Mikey Bell's two-run home run in the second inning proved to be enough for Gonzaga to beat No. 13 Oklahoma in the series finale of the teams' three-game set. Oklahoma took the opener, 14-4, in eight innings and Game 2 on Saturday, 11-1, in seven.

So Sunday's loss really wasn't much of a sweat for the Sooners.

Zags starter Karsten Sweum threw well enough to keep OU's offense off-balance. He gave up three hits and one run - a Brendan Brock solo home run in the sixth inning - while walking just one and striking out seven. Other than Brock's homer, the Sooners had just one runner get past second base all game.

OU had a chance to take the first lead of the game in the second inning when Nolan Stevens singled up the middle to move Drew Dickerson over the third after Dickerson walked. But Sweum induced a groundout from Jason Walk to get out of the inning. Bell then socked his home run the next half-inning with two outs.

The game stayed close until the eighth when Gonzaga batted around. They scored three runs off Jackson Cleveland and two off Gavyn Jones to break things open with five runs. Landon Hood then struck out the side in the bottom of the inning to end things.

The loss is just Oklahoma's second of the season. The Sooners will be back in action in Norman for a one-off game against Dallas Baptist on Tuesday then they'll host Santa Clara for a three-game series the following weekend.

This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Gonzaga wins finale, No. 13 Oklahoma wins series

Former Red Sox Outfielder Reportedly Signs Contract With Padres originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Former Boston Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo has reportedly signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres.

Padres sign Alex Verdugo to a minor-league deal pic.twitter.com/lYk8tDywZv

— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 1, 2026

Verdugo's MLB career spans nine seasons across four teams, beginning with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017. Drafted in the second round in 2014, he debuted as a promising outfielder known for contact hitting and defensive skills.

Over 856 games, he's compiled a .270 batting average, 70 home runs, 328 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases, with an OPS of .732 and 11.6 WAR.

His strongest year came in 2020 with the Red Sox, where he batted .308, hit six homers, and finished 12th in AL MVP voting during the shortened season. Traded to the New York Yankees for 2024, he posted a .233 average with 13 homers in 149 games.

In 2025, Verdugo signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Atlanta Braves late in spring training and started in Triple-A before a call-up in mid-April amid outfield needs. He appeared in 56 games, mostly in left field, but struggled offensively with a .239/.296/.289 slash line, zero home runs, 12 RBIs, and one stolen base across 197 at-bats.

His -0.3 WAR reflected poor production and subpar defense, leading to his designation for assignment in early July and subsequent release. Verdugo remained a free agent through the offseason.

More MLB: Meet the New Red Sox: What's Changed — and Why It Matters in 2026

The Brazilian Rômulo was the protagonist in Leipzig’s comeback victory over Hamburg this Sunday (1st).

The forward scored one of the goals in the match that closed out the 24th round of the Bundesliga.

With great skill, he used his heel to finish the ball and score Leipzig’s first goal, tying the game at that moment.

Check out the highlights of the match below (Rômulo’s goal at 40 seconds):

But Rômulo’s starring role in the match wasn’t just for positive moments.

In the second half, with the score already at 2-1, he took a penalty kick, but his shot was saved.

Despite this, Hamburg couldn’t find the equalizer and Leipzig left the field with all three points.

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

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Lu Dort’s flagrant foul on Nuggets star Nikola Jokić, during Friday’s game was one thing. The response that came from the Thunder’s side in the aftermath was another, as the Nuggets are particularly displeased with Thunder coach Mark Daigneault’s response following the game, a team source said.

New York Times

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Nuggets took issue with Mark Daigneault's remarks on Lu Dort's flagrant foul on Nikola Jokic

Ian Begley: Mike Brown commends Knicks’ weak-side defense and ability to keep the ball out of middle of floor/challenge threes after NYK’s dominant win over Spurs. Brown also notes 22 2nd chance points for NYK off of 18 offensive rebs. Karl-Anthony Towns had team-high five offense rebounds.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Mike Brown commends Knicks’ weak-side defense and …

ESPN Insights: The Knicks were at their best defensively with Karl-Anthony Towns guarding Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs shot 26% from three on Sunday, including 2-14 (14%) on plays where KAT guarded Wemby Wemby's -15 plus/minus was his 2nd worst this season

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: The Spurs shot 26% from three on Sunday, including …

Knicks Videos: "Our physicality was really encouraging tonight...I've been saying all year, we're at our best defensively when we're dictating and not reacting" - Landry Shamet

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Tonight...I've been saying all year, we're at our best …

Marc J. Spears: Magic say guard Anthony Black will not play tonight vs Detroit due to a right quad contusion.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Magic say guard Anthony Black will not play tonight vs …

Law Murray: Trey Murphy III (shoulder) hasn't played since the All-Star break That changes TONIGHT as Murphy is available tonight at LA Dejounte Murray will also be available, as expected Zion Williamson (ankle) is questionable and has played in every Pelicans game since December 14.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Trey Murphy III (shoulder) hasn't played since the …

Law Murray: Los Angeles Lakers recalled Bronny James and Adou Thiero from South Bay and have declared LeBron James (foot) questionable on zero days rest vs Kings tonight.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Los Angeles Lakers recalled Bronny James and Adou …

A dominant afternoon session set Barry Hawkins on the way to winning his first Welsh Open title as he beat Jack Lisowski 9-5 in the final.

Hawkins won seven of the first eight frames at Venue Cymru in Llandudno to open up a seemingly unassailable lead.

Lisowski won the first three frames of the evening session to threaten an unlikely comeback.

But Lisowski's fightback hopes took a blow in the 12th frame as a fluke-plant on a red began a break of 68 which moved Hawkins within one frame of the title.

And two frames later, Hawkins ended his three-year wait for a rankings title, as the 46-year-old lifted the Ray Reardon trophy for the first time in his career.

