Sports
Plan for 20-team CFP draws confusion and dismissal from commissioners
As the debate over College Football Playoff expansion focuses on whether the postseason tournament should grow to 16 or 24 teams, an idea to find middle ground might illustrate just how far apart both sides remain. The middle-ground proposal is for a 20-team playoff that would replace conference championship games with four “play-in” contests for the final four spots of a 16-team field, according to sources familiar with the discussions who spoke on condition of anonymity to comment on private conversations.
The notion was a surprise to almost everyone on a Monday videoconference of the CFP management committee (made up of 10 FBS commissioners and Notre Dame’s athletic director), said sources who were on the call. The 20-team format wasn’t on the agenda, and it only came up after one participant inquired about an X post from college football media personality Josh Pate, who wrote on Sunday that the idea was percolating. Discussion of the matter during Monday’s meeting was brief and dismissed, as the agenda instead focused on potential CFP expansion to 16 and 24 teams. But those conversations didn’t advance much, either.
The belief is that ESPN — the exclusive broadcast rights holder for CFP and SEC games — could be interested in the 20-team compromise rather than the 24-team model favored by the Big Ten.
The 20-team idea was not a new one — it’s one of numerous models the group has seen for more than a year — but it had not been seriously discussed, including at the group’s in-person meeting in Denver in June. It was also considered more of a 16-team hybrid by people aware of it, rather than a 20-team format.
Under the idea, the first 12 CFP berths would be guaranteed in some form (by selection committee rankings and/or automatic qualifying spots), while eight additional teams would vie for the final four spots in play-in games. Many specifics remain unclear, but one idea would be to match up play-in teams across conferences, rather than within a conference or based solely on CFP selection committee rankings.
However, this concept creates several obstacles.
For one, the Big Ten doesn’t like it, which is partly why Monday’s conversation went nowhere. The Big Ten and SEC hold the power to determine the next format and have yet to reach an agreement after more than a year.
Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti said in May that his league was solely focused on a 24-team model. He reiterated last month the league had moved beyond last year’s 16-team conversation, which could have included intraconference play-in games. Petitti’s selling point on 24 has been increased access to the postseason, as schools spend greater sums on rosters. Despite not having voting power, the ACC and Big 12 have also expressed support for 24 for the same reason.
Then there’s the financial aspect. Conference championship games are worth more than $200 million to the conferences in broadcast rights fees, so any additional playoff rounds that replace them would need to more than make up for that amount. A 24-team CFP would naturally have more games to sell than a 20-team model.
Which is where ESPN comes in. The network controls the full rights to any CFP up to 14 teams through 2031, and it has already expressed its opposition to large-scale expansion to the conferences. Although ESPN would have the first right to broadcast negotiations for a larger field, some sources with knowledge of the discussions believe the network might not be willing to pay for an entire expanded Playoff. ESPN is already licensing five CFP games to TNT Sports, beginning this season.
Fox Sports, which holds the Big Ten broadcast rights, has stated that it prefers a 24-team field and would be interested in acquiring rights for it. The broadcast interest in additional games is there, though it is difficult to project the value of the extra contests without going to market.
ESPN holds the rights for the SEC, Big 12 and ACC championship games that would be replaced by an expanded CFP format. Could the network use the money saved from that to buy the handful of new games from a 20-team field and keep the whole thing? That’s at least one theory.
But the mood coming out of Monday’s meeting was that a 20-team model will not be taken seriously. The SEC and Big Ten remain far apart.
If the two leagues cannot agree on a new format by Dec. 1 (or an extended deadline), the 2027 playoff would maintain the current 12-team model. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said earlier this year that he expected conversations around expansion to continue into the fall before reaching a resolution. After yet another CFP meeting without major decisions, the fall approaches.
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Sports
US President Donald Trump issues backing for under pressure Fifa chief Gianni Infantino
US President Donald Trump says it would be a “terrible mistake” if under pressure Fifa president Gianni Infantino was ousted from his position.
Trump’s backing followed Uefa, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation issuing an open letter accusing Infantino of breaking trust “through deception” with his aborted Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal.
FFE would have meant a new company being created to manage commercial and ticketing rights of all Fifa competitions, including World Cups, with 21% sold off to a private investment company.
“Fifa would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing president Gianni Infantino,” Trump wrote on social media.
“He is fantastic, having just presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented. If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again.”
The 2026 World Cup was co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, this summer, with Spain crowned champions after beating Argentina in the final.
More to follow.
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Sports
Cricket World Cup: Scotland and Netherlands criticise format changes to 50-over tournament announced by ICC | Cricket News
Scotland and the Netherlands have criticised the restructuring of next year’s 50-over World Cup, saying the changes “risk weakening the integrity and credibility of international cricket”.
