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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Greg McGarity had reason to be concerned. The Gator Bowl president kept a watchful eye on College Football Playoff scenarios all season and understood the fallout might affect his postseason matchup in Jacksonville. What if the Southeastern Conference got five teams into the expanded CFP? What if the Atlantic Coast Conference landed three spots? It was a math problem that was impossible to truly answer, even into late November. Four first-round playoff games, which will end with four good teams going home without a bowl game, had the potential to shake up the system. The good news for McGarity and other bowl organizers: Adding quality teams to power leagues — Oregon to the Big Ten, Texas to the SEC and SMU to the ACC — managed to ease much of the handwringing. McGarity and the Gator Bowl ended up with their highest-ranked team, No. 16 Ole Miss, in nearly two decades. "It really didn't lessen our pool much at all," McGarity said. "The SEC bowl pool strengthened with the addition of Texas and Oklahoma. You knew they were going to push traditional SEC teams up or down. Texas ended up pushing just about everyone down." The long waiting game was the latest twist for non-CFP bowls that have become adept at dealing with change. Efforts to match the top teams came and went in the 1990s and first decade of this century before the CFP became the first actual tournament in major college football. It was a four-team invitational — until this year, when the 12-team expanded format meant that four quality teams would not be in the mix for bowl games after they lose next week in the first round. "There's been a lot of things that we've kind of had to roll with," said Scott Ramsey, president of the Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tennessee. "I don't think the extra games changed our selection model to much degree. We used to look at the New York's Six before this, and that was 12 teams out of the bowl mix. The 12-team playoff is pretty much the same." Ramsey ended up with No. 23 Missouri against Iowa in his Dec. 30 bowl. A lot of so-called lesser bowl games do have high-profile teams — the ReliaQuest Bowl has No. 11 Alabama vs. Michigan (a rematch of last year's CFP semifinal), Texas A&M and USC will play in the Las Vegas Bowl while No. 14 South Carolina and No. 15 Miami, two CFP bubble teams, ended up in separate bowls in Orlando. "The stress of it is just the fact that the CFP takes that opening weekend," Las Vegas Bowl executive director John Saccenti said. "It kind of condenses the calendar a little bit." Bowl season opens Saturday with the Cricket Celebration Bowl. The first round of the CFP runs Dec. 20-21. It remains to be seen whether non-CFP bowls will see an impact from the new dynamic. They will know more by 2026, with a planned bowl reset looming. It could include CFP expansion from 12 to 14 teams and significant tweaks to the bowl system. More on-campus matchups? More diversity among cities selected to host semifinal and championship games? And would there be a trickle-down effect for everyone else? Demand for non-playoff bowls remains high, according to ESPN, despite increased focus on the expanded CFP and more players choosing to skip season finales to either enter the NCAA transfer portal or begin preparations for the NFL draft. "There's a natural appetite around the holidays for football and bowl games," Kurt Dargis, ESPN's senior director of programming and acquisitions, said at Sports Business Journal's Intercollegiate Athletics Forum last week in Las Vegas. "People still want to watch bowl games, regardless of what's going on with the playoff. ... It's obviously an unknown now with the expanded playoff, but we really feel like it's going to continue." The current bowl format runs through 2025. What lies ahead is anyone's guess. Could sponsors start paying athletes to play in bowl games? Could schools include hefty name, image and likeness incentives for players participating in bowls? Would conferences be willing to dump bowl tie-ins to provide a wider range of potential matchups? Are bowls ready to lean into more edginess like Pop-Tarts has done with its edible mascot? The path forward will be determined primarily by revenue, title sponsors, TV demand and ticket sales. "The one thing I have learned is we're going to serve our partners," Saccenti said. "We're going to be a part of the system that's there, and we're going to try to remain flexible and make sure that we're adjusting to what's going on in the world of postseason college football." Get local news delivered to your inbox!Former TCU quarterback Hauss Hejny has committed to join Oklahoma State out of the NCAA transfer portal, multiple media outlets reported Sunday. Hejny will see a familiar face in new Cowboys offensive coordinator Doug Meacham, who previously was with the Horned Frogs in various roles. Meacham also served on Oklahoma State's coaching staff from 2005-12. Hejny did not attempt a pass while playing in four games this season. He carried the ball 15 times for 65 yards. A four-star recruit out of Fort Worth (Texas) Aledo, Hejny will join redshirt junior Garret Rangel, redshirt sophomore Zane Flores and redshirt freshman Maealiuaki Smith as quarterbacks for the Cowboys next season. The Cowboys were 3-9 (0-9 Big 12) in the 2024 season. --Field Level Media
