ESPN Extends Media Rights Agreement For Secretaries’ Cup Through 2030
Disney has announced that ESPN has signed a new five-year media rights agreement with the United States Merchant Marine Academy and the United States Coast Guard Academy to continue bringing the Secretaries’ Cup to ESPN.
The renewed agreement begins with the 46th Secretaries’ Cup game on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. Kickoff between Merchant Marine and Coast Guard is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, with the game set to be broadcast live on ESPN+ and thus also via ESPN On Disney+ for bundled subscribers.
The five-year extension covers each annual Secretaries’ Cup matchup from 2026 through 2030, ensuring continued national exposure for one of college football’s most meaningful service-academy rivalries.
Eighth-year athletic director Kristofer Schnatz said in a statement regarding the deal:
“We are thrilled to extend our relationship with ESPN and bring the Secretaries’ Cup to an even broader national audience. This rivalry represents so much more than a football game – it showcases the tradition, leadership, service, and competitive spirit of two outstanding federal service academies. The opportunity to continue sharing this historic event with fans across the country is incredibly exciting, and we look forward to building on the momentum of this great relationship.”
The extension comes as the Secretaries’ Cup continues to grow as a national showcase for the missions, student-athletes and alumni of both federal service academies.
The first neutral-site Secretaries’ Cup was played at Fenway Park in Boston in 2025 and produced a dramatic 39-38 Merchant Marine victory. The rivalry will move to the nation’s capital in 2026 as part of the nationwide celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
Audi Field provides a fitting stage for a matchup between two academies whose parent agencies – the U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Department of Homeland Security – are headquartered in Washington, D.C.
The fifth-year head coach Jameson Croall also added:
“ESPN taking on the Secretaries’ Cup in 2017 was a major step forward in elevating this great rivalry and bringing it the national exposure it deserves. Over the past nine years, the ESPN team has treated our Academies, our rivalry and, most importantly, our midshipmen with tremendous respect and reverence, shining a deserving spotlight on these remarkable young men and women. This extension is incredibly important to the continued growth of the Secretaries’ Cup and ensures that our alumni, families and supporters, from coast to coast and sea to sea, can continue to share in this rivalry through the elite viewing experience ESPN provides.”
Merchant Marine and Coast Guard first met on the football field in 1949, with the schools playing nine times before the Secretaries’ Cup was established in 1981. Since the trophy’s inception, the annual rivalry has grown into one of the premier traditions among the nation’s federal service academies. The 2026 matchup will be the 46th game contested for the Secretaries’ Cup and the 54th meeting overall.
USMMA holds a 37-16 advantage in the all-time series and owns a 30-14 record in Secretaries’ Cup competition.
Michael Feinberg, Manager of ESPN Programming & Acquisitions, also said regarding the deal:
“We’re pleased to extend ESPN’s relationship with the Secretaries’ Cup and continue showcasing this meaningful matchup between the Merchant Marine Academy and Coast Guard Academy. This multi-year renewal reflects our ongoing commitment to this storied rivalry as it evolves, as well as ESPN’s standing as the home of college football.”
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