The teams in the inaugural College Football Playoff were announced today, with Alabama taking the No. 1 overall spot, followed by Oregon, Florida State and Ohio State. Big 12 co-champions Baylor and TCU were left out of the CFP, ranking No. 5 and No. 6 respectively. TCU entered the final week of the season at No. 3 in the CFP rankings (THE DAILY). Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said, "It's clear we were penalized for not having a postseason championship game. ... That will cause us to go back to the drawing board a little bit and talk about whether or not we need to think about a different model" (“College Football Playoff Selection Show,” ESPN, 12/7).

Reaction to the job done by the CFP Selection Committee has varied, with ESPN's Paul Finebaum criticizing the selection process. He said, "I like the four teams, but I am just underwhelmed by this committee. I think they have taken a severe credibility hit today. ... I just would like a better explanation of their rationale and reasoning" (“College Football Playoff Selection Show,” ESPN, 12/7). The ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION's Jeff Schultz writes under the header, "Playoff Committee Got Teams Right, But Some Change Needed."

Yahoo Sports' Pat Forde wrote on his Twitter feed, "I completely disagree w the committee on including Ohio State over Baylor." ESPN.com's Travis Haney tweeted, "In the end, the committee did take the escape hatch from the Big 12 quandary. Couldn't justify H2H and nonconference matters, so picked OSU." But FS1's Stewart Mandel wrote, "If the committee had never done weekly rankings, I don't think there'd be much questioning of TCU's spot today." Fox Sports' Tim Brando: "I certainly understand the frustration felt at TCU & Baylor. However, the Co-Champ circumstances did them in. The Committee got it right!"

Yesterday marked the conclusion of the regular season for FBS college football, with four of the Power Five conferences holding championship games over the weekend. THE DAILY offers a look at attendance figures for those four contests, each held at neutral venues.

CBS and Dish Network yesterday "reached a multiyear pact for carriage" of CBS-owned broadcast stations and cable nets. The deal came "after CBS pulled its signals Friday night" from Dish. The agreement "covers 27 CBS-owned stations as well as CBS Sports Network, Smithsonian Channel, TVGN and Showtime Networks." The sticking points in the talks "were as much about digital rights issues as about retrans dollars and cents." Dish in a statement said that the two parties "had been at odds over the value of CBS Sports Network," among other issues (VARIETY.com, 12/6).

The programming blackout "lasted about 12 hours," and the stations "returned to Dish's service before a series of football games this weekend," including the SEC championship game. Meanwhile, as part of the agreement, people "will not be able to skip commercials with the Hopper service for CBS-owned network stations and affiliates for the first seven days after a program is televised" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/7).

The Big Ten Conference "will play its men’s basketball tournament at Madison Square Garden" in '18, with a formal announcement "planned for Tuesday," according to sources. MSG "will still host the Big East Tournament" in '18, with the Big Ten tournament "held the week prior" (SI.com, 12/6).

Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany: "We wanted to get out there as soon as we could" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/7). This marks the latest move by Delany to "extend his conference’s brand into the northeast." The Big Ten tournament will be held in Chicago this March, Indianapolis in '16 and DC in '17 (N.Y. POST, 12/7).

The MLS BOG yesterday "spent hours discussing the possibility" of expansion teams in several cities, but "concluded that they still have unanswered questions about each candidate." While it "seems clear that Sacramento, Minneapolis and Las Vegas are in the lead," the BOG also "heard an update" from San Antonio. MLS President & Deputy Commissioner Mark Abbott confirmed that two teams, "not one, could be awarded." That "depends on what happens" with David Beckham's ownership group (SACRAMENTO BEE, 12/7). MLS will "announce a final selection process, with the intent to announce the next bid in the first six months of next year" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 12/7).

Meanwhile, a "protest called a 'die-in' is planned outside Lincoln Financial Field" following today's Seahawks-Eagles game. A Philadelphia clergy group called POWER (Philadelphia Organized to Witness Empower & Rebuild) is "organizing the protest, which is taking place across the country" following the grand jury decisions in the Garner and Michael Brown cases (ESPN.com, 12/7).

Sabres Owner Terry Pegula was "incensed" with a video shown at the BB&T Center prior to last night's game against the Panthers that interspersed clips of the recent blizzard that hit Buffalo with videos of the Panthers' mascot "lounging in the sun." The video was meant to jokingly "highlight the difference between South Florida and Western New York." But Pegula told Panthers Exec VP & GM of Hockey Operations Dale Tallon, "People died in that storm. That’s not funny." Tallon then "apologized." Tallon, who also was speaking to Sabres GM Tim Murray, said that he "didn't see the video but was sorry the organization created it." Tallon later said, "If they're upset, rightfully so" (BUFFALO NEWS, 12/7).

