An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump’s political coalition
No. 25 Illinois' TD with four seconds left upends RutgersBMW praises Tesla's Full Self-Driving technology on social media
Donald Trump Jr’s friends worried about ‘social climbing’ new girlfriend: reportMaharashtra Assembly polls: Devendra Fadnavis is man of the moment
DOWNTOWN — City Council has cleared the way for a multibillion-dollar quantum computing campus to be built on the former U.S. Steel South Works site in South Chicago, voting to grant a crucial zoning change for the project. Alderpeople on Wednesday approved megadeveloper Related Midwest’s request for a Planned Development zoning designation on 415 acres of vacant lakefront land between East 79th Street and the Calumet River. The Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park , anchored by Silicon Valley tech startup PsiQuantum and managed by a University of Illinois-led organization, is planned for 128 acres on the southeast corner of the site. PsiQuantum plans to continue its efforts to build from the campus the world’s first quantum computer for practical use . The federal Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency also plans set up shop there, to test whether quantum computing is more than “hype” and could become a useful industrial tool after years as “a primarily scientific endeavor,” agency officials said . The developers have said the remaining 300 or so acres will improve access to nearby parks and host businesses which support quantum campus tenants, but have shared few specifics to that end. The zoning change does not impact Steelworkers Park, Park No. 566 or a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers facility nearby, officials said. PsiQuantum has pledged to create 150 permanent jobs, while officials have estimated the project would create 20,000 construction jobs over a period of up to six years. The developers plan to begin building the project’s first phase — which features about 88,000 square feet of offices — in February or March. They aim for the campus to be fully operational by 2027, they said. The quantum campus is set to receive $500 million in state funding and an estimated $175 million over 30 years in tax breaks from the county . Mayor Brandon Johnson has pledged $5 million to the project from the city’s housing and economic development bond program . Wednesday’s council vote was the city’s third unanimous approval of the project in three weeks. The plans passed the zoning committee Monday and the Plan Commission Nov. 21 . “Business as usual” — a nod to Chicago’s often-criticized pace of development — “will not be applied to this unusual circumstance,” Ald. Greg Mitchell (7th) said Monday. The project will be located in Mitchell’s and Ald. Peter Chico’s (10th) wards. The city’s review of the campus plans has proven divisive among South Chicago neighbors, though few have spoken out in total opposition of the project. Supporters have praised the project’s potential to revive the neighborhood’s economy, which has stagnated since South Works and other nearby steel mills closed . Skeptics have urged officials not to rush to throw money and approvals at an unproven industry, which seeks to develop on land with a history of environmental contamination . They’ve demanded city officials and project backers sign a formal community benefits agreement around the project, to which neither the developers nor Johnson have committed. Neighbors are “rightfully concerned” about the environmental impacts of redeveloping land that was degraded by the steel industry for more than a century, Angela Tovar, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Environment, said last month. The development team will review the existing contamination of the site and present its findings to state environmental regulators so “those concerns will be mitigated,” Tovar said. RELATED: South Siders Urge Slowdown On Quantum Computing Campus As some neighbors raised doubts that high-paying, permanent jobs created by the quantum campus will actually go to locals, Johnson and other leaders pledged to create pipelines for South Siders to access those jobs. But even preliminary plans for what those pipelines could look like were scarce prior to a community meeting held at Bowen High School Tuesday, the day before City Council approved the project. Officials often cited the speed of development for their lack of details, saying PsiQuantum had only chosen Chicago to host the project in recent months. However, project backers shared ideas for creating career and educational pipelines this week — from developing career trainings in facility operations and software and hardware engineering, to expanding existing programs that familiarize kids with quantum computing. “Anyone can do this,” said Russell Ceballos, dean of the Center of Excellence for Engineering and Computer Science at Wilbur Wright College and a panelist at Tuesday’s meeting. One such program in the pipeline is the Sunday Morning Quantum series set to launch this spring, said Natalie Johnson, head of education and public engagement at Fermilab in suburban Batavia. The series, an offshoot of Fermilab’s longstanding Saturday Morning Physics program, would put high schoolers through a 10-week course. The students would learn about quantum mechanics, computing and engineering, as well as take tours and perform experiments at Fermilab. Neighbors can count on the Saturday Morning Quantum series to take place “at least once a