The FBS presidents have decided on a name for their new college football playoff — the College Football Playoff.  No, that’s not the most imaginative name in the world, but if the product is something everyone wants there’s no need for a flashy name.  And just about every college football fan in America has wanted a College Football Playoff at one time or another.

The powers-that-be have also decided on the site of the first title game — Arlington, Texas’ Cowboys Stadium.  Sources reported to ESPN that Tampa actually put together a better than expected bid before losing out to Jerry Jones’ palace.  “It was closer than a lot of people thought it would be.”

You can actually vote for the new playoff logo — and they’re also rather bland — at CollegeFootballPlayoff.com.  (For some reason, the logo that looks like a throwing star ranks ahead of the classier, Logo #2.)

More info leaking from the FBS presidents’ meeting in Pasadena:

*  The six bowls making up the playoff rotation will be: the Rose Bowl, the Sugar Bowl, the Orange Bowl, the Fiesta Bowl, the Chick-fil-A Bowl (welcome to the big time), and the Cotton Bowl.

*  No city will host the title game and a semifinal in the same year, so the Cotton Bowl won’t host a semifinal game in the first year of the playoff’s existence (the 2014 season).

*  The semifinal rotation will progress as follows: Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl (January 1st, 2015), Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl (December 31st, 2015), Fiesta Bowl and Chick-fil-A Bowl (January 1st, 2016), rinse, wash and repeat in that order through the 2026 playoffs.

*  The title games will all be played on Mondays — January 12th, 2015, January 11th, 2016, January 9th, 2017, and so on.

*  In the years the Orange Bowl (ACC versus highest-ranked SEC/Big Ten/Notre Dame), Rose Bowl (Big Ten versus Pac-12) and Sugar Bowl (SEC versus Big XII) are not part of the semifinal rotation, they will get the highest ranked team from their existing partners.

*  The playoff selection committee will determine the matchups for the other bowl when they are not part of the rotation.

This information is expected to be officially announced today.

Once ex-Arkansas assistants Bobby Petrino, Paul Haynes, and ex-interim head coach John L. Smith suggested to The Sporting News that some members on the 2012 Razorbacks quit, it was only a matter of time before one of those players responded.  Ex-Razorback running back Knile Davis — a player named as a potential quitter by the story’s author – took to Twitter with these comments:

“The same guys who sacrificed their time and freedom.  The same guys who gave their blood sweat and tears for that hog on the side of that helmet.  The same guys who skipped an opportunity of a life time by not entering the draft and came back knowing the risk.  The same guys that battled to get a win in the liberty bowl in the freezing cold.  The same guys that battled to get the schools first BCS birth in the Sugar Bowl.  The same guys that fought and won the Cotton Bowl.  These same guys quit on one of the most anticipated seasons in Arkansas history?!  I don’t think so.  Not these guys.  Not my guys.  #HAWG 4 LIFE”

For guys like Davis who are working to improve their draft stock, the ex-coaches’ comments couldn’t have come at a worse time.  Davis won’t just be asked by NFL scouts about his rehabbed foot.  He’ll also be asked about his heart.

From gratuitous insult to late-night apology, the age of instant media was on full display Friday.

It started on an Oklahoma City sports talk show where Sooners defensive coordinator Mike Stoops was the guest.  Stoops had some glowing comments for Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel and his performance in the Aggies 41-13 Cotton Bowl victory. “I’ve seen a lot of football players play a lot of different styles with guys, but never seen anything like that in my whole life.”

But Stoops decided to ratchet things up  a notch and that’s where it got interesting.

“They’re gonna be tough to deal with. If they can keep him out of jail or keep him eligible, he’s gonna be pretty good.

“If they can keep him off the Twitter, he might win three or four Heismans. He’ll have that type of ability.”

As expected, the twittersphere/blogosphere exploded and the comments went viral. Stoops comments alluded to  an incident over the summer where Manziel was charged with disorderly conduct and having a fake drivers license and some photos on his Twitter account where Manziel hasn’t been shy about celebrating the good life in the wake of his Heisman Trophy win.

News of Stoops’ comments apparently made its way to Manziel who posted a picture and a note on Twitter:

“Great visit to the hospital today in Connecticut made a ton of new friends. Hopefully this picture passes compliance..”

