Recent meetings among CFP stakeholders have ended without a decision to expand the playoff beyond 12 teams.
A 12-team field is seen as a good balance, making the regular season more exciting without being too large.

Twelve is the number. It’s like the number 10, except better.

Twelve days of Christmas. Twelve months in a year, 12 inches in a foot, 12 hours on a clock. Eggs by the dozen.

A package of 12 chilled cans, each filled with 12 ounces of goodness.

Now, let’s hear it for 12 teams in the College Football Playoff.

We’ve heard the potential playoff expansion formats that range from the rational to the ridiculous. Fourteen teams? Sixteen? Thirty-two? Play-in games? Rig the format to Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti’s liking?

Forget that. Twelve is the number.

The longer these playoff negotiations go, the more likely that 12 stays the number.

Another meeting of CFP stakeholders came and went this week in Illinois with no resolution behind playoff expansion. Every meeting of conference commissioners that doesn’t conclude with an agreement for playoff expansion takes us a step closer to the 12-team playoff staying in place for at least the 2026 season.

‘My sense is the room’s comfortable with (staying at 12), if that’s where we go,’ CFP executive director Rich Clark told reporters after the latest meeting ended with no decision.

The deadline to alter the playoff’s size or structure for next season remains Dec. 1.

I wouldn’t mind if, come Dec. 2, there’s still no decision to expand the playoff. Because the longer this goes, the more I think 12 is the number — a number worth keeping in place for at least the 2026 season. And maybe beyond that.

Let’s get a peek at how the playoff operates this year, now that first-round byes are not exclusive to conference champions and instead will be awarded off straight seeding.

I’m loving the shape of college football’s regular season with a 12-team playoff as the backdrop. The field is big enough that everyone from Georgia Tech to UNLV to Memphis to Missouri can hunt for a playoff bid. But it’s not so big that an 8-4 Big Ten team could slither into the field — which is exactly what could happen if Petitti got his wish for an expanded playoff with play-in games.

The regular season didn’t lose significance. To the contrary, it became more exciting. A 12-team playoff strikes the perfect balance of bringing dozens of teams into playoff contention, while ensuring that Saturday to Saturday results remain consequential.

A team isn’t eliminated by a single loss, or even two, but the losses inflict damage. Think Alabama feels great about its playoff quest after a Week 1 beatdown at Florida State?

A 12-team playoff isn’t elitist, but it remains fairly exclusive. It’s tidy enough to fit into four rounds.

In the offseason, the Big 12 and ACC put their limited weight behind a 16-team playoff format that would add four additional at-large bids. That plan attracted some attention from the SEC. The Big Ten resisted, favoring instead its own proposal that featured a stacked deck of automatic bids.

I didn’t mind the Big 12/ACC idea for a 5+11 playoff, with four extra spots for at-large teams. But as another thrilling season unfolds, bound for a 12-team crescendo, I’m becoming less enamored with 16.

Give me a playoff big enough that Vanderbilt harbors hope of qualifying on the heels of a dream season, but restricted enough that Clemson’s chances are appropriately underwater after three losses through four games.

That’s this format. What say we keep it? Open the fridge, crack a can, and let’s toast a 12-ounce gulp to this delicious 12-team format.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

The lawsuit alleges the NCAA violated Title IX by allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports.
Claims against the University System of Georgia and Georgia Tech were dismissed by the judge.
The NCAA has until early 2026 to conduct discovery on whether it is a federal funding recipient.

A lawsuit brought by former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines and nearly two dozen other athletes against the NCAA was largely dismissed on Thursday, however, a judge ruled the Title IX claims against the NCAA can proceed to the next stage, which is likely to be discovery.

The original class-action lawsuit was filed in March 2024, with Gaines and others alleging the NCAA and Georgia Tech knowingly violated Title IX, a five-decade-old federal mandate that guarantees equal opportunity for men and women in college athletics, thereby challenging the eligibility of transgender athletes to participate in competition.

The University System of Georgia and the Georgia Tech Athletic Association were the other original defendants in the case and were granted their motion to dismiss.

Georgia Tech was the host institution of the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships, in which Penn swimmer Lia Thomas, a transgender athlete, won the 500-yard freestyle title and tied for fifth in the 200-yard freestyle, with Gaines in the event.