"It means the world," said Hawkins.

"I've came close a couple times last season. I've been knocking on the door for a little while so I feel like I deserved one.

"Playing that man [Lisowski] is so scary - he pots balls from everywhere and you can't leave them safe on the table.

"It's never over until it is over, and I'm delighted to get over the line because I was feeling it."

Hawkins, who was beaten by John Higgins in the 2018 final, took control early on, winning the opening frame with a break of 105.

And although Lisowski drew level in the second frame, Hawkins would then go on to win six in a row.

Another century break in the fourth frame came in between three half-century breaks of 67, 76 and 88.

The afternoon ended with another Hawkins frame, as he led Lisowski 7-1 going into the tournament's final session.

Lisowski, who was playing in his first Welsh Open final, showed great fight when the game restarted, putting together back-to-back century breaks to remind his opponent there was still work to do.

The 34-year-old then came out on top of a 40-minute frame which swung both ways to reduce Hawkins' lead to 7-4.

But Lisowski's momentum was ended in the following frame, as a long safety shot from Hawkins resulted in a red ball finding the bottom left pocket of the table.

And Hawkins made the most of the opportunity, putting together a break of 68 to put him on the cusp of victory.

Lisowski managed to win one more frame, with a break of 53, before Hawkins clinched the Welsh Open title in the 14th frame of the final.

"I was very poor despite trying my best," said Lisowski.

"Barry was by far the better player today and he deserves his win.

"He's been great to me my whole career, even when I was very young. He's always given me the time of day so I'm very happy for him."

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Miami Marlins pitching prospect Thomas White is expected to miss three to four weeks with a right oblique strain.

“He’s a great kid. He’s handled everything very well, good head on his shoulders,” manager Clayton McCullough told MLB.com. “Unfortunate that he’s just going to miss some development time here in the early part of the season.”

McCullough said the 21-year-old White felt discomfort when he pitched Thursday against Toronto.

White is ranked as baseball's No. 17 prospect — and No. 1 among left-handed pitchers — by MLB Pipeline. He went 4-3 with a 2.31 ERA last year across three levels of the minors.

___

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

It's been another bumper weekend in the GAA National Leagues with promotion and relegation scenarios beginning to emerge.

Donegal remain at the top of Division One, while Armagh are now fighting a relegation battle.

Derry continue to turn heads in Division Two and Down look all but promoted from Division Three.

Antrim's hurlers suffered another long afternoon against Dublin but they can still survive in Division 1B, while Down are still alive despite falling short against Kildare.

BBC Sport NI takes a look at some of the talking points from the latest round of action.

Are Donegal heading to the league final?

Last year, many wondered aloud whether Jim McGuinness was happy to coast along in the final weeks of the league and simply remain in Division One.

With a league final set for the week before Donegal's Ulster Championship opener against Derry, missing out on the extra game was not exactly a crushing blow, but this year, with four weeks between the league final on 29 March and their Ulster Championship quarter-final against Down on 26 April, perhaps the added game and shot at silverware is being viewed as more of a help than hindrance.

Certainly, there has been no sense Donegal are just happy with performances as they fought back with 14 men to snatch a draw at home to Galway with Conor O'Donnell finding the net for the third game on the spin, while Peadar Mogan nailed the late two-pointer to level which keeps them on top and on course for a place in the final.

McGuinness' stated aim of using the league to unearth fresh talent has also bore fruit while managing the veterans including Michael Murphy who sat out the win over Armagh and got minutes on Sunday.

"Paul O'Hare got 70 minutes today, Kevin Muldoon came into the game and did well, so the things we were chasing at the beginning of the league, we're still chasing, but we win another game we're probably there [in the final]," McGuinness told reporters.

While nobody in Donegal will be getting carried away at this stage of the year, it's been a very good start to 2026 for the Ulster champions. Bigger days lie ahead, but they will be happy with where they are as we enter spring.

Armagh fall short in another thriller, but Monaghan look doomed

Just as Donegal won't be booking the open-top bus just yet, Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney won't be hitting the panic button despite yet another narrow defeat which leaves them in the drop zone in Division One.

They have been competitive in each of their defeats and but for a break here or there, could be in a much healthier position on the table.

Just like their trip to Roscommon a fortnight ago, they produced a stirring revival in Mayo on Sunday which again fell just short as their whirlwind finish couldn't make up for another slow start.

McGeeney has been tasked with replacing some key figures in Stefan Campbell and Rian O'Neill, yet they have averaged 23 points per game, which is a healthy return yet they could perhaps be a little more clinical.

They have two weeks to prepare for what looks to be a pivotal game against Dublin in their quest to remain in Division One, but Ulster neighbours Monaghan already look doomed to the drop as they remain empty-handed after their five games.

Gabriel Bannigan had to contend without the Scotstown contingent in the early stages of the league and although members of the Ulster club champions have filtered back, they defeat by Kerry seems to have sealed their fate.

With games against Galway and Donegal to come, survival may be beyond them, but those games will be viewed as an opportunity to steady and look towards the Ulster Championship.

In-form Derry make a statement against Cork

At the outset of Division Two, many predicted Tyrone to be a leading contender for promotion, but Derry have confounded many predictions and are the team in red-hot form.

Having failed to win a league of championship game since 2024, that victory over the Red Hands in round two has sparked he Oak Leafers into life and it wasn't just their win over previously unbeaten Cork which caught the eye, but the manner of it as they romped to a 20-point win.

That leaves them a three-way tie at the top alongside the Rebels and Meath, but Ciaran Meenagh's side have a significant scoring advantage with games against Louth and Cavan to come.

Speaking of Cavan, their 1-22 to 1-12 defeat by Louth on Saturday leaves them in real danger of the drop, currently sitting inside the drop zone but just one point behind Kildare.

