year-over-year growth were two compelling Southeastern Conference showdowns – LSU and Alabama on ESPN, and Tennessee at Kentucky on ESPN2. Overall, ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 were all up significantly from Week 10 in both 2019 and 2020.

The most-watched game of the weekend on ESPN networks was LSU at Alabama (7 p.m. ET, ESPN), averaging 5 million viewers – the most-viewed college football game on cable this year. The primetime presentation was the top game in Week 10 among key male and adult demos (18-34, 18-49, 25-54). The audience was up 18 percent from the same matchup in 2020 and peaked with 6 million viewers from 10-10:15 p.m. in the final minutes of the game.

Tennessee at Kentucky (7 p.m., ESPN2) averaged 1.5 million viewers, ESPN2’s most-viewed game in more than three years (Auburn at Mississippi State, Oct. 6, 2018). ESPN2 also registered a strong showing with Friday night’s Virginia Tech at Boston College matchup (7:30 p.m., ESPN2), notching 1.2 million viewers. Season-to-date, ESPN and ESPN2 are well ahead of the pack as the top two most-viewed college football cable networks, with ESPN2 up 20 percent from 2019 and up 97 percent from 2020.

ABC’s top game on Saturday was Purdue’s upset of Big Ten rival Michigan State (3:30 p.m.), which scored 4.4 million viewers and was the top game of the late afternoon window.

ESPN Networks Own Saturday Primetime
In the average minute, 9 million viewers and 2.8 million P18-49 viewers were watching college football on ESPN networks. The audience peaked with nearly 10 million viewers from 8:15-8:30 p.m. ESPN networks had the top two college football games in primetime, and ESPN and ABC ranked as the top 2 networks from 8-11 p.m. among all viewers. Among P18-49 viewers, ESPN, ABC and ESPN2 ranked as three of the top four networks in primetime Saturday.

CFB Viewership Sees Exponential Year-Over-Year Growth
Viewership across ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 is up at least double digits from Week 10 in 2020 and 2019. ABC aired its most-viewed Week 10 since 2016 and was up 59 percent from the same week in 2020 and 13 percent from 2019. ESPN was up triple digits from both 2020 (136 percent) and 2019 (103 percent), while ESPN2 had above-average audiences in nearly every window and was up 135 percent from the same week in 2020 and up 27 percent from 2019.

ESPN College Football Schedule

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Crucial Conference Clashes Take Center Stage on ESPN Networks, 15 Ranked Teams and Nearly 50 Games Highlight ESPN’s Week 11 College Football Schedule

Big Ten tussles between No. 7 Michigan and Penn State, Purdue and No. 5 Ohio State – both on ABC

SEC West on the line in primetime on ESPN, featuring No. 14 Texas A&M at No. 16 Ole Miss

Additional key matchups: No. 17 Mississippi State at No. 13 Auburn, No. 19 NC State at No. 9 Wake Forest, No. 10 Notre Dame at Virginia, Northwestern at No. 21 Wisconsin

Week 11 of the 2021 college football season features 15 of the CFP Top 25 – including three matchups with ranked teams on both sides of the ball – in action on ESPN networks. In total, nearly 50 games are slated for ESPN platforms, with every game available on the ESPN App.

ESPN’s Saturday primetime game features a big SEC West battle, as No. 14 Texas A&M takes on No. 16 Ole Miss in Oxford. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN Radio, with Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Holly Rowe on TV, and Marc Kestecher and Ben Hartsock announcing the action on ESPN Radio. The Aggies-Rebels showdown will be supplemented by the AT&T 5G SkyCast and the Great Clips Command Center on ESPN3 and the ESPN App. The game will be amplified by ESPN’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot from The Grove on Saturday morning (9am – noon, ESPN & ESPNU).

A trio of top-10 teams are set for the spotlight on ABC in Week 11. A B1G Saturday kicks off ABC afternoon action, with a quartet of Big Ten teams scheduled for conference contests. Penn State hosts No. 7 Michigan at noon, with Sean McDonough, Dan Orlovsky and Molly McGrath on the call. At 3:30 p.m., Purdue looks to knock off fifth-ranked Ohio State, with Joe Tessitore, Greg McElroy and Katie George commentating from Columbus.

ABC’s Saturday Night Football Presented by Capital One features No. 10 Notre Dame on the road against Virginia. The primetime presentation is set for 7:30 p.m. on ABC and ESPN Radio, with Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek and Tom Luginbill on ABC and Sean Kelley, Barrett Jones and Ian Fitzsimmons on the ESPN Radio call from Charlottesville.

