Pac-12 scraps divisions moments after NCAA paves way
The Pac-12 announced Wednesday it was scrapping its divisional format for the upcoming football season moments after the NCAA Division I Council tossed out requirements that dictate how conferences can determine a champion.
The Pac-12 will now pair the teams with the highest conference winning percentages in its title game after 11 seasons of matching winners of the North and South divisions.
Other conferences are expected to follow, most notably the 14-team Atlantic Coast Conference. The ACC is looking to implement a new scheduling model as soon as 2023.
To have a conference title game, NCAA rules previously required leagues to split into divisions if they could not play a full round-robin schedule. The 10-member Big 12 wound up deciding to resume its title game even without divisions in part to raise the profile of the winner for playoff consideration.
That was clearly on the minds of Pac-12 executives, too.
“Our goal is to place our two best teams in our Pac-12 football championship game, which we believe will provide our conference with the best opportunity to optimize CFP invitations and ultimately win national championships,” Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff said. “Today’s decision is an important step toward that goal and immediately increases both fan interest in, and the media value of, our football championship game.”
The D-I Council also approved a Football Oversight Committee recommendation meant to aid with roster management, lifting the yearly scholarship cap of 25.
While the maximum of 25 so-called initial counters will be waived for the next two years, the overall scholarship limit of 85 per team in the Bowl Subdivision and 63 in the Championship Subdivision will remain in place. The change, backed by the American Football Coaches’ Association, is aimed at helping teams replenish rosters that have been thinned by transfers.
Still pending is a proposal to set designated periods when players can enter the transfer portal and be immediately eligible at a new school. Football coaches proposed two, multiweek dates, starting after the regular season in late fall and again after spring practices typically end in late April.
The Pac-12 said its the nine-game conference schedule based on divisions in place for this season will be unchanged, but models for future seasons will be reviewed.
The ACC is considering a 3-5-5 model for football scheduling that would have teams playing three opponents as permanent scheduling partners annually then rotating the other 10 teams over two seasons in the eight-game schedule (five one year, five the next).
ETC.
NFL: The Dolphins
● waived former Arizona QB
Chris Streveler to make room on the 90-man roster for edge rusher Melvin Ingram. Steveler, signed earlier this offseason, has appeared in seven NFL games for the Cardinals.
— BARRY JACKSON The New York Jets signed wide receiver Garrett Wilson to a four-year, $20.55 million deal. Wilson was the No. 10 overall pick last month out of Ohio
State . ... The Philadelphia Eagles agreed to sign veteran cornerback James
Bradberry to a one-year deal. Bradberry was the New York Giants’ No. 1 cornerback last season, but was released salary cap savings.
Soccer: Eintracht
●
Frankfurt’s 42-year wait for a European title has ended with a 5-4 penalty shootout win over Rangers in the Europa League final. Rafael Borré converted the decisive penalty kick after Kevin Trapp saved Aaron Ramsey’s shot, giving the German club its first European trophy since the 1980 UEFA Cup.
Cycling: Alberto Dainese
● became the first Italian rider to win a stage in this year’s Giro d’Italia by sprinting to victory on the 11th leg; Juan Pedro Lopez kept the pink jersey at Reggio Emilia, Italy.