I initially thought Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne’s idea for how to tweak the College Football Playoff selection process must be self-serving. After all, most playoff ideas that originate from a university or conference administrator are rooted in self-interest.

But, the more I considered Byrne’s idea to more greatly reward non-conference strength of schedule during the at-large selection process, the more I liked it.

My lasting thought: Byrne suggested a worthwhile idea for how to improve the college football season.

This came after I asked Byrne, one of the nation’s most prominent athletic directors, last spring how he’d address the playoff. He shared a few thoughts, but he emphasized he felt most passionately about the selection process needing to place additional merit on non-conference strength of schedule.

“I am 100% convinced that (would be) good for the game and everybody around it,” Byrne told me.

He’s right. Weighting non-conference strength of schedule would encourage Power Four teams to schedule more games fans want to see and media partners want to televise. That’s good for the game.

The playoff is not broken. Neither is the selection process, subjective and controversial though it is. But, playoff ideas that would boost the season interest me. This idea would do that, by incentivizing schools to schedule better non-conference games.

I’d add an addendum to Byrne’s suggestion. Don’t just value non-conference schedule strength. Value teams that win key interleague games.

The March Madness selection process has figured this out better than college football. Consider last basketball season, when the SEC dominated non-conference play, including a 14-2 record in the ACC-SEC challenge. The SEC’s NET ranking topped all conferences, and it appropriately qualified 14 of its 16 teams for the tournament. Throughout the postseason, the SEC lived up to the reputation it built during the season.

Byrne, who serves on the NCAA men’s tournament selection committee, says he pays particular attention to non-conference metrics as he partakes in the selection process.

“One of the first things I look at is non-conference strength of schedule in men’s basketball,” Byrne said, “because I think that’s good for men’s basketball to have it not be just a January to March sport.”

Again, he’s right. Likewise, wouldn’t it be better if college football’s September docket featured more non-conference blockbusters like Texas-Ohio State or LSU-Clemson, while reducing the number of games like Houston Christian-Nebraska and Austin Peay-Georgia?

The abundance of lopsided, lackluster non-conference games creates a drag on the regular season. Too many coaches and their bosses gravitate toward the path of least resistance, after seeing that strategy rewarded.

The past two national champions, Ohio State and Michigan, finished on top after neither played a Power Four non-conference opponent. Penn State crafted a similar road map for this year. The Nittany Lions will begin the season by chowing down on Nevada, Florida International and Villanova.

Indiana wriggled into the playoff last season after rolling through a non-conference feast of Florida International, Western Illinois and Charlotte. The Hoosiers recently doubled down on this strategy, adjusting their future non-conference schedules to make them as easy as possible.

Washington coach Jedd Fisch called Indiana’s strategy of playing three non-conference nobodies “dead-on right.”

It’s doggone pathetic, too, and it doesn’t stop with Indiana.

Big Ten, SEC teams among those seeking out cupcakes

Big Ten teams will play four times as many MAC foes as they will SEC opponents. SEC teams will square off against the Ohio Valley as often as they’ll face the Big 12.

Six Big Ten teams won’t play a single non-conference game against either a Power Four opponent or Notre Dame.

Teams might lose their appetite for cupcakes if the playoff committee more heavily weighted non-conference metrics. And, if teams stiffened their non-league schedules, that would assist the committee’s task of evaluating at-large playoff contenders.

How might this idea affect playoff selection?

If non-conference metrics had been more heavily weighted last season, that might have exposed Indiana, one of the last at-large teams admitted into the field. The Hoosiers didn’t bother to play a Power Four non-conference opponent.

The committee admitted Indiana thanks to its 11-1 record and its avoidance of a bad loss.

If non-conference results had been more greatly valued, a 10-2 BYU team that beat SMU, a playoff qualifier, might have appealed more to the committee.

Two-loss Miami, which beat Florida at The Swamp, also would have merited a stronger look. Three-loss South Carolina could have gained more of a boost from winning at Clemson, the ACC’s champion.

Now, let’s revisit my original thought: Would adding weight to non-conference schedule strength be self-serving for Alabama? Perhaps.

