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MLS makes push for new viewers on Xfinity, DirecTV, T-Mobile

Major League Soccer and Apple are making a major push to reach more viewers in 2025.

Soccer fans with Comcast Xfinity and DirecTV can subscribe and watch MLS Season Pass through the TV providers, while T-Mobile users will be able to access MLS Season Pass for free, the league announced Wednesday.

MLS also will debut “Sunday Night Soccer” — a showcase to engage and retain soccer fans with the league’s most compelling game of the week.

MLS also has high hopes for “Onside: Major League Soccer” — an eight-part documentary series produced by Box 2 Box Films, the company behind Netflix’s popular “Formula 1: Drive to Survive” series. The new docuseries premiers Feb. 21.

The new initiatives increase opportunities for fans to watch MLS games during a pivotal push for the sport in the United States, which will co-host World Cup 2026 with Canada and Mexico.

“We’re always going to look for different ways to make this content more accessible to people,” Apple executive producer of live sports Royce Dickerson said during a press briefing on Wednesday.

“We just want to hit as many people as we possibly can, get it across as many devices and platforms as humanly possible. All we want to continue to do is push out the product as much as we can to as many people at any given moment.”

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will play New York City FC in the first match of the 2025 MLS season on Feb. 22 at 2:30 p.m. ET.

MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy will host the league’s newest team, San Diego FC, in the first “Sunday Night Soccer” game on Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. ET. This match will also be broadcast live at Times Square in New York City.

‘Sunday Night Soccer’ will include dedicated pre- and postgame shows, and be available for Apple TV+ subscribers. Jake Zivin, Taylor Twellman and Andrew Wiebe will call the Sunday games in English, while Sammy Sadovnik and Diego Valeri will lead the Spanish broadcasts.

Select preseason games also are available for free on MLS Season Pass and Apple TV+ before the season, including LAFC facing LIGA MX champions Club America on Feb. 11, and Inter Miami’s preseason finale against Orlando City on Feb. 14.

Xfinity customers can sign up for MLS Season Pass and access MLS games within the channel guide on X1, the Xfinity Stream app, the X1 Sports app and the Apple TV app. Xfinity subscribers will also have free access to “MLS 360” — the league’s version of NFL RedZone — throughout the season without a Season Pass subscription. Xfinity customers will get a free preview from Feb. 22 to March 2.

DirecTV customers will be able to subscribe to MLS Season Pass with matches available on channels 480-495, ensuring a similar experience to other sports leagues’ packages, with a free preview from Feb. 22 to March 1. The satellite provider will also continue to provide MLS Season Pass to over 300,000 commercial establishments, like bars and restaurants.

T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers can receive complimentary access to MLS Season Pass for the season, through the T-Mobile Tuesdays app starting Feb. 18.

The league also previously announced the ability to watch MLS games on Apple TV+ via Amazon Prime Video last October.

MLS Productions — the media and broadcast production arm of the league — is coming from its new space at WWE Studios in Stamford, Connecticut. The league also recently announced a renewed broadcast production relationship with IMG this week.

“We’ve seen growth in our audiences and growth in our subscriptions. We’re bullish on what we’re building,” MLS executive vice president of media Seth Bacon said.

“It’s how do you take something that’s performing really well, and make it perform even better. That’s what these new partnerships are all about.”

Customers can subscribe to MLS Season Pass for $14.99 per month during the season, or $99 for the full season, and Apple TV+ subscribers can sign up at a special price of $12.99 per month, or $79 per season. A subscription to MLS Season Pass for this season will be included with each full-season MLS club ticket account. Through Family Sharing, up to six family members can share the subscription using their own Apple ID and password.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Lee Zeldin confirmed to lead Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency

The Senate voted on Wednesday to confirm former Rep. Lee Zeldin to head the government’s leading agency on environmental rules and regulations.

President Donald Trump tapped Zeldin, who previously served as a congressman from New York’s 1st Congressional District from 2015 to 2023, to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under his administration. During his tenure in Congress, Zeldin, an Army Reserve lieutenant colonel, launched a campaign for governor in New York, when he trailed only five percentage points in the largely Democratic state.

