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Not surprisingly, Georgia now sits atop the College Football Playoff rankings after its convincing win last weekend over Tennessee. Ohio State, Michigan & TCU round out the top four with the Vols, Oregon, LSU & USC in the next four slots. Tulane remains the top-ranked Group of 5 program, now at 17th. NC State AD/CFP chair Corrigan on why the Horned Frogs topped UT for the final spot: "Looking at the Alabama win, looking at the LSU win, looking at the Kentucky win, we do value wins. TCU with their record, six wins over .500 teams, teams above .500, what they've done, what Max Duggan has done at TCU, again, I don't think it was as much what Tennessee didn't do as much as what TCU did do, and Georgia played really, really well, as everyone saw, and what they did with their defense versus the Tennessee offense was incredibly impressive." (link - rankings, link - transcript)
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The Athletic's Auerbach points to earth-moving excitement (literally, per Richter scales) for premier regular season games like Georgia-Tennessee, LSU-Alabama & others as evidence college football's postseason needs more games on campuses around the nation. Oklahoma AD Castiglione: "If you have the first round and quarterfinal games on the campuses of the higher seed, it would create incredible drama. I just think it would be epic. And it would be very fan-friendly." Clemson AD Neff agrees, points to the demands of repeated travel by fans, adds: "You know, we’re changing traditions here all the way around. So, how do we look at a macro view of the staples of college football?" (link)
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The Mercury News' Wilner assesses the latest reports circling the Pac-12, comes away with the following key conclusions: "1) We do not believe the formation of a Big Ten western division is imminent [...] the Big Ten appears likely to stand down this fall, leaving Oregon, Washington and the Bay Area schools with no option but to remain in the Pac-12; 2) We believe Arizona, [Arizona State], Colorado and Utah prefer to stay in the Pac-12 — their alumni bases are on the West Coast, after all — rather than join a conference rooted in the Southern Plains [Big 12]; 3) Why hasn’t the Pac-12 moved quickly to sign a media contract? We believe the conference is waiting on the University of California Board of Regents to make a final determination on UCLA’s planned move." Wilner expects the league's media deal to be announced in the next month & puts SMU neck & neck with San Diego State as likely expansion candidates if the conference does so. (link)
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Gardner-Webb President Downs and recently named VP/AD Goodrich join D1.ticker/Connect's Garcia Cichosz to reflect on the search process that brought Goodrich from Syracuse to Boiling Springs. Downs discusses the qualities of authenticity, genuineness and vision he saw early in Goodrich during the search process while Goodrich shares his initial vision for the Runnin' Bulldogs (on Day 36) before the pair explain their aligned mission and plans for the future. Goodrich: "I got a lot of advice from some great ADs who said, 'Andrew, whatever you do, don't do anything for the first 30 days. Just press pause and listen and take it all in.' And I thought that that would be easy advice... and I found myself within the first week kind of clawing and going, 'Man, I really want to change that, I want to change it right now' ... and really what I wanted to do was speak with my actions and not just my words to our student-athletes, to our staff, to our alumni to know that we're going to elevate everything that we're doing here. And it was really difficult to say, 'Nope, just pause and listen.'" (link)
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It's Personnel...
+ CollegeAD is reporting Ole Miss Deputy AD Kleinlein has exited Oxford with "no word" yet on what Rebels AD Carter intends to do with the role that in the current leadership structure includes football oversight. Kleinlein is no longer listed on the staff directory. (link)
+ CollegeAD also says Eastern Washington Asst. AD for Communications Jaenicke is headed to Northern Arizona as its new Assoc. AD for Communications. The move is reflected on the staff directories at both schools. (link)
+ NBA CMO Jhaveri has joined TikTok as Global Head of Marketing. (link)
+ More administrative moves at LEARFIELD (Utah State & Louisiana), Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Richmond, Elon & the Big Ten can be found on The Wire over at Collegiate Sports Connect. (link)
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Coaches Wire...
