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☆ Michigan Warns Big Ten Against Disciplining Team Over Sign-Stealing Allegations
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Rachel Bachman | Laine Higgins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The University of Michigan moved to ward off possible discipline by the Big Ten Conference against the Wolverines’ football program and head coach Jim Harbaugh in the wake of allegations that the team engaged in illegal sign-stealing. In an email to the Big Ten late last week, Michigan president Santa Ono warned that taking action before conducting an investigation would violate conference rules. The move escalates the battle between Michigan, a national-title contender ranked No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings, and its opponents, who are clamoring for a quick punishment of alleged activities they say have given the Wolverines a competitive advantage.

Persons: Jim Harbaugh, Santa Ono Organizations: University of Michigan, Big Ten Conference, Wolverines, Big, College Football Locations: Michigan

They trailed 9-7 at the half and Rutgers appeared ready to add to that lead when they took the opening kickoff drove to the Ohio State 20. Hancock grabbed the fluttering ball, turned and headed upfield and never stopped to give Ohio State a 14-9 lead. Ohio State, who was limited to 328 yards, made the score margin look bigger in a game it was clearly threatened. THE TAKEAWAYOhio State: Ohio State still have not given up more than 17 points this season. Ohio State figures to stay at No.

Persons: Jordan Hancock, Kyle McCord, Marvin Harrison Jr, TreVeyon Henderson, Gavin Wimsatt, JaQuae Jackson, Jai Petel, Kyle Monangai, Wimsatt, Josh Proctor, Hancock, Henderson, Jackson, Harrison, Patel, Mohamed Toure, Monangai, McCord, Gee Scott Jr, Greg Schiano's Organizations: Ohio State, Buckeyes, Rutgers, Knights, CFP, Ohio, SHI, Scarlet Knights, Football, Michigan State, Hawkeyes, AP Locations: PISCATAWAY, N.J, Ohio State, Travel, Iowa

4 Florida State clinched a spot in the ACC Championship game with a 24-7 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday. Travis hit tight end Markeston Douglas for a 22-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter to give Florida State a 10-point lead. Florida State, fourth in the initial College Football Playoff ranking, won its 15th straight game. It did not come easy on a day the Seminoles played without leading receivers Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson. The most costly miscue came in the third quarter with Florida State leading 10-7.

Persons: — Jordan Travis, Travis, Markeston Douglas, Trey Benson, Keon Coleman, Johnny Wilson, Wilson, Coleman, Douglas, Ja'Khi Douglas, Benson, Mike Norvell's, Christian Veilleux, Notre, Pitt, Ben Sauls, Gavin Bartholomew, Pat Narduzzi's, Pitt didn't, —, Seminoles didn't, Doak Campbell, ___ Organizations: PITTSBURGH, Florida State, ACC, Pittsburgh, Seminoles, Panthers, Pitt, Notre Dame, The Panthers, Florida, archrival Miami, Doak, Syracuse, Yankee, AP Locations: Charlotte, Florida, makeable, Norvell's, Tallahassee, New York City

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dillon Johnson rushed for 256 yards and four touchdowns, Michael Penix Jr. passed for 256 yards and two scores and No. 5 Washington's prolific offense kept the Huskies unbeaten with a 52-42 victory over No. Raleek Brown, Darwin Barlow and Williams rushed for TDs, while Tahj Washington, Brenden Rice and Mario Williams caught scoring passes in front of a sold-out Coliseum for USC's 100th Homecoming weekend. The offenses combined for 1,087 yards, but Washington repeatedly made bigger plays at key moments. USC answered with a 95-yard drive capped by two electrifying runs from Barlow, but Johnson made an untouched 52-yard TD run moments later.