In addition to the seventh-ranked Wolverines, several ranked squads are slated for noon kickoffs on Saturday. On ESPN, another SEC West showdown is set between No. 17 Mississippi State and No. 13 Auburn. Bob Wischusen, Jordan Rodgers and Kris Budden are announcing the action from The Plains. On ESPN2, No. 21 Wisconsin hosts Big Ten foe Northwestern featuring Clay Matvick, Rocky Boiman and Tiffany Blackmon on the mic. On SEC Network, second-ranked Alabama welcomes New Mexico State to T-Town, with Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb and Alyssa Lang calling the Aggies-Crimson Tide contest.

In primetime on ESPN2, No. 18 Kentucky visits Vanderbilt Stadium to face the Dores at 7pm, with Anish Shroff, Mike Golic Jr. and Taylor McGregor on the call. ACC Network is home to the third ranked vs. ranked matchup of the day on ESPN networks, as No. 9 Wake Forest plays host to in-state ACC rival NC State. The 19th-ranked Wolfpack are set to take on the Demon Deacons at 7:30pm, with Dave O’Brien, Tim Hasselbeck and Kelsey Riggs announcing the ACC action.

ESPN’s robust schedule of ranked games kicks off Thursday with No. 25 Pittsburgh hosting North Carolina. Matt Barrie, Roddy Jones and Katie George will be on the ESPN call at 7:30 p.m. Friday night features a primetime battle between No. 6 Cincinnati and American rival South Florida on ESPN2. Set for 6pm, Jason Benetti, Andre Ware and Paul Carcaterra will be providing commentary. Closing out live CFB coverage Saturday on ESPN is No. 4 Oregon welcoming Washington State to Autzen Stadium. Dave Flemming, Rod Gilmore and Stormy Buonantony are slated to announce the Pac-12 After Dark action.

ESPN Networks – Additional Week 11 Highlights

Secretaries’ Cup: Merchant Marine Academy vs. Coast Guard Academy: Saturday at noon, ESPN3
- Talent: Robert Lee, Craig Haubert
SIAC Championship: Albany State vs. Miles College: Saturday at 3 p.m., ESPN3
- Talent: Drew Carter, Charles Arbuckle
Southern Miss at UTSA: Saturday at 3:30 p.m., ESPN+
Jackson State at Southern: Saturday at 7 p.m., ESPN3
- Talent: Tiffany Greene, Jay Walker

College Football Playoff Top 25 Revealed on Tuesday at State Farm Champions Classic

In a college football season filled with upsets and thrillers, ESPN will exclusively reveal the second week of the College Football Playoff Top 25 with the College Football Playoff Top 25 Ranking Show Presented by Goodyear on Tuesday, Nov. 9, at approximately 9 p.m. between State Farm Champions Classic men’s college basketball games. Rece Davis will host the show live from New York City, joined by college football analysts Kirk Herbstreit, Joey Galloway and David Pollack.

College Football on ESPN+

ESPN+ features 50 college football games this week, including action from the SEC, American, Conference USA and Sun Belt. Highlights from this week’s ESPN+ college football original programming include:

Eli’s Places– The season finale, Episode 10: “Big Manning on Campus,” debuted last week. Eli Manning returns to The University of Mississippi and joins his father and Ole Miss all-time great, Archie Manning, to reminisce and have his college jersey retired.
Our Time: UCF Football– Available to stream now on ESPN+, Episode 8: “Tough Love” looks at offensive line coach Herb Hand — despite his demand for perfection, he cares more about his guys than what they can do on the field. New episodes debut every Thursday throughout the season.
SMU Football: The Hilltop– “Trick or Treat,” the ninth episode of SMU Football: The Hilltop, debuted last week. New episodes of The Hilltopwill be available to stream every Thursday during the season.

Additional college football updates will be forthcoming, and the schedule is subject to change. Please continue to check @ESPNPR and ESPN Press Room for more information.

The full schedule and on-air talent grid can be found here.

Note: all rankings above are based on the Nov. 2 CFP Top 25

Americup 2021

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A post-pandemic basketball tournament unlike anything else in the world, FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup 2021, will arrive in Miami’s Bayfront Park next month. On November 12-14th, in the home of the Miami Heat, Hurricanes, and countless other legendary sports teams, FIBA, in partnership with VAUNT and in collaboration with LiveOne’s LiveXLive, will bring the US Men’s National Team and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Gold US Women’s National Team–along with 18 Countries represented by the best 3×3 national teams in Americas–to Miami for the first-ever 3×3 AmeriCup. A three-day hybrid pop-culture event, FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup 2021, will feature a star-studded in-person and virtual music festival, Music Lives: Ballerfest, LiveOne’s original franchise, with Afrobeats, EDM, Hip Hop, Latin, R&B and country music performances that will be livestreamed on LiveXLive. Additionally, the festival will include business panels on industry disruptions. The FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup 2021 will be a culture-shifting event, unlike any live, entertainment, and sporting event in the post-COVID world and the first in Miami’s history.

