Teddye Buchanan's rookie season could be over after the talented linebacker was carted off early in the Ravens' Week 15 matchup against the Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Buchanan was forced to exit, and the Ravens brass fear he suffered a season-ending torn ACL.

A rookie fourth-round pick, Buchanan injured his right knee on punt coverage in the first quarter and was carted off to the locker room. He left the stadium using a cane.

Can confirm this as we reported yesterday. A tough blow for Teddye, a super young player who’d been rounding into form as a rookie https://t.co/bQuHIq1Geg

— Brian Wacker (@brianwacker1) December 15, 2025

Ravens LB Teddye Buchannan ranks fifth among Baltimore defenders with 639 snaps this season. He also handles a large special teams load, ranking third with 233 ST snaps.

The rookie out of California is helped off the field with trainers, appears to be favoring his right leg.

— Josh Tolentino (@JCTSports) December 14, 2025

Buchanan would be the second defensive starter that Baltimore would lose for the season, joining Pro Bowl defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike, who suffered a season-ending neck injury in Week 2.

Buchanan has 91 tackles in the regular season with one forced fumble and one pass defended. With Buchanan out, Trenton Simpson will enter the lineup.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Teddye Buchanan suffered a torn ACL in win over Bengals

It took over 100 years and lots of bad football to do, but the New York Giants have finally done it. They've alienated their fans to the point where attending games has become optional.

The New York/New Jersey area was hit with 4-6 inches of snow on Sunday morning, making travel a challenge. In years past, Giants fans would shoulder through it and get to the stadium.

On Sunday, with the Giants sporting a seven-game losing streak and facing the equally sad Washington Commanders, who had lost eight straight, more fans decided it wasn't worth the effort to attend.

Paul Schwartz of The New York Post, who has covered the Giants for over three decades, had this to say about the scene on Sunday:

The 1 p.m. start was nearing and scanning those dull, gray seats triggered a predictable observation: Who cares?

Several thousand seats were filled with those who bothered to shovel off the driveaway and not burn their tickets by staying home. It was the thousands of empty seats that bore witness to the full extent of the Demise of the Giants.

When those who willfully decide to stay away outnumber those who come through the entry gates, it is the surest sign of a franchise in trouble.

The players could not help noticing the huge swaths of empty seats in the stands. They are under no illusions. They know they stink, and this is what their lousy play over the last decade has wrought.

"S--t, it's cold as (expletive)," Brian Burns told The Post. "It was cold, man. I didn't really pay too much attention to who was in the stands or whatnot. I was just trying to get a dub."

"It was cold outside; I honestly didn't expect too many people to show up," Dexter Lawrence added.

Throughout the years, Giants fans have braved some of the coldest, harshest environments to watch their team play. The cold wasn't the reason no one showed up on Sunday.

"We really haven't played well enough to deserve people coming out in a snowstorm to watch," right guard Greg Van Roten said. "I get it."

“People are gonna think, 'We're not in the playoffs,' and then it’s snowing too, so you never know how people are going to react to that," Wan’Dale Robinson said.

Left tackle Andrew Thomas has been here since 2020. He's seen just one winning season, sandwiched in between a ton of garbage football. He's going nowhere, but is aware that changes are in order.

"I'm a realist," Thomas said. "This is a performance-based business, and if you don't play well, you might be on another team, you might not be playing. It's the same thing; you don't play well, fans don't want to come see it."

And now, they aren't. Ownership must be seething over the massive number of no-shows. The one thing that co-owner John Mara hates the most is meaningless December games and an empty stadium.

For the third straight year, and eighth in nine years, his team is out of the playoffs before the holidays. This is the fans letting him know they're done.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Snowed Under: New York Giants' decade of dread finally freezes out fans

Florentino Pérez has once again criticized Spanish refereeing and denounced the Negreira case at the traditional cocktail party with the press that Real Madrid holds every year. 

"The Negreira case is the most serious case in football today. We know that more than 8 million have been paid for technical reports on referees and yet they were never received by the coaches," stated the president of Real Madrid.

"It is completely incomprehensible that the institutions have left Madrid alone in this fight. How is it possible that the president of the referees asks us to forget about it? How are we going to forget the biggest scandal in the history of football? How can the RFEF and LaLiga behave like this? They have the duty to ensure integrity," Pérez reflected.

Florentino Pérez, en la comida de Navidad del Real Madrid con los medios de comunicación.

“La mayor preocupación del Madrid es la situación del arbitraje en España.

Es posible que algún club haya descendido por el Caso Negreira. Se debe hacer justicia”. pic.twitter.com/WjDsvZLsaC

— Abraham P. Romero (@AbrahamPRomero) December 15, 2025

Criticism of the Vitoria referee

Florentino Pérez believes that yesterday, in Mendizorroza, Real Madrid was refereed "by a referee who threatened to take measures against our club on the eve of the Copa final." "It seems that the fouls suffered by Vinicius and Rodrygo are not penalties. It's the novelty of this season," the main executive of the club ironically remarked.

Pérez also recalled that in the Negreira Case, his club is not the only one affected. "It is possible that some club has been relegated as a victim of the 'Negreira case.' Our football has been damaged and justice must be done," he pointed out.

He also announced that Madrid "will continue insisting" and reminded the media that they play a fundamental role in spreading these complaints.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

📸 THOMAS COEX - AFP or licensors

The circus that is the College Football Playoffs is starting up later this week, and, as always, everyone has a LOT of opinions. Whether it’s the national angst that Alabama is in the playoffs or the random inclusion of Tulane and James Madison because a weird series of events stemming from all the major conferences getting too big gave them both auto-bids, there’s plenty of opinions out there that will quickly get proven right or swept away once the games start on the field.

And hey, Roll Bama Roll is a site of strong opinions, too, so here are my picks for each game of the playoffs this year. All odds are courtesy of the FanDuel sportsbook.

Round 1

#9 Alabama vs #8 Oklahoma

The Tide is currently favored by -1.5 despite playing in Norman. It’s pretty much a tossup game by the oddsmakers, but it does seem telling that Alabama is very slightly favored on the road. For what it’s worth, I also predict Alabama wins this. It’s going to be terribly ugly and we’re all going to feel awful afterwards, but Oklahoma only won last time on a pick-6, and I think Alabama at least avoids that while both offenses are engaged in a wet noodle fight. Something like 19-13 Alabama.

#10 Miami vs #7 Texas A&M

The Aggies are only favored by -3.5 here, despite being undefeated all the way up until the final game of the season. Most conventional wisdom says Texas A&M should win this one, but Miami has a QB who has a lot of big-game experience in Carson Beck, and Malachi Toney might be the most fun player in college football.

Meanwhile, I think Aggie is still smarting from their loss to Texas, and Battered Aggie Syndrome is still very much alive and real, and just waiting under their bed.

Let’s go with the upset here, Miami wins 35-31.

#20 Tulane vs #6 Ole Miss

What a joke. Ole Miss is favored by -17.5. They’ll cover. With the Kiffin drama now gone, I think this team is galvanized and absolutely blows out their first oppoenent.

#24 James Madison vs #5 Oregon

Another joke. Oregon is favored by -21.5 What a great playoff system, guys. Ducks win.

Round 2

#10 Miami vs #2 Ohio State

The Buckeyes will be favored by -9.5 in this one. Call me a little crazy, but I think Miami is hot at the right time and covers. I haven’t been a huge believer in OSU all season as they’ve coasted through their schedule. Still, picking the outright upset seems a bit too far.

You know what? Let’s just go out on a limb here: 28-27 Hurricanes

#5 Orgeon vs #4 Texas Tech

The Red Raiders are favored by -1.5 here. I think the Ducks are a perfectly good team, and are probably a bit more ready for big-time football. But I am a huge fan of the TTU defense, and I view that unit as something of a joker card here. Red Raiders advance in a solid win.

#9 Alabama vs #1 Indiana

The Sooners are favored by -6.5 here. Man, can you imagine the online discourse ahead of this game? The king of college football of the last 20 years, now the underdog to an upstart team that’s never been good… all with a coach who came up through Bama? If the Tide makes it to this game, it’ll likely be the most talked about game of the entire playoffs.

Unfortunately, I think the Alabama offense is just too broken at this point, and Indiana is, somehow, legitimately very good. 28-23 Hoosiers.

#6 Ole Miss vs #3 Georgia

The Bulldogs are favored by -5.5, and they should be. The Dogs have looked downright unbeatable outside of their game against Alabama, which they just avenged in a cathartic drubbing of Alabama in the SEC Championship. I do worry that getting that Alabama monkey off of their back may wind up carrying over into their next game the Dogs could be in for a let down… But, for now, I’m going to assume Kirby Smart keeps his team from falling victim to that and wins this one by 10.

Semifinals

#10 Miami vs #3 Georgia

Carson Beck playing his old team would make for some great entertaining storylines.

And also it’ll be a bloodbath. UGA wins and advances to the Natty. Yet again.

#4 Texas Tech vs #1 Indiana

I love the Red Raiders’ defense. Unfortunately for them, Indiana’s defense is just as good, AND they have an exceptional offense. It’s not a blowout, but this one’s never really in doubt either. Hoosiers advance.

National Championship

#3 Georgia vs #1 Indiana

My heart says Indiana. As does my head. But that nagging feeling in my gut says to never pick against UGA. The Dogs have only lost two games to teams not named Alabama in the last 5 seasons, and one of those was after their QB was injured.

Indiana has been fun – they have the Heisman winner, they’re the story of the year, and, by all metrics, are the best team in the country.

But with Kirby Smart in the the national championship game… How do you pick anyone else?

Bulldogs win. Again. And the rest of the country stays mad about the SEC.

Now’s your shot – give your entire playoff predictions in the comments below. When it’s all said and done, we’ll announce an RBR winner.

And in case we need a tie breaker – please predict the final total points scored in the Pinstripe Bowl of underachievers (Penn State vs Clemson).

Let's start here: In no way should we blame Chris Jones here. Dude had to focus on getting the Kansas City Chiefs a much-needed win, and there were a number of things that also had to happen if they lost that would have eliminated them from the postseason.

But it all happened, and Jones had no idea that the Chiefs were complete out for the first time since 2014 -- in other words, for the first time in his NFL career!

As he was speaking with reporters, the star defensive tackle had this to say: "We still have a fighting chance ..."

But then he was informed that the Chiefs were out.

"Oh, we're out of the playoffs?" he replied as you can see the news hit him. "Alright. Yeah."

Chris Jones had no clue today was an elimination game for the Chiefs 😭

“We still have a fighting chance… Oh we’re out of the playoffs?” pic.twitter.com/2kPEyFFSwi

— GhettoGronk (@GhettoGronk) December 15, 2025

Between that and the Patrick Mahomes injury, what an awful Sunday for the Chiefs.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Chris Jones learns of Chiefs playoff elimination with reporters

Patrick Mahomes vs. Tom Brady ACL: How Chiefs QB, Patriots legend share eerily similar history with knee injury originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

In many ways, the Kansas City Chiefs are this era's version of the Tom Brady-led New England Patriots, but 2025 is a bit of a deviation from that path.

The Patriots never had a losing season after Tom Brady ascended to the starting job in 2001, winning at a high level until the day he left after the 2019 season and bringing six Lombardi Trophies back to Foxborough in total. While the Chiefs seemed to have some of that same magic on their way to three Super Bowl wins, they will miss the playoffs in 2025 and are staring down a losing season at 6-8.

To make matters worse, QB Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL in a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, which will force the two-time MVP to miss time due to injury for the first time since 2019. As it turns out, Brady faced a similar fate right around the same point in his career. 

Here's what you need to know about Brady's ACL injury and how it's drawing comparisons to Mahomes' injury.

MORE CHIEFS NEWS: 

• Six reasons why the Chiefs never got over Super Bowl hangover
• Patrick Mahomes suffers knee injury on final drive of Chiefs-Chargers
• Chiefs officially eliminated from NFL playoffs with loss to Chargers
• How long Chiefs are expected to be without Patrick Mahomes after knee injury

When did Tom Brady tear his ACL?

Brady suffered a torn ACL in the first game of the 2008 season, right after leading the Patriots to an undefeated regular season that came to a crashing halt in Super Bowl 42.

Ironically, the injury happened against the Chiefs. Safety Bernard Pollard delivered the hit that awkwardly bent Brady's knee. While Brady was able to walk off the field, much like Mahomes, tests soon confirmed the bad news. 

The injury sent shockwaves through the NFL. The Patriots went from Super Bowl favorites to searching for an identity overnight, and the entire landscape of the 2008 season was changed. Brady was forced to sit out the remainder of the season and shift his focus to 2009 despite never having missed a game due to injury in his NFL career.

MORE:Updated 2026 NFL Draft order after Week 15

When did Tom Brady return?

Brady missed the entire 2008 season with a torn ACL but was ready for the start of the 2009 season, thanks to the timing of the injury.

In the meantime, the 2008 was a rare blip on the radar for the Patriots. New England missed the playoffs, marking one of two times in which the franchise fell short of the playoffs during Brady's 19 seasons with the team.

The Patriots didn't struggle all that much, though. They finished the season 11-5 with Matt Cassel under center, only narrowly missing the playoffs in a top-heavy AFC. The following season, they would qualify for the playoffs with a 10-6 record after Brady's return. 

Here's what you need to know about Mahomes' injury and how it is strikingly similar to Brady's.

MORE:Updated NFL power rankings after Week 15

What happened to Patrick Mahomes?

Mahomes suffered a torn left ACL against the Chargers on Sunday, ending his season. 

Mahomes left knee buckles and he has left the game pic.twitter.com/a0dkUXynjE

— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) December 14, 2025

Like Brady's injury, the Mahomes news sent shockwaves through the NFL. The three-time Super Bowl champion has been one of the league's most durable players since becoming the Chiefs' starter, missing only two games due to injury and none since winning his first championship at the end of the 2019 season.

Had the injury happened in September as Brady's did, the news might have totally turned the NFL upside down. That isn't the case because the Chiefs were already on the verge of elimination when Mahomes went down. Mahomes was attempting to lead a game-tying or game-winning drive when he exited, but even a win would have left Kansas City with serious work to do to climb back into the playoff picture.

While the Chiefs were eliminated, the timing of the injury coincidentally allows one key comparison between Mahomes and Brady to stand: Brady famously never took a snap with his team mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Despite Kansas City's season being over with three games remaining, that will remain true for Mahomes.

That wasn't the only similarity fans noticed between Mahomes and Brady. Mahomes won three Super Bowls in his first eight seasons, one of which was spent as a backup, before tearing his ACL and missing the playoffs in year nine. That is the exact scenario that happened to Brady in 2008, even right down to three Super Bowls in his first eight seasons. 

Tom Brady in NFL Season 8: going for his 4th ring, loses in the Super Bowl

Patrick Mahomes in NFL Season 8: going for his 4th ring, loses in the Super Bowl

Tom Brady in Season 9: injures knee, team misses playoffs

Patrick Mahomes in Season 9: injures knee, team misses playoffs

— Rany Jazayerli (@jazayerli) December 14, 2025

Of course, Brady fans would tell you the Patriots would almost certainly have made the playoffs if he was healthy, whereas the Chiefs were on the doorstep of elimination after Mahomes played 14 games. There is no arguing with that, but the injury to Mahomes brings up a clear parallel between the two legendary quarterbacks.

MORE:Updated NFL playoff picture after Week 15

How long is Patrick Mahomes out?

Mahomes will miss the remainder of the season, but his rehab figures to extend deep into the offseason at the very least.

While the Chiefs haven't yet released any details about surgical plans for Mahomes or a timeline for his recovery, ACL tears are typically 8-12 month injuries when surgery is required, as it often is. That timeline would put Mahomes on track for a potential Week 1 return in 2026, coming just under nine months after the injury, but that is a tight timeline to follow. If Mahomes' recovery lasted 10 months, he would be out until mid-October for the Chiefs. 

Still fairly young without a major injury history, Mahomes has hope for a shorter recovery time with plenty of runway to get ready for the 2026 season. 

ACL recovery time in NFL

With surgery and rehab, an ACL tear typically requires an 8-12 month recovery period, according to Bass Medical Group. A torn ACL is typically seen as season-ending in any major sport if it occurs in-season, as 8-9 months is the bare minimum recovery time, so a long offseason awaits for Mahomes.

If Mahomes starts recovery soon and attacks his rehab in the offseason, that timeline gives him a chance to be ready for the start of the 2026 season, which is just under nine months after he went down. The injury will at the very least impact his availability for the Chiefs' offseason program and make his Week 1 status one of the dominant training camp storylines in the NFL. 

MORE:Full details on ACL recovery time in the NFL

Football Italia transfer expert examines Juventus’ deserved victory against Bologna on Sunday, highlighting that the Bianconeri are finally starting to flourish under Luciano Spalletti.

The Bianconeri secured a 1-0 win at the Stadio Dall’Ara last night, boosting their hopes of finishing in the top four, which is now just one point away.

BOLOGNA, ITALY – DECEMBER 14: Juan Cabal of Juventus celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and Juventus FC at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Pedullà examined the Old Lady’s victory in his latest YouTube video for Football Italia.

“You can witness a blossom even in December, the blossoming of football and a team that is still trying to internalise a new theorem,” Pedullà said.

BOLOGNA, ITALY – DECEMBER 14: Juan Cabal of Juventus celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and Juventus FC at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Juventus are now just one point below fourth-placed Roma, but the Giallorossi have a game in hand and will be the Bianconeri’s next opponent in Serie A on December 20.

Watch the full video below:

Josh Mulligan (23) will be allowed to leave Hibernian this January for a reasonable fee, according to a report from Foot Mercato. There are plenty of clubs interested in the young Scottish midfielder.

Mulligan has impressed during the opening months of the season and has since made his debut for the Scotland national team. His rise has not been lost on those south of the border, Foot Mercato understands, with Premier League duo Nottingham Forest and Leeds United both interested in the midfielder.

Lille target available at an ‘affordable’ price in January

However, there is also interest from abroad. The publication reports that Bundesliga side Wolfsburg and Ligue 1 side Lille OSC have also made enquiries about Mulligan with a view to a potential move during the upcoming January transfer window. 

Hibernian are not opposed to a sale, and Foot Mercato state that he will be an “affordable” option for clubs next month. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

It's time to vote for another Moore Mechanical Athlete of the Week for the Petoskey-area.

All results for this week's poll come from Monday, Dec. 8 through Saturday, Dec. 13 from Emmet and Charlevoix Counties.

Congratulations to Petoskey hockey player and Harbor Springs freshman Carter Schlappi on being named the first Moore Mechanical Athlete of the Week for the winter sports season last week.

Schlappi had a great week for the Northmen and earned 43% of the vote for the win.

Athlete, Coach Features: Petoskey-area features on athletes and coaches over the past year

Vote for these athletes from Monday, Dec. 15 to 4 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 18. Look for another Moore Mechanical Athlete of the Week from the Petoskey-area next week.

To have athletes included, make sure game results/stats/records are sent to Drew Kochanny of the News-Review at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com or texted.

Makenna Brey, Harbor Springs basketball 

Brey had a great opening week for the Rams to bring them to 2-1, scoring 14 vs. Gaylord St. Mary, 11 points vs. St. Ignace and 10 vs. Cedarville. 

Kalen Titus, Charlevoix wresting 

Titus is off to a big start to the season, winning a match in Petoskey mid-week, before going 5-0 for a 138-pound title in the annual Sault hosted Bridge Brawl. 

Lauren LaHaie, Petoskey basketball 

LaHie got hot against Menominee and let it fly, hitting five 3-pointers for 17 points in the Friday win. She also had nine points vs. Charlevoix. 

Madden Pateman, Petoskey hockey 

Pateman helped Petoskey to a 3-0 week with seven goals and one assist. He scored five goals alone against Cheboygan on Saturday. 

Taryn Carey, Charlevoix basketball 

Carey helped Charlevoix bring in its first win with a 10-rebound effort against Pickford. She also added nine points and 12 boards against Gaylord. 

Taiven Wang, Petoskey basketball

Wang continues to play strong defense for the Northmen and added a combined 16 points against Boyne City and Elk Rapids. He also combined for seven rebounds, five assists and two steals. 

Addy Burns, Boyne City basketball 

Burns helped deliver the first win of the season for the Boyne City girls in Week 1, scoring 14 points in a victory over old rival East Jordan. 

Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Vote for the Petoskey-area Moore Mechanical Athlete of the Week

Should we have known from Week 0 that this was going to be a schizzy wackowhirl season of epical psychodramatic proportions?

I imagine.

Recall with me what happened in Dublin when Iowa State bested Kansas State in a Week Zero Battle o’ Erin. The winner of which, one sage — Guilty — predicted would make it to the CFP.

Well, that didn’t happen.

But off the field, both schools lost their coaches. One to retirement. One to Happy Valley. Or, so it is called.

But off the field in Dublin, the Too Much Guinness Effect.

K State QB Avery Johnson’s father and brother got in a fist fight while abroad.

With . . ..

. . . each other.

Steve Harvey was not around to referee said Family Feud. Richard Dawson is spinning six feet under.

Forget the unpredictable results on the field, the other than Saturday action continues to fascinate. Michigan Man Sherrone Moore was fired for cause. Then arrested that night and charged with a felony.

Diego Pavia hurled F-Bombs at the Heisman voters after finishing 2d in the voting.

Then contritely apologized.

Even though they are still searching for coach in Ann Arbor after Kalen DeBoer said, “Uh no, not interested” . . .

. . . the first round of the College Football Playdowns starts Friday. Featuring two schools that fell to underwhelming Louisville, which shall be competing in the bottom feeder Flatulence Bowl.

The teams ranked 5-8 get to play a home game, while the Top Four get to rest, but then travel distances to hallowed but neutral venues for their openers in and around New Year’s.

Reminder this is not an official NCAA national championship. It’s more an independent invitational, though we consider it a crowning. Since the “ruling tribunal”, as usual, sat on its hands.

Alabama @ Oklahoma. Crimson Tide vs. Boomer Sooner. Blue bloods the two of them. Though both have had offensive flaws of significance. Defense has ruled. The home team won’t need Fansville’s Sheriff Bosworth suiting up. Bama had to play/ got to play in the SEC title tilt. Where they pretty much stunk up the stadium. The home team got to sit the week out and heal. They’ve got brothers on the squad named Peyton and Eli. True. Last name Bowen not You Know. Oklahoma will win. Meaning Alabama will lose. Then the disgrruntled fan base will wonder if it wouldn’t be better if their coach moved on from Crimson to Maize and Blue? Or somewhere. So they could find the next St. Nick.

Miami @ Texas A&M. A&M was Un Dee Fee Ted. Until losing their rivalry game to the Burnt Orange. Which was a break actually, giving them a week off during title time. Though they did lose a probable bye into the Cotton Bowl. I’ll let my more astute readers argue which matters more? The U lost to SMU and U of L. Still slipped into the playdowns thanks to that opening W over the irate Irish. Causing the most heated discussion of all for Stephen A. and Tank Top Pat. The U’s coach Mario has proven himself to be less than Super in the big ones. Aggies.

Tulane @ Mississippi. Tulane’s hot shot QB from ’24 took the moolah and his talents to Duke. Where his season was so mediocre, they didn’t even make it this far, despite winning the ACC crown. His replacement Jake Retzlaff was banned from Brigham Young for his sin of having premarital relations of a sexual nature with a similarly inclined young woman. So not only has he been living New Orleans, he’s still playing. Rebel players, contrary to the delusions of their former mentor who is now learning how to craft a roux, are locked in. Doesn’t bode well for the Wave, even though they should hang tough. Hotty totty.

James Madison @ Oregon. Hear me now and believe me later. In ten years JM will be a legit national contender, as I again predict, as a member of the ACC. They got the money. They got the momentum. Unfortunately, they no longer have the services of the best coach in college football, Curt Cignetti. But still despite an early L to the U of L Cardinals can win a natty. The Ducks OC Will Stein has been serving two masters since being named to lead Kentucky. Really won’t make a difference in Autzen. Quack

— c d kaplan

Welp, Zac Taylor doesn't have the support of '90s singer Nick Lachey.

Lachey called for the Cincinnati Bengals to fire their head coach as the Baltimore Ravens dominated the Bengalsin a 24-0 loss at home on Sunday, Dec. 14.

"INSANITY 'Doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results'," the Cincinnati native wrote on X. "Zac has to go. Change has to happen. Anything else is literally nuts. #whodey"

Taylor has come under scrutiny by many fans this season as the Bengals face a losing record. The Ravens' game eliminated the Bengals from playoff consideration. This is the third consecutive season Cincinnati hasn't made the postseason.

Lachey told ESPN in 2011 that he's been a Bengals fan for the "better part of 30 years." He and his brother, Drew Lachey, grew up and attended school in Cincinnati.

The 52-year-old Netflix reality TV show host rose to fame as a member of the '90s boy band, 98 Degrees.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Nick Lachey has choice words about Bengals coach Zac Taylor

Former Pro Bowl defensive lineman Paul Wiggin, who played 11 seasons for the Cleveland Browns before going on to a lengthy coaching career in college and the NFL, has died at the age of 91.

Wiggin had a short-lived stint as an NFL head coach, replacing a legend in Kansas City. He later returned to the college ranks, where he coached star quarterback John Elway at Stanford and was on the losing end of "The Play" in 1982.

A two-time All-American at Stanford, Wiggin was a member of the Browns' 1964 NFL championship squad. After retiring as a player in 1967, he joined the San Francisco 49ers coaching staff. He spent seven seasons as an assistant before being named to succeed Hank Stram as the head coach of the Chiefs in 1975.

We're saddened by the loss of Paul Wiggin, a two-time Pro Bowler and Browns Legend who spent his entire 11-year playing career in Cleveland.

📰 » https://t.co/eV0r7gPh7Zpic.twitter.com/VOjHFy5T03

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 13, 2025

But perhaps his greatest legacy came later after he was fired by the Chiefs and eventually returned to Stanford. Wiggin was on the sideline for one of the craziest endings in college football history − a 25-20 loss to rival Cal in which the Bears scored winning touchdown on a series of laterals as time expired with the Stanford band prematurely on the field.

"I think it's tragic that a Cal-Stanford game had to come down to this," Wiggin said at the time. "In our hearts and our minds, we won the game. We know we won the game."

Wiggin also served as defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints and defensive line coach for the Minnesota Vikings before moving to the Vikings front office and remaining with the franchise for nearly 40 years.

In 2005, he was named to the National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame, where he was its fourth-oldest living member at the time of his death.

"Paul Wiggin represented everything the NFF College Football Hall of Fame aspires to honor, specifically excellence on the field, leadership on the sidelines, and a lifelong commitment to the game," NFF Chairman Archie Manning said. "His impact on college football spanned generations, and he leaves behind a legacy that will long be remembered. We are deeply saddened to learn of his passing."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Paul Wiggin, Stanford coach whose team lost on 'The Play,' dies at 91

When Coventry's player of the match was their goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, you get the impression that despite losing, Bristol City put in a decent performance and were worthy of a point from Saturday's clash at the CBS Arena.

That's the problem with City at the moment. For the most part they are playing well.

But Saturday's result means they have now only won two of their past nine games and are 12 points adrift of second-placed Middlesbrough who visit Ashton Gate on Saturday.

It is not an absolute must-win game but with two tough away fixtures to follow at West Bromwich Albion and Millwall, further lapses will see them cut adrift from the play-off places in a league table that has become more stretched out after the latest round of fixtures.

City have had three goals disallowed in the past five games and two of those may well have stood had VAR been operating in the Championship.

Last weekend against Millwall saw Zak Vyner's equaliser chalked off as the assistant referee flagged for an offside against Ross McCrorie as he headed Adam Randell's raking pass into the path of the City defender.

Then on Saturday, Sinclair Armstrong slotted the ball home for a goal that would have given City the lead but the referee adjudged him to have handled the ball.

Both decisions may have been incorrect and when you add to the fact that City haven't been awarded a penalty on their travels for almost three years, the Millwall chant of "no-one likes us, we don't care" could be aimed by the club at the PGMOL, who have apologised more than once in recent times for errors made by matchday officials.

Sandwiched between the Millwall and Coventry defeats though was the thrilling midweek draw against Leicester.

Despite trailing by two goals at the interval, City fought back to level. At the height of the relentless second-half pressure, the Leicester goalkeeper appeared to pick up a head injury which, as the rules demand, brought an immediate cessation to the game.

While being attended to by the physio, the whole Leicester team came across to the technical area for a mid-half team talk from manager Marti Cifuentes - all rather convenient as I saw it and not for the first time this season.

It is another example of taking the dark arts to a new level which is something City appear quite naive at compared to some clubs.

You can hear more from David Pottier on the Forever Bristol City podcast

2026 PDC Darts World Championship Day 5 live results, scores, schedule and bracket: Dolan hits crucial 170 in win over Dudeney originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Charlie Manby wins the last-leg decider this time around, tying the match at 1-1 in sets against Cameron Menzies.

After a weekend full of upsets and close contests, the 2026 PDC Darts World Championship resumes on Monday with eight games across an afternoon and an evening session.

On Day 5, players including Jonny Clayton, Peter Wright, Simon Whitlock and Dirk van Duijvenbode will take the stage.

2025 PDC Darts World Championship schedule & scores

Here are the scores and schedule of play for the first round on Day 5.

MORE: 2026 PDC Darts World Championship: Draw, schedule, format and prize money

Day 5 (afternoon session)

Day 5 (evening session)

Bracket

Here is the bracket for the second round.

*Updated as of the end of this day

MORE: 2026 PDC Darts World Championship first round predictions, betting odds: Picking winners in all 64 matches

Quarter #1

SHOP NOW:Luke Littler darts collection, for sale now on Target Darts

Quarter #2

MORE: World Darts Championship 2025/26 prize money: How much winner will earn, total prize fund for PDC event

Quarter #3

Quarter #4

More darts articles:

• Every darts player who's qualified for the 2026 PDC World Championship
• Predicting the PDC 2026 Premier League of Darts lineup
• PDC World Championship to be streamed on Peacock
• Watch: Luke Littler hits nine-darter in one of the greatest legs of all time against Josh Rock
• How much do professional PDC darts players actually earn? The most lucrative events on the tour
• Predicting the top-five contenders for the 2026 PDC Darts World Championship

Fifteen weeks down, three to go. The Jaguars bested the New York Jets 48-20 in a historic beatdown at Everbank Stadium on Sunday. With the victory, the Jaguars claim their fifth win in a row and sixth of their past seven.

Let’s take a look at how they got here, fifteen weeks into the season.