By late night Friday night, Stoops was backtracking. Through an OU spokesman, Stoops wanted everyone to know he had the “utmost respect for Texas A&M and Johnny Manziel.”

Manziel, it should be noted, had 516 total yards against Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl, including an FBS bowl record 229 rushing yards.

You can listen to a podcast of the interview here.  The part about Manziel is at the end.

BCS Title Game

1.  Will the weather play a role in tonight’s Alabama-Notre Dame showdown?

2.  Brent Musberger says “Tide versus Irish” is “the ultimate matchup in college football.”

3.  Tonight’s game could make for record television ratings.  (We bet it will.)

4.  This writer doesn’t believe Notre Dame’s destiny is any match for Bama’s dynasty.

5.  More experts weigh in with their picks.

6.  Bama is the biggest BCS title game favorite in a decade.

7.  Brian Kelly and Nick Saban want their teams to seize the day.

Football

8.  LSU could be losing as many as eight juniors early to the NFL.

9.  Ole Miss has some post-bowl-victory momentum heading into 2013, but quarterback Bo Wallace will have shoulder surgery this week.

10.  Texas A&M assistant Clarence McKinney made a good case for becoming the Aggies’ offensive coordinator with his Cotton Bowl play-calling.

11.  Florida’s depth takes a hit as quarterback Jacoby Brissett decides to transfer.

12.  Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray will return for his senior season in Athens.  (No surprise: Mark Richt is pleased.)

13.  Chris Wilson is leaving Mississippi State’s staff to become UGA’s new defensive line coach.

14.  Record-setting receiver Jordan Matthews will return to Vanderbilt for his senior season.

Basketball

15.  Meet the SEC’s Players of the Week.

16.  Banged up Auburn is getting ready to face healthy LSU in hoops.

17.  Rick Ray says his Mississippi State team is headed in the right direction.

18.  Florida’s Kenny Boynton had a breakout game against Yale yesterday.

19.  Tennessee’s Jeronne Maymon will officially miss the entire 2012-13 season with a medical redshirt.

Extras

20.  Mike Slive wants the value of scholarships reviewed (so the SEC and the other big conferences can start offering full-cost-of-tuition schollys).

21.  A Cleveland sportscaster still believes Saban’s name is running through the mind of the Browns’ new owner.

22.  Get ready for the bowl schedule to change when the new college football playoff launches in 2014.

Texas A&M 41 – Oklahoma 13

1. Johnny Manziel rushes for 229 yards – an FCS record for a quarterback in a bowl game. Aggies set Cotton Bowl record with 633 total yards.

2. “Manziel made the Heisman jinx look like a silly concept.”

3. Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops on Manziel: “Best player I’ve ever played.”

4. Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops: “Johnny Manziel is everything he was billed to be.”

5. Oklahoma writer: “Thank God for conference realignment.”

6. Fort-Worth Star Telegram Writer: “The Sooners had talked before this Cotton Bowl about “making it personal” and debunking the alleged myth of SEC superiority. They failed miserably.”

7. Aggies finish the season with over 7,000 yards of offense - Manziel over 5,000.

8. Complete video highlights of the game can be found here. A special Johnny Manziel highlight reel is below.

East Football

1.  Penalties — big penalties — cost Florida in this week’s Sugar Bowl.

2.  Will Muchamp doesn’t want to hear that the loss to Louisville ruined the Gators’ season: “We’ve had a great year and we’re moving this thing forward at a rapid pace.”  (Hard to argue with an 11-2 season, folks.)

3.  Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray says his draft grade came back “pretty good… second or third round.”  (And all it takes is one team to fall in love to make him a first-rounder.  Ask Tim Tebow.)

4.  Could 2013 be the most anticipated football season in the history of the Commonwealth of Kentucky?

5.  South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw will likely miss spring practice due to foot surgery.

West Football

6.  Alabama will be wearing new Nike uniforms in the BCS Championship Game.  Don’t worry, though.  The Tide’s new duds look just like their old unis.

