The Power Players Shaping College Football’s 2026 Landscape
A look at the judges, coaches, executives and politicians whose decisions will define college football in the coming season.
Aug 26, 2026
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Eric Shanks
Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Eric Shanks across Football, Nascar, Soccer.
Danica Patrick’s Political Praise Sparks Backlash at Freedom 250 IndyCar Event
During the inaugural Freedom 250 in Washington, D.C., Danica Patrick’s laudatory comments about President Donald Trump and event organizers drew sharp criticism on social media, underscoring her polarizing presence in motorsports media.
Aug 24, 2026
Financial Stakes Drive College Football Playoff Expansion to 24 Teams
The push to double the College Football Playoff’s size is being shaped primarily by broadcast economics, with ESPN’s $1.3 billion deal and the potential loss of $200 million in championship revenue at the center of the debate.
Aug 8, 2026
Fox Sports CEO Defends FIFA World Cup Hydration Breaks Amid Fan Backlash
Fox Sports chief executive Eric Shanks insists that mandatory hydration breaks improve the flow of the game, but fans on social media accuse the network of using them to boost ad revenue.
Jul 23, 2026
NASCAR Secures Multi-Year Media Deal as Broadcasters Clamor for More Races
NASCAR President Steve O'Donnell revealed that Prime Video and TNT Sports aimed for more Cup Series dates than the five each locked in for the 2025-2031 rights cycle, a demand that was tempered by the satisfaction of all current partners.
Jul 10, 2026
Prime Video’s NASCAR Deal Extends Beyond 2026 Amid Broadcaster Satisfaction
Prime Video wrapped up a five‑race NASCAR stint in June 2026, but the sport's media rights contract remains locked until 2031, keeping the streaming platform from adding more races even as fans applaud its coverage.
Jul 8, 2026
Coaches and Commissioners Clash Over College Football Playoff Expansion Plans
A heated discussion over expanding the College Football Playoff has brought conference leaders, coaches and broadcasters into sharp focus, with revenue and scheduling at the heart of the debate.
Jun 4, 2026
CFP Expansion Debate Stalls Over Revenue and Rights
The future of the College Football Playoff hangs in the balance as stakeholders debate a proposal to double the tournament, with financial projections, viewership data, and conference politics shaping the discussion.
May 29, 2026
Mario Cristobal warns against expanding College Football Playoff to 24 teams
Head coach Mario Cristobal of the Miami Hurricanes argues that a 24‑team College Football Playoff would strain budgets, threaten regular‑season relevance and could erase several conference championship games.
May 21, 2026
Fox Sports Calls for a 24‑Team Playoff to Break ESPN’s Monopoly
Fox Sports CEO Eric Shanks pushes for a 24‑team College Football Playoff, while analyst Joel Klatt defends ESPN’s billion‑dollar stake and the resulting structural shifts in college football.
May 18, 2026
Fans Urged to Resist Expanding the College Football Playoff
Josh Pate calls on college football fans to push back against a 24‑team playoff, warning that the proposal lacks broad support and that influential stakeholders are listening to fan sentiment.
May 16, 2026
Josh Pate Urges Fans to Block the 24‑Team College Football Playoff
Josh Pate argues that the proposed 24‑team College Football Playoff lacks fan support and that decision‑makers are sensitive to backlash, making a coordinated fan response a potential brake on the expansion.
May 16, 2026
The Push to Expand the College Football Playoff: Fans, Money, and the Future of the Game
A debate over expanding the College Football Playoff to as many as 24 teams has ignited controversy, with commissioners, networks and fans clashing over the sport’s direction.
May 14, 2026
CFP Playoff Expansion Debate Heats Up as Conferences Weigh 24‑Team Model
A fierce debate over expanding the College Football Playoff to 24 teams is reshaping conference strategies, broadcast negotiations and the financial landscape of postseason college football.
May 13, 2026