After a chaotic end to the regular season in college football, the matchups are set for championship week. Here’s a look at the showdowns coming up in the Power Four and Group of Five. All championship games are Dec. 7 except in the American Athletic, Conference USA and Mountain West, which will be played Dec. 6.
ACC Championship
No. 9 SMU (11-1, 8-0 ACC, No. 9 CFP) vs. No. 12 Clemson (9-3, 7-1, No. 12 CFP) at Charlotte, North Carolina
What to know: The Mustangs completed a sweep of their first ACC schedule with a 38-6 win over California, making them the only team in their new league that didn’t lose a conference game; SMU has a 17-game conference winning streak dating to its days in the American Athletic. Clemson, which advanced to the title game after Miami lost at Syracuse, will be seeking its eighth ACC crown in the past 10 years.
Big Ten Championship
No. 1 Oregon (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten, No. 1 CFP) vs. No. 4 Penn State (11-1, 8-1, No. 4 CFP) at Indianapolis
What to know: The Nittany Lions have been one of the quietest one-loss teams all season but get a chance for a big win and a higher CFP seed with a victory in this one. They will face the last unbeaten team in college football in the Ducks, who finished the regular season without loss for the first time since 2010.
Big 12 Championship
No. 14 Arizona State (10-2, 7-2 Big 12, No. 16 CFP) vs. TBD at Arlington, Texas
What to know: The Sun Devils rode Cam Skattebo (177 yards and three touchdowns) in a big win over rival Arizona to land a title game berth after perhaps the wildest of all power conference races. Their opponent was not settled until late Saturday.
SEC Championship
No. 3 Texas (11-1, 7-1 SEC, No. 3 CFP) vs. No. 6 Georgia (10-2, 6-2, No. 7 CFP) at Atlanta
No. 25 Army (10-1, 8-0 AAC) vs. No. 18 Tulane (9-3, 7-1, No. 17 CFP) at West Point, New York.
What to know: The Green Wave’s loss to Memphis over the weekend likely cost the league any hope of a playoff bid but both teams are going to the postseason regardless. Army still has its annual showdown with Navy before a bowl game, too.
Conference USA Championship
Jacksonville State (8-4, 7-1 CUSA) vs. Western Kentucky (8-4, 6-2) at Jacksonville, Florida
What to know: The C-USA title game pits two teams in a rematch six days after facing each other. WKU handed the Gamecocks their first league loss, 19-17 on Saturday night, and will have to beat them again for the title.
Mid-American Championship
Ohio (9-3, 7-1 MAC) and Miami (Ohio) (8-4, 7-1) at Detroit
What to know: The two Ohio schools met earlier this season, with the RedHawks beating the visiting Bobcats 30-20. Ohio has won seven of its last eight.
Mountain West Championship
No. 11 Boise State (11-1, 7-0 MWC, No. 11 CFP) vs. No. 21 UNLV (10-2, 6-1, No. 22 CFP) at Boise, Idaho
What to know: The Broncos bring a 10-game winning streak into the championship game, have won 11 straight at home and are on the verge of making the College Football Playoff behind Heisman Trophy candidate Ashton Jeanty. They have made the Mountain West title game three straight seasons. This one is a rematch of the title game a year ago won by Boise State and a regular-season matchup in October, a 29-24 Broncos win.
Sun Belt Championship
Louisiana-Lafayette (10-2, 7-1 Sun Belt) vs. Marshall (9-3, 7-1) at Troy, Alabama
What to know: The Ragin’ Cajuns earned a spot in the championship for the fifth time in the seven-year history of the game. Marshall beat James Madison 35-33 in double overtime to clinch a spot for the first time in program history.
As college football hurtles toward championship season, the race for conference titles is heating up. Here’s a quick breakdown of who has already punched their ticket and who’s still in contention across the Power 4 and Group of 5 conferences:
Power Four Conference Championship Tracker
ACC:
Clinched: SMU has secured a berth in the title game.
Scenarios: Miami can clinch with a win at Syracuse next week. Clemson needs Miami to lose to Syracuse to secure their spot.
Big Ten:
Clinched: Oregon is confirmed for the Big Ten Championship Game.
Scenarios: Ohio State advances with a win against Michigan at home. Penn State needs a win over Maryland and help elsewhere to clinch.
Scenarios: If a four-way tie at 7-2 between Arizona State, BYU, Colorado, and Iowa State occurs, Arizona State and Iowa State would advance to the title game based on tie-breaking rules. The Big 12 tells CBS Sports there are over 250 possible combinations of teams that would meet in the conference championship game.
Scenarios: Texas controls its own destiny in its first SEC season and can secure a spot with a win against No. 15 Texas A&M (the Longhorns are currently favored by 7.5 points). Likewise, three-loss Texas A&M can keep its CFP hopes alive by beating Texas. If it does so, it will make the SEC Championship Game to face Georgia, where it can jump from off the bubble to first-round CFP bye if it takes the Dawgs out.
