Clemson, Oklahoma, and Georgia "took care of business in their respective conference championship games" yesterday and "received berths" in the College Football Playoff. Additionally, Alabama was "selected as the fourth team, over Ohio State." No. 1 Clemson will face No. 4 Alabama in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, and No. 2 Oklahoma will play No. 3 Georgia in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, as announced today by the CFP selection committee. The semifinal winners "will play for the national title on Jan. 8 in Atlanta." OSU "held on to beat Wisconsin 27-21 in the Big Ten championship game," but the team "had a 31-point loss to unranked Iowa on its resume" that ultimately led to its omission (ESPN.com, 12/3).

The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel tweeted, “That’s two years in a row that many pushed for a two-loss conference champ only for the committee to pick a one-loss non-champ. Both years the two-loss team had a blowout loss. Lesson learned.” Sports reporter Bonnie Bernstein wrote, “The most emphatic statement the #CFBPlayoff just made, putting Alabama at #4... They want the four BEST, not deserving, teams in the Playoff. Yahoo Sports’ Dan Wetzel wrote, “Georgia-Oklahoma followed by Alabama-Clemson. Incredible double header. Playoff isn't perfect but it's pretty awesome still.” The Oklahoman’s Jacob Unruh: “Ohio State beat No. 6 Wisconsin on a neutral field, but stays outside of playoff. Sure. That makes sense.”

ESPN's Heather Dinich reported that three CFP committee members had to recuse themselves during different portions of the decision making process. Dinich: "Frank Beamer is recused from Georgia because his son, Shane, is on staff there." Clemson AD Dan Radakovich and Ohio State AD Gene Smith were "recused from talking and voting" about their schools ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 12/3).

Georgia defeated Auburn 28-7 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium before a crowd of 76,534 in the SEC Championship game yesterday (WASHINGTON POST, 12/3). Meanwhile, Clemson routed Miami 38-3 in the ACC Championship game at Bank of America Stadium in front of 74,372 fans (MIAMI HERALD, 12/3). A crowd of 65,886 fans at Lucas Oil Stadium witnessed Ohio State winning the Big Ten Championship against Wisconsin 27-21 (CLEVELAND.com, 12/3). The Big 12 Championship drew 64,104 fans for Oklahoma's 41-17 victory against TCU at AT&T Stadium (STAR-TELEGRAM.com, 12/2).

Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby "praised the return of the Big 12 title game and the big stage that it afforded the conference at AT&T Stadium." Bowlsby said, "It's the right thing for us to be on this day playing a championship game. We worked to have the national rule deregulated so we could accomplish that (with 10 teams). What we heard from the playoff people, the selection committee is that 13th data point matters. That's why we made the decision we did" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 12/3). What fans had in front of them at Bank of America Stadium last night was a "burgeoning dynasty" in Clemson. The team "feels like it has staying power." This will be Clemson’s "third straight appearance" in the College Football Playoff (WASHINGTON POST, 12/3).

CBS and Fox were big winners with the conference championship football games yesterday. CBS led the way with an 8.4 overnight rating for Georgia’s 28-7 win over Auburn in the SEC Championship yesterday afternoon, marking the game’s best figure since the Auburn-Missouri shootout in ’13 drew an 8.7 overnight. Georgia-Auburn is up 20% from Alabama’s blowout of Florida last season.

Meanwhile, Fox last night drew an 8.0 overnight for Ohio State’s 27-21 win over Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game, marking the game’s second-best figure on record since it started in ’11. Only Michigan State-OSU in ’13 was higher (8.4 overnight). OSU-Wisconsin last night is up 45% from Penn State-Wisconsin last year.

For a roundup of ratings from other conference championship games, see tomorrow’s issue of THE DAILY.

UCF football coach Scott Frost has "agreed" to a seven-year, $35M contract to become Nebraska's new coach. Nebraska, which introduced Frost today, "will owe" $3M to UCF, which paid a combined $3.7M to Frost over his two season (ESPN.com, 12/2). The arrival of Frost, who led the school to a share of the national championship 20 years ago, has been "long anticipated by fans clamoring for the program to return to the so-called Nebraska Way" (AP, 12/3). Frost's contract will make him the "highest-paid coach in Nebraska history." The annual salary "would rank third in the Big Ten" behind Michigan's Jim Harbaugh and Ohio State's Urban Meyer. Frost’s deal also "would place him No. 10 nationally" (OMAHA.com, 12/2). Nebraska regents and administrators "expressed giddiness" over the hiring of Frost and "cheered" for decision by AD Bill Moos, who has only been in the position for a few weeks (OMAHA.com, 12/2).

