| Monday, November 10, 2025 |
| State Fountain Bakery returns to roots at Perry Food Hall | |
 | Behind the counter of State Fountain Bakery, Emily Tibbs moves quickly, greeting a steady stream of Mississippi State University students and faculty as they file in and out of the bakery's storefront Friday morning in Perry Food Hall. From the glass case beside her, she pulls and packages donuts, lemon squares, cheesecake slices and jalapeno cheddar kolaches, each one baked before dawn by Angel Jennings, and passes them across the counter to a line that seemingly never stops forming. After more than a year of closure during Perry's $30 million renovation, the 104-year-old bakery reopened in August in its original home on the dining hall's first floor. Jennings, who has baked and decorated there for nearly 30 years, said she and longtime customers are thrilled to see it back where it began. "A lot of alumni have come back and new faces and students," Jennings said, smiling. "I'm just happy. I missed it." When the university began its $30 million overhaul of Perry in May 2024, transforming it from an all-you-can-eat cafeteria into a modern food hall, campus leaders saw an opportunity to bring the bakery back home. "I think there's a lot of nostalgia about the bakery," said Regina Hyatt, vice president for student affairs. "... When we decided that we were going to do the major renovation ... at Perry, it just seemed like the right time to bring it back to a place that was its original home and have a storefront that was also in keeping with the nostalgia." |
| 4-H'ers participate in a range of educational activities | |
 | Photo: Mississippi 4-H Ambassadors provided leadership and service at the 2025 4-H Day at the Fair at the Mississippi State Fair in Jackson. Celebrating the America 250 theme are, from left, Joy Kitchens of Lauderdale County, Charlotte Wiltshire of Pearl River County, Amery Bloodworth of Tallahatchie County, Cameron Kelley of DeSoto County, Jordan Brooks of Holmes County, Roxie Robertson of Union County, Jacob Hoover of Pearl River County, John Clayton Kitchens of Lauderdale County, Brianna Lance of Washington County, Morgan White of Oktibbeha County, Karley Jo Harrison of Union County, Lilly Conn of Lincoln County, Neely Grace Jordan of Leflore County, Emily Mauney of Tippah County, and Joseph McDaniel of Lincoln County. |
| Hire qualified professionals for tree evaluation, removal | |
| Drought-stricken trees continue to die across the state, and many homeowners are facing the need for tree evaluation and removal services. "The record-breaking drought of 2023 and moderate drought of 2024 really did a number on trees all across Mississippi," said Butch Bailey, a forestry specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. "The pines declined quickly and died right away. But the hardwoods, like oaks and magnolias, are going to decline much more slowly. We will be losing large hardwoods that were actually killed by the 2023 drought for a few years to come," he said. When it comes to tree removal and evaluation, homeowners should be careful who they hire for these services. Bailey recommends hiring only properly trained and insured professionals to evaluate and remove trees. "Any guy with a chainsaw can cut a tree. That's not what you are paying for," he said. "You're paying for a professional to have the education and training, and to carry insurance. That's not cheap, but it's cheaper than a tree coming down the wrong way." |
| SNAP pause strains families, sparks wave of community support | |
| Makayla Rose hesitated last week before she posted on Facebook, asking if anyone knew where she could find food for her family. Rose, her husband and their two special needs children are among thousands of people in the Golden Triangle who have yet to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits this month due to the ongoing government shutdown. "I don't like asking for help," Rose told The Dispatch. "I just wasn't raised that way. I'm a very independent person, so making the post was already nervewracking." But within minutes, people began commenting on Rose's post, telling her where to find local food pantries and other resources. One man, she said, messaged and asked how much the family receives in SNAP benefits each month. He sent her the entire amount. When she learned her family may not receive the $350 in SNAP benefits that covers about 90% of her family's food budget each month, Rose said it was "gut-wrenching." That frustration, Rose said, is exacerbated by what she sees as "misinformation" about who receives the assistance. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, more than 26% of SNAP recipients are in working families, including Rose. This week alone, Brandi Herrington, executive director of Starkville Strong, said 700 meals have been served through the nonprofit's Seconds Servings program, which collects surplus food from local restaurants and community events to repurpose for meals. Still, Herrington said, the demand is growing each day. |
| Why shopping local matters this holiday season | |
| While more and more Americans turn to online retailers to fulfill their holiday lists, shopping at local stores and boutiques provides a more personal, customizable shopping experience for those in East Mississippi. Matt Schanrock, director of Meridian Main Street, said local businesses start seeing business pick up in November as people from Meridian and the surrounding areas look to get a head start on their Christmas shopping. For some small businesses, he said, the holiday traffic is vital. Meridian Mayor Percy Bland said the city's small businesses are a cornerstone of the community. Not only does the city rely upon sales tax to make up a large portion of its budget -- about 40% to 50% -- but small businesses are also the main employers, he said. According to The Mississippi State University Extension Service, retail sales positions account for more than 2,300 jobs in Lauderdale County. Of the county's 1,774 businesses, 70% employ fewer than 10 people and 47% have fewer than five employees. "They are the backbone of our economy," he said. Outside of Meridian Main Street, Schanrock said December is going to be a packed month for holiday happenings, and everyone is invited to come see what the Queen City has to offer. |
| Scruggs name synonymous with farming and agribusiness | |
 | Before he could walk, Mitchell Scruggs was riding on his mother's cotton sack as she picked cotton in the fields. When he was old enough, he too picked cotton by hand. Scruggs, now 76, never left the farming life. He is as comfortable in the fields as he is on the floor of the large retail store that bears his name. "I wouldn't know anything else; that's all I know," Scruggs said. "I've been doing it all my life." Scruggs, the son of sharecroppers who worked on the old Scott Place farm, said his parents knew they needed to find something else to do to make a living. They both found work at a mule barn -- his father hauling mules while his mother did the books. "I was raised in that mule barn because I wasn't old enough yet to go to school, so I just stayed there," he said. "But I've always had a taste for farming." At the turn of the century, Scruggs farmed about 17,000 acres. Today, Scruggs farms some 38,000 acres in Mississippi, and a few thousand more in Alabama. Scruggs operates cotton gins in Tupelo and Florence, Alabama, and of course, there's the mega-retail store, Scruggs Farm Lawn & Garden Home Improvement Warehouse. It opened in 2005, although the store's beginnings date back more than 30 years earlier. "How the store came about was there really wasn't any place around here to buy farm chemicals," Mitchell Scruggs said. "We'd have to go to Arkansas. I started when I went to get a load of chemicals, I'd get extra, and other farmers started buying from me." |
| Much of Mississippi to see 'significant freeze' Monday night into Tuesday morning | |
 | As some parts of the state saw their first overnight freeze of the fall Sunday into Monday, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is warning residents that more winter-like weather is to come -- and soon. MEMA officials said a "significant freeze" is forecasted for Monday night into Tuesday morning. It's expected to include low temperatures below 28 degrees for several hours in much of the state, per the National Weather Service. The impact of the freeze, set for sometime Monday night until around 9 a.m. on Tuesday, could include significant damage to unprotected vegetation. With temperatures dropping below freezing and more cold weather blowing through in the coming months, MEMA is encouraging residents that it's not too late to winter-proof your home. If there is a silver lining, it's that highs statewide should climb back into the 60s and 70s on Wednesday. |
