Big news for mid-major fans, ESPN just locked in a multi-year extension with the Southern Conference that keeps SoCon games and championships on ESPN’s platforms through the 2031–32 academic year. The South’s oldest DI conference is getting an upgrade in reach, frequency, and digital presence that puts more basketball, football, and Olympic-sport championships in front of national audiences.
Under the extension, ESPN will carry a record number of regular-season and conference championship events across ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU, all streaming on the ESPN app. ESPN+ and the broader ESPN App are positioned as the digital hub for SoCon content, giving fans centralized access, multiview, real-time stats, and on-demand replays. The agreement guarantees a minimum of 750 live SoCon events every year across ESPN’s digital platforms, including the Ingles SoCon Men’s Basketball Tournament championship on ESPN and guaranteed regular-season men’s games on ESPN/ESPN2
“This six-year extension with ESPN enhances national exposure opportunities for our member institutions, reinforcing ESPN’s confidence in Southern Conference athletics and our commitment to excellence,” said SoCon Commissioner Michael Cross. “The enhanced agreement ensures our student-athletes are featured on ESPN’s industry leading digital and linear networks, offering SoCon athletics a national home where ‘It’s All Here.’ We are grateful to Mallory Kenny and Nick Dawson at ESPN for their continued support and vision, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration into the next decade.”
The new deal represents a strategic partnership for both parties. For the SoCon, national telecasts and guaranteed championship windows mean deeper recruiting exposure, alumni engagement, and local-to-national storylines for programs like Furman, Samford, and The Citadel. For fans, it means easier access to more games and better production values. The push toward a digital‑first home on the ESPN app mirrors how college‑sports fans watch, staying live when it matters and shifting to convenience when it doesn’t.
Founded in 1921, the SoCon has served as the launching point for much of the Southeastern college sports landscape. The roots of the SEC and ACC trace directly back to when former SoCon members left to form the Power 5 juggernauts in 1932 and 1953, respectively. Today, the conference is headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with 10 member schools, spanning across the Carolinas, Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia. Next year, on July 1, the conference expands to 11 with the addition of Tennessee Tech University.
“ESPN is pleased to extend our long‑standing relationship with the Southern Conference,” said Mallory Kenny, ESPN Director of Programming & Acquisitions. “This updated agreement reaffirms ESPN’s commitment to highlighting the achievements of SoCon student‑athletes and its member institutions, and to ensuring their stories continue to reach a broad audience across our networks. For more than two decades, we have worked closely with the conference and we look forward to building on that history in the years ahead.”
The SoCon extension comes as ESPN continues to bulk up its college sports volume across linear and streaming platforms. Earlier this month, the network’s massive March haul included comprehensive coverage of 650+ hours of NCAA winter championships.
The double down also includes content from other mid-major conferences. The network and the Horizon League struck an extension that will add 500+ live events to its streaming lineup, giving it a consistent home and enhanced discoverability. If you care about college hoops, football, and the Olympic sports that often fly under the national radar, ESPN and the Southern Conference have made a clearer path to catch your favorite school.
