Why seeding for the expanded College Football Playoff isn't as simple as counting from 1 to 12
The College Football Playoff expands to from four to 12 teams this season, a massive change that will profoundly impact the sport and how success is defined.
With CFP snub still stinging, Atlantic Coast Conference ponders how to boost football perceptions
The College Football Playoff snub of unbeaten Florida State is still a fresh wound for the entire Atlantic Coast Conference.
Paying college football players could reverse trend of bowl game opt-outs, boost non-CFP postseason
With the expanded College Football Playoff locked in through 2031, questions still remain about what the rest of the postseason will look like.
ESPN will remain the home of the College Football Playoff through 2031 under $7.8 billion deal
The College Football Playoff and ESPN have announced a deal that will give the network exclusive rights to the expanded postseason through the 2031 season.
Conferences and Notre Dame agree on 6-year deal to continue College Football Playoff through 2031
The nine Bowl Subdivision conferences and Notre Dame have reached an agreement on a six-year deal to continue the College Football Playoff through the 2031 season.
CFP discussing 14-team model with 3 automatic bids each for Big Ten, SEC, AP sources say
College Football Playoff officials are considering a 14-team model that would guarantee multiple automatic bids for each of the four power conferences, starting in 2026.
College Football Playoff approves 5+7 format and reduces spots for conference champions
The field for the 12-team College Football Playoff will comprise five conference champions and seven at-large selections after the university presidents who oversee the CFP voted unanimously to tweak the format.
ESPN, College Football Playoff agree on 6-year deal worth $1.3 billion annually, AP sources say
Two people with knowledge of the agreement say ESPN and the College Football Playoff have agreed to a six-year deal worth $1.3 billion annually that will allow the network to keep exclusive rights to the 12-team playoff through the 2031 season.
Texas gives coach Sarkisian a four-year contract extension after Big 12 title and CFP appearance
Texas will give football coach Steve Sarkisian a four-year contract extension through 2030.
CFP championship game participants Michigan, Washington each have 2 players on AP's all-bowl team
Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr.โs wizardry in the Fiesta Bowl got the Huskies into Mondayโs College Football Playoff championship game.
Washington gives Pac-12 chance to be conference of champions in football 1 more time before leaving
The curtain will close on the Pac-12โs final season as a Power Five football conference on the biggest stage in the sport.
Kirby Smart says 'no question' Georgia belongs in College Football Playoff after loss to Alabama
Georgia coach Kirby Smart challenged the College Football Playoff selection committee to believe what that see when judging his No. 1 Bulldogs following the end of their 29-game winning streak.
Oregon defeats Oregon State 31-7 for a spot in the Pac-12 title game as rivalry ends for now
Bo Nix threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, securing No. 6 Oregon a spot in the Pac-12 championship game with a 31-7 victory over No. 15 Oregon State in the final scheduled matchup between the in-state rivals.
With Pac-12 unsettled, CFP managers meet to make difficult decision on number of reserved bids
College Football Playoff managers will meet this week at the Big Ten offices outside Chicago.
12-team CFP schedule includes New Year's Day tripleheaders
The College Football Playoff released a schedule for the 12-team format that will be used in the 2024 and 2025 seasons, which will feature New Yearโs Day quarterfinal tripleheaders but no games played on Saturday.
Dawgs for 3?: Georgia has chance to make football history
Kirby Smart didn't really want to discuss his Georgia Bulldogs' chances for a three-peat on the morning after they won their second straight College Football Playoff championship game.
Ohio State, Georgia reloaded after losing stars to NFL draft
Only months after Georgia defensive linemen and Ohio State wide receivers combined to fill five first-round slots in the NFL draft, those positions again boast top talent for the teams preparing to meet in the College Football Playoff Peach Bowl semifinal.
CFP expansion talks head toward October after 7-hour meeting
The conference commissioners who manage the College Football Playoff have met for almost seven hours to work on expanding the postseason system from four to 12 teams as soon as the 2024 season.
NIL expert predicts $50,000 minimum pay for Power 5 players
College football and menโs basketball players on scholarship in one of the major conferences can expect to soon earn a minimum of $50,000 each year he plays because of the influx of cash from booster collectives brokering name, image and likeness deals.
AP source: SEC, Pac-12 leaders to push for NIL law in DC
The commissioners of the Southeastern Conference and the Pac-12 are scheduled to meet with lawmakers in Washington They will lobby for federal legislation to regulate name, image and likeness compensation to athletes.
Top colleges accused of violating Black athletes' rights
The National College Players Association says NCAA Division I schools are violating the civil rights of Black basketball and major college football players by prohibiting compensation.
Young, Alabama can't summon comeback minus 2 best receivers
With Jameson Williams and John Metchie III sidelined by injuries, Bryce Young had his Heisman Trophy-winning season effectively ended by a last-minute pick six in the College Football Playoff championship game.
