Everyone has a platform. Every story moves faster. And not every social media fire is actually a crisis.

Six sports comms leaders discuss navigating the modern media ecosystem and why trust remains at the center of the job.

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Last week’s Democratic midterm sweep could complicate the path to passage for the Senate-passed Protect College Sports Act.

With House Democrats already skeptical and Republican support uncertain, @mercnews reports that a vote is unlikely.

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The CFP and ESPN have agreed to a five-year, nearly $1.7B deal, according to ESPN sources.

The agreement expands the playoff to 24 teams in 2027, keeps ESPN as the broadcast partner and eliminates the Power 4 conference championship games.

(via @CFBHeather/ESPN)

Read More:
sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/…

NEW: If you have any interest in sports communications sports public relations at the highest level, here is an roundtable @SBJ published today on the state of the profession.

The piece: sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/…

The panel consists of:

•Jeff Anderson, executive vice president and chief communications officer of the Minnesota Vikings.

•Sam Mellinger, vice president of communications and broadcasting for the Kansas City Royals.

•Annabelle Myers, associate athletics director for communications for North Carolina State University.

•Alex Rozis, senior vice president, global communications for Octagon.

•Alana Russo, head of global sports communications, Prime Video & Amazon Studios.

•Caroline Williams, vice president, public relations for the Las Vegas Aces.

We get into everything, from how they look at PR strategy in 2026 to how to work with challenging media outlets to crisis management. I learned a ton. If you are interested at all about sports public relations, you will too. I appreciate their time.

Christian Bale's transformation into Al Davis was unreal in "Madden."

Constance Schwartz-Morini of @SMAC joined me on the SBJ Sports Media Podcast to talk about it

From Runna and Plantiga to Ochy and Svexa, performance tech tracked nearly every part of @rob_schaef's first marathon training block.

But can technology prepare you for everything that happens over 26.2 miles?

Here's what he learned: ow.ly/spML51055EU

In this week’s SBJ:

🏟️ NFL stadium roof rush
🌟 New Voices Under 30
🎙️ Inside the comms playbook
⚾ MLB postseason business
🎬 Madden hits Hollywood
💼 Introducing the Impact CEOs

Full issue: ow.ly/rSKP5104ZuZ

DAZN, Team Whistle and Youth Inc. are launching a new all-access docuseries Wednesday 🎥

The series follows a Charlotte high school football team coached by Greg Olsen, Luke Kuechly & Jonathan Stewart, with episodes rolling out through January 2027.

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𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗕𝗝’𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘂𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗖𝗘𝗢𝘀 🏆

This new honor recognizes 50 executives making an impact across the sports industry through leadership, dealmaking, innovative strategy and influence.

READ MORE: ow.ly/KSrs5104ZCs

NBC’s Mike Tirico missed Sunday night’s Buccaneers-Bears game due to a health issue, with Noah Eagle filling in alongside Cris Collinsworth 🎙️

The game was set to be Tirico’s 300th career NFL broadcast, and he plans to return next Sunday for Bengals-Steelers.

Via @AP_Sports | ow.ly/bliO5104Z8e

Patriots owner Robert Kraft missed Sunday’s 45-27 loss to the Packers at Gillette Stadium as he recovers from back surgery 🏈

A spokesman said it was “probably” his first missed home game since buying the team in 1994.

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The Ducks’ new Hometown Remix jersey quickly sold out on the Fanatics website after online leaks fueled anticipation 🏒

The design is a modernized nod to the original green, purple and yellow colors worn by the District 5 team in “The Mighty Ducks” movie franchise.

Via t.co/qWiaKvPQvW

The Brewers and Rays are looking to capitalize on their World Series runs, but a potential MLB lockout could complicate their 2027 business plans ⚾

With the current collective-bargaining agreement expiring Dec. 1, uncertainty could impact ticket sales, sponsorships and premium ://t.co/CsF0vYQPpJ

The @ColoradoRapids got creative with their fan appreciation night.

The team put on a potato-themed bash that featured potato sack races, decorating, themed concessions and many five-pound sacks of potatoes.

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SBJ’s final Power Players package of 2026 highlights the leaders driving innovation in women’s sports 🌟

From building community and investing in the product to developing infrastructure and emerging leagues, these leaders are rewriting the playbook for the industry.

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The second row is becoming a status symbol at Knicks games.

As one season-ticket holder told the @WSJ: “The first row frequently are A-list celebrities. The second row are people that could afford to have their own team.”

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The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries are showing there’s no single formula for success in the WNBA 🏀

From Atlanta’s 400%+ growth in season ticket members to Golden State’s $1B valuation, both franchises are setting examples for the league’s future.

MORE: ow.ly/bP2v5103ne3

The Raiders drew 220K unique views for a new pregame livestream on TikTok ahead of their Oct. 25 game against the Rams 📱

Hosted by superfan Lycette Beatty, the show focused on the atmosphere inside Allegiant Stadium rather than traditional game analysis.

MORE: ow.ly/1ZxY5104C2L

Reebok is set to re-release Allen Iverson’s “Question Mid” sneakers for the shoe’s 30th anniversary 👟

The “Question Mid Recoded” will feature classic “Red Toe” and new “30th Anniversary Green” colorways, with adjustments to the traction pattern and toe box.

Via @PhillyInquirer P9