FIBA partnered with VAUNT, a sports and entertainment intellectual property (IP) development company that creates and produces alternative competitions and culturally relevant content, and Vaunt will collaborate with LiveOne’s LiveXLive, a global platform for livestream and on-demand audio, video, and podcast/vodcast content in music, comedy, sports, and pop culture. The collaboration will create the first-of-its-kind festival. The historic moment marks FIBA’s return to Miami nine years after the City hosted the final of the first-ever FIBA 3×3 World Tour and commences VAUNT’s multi-year relationship as the Local Organizing Committee with FIBA for the exclusive rights to the FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup on the continents.

“I have fond memories of playing in FIBA competitions and representing my country on Team USA in 2001,” said VAUNT CEO, Roger Mason Jr. “Finishing my career with the Miami Heat and being able to bring FIBA AmeriCup 3×3 2021 to Miami is an honor. With the opportunities to coordinate the intersections of sports, music, technology, and competition, my journey as an NBA player and industry executive comes full-circle in the vision of this event.”

“The FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup 2021 will be a great way to expand the game across the globe,” FIBA’s office in the Americas Executive Director, Carlos Alves, said. “Having the FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup 2021 in Miami is not only a homecoming for our regional head office, but more consequentially, a city encompassing the main traits of the game: urban, iconic, vibrant, international, and multicultural.”

“Music and sports naturally complement one another. LiveOne is excited to bring this emerging culture to Miami and a global audience,” Dermot McCormack, President of LiveOne. “Music Lives: Ballerfest will offer fans a truly unparalleled listening, interactive and live streaming viewing experience and will be the blueprint for the future of all hybrid festivals.”

“FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup 2021 is a great event to add to Miami’s entertainment scene,” said Miami Mayor, Francis Suarez. “Miami is the best City in America for sports fans and I’m so excited to be adding the AmeriCup to the list of what we have to offer fans—Miami welcomes FIBA, VAUNT, LiveOne, and all of those involved for three days of basketball, music, and entertainment.”

“After nine years, I’m excited to see the return of FIBA to Miami-Dade,” said Mayor of Miami-Dade County, Daniella Levine Cava. “I know this event will draw leaders in sports, business, and entertainment to our community, inspiring young people who dream of becoming great athletes both at home and around the world. Miami-Dade is proud to host dynamic, global, world-class events like FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup 2021 as we work to build back our economy stronger than ever from the pandemic.”

“I’m excited to be a part of this historic event,” said legendary championship boxer and confirmed festival participant Floyd Mayweather. “It’s unique to have so many different people at the top-of-their-game coming together to one event and venue, especially in a great city like Miami.”

“It’s an honor to produce the 3on3 Celebrity Basketball games with VAUNT,” said Michael Mak, CEO & Founder of Celebrity Sports Entertainment “CSE”. The games will offer a fresh perspective to sporting events and will deliver their mission of creating meaningful content that shifts cultural norms for live entertainment. FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup 2021 is a dope way for celebrities and championship athletes to do what they love while interacting with their peers in business and entertainment.”

“I’m eager for people to experience this unique, innovative event that will pair Sports and musical performances,” said Darren Collison, former NBA player, AmeriCup attendee and youth clinics host. “I’m excited to host the youth clinical and the larger-than-life dreams and ambitions to participate amongst such esteemed sports industry leaders and athletes.”

The festival will be live-streamed on LiveXLive’s platform. Each day, from (9:30am to 6:30pm EST), the event will be free. After 7pm, tickets will be required for entry for the end-of-the-day games and artist performances.

THE BLUE CARD TEAM

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RUNNING THE NYC MARATHON–AND OTHER GLOBAL RACES–TO RAISE MILLIONS FOR HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS

For the 50th anniversary of the running of the NYC Marathon, The Blue Card, a national non-profit organization dedicated to aiding over 3,000 needy Holocaust survivors households is thrilled to be partnering with the race for the eleventh consecutive year. The TCS New York City Marathon is one of the largest marathons in the world, 26.2 miles, running through the five boroughs of NYC, and hosting runners from more than 100 countries.

“The New York City Marathon showcases the resilience and the fortitude of this great city,” states The Blue Card’s Executive Director, Masha Pearl. “We’re thrilled to have Team Blue Card running among athletes from around the world once again, and the ability to use this great gathering to raise much needed awareness and funds for holocaust survivors.”

