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Afternoon Edition

July 22, 2025

Power 4 commissioners remain divided on the future of the College Football Playoff. On Tuesday, the Big Ten reiterated its push for a model that gives its league more guaranteed spots, while the ACC insisted conference champions should come first.

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

Power Conference Commissioners Remain Split on CFP Expansion [[link removed]]

Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

CHARLOTTE and LAS VEGAS — Power 4 commissioners still can’t agree on the makeup of an expanded College Football Playoff.

At ACC and Big Ten media days, both of which kicked off Tuesday, commissioners of the two conferences offered opposing viewpoints on how the CFP should grow beyond its current 12 teams.

Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti’s input was particularly important given that the FBS leagues signed a memorandum in 2024 granting power to the SEC and Big Ten to have the final decision on Playoff expansion. The commissioners have until Dec. 1 to decide on an expansion model if they want to expand by 2026 (a deadline given to them by ESPN).

How Many and Who?

The main debate centers on a 16-team Playoff. Petitti has endorsed a model [[link removed]] of “4+4+2+2+1”, giving four automatic qualifiers each to the SEC and Big Ten, two to the ACC and Big 12, one to the top-ranked Group of 6 school, and offering three more at-large bids. Other commissioners, however, are mostly in favor of a 5+11 model, which would award an automatic qualifying bid to each of the conference champions in the Power 4 and top-ranked Group of 6 program, and at-large bids for the rest.

Petitti did not specifically reference the “4+4+2+2+1” model in his opening remarks, but he did reference aspects of it, including the potential for a play-in weekend that he thinks fans would like. He also reiterated that he was against the 5+11 model because it would require more CFP selection committee input. “Formats that increase the discretion and role of the CFP selection committee will have a difficult time getting support from the Big Ten,” he said.

Last week, however, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said he wouldn’t commit to supporting a singular format for an expanded CFP, but he admitted the Big Ten “has a different view.” If they can’t even agree, there’s no chance a 16-team Playoff would be on the table.

“Obviously, we’re not in the same place on these discussions,” Petitti said.

Power 4’s Other Half

While the ACC and Big 12 don’t have the ultimate power to decide on expansion, their voices still carry major weight.

Earlier Tuesday, ACC commissioner Jim Phillips, like Sankey, didn’t specifically endorse a singular format but said he is open to 5+9 and 5+11 models. “I’ve always believed in rewarding conference champions,” Phillips said several hours before Petitti spoke.

Phillips does not have the same concerns that Petitti has about expanded CFP models that would give the selection committee more responsibilities. “I have faith and great confidence in those committee members,” he said. “I’ve served on men’s basketball selection, women’s basketball selection committees. I know how difficult that is. These are honorable, honest individuals with great integrity.”

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said [[link removed]] earlier this month that he was “doubling down” on the 5+11 format.

Phillips called on college football’s leaders to work together to forge the best path for the sport moving forward. “We may not always agree, and at certain points we have had some strong disagreements, but we all recognize the importance of coming together to find a solution that is truly best for all of college football,” he said.

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Bengals Owner Confident on Stadium Deal As Star Player Skips Camp [[link removed]]

The Cincinnati Enquirer

Bengals owner Mike Brown is confident he’ll complete a lease extension for Paycor Stadium that will include a large-scale renovation of the downtown Cincinnati facility. Whether star defensive end Trey Hendrickson will be there, however, is an entirely different matter.

The Bengals and Hamilton County, Ohio, are attempting to close a deal by July 31 that would call for $470 million in improvements to the 25-year-old, publicly owned facility. The team would contribute $120 million toward the project.

“I believe it will be finished off in the right way and we’ll go forward together,” Brown said. “It’s been a tough negotiation. There have been conflicting voices sometimes, and all that has been part of it. But at the end of the day, the county and the Bengals are in a partnership, and we want this stadium to work right for the people of this area and our fans.”

Notably, Brown is satisfied with the efforts to preserve Paycor Stadium—even as the in-state neighbor Browns are developing a new domed facility [[link removed]], and other NFL teams with similarly aged venues, such as the Eagles, are also considering new ones [[link removed]]. Paycor Stadium has been widely regarded as one of the more austere stadiums in the NFL.