Trevor Lawrence

The Trevor Lawrence critics are certainly quiet as of late. The Jaguars’ quarterback has now led the team to their its double-digit win season since 2017 with the potential for more. On the season, he now has 3,512 total yards and 29 touchdowns. For reference, those two numbers rank eighth and fourth among NFL quarterbacks.

Liam Coen’s offense is humming. Against the Jets, Lawrence posted his first game with five touchdowns passing and even added another on the ground. He spread the wealth too as eight players tallied a reception. It also happened to be his third straight game without a turnover.

Travis Etienne

Many gave up on Travis Etienne after a disappointing 2024, but what a difference one year and a new coaching staff can make. After posting career lows in yards and touchdowns last season, Etienne is on pace for career highs in both. In fact, he’s on pace for his third career 1400+ yard season from scrimmage.

Etienne’s 1203 yards from scrimmage thus far rank 13th among running backs, while his 12 touchdowns rank sixth. He’s proven to be a far more dangerous threat out of the backfield this season as well, leading the Jaguars in receiving touchdowns with five.

Jaguars as a whole

There’s a whole lot of positives outside of the Clemson duo as well. Cole Van Lanen and the rest of the offensive line post another sackless week, allowing just two QB hits across the last two weeks. The offensive line’s ability to keep Lawrence clean has been a huge catalyst for what this offense has done lately.

On the other side of the ball, the Jags’ defense just posted its third straight game with two or more takeaways. In addition to that, the ascension of the Jaguars’ pass-rush cannot go unnoticed. Sunday marked the seventh straight game with a sack and the fourth time the unit has posted three or more sacks in the last five games.

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CARACAS (AP) — The Rinconada racetrack in Caracas, Venezuela, hosted the 56th Jockey Challenge on Sunday.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

Ter Stegen

During Monday’s press conference, FC Barcelona coach Hans-Dieter Flick spoke candidly about his German compatriot, Ter Stegen.

At Barça, Ter Stegen is now a substitute. As a result, his future is highly uncertain. When facing the media on Monday, Blaugrana boss Hans-Dieter Flick addressed the situation of his fellow countryman.

"He is a first-class player. He’s a fantastic goalkeeper. We have three excellent keepers and I’m delighted about that. As I’ve said before, Joan is the number one. Then Szczesny had a fantastic season last year and is also a very important player. If Ter Stegen wants to stay? That’s his decision. We’ve discussed his situation and I respect it. He’s a fantastic goalkeeper, a very good player, and he also has an excellent character,"

the Barça coach revealed.

🚨🇩🇪 Hansi Flick on ter Stegen’s future: “Marc is an amazing goalkeeper, and we have 3 of them. My words were clear: Joan García is the number 1 goalkeeper, so then we'll see what happens”.

“Don’t forget that Szczesny is a key player for us, on and off the pitch”. pic.twitter.com/8bBR5rxXPQ

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 15, 2025

Nevertheless, Ter Stegen may need to consider a move this winter if he wants to play for Germany at the 2026 World Cup.

Cardiff City face Chelsea in a sold out Carabao Cup quarter-final at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Bluebirds are in impressive form in League One under Brian Barry-Murphy, having only lost four matches which sees them top of the table.

Cardiff are unbeaten in their last three games after wins over Doncaster Rovers, Stevenage, and Huddersfield Town, so will enter tomorrow night’s clash with some confidence despite the challenge of facing one of the best teams in the country.

They are also unbeaten in their last three League Cup matches against Chelsea, with two wins at old home ground Ninian Park and a draw at Stamford Bridge.

Last time the faced Chelsea at home in the League Cup was October 28^th, 1986 where they hosts ran out as 2-1 victors.

They also faced the blues in August and September 1980 where they won the home leg 1-0 and drew reverse fixture 1-1.

The Bluebirds are hoping to reach their first semi-final of this competition since finishing as runners up to Liverpool in 2012.

They beat Burnley, Wrexham, Swindon Town and Cheltenham to reach this quarter-final.

Cardiff City will be without Gabriel Osho and Ollie Tanner through injury, and notably will not be allowed to field Chelsea loanee Omari Kellyman, despite a request from the club to permit him to play.

Meanwhile, Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea travel to the Welsh capital after returning to winning ways in the Premier League, having beaten Everton 2-0 at Stamford Bridge at the weekend.

Chelsea had suffered a minor slump since their 3-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League last month, going four games without a win in all competitions until beating the Toffees.

That run included draws against Arsenal and Bournemouth along with losses to Leeds United and Atalanta.

Alas, the Blues sit in fourth in the Premier League table, with eight wins, four draws and four losses to their name.

As for the Carabao Cup, they head into the clash against Cardiff with wins over Lincoln City and Wolverhampton Wanderers thus far.

Chelsea will be without Liam Delap, Romeo Lavia, Dário Essugo, and Levi Colwill due to injuries.

The match will kick off at 20:00 GMT on Tuesday December 16th, and will be live on Sky Sports Main Event.

Predicted line-ups

CAR: Trott; Ng, Fish, Chambers, Bagan; Wintle, Robertson, Turnbull; Ashford, Salech, J. Colwill

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is having a phenomenal season, and it seems like it could end with winning the NFL's MVP award for the first time in his career.

On Sunday against the Detroit Lions at SoFi Stadium, Stafford completed 63.2% of his passes for 368 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. His performance was enough to move him up on the team's all-time passing yards list, surpassing his opponent in the game, Jared Goff.

Stafford now has 18,422 passing yards since he and Goff were traded for each other in 2021. He's roughly 4,000 yards away from third place, which is currently held by Roman Gabriel (22,223), so if Stafford wants to move up any further, he'll have to play well for at least one more season.

If he sticks around for two more and plays the way he has, he could take over the top spot.

More Rams: Kyren Williams joins 3 Rams legends with 3 straight 1,000-yard seasons

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Matthew Stafford moves into No. 4 all-time in Rams' passing yards

Fueled by a young and dynamic core, the Magic are leaving behind years of mediocrity and emerging as a contender in the Eastern Conference. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are leading an exciting era in Orlando that could put the team back in the Finals this decade. This is how the roster is shaping up for the coming years.

• Player Option / • Team Option / · Not Guaranteed / · Two-Way / · Free Agent

2025-26

PG	SG	SF	PF	C
Jalen Suggs	Desmond Bane	Franz Wagner	Paolo Banchero	Wendell Carter Jr
$35,000,000	$36,725,670	$38,661,700	$15,334,769	$10,850,000
Tyus Jones	Anthony Black	Tristan Da Silva	Jonathan Isaac	Moritz Wagner
$7,000,000	$7,970,280	$3,809,520	$15,000,000	$5,000,000
Jase Richardson	Jett Howard	Jamal Cain	Noah Penda	Goga Bitadze
$2,983,320	$5,529,720	$636,435	$1,272,870	$8,333,333
			Orlando Robinson	Colin Castleton
			$636,435	$636,435

2026-27

PG	SG	SF	PF	C
Jalen Suggs	Desmond Bane	Franz Wagner	Paolo Banchero	Wendell Carter Jr
$32,400,000	$39,446,090	$41,754,636	$41,250,000	$18,102,000
Anthony Black	Jase Richardson	Tristan Da Silva	Jonathan Isaac	Goga Bitadze
$10,106,315	$3,132,360	$3,991,200	$14,500,000	$7,608,696
		Noah Penda
		$2,150,917
Tyus Jones	Jett Howard	Jamal Cain	Orlando Robinson	Moritz Wagner
Unrestricted	Unrestricted	Restricted	Restricted	Unrestricted
				Colin Castleton
				Restricted

2027-28

PG	SG	SF	PF	C
Jalen Suggs	Desmond Bane	Franz Wagner	Paolo Banchero	Wendell Carter Jr
$29,600,000	$42,166,510	$44,847,572	$44,550,000	$19,550,160
	Jase Richardson	Noah Penda	Tristan Da Silva	Jonathan Isaac
	$3,282,000	$2,525,901	$6,138,466	$14,500,000
Anthony Black				Goga Bitadze
Restricted				Unrestricted

2028-29

PG	SG	SF	PF	C
Jalen Suggs	Desmond Bane	Franz Wagner	Paolo Banchero	Wendell Carter Jr
$26,800,000	$44,886,930	$47,940,508	$47,850,000	$20,998,320
	Jase Richardson	Noah Penda	Jonathan Isaac
	$5,910,882	Restricted	$15,000,000
		Tristan Da Silva
		Restricted

2029-30

PG	SG	SF	PF	C
Jalen Suggs		Franz Wagner	Paolo Banchero
$26,700,000		$51,033,444	$51,150,000
Desmond Bane	Jase Richardson	Noah Penda	Jonathan Isaac	Wendell Carter Jr
Unrestricted	Restricted	Unrestricted	Unrestricted	Unrestricted

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Orlando Magic depth chart: This season and in the future

For all the big names that Liverpool signed in the summer, it was questioned how they'd all fit in.

With a new goalkeeper, a right-back, a left-back, a centre-back, a midfielder and two strikers, all coming into the first team, it's difficult to have an XI where they all play. In order to facilitate such a move, Arne Slot would have to drop a lot of his title-winning stars. We're yet to see it happen.

The general notion of spending £450m on transfers was praised by the fans at the time, because it was so out of character for owners FSG. But when you outlay such a huge amount, you open yourself up to scrutiny. There can be no excuses for not delivering success in the upcoming season.

Of course, we're now so deep into this year's campaign that it's clear that success isn't likely to happen and the overall squad planning is starting to come into question. In the Reds' 2-0 home win over Brighton on Saturday night, the starting XI indicated a big problem is going under the radar.

Liverpool's squad is incredibly thin

If we look at the defence first, the available right-backs in midweek were Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez, and while knowing that Bradley was unavailable for the Brighton game, Slot still decided to pick the centre-back against Inter Milan. As expected, Gomez pulled up with an injury on Saturday.

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So we missed a trick by not playing Bradley on Wednesday, although the compact nature of the team might have been weakened slightly if the Northern Irishman had featured. It was a complex trade-off.

And on Saturday, we saw Calvin Ramsay make an appearance on the bench, since Jeremie Frimpong is still unavailable through injury. But the decision to play Gomez once again, result in the team losing it's only available back-up centre-back for Virgil Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate. We've got no depth.

But that's just the beginning. In midfield, all of Florian Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones featured against the Seagulls, with only Wataru Endo missing out because of an injury. There was no depth on the substitute bench for Slot to look to bring on. In the end, Szoboszlai came off for Federico Chiesa and Wirtz was replaced by Andy Robertson.

Had players like Endo, or Stefan Bajcetic or Trey Nyoni been available, then perhaps we'd have seen different changes, but for all the good things about the Reds' win, it didn't look like a sustainable plan.

Greater depth is required and targets like Kees Smit would make a huge difference, if Slot decides to continue with this system, which is a bit of a hybrid between a diamond and a Christmas tree. With the full-backs staying high, we played a sort of 2-5-2-1, with Van Dijk and Konate largely abandoned.

This meant that despite the Reds keeping a clean sheet, Brighton had created 1.96xg from their three big chances and 14 shots. Last-ditch defending and blocks meant that only one effort went on target, but we surely can't rely on this strategy working in future. If we attempt to use it, then we need depth.

And this is all down to sporting director Richard Hughes and the executive team that oversaw the recruitment in the summer. Losing players like Harvey Elliott, Tyler Morton and Jarell Quansah, to name a few, was part of a decision to thin out the squad. Instead, it's now causing us problems.

It's plausible that things might work out, and the system will continue to deliver results, with the risks taken by not having depth failing to negatively impact us, but not having enough players available in the key areas of the pitch is a catastrophe and it will constantly threaten to blow up in our faces.

Things have gone from bad to worse for Fiorentina in 2025-26, and with no wins to their name in Serie A after 15 attempts, the finger has been pointed in numerous directions over the last few weeks. This time it’s the turn of goalkeeper David De Gea, whose errors have cost the Viola up to eight points so far this season.

De Gea under fire for Fiorentina blunders

Fiorentina are already staring at the threat of relegation from Serie A after 15 matches, with just six points to their name so far in the league. They have won none of their 15 league fixtures and have lost nine, the most recent coming in a 2-1 defeat at home against Hellas Verona, also in the relegation zone, on Sunday.

De Gea came under fire after the Verona loss for his positioning error that led to the first goal. Gift Orban looked as though he was going to challenge the Spaniard one-on-one, but was instead able to wrap a bending finish around the goalkeeper from outside the area with the space that De Gea had left open.

De Gea was also criticised for letting in a relatively weak header deep into second-half stoppage time during a 1-1 draw with Cagliari on the opening weekend of the 2025-26 season.

The former Manchester United stopper also made a hash of an attempted claim in his own area in a 2-2 draw against Genoa at the beginning of November, although in fairness to him, had also kept out a penalty earlier on in that game.

Additionally, the Spaniard also let in goals against Sassuolo and Milan that he would usually be expected to keep out. There were also subtle slip-ups against Como and Juventus, and as a result of these errors, Fiorentina have directly dropped eight points in the Serie A standings according to Firenzeviola.it.

Super Cup: USMA and MCA set for a face-off soon

USMA – MCA: The Super Cup date reportedly set!

The Algerian Super Cup could soon deliver another highly anticipated Algiers derby. According to reports from an Algerian media outlet, the clash between USM Alger and MC Alger is scheduled for January 20, although there has yet to be any official confirmation from the Algerian Football Federation or the LFP.

This showdown will pit reigning champions MC Alger, crowned in the 2024-2025 season, against USM Alger, who clinched the Algerian Cup after their 2-0 triumph over CR Belouizdad. These titles add a special flavor to this already tantalizing fixture.

🚨| URGENT : Finale de la supercoupe : Mouloudia vs USMA - 20 janvier 2026.

🗞️ @elheddaf1 (🥇) pic.twitter.com/0OJJOwv0YB

— MCA Insider ⭐️ (@MCA_Insider) December 15, 2025

On the sporting front, MCA approach this encounter in a position of strength—still unbeaten and leading Ligue 1 Mobilis with 25 points from nine matches. USMA, currently fourth with 18 points from eleven games, will look to use this fixture as a springboard to assert their ambitions.

LONDON (AP) — Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is happy at the club, he said on Monday as he refused to go into more detail about the weekend outburst that he had just endured his worst spell since arriving in June 2024.

After the 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday, Maresca said “the last 48 hours has been the worst since I joined the club” because “many people didn’t support me and the team.”

The Italian coach didn't specify who he was referring to, except to say it wasn't about the Chelsea supporters, and wouldn't expand two days later despite repeated questions about the comments.

“I respect people's opinions,” Maresca said at a news conference ahead of Tuesday's English League Cup quarterfinal match at third-tier Cardiff. “But I don't have nothing to add and my focus is just on tomorrow's game.”

Asked if he was “100%” committed to Chelsea, Maresca replied: “Absolutely, yes.”

Chelsea is fourth in the Premier League, 13th in the 36-team Champions League, and looking to reach the semifinals of a cup competition for the third time since Maresca's arrival.

Beating Everton ended Chelsea's four-match winless run in all competitions.

Maresca said Cole Palmer will not be available for the trip to Wales, as the England forward looks to recover fully from a groin injury that has restricted him to seven games in all competitions this season.

Palmer scored the first goal against Everton but came off in the 58th minute.

“Cole is one of the players who deserve to be protected,” Maresca said. “At this moment, he is not available to play two games in three games.”

On Wednesday, Manchester City hosts Brentford and Fulham visits defending champion Newcastle.

The fourth quarterfinal takes place next week, when Arsenal hosts Crystal Palace.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Happy Monday, everyone. It’s playoff week, as Alabama gets set to face off against Oklahoma on Friday night. A head coach opening at Michigan has led to rumors about Kalen DeBoer leaving Tuscaloosa, but he put those to bed with a statement yesterday.

Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer ended all speculation Sunday afternoon alluding to potential interest in the Michigan vacancy with the Crimson Tide set to Oklahoma in the first round of the College Football Playoff next week. DeBoer was considered among the best fits for the Wolverines soon after Sherrone Moore’s firing earlier this week.

DeBoer was scheduled to meet with media on Monday, but released a statement ahead of that appearance.

“My family and I are very happy in Tuscaloosa and remain extremely grateful for the support of President Mohler, Greg Byrne, the board and so many others,” DeBoer said through Yea Alabama, the Crimson Tide’s NIL collective. “We have an incredible opportunity in front of us, so my sole focus is on Alabama football and our preparations to play Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff. I have not spoken and have no interest in speaking with anyone else about any other job. I am fully committed to this program and look forward to continuing as the head football coach at the University of Alabama.”

In case you’re wondering about Kalen’s buyout should he choose to leave…

Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer is reportedly high on Michigan’s list of candidates for its open job, after Sherrone Moore was fired for cause. The Wolverines could offer DeBoer a top-level player compensation situation between revenue sharing and NIL, and plenty of money in salary to boot.

DeBoer has made no public indication that he’s interested in the job. If he does opt to leave for Michigan or any other job, it will cost him.

According to DeBoer’s contract, obtained by AL.com via an open records request, he would be on the hook for a $4 million buyout. That’s a lot of money, but would not be a deterrent to a big-time college football program, which would likely cover the bill if one were to poach DeBoer.

Chris Low reports that DeBoer and Alabama are discussing an extension though nothing has been agreed upon, and Michael Casagrande believes that has been a factor in Kalen’s silence on the matter.

We’ll keep an eye on the Board of Trustees’ Compensation Committee the next time it meets. They’re the group charged with rubber-stamping any contracts or amendments to deals negotiated with Byrne and the administration.

It’s hard to imagine this process took four days and yielded nothing new.

DeBoer is represented by the puppet master of major college athletics, after all. He switched agents and hired Jimmy Sexton in his second year at Washington, and nobody plays the game like the Memphis Money Man himself.

You know, the guy who represents Saban and practically every other major SEC coach.

He knows better than anyone that schools facing a late-cycle coaching change lack the negotiating high ground. Michigan’s opening is a wild card thrown into an already historic round of coaching musical chairs.

The most desirable names have already been snapped up, and the dust had settled when Michigan canned Moore.

You have to imagine that Alabama will want to get a bigger buyout commitment from DeBoer as part of any extension agreement.

The players insist that the distractions haven’t shown up on the practice field.

Williams said DeBoer “hasn’t said much,” but that it matches the program motto in focusing on what is happening internally instead of what is being said outside of the Alabama football facilities.

“At the end of the day, he serves us 100%,” Williams said. “That’s our coach, so we’re going to play for him. External noise is external noise, so we’re going to focus on the internal.”

Alabama offensive lineman Wilkin Formby doesn’t see anything resembling truth to rumors pointing DeBoer to Michigan.

“He’s the same coach DeBoer to me,” Formby said. “We just had a great practice.”

Alabama linebacker Yhonzae Pierre said the DeBoer coaching rumors are “definitely not a distraction at all,” while linebacker Justin Jefferson said “we (are) all in Roll Tide.”

Let’s hope that’s the case.

Nate Sanchez of The Dallas Morning News has some keys to the matchup for you. Turnovers have to be atop that list.

Oklahoma has beaten Alabama in two straight matchups, and it’s not hard to figure out why. The common theme is the turnover battle. In the previous two games, Brent Venables’ defense has forced six total turnovers and the Sooners are plus-5 in the turnover battle.

Oklahoma’s defense is tied for 92nd with 13 takeaways on the season, but went on a heater late in the season with 10 of those 13 takeaways coming in its last four games. The Sooners’ four-game run of takeaways unsurpisingly led to lots of success, with those games resulting in wins at Tennessee, at Alabama and at home against Missouri and LSU.

Ironically enough, Alabama’s offense has been much better at taking care of the ball than Oklahoma’s offense this season, yet the Crimson Tide turned the ball over three times in November’s matchup with the Sooners. Alabama outgained Oklahoma 406-212 in that game, but the turnovers made Alabama’s dominance in the yardage department a moot point.

Takeaways are extremely volatile and difficult to rely on. Can Oklahoma carry its takeaway heater into the playoff?

The Sooners are in the playoffs because of timely turnovers forced down the stretch. If Alabama can take care of the ball, they should be in good shape. But, can they?

Oh, boy! “Disrespect!”

“We understand the disrespect,” Alabama receiver Ryan Williams said after practice Friday. “We’ve just got to handle it with a grain of salt and get ready to go play next Friday.”

An Alabama staffer saw it happening and shooed the Oklahoma players off. She told them to “be respectful.”

“We won that B—-,” wide receiver Jer’Michael Carter said in response.

Alabama linebacker Justin Jefferson said Friday if he was out there when it happened, “that still wouldn’t be going on.”

“That type of disrespect will be addressed on the field,” Jefferson said Friday. “We’ve got to go give it to them. We’ve got to take the ball off them and bring it home for Alabama.”

Imagine being upset over players taking a photo in the middle of an iconic field where they just won a memorable game.

Alabama added a juco cornerback to the 2026 class.

Former Northridge High School and Itawamba Community College cornerback Nick Sherman committed to the Crimson Tide Sunday, Dec. 14.

Sherman, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound Tuscaloosa native, joins five-star cornerback Jorden Edmonds and four star Zyan Gibson in Alabama‘s 2026 recruiting class.

Kalen clearly has an affinity for taller corners.

Last, check out what Josh Jacobs did on this wheel route.

Nobody tell him he’s just a running back.

That’s about it for today. Have a great week.

Roll Tide.

Give Bo Nix a standing O.

The Denver Broncos won their 11th consecutive game, clinched a playoff berth, and became the first team in the NFL this season to post 12 victories with an inspiring triumph at Empower Field on Sunday.

And it was not in spite of their embattled young quarterback.

It was largely because of their scrappy young field general.

Sure, the Broncos defense showed up again as one of best units in the NFL, with reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II instantly flipping the momentum like that in the third quarter with one of the most breathtaking interceptions you’ll ever see.

Yet for all of the heat (and three more sacks) the Broncos put on Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love, and for the problem Denver’s D had in containing Josh Jacobs (14-yard TD catch, 40-yard TD run), the 34-26 outcome begged for a different type of pressure.

Ultimately, in a game that featured six lead changes, the Broncos had to prove that they could not only keep up with the Packers, but one-up them, too.

Enter standing ovation. It wasn’t too long ago, like on a Thursday night in November with the Las Vegas Raiders in town, that they booed Nix at the Broncos home park as the offense struggled like something awful. Cool thing. He never flinched. Nix won the game, gave his defense props, grinned and said something witty.

"I’ve been booed before and I’ll be booed again," he said on that night.

Look at him now. Talk about changing a narrative.

Nix was fabulous on Sunday, passing for 302 yards and 4 TDs, without a pick. The second-year pro had the third-highest passer rating of his career (134.7). And even better than the numbers: the presence.

Whatever you thought about Nix before Sunday – the Broncos won their previous five games by a combined total of 17 points – needs to be adjusted with Denver currently holding the No. 1 seed on the AFC side of the playoffs.

Sure, Sean Payton’s team has won so many close ones, when the defense kept the game close with shut-down action or, big-time splash plays. The previous Sunday at Washington, Nik Bonnito closed out the overtime win with a magnificent deflection as he rushed Marcus Mariota.

No, you don’t want to go into January without a championship defense. And the Broncos unit, coordinated by Vance Joseph, is exactly that.

Yet winning big in the NFL also involves having a balanced team, where a capable offense and special teams can complement an outstanding defense. And vice versa.

There’s also the notion that to win a big game against top competition, at some point the quarterback must make a big-time throw. And Nix, growing up before our eyes on a huge stage, didn’t just make a throw in getting the best of Green Bay.

He made a throw. Then another one. And another one. Then another…

He used his feet, too, to avoid sacks (zero sacks), buy time and set up big plays.

"There’s so many plays to reference," Payton said during his postgame press conference.

Three that screamed wow:

– In the second quarter, Nix fired a bullet through a tight window to Lil’Jordan Humphrey for a five-yard touchdown. Humphrey was low to the ground, just across goal line, and there were multiple defenders invading his space. But the throw was perfect. Like something we saw in the World Series from LA Dodgers MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

– At the end of the third quarter, Nix threw a strike over the middle to Troy Franklin, his former Oregon teammate, for a 23-yard touchdown. Again, perfect throw at the right time. It capped the longest drive of the night (11 plays, 75 yards) and put the Broncos back on top – for good.

– Early in the fourth quarter, with Denver clinging to a 27-26 lead and facing a fourth-and-2 from the Green Bay 41-yard line, Payton went for broke. As he explained his guts afterward, Payton insisted that his decision was not about analytics. I believe him for a couple of reasons, one being Nix was on fire. Payton dialed up a sideline streak for Courtland Sutton, similar to the route they missed with on the previous play.

COURTLAND. SUTTON.#ProBowlVote | 📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/9wHqxk8uUi

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) December 15, 2025

Sutton stretched to haul in a rainbow throw for 26 yards. One replay review and three plays later, they scored again as rookie running back RJ Harvey ran it in for a 4-yard TD that provided the final margin.

Yet it was also evident in that sequence that Payton has some serious trust in his young quarterback. Maybe the options in that situation were limited, but not unrealistic as a field goal try from nearly 60 yards would have had a Mile High boost. Yet Payton not only had the faith to go for it, he put the onus on Nix to make that throw. After all, it wasn’t Drew Brees, who will likely be revealed as a first-ballot Hall of Fame finalist in the coming weeks, slinging it on Sunday. It was the quarterback they booed a few weeks ago.

Done.

"It’s not easy for him after so long with one consistent quarterback, who was absolutely dominant in this league, to take a younger guy and trust him," Nix said. "I really appreciate that."

Nix has surely demonstrated that his temperament is built for dealing with adversity and thriving under pressure. And he is undoubtedly gaining more confidence with each success, which is compounded by the trust that teammates – and that goes for defensive players, too – have developed with Nix.

Payton, mindful of the series of crunch time heroics (including the crazy comeback against the New York Giants in Week 7, when Denver won 33-32 with a 33-point fourth quarter) has been around long enough to realize what they can do for psyche.

As they went back and forth on Sunday, Payton insists there was no panic.

"That’s the habitat we’ve been living in," he said. "And so, when you get comfortable operating in those games, you don’t think anything of it."

Nix realizes that progress is a breathing testament to the synergy with Payton. The son of a coach, Nix praises Payton for allowing him to be his “authentic self” and connecting their competitive vibes.

"I can tell by the way he’s calling it," Nix said of the strategy. "Then my job is to turn around and protect him, keep his calls safe."

Now that’s synergy. Nix knows. In many corners outside the Broncos headquarters, the expectations have been rather reserved, despite the NFL’s longest winning streak. Never mind that Denver had won 10 games in a row and 11 straight at Empower Field. They still entered the game on Sunday as a home underdog.

During the week, when someone asked about apparent slight, Nix quipped, "My mom thinks we’ll win, so that’s all that matters."

Turns out, Nix’s mom was correct.

No, her son doesn’t have the resume that Hall of Famers John Elway and Peyton Manning built, including their Super Bowl titles with the Broncos. But Nix’s mom can surely envision the potential of winning a championship.

And not because Bo Nix would just be going along for the ride.

Contact Jarrett Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on  X: @JarrettBell

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Broncos' Bo Nix leading Denver charge to 2025 NFL playoffs

Deandre Ayton moves into 2nd behind Wilt Chamberlain in Lakers' quirky stat history originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Deandre Ayton hasn't been with the Los Angeles Lakers long.

But in one quirky, oddly specific stat, he now ranks second in franchise history behind just the legendary Wilt Chamberlain.

The stat: Games with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 90% from the field.

Ayton did that on Sunday, going for 20 points and 13 rebounds while making 10-of-11 shots (90.9%).

He also did it exactly one month earlier, on Nov. 14, when he went for 20 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and also made 10-of-11 shots.

He's done it twice.

Real Sports shared that only Chamberlain did it more, although there's no reported number for how many times Wilt did it.

A quick glance through Basketball Reference showed that the first time Wilt reached these thresholds for the Lakers was in 1969 when he went for 34 and 27 while shooting 14-for-14.

It appears Chamberlain did it three times, as he shot the ball a lot less in the closing stages of his career by the time he had arrived in Hollywood.

So hey, maybe Ayton can break a Wilt mark soon, which would be remarkable.

It's a bit surprising Shaquille O'Neal didn't factor in here, but shooting 90% in a game on high shot volume is incredibly difficult, even for big men taking most of their shots close to the hoop.

So it's a good way for Ayton to ingratiate himself to the Lakers' fanbase. If you don't miss any shots, you're doing pretty well.

More NBA news:

• LeBron James usurped a clear Luka Doncic duty for the Lakers
• Steph Curry extends insane NBA record over Kobe, Kareem

Arsenal defender Cristhian Mosquera was in attendance for Saturday’s game against Wolverhampton Wanderers, but the player was pictured wearing a protective boot.

Photo via @DailyAFC on Twitter

Following his injury against Brentford earlier this month, Cristhian Mosquera returned to the Emirates Stadium for Arsenal’s match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.

But the 21-year-old could be seen wearing a protective boot as he walked around the pitch, as he works to recover from that recent ankle setback.

Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Sami Mokbel reported for the BBC on December 5th that Arsenal fear Mosquera will miss at least six weeks with his ankle injury, and possibly as many as eight.

The player suffered the injury whilst landing awkwardly, and Mikel Arteta quickly confirmed that the problem was serious in a subsequent press conference.

“He’s going to be out for weeks,” Arteta admitted. “Unfortunately, it’s much more than what we expected, the way he was feeling. So, he’s going to be out for weeks.”

Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

The date of Mokbel’s report suggests the expectation is that Mosquera could be out until January 30th, which would mean missing games against Everton, Crystal Palace, Brighton, Villa, Bournemouth, Liverpool, Portsmouth, Nottingham Forest, Inter Milan, Manchester United, and Kairat Almaty.

There might also be a League Cup semi-final match in there, depending on how how the Palace quarter-final goes.

The Gunners face Leeds United away on January 31st, so that’s the first game we can be pretty sure the centre-back should be fit again.

It’s far from an ideal time for Mosquera to be out, both because William Saliba has also recently been injured and because Ben White is now out. Mosquera was meant to provide cover at right-centre-back and right-back, so his absence is problematic in both positions.

It’s going to be a struggle to get through the next month and a half without the defender, and Arsenal fans will be wishing him a speedy recovery.

It's going to be cold in Pittsburgh Monday night when the Miami Dolphins take their Florida vibes to Steeltown and face the Pittsburgh Steelers, who enter as a field-goal favorite.

