Univ. of Nebraska volleyball plays Omaha tonight at 7pm CT "on a court built on top of the football field at Memorial Stadium." The 90,000 expected to attend will make up "one of the largest crowds ever for a women’s sporting event." The American record attendance for a women’s sporting event is 90,185 for the U.S.-China FIFA World Cup final in 1999 at the Rose Bowl. The world record attendance for a women’s sporting event is 91,648 -- also for a soccer match, in Spain. Tonight's crowd would be "the largest crowd for a women’s volleyball match," topping the current mark of 18,755 when Nebraska and Wisconsin played in the 2021 national championship match in Columbus, Ohio. The match "could also have record viewership on TV on Big Ten Network" (LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR, 8/29).

NCAA President Charlie Baker and Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti are scheduled to be on hand (AP, 8/30).

The College Football Playoff Committee's regularly scheduled meeting today in Dallas to discuss altering the CFP comes with leaders "not knowing how many conferences there will be or who will be in them," and it seems unlikely that the committee will come to any major decisions. At issue for the CFP is "structure, format and revenue distribution -- for starters -- in light of radical realignment that is not yet over." The fate of Oregon State and Washington State "could impact the future composition of at least two conferences," and that "is not going to be decided until at least next week." At least one current Group of Five conference is "believed to be in favor of the 6-6 model moving to 5-7 with five conference champions automatically qualifying." The Big Ten and SEC are "aiming to have as many at-large teams in the field as possible" (CBSSPORTS.com, 8/29).

The U.S. Open’s new video replay system setup allowing players to challenge certain calls, such as double bounces, was "used for the first time" yesterday when Corentin Moutet "hoped to get a crucial call overturned" in his match against Andy Murray. But the chair umpire’s tablet "malfunctioned, preventing her from watching video footage and forcing the original call of a point for Murray to stand." The video review introduced this year by the U.S. Open on five of its courts "is a first in Grand Slam tennis" (AP, 8/29). 

The London Times' Stuart Fraser wrote the four-minute "delay in the final game proved a waste of time" as footage "failed to show up on the umpire’s tablet." Fraser: "Thankfully, the experienced official, Louise Azemar Engzell, had made the correct call anyway by awarding the point to Murray" (London TIMES, 8/29).

Logitix has hired Travis Apple as its new Chief Revenue Officer, a new role for the company. Apple, who brings extensive sports business experience, will oversee all revenue for Logitix, the live event ticketing technology and analytics company that’s working with more than 400 teams and properties across MLB, the NBA, NCAA, NFL, NHL and other live event and sports properties. No search firm was used in the hire. 

Apple most recently was EVP for General Sports Worldwide, an executive search and training firm. He also hosts the 52 Weeks of Hustle podcast in which he interviews sports business executives. Previously, he served as the Marlins’ VP/Ticket Sales and Service, and as Senior Dir of Team Marketing and Business Operations where he oversaw ticketing for all NBA, WNBA and G-League teams. Earlier in his career, Apple was the VP/Ticket Sales & Service for the Suns (NBA), Mercury (WNBA), Rattlers (AFL), and Northern Arizona Suns (G-League). Prior to that, he worked in ticketing-focused roles with the Magic and Pirates. 

Logitix also recently announced the hiring of Michael Ramirez as VP/Business Operations, one of several new positions the company is adding. 

The Angels "put six players on waivers" yesterday as they aim to put themselves "in a better position to avoid paying a luxury tax" threshold of $233M. The Angels’ 40-man payroll is about $241M, per COTs Baseball Contract, and "if all six players were claimed, the Angels could save an estimated" $7.5M. Angels P/DH Shohei Ohtani is "eligible to become a free agent after the season," and "if he leaves, the compensatory draft pick the Angels receive would come at the end of the second round if they do not pay a luxury tax." If the Angels pay a luxury tax, the compensatory pick "would come at the end of the fourth round." If the Angels pay a luxury tax next season, they would "pay a penalty on the amount of their payroll above" $237M. The base tax would be 20% of the amount over $237M if they do not pay a luxury tax this year; 30% if they do (L.A. TIMES, 8/29).

