SBJ Morning Buzzcast SBJ Morning Buzzcast: December 10, 2025
Dec 10, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Chris Smith, a sports-business reporter, highlights the role of private equity in collegiate athletics amid unique financing deals like Utah's Otro Capital. Ben Portnoy, a sports journalist, dives into the controversy surrounding Notre Dame's playoff exclusion and the future of the Pac-12. Rachel Axon, a reporter covering college sports, explores new revenue opportunities through NIL and addresses Title IX implications. Together, they unpack the evolving landscape of collegiate sports and the critical themes from the recent Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Playoff Exclusion Exposes Systemic Tension
- Brett Yormark and others flagged intense backlash over Notre Dame being left out of the College Football Playoff as evidence the system's failures become magnified when it works as intended.
- The controversy turns functional decisions into broad indictments of the system's effectiveness.
Opportunity Amid Chaos
- Rachel Axon summarized recurring conference themes as “opportunity amid chaos” amid major shifts in collegiate athletics.
- She noted wide uncertainty about revenue futures and predicted litigation will be a near-certain element going forward.
Private Capital As A Financial Lever
- Private equity and institutional capital surfaced repeatedly as potential solutions to athletic departments' financial strains.
- Speakers debated structure, term length, and decision control as key risks for such partnerships.