My Dolphins vs. Steelers predictions explain Tua Tagovailoa's track record of crumbling in the frost, and MNF might be another great spot to fade the warm-weather quarterback. 

Find out why in my NFL picks for Monday, December 15. 

Dolphins vs Steelers prediction

Dolphins vs Steelers Best bet: Tua Tagovailoa Over 0.5 interceptions (-110)

Betting the Over on Tua Tagovailoa’s interception prop makes a lot of sense this week, and the cold-weather angle isn’t just noise — it’s one of the most reliable splits in football. The narrative surrounding Tua in freezing conditions may feel overstated, but the numbers back it up. He’s 1-8 SU in games with kickoff temperatures at 46°F or colder, and the Miami Dolphins offense has struggled badly in those spots, averaging only 16.4 points.

It's going to be 20 degrees in Pittsburgh on Monday night. 

In sub-40 games alone, Tua has thrown eight touchdowns against nine interceptions, with a noticeable dip in accuracy and efficiency. His completion rate drops from 68% in comfortable weather to roughly 58% in the cold, and his yards per attempt fall from 8.2 to 6.1.

Miami has leaned heavily on the run lately, but that may not hold Monday night, as the last three quarterbacks this team has faced have allowed a lot of positive game script. De’Von Achane has been limited in practice, and if Miami’s run game stalls early, Tua will have to shoulder more of the offense. That’s where mistakes can pile up. When he’s forced to throw deep, things get even shakier: he ranks 28th in deep-ball completion rate, and his 18 interceptable passes thrown this season are the second-most in the league.

Yes, Tua finally snapped his cold-weather slump with a turnover-free win vs. the Jets earlier this month, but even in that game, he threw for only 86 yards and avoided risk at all costs. If Miami is pushed into a higher pass rate this time, the opportunities for a turnover are going to be there. This is a strong spot to play the Over.

Dolphins vs Steelers MNF same-game parlay

We're headed for another Miami meltdown late in the season with the mercury dropping. It's a battle of old vs. cold as Aaron Rodgers doesn't need to do too much and let the Dolphins hand them the game. The Dolphins have been very lucky with a game script that has helped them protect their QB, but Monday night might look different. Tua Tagovailoa is a bad deep-ball QB and even worse in the cold. It's not a public narrative; it's the truth.

Dolphins vs Steelers SGP +370 

• Tua Tagovailoa Over 0.5 interceptions
• Aaron Rodgers Over 1.5 passing TDs
• Steelers -3

Our big-ticket SGP: Steeltown showdown

If the Dolphins are forced to pass, Jaylen Waddle will be the busiest of all pass catchers, especially if De'Von Achane is not 100 percent. Pat Freiermuth will have a bigger role this week with Darnell Washington still in concussion protocol as of Friday.

Dolphins vs Steelers SGP 

• Tua Tagovailoa Over 0.5 interceptions
• Aaron Rodgers Over 1.5 passing TDs
• Jaylen Waddle Over 4.5 receptions
• Pat Freiermuth touchdown

Dolphins vs Steelers odds

• Spread: Dolphins +3 | Steelers -3
• Moneyline: Dolphins +145 | Steelers -170
• Over/Under: Over 41.5 | Under 41.5

Dolphins vs Steelers betting trend to know

Tua Tagovailoa is 1-8 SU in his career in games with kickoff temperatures at 46 degrees or below. Find more NFL betting trends for Dolphins vs. Steelers.

How to watch Dolphins vs Steelers

Dolphins vs Steelers latest injuries

Dolphins vs Steelers weather

Monitor gametime conditions with our live NFL weather info and learn how weather impacts NFL betting.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

The agents of Davide Frattesi recently paid a visit to Juventus, as he continues to be unhappy with his playing time. He’s highly likely to finally depart, either in January or next summer, TuttoSport informs.

Luciano Spalletti is a big fan of the midfielder, who has performed well under him with Italy. He’s been tipped to exit a few times, but the Nerazzurri always set rich price tags. They are deeper now, though. His extension talks have gone nowhere.

Inter would likely ask Juventus for a player in return for Frattesi, for instance, Khephren Thuram. He was a fallback when they went for Manu Koné. The deal wouldn’t be easy to engineer. The two players have different price tags, and the rules on the ‘plusvalenze’ have changed in recent years, La Gazzetta dello Sport informs.

Bianconeri official Giorgio Chiellini rushed to deny the chatter about their star talking to DAZN (via Mediaset) before the Bologna clash, saying they had every intention to keep him. Instead, he was mum about their rumored target.

Our Take on Juventus, Frattesi, and Thuram

He should definitely be on his merry way, as he hasn’t clicked with Christian Chivu, Inter have shiny new toys to showcase at the position, and they will probably quench their thirst for a powerhouse eventually.

The Old Lady needs to add and not just reshuffle the deck. The Frenchman hasn’t been superb this season, but is far more complete. There’s hope he’ll get back on track and grow exponentially if they stabilize themselves. While the Nerazzurri outcast wouldn’t necessarily be the type of player they need, they are wide open tactically. On the other hand, top Serie A sides rarely do business together out of pettiness.

Shrewsbury Town boss Michael Appleton has challenged his side to repeat the standards set in holding League Two leaders Walsall on Saturday.

Appleton felt his side raised the bar as they came from behind to earn a point thanks to Tom Anderson's second-half strike.

The third successive league draw extended the Shrews' unbeaten run to four matches.

"I thought for about 25 minutes in the second half that's as good as we've been for a long time - I really enjoyed watching us," Appleton told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"It was more like what I want to see and hopefully in the coming weeks and months we'll get to that point.

"But I thought the spirit and quality they showed to get back into the game, it was brilliant.

"The only frustration I've got is we haven't got three points but we're coming up against a very, very resilient, organised, structured side who know how to win games."

• Leaders Walsall held at home by Shrewsbury
• Walsall have extra motivation to go up - Appleton

Anderson became the 13th player to score this season for Shrewsbury in the league but the side have netted just 20 times overall in the league, with George Lloyd their leading scorer on three goals.

"With the greatest respect, the players we have all have different types of attributes but we haven't got what you would call an out-and-out goalscorer," Appleton said.

"I think that's fair to say and not rude to anybody, so we're going to have to share the goals around."

Despite just two defeats in their past 10 league outings, Town remain only two points above the relegation places, in 20th, with four wins from 20 matches.

But an "encouraged" Appleton believes more victories will come if Saturday's template is followed.

"The reality is, from an attitude point of view and from an application point of view, I can't ask for any more," he added.

"I can only ask for the spirit to be right and the application and then it's down to the players to show a little bit of quality.

"If we play like we have today, not just second half but first half as well, we'll win more games of football than we'll lose, definitely."

Enzo Maresca insisted Monday that he "absolutely" remains committed to his job as Chelsea manager after saying at the weekend he had suffered his "worst 48 hours" since joining the club.

The Italian made the surprising comments after his side's 2-0 win at home to Everton on Saturday, hitting out at unnamed parties for failing to support him and his players, though he stressed that he was not referring to fans.

He refused to clarify his comments at a press conference on Monday, on the eve of Chelsea's League Cup quarter-final at third-tier Cardiff.

Maresca became visibly impatient with requests for him to make sense of remarks that have fuelled intense speculation he was taking aim at the club's owners and sporting directors.

"I respect your (the media's) opinion and I respect people's opinion," he said. "But again, I don't have anything to add and my focus is just on tomorrow's game where we can achieve a third semi-final in 18 months since I joined the club."

He also reiterated he was not talking about the club's fans when he referred to a lack of support, saying: "I said after the game that I love Chelsea supporters. They deserve the best."

Asked whether he remained committed to the job, he said: "Absolutely, yes."

Maresca, who arrived at Chelsea in July 2024, won the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup in his first season at Stamford Bridge.

His team are currently fourth in the Premier League table and still have a chance to qualify automatically for the last 16 of the Champions League.

The former Leicester boss said he was enjoying the season despite the intense pressure.

"When you are Chelsea manager, you understand that the expectations are higher, especially probably this season they are higher, raised a little bit compared to last season, probably because of the Club World Cup, Conference League, we finished fourth in the Premier League," he added.

jw/nf

Right now, as members of the 2025-26 Duke men’s squad pause to take finals and catch their collective breath, it’s worth taking a look at what they’ve accomplished in their first 10 games of the season.

Much is rightly made of Duke’s double-figure wins, a start matched among few other D-1 programs. Much is also made of Jon Scheyer’s ability to aggregate high-level players from one year to the next and turn out powerful squads despite personnel turnover that’s just short of breathtaking. It’s worth repeating that all five of last year’s starters are currently playing in the NBA, with Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg the early leaders for Rookie of the Year. 

This year the buzz is all about Cameron Boozer. His overall game, his variegated skills and uncommon poise under pressure, spark talk of another Blue Devil being the first pick in the June NBA draft, after Flagg (2025), Pablo Banchero (2022), and Zion Williamson (2019). Boozer leads the ACC in scoring (23.0 points per game), is third in rebounding (9.9), fourth in official field goal accuracy (.559), and 13^th in assists at 3.8 per outing.

Yet for all that, as well as the Devils’ 27.2 scoring margin — best in the league for the second straight season — it’s in a less-appreciated area that Duke’s perhaps most impressive.

Namely, this is an extraordinary defensive unit, even for a program built on tough D under Mike Krzyzewski.  

Other than during the 1980s and a flurry of seasons late last century and early in this one, Duke has not been defined by its defense. Augmented, certainly, but not noted first and foremost for spider-web like stickiness or wet blanket stifling in the way of Tony Bennett’s teams from 2010 to 2024.

Yet, quietly, over the past 49 games stretching back to the start of last season, Scheyer’s long-limbed Devils — switching at every position, with a dash of zone as advisable — led the ACC in scoring defense. Last year the score-suppression rate was 62.8 points per game; this year it’s 59.6. 

Combined over that 49-game span, including league contests and NCAA competition, Duke has allowed an average of 61.5 points since November of 2024. Next best in the ACC this season is Syracuse at 64.4 points allowed. Clemson was second-best last year at 65.8. 

Much is made of Houston’s defense — its 57.8 points allowed per game so far this year is second in the NCAA. Duke is fifth. The Blue Devils lead Division I in field goal percentage defense at .341. Houston is 11^th. Last year Scheyer’s club came in at .384 suppression rate, tops in the ACC.

Part of Duke’s defensive discouragement — a stat former Miami coach Jim Larranaga thought to be of vital importance — is the ACC’s best 3-point shooting defense at .267. In 2025 it was .311, a shade behind Wake (.307) within the league.

Meanwhile the Devils set the ACC pace in scoring margin – 20.5 points last year and 27.2 so far this season. The latter is fifth in Division I.

Add it all up, and there may be a more sustained, hard-core defensive presence emerging at Duke than most folks appreciate.

Football superstar Lionel Messi ended his whirlwind tour of India on Monday with a lap of honour in New Delhi, thrilling thousands of fans and thanking them for “all the love and support”.

The 38-year-old Argentine great greeted chanting supporters at a nearly packed Arun Jaitley Stadium, usually home to cricket, with fans dressed in Argentina jerseys waving flags and shouting his name.

“It was beautiful to receive all the love and support. I knew it was there, but to receive it first-hand was, well, amazing,” Messi told the crowd, speaking in Spanish, saying he will “definitely be back”.

Clad in a pink jersey and black trousers, Messi enthralled the audience with his charm as he kicked footballs into the crowd and obliged star-struck delegates and fans with selfies.

Messi and his fellow stars played football with children before being presented with a T20 World Cup ticket and an Indian jersey by the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Jay Shah.

India – a nation of 1.4 billion – is a cricket powerhouse, but struggles on the football pitch and stands 142nd in the FIFA rankings.

Former India football captain Bhaichung Bhutia took the stage with Messi, who signed Argentine jerseys for the Indian star and his family.

Chaos-free final day

Messi’s final stop in India went smoothly after a chaotic opening day on Saturday, when fans vandalised a stadium in the city of Kolkata, where his brief presence left the crowd frustrated.

Heavy security left fans struggling to catch a glimpse of him. Many had paid more than $100 for tickets, and they broke down barricades and stormed the pitch after the superstar abruptly left the arena.

In New Delhi on Monday, thousands of excited fans dismissed hazardous choking air pollution to see their hero.

“I’m very excited to see Messi; I have been watching him since my childhood,” said 29-year-old fan Sumesh Raina.

New Delhi, and its wider sprawling metropolitan region of 30 million residents, is regularly ranked among the world’s most polluted capitals, due to a deadly mix of emissions from power plants, heavy traffic, as well as the burning of rubbish and crops.

Levels of cancer-causing PM2.5 microparticles hit more than 300 micrograms per cubic metre in parts of New Delhi on Monday, according to monitoring organisation IQAir, 20 times the World Health Organization’s recommended daily maximum.

Messi, who is in India as part of his so-called GOAT (“Greatest of All Time”) Tour along with his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, seemed unperturbed by the toxic air.

He looked in good spirits as he kept up his energy with fans and football enthusiasts in his 35-minute stay at the stadium.

Messi had also visited the cities of Hyderabad and Mumbai, where he met cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar and Indian football star Sunil Chhetri.

The footballer won his second consecutive Major League Soccer (MLS) Most Valuable Player award last week after propelling Inter Miami to the MLS title and leading the league in goals.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward will spearhead Argentina’s defence of the World Cup in June-July in North America.

The Seattle Seahawks drew a national audience in Week 15. The focus was on their opponent, the Indianapolis Colts, who started 44-year-old legend Phillip Rivers at quarterback. The Seahawks spoiled the party for Rivers, who made his first NFL start since 2020, ending a five-year retirement period.

Rivers didn't embarrass himself. The future Hall of Famer completed 18-of-27 passing attempts for 120 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Running back Jonathan Taylor carried the ball 25 times as Colts head coach Shane Steichen clearly devised a game plan with the intention of limiting Rivers.

It nearly worked. The Colts nursed a 13-6 halftime lead. With 2:27 remaining in the fourth quarter, Rivers helped orchestrate a 26-yard drive that positioned kicker Blake Grupe for a go-ahead kicking attempt. Grupe connected on a 60-yard field goal with under one minute remaining.

PHILIP RIVERS THROWING TDs IN 2025

INDvsSEA on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVntpic.twitter.com/Pp98lKDPlZ

— NFL (@NFL) December 14, 2025

The Seahawks took possession and quickly gained 25 yards via five passing attempts, including a 17-yarder from Sam Darnold to Rashid Shaheed. Jason Myers made a 56-yard field goal with 22 seconds remaining to take an 18-16 lead. The Colts needed a miracle and they didn't get one. Rivers' next pass was tipped and intercepted by Coby Bryant.

The Seahawks avoided disaster. Rivers nearly had his storybook ending in his unlikely return after leading a potential game-winning drive. Thankfully, Myers and his reliable leg spoiled the party.

This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Jason Myers, Seahawks spoil the Phillip Rivers story in Week 15

Ilia Topuria won't be defending his UFC lightweight championship anytime soon.

Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) initially planned on taking some personal time off, which resulted in an interim title fight booking between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett in the UFC 324 headliner on Jan. 24. However, it appears Topuria will be out for even longer after ongoing legal issues with his ex-wife.

Topuria, 28, revealed that he's facing allegations of domestic abuse from his ex-wife, forcing him to focus on dealing with the situation. On Monday, he opened up on his "difficult decision to temporarily step away from defending (his) title" in a lengthy statement posted on social media.

"This was not a decision I took lightly. However, when circumstances arise that threaten your personal integrity, your family, and your reputation, there comes a point when you must address them directly," Topuria said. "In recent months, I have been subjected to severe and unacceptable pressure, including threats to disseminate false allegations of domestic abuse unless financial demands were met. These allegations are entirely unfounded. The truth is not a matter of opinion – it is a matter of evidence. All relevant evidence has been carefully preserved and documented, including audio recordings, written communications, witness statements, and video material. This evidence has been submitted to the appropriate judicial authorities in order to pursue legal action for attempted extortion, falsification of evidence, misappropriation of funds and personal property, and multiple threats. My initial decision to remain silent was made solely to protect my children, who are the most important part of my life.

"However, I have come to understand that silence, under these circumstances, does not protect the truth – it allows false narratives to take hold. ... Today, I am stepping forward not only for my family and myself, but also to demonstrate that no one should be forced to yield to intimidation, manipulation, or fear. Those who know me can attest that I have never engaged in violence of any kind, and that my life and career have always been guided by discipline, respect, and integrity."

Topuria went on to say he will not be commenting further on the situation.

More: Ilia Topuria: Gaethje-Pimblett 'very deserving' interim title fight

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Topuria didn't mention anything about vacating his belt, but Pimblett believes the winner of his UFC 323 fight with Gaethje could be elevated to undisputed champion if Topuria doesn't return by summer.

Topuria, a former UFC featherweight champion who knocked out Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway in consecutive fights, claimed the lightweight title this past June with a knockout of former champ Charles Oliveira at UFC 317.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Ilia Topuria reveals family-related legal issue forcing time away

Auburn football's list of players declaring their intention to enter the transfer portal grew by two on Sunday, as a pair of offensive linemen are set to find a new home.

Favour Ebuka Edwin and DeAndre Carter, a pair of freshmen offensive linemen for the Tigers, announced Sunday that they plan to enter the transfer portal once the window opens on Jan. 2. Auburn's running list of projected offensive transfers rises to eight as the pair becomes the first members of the offensive line to share their intent to transfer.

Edwin did not log a snap during his time at Auburn after signing with the 2024 recruiting class. The 6-6, 300-pound lineman was a three-star product out of Eagles Landing Christian Academy in McDonough, Georgia, and was the No. 53 offensive tackle in the cycle. He also ranked No. 69 in the state of Georgia for the class of 2024.

Carter is the most notable name of this update to announce plans to enter the transfer portal. A former four-star lineman, Carter signed with Auburn in 2024 from the prestigious Mater Dei football program in California. He was the No. 15 interior offensive lineman of the class and ranked No. 19 among players from California in 2024. Carter appeared in eight games during his two seasons on the Plains, mostly at left guard. He played 40 snaps as a true freshman in 2024 before seeing his production decrease to 26 snaps in 2025.

Eight offensive players are now set to enter the transfer portal in January. The biggest name to announce their plan to leave is wide receiver Malcolm Simmons, who recorded 65 catches for 908 yards and five touchdowns in two seasons at Auburn. Other notable names include quarterback Jackson Arnold, wide receiver Perry Thompson, and running back Damari Alston.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn football expected to lose two OL to transfer portal

The Las Vegas Raiders were once again embarrassed on Sunday. They were shut out, defeated 31-0 by the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15, extending their losing streak to eight consecutive setbacks. The lone positive takeaway? The hopeless Raiders remain in the driver's seat to clinch the No. 2 overall selection in April's 2026 NFL draft.

The Raiders moved to No. 2 in the real-time draft order in Week 14 when the Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints unexpectedly won. In Week 15, it was imperative the Raiders lost to remain on track for the second overall selection.

That's because both the New York Giants and Titans lost alongside the Raiders. All three teams are sharing the NFL's worst record at 2-12 apiece. The strength of schedule tiebreaker has the Giants at No. 1 overall right now. Had the Raiders defeated the Eagles, they would have dropped to sixth overall in the order due to the SOS tiebreaker, per Tankathon.

After the 1 pm and 4 pm games, the Jets move into the top five in the NFL Draft order via @tankathonpic.twitter.com/TOwLTxESBV

— Antwan V. Staley (@antwanstaley) December 15, 2025

The Raiders currently own the highest pick of the QB-needy teams. That makes quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore potential targets. If the Giants stay at No. 1 overall, they'd likely possess interest in trading the pick to someone interested in leapfrogging the Raiders.

The Giants-Raiders play in Week 17. It qualifies as the final winnable game on the Raiders' schedule. The outcome will help determine the final draft order.

This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Raiders maintain control of no. 2 pick in 2026 NFL draft after Week 15

Steve Clarke has praised former club St Mirren and their manager following their Premier Sports Cup win.

Stephen Robinson's side defeated holders Celtic 3-1 at Hampden, securing the Paisley club's first trophy since 2013.

Clarke played for St Mirren from 1982-87 and says they fully deserved their success.

"I never saw the scenes in Paisley but obviously delighted to see my old club win the trophy," Clarke told BBC Scotland.

"I thought they were the best team on the day, they played really well.

"Stephen set them up in a really good way, they caused Celtic a lot of problems.

"Pleased for Stephen as well, been in the game a long time up here, he's always shown that he knows the Scottish game inside out."

Eight Denver Broncos players did not play in the team's 34-26 win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

Denver wide receiver Pat Bryant (hamstring), quarterback Sam Ehlinger, cornerback Reese Taylor, outside linebacker Que Robinson, offensive tackle Geron Christian and defensive linemen Jordan Jackson and Sai'vion Jones were inactive. Additionally, quarterback Jarrett Stidham did not see the field as starting QB Bo Nix played every snap on offense.

With Bryant sidelined, Troy Franklin, Lil'Jordan Humphrey and even Michael Bandy stepped up on offense as all three receivers caught touchdown passes. Courtland Sutton, as usual, led the team with seven catches for 113 yards and a score.

Broncos who didn't play vs. Packers

1. WR Pat Bryant (hamstring)
2. QB Sam Ehlinger
3. CB Reese Taylor
4. OLB Que Robinson
5. OT Geron Christian
6. DL Jordan Jackson
7. DL Sai'vion Jones
8. QB Jarrett Stidham (active)

Up next on the Broncos' schedule is a home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Dec. 21. Jacksonville is coming off a convincing 48-20 win over the New York Jets in Week 15.

Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.

This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Denver Broncos: 8 players did not play vs. Green Bay Packers

The Kansas City Chiefs entered Week 15 with bleak postseason hopes in the AFC Wild Card picture, needing to win out and get help from the teams losing ahead of them. The Los Angeles Chargers were focused on their own playoff chances, but didn't want to pass on the opportunity to end the Chiefs' playoff streak at Arrowhead Stadium officially.

The offense continued to struggle with consistency throughout the day, with the best drive coming on the first drive of the game. Patrick Mahomes threw a costly interception in the fourth quarter before being lost on the last drive due to a knee injury. Kansas City was held scoreless in the second half as the running game struggled to make an impact.

On defense, the Chiefs' pass rushers were effective for most of the game, while more injuries took a toll, especially in the secondary. The unit collected four sacks and an interception as the Kansas City offense sputtered while trying to capitalize on opportunities.

Kansas City's streak of ten consecutive postseason appearances comes to an end as they are officially eliminated from playoff contention.

Check out how some of Kansas City's stars fared in the Chiefs' loss to Los Angeles.

Stock Up: Travis Kelce

A week after notably struggling with drops and miscues, the veteran righted the ship with a team-leading seven catches for 70 yards.

Stock Up: Charles Omenihu

The veteran defensive lineman was impactful throughout the game, sacking Justin Herbert 1.5 times and dominating his matchups.

Stock Down: Isiah Pacheco

A challenging game for the fearless running back, who managed only 1.9 yards per rush, finishing with 11 carries for 21 yards in the loss.

Stock Down: Chukwuebuka Godrick

A rough situation for the Chiefs' long-time practice squad developmental player as he was thrust into the lineup following an early injury to Jaylon Moore at right tackle. The five sacks taken by Mahomes aren't all on him as the Chiefs' depth continues to be tested on the offensive line.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Which players impressed during Week 15 vs. Chargers

Warriors' Steph Curry extends insane NBA record over Lakers legends Kobe Bryant and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

There's no one in NBA history like Stephen Curry.

Of course, at this point, that goes without saying. The Golden State Warriors' superstar is the greatest shooter basketball has ever seen.

But many nights, in both the tangible and intangible feats, Curry proves that he stands alone.

That's what happened on Sunday, when Curry dropped 48 points in a narrow defeat to the Portland Trail Blazers.

It was Curry's ninth career game with at least 45 points while attempting fewer than five free throws (in this case, Curry was 4-for-4 from the line en route to his 48 points).

That's, by far, an NBA record.

The two players closest to Curry, according to Real Sports, are Kobe Bryant and Kareem Abdul-Jabaar. They each did it three times.

Most 45-point games with under 5 FTA:

9 — Steph Curry
3 — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
3 — Kobe Bryant pic.twitter.com/8gQsFSGSz6

— Real Sports (@realapp) December 15, 2025

When you think about style of play, it makes sense. Curry sometimes just gets hot from long distance and keeps letting it fly.

Later-career Kobe had games where he was mostly a jump shooter, which would limit foul shots. And Kareem could get that sky hook going, a shot that wasn't going to initiate any contact.

Yes, this is quite the specific stat. But it's also just one more way to capture the brilliance of Curry, who continues to shine so bright.

MORE: LeBron James usurped a clear Luka Doncic duty for the Lakers

Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy via Getty Images

Ariel Helwani is BACK ... IN ... YOUR ... LIFE!

Join "The Ariel Helwani Show" live on Uncrowned and YouTube at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT/6 p.m. UK time as Ariel and the Boys In The Back kick off another busy week! Monday's guest list can be seen below.

1 p.m. ET: Ariel and the gang get things going by reacting to all the latest news and notes.

2:35 p.m. ET: UFC featherweight Kevin Vallejos looks back at his big knockout of Giga Chikadze.

3 p.m. ET: Patrick Habirora reflects on his highlight-reel win at PFL Lyon.

3:30 p.m. ET: Tyson Pedro stops by the chat about the latest.

4 p.m. ET: Shakur Stevenson previews his Jan. 31 showdown against Teofimo Lopez.

Catch all new episodes of "The Ariel Helwani Show" live every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET on Uncrowned and The Ariel Helwani Show's YouTube page.

To listen to every episode, subscribe on Spotify or iTunes.

The Brooklyn Nets have 52 jersey numbers worn by over 600 different players over the course of their history since the franchise was founded in 1967 as a charter member of the American Basketball Association (ABA), when the team was known as the "New Jersey Americans".

Since then, that league has been absorbed by the NBA with the team that would later become the New York Nets and New Jersey Nets before settling on the name by which they are known today, bringing their rich player and jersey history with them to the league of today.

To commemorate the players who played for the Nets over the decades wearing those 52 different jersey numbers, Nets Wire is covering the entire history of the franchise's jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team.

And for today's article, we will continue with the 19th of 22 people to wear the No. 33 jersey, forward alum Mirza Teletovic. After starting his pro career abroad, Teletovic went unselected in the 2007 NBA Draft, playing in other leagues until until he signed with Brooklyn in 2012.

The Jablanica, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia native played the first three seasons of his NBA career with Brooklyn, coming to an end when he signed with the Phoenix Suns in 2015.

During his time suiting up for the Nets, Teletovic wore only jersey No. 33 and put up 7.0 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.

All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.

This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets jersey history No. 33 - Mirza Teletovic (2012-15)

On every game day this season, THN Fantasy will highlight players and goalies for fantasy hockey managers to stream, roster or utilize in standard leagues and/or DFS games. Players and goalies highlighted for streaming in standard leagues are rostered in less than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Anton Lundell, C, FLA @ TB (39% rostered) - DraftKings: $4,700
Lundell has done a solid job "replacing" Aleksander Barkov as the Panthers' first line center. He notched a goal and an assist Friday and is now has nine goals, 25 points, 70 shots on net, 35 hits, 24 blocked shots and a minus-5 rating through 31 appearances. Lundell has a realistic shot at 20-goals and 50-points for the first time in his career, depending on what the Panthers do at the trade deadline.

J.T. Miller, C/RW, NYR vs. ANA (91% rostered) - DraftKings: $5,800
Miller's first full season back in New York has been a bit rougher than expected. He struggled for good portions of the early part of the season but is finding his way lately. Miller notched a pair of goals, including the overtime winner Saturday, and is now up to eight points in his last nine contests. The hot streak is bolstering Miller's chances to be named to Team USA which is being coached by the Rangers' head man, Mike Sullivan.

Adrian Kempe, RW, LA @ DAL (98% rostered) - DraftKings: $6,400
Another game, another goal for Kempe, or at least it just seems that way. Kempe has four goals and as many assists his last eight games, upping his season marks to 11 tallies and 17 helpers in 31 contests. Kempe has 139 goals the past four seasons. He does not appear to be swayed by the eight-year, $85 million contract extension he signed with the Kings in November..

Remember to bookmark The Hockey News Fantasy site for stats, news, analysis, rankings, projections and more, including the Sleepers and Keepers fantasy hockey podcast!

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The latest hitter linked to the Pittsburgh Pirates in trade talks is Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr.

The Pirates could certainly use someone with Robert’s power and speed to add to a lineup that finished last in MLB in runs scored, home runs, and OPS last season. Robert showed how dynamic he can be when he hit 38 home runs and stole 20 bases in 2023.

Robert also played a career-high 145 games in ’23, the only season he was an All-Star during his six years in the major leagues. However, Robert has not played more than 110 games — his total in 2025 — in any other season.

So, durability is a significant issue for the 28-year-old, who slashed just .223/.297/.364 this year with 14 homers and 33 steals. He has also lost range, as his zero defensive runs suggest, but could move to a corner outfield spot.

The White Sox exercised Robert’s $20 million contract option for next season. He has another club option for 2027 at $20 million, with a $2-million buyout. So, any team trading for Thomas could have him for two seasons before he could be a free agent.

Perhaps the most attractive part of acquiring Robert is that industry sources say the White Sox would not want much in return and might even include a second player to facilitate the trade.

A second player the Pirates could take a flier on is infielder Curtis Mead, once a highly regarded prospect who has struggled to get his footing in the big leagues. The 25-year-old has hit .238/.300/317 with five home runs in 152 games over three seasons.

Baseball Prospectus ranked Mead as the game’s No. 16 prospect prior to the 2023 season. He was also on Baseball America’s top 100 prospects list for three straight years from 2022-24, peaking at No. 36 in 2023.

The Pirates wouldn’t have to give up one of their top young pitchers, but could part with Thomas Harrington. The right-hander struggled at Triple-A Indianapolis this year after being ranked as baseball’s No. 74 by Baseball America coming into the season.

The Pirates could add a second pitcher in reliever Kyle Nicolas, who has 96 strikeouts in 98 innings in his major league career, but also 53 walks and a 4.68 ERA over three seasons. At 26, Nicolas could still turn things around, but he seems like someone who could use a change of scenery.

Would Pirates general manager Ben Cherington do this deal? Robert and Mead are right-handed hitters, and the Pirates would prefer lefties. Taking on Roberts at $20 million is also a risk because of his injury issues, but the Pirates wouldn’t be giving up much player-wise.

It’s something to ponder.

