TORONTO , Dec. 18, 2024 /CNW/ - Evolve Funds Group Inc. ("Evolve") is pleased to announce the distribution amounts per unit (the "Distributions") for certain funds (the "Evolve Funds"), as indicated in the table below. The ex-dividend date and record date for the Distributions of the High Interest Savings Account Fund ("HISA"), US High Interest Savings Account Fund ("HISU.U"), Premium Cash Management Fund ("MCAD") and US Premium Cash Management Fund ("MUSD.U") is anticipated to be December 30, 2024 . For the distributions for all other Evolve Funds, the ex-dividend date and record date is anticipated to be December 31, 2024 . Unitholders of Evolve Funds on record date will receive cash distributions payable on or about January 8, 2025 . Evolve Funds Ticker Symbol Distribution per Unit Frequency Evolve Canadian Aggregate Bond Enhanced Yield Fund AGG $0.10000 Monthly Evolve Canadian Banks and Lifecos Enhanced Yield Index Fund BANK $0.11000 Monthly Evolve Global Materials & Mining Enhanced Yield Index ETF BASE BASE.B $0.20000 $0.20000 Monthly Monthly Evolve Enhanced Yield Bond Fund BOND BOND.B BOND.U $0.19000 $0.19000 USD $0.19000 Monthly Monthly Monthly Evolve US Banks Enhanced Yield Fund CALL CALL.B CALL.U $0.12500 $0.16000 USD $0.14000 Monthly Monthly Monthly Evolve Automobile Innovation Index Fund CARS CARS.B CARS.U $0.02000 $0.02000 USD $0.02000 Monthly Monthly Monthly Evolve Cyber Security Index Fund CYBR CYBR.B CYBR.U $0.01000 $0.01000 USD $0.01000 Monthly Monthly Monthly Evolve Cloud Computing Index Fund DATA DATA.B $0.01000 $0.01000 Monthly Monthly Evolve Active Canadian Preferred Share Fund DIVS $0.07000 Monthly Evolve Active Global Fixed Income Fund EARN $0.12500 Monthly Evolve European Banks Enhanced Yield ETF EBNK EBNK.B EBNK.U $0.14500 $0.14500 USD $0.14500 Monthly Monthly Monthly Evolve Innovation Index Fund EDGE EDGE.U $0.00500 USD $0.00500 Quarterly Quarterly Evolve S&P 500® Enhanced Yield Fund ESPX ESPX.B ESPX.U $0.15500 $0.15500 USD $0.15500 Monthly Monthly Monthly Evolve S&P/TSX 60 Enhanced Yield Fund ETSX $0.16000 Monthly Evolve Active Core Fixed Income Fund FIXD $0.05500 Monthly Evolve E-Gaming Index ETF HERO $0.05000 Quarterly High Interest Savings Account Fund HISA $0.15402 Monthly US High Interest Savings Account Fund HISU.U USD $0.40849 Monthly Evolve Future Leadership Fund LEAD LEAD.B LEAD.U $0.16000 $0.16000 USD $0.16000 Monthly Monthly Monthly Evolve Global Healthcare Enhanced Yield Fund LIFE LIFE.B LIFE.U $0.19000 $0.23000 USD $0.19000 Monthly Monthly Monthly Premium Cash Management Fund MCAD $0.34721 Monthly US Premium Cash Management Fund MUSD.U USD $0.43971 Monthly Evolve NASDAQ Technology Index Fund QQQT QQQT.B QQQT.U $0.03000 $0.03000 USD $0.03000 Quarterly Quarterly Quarterly Evolve NASDAQ Technology Enhanced Yield Index Fund QQQY $0.32000 Monthly Evolve FANGMA Index ETF TECH TECH.B TECH.U $0.00160 $0.00160 USD $0.00160 Monthly Monthly Monthly Evolve Canadian Utilities Enhanced Yield Index Fund UTES $0.13800 Monthly Distributions for the funds will vary from period to period. For further information regarding the Distributions, please visit www.evolveetfs.com Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with exchange traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds. ETFs and mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. There are risks involved with investing in ETFs and mutual funds. Please read the prospectus for a complete description of risks relevant to ETFs and mutual funds. Investors may incur customary brokerage commissions in buying or selling ETF and mutual fund units. Please read the prospectus before investing. Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to a future outlook and anticipated distributions, events or results and may include statements regarding future financial performance. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by terms such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "intend" or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Actual results may vary from such forward-looking information. Evolve undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future events or other such factors which affect this information, except as required by law. About Evolve Funds Group Inc. With over $7 billion in assets under management, Evolve is one of Canada's fastest growing ETF providers since launching its first ETF in September 2017 . Evolve specializes in bringing innovative ETFs to Canadian investors. Evolve's suite of ETFs provide investors with access to: (i) index-based income strategies; (ii) long term investment themes; and (iii) some of the world's leading investment managers. Established by a team of industry veterans with a proven track record of success, Evolve creates investment products that make a difference. For more