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‘Everything’s on the table’
Those were the words from College Football Playoff Executive Director Rich Clark after two days of meetings in Asheville, North Carolina.
Well, no spit, Sherlock. And by “everything,” the starting point is — as always — money.
And there is lots of it on the table and lots of hands looking to grab as much of it as possible.
We all believe — read: know — the CFP will expand as soon as feasibly possible to 16 teams. Heck, as they try to rework the current 12-team format in terms of seedings and logistics, the thoughts of 16 are more than likely moving to 20 or even 24.
And yes, I believe that’s coming too. Eventually. Sadly.
So this means everything from the five conference champions — the Power four from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC and the highest ranked from the others (the world’s largest jumbo shrimp, if you will) — to the slew of auto-bids for the Big 2 and a sliding scale backward are in play.
For once, I think SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey has an important point about the big-picture future of this cash grab.
Sankey — a smart dude who crafts his positions for the betterment of his league (and his employer) — is looking for more clarity in the selection process.
And that resonated.
“I would say a lot of it is refreshing our metrics,” Clark told reporters Wednesday. “Some of these metrics were put into place with a whole different look at the way college football was laid out and the conferences were structured.”
But here’s a novel concept: Want clarity, install transparency. Let someone cover the inner-workings of the selection committee, and then we will have all the clarity we need.
Of all the problems in big-time college sports, this one seems like it should be the easiest one to fix.
Make it 16 teams. And make that deal for like 10 years worth of TV deals.
Incorporate more computer rankings and algorithms. (The BCS did. In retrospect, the BCS polling process was more clear and more correct way more than the committee.)
If the Big Two wants multiple qualifiers, try this model.
Make it a 2-2-1-1-1 with eight at-large bids, and all of those champions are guaranteed a first-round home game.
That’s a financial boon for teams making the conference title game in the SEC and the ACC and puts value on winning your league.
Yes, that leaves Notre Dame out of the hosting spot, but the Irish and their leadership can easily fix that by joining a flipping conference, which is something that should have been mandated years if not decades ago.
Two things are certain.
Change is coming whether they stay at 12 or move to 16, and I’d bet any amount of money that change will come with the expansion.
And that change will be driven by money before all the poker players in the game.
After all, everything is on the table.
You paid what?
Los Angeles Lakers sold for $10 billion.
Wow.
Jerry Buss bought the team — as well as the Forum and the L.A. Kings — for $67.5 million in 1979.
Wowser. Times two. Or 10.
If the Lakers can get $10 billion, what could Jerry Jones get for the Cowboys?
Oh my, for all the consternation of the low viewership of the NBA Finals, $10 billion is an exclamation point on the value of the league’s high-profile franchises.
For Pete Maravich’s sake, the Celtics just sold for an eye-popping $6 billion, and now this?
Now this
So Stephen A. Smith is getting more clap back from NBA stars.
Ja Morant and Screamin’ A are in a social media beef.
Whatever.
ESPN needs to dial this back. Yesterday.
And if they don’t then the mothership and Disney are complicit in the race for the clicks spin cycle that has helped fuel the national perception of lamestream media.
Period.
Here’s Ja’s critique of Screamin’ A. As well as Smith’s blowback.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, this will be the last time I mention Screamin’ A because his childish and unprofessional approach getting whatever few mentions and views we generate here only helps his self-serving mission.
Deal? Deal.
Oh, yeah, Game 6 of the NBA Finals is tonight.
Way to make the story about yourself, Screamin’ A.
This and that
› Braves played. Braves won. Easily. Also of note: Ronald Acuña Jr. is a dude. Atlanta will aim for a three-game sweep of the Mets today in Truist, weather permitting.
› So Shedeur Sanders was ticketed going 101 mph in a 60 mph zone. Hmmm.
› LSU delivered a heart-breaking walk-off to Arkansas to advance to the final series of the College World Series. Great drama in Omaha.
— Lil Miss 5-at-10 pitched in a huge softball showcase Wednesday night before the monster tournament with 500-plus teams in tow here in Chattanooga for the weekend. She pitched one inning, no hits, one walk, one strikeout. She was aces.
Today’s Questions
Anything goes Thursday — the ol’ AGT — starts here:
› If you could own one sports franchise, which one would you buy?
› Finish this sentence: It’s guaranteed time to grab the remote and switch channels when __________ comes on. (Does not have to be ESPN, by the way.)
› What’s the best CFP breakdown model?
As for today, June 19, let’s review:
› On this day in 1862, slavery was outlawed in U.S. territories. Happy Juneteenth everyone.
The first official baseball game was played on this day as the NY Nine beat the NY Knickerbockers 23-1. Spy, the umps were sketchy that day, no? Also, after the game, ESPN talked non-stop for the next three weeks about the woes of the Knicks.
› Paula Abdul is 63 today.
› Lou Gehrig would have been 122 today.
Rushmore of Lous. Go. And remember the mailbag.
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