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FILE - The national championship trophy is seen before a new conference for the NCAA college football playoff championship game between Clemson and Alabama, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. The university presidents who oversee the College Football Playoff voted Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, to expand the postseason model for determining a national champion from four to 12 teams no later than the 2026 season.(AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
Venues, dates, TV, NFL: How to assemble CFP expansion puzzle

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 20, 2022 12:09 PM EDT

FILE - Robert "Bojo" Ackah, center, and Fik-Shun, left, perform during the announcement of the first Thursday Night Football on Prime Video matchup featuring the San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs at the 2022 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 28, 2022 in Las Vegas. The Thursday night, Sept. 15 game between the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs kicks off Amazon Prime Video's 11-year agreement with the NFL to carry “Thursday Night Football". (AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis, File)
NFL on Prime Video latest foray by leagues into streaming

By Joe Reedy Sep. 14, 2022 09:34 PM EDT

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (55) gives chase as Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs the ball for a long gain in the second half of a NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Football's return dominates Nielsen television ratings

Sep. 13, 2022 06:50 PM EDT

FILE - Serena Williams, of the United States, returns a shot to Ajla Tomljanovic, of Australia, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. It could have been just one night, but Williams' exit from tennis turned into a boon for ESPN. Williams' third-round defeat at the hands of Ajla Tomljanovic had the largest audience of any tennis match in ESPN's 43-year history, beating the 3.9 million who watched the 2012 Wimbledon men's final between Roger Federer and Andy Murray. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
Serena Williams' goodbye to U.S. Open a ratings boon to ESPN

By David Bauder Sep. 07, 2022 03:26 PM EDT

FILE - Incoming Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark listens during a news conference opening the NCAA college football Big 12 media days in Arlington, Texas, July 13, 2022. The Big 12 is going into its 12th and final season as a 10-team conference. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)
Big 12 looks to potential early extension of media rights

Aug. 31, 2022 11:01 AM EDT

FILE - Notre Dame head football coach Marcus Freeman holds a helmet while posing for a portrait with University president John I. Jenkins, left, and Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick during a news conference on Dec. 6, 2021, at the Irish Athletic Center in South Bend, Ind. Swarbrick told The Associated Press on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022, that the Fighting Irish's position is even stronger now than when he stepped into the job in 2008, bolstered by success on the football field and investments in the program. (Michael Caterina/South Bend Tribune via AP, File)
Recent success secures Notre Dame's treasured independence

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 30, 2022 06:24 PM EDT

FILE - Texas A&M students celebrate with Texas A&M defensive lineman Isaiah Raikes (34) as they packed Kyle Field after upsetting Alabama 38-41 in an NCAA college football game on Oct. 9, 2021, in College Station, Texas. The “Beef Bowl,” which draws from comments Aggies coach Jimbo Fisher and Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban made about each other over concerns about NIL after Fisher brought in one of the top recruiting classes in history. (AP Photo/Sam Craft, File)
College media rights: What has happened and what's next?

By Joe Reedy Aug. 25, 2022 05:50 PM EDT

FILE - Georgia tight end Brock Bowers (19) runs into the end zone for a touchdown against Alabama defensive back Jordan Battle (9) during the second half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Atlanta. Bowers was named to The Associated Press preseason All-America team, Monday, Aug. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
Supreme Court paved way for shifting college TV landscape

By Joe Reedy Aug. 25, 2022 05:44 PM EDT

FILE - Michigan State head football coach Mel Tucker acknowledges the fans during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game between Michigan State and Penn State, Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. Michigan State's third-year football coach, hoping more people will get to know him better, gave five reporters an all-access day this summer that started on a golf course and ended on the sprawling deck at his house. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
Michigan State coach Mel Tucker always on brand to promote

By Larry Lage Aug. 24, 2022 04:51 PM EDT

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh talks to reporters during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days, at Lucas Oil Stadium, Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
B1G deal: Big Ten lands $7 billion, NFL-style TV contracts

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 18, 2022 09:27 AM EDT

FILE - Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick attends an NCAA college basketball game between Notre Dame and Mount St. Mary's on Nov. 13, 2017, in South Bend, Ind. Swarbrick says the coming Big Ten television contract with NBC is a “perfect” way for the network to complement its deal with the Fighting Irish during a live online chat for the university's alumni association on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Robert Franklin, File)
Notre Dame AD: Big Ten deal with NBC 'perfect' for Irish

Aug. 10, 2022 03:58 PM EDT

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh talks to reporters during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days, at Lucas Oil Stadium, Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
AP sources: ESPN out of Big Ten TV rights negotiations

By Joe Reedy And Ralph D. Russo Aug. 09, 2022 12:05 PM EDT

L'Damian Washington coaches wide receivers during an Oklahoma NCAA college football practice, Monday, Aug. 8, 2022, in Norman, Okla. Oklahoma assistant head football coach Cale Gundy says he has resigned after using offensive language during a film session. Washington, who had been an offensive analyst, will coach receivers on an interim basis. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Oklahoma's Gundy out after saying 'racially charged' word

By Cliff Brunt Aug. 08, 2022 01:18 AM EDT

Alabama radio voice Eli Gold sidelined for start of season

Aug. 03, 2022 12:08 PM EDT
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Longtime Alabama radio announcer Eli Gold will miss the start of the football season due to health issues. Jim Carabin, vice...

FILE - Allan Roth, left, statistician of the Los Angeles Dodgers, sits in the booth with broadcaster Vin Scully in August 1963 in Los Angeles. Scully, whose dulcet tones provided the soundtrack of summer while entertaining and informing Dodgers fans in Brooklyn and Los Angeles for 67 years, died Tuesday night, Aug. 2, 2022, the team said. He was 94. (AP Photo/Harold Filan, File)
Vin Scully, Dodgers broadcaster for 67 years, dies at 94

By Beth Harris Aug. 02, 2022 11:43 PM EDT

Pac-12 Conference commissioner George Kliavkoff speaks at the Pac-12 NCAA college football media day Friday, July 29, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Pac-12's Kliavkoff jabs Big 12, touts future after USC, UCLA

By Greg Beacham Jul. 29, 2022 12:20 PM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 4, 2015, file photo, American Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco addresses the media during an NCAA football media day in Newport, R.I. Aresco says athlete compensation, the transfer portal and conference realignment have created a perfect storm for an unsettled situation, and the American Athletic Conference commissioner believes all the FBS conferences need to have a coordinated approach to stabilize things while finding a middle ground between the lost amateur model of college athletics and increasing professionalism. (AP Photo/Stew Milne, File)
AAC commish: Coordinated response needed to stabilize FBS

By Stephen Hawkins Jul. 28, 2022 03:18 PM EDT

Penn State head coach James Franklin talks to reporters during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days, at Lucas Oil Stadium, Wednesday, July 27, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Penn State's Clifford mum on college players organizing

By Ralph D. Russo Jul. 27, 2022 06:28 PM EDT

Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren talks to reporters during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days, at Lucas Oil Stadium, Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Comeback: Warren rebounds from rocky start leading Big Ten

By Ralph D Russo Jul. 27, 2022 05:20 PM EDT

Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren talks to reporters during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days, at Lucas Oil Stadium, Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Bold, aggressive Big Ten leaves door open for more expansion

By Ralph D. Russo Jul. 26, 2022 12:31 PM EDT