information, please visit www.evolveetfs.com . Join us on social media: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Youtube The S&P 500® Index and the S&P/TSX 60 Index are each a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC or its affiliates (" SPDJI "), and has been licensed for use by the Evolve Funds. S&P® and S&P 500® are trademarks of S&P Global, Inc. or its affiliates (" S&P "); Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (" Dow Jones "). It is not possible to invest directly in an index. The Evolve Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P, any of their respective affiliates (collectively, " S&P Dow Jones Indices "). S&P Dow Jones Indices does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Evolve Funds or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Evolve Funds particularly or the ability of the S&P 500® Index and the S&P/TSX 60 Index to track general market performance. Past performance of an index is not an indication or guarantee of future results. S&P Dow Jones Indices' only relationship to the Evolve Funds with respect to the S&P 500® Index and the S&P/TSX 60 Index is the licensing of the Indexes and certain trademarks, service marks and/or trade names of S&P Dow Jones Indices and/or its licensors. The S&P 500® Index and the S&P/TSX 60 Index are determined, composed and calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices without regard to the Evolve Funds. 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All rights reserved.Detroit (AP) — China will soon see a massive expansion of electric vehicle battery swapping, as global battery maker CATL said Wednesday it is investing heavily in stations there next year. Battery swapping is not new — but it’s had a challenging journey. Adoption of electric vehicles has varied in regions across the globe over the past several years, and that doesn’t always bode well for building new infrastructure. While the technology could do well in China, it’s uncertain whether it could work in other countries. What is battery swapping? Attendees look at the next generation battery swapping station from China-based CATL, the world’s largest maker of batteries for electric vehicles, before a launch presentation held in Xiamen, southern China’s Fujian province on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Attendees look at the next generation battery swapping station from China-based CATL, the world’s largest maker of batteries for electric vehicles, before a launch presentation held in Xiamen, southern China’s Fujian province on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Battery swapping allows EV drivers to pull into a station on a low battery and receive a swapped, fully-charged battery within minutes. An EV has to be equipped with the right technology to receive a swap — and not many models around the world currently have it. Automakers have to buy into the idea, and EV adoption among consumers also has to grow, so that investing in new infrastructure seems worthwhile. Consumers also have to be comfortable not owning their battery. Why could it work in China? China is much further along in adopting EVs than other countries. Not only is it the world’s largest auto market, but in July, the country hit a milestone with 50% of new sales electric — and it accounts for most of this year’s global EV sales. China supports EV growth through government subsidies and mandates. So it makes more sense for companies to invest in unique EV infrastructure there because that’s more likely to be needed. What other attempts at battery swapping have occurred? The most notable example might be Israeli startup Better Place, which tried its hand at swapping in 2007. But the company shut down a few years later after investing a lot of money and coming up against roadblocks with logistics. EV adoption was especially low at the time. Could it work in the United States? Europe? Startup Ample, for example, has a modular battery swapping station that it says can complete a swap in 5 minutes. That’s important as charging time remains a point of concern for prospective EV buyers. Even the fastest fast chargers could take at least 15 minutes for a decent charge. But in the U.S., pure EVs only accounted for 8% of new vehicle sales as of November. Meanwhile Nio, a rival Chinese EV brand, has about 60 swap stations in northern Europe, and the EV adoption is higher there than the U.S., but the same challenges remain. Different automakers put different batteries in their various EV models, so a station would need all of those available if the industry didn’t agree to a standardized battery, and not all of those models are out yet in volume. This is something that really needs scale. Swapping could help with EV cost — currently a barrier to adoption for many — because