U.S. District Judge Tiffany R. Johnson said in her ruling, obtained by USA TODAY Sports, that the issue of the lawsuit’s issues with Georgia and Georgia Tech was a moot point.

Johnson cited NCAA v. Tarkanian (1988) in dismissing the constitutional claims against the NCAA, stating the NCAA is a nonprofit organization and most public universities are under state control.

“Much like UNLV’s decision to follow the NCAA’s rules did not transform the NCAA’s rulemaking into state action,” Johnson wrote in her ruling, “all of the schools that participated in the 2022 Championships did not transform the NCAA policy on transgender athletes into state action.” She added the “Plaintiffs’ argument that the NCAA is a stand in for, effectively, every state in the country is illogical when the Supreme Court has already determined its involvement with one state was too attenuated to constitute state action.” 

In January 2025, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order No. 14168 titled ‘Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,’ and the next month, the NCAA put forth a new policy banning athletes who were born male from competing on women’s teams.

The case now proceeds to the defendant’s repeated claims that the NCAA is liable for violating Title IX, which may include discovery documents such as emails and other relevant correspondence.

‘College sports remain the premier stage for women’s sports in America, and the Association and its members will continue to promote Title IX, make unprecedented investments in women’s sports, and ensure fair competition in NCAA championships. The NCAA’s transgender participation policy aligns with the Trump administration’s order,’ the NCAA said in a statement.

The NCAA has until Oct. 9 to file its answer in the case, and has 90 days, ‘through and including January 7, 2026, to conduct limited discovery on the sole issue of whether the NCAA is a federal funding recipient through its partnership with the Department of Defense.’

The Florida Panthers’ defense of their back-to-back Stanley Cup championships is facing a serious challenge even before the season opens Oct. 7.

Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov is having surgery on his right knee, coach Paul Maurice told reporters Friday. Barkov was injured during Thursday’s practice and needed assistance standing up and getting off the ice.

Maurice said he hoped to have a timeline later in the day.

Barkov has won the Selke Trophy three times as the NHL’s top defensive forward, including the last two seasons.

Friday’s news means the Panthers will be without three forwards who helped them win the Stanley Cup last season.

Forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Tomas Nosek are out after offseason surgery, with Tkachuk expected back ‘December-ish’ and Nosek expected to miss months.

Aleksander Barkov stats

Barkov centers the Panthers’ top line and has been captain since the 2018-19 season.

He ranked second on the Panthers in the 2024-25 regular season with 71 points, despite missing 15 games. He had another 22 points in 23 games in the playoffs to help the Panthers win a second consecutive title.

Tkachuk had 23 points in the playoffs after returning from a 4 Nations Face-Off injury. Nosek played a key role in helping the Panthers overcome a 2-0 series deficit against the Toronto Maple Leafs when Maurice changed up his fourth line.

President Donald Trump suggested he could move World Cup matches away from host cities he deems unsafe, while speaking from the oval office on Thursday, Sept. 25.  

Trump was asked by a reporter about the potential for moving World Cup games from Seattle and San Francisco – two of the 11 host cities in the United States.  

“Well, that’s an interesting question … but we’re going to make sure they’re safe,” Trump said – adding Seattle and San Francisco are “run by radical left lunatics who don’t know what they’re doing.” 

World Cup venues were announced in February with Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Miami, New York/New Jersey and Philadelphia also slated to host matches next summer.  

It’s unclear how feasible it would be for Trump or FIFA to relocate a host city just months prior to the tournament co-hosted by Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.  

However, Trump did mention Memphis and Chicago as possible options.  

“As you probably know, we’re going into Memphis and we’re going into some other cities. Very soon we’re going into Chicago. It will be safe for the World Cup.” 

Seattle’s Lumen Field – considered one of the best soccer venues in the country – will host at least one match featuring the U.S. men’s national team on June 19 and six matches in total.  

Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., roughly 40 miles from San Francisco, will also host six matches.   

‘If I think it’s not safe, we’re going to move it out of that city. So, if any city we think is going to be even a little bit dangerous for the World Cup, or for the (2028) Olympics … but for the World Cup in particular, because they’re playing in so many cities, we won’t allow it.  

“We’ll move it around a little bit. But I hope that’s not going to happen.” 

The Dec. 5 World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.  will set the schedule for all 48 clubs participating in the tournament.

