The Sconnie Scoop: 6/28/12

Though it is unclear how the Rose Bowl will factor into the new, four-team football playoff, ESPN made sure that the event’s television home will not be in question for some time. The television network reached an agreement with the Pasadena Tournament of Roses as well as the Big Ten and Pac 12 conferences to continue televising the nation’s oldest bowl game through the 2026 season.

The new deal is an extension on the current contract that is set to expire after the 2014 season. The game will continue to be played at 4 p.m. central time on January 1 or on January 2 when New Year’s Day falls on a Sunday.

For those who are looking to get their college football fix, editor-in-chief Andy Coppens had a chance to sit down with College Football guru Phil Steele earlier this week on a special edition of Badgers Power Hour. See what he had to say about the upcoming season.

The list of athletes with Wisconsin ties headed to the Olympics continues to grow. Former women’s track standout Egle Staisiunaite became the fourth Badger woman ever to qualify for an Olympic track and field event. She will be competing for Lithuania in the 400 meter hurdles.

Wisconsin junior Mohammed Ahmed will be competing in the 10,000 meters for the Canadian Olympic Team. He and former Badger Matt Tegenkamp, who qualified for the United States Olympic team last week, are the first tandem of Badgers ever to compete in the same event at the same Olympics.