Group of Five Conference Championship Tracker
American Athletic Conference:
Conference USA:
Clinched: Jacksonville State will host the conference title game.
Scenarios: Liberty clinches with a win over Sam Houston. Western Kentucky can clinch with a win over Jacksonville State and a Liberty loss. Sam Houston needs to beat Liberty and see Western Kentucky lose to Jacksonville State.
Mid-American Conference (MAC):
Contenders: Bowling Green, Miami (Ohio), and Ohio control their destinies, all sitting at 6-1. Key matchups on Nov. 29 include Bowling Green hosting Miami (Ohio) and Ohio hosting Ball State.
Mountain West:
Clinched: Boise State has secured its eighth title game appearance, a conference record.
Scenarios: Colorado State advances with a win over Utah State and a UNLV loss to Nevada. UNLV gets in with a win over Nevada and a Colorado State loss. If both win, the higher-ranked team in the final CFP Rankings will advance. If both lose, results-based computer metrics will decide.
Sun Belt:
Contenders: Marshall and Louisiana control their destinies.
Scenarios: Marshall advances with a win at James Madison, while Louisiana can clinch with a win at Louisiana-Monroe.
We’ll see if the final week of the season can match the chaos that the penultimate weekend brought. If so, the tiebreaker scenario is going to get even crazier.
MINNEAPOLIS – With 10 straight points, the Alexandria football team had the momentum heading into halftime of Saturday’s MSHSL Class 5A State Championship game. Chase Thompson’s third touchdown pass of the night, a 23-yard pass to Mason Gorghuber followed by a Elk River turnover over on downs and a Prep Bowl record 44-yard field goal by Daniel Jackson in the final seconds half of the first half, Alexandria tied the game at 24.
But in the second half, Elk River played its brand of football and limited possessions for both teams. In the end, Elk River made the most of its offensive drives and created turnovers on defense.
Both teams only finished two drives in the second half. Elk River had two 17-play drives that took up over 18 minutes in the second half and totaled nine points.
Meanwhile, Alexandria had two possessions that took up a little over five minutes and resulted in no points and two interceptions, giving Elk River a 33-24 win on Saturday in the MSHSL Class 5A State Championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
“Our guys played hard and well, but against Elk River, there’s little margin for error,” Alexandria head coach Mike Empting said. “Congratulations to Elk River; they’re a great football team. They’re a tough team stop. We knew we’d have to take advantage of opportunities when we got them. Elk River took advantage of its opportunities.”
“This group was just so phenomenal to work with,” Elk River head coach Steve Hamilton said. “They’re just so much fun to be with every every single day. They work hard daily, and we probably ask too much of them. They are great and we have a phenomenal coaching staff.”
Elk River had first the possession in the second half and went on a 17-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Levi Harris that put it up 30-24 over Alexandria with 2:28 left in the third quarter.
“You have to get a team like them behind the sticks,” Empting said. “You must try to get them into long-yardage situations on third and fourth down. It’s tough to get them off the field when they get three and four-yard situations on third and fourth down. Once they cross about the opponent’s 40-yard line, they’re going for it on fourth down. In those situations, it was four-down territory, and we had to make stops. We just had a hard time.”
Alexandria’s Brody Berg (28 in white) runs the ball as Elk River’s Gavin Schmidt (28 in red) tries to block, and Alexandria’s Evan Zabel (75) blocks during the MSHSL Class 5A State Championship game on Nov. 23, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Sam Stuve / Alexandria Echo Press
That nine-minute and 32-second drive was four seconds off of the Prep Bowl record for the longest-scoring drive set by Stillwater in 1984.
“You have to take what they give you, and we knew they weren’t going to give us the long runs in the second half,” Hamilton said. “Number 72 (Jack Morrissette) and 75 (Evan Zabel) for Alexandria are very good, but they play both ways (on the offensive line and defensive line). We had a game plan to be physical with those two on offense. Thankfully, it worked. That drive in the second half was obviously huge.”
Harris forced the game’s first turnover on the next possession as he picked off Thompson to give the Elks the ball at their own 17-yard line, leading 30-24 with 30 seconds left in the third quarter.
“The whole first half, we responded well to their scores,” Thompson said. “We felt confident that we could respond well to them in the second half. Sitting there for nine and a half minutes was tough, but there’s no excuses. We should’ve responded better.”
Elk River’s rushing attack was methodical all throughout the night.
This was true for the fourth quarter, but Alexandria put Elk River in a fourth-and-4 on the Elk River 48-yard line at 7:40 left in the game.
Elk River opted to go for it with Harris running the ball to the right, towards the Alexandria sideline and was tackled right at the line to gain.
Harris was initially ruled to be short of the line to gain, giving Alexandria possession of the ball near midfield, trailing 30-24 with seven and a half minutes left in the game.