Zeldin underwent a confirmation hearing earlier this month, when he was questioned on climate change by members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

In a 56 to 42 vote on Wednesday, the Senate confirmed Zeldin to head the EPA in a final floor vote on his nomination.

Zeldin will head the agency that surveys environmental issues, provides assistance to wide-ranging environmental projects, and establishes rules that align with the administration’s views on environmental protection and climate change. 

During his confirmation hearing, Zeldin pledged that if confirmed, he would ‘foster a collaborative culture within the agency, supporting career staff who have dedicated themselves to this mission. I strongly believe we have a moral responsibility to be good stewards of our environment for generations to come.’

The latest round of voting comes as Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., continues to advance the confirmation process to push through Trump’s Cabinet nominees.

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Dozens of former FBI agents rally around Kash Patel’s confirmation: ‘Lives have been shattered’

A nationwide group of former Federal Bureau of Investigation agents has sent a letter to Senate leadership in support of Trump FBI Director nominee Kash Patel making the case that the bureau is ‘broken’ and in desperate need of a new direction. 

‘As a group of retired FBI Special Agents and former Intelligence Analysts from across the country dedicated to restoring public trust in the FBI and returning the FBI to its original mission, we support President Trump’s nomination of Kash Patel as the FBI’s next Director,’ the letter, obtained by Fox News Digital, signed by over 50 former and retired FBI agents from Reform The Bureau said.

The letter was sent to Republican Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Dick Durbin, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

‘Many Americans have lost faith in the FBI, and for good reason,’ the letter explains. ‘The FBI is broken. And with this loss of trust has come a rise in threats at home and abroad. Drug cartels and Mexican gangs have taken control of the border and have infiltrated cities across the country bringing violent crime and drugs with them. At the same time, China has grown more brazen, engaging in espionage that robs U.S. businesses of their intellectual property and undermines our national security.’

‘Terrorist groups are on the rise again in the Middle East, with unknown numbers having flooded into our country over the past four years through a wide-open border. Just as these many, varied threats have increased, the FBI has been used as a tool in the weaponization of the Department of Justice to go after its political enemies. Lives have been shattered and the targets of these weaponized investigations have been forced to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars of their own personal funds to defend themselves and their reputations. This needs to stop.’

The former agents wrote that the bureau is in ‘desperate need of a highly capable, non-partisan, and legally compliant FBI it can trust’ right now ‘more than ever’ and made the case that Patel is the person to make that a reality.

The letter explained that as both a public defender and prosecutor, Patel has ‘operated on both sides of the justice system,’ which gives him a ‘unique perspective’ to understand the need to both enforce the law and respect the rights of the accused.

‘As a former congressional aide, he understands the importance of congressional oversight and the need for the FBI to be responsive and transparent to members of Congress as they perform this important function,’ the letter states. ‘And as a former Executive Branch national security official who has served at the National Security Council, at the Directorate of Intelligence, and at the Pentagon, he understands the scope of national security threats our country faces. Mr. Patel also understands how organizations such as the FBI function and collaborate with other agencies to keep America safe, and the need for highly capable but legally compliant agencies to take on these threats and protect the American people.’

‘Never has the FBI faced such an urgent and compelling need for comprehensive reform as it does today. Mr. Patel has proven he possesses the breadth of experience required to address these challenges. His leadership, expertise, and vision make him uniquely qualified to guide the FBI through this pivotal moment. For these reasons, we stand in full support of Kash Patel’s nomination.’

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Patel spokesperson Erica Knight said, ‘The endorsement from these former FBI agents and intelligence analysts underscores what so many Americans already know—Kash Patel is the principled leader we need to restore trust in the FBI and refocus it on its core mission of protecting the American people.’

Patel is set to join the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday as the final leg of his nomination process kicks off in earnest. Patel has been on Capitol Hill meeting with Senate lawmakers to rally support for his nomination, earning praise from conservative lawmakers such as Tennessee Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, as well as endorsements from key law enforcement groups, such as the National Sheriffs’ Association. 