The Bengals additionally have little interest in the embrace of mixed-use development projects, as many other pro sports teams have done, or in pursuing a domed facility to attract major events throughout the year.

“The Browns, to their credit, are getting help from the state. Good for them,” Brown said. “I just worry about our situation. We aren’t looking to build a new stadium. We think this stadium has a lot of time left. We like this stadium for our community. It fits. We’re not the biggest market in the NFL. And I don’t know that building an indoor stadium would turn out in a way that would work down here. And there are all sorts of issues with costs, hotel usage, location, a million things.”

Contract Stalemate

Hendrickson, who led the NFL in sacks last season, did not report for training camp Tuesday, as he is looking for a sizable pay increase [[link removed]] and much more guaranteed money—particularly after recent deals such as the one between the Steelers and T.J. Watt [[link removed]]. Hendrickson is set to earn $15.8 million in base salary this season, well below market rates for top edge rushers.

Brown said Monday, “We’re working to get Trey signed as we speak here. There are guys over in the office working to get that done. I think it’ll get done.” The owner added that “dealing with [Hendrickson] is sometimes not so easy.”

By the next morning, though, Brown’s prediction did not turn out to be true. Instead, Hendrickson posted on Instagram early Tuesday a picture that he’s still in his native Florida [[link removed]].

Hendrickson will be subject to daily fines of $50,000 for missing training camp.

WNBA All-Star Ratings Dip From Clark High, Still 52% Over Old Record [[link removed]]

Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game ratings showed once again that the league is experiencing enormous growth, but Caitlin Clark is still undoubtedly its biggest needle-mover.

Saturday’s game drew 2.19 million viewers on ABC [[link removed]], according to Front Office Sports reporter Ryan Glasspiegel, the second-most-watched All-Star Game ever. The game drew 52% more viewers than the third-most-watched iteration of the event, which took place in 2003. It’s the third year in a row the WNBA All-Star Game has aired on ABC’s Saturday primetime slot. It drew 850,000 viewers in its first year in 2023.

The game is down 36% from last year, which drew a record-high 3.44 million viewers [[link removed]]. Caitlin Clark made her All-Star debut last season and was named a captain for this year’s game, but missed the game after sustaining a groin injury days before All-Star weekend in Indianapolis.

Last year’s exhibition was the third-most-watched WNBA telecast ever, behind two games from the league’s debut weekend in 1997, per Sports Media Watch. It was the most-watched WNBA telecast of 2024, ahead of any WNBA Finals game or Indiana Fever contest.

However, the 2025 All-Star Game was outdrawn by three regular-season games this year, all of which have featured Clark:

Chicago Sky at Fever, May 17: 2.7 million (ABC) New York Liberty at Fever, May 24: 2.22 million (CBS) Fever at Liberty, June 14: 2.2 million (ABC)

The 3-Point Contest and Skills Challenge on Friday drew 1.32 million viewers on ESPN, the most-watched version of the event and up 90% from last year. Clark also missed Friday’s contest, which was supposed to be her first at the professional level [[link removed]].

The Liberty swept the Friday contests as Sabrina Ionescu would walk away with her second three-point win in three years, while Natasha Cloud won the Skills Challenge. Ionescu took home $62,575 [[link removed]]—which she said she’d split with Washington Mystics rookie [[link removed]] and All-Star Sonia Citron—while Cloud secured $57,575. Only $2,575 of each of their winnings comes from the WNBA, while the rest ($60,000 for Ionescu, $55,000 for Cloud) was money the union independently secured in a deal with Aflac [[link removed]].

Return to Play

It likely didn’t help that this year’s game was not as competitive as last year’s, which was a battle between the U.S. Olympic team and the WNBA All-Stars. There was little defense played on both sides as the teams set a WNBA All-Star Game record for points (282).

Ionescu said after the game that it would have been “more competitive” [[link removed]] if the WNBA gave teams a longer All-Star break. The season resumes Tuesday with ten teams in action, eight of which played Wednesday, the final day before the break, including the Atlanta Dream, who open with a road back-to-back.