7.  Get an inside look at Bama’s inside zone blocking scheme right here.

8.  Auburn has hired ex-Tiger QB Dameyune Craig from Florida State and Rich Bisaccia from the San Diego Chargers as new assistants.

9.  Arkansas’ new football assistants will make a combined $2.8 million.

10.  LSU linebacker Kevin Minter has decided to leave Baton Rouge early for the NFL: “When you’re hot, you’re hot.”

11.  Tiger safety Eric Reid is leaving, too.

12.  Ole Miss running back Jeff Scott will return to schools next year.

13.  What do teams do when they’ve wrapped up practice for Birmingham’s BBVA Compass Bowl?  They go bowling (as Mississippi and Pitt did yesterday).

Cotton Bowl

14.  Tonight’s Texas A&M-Oklahoma matchup looks to be one of the best bowl games this season.

15.  It’s out with the old and in with the new in tonight’s quarterback battle between Landry Jones and Johnny Manziel.

16.  Sooner coach Bob Stoops is ready for football, tired of the pregame events: “Enough of all this.  It’s time we do what we do.”

Basketball

17.  Arkansas’ Mike Anderson has had it with careless fouls.

18.  Georgia will play host to George Washington tonight.  (Guy gets around good for a dead man.)

19.  Kentucky is back up to #2 in this writer’s SEC rankings.

20.  LSU’s Anthony Hickey is expected to come back from his suspension tomorrow against Bethune-Cookman.

21.  Mississippi State whooped New Orleans 97-46 last night in front of — wait for it — 2,218 fans.

22.  Ole Miss will try to stay perfect at home when Fordham visits the Tad Pad tonight.

23.  Three Carolina players won’t be available for the Gamecocks’ game with South Carolina State tomorrow.

24.  More Memphis/Tennessee/Josh Pastner fallout: “How humiliating for Pastner.  He was utterly gutted by his athletic director, who had apparently been negotiating with Tennessee all along.”

25.  Cuonzo Martin doesn’t want his Vols to get “bullied” by the Tigers (as was the case last year).

26.  Texas A&M held off Houston Baptist 67-59 last night.

Extras

27.  The NCAA is looking at a new transfer model that would reduce eligibility penalties.

28.  Would ya believe the old one-point safety trick?

29.  Quackery or the wave of the future?  John Calipari says Kentucky is using a “device” to “monitor and check how much effort players are giving in real time.”

30.  A round of applause for Florida linebacker Darrin Kitchens, a player who showed school spirit all by his lonesome after the Sugar Bowl.

SEC Bowl Games

1. Recipe for a Sugar Bowl loss – Florida offense took a step backward, defense failed to show up,  ”It wasn’t just the worst game they have played all season, it might have been the worst in three seasons.”

2. Louisville coach Charlie Strong: “They say the Big East doesn’t play anybody. I hope tonight opened up some eyes.” A hug from Florida A.D. Jeremy Foley.

3. Biggest point-spread upset in the history of the BCS. Ranking the BCS upsets.

4. 85,000 tickets have been sold for the Cotton Bowl game between Texas A&M and Oklahoma – closing in on possible Cotton Bowl attendance record.

5. Johnny Manziel becomes the eighth Heisman Trophy winner to play in the Cotton Bowl - if history is a guide, that’s not necessarily a good thing.

6. Alabama staying at the Fountainbleu in Miami Beach.  Super Bowl atmosphere in south Florida? Nick Saban: ”I’ve never been to the Super Bowl, so I can’t really comment on that,”

7. Alabama center Barrett Jones on his injured foot:  ”I’m really starting to feel good, and I’m really confident about playing in the game.” Lineman Arie Kouandjio treated for dehydration – ambulance met the team plane as it landed.

8. LSU didn’t offer in-state four-star Rivals prospect Eddie Lacy coming out of high school.  That and other prep tidbits about the starting lineup of the 2012 Alabama Crimson Tide.

9. Putting perspective on another Alabama national title:  “Alabama seniors could boast more national championship rings in their four seasons than Bobby Bowden or Joe Paterno (two each) had in their combined 100 years as head coaches.”

10. Ole Miss freshman nose tackle Issac Gross on playing Alabama earlier this season: “That game gave me a whole lot of confidence. That was my breakout game.”

