The College Football Playoff and ESPN have a “handshake deal” on a 24-team playoff format, according to @CFBHeather. Some approvals remain, but the expanded playoff remains on track to begin in 2027.

The College Football Playoff is nearing a deal to expand to 24 teams beginning in 2027, ESPN reports. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said there is “an openness to College Football Playoff expansion” and that he expects a decision on expanding the current 12-team field to 24 teams “sooner rather than later.” Asked if the SEC is open to a 24-team playoff, Sankey said, “I’ve always communicated that we’ve never said no.”

George MacIntyre is set to start for No. 14 Tennessee against No. 6 Alabama this weekend, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported. It will be MacIntyre’s second straight week as the Volunteers’ starter. Faizon Brandon was listed as questionable for Tennessee.

UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava is out indefinitely with a knee injury, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported. Coach Bob Chesney said doctors have not made a final determination and there is “serious concern” about the injury. Pitt quarterback Mason Heintschel tore his ACL in Friday’s win over Virginia Tech, will miss the rest of the season and had successful surgery at UPMC East, Thamel reported.

The Protect College Sports Act passed through the Senate with overwhelming support, receiving 77 yes votes, ESPN’s Dan Murphy reported. The bill would give the NCAA an antitrust exemption intended to help enforce a cap on how much teams can pay athletes and other rules affected by recent legal challenges. If it becomes law, athletes would be limited to one penalty-free transfer during their college career, and it would reinforce NCAA rules limiting athletes to a five-year competition window beginning when they finish high school or turn 19.

South Carolina coach Shane Beamer announced star EDGE Dylan Stewart has been suspended indefinitely. Stewart punched an Alabama player and was seen talking back to coaches on the sideline at Alabama.

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt participated in Thursday’s walkthrough after being limited in Wednesday’s practice, sources told @walexander. Leavitt was listed as doubtful on the initial injury report for Saturday’s top-10 game at Ole Miss. Pete Thamel reported no one on the Ole Miss staff is convinced Leavitt will miss the game. Thamel mentioned that “These are the games that Lane Kiffin likes to play and Ole Miss knows that.”

The SEC filed an amendment Tuesday to its federal lawsuit against LSU, Lane Kiffin and school officials, seeking authority to expel LSU from the league. The filing indicates the seriousness of the SEC’s effort to affirm its legal right to enforce its own rules, the point of the original federal suit filed last week, according to ESPN’s Dan Murphy and Mark Schlabach.

Mid-American Conference Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher said the league has submitted formal appeals to the NCAA FBS Oversight Committee and the College Football Playoff over the end of the Western Michigan-Michigan game. Steinbrecher said replay protocol was not properly followed when one second was put back on the clock and an additional play was awarded. He said the program-feed clock should have been used and, had protocol been followed, Western Michigan would have won 12-7. The MAC is asking that Western Michigan be recognized for rankings, evaluations and selection deliberations.

The Big Ten said video review showed Western Michigan’s No. 18 jumped from an established out-of-bounds position and touched the ball with one second left, stopping the clock under NCAA Rule 4-2-3-a before Michigan’s game-winning Hail Mary against Western Michigan.

A judge Thursday cleared former Ole Miss players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris to return to college football after brief NFL stints. They said they intend to join Lane Kiffin at LSU, which opens Saturday against Clemson. The SEC said it disagrees with the ruling.

The SEC filed a lawsuit Thursday in U.S. District Court in Alabama against LSU, coach Lane Kiffin, President Wade Rousse and athletic director Verge Ausberry, according to On3. The filing came the same day as an injunction hearing over whether LSU can play Zxavian Harris and Dae’Quan Wright.

Thomas Castellanos has committed to Texas Tech, he told ESPN. The former Florida State, Boston College and UCF quarterback has 6,449 career passing yards, 48 passing touchdowns and 24 rushing touchdowns.

The SEC said it will enforce a policy barring member institutions from rostering athletes who declared for a professional draft without properly withdrawing, signed with a professional team or appeared on a professional roster. The commissioner may issue penalties.

The Cleveland Browns waived tight end Dae’Quan Wright, whose agents said Sunday he has an agreement to play for LSU in 2026 if he clears waivers. He is believed to be the first player set to return to college after signing with an NFL team as an undrafted free agent.

A Louisiana judge granted a restraining order allowing a group of 16 former CFB players, including several who were in NFL training camps this summer, to return to college sports this season. The group includes former Ole Miss starters Dae’quan Wright and Zxavian Harris and South Carolina safety DQ Smith.

The US LBM Coaches Poll released by USA Today Sports has Ohio State No. 1 for the first time since 2015, followed by Oregon, Georgia, Texas and Notre Dame. The Big Ten and SEC dominate the top positions; reigning champion Indiana is outside the top five.

A federal judge in Denver ruled Friday that all high school class of 2022 Division I athletes who exhausted their fourth college season this spring are eligible for a fifth season in 2026-27, undercutting the NCAA’s planned five-for-five eligibility rule. NCAA President Charlie Baker cited roster chaos.

Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said at Big Ten Media Days the Big Ten is “the best league in football” amid debate over whether the SEC or Big Ten is the top Power Four conference, saying the league prepares teams for the playoffs and “everything is earned, not given.”

The NCAA suspended Tennessee star linebacker Arion Carter for two games after his agent paid for a $427 flight to an NFL pre-draft training facility before Carter returned to college, per Adam Sparks.