MAC commissioner denies College Football Playoff has agreed to new TV deal amid ongoing model talks

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MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher, a member of the College Football Playoff Management Committee, sent a memo to his conference athletic directors disputing reports that the CFP has agreed in principle to a new television deal, sources told CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd. In the memo, Steinbrecher notes the committee has yet to even review a draft of a new deal. 

“There was nothing that was said that was put in front of these people [commissioners] at all,” said a person familiar with the talks.

Last week, the College Football Playoff reportedly came to terms with ESPN on a six-year contract extension worth a total of $7.8 billion. The playoff still has two years remaining on its current deal with ESPN with the network holding rights to first-round, quarterfinal, semifinal and championship games for the 12-team playoff, which will make its debut following the 2024 regular season. 

This reported extension came with a caveat that the full deal would not be complete until CFP leaders can decide on a new format for the 12-team model. Following the Pac-12’s dissolution amid conference realignment, some prominent figures have pushed for a 5+7 model rather than the current agreed upon 6+6 model. The 5+7 model would decrease the number of automatic conference championship bids by one while adding an extra slot for at-large qualifiers. 

According to Dodd, the CFP Management Committee met on Jan. 8 — the day of Michigan’s College Football Playoff National Championship win — to adopt a new model; however, the Pac-12, with Washington State president Kirk Schulz as its…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/mac-commissioner-denies-college-football-playoff-has-agreed-to-new-tv-deal-amid-ongoing-model-talks/

Author : Will Backus

Publish date : 2024-02-19 15:51:09

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