year, every year,” Johnson said. Officials plan to host the program within a 10-mile radius of the quantum campus, and South Siders would have priority when applying for the program, she said. Other plans included quantum-based activities similar to a game night held by the University of Chicago last month and the University of Illinois’ LabEscape program, as well as a June “Quantum Sensing” event with Chicago State professor Valerie Goss. Several neighbors urged the project team to go beyond extracurriculars as they engage kids with quantum technology. Struggling Southeast Side schools would benefit from the project team bringing curricula and other resources directly into local classrooms, neighbors said. Local schools would benefit from a quantum program similar to the Chicago Builds program , a two-year, off-campus training for high schoolers seeking construction careers, said Erika Meza, a computer science teacher at George Washington High School. Meza is one of a few Chicago Public Schools teachers who will be trained on quantum science and technology during a spring conference in Pittsburgh, she said. For adults, project backers will look to recruit neighbors with little or no technical background into career pipelines that train them in “a little bit of quantum” alongside related tech fields, Ceballos said. Such a focus would allow neighbors to achieve good-paying jobs at the PsiQuantum campus, while developing skills that can be used outside of quantum computing, Ceballos said. “Even if it doesn’t work out with [PsiQuantum], the point is, this kind of training [is] not about quantum specifically,” Ceballos said. “It’s about having an opportunity to develop training programs in this community, for the community, that are going to develop transferable skills.” The ideas presented this week are just some of the “many we’re working on” as the quantum campus development moves forward, said Tom Anderson, the mayor’s economic development director. Right now, officials are focused on finding existing programs “that we can build off of,” Anderson said. “Ideally, we’ll get to a place where Bowen [High School] has programs, where New Sullivan [Elementary School] has programs.” Tuesday’s meeting also featured an info session intended to prepare neighbors for the thousands of construction jobs the development is expected to create. Officials highlighted job placement services, paid pre-apprenticeships, on-the-job training programs and local groups like the Calumet Area Industrial Commission, the Hispanic Ameircan Construction Industry Association, Revolution Workshop and the Related Midwest-backed Hire360 program. Win Tickets To The Chicago Symphony Orchestra! This week only: When you support Block Club, you’ll not only get a free neighborhood print, but you’ll automatically be entered to win two tickets to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra! There are three ways to qualify: Purchase a new subscription , upgrade your current subscription or gift a subscription . Don’t wait — this offer ends on Dec. 15th! Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast: RelatedNone
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / December 4, 2024 / Polaris Renewable Energy Inc. (TSX:PIF) ("Polaris" or the "Company") announces that it has successfully settled a previously announced private placement of USD 175 million senior secured green bonds. The bonds will have a tenor of five years and a fixed coupon rate of 9.5% percent per annum, with interest payable in semi-annual instalments. Furthermore, the Green Bond will include a tap feature, allowing for access to an additional USD $50 million in funding for potential future uses. The bond issue is rated BB- by S&P Global Ratings and is issued under the Company's green finance framework with second-party opinion from Morningstar Sustainalytics. Marc Murnaghan, Chief Executive Officer of Polaris comments: "We are very pleased to successfully settle this inaugural bond issue with strong interest from a wide set of international investors. The bond optimizes the Company's capital structure and secures financing for further growth and increased diversification of cash flow." Net proceeds of the bonds will be used to refinance certain existing debt facilities, the acquisition of the Punta Lima wind farm in Puerto Rico and other investments in renewable energy assets. Pareto Securities acted as lead manager and sole bookrunner for the bond issue. National Bank Financial Inc. acted as Capital Markets Advisor on the transaction. The bonds have not been and will not be qualified for distribution in any province or territory of Canada. Accordingly, the bonds may not be offered or sold within any such province or territory except in transactions exempt from the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved the contents of this press release. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the bonds in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. About Polaris Renewable Energy Inc. Polaris Renewable Energy Inc. is a Canadian publicly traded company engaged in the development, construction, acquisition, and operation of renewable energy projects in five countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Company's operations include a geothermal plant (~82 MW), four run-of river hydroelectric plants (~40 MW), three solar (photovoltaic) projects in operation (~35 MW) and one wind park (26 MW) following closing of the Puerto Rico acquisition. For more information, contact: Investor Relations Polaris Renewable Energy Inc. Phone: +1 647-245-7199 Email: info@PolarisREI.com Cautionary Statements This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to future events or future performance, the expected use of proceeds or rating(s) of any such issuance, the Company's acquisition and other investment plans, any benefits to the Company's financial or business performance, the settlement date of the bonds and the listing of the bonds on the Oslo Alternative Bond Market. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, the ability of the Company to satisfy any interest payments, which may be affected by such factors as general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the actual results of current geothermal, solar and hydro energy production, development and/or exploration activities and the accuracy of probability simulations prepared to predict prospective geothermal resources; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; possible variations of production rates; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the geothermal and hydro power industries; political instability or insurrection or war; labour force availability and turnover; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or in the completion of development or construction activities, or in the commencement of operations; the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern and general economic conditions, as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form. These factors should be considered carefully and readers of this press release should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Although the forward-looking information contained in this press release is based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The information in this press release, including such forward-looking information, is made as of the date of this press release and, other than as required by applicable securities laws, Polaris assumes no obligation to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances. SOURCE: Polaris Renewable Energy Inc. View the original on accesswire.com
There are times when a postseason bowl seems like the first game of next year for the participating teams. That cliche means something a little different for NC State and East Carolina. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * There are times when a postseason bowl seems like the first game of next year for the participating teams. That cliche means something a little different for NC State and East Carolina. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? There are times when a postseason bowl seems like the first game of next year for the participating teams. That cliche means something a little different for NC State and East Carolina. The Wolfpack and Pirates face each other in the Military Bowl on Saturday in Annapolis, Maryland. Then they’ll see each other again in about eight months. NC State opens the 2025 season at home against ECU on Aug. 30. There is certainly plenty of familiarity between these two programs, even though NC State (6-6) is in the ACC and East Carolina (7-5) is in the AAC. The teams — located about 80 miles apart — have met 32 times, most recently in 2022 when the Wolfpack won 21-20. From 1970-87, these teams played each other every year. Since 2004, they haven’t gone more than two consecutive seasons without meeting. “Hour and a half down the road and you’re playing — whether you play every year or don’t play every year — I think it’s still a rivalry,” East Carolina coach Blake Harrell said. “Our fans still get excited. They still think that’s a rivalry. Our players still think that’s a rivalry.” NC State leads the series 19-13 and has won three straight — but East Carolina won three in a row before that. “It’s weird playing a team that we open with next year,” Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said. “We don’t play them that much. We play them every three years, so it’s really a roster turnover. Every time we see them, it’s a different ballclub for the most part. But yeah, finishing with who you open with is unique.” Postseason history NC State and East Carolina met in the Peach Bowl in 1992 — during an eight-year hiatus in their regular-season series. ECU scored three touchdowns in the final 7:26 to win 37-34. “We had that time during COVID, we obviously all had some down time. I remember searching through YouTube, just past games to check out. That game did pop up,” Harrell said. “That was a special moment for that team and that program at the time, and this could be a special moment for this team and this program.” Last time here NC State is playing in the Military Bowl for the first time. East Carolina was supposed to participate in 2021, but the game was canceled. The Pirates lost to Maryland in the 2010 edition. Long-term choice Harrell took over on an interim basis in the middle of the season when Mike Houston was fired. After leading the Pirates to four straight wins, Harrell had the interim tag removed. Next man up Freshman CJ Bailey took over at quarterback for NC State this season after concussion problems ended Grayson McCall’s career. Bailey has completed 64.1% of his passes. Only Philip Rivers and Russell Wilson threw for more touchdowns as a freshman for the Wolfpack than Bailey, who has 14 TD tosses. “He’s a really good player. Doesn’t play like a freshman to me,” Harrell said. “Makes really good throws down the field, has a really good arm, and then if he takes off scrambling or if the quarterback-designed run game, he’s a long strider. He can eat up some ground. Nobody ever catches him.” ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football Advertisement