They have Offaly up next who are also fighting for survival following Saturday's defeat by Tyrone whose place in Division Two isn't quite guaranteed next year, but it's unlikely they will drop.

Malachy O'Rourke will hope their victory over the Faithful on Saturday will see them push on in their final games against Meath and Cork. Promotion is as unlikely as relegation, but they will be keen on building momentum with the championship on the horizon.

• Gaelic Games

Down maintain form, Fermanagh's woes continues and have Antrim turned a corner?

Down are not quite there in Division Three, but their victory over Fermanagh on Saturday which continued their perfect start leaves them needing just one point from their final two games against Sligo and Laois to make absolutely sure.

Conor Laverty's side were a little unlucky to suffer relegation last year and their performances in the championship were of a team on the up, and that's the direction they have been desperate to go in the league.

Tailteann Cup football this year is not what they need and they've given themselves every chance of avoiding that, while a winning habit is hard to beat and they will have designs on keeping their run going with a big test against Donegal to come in Ulster.

The outlook for Fermanagh is not so bright as their future in Division Three is out of their own hands.

Declan Bonner's side have failed to pick up a point in their five games and their only hope of surviving is by winning their final two games against Westmeath and Limerick, then hoping for a number of results to go their way - unrealistic to say the least.

They'll almost certainly be in Division Four next year and will likely have Antrim for company despite the Saffrons suddenly finding form and their victory on Saturday over Wicklow.

With games against Waterford and London to come, they will feel they can finish on eight points which will be a positive after such a poor start, Mark Doran's side will have regrets about their slow start as had they turned one of their three opening defeats into a win, they'd be right in the mix for promotion.

Antrim and Down still alive in hurling's 1B despite defeats

Once upon a time, Antrim's hurlers would have felt a game against Dublin was winnable, but a 15-point reverse at Corrigan Park on Sunday was just the latest in the run of Dubs' dominance.

The same margin separated the sides when they met in last year's Leinster Championship, so the gulf between the counties at present is clear.

The latest game leaves the teams where we thought they might be at the outset of the day with Dublin looking up and Antrim over their shoulder as Davy Fitzgerald's side seek to remain in Division 1B.

They have the bye in round six, but will be hoping for a Kildare home win over Carlow as then an Antrim win over Down on the final day would guarantee their survival.

Down will be hoping for the same as it would give them life on the final day, even should they lose to Dublin next week.

Making the step-up from Division Two to 1B was always going to be a test for Ronan Sheehan's side as it can take time to get up to speed - a feature of their defeat by Kildare on Sunday as, just like when they lost to Wexford, recovering from a slow start fell short.

They will hope to still have their destiny in their own hands when they host the Saffrons in Newry on 14 March and being competitive against the Dubs on Saturday is the minimum requirement.

James Hagens Dishes On Life At Boston College After Getting Drafted By Bruins originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Boston Bruins have surprised many folks by remaining in the thick of the playoff hunt as the 2025-26 campaign begins to come down the homestretch. And while the team is overachieving expectations in the present, it also appears there's reason to be excited for the future.

Just take a quick look at the Boston College Eagles, which features six different Bruins prospects this season. That group includes James Hagens, who was selected with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Hagens has been solidifying his status as one of the top prospects in the league, and he recently opened up on what it's been like playing for BC in the wake of getting drafted by Boston.

“Being able to have this setup here, being able to play for Boston College – it’s something that we take a lot of pride in,” Hagens said, per Belle Fraser of the team's official website. “The locker room is gorgeous, everything from top to bottom is super nice. It’s awesome, especially being here with these guys. We have a great time.”

Of course, Hagens played for the Eagles last season, too, but he didn't know he would be a part of the Bruins organization at the time. Beyond that, Hagens is also playing alongside several guys who could eventually make the jump to the pros with him in the near future.

Hagens looks like he could be a star in the making, and the B's will surely be keeping a close eye on his development, even with the team continuing its playoff push over the next few weeks. After suffering a tough loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, the Bruins will look to get back in the win column when they square off against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night.

More NHL: Bruins Believe They 'Didn't Do Enough' In Loss To Flyers

While Arsenal and Manchester City slug it out for the Premier League title, the contest for the remaining Champions League places is coming to the boil - with five sides battling for potentially three remaining spots.

Fifth place in the Premier League is virtually certain to bring Champions League qualification because of England's commanding lead in the Uefa coefficent table.

Manchester United have leapfrogged Aston Villa to claim third, with Liverpool and Chelsea are tucked in behind.

Surprise packages Brentford are seventh and are dreaming not just of Europe, but of the Champions League.

BBC Sport assesses the runners and riders bidding to join Arsenal and Manchester City in qualifying for European club football's most lucrative competition.

• Arsenal beat Chelsea to restore five-point lead at top
• Free-scoring Semenyo takes burden off Haaland
• New set-piece kings Liverpool can still achieve 'something beautiful'

Manchester United (3rd): P 28 Pts 51

Form WWDWW: Manchester United are desperate to return to the Champions League after a two-season absence and are flying under caretaker boss Michael Carrick. He has six wins and a draw from his seven games, taking 19 points from 21.

What Carrick says: [On going third] "It doesn't mean an awful lot at the moment. It's nice, of course it is. We want to keep progressing and moving up the table as much as we can and in that respect, it's a step today."

Run-in: Newcastle (A), Aston Villa (H), Bournemouth (A), Leeds (H), Chelsea (A), Brentford (H), Liverpool (H), Sunderland (A), Nottingham Forest (H), Brighton (A).

Chances: United are the form horse, without Europe or the FA Cup to distract them, and they are looking favourites to make it back to the Champions League.

