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Morning Edition

January 20, 2025

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Ohio State and Notre Dame will clash in Atlanta on Monday night for the national championship, capping off the first 12-team College Football Playoff. With Ohio State aiming for redemption and Notre Dame looking to validate its independent status, this title game promises drama for both teams—and a big moment for ESPN.

Also, a note to FOS readers: We are off for the PM edition of “The Memo,” but check your inboxes on Tuesday for our regularly scheduled morning newsletter.

— David Rumsey [[link removed]] and Amanda Christovich [[link removed]]

CFP Finale: Ohio State’s Redemption vs. Notre Dame’s Independence [[link removed]]

Adam Cairns-Imagn Images

The College Football Playoff national championship game is set to conclude strong postseason runs for Ohio State, Notre Dame, and ESPN.

Redemption Arch

Ohio State is favored to beat Notre Dame by more than a touchdown, which would give head coach Ryan Day his first title after his job status in Columbus was anything but certain just over a month ago [[link removed]].

The Buckeyes failed to reach the Big Ten championship game after losing to rival Michigan as three-touchdown home favorites in November. At that point, Day’s $37 million buyout became a major talking point.

But three CFP wins later, Day is now 60 minutes away from possibly quieting the naysayers and clearing up his once murky future. This is Day’s sixth season at Ohio State, having signed a contract extension in 2022 that sees him earn a salary of more than $10 million.

Striking Gold

For Notre Dame, this CFP run has continued to validate the school’s independent status [[link removed]].

The recent wave of realignment [[link removed]] raised questions about the Fighting Irish bucking tradition and joining a conference. Notre Dame can’t earn a first-round bye in the current structure of the CFP (even if they were undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the nation) which reserves those slots for conference championship game winners.

And under third-year head coach Marcus Freeman (who received a contract extension in December), Notre Dame rallied from an embarrassing— and expensive [[link removed]]—home loss to Northern Illinois in September, but now has a chance to upset Ohio State to win its first national championship since 1988.

Watch Party

The Ohio State-Notre Dame matchup should draw a big audience for ESPN, which typically doesn’t get to broadcast the best games involving these two schools.

ESPN’s bread and butter is the SEC, which delivered big time this regular season [[link removed]], and the network also has ACC and some Big 12 rights. Ohio State’s biggest matchups usually end up on Fox, and Notre Dame’s on NBC.

But ESPN has the CFP’s media rights locked up through 2031 [[link removed]] and benefits from postseason matchups regardless of conference affiliation.

While viewership of the semifinals was down compared to last year [[link removed]], each round has drawn more viewers than the previous one, with all 10 CFP games thus far averaging nearly 15 million viewers. Last year’s Michigan-Washington national championship game drew 25 million viewers.

CFP Title Game and Inauguration Falling on Same Day for First Time [[link removed]]

USA Today—Imagn Images

ATLANTA — Ohio State fan JD Vance wanted to attend the College Football Playoff national championship game in Atlanta to watch the Buckeyes take on Notre Dame. But he has something else on his schedule for Monday.

“Hopefully,” Vance, the vice president-elect, wrote on X [[link removed]] after the Buckeyes punched their ticket on Jan. 10, “everyone is cool with me skipping the inauguration so I can go to the national title game.”

For the first time in CFP history, the title game will take place on the same day as Inauguration Day, thanks to the new 12-team schedule. President-Elect Donald Trump’s swearing-in is slated for around noon ET indoors, at the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C. Then, the CFP title game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET several hundred miles south in Atlanta.

CFP executive director Rich Clark—himself deeply familiar with federal government operations as an Air Force lieutenant general—said having the inauguration and the CFP on the same day is a “good thing.”

“It’s a big day for the country,” he told reporters Saturday. “And then, everybody can take a breather and watch a great football game at night—a whole different part of our American fabric. … And it’s MLK Day, which is also a significant day for all of us.”

Earlier in the season, the first 12-team CFP rankings reveal coincided with Election Day [[link removed]]. ESPN revealed the rankings just before the first big wave of polls closed on Nov. 5, ensuring viewers that they would be able to focus on the game and the poll results without much overlap.

ESPN, however, has dealt with navigating CFP bracket reveals during elections before. The national championship, however, will have the inauguration as a pregame for the first time.

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Thank You!

After 11 long years, college football triumphantly returned to EA SPORTS with College Football 25 [[link removed]]. The hype was unmatched, and the reception has been overwhelming.

As the 2024–2025 season concludes, we want to say THANK YOU …

To the 134 FBS schools who entrusted us with their brands, colors, and traditions.

To the 11,000+ athletes who opted in to the game, joining the largest NIL (name, image, and likeness) initiative in college sports history.

To the millions of players who guided their programs to victory in Dynasty, won a Heisman in Road to Glory, and built their squad in Ultimate Team.

Eleven months ago, we said this place would be full again [[link removed]]. To everyone who took a snap with us, thanks for filling the house.

College Football 26 drops this summer.

CFP Stakes Rising in Atlanta

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Ahead of the College Football Playoff national championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday night, Front Office Sports college sports reporter Amanda Christovich has been on the ground in Atlanta covering the biggest stories around Ohio State and Notre Dame off the field.