HONG KONG, Dec. 15 -- Two of the world's absolute best horses showed a lot of very good rivals their heels in Sunday's Longines Hong Kong International Races while, back in the States, the Kentucky Derby standings got a bit of a shakeup.

Old Man Winter forced postponement of Turfway Park's $1 million all-weather festival and Fair Grounds recorded what must be a record low payout for a 10-cent superfecta bet. A diverse report, to be sure.

Around the world, around the clock

Hong Kong

Hong Kong's globetrotting superstars, Romantic Warrior and Ka Ying Rising, more than lived up to their notices Sunday in, respectively, the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Cup and Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint.

Both have represented Hong Kong around the world and dominated the top-level races at home. On Sunday, they defended the home turf again, leaving no room for doubt.

Romantic Warrior, nearing age 8 and coming off surgery and a long, mid-season layoff, tracked the early leaders in the 2,000-meter Cup, but took full command when asked by jockey James McDonald in the stretch run, winning by 1 3/4 lengths over Japan's multiple Grade 1 winner, Bellagio Opera.

It was his 11th top-level win and he doesn't seem to be slowing down. Expectations have him returning in February to Saudi Arabia for a rematch with Japan's Forever Young in the $20 million Saudi Cup.

"He's so special. He's so special," McDonald said. "He's just a freak. I don't know what to say. ... I just love him."

Ka Ying Rising, meanwhile, simply blew his rivals off the board in the Sprint. Leading all the way and geared down well before the finish by jockey Zac Purton, the 5-year-old scored his 16th straight win.

He now will be scheduled to continue in all the local Group 1 sprints while preparing for next October's Group 1 The Everest in Australia, which he won easily earlier this year.

"His last run showed us that it was on the cards today," Purton said. "He is just in a league of his own now."

The other two Group 1 races on the program were more competitive and afforded the international raiders a better chance.

Sosie, representing France, got things off with a facile score in the 2,400-meter Hong Kong Vase, defeating last year's winner, Giavellotto, by 1 3/4 lengths. German and French horses dominated at a distance seldom run by Hong Kong steeds.

Sosie, a 4-year-old colt, was fourth and third in the last two runnings of the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

And, while Hong Kong's Voyage Bubble won the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile, he did so only after a tight battle with Japan-based Soul Rush. The exciting finish was a repeat of the 2024 Mile.

Japan

Sunday's Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies looked like a real tossup with none of the 18 starters having yet won a graded event. And there was even more question about one of the favorites, Star Anise, whose pedigree screamed sprinter as she lined up for the 1-mile event.

Star Anise had never gone beyond 1,400 meters, but outran that record and her pedigree to win by 1 1/4 lengths, leaving her connections wondering if she's capable of competing in the 2026 Classics.

Trainer Tomokazu Tanako said before the race he feels she can go longer. And afterward, jockey Kohei Matsuyama already was lobbying to keep the mount in next year's big races.

Argentina

Obataye scored his third Group 1 race of the year and earned the first "Win and You're In" spot in the 2026 Breeders' Cup World Championships with a late-running win in Saturday's Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini International at Hipodromo de San Isidro in Buenos Aires.

The 5-year-old son of Coutier out of the Crinson Tide Mare Sufri'n USA, Obataye backed up his last-race victory in the equally prestigious Group 1 Gran Premio Latino Americano in Brazil.

The Road to the Roses

Saturday's $200,000 Grade II Los Alamitos Futurity was another 1-2-3 for trainer Bob Baffert with Litmus Test picking up the big check and 10 points on the "Road to the Kentucky Derby."

The Nyquist colt had something to prove. He won his first start in August, but then was fourth in the Grade I Del Mar Futurity, third in the Grade I Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland and fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

On Saturday, he sat behind stablemate Provenance, challenged on the turn and into the stretch and got clear to win by 1 1/4 lengths. The other stablemate, Blacksmith, passed Provenance to finish second. The closest rival was another 11 1/2 lengths behind.

"You're trying to figure these horses out, what their style is or the way they want to run," Baffert said. "But there's nothing like a race. He's [Litmus Test] getting better and the way he's bred, he's going to get better with age. He's a horse we've always been very high on. Blacksmith is figuring it out. He ran a big race."

With his newly won 10 points added to six from the Breeders' Cup and three from the Breeders' Futurity, Litmus Test jumped to the No. 2 spot on the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" leaderboard behind only Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Ted Noffey.

Distaff / Dirt Mile

Weigh the Risks proved a pretty safe risk for her backers in Saturday's $150,000 Go For Wand Stakes at Aqueduct. The 4-year-old Mendelssohn filly led all the way and won by 9 3/4 lengths, finishing 1 mile on a fast track in 1:37.64. Manny Franco rode for Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables.

Hurricane Clair blew away seven rivals in Saturday's $100,000 (Canadian) La Prevoyante Stakes for Ontario-sired fillies and mares at Woodbine, leading virtually all the way to a 3 3/4-length victory. The 4-year-old Silent Name filly got 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track in 1:45.27 for jockey Eswan Flores.

Sprint

Roll On Big Joe led early in Saturday's $150,000 Ring the Bell Stakes at Oaklawn Park, repelled a challenge and ran on to win by 1 1/4 lengths over the favorite, Banishing. Tejano Twist was third, as Roll On Big Joe rolled by the timer in 1:09.54 with Julien Leparoux aboard for trainer Robert Hess Jr.

The 5-year-old Prospective gelding has bounced between coasts but most recently stopped midway to win the Bet On Sunshine Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 1.

Turf

Layabout had a nose in front of Tiz Dashing at the finish of Saturday's $125,000 Tropical Park Derby at Gulfstream Park, with long shot Tank giving up the lead grudgingly in the final yards to finish third.

Layabout, a Laoban gelding, ran 1 1/16 miles on firm footing in 1:40.73 with Junior Alvarado riding for trainer Patrick Biancone.

Filly & Mare Turf

Destino d'Oro survived some bumping from the runner-up, And One More Time, in the final yards of Saturday's $125,000 Tropical Park Oaks at Gulfstream Park and won by a head. Destino d'Oro, a Bolt d'Oro filly from the Brad Cox operation, ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:40.02 with Edgard Zayas up.

Turfway Park

Saturday's $1 million All-Weather Festival was postponed to Dec. 21 because of frigid temperatures and a prediction of substantial snow across northern Kentucky.

Louisiana Champions Day

Fair Grounds produced another successful Champions Day Saturday, highlighted byTouchuponastar's fourth straight win in the $150,000 Classic. He won for fun, just as his fans expected -- so much so that a winning 10-cents superfecta ticket returned a scant 67-cent payout. Maybe keep it as a souvenir?

Offense

The Ravens only played 41 offensive snaps in this game. With the team holding a commanding lead late in the fourth quarter, a handful of offensive starters were pulled from the game including Lamar Jackson, Ronnie Stanley, and Andrew Vorhees. Stanley had exited earlier with a leg injury and missed some snaps from that as well. Backup rookies Carson Vinson and Emery Jones Jr. combined to play 10 snaps in relief.

Keaton Mitchell out-snapped Derrick Henry by one play (16 vs. 15 snaps). Both were effective on the ground against the Bengals; Henry rushed 11 times for 100 yards and Mitchell gained 66 yards on eight carries. Rasheen Ali was not far behind with 11 snaps of his own. He didn’t receive a carry but caught two passes for 32 yards with a 30-yard touchdown reception off a screen pass.

It was a game of highs and lows for Zay Flowers, who made two impressive catches including a 28-yard touchdown, while also dropping two costly passes as well. Flowers played 32 snaps and led the team in receiving again with 68 yards. Devontez Walker stepped into a bigger role (25 snaps) in Rashod Bateman’s absence but was not targeted. Deandre Hopkins’ 13 snaps (32%) saw him catch one pass for a long gain of 32 yards.

In a reversal of usual course, Charlie Kolar and Isaiah Likely tied with 21 snaps to lead the tight end room. Mark Andrews played 17 snaps and caught two passes for 18 yards, while the latter two were not targeted at all. In a run-heavy offensive gameplan, Pat Ricard’s 18 snaps also slightly outpaced Andrews as well.

Defense

Baltimore’s defense was on the field for 76 plays, much more than the offense, and impressively managed to pitch a shutout performance. Four familiar faces went the distance playing 100% of snaps: Safeties Alohi Gilman and Kyle Hamilton, CB Nate Wiggins, and LB Roquan Smith. S Malaki Starks and CB Marlon Humphrey closely trailed with 72 snaps each.

Gilman played a starring role with an 84-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the game. Him and Hamilton each recorded eight tackles, while Starks had five tackles and a pass breakup. Joining the secondary for the first time this season was Ar’Darius Washington, who made his long-awaited return after recovering from a torn achilles injury. Washington played 15 snaps (20%) and made two tackles.

Two key defenders exited the game early with injuries: LB Teddye Buchanan (knee) and CB Chidobe Awuzie (foot). Buchanan played 12 snaps and Awuzie played 16 snaps. Trenton Simpson took on a larger role once Buchnan went down and finished with 35 snaps (46%). With no Awuzie, the Ravens primarily played three safeties and two cornerbacks, although T.J. Tampa did get on the field for eight plays.

Tavius Robinson returned after a multi-week absence and played 34 snaps. Dre’Mont Jones had a game-high five quarterback hits and led all edge rushers in snaps (51). Mike Green had an impactful outing as well in 40 snaps, as did Kyle Van Noy (33 snaps) — who made the highlight interception before handing it off to Gilman. Travis Jones, fresh off signing a three-year contract extension, had a dominant game as well in 51 snaps.

Milan Step Up Fullkrug Pursuit as West Ham Talks Take Shape

AC Milan’s search for a centre-forward is beginning to crystallise ahead of the January transfer window, with Niclas Fullkrug emerging as a serious and increasingly concrete option. Senior figures inside the Milan hierarchy are now actively exploring the conditions of a potential deal, with contacts established both with West Ham United and the player’s representatives as momentum builds.

The 32-year-old Germany international has been under close observation for some time according to Calciomercarto, but recent developments suggest Milan are now prepared to move from monitoring to action. The need is clear, the profile is defined, and the timing is becoming critical as Milan look to stabilise an attack that has struggled for balance and continuity this season.

Milan Search Intensifies for January Striker

Milan’s January priority is unambiguous: secure a reliable central striker capable of leading the line immediately. Recent domestic performances have underlined the issue. Goals have arrived sporadically and often from unexpected sources, leaving too much responsibility on wide forwards and attacking midfielders.

Injuries and limited depth have exacerbated the problem, prompting Milan’s recruitment team to accelerate discussions around attainable targets. Fullkrug’s name has climbed steadily up the internal shortlist, driven by both sporting logic and market opportunity. His availability, combined with his experience at the highest level, makes him a compelling short-term solution for a club seeking instant impact rather than long-term development.

Fullkrug Profile Fits Milan Criteria

From Milan’s perspective, Fullkrug represents a blend of physical presence, tactical intelligence and elite-level experience. The former Borussia Dortmund forward has operated successfully in both Bundesliga and international football, offering a reference point in the box and an ability to occupy central defenders.

Contacts between Milan and Fullkrug’s agency are not new. Initial discussions took place as far back as last summer, laying groundwork that is now proving useful. Those earlier exchanges have helped Milan build a clear picture of the player’s expectations, contractual situation and willingness to consider a change of environment.

At West Ham, circumstances have shifted. Fullkrug remains under contract until 2028, but his role has been limited. Technical decisions, combined with a muscular issue that disrupted his rhythm in late autumn, have restricted his involvement. With minutes scarce and competition high, January is viewed internally as a realistic exit point should the right proposal arrive.

Tare Pushes to Secure Early Agreement

Sporting director Igli Tare is keen to move decisively. The objective is not necessarily to finalise every detail immediately, but to position Milan strongly by reaching a verbal understanding with the player and his camp. That would allow the club to manage negotiations with West Ham from a position of clarity rather than urgency.

Discussions are expected to continue on multiple fronts in the coming weeks. Milan are weighing up financial parameters carefully, aware that flexibility may exist given West Ham’s openness to reshaping their squad mid-season. For Milan, the emphasis is on securing a functional, cost-effective striker who can contribute straight away without destabilising the broader wage structure.

West Ham Future Remains Uncertain

Fullkrug’s time in England has yet to fully ignite. He has made nine appearances across all competitions, eight of them in the Premier League, totalling just over 400 minutes without registering a goal. While injuries and tactical preferences have played their part, there is a growing sense that his profile does not sit at the heart of West Ham’s long-term project.

That uncertainty has opened the door for Milan. The Rossoneri believe January could present a rare alignment of need, availability and affordability. Much will depend on the structure of any potential deal, but the intent is clear: Milan want to be ready to move quickly if conditions align.

With January approaching, Fullkrug’s situation is one to watch closely. Milan are accelerating, West Ham are listening, and a transfer that once felt speculative is now edging towards something far more tangible.

The German national team will miss the services of its captain.

Getty Images

Bayern Munich's latest Bundesliga outing yielded a 2-2 draw against Mainz, but the result came at a significant price. The club has confirmed that captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer sustained a hamstring strain during the match. Reports from Bild indicate the injury will rule him out for the remainder of the calendar year.

Timeline for Return

Neuer's absence is expected to be short-lived, encompassing only one final fixture before the league's winter interval. He is set to miss the upcoming match against Heidenheim on Sunday, December 21st, with anticipation that he will regain fitness following the seasonal break.

Manuel Neuer erleidet Muskelfaserriss. ℹ️

Gute und schnelle Genesung, Manu! 🍀

Alle Infos: https://t.co/Yzzd6nayespic.twitter.com/6GbuJhpSBS

— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) December 15, 2025

League Standing Unaffected

Despite dropping points in the draw, Bayern Munich's position at the summit of the Bundesliga remains unchallenged. The club maintains a commanding nine-point advantage over its closest rivals, RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund.

Inter Milan center-forward Lautaro Martinez fired his side to a morale-boosting 2-1 win over Genoa on Sunday evening.

According to Corriere dello Sport via FCInter1908, El Toro reached an impressive milestone at Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Cristian Chivu’s side bounced back from a controversial 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in midweek Champions League action.

Indeed, Yann Bisseck and Lautaro Martinez catapulted the Nerazzurri to their third successive Serie A win yesterday.

Lautaro Martinez Reaches Important Feat in Genoa 1-2 Inter Milan Victory

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 06: Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and FC Barcelona at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 06, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Lautaro’s phenomenal left-footed finish extended his Serie A tally to eight goals this season.

Therefore, the Argentine is now the division’s top scorer, moving one goal clear of AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic.

In addition to his decent scoring exploits, the 28-year-old striker also boasts three Serie A assists this term.

For that reason, the Nerazzurri captain has joined an elite club of only four players to make 10+ goal contributions in seven straight campaigns.

Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Harry Kane complete this star-studded list, highlighting El Toro’s remarkable consistency.

Raphinha refuses to give up on Barça

FC Barcelona: Raphinha's bold decision

Raphinha sees his future nowhere but on the pitch at Camp Nou. As FC Barcelona continues its sporting rebuild, the Brazilian winger has made his intentions clear: stay until he achieves the one goal still missing from his Catalan journey—the Champions League. It's a strong, deliberate choice in a context where his profile is constantly drawing attention in the transfer market.

‼️BREAKING: Raphinha will not leave Barcelona without winning the Champions League first.

It is practically his obsession.

— @sportpic.twitter.com/GPX40P11Po

— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) December 15, 2025

Since his arrival in Catalonia, the former Leeds player has established himself as a reliable and decisive asset. His track record with Barça already shows real contribution to domestic success, with several major trophies collected over the seasons. But internally, this success still feels incomplete to him.

At 29, Raphinha knows time is tight, but he's not giving in to impatience. Convinced that Barcelona can become a European powerhouse again, he stands firmly in the club's ambitious tradition and embraces his role as a demanding competitor, focused on a single summit.

Football superstar Lionel Messi has wrapped up his three-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, after a chaotic opening in Kolkata.

On Monday, thousands of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentina and Inter Miami forward.

As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled the pitch - kicking balls into the stands, passing with a group of children and signing autographs - the crowd chanted his name.

His flight to the Indian capital from Mumbai was delayed due to fog and poor visibility, local media reported, and his itinerary had to be trimmed.

Messi kept a packed schedule in India, attending a string of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad and Mumbai since arriving in the early hours of Saturday.

Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually unveiled a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.

The tour, however, got off to an unfortunate start after angry fans ripped up seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium.

Football is hugely popular in West Bengal state - of which Kolkata is the capital - and thousands of adoring supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees (£100; $133) to catch a glimpse of Messi.

However, most of them couldn't even catch a glimpse of him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation turned hostile.

Kolkata's The Telegraph newspaper said in an editorial that "poor management of a hyped-up event, lack of coordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans - denied even a glimpse of Messi after he was ring-fenced by officials, celebrities and security - "vented their anger by indulging in violence".

The ruckus, which made international headlines, cast a shadow over Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been called a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.

The event organiser in Kolkata has been arrested, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.

Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai passed smoothly, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the global icon online and in media interviews.

Messi also met several politicians and celebrities - Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata (at his hotel before the stadium fiasco), opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.

In between these interactions, Messi could be seen waving to large fan gatherings in stadiums and dribbling the ball with groups of children.

There were reports earlier that Messi would meet Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister left the country on Monday morning on a scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia and Oman.

Messi's popularity stems not just from his long international career and wide TV coverage of European football, but also the emotional connection that millions of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.

Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube,Twitter and Facebook.

Wales captains Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake will join Gloucester at the end of the season.

Both forwards were due to be out of contract with Ospreys at the end of the current term, with uncertainty lingering around the future of club rugby in Wales.

Morgan, who made his Wales debut in 2022, has 25 international caps and was the only Welsh member of the victorious British & Irish Lions tour of Australia earlier this year.

Lake took on the captaincy for Wales' summer tour of Japan and will likely continue in the role after Morgan sustained a shoulder injury that could rule him out of the entire 2026 Six Nations.

"I'm delighted to sign for Gloucester Rugby ahead of the 2026-27 season," Lake told Gloucester's website.

"It's a great club with brilliant supporters. I know a lot of players at Gloucester who speak highly of the environment and I'm excited for the future.

"I'm also looking forward to the challenge of playing in the Gallagher Prem."

Flanker Morgan, 25, came through the academy at Scarlets and made his senior debut in 2019, before joining rivals Ospreys two years later. He made his senior Wales bow in a victory over Scotland.

Hooker Lake, 26, has 26 caps and made his debut in the 2022 Six Nations opener against Ireland.

"The Ospreys is a club that means a lot to me on so many different levels so making the decision to move was something that I spent a lot of time thinking over," he said.

"My whole career to this point has been with this team and there have been so many special moments on the way.

"Coming through the pathway, making my debut, the first time I captained the side and the friendships I've forged with players and staff, will all live long in my memory for the rest of my life."

The moves come at an uncertain time for Welsh rugby, with the number of professional clubs in the country set to be reduced from four to three by 2027.

There will be one in Cardiff, one in the east of the country and one in the west – which is expected to result in a straight survival fight between Swansea-based Ospreys and Scarlets in Llanelli.

Another option that has now emerged is Ospreys owners, Y11 Sport & Media, taking over WRU-owned Cardiff, which could produce the desired number of three professional sides.

There are currently more than 80 Wales-based players out of contract at the end of the season.

Recruiting

NoleThruandThru did a deep dive on Florida State’s 2026 recruiting class, analyzing and grading each of FSU’s 32 signees:

Football

Florida State will now be looking to replace a second coach on the offensive side of the ball as quarterbacks coach Tony Tokarz is expected to become offensive coordinator at Buffalo:

The Seminoles are still searching for a new cornerbacks coach after being jilted by Brandon Harris, who decided to instead take a position with the Florida Gators:

PFF named Duce Robinson and Luke Peitton to its All-ACC first team.

Basketball

FSU men’s basketball continues to go through growing pains in its first year under Luke Loucks, with its latest loss coming in the form of a meltdown vs. UMass:

FSU women’s basketball also suffered a loss over the weekend, falling to College of Charleston:

All Sports

The end of the 2025 NFL season isn't too far away, so as usual, it's a good time to look at the updated 2026 NFL Draft order.

We still have THREE two-win teams jockeying for position, and two of them (the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders) will face off in a couple of weeks, which could mean the Raiders lose and leapfrog the Giants. There's a lot of football to be played, but if you root for any of those squads, you want your team to be as bad as possible when it comes to the draft.

MORE NFL WEEK 15: How did Philip Rivers do in his first start since 2020?

Here's the latest draft order as of Monday morning through Week 15 as mock draft season has begun.

1. New York Giants

2. Las Vegas Raiders

3. Tennessee Titans

4. Cleveland Browns

5. New York Jets

6. Arizona Cardinals

7. New Orleans Saints

8. Washington Commanders

9. Cincinnati Bengals

10. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons)

11. Kansas City Chiefs

12. Minnesota Vikings

13. Miami Dolphins

14. Dallas Cowboys

15. Baltimore Ravens

16. Carolina Panthers

17. Detroit Lions

18. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts)

Make sure to check out the latest NFL mock draft from our Christian D'Andrea!

This article originally appeared on For The Win: 2026 NFL Draft order after Week 15 has Raiders doing well

Conor Benn has warned that Jake Paul should ‘have the ambulance ready’ ahead of his fight with Anthony Joshua, although admitted he has huge respect for how the YouTuber-turned-boxer has earned himself the bout.

Paul faces former two-time world heavyweight champion Joshua in Miami this Friday, with the contest scheduled for eight three-minute rounds and knockouts being allowed, with each man wearing standard 10oz gloves.

The fight between the heavyweight boxing behemoth and the social media influencer has endured a tidal wave of criticism, with the likes of Deontay Wilder dismissing it as a “money grab” and others raising concerns for Paul’s safety. The 28-year-old has been sparring with heavyweights to prepare for the fight, although it ominously emerged that he had his nose broken in training last week.

For his part, Joshua claims he is taking the fight “to save boxing” although the $50m guaranteed prize purse – plus bonuses for each fighter – in just the second boxing event to be broadcast live on Netflix, probably doesn’t hurt.

Paul has accrued a 12-1 record since his boxing debut back in 2020, with seven knockout wins, facing fellow influencers, basketball star Nate Robinson and MMA champions including Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley. His lone loss as a pro came against Tommy Fury, half-brother of heavyweight star Tyson Fury.

Meanwhile, Joshua has fought some of heavyweight boxing’s all-time greats, such as Wladimir Klitschko and Oleksandr Usyk, en route to being a two-time world champion and towered over this Friday’s foe at their face-off last month – standing at 6ft 6in to Paul’s 6ft 1in.

And British boxing star Benn, who recently won his middleweight rematch against bitter rival Chris Eubank Jr, has been trying to convince himself Paul has a chance of victory but is struggling to make sense of the fight.

“I’m sitting there thinking ‘I beat Jake Paul’,” Benn told iFL TV. “So if I beat Jake Paul, then I’m sitting there going ‘how does AJ not beat Jake Paul’? There’s obviously something there though, there might be a chance. Imagine... Imagine if...

“What chance do I give him? My head straight away just goes ‘have the ambulance ready’. Then part of me goes ‘but listen, we live in a world where anything can happen.’ So, I give it maybe ten per cent. He’s got gloves, he’s got a chin, he’s got hands.”

Joshua previously had a crossover clash, with Francis Ngannou in March 2024 – knocking out the former UFC heavyweight champion inside two rounds – although he lost his most recent fight against Daniel Dubois in September 2024 to take his record to 28-4, adding to a pair of defeats to Usyk and an upset by Andy Ruiz Jr.

Paul secured a controversial win over 58-year-old heavyweight great Mike Tyson last year, which was also criticised for pushing the boundaries of safety in sport, and Benn admits a respect for the YouTuber having worked his way to a fight against Joshua.

“I think it’s incredible how Jake has got himself to this position,” added Benn. “To fight a two-time heavyweight world champion, the golden boy of British boxing, of boxing as a whole, who changed the game for for all the fighters coming through.

“The man who brought boxing back to life in in the UK, sold out back-to-back stadium shows, for him to then be fighting Jake Paul just goes to show how commercially smart Jake Paul is.

“But then I'm thinking to myself, is he actually that smart? Because [if he was] then he wouldn’t have taken this fight! Or is he seeing something that we're not seeing? Is he smart, or is he just mental, but there’s a method to the madness?

“If I was him and I won that fight, I’d be like ‘don’t even look at me, don’t even breathe in my direction’. That would be the energy.

“He knows the magnitude of this event fight. I don’t know how he does it or even how he thinks he can win it but there’s obviously something there.”

AFCON 2025 teams, groups, match schedule, bracket for Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations takes place across December this year and January 2026 in Morocco.

Ivory Coast enter the tournament as defending champions after winning the 2023 final last February against Nigeria.

The draw for the group stage was held in Rabat, the host city of the final, on January 27. The 24 teams were  placed into six groups of four, from which the top two — plus the best three teams that finish third in their pools — will progress to the knockout phase.

MORE: Dates, host cities for next AFCON | All-time AFCON winners

Teams qualified for AFCON 2025

A total of 24 nations qualified for the AFCON finals. The teams were split into four pots for the draw, with one team from each pot placed into each of the groups.

MORE:Why Saudi Arabia hosting the 2034 World Cup is so controversial

AFCON 2025 group stage draw, schedule, standings

The top two teams from each group, plus the three best third-place nations, will qualify for the Round of 16.

As host nation, Morocco were automatically placed into Group A and will play in the tournament's first game on December 21.

Group A

Group A match schedule

Group B

Group B match schedule

Group C

Group C match schedule

Group D

Group D match schedule

Group E

Group E match schedule

Group F

Group F match schedule

When is the AFCON 2025 final?

The final takes place in Rabat on January 18, 2026.

AFCON 2025 knockout bracket, schedule

The top two teams from each group, plus the three best third-place nations, comprise the 16 sides that enter the knockout stage.

Round of 16

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Third-place playoff

Final

Ben Stokes has asked his England team to "show a bit of dog" in the crucial third Ashes Test against Australia in Adelaide.

England are 2-0 down and must end a 17-match winless run in this country at the Adelaide Oval in order to keep their hopes of regaining the urn alive.

Following the defeat in the second Test at the Gabba, Stokes said his dressing room was "no place for weak men".

And the captain admitted his team have had "raw" conversations in the eight days since the loss in Brisbane.

Wednesday's Test at the Adelaide Oval (23:30 GMT Tuesday) is a return for Stokes to the ground where he made his Test debut 12 years ago.

On that occasion, as a 22-year-old he introduced himself to Ashes cricket by clashing with Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

Asked if on-field fight is an instinct that comes more naturally to him than his team-mates, Stokes responded: "It's a word that I think people don't really understand what it means. What it means to me could be completely different to someone else.

"It's just trying to fight in every situation that you find yourself in and understanding the situation and what you feel is required for your team. Just look at your opposition every single time and show a bit of dog. That's fight to me.

"As long as you go out there and everyone is in that mindset around the situation and what is needed, you're giving yourself the best possible chance if you've got a bit of dog in you."

Stokes said his team have had "meaningful conversations" and used the third Test against India at Lord's in July as a source of inspiration.

On that occasion, England won a fractious contest by 22 runs in a thrilling conclusion at the home of cricket.

"That's exactly what I'm on about," said the all-rounder. "That was a moment where we all did that, we all noticed and we all identified that moment.

"You saw the way the team came out on that day. We were probably in a situation where we would have to be absolutely perfect to win that game and we were. On the back of attitude, mentality towards that specific situation is what gave us the best chance of winning that game."

• England overlook Bashir for crucial Ashes Test
• No batting changes for vital Ashes Test - McCullum

Stokes also explained the decision to omit Shoaib Bashir from the England XI in Adelaide.

The tourists have made one change to their team from Brisbane, with Josh Tongue replacing fellow pace bowler Gus Atkinson. All-rounder Will Jacks keeps his place ahead of Bashir.

When Jacks was chosen instead of Bashir in Brisbane, Stokes said Bashir would remain England's first choice when a specialist spinner was required.

However, at a venue that usually offers something to spinners, and with temperatures forecast to reach 39 degrees this week, Bashir has been left out. The 22-year-old has returned figures of 2-266 in two tour matches in Australia.

"I wouldn't say it's got anything to do against Bash whatsoever," said Stokes. "The main thing is we're 2-0 down. We need to win the next three.

"We feel having Jacksy down at number eight obviously strengthens our batting a little bit deeper if we need to go there. And he's more than capable enough to handle that role with the ball when we need to call upon it."

England are at the point of no return in yet another Ashes series in Australia – the visitors have lost the previous three series in this country 5-0, 4-0 and 4-0 respectively.

Heavy defeats in Australia often signal change around the management of the England team.

On Sunday head coach Brendon McCullum said speculation his job could be on the line if England lose this week "does not really bother me".

And Stokes said he will not be leading his team with an agenda to safeguard his position.

"If people are trying to protect themselves over the greater good, which is the team, and look after their own back - I'm certainly never going to do that," said the Durham man.

"My job is to captain this team and I'll do everything I can to lead the team in the best possible way that I can.

"As soon as I start thinking I'm going to look after myself here, that's certainly nothing that I ever will do and certainly nothing that Brendon will do. We both give everything that we possibly can towards the team and it will always be like that as long as we are both in these roles."

• Get cricket news sent straight to your phone

Real Madrid saw off Alaves by a 2-1 scoreline on Sunday, as they kept pace with Barcelona in the La Liga title race. It was not a convincing performance, but in the circumstances, the result was the most important thing for Los Blancos.

This was made clear by Fede Valverde, who spoke to the media following the match at Mendizorroza, as per Diario AS.

“Today it was very important to continue fighting for La Liga, with many casualties due to injuries and expulsions. But the team brought out the pride, that desire to fight and fight. And we took three very important points.

“We were very clear that we had to go out to win, to fight for those three key points to continue fighting for La Liga. The team insisted, fought until the end. We worked with great pride. In the first half, before the 0-1, we were playing very well and then we retreated a lot defensively. It was difficult for us to come out with the ball played. But we found a great goal from Rodrygo and we were able to win.”

Federico Valverde of Real Madrid looks on during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and RCD Espanyol. (Image via Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Valverde advice to Victor Valdepenas

Valverde also heaped praise on Victor Valdepenas, who made his Real Madrid debut at left-back.

“I want to congratulate Valdepeñas, who played a great game in their debut. We are very close to him. Hopefully several young people from the academy continue to have many more opportunities. It’s always nice that they make their debut and it’s a dream for them. We are going to support him in whatever it takes.