| Mississippi's Artificial Intelligence Regulation Task Force advised to hold off on setting regulations | |
| Artificial intelligence is becoming more and more entrenched in the daily lives of Mississippians, prompting the state's Legislature to consider whether bills should be considered in the upcoming session to regulate its use. Thursday afternoon, four professionals working with AI or who have knowledge of the technology spoke to the Artificial Intelligence Regulation Task Force. All agree that it might be too soon to tell if state and/or federal regulations are needed. Topics discussed at the hearing at the Capitol included use of AI in educational settings, its use in providing virtual health care advice, and how the power and water needs of AI could impact communities. AI is already being used by some education providers in the state. One of the biggest questions the task force had concerned whether there is a need for laws in relation to AI. While providing penalties surrounding the use of AI for fraudulent purposes was proposed, for the most part, all four speakers suggested holding off on legislation at this point to avoid setting up roadblocks. |
| Americans See a Government That Can't Solve Their Problems | |
 | U.S. elections are sending a consistent message: Americans are deeply frustrated with their government's inability to solve problems. The latest example arrived Tuesday in a rebuke of President Trump, as voters rallied to Democrats in hopes they can better address affordability and other major challenges. That pushback was delivered just 12 months after the president swept all seven of the top battleground states in a show of Republican dominance. The rapid-fire swing in fortunes for both parties is the result of a narrowly divided nation quick to throw out elected officials seen as slow to improve their lives. To many Americans, government is literally not working, as evidenced by a federal shutdown that has now stretched into the longest in U.S. history. "It is hard to govern in an era of intense political division," said Julian Zelizer, a presidential historian at Princeton University. "It fuels an endless throw-the-bums-out electorate." Presidential administrations such as the one run by Lyndon B. Johnson used to be able to get massive -- and often expensive -- legislation through Congress when party control of Washington switched less frequently. Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt said deep frustration among voters comes from feeling overlooked and ill-served by the nation's political establishment. "This anger leads to volatility and powerful, seemingly contradictory messages being sent from one election to the next," he said. "The throughline is the view that our leaders are out of step with the voters." The flip-flopping has been a pox on Democrats and Republicans. |
| Deal to end government shutdown advances in Senate | |
 | The days may be officially numbered for the longest partial government shutdown in history. On Day 40 of the funding impasse, enough Senate Democrats decided to vote for cloture on the newly introduced spending package unveiled Sunday to get over the 60-vote hurdle and finally break the logjam. An initial test vote Sunday night on the revised, beefed-up legislation got over that threshold -- just barely, with exactly 60 votes -- though final passage is unlikely until later this week. The vote had been held open for over two hours allow for Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, the 60th vote, to return to the Capitol. He'd been back home over the weekend officially filing as a candidate for re-election next year in his state's Republican primary. New Hampshire centrists Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, as well as independent Angus King of Maine -- former governors of their New England states -- led talks with the White House and Senate GOP leaders to find a way out of the health insurance impasse that's kept the government closed for weeks. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said the arrangement includes a commitment to vote on a Democratic-drafted extension of expanded health insurance subsidies by mid-December, ahead of their Dec. 31 expiration. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., who's sided with Democrats in opposing any package that doesn't deal with skyrocketing premiums for insurance policies on the Affordable Care Act exchanges, said Sunday night he'd vote for the revised bill. |
| Stock futures roar higher after vote to reopen government | |
 | U.S. stock futures surged Monday as an end to the government shutdown came into sight. Futures tied to the S&P 500 were up nearly 1%, or 63 points, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average looked set to open higher by 178 points or 0.4%. Nasdaq futures were up 1.5%, about 375 points at 8:40 a.m. New York time. Market enthusiasm came after the Senate voted 60-40 late on Nov. 9 to advance legislation to end the shutdown. Eight Democratic senators relented on long-held demands over health care policy and joined 52 Republicans to end the filibuster blocking the measure. Reopening the government isn't a done deal. The Senate is set to reconvene at 11 a.m. ET. Then the House must vote again before sending the bill to President Donald Trump. Still, U.S. industry has weathered Washington's ups and downs this year -- most notably uncertainty about tariffs -- better than many observers had expected. The percentage of S&P 500 companies reporting positive earnings surprises is above the 10-year average, according to an analysis from FactSet, while the magnitude of earnings surprises is equal to the 10-year average. |
| Thanksgiving air traffic could 'slow to a trickle' if shutdown persists, transportation secretary says | |
 | Air traffic in the U.S. could "slow to a trickle" if the federal government shutdown lingers into the busy Thanksgiving travel holiday season, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Sunday. The Federal Aviation Administration last week ordered flight cuts at the nation's busiest airports as some air traffic controllers, who have gone unpaid for nearly a month, have stopped showing up for work. The reductions started Friday at 4% and will increase to 10% by Nov. 14. They are in effect from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time and will impact all commercial airlines. On Sunday, 1,375 flights were canceled as of 10:30 a.m. Eastern time, according to the aviation tracking website FlightAware. That follows more than 1,500 cancellations on Saturday. Duffy has said additional flight cuts -- perhaps up to 20% -- might be needed, particularly after controllers receive no pay for a second straight pay period. And he prepared Americans for what they could face during the busy Thanksgiving holiday. "As I look two weeks out, as we get closer to Thanksgiving travel, I think what's going to happen is you're going to have air travel slow to a trickle as everyone wants to travel to see their families," Duffy said. |
| House Republican: 'We're going to get killed' in midterms | |
 | Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew (N.J.) said his party will "get killed" in the 2026 midterms if it does not address rising health care costs. "We need to deal with [health care] now because, number one, it's the right thing to do, just morally," Van Drew said Friday on Fox Business's "Maria Bartiromo's Wall Street." "Number two, we're going to get killed [in 2026]."As the record-breaking government shutdown continues, open enrollment for Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans began earlier this month. On average, insurers are raising premiums for next year by 26 percent, according to KFF, with the expiration of enhanced ACA subsidies at the end of this year threatening to increase them even further. Nearly 6 in 10 respondents to an Associated Press-NORC poll conducted in mid-October were either "extremely" or "very" concerned about rising health care costs. Van Drew, echoing President Trump, called on Senate Republicans to "forget about the filibuster" and bypass Democrats to reopen the government to deal with rising premiums. Only then, he said, can Republicans devise a "good, solid, thorough replacement" for the ACA. |
| Trump administration tells states to 'undo' full SNAP benefits | |
