IMG Academy, NFL Academy game moved to national television on ESPN2

BRADENTON, FL — What began as another international matchup on IMG Academy's loaded 2026 schedule has become a nationally televised showcase. IMG Academy will host the NFL Academy on Friday, Oct. 16, in Bradenton, Florida, with the matchup upgraded to ESPN2 as two of the most intriguing football dev

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BRADENTON, FL — What began as another international matchup on IMG Academy's loaded 2026 schedule has become a nationally televised showcase.

IMG Academy will host the NFL Academy on Friday, Oct. 16, in Bradenton, Florida, with the matchup upgraded to ESPN2 as two of the most intriguing football development programs in the world meet on an increasingly prominent stage.

IMG enters the game 6-0, surviving a scare against The St. James Performance Academy (VA) via a last-second field goal from Zach Brien. The Ascenders have outscored opponents 307-89 so far this season.

The NFL Academy, based in Loughborough, England, arrives with a 6-1 record, including victories over Marietta and Archbishop Hoban in the United States and a 21-16 loss to Massillon

Washington. The program has since rolled through European competition, including an 83-0 victory over Programm Berlin, a 64-0 win over Nürnberg Rams Academy and a 77-0 victory over Friendship Bowl Academy.

IMG Academy National beat The St. James Performance Academy 44-42 in Bradenton on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. Ascenders quarterback Jayden Wade (7) scans the defense.

The matchup also features a remarkable collection of college prospects.

IMG's roster includes 2028 five-star quarterback Jayden Wade, a Georgia commit, as well as five-star wide receiver Osani Gayles. Wade is currently a consensus top 10 prospect in the 2028 class, while Gayles is a consensus top 50 prospect.

For the NFL Academy, the headliners include 2027 offensive tackle Niko Kampas, a Tennessee commit, and 2028 offensive tackle Adam Ibironke. Kampas is a four-star prospect, while Ibironke is already one of the more highly regarded international prospects in his class. The NFL Academy also features 2027 prospects Adeola Werner (Texas Tech), Augustine Irek (Vanderbilt), and Zarius Matavao (Texas Tech).

Niko Kampas, an offensive tackle from the NFL Academy in England, is a 2027 recruit. He is originally from Germany.

Kampas and Ibironke give the matchup an especially intriguing dimension in the trenches. Ibironke stands 6-foot-8 and about 300 pounds, while Kampas is 6-foot-7 and nearly 300 pounds.

The NFL Academy's roster reflects the international nature of the program. Its 2026-27 class includes 70 athletes from 21 countries, with players from nations including Australia, Canada, France, Finland, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, and the United Kingdom. More than 50 NFL Academy alumni are expected to play college football this season, with more than 30 at the Division I level.

For IMG, it is another test on a schedule that also includes New Palestine (IN), The Hun School (NJ), and St. Frances Academy (MD). For the NFL Academy, it represents the latest step in a program designed to turn international athletes into American college football players before going pro.

Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X at @AlexMartinUSAT or via email: amartin@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow USA TODAY High School Sports on Instagram and X.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: IMG Academy, NFL Academy game moved to national television on ESPN2