Brett Yormark Laid CFP Expansion Foundations Last Year
The breadcrumbs to Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark's CFP expansion strategy were laid last year, regardless of 16 or 24 -->
Gonzaga Retains Valuable ESPN Partnership in New Deal
Focus here is on football, obviously. But: the deal allows Gonzaga to keep a connection to ESPN that has been immensely valuable to both entities for many years
Industry Pushes NCAA Expansion, Ignoring Fan Preferences
Fuel for NCAA Tournament expansion was dispensed at the self-serving pump by an industry that doesn't care what the fans want whether it's 76 in March Madness or 24 in the CFP. -->
Non‑Power Conferences Unite for Broader CFP Access
The non-P4 conferences are aligned on CFP expansion - not the specific number but the premise of access. Pac-12 commish Teresa Gould: "Our schools are investing at a high level. They need to have hope."
New Podcast Breaks Down CFP, Bowl Updates, Expansion
new 'Canzano & Wilner' pod w @johncanzanobft dives into CFP non-news news, Pac-12 bowls and your questions on the SEC + Big Ten, expansion, NFL media deal and ... pumping gas? https://t.co/681v5uguw2
College Football Landscape Shifts: Media Rights, Bowl Signals
new Hotline mailbag: - momentous NFL media rights - Holiday Bowl as coal mine canary - Big Ten + CFP = 24 - MW, Pac-12 expansion options - loads more -->
NFL Media Rights Deal Redefines College Sports Landscape
This is a small but good example of the sweeping impact the NFL media rights negotiations will have on college sports - there is no bigger issue facing the industry (not athlete employment, not the portal, not postseason expansion, etc)
Expanding to 24 Teams Won’t Solve Financial Drain
Tim makes a salient point about multi-network access being beneficial. But "expand to 24 because the schools need more money" is a flawed argument, because expenses will rise in lockstep with revenue. And then they will clamor for *even more*...
Early 2026‑27 MBB Rankings and Conference Forecast Links
Our early MBB rankings for 2026-27 (icymi) and a 🧵of links to conference race forecasts --> https://t.co/f0swOU6dPU
WSU Crafts Unique, Powerful Brand Amid Pac‑12 Expansion
WSU president Elizabeth Cantwell on possible Pac-12 expansion (today at AD Jon Haarlow's news conference): “We are building a new brand, which is unique and very powerful ...
Pac-12 Negotiating 2026 Bowl Deals, Announcement Pending
Statement from the Pac-12: “We continue to work through agreements for our future bowl partnerships in 2026 and remain focused on arranging for the best possible opportunities and events for our programs, student-athletes and fans. We will be excited to announce...
Week 0 Start Gives Games Pre‑NFL Spotlight
Starting the 2027+ seasons on Week 0 would certainly create scheduling flexibility but the major benefit would be playing more games before the NFL starts, when there is effectively zero competition for eyeballs.
West Coast School Realignment Persists, over 30 Affected
Realignment continues to roil the West Coast five years after the wave began. More than 30 schools have been impacted, with UC Santa Barbara the latest. "The end is not in sight." --->
College Playoffs May Merge Football and Basketball by 2030s
Latest Hotline mailbag (icymi) examines how the college football and basketball postseasons could become two arms of the same entity in the 2030s. https://t.co/YfPviYGS7k
Pac‑12 Meetings Tackle 2026 Bowl Lineup, Clarity Unlikely
Pac-12 meetings this week in Corvallis will address a barrage of issues, including the bowl lineup for 2026 (just don't expect any clarity) -->
Big Ten's Strategist Unnecessary Amid Smooth College Sports
Hard to figure why the Big Ten would possibly need a strategist given the seamless state of major college sports
Stu Jackson’s WCC Strategy Evolves with UCSB Addition
Given news that UCSB is joining the WCC, per @JonRothstein, here's our late-March look at commissioner Stu Jackson's strategy for the conference: https://t.co/D8i6SvwJF5
Arizona Goes All-In on Basketball Amid Football Realignment
Tommy Lloyd's new contract, and his direct line to the president, indicate Arizona is all-in with basketball in a football world with more realignment looming. Should make for an interesting case study --->
C
new 'Canzano & Wilner' pod with @johncanzanobft takes aim at NCAAT expansion, WSU hiring Haarlow, Arizona's flameout and the Lloyd extension, what's next for the P12 and MW and more https://t.co/ogQYBkdES8
Betsy Cantwell's Gamble Amid Washington State's NIL Crisis
On Jon Haarlow's promotion, the Jake Dickert comp and Washington State's NIL desperation: Will Betsy Cantwell's latest move work? -->
Big Ten's Triple Crown Sparks Power Play Debate
The Big Ten completed a rare three-sport sweep (FB, MBB, WBB) with Michigan's championship. Does it rent or own the college sports throne and, more importantly, how will it use the leverage? -->
Incentivize Top Teams to Visit Underdogs for Revival
Can Cinderella be revived? The recovery process must start with the regular season. “You have to create sufficient incentive for the haves to play road games against the have-nots.” -->