The College Football Playoff has abandoned a plan to play most of its semifinals on New Years Eves after television ratings tumbled last year, moving the dates of future games to ensure they will be played either on a weekend or a holiday.The changes will start with the 2018 season. The TV ratings for last years semifinal games played on Thursday, Dec. 31, dropped 36 percent from the semifinals played the season before on New Years Day.This seasons semifinals are still set for Saturday, Dec. 31. Next seasons playoff is scheduled to be back on Jan. 1. In 2018, the games initially scheduled to be played on New Years Eve, will now be played Saturday, Dec. 29.The 2019 games will move to Saturday, Dec. 28.The other seasons affected by the change are 2024, when the semifinals will be moved to Saturday, Dec. 28, and 2025, when the games will be played on Saturday, Dec. 27.We had a healthy discussion with a lot of people who love college football and we concluded that making these changes would be the right thing to do for our fans, College Football Playoff Executive Director Bill Hancock said in a statement.In a phone interview with the AP, Hancock said after looking at data provided by ESPN that considered all the factors that contributed to the drop in ratings, such as the lopsided scores and participating teams, it was clear the single greatest factor was when the games were played.Hancock said several options for altering the schedule were discussed, including giving the College Football Playoff a permanent home on New Years Day, but that didnt get far.It was clear from the get go that our group wanted to honor the traditions of the game, including the Rose Bowl, including the Sugar Bowl getting back to New Years Day, which they really cherish, Hancock said. That one didnt stay on the table for long.Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany, whose conference is partners with the Rose Bowl along with the Pac-12, said earlier this week the Rose Bowl would not be giving up its traditional New Years Day afternoon time slot. The Big 12 and Southeastern Conference now have a similar partnership with the Sugar Bowl and have locked up the time slot after the Rose Bowl.Hancock said it was important to keep the semifinals in what he called the holiday period between Christmas and New Years Day because it best allows fans to travel to the games.ESPNs Burke Magnus, executive vice president, programming and scheduling, said the network, which is paying about $470 million annually for the media rights to College Football Playoff, was pleased with the decision.They did engage in a really thoughtful analysis of what could make the CFP more fan friendly and ultimately they got to the right place, which were happy about, Magnus said.Magnus said ESPN was not directly involved in the decision nor did it exert any pressure on the CFP to change its schedule. He said there was also no pressure from advertisers.No, it never went anywhere near that kind of conversation, Magnus said in a phone interview. There was never any ultimatums issued.The first College Football Playoff set ratings records for ESPN on New Years Day 2015. The semifinal between Oregon and Florida State was played at the Rose Bowl and Alabama and Ohio State played at Sugar Bowl, with the Rose kicking off at about 5:20 p.m. ET.The semifinals moved to New Years Eve last season for the first of eight initially scheduled times throughout the 12-year contract the CFP has with ESPN.College football officials said they were going to start a new tradition on New Years Eve and that people would incorporate watching big games into their party plans. The initial returns showed that was not happening. Not only did the games have to compete with parties at night, but much of the country was still working when the Orange Bowl between Clemson and Oklahoma kicked off around 4:30 ET. That was 3:30 local time in Oklahoma.We tried to do something special with New Years Eve, even when it fell on a weekday, Hancock said. But after studying this to see if it worked, we think we can do better. These adjustments will allow more people to experience the games they enjoy so much. For these four years, our previous call is reversed.---Online: http://www.collegefootballplayoff.com/pr...leases---Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP Niles Paul Jersey . NBA officials ruled the court unplayable in the Bucks final exhibition game on Oct. 25 because players were slipping, and the game was cancelled midway through the first period. Yannick Ngakoue Jersey . Radwanska, making her debut in the Seoul tournament, hit eight aces in a match that lasted 1 hour, 4 minutes at Olympic Park tennis stadium. "It was definitely a very good match -- I was playing really good tennis," Radwanska said. http://www.thejaguarsfansshop.com/Jaguars-Logan-Cooke-Draft-Jersey/ . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Calais Campbell Jersey T.J. Yeldon Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. The Western Bulldogs are determined not to let controversies ruin their AFL campaign of great promise.Not Tom Boyd and Zaine Cordys biff in the pub; not Lin Jongs trip to tour Collingwoods training facilities; not anything else that might crop up between now and September.And as you might expect from a side coached by Luke Beveridge, the skateboarding free spirit who has rejuvenated his club, the Bulldogs are shaking off the latest headline with a laugh.Young gun Lachie Hunter said Beveridge addressed the group once Jongs cross-town visit to their AFL rivals became public.He cracked a few jokes in the first team meeting and that aired it out, Hunter told AAP.It was a bit awkward in the morning but Jongy joined in and everyone moved forward.Trades are a part of the game. Youd be stupid to think no one talks to other clubs. But we love Jongy and hope he can stay.The Boyd-Cordy dust-up is more serious, but both Boyd and the team could hardly have responded better.Boyd kicked four goals in the VFL and the Bulldogs had a fine win at the SCG over premiership fancies Sydneey.ddddddddddddHunter, with experience of upsetting club management after being linked to - but cleared - of betting on a match, said he was proud of the response.It could have gone either way. It can either tear you apart or bring you closer, he said.We approached it the right way as a club and as a team and clearly that showed on the weekend.Ive been in that position before, when youre not in the best of books with the people that are running the club and you just want to make it right.Those boys have gone about it well since it happened.It is a paradox that the Bulldogs have firmed for the flag in their fortnight of controversy.Hunter said their last-minute win at the SCG had galvanised the club.When you have those wins and beat those teams, it validates that belief, he said.For sure, we can win it.This probably is the most-open finals anyone really can remember. If the top eight finishes as is, anyone can win it if they get a run on. 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