The Blue Card has partnered with the NYC Marathon for this initiative since 2009 as ‘Team Blue Card.’ These 50 runners use their training, platform, and the event to raise funds and awareness for The Blue Card, aiding the organization’s mission of helping holocaust survivors in need. Historically, ‘Team Blue Card’ has raised a grand total of $2 Million through their combined efforts over the last 11 years, fundraising through social media, crowdfunding, employer gift matching, sponsorships, as well as through family and friends.

Team Blue Card’s efforts extend beyond the NYC Marathon. The Blue Card has been an Official Charity Partner of the Miami Half/Full Marathon since 2011, the TD 5 Borough Bike Tour in New York City since 2011, and team members have also participated in the NYC Panasonic Lifetime Triathlon as well as numerous other national and international events including Germany, Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem, Israel, and Italy. Our endurance team participants come from around the world, including Argentina, Austria, France, Israel, Italy, Mexico, and South Africa.

There is still opportunity to run with Team Blue Card—or to support from the sidelines. More details can be found here: https://bluecardfund.org/become-involved/team-blue-card/.

Funds raised go toward providing Holocaust survivors with the following services daily:

Education & Outreach Programs:
- Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed (PCTI) training for dental and medical professionals working with Holocaust survivors
- The Blue Card-Lissner Hospital Visitation Program – Volunteer visits to hospitalized Holocaust survivors.
- Nutrition guidance
Jewish Holiday – Provides financial support for the High Holidays, Hannukah, and for Passover, giving survivors the financial means for a better holiday season.
Mazel Tov Birthday – Provides survivors with a card and a check on their birthday. This is particularly meaningful for holocaust survivors who lost their entire family during the war.
FreeStyle Libre Glucose Monitoring: The Freestyle Libre 2 system continuously measures glucose data with customizable, optional real time alarms The unit gives people with diabetes excellent accuracy and actionable information to better manage their condition.
Grant assistance for emergency needs, including:
- Housing and related costs to prevent eviction, homelessness, or utility shut-off
- Emergency relocation
- Food purchase
- Medical and dental care, including medical equipment not covered by insurance
- Emergency relocation
- Essential clothing and footwear
- Purchase and repair or essential major and minor appliance
Aid to survivors battling cancer through the Siggi B. Wilzig Fighting Cancer Together program
Emergency Prevention Programs, including
- Monthly stipend for poverty-stricken survivors
- Telephone emergency response system

The Blue Card, established in 1934 in Germany and organized in the U.S. in 1939, is the only organization whose sole mission is to provide critical financial aid for emergency medical, dental, housing and food needs to survivors of Nazi persecution. While the Holocaust seems like a long ago nightmare, for survivors it is a continuing one. Of the 75,000 Holocaust survivors in the U.S., one-third live at or below the federal poverty level. For many, the losses they experienced decades ago are compounded by their current struggles to subsist on meager incomes and threadbare or nonexistent support systems. Studies show that Holocaust survivors have higher incidences of mental illness, cancer, and other debilitating diseases.

You can donate to The Blue Card Fund here: https://bluecardfund.org/become-involved/donate/

About The Blue Card

Established in Germany in 1934 as a grassroots effort and re-established in the United States in 1939 to aid refugees resettling in America, The Blue Card continues today to provide direct financial assistance to needy Holocaust survivors who live at or near the poverty line. As this population ages, with many now living into their 80s and 90s, their needs have drastically increased and changed, giving rise to the need for funding of essential needs. Funds raised are used to finance many diverse programs including stipendiary, medical/dental, cancer, vitamin/nutrition and holiday as well as other initiatives for this frail and often neglected population.

The Blue Card has distributed over $46 million to date, with 100 percent of individual donations going directly to survivors. For more information on The Blue Card, please visit www.bluecardfund.org.

WEEK FOUR OF ESPN COLLEGE FOOTBALL

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Saturday Night Football on ABC Ranks as College Football’s Most-Viewed Franchise, Averaging 6.5 Million Viewers
ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 Air Most-Viewed Week 4 Since 2017
Best Saturday Quadruple-Header on ESPN Since 2018

ESPN networks saw several viewership gains during Week 4 of the college football season, including the third straight Saturday of ESPN and ABC winning the night in primetime, ranking as the most-viewed networks across all genres among all viewers and key adult demos. Additionally, ABC’s Saturday Night Football Presented by Capital One is the most-watched college football franchise heading into Week 5, averaging nearly 6.5 million viewers.

Saturday’s SNF matchup between West Virginia and Oklahoma was the second-most-viewed game across all networks in Week 4 with 4,502,000 average viewers, peaking with 6,273,000 viewers in the final moments of the game.

Week 4 gave ESPN one of its best viewership weeks in recent seasons, and ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 all aired their most-viewed Week 4 slates since 2017.

