What makes college football special, and for some fans, superior to the NFL, is that big games mean something. 

The shorter regular season, smaller playoff field relative to the size of the sport, historic rivalries and the organization of teams into (formerly) regional conferences created a unique dynamic. Non-conference games between historic programs are must-see TV, not just because of the stakes, but because fan bases and conferences rely on those results. 

And the unfortunate reality of how the sport is organized in the modern era is that those big non-conference games are going to become less and less common. Which is precisely the opposite of what most college football fans want. 

The 12-team College Football Playoff has already created incentives for easier schedules. Notre Dame being perhaps the best example. The Irish have, historically, never shied away from tough games, despite being an independent program. But a new arrangement with the College Football Playoff committee has guaranteed them a spot in the tournament moving forward should they finish in the top 12.

FIVE SEC TRAP GAMES IN 2026 THAT COULD UPEND THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF RACE, FROM LSU TO GEORGIA

Their schedule in 2026 reflects that reality: Wisconsin at Lambeau Field, Rice, Michigan State, at Purdue, at North Carolina, Stanford, at BYU, Navy, Miami, Boston College, SMU, at Syracuse. That’s a schedule set up to win 10-11 games and be in the top 12 come December. 

Compare it to Texas. The Longhorns have Texas State, Ohio State, UTSA, at Tennessee, Oklahoma, Florida, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, at Missouri, at LSU, Arkansas, at Texas A&M. Then, should they finish that brutal, grueling schedule with a quality season, a date in the SEC Championship Game against a team like Georgia or Alabama. Head coach Steve Sarkisian was so frustrated at missing the 2025-26 playoff field at 9-3 that he essentially threatened to stop scheduling top non-conference teams like Ohio State moving forward. 

Then, just this month, the American Football Coaches Association came out in favor of expanding the field to 24, further limiting the incentive to schedule tough games. Why put yourself at risk of losing that fourth game when a 3-0 non-conference run and 6-3 in-conference record in the Big Ten or SEC would likely be enough to reach the field?

USC LEGENDS REACT TO STORIED NOTRE DAME RIVALRY GOING ON INDEFINITE HIATUS

That brings us to another recent sign that college football is moving in the wrong direction: the cancellation of a scheduled home-and-home series between Georgia and the Florida State Seminoles. 

In a recent statement, the teams announced that they had “mutually agreed” to take the 2027 and 2028 games off the calendar. With hopes of moving to a mutual site.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

“As we considered the effects of evolving scheduling mandates within both the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Southeastern Conference, we have mutually agreed that it is in the best interest of both schools to cancel our home-and-home series scheduled for 2027 and 2028,” said FSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Michael Alford. “We are now discussing playing a future neutral-site contest, and we are optimistic we will get that done. Importantly, this change will not reduce the total home games on our schedule moving forward.”

Well, there you have it. Instead of playing huge games against big-name teams from other conferences, on campus, in front of a student section and raucous home crowds, new “schedule mandates” are influencing teams to move games to neutral sites. Instead of “The Doak” or “Between the hedges,” should the series be rescheduled, it’ll likely be yet another game played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

These new schedule mandates, playing nine conference games like teams in the Big Ten or the former Pac-12 did for years, as well as the expanded playoff, now mean that schools are looking for ways to minimize their downside. Instead of prioritizing the upside and providing a better and more meaningful experience for fans. 

It’s been that way for quite some time, unfortunately. But this new era of super conferences and bigger postseason tournaments is only making it worse. Most fans would almost certainly prefer to play these big games in a home-home format, even if it means an extra loss. Most schools now don’t seem to care.

A “The Price is Right” contestant set a new daytime record after winning the largest single pricing game prize in the show’s 54-year history.

Vanesa McCaskell, a retired Army veteran from Virginia, took home more than $240,150 in cash and prizes during the CBS series’ special Mother’s Day episode on Friday.

The milestone win came after McCaskell successfully navigated “The Lion’s Share,” a newer high-stakes BetMGM-branded game in which contestants can risk their earnings for a chance at significantly larger payouts.

