• ESPN+ will stream 300+ live BIG EAST events annually

ESPN and the BIG EAST Conference have announced a new six-year digital media rights agreement, adding hundreds of live BIG EAST events to ESPN’s robust college sports portfolio. A minimum of 75 women’s basketball and 200 Olympic sports events will stream on ESPN+ annually beginning in the 2025-26 academic season. This deal will also include a minimum of 25 non-conference games annually for BIG EAST men’s basketball.

“We’re pleased to welcome the BIG EAST back to ESPN,” said Nick Dawson, ESPN senior vice president, programming & acquisitions. “This agreement returns one of the country’s premier conferences and its tradition of excellence to ESPN platforms, and continues to strengthen the college offering on our industry leading direct-to-consumer streaming services. We look forward to this new chapter in our relationship with the BIG EAST.”

“This exciting relationship with ESPN reinforces our commitment to placing BIG EAST teams front and center on the leading digital sports platform,” said BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman. “Streaming on ESPN+ gives all 22 of our sports — especially women’s basketball and Olympic sports — the visibility they’ve earned and the access our fans expect. We look forward to delivering elevated coverage and a streamlined viewing experience to fans and family members who want to follow BIG EAST action across our wide array of sports offerings.”

ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer offering, which is inclusive of ESPN+, is scheduled to launch in early fall.

ESPN and the BIG EAST Conference have a relationship that spans more than three decades. The BIG EAST signed its first national television deal with ESPN in 1980, beginning a partnership that ran through 2013. Since its reconfiguration that year, the BIG EAST has maintained its stature as one of the preeminent conferences in college sports, boasting four national championships in men’s basketball and additional national crowns in women’s basketball, field hockey, men’s soccer, men’s lacrosse and women’s cross country.

Benjamin Freeman of Proskauer represented the BIG EAST in the digital media rights negotiations.

About the BIG EAST
The BIG EAST Conference is an association of 11 nationally prominent colleges and universities that foster healthy athletic competition, community service and the pursuit of excellence in academic environments. The BIG EAST-sponsored athletic programs of our institutions provide national-caliber participation opportunities for more than 3,800 student-athletes on over 200 men’s and women’s teams in 22 sports. Established in 1979 and headquartered in New York City, the BIG EAST’s members are located in eight of the country’s top 36 largest media markets and include Butler University, University of Connecticut, Creighton University, DePaul University, Georgetown University, Marquette University, Providence College, St. John’s University, Seton Hall University, Villanova University and Xavier University. For more information, visit www.bigeast.com.

About ESPN 
ESPN is the leading multiplatform sports entertainment brand that features seven U.S. television networks, the leading sports app, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, leading social and digital platforms, ESPN.com, ESPN Audio, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more.

About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the No. 1 sports streaming platform, serving fans in the U.S. with exclusive access to more than 32,000 live sports events each year, an unmatched library of on-demand replays and acclaimed original content, and premium written articles by the top reporters and analysts from ESPN.com. Fans sign up for ESPN+ at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or in the ESPN App on mobile and connected devices. For more visit the ESPN+ Press Kit

Ritchie Taylor has been appointed the interim associate dean of the College of Health and Human Services effective July 1, according to WKU News. 

His roles will include leading research activities in CHHS and oversight of all activities related to faculty development. Taylor has been a faculty member of CHHS since the college was created in 2002 and has served as the Faculty Fellow of Research since 2021.  

“Under his leadership as Faculty Fellow for Research, CHHS external funding has doubled, the Institute for Rural Health was reactivated, a pathway for external research mentorship was established, and he played a key role in developing the Community Health Sciences Complex to house the CHHS Applied Research Centers and promote research innovation,” said Tania Basta, Dean of CHHS.

According to University Spokesperson Jace Lux, the position had been vacant since Vijay Golla left the university in 2019. The funding for the position then went towards faculty fellow positions in the CHHS dean’s office and the position became available again after the most recent fellow left in June. 

Taylor received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Belmont University, a master’s degree in biology from Tennessee Technological University and a Ph.D in Environmental Science from North Texas University. 

Taylor has served as the program director of bachelor and master degree programs in environmental and occupational health science. He also founded the Center for Environmental and Workplace Health in CHHS in 2017 and was the Director of the Center for Water Resource Studies in the WKU Ogden College of Science and Engineering.

“Students are the focus of all we endeavor to accomplish in CHHS,” Taylor said. “Over the past four years, we have worked to build a community of scholarship and research that engages our students in applied community-based research to meet health and human services needs throughout Kentucky and our region.”

According to WKU News, his research interests include firefighter occupational safety and health, environmental health, environmental compliance and stormwater management, workplace health promotion, and emergency management and preparedness.

He is currently the principal investigator on a training program grant through the Centers of Disease Control and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health and grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation and Kentucky Emergency Management.