UFC "has signed CM Punk, one of the biggest stars in pro wrestling in the last decade, to a multi-fight contract." He will fight "at either middleweight or welterweight" starting in '15. His MMA debut "is likely to be a huge box office attraction but it remains to be seen what kind of staying power he will have in the sport" (L.A. TIMES, 12/7). CM Punk "left the WWE nearly a year ago amid an acrimonious split" (CHRON.com, 12/6). The signing "immediately divided fighters, journalists and fans." The move "certainly earned instant publicity for UFC," as the story at midnight Saturday "was the No. 7 headline on ESPN.com, even on a busy night of college football" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 12/7).

Mumps "has wreaked havoc in the NHL this season," as players from four teams and two on-ice officials "have been sidelined by the illness, with several cases occurring in the last few days" (NYTIMES.com, 12/7).

U.S. Army Sgt. Sean Karpf, who was wounded in Afghanistan in '12, today led the Jaguars out of the tunnel prior to their game against the Texans at EverBank Field, as part of the Jaguars' annual Salute to Service military appreciation ceremonies (ESPN.com, 12/5).

Tonight's episode of FS1's "UFC 1-On-1" was filmed using the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 instead of traditional TV cameras, and will air tonight at 8:00pm ET. The show profiles former UFC fighter Dominick Cruz (Fox Sports).

"I don’t think [Adrian Peterson] should play again in the NFL. I don’t think Ray Rice should play again. Either we have zero tolerance, or we don't" – Pro Football HOFer Fran Tarkenton (MMQB.SI.com, 12/5).

"Throughout league circles, people think resoundingly that the Rams are going to be the team to move followed by the Raiders. Expect two teams to move out to Los Angeles, but the other team that's really been laying under the radar here and is still very much involved is the San Diego Chargers" – Fox' Jay Glazer, on which NFL teams are most likely to relocate to L.A. (“Fox NFL Sunday,” Fox, 12/7).

"When I started playing in the SkyDome and you’d do something exciting, it was like crickets in the building. ... It feels good to see where it is today" – Former NBAer Tracy McGrady, on the growth of the Raptors' fan base (TORONTO STAR, 12/6).

"If anyone is saying that the use of the artificial pitch is a question of discrimination, it's nonsense" – FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke, on discrimination accusations leveled against the governing body due to its plans to use artificial surfaces at next year's Women's World Cup in Canada (CP, 12/5).

"Candidly I don't want it to end right now. It's been a lot of fun" – Galaxy F Landon Donovan, on his stated plan to retire after today's MLS Cup final (L.A. TIMES, 12/7).

"I can guarantee there's no French kissing going on in the room" – Devils coach Pete DeBoer, playing down concerns about multiple NHLers contracting mumps (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 12/7).

"While playing in a tournament in South Africa, pro golfer Luke Donald was chased off the course by a charging baboon. Nice try, golf, but you're still boring" – "SNL" cast member Michael Che, during last night's "Weekend Update" (“SNL,” NBC, 12/6).

Today's N.Y. TIMES "Workspace" features Bruins Owner and Delaware North Chair & CEO Jeremy Jacobs' office in Buffalo. Jacobs: "My office is a three-room suite -- a main office, a pantry and a private conference room." The decor includes a plethora of Bruins memorabilia. Meanwhile, the BUFFALO NEWS' Stephen Watson profiles Lawrence Jacobs, one member of the Jacobs family who does not work for Delaware North.

In a special to the BOSTON GLOBE, former John Hancock Financial Services CEO David D'Alessandro wrote under the header, "Why We Should Relax About Boston's Olympic Bid." The new Olympic leadership "is remarkably progressive." IOC President Thomas Bach "has said from the start that 'sustainable development' is his vision -- in other words, making sure that the Olympics helps a city reach its social, economic, and environmental goals, long after the visitors depart."

Elsewhere:

• By experimenting with new rules, the AHL is serving as "the big boys’ laboratory."
• CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: “International Fans Drawn To Blackhawks’ Winning Ways."
• Why UAB’s now-shuttered football program may have been hamstrung from the start. 
• Islanders fans "share feelings on Brooklyn move" during final year at Nassau Coliseum.
• A "glimpse at the money behind" the Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis.

Sources: The Blue Jays' ownership is actively seeking a replacement for longtime CEO Paul Beeston. Dan Duquette among candidates discussed. — Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 7, 2014

College Football Playoff is genius. The best of the football system and the NCAA Tournament. When it goes to eight, it'll be even better. — Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) December 7, 2014

To all you doubters. You don't hire a coach (Bielema) who just moved a year ago. If he came could you be confident he'd stay? YOLO

— Harvey Perlman (@Harvey_Perlman) December 5, 2014

And why on earth is the @MLS Cup today? MT @Todd_Jones Why is college football announcing its playoff 30 minutes before NFL games begin?

— Graham Couch (@Graham_Couch) December 7, 2014

Very classy move by the Redskins honoring our friend Bryan Burwell today... pic.twitter.com/UdSFrNmxOg

— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) December 7, 2014