Direct-to-consumer live sports are the way of the future, so let’s take an in-depth look at this new sports television frontier and the different approaches taken by companies and leagues to capitalize on it.

Recruitment can be a delicate dance, especially with NIL busting a move on the floor.

As Manchester United fans continue to protest the potential return of forward Mason Greenwood, the club is delaying its decision on his future until it can talk to its women’s team and sponsors.

The race to court top prospects is more cutthroat than a Taylor Swift Ticketmaster queue, and a program’s very future can hinge on its incoming freshman class.

About 14K athletes compete at the NCAA’s 313 DII schools, with top stars making the big leagues (particularly the NBA and NFL) — though that’s becoming rarer: With the transfer portal, it’s easier than ever for DII’s best to jump to a DI school.

On Tuesday, the sports media giant announced a deal with Penn Entertainment to officially enter the betting game.

Group of Five, mid-majors…whatever you call them, these smaller DI schools are rapidly catching up to their Power Five (er, Four?) competitors.

There are 438 DIII schools nationwide, and although it’s rare for DIII athletes to go pro, it’s certainly not unheard of, with recent grads doing so from fútbol to football.

In general, the most elite competition and the deepest pockets can be found at DI schools, scaling down through DII and DIII. But the biggest difference lies in the DII and DIII divide: Unlike in DI and DII, DIII athletes aren’t eligible for athletic scholarships. That means they’re playing purely out of love of the game (and possibly NIL money, of course).

The Power Five conference has been looking for a new media rights deal for over a year now and in the meantime, schools are dropping out of its ranks like flies.