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USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ryan Day says CFP format, automatic bids impacting Ohio State's future schedule
The college football world will be blessed with a premier matchup between Texas and Ohio State to open the 2025 college football season. But while fans are in for a treat for the matchup between the 2024 defending national champion Buckeyes and the up-and-coming Longhorns led by sensation Arch Manning, more of these marquee matchups could be off the table if there is no change in conference schedules and the format of the current College Football Playoff. REQUIRED READING: The absurdity of absolute power. Big Ten, SEC fight to shape College Football Playoff Speaking at Big Ten media days on July 22, Day talked about future scheduling of out-of-conference games and how it could be impacted with a lack of automatic berths in the current 12-team College Football Playoff. 'If we're not going to do that, I don't think it makes sense to do that,' Day said. 'You have your nine conference games and schedule other nonconference games that aren't in the Power Four.' Despite saying that, Ohio State's upcoming matchups against SEC powerhouses Alabama and Georgia appear to be safe. The Buckeyes are scheduled to play the Crimson Tide in 2027 and 2028, and the Bulldogs in 2030 and 2031. OSU begins a home-and-home with Texas this season. 'What's scheduled is scheduled,' Day said. The Buckeyes have recently added games against Navy and Youngstown State ― a Football Championship Subdivision member ― for the 2029 season. A big reason for the philosophy from Day and the Buckeyes for a "softer" out-of-conference schedule is the number of conference games played by each of the Power 4 conferences. Like the Big Ten, the Big 12 also plays nine conference games; meanwhile, the ACC and SEC have schedules with eight conference games. 'Until there's continuity between conferences, if you're in the Big Ten, it would make no sense to have anything other than a case to have four automatic qualifiers and an expanded pool of teams,' Day said, 'because when you play nine conference games, it's not the same as someone who plays eight conference games. If you're going to be compared against that, it's just not the same.' No team ever made the four-team CFP field with more than two losses between 2014 and 2023. In the new 12-team format last season, Alabama became the first team with three losses to make the field over a two-loss team in Miami. Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti's plan for a 16-team bracket that would secure four spots for the Big Ten and another four for the SEC has not gained approval and would need to be implemented before the Dec. 1 deadline to be added for the 2026 season. 'There's no reason to schedule until you have clarity,' Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork said. 'You could say we're in a holding pattern.'
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Big Ten power rankings for college football season have two leaders
Penn State lands atop USA TODAY Sports' rankings based on an edge in experience at key positions such as quarterback, an improved collection of skill talent, maybe the best offensive line of the James Franklin era and the makings of another top-ranked defense. Landing behind these two front-runners are national contenders in Oregon and Michigan, both of which will be defined in large part by the play of relatively young and unproven quarterbacks: Dante Moore for the Ducks and true freshman Bryce Underwood for the Wolverines. In the end, look for at least four and upwards of six or even seven Big Ten teams to factor into the playoff race over the final weeks of the regular season. Here's how the conference looks heading into preseason camp: 1. Penn State Former Syracuse receiver Trebor Pena (84 receptions for 941 yards in 2024) may end up being one of the most influential offseason additions in the Big Ten. With Drew Allar ensconced at quarterback and running backs Kaytron Allen (1,108 yards) and Nick Singleton (1,099 yards) driving a ferocious ground game, Pena's ability to be Allar's move-the-chains target will help PSU replace star tight end Ty Warren. Sixteen of Pena's 21 third-down grabs in 2024 went for a first down. 2. Ohio State All the deserved attention paid to quarterback Julian Sayin's ascension to the starting job has overshadowed the Buckeyes' significant changes on the defensive side. Just three starters return, though one is superstar safety Caleb Downs, and there's a new coordinator in former NFL coach and longtime pro football assistant Matt Patricia. He hasn't worked in college since serving as a graduate assistant at Syracuse in the early 2000s. ICONIC LOCALES: Ranking all the Big Ten college football stadiums DEAD PLAN: How the SEC crushed the Big Ten's attempt to rig playoff 3. Oregon Moore isn't technically a first-year starter after starting most of his freshman season at UCLA in 2023 before transferring to Oregon. While rocky, that experience and his growing knowledge of the Ducks' scheme last season suggests Moore will step right into the lineup and produce at a high clip. 4. Michigan The Wolverines will be strong on special teams and look particularly stout in the defensive back seven, especially at linebacker. Newcomers at receiver and running back will help ease Underwood's transition. But is he definitely going to start? Not necessarily. While he's the odds-on favorite, coach Sherrone Moore may slow Underwood's climb up the depth chart by tapping Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene, who once played for new Michigan coordinator Chip Lindsey at Central Florida. The pieces are in place for an outstanding season. One of the most experienced teams in the Power Four, Illinois plays a bruising, physical style that helped yield a 6-1 mark last season in games decided by 10 or fewer points. The Illini could very well notch double-digit wins and earn a playoff berth. 