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A 20-second clip of Vivek Ramaswamy discussing a possible method of cutting the U.S. federal workforce based on employees’ social security numbers has been mis-described as showing the former Republican presidential candidate proposing a 75% cut to Social Security benefits. The caption of a Threads post , opens new tab sharing the clip states, in part: “Is He Bloody Serious?? They gonna start Ending Social Security with 50% and then 75% of all Social Security?” The caption then includes a transcript that shows Ramaswamy proposing a federal-employee screening process based on their Social Security numbers. The clip was shared online after President-elect Donald Trump tasked Ramaswamy and billionaire Elon Musk to co-lead a new commission to find deep cuts in the $6 trillion federal budget. But the video has been taken out of context from a nearly three-hour interview in which Ramaswamy talked about ways to streamline the government. The clip shared on social media corresponds with Ramaswamy’s September interview , opens new tab with podcast host Lex Fridman from timestamp 27:06: “If your Social Security Number ends in an odd number, you're out. If it ends in an even number, you're in. There's a 50% cut right there. Of those who remain, if your Social Security Number starts in an even number, you're in. And if it starts with an odd number, you're out. Boom, that's a 75% reduction, then literally, sarcastically, okay.” Immediately after the quote, Ramaswamy said: “It's a thought experiment, not a policy prescription.” The quote originated from a section of the interview titled “government efficiency” and several minutes prior to the quote, Ramaswamy proposed , opens new tab a “75% headcount reduction across the board in the federal bureaucracy, send them home packing, shut down agencies that shouldn’t exist. Rescind every unconstitutional regulation that Congress ever passed.” (Timestamp 24:22) Since he has been tasked to slash government employees and cut costs, Ramaswamy has proposed firing 50% of the 2 million-strong U.S. civilian federal workforce. Reuters reported that the plan would only save about 2% in federal salaries and would risk resulting in insufficient essential workers. The incoming Trump administration has proposed ending taxes on Social Security benefits. Trump has also vowed to shield Social Security and Medicare from future budget cuts. Ramaswamy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Missing context. The video shows Vivek Ramaswamy discussing a numeric algorithm to cut the federal workforce, not to cut Social Security benefits. This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our fact-checking work. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tabNo. 22 Illinois reaches 9 wins for first time in 17 years with 38-28 victory over Northwestern
Honor walk pays tribute to Lincoln man who made organ donationWith Black Friday sales in full swing, there are still plenty of terrific deals to take advantage of. It’s the perfect time to shop for expensive electronics, including TV’s. Until Cyber Monday, you’ll be able to snag a high-end TV at a nice discount. Several top brands are offering huge deals on their best models. We’re seeing fantastic discounts on Samsung, LG, Sony and Hisense TVs. Whether you want a big-screen TV or something smaller for casual viewing, there are many options to consider getting during this sale event. Last updated on Nov. 30, 2024, at 2 a.m. ET. In this article: Samsung 55-Inch Class QLED 4K The Frame Series Smart TV , LG 77-Inch Class OLED B4 Series Smart TV and Hisense U6 Series 65-Inches ULED 4K Smart TV . The cool thing about this smart TV is that it features an Art mode you can enable, which displays modern and classic art pieces whenever you’re not watching. The color volume is fantastic, the matte film reduces light glare and the frame is customizable with multiple color bezel options. If you’re looking for an affordable 4K smart TV, this 65-inch LED model won’t disappoint. Motion Xcelerator reduces blur and lag, and object tracking delivers impressive 3D surround sound. It supports HDR and Mega Contrast to minimize the difference between light and dark areas. This Roku TV offers a