“It’s simple, or at least it seems so, but he has to enjoy it. Playing for Real Madrid is something unique, dreamed of, that all young people in the world want. To be able to play for this club. Before the game I told him to enjoy and value what it is like to play for Real Madrid. He did it spectacularly, he valued it and defended the shield like never before. And well, we’re happy for him.”

Gary Caldwell says he needs more from the players coming off his substitutes' bench after their 2-1 loss at Bolton Wanderers.

The Grecians had led thanks to Jack Aitchison's 20th-minute goal, but Bolton struck twice in the final 20 minutes to deny Exeter a first away league win in more than two months.

The loss saw City drop into the League One relegation places for the first time this season.

"We need more from our finishers, for me, when they come on the park to see us over the line," Caldwell told BBC Radio Devon.

"Their finishers came on and give them a whole new dimension, new energy, new power, new speed and the last 20 minutes just proved too much for us.

"But I'm really proud of the group, proud of how we played. We have to take a lot from it but we have to learn quick - we have to see games through and go for the full 90, 100 minutes if we want to win away from home."

Exeter lost Northern Ireland striker Josh Magennis to an ankle injury shortly before Bolton equalised.

Caldwell says his side missed the experience of the 35-year-old when he came off the field, having made his first start in the league since mid-October.

"He's not been in the team, he's been very frustrated," Caldwell said.

"But I said it before the game - he trains like a top professional, that's why he's had a top career, that's why he's played 80-odd times for his country.

"I think as a group we have to learn from him that you have to be ready, whenever you're called upon, starting or finishing.

"You have to be ready to give everything and get your team the points that I thought for large parts of the game we were going to get. Ultimately, we've thrown them away in the last 20 minutes."

The Big Ten had one its best slates of the season over the weekend, with multiple ranked matchups, challenging road games for conference favorites, and intriguing non-con battles. It ended with some incredible results from top to bottom.

Let’s take a look at what happened.

Game of the Night:

–No. 23 Nebraska Cornhuskers 83, No. 13 Illinois Fighting Illini 80

In many ways, this projected as the most consequential game of the day and it played out that way, with Nebraska going into Champaign and shocking Illinois. While the Huskers entered the matchup with an unblemished 10-0 record, most thought it was a bit of a mirage against a weak schedule and Illinois would come out on top, especially at home.

Those projections proved false.

Nebraska not only won the game, but controlled it for most of the afternoon. The Huskers jumped out to a double-digit lead early on and Illinois was the team playing catchup. The star of the show was Pryce Sandfort, who finished with 32 points and a 158 offensive rating. Rienk Mast also had another quality performance with 17 points and seven rebounds. The Huskers finished with a blistering 1.32 points per possession.

The win pushed Nebraska to 11-0 overall and 2-0 in Big Ten play. At this point, the Huskers have to be viewed as a legitimate contender in the league and for much more than just a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Following Saturday’s win, Nebraska now has seven wins against top 125 opponents, six against top 80 teams, three against top 50 teams, and a road win at a top 15 opponent in Illinois. That’s an incredible resume through just 11 games and more than enough to get the Huskers in the national conversation.

For Illinois, Saturday will sting, but there’s nothing to panic about. The team lost a competitive game at home against a quality opponent. Fans were certainly hoping for more through 11 games, but an 8-3 start is nothing to overlook, especially with one of the nation’s tougher slates.

Nebraska improved to 11-0 overall and 2-0 in Big Ten play with the win, while Illinois fell to 8-3 overall and 1-1 in Big Ten play with the loss. The Huskers will now prepare for North Dakota at home next Sunday. Illinois will get Missouri in St. Louis on December 22nd.

The Rest:

–Kentucky Wildcats 72, Indiana Hoosiers 60

Hoosier fans have waited years for this game. Unfortunately, after Saturday’s result, they might be regretting their wish to see this series resumed, or at least a little bit. While Indiana had a better start than it did against Louisville a week earlier, the result was roughly the same, with the Hoosiers falling short by double-digits at the final buzzer. Indiana’s offense limped to just 0.90 points per possession in the loss and nobody had a great night outside of Lamar Wilkerson, who finished with 15 points.

Indiana fell to 8-3 overall with the loss. The team will now get a week off before facing Chicago State at home on Saturday.

–Iowa Hawkeyes 91, Western Michigan Broncos 51

There wasn’t much carryover from Iowa’s hard fought loss to Iowa State on Thursday, as the Hawks cruised to an easy win over Western Michigan on Sunday. Bennett Stirtz led the way with 13 points and six assists. Alvaro Folgueiras also had 13 points off the bench. The win pushed Iowa to 9-2 overall. The team will return to action on Saturday in Des Moines against Bucknell.

–No. 2 Michigan Wolverines 101, Maryland Terrapins 83

For about a half, it looked like somebody might be able to push the Wolverines. David Coit was red hot en route to 31 points on the night and Maryland was red hot from three-point range. However, Michigan turned up the heat in the second half and eventually grabbed an 18-point road win. Yaxel Lendeborg impressed in the win, finishing with 29 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds. The Wolverines also finished with a ridiculous 1.44 points per possession.

Michigan improved to 10-0 overall and 2-0 in Big Ten play with the win, while Maryland fell to 6-5 overall and 0-2 in Big Ten play with the loss. The Wolverines will now be off until Sunday, when they return to action at home against La Salle. Maryland will get Virginia on the road on Saturday.

–No. 9 Michigan State Spartans 76, Penn State Nittany Lions 72

This was a sneaky good game on Saturday that easily could have gone either way in the closing minutes. Fortunately for Spartan fans, Michigan State got just enough from Divine Ugochukwu to get the win, as the guard finished with 23 points. Penn State got a great bench game from Freddie Dilione. It just wasn’t enough thanks to a lackluster performance from much of the starting lineup.

Michigan State improved to 9-1 overall and 2-0 in Big Ten play with the win, while Penn State fell to 8-3 overall and 0-2 in Big Ten play with the loss. The Spartans will now prepare for Toledo at home on Tuesday. Penn State will get Pitt on Sunday in Hershey, which should be a fun rivalry matchup.

–Minnesota Golden Gophers 89, Texas Southern Tigers 53

The Gophers bounced back after the team’s loss to Purdue earlier in the week by taking care of business against Texas Southern on Sunday. Cade Tyson led the way with 38 points and 11 rebounds. Jaylen Crocker-Johnson also had 14 points. The win pushed Minnesota to 6-5 overall. The team will now prepare for Campbell at home on Sunday.

–Northwestern Wildcats 93, Jackson State Tigers 53

The Wildcats cruised to an easy win in this one. Nick Martinelli led the way with 22 points and faive rebounds. Angelo Ciaravino also had 13 points. The win pushed Northwestern to 6-4 overall. The team will now prepare for Valparaiso at home on Tuesday.

–Ohio State Buckeyes 89, West Virginia Mountaineers 88 (2OT)

What a game. While most projections thought this would be a close one, it surpassed even those expectations, as the game went to double overtime before the Buckeyes pulled out a win. Bruce Thornton led the way in the game, finishing with 21 points, four rebounds, and four assists. Amare Bynum also had a great showing off the bench with 17 points and eight rebounds.

The win pushed Ohio State to 8-2 overall. The team will now prepare for another marquee neutral site game next Saturday against North Carolina.

–Oregon Ducks 104, UC Davis Aggies 62

UC Davis actually entered this one with a respectable profile for a mid-major team, but found themselves on the short end of an absolutely blowout, as Oregon rolled. Jackson Shelstad led the way with 21 points, nine assists, and four rebounds. The win pushed Oregon to 5-5 overall. The Ducks will now prepare for Portland at home on Wednesday.

–No. 6 Purdue Boilermakers 79, Marquette Golden Eagles 59

After last week’s loss to Iowa State, Boilermaker fans were wondering what version of Purdue fans would get to see in this one. Fortunately, Purdue showed up and cruised to a 20-point win at home. Oscar Cluff led the way with 22 points and 11 rebounds. The Boilers improved to 10-1 overall with the win. The team will now prepare for a massive showdown with Auburn in Indy on Saturday.

–Seton Hall Musketeers 81, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 59

Scarlet Knight fans were hoping for a December surprise for the team in this one. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, as Rutgers got run off the court on the road against rival Seton Hall. While freshman Harun Zrno finished with 15 points, the team limped to just 0.87 points per possession. The loss dropped Rutgers to 5-6 overall. At this point, the season’s on life support.

–No. 8 Gonzaga Bulldogs 82, No. 25 UCLA Bruins 72

The Bruins have been all over the place so far this season, playing up and down to competition at a varying clip. The good news is UCLA largely played “up” on Saturday. The bad news is that it still wasn’t enough against a loaded Gonzaga squad. The game was competitive into the second half thanks to 24 points from Tyler Bilodeau, but UCLA’s defense simply couldn’t get enough stops. The Bruins fell to 7-3 overall with the loss. The team will now prepare for Arizona State at home on Wednesday.

–USC Trojans 68, Washington State Cougars 61

USC challenged itself on Sunday against former Pac 12 foe Washington State. And while the Cougars aren’t a great team, they’re competent and put up a fight against the Trojans. USC controlled for the afternoon, but it was definitely competitive in the closing 10 minutes of action. Ultimately, Jacob Cofie was too much for the Cougars, as he finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Chad Baker-Mazara also had 19 points.

USC improved to 10-1 overall with the win. The team will return to action on Wednesday at home against UTSA. Expect a blowout win.

–Washington Huskies 105, Southern Utah Thunderbirds 69

There isn’t much to be said about this one — Washington hosted a terrible mid-major team and rolled it at home. Hannes Steinbach led the way with 14 points, six rebounds, and three assists. The win pushed Washington to 7-3 overall. The Huskies will now prepare for Seattle on Friday.

Manchester City host Brentford at the Etihad Stadium in the Carabao Cup quarter-final on Wednesday evening.

City came back from behind to beat Championship side Swansea City 3-1 in the fourth round, while Brentford won 5-0 at Grimsby Town.

Match preview

This marks the second meeting between City and Brentford this term, following their Premier League clash in October, which the Cityzens won 1-0.

Heading into this game, City will aim to build on their 3-0 win at Crystal Palace, keeping pace with Arsenal at the top of the league standings.

The Cityzens have won their last five games across all competitions, showcasing ruthlessness in attack, scoring 16 goals, while also displaying defensive frailties, conceding seven.

City dug deep to beat Brentford last time out and might have to do the same again, particularly with manager Pep Guardiola likely to rotate his side.

Brentford were held to a 1-1 draw by Leeds United in the league on Sunday. They have just one win from their last five matches, scoring five goals and letting in eight.

The Bees are expected to sit deep and look to exploit Man City’s defence through set-pieces and counter-attacks.

Brentford would need a resilient display to edge a free-scoring City side and reach the semi-final of the competition for the second time.

Head-to-head

City have faced Brentford twice in this competition, winning one and losing the other.

They have met 19 times across all competitions, with City having 11 wins, Brentford winning six times, and two ending in draws.

Team news

Rodri and Mateo Kovacic remain out for City, but Jeremy Doku and John Stones are doubts. Omar Marmoush and Ryan Aït-Nouri are unavailable due to their Africa Cup of Nations involvement.

For Brentford, Kevin Schade should be available, and Reiss Nelson could also be named in the matchday squad. Dango Ouattara and Frank Onyeka have departed for AFCON.

Key players

Man City

Erling Haaland: The Norwegian has scored four goals in six games against Brentford.

Phil Foden: He is this fixture’s top scorer with seven goals in eight games.

Brentford

Igor Thiago: The Bees’ top scorer across all competitions, with 12 goals.

Hakon Valdimarsson: The goalkeeper has kept two clean sheets in the Carabao Cup.

Stats from transfermarkt.com, fbref.com & sofascore.com

Francesco Graziani has told Inter Milan to reinforce their squad in the January transfer window to bolster their Scudetto chances.

Speaking to La Domenica Sportiva via FCInter1908, Graziani offered his verdict on Inter’s performance at Genoa last night.

Therefore, the Nerazzurri provided a perfect response to a gut-wrenching Champions League defeat to Liverpool.

Moreover, Cristian Chivu’s men will head into the Supercoppa Italiana as the new Serie A pacesetters.

Indeed, they’ve leapfrogged AC Milan and Napoli at the summit on the back of their third consecutive league win.

Though Inter controlled the tempo for most of the game, they lost their rhythm in the final half-hour.

As such, Graziani urged Beppe Marotta and Piero Ausilio to address Inter’s shortcomings during the winter transfer window.

Francesco Graziani Tells Inter Milan to Strengthen Their Squad in January

LUGANO, SWITZERLAND – JULY 12: FC Internazionale Sportif Director Milano Piero Ausilio looks on before Pre-season Friendly between FC Lugano v FC Internazionale at Cornaredo Stadium on July 12, 2022 in Lugano, Switzerland. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“Liverpool is a great team, and Inter rose to the occasion,” Graziani said.

Asked when the Nerazzurri become vulnerable, he replied: “When they think they’re stronger than everyone else and feel there’s no need to sacrifice themselves to chase the ball.

“In the first half against Genoa, they pressed incredibly, and Lautaro was pressing everyone.

“When Inter plays like that, they are the strongest team in the league.

“However, watch out for Napoli because when their injured players return, they will be a tough obstacle.

“Does Chivu help everyone improve? We’ll have to see over time; right now it’s a bit of a rollercoaster.”

Finally, he offered a piece of advice to Marotta and Ausilio ahead of the January transfer window.

“What I would suggest to two extraordinary managers like Marotta and Ausilio is to look at players like Conceicao or Politano; quick players who can beat their man.

“Think about them in January. It wouldn’t be wrong.

“There are moments when Inter plays with blinders on and always tries to break through in the same areas.

You just can’t watch this scorpion kick often enough! Because Martin Terrier scored a stunning dream goal against 1. FC Köln, which the club has now shared again on its social media channels. 

MARTIN TERRIER WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?! 😱🦂 pic.twitter.com/LVmlaNfE5i

— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) December 15, 2025

Was it perhaps even the best goal of the Bundesliga first half of the 2025/26 season? Or was there an even better one? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments. 

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

📸 UWE KRAFT - AFP or licensors

Hansi Flick addressed the media before tomorrow's cup match in Guadalajara in a press conference marked by sporting and contractual doubts regarding the goalkeeper position.

"Joan García will rest tomorrow. First, I want to talk to the players, and before the match, I will announce who will play. Today is not the day to make decisions," he explained regarding the uncertainty of whether to give the goalkeeping duties to Ter Stegen or Szczesny.

Regarding a possible departure of the German international in the winter market, Flick preferred not to take sides. "It's his decision. We have talked about his situation. I respect him because he is a fantastic goalkeeper and a good team player," he reflected.

❝Aún no he decidido ni el portero ni el once titular. Joan descansará mañana.❞

🗣️ Hansi Flick pic.twitter.com/yBjggwi1Qu

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) December 15, 2025

Lewandowski and Madrid's Complaints

The Pole has not trained, but Flick does not rule out his call-up yet. "We always think about trying different options in the forward position. Some can play there, like Rashford or Fermín," he explains.

"It will be decided tomorrow. Lewandowski has trained individually," he specified about the number nine.

And regarding Real Madrid's protests about adverse refereeing decisions, he reflected: "Sometimes you think they could do better, but other times they do a fantastic job. They make mistakes, but overall they do a good job. I must focus on my own, see what we can improve. I don't want to speak for others."

"It's the best we can do because referees are under a lot of pressure, and it's not fair to put more pressure on them."

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

📸 LLUIS GENE - AFP or licensors

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick faced the media ahead of the Copa del Rey clash against CD Guadalajara, using the press conference to clarify his thinking on several matters related to the match. 

With Barcelona entering a decisive phase of the season, Flick struck a calm but demanding tone throughout.

Speaking first about the challenge posed by Guadalajara, Flick made it clear that he does not believe the competition or setting should change Barcelona’s mentality.

“It’s the same. We have to play as we do in La Liga, we’re the favourite,s and that’s what I want to see from the team, I want to see quality,” he began saying.

The goalkeeping situation

Uncertainty remains around the starting lineup, particularly in goal. 

When asked directly about the goalkeeper for the match, Flick refused to be drawn into early decisions, explaining, 

“We haven’t decided yet. We don’t know the starting eleven. We’ll have 24 more hours to recover and we’ll decide tomorrow.”

Joan Garcia will be rested. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

The conversation then shifted to Marc-Andre ter Stegen and his role within the squad. 

Flick acknowledged the complexity of managing three elite goalkeepers while reiterating the current order. 

“He [Ter Stegen] competes on equal terms. He’s a fantastic goalkeeper. We have three great players and I’m delighted. 

“It’s clear what I said before, Joan is number one. Tek had a fantastic season last year. For me, Tek is a very important player.”

On whether he would understand if Ter Stegen chose to stay and fight for his place, Flick showed empathy and respect for the player’s position. 

“It’s his decision. We have talked about his situation and I respect him. He’s a fantastic goalkeeper and a very good player, and he’s also a great person.”

Discussing Garcia specifically, Flick suggested rest could be on the cards but again stressed patience. 

“Joan Garcia will rest tomorrow. First, I want to talk to the players and then we’ll decide who will start. I want to wait until tomorrow because we’re in a recovery period.”

Rotation and key positions

Rotation was another major topic, especially with key fixtures coming up. Flick confirmed changes were likely but made his priorities clear, saying, 

“That will also be decided tomorrow, of course, it could happen. 

“Lewandowski, we’ll see how he is tomorrow. We’re going to change something, but we want to win, that’s the most important thing.”

Lewandowski is a doubt for this game. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

If Lewandowski is unavailable, Flick revealed Barcelona have multiple internal solutions for the number nine role.

“We always think about it. There are several players who can play there. Fermin, Marcus… they can play there.”

Real Madrid and the recent controversy

Asked about recent complaints from Real Madrid regarding refereeing, Flick chose diplomacy and perspective. He responded, 

“We all know that refereeing is part of the game. Without referees, we can’t play. Sometimes you think they could have done better, but other times they do a fantastic job. 

“Everyone makes mistakes. Referees are under a lot of pressure and it’s not fair.”

Finally, Flick reflected on Barcelona’s season so far and how it compares to last year. Highlighting progress after adversity, he concluded, 

“We’ve suffered a lot in the last two months due to injuries. We’re halfway through the season and we have a lot of room for improvement. 

“That’s our goal: to improve with every game. This is the way we want to continue,” he concluded.

Source: AS

After an up-and-down 2025 season with the Texas Rangers, right-handed (and very tall) reliever Chris Martin considered retirement. But according to Chris Cotillo, Martin is both (possibly) not retiring and a person of interest for the Boston Red Sox! He’s not ready to hang up the spikes just yet.

However, interest is feeling like it’s becoming the Pee-Wee’s Playhouse secret word of the Red Sox. Every time it’s mentioned by the media is the front office doing this:

Who is he and where does he come from?

A 10-year, 7-team veteran who stands 6’8”, Chris Martin has pitched in both leagues and from coast-to-coast. He was a 21st round draft pick by the Colorado Rockies back in 2005. (Roman Anthony was born in 2004). He spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons with Boston where, at the advanced baseball ages of 36 and 37, he put up a 2.16/2.60 ERA/FIP over 95.2 innings (100 appearances on the nose). He finished 21 games but only recorded 5 saves. While a stalwart in the ‘pen, he was on two Sox teams that couldn’t put things together to make a run. He wasn’t the closer but he pitched like one. In 2023 he finished 12th in Cy Young voting. His only time receiving votes at all! He is from Arlington, Texas so returning literally to his home town for 2025 thinking it was his final season made sense. But if he’s sticking around, apparently a Boston reunion is possible.

Is he any good?

Martin has been a good reliever over his career. He averages 1.2 bWAR per 162 games. Not showing off, not falling behind. Right in that meaty part of the curve. He holds a lifetime 3.33/3.03 ERA/FIP. He has great strikeout-to-walk numbers and K’s just over 25% of batters while walking only 3%. He’s a 40ish inning guy – but he never put up gaudy reliever innings totals so even heading into his age-40 season, 40 innings is probably a reasonable estimate.

TLDR; just give me his 2025 stats.

Games/Innings: 49/41.2

ERA/FIP: 2.98/3.58

K/BB: 43/8

All for the Texas Rangers.

He hit the IL in May and missed a couple weeks but came back and pitched OK the rest of the way. Martin allowed 6 home runs all year but 3 were in one game against the Baltimore Orioles.

Why would he be a good fit on the Red Sox?

You can never have too many good relievers is the first, most obvious reason. He’d also be looking for a short deal since he almost retired this year. He made just $5.5 million in 2025 so he’d be affordable if time and age catch up. And he’s already familiar with Fenway Park, Alex Cora, and the Red Sox Way or whatever.

Why wouldn’t he be a good fit on the Red Sox?

Martin would be signing a major league free agent deal and couldn’t be optioned to the minors. The Sox, like the rest of the league, like to have some flexibility on stashing their relievers in AAA for a bit. That’s not going to be possible here. He’s also old and the Sox risk holding the hot potato when the music stops. If Martin envisions himself pitching a lot of 8th innings he’s probably out of luck.

Show my a cool highlight.

You got it. Winning energy right there!

Smash or pass?

Let’s say SMASH. The risk is low. The upside is there. The money is low. And any inning he can scoop up is one more that that Whitlock and Chapman don’t have to toss. The Sox do have some young pitchers who could be available for the bullpen as well, but if they’re ready sooner than expected and are contributing, well, you cross that bridge when you come to it.

Football fans are accustomed to going the extra mile to watch their team - but only at Newcastle United and Sunderland does that become reality.

The walk up to the away end at both grounds have gained their own folklore, with fans climbing dozens of steps to reach their seats.

But under the Premier League's rules, neither section should be the only area allocated to away fans.

Before the 2017-18 season, clubs agreed to ensure that at least one block of seating for visiting supporters would be pitchside in an attempt to improve atmospheres.

At the time, former Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore said: "When an away goal is scored, you want that atmosphere and interaction between the two sets of fans."

However, Newcastle were given special dispensation to be excluded from the rule when they were promoted back to the top-flight in 2017. This was extended for a further year during the 2018-19 campaign and has continued ever since.

Sunderland are playing in their first season back in the Premier League since the rule was introduced and therefore could potentially have to relocate their away section before the 2026-27 campaign unless they also get dispensation.

West Ham also seat fans at the back of the London Stadium, but there is a section reserved for supporters pitchside.

Any future decision to move away sections would have to be approved by the individual local authorities.

Why haven't Newcastle and Sunderland moved their away ends?

Implementation would give both clubs a logistical headache, with potentially around 3,000 season ticket holders needing to be uprooted at each club to create the new away areas.

Both teams already cater for supporters with disabilities, with lift access available at both stadiums. There are also new safe-standing facilities for visitors inside both grounds.

Supporters travelling to the Stadium of Light were housed in the South Stand until the start of the 2011-12 season. But the club moved the away section with a view to improving the atmosphere inside the stadium.

A Newcastle City Council spokesperson said the council has maintained the current arrangement for visiting supporters to prioritise safety, with away fans being segregated as they exit the ground via a car park.

"The decision was taken by the club in order to ensure all fans can enter and exit the ground safely," they said.

"The decision taken a number of years ago, was supported by the local authority and the blue light services as part of the Safety Advisory Group. It was accepted by the Premier League."

Sunderland City Council was also contacted by BBC Sport.

Stadium of Light officials also take steps to prioritise safety, with visitors banned from bringing coins, vapes and power banks into the ground for fear of home fans being struck by falling projectiles.

However, it has been suggested by some that the exemption gives both clubs an advantage, with away fans set far back from the pitch, making it harder for supporters to make their voices heard.

With the rule only applying to league matches, clubs can house away fans away from pitchside in the FA Cup or the Carabao Cup. Manchester City hand the entire third tier of the south stand to visiting fans, for example.

Meanwhile, across Europe's top leagues it is not uncommon for travelling supporters to be housed far away from the action - Real Madrid's Bernabeu and the San Siro in Milan are high-profile examples.

What could happen next?

Newcastle's hierarchy is currently exploring options around a new stadium and any future plans would naturally include careful consideration of which areas to make available to visiting fans.

In April, Sunderland's club's chief business officer said they would start a consultation process with supporters, but admitted it could cause dissatisfaction if long-standing season ticket holders were moved.

Could other teams follow suit? It has been discussed.

In 2022, Brighton chief executive Paul Barber said he was exploring moving their away section, which is currently situated behind a goal.

"We are also not in a position where we can put away fans in the gods because you can't have away fans above home fans," he said. "Newcastle get away with it, I don't know how to be honest, I might have a word with (ex-Newcastle sporting director) Dan Ashworth to see if he can sort it.

"But we are looking at it and with the goodwill of our head of safety and security and support services, we will see what we can do."

This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.

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More questions answered...

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Exeter head coach Steve Salvin says he is disappointed with his side's second-half showing in the 24-14 Prem Women's Rugby loss to Saracens.

Having led 14-10 at half-time, Exeter were pegged back as the former league champions scored 14 unanswered points after the break.

The loss was Exeter's second of the season and leaves them third in the PWR table, eight points off leaders Saracens and second-placed Gloucester-Hartpury.

"I think we did lots of things to set us up to have the best chance of winning that game and we've just not been able to convert pressure into points," Salvin told BBC Radio Devon.

"The positive bit is we got territory, we got field position, the frustrating bit is if you look at how clinical they were with their number of entries in comparison to us it's pretty reflective of the outcome of the game.

"So it's a tough one today, but that is part of the journey and something that you have to go through, so we'll dust ourselves down and have another crack in the New Year."

Exeter have a break until 1 February when they host Leicester Tigers in their next game.

"We'll do a pretty significant review of these first seven games, particularly as we've got that little bit of time to do it," added Salvin.

"We'll try and work out how we push forward in the second half of the season."

The depths despair for the Silver & Black plunged to a new level on Sunday.

Try this: 42 total plays for a grand total of 75 yards.

That’s the Las Vegas Raiders’ production while the host Philadelphia Eagles racked up 387 yards on 66 total plays. Thus, the end result being a 31-0 Raiders loss wasn’t surprising. The defeat not only marks Las Vegas’ eighth-straight loss, but also the ninth double-digit demise.

Different quarterback, same disconcerting result for the Raiders as Kenny Pickett was under siege and dropped four times for sacks. The 27-year-old 2022 first-round pick finished 15 of 25 for 64 yards with one interception. But that passing total dips to just 29 yards when the sack yardage (35) is subtracted for that sum.

“I think their four-man rush was getting home and when they’re rushing four, dropping seven, it makes it
tough throwing the football, so we have to do a better job of getting the ball out of my hands. I have to
find guys earlier,” Pickett noted. “We have to win on the outside to help the guys out up front. The passing game, it is really three phases; protection, myself, and the guys running routes. So, we all have a hand in it and we all have to look to improve.”

The Raiders’ Week 15 lopsided loss was just another chapter in the book of misery. Competitive football has gone out the window the last five weeks as Pete Carroll and his football team are on a boat with no oar. And this 2025 rendition of the Silver & Black is reminding many of a hard-to-watch 2006 campaign.

The Eagles did whatever they wanted scoring in all four quarters and building a commanding 17-0 lead at halftime. And for the second-straight game, the opposition simply played keep away from the Raiders. Philadelphia’s time of possession was 39:25 compared to Las Vegas’ 20:35. When your offense averages just 1.8 yards per play (1.0 yards per pass average; 3.5 yards per carry average) while your defense allows 5.9 yards per play, the shutout loss isn’t at all surprising.

Another outing, another embarrassing result.

Curious how owner Mark Davis is taking this all in?

Let’s hit the quick slants as fast as the Eagles soared above the Raiders:

—Third down continues to be a horror show for Las Vegas. The offense went 3-for-12 on third down attempts while the defense couldn’t get a stop as the Eagles went 10-for-13 to extend drives. Both teams were 0-for-1 on their respective fourth down attempts, however.

—Raiders rookie running back Ashton Jeanty led the ground game with nine carries for 35 yards (3.9 yard per carry average) with a long run of 11. In comparison, Eagles tailbacks Saquon Barkley (22 carries for 78 yards and one touchdown) and Tank Bigsby (17 carries, 57 yards) powered Philadelphia’s run game that totaled 183 yards.

—Brock Bowers paced the Raiders’ air attack with six catches for 27 yards (paltry 4.7 yards per catch average). He had a game-high eight targets. Rookie wideout Jack Bech had two catches for 17 yards while veteran wide receiver Tyler Locket had two grabs for 10 yards. Jeanty was targeted six times and finished with four catches for seven yards.

—Somehow, Las Vegas forgot about covering Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (six catches for 70 yards and two touchdowns). Wide receivers DeVonta Smith (two catches for 50 yards, long of 44) and A.J. Brown (two catches, 41 yards, long of 27, one touchdown) also took advantage of the Raiders defense.

—Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby notched a sack boosting his season total to 10. Meanwhile, veteran pass rusher Brandon Graham had two sacks while Moro Ojomo and Nolan Smith Jr. each notched a sack for the Eagles’ total of four.

Quote of Note

“I would never think – what would I base that thought on? That we would be really fighting for our life
here? I had nothing but wins, background, history and all of that to set our expectations and to maintain
the standards that we work by. That’s what we’re doing. We’re still doing that. We’re still practicing hard,
we’re still working hard, we’re still studying hard. The guys are giving good effort. They’re in the weight
room, they’re fighting their tails off. The only good thing that happened, we didn’t have anybody hurt
today. But they’re doing all we’re asking of them and this is the result against the world champs last year who maybe weren’t playing quite like that for a month here or whatever, but they looked like it today. It
looked like a great team today.”

—Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll after the 31-0 shutout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles

Up Next

The road trip continues for the Raiders (2-11) in Week 16 as the team heads to the Lone Star state to face the Houston Texans (9-5) next Sunday. The Texans come off a 40-20 beatdown of the Arizona Cardinals. Houston’s top-ranked defense suffocated Arizona and that doesn’t bode well for a Las Vegas offense that can’t get any semblance of consistency or traction.

Date: Tuesday, Dec 16
Tip Time: 7:00 PM
Game Location: Clemson, SC – Littlejohn Coliseum
TV: ESPN2

Gauging Clemson So Far

I predicted Clemson to finish 22-8 (12-6) and make the NCAA tournament. With the loss to BYU, Clemson is now one game behind my projected pace. Thankfully it is just one game, because on Saturday it was near catastrophe against Mercer. The Mercer Bears are a decent offensive squad that ranked 159th overall in KenPom, but the Tigers have no business trailing them by six points at home.