 | The Trump administration is telling states not to pay full November food stamp benefits, revising its previous guidance after winning a temporary victory at the Supreme Court on Friday. USDA's latest memo, sent Saturday to state directors of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, instructed states to deliver just 65 percent of benefits during the government shutdown and required those who already sent full payments to claw back that money. "To the extent States sent full SNAP payment files for November 2025, this was unauthorized. Accordingly, States must immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025," the memo notes. The department threatened to take various actions if states don't comply, including cancelling federal funds that go toward administrative costs for the program or holding states liable for "overissuances." The Saturday memo is the latest in a string of moves from the Trump administration that has altered federal guidance on SNAP on a near daily basis, first directing states to pay partial benefits, then saying USDA would comply with full benefits, then filing an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson agreed late Friday to lift a deadline imposed by a Rhode Island judge, who ordered officials to tap into a separate USDA nutrition account to deliver full SNAP payments this month. |
| Trump accuses foreign-owned meat packers of inflating US beef prices and calls for investigation | |
| President Donald Trump on Friday accused foreign-owned meat packers of driving up the price of beef in the U.S. and asked the Department of Justice to open an investigation. The Republican president announced the move on social media days after his party suffered losses in key elections in which the winning Democratic candidates focused relentlessly on the public's concerns about the cost of living. But experts said it's unlikely that an investigation would result in lower prices at grocery stores, and a trade group representing meat packers said they're not to blame. Trump did not present evidence for his claims, writing on social media that "I have asked the DOJ to immediately begin an investigation into the Meat Packing Companies who are driving up the price of Beef through Illicit Collusion, Price Fixing, and Price Manipulation." He said he was taking the action to help ranchers, who were recently angered by his suggestion that the U.S. would buy Argentine beef to bring down stubbornly high prices for American consumers. Beef prices have soared to record levels in part after drought and years of low prices led to the smallest U.S. herd size in decades. Trump's tariffs on Brazil, a major beef exporter, have also curbed imports. Meanwhile, demand for beef remains strong. Prices are high because consumers want to eat it, and they're willing and able to pay for it, said Glynn Tonsor, who leads the Meat Demand Monitor at Kansas State University. |
| Trump Pardons Giuliani and Others Involved in Effort to Overturn 2020 Election | |
 | President Trump has granted pre-emptive pardons to Rudolph W. Giuliani and others accused of trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, according to an official familiar with the matter. The official, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said on Monday that those pardoned include John Eastman, a lawyer who advised Mr. Trump's 2020 campaign, and Sidney Powell, a conservative pundit who was briefly a public face of his campaign. The presidential pardons, which would only apply in federal court, are largely symbolic. None of those named are currently facing federal charges, and the pardons cannot shield them from ongoing state-level prosecutions. Mr. Giuliani, the president's former lawyer and confidant, was a leading voice in efforts to invalidate the results of the 2020 election, which Mr. Trump lost to Joseph R. Biden Jr. In the weeks afterward, Mr. Giuliani made widespread statements claiming that the election had been "stolen" from Mr. Trump and that Mr. Biden's victory was fraudulent. Mr. Giuliani has faced many legal troubles relating to his false and misleading statements surrounding the 2020 election. In 2024, he was disbarred from practicing law in New York by a judge who said he had "baselessly attacked and undermined the integrity of this country's electoral process." |
| Far-right provocateur Nick Fuentes is triggering a MAGA civil war | |
 | Four years ago, Nick Fuentes was unwelcome pretty much everywhere. The young far-right influencer was barred from nearly every social media platform and an array of payment processors, either for violating hate speech policies or for encouraging rioters to storm the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. A 2022 documentary by a sympathetic filmmaker called him "the most canceled man in America." Now a person who once called Adolf Hitler "awesome" has more than 1 million followers on Elon Musk's X. He recently recorded a cordial interview with Tucker Carlson that more than 5 million people have watched. And he finds himself a central figure in an online battle over the future of the American conservative movement. The resurgence of the 27-year-old Fuentes, who has argued that immigrants and "organized Jewry" are conspiring to extinguish the white race, has set off bitter infighting among conservative influencers over whether he should be tolerated or denounced. For President Donald Trump's MAGA movement, which has decried what they say is the overzealous policing of speech, Fuentes's newfound prominence presents a tough question: Is there such a thing as "too extreme" anymore? |
| Art, music and food under the oaks at MUW | |
| Mississippi University for Women and the Columbus Arts Council are teaming up again to bring the Under the Oaks Art Festival to campus. Set for Saturday, Nov. 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the festival will line Welty Drive with about 40 vendors selling handmade goods beneath the shade of sprawling oak trees. Live music will fill the air, and food trucks will keep shoppers fueled as they browse everything from jewelry and paintings to ceramics and crafts. "We're excited to welcome artists and the community to the W's vibrant campus for the third Under the Oaks Art Festival," said Erik Studdard, a graphic designer at MUW and one of the event coordinators. The festival is free and open to the public, offering a chance to enjoy a day of creativity, conversation and local flavor. The partnership with the Columbus Arts Council helps the university connect with artists and gives CAC a platform to carry out its mission. |
| Student enrollment is up for most of Mississippi's public universities, including Delta State and The W | |
| Most Mississippi public universities saw an increase in student enrollment for the fall semester compared to last year, according to an annual data report the Institutions of Higher Learning board released Monday. For regional institutions like Delta State University and Mississippi University for Women, that growth means victory. Overall, the state's public institutions saw a 2.7% increase in enrollment with more than 81,961 students on campuses this fall compared to 79,817 students enrolled last year. The W, located in Columbus, had the largest enrollment increase of the eight public universities: 8.1% or 2,371 students. That's the university's largest enrollment growth in over a decade. "We had increases in both new students and in continuing students, so recruitment and retention strategies are having a positive impact," Nora Miller, president of The W, said in a press release. Delta State, another regional institution located in Cleveland, enrolled 2,791 students this fall -- a 5.2% increase from 2024. The university also had its highest freshman enrollment growth since the pandemic: a 38% increase from fall 2024. "This milestone reflects the exceptional value of a Delta State education, the dedication of our faculty and staff, and the growing confidence families place in our mission to transform lives through innovative, student-centered learning," Delta State President Dan Ennis, said in a press release. |
| USM College of Business recognizes Pine Belt business leaders during annual awards luncheon | |