Persons: — Dillon Johnson, Michael Penix Jr, Devin Culp, Ja’Lynn Polk, Johnson, Caleb Williams, Raleek Brown, Darwin Barlow, Williams, Brenden Rice, Mario Williams, Washington’s Grady Gross, Lincoln Riley's, Alex Grinch, USC, MarShawn Lloyd, Austin Jones, Brown, Barlow, Penix, Culp, Zachariah Branch, Polk's, Zion, USC's, Christian Roland, Wallace, Penix's, they've, They're, Lincoln Riley Organizations: ANGELES, Huskies, Trojans, Heisman, USC, Johnson's, College Football, Washington, AP Locations: Southern California, Penix, Washington, Tahj Washington, Barlow, Williams, Oregon, Utah

This week's initial College Football Playoff rankings, where Michigan was ranked third, stoked coaches’ outrage over the inaction. The call with coaches Wednesday was also regularly scheduled, but it was dominated by talk of the current allegations against Michigan. Michigan and the Big Ten have acknowledged the NCAA is investigating the Wolverines football program. Multiple Big Ten schools have found tickets purchased in Stalions' name to their games over the last three seasons. A person with knowledge of the situation told AP tickets to the last two Southeastern Conference championship games were also purchased in Stalions' name.

Persons: Tony Petitti, Jim Harbaugh, “, It’s, ”, Petitti, Pettiti, Connor Stalions, Harbaugh, Larry Lage, Ralph D, Russo Organizations: Big Ten, Wolverines, Coaches, Associated Press, Michigan, NCAA, Big, Sunday, Southeastern Conference, Purdue, Penn State, Ohio State, AP Locations: Michigan, Maryland

The NCAA's inquiry into a sign-stealing scheme by Michigan's football program was triggered by an outside firm's investigation, which turned up videos of and documented plans and budgets for impermissible scouting of the Wolverines' opponents. A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Associated Press that an outside firm provided the NCAA with evidence, including photographs, videos and documents, that initiated the association's investigation. The NCAA informed the Big Ten Conference, which then notified Michigan's future opponents. There are images and video from Michigan games over the past two seasons with Stalions on the sideline, standing near Wolverines coaches. The photos showed these people seated at games of Michigan opponents this season, aiming their cellphones at the sidelines.

Persons: Connor Stalions, Michigan's, Jim Harbaugh, Stalions, Ralph D, Russo Organizations: Wolverines, Washington, Michigan, NCAA, Associated Press, Big Ten Conference, Big Ten, College Football, Stalions, SEC, Washington Post, Post, AP Locations: Michigan, Harbaugh

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Rams cornerback Derion Kendrick could play on Sunday, less than a week after he was arrested and charged with two gun offenses. Kendrick returned to practice Friday, and coach Sean McVay described the second-year pro as “remorseful and regretful” for the disturbance he caused to the Rams (3-3). McVay said he hasn't decided whether Kendrick, who has started every game this season, will suit up when Los Angeles hosts Pittsburgh (3-2) on Sunday. Kendrick was away from the Rams’ training complex until Thursday, when he returned and spoke at length to McVay. The coach said he emerged from the conversation believing Kendrick can use his latest arrest "as a learning opportunity.”“I trust this kid’s heart,” McVay added.

Persons: Derion Kendrick, Kendrick, Sean McVay, “, ”, McVay, hasn't, it’s, ” McVay, Shaun Jolly, Duke Shelley, Kendrick doesn't, ___ Organizations: Los Angeles Rams, Rams, Los Angeles, Arizona, TMZ, Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, Clemson football, Football Locations: Calif, Pittsburgh, Hollywood, Rock Hill , South Carolina, Georgia

The Bulldogs received 43 first-place votes, Michigan got 16, and Ohio State and Florida State each had one. The last time Washington was ranked this highly this late in the season was 2016, when the Huskies made the College Football Playoff. Seventh straight meeting with both teams ranked. Consecutive seasons with both teams ranked for the Third Saturday in October rivalry. Third straight meeting with both teams ranked after the Utes won both last year to take the Pac-12 title.

Persons: Washington, Kalen DeBoer, hasn't, Nick Saban's, —, Duke, Ralph D, Russo Organizations: Associated Press, Huskies, Oregon, Air Force, Ohio State, Florida State, Bulldogs, Michigan, Washington, Penn State, College Football, Ducks, Texas ., Miami, Notre Dame, Irish, Wyoming, Oregon State, Beavers, Alabama, Arkansas, Crimson Tide, South, LSU, Tide, Auburn, Force, Falcons, —, Kentucky, Tulane, American Athletic Conference, Memphis, Big, Wisconsin, SEC, ACC —, Seminoles, USC, Utes, AP Locations: Georgia, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Texas . North Carolina, Southern California, South Florida . Alabama, Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri, Iowa, Washington State , Kansas , Kentucky, Miami, Florida, Utah

21 Notre Dame may already be out of the college football playoff picture. “That’s what a part of playing at Notre Dame is about,” Freeman said. We get another prime-time game versus USC in Notre Dame Stadium. Equally problematic were missed blocks by the offensive linemen and skill players, mistakes that hurt Notre Dame's usually strong ground game. Notre Dame ran for an abysmal 1.6 yards per carry even as the team started the weekend with the nation's top rusher, Audric Estime'.

