A board of university presidents voted unanimously on Friday to expand the College Football Playoff to 12 teams, possibly as early as the 2024 season.
An announcement on the College Football Playoff website stated the new format will begin in the 2026 campaign.
It was added, though, that the College Football Management Committee have been tasked with assessing the possibility of beginning the expanded playoff in either the 2024 or 2025 regular season.
The Board of Managers – comprised of university presidents representing the 10 FBS conferences, plus Notre Dame – is hoping to implement expansion as soon as possible.
When Friday s meeting was announced, CBS Sports reported that universities had grown impatient with the commissioners hesitancy to ad…
Cyriel Dessers scored twice as Feyenoord edged an absorbing Europa Conference League semi-final against Marseille, claiming a 3-2 first-leg success at De Kuip.
Dessers and Luis Sinisterra netted within three frantic first-half minutes, but Bamba Dieng and Gerson led a rapid Marseille comeback as a terrific first half ended level.
But a dire back-pass from Duje Caleta-Car allowed Dessers to grab his brace immediately after the break as the hosts re-established their advantage.
Arne Slot s men will now take a slender lead to Southern France for next week s second leg as they aim for a first European final appearance since 2002.
Dieng missed two glorious one-on-one chances for Marseille early on, side-footing straight at Ofir Marciano after eight minu…
Steven Bergwijn had strong words for Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman following the 61-year-old s criticism of his move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad.
Bergwijn, who has made 35 international appearances since his debut in 2018, was a notable admission for the Oranje s upcoming Nations League fixtures.
The 26-year-old started two games at Euro 2024 in the knockout phase of the competition but was substituted in both at the half-time interval.
He also enjoyed an impressive season at club level last campaign, creating more chances (50) and completing more dribbles (39) than anyone in the Ajax squad, scoring 12 goals in 24 appearances in the Eredivisie.
But ahead of the Netherlands clashes with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Germany, Koeman took a dim…
Unai Emery is focusing on a new mentality for his Aston Villa side as they embark on their Champions League journey against Young Boys.
Villa are making their first appearance in Europe s top competition since 1982 on Tuesday, having previously won the competition 42 years ago.
Emery s side will become the 11th different English club to compete in the Champions League, and the first English newcomer since Leicester in 2016-17.
But the Spaniard has made a name for himself on the European stage, having won the Europa League on four occasions with Sevilla and Villarreal.
However, Emery s last game in the competition came back in 2022, with his Villarreal side eliminated by Liverpool in the semi-finals of the competition.
That particular run was t…
Defending champions Italy secured their place at Euro 2024 after a battling goalless draw with Ukraine.
The fixture, which was played at Bayer Leverkusen’s BayArena due to Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia in their homeland, was not short of chances, but Serhiy Rebrov’s men failed to find the winner they required to send them automatically through to next year’s tournament in Germany.
It means Ukraine must contest a play-off in March, while Italy boss Luciano Spalletti can reflect on a job well done after they clinched the point they needed to finished second behind England in Group C.
The equation was simple for both teams, but any hint of caution was thrown to the wind during an action-packed start with Viktor Tsygankov testing Gianluigi Donnarumma from…
Best odds: 23/25
Bookmaker:
Looking to bounce back from their shocking defeat at home to Atalanta in the Europa League in mid-week, Liverpool will host Crystal Palace at Anfield on Sunday with the aim of staying in with a chance to win the Premier League title.
Palace, meanwhile, travel to the north-west of England on the back of facing defending champions Manchester City at home in a game they lost 2-4. As things stand, the Eagles are trying to earn valuable points to help them stay away from relegation zone.
Liverpool
It was a truly woeful performance Liverpool put in against Atalanta, thoroughly disappointing from the players who are supposed to see off manager Jurgen Klopp at the end of the season in the strongest way possible. Gianluca Scamacca str…
Best Odds: 3/5
Bookmaker:
Getting their Nations League adventure underway on Thursday night, European champions Spain will travel over to Belgrade when they meet Serbia.
Serbia
Starting with the hosts, although Serbia might have opened up this summer’s European Championships with the mood in their camp at a real high, the Eagles endured real frustration over in Germany. Getting their summer adventure underway with a close-fought 1-0 loss at the hands of eventual finalists England, Dragon Stojkovic’s men failed to muster a single victory from any of their three Group C appearances. Eventually finishing rock-bottom of the standings and coming under a huge amount of scrutiny, Serbia should be bracing themselves for a heavyweight challenge when they get their N…
Best Odds: 13/8
Bookmaker:
Looking to extend on their recent flurry this weekend, Real Madrid will welcome Osasuna to the Spanish capital on Saturday afternoon.
Real Madrid
Starting with the hosts, while Real Madrid might have come under plenty of scrutiny last month as they were hit with an infamous 3-1 loss at the hands of bitter local rivals Atletico, Los Blancos have come roaring back in some style. Making it back-to-back Champions League victories earlier in the week as they claimed a 3-2 win against reigning Italian champions Napoli, Carlo Ancelotti’s men will be smelling the chance to lay down another marker here. With their sights firmly set on snatching back their La Liga crown this season, the former AC Milan boss has seen his superstar squad win ea…
The United States has officially submitted a declaration of interest to host either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, US Soccer Federation Sunil Gulati said Monday.
The announcement came on the day set by world football s governing body, FIFA, for countries to declare their interest in hosting the global football tournament in either or both years. FIFA will select the hosts of both tournaments in December of 2010.
We have formally advised FIFA that it s our intention to bid for the 2018/2022 World Cups, Gulati said from Chicago in a media teleconference.
Gulati said the United States would be happy to host in either year, but added that with all the necessary infrastructure in place sooner is better.
The United States, which hosted the World Cup in 1994, jo…
Real Madrid and Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso says he is looking to achieve big things in 2012 at both club and international level.
Going into the mid-season break, Jose Mourinho s side sit three points clear of arch-rivals Barcelona at the top of the La Liga table and will compete in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Meanwhile, the Spanish national side have the chance to defend their European Championship crown in Ukraine and Poland in the off-season.
Alonso said he is looking forward to the challenges ahead.
This year, we are very excited because there nothing like achieving something big, the 30-year-old told GQ.
They re all the ingredients and now we have to see if the recipe works and the end product is good.
Real Madrid rest…