ESPN boasted its most-viewed Saturday quadruple-header since November 10, 2018, averaging 2,185,000 viewers in Week 4. LSU-Mississippi State was the most-viewed noon ET game on cable this year with 1,791,000 average viewers. Clemson-NC State (2,185,000 average viewers) was the most-viewed 3:30 p.m. game on cable this year and peaked with 4.5 million viewers in overtime.

Under the lights, Tennessee-Florida (3,282,000 average viewers) in primetime on ESPN was the second-most-viewed game on any cable network this year, while Arizona-Oregon (1,656,000 average viewers) was the most-viewed late-night game on any network this year.

College GameDay Built by The Home Depot registered 1,581,000 average viewers, winning Saturday morning from the Windy City with more than two million viewers in the final hour.

ESPN × College Football

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Week 5 of college football across ESPN networks boasts a baker’s dozen of ranked squads in action, including three of the top four featured in this week’s AP Top 25. Highlighting the schedule this week is an all-SEC tripleheader on ESPN, featuring No. 2 Georgia, No. 8 Arkansas, No. 10 Florida and No. 22 Auburn.

At noon ET, the eighth-ranked Razorbacks head between the hedges to battle the second-ranked Bulldogs featuring Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Holly Rowe on the call, with the AT&T SkyCast available on ESPN3 and the ESPN App. ESPN’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot pregame show arrives in Athens on Saturday morning (9 a.m. – noon).

At 6 p.m., the No. 10 Gators look to Lexington and a matchup with undefeated Kentucky as Bob Wischusen, Dan Orlovsky and Kris Budden announce the action. At 9 p.m., No. 22 Auburn is set for a showdown with SEC West foe, LSU. The Tigers vs. Tigers tussle is set for both ESPN and ESPN Radio, with Joe Tessitore, Greg McElroy and Katie George live on ESPN and Sean Kelley, Barrett Jones and Ian Fitzsimmons on the radio call in Baton Rouge. Auburn-LSU features a SkyCast viewing option on ESPN3 and the ESPN App.

It’s an action-packed Saturday on ABC with a trio of games set for the spotlight. ABC’s Saturday Night Football Presented by Capital One features a Big Ten battle between Indiana at No. 4 Penn State at 7:30 p.m. ET, with SkyCast and the Great Clips Command Center available on ESPN3 and the ESPN App. Sean McDonough, Todd Blackledge and Molly McGrath are on the TV call, with Marc Kestecher and Ben Hartsock live on ESPN Radio.

Pac-12 action is set for mid-afternoon on ABC, as Dave Flemming, Rod Gilmore and Stormy Buonantony call No. 3 Oregon at Stanford at 3:30 p.m. Gilmore returns to his alma mater where he was a two-sport athlete in football and baseball for the Cardinal. At noon, a Lone Star State showdown looms between Texas and TCU, as Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek and Tom Luginbill kick off the day’s action on ABC.

On ESPN2, 2011 Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III calls his first game featuring his alma mater, as the No. 21 Baylor Bears take on Big 12 rival Oklahoma State. The 7 p.m. matchup between Baylor and the 19th-ranked Cowboys is this week’s 4K Game of the Week.

Also in primetime, No. 15 Texas A&M hosts Mississippi State at 7 p.m. on SEC Network, with the SEC Saturday Night trio of Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers and Cole Cubelic on the call. At 7:30 p.m., Boston College looks to keep their unbeaten streak going against No. 25 Clemson on ACC Primetime Football, as Dave O’Brien, Tim Hasselbeck – a former Eagles quarterback – and Kelsey Riggs announce the action.

Finally, Saturday’s slate concludes with a matchup of undefeated teams in the Big Sky as Montana (3-0) travels to Eastern Washington (4-0). Clay Matvick, Rocky Boiman and Tiffany Blackmon have the call at 10:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

Auburn × Penn State Reach 7.6 Millions Viewers

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Auburn-Penn State Registers 7.6 Million Viewers for ABC’s Saturday Night Football, ABC/ESPN Win the Night in Week 3

Auburn/Penn State registered 7.6M average viewers, the second-most-viewed Week 3 matchup

ABC has aired three of the top five games of the 2021 season

Nearly 11M average viewers watching CFB in primetime across ESPN networks on Saturday

ESPN boasts top two games on cable

ABC and ESPN continued to see multi-year viewership highs in Week 3 of the season, highlighted by Saturday night’s primetime matchup between then-No. 22 Auburn and then-No. 10 Penn State.

ABC’s Saturday Night Football Presented by Capital One averaged 7,606,000 viewers, the second-most-watched Week 3 game across all networks and fifth-best game of the year. ABC has aired three of the top five most-watched games of the year, and only once in the past decade (2016) have five games surpassed the 7.5 million viewers mark in the first three weeks of the season. The 7.6 million viewers is one of the five best September game audiences on ABC since the start of the 2018 season.