Starting this year, through 2034, Alabama has two games scheduled per season against either Power Four non-conference opponents or Notre Dame. Adding playoff selection value specific to non-conference metrics might therefore accelerate Alabama in bubble situations.

But, shouldn’t we want teams to follow Alabama’s lead of seeking out challenging non-conference opponents, rather than ducking Power Four opponents in favor of Austin Peay?

To Byrne, the answer seems obvious.

“Good non-conference games are really good for college football,” Byrne said.

Rewarding teams that play good non-conference games would help ensure those games remain part of college football’s future.

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

Is Philip Rivers a Hall of Famer?

As the former Los Angeles Chargers quarterback’s old teammate Antonio Gates is inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend, Rivers’ Canton candidacy will undoubtedly be a part of the conversation.

The eight-time Pro Bowler already became a recent topic of conversation early last week after Rivers signed a one-day contract with the Chargers to officially announce his retirement.

Rivers played 17 years in the NFL, 16 of which were with the Chargers, and accumulated a 134-106 record in his 240 consecutive starts. While he doesn’t have the rings that fellow 2004 draftees Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning have, Rivers’ consistently high level of play led to some impressive numbers in the regular season.

USA TODAY Sports examined Rivers’ career numbers and evaluated his shot at an induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Philip Rivers career stats

Over his 17-year career, Rivers started 240 consecutive regular-season games – 16 per year from when he took over as the Chargers’ start in 2006 to 2020, when he played his last season with the Indianapolis Colts.

Here’s how Rivers’ career played out by the numbers:

Games: 244 (240 starts)
Record: 134-106 (.558 win percentage)
Completion rate: 5,277-of-8,134 (64.9%)
Passing yards: 63,440
Touchdowns: 421
Interceptions: 209
Passer rating: 95.2

Rivers finished his career with many accolades as well: eight Pro Bowl nods, a Comeback Player of the Year award in 2013 and several years with down-ballot MVP and Offensive Player of the Year votes.

Philip Rivers Hall of Fame chances

Rivers was one of the league’s most productive passers in history. At his peak, he had MVP potential, but his contemporaries – Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees and others – tended to overshadow him.

The 17-year NFL veteran finished his career ranked fifth in career passing yards behind two Hall of Famers – Manning and Brett Favre – and two surefire future inductees – Brady and Brees. Roethlisberger passed Rivers in his one extra season of playing, and Aaron Rodgers will likely pass him this year with 500 more passing yards.

Roethlisberger and Rodgers are two other likely Hall of Fame quarterbacks.

A big part of Rivers’ productivity was his ability to stay healthy – another factor in his Hall of Fame case. After spending the first two years of his career on the San Diego bench behind Brees, Rivers took over as the starter in 2006 and never missed another start. By the time he ended his career in 2020, he had made 240 regular-season starts in a row.

Pro Football Reference has a ‘Pro Football QB Hall of Fame Monitor,’ which estimates ‘a player’s chances of making the Pro Football Hall of Fame using AV (Approximate Value), Pro Bowls, All-Pros, championships, and various stat milestones.’ The estimation is graded on a scale, with a mark of 100 being the ‘average Hall of Fame quarterback.’

Rivers grades out at a 98.06, which is below the average mark but notably above Hall of Famers like Terry Bradshaw (95.69), Kurt Warner (88.78) and Warren Moon (71.30).

Offshore betting sites, which are unregulated and illegal in some states, have also released odds for Rivers to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer at 25/1. So while his chances of making it in immediately don’t appear high, an eventual vote into Hall of Fame is rather likely.

That’s why a group of players turned to an Olympic gold medalist for help.

Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey posted a video to Instagram featuring offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley, safety Kyle Hamilton, tight end Charlie Kolar and himself asking Baltimore-born Olympian Michael Phelps for swim lessons.

‘Hey Mr. Phelps, we have a problem,’ Stanley begins.

‘Did you know that one in three Ravens cannot swim?’ Hamilton says.

‘We have a solution for you, sir,’ Kolar continues.