Coach Brownell is not one to make excuses, but he acknowledged it was bad scheduling to have this game sandwiched between the Madison Square Garden game vs. BYU and the U of SC game right in the middle of final exams. He said his team looked tired and heavy-legged. A loss to Mercer would have put the Tigers well-outside the bubble and in a major hole entering the last two games of non-conference play before the 18-game ACC schedule begins.

Clemson has not had complete games lately as they put forth one fantastic half and one dreadful half. Against Alabama, the Tigers were down 15 at halftime and came all the way back to briefly hold a lead before losing. The reverse happened against BYU where Clemson took at 22-point lead before blowing it, then briefly tying the game before the Cougars made the game-winner. Even against Alabama A&M, the Tigers won by 36, but only outscored them by 5-points in the second half.

If Clemson puts together a complete game, they will beat South Carolina. If not, they’ll be in danger of loss that could age very poorly as the Gamecocks get into SEC play. Non-conference games always get weighed a little more heavily when the committee gets together. Clemson must finish with wins over South Carolina and Cincinnati for their non-conference slate to be neutral to positive on the resume.

What Threats South Carolina Presents

The better team often doesn’t win this rivalry game. In December of 2016, Jaron Blossomgame scored 15 as the Tigers won in Columbia. The Tigers didn’t make the tournament that year, but the Gamecocks made a Final Four run. In November of 2022, Clemson lost in Columbia and the Cocks ended up ranked 221st in KenPom. That loss was a huge reason the 23-win Tigers were left out of the tournament.

This year, Clemson looks like the better team and better program, but they’re only 2-3 against teams ranked in the KenPom top 150. This is an absolute must-win for Clemson, and South Carolina is just good enough to make that difficult.

As usual, South Carolina brings a tough grinding defense to Clemson. They don’t force turnovers, get steals, or block shots at a high-rate, but they play a low-tempo game and make you earn it. They’re strong on the defensive glass ranking 75th nationally in defensive rebounding percentage and their defensive efficiency ranks 81st, not bad considering the lack of forced turnovers. What they do is make you take shots you don’t love. They are forcing the 5th worst 3P% in the nation at just 25.8%. Perhaps that is luck and schedule-based, but out-of-rhythm 3-pointers late in the shot clock will drown a Clemson offense that already lacks consistent shooters.

The Tigers are 215th nationally in 3P% at just 32.4%. This is, in my view, the weakness of the team. Against BYU, they had several opportunities to ice the game or break the Cougars momentum but big misses on wide open, in-rhythm 3-points allowed the Cougars to keep coming and keep gaining steam.

Jestin Porter is Clemson’s most dangerous shooter from distance. He has made 24 3-pointers, shooting at a 36.9% clip. Dillon Hunter has never been a great shooter but seems to have taken a massive step forward going 14-31 (45.1%) so far this season. Beyond those two, the Tigers don’t have a ton of great options. Jake Wahlin is the only other Tiger shooting above 33.3% from 3 and the team overall ranks 215th in 3P%. The freshmen guards, who have been great at attacking the basket, have been particularly bad shooting the 3-ball. Ace Buckner is just 3-26 (11.5%) and Zac Foster is 13-48 (27.1%).

The Tigers’ formula all year will start with playing in-side out basketball. That means Godfrey, Welling, and Davidson in the paint are Plan A. First, we see if the Gamecocks can stop them in the post. If they can, then you dish it to Porter, Hunter, and Wahlin to knock down open shots or work it those freshmen guards to attack and finish at the rim.

Offensively, the Gamecocks are a lot less scary. They are even worse than Clemson from 3 shooting an absolutely dreadful 31.1% and they shoot more 3-pointers than Clemson with nearly half their shots (48.2%) coming from behind the arc.

Meechie Johnson is their heavily featured offensive star. Coming out of Cleveland, Ohio, he spent his first two years at Ohio State. Then he transferred and spent two years at South Carolina before going back to Ohio State for a year. Now, he is back in Columbia with somehow one more year of eligibility remaining. The 6-foot-2 super senior can make the 3 (37.5%) and attack the basket. He draws fouls and then makes 71.1% of his FT attempts.

In their three games (all losses) against high-level competition, Johnson went for 18 (vs. VT), 15 (vs. Northwestern), and 24 (vs. Butler). He memorably dribbled the ball until the clock had all but expired in their final possession against VT. That cost them a chance at a game-winning basket in a contest they’d eventually lose in overtime. Still, he is their best offensive threat.

Both teams are content play a slow, low-possession game. This one looks like a grinder and a rock fight and that’s the kind of game that can be fun for old school basketball fans like myself. The Gamecocks need to force Clemson out of the paint and hope Porter doesn’t get hot. If that happens, and Meechie finds his rhythm, an upset wouldn’t be crazy. This game often runs counter to which team is better, but it could determine which side of the bubble these teams are on in March.

Prediction

KenPom: Clemson – 76 (83% chance to win)
South Carolina – 65

Kantor: Clemson – 75
South Carolina – 70

This one ends with the home crowd chanting “Just Like Football!”

With the Africa Cup of Nations now imminent, let’s look at how Arsenal and their upcoming opponents will be impacted by international call-ups.

Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images

The first game of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations takes place this weekend, with Morocco facing Comoros on Sunday, December 21st, but December 15th is the date FIFA have set for players to be released from club duties to link up with their national teams.

That means from now until the end of the group stage on December 31st, any players called up for one of the teams involved at AFCON won’t be able to feature in club games. Possibly even longer if their teams progress through the tournament.

The good news for Arsenal is that they don’t have any call-ups this time, but it’s a different story with many of their upcoming opponents. Let’s run through them one by one.

December 20th – PL – Everton (A)

Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Arsenal will travel away to face an Everton side on Saturday without Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye, both of whom have been called up by Senegal.

Ndiaye has started every Premier League fixture for Everton this season, and Gueye has only missed the three for which he was suspended. So those are significant losses for this weekend’s hosts.

December 23rd – League Cup – Crystal Palace (H)

Ismaila Sarr will be unavailable for Crystal Palace for the League Cup quarter-finals, having been called up by Senegal. Nigeria didn’t called up Christantus Uche, so he remains available.

Sarr has been a regular starter for Palace this season, and only Jean-Philippe Mateta (with nine) has scored more than his eight goals.

December 27th – PL – Brighton & Hove Albion (H)

Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

For the third game in a row, Arsenal will face a team without one of their key players, with Carlos Baleba having been called up by Cameroon. Baleba has started 14 of 16 Premier League fixtures this season.

December 30th – PL – Aston Villa (H)

Arsenal will need to try and take revenge on Aston Villa against a full-strength squad, because none of their players have been called up yet. However, Evann Guessand is on Ivory Coast’s standby list in case of any withdrawals.

January 3rd – PL – AFC Bournemouth (A)

Bournemouth won’t be without anyone either. Antoine Semenyo is a Ghana regular, but Ghana didn’t qualify, and Morocco didn’t call up Amine Adli.

January 8th – PL – Liverpool (H)

Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images

Mohamed Salah has been the man making headlines for Liverpool recently, and it’s unclear whether or not he’ll miss this game against Arsenal. He’s been called up by Egypt, but whether that rules him out of the Arsenal clash depends on whether or not they make it to the quarter-finals.

A group stage exit would definitely have Salah back in time, a round-of-16 exit might. Whether Salah is actually playing for Liverpool upon his return is another matter.

January 11th – FA Cup – Portsmouth (A)

Portsmouth don’t have any players involved at AFCON.

January 17th – PL – Nottingham Forest (A)

Willy Boly and Ibrahim Sangare have both been called up by the Ivory Coast, so if they make it to the semi-finals, then they’ll miss the Arsenal game to play in either the final or the third-place play-off.

Boly hasn’t been starting for Forest anyway, but Sangare would be a miss.

January 20th – CL – Inter Milan (A)

By this point, AFCON will be over. Given Inter Milan haven’t received any call-ups, there’s no possibility that one of their players might miss the Arsenal game for the final on January 18th.

January 25th – PL – Manchester United (H)

Noussair Mazaoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo have all been called up for AFCON, so this might be their first match back in action for their club if any of their teams make it to the final/third-place play-off. But none of the three should miss the Arsenal game.

AFCON: these nations still absent from the final stage

AFCON: these countries have never participated

As the 2025 AFCON in Morocco draws near, a persistent reality remains in African football. While the tournament regularly brings together the continent’s football powerhouses, some national teams have yet to experience the thrill of a final stage, despite the numerous editions played over the years.

To this day, ten countries have never taken part in the Africa Cup of Nations. They are Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Eswatini, Lesotho, Somalia, Seychelles, Central African Republic, South Sudan and São Tomé and Príncipe.

Whether due to a lack of infrastructure, institutional instability, or developmental challenges, these nations continue to fight for a breakthrough in qualifying, hoping that one day their name will be written into the continental showdown.

Getty Images

The Super Eagles’ training base in Cairo has welcomed another key addition, with FC Porto defender Zaidu Sanusi joining the squad. His arrival brings the total number of players on the ground to eleven, as the Nigerian national team continues its preparations for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The team’s assembly is set for a significant boost in the coming days. According to official communications, a further contingent of twelve players is scheduled to join the camp on Monday, December 15th, as the training regimen intensifies ahead of the continental tournament.

Current Squad Members in Camp

The players currently present include Francis Izobo, Stanley Nwabali, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Akinsanmiro Ebenezer, Amas Obasogie, Semi Ajayi, Ademola Lookman, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Igho Ogbu, Tochukwu Nnadi, and the newly-arrived Zaidu Sanusi.

Two months ago, there was already a feeling of déjà vu, Groundhog Day and same ol’, same ol’ each week. With three games remaining in this forgettable season, very little has changed, especially on defense.

Explosive plays, injuries piling up and falling behind early. It, of course, happened again Sunday in a 40-20 loss to the Houston Texans in a game in which the Arizona Cardinals were playing without safeties Jalen Thompson and Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, and cornerback Max Melton.

Then, Mike linebacker Cody Simon, who had replaced Mack Wilson Sr., went down early with a knee injury. Wilson’s six missed games coincides with the current six-game losing streak.

Let's have a look at what we saw defensively and on special teams from the Cardinals in the 40-20 loss.

Where do we begin?

At the beginning.

The defense stopped running back Woody Marks for a two-yard gain on the first play of the game, after which cornerback Garrett Williams couldn’t keep up with wide receiver Nico Collins over the middle, safety Budda Baker got there late and Collins scored on a 57-yard pass play from quarterback C.J. Stroud. Collins ran 41 yards untouched after the catch.

Practice-squad wide receiver Jalen Brooks, who has been with the team since Oct. 30, fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the Texans recovered at the 22-yard line. One bright spot was the defense stopped the Texans after one first down and they had to settle for a field goal.

Still, it was 10-0 after only 3:58 had come off the clock.

Following a three-and-out (for minus-7 yards by the offense), a poor 34-yard punt set the Texans up at the Cardinals 49-yard line, and they needed eight plays including a 24-yard pass interference penalty on Williams to score another touchdown for a 17-0 lead with 6:12 to play in the first quarter.

The TD was symbolic of the season when the snap from the one-yard line after two no-gain runs on first and second down, went through Stroud’s legs. Marks was lined up behind Stroud, the ball short-hopped into his hands and he ran up the middle for six points.

More bad field position

The first touchdown “drive” began at the 41-yard line after a 39-yard kickoff return by wide receiver Jaylin Noel. Then came the fumbled kickoff return and short Matt Haack punt.

After that, late in the first half, the Texans started a possession at their own 48 after a sack of quarterback Jacoby Brissett on fourth-and-2 from the 42. That ended with a field-goal attempt blocked by defensive lineman Calais Campbell, the 10th of his career, seventh with the Cardinals, and another rare bright spot.

Late in the third quarter, after a Cardinals touchdown made it a two-score game at 30-14, Noel bolted up the middle for a 69-yard kickoff return to the 26-yard line. That resulted in a field goal.

Houston’s final touchdown came after a three-and-out that began at the Arizona 4-yard line and following a 45-yard punt downed at their own 45.

Overall, the Cardinals’ average drive-start was their own 25 and the Texans their own 45.

Who’s this Jordan guy?

Elevated from the practice squad for his first NFL game, sixth-round 2024 draft pick Jawhar Jordan stepped up when Marks was hampered by an ankle injury. Jordan was needed because Nick Chubb was out with an injury to his ribs.

He had only nine yards on five carries in the first half, but helped break the game open in the third quarter. Trailing 23-7, the Cardinals moved the ball from the 25 to the 12 on the first possession of the second half and seemed poised to make it a nine-point game.

Brissett scrambled for four yards on first down, but an Isaiah Adams holding penalty moved them back 10 yards. On second-and-20, Brissett missed wide receiver Michael Wilson, and rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter intercepted the pass in the end zone.

Two plays later, Jordan ran right and gained 50 yards to the 16-yard line for another explosive play. The Texans had 399 yards in the game and 107 on that play and Collins’ score.

It took them five plays from the 16, but a four-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dalton Schultz made it 30-7. None of Stroud’s four completions in the drive were to wide receivers.

For the game, Jordan rushed 15 times for 101 yards (14-for-51 other than the 50-yarder) and had two receptions for 14 yards.

Head coach DeMeco Ryans said of Jordan, “(It was outstanding) for the young man to come in and for his first game to have a debut like he had. Of course, he broke a record (for) most yards by a Texan in a debut game. He ran the ball very well. Efficient. He showed the explosiveness and the speed that he has and that we've seen in practice, while he's been on the practice squad for us.

“It shows, again, whenever your number is called, are you ready for that opportunity? No one knows until you get that moment. It's about you taking advantage of that moment and not looking back and I thought Jawhar handled it very well.”

Not so special, again

It’s difficult with so many moving parts on special teams and players on the field not with the team very long. It showed with Noel’s two long kickoff returns, Brooks’ fumble and Haack’s inconsistency. He is the team’s third punter of the season after Blake Gillikin suffered a back injury after playing only five games followed by a short stint from Pat O’Donnell.

Haack averaged only 45.0 yards for his three punts with a 40.7 net. Andre Baccellia had a 27-yard return on which he suffered a neck injury and had to be carted off the field as a precaution. After being evaluated at a local hospital, he returned to Arizona with the team. Recent roster addition Corey Kiner had a 22-yard return.

Notables

Defensive lineman Walter Nolen III was back after missing two games and we can only wonder what his season would have looked like had he not missed the first seven games of the season because of a calf injury suffered a couple weeks before the start of training camp. Sunday, he had the only sack of Stroud and added three tackles (one solo/one for loss), one quarterback hit and a pass defensed on a tipped ball. Asked about Nolen’s impact, head coach Jonathan Gannon said, “I'd probably have to watch the tape with a critical eye there. But he's an active, disruptive player, and the more he plays, the better he's going to get.”

Of Stroud’s 22 completions, only five were to wide receivers: Collins 3-85, Xavier Hutchinson 1-16 and Jayden Higgins 1-4. Former Cardinals wideout Christian Kirk wasn’t targeted. Eleven were to tight ends: Schultz 8-76 and Cade Stover 3-22. The other six were to running backs: Dare Ogunbowale 3-32, Jordan 2-17 and Marks 1-8.

After playing one defensive snap against the Rams, linebacker Akeen Davis-Gaither played more again after Simon was injured in the first quarter. He led the team with 11 tackles (four solo).

The Texans were in the red zone six times and they scored on each trip. The score would have been worse had the Cardinals not limited them to field goals on three of the red-zone opportunities.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Texans 40, Cardinals 20: More of the same on defense, special teams

ATLANTA -- The Philadelphia 76ers took a tough 120-117 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night, but they received a big performance from Paul George on the road.

The 16-year veteran continues his strong play on the season as he dropped 35 points on 11-for-21 shooting along with 7-for-9 from deep with four rebounds in the contest. He looked like Paul George again. The 9-time All-Star was able to get downhill, get by defenders, and finish at the rim as he looked like the player the Sixers thought they were getting when they signed him to a 4-year deal in the 2024 offseason.

"Just been healthier," George said after the loss. "Last year was a lot going on. I was just trying to patch up stuff. This year, I'm a lot healthier. I feel like I can play my game. I feel like I can be myself. There's still some things I got to come back. I'm not all the way 100, but I'm more myself than I was last year. So that's the positive that I can take, and everything else is with time, I'm just going to continue to get better."

After a miserable 2024-25 season in which George only played 41 games and saw a steep decline in production from his All-Star season in 2023-24 with the Los Angeles Clippers, there were whispers that George was washed. The great people of NBA Twitter let it be known their opinion that they believed the best of George was in the past, but he wanted to shut those thoughts down.

"I mean, prior to coming here, I was coming off one of my most efficient seasons," George explained. "All-Star that year. I didn't see myself being washed that fast, but I knew. I knew that this league is about what you can do now, and they tend to forget everything that I have done. So, it was a bit of motivation going into the summer to just get healthy and kind of let everything else take care of itself."

George isn't wrong about his final season with the Clippers. He averaged 22.6 points and shot 47.1% from the floor and 41.3% from deep before that miserable first season with the Sixers. It was a lot for him to handle mentally as the outside noise grew louder, and he had high expectations for himself, but he is working his way back from all of that in order to be the player the Sixers expect.

"Oh, my God. I mean, it was rough, man," George began reminiscing of 2024-25. "It was brutal. And when you play for Philly, it's brutal, man. I had an expectation coming into the year, and for me, me alone, like not even the noise outside and whatever people said, you know? It was just me, the expectation I had, and my first year playing with these guys, and the expectation they had of me, and it was just a lot that physically, I just couldn't do and so, yeah, mentally, man, it broke me down. It was rough and hard times just because it was like, ‘Man, I know what I'm capable of, but my body's just not allowing it.’ So it was a rough one last year."

Instead of whining or complaining about the tough season, George put his head down and got to work over the summer. He made sure he was in the best shape possible to help Philadelphia turn things around and move forward. His season ended on March 3, and he put in work in the gym to get back at it for the Sixers and it has paid off.

"I mean, through that time all the way leading up to opening night, I mean, I might have took off three weeks that whole time span," George stated. "I probably took off three weeks here and there through almost a whole year. So, that was a lot of time for me to just work on my body. It was around the clock every day. Even on vacation, I'm lifting, I'm working out. Wherever I was at, I was working out."

As George and the Sixers move forward, he will still have to battle through whatever ailments he's dealing with, but the 9-time All-Star is off to a great start. The work he's put in is showing at a high level.

"So, yeah, I had a lot of time," he finished. "A lot of time to work on my body, and I feel like it's paying off. I feel stronger. My body has morphed, and it's the reason why I think—although things are still coming back—I think it's why I'm off to kind of a good start."

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers' Paul George addresses washed accusations after loss to Hawks

The Washington Commanders won a football game on Sunday! That's the first time we've been able to say that in over two months.

The Commanders had lost eight games in a row, and it seemed like the streak would never end. In Week 15, the team travelled to take on the division rival New York Giants, and even without Jayden Daniels, did enough to escape with a 29-21 win.

It wasn't the prettiest game, and the Giants made it too close for comfort at the end, but a win is a win at this point. After the game, veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota, who has started in six games this year, spoke about the importance of getting this win.

"I truly appreciate who this group is, and we just keep finding ways to get better," said Mariota. "It's hard to go two months without winning a football game. So many reasons for guys to not show up and play, and our guys found a way today."

Mariota on the emotional victory: It’s hard to go 2 months without winning a football game pic.twitter.com/3Qygzq50HR

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) December 14, 2025

The Commanders have been out of the playoff race for a while now, but it's still nice to finally get another win. The team has three tough NFC East matchups to end the season, so it was important to get a win in Week 15.

Mariota completed 10 of 19 passes for 211 yards and one touchdown. The team was finally able to get something out of the ground game, as Jacory Croskey-Merritt rushed 18 times for 96 yards and one touchdown.

The Commanders were stout on defense as well. They gave up almost 400 total yards, but they came up with some huge stops at the end of the game. Von Miller collected another sack, and Mike Sainristil got an interception.

The next test for the Commanders is in Week 16 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Marcus Mariota speaks on emotional Week 15 win

It was another Notre Dame women’s basketball record for Hannah Hidalgo on Sunday, as she helped the No. 19 Irish get a 78-65 win on the road over James Madison on Sunday.

It wasn’t her best game, shooting 2-of-10 from the field, but it was the consistency, as he still managed to end the game with 13-points. That set a Notre Dame program record, as Hidalgo has scored in double-digits in 77-games, in fact, it’s every game that she’s ever played.

It’s the third record that Hidalgo has this season, as she also had 16 steals, tying the NCAA record, and 44-points, a single-game program record, in the same game against Akron.

The fact that Hidalgo has never scored less than 10-points in a game is quite an achievement, even in a game where she’d love to have a few of her shots back. The scoring has always been there for Notre Dame’s star, as she looks to lead the Irish to a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

consistency like this doesn’t happen by accident@HannahHidalgo now owns the program record for most consecutive games in double figures with her 77th game today#GoIrishpic.twitter.com/P2UN6SMPYS

— Notre Dame Women's Basketball (@ndwbb) December 14, 2025

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen

This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Hannah Hidalgo sets a Notre Dame record after Sunday’s win over JMU

When it rains it pours, as with T.J. Watt being forced to sit out of the Pittsburgh Steelers' Week 15 action following his surgery to repair a partial collapsed lung, a Cleveland Browns rival is on the verge of taking his place in the history books.

Ahead of the Sunday's matchup between the Browns and the Chicago Bears, DE Myles Garrett needed just three sacks in four games to surpass Watt's 22.5 single-season co-record with NFL legend Michael Strahan. But Garrett apparently isn't just set on beating the record, he wants to shatter it — and his 1.5 sacks against Chicago puts him on pace to do just that.

Myles Garrett awarded half sack on this play: 21.5 sacks for the season. Needs 1.5 more to break the NFL single season sack record#Browns#DawgPound  #NFL#CLEvsCHIpic.twitter.com/wbHvfQA9Zp

— Jay7 (@LJayy7) December 14, 2025

With three games still to play, Garrett is sitting at 21.5 sacks, with 17.5 of those coming over the past eight games — a frightening average of two sacks per contest.

t’s a bitter pill to swallow, but barring a miracle, Steelers fans likely need to prepare themselves for Watt’s record to be completely blown out of the water over the next few games.

For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers news: Garrett closes in T.J. Watt's sack record in Week 15

The New York Giants suffered their eighth consecutive loss on Sunday, falling to the Washington Commanders, 29-21, in their Week 15 matchup at MetLife Stadium. The defeat dropped the Giants' record to 2-12 on the season.

As a result, the Giants maintained their position and remain projected to select first overall in the 2026 NFL draft, per Tankathon.

Three games remain on the schedule: A home contest against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 16, a road game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 17, and a season finale at home against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Week 17 matchup with the Raiders could effectively decide the No. 1 overall pick in 2026 if both teams lose in Week 16 and enter with identical 2-13 records.

Heading into the 2026 draft, the Giants have several positional needs to address, including cornerback, offensive line, and potentially a complementary receiver to pair with star wideout Malik Nabers. Many of these priorities will depend on how the team approaches free agency, while the larger question looming over the franchise is who will serve as head coach when the new league year begins.

Regardless of how the final three games unfold, this has been a season that Giants fans would prefer to put behind them quickly. Securing the No. 1 pick by losing out, however, could benefit the organization in multiple ways. The Giants could — and likely would — explore trading down in what is widely regarded as a quarterback-rich draft class, potentially receiving a significant return.

A winless finish would also likely lead to the departure of general manager Joe Schoen, a change that fans and media have increasingly called for. It would be difficult to envision Schoen retaining his position after a combined 5-29 record over the past two seasons.

While many fans may hope the team loses its remaining games, intentional tanking does not exist in the NFL, and the players will compete to win each week. Regardless of the final record, the Giants are poised for another high selection in the 2026 NFL draft.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Giants remain in control of the first overall pick

Week 15 went about as poorly as it possibly could have gone for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Not only did every outcome swing against the Chiefs, eliminating them from playoff contention, but superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes also suffered a season-ending injury.

Kansas City announced on social media the three-time Super Bowl MVP tore his ACL in the final moments of the Chiefs' Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Mahomes went down after the fourth quarter's two-minute warning and needed help from the Chiefs' training staff to walk off the field and into the locker room.

Here's what that means for the rest of Mahomes' – and the Chiefs' – season:

CHIEFS PLAYOFF PICTURE: Odds, remaining schedule, AFC West standings

When will Patrick Mahomes return?

Mahomes will not return in 2025.

The Chiefs' star quarterback tore his ACL in Week 15, according to an official social media post from the team. That ends his season and may put the start of the 2026 season in jeopardy as well.

Mahomes shared some frustration and thanked fans in a social media post after the Chiefs' Week 15 loss that eliminated them from playoff contention.

"Don’t know why this had to happen," he wrote. "And not going to lie [it] hurts. But all we can do now is Trust in God and attack every single day over and over again. Thank you Chiefs kingdom for always supporting me and for everyone who has reached out and sent prayers. I Will be back stronger than ever."

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Gardner Minshew spoke with reporters during his postgame press conference, reflecting on Patrick Mahomes' ACL tear and wishing him well in his injury recovery.

"Yeah, it's very frustrating. It's been hard to watch for Pat (Mahomes). That dude (Patrick Mahomes) puts so much into it. I don't think I've ever respected anybody I've played with more," said Minshew, "I've never seen anybody I've played with give so much of themselves to the team, and to not get the results is hard, but I have more confidence in him than anybody to come back and be better than ever."

Minshew entered the game late into the fourth quarter on the final drive to replace Mahomes. He finished 3 for 5 for 22 yards and the game-ending interception to Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Derwin James.

Derwin James calls game ‼️ pic.twitter.com/Gk2w72ndE6

— NFL (@NFL) December 14, 2025

"Yeah, that's kind of the job you're in. Unfortunately for me, to play that's what happens," said Minshew, "and you have to compartmentalize (and) obviously get back to the locker room, and that's the most concerning thing, and I just wish the best for him (Patrick Mahomes)."

Minshew will likely be the starter for the remainder of the season while the Chiefs continue to evaluate the roster. The former Washington State Cougars star mentioned his view of Mahomes as he went to the locker room.

"Yeah, he's (Patrick Mahomes) down, obviously," said Minshew, "It's a tough game (and) it's been a tough year at this point, but nobody's better for it."

The Chiefs return to action in Week 16 against the Tennessee Titans.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Chiefs QB Gardner Minshew shares a special message for Patrick Mahomes

Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers picked up a critical win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14 that might have saved their playoff hopes.

Pittsburgh had lost five of its last seven games to move to 0.500 on the year for the first time since Week 2. That win in Baltimore keeps the Steelers in the driver's seat of the AFC North in what's been a rocky season for the franchise.

The Steelers raced out to a 4-1 start with one-score wins over the Jets, Patriots and Vikings ahead of their bye week. A 23-9 victory over Cleveland in Week 6 put the Steelers in good position behind an opportunistic defense and reliable running game.

NFL playoff picture Week 15: Bucs' loss to Falcons pushes Panthers atop NFC South

Things took a turn in October and November as Rodgers struggled. Opponent pass rushers got home more often and the Steelers' offense wasn't clicking.

That win over Baltimore eases some concerns, though. Rodgers had his best day as a passer all season and added his first rushing touchdown in almost three years to lead the offense to a statement win on the road.

They're back at home in Week 15 to host the Miami Dolphins in a big "Monday Night Football" game for both teams. A win for the Steelers keeps them ahead in the AFC North race; a victory for Miami keeps their slim playoff hopes alive.

Will the Steelers make the playoffs in a competitive AFC North race? Here's a look at the standings, playoff picture and our prediction.

AFC North standings

Pittsburgh holds a slim lead over the Ravens in the AFC North race but crucially earned that road win in Week 14. This puts them essentially two games up on Baltimore entering the final four weeks of the regular season.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6, 3-1 AFC North)
2. Baltimore Ravens (7-7, 3-2)
3. Cincinnati Bengals (4-10, 3-2)
4. Cleveland Browns (3-11, 0-4)

Steelers schedule

Pittsburgh has one of the easier ends to the season league-wide. Tankathon ranks the Steelers' final four weeks as the eighth-easiest by strength of schedule in the league. Only one team left on their schedule had a winning record entering Week 15 (Detroit).

• Week 15: vs. Miami Dolphins
• Week 16:at Detroit Lions
• Week 17: at Cleveland Browns
• Week 18: vs. Baltimore Ravens

AFC playoff picture

1. Denver Broncos (12-2, AFC West leaders)*
2. New England Patriots (11-3, AFC East leaders)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4, AFC South leaders)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6, AFC North leaders)
5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-4, wild card No. 1)
6. Buffalo Bills (10-4, wild card No. 2)
7. Houston Texans (9-5, wild card No. 3)

In the hunt: Indianapolis Colts (8-6), Baltimore Ravens (7-7), Miami Dolphins (6-7).

* Clinched playoff berth

Eliminated: New York Jets (3-10), Cleveland Browns (3-10), Las Vegas Raiders (2-11), Tennessee Titans (2-11), Kansas City Chiefs (6-8), Cincinnati Bengals (4-10).

Steelers playoff prediction

As things stand, it seems more likely the Steelers would get into the playoffs as the NFC North winner than as a wild-card team. Their competition for the former features the Chargers and Bills, who both have head-to-head wins over Pittsburgh, and whichever of the Jaguars or Texans doesn't take the AFC South. The division race is down to the Steelers against the Ravens and Bengals - both teams they already have a win over.

Baltimore has a much more challenging road to end the season than Pittsburgh. The Ravens face three playoff contenders after a road game against the Bengals in Week 15: New England, Green Bay and Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh needs to win two of three games ahead of its season finale against Baltimore at home. Detroit and Cleveland on the road aren't easy. We reckon the Steelers split those two and get a win over Miami in Week 15.

Even if the Steelers go 1-2 ahead of Week 18, they'd still likely be a game ahead of the Ravens in the division race due to Baltimore's tougher schedule. Regardless of which team wins the season finale, we think the Steelers will take the AFC North and host a playoff game on wild-card weekend.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will the Steelers make the playoffs? Prediction, schedule

Texas A&M (11-1, 7-1 SEC) is just six days away from hosting Miami (FL) (10-2) in the first round of the College Football Playoff, as both programs will make their first appearance in the tournament since its inception, and aren't looking to end the season anytime soon.