a driver wouldn’t necessarily own the most expensive part of an EV: the battery. Greg Less, director of the University of Michigan Battery Lab, said with proper framing and education, people might like the idea of battery swapping. To him, it’s not unlike buying a propane-fueled grill and purchasing a refilled tank every so often. But it would require a rethinking of car ownership. “Where I could see it working is if we went entirely away from vehicle ownership and we went to a use-on-demand model,” Less added. “I don’t think we’re there yet.” What vehicle uses might be b est for swapping? Battery swapping might make most sense for ride-sharing or other fleet vehicles. Drivers of buses, taxis, Uber or Lyft vehicles want to spend as much time on the road as possible, transporting customers and making money. If battery swapping can shorten the time needed to charge EVs, that makes driving one less disruptive to their business. ___ Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate solutions reporter. Follow her on X: @alexa_stjohn . Reach her at [email protected] . ___ Read more of AP’s climate coverage at http://www.apnews.com/climate-and-environment ___ The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org .
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - New York City Councilman David Carr (R-Mid-Island/South Brooklyn) announced this morning at New Dorp High School that he has secured city funding for a new Athletic Trainer Pilot Program, which will be implemented at three Staten Island high schools. The program, with a total funding of $360,000, will allocate $120,000 to each of the three schools — Tottenville High School, Port Richmond High School, and Susan Wagner High School — to hire two athletic trainers at each location. These trainers will be available at the schools’ discretion to support athletic programs, practices and events where their services are most needed. “This is going to be a major step forward for the health, wellness and wellbeing of our student athletes here in the borough,‘’ Carr said. ”It’s a pilot program that will hopefully, eventually, be scaled up to benefit high schools across New York City." The program will be modeled after the blueprint developed at New Dorp High School, where they introduced the in-house use of an athletic trainer. Carr added that New York state mandates the presence of a healthcare professional at games and practices, and emphasized that athletic trainers are the truest fulfillment of that requirement because these professionals are with student-athletes throughout the entire season, ensuring they receive top-notch care and addressing any healthcare needs as they arise. It is recommended that a physician be present at all football games and to be readily available during practice sessions in New York state. “There were a number of private schools that were able to afford them on their budget ... so we had a gap that we needed to fill at our other public high schools,” he said. New Dorp High School is one of the few public schools on Staten Island to have an athletic trainer, Amanda Coppola, who has been with the school for over a decade. In addition to training student-athletes, she also provides treatment when needed. Priya Shahi New Dorp High School is one of the few public schools on Staten Island to have an athletic trainer, Amanda Coppola, who has been with the school for over a decade. Coppola is a full-time staff member, teaching science during the day in a medical practice class and covering athletes’ games and practices after school — where she not only trains them but also provides treatment when necessary. In addition, Coppola works with student interns, providing them the opportunity to go out in the field to gain hands-on experience. Athletic training is among the fastest growing professions in health care. Employment of athletic trainers is projected to grow 13% from 2023 to 2033 , much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. One of the healthcare professionals the New Dorp High School students have the opportunity to work with is Dr. John Reilly, an orthopedic trauma surgeon with more than 40 years of experience. Dr. John Reilly, an orthopedic trauma surgeon with more than 40 years of experience, shared that he has been involved with sports on Staten Island since 1981 and highlighted the significant improvements in sports care over the years. However, he emphasized that "the job’s not done." (Staten Island Advance/ Priya Shahi) Priya Shahi Reilly shared that he has been involved with sports on Staten Island since 1981 and noted how much sports care has improved over the years. He highlighted advancements, such as the availability of AEDs on the field, concussion protocols, better rehabilitation for athletes, improved care for adolescent