‘Come to Ravens training camp in this beautiful aquatic center and teach us how to swim,’ Humphrey concludes.

‘We got a problem that only @m_phelps00 can fix! From the #RavensAquaticsTeam,’ Humphrey wrote in the caption.

Within hours of Humphrey uploading the video, Phelps shot back a response in the comments section.

‘I got yall!!! Let’s do it!!’ wrote the 23-time Olympic gold medalist.

Phelps was born in Baltimore and is an avid Ravens fan. Hall of Famer and former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis is one of Phelps’ close friends and mentors.

It’s no surprise Phelps was quick to take up the Ravens’ offer to help teach some of the players how to swim.

If it’s true that you can’t predict baseball, there’s probably a greater maxim contained within that: You can’t predict what course the San Diego Padres will take at the trade deadline.

The Padres provided a bolt from the blue of what was a largely rote trade deadline by acquiring dominant closer Mason Miller and back-end starter J.P. Sears from the Athletics, with a four-player package headed by elite prospect Leo De Vries off to Sacramento.

The deal can’t be fully assessed until the clock strikes 6 ET on July 31, since the Padres positioned themselves to both buy and sell – perhaps trading incumbent closer Robert Suarez – at a deadline in which they hold the No. 3 NL wild card spot but are also just three games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the West.

Still, we’ll attempt to assess this trade in a vacuum, even if the following grades are just a little bit incomplete:

Mason Miller trade grades

Padres grade: B

It’s quite a coup getting both the game’s most dominant closer and a guy with four years of club control remaining after this season. Miller, 26, is generally untouchable in the ninth inning and in two seasons as A’s closer has nailed down 48 of 54 save opportunities, an 89% conversion rate on par with Hall of Famers Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera. 

Miller has struck out 40% of batters in that span, and opposing batters are hitting .161 against him. That’s merely lifting the lid on his overall dominance.

In Sears, the Padres get a former Yankees prospect who’s had to pitch toward the front of the A’s rotation even as his stuff indicates he should be further down the pecking order. The expectations and the pitching conditions will be friendlier in San Diego, though the lefty with the 4.95 ERA this year (4.48 career) might see those expectations rise if the Padres turn and deal erstwhile ace Dylan Cease.

The cost? It’s huge. De Vries is the most significant international signing the Padres have had this decade, no small honor, and he’s consistently been challenged – and succeeded – at levels where the average player is four to five years older than him. Put simply: Not many 17-year-olds flash power and speed in stateside A ball and go on to the Arizona Fall League, as De Vries did in 2024.

While Miller’s controllable years mean the Padres can flip him in future seasons for either immediate help or to galvanize their system, it still stings to trade a potential (likely?) franchise player for a reliever.

Athletics grade: A

The deal begs one dark question: Will any of their young stars make it to Las Vegas, should they ever complete their ballpark there?

It’s yet another step back at the big league level for the A’s in a five-year cycle of utter desiccation that hastened their move from Oakland. And it’s perhaps not a coincidence that Miller was dealt months before he entered the first of four years of salary arbitration.

But man, what a return. Given De Vries’ speed on the uptake wherever the Padres put him – he’s got eight homers, eight steals and a .357 OBP at high A Fort Wayne this year – he has a shot to debut in the big leagues while still a teenager.

And since it’s the A’s, he also has a shot to reach Sacramento/Las Vegas/Winnemucca by the time star rookies Jacob Wilson and Nick Kurtz haven’t gotten too expensive for owner John Fisher’s taste.

As a cherry on top, the A’s received right-handed pitchers Braden Nett, Eduarniel Nuñez and Henry Báez, ranked seventh, 14th and 16th by Baseball America in the Padres’ system. Nuñez, 26, has already made his major league debut, making four relief appearances for San Diego, while Nett (23, 3.39 ERA in 17 starts) and Báez (22, 1.96 ERA in 20 starts) are with Class AA San Antonio. 

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We’ve now reached peak stupidity, which in this day and age, is a true rarity.

Let’s connect the dots of the nonsensical Arch madness that has officially taken over this college football offseason.