Patel is expected to face an uphill battle overall to secure the nomination, as Democrats balk that he lacks the qualifications to lead the law enforcement agency and would politicize the agency.  

Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton contributed to this report

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Disgraced ex-Sen. Bob Menendez sentenced to 11 years in bribery case

A judge sentenced disgraced former Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez to 11 years in prison on Wednesday, concluding his trial for a ‘long-running bribery and foreign influence scheme of rare gravity.’

The sentence is the harshest ever handed down to a U.S. senator. Breaking down in tears, Menendez pleaded with U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein for mercy in a New York City courtroom. 

‘I have lost everything,’ he said. ‘Other than family, I have lost everything I care about. Every day I am awake is punishment. I am far from a perfect man… in half-century of public service, I have done far more good than bad.’

Before handing down his punishment, Stein said: ‘I take no pleasure in this sentence.’

‘You are quite right about your work. You worked your way up to a senator, to the chair of foreign relations committee,’ Stein told Menendez. ‘You were successful, powerful, stood at apex of political system. All letters are proof. Somewhere along the way, you lost your way.’

Defense attorney Adam Fee told Stein to give Menendez credit for his lifetime of public service, asking for a sentence of no more than eight years. 

‘Despite his decades of service, he is now known more widely as gold bar Bob,’ Fee said.

Prosecutors had requested a 15-year sentence for Menendez, 71, after he was convicted on July 24 on 16 counts of bribery, extortion, conspiracy and obstruction of justice. He is the first U.S. Senator in American history to be convicted of working as a foreign agent. His co-defendants, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, were also sentenced to 8 years and 7 years respectively.

‘As proven at trial, the defendants engaged, for years, in a corruption and foreign influence scheme of stunning brazenness, breadth, and duration, resulting in exceptionally grave abuses of power at the highest levels of the Legislative Branch of the United States Government,’ prosecutors wrote.

Prior to the announcement of his sentence, Daibes, 67, tearfully told Stein the jury verdict had left him ‘borderline suicidal,’ and requested leniency so that he could care for his 30-year-old autistic son.

Hana told the judge, ‘I am an innocent man.’

‘I never bribed Senator Menendez or asked his office for influence.’

The judge, though, said the jury’s verdict was ‘very, very substantial.’

A third businessman pleaded guilty and testified against Menendez at a trial last year.

Outside the courthouse, Menendez proclaimed his innocence, calling his prosecution a ‘witch hunt’ by the Justice Department. 

‘President Trump is right. This process is political and it’s corrupted to the core. I hope President Trump cleans up the cesspool and restores integrity to the system,’ he said. 

Menendez’ conviction came after a nine-week-long trial. The former Democratic lawmaker was accused of accepting gifts totaling more than $100,000 in gold bars as well as cash.

The disgraced Democrat was accused and convicted of participating in a yearslong bribery scheme involving the governments of Egypt and Qatar. Menendez’s wife, Nadine, who is set to go on trial on March 18, also allegedly participated in the scheme. She is accused of receiving paychecks for a job that did not exist.

The indictment against Menendez came after co-defendant Jose Uribe – who allegedly gifted Nadine a Mercedes convertible – accepted a plea deal and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. 

‘Menendez, who swore an oath to represent the United States and the state of New Jersey, instead put his high office up for sale in exchange for this hoard of bribes,’ prosecutors wrote ahead of the sentencing.

Menendez, who was charged in 2023, made history in July 2024 when he became the first US senator to be convicted of acting as a foreign agent. His conviction came after a nine-week-long trial. 

Jamie Joseph, Rachel Wolf, Maria Paronich and The Associated Press contributed to this report

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No 2 Republican Steve Scalise lays out government funding strategies, with fiscal deadlines looming

DORAL, Fla. — House Republicans have their work cut out for them in the coming weeks, with three fiscal deadlines looming and President Donald Trump pushing for a very active first 100 days of his administration.

Congressional GOP leaders are working on a massive conservative policy overhaul via the reconciliation process. By lowering the threshold for passage in the Senate from 60 votes to a simple 51-seat majority, it allows the party in power to advance their policy goals into law, provided those policies deal with budgetary and other fiscal matters.

