Weekend Hot Reads....

The DALLAS MORNING NEWS' Brad Townsend writes under the header, "College Football Playoff Debuts As Shift To Paying Players Looms." Thursday in DC, delegates "will gather for the annual NCAA convention, where it’s expected that they will approve legislation to expand the parameters and monetary value of athletic scholarships, not just for football players but all male and female athletes."

The N.Y. TIMES' Marc Tracy writes tomorrow night, about 80,000 fans at the CFP championship game will "be able to select from an array of beer, wine and spirits," despite the fact that the NCAA does not permit alcohol sales at the 89 championships it administers. Partly because of its "relative independence and partly because of its popularity, football can be more brashly commercialized."

Elsewhere:

• Economist Andrew Zimbalist: Boston "would be lucky to lose the Olympics."
• Jerry Jones is NFL’s "most irrepressible salesman, dreamer and entrepreneur."
• Comparing the four major Sports HOFs based on their election processes.