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The Clemson Tigers stormed back from a season-opening drubbing at the hands of the Georgia Bulldogs to find their way into the first edition of the 12-team College Football Playoffs.
Any other year, the Tigers would have been on the outside looking in, playing in a bowl game where the only prize would be pride. Instead, the Tigers got a bite at the apple on the back of their Atlantic Coast Conference Championship.
Now, a recent report indicates that the College Football Playoffs format could be changing once again. Brandon Marcello of CBS Sports has reported that the leaders among the group are "nearing a consensus" regarding yet another updated playoff bracket.
What Another CFP Format Change Means for the Clemson Tigers
Both the Southeastern Conference and the Big 10 have supported the change for some time, with the Big 12 and the ACC reportedly joining the fray in recent weeks. The new format would see the first round BYEs done away with, instead going with a straight seeding system.
In 2024, the first year with the 12-team playoff, the top four conference champions received a first-round BYE. The Oregon Ducks, the Georgia Bulldogs, the Boise State Broncos and the Arizona State Sun Devils all watched along with the nation as the remaining teams battled it out to see who would move on and face them.
While the Tigers were a conference champion as well, they were the lowest-ranked conference champion heading into the playoffs. Had straight seeding been a thing last year, there would be no change in Clemson's seeding. Moving forward, however, it would depend on where they stand in the eyes of the CFP committee.
The 12-team format's contract expires at the end of the 2025 campaign, and discussions around expanding once again to either 14 or 16 teams have taken place, including multiple automatic bids for the Power Four conferences. Administrators are hopeful that a format will receive approval by the time CFP officials meet on June 18.
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Texas Longhorns Looking To Lockdown DFW Recruiting Hotbed
Keeping recruits in Texas is a tough job in the day of NIL, but if they all go to high school together, it can be a little easier. For the Texas Longhorns, who have been on record about the challenges they face in keeping in-state recruits in Texas, to have a centralized area to be at in recruiting could be a helpful tool in the upcoming cycles. They have three targets and one committed recruit out of North Crowley High School, who will be priorities for the coaching staff in the 2027 and 2028 cycles. The Longhorns' targets caught up with On3 Sports to discuss their fall schedule and interest in Forty Acres. Stacking Visits The Longhorns have three targets from the school, two from the 2027 cycle: Jerry Outhouse Jr. and Elijajuan Houston, who both play in the secondary. While the third target is part of the 2028 class, he might be the most exciting one of the group: Damarion Mays, a wide receiver who has been flying up the recruiting rankings this offseason. For Outhouse, a top-11 cornerback in the country, the Longhorns will have to compete with the other bluebloods around the country for him, including their rivals just north of the border, Oklahoma. "I’ll be in Austin to visit Texas for sure, catch a game or two. Also plan on visiting Ohio State, Michigan, and Georgia.” Houston, a three-star linebacker, has already built up a relationship with the coaching staff and plans to visit Forty Acres this fall. While the Longhorns are viewed as the front-runners for him, keeping SMU away will be their biggest task. Mays is the trio's most exciting and the furthest away from stepping foot on campus as a member of the 2028 cycle. Viewed as a top-100 player in the class after putting up over 1,600 yards his freshman season in Dallas, he just got an offer from Ohio State, but is still excited to get to Austin. “Right now, there’s so many schools coming at me, but I really like Texas—they stick out to me the most. The connection I have with Coach Chris Jackson is strong." Teammates With A Future Longhorn Steve Sarkisian's staff probably hopes to have one of their 2026 commits, John Turntine, help them out as they begin battling over his teammates. Turntine, the number two offensive tackle in his class, is looking to have a monster season on his quest for back-to-back state championship titles. “I’m just looking forward to the season. I’m solely focused on that. Recruiting is out the way. I know where home is. Texas is where I felt the most wanted, needed. I’ll definitely make it down for some games, but my main focus is my team and the season.” After the Longhorns were spurred by Felix Ojo, the number one offensive tackle in the cycle, from Texas Tech, the coaching staff didn't panic because they believed in what they had from Turntine, believing him to be just as good, if not better. While trying to manage their quest for a national championship this season, fans from the DFW area might see Sarkisian in their backyard, as the DFW area will be a hotspot in recruiting over the next year.