“The applied research conducted by faculty and staff in CHHS informs our teaching and service, thereby enhancing the student experience,” Taylor said. “A culture of scholarship and research has developed in CHHS, and this will continue to grow.”

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Texas Volleyball landed two student-athletes on the 2025 Preseason All-SEC Team, the conference announced Tuesday morning.

Torrey Stafford and Emma Halter were the two Longhorns represented on the Preseason Team, tied for the second-most selections with LSU and Texas A&M. Kentucky led the field with four selections.

Stafford, the AVCA First Team All-American and All-ACC First Team honoree was selected to her first SEC Preseason Team. Stafford is one of two First-Team All-Americans on Tuesday’s list, joining Brooklyn Deleye of Kentucky. Stafford led Pitt during the 2024 season with a .358 hitting percentage, was an AVCA National Player of the Year semifinalist and was second on the team in points (457.5) and kills (400).

Halter, a two-time Preseason All-SEC Team honoree, led the Longhorns last year with 344 digs and 30 service aces. The senior libero also recorded the third-most assists with 1.10 per set.

Texas was also picked to finish second in the SEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Kentucky was the preseason favorites earning nine of the 16 first-place votes and 218 points, while the Longhorns claimed six first-place votes and 216 points. Texas A&M earned one first-place vote and 195 points to take third in the poll.

The season will begin on Aug. 29 against Creighton at the Opening Spike Classic at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisc. SEC conference play will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 24 prior to the SEC Volleyball Tournament making its return from Nov. 21-15 at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Ga.  

Arizona State’s Big 12 Titles

Women’s Swimming and Diving

The Sun Devils won their first conference title in program history at the Big 12 Championships winning 14 individual titles in Federal Way, Washington. The team went 8-6 in the regular season in duals. 

Men’s Swimming and Diving 

The Sun Devils were able to win their third consecutive conference championship and the first Big 12 title winning 12 individual titles and sweeping the relays to establish their dominance within the conference all season long. Junior Jonny Kulow was named Big 12 Swimmer of the Meet and Lucien Vergnes was named men’s Freshman of the Meet. 

Football 

The Sun Devils also finished the season with an undefeated record at home for the first time since 2004 and just the tenth time in program history. Highlights from this season included a blowout opening home win against Wyoming with the second-highest student attendance recorded for an ASU home game with 13,698 students attending the game. Other highlights include a thrilling 28-23 win over No. 14 BYU and a crushing 49-7 victory over in-state rival Arizona in Tucson. By defeating No. 16 Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship and clinching their first outright conference championship since 1996, Arizona State secured a spot in the College Football Playoffs for the first time in program history. 

Volleyball 

ASU won the 2024 Big 12 championship as JJ Van Niel in his second season helped Arizona State win its first conference championship in program history. The team finished 30-3, going 17-1 in Big 12 play. 

Sun Devil Athletics Matches All-Time Best GSR

Sun Devil Athletics has either maintained or surpassed its all-time best GSR every year since 2008. Twelve teams posted GSR scores at 100 percent. Those teams are men’s and women’s basketball, beach volleyball, men’s and women’s golf, gymnastics, soccer, women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s tennis, water polo and wrestling.

Highlights from the student programming areas:

CAREER: 

Sun Devil Athletics continues to elevate its partnership with ASU Career Services and hosted 15 career-related events to include a Career Fair, hands-on career readiness-related workshops involving multiple employers across various industries.  Student-athletes had direct one-on-one interactions with hiring managers who offered real-time feedback on resumes, interviewing strategies, and LinkedIn.

COMMUNITY SERVICE:

Sun Devil Athletics continued Sparky’s Tours, character education programs delivered in elementary schools, as well as the wide range of initiatives Sun Devil Athletics support in partnership with A New Leaf Homeless Shelter.

MENTAL HEALTH/IMPACT: 

Mental Health: Hosted multiple SAAC/SDA/ASU Sport Clinician collaborations around mental health topics, including a Mental Wellness Fair, along with other key programs addressing trauma, sleep, travel, managing emotions, gambling, etc. 

Impact Programs: EmpowHER hosted student-athlete tailgates before selected Olympic sports competitions to bring student-athletes together and encourage support for their peers at the selected game. The SAAC, International Student-Athlete committee hosted an affinity event in collaboration with ASU’s International Students and Scholars Center (ISSC).

What is the Big 12 Commissioner’s Cup?

The Commissioner’s Cup was created to recognize Big 12 athletic departments for their efforts in fostering an environment that develops student-athletes both on and off the field. Points are determined by a combination of NCAA Graduation Success Rate, Big 12 regular and postseason titles, plus on-campus programs offered that focus on community engagement, mental health and career development.