But a video review changed the spot of the ball, and the new spot gave Elk River a first down by one chain link.
“That was a downer for us,” Empting said. “If we get that stop, we can go down the field and possibly get the lead there.”
A 28-yard field goal by Spencer Burgoon pushed Elk River’s lead to 33-24 with 3:16 left in the game.
The Cardinals tried to make a last-ditch effort in the final minutes and moved the ball deep into Elks territory, but an interception by Gavin Kerns in the final minute and a half sealed the Elks’ second state title win in three years and third in nine years.
Alexandria quarterback Chase Thompson throws the ball during the MSHSL Class 5A State Championship game against Elk River on Nov. 23, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Sam Stuve / Alexandria Echo Press
“Alexandria is really good, and they couldn’t be more different than us, right?” Hamilton said. “It’s hard for us to replicate what they do, and I’m sure that’s true for them the other way around. We had to go right at them, run it down the hill, double team their best guys play after play, and hopefully work by the second half.”
Elk River dominated time of possession on Saturday, as it controlled the ball for 33 and a half minutes, while Alexandria only had the ball for a little over 14 minutes.
Alexandria moved the ball quite well all night, especially through the air.
Thompson finished with 305 passing yards and three passing touchdowns for the Cardinals. Gorghuber had two touchdown receptions, while Mason Witt had one touchdown catch on an 80-yard pass from Thompson.
Carsyn Kleffman led Elk River’s backfield on Saturday with 112 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, both of which came in the first half.
Alexandria’s Mac Heydt (3) tries to make a move around Elk River’s Carsyn Kleffman (0) during the MSHSL Class 5A State Championship game on Nov. 23, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Sam Stuve / Alexandria Echo Press
Breckin Keoraj also had a long rushing touchdown in the first half to help the Elks (12-1) win its second state title in the last three years and its third MSHSL state title in program history.
Elk River finished with 393 rushing yards. Gavin Schmidt led Elk River in rushing yards with 123.
This state championship was a little more special for Elk River, who was playing in honor of Charles Gabrelcik. Gabrelcik is a member of the Elk River football team who was
that killed his friends Anthony Krider and Donovan Gobel.
“He’s important to us; that’s why we have his number and initials on our helmets,” Hamilton said. “Going through what he’s going through is way harder than anything we’ve done, and he’s got to do it every day to have some quality of life. We reminded the guys that when you’re feeling down that, it can get a lot worse and get a lot harder and that some people have to fight like that every day.”
The Cardinals finish the 2024 season with a 10-3 record as the Class 5A runner-up.
Alexandria’s Sam Anderson (18) and Dane Olson bring down Elk River’s Eli Harris (2) during the MSHSL Class 5A State Championship game on Nov. 23, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Sam Stuve / Alexandria Echo Press
This is Alexandria’s first runner-up finish since taking second in Class 2A in 1994.
“It’s an honor,” Alexandria senior edge rusher Dean Lempka said. “I’m proud of the way my team played. It’s nice when you can come off the field as a defensive player and watch your offense march down the field. I’m so proud of every single person on this team, and I’m excited to see what Alexandria has in store in the future.”
“I wouldn’t have wanted to play with anybody else,” Alexandria senior running back/defensive back Heydt said.
This runner-up finish is Alexandria’s third top-two finish in an MSHSL State Tournament (Alexandria won a state title in 1974).
Over the last two seasons, Alexandria has amassed a 24-4 record and finished as one of the best teams in Class 5A.
Seniors like Gorghuber, Thompson, Jackson, and Lempka have been a reason why Alexandria has had major success in the last two seasons.
Alexandria’s Evan Kludt (7) runs over Elk River’s Gavin Kerns (1) after making a catch during the MSHSL Class 5A State Championship game on Nov. 23, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Sam Stuve / Alexandria Echo Press
“Us seniors hoped to leave the legacy that we left this place better than how we found it,” Jackson said.
And in the eyes of Empting, they’ve left a profound legacy within the Alexandria community.
“These guys did it the right way,” Empting said. “The thing that I’m probably most proud of is how they grew throughout the season. A lot of these guys played last year on the team that lost in the state semifinals last year, and they grew not only as football players but as people. They’re great leaders. I’m proud of the young men that they are in our community. The legacy is to be not only successful on the football field but also as a student and young man. They’re outstanding young men.”
