SEC limits football to league only
The SEC will play only league games in 2020, a decision that pushes major college football closer to a siloed regular season in which none of the power conferences cross paths
The plan was confirmed Thurdsay by a person who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity because an official announcement from the conference was still being prepared.
The SEC’s university presidents agreed on a 10-game schedule that eliminates all nonconference opponents and is set to begin Sept. 26, the person said. The SEC championship game, originally scheduled for Dec. 5, will be pushed back to Dec. 19.
The Iowa football program under coach Kirk Ferentz has suffered from a culture that perpetuated racial bias against Black players and allowed some current and former staff members to demean and bully others, according to an investigation report released Thursday. University President Bruce Harreld said the report by an outside law firm shows the “climate and culture must and will change within our football program.” ... The sideline area college football teams use to congregate will be extended by 20 yards this season and only one captain from each team will be permitted to participate in the pregame or overtime coin toss. NCAA playing rules oversight committee announced alterations in football and other sports to accommodate for COVID-19 concerns this coming season.
Golf: Defending champion Brooks Koepka matched his career best with an 8-under 62 to take a one-stroke lead over Rickie Fowler in the FedEx St. Jude Invitational in Memphis, Tenn. Koepka had nine birdies and a bogey on a windy day at TPC Southwind in the World Golf Championship event, a week after missing the cut in Minnesota in the 3M Open. Fowler, who last missed the cut at Memorial, chipped in from 30 feet to tie Koepka for the lead with a hole to play. But Fowler two-putted for bogey after putting his tee shot in the left rough on his final hole to finish at 64 and tied with Brendon Todd.
NFL: Rookie RB Malcolm Perry is among several Dolphins players who have donated convalescent plasma after recovering from COVID-19. The plasma helps patients still fighting the virus. ... The Bills became the NFL’s first team to send their rookies home and hold training camp remotely after two more players t ested positive f or COVID-19. DBs Siran Neal and Dane Jackson both tested positive, upping the team’s total to five since rookies reported on July 21. ... Titans GM Jon Robinson says he has been in touch with LB Vic Beasley and that he knows his absence from training camp i s unexcused. Beasley is subject to a $50,000 fine each day he’s absent from training camp. ... The Panthers decided to keep K Joey Slye and release veteran Graham Gano, who missed all of last season with a knee injury.
Tennis: Two-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka is planning to play at the U.S. Open and the hard-court tuneup at the same site earlier in August. Osaka’s agent, Stuart Duguid, said the former No. 1-ranked player will enter both tournaments the U.S. Tennis Association is holding in Flushing Meadows.