 | The University of Southern Mississippi honored several local business leaders who have contributed to the growth of the South Mississippi economy. The College of Business and Economic Development presented several awards during an annual "business excellence" luncheon. Top honors went to Keith and Melissa Saucier, who are the owners of Keith's Superstores. They were named Entrepreneurs of the Year. Other awards were also presented. Former Army general and retired banking executive, Steve Ainsworth, was named Alumnus of the Year, while Ashton Williams, vice president of finance at Codaray Construction, received Young Alumnus of the Year. "We want to recognize those that have given back to the community, to other individuals," said David Tolbert, vice president of the executive committee for USM's Business Advisory Council. "We love that we have a lot of students here (Friday) and every time we do this event, so that they can see the potential they have as a graduate from USM." |
| Four arrested in connection with 2023 JSU homicide | |
| Four people have been taken into custody in connection with a 2023 shooting death at Jackson State University. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation made the announcement on Friday. Those arrests include Elisha Brown, 23, Jamison Kelly Jr., 23, Marquis Scales, 24, and Ziqua Amos, 21. "This case is a testament to the persistence and professionalism of our state's law enforcement community," said Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell. "The tireless work of our MBI agents and our partner agencies reflects their unwavering commitment to seeking justice for victims and their families. I am incredibly proud of the teamwork that led to these arrests." Amos and Scales are being charged with murder. Brown is being charged with accessory after the fact and hindering prosecution. Kelly is being charged with accessory after the fact. Kelly and Joshua Brown were initially arrested in connection with the shooting back in 2023. The shooting occurred at Jackson State on October 15, 2023. |
| AccelerateMS, Hinds Community College partner to address critical workforce shortages in the construction and industrial trades | |
| AccelerateMS, Mississippi's lead office for workforce development strategy and coordination, and Hinds Community College, on Friday, established a strategic partnership designed to set a new statewide standard for how Mississippi supports new, expanding, and existing industries. The announcement, held at the Hinds Community College Jackson Campus, was attended by local and state leaders, workforce and education professionals, and representatives from key Mississippi industries. The collaboration focuses on addressing critical workforce shortages in the construction and industrial trades -- professions essential to building the infrastructure powering Mississippi's regional and statewide growth. Through the agreement, the two organizations will jointly develop and deliver high-quality, industry-aligned training opportunities that prepare Mississippians for priority occupations identified by the State Workforce Investment Board, AccelerateMS, and employer partners. |
| Trump administration's effort to cut federal funds could have dire impact on Mississippi libraries | |
| Sarah Tramel loves libraries. She visits them regularly, takes her daughter to storytimes and listens to audiobooks on Hoopla, an app that provides free access to ebooks, audiobooks, movies and other library material. "Having a young toddler, it's nice to be able to listen to audiobooks while you're driving in the car, doing stuff like that," said Tramel, 30, who works at Greater Belhaven Foundation in Jackson. Back in April, a halt to federal funding caused many libraries to temporarily suspend or limit access to Hoopla. Though Tramel did not lose access, she said losing the app means she wouldn't be able to read as much. "It would make me very sad," she said. The Trump administration's efforts to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services caused the funding pause. The institute provides federal funding to museums and libraries across the country and is the largest source of federal funding for America's libraries. Funding was restored months ago, and federal courts blocked the administration's efforts. But the federal government shutdown means that the agency's future is still at risk. "Sometimes you don't know what you had until it's gone," said Jennifer Lena, deputy executive director of the Mississippi Library Commission. "And I don't think a lot of people realize how many people don't have access to the internet at home, especially in rural areas." |
| The inside story of how Wade Rousse became LSU president -- with Gov. Jeff Landry's help | |
 | Four days before the LSU Board of Supervisors would select a new university president, McNeese State President Wade Rousse and University of Alabama Provost James Dalton met at the LSU president's house. Publicly, both were still candidates for the LSU job. Behind the scenes, however, Rousse had already secured it. Gov. Jeff Landry had spread the word quietly weeks earlier that Rousse's business-oriented approach for LSU aligned with the governor's vision. Lee Mallett, the board's vice chair and a close Landry ally, had been working assiduously to arrange for Rousse to show off his can-do personality in meetings with other board members and key political and business leaders. But Rousse had faced public complaints from some faculty and students who said he wasn't qualified to become president of LSU because he didn't have the necessary experience at a large research university. So Rousse and Dalton met at the president's house to see if they could agree on an arrangement to share duties. Board members fervently hoped they could agree, to assuage the critics. When Rousse and Dalton emerged an hour or so later, they told several anxious board members that they had gotten along well. Rousse would serve as the system president, overseeing athletics and the entire university system, while Dalton would focus on academics and research at the flagship campus in Baton Rouge and LSU's medical facilities in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. "It's not often, if ever, that during a presidential search you get lucky enough to have two candidates with the same vision whose different backgrounds complement each other to the betterment of the entire university," board chair Scott Ballard said during a news conference afterward. "I am proud today that LSU did just that." |
| Florida Board Says Syllabi, Reading Lists Must Be Posted Publicly for 5 Years | |
 | Faculty at all Florida public universities must now make syllabi, as well as a list of required or recommended textbooks and instructional materials for each class, available online and searchable for students and the general public for five years. The new policy is part of an amendment to the Florida Board of Governors' regulation on "Textbook and Instructional Materials Affordability and Transparency," and it passed unanimously without discussion at a board meeting Thursday. On the agenda item description, board officials cited improved transparency as the impetus for the rule, which is meant to help students "make informed decisions as they select courses." But some faculty members say it's designed to chill academic freedom and allow the public to police what professors teach in the classroom. "Many of my colleagues and I believe that this is yet another overreach by political appointees to let Florida's faculty know that they are being watched for potentially teaching any content that the far right finds problematic," said John White, a professor of English education and literacy at the University of North Florida. He said officials at his institution told faculty members they must upload their syllabi for 2026 spring semester classes to Simple Syllabus, an online syllabi hosting platform, by December. |
| A taste of community: Cumberland Food Hall brings new dining options to the Strip | |
| On Friday, Oct. 7th, Vol Dining introduced a new dining experience to Cumberland Avenue. Cumberland Food Hall is a new off-campus food option that is catered to the fast growing university and the needs of its students. "We're really excited about this space because it's not a typical dining hall, and it very much has a food hall vibe. It's open, it's fun, it's exciting ... and you can use your meal plan," Vol Dining Director Amanda Hough said. This project has been in the works for three and a half years, and is the first project that Hough has accomplished as the head of Vol Dining. Development and construction was done through a private investor, and the food hall itself is on the ground floor of a future Hub Knoxville apartment complex, Core Space's brand that prioritizes innovation and hospitality. "We had representatives from the university that really helped us navigate and shape challenges, and were advocates for us ... there were some setbacks in the way of just timelines for furniture, things of that nature, that we just had to pivot. But honestly, now that it's all happening, I think the timing is perfect," Hough said. Cumberland Food Hall features four food 'concepts,' and each is designed to provide an elevated dining option for students, and a way for them to fully utilize their meal plan. |
