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Amanda Christovich

Amanda Christovich

@achristovich.bsky.social

730 followers 160 following 270 posts

Sports business reporter, college sports at Front Office Sports. Send tips + complaints to [email protected]. 📍NYC

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Amanda Christovich @achristovich.bsky.social · 29d

SCOOP: The largest public pension fund in the U.S., CalPERS, is one of the groups in contention to invest in the Big Ten, @FOS has learned.

It's part of the private capital proposal Big Ten members are considering (first reported by ESPN last week). frontofficesports.com/big-ten-cons...

Big Ten Considering Investment From California Pension Fund

CalPERS, the largest pension fund in the U.S., is in contention for a private capital deal with the Big Ten.

frontofficesports.com

Amanda Christovich @achristovich.bsky.social · Oct 6

NEW: Before beating Penn State, UCLA had a coaching staff in disarray, a QB who couldn't win, an athletic dept saddled with debt, a lackluster NIL strategy, and an AD who lost fan support.

UCLA still has many issues. But now, the team has one victory.
frontofficesports.com/the-improbab...

The Improbability of UCLA's Upset Win Against Penn State

Before UCLA beat Penn State, donors criticized athletic director Martin Jarmond for his NIL strategy and hiring missteps.

frontofficesports.com

Amanda Christovich @achristovich.bsky.social · Oct 1

NEW: Collectives have given up on waiting for NIL Go.

At least two NIL collectives have begun to pay players before the submitted deals have been approved in NIL GO, sources tell @FOS. Another is preparing to do so. frontofficesports.com/fed-up-nil-c...

Players Get Paid As Collectives Abandon Waiting for NIL Go

At least two NIL collectives have begun to pay players before the submitted deals have been approved in the clearinghouse.

frontofficesports.com

Amanda Christovich @achristovich.bsky.social · Sep 30

NEW: For the first time in 20+ years, the NCAA plans to host a women's Final Four in an active NFL stadium--the 2028 event will be at Lucas Oil in Indy.

The stadium won't be full, tho. NCAA is planning to offer 31K tickets, though Lucas Oil seats 70K.

frontofficesports.com/women-final-...

Women’s Final Four Moving to Football Stadium in 2028

The NCAA announced the women’s March Madness championship will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in 2028.

frontofficesports.com

Amanda Christovich @achristovich.bsky.social · Sep 30

NEW: Senate Dems have introduced the SAFE Act, a counter to the SCORE Act. It's a mix of old ideas and new, like amending the Sports Broadcasting Act to pool NCAA media rights.

Sources gave FOS conflicting views about whether GOP Senators will sign on.
frontofficesports.com/senate-democ...

Senate Dems Introduce Counter-Bill to College Sports SCORE Act

Republicans have not signed onto the counter-bill, called the SAFE Act, which omits two of the NCAA’s biggest wishlist items.

frontofficesports.com

Amanda Christovich @achristovich.bsky.social · Sep 26

BREAKING: Shane Tamura, who traveled to New York in July and shot and killed four people in the building that housed the NFL headquarters, had “low-stage Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE),” the New York City Medical Examiner’s office found.

frontofficesports.com/new-york-cit...

Shooter Who Attacked NFL Building Had ‘Low-Stage’ CTE

After a “thorough assessment and extensive analysis,” doctors found “unambiguous diagnostic evidence” of CTE in Shane Tamura’s brain.

frontofficesports.com

Amanda Christovich @achristovich.bsky.social · Sep 24

SCOOP: Investment firm Sequence Equity was the group behind a pitch made to FCS commissioners about a privatized FCS playoff this week, FOS has learned.

Sequence Equity would take minority stake in entity owned by FCS leagues. Proposal is being taken to the NCAA, source says.

Amanda Christovich @achristovich.bsky.social · Sep 23

NEW: Vandy use to be the laughingstock of the SEC. But now, they're 4-0 and ranked 18th.

At the helm is QB Diego Pavia, who filed a watershed lawsuit against the NCAA last year to grant him extra eligibility. Now, two of his teammates are suing as well.
frontofficesports.com/vanderbilt-w...

Vanderbilt Keeps Winning While Its Players Sue the NCAA

Last year, Diego Pavia challenged the NCAA’s eligibility rules and set off a firestorm. Some of his teammates are suing now, too.

frontofficesports.com

Amanda Christovich @achristovich.bsky.social · Sep 19

NEW: The NCAA denies it deemed Wofford players ineligible for using meal plans while living off campus, telling @FOS these violations are usually resolved through self-reporting w no penalty for players.

