Tag Archives: heisman

Next League Announces Multi-Phase Relationship With Heisman

Next League, which designs, deploys and operates intelligent systems for leagues, teams and federations, today announced a multi-phase relationship with Heisman, the organization behind the top award in college football. Next League becomes Heisman’s AI and technology services provider, taking on the role of the organization’s technology function across data, platforms and AI.

With the first engagement of the relationship, Next League built the AI-driven data and technology infrastructure powering Heisman’s new season-long analytics, storytelling and fan voting platform, Heisman Hopefuls. Hopefuls is the first step in Heisman’s broader digital transformation spanning analytics, fan engagement, AI and storytelling, with Next League operating as Heisman’s technology provider across it.

“We are thrilled to bring on Next League as our AI and Technology Services Partner,” said Jeff Price, CEO, Heisman. “This launch is the first step in a broader digital and AI transformation of the Heisman brand including enhanced analytics, fan engagement and storytelling. Next League has played an integral role in bringing this experience to life and we look forward to giving fans, schools and student-athletes new ways to be part of the Heisman story for years to come.”
“This relationship with Heisman shows how large legacy platforms can pivot using best in class technology to meet the needs and interests of a much larger audience,” said David Nugent, CEO, Next League. “What they will be able to do, and what we will help them build, will expand their scope and reach and tell the stories of those tied to the award on every level. It will be a new benchmark for engagement for the Heisman and for many others into the future.”

Heisman recognizes enhanced data, analytics and storytelling are critical to keeping the sport’s most storied conversation relevant for the next generation of fans. Next League, with its focus on how emerging technologies and AI reshape the way sports organizations engage fans, will help Heisman deepen connections with its fans year-round and across every touchpoint. Together, they’ll ensure Heisman stays ahead of how these emerging technologies continue to shape how fans experience college football and celebrate the stories and successes of all student-athletes.

Heisman Hopefuls, which launched last week, unifies official NCAA statistics from Genius Sports, EA player ratings and the season-long weighted fan vote model developed with the Carnegie Mellon Sports Analytics Center into a single fan experience. The result is the Heisman Hopefuls Field, featuring more than 11,000 student-athletes, and the Heisman Hopefuls Fan Vote, which opens to fans September 9.

AXIA Time Partners with Heisman Trophy Trust

AXIA Time, creator of ultra-custom Swiss Made timepieces, gets another huge deal over the goal line as the Official Timepiece of the Heisman Trophy. To celebrate this win, AXIA Time has innovated a new design called the DIASIMOS with a version exclusively for the Heisman Trophy finalists and honorees in collaboration with the Heisman Trophy Trust. This unique, heirloom-quality timepiece will be presented as part of the Heisman Trophy Weekend beginning on December 13, 2024.

Adding the Heisman Trophy to the list of awards for which AXIA Time has partnered establishes the brand as the go-to watchmaker for celebrating life’s greatest accomplishments. For the past three years, AXIA Time has served as the Official Timepiece of the Tewaaraton Awards for college lacrosse. Earlier this year AXIA Time was named the Official Timepiece of the Naismith Award for college basketball, and the Official Timepiece of the College Football Playoff (CFP). The partnership with the Heisman Trophy Trust is another big play for AXIA Time, which has created personalized timepieces of exceptional quality at an affordable price to commemorate life’s biggest achievements and unforgettable moments since 2018.

THE HEISMAN DIASIMOS BY AXIA TIME

Evocative of the iconic trophy, the Heisman DIASIMOS by AXIA Time is an eye-catching study in black and bronze powered by renowned Swiss brand Sellita’s SW300 Elaboré, a 31-jewel self-winding, automatic movement which operates at a frequency of 28,800 VpH (4Hz) and has a power reserve of 56 hours. At 40.5 mm, the watch’s striking bronze-plated titanium #5 case with DLC coating features a split coin-edge bezel and a fine-tooth crown adorned with the iconic Heisman logo. The piece’s sapphire crystal caseback displays the SW300 Elaboré movement with its unique custom rotor as well as an engraving ring which provides dedicated space to honor the individual player. To ensure stylish comfort and the ease of use necessary for daily wear, the watch is presented on an American-made, black square-scale alligator strap with contrast stitching which closes via a bronze-plated deployant buckle embellished with the Heisman logo. Reminiscent of the trophy base, the Heisman DIASIMOS by AXIA Time comes in a custom, solid walnut display box.

“We are excited to include AXIA Time among our family of sponsors as the Official Timepiece of the Heisman Trophy,” stated Michael Comerford, President of the Heisman Trophy Trust. “We are grateful to AXIA Time and its founder, John Kanaras, for their focus on honoring all of our finalists and honorees AXIA’s exquisite timepieces and ultra-custom designs offer a special way for our finalists and honorees to commemorate this unforgettable time in their lives.”

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the Heisman Trophy Trust to celebrate all of their honorees,” said AXIA Time founder John Kanaras. “As with the Tewaaraton and Naismith Awards, AXIA Time believes that being named a finalist is an incredible achievement that deserves to be celebrated. We hope that our timepieces will quickly become family heirlooms that will be cherished by each athlete.”

With the Heisman DIASIMOS, AXIA Time has created more than just a watch: it’s also a time machine that will instantly transport these elite athletes back to the moment of being named Heisman Trophy finalists, for the rest of their lives. These AXIA timepieces are a symbol of their exceptional sportsmanship and performance that they can cherish for a lifetime.

AXIA timepieces are designed in the U.S. and handcrafted in Switzerland by master watchmakers, using the same components and engineers as luxury Swiss brands, at a much more accessible price point. Although this collection is not for sale to the general public, the new AXIA Time Heisman timepieces are stylish and functional, meant to be worn every day, and passed on from generation to generation. As with all AXIA timepieces, crisp and elegant custom design centers what’s important to the wearer above all else: vividly capturing memories of joy and success on the field in this milestone moment.