For the Aggies, losing to rival Texas on the road 27-17 on Black Friday was poorly timed, resulting in a massive drop to No. 7 in the CFP rankings, but they were still granted a home game. On the other side, Miami snuck in over Notre Dame, who the Hurricanes defeated earlier in the year, and are riding a four-game winning streak heading into Saturday's game.

Texas A&M's defense runs through the defensive line, led by senior edge Cashius Howell's 11.5 sacks and 40-plus pressures. At the same time, the secondary, which has been leaky in several regular-season games, lacks top-end speed, allowing a handful of explosive plays against the Longhorns.

Paired with a run defense that has given up over 200 yards four times this year, Miami QB Carson Beck will look to take advantage of these deficiencies. However, head coach Mike Elko and his defensive staff will need to key in on freshman wide receiver Malachi Toney, who nearly reached the century mark this season with 84 receptions, 970 yards, and seven touchdowns.

Averaging 11.5 yards per catch, Toney is a nightmare matchup for every secondary and will likely need to be bracketed to prevent Beck from connecting on deep throws that will open up the offense. This will force Beck to find wide receiver CJ Daniels and Keelan Marion, who have been highly productive, but aren't man-beaters on every route.

This strategy isn't rocket science, and may not work, but hoping that Carson Beck makes mistakes and giving him too much time in the pocket is a recipe for disaster. This is a big game for Texas A&M cornerback Will Lee III, Dezz Ricks, and slot corner Tyreek Chappell, who will be in man coverage for most of the afternoon, and must play with good leverage and force Beck to make accurate throws.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M's secondary will need to shut down Miami WR Malachi Toney

The Pittsburgh Steelers earned a key win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14 to give themselves the inside track to win the AFC North over the final month of the 2025 NFL season.

But even though the Steelers are back in first place, much of the conversation surrounding the team's coach, Mike Tomlin, has focused on his job security.

Many fans and NFL analysts alike have wondered whether the Steelers and Tomlin would consider parting ways if the team can't mount a postseason run in 2025. Even Tomlin's former quarterback – Ben Roethlisberger – opined a "fresh start" could benefit both parties.

Why would that be the case? Many have argued that while Tomlin has posted a strong regular-season record and established himself as the epitome of consistency during his near-two-decade run with the Steelers, Pittsburgh simply hasn't been successful enough in the playoffs over the latter half of Tomlin's tenure.

Few believe the Steelers – who have had just three head coaches since Chuck Noll took over the role in 1969 – would actually fire Tomlin. After all, his results have been consistently good, and the Steelers are as averse to significant organizational change as any team across the league.

But if there is a change, the impetus could be Tomlin's recent postseason struggles.

Here's what to know about Tomlin's coaching record and how he has fared in the playoffs during his time with the Steelers

Mike Tomlin record with Steelers

Tomlin enters Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season with a regular-season record of 190-113-2 across his 19 seasons with the Steelers thus far.

Tomlin's 190 wins are the second-most among active NFL coaches behind only Andy Reid (278). He is also tied with Dan Reeves for the 10th-most victories in NFL history and is just three behind Noll (193) for the all-time Steelers record.

Tomlin has coached the Steelers to double-digit wins in 11 seasons and has never posted a sub-.500 record in his career to date. Below is a look at the 53-year-old coach's record by season.

• 2007: 10-6
• 2008: 12-4
• 2009: 9-7
• 2010: 12-4
• 2011: 12-4
• 2012: 8-8
• 2013: 8-8
• 2014: 11-5
• 2015: 10-6
• 2016: 11-5
• 2017: 13-3
• 2018: 9-6-1
• 2019: 8-8
• 2020: 12-4
• 2021: 9-7-1
• 2022: 9-8
• 2023: 10-7
• 2024: 10-7
• 2025: 7-6

Mike Tomlin playoff record

Tomlin's playoff record pales in comparison to his regular-season record. He has posted a mark of just 8-11 over his 19 seasons with the Steelers.

Tomlin's eight playoff wins are tied for the 25th-most in NFL history. That said, his 11 playoff losses are tied for the seventh-most in league history.

Has Mike Tomlin won a Super Bowl?

Tomlin's playoff record may be middling, but he has won the Super Bowl. He led the Steelers to a victory in Super Bowl 43 over the Arizona Cardinals. That victory came during the 2008 NFL playoffs, which were contested in 2009 as a part of Tomlin's second season with the team.

Tomlin also led the Steelers to a Super Bowl 45 appearance, but the Steelers lost that contest 31-25 to Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.

Five of Tomlin's eight total postseason wins came during his two Super Bowl runs with the Steelers.

When was the Steelers last playoff win?

The Steelers have not won a postseason game since the 2016 NFL playoffs, which were contested in 2017. Pittsburgh was the No. 3 seed and earned wins over the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs before being eliminated by the New England Patriots.

Since then, Tomlin and the Steelers have made the playoffs five times across eight seasons. They have been one-and-done across all of those appearances, making Tomlin winless in his last six postseason games.

Mike Tomlin contract

Tomlin's contract has become a point of interest amid debate over his job security. The Steelers signed him to a three-year extension before the final season of his previous contract in 2024. That has Tomlin set to be under contract through the 2027 NFL season.

However, the final year of Tomlin's contract in 2027 is a team option. The Steelers have until March 1, 2026 to decide whether to exercise that option, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The Steelers haven't yet decided on that option and will do so after the 2025 season. Should Pittsburgh pick up the option, it would be a vote of confidence in Tomlin.

But if the Steelers decline it, questions would arise about whether Tomlin is entering a "prove it" year in Pittsburgh.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mike Tomlin's record with Steelers: Playoff history, what to know

Aaron Wiggins' hunger was at an all-time high, and his shot diet reflected that.

Stepback 3s. Contested pull-ups. Tough turnarounds. Nothing was off the table for the then-rookie guard, who was starving to showcase his skills during Summer League play after OKC selected him with the 55th pick in the 2021 draft and signed him to a two-way contract.

"Game is game," Wiggins told himself, convinced his bucket-getting mindset would translate to the next level. But he quickly realized the NBA is an entirely different game. One with a deeper 3-point line, more physical opponents and no rewards for the reckless.

That included Wiggins, who struggled with his efficiency. So head coach Mark Daigneault sat him down after OKC's first game of the following preseason.

"I remember Mark pulling me aside," Wiggins told The Oklahoman on Dec. 9. "He was just telling me, 'If you're going to be a good player, you've got to be more efficient. Some of these shots, you've got to consider how good they are for the team.' We were able to slow things down, pull things back and watch film.

"I was able to just learn about the efficiency landscape. It was never anything I really considered before making it to the NBA. A lot of my game was just being a hooper and scoring the ball, so when I got here I learned a lot."

More: Can Thunder surpass 73-win Warriors for NBA record? Here's how OKC, Golden State compare

Now, Wiggins is teaching others how it's done. The former second-round pick has established himself as a key contributor for the reigning champion Thunder, all while playing within the team.

Wiggins is averaging career highs of 12.3 points and 1.9 assists this season. He's one of only 13 players in the entire NBA who's shooting at least 45% from the field (46.4%) and 40% from deep (41.7%) on over 10 shot attempts per game (10.1).

Those might not seem like monster stats. But Wiggins' efficiency paired with his ability to adapt to whatever role OKC needs him to fill on any given night is the sign of a true basketball beast.

"He's a guy who has mastered our system over time on both ends of the floor," Daigneault said. "He's just a system monster. He's finding different ways to impact the game. ... He's an impressive person from that standpoint. He can wear a lot of different masks."

Wiggins has always been a willing learner. A man of many talents.

This is a guy who knows how to play the trombone, the trumpet and the piano, after all. And it didn't take long for him to tune his game after an inefficient Summer League showing.

Daigneault vividly remembers going to one of the OKC Blue's first games the following season and being impressed with how Wiggins course corrected himself "super quickly." He didn't try to drop gaudy numbers, like most G Leaguers do. Instead, he practiced everything he'd need to master if he wanted to crack the Thunder's rotation.

Wiggins stuffed the stat sheet with averages of 12.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals in his six games with the Blue. He also shot a highly-efficient 63% from the field (36.4% from deep).

"I was out there acting as if whoever our point guard at the time was Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander), and he's not gonna pass the ball," Wiggins jokingly said. "So I was standing in the corner. I was setting screens. I was getting offensive rebounds. I was trying to guard the best player and do all of the little things that'd get me opportunities with the Thunder."

More: Victor Wembanyama sparks Spurs past Thunder in NBA Cup, ending OKC's 16-game win streak

Wiggins didn't just feel the progress he was making. He heard it from Daigneault, who frequently gave him feedback.

And for a 23-year-old rookie trying to find his way into the NBA, that guidance was invaluable.

"It's huge," Wiggins said. "It's something that I don't take for granted. I don't think many coaches probably are as transparent as Mark is, and I'm grateful for that. From Day 1, he was upfront about how I could find success in the NBA and what it would take for me to fit in regardless of where I am. And for our team, how I could contribute.

"I was always open ears and just listening to what he had for me. He helped set up my career up to this point, so I'm super grateful for that."

Those opportunities to contribute eventually came for Wiggins, who appeared in 50 games with the Thunder that season. He started in 35 of them, as OKC prioritized the development of its young core over winning.

But even when the Thunder became more competitive throughout the years, it leaned on Wiggins' adaptability.

In the 2022-23 season, Wiggins didn't play for the first three quarters of a home game against Phoenix. But he played throughout the entire fourth quarter as the Thunder went ultra small, leaving the 6-5 guard to sometimes hold it down at the five. He poured in seven points, two steals and two boards on 3-for-4 shooting to will his team to a 124-120 win.

In the 2023-24 season, Wiggins made just his fourth start of the campaign against Charlotte on a night when Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams were out due to injuries. He thrived in a lead role, racking up 26 points and a career-high six steals on 11-for-20 shooting in the Thunder's 121-118 victory.

When OKC needed to respond in Game 2 of last season's NBA Finals series against Indiana, Daigneault called Wiggins' number to start the second quarter. He shined as a microwave scorer, erupting for eight points in his first eight minutes to help the Thunder even the series with a 123-107 win.

And when OKC was without its top shot blocker in Chet Holmgren during a home game against Sacramento early this season, Wiggins protected the paint. He recorded a career-high three blocks during a 107-101 home win.

"He's one of the most underrated players in the league, in my eyes," Thunder forward Kenrich Williams said of Wiggins. "You've just got to mentally prepare and be ready for anything, and he's one of the best at it. You can tell by his production that everything is paying off for him."

More: How OKC Thunder rookie Thomas Sorber became 'one of the guys' despite ACL injury

Veterans aren't the only ones who recognize what Wiggins has done to carve out a role with the Thunder. So have the young guys.

Ajay Mitchell joined OKC under circumstances that were similar to Wiggins. He was an older second-round selection on a two-way contract who needed to round out his game if he wanted playing time.

And while Mitchell has also learned from some of the Thunder's blue-blood guards like Gilgeous-Alexander and Cason Wallace, two one-and-done Kentucky players who were selected in the lottery, the real blueprint was Wiggins.

"He's a complete player on both ends of the floor," Mitchell said. "The way he came in off a two-way and stepping his way into the rotation, that was kind of like an example for me. It's great to have him, be able to ask him questions and learn from him."

Wiggins is still learning, too. That process hasn't stopped despite being an established five-year pro, an NBA champion and the recipient of a five-year, $47-million contract.

Wiggins knows his cuts can get even sharper. He can crash the glass even harder. He can see sequences unfold before they happen even sooner. He can make even more defensive plays on and off the ball.

That's a lot to put on one person's plate, but Wiggins still has a monstrous appetite.

"I'm sticking to what works and not forgetting what put me in a position to be able to play in Year 5, coming off a championship run," Wiggins said. "Those things matter. System monster is a huge compliment to myself, and I appreciate the organization for such a name."

Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: How OKC Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins became a 'system monster'

Where to watch Georgia HS football championship games: Schedule, channel, live stream for GHSA finals originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Some of the best high school football talent in the country takes the field in Atlanta this week with state championship trophies on the line. 

It doesn't get much better than the matchup in the 6A final, where the top-ranked team in The Sporting News Top 25, Buford, takes on SN No. 5 Carrollton in an epic showdown of 14-0 powerhouses. 

While the Trojans have a legacy of excellence, they haven't won it all since 1998 and will be primed to bring a trophy back to Carrollton. Buford's rise to prominence began shortly after that, and the Wolves have won 13 state titles across six different classifications since 2001 but have fallen short the last three years — a drought by their standards.

Elsewhere, the finals in the four smallest classifications will feature teams looking for repeat titles: Carver, Columbus (2A), Toombs County (A-Div. I), Bowdon (A-Div. II) and Hebron Christian (Private). Bowdon is trying to win it all for the fourth year in a row. 

Here's how to watch all the action from Atlanta this week. 

Where to watch Georgia HS football championship games

• TV channel: Georgia Public Broadcasting
• Live stream:NFHS Network

The 2025 GHSA state championship games will air on local Georgia Public Broadcasting channels across the state. Fans everywhere can stream every game live on the NFHS Network. See the full schedule below. 

The NFHS Network offers two basic plans: an Annual Pass ($6.67 per month) or a Monthly Pass ($13.99 per month). These plans give subscribers the ability to watch live sporting events and create clips of their favorite moments from games.

Georgia HS football championship games schedule, scores

All finals will take place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta

Monday, Dec. 15

Tuesday, Dec. 16

Wednesday, Dec. 17

Judgment Day is what they’ve billed the heavyweight fight between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua. Of course, the boxing world has been judging Paul since he made his pro debut in 2020. A fake boxer, the critics sneered. Fighting easy opponents, they snorted. Unwilling to take risks, they snickered. But Paul is now 12-1 with seven knockouts and about to face the biggest challenge of his life. And we do mean big.

Joshua stands 6-6, is expected to weigh in at about 245 pounds and is built like a modern-day Adonis. But like Paul, Joshua has faced judgment too. Past his prime, the critics say. Slower and stiff, they sneer. And for all of his accomplishments (an Olympic gold medal at the 2012 London Games and twice reigning as the unified world heavyweight champion) the 36-year-old Brit has looked vulnerable. In his last fight, he got knocked down four times by Daniel Dubois and knocked out in the fifth round. Now, after a 15-month layoff, he returns to the ring.

For Judgment Day.

When is Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua fight?

Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua are set to tangle on Friday, Dec. 19. Paul originally was set to fight Gervonta "Tank" Davis. Fun fact: Joshua is about 100 pounds heavier and a foot taller than Davis.

Where is Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua fight?

The fight between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua will be held in Miami at the Kaseya Center, home of the NBA’s Miami Heat. The arena has a capacity of about 20,000 for boxing events.

How to watch Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua on Netflix: Time, TV, streaming

• Time: Ring walk not yet announced (Main card begins at 8 p.m. ET)
• Date: Friday, Dec. 19
• TV: Not available on TV
• Streaming: Netflix

Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua Netflix fight details

Netflix is the exclusive home for the fight between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua, with the streaming behemoth a key part of the promotion. Fans looking to catch the fight will need to sign up for a subscription, with a standard streaming plan with ads starting at $9.99 a month.

Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua fight card

Note: Main card will be available to watch on Netflix

• Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua: Heavyweight
• Anderson Silva vs. Tyron Woodley: 6-Round Cruiserweight at 195 lbs
• Alycia Baumgardner vs. Leila Beaudoin: Unified Super Featherweight World Champion bout

Note: Prelims (below) will be available to watch on Tudum and on Most Valuable Promotions YouTube channel

• Cherneka Johnson vs. Amanda Galle: Undisputed Bantamweight World Champion bout
• Caroline Dubois vs. Camila Panatta: WBC Lightweight World Champion bout
• Yokasta Valle vs. Yadira Bustillos: WBC Strawweight World Champion bout
• Avious Griffin vs. Justin Cardona: Welterweight
• Keno Marley vs. Diarra Davis Jr.: Cruiserweight

Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua fight rules

Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua are scheduled to fight eight three-minute rounds and wear 10-ounce gloves. The pro fight has been sanctioned by the Florida Athletic Commission. Joshua will be required to weigh in the day before the fight at no more than 245 pounds. Paul, expected to weigh in at about 220 pounds, faces no weight requirement.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua fight on Netflix: What you need to know

What channel is Steelers vs. Dolphins on today? Schedule, time, live stream to watch 'Monday Night Football' in Week 15 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will host the Miami Dolphins in Week 15 on Monday Night Football. 

The Dolphins are looking to extend their win streak to five consecutive. After a rough start to the season, Miami beating teams like the Buffalo Bills in Week 11 has been quite surprising.

Aaron Rodgers is coming off possibly his best game as a Steeler in their Week 14 win over the Baltimore Ravens. Rodgers and DK Metcalf seemed to find that connection that the fans in Pittsburgh were hoping for. 

While the future is unknown for the Miami quarterback and head coach, Tua Tagovailoa and Mike McDaniel will look to continue this positive stretch into Week 15. In contrast, the Steelers continue their push for the playoffs. 

Here's everything you need to know about watching the Steelers vs. the Dolphins in Week 15, including TV, streaming, and radio coverage information.

What channel is Steelers vs. Dolphins on today?

• TV Channel: ABC | ESPN
• Live stream: ESPN | Fubo

The Steelers vs. the Dolphins will be on "Monday Night Football" in Week 15, airing nationally on ABC and ESPN. Joe Buck (play-by-play) will be in the booth alongside Troy Aikman (analyst).

The game will stream live on the ESPN app, along with Fubo, which offers a free trial.

Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, college sports, plus SportsCenter, First Take, and all your favorite ESPN shows—anytime, anywhere—only in the new ESPN app.

What time is Steelers vs. Dolphins today?

• Date: Monday, Dec. 15
• Time: 8:15 p.m. ET

Kickoff of Monday Night Football is set for 8:15 p.m. ET on Monday, Dec. 15. 

The Steelers host the Dolphins on Monday Night Football from Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

Steelers vs. Dolphins radio coverage

• Radio channel: SiriusXM

Fans can listen to Monday Night Football live with SiriusXM on channel 88, NFL Radio, for the national broadcast. 

Team-specific calls are available on channel 225 (Steelers broadcast) and 226 (Dolphins broadcast). 

New subscribers get their first month of SiriusXM for free. Listen to every NFL game live, plus college football, MLB, NBA, NHL, NASCAR and more. Stay updated with all the news and analysis from SiriusXM NFL Radio and other sport-specific channels.

Steelers schedule 2025

Here's a look at Pittsburgh's remaining games:

Dolphins schedule 2025

Here's a look at Miami's remaining games:

Related Links

• Latest NFL news and rumors
• 2025 NFL schedule, scores
• 2025 NFL standings
• How to bet on the NFL

Hello and welcome to the Week 16 waiver wire watch!

The first week of the fantasy playoffs is mostly in the books and some of you are step closer to winning your league and claiming bragging rights over your friends. We still have the Monday night showdown between the Dolphins and Steelers to get to this evening, but it’s not too early to start looking for ways to fortify your rosters for the next round of the postseason.

We’ll go over some performers that you should consider scooping off the waiver wire ahead of Week 16 and as always, we’ll classify a waiver add as someone who is rostered in 60% of leagues at the max. As a reminder, bye weeks a no longer a thing at this juncture of the year, so every team will be in action for the rest of the way.

Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars (54.0%)

Lawrence is dialed in right now and led the Jaguars to their fifth straight win in a 48-20 clowning of the Jets on Sunday. 330 passing yards, 51 rushing yards, and six total touchdowns were the numbers that he put up in what was his the best regular-season performance of his five-year pro career, finishing the week as the top fantasy quarterback with 44.3 points.

The former No. 1 overall pick has gotten better throughout the second half of the season and that was notably his third straight week without an interception. He has the 10-4 Jags inching closer to the AFC South title and with the Chiefs being eliminated from the postseason, he’s one of the QB’s who could finally break through when the playoffs begin next month. We’ve been telling you to grab T-Law for weeks now and there’s still a chance to find him on your waiver wire.

Week 16 matchup: @ Denver Broncos, 4:05 p.m. ET

Jacoby Brissett, QB, Arizona Cardinals (35.5%)

The Cardinals were pantsed by the Texans 40-20 on Sunday and once again, the team’s success (or lack there of) is irrelevant to this conversation. It’s all about Brissett, who once again had another solid day in fantasy with 249 passing yards and three touchdowns to one interceptions, earning 21.6 fantasy points for mangers in the process. Jonathan Gannon is still just letting him rip to close out this miserable campaign as that marked his sixth straight game with at least 40 pass attempts.

The veteran journeyman is still the garbage time king in fantasy for this season and it will remain that way for the rest of the way. Need a top-20 QB that can help you through the rest of your playoff bracket? He’s sitting right there.

Week 16 matchup: vs. Atlanta Falcons, 4:05 p.m. ET

Blake Corum, RB, Los Angeles Chargers (42.6%)

The Rams became the first team in the NFL to clinch a playoff spot with Sunday’s 41-34 victory over the Lions and look like a legitimate Super Bowl contender. One of the things that makes them a danger right now is the emergence of Corum in recent weeks and he broke off 11 carries for 71 rushing yards and a touchdown in their home victory over Detroit on Sunday.

That is now three straight games with a touchdown for the second-year back out of Michigan and the second straight week where he’s recorded 10+ carries while backing up Kyren Williams. He’s going to remain an important part of the Rams offense for their playoff push, so why not make him part of yours?

Week 16 matchup: @ Seattle Seahawks, 8:15 p.m. ET (Thursday night)

Bill Croskey-Merritt, RB, Washington Commanders (41.9%)

We haven’t heard Croskey-Merritt’s name as of late as the Commanders’ season has fizzled out, but he did play a big role in their 29-21 victory over the Giants on Sunday. The rookie ended up posting 18 carries for 96 rushing yards, and a touchdown in the win, marking his first trip to the end zone since two-score outing against the Chargers way back in Week 5.

BCM’s production dropped off significantly in the second half of the season as prior to Sunday, he hadn’t gone above 60 yards on the ground since their Week 6 loss to the Bears on Monday Night Football. Perhaps his performance against the New York is an indicator that he’ll get to tote the rock more as Washington closes out the season. He’ll be someone to keep in mind when scoring the wire this week.

Week 16 matchup: vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 5 p.m. ET (Saturday night)

Troy Franklin, WR, Denver Broncos (53.3%)

The Broncos joined the Rams as the only teams to clinch a playoff spot so far, punching their ticket to the postseason with a 34-26 victory over the Packers. Franklin ended up coming through big in this possible Super Bowl preview, catching all six of his receiving targets for 86 yards and a late third-quarter touchdown reception that put Denver on top.

That’s now six touchdowns on the year for the second-year wideout from Oregon as he remains a reliable option for Bo Nix like their days in Eugene. With a rostership of roughly 50%, this may be your last chance to see him on the waiver wire, so you might as well submit a bid.

Week 16 matchup: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 4:05 p.m. ET

Adonai Mitchell, WR, New York Jets (27.6%)

The Jets are doing exactly what you’d expect them to be doing at this point in the season: losing games to ensure their top-five positioning in next year’s draft while still squeezing production out of their younger players. That’s exactly what happened in Sunday’s 48-20 loss to the Jaguars as wide receiver Adonai Mitchell grabbed six passes for 58 receiving yards and a touchdown.

That’s now two touchdowns in the last three weeks for the second-year wideout and he’s proving to be more than just a throwaway piece in the Sauce Gardner trade. Whoever’s throwing for the Jets in the Superdome next Sunday, they’re going to want to look for Mitchell early and often.

Week 16 matchup: @ New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. ET

Colby Parkinson, TE, Los Angeles Rams (4.7%)

There hasn’t been a bigger tight end touchdown machine in the second half of the season than Parkinson and he continued his tear in the Rams’ 41-34 victory over the Lions on Sunday. The veteran posted his best numbers of the season in this showdown of NFC playoff contenders, catching five of seven targets for 75 receiving yards and two second half touchdowns that were critical for L.A.

That’s now six touchdowns in the last six games for Parkinson and he proved on Sunday that he can be more than just a red-zone target. He’s yet another dangerous weapon in the arsenal for Matthew Stafford and most of you should be able to find him on the waiver wire this week.

Week 16 matchup: @ Seattle Seahawks, 8:15 p.m. ET (Thursday night)

Dawson Knox, TE, Buffalo Bills (2.3%)

Knox came up huge for the Bills in Foxborough on Sunday as they kept their AFC East title hopes alive in a 35-31 victory. The veteran tight had had three receptions for 37 receiving yards with two of them being second-half touchdowns that helped fuel Buffalo’s second-half comeback. This performance was a direct follow-up to his 93-yard effort against the Bengals the week prior, so he’s establishing a rhythm with Josh Allen late in the year. You may want to try to capitalize.

Week 16 matchup: @ Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. ET

The atmosphere in the Caesars Superdome tonight wasn't just electric; it was a pure, unadulterated shot of adrenaline for the New Orleans Saints faithful. In a season of ups and downs, injuries, and a few too many tough losses, the Saints delivered an absolute heart-stopper against the playoff-hopeful Carolina Panthers, winning 20-17. But the real story isn't the final score—it's the rookie from Northern Ireland, Charlie Smyth, who stepped up and nailed a 47-yard, game-winning field goal with just two seconds on the clock.

"It was a great moment. One I will never forget,"

Charlie Smyth on his 47-yd game-winning FG 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Y21PZokFXm

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 15, 2025

More Than Just Three Points

Let's be clear: a clutch field goal is a clutch field goal. But for Smyth, the former Gaelic football goalkeeper on the International Player Pathway (IPP), this 47-yard rocket wasn't just a win—it was the moment that solidified his standing as a legitimate NFL kicker.

The Pressure Cooker: The context is everything. The Panthers, fighting for the NFC South lead, were stunned by a phenomenal late-game drive led by rookie QB Tyler Shough. The tension was palpable. A miss means overtime, a tie, or worse. For a kicker who is still a newcomer to the sport, facing his first-ever game-winning kick is the ultimate trial by fire.

The Power and Poise: As fans who have endured inconsistent kicking know all too well, there's a unique comfort in seeing a ball struck with that kind of confidence and power. He has a cannon of a leg, a trait that has been touted since his debut, and tonight he put that power to use in the most meaningful way possible.

A Symbol of Hope: For a 4-10 Saints team playing spoiler for a second straight week, Smyth's heroics inject a dose of genuine, unbridled excitement into the final stretch of the season. It validates the high-risk, high-reward decision to cut a veteran and trust the international rookie.

Looking Ahead: The Kicker New Orleans Needs

For years, Saints fans have craved stability and certainty at the kicker position. With Charlie Smyth, they might just have it.

This game-winner is more than just one victory. It’s a statement that the International Player Pathway can deliver franchise-altering talent. It’s a sign that the Saints have found their golden boot—a kicker with the composure and power to secure those tight, late-game divisional battles.

The Superdome was in raptures tonight, and the roar for the young Irishman was deafening. If he continues to kick with this kind of poise, Charlie Smyth won't just be an IPP success story, he'll be a New Orleans legend in the making.

The Philadelphia Phillies definitely need to address their woeful outfield situation this winter. Harrison Bader and Max Kepler are both free agents, and the Phillies are pleading with teams to take Nick Castellanos off their hands.

Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger were viewed as possibilities earlier this offseason, but Philadelphia re-signing Kyle Schwarber to a $150 million deal may have put the kibosh on either player.

As a result, the Phillies may need to explore the trade market, and it seems like that is exactly what president Dave Dombrowski is doing.

In fact, Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic have revealed that Philadelphia has held trade discussions with the Chicago White Sox regarding former All-Star outfielder Luis Robert.

There is a caveat, however: Robert is due $20 million next season after the White Sox exercised his 2026 option, so Chicago may need to eat some salary in order to move him.

"To make such a deal happen, the White Sox almost certainly would need to include cash to make Robert more affordable," Rosenthal and Sammon wrote. "They are open to doing that as a way of enhancing the return, according to a club official."

Robert entered the big leagues back in 2020 and had a breakout campaign in 2023 when he slashed .264/.315/.542 with 38 home runs and 80 RBI while playing tremendous center field defense en route to an All-Star appearance.

However, the last couple of seasons, Robert's production has plummeted.

He slashed .224/.278/.379 with 14 homers and 35 RBI in 2024 and then posted nearly identical numbers this past year, slashing .223/.297/.364 with 14 long balls and 53 RBI.

Perhaps a change of scenery would largely benefit Robert, who has virtually no protection in Chicago's lineup. At the very least, he would bring significant home-run potential to a Phillies club that could use it, and he is a plus defender. Plus, he stole 33 bases in 2025.

Robert also wouldn't be too expensive in terms of prospect capital, so Philadelphia could probably acquire him without surrendering one of its top trade chips.

The 28-year-old would definitely comprise a compelling addition for Phillies, even if he is a boom-or-bust type of player.

With Mike Maignan’s contract expiring in June 2026, Gazzetta warns that Milan could end up losing the Frenchman on a free transfer, as it happened with Gigio Donnarumma in 2021, but the Rossoneri still hope the story will end differently this time.

Milan will continue talks to extend Maignan’s contract in the next few days, but January is just around the corner, which means the French goalkeeper can start negotiations with any other club in just a few days and complete a free transfer at the end of the season.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 14: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Manchester City warms up prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Milan faced the same situation a few years ago, when lengthy talks to extend with Donnarumma led nowhere, so the Rossoneri signed Maignan from Lille before Gigio’s free move to PSG.

Maignan’s contract extension a priority for Milan

BERGAMO, ITALY – OCTOBER 28: Mike Maignan of AC Milan reacts during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and AC Milan at New Balance Arena on October 28, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

It is no secret that Maignan attracted interest from Chelsea last summer, and according to Gazzetta, the Milan star still has many admirers in the Premier League.

Milan are aware that every suitor of Maignan, especially from England, will outbid them in contract negotiations with the 30-year-old, but the Serie A giants still hope to secure an agreement in the coming weeks.

Maignan’s contract extension is a priority for Milan, and even coach Massimiliano Allegri is trying to persuade the Frenchman to sign a new deal, Football Italia understands.

What Tare said about Maignan

UDINE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 20: Igli Tare, Sporting director of AC Milan looks on prior to the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and AC Milan at Stadio Friuli on September 20, 2025 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)

Igli Tare said on Sunday that the club would soon resume negotiations with the Frenchman, who was “happy” to stay at San Siro. Tare, however, denied that Maignan has demanded a new €8m-a-year contract.

“We’ve never discussed the figures, I’ve never heard these numbers, but it’s easy to talk about Mike because he’s a fantastic lad, he’s a leader and a man of the group,” said the Milan sporting director.

