UNDATED (AP) — A highly anticipated NCAA basketball matchup between Duke and Michigan has been canceled because of broadcast rights issues. Duke will now play Texas Tech on December 21 at Madison Square Garden, according to media reports. The original game was set to stream on Amazon Prime as part of Duke's three-game deal. The matchup was initially planned for Madison Square Garden, then moved to Miami, before being canceled. Both Michigan and Duke were top seeds in the 2026 NCAA tournament, with Michigan winning the championship. Duke's Cameron Boozer and three Michigan starters were high NBA draft picks.
UNDATED (AP) — The NCAA Division I Board of Directors is standing firm on its new age-based eligibility rule despite legal challenges. The rule allows athletes five seasons of competition over a five-year period starting with full-time enrollment or the academic year after their 19th birthday. Lawsuits have been filed, arguing the rule unfairly limits athletes' college careers. The board insists the rule is well-informed and widely supported. It eliminates waivers for extended eligibility, except for specific cases like military service. The SEC supports the rule although some leaders have concerns about its timing and effectiveness.
NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball players have proposed expanding eligibility for the amateur draft rather than decreasing it, maintaining 20 rounds of selections and moving it back to June. It's another signal the sport is heading to a labor confrontation this offseason. The union proposed allowing college sophomores to be eligible for the draft along with those finishing their junior years. That's a group eligible under the current rules along with high school seniors. Players proposed moving the draft back to June, when it was held through 2020. They asked that draft slot values continue to be increased at the same percentage as industry revenue through 2027.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — NCAA Division II athletes would move immediately to the age-based eligibility model adopted in Division I under proposed emergency legislation. The Division II Management Council recommended the division’s executive board adopt the model that would create a five-year period of eligibility effective for the 2026-27 academic year. Under the proposal, an athlete’s eligibility would begin upon initial full-time enrollment or the regular academic year immediately following the student-athlete’s 19th birthday, whichever occurs earlier. The current Division II model giving athletes four seasons of competition to be completed within their first 10 semesters or 15 quarters of full-time enrollment.
UNDATED (AP) — Federal legislation could change college sports in the U.S., but the Southeastern and Big Ten conferences are negotiating for changes. The Protect College Sports Act has bipartisan support but needs backing from these conferences to pass. The SEC and Big Ten want changes to provisions about broadcasting rights and preventing a super league. They're also seeking clarity on name, image, and likeness compensation, ensuring it's not just pay-to-play. The leagues want federal law to override state laws for consistency. And they want clearer language to limit lawsuits from players about eligibility issues.
NEW YORK (AP) — The Big East Conference and seven other Division I conferences, including the Atlantic Coast Conference, have established a women’s basketball officiating alliance. The conferences have announced the goal of the alliance is to enhance the quality, consistency and development of officiating. Other conferences included in the alliance are the American Conference, Atlantic 10 Conference, Big South Conference, Coastal Athletic Association, Ivy League and Metro Conference. The officiating alliance will be led by Pualani Spurlock-Welsh, who was recently named supervisor of officials for the ACC, Big East and American Conference.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner Jim Phillips looks at corporate sponsorships as a way for his league's schools to boost their bottom lines. In an interview with The Associated Press, Phillips said at least some of the ACC's financial gains in recent years have come through increased emphasis on finding corporate sponsorship revenue. The league is generating record revenue totals but is continuing to chase more revenue streams while facing a significant gap behind the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference. Phillips said the corporate sponsorships add up to supplement the money coming primarily from the ACC's media rights deal with ESPN.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Atlantic Coast Conference is revamping the tiebreaker format for its football championship game following a controversial finish last season that allowed a five-loss Duke team to reach the title game over then No. 10-ranked Miami. That put the Hurricanes at risk of not making the College Football Playoff. When head-to-head competition cannot separate tied teams, the team with the strongest overall body of work will earn the opportunity to compete for the ACC championship and the conference’s automatic qualifier to the College Football Playoff. ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips says that will be based on a SportSource Analytics metric used by the CFP.