Sports
American notebook: Tim Pernetti wants G6 access to double if CFP expands
American Conference Commissioner Tim Pernetti walks next to the court before the first round American Conference Tournament game between Memphis and Tulane in Birmingham, Ala, on March 11, 2026. To hear Tim Pernetti tell it, elected officials on Capitol Hill don’t like to see him coming.
“I’ve walked the halls in D.C. more than Frank Underwood did in ‘House of Cards,'” the commissioner of the American Conference said Friday at the league’s football media day.
“The American has a seat at the table. That’s great news. We have a national respected voice.”
Pernetti has made a point of being the most visible commissioner of a Group of Six conference and fighting for representation for the so-called little guys.
In Friday’s address to reporters in St. Petersburg, Fla., he expressed his support for the Protect College Sports Act progressing through Congress and said that if the size of the College Football Playoff doubles, G6 bids should double, too.
“The American’s position on the CFP is clear,” Pernetti said. “We’re supportive of an expanded playoff that provides more access for every conference.
“We’re asking for two things — fairness and common sense. Here’s a fact – 51% of FBS schools competing in football are outside the autonomy conferences. So, in any expanded format, including the one you’re reading about that could double the field to 24 teams, access should double for everyone.”
As for the Protect College Sports Act, the latest version of the bill, co-sponsored by Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell, would focus on NIL regulation and the implementation of a one-time transfer policy.
“It’s time for structure in college sports,” Pernetti said. “While this bill isn’t perfect, it addresses the core challenges facing the industry, led and headlined by transfers and eligibility.
“It demands that NIL deals have a legitimate business purpose. I promise you this, that will put an end to these sham pay-for-play deals that are turning recruiting into this unchecked auction.
“It’s progress over perfection.”
–Navy was voted the preseason favorite in the American Conference preseason media poll, garnering half the 14 first-place votes and finishing 12 total points above Memphis.
Navy has gone 11-2 and 10-3 over the past two seasons, including a 13-3 mark in conference games. The Midshipmen appeared in the AP poll both years.
The service academies may have done more for the American Conference than put their historic football programs in the mix. Pernetti pointed to the additions of Army and Navy as a gateway to getting more attention in Washington. Navy has been a football member since 2015, while Army only joined in 2024.
“Army and Navy being in our conferences has been great for us, but their engagement enabled me to create engagement in Washington, D.C., which got me in the room as part of these committees for college sports,” Pernetti said. “Their national profile and the relationships they brought to the table has really enabled the American to get to the table, and now we’re in the group. So we have a national voice in all this change.”
–Charles Huff was not shy in the way he introduced himself as the head coach of Memphis at his first American media day.
“Seventy-one new players,” Huff said of his roster. “I’ve kind of become the Lane Kiffin of the Group of Five. Which is the portal king.”
Huff’s rapid rise through the coaching ranks has taken him from Marshall (2021-24) to Southern Miss (2025) and then to Memphis in just a few years. The 43-year-old guided Marshall to a 10-3 season in 2024, and he took 21 of those players with him when he accepted the job at Southern Miss, which finished 7-5 in his lone season.
This time, 17 players followed Huff to his new post, meaning not all 71 newcomers at Memphis are starting from scratch.
“The first thing you’ve got to realize is it doesn’t matter about talent if you can’t get them to come together,” Huff said. “For us, we’ve been blessed to be in a situation where we’ve been able to retain some of them even though we’ve moved locations, which helps. And that’s the first step.”
At Memphis, Huff replaces Ryan Silverfield, who became the coach at Arkansas.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Top goal scorer Petar Musa, Dallas seek first win over San Diego
Jul 22, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; FC Dallas offense Petar Musa (9) and Portland Timbers defense Brandon Bye (5) battle for the ball in the second half at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images FC Dallas will attempt to defeat San Diego FC for the first time when the teams match up Saturday night in Southern California.
Dallas’ trip to San Diego last season was highly forgettable as it was drubbed 5-0 by the then-expansion franchise.
San Diego posted a 3-2 road win over Dallas last season and the two teams played to a 3-3 tie in Frisco, Texas, earlier this season.
In this year’s match, Dallas star Petar Musa scored the tying goal in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time to complete a hat trick.
Musa scored a second-half goal in Wednesday’s 2-2 draw against the host Portland Timbers, in the team’s first match after the two-month break for the World Cup. He is officially tied for the league lead with 13 goals but now stands alone as the leader after Chicago transferred Hugo Cuypers (also with 13) to Monterrey of Liga MX on Thursday.
Patrickson Delgado scored in first-half stoppage time for the other goal for Dallas (7-4-5, 26 points), which is tied for fourth place in the Western Conference.
“We know from the first half of the season we can beat anybody,” Dallas head coach Eric Quill told reporters earlier this week. “There’s no question about who we are.”
