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Welcome back to The Varsity, a private email that goes inside the boardrooms and owner’s suites
whose occupants dictate the sports media business. I’m John Ourand, still in Washington, D.C., but packing for a trip to wine country. This weekend, I’m co-hosting a private dinner in Sonoma with NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps ahead of their big race on Sunday. We’re overflowing with executives from the industry, but let me know if you’ll be out there, and I’ll see whether I can squeeze you in. Marchand will be keeping the crisp sancerre on
ice.

At today’s Big 12 media day group grope, commissioner Brett Yormark offered up the latest sign of the fracturing of the college sports landscape. While discussing the implications of expanding the College Football Playoff to 16 teams, Yormark pushed the notion that 11 of those bids should be at large. Of course, that directly contradicted recent statements by Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti, who pressed for both his conference and the SEC to
receive four automatic bids each. The eventual settlement of this dispute will further define the modern power structure of this sprawling Wild West.

Elsewhere, DAZN has had its share of publicized problems trying to penetrate the U.S. market. Still, the much-beleaguered streaming service is undeniably having a moment this summer with the FIFA Club World Cup. Julia Alexander looks into whether that will be enough to change DAZN’s trajectory. As a reminder, Julia’s stories
are available only to Inner Circle members, so click here to upgrade. You won’t regret it.

Now, here’s Julia…

Puck sports correspondent John Ourand and a rotating cast of industry insiders take you inside the executive suites and owners
boxes where the decisions that shape the entire sports business are made. You’ll hear interviews with players, network execs, and everyone in between. The Varsity is an extension of John’s private email for Puck by the same name. New episodes publish every Wednesday and Sunday.

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