PARSIPPANY — Caldwell University senior bowler Lauren Marks has been named to the 2024-25 Academic All-America® Women’s Division II At-Large First Team as selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC), the organization announced today. Marks, a two-time CACC Bowler of the Year and NCTA Honorable Mention All-America, is a two-time Academic All-American, having earned Third Team honors in the 2024-25 season.

Marks was selected as one of 15 First Team selections nationwide in the At-Large category, which encompasses sports such as bowling, lacrosse, field hockey, skiing, crew/rowing, golf, beach volleyball, water polo, rifle, gymnastics, and others that do not have their own separate CSC Academic All-America category. Marks is the only bowler on the First Team and one of only two bowlers among the 45 combined Division II honorees among all three teams.

“We are extremely proud of Lauren’s accomplishments over the past four years at Caldwell University,” said Mark A. Corino, Caldwell University Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics. “She has raised the bar on both the academic and athletic side for not only our bowling program but for the entire department and the University. This honor is well-deserved, and we couldn’t be happier for her success.”

Marks, a Fine Arts major with a 3.95 GPA, was an All-CACC First team performer, three-time CACC All-Academic, and CSC Third Team Academic All-America performer in her senior season in 2024-25. She led the CACC individual scoring average (20.375 pins/frame overall, 20.189 in Baker, 20.632 in Traditional), almost a full pin more than the next competitor, frame fill percentage (86.5%), strike percentage (50.6%), spare percentage (92.2%) and pretty much every statistical category the league publishes.

In 2023-24, she earned the NTCA Strike Percentage Leader Award for Division II, achieving a 48.30% rate, and was a member of the organization’s All-Academic Team. She was also the CACC Student-Athlete of the Month for March 2024.

Marks is Caldwell’s 15th Academic All-American and first to earn First Team honors since softball standout Sydney Ponto and women’s basketball star Kristen Drogsler both earned the top distinction in 2017.

Caldwell University | Academic All-Americans

1983: Claire Sacuk, women’s basketball (NAIA)
1984: Patricia Gasparini, women’s basketball (NAIA)
2000: Timothy Nellegar, men’s tennis (NAIA)
2007: Nicholas Harriott, men’s soccer (3rd team)
2010: Kyrie Timbrook, softball (2nd team)
2014: Alyssa Calderon, softball (3rd team)
2014: Lauren Iuliucci, women’s soccer (3rd team)
2015: Alyssa Calderon, (1st team)
2017: Kristen Drogsler, women’s basketball (1st team)
2017: Marisa Monasseri, softball (2nd team)
2017: Sydney Ponto, softball (3rd team)
2019: Kaileen Cain, softball (3rd team)
2024: Lauren Marks, bowling (3rd team, At-Large)
2025: Lauren Marks, bowling (1st team, At-Large)

MOSCOW, Idaho – Students are off for the summer, student-athletes are still perfecting their craft. The next opportunity to compete may seem so far away, but the time always flies by. 

Idaho Cross Country and fans can now put that next opportunity on their calendar, as the 2025 season has been finalized. 

The Vandals have five meets lined up between the end of August and early November, with the opportunity to turn that number into as many as seven, counting the NCAA Regional Qualifier and National Championships.

UI will open up the season on August 29, traveling just north to Cheney, WA for the Clash of the Inland Northwest, hosted by Eastern Washington. Following the season opener, the Vandals will go to the home site of another Big Sky foe, traveling to Montana for the UM Invitational on September 19 in Missoula.

Venturing out of the Big Sky but staying in the Northwest, Idaho will next head to Salem, OR, to compete in the Willamette Invite on October 4. The next week will feature a meet much closer to home, as Lewis-Clark State will host the annual LC Invitational on October 11 to conclude the non-conference action. 

After a few weeks to get healthy and polish their craft, the Vandals will head to Bozeman, MT for the Big Sky Championships on Montana State’s campus. The meet is rotationally hosted by each team in the conference. Last season’s championships took place in Pocatello, home of Idaho State. Idaho last hosted the championships in 2016, and are due for another opportunity to do so soon.

The best of the best in all of western DI cross-country will receive opportunities to continue their season, moving on to the NCAA West Regionals in Sacramento, CA on November 14. The best from there will qualify for the NCAA National Championships in Columbia, MO.

The full schedule is listed below.

IDAHO CROSS-COUNTRY 2025 SCHEDULE

AUG. 29 – Clash of the Inland Northwest – Cheney, WA

SEPT. 19 – Montana Invitational – Missoula, MT

OCT. 4 – Willamette Invite – Salem, OR

OCT. 11 – Lewis-Clark Invitational – Lewiston, ID

NOV. 1 – Big Sky Championships – Bozeman, MT

NOV. 14 – NCAA West Regionals – Sacramento, CA

NOV. 22 – NCAA National Championships – Columbia, MO