+ Nevada AD Rempe will search for a new women's soccer HC as current leader Otagaki will not return. (link)
+ Illinois extends Baseball HC Hartleb through the 2027 season & Women's Golf HC Slone through the 2025-26 campaign. (link, link)
+ USA Today's Berkowitz shares bonus updates: With the Rockets seventh win of the regular season, Toledo FB HC Candle picks up a $10K bonus, bringing him to $30K on the year. Eastern Michigan FB HC Creighton gets a one-year extension, $10K raise and $25K bonus for becoming bowl eligible. (link)
+ The Tennessean's Gerson believes Vanderbilt FB HC Lea, who dismissed two players from the team in August, should have reprimanded embattled AC Jackson ahead of last weekend's game, rather than let him coach in it. Gerson: "... considering the tenets of Lea's program, it's important for him to keep the focus on accountability going forward — especially after initially dodging the chance to explain why Jackson coached Saturday. ... To have an assistant coach defend West's antisemitic tropes and not immediately take action − beyond a statement condemning antisemitism and expressing disappointment − undermines Lea's message." (link)
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Athletics Veritas unpacks elements of the new NIL guidance, analyzes what it would look like for a school to enter into a contract with student-athletes for NIL purposes. “A prime example where a student-athlete’s NIL product could involve an institution to some degree is the selling of jerseys or other merchandise with the student-athlete’s NIL. In these instances, a third-party vendor (like an apparel provider or sporting goods distributor) could be the central party administering the NIL deal and negotiating separately with the student-athlete and the NCAA school. The lines between institutional involvement and ‘roundabout’ institutional involvement are becoming even slighter. An institution could be involved in different aspects of a student-athlete’s jersey deal through licensing its marks for the jersey product to allowing the sale of said jerseys in the NCAA school’s on-campus bookstore or apparel shops. The point being that institutions are getting involved with student-athlete NIL product development, distribution and points of sale and whether an institution ‘enters into a contract’ with the student-athlete directly, indirectly through university vendors, and begs the query of ‘what constitutes entering in to an NIL contract with the student-athletes?’” More from AV. (link)
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After three recorded underage beer sales at Tennessee's Neyland Stadium, Knoxville law enforcement are seeking a 60-day suspension or total revocation of Aramark's beer permits, and The Knoxville News-Sentinel’s Wilusz reports the complaint also “includes allegations that extend beyond the three reported incidents, citing general ‘disorderly’ conduct on game days and incidents that happened under previous Aramark permits.” Aramark’s attorneys argue those things are outside the company’s control. As it stands, Aramark still holds permits for Neyland Stadium and will be able to sell beer for the Vols’ final home game against Missouri on Saturday. In its motion, Aramark argues it “does not control the premises, does not provide security, does not control who may or may not enter University property, and is not authorized to remove or eject patrons from the premises,” adding those details fall within the purview of law enforcement. (link)
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Disney boss Chapek during yesterday's earnings call: "In terms of ESPN growth, I think we all have to keep in mind that, number one, ESPN is that powerhouse brand. And we certainly, over time, have been able to enjoy the benefits of that brand in a linear world. However, going forward, we've got the ability not only to continue to enjoy those benefits in a linear world, but also begin to grow our opportunities in the digital realm and leverage that brand's growth into other avenues that, heretofore, we've not been able to necessarily tap into. [...] Live advertising continues to be a really important benefit that we sell into our advertising community. We've got multiple platforms, and I believe that it's going to be a very robust part of our company going forward, whether or not it's linear or whether it's digital, or somewhere in between. [...] ...as we go forward, we're looking at multi-platform rights. We will not do deals where we don't get multi-platform rights that give us that very flexibility that we talked about, toggling between sort of the more linear, traditional legacy distribution channels, and that of the more, you know, digital of forward-looking platforms. The big one that's coming up, obviously, for us would be the NBA. We'd love to be in business with the NBA. But again, we're going to do it in a fiscally responsible way and seeking multi-platform rights. So, we feel really good about our position going forward with the rights that we've already gotten and the one or two that are still in play." (link)
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FTX CEO Bankman-Fried wrote on Twitter that “all assets will be covered" with the acquisition by Binance. An FTX US Spokesperson to Axios: "FTX US is a separate entity with separate management personnel, tech infrastructure, and licensing. ... On FTX US withdrawals are and have been live, assets are fully backed 1:1, and the exchange continues to operate normally." According to an internal memo obtained by Reuters, FTX faced $6B+ in customer withdrawals over the previous 72 hours. (link, link)
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In decisive fashion, California voters rejected legalized sports betting and legalized mobile sports betting in the state yesterday. According to NPR, "The campaign was the most expensive ballot measure fight in U.S. history, with the various factions supporting and opposing Proposition 26 and Proposition 27 spending roughly $450 million." (link)
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Also Noticed...
+ FAU launches FAU Owls Marketplace in partnership with Opendorse. (link)
+ Take a look at the South Carolina WBB national championship rings. (link)
+ Nevada and BYU cancel their 2024 FB matchup. (link)
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Yesterday's Evening Standard...