Aston Villa (4th): P 28 Pts 51

Form LDWDL: Injury-hit Villa have hit the buffers after their tremendous eight-game winning run at the end of 2025 - they have just two victories from their past seven league games. Defeat by bottom club Wolves on Friday was a new low - Unai Emery's side look as if they're running on empty.

What Emery says: "I know it will be very difficult to compete for the position in the Champions League because we have United and Liverpool near us. They are very good. They challenge and they have the power to challenge us."

Run in: Chelsea (H), Manchester United (A), West Ham (H), Nottingham Forest (A), Sunderland (H), Fulham (A), Tottenham (H), Burnley (A), Liverpool (H), Manchester City (A).

Chances: After looking so good for so long, Villa have been caught by Manchester United and are in danger of slipping further down the table.

Liverpool (5th): P 28 Pts 48

Form WWWLW: Liverpool are finally finding some consistent form in a difficult season. Champions League football is the least Arne Slot needs to deliver after splashing out £450m on last season's Premier League winners.

What Slot says: "We know how important it is to qualify for the Champions League for the club and us as a team. The goal is there and we are going to do everything to qualify and be closer to the teams on top."

Run in: Wolves (A), Tottenham (H), Brighton (A), Fulham (H), Everton (A), Crystal Palace (H), Manchester United (A), Chelsea (H), Aston Villa (A), Brentford (H).

Chances: Liverpool - who have not finished outside the top five since 2016 - look like they're timing their run to perfection.

Chelsea (6th): P 28 Pts 45

Form LDDWW: Liam Rosenior would love to deliver Champions League football to show he is making progress in what has been a turbulent season for Chelsea. Rosenior's blue bandwagon has lost momentum after he made a winning start and they have taken just two points from their past three league games.

What Rosenior says: "The great thing is we have to play them [the teams around Chelsea]. If the level of performance is there and we solve our problems, we have a great chance. But we have to solve the problems yesterday to have a chance."

Run in: Aston Villa (A), Newcastle (H), Everton (A), Manchester City (H), Manchester United (H), Brighton (A), Nottingham Forest (H), Liverpool (A), Tottenham (H), Sunderland (A).

Chances: Rosenior needs to reboot his off-colour Blues, but Villa's slide gives them a chance.

Brentford (7th): P 28 Pts 43

Form WLDWW: Keith Andrews is a worthy contender for the manager of the season award - as many pundits tipped Brentford to struggle after so many big-name departures in the summer. They are hitting form - only Erling Haaland can top Igor Thiago's tally of 18 Premier League goals.

What Andrews says: "I've not looked at the table. I don't think we have changed position. Yeah, we just keep going and we have a tough one on Tuesday against Bournemouth."

Run in: Bournemouth (A), Wolves (H), Leeds (A), Everton (H), Fulham (H), Manchester United (A), West Ham (H), Manchester City (A), Crystal Palace (H), Liverpool (A).

Chances: The Champions League is a long shot, but qualifying for Europe for the first time would still be the club's greatest achievement.

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Elche vs Espanyol match stopped after racism complaint from Omar El Hilali

Racism allegation stops Elche–Espanyol match in final minutes

The La Liga match between Elche & Espanyol was briefly stopped after Omar El Hilali reported racist abuse late in the game.

Game stopped after serious claim

The La Liga match between Elche and Espanyol which ended in 2-2 draw on Sunday was interrupted after racism complaint from Moroccan defender Omar El Hilali.

According to Spanish newspaper Marca, tension rose in the final minutes. In the 80 minute, the referee activated La Liga’s anti-racism protocol, temporarily stopping the match after El Hilali accused Elche striker Rafa Mir of making racist comment.

What happened on the pitch

The incident started after clash between El Hilali and Rafa Mir. The Espanyol defender immediately turned toward the referee showing clear anger and claimed that the Elche forward had insulted him in racist way.

Rafa Mir denied the accusation with hand gesture and appeared to downplay the situation. Despite this, the referee decided to stop the match and informed the stadium officials leading to the formal activation of the anti-racism procedure.

Play resumed few minutes later but the atmosphere remained tense until the final whistle.

Referee report and possible sanction

Agence France-Presse reported that the referee’s official report stated that Rafa Mir allegedly told El Hilali:

However, the referee also confirmed that none of the match officials directly heard the insult.

Even so Rafa Mir could face serious disciplinary action if the investigation confirms the allegation.

Mir Already Under Investigation

Rafa Mir under investigation in a separate sexual assault case linked to incidents involving woman he met at nightclub.

At the time, his club did not terminate his contract but suspended him for two matches and fined him.

Roma drew with Juventus 3-3 this evening as the Bianconeri fought back from two goals down to secure a vital point.

The first forty minutes were largely uneventful before Wesley broke the deadlock in the 39th minute. The goals came thick and fast in the second half, with Francisco Conceicao scoring a lovely long range goal before Roma scored twice in the next twenty minutes.

Roma looked home and dry before two goals for the visitors in the last 15 minutes sealed the draw.

Football Italia’s Man of the Match was Roma midfielder Niccolo Pisilli, for his assist and dominant performance in the middle of the park.

ROME, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Niccolo Pisilli of AS Roma celebrates after scoring the team’s third goal during the Serie A match between AS Roma and US Cremonese at Stadio Olimpico on February 22, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Roma 3-3 Juventus – Player Ratings

Roma: Svilar 6; Celik 6, Mancini 6.5, N’Dicka 7; Rensch 6.5 (Ghilardi 6), Kone 6.5, Cristante 5.5 (El Aynaoui 6),  Wesley 7; Pisilli 7.5, Pellegrini 6; Malen 7

Best Roma player: Niccolo Pisilli – The 21-year-old put in a mature performance in midfield tonight, controlling much of the home side’s tempo. Picked up an assist and worked hard both offensively and defensively.

Lowest Roma rating: Bryan Cristante – Lacklustre before his substitution: was all over the pitch but did not really have any impact. His passes were poor and he struggled defensively too.

Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini 6.5 – A lack of substitutes before it was too late disrupted Roma’s rhythm, especially after such a strong display throughout the ninety. The coach did well but failed to react and allowed Juventus back into the match.

ROME, ITALY – MARCH 01: Francisco Conceicao of Juventus celebrates their first goal during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Juventus FC at Stadio Olimpico on March 01, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Juventus: Perin 5.5; Kalulu 6, Bremer 5.5 (Gatti 6.5), Kelly 5; McKennie 5.5, Thuram 6 (Miretti 6), Koopmeiners 5.5, Cambiaso 5; Conceicao 6.5 (Zhegrova 6), Yildiz 5.5; David 5.5 (Boga 7)

Best Juventus player: Jeremie Boga – Came off the bench to score, keeping up his good start to life in Bianconeri colours. Couldn’t help snatch a late equaliser but looked dangerous in his half an hour on the pitch.

Lowest Juventus rating: Lloyd Kelly – Beaten far too easily, far too often. Looked out of his depth on more than one occasion, but was sold by Wesley’s deft touch for the opener.

Coach: Luciano Spalletti 7 – Saved by his substitutions, Spalletti deserves credit for succeeding where his counterpart failed. His set-up struggled in the first half but the coach reacted well to help inspire his side’s comeback.

You can relive all the action, as it happened, on our Live Blog.

Ava Heiden notched another double-double onto her belt with a 16 point, 14 rebound performance and Chit-Chat Wright returned to form with 14 points on 4-7 shots from deep, as the Iowa Hawkeyes used a 3rd quarter surge to end the regular season with an 81-52 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers.

Iowa ends the regular season with a second-place finish in the Big Ten with a 24-5 (15-3 B1G) record, while Wisconsin finishes 13-16 (5-13 B1G) and will head into the conference tournament on a 9 game losing streak. The win also secure’s Iowa’s position as the No. 2 overall seed of the year’s Big Ten Tournament, where they’ll have a double-bye, playing their first game of the postseason on Friday. Iowa’s opponents will be finalized tonight at the conclusion of the day’s games.

It was Iowa’s second game of the season without Hannah Stuelke, who missed today’s game to nurse an elbow injury. In the team’s only other game of the season without Stuelke, the Hawkeyes saw a 20+ point lead dip in the second half of their matchup at Purdue. Against Wisconsin, after entering the second half clinging to a 4-point lead, Iowa used a 26-9 third quarter performance to put the game out of reach for the Badgers.

The Hawkeyes got contributions up and down the roster. Taylor Stremlow continued to shine in the starting lineup, logging 12 points, 9 assists and 5 rebounds. Kylie Feuerbach and Journey Houston rounded out the starting lineup with 8 points apiece, while Teagan Mallegni and Layla Hays each scored 10 points off the bench.

Heiden, freshly removed from her career-high 28 point game against Illinois picked up right where she left off on Thursday, scoring all of Iowa’s first 6 points as her teammate’s jumpers didn’t fall, resulting in an early 9-6 lead for the Badgers.

The Hawkeyes took the lead on a 3-pointer from Wright but the Badgers took back the lead, jumping out to a 13-10 lead as Iowa went on a more than two minute scoring drought. Things were possibly looking dicey until Teagan Mallegni found Heiden underneath the basket for a layup that began a 9-0 run for the Hawkeyes that should have ended the quarter…except that Wisconsin guard Nikki Kerstein hit a 3/4 court heave at the buzzer to keep Iowa from completely running away from the game.

Entering the second quarter up 19-16, both teams struggled to score. It took more than two minutes of gameplay for either team to increase the scoring column, as Iowa played well defensively against the Badgers and fought to grab defensive rebounds, but couldn’t find the bottom of the net on the other end of the court.

It took until the 7:21 mark of the second quarter before any points were scored, as Wisconsin hit a pair of free throws after Feuerbach was sent to the bench with her second foul. That re-opened the gate for both teams, as Stremlow followed it up with a basket to get the lead back to 3, bringing on a ‘Let’s go Hawks!‘ chant throughout the Kohl Center (a truly beautiful thing to hear).

Basketball, they always say, is a game of runs, and after Iowa went on a small run of their own to get out to a 5-point lead, the Badgers responded with a run of their own, taking back a 24-23 lead halfway through the second quarter. Tied at 28 with just over a minute left in the quarter, Wright hit a huge 3-pointer to not only give her team back the lead, but took the lid off for Wright, who had struggled scoring in previous games, and the Hawkeyes entered the half leading 33-29.

Iowa started the second half with a steal from Wright that led to an immediate 3 from Feuerbach. A miss from the Badgers led to an initial miss on the other end, but an offensive rebound from Houston was kicked out to Wright, who hit another shot from deep, and just like that, the Hawkeye lead was up to 10 after barely a minute of the second half had elapsed.

The Badgers wilted from there, as Iowa’s lead continued to grow. Wright, finally looking comfortable again, went supernova from beyond the arc (a much needed occurrence) while Heiden continued to dominate and received assistance from Stremlow and Houston to boot. Wisconsin, meanwhile, could barely manage to string together multiple scoring possessions, and it showed. Iowa’s lead just kept growing, getting out to a 57-36 lead with just under 2 minutes to play in the 3rd quarter.

Wisconsin couldn’t come close to a comeback, and Iowa used the 4th quarter to get more reps for the bench ahead of the postseason. It was a strong performance up and down the roster, and really gives the team good momentum heading into March, as they end the regular season on a 6-game win streak.

I don’t know about you, but I want to see this team make a run in the postseason, and I certainly think it’s possible if this team continues to play like it has in late February.

Northeastern at LSU — SECN+

McNeese at Nicholls — CBSSN

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV.

