CFB Notebook: Louisville drops Papa John's name from stadium

The University of Louisville will strip the Papa John's name from its football stadium and rename it Cardinal stadium, school president Neeli Bendapudi announced on Friday. The move came after John Schnatter, the pizza chain founder, admitted earlier this week that he used the N-word during an internal conference call. As a result of the public backlash, Schnatter resigned from the university's board of trustees and as Papa John's chairman. Bendapudi added that Louisville will take Schnatter's name off its business school, and that the changes are effective immediately. "By taking this action, we renew our community's commitment to speaking up when it matters, doing what is right, and coming together as one team -- our Cardinal family -- to heal and move forward," Bendapudi said at a news conference. Bendapudi said she has informed Papa John's and Schnatter of her decision. She added Schnatter was contrite, apologetic and supported the move because he didn't want to be a distraction. The naming-rights deal for the football stadium is unique because the school's deal was with Schnatter, not the Papa John's brand. The deal provides that if he leaves the company, Schnatter can rename the building. The deal with the university was scheduled to go through 2040. --The College Football Playoff has firmed up its bowl rotation for the next eight years. The organization extended agreements with three bowls -- the Cotton, Fiesta and Peach -- that will run through 2026, CFP executive director Bill Hancock announced. "These bowl games have provided a quality experience for the student-athletes and fans for many years, including the first four seasons of the CFP, and we know that will continue," Hancock said in a statement. "The communities of greater Dallas, Phoenix and Atlanta have fully embraced the opportunity to be a part of this very popular event and to showcase the unique opportunities they offer to visitors." The national semifinal sites are set for the next eight seasons, starting with the Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl playing host in 2018-19. The championship game will be held at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. The schedule through 2026 is as follows, with the site of the title games still to be determined in 2025 and 2026. Championship games are in parenthesis: --2018-19: Cotton and Orange Bowls (Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara) --2019-20: Fiesta and Peach Bowls (Mercedes-Benz Superdome, La.) --2020-21: Rose and Sugar Bowls (Hard Rock Stadium, Miami) --2021-22: Cotton and Orange Bowls (Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis) --2022-23: Fiesta and Peach Bowls (Los Angeles Stadium at Hollywood Park) --2023-24: Rose and Sugar Bowls (NRG Stadium, Houston) --2024-25: Cotton and Orange Bowls (TBA) --2025-26: Fiesta and Peach Bowls (TBA) --A number of Rutgers football players are being investigated for possible credit card fraud, according to a published report. NJ.com, citing three sources with knowledge of the situation, reported that as many as eight players for the Scarlet Knights could be involved in the probe, which is being conducted by the Rutgers University Police Department. The newspaper did not reveal the identities of any of the players because there have been no charges brought forward in the investigation. On Wednesday, defensive back K.J. Gray and linebacker Brendan DeVera were dismissed from the program for violating team rules, although it is not known if either player is part of the probe. --Oklahoma was an overwhelming choice to repeat as Big 12 Conference champions in the league's preseason poll. The Sooners, who have won the last three conference titles, earned 46 of 52 first-place votes and had 509 total points. It marked the sixth time in eight seasons that the school was named the preseason favorite. Oklahoma is coming off a 12-2 season that ended with a 54-48 loss in double overtime to Georgia in the College Football Playoff semifinal. The 2017 conference title marked a successful debut for first-year head coach Lincoln Riley, who replaced Bob Stoops following a surprise retirement in June. It was the school's 11th league championship since 2000. The Sooners are bidding to become the first school to win four consecutive Big 12 titles. West Virginia finished second in the poll, garnering two first-place votes and 432 points. TCU (390) and Texas (370) each earned one first-place vote and were third and fourth, respectively. --Wide receiver T.J. Sheffield, a four-star prospect who committed to Notre Dame last week, announced on Twitter that the school has pulled its scholarship offer. Sheffield, of Independence High in Nashville, Tenn., previously committed to Tennessee but later changed his mind. "I received a call from (wide receivers coach Del) Alexander stating that Notre Dame was not going to honor my commitment due to a change of plans," Sheffield wrote. "I completely accept Notre Dame's decision as God's will for me and know that God has an open door for me that no man can shut. Thanks again to Notre Dame for considering me as a possibility for their program." Sheffield is rated as the No. 38 receiver in the country and the No. 9 player at any position in Tennessee on 247Sports.com's composite board. "I was just shocked," Sheffield told USA Today Network. "I was like, 'Wow.' ... I think I'm going to figure out my next top five, I guess. I'll see what's best for me." --Syracuse wide receiver Trishton Jackson, a transfer from Michigan, must sit out this football season, but apparently he will keep busy by playing on head coach Jim Boeheim's basketball team. The 6-1, 183-pound Jackson did not play basketball at Michigan, but as a high school point guard at West Bloomfield (Mich.) High he earned honorable mention all-state honors his last two seasons and he also played AAU basketball. "I didn't even get a chance to tell (football head coach Dino Babers) from my mouth," Jackson said. "The basketball staff ended up asking him. I kept telling them I was too scared to ask him. "They ended up asking him for me and they said he said it was OK to do. I haven't really talked to him about it yet. He's always joking around with me about basketball, so I think he's pretty cool with it." Jackson already has started football workouts and will practice with the Orange this season beginning with preseason camp next month even though he is ineligible because of NCAA transfer rules.