sharp 4K resolution and supports HDR10+ technology, which enhances color, contrast and brightness. The home screen is customizable with shortcuts to your favorite apps, and the voice remote lets you effortlessly search for paid and free content. Are you looking for a solid TV for casual viewing? This 40-inch Amazon Fire TV has plenty to offer. The Fire TV platform provides quick access to live TV, video games and music, and the remote has a dedicated Alexa button for launching apps, searching for content and controlling smart devices on your network. This TV boasts Quantum Dot technology for reproducing stunning visuals and bright colors. When mounted, its AirSlim design allows it to blend seamlessly with your wall. The advanced processor automatically transforms non-UHD content into 4K and improves sound. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better TV for your home entertainment hub than this 77-inch LG smart TV. OLED technology produces accurate colors and deep blacks, and the a8 AI processor automatically fine-tunes the picture quality based on what you’re watching. Plus, it features NVIDIA G-Sync, AMD FreeSync Premium and VRR for improved gaming. This high-end smart TV boasts advanced OLED HDR+ technology, which enhances image brightness and clarity. Dolby Atmos and Object Tracking Sound Lite produce excellent sound quality, and the 144-hertz refresh rate delivers ultrasmooth motion for gaming and live sports. Plus, the smart Tizen OS offers streaming and gaming access. If you want a cheap smart TV for a smaller room in your home, this 42-inch Insignia Fire TV is the one for you. It’s a full HD TV with a 1080p resolution and a built-in Fire TV interface for streaming content from apps such as Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+. The Alexa voice remote makes it easy to find your favorite movies. This Hisense 65-inch TV features advanced Mini-LED technology for reproducing dark blacks and vibrant colors. Dolby Vision delivers superior picture quality, and the dedicated game mode provides a variable refresh rate for smooth gaming. The voice remote is convenient for finding content, and the smart TV interface is intuitive. If you have the space in your home for this massive TV, you’ll love the cinematic experience it offers. QLED technology delivers dazzling visuals and rich colors, and HDR Pro+ boosts contrast, brightness and clarity no matter what you watch. It has an integrated Google TV interface and is compatible with Alexa. Amazon Fire TV 43-Inch 4-Series 4K UHD Smart TV 38% OFF Amazon Fire TV 65-Inch Omni QLED Series 4K UHD Smart TV 25% OFF Amazon Fire TV 50-Inch Omni Series 4K UHD Smart TV 31% OFF Sony 75-Inch 4K Ultra HD Google TV Bravia TV 28% OFF Samsung 55-Inch Class QLED 4K Q80D Series Quantum HDR+ Smart TV 33% OFF LG 86-Inch Class UHD Smart TV 23% OFF LG 55-Inch Class QNED85T Series LED Smart TV 13% OFF Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change. Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.The head of one of Canada’s largest banks says newcomers need support from all corners as “people are turning a little sour” on . , chief executive of e, said there’s a “lot of illegal migration” going around in the world, but the people who legally come to Canada as international students, temporary foreign workers or permanent residents “play by the rules” and it’s important to “treat them by the rules” going forward. “Immigrants are the lifeblood of our country,” the son of a refugee said at a Toronto event organized by the University of Waterloo. “Immigrants come here with hopes and dreams. Immigrants don’t want to come here to be demonized, and what we need to do is continue to work on supporting those immigrants so that they actually feel fully Canadian.” Immigration has traditionally played a key role in Canada’s economy. But public support for newcomers has declined in recent years amidst , primarily due to a jump in the number of international students and temporary workers, who are referred to as temporary residents by the government. A clear majority of Canadians feel that there’s for the first time in 25 years, according to a national survey published in October by research group Environics Institute and Toronto Metropolitan University’s Diversity Institute. Policy changes by the federal government made it easier to bring in temporary residents during the past two years in order to fill nearly one million job vacancies following the pandemic. But with the number of vacancies declining and the unemployment rate on the rise, Ottawa has taken steps in the past year to decrease the number of temporary residents entering the country. Overall, it aims to have a net reduction of a million temporary residents in the next two years. The federal government is also reducing the number of new permanent residents, people who