CFP talks stall, dimming hopes of expansion before 2026
College Football Playoff expansion talks remain stalled and the possibility of implementing a new format by the 2024 season dimmed after three days of meetings failed to produce an agreement.
No makeups for CFP semis if team can't play due to virus
If a team is unavailable to play in College Football Playoff semifinals because of COVID-19 issues, the game will be forfeited and the available team will advance to the championship game.
Big 12's Bowlsby: CFP expansion for 2024 'in some jeopardy'
Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby says expanding the College Football Playoff as soon as the 2024 season is "in some jeopardy" if an agreement on a new format cannot be reached soon.
AAC commish 'vigorously' opposed to P5 protection in CFP
American Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco says he will oppose a College Football Playoff expansion model gives automatic access only to Power Five conference champions.
![Looking ahead to the College Football Playoff? This โRSVPโ concept is brilliant](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/0UxpjokMK94dgEVfFkkRq4KDg8M=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/UEKSYM4QSVGHXK6JVADYS527VA.jpg)
Looking ahead to the College Football Playoff? This โRSVPโ concept is brilliant
Attending a major sporting event can be overwhelming: You might have to fly or embark on a road trip just to get there, depending on the location of course, and consider your accommodations and where youโll stay, eat and how youโll get around.
![For CFP to expand by โ24, plans needs approval in 4 months](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/w3ZG5tN2GD5Ed776kvaPuqj9AAo=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/YPC232NHWBHMZJOFG6JKKTQVQQ.jpg)
For CFP to expand by โ24, plans needs approval in 4 months
The college sports leaders who run the College Football Playoff have about four months to come to an agreement on a new format if expansion is to be implemented for the 2024 season.
![Jones, Smith, Harris reconnect at Alabama's pro day No. 2](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/MTWjzIIDh-C7hXmWqLRYrQBHT_s=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/MDNWFGM5HRGZ5NBTQXBJSQGQSM.jpg)
Jones, Smith, Harris reconnect at Alabama's pro day No. 2
Patrick Surtain II and Mac Jones had the spotlight at Alabama's Pro Day, Tuesday, March 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)DeVonta Smith was there for quarterback Mac Jones once again, this time it was at Alabama's latest pro day. โHe didn't have to do that,โ Jones told the SEC Network, which aired the pro day. 'โJones showcased his arm strength a week after participating in the Crimson Tide's first pro day. โMac was just on me like, โBro, come catch, come catch, come catch,โโ Smith told the network.
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Video game maker EA Sports announces return of NCAA Football
There is no timetable in place for the next release of a college football game, the company said. โWeโve heard from the millions of passionate fans requesting the return of college football video games,โ EA Sports executive vice president and general manage Cam Weber said in a statement. โWe love the energy, tradition and pageantry of college football and I am beyond thrilled to say we are back in development." The NCAA Football video game did not identify players by name, but the game simulated teams and players as they played in real life. The video game was part of a broad legal challenge and a judge ruled the NCAA had been inappropriately using the names, images and likenesses of college athletes.
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Thousands party in streets after Alabama win, despite virus
Dr. Scott Harris, the head of the Alabama Department of Public Health, said he expected more cases of COVID-19 to result from the street party. โItโs disappointing to see people not paying attention to the guidance that we try to give to keep them safe. Students and workers also are required to complete online training about reducing the risk of spreading the illness. More than 5,500 people have died in Alabama from the illness caused by the coronavirus, and about 408,000 have tested positive. People lined up to get into the bars an hour before kickoff despite the warnings, The Tuscaloosa News reported.
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Perfect Alabama finishes No. 1 in AP Top 25 for 12th time
(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. โ Alabama finished the season No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the 12th time, extending its record by completing the programโs first perfect season since 2009. With 12 AP titles overall โ Paul โBearโ Bryant was coach for five and Gene Stallings for one โ Alabama has four more than Notre Dame, in second place with eight. The Big 12 finished with a perfect record in five bowl games. ___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at https://westwoodonepodcasts.com/pods/ap-top-25-college-football-podcast/___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25___This story has been updated to correct the number of national titles for Alabama to 12, not.
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COVID-19 shadows title game as college football season ends
From start to finish, the specter of COVID-19 loomed large over the 2020 college football season and the national championship game was no exception. The game, played in the Miami Dolphinsโ stadium, drew the sort of turnout typically found in the fourth quarter of an NFL preseason game. But the challenges college football faced in navigating the pandemic were unique. The Pac-12 and Big Ten postponed their seasons before reversing course, and Ohio State played only eight games. It was a made-for-TV season that ends with an asterisk, and college football now looks toward the 2021 season, which is a big question mark.
