Clay Travis Departed Outkick for New Venture
The sports media personality left Outkick in June 2026 to launch a rival company called Sport & State.
Updated on Sept. 18, 2026 in Football
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Clay Travis exited the sports news platform Outkick in June 2026 to found a competitor media venture known as Sport & State. Fox Corporation, which purchased Outkick in 2021, has since integrated the site into its digital operations.
Why it matters
The transition marks a shift in the sports media landscape as Fox targets fans who prefer irreverent content and alternative coverage. By rebranding its approach, the network aims to capture a specific demographic interested in sports and culture.
Outkick saw a 19% increase in traffic during August 2026 month-over-month. For comparison, The New York Times acquired The Athletic for $550 million in 2022.
The players
Clay Travis
He is a sports media personality who founded Outkick and later launched the competitor venture Sport & State.
Fox Corporation
This is a mass media company that purchased Outkick in 2021 and manages its digital operations.
Matt Calkins
He is a sports columnist who joined Outkick in September 2026.
Craig Carton
He is a radio host who was hired by Fox to host a show on Outkick in August 2026.
The details
Fox has updated the Outkick logo and tagline to emphasize a new focus on sports and culture, while expanding coverage to include wrestling, hunting, and fishing. The site also hired radio host Craig Carton in August 2026 and sports columnist Matt Calkins in September 2026.
Timeline
Fox Corporation purchased the news site Outkick in 2021.
The New York Times purchased The Athletic for $550 million in 2022.
Clay Travis departed Outkick in June 2026.
Outkick traffic increased 19% month-over-month in August 2026.
Matt Calkins joined Outkick as a columnist in September 2026.
Season Trajectory
This reorganization follows the industry trend of media giants acquiring sports-focused digital properties to capture niche audiences, mirroring the 2022 acquisition of The Athletic. The shift significantly alters the competitive landscape for sports news outlets seeking to expand beyond traditional coverage.
Readers can expect a broader range of content on Outkick as it incorporates wrestling, hunting, and fishing into its standard sports reporting. This change signals a diversification of the site's editorial focus intended to retain and grow its audience base.
The takeaway
The evolution of sports media platforms reflects a growing demand for niche content beyond mainstream game reporting. Audience growth strategies now prioritize diverse cultural coverage to maintain digital engagement metrics.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in the sector at Football.
Source note: This article includes information reported by GV Wire.
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