Navy gets 95-yard TD run from Horvath and stops 2-point try to beat Oklahoma in Armed Forces Bowl
Right-wing activist Laura Loomer has warned Donald Trump that he could be impeached if he allows tech billionaire Elon Musk to continue influencing future policy decisions, amid an online debate about visas for foreign workers. Loomer and other conservative commenters claimed on Thursday that they were stripped of their verification badges on X after they criticized Musk’s support of H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers. In an X post, Loomer wrote that there was a "full censorship of my account simply because I called out H-1B visas. This is anti-American behavior by tech oligarchs. What happened to free speech?" Vivek Ramaswamy called 'con man' after H1-B backlash as he fails to deflect Trump stays silent as MAGA implodes over Musk and Vivek's immigration stance In an interview with Steve Bannon, Loomer added that she believed Donald Trump ’s affiliation with Musk would threaten his second term in office. "If he [Musk] is a free speech absolutist, why was my account suspended? I lost my verification, my blue check because Elon Musk does not like what I said,” she said. Laura Loomer on her X suspension: "If he's a free speech absolutist, why was my account suspended? ... I am simply trying to warn the Trump administration about something that's going to blow up in their face, & it has the risk of potentially getting President Trump impeached" pic.twitter.com/jBhxc33KIN — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 27, 2024 “I am simply trying to warn the Trump administration about something that's going to blow up in their face, and it actually has the risk of potentially getting President Trump impeached in his second term if the Democrats take back the House and are successfully able to spin and create a narrative that Big Tech is trying to buy influence and enriching themselves in the Trump administration." The debate about H-1B visas began this week when Loomer criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the US. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy,” adding that tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Musk weighed in on Wednesday, saying America had too few "talented" and "motivated" engineers and needed "to recruit top talent wherever they may be." "Loomer is trolling for attention. Ignore," Musk posted on X. Donald Trump hits back at claims Elon Musk is running the US WNBA star tells Elon Musk to 'go back to Africa' after Donald Trump failure Musk warned he's 'making enemies and will get hurt' if he doesn't quit politics The debate enraged MAGA supporters, with figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire US workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers in the industry are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut American citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated. Trump has not yet weighed in on the debate.KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson is heading to the NFL draft after leading the Southeastern Conference in rushing and setting a handful of school records. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson is heading to the NFL draft after leading the Southeastern Conference in rushing and setting a handful of school records. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson is heading to the NFL draft after leading the Southeastern Conference in rushing and setting a handful of school records. The SEC Offensive Player of the Year announced on social media his intention Friday to leave after his junior season. He helped the seventh-ranked Vols go 10-3 with a first-round loss in the College Football Playoff where Sampson was limited by an injured hamstring. Sampson thanked his family, Tennessee coaches and fans, saying he learned so much and had the chance to be part of something special. Tennessee went 3-7 in 2020, and he leaves with the Vols having won 30 games over his three seasons. “I poured my heart and soul into this program and this community,” Sampson wrote. “With that being said, I will be declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft.” Sampson set a school record running for 1,491 yards. He also set a program record with a league-best 22 rushing touchdowns, breaking a mark that had stood for 95 years. He was part of coach Josh Heupel’s first full signing class in December 2021 out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He also set school records for total touchdowns scored (22), points scored (132) and consecutive games with a rushing touchdown (11). He led the SEC in nine different categories, including rushing attempts (258), rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, 100-yard rushing games with 10, averaging 114.7 yards rushing per game, points scored, points per game (10.2), all-purpose yards (1,638) and all-purpose yards per game (126.0). He finished this season tied for fifth all-time in the SEC ranks for rushing TDs in a single season with Leonard Fournette of LSU. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football Advertisement AdvertisementTitans coach says WR Treylon Burks recently had surgery to fix partially torn ACL
Advocates worried about future of Niagara safe consumption site