Disney has "re-engaged in discussions" with Fox to purchase some of its assets, and Comcast "remains in the mix, with deal talks gaining momentum," according to sources. Sources said that Fox News, the Fox broadcast network and FS1 "aren't expected to be sold in any transaction." Sources added that Fox Exec Chair Rupert Murdoch and his family "expect to make a decision by year's end on whether to pursue a transaction" (WSJ.com, 12/2). Meanwhile, Comcast is "keenly interested" in Fox' RSNs and 39% stake in Sky as well as its "pay-TV service in India" (LATIMES.com, 12/2).

The NFL’s "My Cause, My Cleats" initiative is back again this weekend and will "allow players to wear their hearts on their feet, showcasing cleats representing charities that are important to them." Players from all 32 teams will be "wearing these custom-made cleats during games." Some players have "already shared on social media using #MyCauseMyCleats to give fans a preview of what they’ll be donning and supporting on the field." Players "will have the opportunity to auction" off their cleats at NFL Auction. All funds raised will be "donated to the charities chosen by the players" (LATIMES.com, 12/1). About 800 players league-wide will be "sporting a panoply of colors and causes on their footwear" as part of the campaign (L.A. TIMES, 12/2). Between 40 and 50 players and coaches across the NFL "will wear a pair of cleats designed" by Ryan Bare, who three years ago "founded Sneaker Replay Customs out of his home about 30 miles north of Charlotte" (ESPN.com, 12/1).

The Ravens, who have "sold out every home game since they arrived in Baltimore" in '96, are "advertising tickets" for today's game against the Lions. The Ravens are "appealing to fans" even as the team is "contending for what would be its first playoff berth" since '14. Seats were "available this week in almost every section; an $80 ticket for an upper end zone seat could be had for as little as $29." The NFL is "laboring across the board this season to maintain its fan base and minimize no-shows." The Ravens said that they took the "unusual step of advertising tickets not only to help themselves -- teams get a cut from seats resold on Ticketmaster -- but also to help get better deals for their fans who are selling." Ravens Senior VP/Ticket Sales & Operations Baker Koppelman said, "It is relatively new for us to advertise or promote ticket sales when we've sold out every game in our history" (BALTIMORESUN.com, 12/2).

Little Caesars Arena was "filled to capacity" for UFC 218 as "17,587 spectators were in attendance generating" $2M in gate receipts (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 12/3). The DETROIT FREE PRESS' Carlos Monarrez writes the UFC event was his "first in person," and he believed it to be "underwhelming." However, Monarrez writes the promotion did a "good job keeping the action going with 13 bouts spread across six hours." Monarrez: "But it felt formulaic. Lights, music, fighting ... meh" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 12/3).

The NHL Rangers held an outdoor practice yesterday "in front of a packed house" at Central Park's Lasker Rink in preparation for next month's Bridgestone Winter Classic against the Sabres, and C Kevin Hayes, LW Jimmy Vesey and D Brady Skjei "went the extra mile on their commute to practice." Trailed by a camera crew, the roommates "jumped on an express 3 train" from MSG and "arrived right at the Central Park North stop." Hayes said, "It was pretty funny. The rink was small, but it's awesome to come out here and see the fans and see all the support we get." Fans "decked out in Rangers garb turned out in droves, lining up an hour before the practice began." Rangers G Henrik Lundqvist said of the fan turnout, "I'm not surprised, but you still appreciate it" (NYPOST.com, 12/2). 