McCaskell walked away from “The Lion’s Share” with $227,500 in cash and a trip to Morocco worth $12,650. Her win surpassed the previous single pricing-game record of $210,000, which was set by former contestant Christen Freeman in 2016 during a game of “Cliff Hangers.”

‘THE PRICE IS RIGHT’ CONTESTANT WINS NEW CAR AFTER CRASHING OWN VEHICLE

“From ‘Come on Down’ to playing ‘The Lion’s Share,’ it all felt so surreal – a dream moment that only kept getting bigger,” McCaskell said in a statement, via Variety.

“I was nervous, excited and everything at once,” she added. “Winning over $200,000 is life changing. I plan to invest wisely, enjoy a little and treat my mom to a special surprise.”

“The Lion’s Share,” which “The Price Is Right’s” production company Freemantle created in partnership with BetMGM, was introduced during the first episode of the 54th season in September 2025 and allows contestants to win up to $500,000 in cash and prizes.

CRAIG CARTON TALKS ‘NORMALIZED’ SPORTS BETTING, BEING OPEN WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY ABOUT GAMBLING ADDICTION

In the game, contestants guess the prices of grocery items to earn up to five balls, which are dropped into a wind-tunnel-style chamber to reveal hidden prize amounts. After each reveal, contestants must decide whether to walk away with their winnings or continue playing at the risk of drawing a “lose it all” ball.

During Friday’s episode, McCaskell took an aggressive approach to the game as her daughter watched and cheered from the audience. After winning $2,500 in the first round, McCaskell continued, dropping to the floor in excitement when the prize was revealed to be $25,000. McCaskell proceeded through the third round and began screaming after she won $100,000.

With two balls left and a total of $127,500 in winnings, McCaskell decided to continue playing.

‘DRINKS ARE ON ME’: MIDDLE-CLASS MOM’S LOTTERY WIN USHERS IN NEW YEAR’S WITH STUNNING WINDFALL

“The last two numbers are my daughter’s birthday,” she told host Drew Carey. “I have to go.”

“For you, baby,” McCaskell said, pointing to her daughter in the audience.

McCaskell appeared to be in disbelief after it was revealed she won another $100,000 and her daughter jumped up and down in the crowd.

‘GOLDEN BACHELORETTE’ JOAN VASSOS AND FIANCÉ SHARE KEYS TO BLENDING FAMILIES WITHOUT CONFLICT

“Vanesa, we’re almost up to a quarter-million dollars,” Carey said. “One more ball to go.”

“I have to believe,” an emotional McCaskell said while trembling before continuing on.

McCaskell covered her head with her hands as the last prize was revealed to be a “mother-daughter trip” to Morocco valued at $12,650.

88-YEAR-OLD ARMY VETERAN WORKING AT GROCERY STORE RECEIVES OVER $1.7M IN DONATIONS AFTER VIRAL VIDEO

As McCaskell celebrated ending the game with $240,150, Carey congratulated her.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER

“Nice job. What a haul,” he said before shaking McCaskell’s hand and wishing her a “happy retirement.”

LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

“The Lion’s Share” is the first custom-branded game in the history of “The Price Is Right” and the first new pricing game that the show has introduced since 2021, according to BetMGM and Fremantle.

In January 2025, BetMGM and Fremantle signed a multi-year partnership agreement that gives BetMGM exclusive rights to use “The Price Is Right” and “Family Feud” intellectual property for online casino content, including slots, table games and other gambling-style games. The deal also included integrated sponsorships and branded segments within the TV shows like “The Lion’s Share.”

“Our partnership with Fremantle was designed to bring the thrill of BetMGM gameplay to life on one of television’s most iconic game shows,” BetMGM chief revenue officer Matt Prevost said in a statement, via Variety. “That vision was delivered in a historic way during Vanesa’s record-breaking win on ‘The Lion’s Share.’”

“It’s always an exciting moment when we introduce a new game, and ‘The Lion’s Share’ is already delivering in a big way,” Fremantle exec VP of partnership solutions Erica Gadecki added.

The record for the highest total winnings on a single episode of “The Price Is Right” is $262,743, set by contestant Michael Stouber during a 2019 “Big Money Week” episode.