Only the three host nations know where their matches will be played before the draw: The USMNT will also play twice in Los Angeles on June 12 and June 25.  

Mexico will open the tournament in Mexico City on June 11, play in Guadalajara on June 18, and return to Mexico City on June 24.  

Canada plays group stage matches in Toronto on June 12, and in Vancouver on June 18 and June 24.  

The 2028 Olympics will be hosted in Los Angeles. 

No. 2 Penn State’s upcoming game against No. 5 Oregon is a critical test of their national championship potential.
The Nittany Lions’ non-conference schedule against weaker opponents has provided little insight into their ability to compete with top-tier teams.
Coach James Franklin and quarterback Drew Allar are under significant pressure to perform well in this high-stakes matchup.

This is the moment for James Franklin and No. 2 Penn State.

No. 1 Ohio State looms in early November. Should the current US LBM Coaches Poll hold, the Nittany Lions’ trip to Columbus would be the Big Ten’s first No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup since Ohio State and Michigan faced off in 2006. No. 12 Indiana comes to Beaver Stadium a week later.

Those games will decide the Big Ten standings and which teams meet for the conference championship. But no game on Penn State’s schedule will influence the regular season more than Saturday’s home game against No. 5 Oregon, a high-profile and high-stakes matchup that will help answer one of the biggest questions of this season:

Are the Nittany Lions really built to capture the program’s first national championship in almost 40 years?

Did Penn State schedule prepare it for Oregon?

Don’t look to non-conference play for any answers on the Nittany Lions. Games against Nevada, Florida International and Villanova were one-sided blowouts, as expected, giving little insight into how Penn State will perform against one of the best teams in the Bowl Subdivision.

The Nittany Lions are the only team in this week’s Coaches Poll to have not played at least one Power Four opponent and one of two without a Power Four win, joining No. 7 Texas.

Despite the overmatched competition, the Nittany Lions’ offense heads into Saturday ranked just 41st nationally in yards per play and 46th in yards per game. While the offense has seemingly been purposefully vanilla and has rarely played starters in the fourth quarter, the relative lack of production stands in contrast to last year’s explosive performance in non-conference play.

“I don’t know if saving is the idea, but you’ve done some offseason studies where there are certain things that you worked on during training camp that you’re planning on using against certain opponents,” Franklin said.

“And there’s some things, could you have used them early in the season but you didn’t feel like you needed to? Yeah, I think that’s always the case. But it’s not like offensive coordinators, defense coordinators, head coaches, you’re going into a game saying we’re going to be conservative in this game. Or vanilla.”

The performance in the first three games is in stark contrast to last season’s opening schedule. In 2024, the Nittany Lions averaged 8.1 yards per play in games against West Virginia, Bowling Green and Kent State. Quarterback Drew Allar had 11 touchdowns and averaged 12.3 yards per attempt, compared to five scores and 7.4 yards per pass through the first three games of this season. Another warning sign has come on third down: PSU’s conversion rate of just 38.9% ranks 77th in the FBS.

“I think it’s always an ongoing process throughout the year no matter what,” Allar said. “I don’t think you ever find yourself in the spot you want to be, really throughout the whole year. We’re always going to be a constantly evolving offense.”

Experience, a deep cast of skill talent, a dramatically improved offensive front and the framework for another top-ranked defense have framed the Nittany Lions as one of the elite teams in the Power Four. But the Ducks will put this theory to the test.

Oregon continues to dominate in regular season

This easy stretch to open September ends against an opponent that has yet to lose a regular-season Big Ten game since joining the conference last year.

Oregon entered the debut 12-team College Football Playoff as the only unbeaten team in the FBS before losing in its Rose Bowl quarterfinal to eventual national champion Ohio State. The Ducks closed out the regular season by beating Penn State 45-37 for the Big Ten championship.

Oregon has already played a pair of Power Four teams in Oklahoma State and Northwestern along with a rivalry win against Oregon State. The Ducks have an average margin of victory of 41.5 points per game.

Nearly every metric puts Oregon at or near the top of the FBS. The Ducks are one of two teams in the top eight nationally in scoring offense and defense, along with Indiana. They’ve given up just one sack and committed only 14 penalties, including a penalty-free game against the Wildcats. Defensively, Oregon has given up just four touchdowns and is one of four teams to not allow a touchdown through the air.