Most NBA teams had at least one full week off for their All-Star break this year, except for those affected by schedule changes caused by the Los Angeles fires.

Ionescu said the All-Star schedule is another component to look at in CBA negotiations, which was the hot topic of the weekend. Every All-Star wore a shirt that read “Pay Us What You Owe Us” [[link removed]] during the game’s warmups, two days after the first in-person meeting between the league, board of governors, and union.

Commissioner Cathy Engelbert described the meeting as “constructive” during her press conference minutes before the game, while union board member Breanna Stewart called it a “wasted opportunity” [[link removed]] Friday.

FRONT OFFICE SPORTS TODAY ESPN Acquiring ‘NFL RedZone’?

FOS illustration

NFL owners prepare for a vote next month that could result in ESPN and the Walt Disney Co. acquiring NFL media properties, including RedZone and NFL Network. FOS newsletter writer Eric Fisher joins Baker Machado and Dan Roberts to explain the story behind this potential acquisition and how it could create new opportunities and issues alike.

Plus, the controversial Polymarket—which allows users to bet on real-world events—is set to become legal in the United States. FOS reporter Ryan Glasspiegel explains the prediction markets’ brewing arms race and where large sportsbook operators like FanDuel and DraftKings could factor in.

Watch the full episode here [[link removed]].

STATUS REPORT One Up, One Down, Two Push

Tork Mason-Imagn Images

Chargers ⬇ The team is facing a class-action lawsuit [[link removed]] from a season-ticket holder who claims he was misled and denied a refund after the Chargers moved their 2025 season opener to Brazil, accusing the team of false advertising and breach of contract. The complaint points to teams, like the Colts and Packers, that offer clearer policies for international games, as the NFL prepares for seven overseas matchups this season.

ACC court-storming ⬆⬇ The conference is cracking down [[link removed]] on field and court-storming with escalating fines and stricter security protocols. The move is meant to protect players and officials, but it could end up dampening one of college sports’ most beloved fan traditions.

New York Liberty ⬆ Emma Meesseman has committed to the defending champions and will return to the WNBA [[link removed]] for the first time since 2022. ESPN first reported the news [[link removed]]. The 6-foot-4 Belgian forward won the 2019 WNBA Finals MVP with the Washington Mystics. She averaged 12.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game with the Chicago Sky in her last season in the league.

Lloyd Howell ⬆⬇ The former NFL Players Association executive director stepped down from his consulting role at Carlyle [[link removed]]. Howell stepped down amid reports criticizing his potential conflict of interest, a past sexual discrimination lawsuit, and allegations that he charged the union for visits to strip clubs. Now, the league must find a replacement for both Howell and former chief strategy officer JC Tretter.

Conversation Starters MLB unveiled Bristol Motor Speedway–themed jerseys for the Reds and Braves, who will face off at the iconic racetrack Aug. 2. Check it out [[link removed]]. The Savannah Bananas played in front of 44,000 fans at Busch Stadium in St. Louis for two nights in a row. The stadium is the home of MLB’s Cardinals, and legend Adam Wainwright made an appearance on the mound. Watch it here [[link removed]]. Here [[link removed]] are the highest-paid players at every position in the NFL, including Dak Prescott at quarterback and Ja’Marr Chase at wide receiver. Editors’ Picks ACC’s Phillips: League ‘Nicely Situated’ After Settling Lawsuits [[link removed]]by David Rumsey [[link removed]]The commissioner called the league steady after the FSU and Clemson settlements. Qatar Bids to Bring Olympics to Middle East for First Time [[link removed]]by Ava Hult [[link removed]]The Gulf state may reignite debate over heat and human rights. ACC Will Start Fining Schools for Court and Field Storming [[link removed]]by David Rumsey [[link removed]]Schools will incur escalating fines from $50,000 to $200,000. Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Events [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Shows [[link removed]] Written by Amanda Christovich [[link removed]], David Rumsey [[link removed]], Eric Fisher [[link removed]], Colin Salao [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Catherine Chen [[link removed]]

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