ESPN’s behind-the-scenes pro and college football teams are set, as the network’s Exec Editor and Head of Event and Studio Production, Norby Williamson, outlined changes via an internal memo yesterday. The moves come a little more than a week after former SVP/Production Lee Fitting was fired, though ESPN sources said while some of the moves announced today were prompted by Fitting’s removal, not all the changes were made as a result of Fitting’s situation. Fitting had overseen all college and pro football production at ESPN.

VP/Production Amanda Gifford makes, perhaps, the biggest jump, as she becomes the day-to-day point person on college football. Gifford will oversee all college football event productions, including CFP games and spring football games. Gifford now reports directly to Williamson. Coordinating Producers Bryan Jaroch and Nick Rud will report into Gifford on football.

SVP/Production and Remote Events Mark Gross also made a big move, adding the NFL studio and event productions to his plate. Gross, who will report to Williamson, also will oversee the ESPN Radio Network and local radio programming. VP/Exec Producer Seth Markman and VP/Production Steve Ackels will report to Gross.

Read more about the reorganization in yesterday's edition of SBJ Unpacks.

The Big Ten has signed DirecTV to a unique sponsorship that will make the brand the presenting sponsor for all exclusive, all-access content. In addition to unprecedented original content across football, men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball and more, DirecTV will be a supporting partner of the conference’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, as well as a presenting sponsor for at least one Big Ten Championship event in each year of the deal. The agreement was sold by the Big Ten Corporate Partnerships team and Big Ten Network media sales team, which is an in-house joint effort between the conference and network. It's the latest move deeper into college sports for DirecTV, which last week signed a sponsorship pact with USC and Notre Dame.

Read more about the deal in this week's edition of SBJ College.

Changes to the college football television landscape is the top topic on this week’s show, with hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discussing the new Big Ten deals that take effect this season on CBS, Fox and NBC. The co-hosts discuss everything from the analysts that will be used on these games to Peacock’s role in streaming games. The hosts then turn their attention to the free-agency frenzy that had Stephen A. Smith’s “First Take” show compete with Skip Bayless’ “Undisputed.” 

The TV networks’ ratings dispute with the NFL, Nielsen and Amazon is one of the biggest topics in sports media today, and Marchand and Ourand talk about why the TV networks are so publicly at odds over Nielsen’s plan to incorporate first-party data from Amazon into its “Thursday Night Football” ratings report. The hosts then turn their attention to Warner Bros. Discovery Sports’ plan to get out of the regional sports network business.

As always, Marchand and Ourand offer their picks on Who’s Up and Who’s Down for the week. This week, those picks include Patrick Crumb, Kevin Connors, Rob Manfred and Tony Romo. The hosts debut a new segment this week: the MandO Mailbag.

Sports Business Journal is now accepting nominations for the inaugural year of SBJ’s Best Places to Work in Sports, honoring companies for their leadership and unwavering commitment to their employees.

• Chelsea fans rip club for removing travel subsidy
• Barcelona to base Barca Media in Netherlands
• Andy Murray criticizes late-night matches at Wimbledon

Check your preferences to make sure you are getting all the SBJ editions you need to keep you informed.

Playfly Sports Properties, the multimedia rightsholder of Univ. of Nebraska Athletics, has reached a multiyear expansion of its partnership with Skyview Networks to include Skyview’s AdView Inventory Management software for the Cornhuskers’ sports broadcasts (Playfly).

Academy Sports + Outdoors and Fanatics have expanded their partnership focused on enhancing the assortment of officially licensed merchandise available to Academy customers both in-store and online (Fanatics).

