JQJO — Sports news · Page 67

French club Lens terminated manager Dino Toppmöller on Tuesday following a six-game tenure, citing unresolvable differences regarding organizational structure and coaching staff operations. Toppmöller, who signed a two-year contract in June, departed alongside his two assistants and reportedly waived a substantial portion of his severance pay. The 45-year-old German coach previously managed Eintracht Frankfurt and experienced a mixed start in France, securing the French Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain but faltering in Ligue 1, where the club currently sits in 10th place. Lens finished second behind Paris Saint-Germain last season and recently achieved a Champions League victory against Sparta Prague. Yannick Cahuzac will assume temporary managerial responsibilities for the upcoming fixture against Monaco. The club emphasized that the separation stems strictly from structural divergences rather than performance alone, as internal discussions regarding squad management failed to yield alignment between management and the coaching staff.

The Mid-American Conference announced Tuesday that its institutions will transition to a nine-game conference football schedule starting in the 2028 regular season. The change was formally approved by the MAC Council of Directors of Athletics as member schools evaluate evolving college sports competitive and media landscapes. Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher stated that the structural shift aims to elevate national broadcast exposure while preserving meaningful non-conference opportunities and traditional regional rivalries. Under the updated framework, each MAC program will play three non-conference games annually instead of four. Conference administrators are currently structuring the specific rotational models, focusing on geographic rivalries, competitive balance, travel logistics, and equitable home-game hosting opportunities. League officials highlighted that expanding intra-conference inventory will strengthen national television partnerships and media rights valuations. The decision aligns the MAC with other major NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision conferences moving toward expanded league schedules to enhance overall strength of schedule evaluation for postseason selection.