athletes, advancements in nutrition, and the introduction of synthetic turf. “The job’s not done,‘’ he said. ”We need to make sure that the funding becomes permanent and it’s permitted in all the public schools. We should be a city and a borough that should be seen as leaders in this effort and we should not always have to pay catch up when it comes to the kids’ health.” He added that while a gym teacher traditionally has a background in athlete physiology and anatomy, they are not typically trained in injury prevention or treatment. In contrast, an athletic trainer is specifically trained in healthcare, with a focus on managing and preventing injuries. “The people that are in these positions as athletic directors, they’re my friends and we talk about this all the time,” said New Dorp High School Athletic Director Rich Rucireto. “I am very lucky that I have an athletic trainer with me at every home event and on the road for football games, lacrosse games, basketball games etc. . . . She treats all the athletes that are injured and we make those phone calls to those parents to let them know. It’s peace of mind for the parents.”Golden Knights, Oilers both heating up ahead of Pacific clashHegseth meets with moderate Sen. Collins as he lobbies for key votes in the Senate
Eoin O Broin urged voters to end the two Civil War parties’ “stranglehold” on housing policy and called for a greater focus on social and affordable home delivery. “The reason homelessness is rising is because Simon Harris is Taoiseach, Micheal Martin is Tanaiste and Darragh O’Brien is minister for housing,” Mr O Broin said at an event at the Teachers Club in Dublin on Saturday. “If we want to end homelessness, we’ve got to end their stranglehold on housing policy.” The housing spokesperson said that the proportion of young people who own their home has collapsed compared to the 1990s, from 60% to 30%, and that this was forcing young people to either emigrate or stay at home with their parents. He also said the rise in house prices since the government formed in 2020 had been “astronomical”, and claimed that average house prices in Dublin had increased by 125,000 euro. Sinn Fein’s Housing for All plan pledges to deliver 31,500 affordable homes through local government housing bodies at prices of 250,000 euro “or slightly above that”, he said. Sinn Fein is also vowing to phase out schemes for first-time buyers – the Help to Buy and the First Home schemes – arguing that they are adding to house prices. The government parties have said the schemes are vital for helping first-time buyers afford to buy a home amid inflated prices – with the latest figures showing prices are increasing by 10% a year. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have also questioned Sinn Fein’s housing plan, which includes a proposal to build affordable homes through the state retaining ownership of the land on which the houses are built. The two main coalition parties have questioned the practicality of this and whether removing the first-time buyers’ grants would “pull the rug” from under young people. Mr O Broin said that projections by the Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Mr Harris and the Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Mr Martin on when house prices would fall “shows the extent to which neither Micheal Martin nor Simon Harris understand anything about housing”. Mr Harris said on Friday that house prices would become more affordable or fall when “50,000-60,000 homes a year” are being built, while Mr Martin has said house prices would begin to moderate when 45,000-50,000 homes a year are being built, estimating this would be around 2027 or 2028. Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien said he did not disagree with the assessment of Mr Martin, his party leader, but was wary of making predictions. Mr O Broin said of the predictions: “If you go back to the Celtic Tiger, 2006, 90,000 homes were built that year, highest number of homes in the history of the state – house prices kept rising. “This idea that housing delivery, in and of itself, will bring down prices is simply not the case. “In fact, the vast majority of housing economists and housing policy experts around the world tell us that what you have to do is not only increase the number of homes but it’s the type of homes and the price of the homes that is key.” “My view is if Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are left in government for the next five years, house prices will rise throughout that period, as they have done not just throughout the last five years but since 2011.” He added: “One of the reasons why homelessness has continued to rise over the last two to three years is because exits from emergency accommodation into the private rental sector have collapsed, and the