1/6: Alexandria’s Chase Thompson holds up the MSHSL Class 5A State Tournament runner-up trophy on Nov. 23, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Sam Stuve / Alexandria Echo Press
2/6: Alexandria’s Mason Gorghuber (5) makes a touchdown reception over Elk River defenders during the MSHSL Class 5A State Championship game on Nov. 23, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Sam Stuve / Alexandria Echo Press
3/6: Alexandria’s Dean Lempka (2), Brody Berg (28) and Evan Zabel (75) celebrate during the MSHSL Class 5A State Championship game on Nov. 23, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Sam Stuve / Alexandria Echo Press
4/6: Alexandria’s Brett Meyer (30), Mac Heydt (3), and Brody Berg (28) wrap up an Elk River ball carrier during the MSHSL Class 5A State Championship game on Nov. 23, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Sam Stuve / Alexandria Echo Press
5/6: Alexandria’s Daniel Jackson boots a 44-yard field goal during the MSHSL Class 5A State Championship game on Nov. 23, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Sam Stuve / Alexandria Echo Press
6/6: Alexandria’s Zach Anderson accepts his Most Valuable Teammate award after the MSHSL Class 5A State Championship game on Nov. 23, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Sam Stuve / Alexandria Echo Press
Alexandria – 7 17 0 0 – 24
Elk River – 8 16 6 3 – 33
ELK RIVER – Carsyn Kleffman 64-yard run, 2-point conversion GOOD, 6:16 (Elk River 8-0)
ALEXANDRIA – Mason Gorghuber 11-yard pass from Chase Thompson, Daniel Jackson PAT, 3:31 (Elk River 8-7)
ELK RIVER – Kleffman 1-yard run, 2-point conversion GOOD, 7:36 (Elk River 16-7)
ALEXANDRIA – Mason Witt 80-yard pass from Thompson, Jackson PAT, 7:24 (Elk River 16-14)
ELK RIVER – Brecken Keoraj 63-yard run, 2-point conversion GOOD, 5:12 (Elk River 24-14)
ALEXANDRIA – Gorghuber 23-yard pass from Thompson, Jackson PAT, 4:00 (Elk River 24-21)
ALEXANDRIA – Jackson 44-yard field goal, 0:10 (Tied 24-24)
ELK RIVER – Levi Harris 1-yard run, 2-point conversion NO GOOD, 2:28 (Elk River 30-24)
ELK RIVER – Spencer Burgoon 28-yard field goal, 3:16 (Elk River 33-24)
FIRST DOWNS – Alexandria, 13; Elk River, 21
RUSHING YARDS – Alexandria, 47; Elk River, 388
PASSING YARDS – Alexandria, 305; Elk River, 24
TURNOVERS – Alexandria, 2; Elk River, 0
PENALTIES – Alexandria, 3-25 yards; Elk River, 3-20 yards
THIRD DOWNS – Alexandria, 4/7; Elk River, 7/12
FOURTH DOWNS – Alexandria, 1/2; Elk River, 3/4
TIME OF POSSESSION – Alexandria, 14:05; Elk River, 33:55
Just two teams remain in the 2024 DII field hockey season. Kutztown and Saint Anselm are set to battle for the national championship. The Golden Bears are looking to repeat, while the Hawks are looking to make program history and win their first title.
The defending national champion, No. 4 Kutztown, and No. 7 Saint Anselm are set to go head-to-head from Saints Field in Gaffney, South Carolina at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 24. You can stream the game live right here on NCAA.com.
Kutztown vs. St. Anselm: By the numbers
Team
Scoring average
Defensive saves
Assists
Save percentage
Kutztown
3.00
50
42
0.629
Saint Anselm
3.14
89
46
0.739
The DII field hockey season opened on Sept. 5 as Kutztown defeated Saint Anselm, 4-0, in a game the Golden Bears dominated. The season will end with the two teams facing off once more.
Looking at the bracket seeding at the beginning of the tournament, we have a finals showdown of two underdogs. Despite coming in at the No. 4 seed, the Golden Bears likely take it to heart being called an underdog, coming in as the defending national champions. Kutztown had a bumpy road back to the finals for a chance to repeat: The Golden Bears hit a three-game skid in October and then were bumped from the PSAC tournament in the semifinals. Still, Kutztown regrouped and took down No. 5 Southern New Hampshire and then bumped off No. 1 Shippensburg — which it lost to twice this season — to advance to the final.
Forward Erin Gonzalez — who scored twice in the upset of Shippensburg — is one to watch for the Golden Bears, leading the team in points with 31, the fifth-most in the stacked PSAC. Midfielder Juliana Donato — who scored what ultimately was the game-winner in Friday’s upset — and back Sarah Gatehouse each earned First Team All-PSAC honors, each scoring six goals and assisting on six others. Mia Kepler has started 19 games in net, going 14-3 with a 0.632 save percentage. Both of Kutztown’s tournament wins have been by one goal, a situation it has found itself in 11 times this year, going 8-3 in one-goal decisions.
St. Anselm came in as the No. 7 seed, the first time the DII field hockey championship had a seventh and eighth seed since expanding the field. The Hawks went on to avenge their loss to Assumption a week earlier in the NE10 championship game, upsetting the No. 2 Greyhounds, 3-2, before upsetting No. 3 East Stroudsburg to reach their first championship game since 2019.
