The First Whistle: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Vestible, a tech platform helping college athletic departments raise equity capital, has launched the first regulated model that allows schools to convert future revenues into upfront investment — without debt, private equity, or donor dependency. The capital comes from a powerful but untapped source: fans, donors, and alumni who now have the opportunity to invest directly in the programs they support. As costs soar across facilities, NIL infrastructure, staffing, and recruiting, athletic departments are being forced to navigate a widening funding gap. Traditional tools — one-time donations, expensive debt, or strategic partners with operational strings attached — don't scale for what's next. Vestible's solution: a perpetual, transparent structure that raises capital without sacrificing control.

👀 Read full press release here

On Sunday night in Nashville, 23 Power Four general managers met with Athletes.Org leaders to discuss the future of collective bargaining in college athletics. The group unanimously agreed that collective bargaining is the best path forward, supporting measures like removing the transfer portal window during the season and implementing performance-based incentives. They also endorsed formal certification and registration of agents. This meeting marks a rare, open conversation on a traditionally taboo topic, signaling a growing consensus among key stakeholders that collective bargaining could help stabilize and evolve the college sports ecosystem.

📃 Read full On3 article here

The House v. NCAA settlement has ushered in a new era of revenue sharing and reform in college athletics, but legal, political, and operational challenges remain. Tennessee AD Danny White proposes a novel collective bargaining model where players are employed by a national entity rather than universities, allowing negotiation of salary caps, benefits, and transfer rules without employee status at schools. While some power brokers and player advocates back collective bargaining as a solution to ongoing chaos, others—including many players—express hesitation about unionization. Meanwhile, federal legislation such as the NCAA-backed SCORE Act and competing bills complicate the landscape. The article highlights tensions between tradition, player rights, legal battles, and evolving market forces, suggesting collective bargaining may become inevitable as college sports adapts to new realities.

🏈 Read full CBS Sports article here

Stanford University President Jon Levin has appointed John Donahoe, former CEO of Nike and Stanford GSB alumnus, as the new Director and Chair of Athletics, effective September 8. Donahoe will lead Stanford Athletics through a transformative era marked by revenue sharing, NIL developments, and conference realignment. He follows the recent hiring of Andrew Luck as general manager of Stanford Football. Donahoe brings extensive leadership experience from top global companies and a passion for Stanford’s dual commitment to academic and athletic excellence. Key stakeholders, including Nike co-founder Phil Knight and Stanford trustees, praise Donahoe’s vision and integrity, emphasizing his ability to guide Stanford Athletics to a sustainable and successful future.

🌲 Read full Stanford article here

LeBron James is reportedly raising $5 billion for a new global basketball league alongside business partner Maverick Carter. The proposed league, which ESPN first reported on in January, would feature six men’s and six women’s teams playing worldwide in a tour-style format. It also offers player equity, a departure from current NBA and WNBA models. The league aims to launch in fall 2026 and is backed by private equity and sovereign wealth funds, including interests from Singapore and Saudi Arabia. This initiative parallels growing NBA efforts to expand internationally but represents a novel competitor offering full-time commitments and innovative player incentives.

🏀 Read full Complex article here

Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 women’s basketball league composed exclusively of WNBA players, has signed nearly 90% of its 42-player roster for the 2026 season. The league, co-founded by stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, has set a new standard for player compensation—reportedly paying an average salary of $220,000 last season. This is significantly higher than the WNBA average. Unrivaled continues to raise salaries in line with strong business performance despite criticism over potential conflicts of interest related to CBA negotiations.

📈 Read full Front Office Sports article here

ESPN and the NFL announced a non-binding agreement in which ESPN will acquire NFL Network and other NFL media assets, including the RedZone Channel and NFL Fantasy platforms, in exchange for a 10% equity stake in ESPN. The deal aims to enhance football content distribution, integrate NFL Fantasy offerings, and fuel ESPN’s direct-to-consumer initiatives. While the NFL retains ownership of NFL Films, NFL Network programming has diminished over recent years, and the acquisition could lead to programming shifts and staffing changes. The partnership raises questions about future NFL coverage, particularly regarding investigative reporting and league transparency, given ESPN’s increased NFL ownership stake. Final terms are pending approval and negotiation.

📺️ Read full USA Today article here

The NCAA, once the undisputed authority in college sports, has ceded unprecedented power to the Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, and SEC, which now hold 65% weighted voting across Division I committees. This shift is the culmination of a decades-long power grab that began after the 1984 Supreme Court ruling allowing schools to control their own football TV rights—a blow from which the NCAA never recovered. Today, these conferences generate more revenue than the NCAA itself, control the College Football Playoff, sell their own media rights, and have even formed their own enforcement arm. While the NCAA retains oversight of rules, eligibility, and certain violations, its role has shifted from enforcer to appeaser, as football’s influence increasingly dictates the direction of all college sports.

📉 Read full Wall Street Journal article here

⬆️ Vestible. Vestible has launched the first regulated platform allowing schools to convert future revenues into upfront capital by allowing fans to invest directly in the programs. - Vestible Team

⬆️ Teddy Bridgewater. Teddy Bridgewater is returning to the NFL, signing a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to add veteran depth to a quarterback room impacted by injuries. – Kevin Patra

⬆️ Kyren Williams. Kyren Williams has signed a three-year, $33 million extension with the Los Angeles Rams, including $23 million guaranteed — solidifying his place in L.A. ahead of the final year of his rookie contract. – Sarah Barshop

⬇️ Private Equity in College Sports. Private equity is circling college sports as its “next frontier,” but letting it in could permanently undermine the mission, values, and structure that are the very soul of college athletics.

⬇️ Jerry Jones. Jerry Jones has yet to speak with Micah Parsons following his public trade request, causing frustration across the team and creating a major distraction during training camp. – Brad Crawford

⬇️ Chargers. Just 11 days after signing a four-year, $114 million contract extension, Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater was carted off the field during Thursday’s practice with an apparent left leg injury. – Kris Rhim