ESPN and the Southwestern Athletic Conference are sticking together for the long haul. The two sides announced a new multi-year media rights agreement that will keep SWAC football and basketball on ESPN networks and the ESPN App through the 2030-31 academic year, extending a partnership that dates back to the launch of ESPNU in 2005.
Founded in 1920, the SWAC is widely regarded as the premier HBCU conference and remains one of Division I’s most visible leagues. Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, the 12-member conference oversees competition across 18 men’s and 10 women’s sports and has led the FCS in attendance 47 of the last 48 years.
Under the deal, ESPN retained rights to a full slate of SWAC programming across its linear and digital platforms, including:
- ESPN will annually carry 10 regular-season football games on ESPN networks and ESPN+.
- The SWAC Football Championship on ABC, ESPN, or ESPN2.
- The network will also air the SWAC Men’s Basketball Tournament Championship and SWAC Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship on a linear ESPN network, with the remaining men’s and women’s tournament games streaming on ESPN digital platforms.
The agreement also includes four regular-season men’s basketball games each year on ESPN networks or ESPN+, helping keep SWAC hoops in front of a national audience as part of ESPN’s broader college sports lineup.
“Our continued partnership with ESPN reflects the strength, tradition and national appeal of the Southwestern Athletic Conference,” said SWAC Commissioner Dr. Charles McClelland. “This agreement ensures our student-athletes, coaches and member institutions will continue to receive premier national exposure while showcasing the excellence of SWAC football and basketball to audiences across the country. We are excited to build on this longstanding relationship and continue elevating the SWAC brand for years to come.”
There is also a separate extension tied to ESPN Events. The company said it has renewed the SWAC’s participation in the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff and the Cricket Celebration Bowl through 2032, keeping two of the biggest annual showcase events in HBCU football on the schedule for the next six years. The MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff first began in 2005, and on Saturday, August 29, live from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, ABC will air the clash between Alabama A&M and Howard in the 2026 event.
“The SWAC’s rich football heritage and passionate fan support have helped make the MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff and Celebration Bowl two of the most anticipated events in HBCU sports,” said John T. Grant, Executive Director of the MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff and Celebration Bowl. “We are excited to continue showcasing the energy, tradition and excellence that define SWAC football over the next six years. Each year, these events bring together teams, alumni and fans in Atlanta to celebrate the very best of HBCU football and create memorable moments that resonate far beyond the playing field.”
With the global rights extension, one of the oldest conferences in college athletics continues to receive national exposure and a streaming home for major events inside the ESPN App. Starting at $29.99 per month, subscribers to ESPN Unlimited get all of the network’s SWAC coverage, more than 47,000 live events, original programming, on-demand replays, and much more.
“The SWAC consistently delivers exciting competition, passionate fan engagement and some of the most anticipated championship events in HBCU athletics,” said Mallory Kenny, director, programming & acquisitions, ESPN. “The SWAC has been a valued teammate of ours since the launch of ESPNU in 2005, and we’re pleased to continue bringing the conference’s premier football and basketball events to fans across our networks and expanding the visibility of the student-athletes and programs that make the SWAC such a significant part of college sports.”