At last month’s board meeting in Edinburgh, the International Cricket Council announced the main part of the tournament in southern Africa will contain a dozen teams split into two groups of six.
There will still be 14 participants, but the tournament is slated to start with a preliminary round involving the three lowest-ranked qualifiers, with only one team progressing to the group stage.
A qualifying tournament will be held from February 22 to March 23 next year, with the winner going through to the main tournament and the second, third and fourth placed teams entering the first round.
In a joint statement, Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB) said they were “deeply disappointed” by the ICC’s decision, announced less than 18 months before the tournament is due to start.
The statement said: “At a time when cricket is seeking to expand its reach, attract new audiences and strengthen its position on the international sporting landscape, reducing meaningful opportunities for emerging nations sends entirely the wrong message.
“We have significant concerns about both the impact of these changes and the process through which they have been introduced.
“The changes risk weakening the integrity and credibility of international cricket, and only highlight the importance of strong governance, transparent decision-making and effective engagement with members.”
Scotland and the Netherlands are currently 13th and 14th respectively in the men’s ODI rankings.
Monday’s statement follows the World Cricketers’ Association expressing its concerns about the tournament revamp although Cricket Scotland and the KNCB say they are “fully committed to working constructively with the ICC and fellow members to strengthen the global game”.
However, the statement added: “Following the announcement of the changes, Cricket Scotland, the KNCB and other associate members met twice with the ICC, seeking official written communication on the changes and greater clarity around the processes involved.
“We also requested positive action to strengthen future operational decision-making and an invitation to bilateral planning meetings with full members.
“Since the second meeting more than two weeks ago, there has been no further response from the ICC, which is disappointing and disrespectful given the significance of the issues raised.”
Sky Sports News has contacted the ICC for comment.
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Sports
Solheim Cup – Anna Nordqvist captain’s column: Team Europe’s pairings ‘puzzle’ and why ‘aggressive’ rookies can impress | Golf News
Team Europe is finalised!
I feel this is a big milestone in this captaincy and the Solheim Cup journey, because we can now focus on preparing the 12 players for the Solheim Cup and the event ahead.
It was a quite hard and emotional part of the journey having to make so many phone calls, letting players know they didn’t make it and they weren’t getting a pick.
Speaking to some past captains, they encouraged me to do my best and try to get through it because once it was done, then the hardest part would be behind me.
Surprising the three rookies – Julia López Ramirez, Nastasia Nadaud and Mimi Rhodes – by letting them know they were among my four picks was very exciting!
Julia, Nastasia and Mimi all joined me for interviews and a live show down at the Sky Sports News studio, the day after the AIG Women’s Open, where the team was finally announced.
I feel very good about the team we have selected and who has qualified. We have a great mixture of experience and personality, plus four rookies who bring a sense of fresh air and aggressive playing styles.
I’m excited to continue to work on the pairing “puzzle” over the coming weeks and figure out the best strategy for us to take on Team USA. I’m also excited that everyone is so supportive and looking forward to what is ahead next month.
There is still a couple more weeks until we all head to the Netherlands, but there is constant work and preparation being done behind the scenes – including from the vice-captains, backroom team, helpers and caddie captains!
Anna Nordqvist’s column was provided by the Ladies European Tour ahead of the Solheim Cup, live from September 11-13 on Sky Sports. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract.
When is the Solheim Cup and who features for Team Europe?
Team Europe will be looking to regain the trophy at Bernardus Golf from September 11-13, the first time the tournament has been held in the Netherlands, with Nordqvist having four rookies in her 12-strong line-up.
Charley Hull and Esther Henseleit qualified through the LET Solheim Cup Points List, while Lottie Woad, Maja Stark, Linn Grant, Céline Boutier, Carlota Ciganda and Nanna Koerstz Madsen earned their spots via the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
Leona Maguire, Ramirez, Nadaud and Rhodes were the four captain’s picks for Team Europe, while defending champions Team USA – captained by Angela Stanford – will announce her team later in August.
Sky Sports Golf will have exclusive live coverage from all three days of the biennial contest, with live coverage getting under way at 6am on Friday September 11. Coverage then starts at 6am on September 12 and 10am on September 13.
Team USA need 14 points to retain the trophy after their 15.5-12.5 victory in 2024, while Team Europe would need 14.5 points to claim their first outright Solheim Cup win since 2021.
Who will win the Solheim Cup? Watch Team Europe’s bid to regain the trophy exclusively live on Sky Sports, with all three days live from September 11-13 on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream golf and more with no contract.
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