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6 years later, Alabama and Ohio State go at it again
Six years later, Ohio State and Alabama meet again, the Tide still rolling and the Buckeyes again looking for an upset. How Fields is feeling will be the main story line heading into the title game. Alabama was the top seed in the first four-team playoff after the 2014 season, but Ohio State beat the Tide 42-35 in the semifinal Sugar Bowl behind Meyer, Ezekiel Elliott and Cardale Jones. That Ohio State even got to play at all was surprising after the Big Ten canceled its fall season in August only to reverse course in September,"With everything this team has been through this last 10 months or so, Iโm just so happy for this group of guys,โ Ohio State linebacker Tuf Borland said. Alabama opened as a touchdown favorite over Ohio State, riding a prolific offense that features two Heisman Trophy finalists.
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'Bama, ND, Clemson, OSU enter champ weekend in CFP position
Alabama punt returner DeVonta Smith (6) returns a punt for a touchdown against Arkansas during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)Alabama, Notre Dame, Clemson and Ohio State will enter championship weekend in position to make the College Football Playoff with very little drama. Ohio State (5-0) is fourth going into the Big Ten title game against Northwestern, and Texas A&M is on deck at No. The unbeaten Bearcats host Tulsa, which is 23rd, in the American Athletic Conference title game. "We continue to work with the College Football Playoff and local health officials to provide the safest possible environment at our game.โ___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and http:www.twitter.com/AP_Top25
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Ohio State still 4th in CFP rankings after cancellation
Ohio State (4-0) had to cancel its game at Illinois last week because of a spike in COVID-19 cases in the program. HERBSTREIT APOLOGYESPN's Kirk Herbstreit caused a commotion with some of his analysis regarding Ohio State, Michigan and teams using COVID-19 as an excuse to not play. The Wolverines (2-4) are scheduled to host Maryland this week and play at Ohio State on Dec. 12. โI still think Michigan waves the white flag, potentially avoids playing Ohio State next week,โ Herbstreit said. the former Ohio State quarterback said.
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AP Top 25: Clemson remains overwhelming No. 1 over Alabama
POLL POINTSWhen it comes to winning games against ranked teams, Alabama coach Nick Saban is the best ever. Even before beating Georgia, Saban held the record for most victories against AP top-five teams (now 25) and top-10 teams (now 42). The average number of games played in a college football season is also longer now than ever before. The conference has had three of its teams ranked at one point or another. 23 North Carolina State is ranked for the first time since 2018.
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Commissioners decline CFP expansion after Pac-12 request
The conference commissioners who manage the College Football Playoff decided to stick with a four-team format during this pandemic-altered season after the Pac-12 made a request to consider expansion. Conferences are not playing the same number of games, are starting play at different times and there are no interconference matchups between Power Five leagues. Hancock added any decision on expansion would need the approval of the CFPโs presidential oversight committee after a recommendation by commissioners. The Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference and Big 12 are already up and running among the Power Five leagues. AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco is the one member of the management committee who has publicly suggested playoff expansion in the past.
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CFP selection committee set to release 1st ranking Nov. 17
The College Football Playoff unveiled a revised schedule Monday for its weekly rankings, with the first set pushed back two weeks to Nov. 17 and the final list now on tap for Dec. 20. Hancock said the CFP selection committee still plans to rank its top 25 teams each week, but nothing isnt open for tweaking if necessary. The six conferences have announced their intention to play, so the committee just established its meeting scheduled to be prepared, Hancock said. This is another way we're planning for a College Football Playoff to happen with a championship in Miami.The Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12, Southeastern Conference, American Athletic Conference, Conference USA and Sun Belt are move toward playing in the fall. The playoff management committee, which consists of the 10 FBS conference commissioners and Notre Dame's athletic director, met last week, Hancock said.
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NCAA football oversight asks board for time on fall sports
FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2020, file photo, LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson (2) is tackled by Clemson during the first half of an NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game in New Orleans. The NCAA's latest guidance for playing college sports during the COVID-19 pandemic recommends testing players once a week within 72 hours of competition. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)The NCAA football oversight committee is asking the associations Board of Governors to avoid making a decision later this week on whether to conduct fall championships as college sports tries to find a path to play through the pandemic. The board could decide to call off NCAA championship events in fall sports such as soccer, womens volleyball and lower-division football. The NCAA has no authority to postpone or cancel specific seasons, a decision that would be up to individual schools or their conferences.
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Coach O: National champ LSU ready to win more titles
LSU fans celebrate at Varsity Theatre, in Baton Rouge, La., after LSU defeated Clemson 42-25 in the NCAA College Football Playoff championship game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)NEW ORLEANS, LA โ LSU coach Ed Orgeron is already thinking about what comes next for his national champions. Biltenikoff Award winner Ja'Marr Chase, who finished with a College Football Playoff record eight receptions for 218 yards and two touchdowns, is just a sophomore. For now, Orgeron wants his coaches, players and fans to celebrate LSU's first national championship in 12 years. โBut it's a recruiting weekend this weekend, we'll start recruiting and get on to next year.โ___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/APTop25CollegeFootballPoll and https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25