11. Outdoor practices combined with colder weather make practice a little more challenging for the Rebels.

12. Big jump in the ratings for the Outback Bowl and for the Capital One Bowl. ESPN forget to update their graphic for the Sugar Bowl.

NFL Draft Prospects

13. Florida juniors  Matt Elam and Sharrif Floyd are NFL bound. Elam: “It’s time to take care of the family.” Two more Gator juniors, Dominique Easley and Jordan Reed, remain undecided.

14. Mock NFL draft has three Texas A&M players taken in first eight picks.

SEC Football

15, Plenty of offseason questions at Mississippi State – lost their five games by an average of 21.4  points.

16, If Aaron Murray decides to stay at Georgia, 20 touchdown passes will make him the SEC all-time leader.

17. Redshirt quarterback Hutson Mason likely Murray replacement if he leaves.  Mike Bobo: ” (Mason) does some things that maybe are a little bit better than Aaron, and Aaron does some things a little bit better than him. But I have confidence in both those guys.”

18. If wide receiver Jordan Matthews stays at Vanderbilt, the Commodores will return 13 starters next season.

19. Florida quarterback Jacoby Brissett is still weighing a transfer option. “I haven’t decided yet.”

20. SEC dominating Senior Bowl roster - 22 players of 88 confirmed players are from the conference. Next highest is Pac-12 with 11 players.

21. Former Tennessee running back David Oku has found a home at Arkansas State.  Thousand-yard rusher had 15 touchdowns this season – most in the Sun Belt conference.

Coaching News

22. Was Les Miles’ loyalty to offensive coordinator Greg Studrawa a major stumbling block for LSU this season?

23. Butch Jones staff at Tennessee will make a combined three million dollars, almost identical to the number Derek Dooley’s staff was to be paid in 2013.

24. Bret Bielema has retained Arkansas assistant Taver Johnson - he’ll coach cornerbacks for the Razorbacks. One more opening on Arkansas staff -likely to be tight ends coach.

SEC Basketball

25, Auburn 78 – Florida State 72. Tigers overcome loss of Chris Denson who was diagnosed Tuesday with a stress fracture in his left foot. Denson will miss 4-6 weeks, was Auburn’s second-leading scorer.

26, Kentucky 90 – Eastern Michigan 38. UK began second half with a 15-0 run.

27, Mississippi State vs. New Orleans.  Final non-conference game of the season for the Bulldogs.

28. Memphis decision not to play Tennessee fear based? “It has nothing to do with fear based.”

29. Memphis coach Josh Pastner:  ”I know some media people are Tennessee fans. They disguise themselves as Memphis fans, but they’re really Tennessee fans, and they want to see Memphis-Tennessee.”

30. Tennessee sophomore Jarnell Stokes on playing just nine minutes against Xavier.   ”I hope it never happens again.”

Extras

31. Frank Deford on gambling and March Madness: “The sanctimonious commissioners and the blowhard who runs the NCAA maintain, nonsensically, that legal gambling hurts the integrity of sports… while somehow illegal bookmaking remains beneficial for their games.”

32. Ray Lewis will head to ESPN after retiring from the Baltimore Ravens.

33, Economic study: Cities are better off when their sports teams go on strike – less security needed.

34, Kiplinger ranks University of Florida third best value among public colleges.

Wondering what the lines are for the SEC’s bowl games this holiday season?  Here’s an updated look and, yes, the Vegas bookmakers know full well that betters will be plunking down big cash on SEC teams based on their reputation.  That’s why every single team from Mike Slive’s league opened as a favorite:

Music City Bowl in Nashville – Monday, Dec. 31st

Vanderbilt vs NC State

Opened:  VU -5

Current:  VU -7 (moved up a half-point this week)

Chik-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta – Monday, Dec. 31st

LSU vs Clemson

Opened:  LSU -3

Current:  LSU -4 (no change this week)

Gator Bowl in Jacksonville – New Year’s Day

Mississippi State vs Northwestern

Opened:  MSU -2

Current:  MSU -2 (no change this week)

Outback Bowl in Tampa – New Year’s Day

South Carolina vs Michigan

Opened:  USC -4.5

Current:  USC -5 (no change this week)