Both Amanda Lewandowski and Maddie Davis led the offensive charge for the Hawks, combining for 23 goals. The dynamic scoring duo joined back Grace Michael in earning All-NE10 First Team honors. Sidney Falterer started every game in goal for the Hawks, posting a 15-5 record and coming off that impressive shutout against East Stroudsburg, making four saves.
DII field hockey championship prediction
Last year we saw DII field hockey history as Kutztown won its first-ever national championship. While there is a strong history of repeat national champions in the sport, this seems to feel like destiny may be calling for St. Anselm.
First of all, the PSAC has won 12 DII field hockey national championships in a row. Sometimes you throw logic out the window and wonder if going for No. 13 in a row may be a little unlucky and further enhance St. Anselm’s fate. Secondly, a simple look at the stats shows St. Anselm is (again, statistically) stronger across the board, leading Kutztown in just about every category.
The Hawks were in the championship game in 2019 but lack the experience Kutztown is bringing to the table. Still, the Hawks just shut out the seventh-best scoring team in DII — and they should be riding a ton of momentum. Give me St. Anselm to take home the program’s first title.
Budapest will host the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in September 2026. (Infront imagery)
Sports marketing heavyweight Infront has become the international media rights sales partner for the lucrative World Athletics Ultimate Championship which will debut in two years’ time.
Infront will be in charge of securing a worldwide broadcast portfolio for the inaugural edition of that event, set to take place in Budapest, Hungary, across September 11 to 13, 2026.
Sportcal (GlobalData Sport) understands there were six bidders for these rights, with Infront one of two to be shortlisted.
This tie-up comes as an addition to the existing multi-faceted relationship between Infront and World Athletics – the agency already handles international media rights sales for the top-tier Diamond League, and the Continental Tour Gold and Indoor Tour Gold.
In addition, the Host Broadcast Services (HBS) wholly-owned subsidiary of Infront has been appointed in that capacity for the Budapest event, with Tata Communications in as the host broadcaster itself.
That builds on the five-year deal unveiled in June between Tata and World Athletics, through which Tata Communications will provide events across the World Athletics calendar with bespoke coverage and broadcast content which it will deliver across continents.
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Jon Ridgeon, chief executive at World Athletics, has said: “The Ultimate Championship is also a chance for us to really innovate how we deliver our sport, presenting it in new formats and across different platforms which are specifically designed to keep the entire venue engaged, ensuring constant, fast-paced excitement.”
The World Athletics Ultimate Championship – unveiled in early June – will debut in 2026 as a climax to the track and field season, and then take place every two years.
It will pit world champions, Olympic champions, Diamond League winners, and the year’s best-performing athletes against each other, to crown an ultimate champion.
The $10 million prize money is the largest ever offered in the history of track and field athletics. All athletes competing at the championship will be financially rewarded and the winners will receive $150,000 each.
The three-day global championship event will feature eight to 16 of the world’s top-ranked athletes per discipline competing in a new compact format for athletics, with each evening session including semi-finals and finals for track disciplines, and straight finals for field disciplines.
The Ultimate Championship will feature several track disciplines, including sprints, middle and long-distance races, relays, jumps, and throws, with athletes representing their national teams.
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Men and women will race in the same 100 metres relay at a major event for the first time at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship.
A mixed 4x100m relay – which could see British record holders Dina Asher-Smith and Zharnel Hughes team up – has been included in the streamlined schedule for the new biennial global competition in 2026.
However, a number of traditional disciplines have been omitted from the programme for the big-money meet in Budapest, including heptathlon, meaning Britain’s world champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson will not have the chance to compete for a record $150,000 (£119,000).
The Ultimate Championship – which was first announced in June – has been created to ensure each athletics season concludes with a global event. It will be held every even year, with the existing World Championships continuing in the odd years.
The introduction of a mixed 4x100m relay – which will be trialled during next year’s Diamond League – follows the success of the mixed 4x400m relay, which has featured in the last two Olympics.
‘The mixed 4x100m relay is just one example of how we want to do this event differently,’ World Athletics chief executive Jon Ridgeon told Mail Sport in Budapest. ‘We think it will be a great success because the mixed 4x400m has been great fun.
A mixed 100m relay will be included at the 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship
The event could see British record holders Zharnel Hughes and Dina Asher-Smith team up
The decision follows the success of the mixed 4x400m relay that has featured at the last two Olympics
‘We are still working out the exact format. Over the next few months, we will test the permutations of who hands over to who. But I almost hope that it is going to be a free for all because that will be most exciting.’
The inaugural Ultimate Championship will be held over three nights at the National Athletics Stadium in Budapest in September 2026, with each session lasting no more than three hours to suit TV.
The limited timeframe means a number of disciplines have been cut, including multi-events heptathlon and decathlon, track races the 10,000m and 3,000m steeplechase, plus field events the discus and shot put.
