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USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Could CFP expansion threaten Cy-Hawk Series future?
Could CFP expansion threaten Cy-Hawk Series future? Could College Football Playoff expansion spell doom for the future of the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series? As SEC Spring Meetings unfolded this week in Destin, Florida, CFP expansion was at the forefront of the discussion. The initial momentum seemed to be CFP expansion toward a 4-4-2-2-1 model. In the 4-4-2-2-1 model, the Big Ten and SEC would each receive four automatic qualifiers into the College Football Playoff, while the Big 12 and ACC would each receive two. The highest-ranked Group of Six conference champion would also receive an automatic qualifier and then there would be three at-large bids. Now, it seems that a 5+11 CFP expansion model is picking up steam. In the 5+11 model, each of the five highest-ranked conference champions would receive automatic qualifiers and then 11 at-large bids would be awarded to the highest-ranked teams by the CFP selection committee. Either expansion road could be enough to convince the SEC to expand its league slate to nine conference games. That would match the Big Ten's current nine-game conference slate. Plus, it sounds like the SEC sticking with an eight-game conference slate is a non-starter for the Big Ten in terms of expanding the playoff to a 5+11 model. Assuming the CFP expands to 16 teams and the SEC adds a ninth conference game, those changes may also set the stage for the reported Big Ten-SEC scheduling agreement that's been floated about. LSU head coach Brian Kelly endorsed a potential Big Ten-SEC scheduling agreement on Wednesday. "Our first goal would be wanting to play Big Ten teams as coaches," Kelly said. "I can speak for the room. We want to play Big Ten teams but you've got to get a partner. You've got to get a partner who says we're in for that, too. So we've made our voice clear, our athletic directors know that as well that we would like that. Our commissioner obviously heard us well. The rest will be up to what gets negotiated." But, a potential Big Ten-SEC scheduling agreement could come with other scheduling consequences. Under that scenario, Iowa would play a nine-game Big Ten slate and then add an annual SEC nonconference date on top of that. With 10 of 12 games already filled up with Big Ten and SEC foes, would the Hawkeyes be willing to still sign up for the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series game annually? That would mean an 11th Power Four contest and leave just one final open date for a likely FCS or lower-level FBS opponent. In November of 2022, the University of Iowa and Iowa State University extended their scheduling agreement through the 2027 season. That ensures the date this season on Sept. 6 in Ames, a meeting in Iowa City on Sept. 12, 2026 and their contest in Ames on Sept. 11, 2027. If the Big Ten and SEC do indeed strike up a scheduling agreement, the Cy-Hawk Series and other nonconference in-state rivalries for Big Ten and SEC programs could be at risk. SEC schools Florida, Georgia, Kentucky and South Carolina all have annual in-state rivalry games as does the Big Ten's Washington. USC also has its annual nonconference series against Notre Dame. Iowa owns a 47-24 all-time mark in the series and have won seven of the past nine in the in-state rivalry. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnREF
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why Big Ten provides an answer to SEC's scheduling question
The SEC's scheduling debate will renew when the conference's spring meetings begin later this month. It's that age-old question of whether to stick with eight conference games or bump up to nine. Advertisement Maybe, that's the wrong question, though, and the SEC should be asking: Would a Big Ten-SEC challenge be better than a ninth conference game? On this edition of "SEC Football Unfiltered," a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams debate the merit of adding a ninth SEC game versus sticking with the status quo. Retaining the eight-game format would sacrifice the annual nature of some secondary rivalries. But, could containing the SEC schedule to eight games encourage the conference to pursue more bold non-conference scheduling? Subscribe to SEC Football Unfiltered iTunes | Google Play | Spotify Advertisement Is that worth it? Well, that depends. TOPPMEYER: College football fans, donors drove the clown car in NIL era, but was that so bad? ADAMS: Kentucky and Vanderbilt should stop wasting money on football SEC football schedule format Toppmeyer and Adams are intrigued by the idea of an SEC-Big Ten football challenge – so intrigued, that they like the concept of an interconference clash better than a ninth SEC game. Toppmeyer: I've long supported the idea of the SEC increasing to nine conference games, which would put it in line with the Big Ten and Big 12. Also, a ninth conference game would work in tandem of my other wish-list item: that every SEC team would play a minimum of 10 games against power-conference opponents. Advertisement Nine SEC games + one non-conference games = 10 real games and only two cupcakes. But, if the SEC collectively would consider eight SEC games + one challenge game against a Big Ten opponent + one additional non-conference game for a total of 10 real games, I might go for that idea. In fact, I'm picturing four of these SEC-B1G challenge games unfolding on each of the first four Saturdays of the season, spicying up the September schedule. Adams: If the SEC wants to prove its supremacy, what better way than to put it on the line throughout 16 non-conference games against the Big Ten? Consider what happened in basketball. The SEC skunked the ACC in the SEC-ACC challenge. That sent a loud signal that the SEC was legit, and it charted the course for the SEC to qualify 14 teams for the NCAA Tournament. Advertisement For football, I usually tend to think the more conference games, the better. But, the more I think about this blue-sky idea of an SEC-B1G challenge, the more I think I'd rather see Vanderbilt put it on the line against Northwestern than play Missouri in a ninth SEC game. Where to listen to SEC Football Unfiltered Apple Spotify iHeart Google Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's national college football columnist. John Adams is the senior sports columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel. Subscribe to the SEC Football Unfiltered podcast, and check out the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Big Ten provides an answer to SEC's scheduling question
