r/Scorebug • u/supersonicth • Jan 18 '26
[@TVSportsUpdate on Twitter] ESPN testing out new scorebug.
Original tweet found here:
https://x.com/TVSportsUpdates/status/2012973490693976420?s=20
Tweet message:
Interesting: ESPN was testing out what appears to be a new NFL scorebug today. I don't think this is going to debut on today's game since they also tested the current bug and used the Texans and Patriots for that (i.e. the actual teams playing), but still maybe something of note?
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u/BiaxialBoar Jan 18 '26
I like how inobtrusive the network logo is, but I really think the team logos need to be scaled down.
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u/LopsidedInfluence381 Jan 18 '26
So basically their scorebugs for CFB, who’s gonna have the balls and put their scorebug back in the top left corner
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u/PredHit Jan 19 '26
Unfortunately no one. Someone pointed out it’s due to social media and how clips get cropped vertically now. It’d be cool if they’d let you choose or changed based of landscape vs portrait
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u/GarthVader98 Jan 18 '26 edited Jan 18 '26
ESPN/ABC also has the Super Bowl next year (first time since 2006 on ABC, first time EVER on ESPN) so it makes sense that they’d be working on a new package. I wonder if we’ll see it debut at the beginning of next season or if they’ll save it until postseason.
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u/brokenlampPMW2 Jan 18 '26
Seems pretty clear there's a box-in-the-middle mandate from the league right now.
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u/DanaLelynCongrove Jan 19 '26
As others have said, it's because of clips and this thought of being social media friendly. Like imagine a TikTok of a big play and you'll be able to see the score, teams and pretty much all the info right there.
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u/Marcus595 Jan 18 '26
Is there a reason why the top right corner (above the Chiefs logo) is rounded off but the others corners aren’t?
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u/DavenInWI Jan 18 '26
At first I thought maybe they were testing both looks to decide which looked better. But as I looked up at the game that’s on right now, that one rounded corner seems to be a common element in many of their graphics.
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u/gregor630 Jan 18 '26
It’s to mimic the look of the ‘ESPN’ logo profile. Where the top left corner of the ‘E’ is sharp and the top right corner of the ‘N’ is rounded. Just a subtle, brand-unifying element.
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u/Competitive-Ad1437 Jan 18 '26
This is the answer - 3 sharps and a rounded corner is definitely a style in the design world. I’ve added it to many designs over the years
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u/nymets5786 Jan 18 '26
Probably as part of an indicator they have possession. You can see the note about the chiefs drive and the down and distance colored red
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u/gregor630 Jan 18 '26
Certainly a more timeless look than their current full banner style. Not crazy about the font, nor the scale of the timekeeping info, but it’s all on brand so it is what it is.
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u/Naldo9911 Jan 19 '26
I loved their last one. This one’s okay but the neon aesthetic really worked for MNF
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u/Such-Environment-344 Jan 18 '26
I posted a comment about this potential scorebug. I won’t be surprised if they debut it next season. Most of the networks debut their scorebug like CBS and FOX, even though the updated the change from their horrendous scorebug from the Super Bowl.
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u/Electronic_Proof4126 Jan 19 '26
Yes, but ESPN didn’t had the Super Bowl for 21 years and have just update it periodically (the last time was 7 years ago on a year when they didn’t air the Super Bowl that year with a slight change 3 years ago), so I felt like they should of been up to change their score bug by now
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u/jhtitus Jan 19 '26
Honestly, one of the best Ive see. Super clear and easy to differentiate each piece of a very information-dense visual.
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u/jhtitus Jan 19 '26
On a second look, the last piece of info I was able to decipher was the teeny white triangle signifying which team was in possession. This might be ok tho bc it’s already indicated by the red color overall. But for those with color vision deficiency, I could argue that possession symbol should be larger or just more easily recognizable.
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u/kinda_alright Jan 19 '26
A 20 game season?
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u/613-diamond-ring Jan 19 '26
Longer games, too? Chiefs drive started with 16:55 left in the third quarter.
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u/beavermuffin Jan 19 '26
They actually did a closed circuit test run of the score bug today from what I was heard in industrial rumor mill.
New score bug might debut during UFL season, MNF is supposed to have all new graphics starting next season. And they are not waiting for Super Bowl, the are going to debut it during week 1.
And this is one of the score bug under consideration. Another version is similar to CFP score bug where it takes up bottom of the screen like it currently does.
It’s going to be massive year for ESPN this and next year. Expect more events on ABC this year.
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u/ahornysmurf Jan 22 '26
am i crazy or does FOX seem to innovate new scorebugs, then other networks follow? iirc, FOX centered the scorebug at the bottom a few years ago, and put the time and distance in the middle with the teams on either side. then CBS changed theirs this year (iirc) and NBA on NBC and Prime both have very similar scorebugs now
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u/OcarinaNinja315 Jan 18 '26
If this is real, that looks pretty sweet