The matchup between the Tigers and the Nittany Lions peaked from 10:45 – 11 p.m. ET with 8.9 million viewers in the closing minutes of the game. This was the most-viewed Week 3 game on ABC since 2011 and the audience was up more than 100% from Saturday Night Football in 2020’s Week 3 (Miami/Louisville) and Week 3 in 2019 (Clemson/Syracuse). Driven by this game, ABC for the day was up +43 percent from 2019’s Week 3.

ESPN networks once again owned primetime as the top two networks among all key male and adult demos from 8 – 11 p.m. During that window, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU had a combined average minute audience of 10.7 million viewers.

Across the entire sport, 9.4 billion minutes were watched across all networks, up +12% from Week 2 and the most-viewed Week 3 since 2016.

ESPN Boasts Top Two Games on Cable in Week 3
ESPN notched the top two games on cable for Week 3, including South Carolina/Georgia (2,548,000 viewers) in primetime on Saturday, and Friday night’s UCF/Louisville matchup (1,881,000), which was up +8 percent from the 2019 Friday doubleheader (North Carolina/Wake Forest and Washington State/Houston).

College GameDay Built by The Home Depot Has Banner Day

ESPN’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot (9 a.m. – noon) had a high-powered weekend in Happy Valley, with the three-hour show averaging 1,910,000 viewers, which ranks as the most-viewed College GameDay since Rivalry Week in 2019. The audience was up +84 percent from Week 3 in 2020 (Louisville) and +7 percent from Week 3 in 2019 (Ames).

Saturday’s show ranks as the best Week 3 airing of the show since 2016 and the final hour (11 a.m. – noon) averaged 2,425,500 viewers, the best final hour since the 2019 season.

Ranked Teams Battle on ESPN Networks

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Nearly a Dozen Ranked Teams Slated for ESPN Networks, West Virginia at No. 4 Oklahoma Featured on ABC’s Saturday Night Football

Key matchups: West Virginia at No. 4 Oklahoma, Rutgers at No. 19 Michigan, Tennessee at No. 11 Florida, No. 25 Kansas State at Oklahoma State, No. 9 Clemson at NC State

Week 4 of college football across ESPN networks sees several ranked teams in action, including four of the top five in this week’s AP Top 25. ABC’s Saturday Night Football Presented by Capital One features West Virginia at No. 4 Oklahoma at 7:30 p.m. ET, with AT&T SkyCast available on ESPN3 and the ESPN App. Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, and Holly Rowe will call the matchup between the host Sooners and the Mountaineers, who look to upset their second straight ranked opponent after knocking off then-No. 15 Virginia Tech last week.

In a rematch from last year’s triple-overtime thriller, Rutgers and No. 19 Michigan, a matchup of undefeated teams, meet at 3:30 p.m. on ABC, as Sean McDonough, Todd Blackledge, and Molly McGrath announce the action from Ann Arbor. Also on ABC Saturday is a noon Big 12 battle between Texas Tech and Texas. Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek, and Tom Luginbill will be on the TV call, with Sean Kelley, Barrett Jones, and Ian Fitzsimmons providing commentary on the ESPN Radio broadcast.

An intriguing SEC showdown on Saturday is Tennessee at No. 11 Florida on ESPN and ESPN Radio, with the visiting Vols looking for their first victory in the Swamp since 2004. Joe Tessitore, Greg McElroy, and Katie George will handle announcing duties on the ESPN telecast at 7 p.m., with Marc Kestecher and Ben Hartsock on ESPN Radio. The matchup will have additional programming on ESPN3 and the ESPN App with SkyCast and the Great Clips Command Center.

ESPN also welcomes another trio of cross-conference clashes to its Saturday slate in No. 9 Clemson at NC State, LSU at Mississippi State, and Arizona at No. 3 Oregon. The all-ACC action, this week’s 4K Game of the Week, is set for 3:30 p.m. on ESPN, with Mark Jones, Robert Griffin III and Quint Kessenich on the call. The SEC contest between the Tigers and the Bulldogs kicks off ESPN’s CFB schedule at noon, with Bob Wischusen, Dan Orlovsky, and Kris Budden life from Starkville. In this week’s Pac-12 After Dark matchup, the third-ranked Ducks take on Arizona at 10:30 p.m. on ESPN, with Dave Flemming, Rod Gilmore, and Stormy Buonantony calling the action from Autzen.

ESPN College Networks – Week 4
A quartet of ranked teams are slated for ESPN’s college networks in Week 4, including No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Georgia, No. 21 North Carolina, and No. 25 Kansas State.