Patrik Laine Hints at Leaving the Montreal Canadiens in Free Agency in Home-Country Interview
Patrik Laine has recently done a major interview in his home country, and in that interview, he hinted at testing the waters in free agency next summer. The NHL career of Patrik Laine has been a very intriguing one to follow, as he has had mixed success in his time with the Winnipeg Jets, Columbus Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens, with the talented forward dealing with struggles on and off the ice in that time. However, things have turned around in recent times after he enjoyed a solid campaign with Montreal last season, and now, in an interview in his home country of Finland, he's opened up on many topics. Laine hints at testing free agency in 2026 While he's been very happy in Montreal, the 27-year old still has a very long future ahead of him in the National Hockey League, and with the former No. 2 overall pick set to be a free agent next summer, he's hinted that he may test the waters after not having the opportunity for quite some time. 'It's a little different from what I'm used to. Before, I've always just gone to whoever owns my rights. Next summer I get to decide for myself. It's a nice and great situation.' In the interview, Laine notes that he's usually just sticking with the team that owns his rights, but he'll now finally hit unrestricted free agency, and with so many teams around the NHL cashed up and looking for great wingers, it may be his time to cash in and get paid on a long-term deal. After 20 goals in 52 games a year ago, Laine flashed the talent that once made him the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, and if he can stay healthy next season and post 30 or more, he'll be one of the top names available. If that does happen though, the team at the top of the list offering him a big deal will be the Canadiens, so don't be shocked if he remains, but for right now, he's looking to get himself into a position to cash in next off-season.
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TSN Analyst Shoots Down Bold Canadiens-Ducks Trade Idea
Speculation swirled this week about a possible blockbuster trade between the Montreal Canadiens and Anaheim Ducks, but TSN/Forbes legal analyst Eric Macramalla was quick to pour cold water on the idea. The proposed deal centered around swapping top prospects: Montreal defenseman David Reinbacher and Anaheim forward Mason McTavish. On the surface, the trade has appeal. Reinbacher, a right-shot blueliner with legitimate top-pairing potential, would give the Ducks the kind of defensive cornerstone they’ve been searching for. Meanwhile, McTavish could provide the Canadiens with a much-needed second-line center behind Nick Suzuki, filling a hole that’s lingered for several seasons. But as Macramalla pointed out, the trade simply doesn’t add up for Montreal. Moving Reinbacher would leave the Canadiens dangerously thin on the right side of their defense, an area that already lacks long-term depth. While McTavish would be a strong addition, sacrificing a potential top-pairing defenseman is a price too steep for GM Kent Hughes to consider at this stage of the rebuild. Ultimately, while the concept may generate fan debate, Macramalla stressed that the Canadiens aren’t in a position to weaken their blue line just to address their center depth. For now, the deal “won’t work.” Fan Feedback: A Split Reaction Canadiens fans were quick to weigh in on the trade chatter, with opinions ranging from firm rejection to cautious interest. Some backed Macramalla’s stance, with one fan suggesting Montreal could use “other assets the Ducks would like” and another noting the Habs’ young defense core “will be a strength of the team for the next decade.” The Curfew Boys Podcast called it “1 step forward, 2 steps back.” Others saw more merit. One account argued he’d, “Do it one for one,” calling McTavish “more established at this point.” Another echoed that sentiment: “McT is a proven player, make the trade!!” Skeptics highlighted Reinbacher’s lack of NHL experience, and others questioned his durability. Meanwhile, Gord of Thunder took a playful shot at the concept, invoking The Princess Bride: “You never trade a defenseman with top pairing ability for a second line player — it’s inconceivable.” Even creative alternatives emerged, with one fan proposing a three-way deal involving Calgary. The verdict? While many fans respect McTavish’s value, most agree that giving up Reinbacher would leave the Canadiens with a hole too big to fill.
Indiana Fever Star Had Words After Sophie Cunningham's Injury on Sunday
The Indiana Fever beat the Connecticut Sun 99-93 in overtime on Sunday, but Indiana guard Sophie Cunningham left the game with a right knee injury and did not return. Already playing without point guards Caitlin Clark, Aari McDonald and Sydney Colson, the blow to Cunningham continued a brutal trend of injuries in the Indiana backcourt during the 2025 WNBA season. All-Star guard Kelsey Mitchell took over for the Fever, tying her career high with 38 points — including 34 after halftime and 10 in overtime. Mitchell's heroics helped erase a 21-point deficit, the largest comeback win in franchise history. After the game, Mitchell opened up about the feeling of seeing Cunningham go down. She said it was like "deja vu," but it also served as motivation for the Fever star. Indiana Fever Playing for Each Other Amid Injuries "Seeing Soph go down, it fuels you if you care about your team and you care about the people in your locker room," Mitchell said. "I can’t even explain it to y’all," added the eighth-year WNBA veteran, full of emotion. "You just really got to care about the people that you play with. It just fuels who we are as people, and y’all get to see it as a team for us.” Cunningham is averaging 8.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 made three-pointers per game this season. Her attitude aligns with Mitchell's words, too. Cunningham has been open about the responsibility she felt to stand up for Clark when the Fever and Sun met earlier in the season. Head coach Stephanie White also spoke about the team's resiliency after losing another player to injury. "They got something inside of them that you just can't teach," White said. "They bring it out of each other. It allows us to go through these incredibly tough times we're going through." Sophie Cunningham Injury Update White was not able to provide an update on Cunningham's status in the aftermath of the emotional overtime win on Sunday. She is expected to have an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of the injury, which occurred when Connecticut guard Bria Hartley fell and made contact with her standing right leg.
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