USA Today
12-05-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Opinion: Joel Klatt is wrong to connect Michigan football scandal and Santa Ono departure
Opinion: Joel Klatt is wrong to connect Michigan football scandal and Santa Ono departure Michigan football is expected to suspend head coach Sherrone Moore for two games after Moore deleted his text message chain with Connor Stalions (though he produced the texts for the NCAA investigators). The suspension is set for Weeks 3-4 in the 2025 season, and Fox Sports' Joel Klatt is none too happy about the selective punishment for the second-year Wolverines coach. On his podcast, Klatt called the action 'self-serving for Michigan' in advance of the June 6-7 committee on infractions hearing with the NCAA, where the university's athletic department and the governing body will meet to discuss the notice of allegations and the U-M response. "Let's be incredibly honest about it. It is self-serving for Michigan," Klatt said. "This benefits them to try to get out in front of it as one thing to get out in front of it, to benefit you. The most is another, which obviously trying to get your feet wet -- not only as let's face it a young head coach, but also with a new quarterback -- you don't want to try to go through all of those gymnastics early in the year with this suspension. So get your feet wet as a team. And in particular, the starting quarterback for the first two weeks and that big road test -- Big Ten-SEC. as Michigan goes on the road to Oklahoma -- which, like I said, is Sherrone's alma mater -- and then serve the suspension. Is that beneficial for Michigan? Obviously, yes. Obviously, yes. Which is why they're trying to do it this way." Is it self-serving? Yes. But schools often punish themselves in a way that seems fit to them in lieu of the NCAA doling out punishments -- it's the NCAA's role to decide whether or not that's enough. The NCAA could determine that it should be different games, or it could decide more games, or it could decide that two games for deleting texts (which were later produced) is OK. Klatt goes on to say that with Michigan levying this punishment alongside U-M president Santa Ono leaving for Florida could be an omen for how deep this rabbit hole goes. "So now you have Michigan trying to get out in front of a suspension for their head coach, Sherrone Moore, and the president leaving for a job that we would all at least assume is not quite as prestigious," Klatt said. "So something's coming, and it's likely very large and could be even financial. So the Michigan saga is going to be with us at least for a few more months, a couple months after June." There is no indication that Ono's departure has to do with sports -- in fact, athletic director Warde Manuel, who was in power for the entirety of this saga, was extended in his role after all the news came out. Ono, however, has been overseeing the university during other tumult -- from Israeli-Palestinian disagreements on campus, the elimination of the DEI departments to the chagrin of some members of the board of regents, as well as clashes with regents and their view of the current U.S. administration's viewpoints. It is much more likely that Ono is departing due to a combination of factors, such as the aforementioned, and nothing to do with sports -- especially with Manuel having been extended. The University of Michigan has a $19.2 billion endowment -- considered the third-biggest of public universities and ninth overall. Michigan Medicine, the U-M hospital system, makes nearly $8 billion in revenue and has a series of endowments near $1 billion. The U-M athletic department makes about $250 million in revenue -- scant compared to other aspects of business for the president in Ann Arbor. Certainly, a sign-stealing 'scandal' has little to do with university business. Klatt is right that something is coming, but there have been no indications, other than rival fan screeching online, that Michigan will be subject to upheaval. Early indications do suggest that this suspension, a fine, recruiting restrictions, and show-causes for Jim Harbaugh and Connor Stalions are likely to be the punishment.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
SEC coaches pressure rankings part I: DeBoer, Freeze & Kelly all feeling the heat
Dan Wetzel, Ross Dellenger and SI's Pat Forde present part I of their SEC coaches pressure index for the 2025 college football season. In a conference with the highest of expectations, are there any coaches who aren't feeling the pressure this upcoming season? Kalen DeBoer must show improvement at Alabama as he continues the impossible task of living up to Nick Saban's success. How much longer will Auburn wait on Hugh Freeze to deliver wins? Brian Kelly has done well at LSU, but you might not know it from asking the Tiger fanbase. The trio reveal their pressure index for half of the SEC, with the rest to follow early next week. Dan, Ross & Pat also speculate about the potential outcomes of the joint Big Ten-SEC meeting today in New Orleans and revisit a hot People's Court topic: is a boneless chicken wing really a wing at all? (2:07) SEC, Big 10 joint meeting (14:33) SEC coaches under pressure (15: 37) Kalen DeBoer, Alabama (20:43) Sam Pittman, Arkansas (24:26) Hugh Freeze, Auburn (28:05) Billy Napier, Florida (32:41) Kirby Smart, Georgia (35:35) Mark Stoops, Kentucky (40:50) Brian Kelly, LSU (44:53) Jeff Lebby, Mississippi State (49:07) People's court: boneless chicken wings Follow Dan @DanWetzel Follow Pat @ByPatForde Follow Ross @RossDellenger 🖥️