A much anticipated partial implosion of the Silverdome on Sunday "appeared not to have gone as planned and disappointed the thousands of onlookers who got up early to be on the scene." Shortly after 8:30am ET, puffs of smoke from explosives "could be seen coming from around the structure but not much else happened." The highly anticipated explosion was "supposed to bring down the upper ring of the iconic 400,000-square-foot structure." Demolition company Adamo Group Exec VP Rick Cuppetilli said that "technical issues have kept the stadium standing" (DETROIT NEWS, 12/3). So far there are "no plans for a second explosion attempt" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 12/3). ESPN.com goes with the header, "The Requiem Of The Pontiac Silverdome" (ESPN.com, 12/2). ESPN's Randy Moss said, "Let somebody go push it down like a set of Legos" ("Sunday NFL Countdown," ESPN, 12/3).

Despite the NFL and the Players Coalition agreeing last week to a partnership that "calls for the league to contribute" $89M over seven years to social justice projects, 10 NFLers exhibited some form of protest during the national anthem before today's 1:00pm ET games (ESPN.com, 12/3).

MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher and Lions President Rod Wood on Friday announced that the conference and Ford Field had "reached an agreement on a two-year extension to keep" the MAC Championship game at the venue through at least '21 (DETROIT NEWS, 12/2).

MLB "boosted its drug test total" by 25% last season. There were 10,237 tests of players on 40-man rosters in '17, "up from 8,281 tests over the previous year" (AP, 12/1).

The USTA today runs an ad in the N.Y. Times congratulating the U.S. women's Fed Cup team on winning the title: "Congratulations to Team USA on winning their historic 18th Fed Cup Title to cap off a great year for American tennis stars" (THE DAILY).

"They have a great commissioner who's really open. And, you know, supports them. And you feel that. You feel like, you know, when you have someone behind you that really believe in what's right, it motivates you to do the right thing" -- Rapper Jay Z, on why NBAers are more politically active than their NFL counterparts (N.Y. TIMES Magazine, 12/3 issue).

"Now it comes down to how well you manage against your competition, what kind of organization you attract, and how much stability you have. The coaching, having the star players are all lessons I learned with World TeamTennis. That's the story of my life. Some of the most foolhardy things on the surface in the beginning turn out to be great" -- Patriots Owner Robert Kraft, on lessons he learned from owning a former World TeamTennis franchise ("Sunday NFL Countdown," ESPN, 12/3).

"With something like ‘My Cause, My Cleats,’ they have their ideas, they have their themes that they want to display, but it’s up to us to bring those ideas to life" -- Kreative Custom Kicks' Moe Gafar, on designing players' cleats for this weekend's campaign (“That Other Pregame Show,” CBSSN, 12/3).

Make that Ohio State’s been to last two Fiesta Bowls, I’m told selection committee sending Buckeyes to Cotton vs. USC. Washington and Penn State to Fiesta Bowl

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 3, 2017

So Jimbo has to sit out next season since he transferred, right? Nah? Only the players still? Word

— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) December 1, 2017

Maybe it's time to go back to campuses for Pac-12 Championship Game if you can't fill Levi's Stadium

— jeffmetcalfe (@jeffmetcalfe) December 2, 2017

Source: Tulsa AD Derrick Gragg will have formal interview with Arkansas on Sunday. He is scheduled to be in New York on Monday and Tuesday for National Football Foundation events.

— Kelly Hines (@KellyHinesTW) December 1, 2017

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com

You ever see this? pic.twitter.com/fvN6DLFU2w

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) December 3, 2017

The L.A. TIMES writes under the header, "U.S. Absence From World Cup Draw Shines A Light On Missed Opportunities." As the 32 FIFA World Cup qualifiers were "introduced and applauded" during Friday's tournament draw in Moscow, it was "hard not to notice the elephant that wasn't in the room." There will be no "emerging American stars in this summer's tournament" or "unknowns overcoming long odds to fulfill a lifelong dream."

The Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE goes with, "Olympics Without NHL Players Still Excites U.S. Coach Tony Granato." The U.S. team at the Pyeongchang Games will "feature a blend of players from European pro leagues, college players and minor leaguers." That is a "long drop-off in talent, pedigree and star power from NHL players." But "don't tell Granato that the absence of NHL players will make the Olympics boring compared to the drama and excitement of previous Games."

Elsewhere:

• Jackie Sherrill recalls his arrival at Texas A&M amid Jimbo Fisher’s hire.
• Destroying Montreal's Olympic stadium would cost more than operating it.
• What can Herm Edwards bring to Arizona State as its new football coach?