As NFL free agency inches closer, so to it will clarity.

Clarity as to what and who teams will target with the hopes of making their respective teams better for the coming regular season. One player that teams may look into is veteran running back Kenneth Gainwell.

The five-year veteran, who has played his career in Pennsylvania with the Philadelphia Eagles and, most recently, the Pittsburgh Steelers, brings an experienced and reliable No. 2 running back as both a runner and receiver.

Given the current state of the Denver Broncos’ roster, there probably isn’t a fit for Gainwell, but let’s dive in to see what they could get if there was.

Player Profile

Height: 5-9

Weight: 200 pounds

Experience: 5 NFL seasons

Age: 26

2025 stats: 114 carries, 537 yards, five touchdowns; 73 receptions, 486 yards, three touchdowns

Why the Broncos should sign running back Kenneth Gainwell

One thing we know about a Sean Payton offense is dual-threat running backs. The ability to consistently make plays in the running and receiving game is the best way to get plays and the ball.

Gainwell is coming off his best season in the NFL with the Steelers. As noted above, he had 114 carries for 537 yards and five touchdowns as the second running back in Pittsburgh. He also had 73 catches for 486 yards and three touchdowns.

While not eye-popping numbers, they are great stats for a No. 2 back. That’s exactly what you want from a No. 2 back in any offense, let alone Denver. A consistent runner and catcher at running back could fit in nicely for the Broncos.

On top of that, Gainwell stays on the field. In his five-year career, he’s missed only a few games.

So Gainwell is reliable in multiple ways.

The problem is that the Broncos have multiple Gainwells currently on the roster.

Why the Broncos shouldn’t sign running back Kenneth Gainwell

If Denver had a true No. 1 running back, I could see George Paton and Payton really kick the tires on Gainwell.

But they don’t, hence why they more than likely won’t even look into him.

The Broncos must focus on getting that true No. 1 running back figured out, especially if Breece Hall hits the market. It was reported last week that the New York Jets back will have “serious interest” in Denver if he becomes a free agent. I would venture a guess that the feeling would be mutual.

When and if the Broncos make a move at running back, it will be for a top-notch game changer like Hall. With a multitude of Gainwells on the roster, it doesn’t make sense to target another one.

Final thoughts

Gainwell is a reliable and durable secondary running back. For teams with an established No. 1 running back and in need of a No. 2, he’s at the top of the free agent list.

Denver is not one of those teams. Instead, they’ll be on the hunt for a game-changer lead back like Hall.

John Daly has long been one of the most recognisable figures in golf, while Tiger Woods is often seen as the sport’s greatest player.

The two are actually good friends, and Daly spent a fair bit of time with Woods during his early years on the PGA Tour in the mid-1990s.

Back in 1994, Daly actually beat Woods by six shots while still drunk at Sherwood Country Club in California. He later spoke about how surprised Woods was that day.

Tiger even admitted that Daly had more natural talent than him, and it’s hard to disagree with that assessment.

Daly wasn’t anywhere near as successful as Tiger on the course, but his natural talent has always been respected by the 15-time major champion.

When it comes to advice for amateur players looking to improve, both men tend to highlight the same aspect of the game.

Tiger Woods learned a lesson from John Daly that every amateur should focus on

John Daly and Tiger Woods are two of the best short-game players we’ve seen, and although Daly’s approach is more natural, both have always been exceptional around the greens.

During an appearance on the Full Send Podcast, Daly was asked which part of the game amateurs should prioritise to see quick improvements in their scores. He didn’t hesitate with his response.

“Chipping and putting, for all the amateurs out there,” Daly said. “Chipping, putting.”

It was mentioned during the conversation that Earl Woods had passed down a similar philosophy to his son when he was young, teaching him from a young age to build his game from the green backwards.

Daly agreed and explained how Tiger’s development followed that very path.

“He started putting when he was very young. Then he went to chipping, then he went to 100 yards, then 150 yards or whatever,” Daly replied.

“The drivers, everybody in golf who plays can hit a driver, they can hit a five iron, they can hit a six iron. But it’s 125, 150 yards in, that means a lot”, he added.

How Earl Woods Helped Shape Tiger’s Approach to Scoring

Tiger Woods often spoke about how much his father, Earl, shaped not just his swing but the entire way he thought about the game.

One lesson in particular stood out. Earl never wanted Tiger to feel satisfied with a good score — he always pushed for better.

If Tiger made a five on a par-five, that hole would become a par four next time and the same applied to par-fours and par-threes.

“It taught me never be afraid to go low,” said Woods.

That lesson stuck with him throughout his career and is something plenty of young players could learn from today.

Bryson DeChambeau has taken a similar approach. He sometimes plays courses from forward tees to get used to staying aggressive when deep under par.

It’s another example of how mindset training can be as important as technical skill in golf.

Read more:

WWE stopped in Chicago, IL last night for the company's first PLE in the United Center since the 1994 edition of SummerSlam. There was a Men's Elimination Chamber, there was a Women's Elimination Chamber, there were title matches, and a guy came out of a box with a bunch of go-go dancers in leather bodysuits. If you want to read more about what happened, the results page is here. If you want to read what the staff loved and hated from the show, you can find that here.

Now, it's time to discuss who looked "good" and who decidedly did not. As always, this will not be a literal recounting of winners and losers, as that's already done on the results page, and also a really boring way to approach this topic. Sure, Randy Orton came out a winner in both result and appearance, but sometimes winners like CM Punk look like losers, and sometimes losers like Je'Von Evans and Trick Williams have the night dreams are made of.

Enough of my bloviating though, without further ado, let me present the winners and losers from the 2026 edition of WWE Elimination Chamber.

Read more: Why WWE Won't Rehire These Current Wrestlers

Winner: Randy Orton

John Cena has retired. AJ Styles has retired. Batista has retired. Randy Orton remains.