‘Of course there will be athletes who are disappointed,’ said Ridgeon. ‘But if you are going to create a new product, you have to decide on the philosophy of that product, and all the advice we got is it needs to be fast-moving and time limited, so there sadly isn’t time to do a heptathlon or decathlon.
‘The whole look, brand and feeling of the event will be unique in terms of what we have done before. We are very aware that this event can’t just be an Olympics or World Championships-lite.
‘It is a matter of trying to piece together the timetable and see how the different bits work together for optimal excitement and drama in the evening.
‘But no athlete should get the impression that any event is being phased out or not loved by World Athletics. This is only for 2026 and we will assess again in 2028 and it may well be a different roster of disciplines.’
Just 16 athletes will be invited to compete at the Ultimate Championship in each track event, which will start at the semi-final stage, along with the eight competitors in each field discipline, which will only have a final.
But Olympic hero Katarina Johnson-Thompson will miss out with heptathlon not on the bill
Discus will also not feature as organisers look to trim down events for the biennial competition
Athletes will qualify via world rankings – although there will be wildcards for defending Olympic, world or Diamond League champions – and there will be no cap on the number of competitors per nation. ‘The core philosophy of the event is it’s the best of the best,’ said Ridgeon.
The overall prize pot is a record $10million (£7.94m), with the $150,000 on offer for each winner more than double the $70,000 earned by gold medallists at the last World Championships.
‘We are always looking to increase the money that goes to the athletes,’ said Ridgeon. ‘We want to make sure that being a professional athlete is a sustainable, lucrative life.’
It is hoped the BBC will broadcast the Ultimate Championship, just like they do the World Championships and Olympics.
‘This is not about maximising the income and putting it behind a paywall, this is about making sure the maximum number of eyeballs around the world can see it,’ said Ridgeon. ‘A lot of the broadcasters who currently show the Olympics and World Championships will be our natural partners for this event.’
The 2026 competition could also be the first time that the long jump uses a take-off zone rather than a take-off board, despite athletes heavily criticising the proposed change to the historic discipline when it was first muted at the start of the year.
‘The take-off zone is one of the things that we continue to test,’ said Ridgeon. ‘If it tests well, that is the sort of thing that could be introduced at 2026 or at a later date. But it has to test well and be accepted by the sport.’
Ridgeon revealed that World Athletics are also trialling the 200m hurdles as an event, something which last featured at an Olympics in 1904.
‘From our research, we know the hurdles are popular,’ he said. ‘It’s an event that could bring together sprint hurdlers and 400m hurdles which is quite interesting. These are the sort of things we are testing.’
200m hurdles is also set to be trialled, despite the distance not featuring in the Olympics since 1904
Meanwhile, Ridgeon insists World Athletics are not threatened by Michael Johnson’s new big-money series, Grand Slam Track.
Johnson’s league launches next year, with four three-day meets between April and June and prize money of $100,000 for the winners of each category. Brits Josh Kerr, Matthew Hudson-Smith and Daryll Neita are among the stars to have signed up.
The second Grand Slam Track event in Miami in May clashes with the second Diamond League – World Athletics’ top-tier series – meet in China.
But Ridgeon added: ‘It is not a rival to anything we do. Our view is that we encourage new money and new opportunity into the sport.
‘We take it as a sign that the sport is in pretty good shape if new investors are looking to come in and add value. All we ask for is new organisers to work with us to make sure dates work as far as they can.’
INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Committee announced the field of 40 teams for the 2024 NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Championship today.
Ten teams were selected from each of the four super regions. Teams from the same region will be paired for first- and/or second-round competition, which will be conducted Nov. 22 and 24. The third-round will be held on Dec. 1 followed by the quarterfinals games on Dec. 7. All preliminary round competitions will be played on campuses of competing institutions. The semifinals and final will be played Dec. 12 and 14 at Sportsplex at Matthew Stadium in Matthews, North Carolina hosted by Wingate University. In the 2023 championship, Franklin Pierce beat Colorado State University Pueblo 4-0 to claim their third national championship title.
The Heritage Woods Kodiaks have never won a boys AAA soccer provincial championship.
The Heritage Woods Kodiaks senior boys soccer team is hoping the character and resilience it showed at the Fraser North zone championship will carry through to the provincial finals that are being played Nov. 21 to 23 at the Burnaby Lake Sports Complex West.
After winning six of its seven matches in league play, the Kodiaks defeated Moscrop and New Westminster at the Fraser North tournament before coming up against a tough team from Burnaby North that prevailed 1-0 to achieve the zone’s top seed at provincials.
Heritage Woods coach Giordanao Baldonero said despite the disappointing outcome, there was a lot he liked from his charges’ effort.
“I think we showed again our character and resilience to battle to the end,” he said, adding those are elements the team can build on at provincials.