Capital One Bowl in Orlando – New Year’s Day

Georgia vs Nebraska

Opened:  UGA -8.5

Current:  UGA -10 (no change this week)

Sugar Bowl in New Orleans – Wednesday, Jan. 2nd

Florida vs Louisville

Opened:  UF -15

Current:  UF -13.5 (moved down a half-point)

Cotton Bowl in Arlington – Friday, Jan. 4th

Texas A&M vs Oklahoma

Opened:  A&M -3

Current:  A&M -4.5 (no change this week)

BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham – Saturday, Jan. 5th

Ole Miss vs Pittsburgh

Opened:  UM -2

Current:  UM -3.5 (no change this week)

BCS Championship Game – Monday, Jan. 7th

Alabama vs Notre Dame

Opened:  UA -9.5

Current:  UA -10 (moved up a half-point)

Nine bowl games – still nine SEC favorites, three of them double-digits. The first SEC bowl games kickoff two weeks from Monday.

Wondering what the lines are for the SEC’s bowl games this holiday season?  Here’s an updated look and, yes, the Vegas bookmakers know full well that betters will be plunking down big cash on SEC teams based on their reputation.  That’s why every single team from Mike Slive’s league opened as a favorite:

Music City Bowl in Nashville

Vanderbilt vs NC State

Opened:  VU -5

Current:  VU -6.5

Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta

LSU vs Clemson

Opened:  LSU -3

Current:  LSU -4

Gator Bowl in Jacksonville

Mississippi State vs Northwestern

Opened:  MSU -2

Current:  MSU -2

Outback Bowl in Tampa

South Carolina vs Michigan

Opened:  USC -4.5

Current:  USC -5

Capital One Bowl in Orlando

Georgia vs Nebraska

Opened:  UGA -8.5

Current:  UGA -10

Sugar Bowl in New Orleans

Florida vs Louisville

Opened:  UF -15

Current:  UF -14

Cotton Bowl in Arlington

Texas A&M vs Oklahoma

Opened:  A&M -3

Current:  A&M -4.5

BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham

Ole Miss vs Pittsburgh

Opened:  UM -2

Current:  UM -3.5

BCS Championship Game

Alabama vs Notre Dame

Opened:  UA -9.5

Current:  UA -9.5

As you can see, in every game the line has either held or moved in favor of the SEC team.  As we’ve discussed before, Las Vegas oddsmakers set their lines to bring in an even amount of cash on both teams.  They set the lines based on what they believe the perception of Vegas-bound gamblers will be once they arrive in the local casinos.

When bowl season rolls around, that SEC reputation plays a big role in gamblers’ minds and the boys in the desert know it.

Bowl season kicks off in six days.  Here are the SEC bowl matchups and where the lines currently stand.

Music City Bowl: Vanderbilt vs. North Carolina State.  Commodores opened as a 5.5 point favorite.  Most offshore lines now have Vanderbilt as a 6.5 or 7-point favorite.

Chik-Fil-A Bowl: LSU vs. Clemson.  Louisiana’s Tigers opened as a 3.5 point favorite.  LSU remains a 3.5 or 4-point favorite.

Gator Bowl: Mississippi State vs. Northwestern. Bulldogs opened as 2-point favorite.  That line has held steady – MSU favored by 2 or 2.5.

Capital One Bowl: Georgia vs. Nebraska. Bulldogs opened as a 8.5 point favorite – it’s now up to 10 points.

Outback Bowl: South Carolina vs. Michigan.  Gamecocks opened a 6-point favorite.  That line has moved down a point to 5.

Sugar Bowl: Florida vs. Louisville.  Gators opened as 15-point favorite.  It’s now down to 13 or 13.5.

Cotton Bowl: Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma. Aggies opened a 3-point favorite.  That line has moved up to 4.5

Compass Bowl: Ole Miss vs. Pittsburgh. Rebels opened a 2-point favorite. It’s now up to 3.5 points.

BCS National Championship: Alabama vs. Notre Dame.  Crimson Tide opened as a 10.5 favorite.  That line is now 10 points at most offshore books.

That’s nine games – the SEC favored in every single one.