‘We want to deliver on all the things that President Trump talked about during the campaign… including no tax on tips, which was one of those early items that the president talked about, but also ensuring no tax increases happen. We can fully fund our border security needs, making sure we build the wall out, that we give more technology and tools to our Border Patrol agents,’ House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., told Fox News Digital.

‘We can produce more energy in America… try to get rid of some of these crazy rules and regulations that add so much cost for no good reason to families.’

Scalise said it would be ‘much more robust’ than Republicans’ last reconciliation bill passed in 2017 – the last time the GOP controlled Congress and the White House.

His optimism comes as congressional Republicans still appear divided over how best to enact their plans. Senate Republicans and some GOP hardliners in the House have argued that trying to pass a bill with border and energy policies first would give Trump a quick win, while allowing more time for more complex issues like taxes.

But House leaders are concerned that, given Republicans last passed two reconciliation bills in one year in the 1990s with much larger majorities, the two-track strategy could allow Trump’s 2017 provisions to expire and raise taxes on millions of families.

‘You have to start somewhere. We’re starting with one package,’ Scalise said. ‘No disagreement on the details of what we’re going to include.’

Meanwhile, lawmakers are also contending with the debt ceiling being reinstated this month after it was temporarily suspended in a bipartisan deal during the Biden administration. At least one projection suggests Congress will have until mid-June or earlier to deal with it or risk financial turmoil that comes with a downgrade in the U.S.’s national credit rating.

And coming on March 14 is the deadline to avert a partial government shutdown, which Congress has extended twice since the end of the previous fiscal year on Oct. 1.

The No. 2 House Republican floated the possibility of combining those latter two deadlines.

‘The Appropriations Committee, which is not directly involved in budget reconciliation, is simultaneously having a negotiation with the Senate on government funding, you know, working with the White House to make sure it meets President Trump’s priorities,’ Scalise said. 

‘I would imagine the debt ceiling could very well be a part of that conversation in that negotiation.’

Scalise spoke with Fox News Digital at the House GOP’s annual retreat, held this year at Trump’s golf club in Doral, Florida.

Lawmakers huddled behind closed doors for three days to hash out a roadmap for grappling with their multiple deadlines and enacting Trump’s agenda.

They also heard from the president himself, as well as Vice President JD Vance.

Trump has on multiple occasions called on Republicans to act on the debt limit to avoid a U.S. credit default. Vance told Republicans on Tuesday that Trump wanted them to do so without giving leverage to Democrats – a weighty task given some GOP hardliners’ opposition to raising or suspending the limit over the U.S.’s $36 trillion national debt.  

House GOP leaders can currently only afford one defection to still pass a bill along party lines.

They’ve been forced to seek Democratic support on government funding multiple times, including most recently in December. 

With no topline agreement reached and roughly 19 days in session before the March 14 deadline to avert a partial government shutdown, it’s becoming increasingly likely that congressional leaders will have to combine all 12 annual appropriations bills into one massive ‘omnibus,’ a move also generally opposed by GOP hardliners.

‘I think we’re getting closer,’ Scalise said of a topline number for fiscal year 2025 spending. ‘The House and Senate were apart by a pretty sizable amount of money. They’re trying to negotiate that down to get a resolution.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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Scorched-earth Shanahan: RFK Jr’s former running mate threatens political war against confirmation opponents

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s former presidential running mate Nicole Shanahan called out various senators by name, warning that she will fund primary challenges against them if they oppose confirming Kennedy to serve as secretary of Health and Human Services.

‘Dear U.S. Senators, Bobby may play nice; I won’t,’ she wrote in a post on X.

In a video, Shanahan said that in 2020 she ‘cut large checks to Chuck Schumer to help Democrats flip two Senate seats in Georgia from red to blue.’ Peach State Democratic Sens. Raphael Warnock and John Ossoff both initially took office after winning runoff contests in early 2021.

Shanahan bluntly warned the two senators, ‘Please know I will be watching your votes very closely. I will make it my personal mission that you lose your seats in the Senate if you vote against the future health of America’s children.’

She then proceeded to call out Sens. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.; Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska; Susan Collins, R-Maine; Bill Cassidy, R-La.; Thom Tillis, R-N.C.; James Lankford, R-Okla.; Cory Booker, D-N.J.; John Fetterman, D-Pa.; Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.; and Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.

‘While Bobby may be willing to play nice, I won’t. If you vote against him, I will personally fund challengers to primary you in your next election. And I will enlist hundreds of thousands to join me,’ she declared.

Shanahan, who urged people to reach out to their senators to press them to support Kennedy’s nomination, followed up her video with a post tagging each of the 13 senators she had mentioned — the post also included phone numbers.

Kennedy, a Democrat-turned-independent presidential candidate, ultimately dropped out and backed Donald Trump in the 2024 White House contest.

Trump later announced Kennedy as his pick to serve as HHS secretary. 

But the HHS nominee still needs to earn enough support in the Senate to clear the confirmation hurdle.

Shanahan voted for Trump during the 2024 presidential election.

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Dillon Gabriel’s Senior Bowl helmet to represent his three schools

The final game of Heisman finalist Dillon Gabriel’s college career will be Saturday, Feb. 1, as he suits up for the Reese’s Senior Bowl. This game offers an opportunity for college athletes to strut their stuff one last time in front of NFL scouts, all while repping their alma mater one last time. However, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel is taking that last bit to a new level.

Gabriel has six years of college football under his belt, making him one of the more experienced players at this weekend’s game. His college football journey has been long, winding, and unconventional to say the least. That’s why, rather than representing just Oregon, the team he led to an undefeated regular season this year while snagging the No. 1 overall seed in the College Football Playoff, Gabriel will don a helmet that represents every step of his collegiate career.

Gabriel’s helmet will feature wings, representing his time with the Oregon Ducks, plus the Oklahoma and UCF logos on the right side and back of his helmet, respectively. Gabriel has already impressed scouts during Senior Bowl practice, even allegedly breaking a record for ball speed as well. His commitment to his former schools as well should also be a big plus for NFL organizations.

How long did Gabriel spend at each school?

Gabriel played his first three seasons of college football for the UCF Knights. He appeared in 26 games, tossing 70 touchdowns and just 14 interceptions during his time with the team. In 2020, he led the American Athletic Conference in both passing yards (3570) and passing touchdowns (32).

Gabriel entered the transfer portal following the 2021 season, spending the next two years with Oklahoma. He threw 55 passing touchdowns and in 2023, he led the Big 12 in passing yards (3660) and touchdowns (30). Still, despite his success, he opted for the transfer portal once again, landing in Eugene for his final year of eligibility.

Gabriel was obviously tremendous in his final season, finishing third in Heisman voting and leading the Oregon Ducks to an undefeated regular season and a Big Ten title.

How to watch the Senior Bowl:

Date: Saturday, Feb. 1

Time: 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT

Location: Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama

TV: NFL Network

Stream: NFL+

Will Dillon Gabriel be a first-round draft pick in the NFL draft?

Gabriel’s age compared to other top quarterback prospects is a bit of a deterrent for several NFL teams. Many organizations have him lower on their draft boards. However, given Gabriel’s immense success early on at Senior Bowl practice, there is a chance he climbs back into first-round status.

Many teams are in dire need of an upgrade at the quarterback position, and we’ve seen in the past that teams are willing to take massive leaps to grab their guy early if the need arises. Just last year, the Denver Broncos selected Bo Nix with the 12th overall pick after experts had spent months prediction Nix to be a Day 2 pick.

The NFL Draft is set to begin on Thursday, April 24.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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These are anti-Black times. Mahomes and Hurts are living counters.

History was made in 2023 when Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts and Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes became the first two Black quarterbacks to start in a Super Bowl. It was a stunning moment.

‘To have two Black quarterbacks start in the Super Bowl, I think it’s special,’ Mahomes said at the time. ‘I’ve learned more and more about the history of the Black quarterback since I’ve been in this league. The guys that came before me and Jalen set the stage for this and now I’m just glad we can set the stage for kids that are coming up now. It’ll be a great game against two great teams and against another great quarterback. I’m excited to go out there and do what we can against a great team.’

‘I think it’s history,’ Hurts said. ‘I think it’s something that’s worthy of being noted and it is history. It’s come a long way. I think it’s only been seven African-American quarterbacks to play in the Super Bowl, so to be the first for something is pretty cool. I know it will be a good one.’

Yes, it was stunning. One for the history books.

But I would argue the fact that Hurts and Mahomes are back, playing in Super Bowl 59, is an equally important moment. Let me explain.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

We are in the midst of one of the most vicious anti-Black eras in decades. This might be the most anti-Black this country has been in decades.

Trump has launched a war on DEI and make no mistake, the war they talk about is a war on Black Americans. Everyone knows this. Especially the opponents of DEI. They don’t even bother to try and hide it.

One of the most blatant anti-Black moves during this anti-DEI rush was the removal of training courses that included videos of the Tuskegee Airman. The videos, according to the Associated Press, were used as part of DEI training during basic training for Air Force troops. The Tuskegee Airmen are some of the greatest heroes this nation has ever produced.

Naturally, the move caused massive outrage (at least from decent people) and the order was reversed. But the point was made.

Where the importance of Mahomes and Hurts comes in, is they are a reminder of Black excellence. They’ll play the Super Bowl during Black History Month, another reminder of that excellence.

The core of what Trump is doing is portraying Black Americans as incompetent and incapable. It shouldn’t be lost on people that the NFL once felt this way about Black quarterbacks, for decades, in fact, essentially segregating Black athletes from playing the position. This also happened with Black head coaches. Black players and coaches persevered to the point where we have two Black quarterbacks playing in the Super Bowl a second time.

Mahomes has always understood the importance of historic moments like this.

‘I think you’ve seen over time,’ Mahomes said in 2023, ‘whenever a guy like Doug Williams or Michael Vick or Donovan McNabb go out and play great football it gives other guys like me and Jalen (who) have this platform and have this spot on another NFL team. If we can continue to show that we can consistently be great, I think it will continue to open doors for other kids growing up to follow their dreams and be a quarterback of an NFL team. It’s good we have guys like Jalen on the other team because he’s a great person and obviously a great quarterback.’

Mahomes and Hurts are also both so good they will obliterate this notion Trump is trying to push which is Black people are dregs and need DEI programs to succeed.

Well, you liberal idiot, Mahomes and Hurts didn’t have any DEI. They got to the Super Bowl based on merit.

What exactly is DEI? CNN interviewed seven DEI experts and business leaders who described it this way:

Diversity is embracing the differences everyone brings to the table, whether those are someone’s race, age, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability or other aspects of social identity.
Equity is treating everyone fairly and providing equal opportunities.
Inclusion is respecting everyone’s voice and creating a culture in which people from all backgrounds feel encouraged to express their ideas and perspectives.

Why does that description scare so many people? It’s genuinely benign.

The country now is in a weird place. ‘Weird’ is one way to put it. Let’s just leave it at that. But there’s an anti-Black fervor that I haven’t seen in some time.

Mahomes and Hurts will counter that ugliness. Their play will be inspirational and, well, beautifully Black.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Which College Football Playoff teams return in 2025? Here’s a verdict

Ohio State, Texas, Penn State headline list of qualifiers that should be back in College Football Playoff, but list doesn’t stop there.
Georgia’s tough schedule and quarterback change casts some doubt on Bulldogs, but strength of schedule could tip scales.
Arizona State or the Big 12 field? Take the field.

They’ll be back. At least, they know they’re expected to be back.

Ohio State coach Ryan Day hadn’t even left Atlanta yet, after the Buckeyes won their first national championship in more than a decade, when he fielded his first question about next season’s expectations. Day surmised that a national championship won’t buy him much of a honeymoon with Buckeyes fans.

“Try losing the first game and see how that goes at Ohio State. We’ll see about that,” quipped Day, who regularly endures heat from Buckeyes fans despite losing just 10 games in six seasons.

Never mind losing, though, because “I think we have a great group coming back,” Day said.

