Ben Portnoy

Ben Portnoy has covered college sports for Sports Business Journal since 2023. He joined the publication following nearly five years in daily newspapers covering the SEC, including stints on the South Carolina and Mississippi State beats.  A native of Washington, D.C., he's a graduate of Indiana University.

Private equity and the SEC? Greg Sankey is listening, still waiting on a compelling pitch

ATLANTA -- There’s something inherently disarming about SEC Media Days.

Paciolan hiring former Ticketmaster exec as new president

Paciolan is set to announce announce the hiring of former Ticketmaster exec BRENDAN LYNCH as its new president.

Illinois, Learfield agree to multiyear extension

Learfield is re-upping with another Big Ten client, as the company is set to announce a multiyear extension with the Univ. of Illinois. Exact terms of the deal were not immediately available, while an official announcement is expected on Tuesday.

Fresno St. taps The LinkU for rev share processing

Fresno State and NIL platform The LinkU have agreed to a three-year partnership around athlete revenue sharing, sources tell Sports Business Journal. Financial terms were not immediately available. An official announcement is expected on Tuesday.

SBJ College: PayPal deals show shift in thinking

SBJ College: PayPal deals show shift in thinking

Danny White’s path to AD of the Year

In case you missed it, I profiled Tennessee AD Danny White this week as part of his winning SBJ’s Athletic Director of the Year award.


PayPal deals for Big Ten, Big 12 likely just a table setter for more business-minded thinking for conferences

Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark nestled into a Manhattan conference room late last week amid a flurry of media hits.

Sources: College Sports Commission adds Nats exec

The College Sports Commission -- the new enforcement arm slated to oversee House settlement related-impasses -- has its latest hire.

Learfield, Princeton agree to new long-term deal

Learfield and Princeton are set to announce a new 10-year multimedia rights agreement, sources told Sports Business Journal. An official announcement is expected on Monday. Princeton has been a Learfield client since 2015.