government’s delivery of new social homes hasn’t been sufficient. “Fine Gael is proposing to keep the target at about 10,000 a year out to 2030, maybe have about 12,000 then. Fianna Fail is suggesting maybe an average of 12,000. “At an absolute minimum, we need to get an average of 15,000 – that would mean by 2027, 2028, you’re hitting 16,000, 17,000, 18,000 new-build social homes a year.” Asked about how fast a change in housing there would be if Sinn Fein were in the next government, Mr O Broin said “things can be done at pace”. “We will be delivering affordable homes for working people to purchase at a price of 250,000, 260,000, 270,000 in year one, as well as two, three and four, ramping up to that 32,000 (affordable homes) over the six years.” “We’ve set out very clearly how you could end homelessness for the over-55s in one year, and year on year dramatically reduce the number of families with children in emergency accommodation. “So things may not be done overnight, but things can be done at pace and at that speed, but only if you have the political will,” he said.
Brittany Mahomes is her husband’s biggest fan. Brittany, 29, took to Instagram on Sunday, December 8, to gush over Patrick Mahomes ’ game day look. Ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers game, Patrick, 29, looked handsome in a light brown jacket featuring a coffee collar and four large pockets on the body. Patrick paired the top with matching tan pants and a lighter T-shirt. The quarterback added even more drip to his ensemble with back sunglasses featuring white rims, a dark backpack and ivory sneakers. His brunette hair was shaved at the sides with the rest of his mane neatly curled. “I take pride in styling my husband, but I mean damn he looks good in everything 😊,” Brittany, who is currently expecting her third baby with Patrick, captioned a post of Patrick that showed him entering Arrowhead Stadium. A post shared by Kansas City Chiefs (@chiefs) Fans agreed with Brittany in the Chiefs’ official account’s comments section. “Best game fit thus farrrr 🔥🔥,” one social media user wrote. A second added, “Looks fabulous!” A third fan complimented his hairdo, writing, “QB1 with a fresh cut (I see those lines 🔥) Let’s go, Chiefs! ❤️💛💪🏼.” (The Chiefs ended up defeating the Charges with a final score of 19 to 17.) You have successfully subscribed. By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly Check our latest news in Google News Check our latest news in Apple News Brittany looked just as showstopping at the Sunday Chiefs game, wearing a patent leather Dolce & Gabbana trench coat (4,695), a ribbed white sweater from L’Academie ($168) and straight Re/done jeans ($325). Brittany further glammed up her look with white Fendi booties featuring an artistic gold heel ($750) and a checkered purse from Bottega Veneta ($2,600). In true Brittany fashion , her platinum blonde hair was styled in a voluminous coif with her crown pulled into a pony. The rest of her mane was curled and worn down. The Mahomes could easily win a Super Bowl for their killer fashion sense alone.As we enter the holiday season many young people are no doubt beginning to consider their future options. With a range of paths to pursue, a high rate of youth unemployment in Canada and a higher education sector facing unprecedented challenges it may seem logical to wonder if university is worth it. In my role as president of York University I see these issues play out every day in the lives of my students and faculty. However, I can say with certainty that, yes, university is worth it for both students and society. And while you might think that I might be biased, there is real data to back it up. Simply put, going to university enriches both students and society over the long term. We must ensure that students and universities are supported to help ensure as broad access as possible. While many students entering the market fresh out of university will make entry-level wages, the reality is that over the longer term their earning potential has more room to expand . Those with a bachelor’s degree earn 24 per cent more than the national average. The more education, the higher the earning potential. Students with a university degree are more likely to have stable employment even amidst economic disruption, as the COVID-19 pandemic revealed . Graduates are also more likely to gain employment that offers a wider range of benefits. Simply put, an education increases one’s chances of finding fulfilling employment and living a longer and healthier life. Beyond individual benefits, there are also key benefits to society. Canada relies disproportionately on universities compared to other OECD countries to drive the research and innovation central to a productive and prosperous economy . Further research has