9/15/26 - NFL Kickoff Ratings Dip, Ballmer Accepts Punishment, Sweeney Ad Backlash

NFL Week 1 ratings fall 13% despite a reshuffled broadcast schedule across networks Steve Belichick resigns from UNC as investigation into program culture closes Knicks suspend ticket sales after pricing error, refunds coming for fans LeBron James to earn $15 million a year in a new Polymarket endorsement deal Hawks bring back “Single AF Night" as part of 15 themed nights this season. Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business and culture of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

14 million viewers watched Ohio State–Texas on Saturday, the most-watched Week 2 college football game on record Joe Buck reportedly to sign six-year, $108M extension to stay at ESPN Lane Kiffin’s return this weekend to Oxford for LSU–Ole Miss is the most anticipated and tense game in memory WTA relocates Finals and headquarters to Charlotte starting in 2027 Single-game tickets went on sale for the Knicks, as get-in price to watch Oct. 20 opener vs. 76ers start at $1,300 Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business and culture of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jay Williams and Ndamukong Suh discuss life beyond the playing field, their friendship and business ventures, and where they see sports heading next. The conversation covers NBA expansion, NFL, NIL, sports media, youth sports, and the evolving role of athletes as investors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adam Silver addresses Clippers punishment, WNBA search, EuroLeague, and Portland’s future Extra police presence ahead of Lane Kiffin’s return to Ole Miss vs. LSU Men’s leagues unite against betting threats but leave out WNBA Novig CEO says Sydney Sweeney drove the direction of the company's nude ad The most-talked-about moments from FOS’s Asset Class event in NYC Stephen A. Smith says Pat McAfee has a different set of rules at ESPN Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business and culture of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NBC’s NFL kickoff game draws 25.1M viewers, Netflix’s Australia game draws 18.5M viewers Steve Ballmer says Clippers will accept NBA’s $30M fine, as Kawhi Leonard is traded back to Toronto NBA Board of Governors to discuss Seattle, Vegas, and NBA Europe expansion Top tennis players pause public prize-money fight after $30M Grand Slam win Sydney Sweeney–Novig sports betting ad draws backlash from female athletes Ben Horney previews FOS’s Asset Class event Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business and culture of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elena Rybakina and Alexander Zverev win first US Open titles, record $5.5M each ESPN draws criticism for giving Sen. Ted Cruz nine minutes on College GameDay Steve Sarkisian’s brushed-off ESPN interviews spark controversy after Texas win Myles Garrett out at least four weeks after knee surgery Host Matt Iseman joins to chat Front Office Sports Tonight, which premieres nationwide today Texas freshman wins $1.2M during College GameDay kicking contest Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business and culture of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NFL RedZone Host Scott Hanson joins Baker Machado of Front Office Sports to discuss: • Returning for year two of the Lowe's Earn Your Sunday campaign • RedZone hitting its 300th episode milestone this season • How the Octobox segment actually gets produced each week • What fans can expect from commercials on RedZone this year • How the NFL and ESPN merger affects RedZone's production Chapters 00:00 Intro and the Lowe's Earn Your Sunday campaign 03:07 Preparing for season 18 of RedZone 03:57 RedZone hitting its 300th episode 05:43 How the Octobox segment actually works 07:23 Concerns about too many primetime games 09:19 What fans can expect from ads this season 11:10 How the NFL and ESPN merger affects RedZone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

College GameDay Analyst Kirk Herbstreit joins Ellyn Briggs of Front Office Sports to discuss: • Surviving the season on little sleep with new partner Celsius • Launching a merch line for his dog Peter with his sons • The legal chaos around LSU rostering former NFL players • Whether college football needs clearer instant replay rules • What people get wrong about Pat McAfee Chapters 00:00 Intro and his new partnership with Celsius 02:12 How much sleep he gets during football season 03:45 Launching a merch line for his dog Peter 08:36 The LSU rostering controversy and Lane Kiffin 13:15 The controversial call in the Western Michigan game 16:20 Content creators taking over major sporting events 20:42 What people get wrong about Pat McAfee Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

LSU reportedly avoids expulsion vote after locking its roster without ex-NFL players LIV Golf bankruptcy reveals PIF’s $495M post-exit loan, Jon Rahm tops creditors Australian Open reaffirms best-of-five format after CEO suggested considering shorter matches Shannon Sharpe and Skip Bayless tape surprise reunion New book “The Playbook” breaks down why NFL front-office strategy is more important than X’s and O’s Netflix exec admits streamer greenlit “too many” sports documentaries Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business and culture of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Netflix NFL Announcer Noah Eagle joins Baker Machado of Front Office Sports to discuss: • Calling the 49ers and Rams game live from Melbourne, Australia • Broadcasting to a mix of diehard fans and first time viewers • His dream broadcast partner and working alongside Luke Kuechly • Why viral clips like his dad impression happen organically • His summer routine with broadcasting legend Ian Eagle Chapters 00:00 Intro and the 49ers vs Rams matchup in Australia 03:30 Calling a game for a global streaming audience 05:22 His dream broadcast analyst to work with 06:38 New tech elements Netflix could bring to the broadcast 07:29 What non sporting event he would want to call 09:09 Do viral clips happen organically or by design 10:22 His dad Ian Eagle's summer routine 11:44 Looking ahead to the next FOS Tuned In event Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices