Forget a regular Gatorade bath. The Minnesota Golden Gophers earned their head coach a mayonnaise bath with a 24-10 win over the Virginia Tech Hokies in Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Friday. 

“I’m excited for this one,” Minnesota QB Max Brosmer said of head coach P.J. Fleck’s upcoming date with Duke’s Mayonnaise.

Brosmer completed 18 of 29 passes for 211 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the win. Minnesota gave up a turnover in the first quarter, but never looked back. The Golden Gophers scored 21 unanswered points on three consecutive drives before halftime and added a field goal in the second half for good measure. 

Minnesota running back Darius Taylor had 113 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown, in addition to a 10-yard passing touchdown and four receptions for 17 yards. Virginia Tech was held to 223 total yards, including 74 rushing yards.

Here’s a recap of the Friday’s matchup between Minnesota and Virginia Tech:

Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech highlights 

Minnesota unleashed some magic with a trick play that ended up in the end zone. QB Max Brosmer tossed the ball to RB Darius Taylor in the backfield, who then threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to WR Elijah Spencer.

All you need is love… John Love that is. The Virginia Tech kicker made a 60-yard field goal, marking the longest in Duke’s Mayo Bowl history. 

Watch: Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck receives mayo bath

Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck was the recipient of the mayo bath this year after his Golden Gophers defeated Virginia Tech 24-10 Friday night in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

End of 3rd: Minnesota 21, Virginia Tech 10

The Hokies have struggled to establish a run game through three quarters. Minnesota has held Virginia Tech to only 26 rushing yards on 22 rushing attempts. Virginia Tech QB William Watson III has completed seven of 10 passes for 70 yards. The Hokies started the game with QB Collin Schlee under center. He completed two of five passes for 68 yards.

Minnesota QB Max Brosmer has completed 17 of 27 passes for 191 yards and one touchdown. Minnesota has 149 rushing yards on 24 attempts. 

Virginia Tech’s John Love nails 60-yard field goal

Virginia Tech is taking some momentum into halftime. Things looked pretty dire for the Hokies after giving up three straight touchdowns to Minnesota, but Virginia Tech was able to put some more points on the board heading into the locker room. QB William Watson III completed a 22-yard pass to receiver Ayden Greene along the sideline to set up the Hokies on Minnesota’s 42-yard line with four seconds remaining in the first half. Kicker John Love stepped up for his team and nailed a 60-yard field goal to cut Minnesota’s lead to 21-10 at halftime. Love’s field goal marks the second-longest in school history.

Minnesota scores; up 21-7 over Virginia Tech

Minnesota RB Darius Taylor now has a rushing touchdown to match his passing touchdown. Taylor ripped off a 19-yard run to set Minnesota up at Virginia Tech’s 23-yard-line with 1:07 remaining in the first half. A false start penalty backed the Golden Gophers up to the Hokies’ 28-yard line, but that was no problem for Taylor. He ran 28 yards to the end zone to put Minnesota up 21-7 over Virginia Tech. The Golden Gophers have scored on three consecutive drives and have put up 21 unanswered points against the Hokies.

Minnesota takes the lead; up 14-7 over Virginia Tech

Another possession, another touchdown for Minnesota WR Elijah Spencer.

Golden Gophers QB Max Brosmer connected with Spencer for a 12-yard touchdown to cap an eight-play, 65-yard drive. Brosmer has completed 8 of 14 passes for 110 yards and one touchdown. Spencer is up to three receptions for 48 yards and two touchdowns, tying a school record for touchdown receptions in a bowl game.

Minnesota ties it up 7-7 on trick play

Minnesota has some tricks up its sleeve. Lined up at Virginia Tech’s 10-yard-line, Golden Gophers QB Max Brosmer tossed the ball to RB Darius Taylor in the backfield. Taylor pulled up before the line of scrimmage and threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to WR Elijah Spencer with 10:18 remaining in the second quarter.

Virginia Tech leads 7-0

Virginia Tech is on the board. Hokies QB Collin Schlee rushed for a three-yard touchdown for the first points of the game. The touchdown run was set up by Schlee’s 67-yard completion to receiver Ayden Greene.

Minnesota misses field goal

The Golden Gophers are off to a rough start in the Mayo Bowl. Minnesota’s Koi Perich fumbled a punt return that was recovered by Virginia Tech. It appeared to be a case of friendly fire. While attempting to catch the punt, Perch collided with a teammate and the ball bounced into the hands of Virginia Tech’s Jonathan Pennix.

Minnesota held Virginia Tech to a three-and-out, but then surrendered a three-and-out themselves. The Golden Gophers got something going on their next drive and drove all the way to the red zone, but Minnesota had to settle for a field goal. Kicker Dragan Kesich then missed the 33-yard field goal attempt.

When is the Mayo Bowl between Minnesota and Virginia Tech?

The Duke’s Mayo Bowl game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Virginia Tech Hokies kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

How to watch Minnesota and Virginia Tech in the Mayo Bowl

The Duke’s Mayo Bowl game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Virginia Tech Hokies will be televised nationally on ESPN.

Live streaming is available on Fubo, which has a free trial.

Watch Minnesota take on Virginia Tech with a Fubo subscription

Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech: Mayo Bowl odds

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are favorites to defeat the Virginia Tech Hokies, according to BetMGM.

Odds as of Friday, Jan 3

Spread: Minnesota (-10)
Moneyline: Minnesota (-400); Virginia Tech (+310)
Over/under: 43.5

Mayo Bowl predictions: Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech

USA TODAY: Vast majority pick Minnesota

Scooby Axson: Minnesota
Jordan Mendoza: Minnesota
Paul Myerberg: Minnesota
Erick Smith: Virginia Tech
Eddie Timanus: Minnesota
Dan Wolken: Minnesota

ESPN: Minnesota 28, Virginia Tech 24

Adam Rittenberg writes: ‘P.J. Fleck was born to play and coach football, brainstorm mottos and eventually douse himself in mayonnaise after winning a bowl game. Can’t you see it now? Fleck’s team wasn’t far away from a much better season and boasts a solid formula of defense, Darius Taylor’s running and quarterback Max Brosmer’s efficient passing. Virginia Tech had far greater expectations than 6-6 this season, and could be facing some damaging personnel departures before January. The Hokies are very talented with running back Bhayshul Tuten, defensive end Antwaun Powell-Ryland and others, but there has been something missing all season. But Minnesota will win, setting up an epic mayo dump for Fleck.’

BetMGM: Minnesota will win

Staff writes: ‘The winning team model predicts Minnesota will win this game with 62.5% confidence, based on game simulations, offensive & defensive matchups and recent game results.’

Bowl game picks  

Here are USA TODAY Sports’ expert picks for all of the college football bowl games. 

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Can’t get enough of March Madness brackets or the College Football Playoff’s new 12-team bracket? The PGA Tour Championship may be headed that direction soon.

The PGA Tour is reportedly in ‘advanced’ talks to revamp the league’s season-ending Tour Championship into a bracket-style competition as early as this year, according to The Athletic, who first reported the news. ESPN added that the updated competition format may involve a combination of stroke play and match play.

Under the current format of the Tour Championship — the final event of the three-tournament FedEx Cup Playoffs, where the top 30 players compete for a $25 million prize — players start with staggered scores depending on how many FedEx Cup points they have entering the championship.

The player with the most FedEx Cup points accumulated throughout the year starts at 10-under-par with a two-shot lead. The player with the second-most points starts the tournament at 8-under, followed by third (-7), fourth (-6), fifth (-5), 6th-10th (-4), 11th-15th (-3), 16th-20th (-2) and 21st-25th (-1). The players ranked 26th-30th in FedEx Cup points start at even par.

FedEx Cup points don’t carry over into the Tour Championship, meaning the player who wins the playoff finale is crowned that year’s FedExCup champion.

Scottie Scheffler, who won the 2024 Tour Championship and FedEx Cup as the No. 1 seed, said the Tour Championship format is flawed. ‘I think it’s silly,’ Scheffler added in August.

‘You can’t call it a season-long race and have it come down to one tournament,’ Scheffler said. ‘Hypothetically, we get to East Lake and my neck flares up and it doesn’t heal the way it did at The Players; I finish 30th in the FedExCup because I had to withdraw from the last tournament? Is that really the season-long race? No. It is what it is.’

Rory McIlroy, however, said he’s a fan of the current format because it levels the playing field: “I love this format because if it wasn’t this format, then none of us would have a chance against Scottie because he’s so far ahead.’

McIlroy added, “I think it makes the Tour Championship more exciting from a consumer standpoint. Is it the fairest reflection of who’s been the best player of the year? Probably not. But I think at this point we’re not in for totally fair – we’re in for entertainment and for trying to put on the best product we possibly can.”

The 2025 Tour Championship will be held August 20-24 at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia, the tournament’s permanent home since 2004.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

The Los Angeles Dodgers struck again in pursuit of a high-profile international free agent, signing infielder Hyeseong Kim on Friday, according to multiple media reports in South Korea.

Kim, 25, won’t be expected to impact an already star-studded Dodgers lineup; instead, he was marketed as a glove-first player who can man multiple spots on the infield. He joins an already-crowded gaggle of infielders on the Dodgers roster, with Mookie Betts expected to serve as the full-time shortstop, Gavin Lux at second base and veterans Miguel Rojas and Chris Taylor also under contract.

Yet Rojas, Taylor and third baseman Max Muncy are all free agents after this season, and Kim also provides a hedge if performance or injuries elsewhere dictate that Betts move off shortstop, as he did last season when he returned to right field after suffering a broken hand.

Kim received a three-year, $12.5 million contract, with a club option for two years and an additional $9.5 million.

Friday was the last day of the posting period for Kim, who joins the defending World Series champions in the major league city with the largest Korean population. The club has been aggressive in maintaining its title-winning club, adding lefty Blake Snell on a $182 million contract and re-signing outfielder Teoscar Hernández, who was scheduled to be re-introduced at a news conference Friday.

Follow every MLB game: Latest MLB scores, stats, schedules and standings.

Hyeseong Kim stats

Kim is a lifetime .304 hitter in the KBO, playing the last six seasons for Kiwoom. He hit a career-high 11 home runs as a 24-year-old last season, topping his previous high of seven, achieved twice. His last four seasons were excellent from an on-base perspective, as he batted between .304 and .335 with an OBP ranging from .372 to .396.

Yet it’s still an open question how much he’ll hit for power – even of a gap-to-gap variety – in the major leagues. Then again, the Dodgers have plenty of that already, so perhaps this was his ideal destination.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

The NFL regular season has just one week to go, with Week 18 the last chance for players to gain ground in the pursuit of the 2024 MVP award.

Saturday and Sunday will see the final set of NFL games in the regular season, with a couple of playoff spots still on the line. While much of the focus will understandably center on the postseason chase, the race to win the MVP award is going to draw plenty of attention.

As the season has gone on, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson have emerged as the leading contenders, but several star players have had spectacular campaigns. Oddsmakers are leaning towards the two quarterbacks, but a few other offensive stars are among the top five candidates to claim the MVP title.

Here’s how the latest NFL MVP odds look, as of Friday, Jan. 3, courtesy of BetMGM.

NFL MVP odds entering Week 18

1. QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills (-300) (Last week: -250)

Oddsmakers seem to be leaning more and more towards Allen, despite two straight games where he didn’t play his very best. In Week 17, Allen was involved in three touchdowns, but his stat line (16-for-27 for 182 yards, plus 17 rushing yards) didn’t exactly stand out.

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

Still, the Bills crushed the New York Jets 40-14, and Allen has a great opportunity to solidify his hold on the 2024 MVP award in Week 18, with Buffalo going on the road against the struggling New England Patriots.

2. QB Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens (+220) (Last week: +160)

Jackson is the only other MVP candidate oddsmakers see as having a serious chance, but he came out of Week 17 having lost ground to Allen. That came despite Jackson’s stunning 48-yard run for a touchdown being among the top highlights in Week 17 and Baltimore demolishing the Houston Texans 31-2.

The Ravens quarterback has one more chance to change some minds, as Baltimore hosts the lowly Cleveland Browns in Week 18.

3. QB Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (+2000)

It speaks to just how good Burrow has been that he’s got the third-best MVP odds despite being on a Bengals team that needs a Week 18 miracle to sneak into the playoffs. The Cincinnati quarterback leads the league in passing touchdowns and yards, making his team’s plight all the more remarkable.

No matter how things go for the Bengals, expect Burrow to air it out one more time Saturday, in what is a must-win game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

4. RB Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles (+4000)

Barkley is in striking distance of the NFL single-season rushing record, yet sits in fourth place in the MVP odds. That’s in part due to how good the other candidates have been … but it’s also down to the fact that Eagles coach Nick Sirianni confirmed that his star running back is going to sit out Week 18.

Barring a highly unlikely series of events, Barkley will remain 101 yards off of Eric Dickerson’s record, and that will end any shot he has at the MVP crown.

5. QB Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings (+10000)

Darnold is a real long shot, but as an acknowledgment of how good he and the 14-2 Vikings have been this season, he’s got the fifth-best odds of being named MVP. The Minnesota quarterback is in the top five for touchdowns (35) and yards (4,153) despite sitting just 12th in pass attempts league-wide.

He’ll get a great chance to improve his odds in Week 18 with a huge game against the Detroit Lions that will determine the NFC North title and NFC’s top seed going into the playoffs.

The Minnesota Golden Gophers and Virginia Tech Hokies will face off in Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Friday with a mayonnaise bath for the winning coach on the line. 

Will Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck or Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry receive a head full of Duke’s mayonnaise?

The Hokies (6-6) will be without over a dozen starters who either entered the transfer portal, opted out of the bowl game or suffered injuries following the team’s 37-17 win over Virigina, including starting quarterback Kyron Drones and RB Bhayshul Tuten, the Hokies’ season rushing leader. Pry said the Hokies will showcase many young players that will offer fans “a good look at what our team can be in the fall” next season. 

The Gophers (7-5) are coming off a 24-7 win over Wisconsin in late November. 

This marks the first matchup between Minnesota and Virginia Tech. Here’s everything you need to know: 

Minnesota takes the lead; up 14-7 over Virigina Tech

Another possession, another touchdown for Minnesota WR Elijah Spencer.

Minnesota ties it up 7-7 on trick play

Minnesota has some tricks up its sleeve. Lined up at Virigina Tech’s 10-yard-line, Golden Gophers QB Max Brosmer tossed the ball to RB Darius Taylor in the backfield. Taylor pulled up before the line of scrimmage and threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to WR Elijah Spencer with 10:18 remaining in the second quarter.

Virginia Tech leads 7-0

Virigina Tech is on the board. Hokies QB Collin Schlee rushed for a three-yard touchdown for the first points of the game. The touchdown run was set up by Schlee’s 67-yard completion to receiver Ayden Greene.

Minnesota misses field goal

The Golden Gophers are off to a rough start in the Mayo Bowl. Minnesota’s Koi Perich fumbled a punt return that was recovered by Virigina Tech. It appeared to be a case of friendly fire. While attempting to catch the punt, Perch collided with a teammate and the ball bounced into the hands of Virigina Tech’s Jonathan Pennix.

Minnesota held Virigina Tech to a three-and-out, but then surrendered a three-and-out themselves. The Golden Gophers got something going on their next drive and drove all the way to the red zone, but Minnesota had to settle for a field goal. Kicker Dragan Kesich then missed the 33-yard field goal attempt.

When is the Mayo Bowl between Minnesota and Virginia Tech?

The Duke’s Mayo Bowl game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Virginia Tech Hokies kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

How to watch Minnesota and Virginia Tech in the Mayo Bowl

The Duke’s Mayo Bowl game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Virginia Tech Hokies will be televised nationally on ESPN.

Live streaming is available on Fubo, which has a free trial.

Watch Minnesota take on Virginia Tech with a Fubo subscription

Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech: Mayo Bowl odds

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are favorites to defeat the Virginia Tech Hokies, according to BetMGM.

Odds as of Friday, Jan 3

Spread: Minnesota (-10)
Moneyline: Minnesota (-400); Virginia Tech (+310)
Over/under: 43.5

Mayo Bowl predictions: Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech

USA TODAY: Vast majority pick Minnesota

Scooby Axson: Minnesota
Jordan Mendoza: Minnesota
Paul Myerberg: Minnesota
Erick Smith: Virginia Tech
Eddie Timanus: Minnesota
Dan Wolken: Minnesota

ESPN: Minnesota 28, Virginia Tech 24

Adam Rittenberg writes: ‘P.J. Fleck was born to play and coach football, brainstorm mottos and eventually douse himself in mayonnaise after winning a bowl game. Can’t you see it now? Fleck’s team wasn’t far away from a much better season and boasts a solid formula of defense, Darius Taylor’s running and quarterback Max Brosmer’s efficient passing. Virginia Tech had far greater expectations than 6-6 this season, and could be facing some damaging personnel departures before January. The Hokies are very talented with running back Bhayshul Tuten, defensive end Antwaun Powell-Ryland and others, but there has been something missing all season. But Minnesota will win, setting up an epic mayo dump for Fleck.’

BetMGM: Minnesota will win

Staff writes: ‘The winning team model predicts Minnesota will win this game with 62.5% confidence, based on game simulations, offensive & defensive matchups and recent game results.’

Bowl game picks  

Here are USA TODAY Sports’ expert picks for all of the college football bowl games. 

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Marcus Freeman savored the moment, but he knows what looms for Notre Dame: a Penn State team that would make Georgia look meek.
In ‘heavyweight fight’ of Notre Dame vs. Georgia, Irish landed knockout in third quarter of Sugar Bowl.
Notre Dame savors long-awaited postseason glory in College Football Playoff, before facing an Orange Bowl opponent that will be like looking in the mirror.

NEW ORLEANS – Marcus Freeman savored the moment.

Confetti doesn’t fall after regular-season victories, and Notre Dame hadn’t won a postseason game of this magnitude since Freeman was a wee one.

So, yeah, bring on the confetti, thank you kindly, and make it Notre Dame navy and not Georgia red.

“Let’s celebrate this,” Freeman said after Notre Dame defrocked Georgia, 23-10, in the Sugar Bowl.

But, careful to not bask in the glow for long, because the next challenge grows tougher.

Penn State looms in the Orange Bowl, and forget what Georgia achieved the previous three seasons, because the Nittany Lions played consistently better than Georgia this season, and the Big Ten told the SEC to scram while becoming the nation’s preeminent conference.

Notre Dame pummels Georgia in Sugar Bowl ‘heavyweight fight’

How to trump Notre Dame’s biggest postseason win in more than 30 years? By beating a team that’s even better, on a stage that’s even bigger, the following week.

Not so long ago, you’d have been right to retain skepticism that Notre Dame, long snakebitten in the postseason, could win a playoff game against an opponent of Penn State’s caliber. Against Georgia, these Irish proved they aren’t haunted by the shortcomings of teams past.

‘This program is elevating,’ linebacker Jack Kiser said. ‘It’s ascending.’

Notre Dame didn’t just beat Georgia. It overpowered the Bulldogs and revealed Kirby Smart’s dynasty is one for the history books. As in, past tense.

“Georgia is definitely very physical,” Notre Dame safety Adon Shuler said, “so we had to kind of match that.”

Match it? The Irish exceeded Georgia’s physicality.

“A heavyweight fight,” Freeman called it.

Maybe, but the Irish landed a knockout blow on the first play of the second half. When Jayden Harrison ran a kickoff 98 yards into the end zone, Notre Dame counted its third score in less than a minute of game time.

The Bulldogs brought the thump for a quarter and a half. The Irish never relented, applying the thunder throughout four quarters against a weakened, undisciplined, maddeningly inconsistent, mistake-prone, broken team that used to be great.

Beating Penn State will be more difficult.

All the players and the plays: Sign up for USA TODAY’s Sports newsletter.

Marcus Freeman on a heater, but Penn State poses challenge

Notre Dame has arrived under Freeman. He’s 4-0 in his last four postseason games, but the first three were small fish, really.

Considering the repeated postseason disappointments that came before Freeman, Notre Dame could not turn up its nose at his first three postseason victories, but statues aren’t built for coaches who beat South Carolina, Oregon State or Indiana.

This one, though, this smashing of Georgia, elevates Notre Dame to the big-boys’ table.

Never mind that, for most of the season, Georgia played like a shadow of what it was a mere two years ago.

The ‘G’ on the helmet and the SEC logo on the jersey and the College Football Playoff emblems in the end zones mark this as a signature victory for a program that had last won a “Big Six” bowl under Lou Holtz, in the 1994 Cotton Bowl.

Notre Dame beat Georgia for the first time, and in a sign of his youth, Freeman couldn’t even remember the last time these teams faced in the Sugar Bowl, on New Year’s Day in 1981.

With former President Jimmy Carter in attendance, Herschel Walker ran over the Irish. Georgia captured the national championship with that win.

Old-time Notre Dame fans will remember that game. They’ll cherish this one.

And the next test? Well, it’s fiercer.

Playing Penn State will be like looking in a mirror. The Nittany Lions play relentless defense, they establish the run, and they generally avoid turnovers.

Sound familiar? Sounds like Notre Dame.

