The First Whistle: $55M Roster

Texas Tech continues landed five-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo—Texas’ No. 1 recruit and a national top-10 prospect—with a reported three-year, $2.3 million revenue-sharing agreement. The Red Raiders outpaced powerhouse programs like Texas and Ohio State for Ojo. While his agent claims the deal could reach $5 million, Tech sources confirm a $775,000 annual salary with escalation clauses. The move signals Texas Tech’s aggressive investment strategy in both NIL and revenue sharing, part of a broader $55 million plan across its athletics department for 2025–26.

🏈 Read full ESPN article here

Saudi Arabia’s Surj Sports Investment, the sports arm of the Public Investment Fund, is finalizing a $20 million investment in the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) as part of a larger funding round. This follows a $10 million stake from Cordillera Investment Partners and adds to backing from existing investors like Warner Brothers Discovery and Sir Michael Moritz. The PTO is pursuing a global commercial overhaul of professional triathlon, with a nine-race T100 World Tour culminating in a championship final in Qatar. The organisation, partly athlete-owned, aims to capitalize on growing broadcast and sponsorship interest.

🏃 Read full Sky News article here

Apple is reportedly challenging ESPN for the U.S. broadcast rights to Formula One, according to the Financial Times, as F1 seeks a significant increase from its current $90 million annual deal to a reported $150–$180 million. Apple’s growing presence in sports, backed by its recent success with F1: The Movie and existing MLS and MLB deals, signals its serious intent to expand in live sports. The move aligns with broader trends, as tech giants like Amazon, Netflix, and Google continue to disrupt traditional sports broadcasting.

🏎️ Read full Front Office Sports article here

At Big 12 Media Days, coaches described the chaotic and unclear post-settlement college football recruiting landscape, with widespread confusion over new rules tied to revenue sharing and NIL enforcement. Despite restrictions, many programs are reportedly pushing the limits by front-loading contracts, promising third-party NIL deals, and offering compensation to high school players. Coaches expressed concern that enforcement by the new Deloitte-run NIL clearinghouse and the College Sports Commission remains slow and uncertain, leaving many deals in limbo. The imbalance between schools that could spend heavily upfront and those that couldn’t is already reshaping the recruiting landscape, with little clarity on how or when true accountability will arrive.

📃 Read full Yahoo Sports article here

Spindrift, the sparkling water brand recently acquired by Gryphon Investors for $650 million, has attracted a roster of high-profile athlete investors, including Kevin Durant, DK Metcalf, Azzi Fudd, Derrick White, Livvy Dunne, and Maarten Paes. The investment was facilitated through Patricof Co., a firm specializing in private equity opportunities for athletes. Spindrift’s new CEO, David Burwick, noted that the athletes were already fans of the brand, making their investment a natural extension as the company looks to compete in a crowded sparkling beverage market.

💧 Read full Sportico article here

AJ Dybantsa, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, has signed an eight-figure, multiyear NIL deal with Fanatics Collectibles, making him a multimillionaire before starting his college career at BYU. The agreement centers on trading cards and memorabilia through Fanatics-owned Topps and includes autographs, game-used items, and marketing campaigns. Fresh off winning MVP at the FIBA U19 World Cup, Dybantsa adds this deal to his already impressive endorsement portfolio. His contract is one of Fanatics’ largest NIL deals and will continue into his professional career.

💰️ Read full Sportico article here

Eli Manning has withdrawn from pursuing minority ownership in the New York Giants, citing potential conflicts with his ESPN ManningCast role and other professional commitments. While expressing full confidence in the team’s reported $10 billion valuation, Manning said his involvement would have limited his ability to engage with players and affected his current ventures. Despite stepping back from the ownership bid, he remains actively involved with the Giants and continues his ownership roles in Gotham FC and TGL’s New York golf team. The Giants are still exploring a minority, non-controlling sale, with bids from figures like Julia Koch, Michael Strahan, and Marc Lasry reportedly in the mix.

📉 Read full CNBC Sport article here

⬆️ Mike Brown. Mike Brown has been hired as the new head coach of the Knicks, saying he’s ready for big expectations and big wins. - Brian Mahoney

⬆️ Angel Reese. Chicago Sky star Angel Reese was named the cover athlete of NBA 2K26’s WNBA Edition and is debuting her first signature shoe, the Angel Reese 1 with Reebok. – Cydney Henderson

⬆️ Brett Yormark. Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark is pushing to turn the Big 12 into college sports' first truly global conference, from football in Ireland to basketball in Paris to baseball in Mexico City. – David Rumsey

⬇️ Kevontae Turpin. Cowboys All-Pro returner KaVontae Turpin was arrested over the weekend in Allen, Texas, facing misdemeanor charges for marijuana possession and unlawful carrying of a weapon. – ESPN