College Football Playoff shifts to a straight seeding model

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The United States’ Zeev Buium celebrates after scoring against Finland during the second period of a quarterfinal match at the ice hockey world championships in Stockholm, Sweden, on Thursday. PETR DAVID JOSEK — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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The College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy on display before the Ohio State’s championship celebration in January. JOE MAIORANA — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, FILE

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The College Football Playoff will go to a more straightforward way of filling the bracket next season, placing teams strictly on where they are ranked instead of moving pieces around to reward conference champions.

Ten conference commissioners and Notre Dame’s athletic director came to the unanimous agreement they needed Thursday to shift the model that drew complaints last season.

The new format was widely expected after last season’s jumbled bracket gave byes to Big 12 champion Arizona State and Mountain West champion Boise State, even though those teams were ranked ninth and 12th by the playoff selection committee.

Hockey

US beats Finland at worlds >> Conor Garland’s two power-play goals helped the United States beat Finland 5-2 to reach the semifinals of the ice hockey world championship.

Trailing 2-1 in the middle period, the Americans needed 71 seconds to turn things around when defenseman Zeev Buium put home a rebound at 23:53 before Garland’s second goal restored the U.S. lead.

Garland had given the U.S. a 1-0 lead 4:50 into the game when he received a cross-ice pass from Logan Cooley to beat goalie Juuse Saros from the right circle.

Golf

Scheffler trails by 5 at Colonial >> Scottie Scheffler and John Pak enjoyed the same start to the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial with eagles on their respective first holes.

The world No. 1 couldn’t keep up with the PGA Tour rookie from there.

Four days after winning his third major at the PGA Championship, Scheffler opened his attempt at three consecutive victories with a 2-under 68. Pak shot 63 for a three-shot lead over nine players, J.J. Spaun the highest-ranked among them at 27th.

Pagdanganan among 4 tied for the LPGA lead >> Bianca Pagdanganan felt right at home in the stifling heat and humidity on the Yucatan Peninsula, using her power to set up a two-putt birdie on the par-5 18th for a 4-under 68 and a four-way share of the lead in the Mexico Riviera Maya Open.

Pagdanganan, the 27-year-old from the Philippines, managed to hit all but two greens despite not spending much time in the fairway. Her two-putt birdie from 15 feet allowed her to join Chisato Iwai, Jenny Shin and Brianna Do.

Kessler selected next LPGA commissioner >> The LPGA has selected Craig Kessler as its next commissioner, turning to the PGA of America’s chief operating officer to help the 75-year-old league better capitalize on the growth in women’s sports.

Kessler, 39, is the 10th commissioner in LPGA history, replacing Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who stepped away after three-and-a-half years in January.

Pro football

Lions DE Hutchinson says he’s fully cleared >> Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson said he has been fully cleared in his comeback from having leg surgery to repair two broken bones.

Hutchinson had surgery to repair a broken tibia and fibula after he was injured in a win at Dallas last October.