Persons: Marcus Freeman, “, ” Freeman, ”, Caleb Williams, it's, Williams, Freeman, “ We’re, We've, you’re, Sam Hartman, Notre, Notre Dame, Audric, Gerad Parker, “ That’s, Mitchell Evans Organizations: Notre Dame, Fighting Irish, Notre, Southern Cal, USC, Ohio State, Duke, Louisville, Heisman, Football, Louisville Cardinals, Notre Dame's, “, AP Locations: Ind

DALLAS (AP) — Dillon Gabriel knew he couldn’t take a sack as the pocket collapsed around him in the closing seconds of his Red River rivalry debut, the kind of big game he went to Oklahoma to play. 3 Texas on Saturday in their last matchup at the State Fair of Texas as Big 12 members before moving to the Southeastern Conference. Gabriel completed 23 of 38 passes for 285 yards and ran 14 times for 113 yards and a score. And we will.”They could play the Sooners again, if both make it to the Big 12 championship game on Dec. 2. UP NEXT Oklahoma has an open date before hosting Big 12 newcomer UCF on Oct. 21.

Persons: — Dillon Gabriel, Nic Anderson, ” Gabriel, Gabriel, Anderson, “, Greg Sankey, Brent Venables, don’t, Dillon, ”, Bert Auburn’s, Drake Stoops, …, Steve Sarkisian, Quinn Ewers, It’s, ” Ewers, ” Jonathon Brooks, Brooks, Xavier Worthy, Zach Schmit’s, Sankey, Texas superfan Matthew McConaughey, Texas ’ Malik Muhammad, Danny Stutsman, Stutsman, Venables Organizations: DALLAS, Oklahoma, State Fair of Texas, Big, Southeastern Conference, SEC, Sooners, Longhorns, UCF, Texas, Mayfield, Tampa, Cotton, College Football, Georgia, NEXT Oklahoma, Southwest Conference Locations: Oklahoma, Texas, Hawaii, ” Texas, Ewers . Oklahoma, . Texas, Houston

☆ Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's TGL golf league will air on ESPN
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Disney' s ESPN has nabbed the broadcast rights to air matches from TGL, the startup golf league led by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. TGL, which is in partnership with the PGA Tour, will have its debut Jan. 9 as part of a multiyear deal. Both TGL matches will air on traditional TV's ESPN and streamer ESPN+. The agreement between the PGA Tour and LIV has yet to be finalized. TGL, a new primetime, high-tech golf league created by Woods, McIlroy and former NBC Sports executive Mike McCarley, has attracted stars from the PGA Tour.

Persons: Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, TGL, LIV Golf, LIV, Woods, McIlroy, Mike McCarley, Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose, Adam Scott, Xander Schauffele, Max Homa, Rickie Fowler, Billy Horschel, Steve Cohen Organizations: Augusta National Golf Club, Disney, ESPN, PGA, ABC, College Football, NFL, Tour, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Endeavor Group Holdings, Fenway Sports Group, CNBC, NBC Sports, Major League Baseball's New York Mets, New York, Private Ventures Locations: Augusta , Georgia, TGL, Palm Beach Gardens , Florida

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel has put up big numbers for years. “Competition should bring out the best of everyone if you’re made of the right stuff," Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said. Drake Stoops, former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops' son, leads the team with 25 receptions. All of it together is great chemistry, great understanding by everybody involved, then everybody gets an opportunity to have some success." Last week, Gabriel passed for three touchdowns and ran for two in a 50-20 win over Iowa State.

