- High school athletes will compete for $250,000 scholarship prize pool
- Three days of live coverage on ESPN App begins Sunday, Aug. 9
- Primetime ESPN on ABC special 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, Aug. 13
As America continues the yearlong celebration of its 250th anniversary, the ESPN App will stream live coverage of the 2026 Patriot Games, a national athletic competition for high school athletes, for three days beginning Sunday, Aug. 9. Coverage will culminate with an hour-long ESPN on ABC primetime special on Thursday, Aug. 13, at 9 p.m. ET.
The Patriot Games will bring together exceptional young athletes ages 14–17 from across the United States, territories, and tribal nations to compete in a series of challenges designed to test strength, endurance, agility, teamwork and perseverance. Winners will compete for a share of the $250,000 prize pool, providing transformative educational opportunities and helping them pursue their future goals.
The competition, to be held at SPIRE Academy in Geneva, Ohio, will include rounds that test excellence in skillsets of beloved American sports, including elements from football, basketball, soccer, track and more. Competitions will include both team and individual categories. The athletes will be tested on the skills from the Presidential Fitness Test, go through a military-inspired boot camp circuit and finalists will compete in an obstacle course designed to test strategy and skill.
ESPN’s live coverage will be anchored by Laura Rutledge, Matt Barrie, Beth Mowins and Tom Hart, with analysts Jordan Rodgers, Sean Farnham, Ron Slay and Danielle Lawrie. Reporters will be Brooke Weisbrod and Marion Crowder. Rutledge and Barrie also will co-host the ESPN on ABC primetime special.
Freedom 250 is the organizer of the Patriot Games.
Coverage schedule for 2026 Patriot Games events
| Date | Time (ET) | Event | Platform |
| Sun, Aug. 9 | 9 a.m. | Boys Presidential Qualifier | ESPN App |
| 1 p.m. | Girls Presidential Qualifier | ESPN App | |
| 5:30 p.m. | Boys Kickball | ESPN App | |
| 5:30 p.m. | Girls Dodgeball | ESPN App | |
| 6:30 p.m. | Boys Dodgeball | ESPN App | |
| 6:30 p.m. | Girls Kickball | ESPN App | |
| Mon., Aug. 10 | 11 a.m. | Girls Varsity Circuit | ESPN App |
| 11 a.m. | Boys Operation Endurance | ESPN App | |
| 2:45 p.m. | Boys Varsity Circuit | ESPN App | |
| 2:45 p.m. | Girls Operation Endurance | ESPN App | |
| Tue., Aug. 11 | 10:30 a.m. | Tug of War (Boys & Girls) | ESPN App |
| 11:30 a.m. | Victory Hoops (Boys & Girls) | ESPN App | |
| 7 p.m. | Semifinal, Final & Closing | ESPN App | |
| Thu., Aug. 13 | 9 p.m. | 2026 Patriot Games | ESPN on ABC |
Tentative schedule – subject to change
All of ESPN. All in One Place.
ESPN offers its full suite of networks and services directly to fans on the ESPN App with an ESPN Unlimited subscription, providing more choice, flexibility and access to all of ESPN, including more than 47,000 live events per year, on-demand replays, industry-leading studio shows and original programming, and more. The ESPN App gives fans a unique viewing experience that includes multiview and synchronized two-screen viewing options, swipe-able shortform vertical video and a personalized SportsCenter For You, as well as integrated game stats, ESPN Fantasy sports, betting odds and information from DraftKings, sports merchandise, and more. These features are available to all fans who watch on the ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices, whether they subscribe directly or through a pay TV package from certain providers. Bundling options available for fans include a Disney+, Hulu, ESPN offering that provides a one-of-a-kind streaming package combining sports with branded and general entertainment. For more visit stream.espn.com.
-30-
Media contacts:
ESPN: andy.hall@espn.com
Freedom 250: media@freedom250.org