Penn State Fires James Franklin with a $50 Million Buyout

Sport & Story Daily October 1, 2025: Penn State fired football head coach James Franklin and it came with a $50 million buyout.

October 13, 2025

Penn State Fires James Franklin with a $50 Million Buyout

October 13, 2025

How Much Penn State Owes James Franklin After Firing
Penn State fired James Franklin on Sunday after the team had three straight losses. Franklin was the head coach for 12 years. Penn State will owe Franklin a buyout in the neighborhood of $50 million after firing him. This marks the second biggest buyout in college football history.
Sports Illustrated

Penn State, Adidas Deny Wrongdoing Around $300M Apparel Deal
Penn State and Adidas announced a 10-year apparel agreement to begin in 2026 back on Sept. 5. That deal was reported to be worth around $300 million. Some of the board of trustees are outraged and were never shown the full offers from Adidas or Nike.
Front Office Sports

Former Dolphins Safety Lands $9.5M Settlement in Advisor Theft Case
Former Dolphins safety Reshad Jones received $9.5 million to settle his case against Merrill Lynch. The case alleged one of its former financial advisors stole nearly $2.6 million from him. His former financial advisor, Isaiah Thomas Williams Jr., resigned from Merrill Lynch in December and is prohibited from acting as a broker.
Front Office Sports

Formula E global cumulative TV audience increases 14% to 561m in 2024/25 season
Formula E’s global TV audience grew 14% year-over-year to 561 million after the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. The fanbase reached 422 million by the end of the season. Total video views increased 47% YoY and social media impressions rose 14% to 1.39 billion.
SportsPro

Warner Bros rebuffs Paramount takeover approach, Bloomberg News reports
Warner Bros Discovery has rebuffed Paramount Skydance’s initial takeover approach as too low. They rejected the $20 per share in recent weeks. Paramount is exploring several paths in its bid for Warner Bros. They are looking at increasing its offer, appealing directly to shareholders or securing extra support from a financial partner.
Reuters

The NBA is making its comeback as the biggest U.S. soft power in China
The NBA has been one of the most popular U.S. cultural exports to China. The NBA returned to China after a political firestorm that saw it effectively banned from the lucrative market. In 2019, a tweet by Daryl Morey, the then-general manager of the Houston Rockets, posted a message in support of anti-government protestors in Hong Kong at a time when the violent demonstrations brought the city to a standstill.
NBC News

NWSL commissioner Berman gets 3-year extension
Jessica Berman has been given a three-year extension to remain as NWSL commissioner. The contract would run through the 2028 season. Under Berman, the NWSL’s commercial business has grown. They acquired a $240 million media rights deal, ongoing expansion of the league and rising team valuations from around $5 million to over $250 million in a few years.
ESPN

FIFA World Cup 2026. Regional Operations Manager
Reporting organizationally to the Senior Manager Accreditation Operations, the Regional Manager Accreditation Operations, Central, will be a key member of the FIFA26 Accreditation team, and work in a very diverse Accreditation department (consisting of team members from Greece, India, Italy, the US and Canada) and in close collaboration with the FIFA Zurich Accreditation department (consisting of team members from across the world including Swiss-German, German, Russian and Dutch backgrounds) responsible for delivering the FWC26 Accreditation operations. Apply Now.

NCAA. Senior Associate Athletic Director and Chief Financial Officer
Provides strategic leadership and oversight of financial planning, reporting, and budget management for the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics. Serves as the primary liaison to University financial offices and ensures fiscal integrity, regulatory compliance, and effective collaboration across University departments. Apply Now.

Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. Director, Partnership Development
The FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX has rapidly become a world-class event in its first two years. This three-day spectacle attracts a global audience to witness the world's greatest drivers and cars navigate the iconic Las Vegas Strip at breathtaking speeds approaching 200 mph. You will be responsible for generating revenue through the sale of marketing sponsorships. Ideal candidates will be experienced and commercially motivated professionals with a proven track record of securing multi-year partnerships. Apply Now.

Looking to fill an open position with top talent in the sports media industry? Advertise in the Sport & Story Daily to reach over 25,000 senior-level executives and professionals—and connect your job opportunity with the right audience.

Big Ten Reportedly 'Closing In' on $2B Private Equity Deal After 'Momentum' in Talks
The Big Ten is “closing in” on a private equity agreement that could bring in a total of more than $2 billion. The conference is in negotiation with UC Investments, a $190 billion investment fund associated with the University of California pension system. Part of the deal would involve the creation of a new subsidiary called Big Ten Enterprises to control media rights and sponsorship deals.
Bleacher Report

Thanks for reading!

Sport & Story Daily is the sports industry’s daily resource for business news. In addition to serving up exclusive trends, Q&As, and columns, the newsletter connects readers to top platforms and stories from across the sports landscape.

Place your brand in front of the Sport & Story Daily audience and connect with the most influential people in sports.

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here!

Feel free to read our Privacy Policy

Reply

or to participate.