Editorial Standards

Our Mission

The Sideline exists to make college sports data — NIL valuations, transfer portal movement, recruiting classes, scores, and standings — accessible and understandable for fans. We pair that data with original news coverage and analysis of college football and basketball.

Sourcing Standards

Our coverage draws on the following sources, attributed wherever they appear:

• Live scores, schedules, and standings via ESPN's public data services
• Recruiting data via CollegeFootballData.com, refreshed nightly
• NIL spending estimates compiled from public reporting, collective announcements, and our own modeling — see our Data Methodology page for how estimates are built
• News reporting based on official school athletics communications, on-record statements, and public records

Data Methodology

NIL figures on this site are estimates, and we label them as such. Roster values and program spending are modeled from public information — they are not audited financial statements. Our full methodology, including known limitations, is published on the Data Methodology page and linked from every tracker.

Corrections Policy

We correct errors quickly and transparently. When we fix a factual error in a published article, we update the article and note the change. To report an error in any article or data table, email hello@thesideline.co with a link to the page — corrections requests are reviewed within 48 hours.

Editorial Independence

Advertising on The Sideline is clearly labeled, and advertisers have no input into our coverage, rankings, or data. We do not accept payment for favorable coverage of any school, athlete, collective, or brand. Sponsored content, if we ever run it, will be explicitly labeled as such.

Ownership & Funding

The Sideline is independently owned and operated. The site is funded by on-site advertising and merchandise sales. We have no financial relationship with any school, conference, or collective we cover.