Lawyer who made the claims stands by them however. frontofficesports.com/ncaa-denies-...

NCAA Denies Wofford Players Deemed Ineligible

The NCAA said Wofford had declared the players ineligible through a routine infractions reporting process that is usually swiftly resolved.

frontofficesports.com

Amanda Christovich @achristovich.bsky.social · Sep 16

NEW: Negotiations are continuing on both sides of the aisle to secure the requisite 218 votes necessary to pass the SCORE ACT, sources tell @FOS.

One source says House Reps are now aiming to schedule the vote for October.

Meanwhile, lobbying continues.
frontofficesports.com/despite-vote...

Despite Vote Delay, SCORE Act Negotiations Continue

Before the August recess, House Republicans passed the bill through two committee markups and planned to introduce it for a vote this week.

frontofficesports.com

Amanda Christovich @achristovich.bsky.social · Sep 15

NEW: After Nico Iamaleava left Tennessee, his representative told FOS they had not steered him wrong.

Now, Iamaleava is making far less NIL money on an 0-3 UCLA team that just fired its head coach.

Today, Iamaleava's representative declined to comment.
frontofficesports.com/ucla-tenness...

UCLA-Tennessee QB Trade Has Been Painful So Far

This past offseason, Nico Iamaleava abruptly left Tennessee for UCLA after reports surfaced of complications regarding his NIL negotiations.

frontofficesports.com

Reposted by Amanda Christovich

Jesse Dougherty @jessedougherty.bsky.social · Sep 11

A brain dump on the latest with college sports on Capitol Hill: collegesportsmoney.substack.com/p/score-act-...

Trouble With The SCORE Act

Many expected a House floor vote next week. That is no longer expected.

collegesportsmoney.substack.com

Reposted by Amanda Christovich

Jesse Dougherty @jessedougherty.bsky.social · Sep 11

I link out to this story from @achristovich.bsky.social
for context on a major player in all this: frontofficesports.com/the-texas-oi...

Cody Campbell Leads the Newest College Sports Lobbying Effort

Unlike other college sports stakeholders looking from the outside in, Cody Campbell came from inside Trump's policy circle.

frontofficesports.com

Amanda Christovich @achristovich.bsky.social · Sep 11

House Republicans have opted to delay next week's vote on the SCORE Act bc they do not have enough votes to pass it.

Reasons include a failed deal w Congressional Black Caucus Democrats, Cody Campbell's influence on Republicans, other stragglers.

More: frontofficesports.com/house-republ...

House Republicans Delay SCORE Act Vote

Rep. Steve Scalise and lobbyists for the NCAA have been working to ensure the bill had enough votes to pass the House.

frontofficesports.com

Amanda Christovich @achristovich.bsky.social · Sep 10

NEW: Ahead of potential House vote on SCORE Act next week, Rep Scalise + lobbyists are in "overdrive" trying to secure enough YES votes, sources tell FOS.

Unclear if it would pass currently. One source said lobbying targeting Congressional Black Caucus. frontofficesports.com/college-spor...

Republicans, Lobbyists in 'Overdrive’ to Get Votes for SCORE Act

House Republicans and lobbyists have been pushing to ensure they have enough votes to pass the SCORE Act next week.

frontofficesports.com

Amanda Christovich @achristovich.bsky.social · Sep 9

OneTeam Partners, the org facilitating NIL deals for college football players to appear in EA Sports College Football, is distancing itself from EA's newest contract terms.

$1500, no royalties, and no opt-out is "not enough," OneTeam tells FOS. frontofficesports.com/group-that-f...

Amanda Christovich @achristovich.bsky.social · Sep 6

NEW: The CSC admitted today it published wildly inaccurate data related to NIL Go yesterday.

As of Aug. 31, NIL Go approved 6,030 deals valued at $35M. NOT 8,359 deals for $80M, as was reported yesterday.

Also: $35.99M worth of deals are in purgatory. frontofficesports.com/nil-go-corre...

Oops: NIL Clearinghouse Says It Cleared $35M in Deals, Not $80M

The NIL clearinghouse originally said $80 million in NIL deals was approved between June and August 31. Now it says it was only $35 million.

frontofficesports.com

Amanda Christovich @achristovich.bsky.social · Sep 4

NEW: The College Sports Commission said that 8,500+ NIL deals have been approved through NIL Go for a total of $80M.

