Agreement significant for CFP
The nine Bowl Subdivision conferences and Notre Dame reached an agreement Friday on a sixyear deal to continue the College Football Playoff through the 2031 season, a significant step that establishes a revenue-sharing plan and allows the CFP to finalize a media rights agreement. Executive director Bill Hancock said the agreement doesn’t lock in a format for the CFP for 2026 and beyond, but it guarantees at least a 12-team field and five conferences having annual access to the playoff through 2031. The playoff is expanding this season from four teams to 12, with the five highestranked conference champions — regardless of league — and seven at-large selections making up the field.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL Michigan fires Howard
Michigan fired coach Juwan Howard after five seasons, parting ways with the former Fab Five star whose return to his alma mater included a Big Ten title and advancing in two NCAA Tournaments before closing with two straight disappointing seasons. Howard finished with an 82-67 record with the Wolverines. He won a conference regular-season championship and was a win away from the Final Four in 2021, when he was the Associated Press coach of the year.
GOLF
Players to meet with Saudis?
Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott said the player directors on the PGA Tour board are being encouraged to meet with the Saudi Arabia wealth fund leader behind LIV Golf, a sign that could spark talks of an investment. Golfweek reported a meeting could happen Monday, the day after The Players Championship. It cited two sources who said it was unclear if Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Public Investment Fund, had committed to the meeting.
BASEBALL Cardinals extend manager
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol agreed to a two-year contract extension through the 2026 season. The 37-year-old former Cardinals minor leaguer led the team to an NL Central title in his first season, winning 93 games in 2022 and becoming the youngest manager to reach the playoffs since a 31-year-old Lou Boudreau took Cleveland to the World Series in 1946.
Mum’s word on Cole’s elbow
Yankees manager Aaron Boone held off discussing the condition of ace Gerrit Cole’s elbow, saying he and general manager Brian Cashman want to speak with the AL Cy Young Award winner before making any public comments. The Yankees disclosed Monday that Cole was experiencing issues in bouncing back following spring training starts, and the 33-year-old traveled to Los Angeles to be examined by Dodgers team physician Neal ElAttrache, an elbow expert. Cole was traveling back to Tampa on Friday. Boone did say Nestor Cortes will start the March 28 opener at Houston . . . Brewers closer Devin Williams, who was diagnosed with two stress fractures in his back Wednesday, said he won’t throw for six weeks. Rebuilding his arm strength will probably take an additional six weeks.