A lot of people had Cody Rhodes pegged to win Saturday's Men's Elimination Chamber Match, and while "The American Nightmare" has plenty of wiggle room to get back into the WrestleMania WWE Title Match, the official Chamber winner and WrestleMania main eventer will be Randall Keith Orton.

Orton is no spring chicken. The years are clearly starting to show, and like his contemporaries, the sun has begun to set on his career, but in the photography world, that specific time of day is known as "Golden Hour," and Orton was wrestling in that amber glow all throughout the Chamber match. WWE will simply not have any other chance to give Randy Orton his final WrestleMania, so it's now or never, and WWE has firmly chosen "now."

It wouldn't have worked with anyone else. Had an other star been wrestling Rhodes in those closing moments, Drew McIntyre's interference would've felt a bit overbooked. But Orton played off his connection with Rhodes perfectly, letting Rhodes take care of McIntyre, and then swooping in with an RKO like only "The Viper" can. He might be a safe choice, but one last Randy Orton victory lap is not something I'm gonna complain about.

Loser: Jade Cargill

The Women's Elimination Chamber Match felt like a tense round of callbacks. The WWE Women's Division had been auditioning to replace Women's Champion Jade Cargill, and these were the six women who made the final cut.

The match was an embarrassment of riches and full of incredible talent, but it did make me feel a little bad for the champion. Cargill has had a very stop-start run in WWE, and it feels like the full stop could be coming any day now. With Rhea Ripley set to face the former AEW TBS Champion, it feels like there is very little in Cargill's arsenal, both in-ring and politically, that can counterbalance the sheer star-power of her opponent. Cargill has not generated the fan interest that the Women's World Title scene over on "Raw" has, and it feels like WrestleMania could be the spot where the Jade Experiment ends, especially considering Ripley will be her opponent.

Winners: Je'Von Evans, Trick Williams, and Kiana James

Trick Williams, Je'Von Evans, and Kiana James are all relatively new names to the main roster. While I'm sure no one expected them to win their Elimination Chamber matches, the three former-NXT talent proved they deserved the spots in the first place.

Williams has been greeted by the main roster crowd with tremendous energy, same with Evans, and James has been a solid utility player on "SmackDown," but that doesn't change the fact that the Elimination Chamber could've exposed them at any point, as being the rookies they are, and yet all three competitors came out of their matches looking like ready, able members of the main roster. The transition from NXT to main roster isn't always as smooth as this, and as long as Evans is ok after a nasty head bump from Logan Paul, the future should be bright.

Loser: Becky Lynch

We have a little over a month until WrestleMania and I've already seen AJ Lee overcome the Big, Bad Becky Lynch. We're about to get over a month of bad Donald Trump riffs from "The Man," as WWE tries to find a way to do a big blow-off moment for the second time in a row.

There is no doubt in my mind that Lee and Lynch are going to have to find a way to turn s*** into Shinola, because the WrestleMania match is definitely going to be a rematch, but I've already seen AJ Lee win the title. Lee hasn't wrestled more than a few matches over the last decade, so everything about her act is still fresh, but Lynch is running out of steam on this Trump parody, and she's stuck with it for the foreseeable future, and so are we.

Maybe there's a way to pivot here, but considering CM Punk is already tied up with the, you know, main event, it doesn't seem likely that it'll be any kind of mixed-tag pivot. It's looking like we're stuck finding some kind of fragrant stipulation to cover up the stink of leftovers.

Winner: CM Punk

I don't think WWE actually knows how WrestleMania will end, but I think myself and CM Punk are both assuming Roman Reigns is winning the World Heavyweight Championship. Everything about Punk's current run feels like a man who knows his days are numbered, living it up through as many fantasy moments as possible. Essentially, a slightly more dignified version of Kash Patel's recent sojourn with the US Men's Hockey Team.

Take his entrance on Saturday. En route to what everyone assumed would be an easy victory over Finn Balor, Punk got the announcer for the Chicago Bulls and the iconic song "Sirius" by the Alan Parsons Project, so that he could live out his dream of making a big, Michael Jordan-esque entrance into a world title match in Chicago. Sure it was merely a house show match, but still, it's more about being able to say he did it, than anything else. A lot of his matches have felt that way during this World Title run, as if he's a man who knows he's just killing time until Reigns shows back up to work, and you know what? Good for him.

Loser: Danhausen

You'll notice that I had to use an AEW picture of Danhausen. That's because WWE did not bother to upload any pictures of his WWE debut to the website.

It feels like Danhausen's WWE debut was the definition of a half-measure. Sure, he got a full entrance and an army of go-go dancers, but he was given so little to do that the United Center crowd booed the segment in bewilderment. 

And who can blame them? The whole segment was him pointing. Sometimes pyro would go off, but mostly he was just pointing as an ironic Scooby Doo song played in the background. It was the comedy wrestling equivalent of feeding a guy to the lions and then being surprised there's no hand left to shake afterwards.

Danhausen is perfect for WWE, and the glimmers of promise in his debut leave me excited for what they can come up with, but it's impossible to deny that his debut fell flat.

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Read the original article on Wrestling Inc.

Liverpool's first-team squad is undoubtedly full to the brim with talent.

Players such as Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alisson are just a few of the names that spring to mind when thinking of the Anfield outfit.

However, despite having all of this world class talent at their disposal, Richard Hughes and Arne Slot are always looking for ways to improve their ranks and ensure that they get the best out of their team.

This was clearly the case during the 2025-26 summer transfer window as over £450 million was spent on new players.

And, even though we're nowhere near the 2026-27 summer transfer window, rumours have already started to emerge regarding the Anfield outfit and what lies ahead for them.

However, it seems like some people believe that they already have some of the best players in the world.