No debate here.

In the four-team College Football Playoff era, teams commonly repeated as playoff qualifiers. Alabama qualified for that format in eight of 10 years, and Ohio State made that four-team bracket five times. Clemson qualified six consecutive years.

The 12-team playoff creates more margin for error and ups the chance for repeat qualifiers, especially from the Big Ten and SEC.

Which of this season’s 12 qualifiers will return to the playoff next season?

I’ll take a stab at that:

Ohio State

This season: National champion.

In or out of the playoff next season?: In.

Ohio State’s notable losses include quarterback Will Howard, both standout running backs and the backbone of the country’s No. 1 defense and its coordinator Jim Knowles. But, Day remains a recruiting machine, and talent flows in. Plus, star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith will return. Don’t expect Ohio State to be flawless against a schedule that includes Texas, Penn State, Illinois and Michigan. But, this playoff format doesn’t demand flawlessness from Ohio State, only 10 wins to make field.

Notre Dame

This season: National runner-up.

In or out next season?: In.

Notre Dame’s schedule remains favorable, offering an avenue to 10 wins, even if the roster might not be as strong. The Irish profile as the favorite in every game, including early season matchups with Miami and Texas A&M, a pair of projected Top 25 teams. A handful of defensive players will be tough to replace, but a cast of familiar faces is set to return on offense. The importance of quarterback CJ Carr recovering from an elbow injury cannot be overstated.

Penn State

This season: Semifinals.

In or out next season: In.

The NFL departure of defensive standouts like Abdul Carter and Kobe King stings, but Penn State’s offensive core remains intact, and the non-conference schedule is a breeze. Prepare for another James Franklin clinic: Losses to Ohio State and another ranked opponent, and wins against the slappies.

Texas

This season: Semifinals.

In or out next season: In.

Is Arch Manning the real deal? We won’t wait long to find out. The Longhorns open at Ohio State. A schedule that also includes games against Georgia, Florida and Texas A&M threatens Texas, but the Longhorns keep magnetizing talent, complete with the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class. I’m a believer in Manning, and he’s complemented with ample support.

Oregon

This season: Quarterfinals.

In or out next season: In.

Oregon did as well as any playoff qualifier at adding transfers to augment an already strong squad. Combine that haul with another standout recruiting class, and Dan Lanning built another good roster, even as stars like quarterback Dillon Gabriel exit. Gabriel’s backup, Dante Moore, becomes his heir. He’ll enjoy throwing to Evan Stewart and handing to transfer running back Makhi Hughes (Tulane). The schedule avoids Ohio State.

Georgia

This season: Quarterfinals.

In or out next season: In.

Georgia has been as consistently successful as any team throughout the past eight seasons, but the Bulldogs’ brutal SEC schedule – they’ll play Tennessee, Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, Florida and Texas – combined with a quarterback transition gives me pause. Its schedule strength also could keep Georgia afloat at 9-3, though, tipping the scales toward playoff qualification.

Arizona State

This season: Quarterfinals.

In or out next season: Out.

As Arizona State enters a future without do-it-all running back Cam Skattebo, I’m skeptical the Sun Devils will repeat as Big 12 champs. It’s not that Arizona State shouldn’t stay strong, but the Big 12 will remain as unpredictable as any league. And with perhaps only one bid available for a 16-team league, take the field.

Boise State

This season: Quarterfinals.

In or out next season: In.

The Broncos must march on without Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty, one of the most sensational running backs since Barry Sanders, but I trust Boise State and its offensive line more than the other Group of Five contenders.

Tennessee

This season: First round.

In or out next season: Out.

Tennessee failed to position enough talent around quarterback Nico Iamaleava. That showed in the Vols’ playoff loss to Ohio State, and it’ll be exposed again next season. Also, Tennessee said farewell to its star running back, top offensive linemen and best defensive lineman. With pivotal games against Alabama and Florida flipping to the road, the Vols regressing by a victory or two seems in play.

Indiana

This season: First round.

In or out next season: Out.