Texas quarterback Arch Manning plays well enough in his first season as starter to become the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. 

Arch is the nephew of NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, who is close friends with Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam.  

The Browns have two picks in the first round of the draft, and will trade up (if needed) to select Arch Manning, who has all of 95 career pass attempts.

After all that, more dumb enters the speculation: Nick Saban will ignore the love of his life, he beloved bride Ms. Terry, and come out of retirement to coach the Browns and Arch.

Now, the kicker: Haslam didn’t exactly throw water on the inane thought process, telling media during Browns training camp, “I think if you know the Manning family, I would bet that – and I don’t know Arch at all – I would bet he stays in college two years.”

Meanwhile, the unwitting central figure of this bowl of crazy was sitting on the dais earlier this month at SEC Media Days, clearly overwhelmed by an offseason of ridiculous Heisman Trophy hype.

“I didn’t ask for any of this,” Manning said, while media crammed eight rows deep around him.

I don’t want to be the guy to say this, but someone must. All of these dorks pushing Manning narratives will be the same people burying him if he throws a couple of picks in a season-opening loss at Ohio State.

This is the lunacy Manning tried to avoid when he left high school as the No.1 overall recruit, a quarterback who just happened to have the football royalty DNA of a grandfather (Archie Manning) and two uncles (Peyton and Eli Manning). 

He didn’t want to play at Georgia or Alabama because he didn’t want to be big fish, little pond. He wanted to blend. 

So he chose Texas and its massive urban campus because it gave him the best opportunity to have a typical college life, to fit in and not stick out. He didn’t start for two seasons, played well as a backup starter in a couple of meaningless games, and the next thing you know, the sharps in Vegas make him the favorite to win the 2025 Heisman.

Not long after that, he’s catching not so subtle strays from Steve Spurrier, who knows a thing or two about playing and coaching the position — and mind games with guys named Manning.

Then an enterprising soul at an NFL training camp asked Haslam a ridiculous question to get a 10-second soundbite – because that’s where we are now, people – and Haslam throws kerosene on a grease fire. 

He thinks Manning will play two more seasons of college football, which means Manning wouldn’t be available for the Browns to select in the draft. This brilliant deduction from an owner who paid DeShaun Watson $230 million guaranteed — after disturbing off-field problems. 

More than that, Haslam’s refusal to swat the stupidity completely undercut his current team and coach, and a quarterback room that includes Watson, a former bust first round pick acquired in trade (Kenny Pickett), two selections from the 2025 draft (Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders) and a 40-something lifer (Joe Flacco).

Haslam essentially said we may suck bad enough to earn that No.1 pick, but I don’t expect Arch to be around when we’re on the clock. 

The Browns locker room must have loved that.

Meanwhile, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian is doing his best to shield Manning from the nonsense, and Manning is doing his best to just be one of the guys. 

For a program that has one national title in the last 55 years. 

For a team that was gifted a manageable schedule in its first season in the SEC, a schedule that suddenly looks difficult in Year 2.

Manning has thrown 95 passes, everyone. Ninety-five. 

He has yet to play in a major non-conference game or an SEC road game, or a bitter rivalry game. Yet to stand in the middle of a raucous road environment, be it Ohio Stadium or The Swamp or Sanford Stadium, where he needs a big throw on third and nine.

“Talk is cheap,” Manning said. “I have to go prove it.”

At least someone in this theater of stupidity has his head straight. 

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.

CINCINNATI – Joe Burrow didn’t become “Joe Brr” by not knowing how to keep it a buck. Certainly short of soul-bearing, Burrow at least offers a glimpse into his actual self – while maintaining some level of coyness – and that’s not always the case with franchise quarterbacks in 2025. 

So when he appears genuinely optimistic about the Cincinnati Bengals’ upcoming season it’s hard not to drink the Kool-Aid that flows along the banks of the Ohio River. 

QB Joe Burrow: this group of Bengals wide receivers is deepest of my career

For starters, Burrow declared Wednesday after practice he feels the best he has while throwing the football in some time. If the eye test is worth anything, Wednesday’s practice backed up that claim. The man passed for 4,913 yards and 43 touchdowns and feels better. 