Police became convinced they were investigating a crime in the disappearance of University of Mississippi student Jimmie “Jay” Lee when they interviewed the man now on trial in his death, a top officer testified Tuesday. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * Police became convinced they were investigating a crime in the disappearance of University of Mississippi student Jimmie “Jay” Lee when they interviewed the man now on trial in his death, a top officer testified Tuesday. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Police became convinced they were investigating a crime in the disappearance of University of Mississippi student Jimmie “Jay” Lee when they interviewed the man now on trial in his death, a top officer testified Tuesday. Lee had been missing for two weeks when officers arrested Sheldon “Timothy” Herrington Jr. on July 22, 2022, said Oxford Police Chief Jeff McCutchen. Authorities interviewed Herington twice that day, and he gave conflicting information about the hours before Lee vanished, the chief said. “From the moment that we gave Tim Herrington the opportunity to tell the truth and he couldn’t and he lied and we backed that up, we knew then,” McCutchen said. Herrington, 24, is being tried on a capital murder charge in the death of Lee, 20, a gay man who was well known in the LGBTQ+ community at Ole Miss and in Oxford. Lee disappeared in Oxford, where Herrington’s trial is in its second week. Prosecutors and the defense both called their final witnesses Tuesday, and Herrington did not testify. Closing arguments are set for Wednesday. Lee’s body has never been found, but a judge has declared him dead. Herrington maintains his innocence and his attorney, Kevin Horan, told jurors last week that prosecutors have “zero” proof Lee was killed. Lee has not contacted friends or family, and his financial transactions and once-prolific social media posts have stopped since the day he went missing, investigators testified. Before officers interviewed Herrington, they had already obtained sexually explicit text messages exchanged between social media accounts belonging to Herrington and Lee in the early hours of July 8, 2022, when Herrington disappeared in Oxford, McCutchen said. Lee communicated with his mother daily, and sent his last message to her hours before he vanished to wish her happy birthday, according to earlier testimony. Google records obtained through a warrant showed that Herrington searched “how long does it take to strangle someone” at 5:56 a.m., University Police Department Sgt. Benjamin Douglas testified last week. The final text message from Lee’s phone was sent to a social media account belonging to Herrington at 6:03 a.m. from a spot near Herrington’s apartment, and cellphone tower in another part of Oxford last located any signal from Lee’s phone at 7:28 a.m., McCutchen said Tuesday. A security camera showed Herrington jogging at about 7:30 a.m. out of a parking lot where Lee’s car was abandoned, investigators testified earlier. “We’ve been looking for Jay Lee’s body for two years, and we’re not going to stop ’til we find it,” McCutchen said in court Tuesday. On the day Lee vanished, Herrington was also seen on security cameras buying duct tape in Oxford and driving to his own hometown of about an hour away, police have testified. Herrington is from an affluent family in Grenada, Mississippi, about 52 miles (83.7 kilometers) southwest of Oxford, testified Ryan Baker, an Oxford Police Department intelligence officer who was a detective when he helped investigated the case. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Herrington’s grandfather is bishop of a church in Grenada, other family members work at the church and Herrington himself taught youth Sunday school classes there, Baker said. Herrington “was not portraying himself as gay” to family or friends, Baker said. During testimony Tuesday, Herrington’s father and grandfather both said Herrington had never spoken about having boyfriends. Herrington operated a furniture moving business with another man while they were students at the University of Mississippi, and they had a white box truck that Herrington drove to Grenada, Baker said. Security cameras at several businesses and a neighbor’s house showed Herrington and the truck in Grenada hours after Lee disappeared, Baker said. During McCutchen’s testimony Tuesday, Horan asked whether DNA tests on items taken from Herrington’s apartment and the truck showed “any trace evidence at all implicating my client.” McCutchen said they did not, but police first searched Herrington’s apartment two weeks after Lee vanished and they searched the box truck a few days after the apartment. Both Herrington and Lee had graduated from the University of Mississippi. Lee was pursuing a master’s degree. He was known for his creative expression through fashion and makeup and often performed in drag shows in Oxford, according to a support group called Justice for Jay Lee. Prosecutors have announced they do not intend to pursue the death penalty, meaning Herrington could get a life sentence if convicted. Mississippi law defines capital murder as a killing committed along with another felony — in this case, kidnapping. Advertisement AdvertisementPhysics-Bending Platformer Bionic Bay Warps onto PS5 in March 2025
JACKSONVILLE, 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. "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." Get local news delivered to your inbox!Tom Krasovic: No wrong answers when it comes to picking NFL’s MVP