The University of Kentucky and its affiliated corporation, Champions Blue LLC, will pay Michigan State University $3.95 million to release athletics director J Batt from his contract with the Spartans.
According to public records obtained by CBS affiliate WKYT in Lexington, the payment structure, detailed in a newly released Assignment and Assumption Agreement dated July 27, 2026, requires Kentucky to pay Michigan State an initial lump sum of $2.5 million by July 31, 2026 and a second installment of $1.45 million by July 31, 2027.
Per the reporting of WKYT's Lyndsey Gough, the $3.95 million transfer serves as the buyout of Batt’s contract at Michigan State, where he had served as vice president and director of athletics since late 2024. Batt signed a separation agreement and release with Michigan State on July 9, 2026, officially terminating his employment in East Lansing.
"The University of Kentucky announced on June 15, 2026, that Batt would succeed longtime athletic director Mitch Barnhart," Gough reported. "In his new role, Batt serves as both the UK athletics director and the chief executive officer of Champions Blue LLC, a newly established affiliate created to generate new revenue streams."
Related: Kentucky Plans to Convert Athletic Department Into Corporate Entity
Batt’s contract with the University of Kentucky has not been made public.
