| COLLEGE SPORTS |
| Conference USA future in doubt with four teams expected to join Sun Belt next week Dennis Dodd, CBS Sports Concern has emerged that the future viability of Conference USA is "hanging on by a thread" as college football conference realignment continues to play out, sources tell CBS Sports. Southern Miss accepted a Sun Belt invitation on Friday, while Marshall and Old Dominion have yet to formally decide. NLRB general counsel discusses memo that has the attention of college sports Liz Mullen, Sports Business Journal Jennifer Abruzzo, the new general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board, made it a priority to issue a memo declaring certain college athletes "employees" for several reasons, including recent legal developments involving the NCAA. Abruzzo, who took over the job in July, issued the memo in September and it received a lot of press, as it could be the first step for college football players, and potentially other team sport athletes, toward unionizing. Cut The Cards: First big bets down in the college betting space; odds are high on more deals soon Bill King and Michael Smith, Sports Business Journal Sportsbooks want to sponsor college programs for the same reason they sponsor pro teams: Because college sports fans, and in this case alumni, are their consumers. As sure as they drink beer and soft drinks, buy cars and choose insurance providers, many place bets. L.S.U., Led by Exiting Orgeron, Tumbling Out of SEC Prominence Alanis Thames, The New York Times Many wondered how the Tigers would respond a week after the program and Ed Orgeron, L.S.U.'s head coach since midway through the 2016 season, agreed to part ways. Saturday's 31-17 loss to Ole Miss provided a dismal answer as L.S.U. dropped its fourth game of the season in a contest that was even more of a blowout than the final score indicated. |
--Morning Consult
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