The Hoosiers must replace their quarterback, top running backs and key defensive pieces. Combine that with a stiffer schedule, and Indiana’s underdog story will be difficult to replicate. Staying relevant within the Big Ten will hinge on California transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

SMU

This season: First round.

In or out next season: Out.

The Mustangs benefited from one of the ACC’s most favorable schedules. That changes in 2025, with a lineup that includes Clemson, Miami and Louisville. Quarterback Kevin Jennings’ return should keep SMU in the ACC’s top half, but he’s losing his best playmakers.

Clemson

This season: First round.

In or out next season: In.

Clemson returns a bevy of production, making it an ACC front-runner. The freshmen and sophomores who helped power Clemson to the playoff will return, along with veteran quarterback Cade Klubnik. Dabo Swinney maintains his standoffish approach to transfers, but he did make some additions to the team’s intact core which gives Clemson a top-10 profile for 2025.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer. Subscribe to read all of his columns.

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Politics

Democrats coordinate multi-state response to Trump’s funding freeze

Morally indignant Senate Democrats piled on President Donald Trump’s federal funding freeze Wednesday, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., announcing a coordinated response with Democratic governors to come.

The Office of Management and Budget issued a memo on Monday issuing a pause on all federal grants and loans aiming to eradicate ‘wokeness’ and the ‘weaponization of government’ to improve government efficiency. The memo claims nearly $3 trillion was spent in 2024 on such assistance programs. 

The White House insists this freeze does not touch programs including Social Security, Medicare, or other entitlement payments, but Schumer called Trump’s action ‘chaotic,’ ‘careless,’ and ‘cruel’ at the Democratic leadership’s weekly press briefing. 

‘In one instant, in the blink of an eye, in the dark of night, Donald Trump committed one of the cruelest actions that I have seen the federal government do in a very long time,’ Schumer said, claiming Trump had shut off ‘billions, maybe trillions of dollars that average American families need.’ 

The minority leader said there are ongoing discussions between Capitol Hill Democrats and various Democratic governors on a coordinated response to Trump’s action. Two dozen blue state attorneys general have already announced legal action to keep the federal grant, loan and other aid flowing. 

Democrats said they have received an avalanche of phone calls from local officials, non-governmental organizations, charities and individual constituents demanding to know if OMB’s memo meant taxpayer dollars they rely on to serve people were about to disappear.

‘Chaos reigned. I got calls from a whole lot of Republican town supervisors and mayors, asking, what about flood prevention? What about sewer construction projects?’ Schumer said. He recounted additional calls from food bank operators, nonprofit groups that treat addiction and church groups worried they would not be able to make payroll.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Tuesday that the OMB memo would not impact individuals who receive direct assistance from the federal government. She described the pause as ‘temporary’ and likened it to simultaneous efforts by the Trump administration to freeze hiring and regulations in an effort to shrink the government. 

‘Federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal,’ the memo, obtained by Fox Digital, reads. 

A federal judge on Tuesday imposed a stay on Trump’s action, delaying it until Monday as a torrent of lawsuits against the administration were announced this week.

New York Attorney General Letitia James on Tuesday led a coalition of 22 other attorneys general suing to stop the implementation of the memo.

In a statement from James’ office, she said the policy ‘puts an indefinite pause on the majority of federal assistance to states’ and would ‘immediately jeopardize state programs that provide critical health and childcare services to families in need, deliver support to public schools, combat hate crimes and violence against women, provide life-saving disaster relief to states, and more.’

Republicans have mostly backed Trump, insisting that the new presidential administration has a right to examine how taxpayer dollars are spent.

‘This is not unusual for an administration to pause funding and to take a hard look and scrub of how these programs are being spent and how they interact with a lot of the executive orders that the president signed,’ Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters, though he expressed hope that the White House would ‘further clarify what exactly will be impacted by this.’ 

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the top Democratic appropriator, said Trump’s actions have endangered chances for a bipartisan spending agreement when the government funding deadline arrives in March.

‘It is extremely difficult to agree to a compromise on anything if the White House is going to assert that they control the funds, we don’t,’ Murray said. ‘So this is really putting that in jeopardy.’ 

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