Athlete Licensing Company has reached a partnership with NIL agency and Collective management company Athlete Advantage that will see Athlete Advantage utilize ALC’s tech-enabled services to manage its growing roster of high-profile NIL Collectives and student-athletes (ALC).

“A third of the league will open up cap space to be able to try to offer him a max contract because he is at worst the second-best player in basketball ... and the Bucks are just holding on for dear life hoping that he re-signs” -- FS1’s Nick Wright, on the possibility Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo decides not to re-sign with Milwaukee and become a free agent (“The Herd,” FS1, 8/29).

“Maybe he’s not going to get the $600M. I still think he’s going to get close to $500M because look at (Yankees OF) Aaron Judge’s free agency. He could have gotten over $400M with San Diego, he probably could have gotten over $400M with the Giants. We’re talking about Ohtani who’s a comparable hitter who still has that potential and likelihood – very likely – to be a pitcher and certainly a marketing icon” -- MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, on how the injury to Angels P/DH Shohei Ohtani’s pitching arm effects his free agency (“MLB Central,” MLB Network, 8/29).

“College football has completely ignored the people that make it great and those are the players on the field. Now we feel better, we in college football, that they’re making some money but they’re missing out on the biggest pot and that’s the television revenue” -- SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum, on Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh stating the players should be included in a revenue-sharing system in college football (“First Take,” ESPN, 8/29).

The BOSTON GLOBE takes a look at the other side of Basketball HOFer Bill Russell's life under the headline, "The world knew him as Bill Russell. They knew him as dad." Late in the summer of 1980, Karen Kenyatta Russell and her father were "making the nearly 3,000-mile drive from Seattle to Washington, D.C., so she could begin her freshman year at Georgetown." One evening, they were cruising through the Midwest in their Jaguar, "the radio pulsing, when the music was interrupted by a tornado alert." "And my dad looks at me, and I look at him," Karen Russell said, "and we drove straight to where the tornadoes were. We were like storm chasers before people even did that. I think my father invented everything." That’s "what it was sometimes like having perhaps the greatest basketball player of all-time, Bill Russell, for a father." He was "fearless and stubborn and loving," and he often told his three children that "he learned as he went, and so should they."

Also:

• Is Ons Jabeur the person to lead the WTA to Riyadh?
• Life at a Grand Slam: What you don’t see on TV at the U.S. Open.
• Who are the NFL owners?
• The NBA salary cap wasn’t for fans. Then Larry Coon made it famous.

Alex Cobb was ONE out away from a no-hitter! pic.twitter.com/nGc5PxLPip

— MLB (@MLB) August 30, 2023

When you just need to give dad a hug. 🥹

John Isner's son makes a special appearance after his Round 1 win. pic.twitter.com/O9GnULezWm

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 29, 2023

Y’all know what to do https://t.co/5AgoncZ0rh

— Holly Anderson 🍇 (@HollyAnderson) August 29, 2023

The moment when @justjjones learns he is this year’s recipient of the prestigious Ron Burton Community Service Award at the Patriots Premiere, joining the Burton family and past winners on stage. pic.twitter.com/Y7MxWQw3RS

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 30, 2023

Miami Ohio vs. Miami Florida being known as the "Confusion Bowl" is Exhibit 7,820,173,543 why I love this stupid sport so much. pic.twitter.com/HEOjAgSw9t

— Jim Weber (@JimMWeber) August 29, 2023

I’m thrilled and honored and slightly horrified to share that starting tomorrow I will be hosting a new @golfersjournal podcast series.

It’s called “Mind Game” and here's what it's about. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/mghsXxJkcw

— Casey Bannon (@CaseyFBannon) August 29, 2023

“Name shared by a Victorian novelist and an 1805 flagship captain whose name is heard in a famous phrase.”

“What is Thomas Hardy?”

Show host Ken Jennings noted at the Battle of Trafalgar, Admiral Horatio Nelson’s “famous last words were to his flagship captain were, ‘Kiss me, Hardy.’”