Afternoon Edition

September 9, 2026

The NFL moved the Patriots-Seahawks Super Bowl rematch to Wednesday so the defending champions could kick off the season ahead of a Thursday night match in Australia. And it won’t be the only Wednesday game on the 2026 schedule.

—Eric Fisher

First Up

NBC Sports will report its NFL audiences using Nielsen’s methodology for measuring linear television and streaming. Previously, it used a blended approach.
Jeff Bezos’s investment in Liverpool comes while Prime Video holds broadcast rights for the top-pick Tuesday night Champions League matches in the U.K.
Tuesday’s US Open quarterfinal match between Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz ended Wednesday at 3:34 a.m. ET and has sparked more talk of scheduling changes.
The NFL and The Athletic have formalized a content partnership ahead of this upcoming football season.

NFL Games on Wednesday: A New Normal?

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The NFL’s staging of its season opener on a Wednesday could quickly become a fixture, particularly if viewership is strong for the Super Bowl LX rematch between the Patriots and Seahawks.

Even before NBC Sports airs the much-anticipated game from Lumen Field, play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico said he foresees the unusual scheduling not being a one-and-done.

“I think the NFL is such an entertainment powerhouse that people will adjust their lives and schedules for the right matchup and the right game,” Tirico said in a call with reporters. “A rematch of the Super Bowl, a couple of high-profile teams, makes sense. And it makes logistic sense to clear out time so they can play Thursday night, which is Friday morning in Melbourne. I think if it works, which I expect it will…I think it adds possibilities there.”

The league initially unveiled the unusual Week 1 scheduling in March, when it solidified plans to play on Thursday night for U.S. viewers, from Australia, and avoid any calendar complications related to the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, aimed at protecting college and high school football. That international plan then pushed the traditional NFL kickoff game involving the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks to the non-traditional Wednesday slot.

NBC Sports has since leaned heavily into the Wednesday scheduling, running a near-ubiquitous “Hump Day” promotion featuring Tirico, fellow network announcer Cris Collinsworth and Mike Tomlin, and a talking camel.

The network is also ramping up marketing for the kickoff game with a series of other assets across the NBCUniversal portfolio, including promotions and NFL-themed programming airing on several sister networks, and a “Race to Wednesday” campaign in which a custom NFL kickoff football traveled over the past week from Boston to Seattle.

A New Normal

The opener, however, won’t be the only Wednesday game on the 2026 schedule. The NFL has planned a Thanksgiving Eve game between the Super Bowl LXI favorite Rams and Packers, airing on Netflix, another matchup with big viewership expectations.

These types of holiday showcases, the creation of more standalone game windows, and the NFL’s growing international ambitions are each putting more pressure on scheduling norms.

“I think the schedule is going to have to be more flexible as we go along,” Collinsworth said. “You can put it on every night of the week for me. I’ll be just fine.”

NBC Sports is eager to get its 2026 NFL schedule off to a strong start with Wednesday’s opener. A 65-minute weather delay in last year’s season opener between the Cowboys and Eagles, played on a Thursday, derailed what was initially tracking to be a record audience for an NFL kickoff game. The network, meanwhile, will be using established Nielsen methodologies for reporting its NFL game viewership following some preseason friction.

‘Front Office Sports Tonight’ Launches Sept. 14

Front Office Sports Tonight, the first nationally syndicated daily show built entirely around the business and culture of sports, premieres in less than one week on Sept. 14. Emmy winner Matt Iseman will host the 30-minute show which will air six nights a week. Check the channel finder for the station & air time in your area.

ONE BIG FIG

New Leader

REUTERS/Mike Segar

No. 1

Elena Rybakina’s world ranking by Monday, which she clinched after beating Zheng Qinwen at the US Open quarterfinal Wednesday. It’s the first time Rybakina has achieved the No. 1 ranking, and ended the 99-week reign of Aryna Sabalenka while doing so.

Entering the tournament, Sabalenka, who has yet to win a Grand Slam this year, was at risk of losing her position. Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff could each have claimed No. 1 with a US Open title—but it was contingent on Rybakina, who only needed to advance to the semis to claim the top spot.

While Sabalenka lost the top spot, she can still win her third consecutive US Open title, a feat only achieved by Chris Evert and Serena Williams. Sabalenka faces Pegula in the semis Thursday.

LOUD AND CLEAR

Financial Records

David Gonzales-Imagn Images

“That’s a lot of money.”

—Oilers superstar Connor McDavid to Sportsnet, reflecting on the run of record-setting contracts signed across the NHL this past summer. The set of historic deals has included the Avalanche’s Cale Makar, the Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini, and the Ducks’ Leo Carlsson in the last two months, and the Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov last year, each of which have set a league record for average annual value, currently led by Makar’s $20.4 million. “It’s been a long time coming for our league, to see some of those numbers,” McDavid added. A three-time MVP, McDavid will become a free agent in 2028.

FRONT OFFICE SPORTS LIVE

LPGA Commissioner to Speak at Tuned In

Craig Kessler brings a growth-minded approach to the leadership of women’s golf.

Named LPGA commissioner in 2025, Kessler joined the association after serving as COO of the PGA of America and previously helping lead Topgolf’s expansion from 25 to 70 locations. His career has centered on scaling organizations, building brands, and turning growth opportunities into lasting businesses.

Next month at Tuned In, Kessler will offer an inside look at the strategy behind the LPGA’s next chapter and what his experience can teach us about growing a modern sports property.

As women’s sports continues to reach new heights, don’t miss the chance to hear from a leader helping shape what comes next.

Space is limited—get your ticket now.

STATUS REPORT

Four Up

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Yankees ⬆ Buttressed in part by the return of superstar Aaron Judge, the MLB club won its 82nd game Tuesday night with a 5–3 victory over the Rockies. That cinched a 34th consecutive winning season, the second-longest streak in the four major U.S. men’s pro leagues behind the 39-year streak for the 1926-64 Yankees. The current New York team, however, is aiming to break a championship drought in place since winning the 2009 World Series, and has nearly solidified a return to the postseason. “Getting another winning season is great, but I think the boys in here are excited for what’s ahead of them,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone.

PWHL ⬆ The PWHL has secured its first U.S. television deal for the full 2026–27 season. The league’s games will be nationally broadcast on Scripps Sports, and include a weekly featured Saturday game to air exclusively on ION in the U.S. (ION is already home to nationally televised WNBA and NWSL games.) That U.S. market is what makes the deal so crucial for the women’s hockey league; while it has various national-rights agreements in Canada, the PWHL has never secured these kinds of broadcasts Stateside. The league is expected to open its season in late November or early December.

US Open ⬆ Second-round coverage of the last Grand Slam of the year on ESPN and ESPN2 drew an average of 834,000 viewers. Daytime viewership on ESPN notched an average of 781,000 viewers, up 10% from last year. This follows record viewership across ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC for the US Open’s opening day on Aug. 30, with an average of 1.3 million viewers.

Lionel Messi ⬆ The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner reached an agreement to become majority owner of Spanish second-division side Eldense. Messi, who retired from international soccer and currently plays for Inter Miami, also owns Barcelona-based club UE Cornella. Eldense fired coach Claudio Barragan on Sunday after claiming just two points from four league matches this season. The deal is subject to authorization by the Spanish High Council for Sports. Messi was included this week on the shortlist for another Ballon d’Or award after leading Argentina to a runner-up finish at the World Cup this summer.