Maybe it was because edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, coming off an All-Pro year, reported to camp Wednesday amid tense contract negotiations, thus ending his holdout. He didn’t practice, making it a “hold-in,” but the vibes were better in the building as a result, Burrow said.

Back in the fold already are Burrow’s top two targets, receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, both of whom received lucrative extensions this offseason. The bad news for Burrow and the Bengals’ offense is that the offensive line still has question marks. 

A significant percentage of the team’s success, however, hinges on the defense. The unit was among the league’s worst in 2024 and received much of the blame for the team’s 9-8 record and failure to make the playoffs. 

Al Golden replaces Lou Anarumo (now with the Indianapolis Colts) as defensive coordinator. Burrow has been a fan of what he’s seen from the opposite side of the ball through the first week of camp, despite the installation of a new defense. The defensive backs are understanding where their help is, an example of grasping nuances within coverage schemes, Burrow said. The absence of mental errors is encouraging, he added. 

Burrow, by name, called out defensive tackle T.J. Slayton as somebody who “is going to be a great player for us, the energy he brings, the physicality he brings. I’m really excited to watch that on Sundays.” 

The games and stunts to create pressures by the defensive line is something Burrow said he has gone against – and knows from experience is difficult to deal with. 

“And they’re doing it at a high level,” Burrow said.

With Hendrickson back in the fold – it appears – Burrow wasn’t afraid to reveal his aspirations. 

“I think it’s got a chance to be a special year,” he said.  

After cornerback Josh Newton picked Burrow off during 7-on-7 drills in the end zone, the defense as a unit started jawing. The smack talk from the secondary lasted all practice. 

“Need that energy from them,” Burrow said. “Defense is built off that energy. Great defense is not always necessarily played with the mind. A lot of times it’s energy, emotion, physicality.” 

Trey Hendrickson’s holdout becomes hold-in at Bengals training camp

Unlike last season, Burrow wants to play in the preseason to get used to hits and speed at which the pocket disintegrates. No decisions have been made regarding his participation on Aug. 7 against the Philadelphia Eagles. 

The Bengals started 1-4 last season and never recovered, even with five straight wins to close out the year. Burrow has been intentional in his public statements about the need for a better start in 2025. That’s another reason why Burrow has placed more value on the preseason. 

“We’ll find out,” Burrow said of the team’s goal to start fast, “…I’m very positive about the energy, the morale that we have in the locker room right now.” 

And given all that’s been said about the Bengals for the past several months, maybe it’s been cool – “Joe Brr” cool – all along. 

The National Women’s Soccer League is back.

The second half of the 2025 NWSL season kicks off Friday with three matchups — Chicago Stars FC vs. Gotham FC (8 p.m. ET, Prime Video), Racing Louisville FC vs. Kansas City Current (8 p.m. ET, NWSL+) and Seattle Reign FC vs. Angel City FC (10:30 p.m. ET, NWSL+) — following a five-week summer break.

The NWSL may have been paused from June 23 to July 31, but it was far from a vacation for dozens of players that represented their native countries on the international stage in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 tournament in Switzerland, the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and the 2025 Copa América Femenina in Ecuador.

Gotham FC teammates Esther González and Jess Carter, for example, represented Spain and England, respectively, in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 final. England ultimately won back-to-back titles after defeating Spain via a penalty shootout, but Carter’s celebration was cut short. She opted to skip England’s parade in London to return to the states ahead of Gotham’s match Friday.

‘I couldn’t be prouder to have been part of this England team,’ Carter wrote on Instagram after their Euro 2025 victory. ‘Gotham has quickly become a family and a team to me that I truly enjoy being part of so coming back to them straight away to prep for our upcoming game was a decision I made myself.’

As action is set to get underway in the NWSL, here are four burning questions going into the second half of the season:

Who leads MVP race, will it overlap with the Golden Boot?