| OU Board of Regents to consider updates to student code, name renovated chemical engineering lab | |
| The University of Oklahoma Board of Regents will consider changes to the student rights and responsibilities code, naming the newly renovated chemical engineering lab and adding signage naming the Cherokee Nation outside of the Stephenson Cancer Center in Tulsa. The meeting will be held Tuesday at 9 a.m. at OU's Health Campus in Oklahoma City. The meeting was previously scheduled for the OU Norman Campus. The board will consider changes to the student rights and responsibilities code to include the definition of antisemitism in accordance with state law. Oklahoma state law requires all institutions of higher education to integrate the state-adopted definition of antisemitism from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance into the student code of conduct. According to the meeting agenda, the definition will be added to section two of the University of Oklahoma Student Rights and Responsibilities Code. The board will consider renaming the newly renovated chemical engineering lab in the Sarkeys Annex to the "Valero Energy Unit Ops Laboratory" in honor of the Valero Energy Corporation's financial contributions. Valero Energy donated $2.42 million to fund the renovation of the chemical engineering lab. |
| Missouri Department of Natural Resources analysts discuss water safety at university talk | |
 | Experts from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources discussed the importance of maintaining watersheds to ensure water quality during the University of Missouri's Saturday Morning Science presentation. Garrett Frandson, environmental analyst with the department, kicked off the lecture by explaining what watersheds are. Frandson described watersheds as "nesting dolls" because each large watershed is made up of smaller watersheds all leading to one specific body of water. Tabitha Gatts-Hendricks, another analyst with the department, described how changes to land can affect these watersheds. She said that when land is altered to be used for things like housing developments or deforestation, there needs to be consideration of how it will affect the area's watershed. "If we're not careful and cognizant of what we're doing in the watershed, we can start having some pretty rough negative impacts on our waterways," Gatts-Hendricks said. Gatts-Hendricks explained how land use without consideration of watersheds can lead to flooding, which can impact residential areas. She added that careless land use in watersheds can sometimes lead to loss of habitat for aquatic or terrestrial animals. |
| As higher ed feels a financial pinch, some schools say goodbye to satellite campuses | |
| The higher education world is grappling with a challenge it's seen coming for years: The so-called "demographic cliff." That's when the number of high school graduates, and therefore future college students, begins to decline. It's projected to begin as soon as next year, and is thanks, in part, to the birth rate in the U.S, which has been falling for nearly two decades. That looming cliff could add to other factors already putting many colleges and universities under increasing financial pressure: Students have access to more online degrees, young people are looking at job opportunities that don't require college degrees, and the Trump administration's immigration policies are keeping international students away. One way some schools are coping is by closing smaller satellite campuses, often far from a school's central location. The hope? That a smaller physical footprint can help save some cash and allow schools to better focus their resources. |
| Battle between Trump and universities hurting scientific research in need of federal funding | |
 | For generations, federal research funding to universities has fueled breakthroughs in medicine, technology, and national defense. Now, the White House is using that support as leverage -- pressuring a dozen elite universities to align with President Trump's political agenda or risk losing funding. The government has used the power of the purse before to shape higher education, but President Trump's effort is unprecedented in scale. He's accused universities of antisemitism and liberal bias, demanding they do more to safeguard conservative voices. Some universities have cut deals to protect their funding. But Harvard -- the nation's oldest university and the president's most prominent target -- has refused, citing academic freedom. The threat has disrupted hundreds of Harvard research labs, forcing scientists to halt projects, lose staff, and fear their work is becoming collateral damage in a political fight that could jeopardize the future of American discovery itself. |
| College students, stressed about federal food aid uncertainty, look to campuses for support | |
| Acorn squash, Spam and baby food lined the shelves on a recent day at a college food pantry in California's capital city, a resource that students receiving federal aid to purchase groceries may have to increasingly rely on because that assistance has been in limbo during the government shutdown. Hundreds of students at California State University, Sacramento, or Sac State, visit the school's Basic Needs Resource Center every week, where they can select up to a dozen items per trip -- ranging from fresh produce and meat to toiletries and secondhand clothes. "It's a big blessing," said Antonette Duff, a junior studying psychology at the university who's enrolled in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps. Many students are facing tuition and housing bills, juggling classes, and often working lower paying part-time jobs that make it difficult to afford groceries, with prices on the rise. "It just puts students in a really horrible position," said Mike Hannigan, a student at Greenfield Community College in Massachusetts and an advocate against food insecurity on college campuses. Hannigan and other students recently hosted a free farmers market on campus and gave out thousands of pounds of vegetables from local farms. Nothing was left over. |
| Trump's crackdown on foreign students barely impacts enrollment, data shows | |
| The number of foreign students in the U.S. decreased by less than 1 percent this fall, according to new federal data, despite predictions that their enrollment would plummet this year due to a crackdown by the Trump administration. While international enrollment has slipped at some schools with high percentages of foreign students, recruitment has remained surprisingly steady this semester at others around the country, school officials said. Overall, there were 1.3 million students with active visas in the U.S. in October, down a fraction of a percent from a year ago, the Department of Homeland Security reported. "We haven't seen the bottom fall out" of foreign student enrollment, said Clay Harmon, executive director of AIRC: The Association of International Enrollment Management, a nonprofit trade group for schools and recruiters. International enrollment remains critical for many schools for funding, research and to expose students to a broader array of cultures and ideas, advocates said. Foreign students account for roughly 6 percent of student enrollment at U.S. colleges overall, but they make up a far higher percentage of the student populations at the country's most prominent liberal arts schools and research universities. |
| Cornell Settles With the Trump Administration | |
| Cornell University has reached a deal with the Trump administration to pay the government a $30 million settlement -- and invest another $30 million in agricultural research -- in exchange for having its frozen federal research funding restored. The agreement, announced Friday, makes Cornell the latest institution to strike a deal with the federal government in an effort to settle investigations into alleged civil rights violations. The settlement follows similar arrangements at the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, Brown University and the University of Virginia. Concessions varied by university, with Columbia making the biggest payout at $221 million. Collectively, those institutions were targeted for a range of alleged violations, including allowing transgender athletes to compete on women's sports teams, failing to police campus antisemitism amid pro-Palestinian protests and operating supposedly illegal diversity, equity and inclusion practices as the Trump administration cracked down on DEI initiatives. Now the university will see roughly $250 million in frozen federal research funding immediately restored. The federal government will also close ongoing civil rights investigations into Cornell. |