Baldonero credits seniors like midfielder Matthew Purdy, forward Alan Diaz and goalkeeper Ben Vopni with providing leadership while Grade 11 midfielder Eita Sladek filled the net as the Kodiaks’ leading goal scorer.
Baldonero said a short, intense tournament like provincials, where teams play twice on the opening day then early on the second day to determine their seeding going forward demands players remain fully focused on the task at hand and never take anything for granted.
“Every team has earned their right to be there, so no one should be taken lightly”
Still, Baldonero said, it’s hard not to get excited about the possibility of bringing a first provincial AAA boys soccer banner back to Heritage Woods Secondary School.
“I think we measure up well,” he said.
The Kodiaks open the tournament against Surrey’s Panorama Ridge, Thursday at 11 a.m., following by a match at 2:30 p.m. against the Kitsilano Blues. The team’s final match of the preliminary round will be Friday at 9 a.m. against Lake City.
Talons fall just short
Heritage Woods is the only representative from the Coquitlam School District at this year’s provincial tournament after the upstart Gleneagle Talons lost its bid for to be Fraser North’s third qualifier by losing 1-0 in penalty kicks to the Westview Wildcats in the zone’s third place match.
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FARGO — For the second time in three seasons, Velva-Drake-Anamoose-Garrison is heading home a state champion.
The Aggies held off defending champion Kindred 14-12 at the Fargodome Friday to claim the North Dakota Division 1A football state title.
Ben Schepp’s 92-yard touchdown pass to Matt Jochim late in the third quarter — a Dakota Bowl record for both longest pass completion and longest scoring pass reception — held up as the game-winner.
“No, that’s awesome,” said Schepp, unaware of the record-breaking play. “That’s just the cherry on top, I guess.”
The previous records were held by Richland, set during the 9-man title game in 2005 when quarterback Dustin Erbes found receiver Jon Griffith for a 90-yard touchdown reception in a 42-7 win for the Colts.
On Friday, with 39 seconds remaining in the third, Schepp found Jochim down the left sideline on a short pass completion. From there, Jochim couldn’t be caught.
“It’s just insane,” Schepp said of the state title. “Look up (to the stands) and it’s just blue and gold. The community support is insane. It was a great team win. Everybody. Everybody on the field. Everybody deserved this.”
Velva-Drake-Anamoose-Garrison’s Ben Schepp is greeted with a hug from teammate Bradyn Bossert after winning the Senior Athlete of the Year award following the Aggies’ Division A State Championship win over Kindred on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the Fargodome.
Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
It’s the second state title for the Velva-D-A-G co-op program and 12th for Velva overall. The Aggies finish the year with a mark of 11-1, with their lone loss coming to the previously-unbeaten Vikings in the season opener in August.
“The guys had to rise up and they did,” Velva head coach Matt Weilder said. “We’ve prepared for this opportunity and these different situations. We felt good that our kids were going to compete for four quarters and make a play.”
The teams were tied 6-6 at halftime. Kindred opened the scoring with 2:40 remaining in the opening quarter when quarterback Jake Starcevic found the end zone on an 8-yard run.
The Aggies responded with 7:32 left in the second when Schepp found receiver Reggie Bruner for a 25-yard touchdown reception. The play came two snaps after a Vikings turnover, when Starcevic was intercepted by Velva’s Bradyn Bossert.
Velva-Drake-Anamoose-Garrison’s Reggie Bruner lands in the end zone for a touchdown against Kindred’s Brooks Bakko and Kylan Swenson during the Division A State Championship on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the Fargodome.
Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
After the 92-yard strike from Schepp to Jochim, Kindred managed to pull within two points late in the fourth quarter after Kylan Swenson’s 3-yard touchdown run with 1:44 remaining.
However, Swenson’s conversion run was ruled just short of the end zone to keep the Aggies on top.
Kindred ultimately forced a Velva punt with 1:18 remaining to get the ball back with no timeouts, but Starcevic was intercepted by Jochim on the third play of the possession at the Velva 25-yard line to seal it for the Aggies.
Velva-Drake-Anamoose-Garrison’s Matt Jochim and Logan Vincent react to a game-sealing interception against Kindred during the Division A State Championship on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the Fargodome.
Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
Kindred finished its season at 12-1, ending a run of 24 straight wins dating back to its last defeat on Oct. 29, 2022.
“Give all the credit in the world to Velva,” Kindred head coach Eric Burgad said. “They had us dialed in. Sometimes, a team’s just got ya and it felt like they had us (today).
“I’m really proud of how our kids played. It’s no discredit to our kids. I’m very proud to be the coach of this group and it was a heck of a fun season. That’s the message for us, chin up and congrats to Velva.”
Kindred’s Kylan Swenson is tripped by Velva-Drake-Anamoose-Garrison’s Ben Schepp during the Division A State Championship on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the Fargodome.
Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
Schepp finished with two interceptions on defense while going 8 of 12 passing for 154 yards and two touchdowns. Thomas Bodine led the Velva ground game with 50 yards on 14 carries.
Starcevic finished 10 of 19 passing for 137 yards and three interceptions, while Swenson finished with 113 yards and a touchdown in 19 carries.
Velva finished with 237 yards of offense to Kindred’s 327.
Schepp was named Division 1A Senior Athlete of the Year while Burgad received Coach of the Year honors.
“All the communities … Velva, Garrison, Drake, Anamoose, everybody has come together,” Schepp said. “It’s amazing and I just thank God for it every day.”
Velva-Drake-Anamoose-Garrison’s Ben Schepp celebrates their Division A State Championship win over Kindred on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the Fargodome.
Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
VEL 0 6 8 0—14 KIN 6 0 0 6—12
KIN — J. Starcevic 8 run (kick failed)
VEL — Bruner 25 pass from Schepp (try failed)
VEL — Jochim 92 pass from Schepp (Iglehart pass from Schepp)
KIN — K. Swenson 3 run (try failed)
Kindred team captains accept their runner-up plaque following their Division A State Championship loss to Velva-Drake-Anamoose-Garrison on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the Fargodome.
Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
Kindred’s Jake Starcevic runs in a touchdown against Velva-Drake-Anamoose-Garrison during the Division A State Championship on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the Fargodome.
Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
Velva-Drake-Anamoose-Garrison’s Ben Schepp punts on fourth down against Kindred during the Division A State Championship on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the Fargodome.
Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
Velva-Drake-Anamoose-Garrison’s Bradyn Bossert, his team and Kindred players react to a Kindred touchdown during the Division A State Championship on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the Fargodome.
Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
Kindred’s Luke Starcevic holds back Velva-Drake-Anamoose-Garrison’s Ben Schepp during the Division A State Championship on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the Fargodome.
Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
Kindred’s Hunter Bindas dives for a catch against Velva-Drake-Anamoose-Garrison during the Division A State Championship on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the Fargodome.
Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
Kindred’s Jake Starcevic makes a pass to a teammate during the Division A State Championship against Velva-Drake-Anamoose-Garrison on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the Fargodome.
Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
Kindred’s Brooks Bakko jumps to catch a pass against Velva-Drake-Anamoose-Garrison’s Ben Schepp and Treyson Iglehart during the Division A State Championship on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the Fargodome.
Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
Kindred’s Hunter Bindas celebrates a catch against Velva-Drake-Anamoose-Garrison during the Division A State Championship on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the Fargodome.
Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
Velva-Drake-Anamoose-Garrison’s Ben Schepp intercepts a pass meant for Kindred’s Brooks Bakko during the Division A State Championship on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the Fargodome.
Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
Velva-Drake-Anamoose-Garrison’s Treyson Iglehart is tackled by Kindred’s Kylan Swenson and Jake Starcevic during the Division A State Championship on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the Fargodome.
Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
Kindred’s Kylan Swenson brings down Velva-Drake-Anamoose-Garrison’s Hank Bodine during the Division A State Championship on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the Fargodome.
Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
Ryan Spitza joined The Forum in December 2021 as a sports reporter. He grew up in Marquette, Mich., a city of 20,000 on the southern shore of Lake Superior. He majored in multimedia journalism and minored in public relations at Northern Michigan University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in May 2019. While attending college, Spitza gained real-world experience covering high school and college athletics for both The Mining Journal and The North Wind.
Spitza can be reached at 701-451-5613 or rspitza@forumcomm.com. Follow him on Twitter @ryspitza.
INDIANAPOLIS — The field of 64 teams, which will compete for the 43rd NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship, was announced this afternoon by the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Committee.
Thirty conferences were granted automatic bids for the 2024 championship, while the remaining 34 teams were selected at-large. The top 32 teams are seeded, and conference teams cannot play each other in the first or second rounds. When pairing teams, the committee follows geographic proximity parameters.
Four teams are advancing to the Division I Women’s Soccer Championship for the first time: California Baptist, East Carolina, Southern University, and University of South Carolina Upstate. First round action will be played November 15-17, while the second/third rounds will be held November 22 and 24, with the quarterfinals on November 29 or 30.
This 43rd annual NCAA Women’s College Cup will be played Dec. 6 and 9 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina, with the University of North Carolina and Cary, NC serving as hosts. The first national semifinal will be played and broadcast live on ESPNU at 5 p.m. EST Friday, Dec. 6, followed by the second semifinal beginning at approximately 7:30 p.m. EST live on ESPNU. The national championship match will take place at 5 p.m. EST Monday, Dec. 9 and will also broadcast live on ESPNU.
Florida State is the defending national champion, winning the program’s fourth national championship last season. To find the complete 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship bracket visit ncaa.com.
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