But NIL collectives released data of their own saying $11M of deals are currently in limbo, neither approved or denied. frontofficesports.com/nil-go-colle...

NIL Go Says It Has Cleared $80 Million in NIL Deals So Far

NIL collectives, however, released their own data set suggesting the majority of their deals are in limbo.

frontofficesports.com

Amanda Christovich @achristovich.bsky.social · Sep 3

NEW: Source tells @FOS that during a call with Dave Portnoy today, Big 12 officials discussed:

- hosting Portnoy on Big 12 campuses for Big Noon
- putting Big 12 guests on Barstool shows
- showcasing Big 12 hoops, women's sports on Barstool

frontofficesports.com/big-12-embra...

Big 12 Embraces Dave Portnoy and Barstool Sports

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark and athletic directors held a conference call with Dave Portnoy to discuss collaborating, FOS confirmed.

frontofficesports.com

Amanda Christovich @achristovich.bsky.social · Aug 30

NEW: On Saturday, Lee Corso made his 431st and FINAL headgear pick on College GameDay.

In front of a screaming crowd inside Ohio Stadium, broadcast on multiple networks, he donned the head of Brutus Buckeye.

"One of the easiest picks I’ve ever made."
frontofficesports.com/lee-corso-fi...

Lee Corso Making Final ‘College GameDay’ Appearance

Lee Corso appeared on GameDay’s first season in 1987—and will retire after choosing the Buckeyes for his final headgear pick Saturday.

frontofficesports.com

Amanda Christovich @achristovich.bsky.social · Aug 30

NEW: Lee Corso has been appearing on ESPN College GameDay since 1987, the show's first season.

Today, Corso will make his final headgear pick. It's the end of an era for millions of fans accustomed to the morning ritual that's dominated CFB for decades. frontofficesports.com/lee-corso-fi...

Lee Corso Making Final ‘College GameDay’ Appearance

After 430 headgear picks and nearly 40 years, the iconic ESPN ‘College GameDay’ analyst will bid farewell to the traveling morning show.

frontofficesports.com

Amanda Christovich @achristovich.bsky.social · Aug 29

NEW: Don't expect college football games to be free from politics.

Billionaire booster/Trump ally Cody Campbell will run ads during CFB this weekend to tout ideas from his Saving College Sports campaign.

He tells FOS there "definitely" will be more.
frontofficesports.com/cody-campbel...

Cody Campbell Asks Congress to Allow National College Sports TV Deal

The ad will run during both ESPN and Fox college football pregame shows this weekend, the billionaire booster tells FOS.

frontofficesports.com

Amanda Christovich @achristovich.bsky.social · Aug 28

NEW: The biggest rivalry in college football is between Fox and ESPN--and the super conferences they back.

The next chapter in that rivalry begins Sat, when GameDay and Big Noon go up against each other before the SEC-Big Ten battle of Texas-Ohio State.
frontofficesports.com/the-next-cha...

ESPN-Fox Battle for College Football Supremacy Is Heating Up

Fox, which holds rights to the Big Ten, and ESPN, which airs the SEC, have been locked in a battle for college football broadcast supremacy.

frontofficesports.com

Amanda Christovich @achristovich.bsky.social · Aug 27

NEWS: The Pac-12 has inked a multiyear extension with the CW for football and basketball, adding to its future package that also includes CBS.

It's the latest step in the league's unprecedented rebuild.

frontofficesports.com/pac-12-strik...

Pac-12 Strikes New Football, Basketball Deal With The CW

It’s the next step in the Pac-12’s resurrection after being picked apart in 2023, when it was left with only Washington State and Oregon State.

frontofficesports.com

Amanda Christovich @achristovich.bsky.social · Aug 26

NEW: YouTube TV boasts more than 8 million subscriptions.

That means millions could find themselves without access to Week 1 college football matchups if YouTube TV and Fox can't reach an agreement by Wed.

Among the games they'll miss: Texas-Ohio State. frontofficesports.com/youtube-tv-f...

YouTube TV, Fox Standoff Puts CFB Viewers in Jeopardy

More than 8 million subscribers could find themselves without access to matchups like Texas–Ohio State during the season's first week.

frontofficesports.com