| How the Loan Cap Committee Reached Consensus | |
| The Department of Education and its rule-making committee tasked with determining how to implement Congress's latest loan caps reached consensus Thursday, but that doesn't mean everyone involved was happy with the results -- or that the policy proposal is guaranteed to be legally sound, some higher education experts say. The key focus of the regulations, which should be published to the Federal Register by early next year, was to determine which degree programs should be eligible for which level of loans. Under the higher ed section of Congress's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was signed in July 2025 and takes effect in July 2026, students in graduate programs can borrow up to $100,000 from the federal government while borrowers in professional programs can take out twice as much in loans. At issue was the definition of professional programs. In the end, the department and negotiators on the committee agreed to recognize only 11 primary programs and a handful of other doctorate degrees as eligible for the $200,000 loan level. (All but one program on that list -- clinical psychology -- had been included in the original, most restrictive proposal that department officials first brought to the table in October.) While the Trump administration celebrated the committee's consensus as a key to lowering college costs, the results left many outside industry leaders, higher education lobbyists and some committee members unsatisfied. |
| Trump argues presidential authority allows him to do a lot, but not fund SNAP | |
| Mississippi Today's Bobby Harrison writes: President Donald Trump finally found a line he would not cross when it comes to ignoring existing laws while carrying out his agenda. And the line that he believes was constitutionally uncrossable was continuing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the government shutdown. In the president's mind, it was a bridge too far to provide food assistance to poor people while a congressional stalemate halted most government services. During his presidential tenure, Trump has challenged a litany of laws. He argued he did not have to fund certain programs even though there were laws passed by Congress mandating those programs be funded. ... But providing food assistance to about 43 million low-income Americans -- about 40% of those being children -- is the time when Trump said it would be illegal for his administration to act. He suddenly became a strict adherer of the law. Never mind that some even argued that discontinuing the program during a government shutdown is illegal. After all, never in the long and sordid history of government shutdowns has any other president stopped the food assistance program. |
SPORTS
| Special Night Shows How 'Nothing Compares' To State Baseball | |
| Clouds hovered in the nighttime sky over Dudy Noble Field on Friday evening. Nonetheless, stars could be seen everywhere you looked. Mississippi State's Farm Bureau Diamond Dawg Classic served as a pinch-me type of moment. Was this heaven? No. Just Starkville, hosting the kind of event that reminds everyone exactly how special MSU baseball is. "I think we have the premier program in college baseball," State great and Major League Baseball legend Rafael Palmeiro said prior to managing Team Lightning in the alumni game. "And I'm not just saying that because I went to Mississippi State and I'm associated with the program. "Nothing compares as a whole to our program and what we have to offer and the experience that you get coming to Mississippi State. The whole package is as good as it gets." It sure is. Nobody, anywhere, does baseball like Mississippi State and those reasons were everywhere to be seen on Friday. ... Oh, and lest we forget to mention the 10,172 fans who came out to see it all. That's right -- 10,172. For an alumni game in November. |
| Men's Basketball: Five Things To Know: State vs. No. 16 Iowa State | |
| Mississippi State men's basketball faces the first of three Big 12 opponents during its non-conference slate when the Bulldogs square off with No. 16 Iowa State on Monday evening at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Bulldogs (1-0, 0-0 SEC) used a 44-11 finishing kick over the last 16 minutes of the second half to turn a nine-point deficit into a 24-point triumph over North Alabama on opening night. State has won all four of its opening game decisions under by an average of 20.8 points per contest. Iowa State (2-0, 0-0 Big 12) has dialed up opening week victories over Fairleigh Dickinson (88-50) and Grambling State (102-62). The Cyclones have additional marquee non-conference matchups with Purdue (Dec. 8) and Iowa (Dec. 11) from the Big Ten along with St. John's (Nov. 24) and Creighton (Nov. 25) from the BIG EAST at the Players Era Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bulldogs have won all three previous meetings with Iowa State, most recently a 95-56 route of the Cyclones during the 2021 SEC/Big 12 Challenge at Humphrey Coliseum. Iverson Molinar (20 points), D.J. Stewart Jr. (17 points, 5 assists, 2 steals) and Tolu Smith III (16 points, 7 rebounds) led the way for the Maroon and White. |
| Women's Basketball: Bulldogs Score 107 In Victory Over Mississippi Valley State | |
| The Bulldogs scored the most points in the Sam Purcell era and topped 100 points for the fifth time as Mississippi State cruised to a 107-43 victory over Mississippi Valley State. "First and foremost, I'm proud of my young women and the effort they gave in this quick turnaround," head coach Sam Purcell said. "Obviously, this is a game we thought we could win, but I challenged them to play to our standards and our level on the defensive side, so that's a good win." Chandler Prater scored a career-high 25 points on 6-11 shooting from the floor. She knocked down four three-pointers at a 66.7 rate and went 100 percent from the charity stripe. She also collected five rebounds and five assists in the contest. "We're gelling really well as a team," Prater said. "I was just able to take what the defense gave me today. It felt easy today." The Bulldogs will be back in action this Thursday, as they welcome Jackson State to Humphrey Colisuem. Tipoff for the contest is set for 6 p.m. CT on SECN+. |
| Former Bulldogs Haddix and Collins named 2026 MSHOF honorees | |
| Two Mississippi State football standouts have been named to the 2026 Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame class. Running back Michael Haddix and defensive lineman Glen Collins will both be enshrined in Jackson next year in recognition of their accomplished careers at the amateur and professional levels of the sport. Haddix joined the Bulldogs out of Walnut, Miss., and was a star back for MSU from 1979-82, averaging an astonishing six yards per carry. He accumulated 2,558 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground with another 353 yards and two touchdowns receiving. Haddix led the team in rushing for three straight seasons, earning two All-SEC Second Team honors and becoming the highest-taken Bulldog in the NFL Draft until Fletcher Cox, going eighth overall to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1983. Collins joined the Bulldogs out of Jackson and anchored the team's defensive line for three years. He recorded 205 tackles and 26 sacks at MSU and was named a First-Team All-American in 1981 during his senior season with the program. Collins also earned Second-Team and First-Team All-SEC honors in his final two years with the program. Collins was taken 26th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1982 and spent six years in the league. |
| Dr. Mark Keenum wants to expand to a possible 16 team CFP | |
| Video: Dr. Mark Keenum, who also serves as head of the College Football Playoff oversight committee, says he would like to see the CFP expanded to 16 teams and lauds the new seeding procedures. |
| Mark Keenum says SEC prefers no automatic bids in CFP | |