The top-ranked Crimson Tide host Southern Miss at 7:30 p.m. on SEC Network, with the SEC Saturday Night trio of Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers, and Cole Cubelic on the call. Earlier in the afternoon on SECN, the second-ranked Bulldogs venture to Vandy, with Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb, and Alyssa Lang calling the matchup in Music City.

On ACC Network, No. 21 North Carolina goes down I-85 to take on Georgia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The ACC Network Primetime contest features Roy Philpott, Tim Hasselbeck, and Kelsey Riggs announcing the action in Atlanta.

On Big 12 Now on ESPN+, No. 25 Kansas State takes on Oklahoma State in a Big 12 battle. Shawn Kenney, Ryan Leaf, and Shane Sparks are set to call the showdown in Stillwater at 7 p.m.

College Football Original Series on ESPN+

Eli’s Places – Episode 3: “Nick Saban” follows Eli Manning to Tuscaloosa where he spends his “spring break” at Nick Saban’s lake house. Eli talks with the Alabama head coach about The Process, reminisces about Saban’s storied coaching career and tries to hang on as Saban takes him tubing on the lake. Episode 4: “The Only Autograph That Matters” debuts tomorrow, when Eli examines the evolution of recruiting with renowned talent analyst, Tom Lemming. Big brother Peyton also chaperones Eli’s recruiting trip to LSU, where Head Coach Ed Orgeron gives the full-court press to get Eli to become a Tiger.

Our Time: UCF Football – Available to stream now on ESPN+, Episode 2 “Making Moves” follows the Knights’ first win of the season, while UCF Football is buzzing after the school makes a decision that impacts their program’s future. Each episode of Our Time: UCF Football offers an inside look at the start of the Gus Malzahn era in Orlando, taking fans behind the scenes with Malzahn, other Knight coaches and UCF players who are mic’d up for various segments. New episodes debut every Thursday throughout the season.

SMU Football: The Hilltop – “The Team from Denton”, the third episode of SMU Football: The Hilltop, features freshman wide receiver Roderick Daniels, Jr., a Dallas native living out his dream playing for his hometown Mustangs, and takes fans into the locker room during halftime before SMU’s 28-point second-half explosion on their way to a big 35-12 win over North Texas. New episodes of The Hilltop will be available to stream every Thursday during the season.

Additional ESPN Networks – Week 4 Highlights

Wake Forest at Virginia: Friday at 7 p.m., ESPN2

Talent: Mike Morgan, Andre Ware, Paul Carcaterra

South Florida at No. 15 BYU: Saturday at 10:15 p.m., ESPN2

Talent: Beth Mowins, Kirk Morrison, Dawn Davenport

UMass at No. 17 Coastal Carolina: Saturday at 1 p.m., ESPN+

Additional college football updates will be forthcoming, and the schedule is subject to change. Please continue to check @ESPNPR and ESPN Press Room for more information.

The full schedule and on-air talent grid can be found here.

Lebron James × Youtube Originals – I PROMISE

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Youtube Originals Announces new documentary “I Promise” from Ledbron James’ The Springhill Company chronicling year one at his groundbreaking, public I Promise school, both a film and an educational resource, “I Promise” provides an inside look at a new model for urban, public education, the film debuts September 28 onlu on Youtube, and watch the official trailer HERE

YouTube Originals today announced “I Promise,” a feature documentary film from award-winning director, Marc Levin, that tells the story of LeBron James’ efforts to close the achievement gap in his hometown of Akron, Ohio through the eyes of the inspiring students who are resetting expectations of their futures. The film premieres Thursday, September 28 at 12 pm ET / 9 am PT on the YouTube Originals channel.

The documentary, which premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Festival, features an in-depth look at the first academic year inside the groundbreaking I Promise School, which opened in 2018. Viewers will get to explore the day-to-day trials, triumphs, and life-changing impact of the school staff, students, and families working together in a unique, family-first educational environment that embraces the trauma and challenges many faces in Akron. The film offers an intimate look at the school’s blueprint for a new model for urban, public education – a holistic, STEM-focused approach led by love and Social-Emotional Learning infused with the LeBron James Family Foundation’s “We Are Family” philosophy. In opening the doors to the I PROMISE School’s early challenges and learnings, the film exists to provide insights and tools that students and educators in every community across the country can implement in their classrooms and beyond.

