antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA. The NCAA basically controls the rights through its bowl certification process (see hyperlink). Remember NCAA members can't participate in a bowl game until after the bowl game has been certified by the NCAA committee. The hyperlink lays out the process and includes a timeline. It is unlikely a network will broadcast a bowl game if the bowl game is not certified because the bowl game will have difficulty finding 2 willing participants. Depending on what information is required on the form, it is likely the NCAA committee wants to know what network tentatively plans to broadcast the bowl game (if the application is approved). A case could be made that the $10K application fee includes the transfer of broadcasting rights to the bowl organization which includes ESPN since ESPN Events "owns and operates" 17 bowl games. "ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, has unveiled its schedule of 17 owned and operated bowl games for the 2024-25 college football postseason, which will feature 10 FBS conferences and two FCS conferences." https://espnevents.com/press/event/espn-events-announces-... ** Edited by VTHokie2000 at 8/18/2025, 5:50:07 PM ** Edited by VTHokie2000 at 8/18/2025, 5:51:30 PM