| Mississippi State president Mark Keenum, the chair of the College Football Playoff board of managers, told ESPN's Paul Finebaum on Friday that the SEC would prefer to "not have automatic bids" in future iterations of the playoff. Keenum's comments come just weeks before the CFP's Dec. 1 deadline to determine whether there will be a format change for 2026 and beyond. "I'm not a big fan of automatic qualifiers," Keenum said on "The Paul Finebaum Show," which was live from Mississippi State ahead of Saturday's game against Georgia. "I think the best teams ought to play in our nation's national tournament to determine who our national champion in college football is going to be and not have automatic bids. That's the position of the Southeastern Conference -- presidents and chancellors, our commissioner, and probably most of the conferences that are part of the CFP." If the playoff is going to expand beyond 12 teams, the Big Ten and SEC will have to agree on the format because they were granted the bulk of control over it during the previous contract negotiation. Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey haven't reached consensus on a model. Following SEC spring meetings in May, a 16-team model that would feature the top five conference champions and 11 at-large teams gained support from every FBS conference except the Big Ten, which has been steadfast in its support of automatic qualifiers. |
| Talks of expanding CFP to 16 teams next season at impasse, committee leader says | |
| Mississippi State president Mark Keenum, who heads the College Football Playoff oversight committee, said Friday that he is not optimistic about the CFP expanding from 12 to 16 teams next season and that the SEC would prefer a model with no automatic qualifiers. In an interview on "The Paul Finebaum Show" on Mississippi State's campus in Starkville, Keenum acknowledged -- without giving specifics -- that expansion talks among conference leaders have reached an impasse. "I'm not very optimistic that we'll get to it, but we'll keep working on it," Keenum said. CFP leaders have a Dec. 1 deadline to inform their ESPN television partners of any format changes for next year, when a new six-year media rights contract kicks in with the network. The new CFP agreements give the Big Ten and SEC the final say over the format. With them unable to agree on how to expand, the alternative is to keep the playoff the way it is for the 2026 season, while still considering expansion options for future seasons. "I'm not a big fan of automatic qualifiers," Keenum said. "I think the best teams ought to play in our nation's national tournament to determine who our national champion in college football is going to be. And not have automatic bids. And that's the position of the Southeastern Conference presidents and chancellors, our commissioners and probably most of the conferences that are part of the CFP. We're still negotiating." |
| Mississippi State president 'not real optimistic' 16-team College Football Playoff format will pass | |
| The clock is ticking on College Football Playoff decision-makers as they discuss potential expansion for the 2026 postseason, and with a Dec. 1 deadline quickly approaching, the stakeholders may not reach an agreement to restructure the bracket. Mississippi State president Mark Keenum said Friday that he is "not real optimistic" the conference commissioners will agree upon an expansion plan. Among the primary holdups in CFP expansion talks is the lack of a consensus on how many automatic bids should be included in a larger field. While the Big Ten has long been a proponent of dishing out numerous guaranteed spots -- with most going to Big Ten and SEC teams -- other conferences have been wary of the idea. In fact, Keenum said that the SEC would prefer to do away with automatic bids altogether. "I'm not a big fan of automatic qualifiers," Keenum said on "The Paul Finebaum Show." "I think the best teams ought to play in our nation's national tournament to determine who our national champion in college football is going to be, and not have automatic bids. That's the position of the Southeastern Conference presidents, chancellors, our commissioner and probably most of the conferences that are part of CFP." "We're still negotiating," Keenum said. "We have to make a decision before the end of this month if we're going to expand to 16 next year. We've got just a few more weeks. I'll be honest, I'm not real optimistic that we'll get to that, but we'll keep working on it." |
| Mississippi State president says SEC doesn't want automatic CFP bids | |
| Mississippi State president Mark Keenum says the SEC wants to move away from automatic bids in the College Football Playoff. Keenum, who's also the chairman of the CFP board of managers, explained his position Friday on the Paul Finebaum Show, saying the league believes the nation's best teams should earn postseason berths based solely on merit. "I'm not a big fan of automatic qualifiers," Keenum said. "I think the best teams ought to play in our nation's national tournament to determine who our national champion is going to be and not have automatic bids. That's the position of the Southeastern Conference." The CFP must decide by Dec. 1 whether to alter its structure beginning in 2026. The Big Ten and SEC hold the most influence in those discussions after securing greater control in the most recent contract negotiations. A 16-team model, which is backed by most FBS leagues, would feature five automatic spots for conference champions and 11 at-large teams, but the Big Ten has remained firm in its support of automatic qualifiers. With that said, the SEC is on the outside looking in for this discussion. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has consistently favored flexibility and a merit-based approach. |
| CFP board member Mark Keenum not expecting resolution on format by Dec. 1 deadline, reveals setback in process | |
| The College Football Playoff management committee has until Dec. 1 to agree on a new CFP format. On Friday, Mississippi State president Mark Keenum, who serves as chairman on the CFP's Board of Managers, revealed his and the SEC's stance on expansion talks. "I'm not a big fan of automatic qualifiers," Keenum told ESPN's Paul Finebaum. "The best teams ought to play in our nation's national tournament to determine who our national champion in college football is going to be, and not have automatic bids. And, that's the position of the Southeastern Conference presidents and chancellors, our commissioner, and probably most of the conferences that are part of the CFP, but we're still negotiating. "We have to make a decision before the end of this month if we're going to expand to 16 next year. So we've got just a few more weeks, I'll be honest, I'm not very optimistic that we'll get to that, but we'll keep working on it." "I want as many young student athletes to have an opportunity to compete," Mark Keenum said. "It's so wonderful for the fan bases, for these schools to be able to have their teams participate in the national tournament and have that experience for their fans, for their students, for these student athletes." |
| CFP Chair Explains Why SEC Prefers to Not Have Automatic Bids in Future Bracket Format | |
| College Football Playoff board of managers chairman Mark Keenum, who also serves as president of Mississippi State, revealed why the SEC wants to avoid the inclusion of automatic bids in future CFP formats. "I'm not a big fan of automatic qualifiers," Keenum said during an appearance on The Paul Finebaum Show (h/t ESPN's Heather Dinich). "I think the best teams ought to play in our nation's national tournament to determine who our national champion in college football is going to be and not have automatic bids. That's the position of the Southeastern Conference -- presidents and chancellors, our commissioner, and probably most of the conferences that are part of the CFP." The SEC and Big Ten have the most control over CFP format discussions and will need to determine if there'll be a change for the 2026 playoff before the Dec. 1 deadline. If an agreement cannot be reached, the current 12-team model will remain in place for another year. A 16-team format featuring the top five conference champions and 11 at-large bids previously gained support from "every FBS conference except the Big Ten" due to its desire to include automatic qualifiers, per Dinich. |
| Bulldog Roundup: President says SEC favors no automatic bids to CFP | |