Except, Penn State quarterback Drew Allar gives the Nittany Lions a passing game the Irish don’t replicate. Riley Leonard’s speed on quarterback runs offers Notre Dame’s offense an ounce of pizzazz, but Allar, at his best, attacks defenses through the air in a way the Irish usually do not.

Notre Dame toppled Georgia with just 90 passing yards.

How?

“They did a good job with their line of scrimmage,” Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith explained, “stopping the run and making sure they’re disrupting the quarterback.”

The Irish finished plus-two in turnovers. Along the lines of scrimmage, the Irish bullied the pride of the SEC and made Georgia look so very doughy.

“They just out-physicaled us,” Georgia defensive back Dan Jackson said. “The main thing they did, they took away the ball on their defensive side (twice), and we didn’t do that.”

Not once did Notre Dame turn it over.

Irish players say they recovered from their Week 2 loss to Northern Illinois thanks to their leadership and team trust, and although it’s hard to deny that, it’s also true that they started valuing the ball more.

The Irish amassed six turnovers throughout September. They’ve totaled just seven since then. The Irish are plus-18 on turnover margin for the season.

And Penn State? It’s plus-five for turnovers in the playoff alone.

“I saw a little bit of the Penn State game,” Freeman said of an opponent that smothered Boise State, 31-14, in its quarterfinal, “and it’s going to be a great challenge for us. But, I’m excited for it.”

A win against Penn State to unlock a bid to the national championship? Now, that would be worth a double batch of confetti.

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.

Many fans and pundits alike have criticized the seeding format for the new 12-team College Football Playoff, mostly stemming from how teams are selected.

The top five-ranked conference champions receive automatic bids to the playoff, whereas the top four of those teams receive first-round byes. No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 Boise State and No. 4 Arizona State each lost in the quarterfinals of the CFP.

ESPN’s Heather Dinich said the format is unlikely to change, however.

‘As far as changes moving forward,’ Dinich said Friday on ‘Get Up.’ ‘It is critical that people understand that in order for any changes to be made next season regarding the seeding or home games or whatever that might be, everyone involved in the College Football Playoff who has a position of power has to agree to it.’

‘We’re still in a period where it has to be unanimous. So, we’re talking about Group of Five commissioners, including the Mountain West, where you’ve got Boise State not only in (CFP), but with a first-round bye, conceding that possibly.

‘I don’t think that’s going to happen. My sources are telling me changes for next year probably unlikely.’

Dinich brings up a fair point, as the current system favors non-Power Four programs, giving smaller schools at chance at a national championship. That likely won’t change, at least for now, especially as representatives from other Group of Five schools would have to vote in favor of changing the format.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey was recently in support of CFP changes for 2025, including the seeding format.

‘I’ve not had a lot of conversations yet about people’s interest in adapting. I would hope there is interest,” Sankey told The Athletic in a Thursday story. “But then in (2026) we’ve got another opportunity.”

The 12-team playoff is only under contract for 2024 and 2025 for now, allowing for changes to be made for the 2026 season, which Sankey referred to. If changes were to be made for next season, all 10 FBS conferences and Notre Dame would have to unanimously agree.

Sankey added the current format was decided before the fall of the Pac-12, which reduced the Power Five conferences to Power Four.

“Remember when the format was introduced we had what was called the Power Five and the Group of Five,” Sankey said. “There is not a Power Five. We had looked at history, you never meant pulling seeds from outside the (top) 10 really into the top four in this format. And that’s now happened. Those are learning experiences, and that informs adaptation. And we’ve got a responsibility to have what I would consider is a competitive and fair format.”

Texas football will return a key part of its program for the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl.

And no, it’s not a player or coach.

Texas’ live mascot, Bevo, will make his first appearance at a CFP game this season as he was previously barred from attending the Longhorns’ Peach Bowl game against Arizona State, as Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta cited room in the facility as a concern.

Bevo was also not allowed to attend the SEC championship game, which was at the same location as the Peach Bowl.

Bevo was a part of a notable storyline between Texas and Georgia at the SEC championship game, as the two programs’ last matchup before Texas joined the SEC was at the 2019 Sugar Bowl, when Bevo charged at Uga, Georgia’s live bulldog mascot.

The SEC, of course, didn’t want history to repeat itself in that instance.

Texas hopes to use Bevo’s legendary powers to propel it to victory and a national championship berth when it faces Ohio State on Jan. 10.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.