shown that education is central to a healthy, democratic society To quote Nelson Mandela: “ education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world .” The world faces a host of wicked problems ranging from economic inequality to climate change, geopolitical conflict and ongoing wars. Universities and graduates play a key role in addressing these challenges. Technology is not going away and it is not slowing down. A recent study revealed that the jobs of more than 60 per cent of Canadians may be at risk to AI . Moreover, an estimated one out of 10 employees in Canada could be at a high risk of automation-related job redundancy. Canada’s already volatile job market will continue to be impacted. Those with higher levels of education are the best equipped to benefit from technologies in ways that complement the work they do . Graduates are also more likely to have the transferable skills needed to withstand workforce disruption. According to the OECD , AI technologies pose less of a risk for highly-skilled workers. In fact, their jobs are less likely to be replaced by automation because they possess the critical thinking skills needed to provide oversight to tasks that use AI and automation. While these technologies are sophisticated and becoming even more so each day, they currently cannot replicate human cognitive, critical and decision-making skills. There is also compelling research that shows students with higher education are more likely to pursue continuing education to upgrade and reskill, a quality that makes students more agile in a shifting labour market. Universities have also been increasing micro-credentials , programs which help learners re-skill while they are holding employment and balancing familial obligations, to support lifelong learning and build a more resilient Canadian workforce. If Canada is to meet the expanding needs of students and of the country then we must invest now in higher education. Access is something I worry deeply about to ensure that we are not leaving any talent behind. Data from the 2017 National Survey of Engagement indicates that 48 per cent of first- and fourth-year undergrad students at York came from households where neither parent held a bachelor’s degree. What’s more, York’s 2020 Economic and Social Impact Report revealed that 59 per cent of students could not have attended university without financial support. Creating accessible educational opportunities for diverse learners to develop responsive skills is critical for a vibrant future workforce and for resilient communities. York and other universities in Canada have a good track record for this. At the same time, social mobility and productivity have been declining in Canada in recent years . Continuing to ensure that eligible students have access to university education including at the graduate level is imperative to address these trends. The significant numbers of Canadian students leaving the country to study medicine overseas while Canada is facing a significant gap in primary care physicians is just one example . These are troubling trends which Canadian universities are committed to addressing. While the commitment and innovation of universities is evident, the unfortunate truth is that universities across much of Canada have seen a steady decline in real dollar funding for years. In Ontario, recommendations from the government’s blue-ribbon panel strongly advocated for the urgent increase in financial support for universities . To meet the changes in Canada’s labour market, universities have developed new programs to meet the talent needs in areas such as science, technology, engineering and health . We have also worked to enhance access through flexible teaching formats and strengthened international and cross-sector research collaborations to tackle complex societal problems . Universities have also increased supports for students including activities to help them connect with careers and become more entrepreneurial and efficient . In short, universities in Canada are one of the country’s most important assets. If we are to continue delivering the high-quality education for which we are known and serving the needs of the communities who rely on us, especially given fierce global competition for talent, it is essential that we secure a financially sustainable model for universities. Canada’s high youth unemployment has many people anxious about how they will fare in a job market that bears a striking resemblance to the Hunger Games. Expanding employment opportunities is necessary and will require collaboration across all sectors. But the data are clear. A university education will provide our youth with a running start and the ability to adapt as they go. Rhonda Lenton is chair of the Council of Ontario Universities.Blindsided by trade, catching prospect Kyle Teel 'excited' about change from Red Sox to White Sox