eventually become Canadian citizens, by about 21 per cent to 395,000 in 2025 and 380,000 in 2026, from about 500,000 currently. Economists don’t expect these changes to completely resolve Canada’s housing crisis, but they could make home ownership more attainable as the government tries to get more housing built and interest rates decline. Economists also believe the decisions could boost productivity despite slowing the country’s near-term economic growth due to lower consumer spending. Dodig said Canada’s struggling productivity levels could also be boosted by investing in technology and attracting foreign investors. He said large corporate sectors such as telecom, banking and oil and gas are achieving productivity gains due to investment in technologies, and the government should follow suit. “Forty per cent of the economy in Canada is government,” Dodig said. “I think health care is probably leading, education is probably second and government is probably third in terms of using technology to advance the economic productivity of our country.” The head of CIBC also said small and medium-sized companies tend to “sell out too soon because we don’t allow people to get scale, because the capital is not there or the resources aren’t there to continue to innovate.” Dodig said Canada has no choice but to “move quickly” and get investors to put capital to work in the “private sector and get going.” He added that Canada needs to “work really hard” to create the conditions necessary to be considered a good place to invest, given that the United States is likely going to get even more attractive. “We have no choice to wring our hands and think about what we should be doing,” he said. “You may actually have to throw a few things at it to make it work, because some of them will work and some of them won’t work, but sitting and thinking about it is the wrong answer.”
Mark Martin represented the very best of stock car racing. He won 40 Cup Series races and acquired millions of fans with his dominant driving style. For as much as he was loved for his stellar performances on the track, he was also loved for being a gentleman on it. One of the competitors who admired him for the same is Kyle Petty. Richard Petty’s son expressed in a 2012 interview that Martin was the cleanest driver that he has raced against. He used an interesting analogy to explain why. “Many years ago, there used to be bears at the fair, and you could go in and wrestle the bear,” he said. “And if you’d just sit there, the bear would just sit there.” “But the harder you wrestled the bear, the harder the bear wrestled you – and that’s the way Mark was. If you raced him clean, he’d race you clean. And if you wanted to race him dirty, Mark could come back, and he could put a bumper to you and give you exactly what you gave him.” None could have put it better than Petty did. Watching Martin’s earlier races makes it obvious that he always wanted to be ethical. He gave faster drivers plenty of room to pass, knowing that there would be chances to get them back fair and square. At the same time, he was never someone to be pushed over. Denny Hamlin’s critical opinion of Mark Martin’s driving style The Next Gen car has introduced a level of parity across the field that makes passing an extremely difficult task. Especially on short tracks. Would Martin’s style of letting competitors simply pass with the hope of getting them back later work in the modern world of NASCAR? Denny Hamlin does not think so. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver came under heavy scrutiny after a race in Pocono last year for racing harshly against Kyle Larson. The driver said, defending himself, that even someone like Martin would have to rethink his driving style with the way the sport is currently, and gave reason for the fandom to think. He said , “ Even Mark Martin would have to adjust his style in this type of car because of the days of the gentleman letting the guys go, and you will just go and get them later. It’s just a different game these days. I wish we could go back to those days, but that is not where we are at. You have to adapt to where you are at. You adapt, or you die.” The strong reasoning in Hamlin’s words cannot be ignored. Maybe Martin wouldn’t have been such a gentleman driver if he had been put in one of the Next Gen cars. But then again, there are plenty of drivers who race clean every week and still manage to win races. Ryan Blaney, for one, is generally considered a class act and he won the championship in 2023.
Hronsky scores 13 as Duquesne defeats Old Dominion 67-54Casey concedes U.S. Senate race in PennsylvaniaElizabeth Olsen Details Financial Problems of Todd Solondz’s Love Child
TFI International Inc. (TFII) to Issue Quarterly Dividend of $0.45 on January 15th
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