Persons: NORMAN, Okla, Dillon Gabriel, hasn't, Gabriel, “, ”, Jaylan Ford, Jackson Arnold, Venables, Arnold's, you’re, Brent Venables, ” Gabriel doesn't, Nic Anderson, Rodney Anderson's, Drake Stoops, Bob Stoops, Andrel Anthony, ” Venables, Dillon, ” Drake Stoops Organizations: — Oklahoma, Central, Sooners, College, Cotton, Oklahoma, Iowa State, AP Locations: Central Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, Dallas

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Jordan Travis threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Keon Coleman to start overtime and No. 4 Florida State completed a second-half to defeat Clemson 31-24 on Saturday and snap a seven-game losing streak against the Tigers. And Florida State struggled to find space much of the first half and had only 21 yards with less than 8 minutes left before the half. THE TAKEAWAYFlorida State: The Seminoles overcame perhaps their biggest ACC hurdle to supplant Clemson as the league heavyweight. Clemson: The Tigers needed a win here to get themselves back in the ACC and College Football Playoff chase.

Persons: — Jordan Travis, Keon Coleman, Travis, Kalen DeLoach, Cade Klubnik, Jonathan Weitz, Coleman, Clemson couldn't, Klubnik’s, Jameis Winston’s, playmakers, Weitz, Dabo Swinney, they've Organizations: CLEMSON, Florida State, Clemson, Tigers, Seminoles, Atlantic Coast Conference, FSU, Florida, Duke, ACC, College Football Playoff, State, Virginia Tech Locations: S.C, Death, Florida, Charleston, Syracuse

☆ The Hottest Conference in College Football Might Not Exist Next Year
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Laine Higgins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

At this time last year, the Pac12 conference was down in the football dumps, with the worst team in major Division I football and seven years separating it from its last trip to the College Football Playoff. By this time next year the Pac-12 may not even exist.

Organizations: College Football

8 Washington (2-0) at Michigan State (2-0), Saturday. Michigan State coach Mel Tucker was suspended after USA Today reported he allegedly sexually harassed an activist and rape survivor. This is Washington's last nonconference game, and though Michigan State is a name opponent, this isn't a typical Spartans side. Now the Buffaloes host nearby rival Colorado State, which lost its opener 50-24 to Washington State and is a 22 1/2-point underdog. UPSET WATCHFresno State (2-0) at Arizona State (1-1).

Persons: Mel Tucker, FanDuel, Michael Penix Jr, Noah Kim, It's Deion Sanders —, —, Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, Zachariah Branch, USC's Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, Kenny Dillingham Organizations: Washington, Michigan State, Huskies, Spartans, Michigan, USA, College Football, Big Ten Conference, Richmond, Colorado State, The Buffaloes, Nebraska, Buffaloes, Washington State, Oregon State, USC, Stanford, Rome, Fresno State, Arizona State, FCS, Sun, Southern, Oklahoma State, Bulldogs, Eastern Washington, AP Locations: East Lansing, Michigan, . Washington, Colorado, Boulder, Denver, Sanders, Seattle, Southern Utah

☆ Conferences Are Changing. The Sport Is, Too.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Billy Witz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When the college football season kicks off in earnest this Labor Day weekend, it will be a test to keep an eye on the ball. The focus for a few days may be on blocking, tackling and quick-trigger assessments of who’s up and who’s down, but then what in a sport that is on the cusp of unprecedented upheaval? Consider what college football will look like in a year. Texas and Oklahoma, anchors of the Big 12 Conference, will be in the Southeastern Conference. And after this season, the College Football Playoff will balloon from four teams to 12.

Organizations: Labor, Big, Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast, Stanford, College Football, National Labor Relations Board Locations: Texas, Oklahoma, California, Berkeley, Duke, North Carolina

[1/3] A man looks at his phone as he passes by a screen advertising Walt Disney's streaming service Disney+ in New York City, U.S., November 12, 2019. The division ended the quarter with an operating loss of $659 million, compared with $1.1 billion in the prior quarter. At the same time, total subscribers to the flagship Disney+ service dropped by 4 million to 157.8 million. Inge Heydorn, a fund manager at GP Bullhound, said a question for investors is: "are the trade offs from lower marketing costs leading to lower subscribers?" "We've only just begun to scratch the surface of what we can do with advertising on Disney+," Iger said on a conference call with analysts.

