Sports News---Alliance and....UT Investigation Status

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Subway is returning to NASCAR via a sponsorship deal with Stewart-Haas Racing that entitles it to two primary paint schemes on Kevin Harvick's No. 4 Ford during the remainder of the 2021 season. The quick-service restaurant chain, which is replacing Jimmy John's at SHR, almost entirely exited the sport in 2017 after it ended its deal with Joe Gibbs Racing, but is re-entering amid a major advertising push in support of its "Eat Fresh Refresh" menu update. (Sports Business Journal) The ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 conferences announced an alliance that will include a future scheduling initiative for football and men's and women's basketball aimed at competing with the Southeastern Conference for television viewership and media rights revenue. The alliance, which is built on verbal commitments rather than a formal contract, will also see the schools work and vote together on issues such as potential expansion of the College Football Playoff and NCAA governance. (Sportico) Serena Williams is joining Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal as the latest high-profile tennis player to withdraw from the U.S. Open, which begins next week in New York. Williams hasn't played on tour since retiring from Wimbledon on June 29 due to a hamstring injury, but said in a statement last week she planned "to be back on the court very soon." (The New York Times) ESPN announced that Max Kellerman will no longer serve as Stephen A. Smith's co-star on the network's popular debate show, "First Take," and will instead host his own daily TV show and join ESPN Radio's national morning show alongside former NFL player Keyshawn Johnson and NBA analyst Jay Williams. (New York Post) The Walt Disney Co.-owned network is reportedly considering NFL Network analyst Michael Irvin as one of a rotating series of guest debaters to pair with Smith on "First Take." (Front Office Sports)

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6 takeaways on the 'alliance' that could shake up college football Pete Thamel, Yahoo Sports The biggest tangible takeaway from Tuesday may be what bad news this is for the Big 12. The alliance widens the moat between the haves and the have-nots. And the remaining Big 12 schools are have-nots. LSU to require vaccination proof or negative COVID test to enter Tiger Stadium football games Wilson Alexander, The Baton Rouge Advocate Anyone attending LSU home games this season must provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test taken within 72 hours of kickoff to enter Tiger Stadium, the school announced Tuesday morning amid a surge of hospitalizations and new cases attributed to the Delta variant. The policy, which applies to everyone in the stadium, requires those 12 and older to show they have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine or have taken a negative PCR test. Where does Tennessee's football investigation stand? The latest on possible self-imposed sanctions and NCAA next steps David Ubben, The Athletic Tennessee loosely plans to announce self-imposed sanctions before the season begins, the first source said, but it may wait if the administration cannot agree on sanctions or if it wants to wait and see how the NCAA, on less solid ground than ever, looks as the sands in college sports continue to shift. Gonzaga Inks Deal With Giannis-Backed Sports Drink Brand Ready Emily Caron, Sportico Perennial college basketball powerhouse Gonzaga University has selected Giannis Antetokounmpo-backed sports brand Ready Nutrition as the official sports drink of its athletic department. The two-time NBA MVP and star of the champion Milwaukee Bucks is an investor and co-owner of the company, alongside three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams.

---Morning Consult

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