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Auburn held an introductory press conference for new AD Cohen, who cited several reasons for his decision to come to The Plains, including his belief in President Roberts, the school’s tradition, the collection of HCs and the fertile recruiting ground. On the process of hiring a FB HC, Cohen remarked: “I have 58 things on this piece of paper that we’ll go through as we go through this process of looking for a new head football coach. It all starts with culture. It starts with X’s and O’s and it starts with recruiting. Those three things have to be upfront but there’s a whole lot of other things that have to be answered before you get really deep into it. … We will use a search firm strictly for logistics purposes. Search firms will not give us names. They obviously will help in background checks, and they will help us with logistics. Every other part of the search will be our own.” Asked about his mentors in the industry, Cohen explained he “got to work with Jeremy Foley, one of the all-time greats. I got to work with Mitch Barnhart. Scott Stricklin is one of my closest friends. Greg Byrne is, gosh, am I allowed to say he is a really close friend?” Lots more. (link)
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The Big 12 has hired Oak View Group to conduct a review of its security amid a recent uptick in clashes between athletes and fans, particularly following field-storming incidents, per Sportico’s Novy-Williams. Oak View facilities division CEO Granger: “Oak View Group and the Big 12 conference are collectively focused on providing a great experience—for our guests, our athletes, and the employees who work in these venues. I’m thrilled with the intensity of focus that the Big 12 is putting on safety and security, and how they prioritize that when it comes to the overall experience.” The review will be conducted by Oak View’s Prevent Advisors. (link)
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This year’s DI Field Hockey Tournament field is set. North Carolina, Northwestern, Maryland & Michigan are your top seeds. Delaware-Lehigh & Miami (OH)-Rider will get things going tomorrow. National semis & final are at UConn 11/18 & 11/20 with the title tilt on ESPNU. Northwestern is your defending champ. (link - release, link - bracket)
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The New York Times’ Streeter reports the stream of revenue flowing to female student-athletes via NIL “troubles some who have fought for equitable treatment in women’s sports and say that it rewards traditional feminine desirability over athletic excellence. And while the female athletes I spoke to said they were consciously deciding whether to play up or down their sexuality, some observers say that the market is dictating that choice.” Stanford WBB HC VanDerveer, for instance, sees the focus on beauty as regressive for women athletes. “I guess sometimes we have this swinging pendulum, where we maybe take two steps forward, and then we take a step back. We’re fighting for all the opportunities to compete, to play, to have resources, to have facilities, to have coaches, and all the things that go with Olympic-caliber athletics. … This is a step back.” Stanford WBB student-athlete Jones, meanwhile, observes: “You can go outside wearing sweatpants and a puffer jacket, and you’ll be sexualized. I could be on a podcast, and it could just be my voice, and I’ll face the same thing. So, I think it will be there, no matter what you do or how you present yourself. This is the society we live in.” More. (link)
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As work continues on Nebraska’s new $165M facility outside Memorial Stadium, Huskers Assoc. AD for Capital Planning and Construction Ingram explains that during the design process, a focus group of FB student-athletes identified recovery areas as a key need. In addition to incorporating that into the design, the facility will feature a walkthrough room that will allow coaches to identify something on tape and quickly show players in a hands-on environment. Ingram: “I think there’s a few professional football teams that have this right now, but this one’s bigger and badder than any of them. It’s going to take our football teaching classroom to the next level. … What this new facility is going to deliver for any potential student-athlete coming to Nebraska is player development. … After two years of planning, two years of construction, nine miles of concrete piles and 35,000 tons of steel, we’re bringing online 315K square feet of football facility that is second to none in the country.” (link)
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In an emailed statement to D1.ticker, Hartford VP for Marketing and Enrollment Polk asserts former MBB HC Gallagher’s resignation letter is “filled with inaccurate statements and personal opinion,” adding: “The safety of our students is always our top priority. For the recent Dartmouth scrimmage he referenced, the University confirmed there would be athletic training on site to assist both UHart and Dartmouth student-athletes. This is an institution with highly qualified medical staff and facilities. Additionally, other members of our staff have always had a University-sponsored credit card for planned meals and expenses. We are confident that these baseless claims and attacks will be disproved through the legal process. Mr. Gallagher’s characterization of the University is his own opinion and not based in reality.”
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Fundraising Wins...
+ Boise State has received a $1M commitment from Bob and Bonnie Schwenkfelder to support, in part, the north end zone capital project. The gift will also support the Schwenkfelder Family endowment and sport enhancement funds for the men's and women's basketball, men's and women's tennis, and volleyball programs. (link)
+ ECU has received an anonymous $360K donation to the Pirates Unite Campaign for Comprehensive Excellence. The funds are designated for the proposed multipurpose indoor practice facility. (link)
+ Boston U. during this year’s Terriers Together Campaign brought in 1,400 gifts – a 35% increase over last year’s total. (link)
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Nevada’s MBB season-ticket base is down 11.8% YoY and 80% since 2018-19 when the Wolf Pack sold out all 8,326 season tickets, Nevada SportsNet's Murray reports. The 4,638 season-ticket base is the lowest since 2015-16. Wolf Pack AD Rempe explains reducing comp tickets is one step the department is taking to increase season-ticket sales, as Murray notes Nevada did not offer season-tickets sold versus comp tickets in this year's base number. (link)
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Netflix is exploring the idea of adding live sports if it can do so in a fiscally prudent manner, according to the Wall Street Journal’s Toonkel and Krouse. In addition to preliminary explorations into the WTA and ATP, Netflix executives “have had discussions about buying lower-profile leagues,” according to Toonkel and Krouse, who add: “The company late last year was in talks to buy the World Surf League, but negotiations fell apart because the two organizations couldn’t reach an agreement on a price. … Netflix co-Chief Executive Reed Hastings has said in meetings that he doesn’t want to get caught in bidding wars every few years, according to people familiar with the discussions. That is partly why some executives are pushing for buying stakes in sports leagues.” (link); Bloomberg’s Shaw adds that Netflix has also made overtures about acquiring the WWE’s international rights. “Netflix isn't really interested in renting expensive rights though, so would expect it to do a deal for a niche sports where it can buy some of the league (as the [WSJ] story notes).” (link)
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More Media Musings...
+ From Disney's earnings report today, ESPN+ subscribers are up another 1.5M subscribers to a total of 24.3M. (link)
+ Here are Week 10’s most-watched FB matchups, per The Athletic’s Mandel: Tennessee-Georgia (CBS): 13.1M; Alabama-LSU (ESPN): 7.6M; Ohio State-Northwestern (ABC): 4.8M; Clemson-Notre Dame (NBC) 3.2M; Florida-Texas A&M (ESPN): 2.7M ; Texas Tech-TCU (FOX) 2.5M; Penn State-Indiana (ESPN): 2.2M; Cal-USC (ESPN): 2M. (link)
+ ESPN College GameDay from Athens on Saturday averaged 2.24M viewers, making it this seasons’s second most-watched show. The telecast was up 22% from last season’s Week 10 and had a final hour viewership of 2.987M. (link)
+ Fox Sports EVP/Head of Strategy and Analytics Mulvihill points out (an average of) 11.8M viewers tuned into Fox for the six-game 2022 World Series, “easily beating every non-NFL program on television this season.” Lots more. (link)
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The USC-focused Hall of GOATs collective has released a trailer and set a 2024 launch date for its arcade-style college football video game. On3’s Nakos adds: “To try and drive the conversation about the game, Hall of GOATs will soon release the Founder’s Pass. The game's first limited-edition collectible, it will be available for a 72-hour window for $99.99. Perks of the pass include access to the beta version of the game, complimentary tickets to future NCAA games, discounts on all in-game purchases and early access to all future player avatar drops.” (link)
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Pennsylvania Governor Wolf last week signed into law House Bill 2633, which removes language that prohibits schools from arranging NIL deals for their student-athletes. The bill, which passed both legislative chambers unanimously, also eliminates the requirement that student-athletes must share their contract with the school at least seven days prior to execution, On3’s Crabtree reports. Pennsylvania State Senator Martin (R-13): “This is a small, but important clarification that will give student-athletes more agency over their private contracts and the money they earn as a result. In the absence of national standards around NIL compensation by the NCAA or Federal Law, we must do everything we can here in Pennsylvania to make sure every student-athlete that chooses one of our schools is treated fairly.” (link)
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An attorney representing a Michigan State FB student-athlete who was suspended following last week’s melee in the Michigan Stadium tunnel asserts that “an investigation yields that a Michigan football player engaged with Spartan athletes with his helmet and swinging a punch. … The repeated ‘hail to the victims’ song and dance does not contribute to the fact-finding mission. Where were the screams from Ann Arbor to criminally charge Coach Howard with assault or Devin Bush with felony vandalism. [sic] The silence was palpitating.” (link)
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Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency firm, has reached a deal to acquire the rival crypto exchange FTX for an undisclosed amount, “rescuing the company from a liquidity crisis,” per CNBC’s Sigalos, who adds: “The deal marks a cataclysmic collapse for a company that earlier this year was valued by private investors at $32B, with ambitions to acquire its way into becoming a crypto giant. Months prior, venture firm Sequoia Capital and BlackRock backed FTX at a $25B valuation.” (link); FTX has made headlines over the past 18 months for paying $17.5M in crypto to rename Cal’s Memorial Stadium, $135M to rename the Miami Heat arena and $210M to ink an esports partnership. (link)
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