ESPN is reinventing its NCAA college hoops slate

The GIST: ESPN is reinventing its college hoops slate. The broadcasting giant unveiled the ACC/SEC Challenge on Monday, an interconference women’s and men’s basketball (WBB and MBB) competition designed to replace both the SEC/Big 12 Challenge and the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

The details: Beginning in the 2023–24 NCAA basketball season, the ACC/SEC Challenge will feature 28 WBB and MBB games each, aired across ESPN’s platforms. Once Texas and Oklahoma join the SEC in 2025, the number of games will increase to 30.

The context: The brand-new competition became an option after the Big Ten scored a new broadcast deal with CBS, Fox and NBC in August after 40 years with ESPN. The new agreement means this year’s SEC/Big 12 Challenge and ACC/Big Ten Challenge will be the final iterations. End of an era.

Zooming out: The ACC/SEC Challenge speaks to the media industry’s (especially ESPN’s) growing demand for college hoops. ESPN’s breakup with the Big Ten reportedly freed up $190 million annually, meaning they can now spend coin on other Power Five conferences.

• A basketball-first strategy makes sense for ESPN — the network also has rights to March Madness, NBA and WNBA games. Here’s hoping organizers of the new tournament take advantage of the opportunity…and don’t stage matchups in a hotel ballroom.