“Going against a team like this is going to be fun for sure,” wide receiver Penn State Kyron Hudson said.

This makes Oregon the ultimate test of the Nittany Lions’ fitness as a title contender. This is an opponent with no obvious weaknesses, one that has already proven itself to be the best team in college football – after all, the Ducks spent weeks of last season as the unquestioned No. 1.

“Tremendous challenge. Tremendous opportunity,” said Franklin. “You know, obviously we need this place rocking. Need to have a distinct home-field advantage. We always do, but I’m expecting this to be an environment like no one has ever seen.”

James Franklin, Drew Allar under pressure

No two individuals carry as much weight and pressure into Saturday as Allar and Franklin.

The senior quarterback went into the offseason shouldering the blame for the Nittany Lions’ 27-24 loss to Notre Dame in the national semifinals. With the game tied and under a minute to play, Allar made a misguided attempt over the middle of the field that was intercepted by the Fighting Irish, setting up the go-ahead field goal with seven seconds to play.

Now in his third year as the starter and already established as one of the top passers in program history, Allar’s performance in non-conference play suggests some carryover from that disappointing finish.

But beating Oregon and outplaying sophomore counterpart Dante Moore would erase any lingering fallout from his late interception against the Irish and reestablish Allar as one of the top quarterbacks in the FBS.

A win would also rewrite the narrative around the Nittany Lions’ failures against top-ranked competition. All three of last year’s losses – Ohio State, Oregon, Notre Dame – came against top-five competition.

“I just think we’re in a much different place in terms of the confidence and the execution that it takes to play in these type of games,” Franklin said. 

But losses against top competition have come to define his tenure. While the Nittany Lions have won 71.2% of their games since Franklin was hired in 2014, Franklin is just 1-13 in matchups against opponents in the top five of the Associated Press poll, with the one win coming against Ohio State in 2016.

Losing to Oregon would stoke additional skepticism over Franklin’s ability to lead Penn State over the hurdle separating the very good teams in the Power Four from the very best. In a more concrete sense, a loss would require the Nittany Lions to split those November games against the Buckeyes and Hoosiers and win out otherwise to guarantee an at-large playoff berth.

But the impact of a win on Saturday can’t be overstated. Franklin would get the result his program has craved for nearly a decade. The Nittany Lions would have a case for replacing Ohio State atop the US LBM Coaches Poll; beating Oregon would be more impressive than the Buckeyes’ win against No. 7 Texas in the season opener.

And a win would answer the question: Penn State is ready to beat the best of the best and is built to bring home a national championship.

“I think all these types of games come down to four to six plays on offense, four to six plays on defense,” said Franklin. “I expect this to be a four-quarter battle that’s going to come down to the end of the game. And I like how we’re preparing to handle the moment.”

Six NFL teams remain undefeated heading into Week 4 of the regular season.
The Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers will play in the NFL’s first-ever regular-season game in Dublin, Ireland.
The undefeated Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are set to face off in Tampa Bay.

The Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the six remaining undefeated teams entering Week 4.

Philadelphia travels to Tampa Bay in a battle of undefeated clubs while the Colts put their 3-0 record on the line versus the Rams. How many teams will remain undefeated after Week 4?

This week also features the NFL’s first regular season game in Dublin, Ireland. Plus, Green Bay Packers star Micah Parsons makes his much-anticipated return to Dallas.

USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon examines five things to watch in Week 4.  

First game in Dublin

The Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers will square off in the NFL’s first-ever regular-season game in Dublin, Ireland.

Late Steelers owner Dan Rooney was an ambassador to the nation.

“This game means a lot to all of us, to the league (and) to the Rooney family,” Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers said. “It’s great for the game. To grow the game in so many countries. Being part of the first game in Ireland is pretty cool. I have Irish heritage, so I’m very excited to get out there.”

Minnesota and Pittsburgh are both coming off Week 3 victories. In Week 3, Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers produced two forced fumbles, an 87-yard interception return for a touchdown, and a 66-yard fumble return for a touchdown. Rodgers is the first player in NFL history with an interception return touchdown of 85-plus yards and a fumble return touchdown of 65-plus yards in the same game. The Vikings CB rightfully won NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance.

