- Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. sold the naming rights for the 21 regional sports networks it acquired last year from 21st Century Fox Inc. to Bally's Corp., a casino brand based in Providence, R.I. In addition to the undisclosed naming rights fee, Sinclair - which is facing a cash crunch caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and recently devalued the RSNs by more than $4 billion - will also receive shares in Bally's and a commitment from the casino to spend some of its interactive advertising budget on Sinclair's 190 broadcast-TV stations as part of the nonexclusive agreement, while Bally's brand will appear on Sinclair's stations, its sports streaming service, Stadium, and on the Tennis Channel. (Bloomberg)
- Bill Hancock, the executive director of the College Football Playoff, said this season's schedule for games and semifinal selections will go on as planned following discussions of a potential delay by the CFP management committee. Hancock said conference athletic commissioners who manage the playoff were not supportive of lengthening the regular season, and the semifinal pairings will be announced on Dec. 20 followed by games on Jan. 1 and the national title matchup on Jan. 11. (The Associated Press)
- The NFL instructed all teams to tighten their COVID-19 safety protocols, starting Saturday, as cases continue to mount across the United States. The new guidelines, which are similar to measures put into place on a temporary or case-by-case basis so far this season, effectively bans indoor team meetings and limits the number of players allowed in the weight room. (Reuters)
- The NBA held its 2020 draft virtually at ESPN's campus in Bristol, Conn., five months after it was postponed due to COVID-19, and the short timeline means rookies will be dropped almost immediately into the season action with training camps set to kick off on Dec. 1. The Minnesota Timberwolves selected guard Anthony Edwards, a freshman out of the University of Georgia, with the first pick of the draft. (ESPN)
Potential for healthy teams to be left home alone forces Pac-12 to rethink ban on non-conference games
Jon Wilner, The Mercury News
The Pac-12 is hurtling toward a significant policy reversal after the athletic directors agreed this week to allow non-conference games if a league matchup is canceled because of COVID-19 issues, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the discussions. However, the change requires approval from the presidents and chancellors, who had previously banned non-conference games for the 2020 season.
Amid injuries, COVID-19 concerns, Saturday's game between Kansas and Texas moved to Dec. 12
Chris Low, ESPN
The Kansas-Texas football game, scheduled for Saturday in Lawrence, Kansas, has been postponed due to a combination of injuries and COVID-19 issues in the Jayhawks' program. The game has been rescheduled for Dec. 12.
Ohio State refusing family members amid rising COVID-19 cases, to reevaluate prior to Michigan game
Tom VanHaaren, ESPN
Family members of Ohio State coaches and student-athletes are no longer permitted to attend sporting events for teams playing this fall due to a stay-at-home order in Columbus, Ohio. The decision is immediate and means Ohio State will not have any family members in the stands for its game against Indiana on Saturday.
Women's hoops coaches find creative ways to fill schedules
Doug Feinberg, The Associated Press
Louisville women's basketball coach Jeff Walz knows it's likely games will be scrapped at the last minute this season because of the coronavirus. So he set up a group text with fellow coaches at about a dozen schools within driving distance.
--Morning Consult
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