Here are some of the headlines and insights from Christovich:

Players at the CFP Championship Are Talking About Unionizing [[link removed]] CFP Executive Director: More On-Campus Games Are a Possibility [[link removed]] Notre Dame Found a Title-Worthy NIL Formula. Now It Has to Pivot [[link removed]] Ohio State Merch Sales Spike 550% Ahead of National Championship [[link removed]] DOE Issues More Guidance on Title IX Application to Athlete Pay [[link removed]]

Make sure to follow Christovich [[link removed]] and FOS [[link removed]] on social media for more updates about the CFP, ahead of and after Monday night’s finale.

What’s Next for the CFP? Expansion, Format Changes on the Horizon [[link removed]]

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

As Year 1 of the 12-team College Football Playoff concludes, potential further expansion is set to remain a major discussion point among the sport’s leaders.

Changes could come as soon as next season but are more likely to arrive in 2026 since the contract for the CFP’s current structure only runs through the 2025 season.

The CFP is governed by its management committee, consisting of 10 conference commissioners and Notre Dame’s athletic director, as well as a board of managers, comprising 11 university presidents and chancellors. Those leaders would have to approve any changes.

Numbers Games

Automatic bids for conference champions and Playoff seeding have been two of the most controversial aspects [[link removed]] of the expanded CFP and could be the most likely to be altered.

No. 3 Boise State and No. 4 Arizona State were among the top four seeds that all lost in the quarterfinals [[link removed]]. The Broncos were No. 9 and the Sun Devils No. 12 in the final regular-season CFP rankings, but received first-round byes for winning the Mountain West and Big 12, respectively.

Clemson’s upset victory over SMU in the ACC championship game ultimately led to the Mustangs earning the final CFP bid over Alabama, despite much debate.

Is Bigger Better?

Should the CFP expand in the coming years, growing to 14 or 16 teams would be a logical next step.

Moving to 16 teams, for example, would eliminate first-round byes, but potentially give eight teams the chance to host on-campus matchups in the opening Playoff round, which were considered a huge success [[link removed]] for Ohio State, Notre Dame, Penn State, and Texas last month.

STATUS REPORT Three Up, One Down

Austin American-Statesman

Steve Sarkisian ⬆ The coach has received another contract extension at Texas, his second in the past 12 months. Sarkisian, who led the Longhorns to the CFP semifinals in each of the past two seasons, will receive a raise upon his $10.6 million salary in 2024. The Action Network was the first to report the news [[link removed]].

CFP ticket demand ⬆ Prices on the secondary market have soared ahead of Monday night’s national championship game [[link removed]]. Prices have been starting at around $1,800 for a seat inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Hall of Famers ⬆ Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Michael Vick, and Michael Strahan highlight the 22-person 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Class that was announced last week [[link removed]]. Off the field, Saban, Meyer, Vick, and Strahan have each had success in sports media.

Marshall ⬇ The university has been fined $100,000 by its conference, the Sun Belt, for opting out of its Independence Bowl matchup [[link removed]] against Army last month. Louisiana Tech ended up replacing the Thundering Herd.

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What If?

All eyes are on Atlanta and the 2025 College Football national championship, as Notre Dame and Ohio State square off for college football’s biggest prize.

But what if the Playoff had gone a little differently? Texas punches it in at the goal line in the Cotton Bowl and ultimately takes Ohio State to overtime. Are the Longhorns playing for a national title two decades in the making? Or how about Penn State? A conservative play call in the final minute of the Orange Bowl leads to an overtime victory and the Nittany Lions are playing for their first national championship since 1986.

It’s all possible in EA SPORTS College Football 25 [[link removed]]. Lead your school to victory and bring glory home!

Conversation Starters Mercedes-Benz Stadium is continuing its “fan first” concession prices for the CFP national championship game. Check out the menu [[link removed]]. Ohio State mascot Brutus Buckeye went from being a $50 paper mâché project to a Hall of Famer. Take a look [[link removed]]. Why does Notre Dame have a famous mural called “Touchdown Jesus?” Learn more here [[link removed]]. Editors’ Picks Wisconsin Accuses Miami of Tampering in Xavier Lucas Transfer [[link removed]]by Jeff Benson [[link removed]]Cornerback Xavier Lucas announced his departure without going through the transfer portal. Tom Brady Addresses Fox Contract, Raiders Coaching Search [[link removed]]by David Rumsey [[link removed]]Brady’s dueling jobs came under the spotlight this week; he addressed it. NFLPA Investigating Own Role in OneTeam Amid Corruption Allegations [[link removed]]by Daniel Kaplan [[link removed]]Employees were told about the investigation in a letter obtained by FOS. Question of the Day

Do you think the CFP should make any format changes for 2025?

Yes [[link removed]] No [[link removed]]

Friday’s result: 55% of respondents think Tom Brady will return to the Fox broadcast booth next season.

Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Events [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Podcast [[link removed]] Written by David Rumsey [[link removed]], Amanda Christovich [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]]

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