Oregon State and Washington State announce new one-year deals with CBS and ESPN; the Fox executive named in recent lawsuits has departed the network; and more.
Pac-12 sets ’25 football schedule
The two schools currently affiliated with the Pac-12 — Oregon State and Washington State — announced Tuesday that they have reached one-year media rights deals with CBS, ESPN and CW to carry their 13 home games next season. CBS will air the Apple Cup between Washington and Washington State in primetime on September 20, and matchup of the Cougars and Beavers on November 1. ESPN will air Oregon State’s games against Cal on August 30 and Houston on Friday, September 26, both in late-night windows. CW will air the nine remaining games.
The 2025 season is the second of two in which the Pac-12 is operating as a two-team league, with the bulk of the conference’s former membership scattered between the Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC. In 2026, the league is expected to expand to eight football members with the additions of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State, and one more to be determined. Media rights negotiations for the new expanded conferene Pac-12 are ongoing.
Dixon out at Fox amid lawsuits
Charlie Dixon, the Fox Sports executive accused of sexual misconduct in two separate lawsuits, is “no longer with Fox Sports,” a Fox spokesperson told The Athletic and Front Office Sports. Dixon had been placed on administrative leave in early February after lawsuits were filed by former FS1 host Julie Stewart-Binks and former hairstylist Noushin Faraji. Both plaintiffs are currently in mediation with the network about a settlement.
In a statement to The Athletic and FOS, Dixon’s attorney said the firing was for failing to notify superiors that a third-party production company had hired Dixon’s wife as a freelancer, a violation of company policy. The statement notes that no reference to the lawsuits was made in Dixon’s termination, and that Dixon has cooperated fully with the investigations.
Dixon joined Fox in 2015 and oversaw FS1’s studio programming. The allegations in the lawsuits date back to 2016-17.
Plus: Shaq, ACC hoops, BIG3
— TNT NBA analyst Shaquille O’Neal has agreed to become the men’s basketball general manager at Sacramento State, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The largely ceremonial role is similar to the position Stephen Curry accepted at Davidson and Trae Young will hold at Oklahoma. The position is not expected to impact his role with TNT Sports.
— The ACC is expected to reduce its men’s basketball schedule from 20 league games to 18, according to CBS Sports. The move would allow schools to schedule more marquee non-conference games. The league has been “proactive” in discussions with ESPN about changes to programming schedules.
— Vice TV has added 14 BIG3 basketball games this summer, according to Awful Announcing. CBS, which remains the league’s primary broadcast partner, will produce the games for Vice, which will distribute the games on its free streaming platform beginning June 14.
