UNDATED (AP) — The College Football Playoff will expand to 24 teams next year, ending a three-decade era of conference title games. College leaders announced the new format Monday after ESPN agreed to rework its contract to add 11 new games. The deal is for five years and an additional $1.7 billion. The new format will have five automatic qualifiers, including champions from the Power Four leagues. The other teams will be chosen by a selection panel. The top eight seeds will receive first-round byes, and the playoff will start on the second weekend in December.
UNDATED (AP) — More than 35 years ago, the SEC introduced the idea of splitting into divisions and holding a league title game in football. These games became a major TV event, generating billions over three decades. However, with the newly expanded 24-team playoff coming next year, there's no room for these games anymore. Despite the financial benefits, some, like Nick Saban, lament the loss of conference championships.
UNDATED (AP) — College football moved yet another step closer to a postseason that will resemble the come-one-come-all nature of the pros. And yet, the 24-team playoff will not completely get rid of some things that make college football unique and, often, frustrating. While four of the 24 spots in next year’s playoffs will go to teams that win their conferences, all the rest will be entered into the bracket based on the opinion of a selection committee. It’s not a far cry from the days of sports writers and coaches weighing in on weekly polls to determine who was best in the nation.
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Malik Reneau scored 16 points, Shelton Henderson added 14 and No. 17 Miami beat North Florida 89-51 on Monday night. Caleb Gaskins finished with 12 points while Robert Miller III and Somto Cyril each had 10 points and eight rebounds for the Hurricanes, who have won two straight after a season-opening loss against top ranked Florida. Miller also blocked four shots. Reneau shot 7 of 10 from the field in 18 minutes. It was Reneau’s second consecutive double-digit scoring game following his five-point performance against the Gators. Although they shot 5 of 27 from 3-point range, the Hurricanes outscored the Ospreys 64-26 in the paint.
UNDATED (AP) — UCLA has climbed into the top 10 in the first regular-season AP Top 25 men's college basketball poll. Florida remains No. 1, with the top four unchanged. The Gators earned 53 of 60 first-place votes after wins over Miami and Jacksonville. Duke, Illinois, and UConn follow in the rankings. Michigan State is fifth. UCLA moved from No. 22 to No. 9 after beating then-No. 5 Arizona. Virginia, Texas, Houston, and Louisville round out the top 10. Arizona and Tennessee dropped in the rankings. The Southeastern Conference leads with seven teams in the Top 25.
STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Nick Townsend scored 19 of his 31 points before halftime and Stanford led most of the game in a 91-73 win over Rice. Townsend entered the game leading Stanford in scoring at 18.5 points in its first two games. axson Thompson led Rice with 14 points and reserve Dallas Hobbs scored 12. Stanford led 45-29 at halftime shooting 17 of 33. Evan Stinson’s layup with 8:46 to go pushed Stanford’s lead to 76-46.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Logan Duncomb scored 20 points on 9-for-9 shooting and Notre Dame used a 24-0 first-half run to beat Eastern Illinois 94-70. Duncomb’s only misses came at the free-throw line where he went 2 for 5 before fouling out for the Fighting Irish (3-0) as all five starters scored in double figures. Braeden Smith finished with 17 points, eight assists, five rebounds and five steals. Brady Koehler and Ethan Roberts both scored 14, and Braeden Shrewsberry pitched in with 12 points, five assists and three steals. Demar Burton went 11 for 11 at the foul line and led the Panthers (0-3) with 23 points. Gavin Welch scored 13. Gavin Burton scored 13 and hit three 3-pointers to help Eastern Illinois jump out to an 11-0 lead.
UNDATED (AP) — Michigan has climbed to No. 2 in the Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll. This is the Wolverines' highest ranking ever, following a 77-66 win over then-No. 2 UConn. Michigan was ranked fifth in the preseason poll. South Carolina remains No. 1 after victories over Maryland and North Carolina. The Big Ten has 10 teams in the Top 25, matching a record set by the Southeastern Conference.
