College swimming is coming to Disney-owned ESPN in a big way. On July 8, 2026, the College Swimming League and ESPN announced a multi-year media rights agreement making ESPN the exclusive home of CSL competition in the United States and Canada.

What the Deal Covers

Under the agreement, all six regular-season matches each season will stream live on ESPN+, while the league's Wild Card and Championship events will air on ESPNU. All events will also be accessible through the ESPN App.

About the 2026 Inaugural Season

The first-ever College Swimming League season will feature 12 NCAA programs competing in a four-team match format across a six-match regular season, building toward postseason competition at the end of the year.

The regular-season schedule kicks off on September 24 on ESPN+, with additional matches running through October and into November. The postseason then moves to ESPNU, with the Wild Card on November 5 and the Championship on November 6.

What the Leaders Are Saying

Mallory Kenny, ESPN Director of Programming & Acquisitions, highlighted what college swimming brings to ESPN's collegiate sports lineup: