November 6, 2024

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The first rankings of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff were unveiled Tuesday. From teams using NIL as fuel for their ascent to SEC and Big Ten dominance, we explore the implications.

— David Rumsey [[link removed]], Eric Fisher [[link removed]], and Colin Salao [[link removed]]

CFP’s 12-Team Debut: How NIL, Realignment Shape the Bracket [[link removed]]

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The shifting landscape of college sports has its fingerprints all over the first College Football Playoff rankings of the expanded, 12-team era.

Conference realignment and the growth of NIL (name, image, and likeness) were huge factors in shaping the historic reveal and the debut projected Playoff bracket [[link removed]] that was released on the same night as the presidential election [[link removed]].

While it’s not surprising to see Oregon, Ohio State, and Georgia as the top three ranked programs, Miami is ranked No. 4 as aggressive NIL spending [[link removed]] has no doubt helped the Hurricanes to their 9–0 start. Should they win the ACC, they’ll be in line to nab one of the four first-round byes.

BYU’s early move from the Mountain West to the Big 12 in 2023 ( which cost $18 million [[link removed]]) has already paid off, as the Cougars are currently projected to also get a first-round bye as one of the four highest-ranked conference champions, despite being ranked No. 9 overall.

Musical Chairs

There is $116 million up for grabs to distribute to conferences [[link removed]], based on the teams that qualify for the CFP and advance to subsequent rounds. And while the CFP’s top two leaders said the selection committee doesn’t factor in which conferences teams play in, the initial projected bracket shows plenty of disparity:

Big Ten (4): Oregon, Ohio State, Penn State, Indiana SEC (4): Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, Alabama ACC (1): Miami Big 12 (1): BYU Mountain West (1): Boise State Independents (1): Notre Dame

The Big Ten and SEC are already set to receive a larger share of CFP revenue than other conferences under the new agreement that will take effect in 2026 [[link removed]]. It appears they will likely be cashing in earlier, too.

Another FSU Situation?

Last year, in the final season of the four-team CFP, Florida State became the first undefeated Power 5 conference champion to be left out of the Playoff, leading to legal questions from the state’s lawmakers [[link removed]].

The Seminoles had lost starting quarterback Jordan Travis to a broken leg on Nov. 18, which factored into Florida State’s CFP absence. Moving forward, injuries to key players will likely still play a part in who makes the Playoff.

“If there is a loss due to injury, the committee is going to look at the team’s performance without that player,” CFP executive director Rich Clark said Tuesday night [[link removed]]. “Just like they did last year, they’re going to see how a team performs with the loss of a key player, and they’re going to evaluate them on that merit. And if they know that player is not coming back, they know that that’s the team moving forward that they’re going to rank for the future.”

Braves Report Strong Quarter, but Still Face Media Uncertainty [[link removed]]

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The Braves posted yet another solid financial quarter and have reached the postseason for seven straight years, reaffirming their status as one of MLB’s top-performing clubs on and off the field. Team officials, however, warned Wednesday that turbulence in their local media situation could bring serious future impacts.

Atlanta Braves Holdings, Inc. reported third-quarter earnings that included a 7% increase in total revenue to $290.7 million, beating analyst expectations, and $6.4 million in operating income, down 59% from the comparable quarter in 2023. The figures continued a run of high-level performance since the franchise spun off from Liberty Media in July 2023 [[link removed]].

The Braves are just one of two MLB teams currently assured of staying with FanDuel Sports Network parent company Diamond Sports Group in 2025, with the other being the Marlins. The regional sports network operator is attempting to complete a reorganization process, and it has a confirmation hearing scheduled for Nov. 14. DSG, however, is looking to renegotiate many of its baseball rights deals [[link removed]].

“While the pending bankruptcy proceeding of Diamond Sports Group has not previously had a material unfavorable impact on the company’s revenue, and the company has received scheduled payments to date, we cannot currently predict whether such bankruptcy proceedings are reasonably likely to have a material unfavorable impact on our revenue in the future,” said Braves president and CEO Derek Schiller in an earnings call with analysts.

At a bankruptcy court hearing last month to confirm a naming rights deal with FanDuel [[link removed]], MLB said it would be opposing DSG’s assumption of its Braves broadcast deal. While acknowledging the broader media industry uncertainty, Schiller said the club’s strong run of on-field success and its expansive market territory provide some insulating effects.

“We’re not just waiting for bankruptcy to be defining what might happen, but we’re also studying the potential opportunities for us,” Schiller said. “No matter what happens, we think we are in a very enviable position. … We think we have an opportunity to capitalize further on that [market] territory should those rights come back to us.”

Inside the Numbers

The sharp drop in the Braves’ operating income owes in part to increased baseball costs, such as player payroll that rose in 2024 to $236.4 million [[link removed]] and MLB revenue-sharing obligations. Team attendance in 2024 declined 6% to 3.01 million after setting a Truist Park record in 2023, but still ranked fifth in the league, trailing only the Dodgers, Phillies, Padres, and Yankees, in that order.

Within the club’s overall revenue, the Braves generated $17.4 million in quarterly revenue from their mixed-use development, The Battery, up from 12% from last year’s third quarter. The Braves also are actively preparing to host MLB’s 2025 All-Star Game at Truist Park [[link removed]].

The Braves are the only publicly traded MLB club, something that chairman Terry McGuirk said Thursday “we do not take lightly.” The club, meanwhile, also recently was ranked as the league’s top franchise [[link removed]] in overall guest experience, concessions, and non-game entertainment.

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McIlroy: Trump Could Help PGA Tour–LIV Golf Deal Discussions [[link removed]]

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Efforts by the PGA Tour and LIV Golf’s financial backers at the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia to reach a deal unifying the fractured men’s professional game could be aided by former President Donald Trump’s return to the Oval Office, one of the sport’s top players said.

“Given today’s news, with what’s happened in America, I think that clears the way a little bit,” No. 3–ranked Rory McIlroy said Wednesday ahead of the DP World Tour’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. “So we’ll see.”

He’s likely referring to a perception that the Department of Justice won’t be as strict on antitrust conflicts (which the PGA Tour and LIV have been dealing with [[link removed]]) under a Republican administration as it would be under another Democratic president.

“From the outside looking in, it’s probably a little less complicated than it actually is,” McIlroy said. “But obviously Trump has a great relationship with Saudi Arabia. He’s got a great relationship with golf. He’s a lover of golf. So, maybe. Who knows? But I think as president of the United States again, he’s probably got bigger things to focus on than golf.”

Trump echoed those thoughts during a pre–Election Day appearance on the Let’s Go! podcast with Bill Belichick and Jim Gray [[link removed]]. “I’m really going to work on other things, to be honest with you,” he said when asked about the PGA Tour and LIV on Monday. “I think we have much bigger problems than that. But I do think we should have one tour, and they should have the best players in that tour.”

Several Trump-owned golf courses have hosted LIV events since the tour launched in 2022, and Trump has appeared at multiple tournaments. Sources told Front Office Sports that rumors over the weekend from a British tabloid claiming the PGA Tour and LIV had reached a deal were premature [[link removed]]. Talks are still underway and nothing has been finalized, McIlroy confirmed Wednesday.

But even if Trump doesn’t think helping the PGA Tour and LIV reach a deal is a top priority, McIlroy still may be onto something. “I could certainly help it,” Trump said. “I could probably get it done. I would say it would take me the better part of 15 minutes to get that deal done.”

STATUS REPORT Two Up, One Down, One Push

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Aryna Sabalenka ⬆ The women’s tennis star clinched the No. 1 world ranking until the end of the calendar year following Iga Świątek’s loss Tuesday to Coco Gauff at the WTA Tour Finals in Saudi Arabia. Sabalenka, who won the 2024 Australian Open and Wimbledon, has earned nearly $8.7 million in prize money this year [[link removed]]. She’s already advanced to the semifinals despite a group-stage loss Wednesday, and a win in the tournament will add another $4.5 million to her 2024 tally.

Jason Kidd ⬆ The Mavericks’ head coach is included in a group that has made an offer to purchase a stake in Premier League club Crystal Palace, according to The Athletic. Kidd made $182 million during his playing career [[link removed]] before becoming a coach. The group is aiming to acquire the 45% stake owned by Eagle Football, which is led by John Textor. The club’s Forbes valuation was $780 million as of May 2024 [[link removed]].

Mercedes Formula One team ⬆⬇ Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton will continue driving for the Silver Arrows until the end of the 2024 season, the team confirmed. There was speculation he may miss the last three races before his move to Ferrari in 2025 following a cryptic radio message after Sunday’s race in Brazil. “If this is the last time I get to perform, it was a shame it wasn’t great, but [I am] grateful for you,” Hamilton said. Mercedes is poised to finish fourth in the championship, its lowest rank since 2012, and receive $27 million less [[link removed]] than the title team.

Willis Independent School District ⬇ All three propositions aimed at building sports facilities in the district north of Houston were rejected by voters in Montgomery County [[link removed]]. The proposal involved a $115.4 million bond package that would have replaced an aging football stadium and built an aquatic center.

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Conversation Starters Based on the College Football Playoff’s initial rankings, the first Playoff games to be played on campus [[link removed]] would be at Ohio State, Texas, Penn State, and Tennessee. Three women’s college basketball coaches make more than $3 million per year, led by LSU’s Kim Mulkey. Take a look [[link removed]] at the list. Skip Bayless compared Tom Brady’s broadcasting chops to the on-field performance of Giants quarterback Daniel Jones. Check it out [[link removed]]. Want a chance to win $250? Help FOS improve by taking a few minutes to complete a brief survey [[link removed]]. As a thank-you, we’re offering a chance to win a Visa gift card or FOS merch of your choice. Submissions are open through Nov. 19. Editors’ Picks Republicans Won Big in the 2024 Election. So Did the NCAA [[link removed]]by Amanda Christovich [[link removed]]“It’s a bad day to be a college athlete,” one staffer says. LeBron’s SpringHill Reportedly Considering Merger With Grammys, ‘Kardashians’ Producers [[link removed]]by Margaret Fleming [[link removed]]The two production companies have been in talks for months. Missouri Becomes 39th State to Legalize Sports Gambling [[link removed]]by Alex Schiffer [[link removed]]Missouri was the only state with sports gambling on its ballot this election cycle. Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Events [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Podcast [[link removed]] Written by David Rumsey [[link removed]], Eric Fisher [[link removed]], Colin Salao [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Or Moyal [[link removed]], Catherine Chen [[link removed]]

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