“We are happy with him, he likes to stay at Milan and Milan want to extend. Today we have a game we want to win, then we’ll have time to discuss the matter.”

Inter Milan manager Cristian Chivu is unsure whether Hakan Calhanoglu would be ready for the upcoming Supercoppa Italiana.

During last night’s conference via FCInterNews, the 45-year-old delivered an update on the Turkish midfielder’s fitness.

Hakan Calhanoglu was on the sidelines as Inter squeezed past Genoa on Sunday evening to regain top spot in Serie A.

Indeed, the 31-year-old sustained a muscle injury against Liverpool last week, forcing him to skip yesterday’s game.

Despite Calhanoglu’s absence, Inter beat Genoa 2-1 at Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Yann Bisseck and Lautaro Martinez were on the scoresheet for the Nerazzurri, while Piotr Zielinski deputized for the Turk.

However, with the Italian Super Cup around the corner, Chivu is desperate to have his talismanic playmaker back from injury.

Inter will take on reigning Coppa Italia champions Bologna in an exciting semi-final in Riyadh this Friday.

But they might be without the former AC Milan star.

Cristian Chivu Unsure Whether Hakan Calhanoglu Will Feature in Supercoppa Italiana

VERONA, ITALY – NOVEMBER 02: Hakan Calhanoglu of FC Internazionale during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and FC Internazionale at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on November 02, 2025 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Asked to provide an update on Matteo Darmian and Calhanoglu, Cristian Chivu replied: “Darmian will travel with us, but he won’t be fit.

“Calhanoglu has a minor issue that will be assessed over the next few days.”

Then, Chivu hailed his entire squad, refusing to praise just Bisseck, who was superb last night.

“You talk about Bisseck, but I also want to mention De Vrij, Frattesi, and all the others.

“It’s a healthy group with a lot of desire and quality. They can do even better, and that’s the most important thing.

“Perfection doesn’t exist,” Chivu added. “I liked the performance in a difficult stadium against a team that’s been in good shape since the new coach arrived.

“We showed quality and character, which is fundamental because we raised the intensity of our work, also from a competitive standpoint.

“We conceded a goal we should have avoided. There were a few risks we didn’t need to take.”

Cristian Chivu Rubs Inter Milan Win into Critics’ Faces

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JUNE 21: Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of FC Internazionale Milano, looks on during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group E match between FC Internazionale Milano and Urawa Red Diamonds at Lumen Field on June 21, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

Chivu hit back at critics who wrote Inter off months ago.

“We’ll take the performance, the character, and the work done over these months.

“Everything that we are, despite a few months ago, people writing us off or putting us eighth in the table.

“Instead, with work and with the quality this group has, we go toe to toe every time, and we’ll always try to do our best.”

Finally, he delivered his verdict on Inter’s disjointed display in the final half-hour.

“From a competitive point of view, we showed our mantra of raising the intensity for all 90 minutes,” he cnontinued. “We’ve been doing it for a while now.

“We did it against Lazio, Como, in Madrid and against Liverpool.

“Then this is a team with quality, and if a bit of ruthlessness in front of goal is missing, that’s something to improve.

“Sometimes they do the practical things. In the end, I was a player too, and I know it’s not easy to take certain things away.

“But since we arrived, the lads have listened to me and have always tried to meet my demands in terms of character.”

The Moroccan man seems to have found solutions to many problems.

Abdeslam Ouaddou changes his mind regarding the January transfer window: What has changed?

Despite earlier press reports indicating that the Moroccan coach wanted several reinforcements for his team at the start of the season, it seems that something has drastically changed in the manager's thinking. Previously, the Moroccan coach had stated that the team would need a striker in January, but it appears that something has indeed changed in his perspective, forcing him to alter his plans.

The Orlando Pirates coach completely changes his mind!

In the past few weeks, Sifiso Luthuli, a graduate of the Orlando Pirates academy, has impressed the Moroccan coach. The 24-year-old player has caught the coach's eye and appears to be the ideal solution for the team. Amidst the absence of his core squad on national team duty, Ouaddou was compelled to field several squad players for the Carling All Stars match. Among them, Luthuli seized his moment decisively. Introduced from the bench, the forward needed only five minutes to open the scoring at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Good morning Sunderland supporters! Yes, that did just happen. We beat The Richest Club In The World™ without them laying a tea towel on us, and we extended our unbeaten Premier League run against them to 11 games. 

Martin and Andrew got together with Scott Wilson from the Northern Echo to relive the game, and talk about what it means for Sunderland. 

On the agenda today: 

• A game that’s about much more than three points 

• Is that the worst opposition performance we’ve faced this season? 

• Were Scott and Andrew surprised at just how meek The Visitors were? 

• Who were the stand out performers for the lads? 

• How does that impact the dynamic in the region? 

This episode of Haway The Podcast is sponsored by LiveScoreBet, a principal partner of Sunderland AFC. For more information visit LiveScoreBet.com or download the LiveScore Bet app. Over 18s only, please bet responsibly. For more information go to GambleAware.org

Three defeats in a row under a new manager. Beaten in the past two domestic cup finals. Trailing in the Scottish Premiership.

These turbulent times are not what those associated with Celtic are used to. Add to the above list an up and down Europa League campaign and growing unrest among supporters and there is far from a festive feeling afoot this mid-December. It's more like bleak mid-winter.

However, any suggestion of a crisis may be somewhat premature. The reigning champions are behind Hearts in the league but have played two games fewer.

Furthermore, Celtic have won nine of the past 13 available trophies. Such a high success rate is and always was going to be difficult to maintain, though the club are likely to remain as favourites for the league title and this season's Scottish Cup.

Celtic supporters have been having their say in the wake of Sunday's Premier Sports Cup final loss to St Mirren. Here are some of the main themes...

• Iheanacho injury & Nancy backs himself - gossip
• 'Nancy a symptom of malfunctioning Celtic machine'
• St Mirren stun poor Celtic for 'once in a lifetime' Premier Sports Cup win

Timing of appointment questioned

Former Columbus Crew head coach Nancy replaced Brendan Rodgers as permanent manager after former Celtic boss Martin O'Neill returned on an interim basis, overseeing seven wins out of eight...

Scott: To go from winning seven out of eight games under O'Neill and looking like winning every game domestically and full of confidence to what we have seen these past three games is really astonishingly poor. The new manager needs to understand that the players at the club are not good enough to play his system and do not look confident to do so either. After the Roma game he should have had a change of formation to steady the ship and they would have had a better chance of lifting the cup. The manager needs to think of the team and not his vision of a crazy 3-4-3 without good enough players to execute his plan.

DJR: We have a saying in business. 'Win fast, win slow, lose fast or lose slow'… I think the club needs to recognise the experiment hasn't worked. The recruitment hasn't worked and 'lose fast'. Terminate the contract, bring in Martin and get the recruitment right in 2026 before we lose the league too. Be humble. It hasn't worked out. It's obvious to the fans, the ex-players and those players on the field. Their body language doesn't lie.

Sting (though probably not that Sting): It's time for the major shareholder to act just like he did when he appointed Martin O'Neill. The board have to take responsibility for the appointment of a manager who is clearly out of his depth. Changes need to be made at board level before any new permanent appointment is made. Dermot Desmond is the only person that can make this happen.

Andrew: Nancy and the persons who hired him are to blame for the sudden demise. Martin O'Neill was doing a good job with average players.

Tom: As sad as it was to see the match unfold, it was the wrong time to bring in Nancy. Why, just why do you change this now? Leave it for another week then go.

Calum: In a shock to absolutely no-one except the Celtic board, bringing in Nancy on this monumental week has been a complete calamity. How anyone could have justified this over letting O'Neill keep the helm until January, when Nancy could have had time to implement his own game plan, is beyond me.

Kevin: I'm actually not shocked at that result. This isn't on the manager. It's on the players to an extent as to how and why they can drop in standard so quickly? The board have to take most of the blame for these last three games. Unless O'Neill stated that he wanted to leave, I can't see any reason as to why they (any) business would just change something that's working currently in a temporary mode. I get it has to be done at some point. The timing from the board all season has been atrocious. Sometimes, I think they want a challenge from other teams and hence the hiccups every third or fourth season after success. Well done to St Mirren. Celtic have only themselves to blame.

Scott: Bring back O'Neill... ASAP!

Change the system?

Nancy has adopted what most observers have called a 3-4-3, though the manager has played down the significance of the system and preferred to focus on performance.

The Frenchman is new to Scottish football, where the game can be very structured. That is especially true among opponents that have been reared and schooled in trying to contain and frustrate a dominant Celtic in recent years.

However, are shape and tactics the big issues?

James: Why the ball is given to Trusty when he is so slow a team of snails could get their defensive structure in place. Why each shy takes an age when ball boys used to be coached in recovery speed. Why forwards seldom shoot but pass and why do defenders not tackle but just back off. Finally, what happened to defenders at the goal posts.

Andy: System has nothing to do with this result. Simply highlights that we have too many players not fit to wear the shirt. Defenders need to defend, then give the ball to the creative players! We are caught with everyone attacking!!

Pete: Three games in, three defeats and eight goals conceded. The system does not work, Tounekti is an attacking winger with no defensive instincts, Nancy has managed to make Callum ineffective. Wrong tactics but already appears too stubborn to play our players in their correct positions. By the time the board make some form of decision our season will be over and the cabinet will be empty!

Steve: I made the point on Thursday that not one Celtic player would get a place on the Roma bench and we were deservedly beaten. Today a St Mirren team that not one player would get on the Celtic bench deservedly beat us. Because they were a well coached team with a structure and organisation that complimented the resources at their disposal.

Tony: Anyone who thinks this is on a manager who's been in for a week, mid-season, with no time to implement his style is simply not in touch with reality. This Celtic squad have been gutted for profit and barring a few decent results under club legend Martin O'Neill, are way below the standard. Wilfried Nancy has been thrown under the bus by a board not fit for purpose and the fans who want him out need to have a look at themselves. The board have fallen asleep at the wheel and will blame everyone but themselves for their failure.

Owen: It is too early to say whether Nancy will be a success at Celtic. Currently we don't have the personnel to play the style that he wants and he has not really had the time to implement his vision properly. That being said, at Celtic it's about winning trophies. The squad is good enough to have won today and that should have been the priority. The performances have been disappointing so far and I'm concerned that this losing run could continue until the transfer window opens, unless he shows more flexibility.

Room for optimism...

Some respondents turned their ire on Nancy and the club's board, who have come in for considerable criticism since Celtic's Champions League exit at the play-off stage as well as an underwhelming summer transfer window. One, Roger to be exact, was simply "speechless".

However, Celtic's resurgence under O'Neill shows how quickly things can change and the season is far from over.

Additionally, Celtic endured a trophyless season in 2020-21 and have dominated ever since so it would be foolish to write them off amid their current set-backs.

That's clearly the view of one optimistic fan.

John: Celtic will be back stronger than ever.

MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer could miss his team's last game of the year because of a hamstring tear.

The club said on Monday that the injury to Neuer's right hamstring was confirmed by a medical examination after the 39-year-old club captain played the entirety of Sunday's 2-2 draw with Mainz. That was a rare case of the unbeaten Bundesliga leader Bayern dropping points.

Bayern said Neuer would be unavailable “for the time being,” without giving further information on the severity of the injury.

The visit to Heidenheim in the Bundesliga on Sunday is the club's last before the winter break. The German champion is next in action on Jan. 11 against Wolfsburg.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Bayern Munich will have to manage without captain Manuel Neuer when they take on 1. FC Heidenheim in their final game of 2025 on Sunday.

The German champions confirmed on Monday that the veteran goalkeeper suffered a muscle tear in his right thigh during Bayern’s 2-2 draw with Mainz on Sunday.

In Neuer’s absence, 22-year-old Jonas Urbig is set to start in goal against Heidenheim. 

The young goalkeeper has already featured in four matches for the Bavarians this season.

Sunday’s draw leaves Bayern nine points clear of RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund, who sit second and third respectively, ahead of the upcoming round of fixtures.

Former England forward Theo Walcott says that if there is "a lot more to come" for Manchester City's Phil Foden then it could be "scary".

Boss Pep Guardiola was critical of Foden in his post-match interview with Match of the Day after their 3-0 win over Crystal Palace and Foden agreed with his manager in his own response to the game.

That was despite his latest goal making it six in his past four Premier League games.

"It was constructive criticism I felt," Walcott said. "[Pep] recognises the standard Foden brought to the Premier League last year, winning the PFA Player of The Year, so that's what he expects.

"We're not savvy to it on a day-to-day basis but on match days where he really wants to perform, we see that he's playing fantastically well but for Pep, it might not be quite the standard that he wants.

"If there is a lot more still to come for Foden, that's going to be scary for Arsenal."

Watch on BBC iPlayer

To the uninitiated, it may sound like Louisville basketball fans are booing Sananda Fru whenever the 6-foot-11 German does something impressive on the court.

His mom thought that was the case the first time she heard the KFC Yum! Center shout his last name in unison, elongating the vowel, through her television back home in Berlin. "I was like, 'Why are they booing you?'" she told him over the phone afterward.

Quite the opposite. The former Basketball Bundesliga standout is emerging as a model of consistency in the post for Pat Kelsey and the 11th-ranked Cardinals (9-1) — and in turn a fan favorite. Opposing teams should take note: The 22-year-old junior feels as if he's on a path of "steady improvement."

"You can feel it," Kelsey said. "You can see it in his demeanor."

Fru still has a lot to assimilate as he continues to adjust to a new culture and a new brand of basketball. Case in point: his lane violation with teammate Mikel Brown Jr. at the free-throw line and 48 seconds remaining in regulation of UofL's Dec. 6 win over Indiana at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Back home, the back end of Brown's two shots would have counted despite the big man stepping into the paint early. Here, the Hoosiers got the ball down 11 points. "Jimmy Naismith is rolling over in his grave right now," Kelsey thought to himself on the sideline.

"We'll have a little discussion about that," the coach said afterward. "But come to think of it, it won't be much of a discussion — I'll do most of the talking, and he'll do most of the listening."

That was not the first instance of Fru being the recipient of what Kelsey likes to describe as "aggressive counseling." He got an earful during halftime of the Cards' come-from-behind victory over Cincinnati on Nov. 21 at Heritage Bank Center when he entered the locker room with as many turnovers as points (two), one rebound and a block across 11 minutes of run.

His response? Nine points on 3-for-3 shooting, three boards, another block and two steals in 13 minutes after the break. He cut his turnovers in half, too.

"I wouldn't say I needed the push," Fru said Dec. 12, reflecting on that game. "I would just say: The first half wasn't me, and I wasn't happy with myself. Yes, coach kind of called us out; but the reaction was needed from my side. ... It was my goal for the rest of the game and other games to be more physical and fight more."

Mission accomplished — so far. In Louisville's next two matchups against high-major opponents, the win over the Hoosiers and a Dec. 3 loss at then-No. 23 Arkansas, Fru averaged 13 points on 10-for-12 shooting, 7.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 1.5 steals and an assist (against three turnovers) across 29.5 minutes per contest. It took a few days for Kelsey to acknowledge his strong performance during the team's first defeat of the season, but what he said about it spoke volumes.

"He's the one guy who I would say in that Arkansas game — like, you know me: wanting the smoke," the coach told reporters after the Cards beat IU. "He wanted that smoke; and he's just gotten better and better."

Fru set the tone during UofL's 99-73 rout of rival Memphis on Dec. 13 by scoring his team's first five points: an alley-oop and an and-1 layup. He finished with 11 on 5-for-5 shooting, six rebounds, an assist (against two turnovers) and a block in 21 minutes.

Through his first 10 collegiate games, Fru averaged 10.6 points on a team-best 78.8% (41-for-52) shooting. He also led Louisville in boards (6.2) and blocks (1.2) per game. Per KenPom.com, he ranked 172nd nationally in block rate (5.6%), 86th in offensive rating (134.3), 17th in offensive rebounding rate (16.9%) and seventh in 2-point percentage (79.6%). BartTorvik.com had him fifth when it comes to effective field-goal percentage (80.8%).

All of this is a far cry from his first appearance in the red and black: one point (at the free-throw line) and three rebounds in 18 minutes of an Oct. 24 exhibition loss to Kansas. Kelsey pointed to his other contributions — two steals, two assists and a block — and would go on to say the big man had one of the best efficiency grades from the dress rehearsal, but this much was obvious: "We've got to get 'em more involved," the coach said.

Four days later, guess how the Cards began their exhibition finale vs. Bucknell? An alley-oop from Brown to Fru less than 20 seconds after he won the opening tip.

Part of Fru's improvement can be attributed to him becoming more comfortable against Division I talent. "Back home, I played a lot against older guys and stronger guys; and they mostly relied on their finesse and (experience)," he said. "Over here, the bigs are super quick, athletic and aggressive."

Another part of it is merely stacking reps as a hub in Kelsey's uptempo, free-flowing offense after operating primarily as a pick-and-roll guy for Löwen Braunschweig. During one of their conversations, when Fru told him about how rigid his former team's scheme was, he got a simple piece of advice: "Bro, you came to Louisville. You're hooping. It'll come."

"Coach wants me to have the ball in my hands and make decisions and be interactive," Fru said. "That's a big difference I wasn't used to."

"We play within concepts and some structure, but it's also (about) being able to play confident, play free, play loose, play aggressive, play on the attack," Kelsey added. "I think he's getting more comfortable playing like that."

No moment reflects this growth more than UofL's fifth possession against Indiana. Fru caught a pass at the top of the arc and quickly faked a handoff to Brown before shifting downhill the moment his defender overhelped on the freshman point guard. No second-guessing, all instincts.

Then, the flourish: When another Hoosier crashed his wide-open path to the basket, he elevated over him for a thunderous, right-handed slam.

"Fruuuuu," the Cards supporters scattered throughout the neutral-site crowd shouted. It's no longer lost in translation.

"Usually in the games, I try to be so not focused on the fans," Fru said. "Now, after a couple of baskets, I hear them. It's a cool thing, I'd say. I like it; I appreciate the fans."

Reach Louisville men's basketball reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on X at @brooksHolton.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville basketball's Sananda Fru emerging in post for Pat Kelsey

With more than 200 Kentucky High School Athletic Association state championships in its history, it’s no surprise St. Xavier has some of the all-time winningest individual programs in Louisville.

St. X’s premier program is its swimming and diving team, which has won 61 state titles since 1947 and captured its 37^th straight last February.

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations record book, St. X’s 61 state titles rank No. 1 in the nation.

Jacksonville (Florida) Bolles won its national-record 38^th straight state title earlier this month, but St. X can tie that mark in February.

Here’s a look at the 10 programs in Louisville that have won the most state championships:

1. St. Xavier boys swimming and diving

KHSAA championships: 61.

First title: 1947.

Last title: 2025.

Prominent alumni: Marty O’Toole (1957), Tony Rueff (1968), Mike Higgs (1979), Tony Siebel (1986), Christopher John (1990), Chip Crush (1995), Clark Burckle (2006), Keefer Barnum (2017), Will Scholtz (2023), Johnny Crush (2024), Thomas Mercer (2025).

2. Sacred Heart girls swimming and diving

KHSAA championships: 36.

First title: 1963.

Last title: 2025.

Prominent alumni: Mary T. Meagher (1983), Leigh Ann Fetter (1987), Dorsey Tierney (1988), Caroline Burckle (2004), Leah Stevens (2015), Asia Seidt (2016), Brooke Forde (2017).

3. Male boys track and field

KHSAA championships: 32.

First title: 1921.

Last title: 2017.

Prominent alumni: William “Jelly” Green (1967), David Brown (1968), Drane Scrivener (1969), James McCollum (1970), Clarence Childers (1971), John Milburn (1982), Brian Raspberry (1994), Ryan Knight (1995), Mark Miller (1995), Charles Burton (1998), James Doaty (2000), Justin Green (2009), Kyle Jenkins (2010), Michael Patterson (2011), Jordan Fields (2014), Darian Clyburn (2018).

4. Trinity football

KHSAA championships: 30.

First title: 1968.

Last title: 2025.

Prominent alumni: Alan Hennessey (1969), Carwell Gardner (1985), Jeff Brohm (1989), Rob Bironas (1996), Brian Brohm (2004), Will Stein (2008), James Quick (2013), Reggie Bonnafon (2014), Rondale Moore (2018).

5. St. Xavier boys tennis

KHSAA championships: 29.

First title: 1982.

Last title: 2022.

Prominent alumni: Lee Huber (1937), Max Brown (1955), John Evans (1960), Jackie Cooper (1962), Mickey Schad (1963), Tim Cooper (1970), Mark Buechler (1976), Brad Hambrick (1997), Brandon Lancaster (2015), Eli Stephenson (2023).

6. Assumption girls volleyball

KHSAA championships: 25.

First title: 1992.

Last title: 2025.

Prominent alumni: Tiffany Whitlock (1999), Julie Purcell (2003), Christina Kaelin (2006), Jeni Houser (2011), Katie George (2012), Alexa Filley (2014), Rylee Rader (2020), Anna DeBeer (2020), Kristen Simon (2025).

7. St. Xavier boys cross-country

KHSAA championships: 24.

First title: 1959.

Last title: 2020.

Prominent alumni: Joe Kroh (1961), Blaine Vetter (1963), David Buechler (1975), Joe Buechler (1981), Bobby Curtis (2003), Brian Long (2007), Conner Sheryak (2012), Sami Hattab (2023).

8. St. Xavier boys golf

KHSAA championships: 22.

First title: 1951.

Last title: 2025.

Prominent alumni: Bobby Nichols (1954), Frank Beard (1957), Eddie Schnurr (1958), Mike Zimmerer (1966), Patrick Vadden (1992), Brandon Waldrop (2001), Robby Shaw (2002), Jessie Mudd (2003), David Payne (2010), Justin Thomas (2011), Stephen Stallings (2013).

9. Trinity boys cross-country

KHSAA championships: 21.

First title: 1957.

Last title: 2023.

Prominent alumni: Charles Wine (1958), Rick Miller (1978), Rob Shoaf (1986), John Michels (1987).

10. St. Xavier boys soccer

KHSAA championships: 17.

First title: 1972.

Last title: 2025.

Prominent alumni: Mark Dietz (1998), Raymond Burse (2002), Kevin Bick (2009), Kaelon Fox (2013), Alex Kron (2023).

More high school sports: Assumption girls flag football repeats as state champion, tops Mercy

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Follow on X @kyhighs.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville's winningest KHSAA programs? Here are top 10

It was rather telling that Bruno Guimaraes rated Sunday's derby loss at Sunderland as the most painful of his four years at the club.

After all, this is a captain who shed tears when his side lost the 2023 Carabao Cup final against Manchester United.

"The whole message in the changing room was: 'Do it for the fans' and we didn't," he said. "It's so embarrassing for me and frustrating because we know we have a better team than them. It's clear for me.

"But we didn't perform like a better team - it makes me feel angry."

Sunday's showing is the latest setback in a stop-start campaign and Eddie Howe can ill afford to let the manner of this defeat seep into the season.

Not when Newcastle are in 12th place. Not when they have a pivotal Carabao Cup quarter-final against Fulham on Wednesday.

Not when Newcastle still have work to do to ensure they secure at least a play-off spot in the race to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League.

"You never want one game to define your season," Howe said. "If anything, you want it to define it in a positive way and come back full steam ahead and show your class.

"That's what we have to do."

Read Ciaran's analysis in full here

The nominees for this week's Courier Journal boys athlete of the week delivered on basketball courts throughout the commonwealth.

Voting is underway for The Courier Journal's boys athlete of the week. The poll closes at 6 p.m. Thursday, and the winner will be announced Friday.

Follow our sports Instagram page, @courierjournal_sports, to get the latest local and statewide news.

Looking for more high school sports coverage? Subscribe here today and sign up for our high school sports newsletter.

Here are the nominees:

Ja’Rye Brown, DuBois basketball

Junior had 26 points, nine steals and five assists in a 99-23 victory over Brown on Dec. 9.

Garrison Gilvin, Trinity basketball

Junior had 21 points and 12 rebounds in a 67-51 victory over Central Hardin on Dec. 9.

Deshawn McGee, Manual basketball

Senior tallied 32 points and nine rebounds in a 70-64 victory over Pleasure Ridge Park on Dec. 9.

Prestyn Wheatley, Seneca basketball

Sophomore had 17 points and 16 rebounds in a 73-60 victory over Eastern on Dec. 8.

Adrian Wilder, Butler basketball

Senior hit seven 3-pointers and scored 27 points in an 87-44 victory over Central on Dec. 9.

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Follow on X @kyhighs.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville high school poll for KHSAA athlete of week voting

The nominees for this week's Courier Journal girls athlete of the week delivered on basketball courts throughout the commonwealth.

Voting is underway for The Courier Journal's girls athlete of the week. The poll closes at 6 p.m. Thursday, and the winner will be announced Friday.

Follow our sports Instagram page, @courierjournal_sports, to get the latest local and statewide news.

Looking for more high school sports coverage? Subscribe here today and sign up for our high school sports newsletter.

Here are the nominees:

Graycee Clark, Holy Cross basketball

Junior had 17 points and 11 rebounds in a 70-49 victory over Shelby County on Dec. 10.

Rayana Crawford, Francis Parker basketball

Junior had 32 points and three rebounds in a 76-53 victory over Western on Dec. 8.

Ava Moore, Assumption basketball

Senior posted 18 points and four rebounds in a 67-35 victory over Frederick Douglass on Dec. 9.

Tessa Parker, Bullitt East basketball

Junior had 22 points and three rebounds in a 67-48 victory over Bullitt Central on Dec. 12.

Madison Young, South Oldham basketball

Senior had 24 points and nine rebounds in a 74-66 victory over Gallatin County on Dec. 8. 

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Follow on X @kyhighs.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville high school poll for KHSAA athlete of week voting

Pittsburgh would be wise not to underestimate a Miami Dolphins team coming off five wins in their past six matchups, but there’s still plenty to be optimistic about ahead of Monday Night Football if you’re a Steelers fan.

From weather impact to an advantage in the turnover battle, here are three reasons to be optimistic as the Steelers take on the Dolphins in Week 15.

Dolphins' struggles in cold weather

The Dolphins haven't performed well in cold weather under HC Mike McDaniel, carrying an awful 0–7 record in sub-40-degree temperatures. With kickoff at 8:15 p.m. EST estimated to be around 17 degrees in Pittsburgh, the Steelers have a clear weather advantage on Monday night.

Miami's inconsistent passing game

While Pittsburgh's 2025 offense hasn't exactly set the league on fire, the Dolphins' passing offense has been a train wreck this season — which has been especially the case over the past three weeks, averaging an abysmal 131.7 yards through the air per game.

Pittsburgh's turnover margin advantage

The biggest strength of the Steelers this season has been preventing turnovers on offense and taking the ball away on defense — but the same can't be said for Miami. Through 13 games, the Steelers are tied for the fourth-best turnover differential at +9, while Miami falls toward the middle of the pack with a disappointing –1. If Pittsburgh can force Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa to make a lot of mistakes, while also emphasizing offensive ball security of their own, the Steelers should walk out of Week 15 with their eighth win of the season.

For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including Pittsburgh's Week 15 matchup against the Miami Dolphins on MNF, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers' reasons for optimism vs. Dolphins in Week 15

Nebraska volleyball (33-1) faced Texas A&M (27-4) in the Elite Eight, looking to return to the Final Four for the third straight year. Despite a valiant comeback attempt, the Huskers came up short, suffering a five-set defeat to the Aggies.

Texas A&M jumped ahead swiftly 2-0 in the match following two intense sets. Nebraska, however, rallied, taking set three 25-20 before forcing a fifth after a hectic 37-35 fourth. But the Aggies grabbed hold of the lead early in set five, and the Huskers trailed the entire run, falling 15-13 in the end.

Texas A&M edged out Nebraska on both offense and defense. The Huskers earned 73 kills off 163 attacks for a .270 hitting percentage, while the Aggies tallied 75 off 178 and a .275. Texas A&M also outblocked Nebraska 17-8, which was a major factor in tilting the scales toward the road team.

Harper Murray put together a career-high 25 kills off 51 attacks for a .255. Rebekah Allick finished the night with 15 kills on 25 swings, earning a .480 along with a team-high four blocks. Bergen Reilly delivered another double-double after tallying 58 assists and 13 digs. She also earned five kills off 11 attacks. Olivia Mauch also posted 13 digs while Laney Choboy grabbed 10.

Nebraska ended its season 33-1 while Texas A&M advances to the NCAA semifinals, continuing a massive postseason surge.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: Nebraska volleyball season ends in five-set defeat against Texas A&M

Despite winning 2-1 at Alaves on Sunday, Real Madrid felt they had been hard done by upon leaving Mendizorroza. They were denied a late penalty that would have given them the chance to seal the points, but neither the on-field referee nor VAR signalled for a foul on Vinicius Junior.

Vinicius went down inside the penalty under a challenge from Alaves defender Nahuel Tenaglia, but nothing was given by referee Victor Garcia Verdura, with VAR in agreement with the on-field decision. Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso made it clear that he did not agree, and his Brazilian superstar was in agreement.

🚨🚨📽 الكواليس |

▪️تشابي لـ فينيسيوس : "إنها واضحة .. إنها واضحة".

▪️فينيسيوس: "لم يطلق الصافرة ويحتسبها لأنها فقط ضدي أنا، إنها ركلة جزاء واضحة". 🤷 pic.twitter.com/osZKL18QxD

— شبكة RM4Arab (@RM4Arab) December 14, 2025

As per MD, TV cameras picked up the moment that Vinicius complained about the non-penalty decision after he has been taken on in the 89th minute.

“Very clear, it was very clear. He doesn’t whistle because it’s me, (it’s a) penalty of course.”

Image via Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images

Real Madrid TV also expressed their strong unhappiness with the decision, as they took aim at Garcia Verdura and the VAR over the decision not to award a penalty to Vinicius, who would have been a candidate to take it – although Kylian Mbappe would’ve had something to say about that.

Penalty decision capped off frustrating match for Vinicius

It was a frustrating evening for Vinicius in Vitoria, as he struggled to make an impact throughout his time on the pitch. However, he did come up with a big moment when he generated a fine assist for Rodrygo Goes’ winning goal in the second half, which underlined that his decisiveness is among the best in the Real Madrid squad.

On the whole, the first half of the season has been a difficult one for Vinicius, but he has shown signs of getting back to his best level. Real Madrid will hope he can during the second half of the campaign.