6. Nebraska The Cornhuskers are climbing the ladder under third-year coach Matt Rhule, whose previous teams at Temple and Baylor popped in his third season. Dylan Raiola will take a leap in his sophomore year and the offense should shine under coordinator Dana Holgorsen, but line play on both sides will decide Nebraska's fate. 7. Iowa Iowa has tossed a combined 19 touchdowns against 19 interceptions the past two years, with this futility offsetting more excellence from one of the most consistent defenses in the country. The Hawkeyes hope to change the narrative with the addition of former South Dakota State quarterback Mark Gronowski, formerly one of the top players in the Championship Subdivision. 8. Southern California The number to watch: 24. USC went 0-6 during the regular season in 2024 when allowing 24 or more points, including single-possession losses to Michigan, Minnesota, Penn State, Maryland and Washington. A defense that finished 16th in the Big Ten last year in yards per play must take a huge leap for the Trojans to exceed their preseason hype. 9. Indiana Kaelon Black (251 yards) will take over as Indiana's primary running back, joined by a pair of transfers: Lee Beebe Jr. (884 yards) from Alabama-Birmingham and Roman Hemby (607 yards) from Maryland. Hemby has the bonus of being an effective receiver after making 40 grabs for the Terrapins last season. 10. Washington The Huskies look on much sturdier ground heading into coach Jedd Fisch's second season. Part of that is due to increased depth after struggling through large-scale attrition in the wake of Kalen DeBoer's departure for Alabama. Fisch brought in several starting-level defenders through the portal, including cornerback Tacario Davis and edge rusher Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei from Arizona. 11. Minnesota With only senior Le'Meke Brockington set to return from last year's receiver rotation, the Gophers went heavy in the portal to find weapons for new quarterback Drake Lindsey. Three new wideouts to watch: Javon Tracy (57 receptions, 818 yards in 2024) from Miami (Ohio), Logan Loya (109 career grabs) from UCLA and former top-ranked recruit Malachi Coleman from Nebraska. 12. Wisconsin These are unsteady times for Wisconsin, which missed a bowl game last year for the first time since 2001 and desperately needs a winning season to rebuild the damaged faith in third-year coach Luke Fickell. But given a schedule that includes Alabama, Michigan, Iowa, Ohio State, Oregon and Illinois, almost everything would have to go right to win eight games. 13. UCLA Former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava changes the complexion of Deshaun Foster's second season and paints the Bruins as a threat to add one or two wins to last year's 5-7 record. But UCLA remains very unproven on the offensive line, making that group a major question mark heading into September. The Bruins also take on Utah and UNLV in non-conference play before facing Penn State and Indiana in October and Nebraska, Ohio State, Washington and USC in November. 14. Rutgers Rutgers has stacked back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2011-12, illustrating the program's steady growth under coach Greg Schiano. While the roster continues to improve, the Scarlet Knights will have to manage a Big Ten schedule that includes Iowa, Illinois, Oregon, Penn State and Ohio State. 15. Michigan State There are a ton of unknowns, including whether second-year starter Aidan Chiles cracks into his potential after an uneven first season on campus. But the schedule isn't too daunting and the Spartans have added another round of impact transfers, so this team could win seven games by playing cleaner football and avoiding another rash of injuries. 16. Northwestern The Wildcats might be better than expected and make a run at six wins if SMU transfer quarterback Preston Stone solidifies the passing game and newcomers strengthen the offensive line. Two position groups of strength are the backfield and the defensive front. 17. Maryland If not by the season opener, look for the Terrapins to eventually hand the reins to true freshman quarterback Malik Washington and take the lumps that come with rolling the dice on his combination of potential and inexperience. Either way, the overall picture isn't pretty: Maryland has one of the weakest rosters in the Big Ten and probably the worst defense. Anything more than two league wins would be surprising. 18. Purdue Purdue hired the right coach in Barry Odom, who pulled off a borderline miracle at UNLV and would have to do the same to get the Boilermakers back into the postseason. Even if this process eventually pays off, don't expect anything more than a small handful of wins in 2025.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Where LSU football ranks among most valuable programs in college football
LSU football was ranked inside the top 10 of college football program valuations by The Athletic's Matt Baker. He analyzed how much Power Four teams would sell for as if they were professional franchises. The Tigers checked in at No. 10 nationally and No. 6 in the SEC with a projected price of $1.23 billion. The team rakes in $102.9 million in revenue on average annually. "Although we'd value the Tigers somewhere below the Texas-Alabama tier but above the Tennessees and Oklahomas, their average football revenue was only 13th nationally. LSU's overall athletic department revenue was in the 8-10 range, which gave us more confidence in our ranking and price," Baker said. As the landscape of college football continues to evolve, athletic departments will continue to search for additional revenue sources to fund expanded operations related to compensating players. 2024 was the first year the NCAA permitted schools to have advertisements on the field during football games. LSU recently sought approval from the NCAA to sell jersey patch advertisements for its uniforms of each sport and projects "multiple millions of dollars a year" in revenue. Here are the top 10 program valuations among Power Four college football teams.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Auburn football to play Middle Tennessee during 2027 season
