The NFL is officially turning Opening Week into Opening Week with the league kicking off the 2026 season on a Wednesday night and expanding its international footprint. Hadley Engelhard joins Matt Chernoff for the latest episode of Deals & Deadlines to break down the biggest business stories across the sports world.

🏈 NFL Opening Week Goes International
The NFL's first-ever Wednesday night opener, nine international games, Netflix broadcasts and the league's first Thanksgiving Eve game signal just how much the schedule is changing. Hadley explains the financial impact of international games, including how teams and players are affected by overseas taxes and travel.

⚾ MLB Expansion Is Coming?
With baseball's CBA set to expire December 1, expansion could be one of the biggest topics in the next round of negotiations. Salt Lake City and Nashville are emerging as leading candidates as MLB looks toward adding two more teams — and potentially changing divisions, playoff formats and the economics of the sport.

📺 47 Years of ESPN's Impact on Sports
ESPN recently celebrated 47 years on the air. Hadley and Matt look at how ESPN helped transform sports media from niche programming into a 24/7 business model that paved the way for today's streaming landscape.

🏟️ Are College Football Cupcake Games Disappearing?
With the SEC moving toward nine conference games and the College Football Playoff expanding, smaller schools could lose some of the lucrative guarantee games they rely on to fund their athletic departments. What happens to those programs if the big checks start disappearing?

⚖️ SEC vs. LSU & Lane Kiffin
The SEC's legal battle with LSU and the controversy surrounding Lane Kiffin's comments about adding former NFL players to college rosters raises bigger questions about who is actually in control of college football.

🏈 Bill Belichick's UNC Era Gets More Complicated
The situation surrounding North Carolina, Michael Lombardi and allegations involving his son Steve creates another layer of uncertainty around Belichick's attempt to build an NFL-style operation in college football.

🏐 Volleyball Takes Over Wrigley Field
The inaugural Big Ten-SEC Volleyball Challenge at Wrigley Field drew a massive crowd and showcased how sports are increasingly turning unique venues into major events.

Sports & 9/11: 25 Years Later
With the 25th anniversary of 9/11 approaching, Matt and Hadley look back at how the tragedy affected sports, the return of professional games and the powerful ways teams continue to honor those who were lost.

⛳ What's Next for LIV Golf?
LIV Golf's bankruptcy filing raises questions about the future of the league, its funding and what could happen to its players if they attempt to return to the PGA Tour.

🏌️ Charlie Woods Lands His First NIL Deal
Tiger Woods' son Charlie Woods has signed his first NIL deal with TaylorMade ahead of his college career at Florida State. Hadley explains the business and branding value behind the deal.

📻 The Return of a Spurs Broadcaster
The episode wraps with the unusual story involving former Spurs broadcaster Jacob Tobey, his relationship with a player's sister and the circumstances surrounding his return.

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On the latest episode of Deals & Deadlines, hosted by Matt Chernoff and super agent Hadley Engelhard, the biggest stories in sports business take center stage — from the future of the College Football Playoff and the NCAA’s ongoing legal battles to massive moves across the NFL, MLB and college athletics.

Matt and Hadley discuss SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey’s vision for an expanded College Football Playoff, including the possibility of requiring teams to play 10 Power Four opponents to qualify. They also dive into the escalating eligibility battle involving LSU, former NFL players and the NCAA, and why the chaos could ultimately force federal legislation and new guardrails for college sports.

The Lane Kiffin era at LSU is already creating a major buzz, while Tennessee’s $120 million jersey-patch deal with First Horizon Bank shows just how much money schools are finding through new sponsorship opportunities.

The episode also covers the surprising situation surrounding former North Carolina GM Michael Lombardi, Stan Kroenke’s reported purchase of the Los Angeles Angels and the potential real estate play behind the deal.

Plus, Matt and Hadley break down NFL roster manipulation heading into Week 1, Netflix expanding access to NFL games for bars and restaurants, MLB’s rising attendance numbers amid looming labor concerns, high school athletes becoming content creators, Tony Romo’s uncertain future with CBS, and the bizarre case of a man accused of posing as an NFL player while allegedly scamming women out of millions.

Deals & Deadlines drops weekly. Subscribe and follow wherever you get your favorite podcasts, and watch the show on the 680 The Fan YouTube channel.

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The Atlanta Falcons are now valued at a staggering $10.6 billion after a private equity firm purchased a minority stake in the franchise. Matt Chernoff and longtime sports agent Hadley Engelhard break down what the deal means for Arthur Blank and the future value of NFL teams. Plus, could the NHL finally return to Atlanta? Matt and Hadley discuss the two proposed arena projects, why a team could succeed in the suburbs and the biggest obstacle standing in Atlanta’s way.

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