The Steelers’ Rodgers will try to prevent the Rodgers on the other side from another historic outing.  

Sunday’s tilt will be part of a European tour for the Vikings. Minnesota is set to become the first NFL team to play multiple international games in different cities in the same season as they travel to London to play the Cleveland Browns in Week 5.

Battle of undefeated teams in Tampa Bay              

The Eagles or Bucs will have a blemish on their record after this game, barring a tie.

Tampa Bay’s won two straight games versus Philadelphia, including one playoff contest.

Every Bucs game thus far this season has come down to the wire. The Bucs are the first team in the Super Bowl era to record a game-winning score in the final minute of the fourth quarter in each of its first three games of a season, per NFL Research.

Interesting enough, the past two Eagles and Bucs games have been decided by over two scores.

“He’s got a lot of tools and a lot of things in his system in what he does. It’s very challenging,” Eagles QB Jalen Hurts said of Todd Bowles and the Bucs. “That’s what makes them such a great team and great defense. Knowing all those things he has available, you just really want to trust the rules and trust the preparation of everything that you have. This is a really good team, a really good defense (and) well coached. It’s always a competitive environment going down there.”

The Eagles have won nine straight games since Week 17 of last season.

Undefeated Colts face biggest test yet

The Rams return home after they had two field goals blocked during a tough loss to the Eagles last week.

Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua leads the NFL in catches (29) and receiving yards (333) entering Week 4. Nacua hasn’t found the end zone yet, but new Rams wideout Davante Adams has already reached paydirt twice.

The Rams are the toughest test yet for the surprisingly undefeated Colts.

There’s been a lot of talk about how Colts quarterback Daniel Jones is resurrecting his career, but running back Jonathan Taylor’s been Indy’s best offensive player. Taylor tops the NFL with 338 rushing yards and 431 scrimmage yards entering Week 4.

The Colts have a chance to be 4-0 for the first time since 2009. If they beat the Rams in LA, they’ll also put the NFL on notice.

“I think when you watch that team, there’s a lot of belief in themselves and in each other. They enjoy it and that’s all that matters,” Rams coach Sean McVay said of the Colts. “You hit your stride at the right time and you continuously improve and you have the right guys at the key spots, you capitalize on some of that momentum where it can really compound for you, it can be a really powerful thing. That’s why you look at the tape. The tape tells you the story. You know how good of coaches that they have and how good some of the personnel is.”

Ravens, Chiefs both look to get back on track

Few predicted these two AFC powers would meet in Week 4 with identical 1-2 records. The Ravens are Chiefs both aim to get back on track in this heavyweight tilt.

This game will mark the seventh time in the past eight seasons, including the playoffs, that Baltimore and Kansas City have faced off.

Which NFL teams need to worry? Chiefs, Cowboys lead panic meter readings

Ravens two-time MVP Lamar Jackson is 1-5 against the Chiefs in his career, including the playoffs. Jackson currently leads the NFL in touchdown passes (9) and passer rating (141.8). He’s going to need another MVP-level performance to beat Patrick Mahomes and company in Kansas City.

“It’s in the past,” Jackson said this week of the previous losses against Kansas City. “You can’t bring what happened back whenever when to this year. We just got to lock in on what’s ahead right now. Just getting better in practice, watch film on those guys, watch ourselves, self-scout ourselves and just get after it come Sunday.”

The loser of this game will have the difficult task of digging out of a 1-3 hole.

Micah Parsons returns to Dallas  

This game was circled on the calendar as soon as Parsons was traded to Green Bay.

You can bet Parsons wants to make Jerry Jones regret trading him after he starred in Dallas for four seasons. The Packers edge rusher downplayed his return to Dallas, but said it’s going to be “painful” when he gets a chance to sack his former teammate Dak Prescott.

Micah Parsons says Dallas Cowboys contest just another game. No one believes that

‘It’s going to be painful,’ Parsons said in a Tuesday interview with the Associated Press. ‘That’s my guy. He was always like a good mentor for me. But you know how it is. He always told me if I ever faced him that it’ll be a great matchup, so I’m excited to see what Sunday brings itself.’

How many sacks, if any, will Parsons tally against Dallas? Parsons has 1.5 sacks and 15 pressures coming into Sunday.

The Packers enter Week 4 with the NFL’s third ranked defense and they are first in points allowed.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.