| Mississippi State is hosting two different morning kickoff shows on its campus Saturday with Barstool Sports and SEC Nation ahead of Saturday's game against No. 5 Georgia. That's a lot of media personalities in Starkville, which leads to lots of interviews and someone was bound to say something interesting. Enter Mississippi State president Mark Keenum who told ESPN's Paul Finebaum that the SEC would prefer to not have any automatic bids. "I'm not a big fan of automatic qualifiers," Keenum said on "The Paul Finebaum Show," which was live from Mississippi State ahead of Saturday's game against Georgia. "I think the best teams ought to play in our nation's national tournament to determine who our national champion in college football is going to be and not have automatic bids. That's the position of the Southeastern Conference -- presidents and chancellors, our commissioner, and probably most of the conferences that are part of the CFP." The SEC and Big Ten have a December 1 deadline to make any playoff format changes to the 2026 CFP and it's not likely the two commissioners will come to an agreement on a new format. "We're still negotiating," Keenum told Finebaum. "We have to make a decision before the end of this month if we're going to expand to 16 next year. ... I'll be honest, I'm not very optimistic that we'll get to that, but we'll keep working on it." |
| Dr. Mark Keenum says he's proud of the SEC Network's 'world-class' content | |
| Video: Dr. Mark Keenum reflects back to when the SEC Network first came about in 2014 as he discusses his impact on the network and expresses pride in the top-tier content. |
| The Big Ten, SEC and the Battle Over the Future of College Football | |
| The story of college football over the past quarter-century has been one of gradual consolidation. What was once a regional sport with deep roots and clearly demarcated borders has morphed into a sprawling battle where geography and tradition have been pushed into the background. Today, college football is ruled by two superpowers. The Big Ten, once the conference of the Midwest, now stretches from California to the nation's capital. And the Southeastern Conference has expanded its sphere of influence to include Austin, Texas, and Norman, Okla. The leaders of those two leagues, the Big Ten's Tony Petitti and SEC's Greg Sankey, are now essentially co-commissioners of the entire sport. But this isn't a peaceful coexistence. The leagues are opposed on key issues that will determine the fate of the sport, including expansion of the 12-team playoff and how to help their member schools fund their increasingly expensive operations. How they handle the coming weeks and months will set a course for the sport that is likely irreversible. The men at the controls at this critical moment, Sankey and Petitti, have come to their positions via sharply different paths. Now, those two men and the conferences they lead are also at odds over playoff expansion. The SEC prefers growing to 16 teams, with as many at-large bids as possible, a conference spokesman said. The Big Ten, meanwhile, has floated the idea of supersizing the playoff to as many as 28 teams, with up to seven guaranteed bids apiece for the sport's two dominant conferences. The deadline for expansion for next season, if it happens, is Dec. 1. |
| Sources: Big Ten execs pressing to make $2.4 billion investment deal -- without Michigan and USC if needed | |
| Big Ten executives are socializing a plan with member schools to move forward with their capital investment proposal -- even without Michigan and USC. The league has signaled to schools that it may hold a vote in two weeks to potentially adopt a 20-year, $2.4 billion deal with a California pension fund and extend the conference grant of rights an additional 10 years in what would be an unprecedented decision from a major conference -- striking a membership extension without all of its current schools. The move for a vote, supported and encouraged by many university administrators at 16 Big Ten schools, threatens to drive a schism within the league -- between those supportive universities and the Wolverines and Trojans, who are not in support of the measure. Several university administrators, board members and industry executives spoke to Yahoo Sports under condition of anonymity about the Big Ten's latest proposal in partnering with an investment fund of the University of California pension system called UC Investments. In a statement to Yahoo Sports, a Big Ten spokesperson says "no such vote is scheduled" and that the league "continues to work closely with all member universities to explore a partnership to strengthen and modernize our conference. The Big Ten will provide its members adequate time to consider this opportunity with a not-for-profit financial partner." |
| Waking up from a dream: Mizzou's playoff push staggering after another big-game failure | |
| Missouri spent the past two seasons inching toward college football's upper class. It stacked wins, built belief and, for the first time in a decade, imagined itself belonging in the conversation with the sport's elite. Saturday night ended that conversation. With College Football Playoff hopes hanging by a thread, No. 22 Missouri was outplayed, out-adjusted and ultimately outclassed by No. 3 Texas A&M in a 38–17 loss that felt like a summary rather than a surprise. A sold-out Memorial Stadium waited for the breakthrough. Missouri never delivered it. "We all believed we were going to win," head coach Eli Drinkwitz said afterward, his voice soft. When asked about MU's 0-6 record against ranked SEC opponents over the past two years, he responded: "They're good teams. And I don't do a good enough job." Drinkwitz paused for six full seconds before answering that question about MU's struggles in big games over the past two seasons. The silence spoke louder than any statistic. When it was over, the locker room was devastated. "That's one of the toughest locker rooms I've been in," Drinkwitz said. "Our guys believed we were going to win." |
| NCAA revokes eligibility of 6 more college basketball players as it continues sports betting probe | |
| The NCAA revoked the eligibility of six men's college basketball players on Friday as a result of three separate sports-betting cases that involved a power-conference school and allegations of players throwing games to lose by more points than the spread. The NCAA Committee on Infractions released findings from an investigation that concluded Chatton "BJ" Freeman at Arizona State; Cedquavious Hunter, Dyquavian Short and Jamond Vincent at New Orleans and Donovan Sanders and Alvin Stredic at Mississippi Valley State either manipulated their performances to lose games, not cover bet lines or ensure certain prop bets were reached, or provided information that enabled others to do so during the 2024-25 regular season. The development comes as the sporting world contends with mounting scrutiny over betting. Sanders and Stredic are no longer enrolled at the university, according to a statement from Mississippi Valley State. "The university takes these matters seriously and uses them as an opportunity to reinforce with all student-athletes the importance of adhering to NCAA regulations regarding sports wagering, which are in place to protect the integrity of collegiate sports and the well-being of student-athletes," the statement reads. |
| President Trump joins Fox broadcast during Commanders-Lions game | |
| President Donald Trump became the first sitting president to attend a NFL regular-season game since 1978 when he showed up to the Detroit Lions' drubbing of the Washington Commanders in Landover, Maryland on Sunday, Nov. 9. The crowd let the 45th president know how they felt by booing him (with a smattering of cheers) while being shown on the video board at Northwest Stadium and during a halftime military swearing-in ceremony, which Trump led. Trump also spent a few minutes of the third quarter being interviewed by the FOX broadcast team of Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma. "It's a microcosm of life," Trump answered when Albert asked him why he loved sports. "It's sort of like life: the good, the bad, the ugly. You have the triumph. You have the problems. You got to get through the problems to hit the triumphs. You can never quit. You can never give up." The broadcast showed a team photo from Trump's football-playing days, uniform No. 85, at New York Military Academy. Trump admitted he never scored a touchdown. Trump is no stranger to sporting events. He attended Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans in February shortly after beginning his second term. He was also on hand for the first day of play at the Ryder Cup in New York, the Major League Baseball playoffs and the men's final of the US Open. |
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