CFB Scheduling Mess Gets Costly

Afternoon Edition

April 14, 2026

Louisiana Tech’s bizarre 20-game scheduling scenario is close to being resolved—but it’s going to cost the school a record exit fee to leave Conference USA early. The unusual situation shows just how messy (and expensive) conference realignment has become.

—David Rumsey

First Up

Dianna Russini resigned from The Athletic following a week of controversy after photos with Mike Vrabel were published. Read the story.
TV insiders weighed in on how CBS Sports’s coverage of the Masters went wrong—and why the network is facing so much criticism. Read the story.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert drew criticism after questioning whether a male executive would face the same job-status questions. Read the story.
The Red Sox said a fan lawsuit over hidden ticket “junk fees” should be dismissed or sent to arbitration, arguing buyers weren’t misled. Read the story.

Louisiana Tech to Pay Record Exit Fee to End 20-Game Schedule Mess

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The messy situation that resulted in Louisiana Tech’s football team being scheduled to play 20 games this fall is on the verge of ending with the school paying a Conference USA (CUSA) record exit fee to join the Sun Belt Conference this summer, Front Office Sports has learned.

Louisiana Tech will pay CUSA an exit fee that’s higher than the $8 million UTEP is paying to leave and join the Mountain West ahead of the 2026 season, sources with knowledge of the situation told Front Office Sports.

When Louisiana Tech announced its intentions to join the Sun Belt no later than July 1, 2027, its initial CUSA exit fee was pegged closer to $5 million. The exact financial figure remains unknown, but even a modest increase over the $8 million UTEP is paying would bring it close to an eight-figure sum.

None of the six schools that left CUSA in 2022 and 2023 paid more than $3 million. UAB, FAU, Charlotte, North Texas, Rice, and UTSA all joined the American Conference at the time.

On Monday, On3-owned outlet Bleed Tech Blue reported Louisiana Tech and CUSA had reached an agreement “clearing the way for the Bulldogs to officially join the Sun Belt on July 1, 2026.”

When reached for comment by FOS, a CUSA spokesperson said, “Both parties remain in settlement negotiations, but an agreement has not been finalized—contrary to the Bleed Tech Blue report.”

Spokespeople for Louisiana Tech and the Sun Belt did not respond to requests for comment by FOS.

How We Got Here

The Louisiana Tech–CUSA dispute dates back to last July, when the school announced it would join the Sun Belt no later than July 1, 2027, as CUSA requires a 14-month notice before departure.

In March, Louisiana Tech sued CUSA in an effort to leave the conference ahead of the 2026 college football season. Then, both CUSA and the Sun Belt released their 2026 conference schedules, which both included full slates for Louisiana Tech.

While Louisiana Tech made multiple offers to depart CUSA early, the conference had felt none of those offers came close to the commitments the schools made in the five-year grant of rights it signed in 2023, sources previously told FOS.

Once Louisiana Tech’s exit is finalized, CUSA will drop from 11 football teams to 10 for the upcoming season, and the Sun Belt will grow from 13 teams to 14.

Explore Texas One Trail at a Time

Whether you’re hiking, biking, or just soaking up breathtaking views, Texas has the terrain to match. From Hill Country climbs to coastal paths and canyon trails—step off the beaten path and experience what makes Texas outdoors unforgettable. However you explore, the outdoors here never disappoints.

Discover scenic hikes across the state.

ONE BIG FIG

Clock Is Ticking

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That’s how many days remain until the May 31 end of the Illinois legislative session, putting pressure on lawmakers to reach a deal that could determine the Bears’ stadium future. With time running short, state leaders are working to bridge political divides—including bringing in Rosemont mayor and state Rep. Brad Stephens to help build consensus.

The team has said the proposed legislation is critical to financing a $5 billion domed stadium in Arlington Heights, largely with private money. Without a breakthrough soon, the Bears could instead move forward with a competing proposal in Indiana. Read the story.

LOUD AND CLEAR

Draft-Night Deflection

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“I don’t have a lot of detail to share … because I’m exhausted.”

—Golden State Valkyries GM Ohemaa Nyanin said Monday after a surprising draft-night trade sent No. 8 pick Flau’jae Johnson to the Seattle Storm for No. 16 pick Marta Suárez (and a 2028 second-round pick), declining to explain the reasoning behind the move.

The trade immediately sparked questions—and some gasps—about whether the Valkyries were trimming salary, given the gap between Johnson’s deal and second-round contracts. Nyanin sidestepped that angle, saying she does not comment on the salary cap or reveal strategy. Read the story.

FRONT OFFICE SPORTS LIVE

Hang Out in the Hamptons

Huddle in the Hamptons has earned its place as the season’s most coveted invitation: a sun-soaked gathering where the people shaping sports come to think, compete, and connect.

This July, Front Office Sports returns to the Hamptons for another quintessential summer Friday with official partner UBS.

Set against one of the East Coast’s most storied summer backdrops, the day blends wellness, candid thought leadership, and the kind of unhurried relationship-building no formal meeting can replicate.

Because some of the most important deals in sports don’t start in the boardroom—they start here.

Want to join us out East? Request to attend.

STATUS REPORT

Two Up, Two Down

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Steph Curry ⬆ The Warriors guard topped the NBA’s list of best-selling jerseys during the 2025–26 season, the fifth season in which he’s done so. Curry is followed by Luka Dončić, Jalen Brunson, Victor Wembanyama, and LeBron James in the top five. This list was compiled from sales on the official NBA store, Fanatics, and Fanatics partner sites.

Spain ⬆ Three of the top 16 picks from Monday’s 2026 WNBA draft were Spanish—the most players from one non-U.S. country to be drafted top 16 in a draft since three Australians were selected in 2001. Those three players included first-rounders Awa Fam (Seattle Storm, No. 3) and Iyana Martín (Portland Fire, No. 7), as well as the Golden State Valkyries’ Marta Suárez, the first pick of the second round.

Colorado football ⬇ According to The Denver Post, around 17,000 to 18,000 people attended the Buffaloes’ spring game Saturday, down from 20,430 in 2025, 28,424 in 2024, and 47,277 in 2023—when head coach Deion Sanders was first hired. The school claims 27,772 were in attendance Saturday, which is still lower than the 2024 and 2025 attendance figures. Colorado went 3–9 and finished 15th in the Big 12 in 2025.

World Cup public transit ⬇ Boston’s World Cup committee will charge passengers $95 per seat for a bus service going to and from Gillette Stadium during this summer’s World Cup. Meanwhile, per The Athletic, NJ Transit plans to do something similar, charging more than $100 for a trip from New York Penn Station to MetLife Stadium—a ticket that originally cost $12.90.