San Diego (4-7-5, 17 points) has struggled most of the campaign after surprisingly winning the West in its first season. The club is tied for 13th in the 15-team conference entering Saturday’s play.
The resumption of play after the break continued their issues. Colorado’s Loic Williams scored in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time to give the Rapids a 1-0 home win over San Diego.
San Diego head coach Mikey Varas wore a brave face after the match.
“We got a game in three days,” Varas said to reporters, “so we have to get our legs and minds and our body right and then turn this around really quick.”
Marcus Ingvartsen leads San Diego with 11 goals.
San Diego made a move to spruce up the attack Friday by signing Tunisia World Cup starter Elias Achouri through the 2028-29 season.
The 27-year-old forward still needs to get a visa before he can play for San Diego. He started all three of Tunisia’s group play matches in the World Cup.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Elite at home, Real Salt Lake go for elusive road win vs. Timbers
May 9, 2026; Frisco, Texas, USA; Real Salt Lake midfielder Diego Luna (10) dribbles the ball against FC Dallas midfielder Kaick (55) during the first half at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images Real Salt Lake returned from the World Cup break hoping to prove they could win on the road.
After a 3-1 loss Wednesday at Los Angeles FC, they’ll get another chance Saturday night at Portland.
RSL (8-5-2, 26 points) is just 1-4-2 in away matches, the lone win coming 3-2 at Atlanta United on March 7.
“I don’t think it’s a secret,” RSL coach Pablo Mastroeni said. “Obviously there’s a huge advantage to playing at home in this league and it’s very difficult to win on the road. Given that we’re going to have a lot of road games coming up, it’ll really stress us in that department, challenge us.”
After Saturday’s stop, RSL will wrap up a three-game trip next Saturday in St. Louis.
“Three games away in a row is a good chance for us to turn a narrative around,” said 19-year-old midfielder Zavier Gozo, whose six goals are tied with Sergi Solans for the team lead. “We struggle to win away, so I think it’s a good opportunity to show we can win away.”
Gozo scored in the previous meeting with Portland this season, May 2 in Sandy, Utah. He and Diego Luna scored first-half goals, Juan Manuel Sanabria had a pair of assists and goalkeeper Rafael Cabral kept a clean sheet with two saves. The hosts outshot Portland 25-11, with a 15-2 edge in attempts on target. Timbers goalie James Pantemis made a franchise-record 13 saves.
The Timbers (5-8-3, 18 points) are coming off a 2-2 draw with visiting FC Dallas on Wednesday, as Felipe Mora scored the equalizer in second-half stoppage time. Kevin Kelsy also tallied for Portland, his team-high eighth of the season.
“I think when you have this many games in tight in a week … you just focus on the next game,” said Timbers interim coach Jack Cassidy, who is 1-0-1 — including a 5-1 victory at Seattle — as the club waits for new coach Marti Cifuentes to sort out his visa.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tarik Skubal (12 K's) dominates Royals in 2-1 Tigers win
Jul 24, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) celebrates after the third inning against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Tarik Skubal struck out a season-high 12 in 7 1/3 innings as the host Detroit Tigers edged the Kansas City Royals 2-1 on Friday night.
Skubal, who is headed to free agency, has been the subject of massive speculation over whether the Tigers will deal him before the Aug. 3 trade deadline. The two-time defending AL Cy Young Award winner delivered arguably his best outing of the season in what could have been his final home start with Detroit.
Skubal (7-5) gave up one run and four hits with two walks. Kenley Jensen got the last three outs for his 12th save in 16 chances.
Hao-Yu Lee had two hits and an RBI in the Tigers’ third straight victory.
The Royals’ Noah Cameron limited Detroit to two hits, struck out eight and walked three in seven innings.
The Tigers scored two first-inning runs against Kansas City opener Beck Way (1-1). Colt Keith reached on an infield single and moved up on a Gleyber Torres single. Dillon Dingler was hit by a pitch, loading the bases with no out.
Riley Greene hit a long fly ball to left that Isaac Collins snared with a leaping grab as Keith scored on the sacrifice fly. After a short flyout, Lee ripped a single to center to score Torres.
Kansas City had a threat going into the third after Skubal retired the first six batters. Collins led off with a double and Michael Massey drew a walk. After a sacrifice moved up both runners, Skubal struck out Carter Jensen and Lane Thomas.
The Royals got to Skubal in the fourth. Salvador Perez led off with an opposite-field double and advanced to third on a groundout. With two down, Nick Loftin smacked a double to left to bring home Perez.
Lee had a two-out double in the sixth but Zach McKinstry lined out to end the inning.
Skubal got into another jam in the seventh. Loftin walked with one out and Massey doubled to right with two outs, but Loftin had to hold up at third after right fielder Ben Malgeri quickly retrieved the ball. Skubal then retired Tyler Tolbert on a short fly ball.
–Field Level Media
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Top goal scorer Petar Musa, Dallas seek first win over San Diego