Bowls miss out in 4 CFP teams in latest postseason twistJACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Greg McGarity had reason to be concerned. The Gator Bowl president kept a watchful eye on College Football Playoff scenarios all season and understood the fallout might affect his postseason matchup in Jacksonville. What if the Southeastern Conference got five teams into the expanded CFP? What if the Atlantic Coast Conference landed three spots? It was a math problem that was impossible to truly answer, even into late November. Four first-round playoff games, which will end with four good teams going home without a bowl game, had the potential to shake up the system. The good news for McGarity and other bowl organizers: Adding quality teams to power leagues — Oregon to the Big Ten, Texas to the SEC and SMU to the ACC — managed to ease much of the handwringing. McGarity and the Gator Bowl ended up with their highest-ranked team, No. 16 Ole Miss, in nearly two decades. People are also reading... "It really didn't lessen our pool much at all," McGarity said. "The SEC bowl pool strengthened with the addition of Texas and Oklahoma. You knew they were going to push traditional SEC teams up or down. Texas ended up pushing just about everyone down." The long waiting game was the latest twist for non-CFP bowls that have become adept at dealing with change. Efforts to match the top teams came and went in the 1990s and first decade of this century before the CFP became the first actual tournament in major college football. It was a four-team invitational — until this year, when the 12-team expanded format meant that four quality teams would not be in the mix for bowl games after they lose next week in the first round. "There's been a lot of things that we've kind of had to roll with," said Scott Ramsey, president of the Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tennessee. "I don't think the extra games changed our selection model to much degree. We used to look at the New York's Six before this, and that was 12 teams out of the bowl mix. The 12-team playoff is pretty much the same." Ramsey ended up with No. 23 Missouri against Iowa in his Dec. 30 bowl. A lot of so-called lesser bowl games do have high-profile teams — the ReliaQuest Bowl has No. 11 Alabama vs. Michigan (a rematch of last year's CFP semifinal), Texas A&M and USC will play in the Las Vegas Bowl while No. 14 South Carolina and No. 15 Miami, two CFP bubble teams, ended up in separate bowls in Orlando. "The stress of it is just the fact that the CFP takes that opening weekend," Las Vegas Bowl executive director John Saccenti said. "It kind of condenses the calendar a little bit." Bowl season opens Saturday with the Cricket Celebration Bowl. The first round of the CFP runs Dec. 20-21. It remains to be seen whether non-CFP bowls will see an impact from the new dynamic. They will know more by 2026, with a planned bowl reset looming. It could include CFP expansion from 12 to 14 teams and significant tweaks to the bowl system. More on-campus matchups? More diversity among cities selected to host semifinal and championship games? And would there be a trickle-down effect for everyone else? Demand for non-playoff bowls remains high, according to ESPN, despite increased focus on the expanded CFP and more players choosing to skip season finales to either enter the NCAA transfer portal or begin preparations for the NFL draft. "There's a natural appetite around the holidays for football and bowl games," Kurt Dargis, ESPN's senior director of programming and acquisitions, said at Sports Business Journal's Intercollegiate Athletics Forum last week in Las Vegas. "People still want to watch bowl games, regardless of what's going on with the playoff. ... It's obviously an unknown now with the expanded playoff, but we really feel like it's going to continue." The current bowl format runs through 2025. What lies ahead is anyone's guess. Could sponsors start paying athletes to play in bowl games? Could schools include hefty name, image and likeness incentives for players participating in bowls? Would conferences be willing to dump bowl tie-ins to provide a wider range of potential matchups? Are bowls ready to lean into more edginess like Pop-Tarts has done with its edible mascot? The path forward will be determined primarily by revenue, title sponsors, TV demand and ticket sales. "The one thing I have learned is we're going to serve our partners," Saccenti said. "We're going to be a part of the system that's there, and we're going to try to remain flexible and make sure that we're adjusting to what's going on in the world of postseason college football." Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!