Auburn and Middle Tennessee will meet for the first time in history in 2027. Auburn football added another opponent to its 2027 schedule this week. According to Middle Tennessee State athletics, Auburn will host Middle Tennessee for a non-conference game on Sept. 11, 2027, at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The game will be the second against a team from Conference USA that season, as the Tigers will host FBS newcomer Missouri State one week before its date with the Blue Raiders. The 2027 game will be the first between the Tigers and Blue Raiders. It also has the potential to be a reunion of sorts for Middle Tennessee head coach Derek Mason, who served as defensive coordinator for Auburn during the 2021 season, the first season of the Bryan Harsin era. Although it will be Auburn's first meeting with Middle Tennessee, the Tigers are no strangers to the competition that Conference USA brings. Auburn is 20-1-1 against current Conference USA teams according to Winsipedia, playing at least one game against Jax State, Western Kentucky, Liberty, New Mexico State, and Louisiana Tech. Auburn owns a 12-0-1 record over Louisiana Tech, and is 3-0 against Western Kentucky, their two most-played teams from the conference. Auburn is 1-0 all-time against Jax State, and is scheduled to play the Gamecocks in 2026 at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Auburn's lone loss to a C-USA squad came in 2023, when Diego Pavia and New Mexico State dismantled the Tigers, 31-10, at Jordan-Hare Stadium. On the other hand, Middle Tennessee has played 14 teams from the SEC and is 4-44 all-time against current members of the league. Once the Blue Raiders cross Auburn off their list in 2027, they will need to schedule a game with Texas to complete their SEC run. According to Auburn will face Baylor, Jax State, and Southern Miss as part of its non-conference schedule in 2026, and will face North Alabama in 2028. The Tigers continue to hunt for a Power Four non-conference game for 2027, as its series with UCLA scheduled for 2027 and 2028 was canceled last July. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page onFacebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter@TaylorJones__
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
USOPC asks for tweak of college sports bill to set minimum spending limits for Olympic programs
'You look and you say, 'Is that effectively going to thwart the issue of allocating too many resources to football and not enough to other things?' And my assessment is, no, it's not going to do that,' Hirshland said. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The USOPC says all but three of the 67 Power Four schools sponsor more than 16 sports and the average school in that group has more than 21. Advertisement At last year's Paris Olympics, 75 percent of US Olympians and 53 percent of Paralympians had a connection with US college sports. The SCORE Act recently passed a House subcommittee and is set for markup this week, a process in which lawmakers amend certain facets of the bill. Hirshland said USOPC leadership has long been in discussions about adding provisions that would compel schools to spend at least the same percentage on Olympic sports as they do now. Advertisement 'The bill, as it's written, would make it too easy for a school to starve 15 programs and invest in one,' Hirshland said. 'It's important schools have the latitude to make decisions that are most effective for the school, but while also creating an environment that says 'You don't just need to be a football school.' ' She said she was encouraged that lawmakers were including provisions for protecting Olympic sports in a bill that would regulate the shifting college landscape. The SCORE Act proposes to provide limited antitrust protection for the NCAA and would place the college sports' name, image, likeness system under one federal law instead of a mishmash of state regulations. Starting this month, schools are allowed to pay up to $20.5 million to athletes in NIL deals. Most of that money will be funneled to football and basketball players, whose sports generate the bulk of college athletics revenue. It has left many to wonder about the future of the Olympic programs. The act also includes a section that purports to protect Olympic sports with the 16-team minimum, but in the letter to House leaders, Sykes and Hirshland were skeptical of that. 'The USOPC is committed to being a partner in this process and would welcome the opportunity to share further insights, data, and recommendations,' they wrote. It also mandates that athletes not be turned into employees of their schools, a sticking point for some Democrats that figures to keep the bill from moving along in the Senate, where it would need 60 votes to pass. Hirshland said the USOPC hasn't taken a 'strong position' on the employment issue, and is mostly concerned that any legislation includes strong protection for Olympic sports. Advertisement She says the USOPC-backed idea of keeping spending at certain percentages isn't the only answer to the issue, but might be the simplest and best. 'We don't want schools to starve Olympic sports by cutting them or starving them,' she said. 'We want them to continue to provide investment in the growth of these sports.'