The company plans to expand its streaming offerings by the end of the year with a new app that combines Disney+ and Hulu, Chief Executive Bob Iger said. Total subscribers to the flagship Disney+ service dropped by 4 million from the previous quarter to 157.8 million. Most of the defections came from the Disney+ Hotstar offering in India after it lost streaming rights to Indian Premier League cricket matches. "Striking a fine balance between customer acquisition versus financial performance is no easy feat." As Disney tries to build streaming, its traditional television business faces hurdles.

☆ The NCAA Needs New Revenue—but Likely Won’t Get It From College Football
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Rachel Bachman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

College football is one of the hottest properties in broadcasting. The Big Ten Conference recently made a deal for more than $1 billion a year with several networks, mostly to air its football games. The College Football Playoff is expected to grow substantially from its current $470 million-a-year deal when it expands to 12 teams after the 2024 season, and further increase the value under its next deal two years later. So when the National Collegiate Athletic Association said last week that increasing its revenue is a top goal, it may not have seemed like a major challenge. But that’s not the way things work in big-time college football, whose leading conferences legally aren’t required to share a dime of their burgeoning riches with the NCAA.

☆ Move Over Alabama, Georgia Is the New Giant of College Football
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Laine Higgins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

LOS ANGELES—Nick Saban has 10 fingers and seven national championship rings. But from a broadcast set at SoFi Stadium on Monday, the legendary Alabama coach had to watch as Kirby Smart, his brightest protégé, launched a dynasty of his own. Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs overwhelmed Texas Christian 65-7 to win their second consecutive College Football Playoff championship, doing it with the biggest rout in the years since the sport’s title was settled by a playoff.

☆ Georgia Bulldogs Crush TCU, 65-7, to Win Back-to-Back College Football Titles
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Rachel Bachman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

LOS ANGELES—A decade ago, Georgia was a reliable college football power that couldn’t topple the sport’s dynastic kings to win titles. On Monday night at SoFi Stadium, the Bulldogs finally laid claim to a dynasty of their own. Georgia became the first program to repeat as champions in the nine-year College Football Playoff era with a crushing 65-7 win over Texas Christian. The Bulldogs used the same simple but suffocating formula it deployed all season en route to a 15-0 record: a stifling defense and a dangerous offense led by a 5-foot-11 former walk-on quarterback named Stetson Bennett IV.

☆ Georgia pounds TCU, 65-7, to repeat as CFB national champs
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

3 TCU 65-7 Monday night to become the first team to win consecutive College Football Playoff national championships. TCU (13-2), the first Cinderella team of the playoff era, never had a chance against the Georgia juggernaut. No team has ever scored more points in a national championship game, dating to the beginning of the BCS in 1998. Georgia vanquished the Tide to break a 41-year national title drought last season, avenging its only regular-season loss in the process. They were within a victory of the program’s first national title since 1938.

☆ Ted Cruz touted 'frogsby90' before Georgia stomped TCU by 58 points to win the national title
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. Ted Cruz entered Monday night ecstatic about the TCU Horned Frogs' chances. #frogsby90," Cruz wrote on Twitter before the game. Led by Quarterback Stetson Bennett, a former walk-on player, Georgia stomped TCU 65-7. According to ESPN Stats and Info, the win is the largest margin of victory in a bowl game in college football history. Georgia enters next year with another chance at history: becoming the first team of the polling era to win three straight national titles.

Georgia will face TCU in the College Football Playoff National Championship game on January 9. ESPN is the home of the national championship game and the College Football Playoff, and will broadcast the game live starting at 7:30 p.m. TCU beat Michigan in the playoff semifinals to reach the national championship game, while Georgia defeated Ohio State to earn their chance at another national title. How to watch the College Football Championship: Georgia vs. TCUYou can watch the College Football Playoff National Championship on January 9 on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. Other college football bowl games are filled by teams that won their conferences and by invitation.

☆ Georgia, TCU Advance to the College Football Playoff Title Game
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( Laine Higgins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

ATLANTA—Party crashers don’t tend to thrive in the College Football Playoff, which is invariably dominated by just a few traditional powers. And at the start of the 2022 season, Texas Christian didn’t look like a team that belonged in the sport’s most exclusive soirée. The Horned Frogs were coming off a 5-7 season in 2021, a situation so dire that they hired a new coach, Sonny Dykes, away from Southern Methodist, their crosstown rival in Dallas-Fort Worth. As 2022 began, TCU was unranked and nowhere near the top 25.

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