“I Promise” is directed by Marc Levin with executive producers LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Jamal Henderson, Philip Byron, Nicholas Lopez, Marc Levin, Dan Levin, Catherine Cyr, and Josh Gold. LeBron James and Maverick Carter will serve as executive producers on the documentary with their empowerment-led media conglomerate The SpringHill Company. “I Promise” director Marc Levin will also executive produce alongside Jamal Henderson, Philip Byron, Nicholas Lopez, Daniel B. Levin, Catherine Cyr, and Josh Gold. The film is a Blowback Pictures Production in association with RYOT Lab and LeBron James Family Foundation. Susanne Daniels is Global Head of Original Content for YouTube. Nadine Zylstra serves as Head of Family, Learning, and Impact for YouTube Originals, with Zoe Di Stefano also overseeing “I Promise” for YouTube Originals. 360 Magazine is amazed to see such good work being done for the community. Many people are giving back to the community especially because of the time period we are in.

“I Promise” joins a growing slate of learning and impact projects including the upcoming new slate of sustainability-focused programming: “Seat at the Table,” with David Attenborough and creator Jack Harries, “Stay Wild” (working title) from Brave Wilderness in partnership with Appian Way and Madica Productions, “Shut It Off ASAP” (working title) from AsapSCIENCE and B17 Entertainment; in addition to launched projects from the #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund aimed to invest with intention with programming like “Bear Witness, Take Action 2,” which continued the movement on racial justice to evoke change and protect Black lives; “Resist,” a documentary series from Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors; and “Barbershop Medicine” aiming to put the “public” back in Public Health and explore the impact race and socioeconomic status have on healthcare and longevity. Additional learning YouTube Originals include Emmy Award-winning mini-series “Create Together,” a Joseph Gordon-Levitt hosted series featuring the creations of everyday people collaborating to make art; Daytime Emmy Award-winning special “Creators for Change on Girls’ Education with Michelle Obama” where YouTube creators, such as Liza Koshy, sit down with Former First Lady Michelle Obama and the Obama Foundation to discuss the state of girls’ education around the world; Emmy-nominated “Glad You Asked” that explores topics driven by our curiosity about the world around us; and “Retro Tech” the Emmy-nominated series that explores the technological promises of the past.

How the Fashion Industry Made Running Cool

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The fashion industry is hugely influential to the point that it can make or break trends in all sorts of arenas, even in those only tangentially related.

One of the biggest examples of this occurred when the rise of stylish sportswear suddenly made it cool to run. This fashion trend elevating running above the straightforward form of exercise that it had been seen as in the past.

Here’s a look at what enabled the running revolution and the role that fashion brands had in catalyzing it.

The Power of Celebrity

It is impossible to talk about the rise of fashion-focused sportswear without touching on the rich and famous turning functional clothing into must-have garments.

Starting in the 1980s, professional athletes, as well as the stars of stage and screen, began to be seen in branded, designer sportswear. Manufacturers realized that if they could get their logos noticed by the public, they would inevitably sell more.

This time also coincided with an increased interest in health and fitness, especially amongst the middle classes. Of course, if you see celebrities out and about in the latest training tops, shorts and sneakers, then you will not only want to emulate their exercise routines, but also their workout wardrobes. In the modern age, celebrity endorsements and tie-ins take this even further.

The Affordability & Timelessness

Another aspect of why the fashion industry was so eager to push sportswear once it got its first taste was because of the inexpensive production costs. From the best sunglasses for running on the road to the top training shoes for the track, the relative simplicity of the designs – combined with the minimal materials needed to make them – meant that manufacturers could make a mint on the markup of designer sportswear.

Meanwhile, another perk from a design perspective is that while fashion in the sportswear sector does cycle quite quickly, the underlying designs for the key pieces required for running or any other activity do not need significant change. This timelessness continues to pay dividends from a cost-saving perspective for manufacturers, while also meaning that people who pick up gear can then keep using it for years without feeling like they are falling behind the times.

The Comfort

Sportswear did not just became fashionable because activities like jogging and running were made into mainstream hobbies for millions. The sheer versatility of this type of clothing allowed it to become accepted in a lot of other contexts too.

It is perfectly normal to see people wearing garments that are ostensibly designed for exercise in bars, restaurants and even business meetings. This is not just because of changing trends, but also as a result of how comfortable sportswear tends to be in comparison with traditional garb.

People who picked up running gear to fulfill their fitness goals can also happily slip into it for everyday errands and other occasions, while still feeling cool and en vogue.

The Tribalism

There is one final talking point relating to sportswear, fitness and the fashion industry – the kind of tribalism which is innate to humanity.

By designer brands entering the market and promoting their products against rivals, this could rub off on consumers, creating a kind of product fueled war of loyalty. Nike, Adidas and Reebok have all capitalized on this, but high end fashion houses are equally invested in this approach.

Running remains a pastime which is unavoidably associated with being seen by others, and if you can wear the colors and designs of a brand you love while doing it, then it’s all the better. And so, fashion and sportswear look set to maintain their close relationship indefinitely, even if specific brands may rise and fall.