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BCS out, playoff in? College football takes giant step in that direction

Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon has remained one of the most vocal opponents to a college football playoff, even as momentum built for such a system in the past year.

He called the notion of a playoff "ridiculous" in a WolverineNation story earlier this year, saying "I don't care what you come up with, it's not going to be a fair playoff."

Just three months later, change appears to be afoot after college football's bigwigs said after three days of deliberation that they favor a four-team playoff over the current BCS system.

BCS officials whittling postseason options, say 'status quo is off the table'

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Get to know Ohio U., the Michigan basketball team's NCAA opponent

The Michigan basketball team will open its NCAA Tournament with a second-round game against Ohio on Friday in Nashville, Tenn.

Don't know much about the Bobcats? We're here to help:

NCAA changes football kickoff rules, touchback placement

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$2,000 of spending money for athletes among sweeping changes approved by NCAA

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Five things to know about Michigan basketball team's NCAA opponent, Tennessee

The Michigan basketball team drew a somewhat surprising No. 8 seed in the NCAA tournament and with it a game against Tennessee, the No. 9 seed out of the Southeastern Conference.

The two schools haven't met on the basketball court in more than 20 years and their most well-known battle was the 1997 Heisman Trophy race between Charles Woodson and Peyton Manning.

But this is basketball and the NCAA tournament. So here are a few things to know about Tennessee (19-14) entering the game Friday in Charlotte, N.C. (12:40 p.m., TruTV).

Breaking down the bracket: One man's thoughts on the 68-team NCAA tournament field

This year's NCAA tournament bracket seems more even than any I can remember, perhaps because there are no true outstanding teams outside of Ohio State.

With more teams (the field moved from 64 to 68 this year) and new names (the first weekend is now the second and third rounds, completely confusing fans) there are more chances for a blown up bracket than ever.

Of course, that’s part of the fun. Here’s a quick guide that might land you in the top 10 of your office pool. But don’t place blame if you end up last, either.

today's college sports links: Tom Osborne at Big Ten meetings, NCAA agent probe widens and college football predictions

Alabama football coach Nick Saban talks to the media during the Southeastern Conference Media Days on Wednesday, July 21, 2010, in Hoover, Ala.

AP photo

College football camps across the country are poised to begin next week as the NCAA probes the influence of rogue agents at multiple schools.

Coaches are up in arms. The likes of Nick Saban and Urban Meyer are angry, but powerless to stop the problem, writes Andy Staples at SI.com. That's the ultimate in unintentional hilarity, says Mike Celzic at MSNBC.com, who says the up-in-arms coaches are no better than the 'pimp' agents.

Meanwhile, CBS-TV reports that, regardless of schools, the NCAA investigations center on a South Beach club in Miami, and North Carolina coach Butch Davis says the investigation of his players came "out of left field."

Believe it or not, there's more than news about rogue agents in college football. Here's a look at what else is going on today in college sports:

Associated Press: NCAA details changes for 68-team men's basketball tournament

Anyone from Arkansas to Arkansas-Pine Bluff could kick off March Madness next year.

The NCAA's expanded 68-team men's basketball tournament will include a four-game first round involving eight teams from all across the Division I spectrum. Two of those initial games will include the four lowest seeds in the field — but the other two will include the final at-large qualifiers.

The NCAA unveiled the new plan Monday. All four of the "First Four" games will be broadcast on Turner's truTV cable channel. The eight teams will play early in the first week, with the winners advancing to games on Thursday or Friday.

Associated Press: A glance at other key decisions made by the NCAA on Thursday

Big Ten medical staffs will examine concussion policies next week

A Big Ten medical professional says the classroom shouldn’t be ignored when NCAA athletes are diagnosed with a concussion.

Concussions are a hot topic in college sports. An NCAA safety panel recommended this week that schools create a detailed plan to handle concussions. In December, the same panel recommended a policy that athletes be sidelined until cleared by medical staff if they display concussion-related symptoms. Both the National Football League and NCAA also recommend that an athlete sit out the rest of the game or practice if diagnosed with a concussion.

Michigan State director of sports medicine Dr. Jeff Kovan said Thursday that representatives from each Big Ten university will discuss the potential for league-wide guidelines regarding concussions as part of its yearly meetings Tuesday and Wednesday in Park Ridge, Ill. The topic was added to the agenda last month after Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany asked about the league’s policy on head injuries, Kovan said.

Associated press: NCAA to schools: Come up with detailed plans regarding concussions

An NCAA panel is recommending that all schools come up with a detailed plan on how to handle an athlete with a concussion, including exactly who has the authority to clear that person to play again.

today's college links: Michigan football leads nation in average attendance; Alum sues U-M regents

Detroit Free Press: Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman on NCAA investigation: 'I'm not anxious'

University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman said she doesn't know what the NCAA's timetable is regarding the investigation of the Michigan football program, but that, "I'm not anxious, I'm not anxious," she told the Detroit Free Press.

The NCAA, in a notice of inquiry, let Michigan know in October it would conduct its own investigation into how Michigan complies with rules regarding off-season workouts, in-season scheduling and more. The NCAA said it would complete its investigation by the end of 2009.

John U. Bacon: Nothing simple about NCAA rules and college football

John U. Bacon, author, freelance reporter, radio personality, speaker and blogger, checks in this week on allegations that the University of Michigan football team broke NCAA rules. His take: This isn't easy for anybody. Read his blog entry here.

A more detailed look at what college basketball coaches would like to see

Following with today's story on the new NCAA ethics committee that Michigan coach John Beilein chairs, here's some more detailed thoughts on what college basketball coaches from around the country want to see from the committee.

Playing the waiting game with J.T. Turner, Adrian Witty

The longer it takes for incoming Michigan freshmen J.T. Turner and Adrian Witty to make it through the NCAA Clearinghouse, the less likely they are to play a significant role this year. And that could be bad news for the Wolverines’ thin secondary.