Conferences, Notre Dame reach 6-year deal to continue CFP

The nine Bowl Subdivision conferences and Notre Dame reached an agreement Friday on a six-year 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 highest-ranked conference champions — regardless of league — and seven at-large selections making up the field.

The number of teams in the CFP could grow after the current contract with ESPN expires after the 2025 season, but for now there is no plan in place and no urgency to make a decision, Hancock said.

Hancock said the conference commissioners who manage the CFP might want to let the coming season play out and evaluate the first iteration of the 12-team model.

BOXING

Vasquez wins at Golden Gloves

Santiago Vasquez defeated Joel Ortiz of Dallas at 125 pounds as San Antonio went 1-1 on day two of the Texas State Golden Gloves at Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth.

In the other bout, Bianca Ortega was eliminated by defending national Golden Gloves champion Kayla Gomez of El Paso at 119 pounds.

John Whisler

GOLF

Clark sets a big target at Players

Scottie Scheffler had his 25th consecutive round under par Friday in The Players Championship but felt pain in his neck that required treatment on the course, and he struggled to stay within range of Wyndham Clark at Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Clark ran off four straight birdies on the front nine and finished with a 7-under 65, one shot short of the 36-hole record at the TPC Sawgrass. He had a five-shot lead as Rory Mcilroy and

Xander Schauffele set out to try to catch him.

Former U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick had a double bogey on No. 4 that slowed his momentum. He had to settle for a 69 and was five shots behind, along with Maverick Mcnealy, who finished with a 67 in the morning and followed with a 68.

Scheffler was in the group at 8-under 136.

TENNIS

Bees cause a buzz at Indian Wells

A swarm of bees forced a nearly two-hour disruption to the quarterfinal match between Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev at the BNP Paribas Open on Thursday at Indian Wells, Calif.

Alcaraz swatted at the bees buzzing around him before running for cover and the match was suspended 19 minutes in with Alcaraz serving tied at 1-1. The Spaniard went on to win 6-3, 6-1 in less time than the delay of 1 hour, 48 minutes.

Dozens of bees attached themselves to the overhead spider camera that traverses the court and a man used a vacuum to clean them off and play resumed.