Grand Canyon University Athletics
GCU unveils 'Lopes on a Mission: Inside GCU Sports'
9/30/2026 12:00:00 PM | Antelope Productions
Premiering Oct. 8, new Antelope Productions series takes viewers behind the scenes of GCU Athletics, where elite competition is driven by faith
Grand Canyon Athletics is taking viewers beyond the game with the launch of Lopes on a Mission: Inside GCU Sports, a new monthly television series offering behind-the-scenes access to the people, faith and experiences that define GCU.
Produced by GCU Athletics' newly launched Antelope Productions, the 30-minute program will debut Thursday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. on Arizona's Family Sports, which is available statewide for free over the air.
With the tagline "Driven by faith. Built to lead," Lopes on a Mission will explore high-level college athletics and GCU's Christian mission while giving viewers an inside look at the personalities, preparation and moments that happen beyond the games.
The series also reflects Antelope Productions' guiding philosophy: "Real stories. Real access. Real impact."
"This show gives us an opportunity to tell GCU Athletics stories in a new and compelling way," GCU Vice President of Athletics Jamie Boggs said. "GCU wins and competes at an elite level, but there is so much more happening within our programs. Our student-athletes are growing in their faith, developing as leaders, serving their community and building relationships that will impact them long after their playing careers end."
Rather than following a traditional coaches' show format, Lopes on a Mission will move between documentary-style features, mic'd-up access, athlete and coach personalities, faith stories, gameday experiences and glimpses into how GCU operates behind the scenes.
Cameras will follow Lopes into practices, team activities, campus events, community initiatives, road trips and other settings fans rarely see.
The debut episode reflects that approach, taking viewers behind the scenes at a sold-out Lope-A-Palooza volleyball match and Welcome Week, inside the atmosphere surrounding GCU men's soccer's March to the Match and into the experiences of student-athletes across multiple programs.
The show will explore how faith is woven into GCU Athletics through moments such as team prayer, student-athlete faith journeys and a GCU baseball player's baptism. Other features will showcase men's basketball's summer team-building trip to Vancouver, personalities surrounding GCU women's basketball and the preparation behind signature athletics events such as Midnight Madness.
The approach reflects the three primary storytelling pillars of Antelope Productions: elite competitiveness, community impact and a Christ-centered mission.
Future episodes will feature student-athletes and coaches across GCU's programs while also introducing viewers to university leaders, staff members, students and others who help shape the GCU experience.
GCU President Brian Mueller and Boggs will be among the university leaders appearing in episodes.
New episodes of Lopes on a Mission will premiere monthly on Arizona's Family Sports with additional re-airings throughout the month.
Full episodes also will be available digitally through the GCU Lopes YouTube channel and MW+, while individual stories, behind-the-scenes moments and short-form clips will be distributed across GCU Athletics' social media platforms.
Driven by faith. Built to lead.
Airing schedule:
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Premieres Thursday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. on Arizona's Family Sports (listings here)
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Releases on streaming on Friday, Oct. 9 at 10 a.m. on MW+ and GCU Lopes YouTube
Additional airings on Arizona's Family Sports:
- Friday, October 9 at 7:30 p.m.
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Sunday, October 11 at 6:30 p.m.
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Thursday, October 15 at 3:30 p.m.
- Sunday, October 18 at 6:30 p.m.
Starting in November, new episodes will premiere at 6:30 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month on Arizona's Family Sports, release on digital platforms the following morning, and air seven additional times on Arizona's Family Sports throughout the month.
