College Swimming League and ESPN Announce Multi-Year Media Rights Agreement
AUSTIN, Texas, July 8, 2026 — The College Swimming League (CSL) and ESPN today announced a multi-year media rights agreement that makes ESPN the exclusive home of CSL competition in the United States and Canada. Under the agreement, all six regular-season matches will stream live on ESPN+ each season, while the CSL Wild Card and Championship will air on ESPNU. Events will also be available on the ESPN App. The CSL features 12 NCAA programs competing in a four-team match format over a six-match regular season, building toward the Wild Card and the Championship at the close of each season.
2026 College Swimming League Schedule
Match 1 | Sept. 24 | ESPN+ |
Match 2 | Sept. 25 | ESPN+ |
Match 3 | Oct. 2 | ESPN+ |
Match 4 | Oct. 9 | ESPN+ |
Match 5 | Oct. 16 | ESPN+ |
Match 6 | Oct. 23 | ESPN+ |
Match 7 (Wild Card) | Nov. 5 | ESPNU |
Match 8 (Championship) | Nov. 6 | ESPNU |
“College swimming features outstanding student-athletes, passionate fan bases and exciting competition, making the College Swimming League a strong addition to ESPN’s collegiate sports lineup. We’re excited to bring fans every regular-season meet on ESPN+ and the Wild Card and Championship on ESPNU, providing season-long coverage across our platforms.”
Mallory Kenny, Director, Programming & Acquisitions, ESPN
“Landing a deal with ESPN for our inaugural season is a monumental milestone that will elevate collegiate swimming to unprecedented heights. Fans across North America can tune in to watch 12 of the top NCAA swim programs compete in high-stakes, elite matchups. Broadcasting live from world-class venues across the United States, ESPN will bring the incredible speed and intense rivalries of the CSL straight into millions of homes, anchoring our league as a premier fixture in sports.”
Rob Kent, Chief Executive Officer, College Swimming League
“When you think of college sports, you think ESPN, so to build a brand-new property from the ground up and earn a live national TV window on ESPNU is huge. This is big for the CSL, but it’s even bigger for the sport and the fans who have waited years to finally see college swimming on TV.”
Kyle Sockwell, Chief Operating Officer, College Swimming League
About the College Swimming League
The College Swimming League (CSL) is a dynamic new fan-first event series staged in the fall of the college swimming season. Featuring 12 NCAA programs competing in a four-team match format, the CSL is built to give the sport a bigger stage, packaging top college swimming into must-watch competition for fans in the building and at home and culminating in the Wild Card and the Championship. For more information, visit collegeswimmingleague.com and follow @collegeswimmingleague.
All of ESPN. All in One Place.
ESPN offers its full suite of networks and services directly to fans on the ESPN App with an ESPN Unlimited subscription, providing more choice, flexibility and access to all of ESPN, including more than 47,000 live events per year, on-demand replays, industry-leading studio shows and original programming, and more. The ESPN App gives fans a unique viewing experience that includes multiview and synchronized two-screen viewing options, swipe-able shortform vertical video and a personalized SportsCenter For You, as well as integrated game stats, ESPN Fantasy sports, betting odds and information from DraftKings, sports merchandise, and more. These features are available to all fans who watch on the ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices, whether they subscribe directly or through a pay TV package from certain providers. Bundling options available for fans include a Disney+, Hulu, ESPN offering that provides a one-of-a-kind streaming package combining sports with branded and general entertainment. For more visit stream.espn.com.
Media Contacts
College Swimming League: Rob Kent, CEO, Robert.Kent@collegeswimmingleague.com
ESPN Communications: Beatrix Panitz, Beatrix.Panitz@espn.com