Why FOX blocked St. John’s from participating in a major college basketball event

Jeff Hauser

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Why FOX blocked St. John’s from participating in a major college basketball event image

FOX’s television agreement with the Big East Conference is the reason St. John’s will not be participating in the CBS Sports Classic on a long-term basis, despite the Red Storm’s interest and national appeal under coach Rick Pitino.

St. John’s played Kentucky in last season’s CBS Sports Classic in Atlanta, a matchup that carried added significance for Pitino against his former program and former player, current Wildcats coach Mark Pope. 

When the four-team event sought a replacement after UCLA opted out of future editions through 2029, St. John’s emerged as a logical candidate, particularly with this year’s games scheduled for Dec. 19 at Madison Square Garden.

However, FOX Sports exercised what is known as a “footprint clause” in its media rights deal with the Big East, preventing St. John’s from appearing in the CBS-owned event. The clause designates games involving Big East schools within certain geographic or contractual parameters as FOX properties.

“Unfortunately the FOX agreement prevented [St. John’s] from playing in the CBS Classic,” a source close to St. John’s leadership told NJ.com's Adam Zagoria. 

FOX holds the primary Big East broadcast rights under a six-year deal that began this season and runs through the 2030-31 academic year.

With St. John’s sidelined, Kansas replaces UCLA in the event and will face Ohio State, while North Carolina meets Kentucky at Madison Square Garden. Kansas is now committed to the CBS Sports Classic through 2029.

Pitino is now in his third season at St. John's. The reigning AP national co-coach of the year has been to seven Final Fours and is the lone coach to take six schools to the NCAA tournament.

St. John's, ranked No. 5 in the preseason poll, returned to the AP Top 25 on Monday for the first time since mid-December.

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