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March Madness is back! Before tipoff, Until Saturday has another bracket for you to fill out …
CFB’s Best Stadium?
An Until Saturday bracket challenge
Happy March! We know college hoops madness will likely consume all of your time (and perhaps money, depending on your bracket bets) over the next few weeks.
So, we at Until Saturday decided to create a bracket challenge of our own. What is the best stadium in college football? We’re about to find out. Here’s the bracket:
As you can see, I gave priority to stadiums with the largest capacities. But to ensure conference and regional parity, some smaller stadiums also made the cut.
Voting criteria: gameday atmosphere? Tailgate scene? Noisiest? Best name (or nickname)? That’s all up to you.
Vote here for the Round of 32. We’ll reveal the Sweet 16 on Thursday.
Heroes and Villians
Which coaches do you root for and against?
Last week, The Athletic’s Ari Wasserman took a shot at identifying the biggest villains and heroes among current college football head coaches, based on the opinions of random fans.
His villains list starts with Colorado’s Deion Sanders. This one barely comes as a surprise. Sanders’ larger-than-life aura makes you either love him or hate him. Either way, you’ve got an opinion of him … and that’s the perfect recipe.
But after all the hype, Sanders’ Year 1 Colorado team went a lackluster 4-8. Is it too harsh to root against someone barely winning anyway? I suspect his controversial roster-building methods don’t draw much sympathy from the masses.
Meanwhile, the heroes list could’ve just included the obvious nice guys. But how about a controversial choice: Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin?
The ultimate social media coach. Kiffin is funny. Villains aren’t. That’s why he’s here in the heroes section. Just take yesterday’s motivational Monday post as evidence.
Star of a great Monday!! 🧘🔥
🚫😈🪑🍽️ pic.twitter.com/5QGfvZQLZM— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) March 18, 2024
Still, Kiffin annoys plenty of people, just as Deion has plenty of supporters nationwide. That’s the beauty of a sport with big personalities.
Listen to more of this discussion on the Until Saturday podcast.
Playoff Debate Ended …
… at least for now
Last week, nine FBS conferences and Notre Dame signed off on extending the College Football Playoff through the 2031 season. The CFP’s current contract will expire after the 2025-26 season.
A key detail in the new framework is a new revenue distribution model in which the Big Ten and SEC will receive larger shares than the other conferences. Multiple sources briefed on the revenue model confirmed the new breakdown as such:
- Big Ten, SEC: Roughly 29 percent annually (more than $21 million per school)
- ACC: 17 percent (around $13 million each)
- Big 12: 15 percent ($12 million each)
- Group of 5: Nine percent (around $1.8 million per school)
- The remainder goes to independentsincluding more than $12 million for Our Lady and the FCS
The new deal is also expected to include a look-in clause in 2028, allowing the parties to potentially reshape the agreement based on performance or conference realignment.
Another key detail: A reported push to expand the CFP field to 14 teams has been put on hold.
Quick Snaps
A hero coach on my list? Kansas’ Lance Leipoldwho has reinvigorated Kansas football. Leipold joined the Until Saturday podcast to talk about his rebuild at KU. Listen here.
After AD Trev Alberts left Nebraska for the same role at Texas A&Mleadership for the Huskers is in a state of turmoil. Second-year coach Matt Rhule said the university’s next AD must act with “unbelievable urgency” to keep the school moving forward in college athletics.
Michigan snatched Ohio State RB coach Tony Alford away from the Buckeyes to be the Wolverines’ RB coach and run game coordinator last week. Michigan writer Austin Meek and Ohio State writer Cameron Teague-Robinson reset where the rivalry stands after an offseason full of movement.
Can Luke Fickell get Wisconsin back up to speed on the recruiting front? Read more from an exclusive interview with Fickell here.
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(Top photo of Neyland Stadium: Donald Page / Getty Images)
2024-03-19 17:33:42
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