Esther González is leading the 2025 Golden Boot Race and shows no signs of slowing down. González has a league-leading 10 goals in 13 games, becoming the fastest player in Gotham history to reach double-digit goals in a season. She was named the player of the month twice this season and has been pivotal to her team’s success. Gotham is fighting to stay in playoff contention and is 5-1-0 this season when González scores.

The Golden Boot winner has won the NWSL MVP award in every season but one since the league began play in 2013. (Lindsey Horan was named the 2018 MVP, while Sam Kerr won the 2018 Golden Boot.) So it’s safe to say González leads the MVP race as well, but she will face stiff competition down the stretch.

Kansas City Current forward Temwa Chawinga and Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda are right behind González with eight goals each. Chawinga won the 2024 NWSL Golden Boot and MVP after becoming the first player in league history to score 20 goals in a season. If Chawinga repeats, she’ll be the first player to win multiple Golden Boots since Sam Kerr won three consecutive (2017-2019).

NWSL stars shine on international stage: Who competed?

The NWSL not only features the best players in the country, but the best players in the world as evidenced by international competitions held this summer, including the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and the 2025 Copa América Femenina.

Esther González was the top scorer of the UEFA Women’s Euro in Switzerland, scoring four goals for Spain across six matches. Despite Spain leading the tournament in goals (18), possession (65.8%), passing accuracy (88.5%) and attempts (147), the Spaniards lost to England, which featured Gotham defender Jess Carter, Orlando Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse and Washington Spirit defender Esme Morgan.

In addition to González, five other NWSL stars found net during the Women’s Euro 2025: San Diego Wave forward Delphine Cascarino scored two goals for France, Utah Royals midfielder Janni Thomsen scored for Denmark, Seattle Reign midfielder Jess Fishlock for Wales, Angel City FC forward Sveindís Jónsdóttir for Iceland and Chicago Stars defender Natalia Kuikka for Finland.

That same weekend, Nigeria won its record 10th WAFCON title in a comeback 3-2 victory over host Morocco. Bay FC forward Asisat Oshoala and Houston Dash forward Michelle Alozie were part of Nigeria’s championship team.

‘I love seeing fellow NWSL athletes here represented in WAFCON,’ Alozie told ESPN on July 24. ‘It is so important to see that African players are excelling in the NWSL, and then coming and excelling at WAFCON, just like Banda and Racheal Kundananji have shown.’

Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda and Bay FC forward Racheal Kundananji each scored three goals for Zambia in the tournament.

The 2025 Copa América Femenina champion will be crowned on Saturday when Brazil faces Colombia in the final. Brazil’s national team includes Pride forward Marta (one goal) and midfielder Angelina, Gotham FC forward Gabi Portilho, Current goalkeeper Lorena and Racing Louisville FC forward Ary Borges. Colombia’s national team includes Racing Louisville FC centre-back Ángela Barón, Washington Spirit midfielder Leicy Santos (one goal) and San Diego Wave FC centre-back Daniela Arias.

Can anyone catch the Kansas City Current?

The Kansas City Current sits atop the standings and are clear favorites to win the NWSL Shield, which is awarded to the team with the best regular season record. Kansas City is eight points ahead in the standings and has the highest goal differential (19), in addition to a perfect 6-0 record at home.

The defending champion Orlando Pride (25 points) are in second place, followed by San Diego Wave (24 points) and Washington Spirit (23 points).

A NWSL Shield doesn’t equate to a NWSL Championship by any means. Since the league began play in 2013, only three teams have won the shield and championship in the same season, most recently the Pride in 2024.

Will Trinity Rodman return to the Spirit?

The Spirit are likely to have a boost in the second half of the season as forward Trinity Rodman nears a return. Rodman has been limited to four matches (one start) this season due to a chronic back injury that left her ‘in pain all the time,’ but the Olympic gold medalist is training with her team again.

‘I’m just happy to be back and actually in team trainings and not coming back on the side from step one,’ Rodman told reporters on Tuesday. ‘I’m still gonna be Trin. But, I think the way that I would throw my body around [before], maybe not. Maybe just being smarter about certain tackles, certain runs, certain 50-50s.’

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