Miguel Almiron believes that Liverpool have a better player among their ranks than Jude Bellingham

Before Jude Bellingham chose to join Real Madrid, most Liverpool fans thought that he'd be making the switch to Anfield.

Trent Alexander-Arnold's connection with him was one of the main reasons why the fanbase believed this but, in reality, the Englishman was enticing Liverpool's academy graduate to make the switch.

Since then, rumours about Bellingham becoming one of the best midfielders in the world have been persistent however, former Newcastle ace Miguel Almiron still believes that Liverpool have a player who's even better than the former Borussia Dortmund ace.

In an interview with GOAL, Almiron was asked to choose a winner between two players to stay on.

The video starts with Erling Haaland and Salah being the two choices and, the Paraguayan chooses the Egyptian King.

Vinicius Junior, Bellingham, Pedri, Florian Wirtz, Lamine Yamal are the next players put up against the 33-year-old with none of them being dubbed better than Salah.

It's only when Luis Diaz is brought into the mix that Almiron goes against Salah which proves that the former Premier League star believes Salah is better than some of the best players in the world.

Mohamed Salah must get back to his best before it's too late

The 2025-26 hasn't been the best of Salah's career by any stretch of the imagination.

Salah has failed to score in his last 10 Premier League games which is one of the longest droughts he's ever gone through during his time with Liverpool.

This has caused questions to be asked about his future with teams from theSaudi Pro League and the MLS eager to acquire his services.

The winger's contract is set to expire in June 2027 but, if he wants to see out his Liverpool contract, he's going to have to step things up soon.

That's because, over the last couple of years, the Anfield outfit have been burned too many times by free transfers with Alexander-Arnold the biggest example of this.

And, unless Salah gets back to his best soon, Hughes and Slot could look into moving him on during the summer which would be a sad way for things to end between both parties, especially after everything that he's done for the club already.

Watch as Francisco Conceicao hits a scorching finish on the volley into the far top corner, allowing Juventus to cancel out Roma’s opener.

You can follow all the action as it happens from tonight’s big Serie A match on the Liveblog.

This is a showdown for a top four slot and the importance of the fixture has been reflected in the sheer quality of the goals.

Wesley had already curled a sensational effort into the far top corner to give Roma the lead, but Francisco Conceicao responded with sheer power from a similar position after the restart.

Conceicao turns on the style for Juventus

A Teun Koopmeiners free kick was cleared to the edge of the box, where Gleison Bremer laid it off for the Portuguese winger, who let it bounce and smashed the strike with his left foot.

The 23-year-old is not known for his prowess in finding the net, as this was only his fourth goal of the season in 32 competitive matches.

Bizarrely, the last goal was also against Roma, during a 2-1 win in Turin on December 20.

CHICO CONCEIÇÃO. THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS 🤯🔥

Roma had been in control at 3-1 with spectacular Wesley and Donyell Malen goals, only to let Juventus catch them at 3-3 in stoppages for a thrilling comeback.

This was a pure showdown for the top four, as the Giallorossi welcomed back Paulo Dybala and Stephan El Shaarawy, but were still missing Matias Soulé, Mario Hermoso, Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson. Juve were in crisis after one draw in five competitive games, then on Wednesday beat Galatasaray 3-2 in extra time, only to be eliminated from the Champions League 7-5 on aggregate. Manuel Locatelli sat out a ban, with Dusan Vlahovic, Emil Holm and Arek Milik out, but Pierre Kalulu and Bremer returned.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

ROME, ITALY – MARCH 01: General view inside the stadium as players of both side’s line up prior to the Serie A match between AS Roma and Juventus FC at Stadio Olimpico on March 01, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

There was a double chance in the third minute, as Niccolò Pisilli intercepted a wayward pass out from the back and forced a tricky Mattia Perin save, then Lorenzo Pellegrini fired the rebound over.

Kenan Yildiz and Francisco Conceicao fired over from promising positions, but Perin showed brave goalkeeping when parrying a Donyell Malen effort from point-blank range with his face on the Gianluca Mancini knock-down.

Bryan Cristante charged down a Conceicao curler after good work from Yildiz, while Weston McKennie’s glancing header was inches wide of the far post on a Kalulu cross.

ROME, ITALY – MARCH 01: Wesley of AS Roma celebrates scoring their first goal during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Juventus FC at Stadio Olimpico on March 01, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Roma took the lead when Pisilli won a tackle in midfield and threaded through for Wesley, who cut inside to bend a fantastic right-foot finish into the far top corner from the edge of the area, as Perin could only graze his fingertips to it.

David fired over from the edge of the area, but within moments of the restart it was 1-1 with another sensational strike. A Teun Koopmeiners free kick was cleared to the edge of the box, where Bremer laid it off for Francisco Conceicao’s ferocious left-foot half-volley into the far top corner.

Yildiz drilled wide, but Roma restored their advantage when a Lorenzo Pellegrini corner was taken short, the captain’s cross went over Mancini, but found Evan Ndicka to volley in from six yards. It was the second Serie A game in a row on target for the defender.

ROME, ITALY – MARCH 01: Lorenzo Pellegrini of AS Roma celebrates scoring their second goal with team mates during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Juventus FC at Stadio Olimpico on March 01, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

The Giallorossi added another when Malen sprung the offside trap on the Manu Kone through ball and dinked the finish over the on-rushing Perin with the outside of the right boot.

Svilar was right behind a deflected Koopmeiners strike, but it still wasn’t over, as the Edon Zhegrova cross from the right was flicked on for Jeremie Boga to volley at the back post.

ROME, ITALY – MARCH 01: Jeremie Boga of Juventus scores their second goal during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Juventus FC at Stadio Olimpico on March 01, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Boga’s cross was deflected just over by Ndicka, but Juventus completed the epic comeback from 3-1 down to 3-3 in stoppages. McKennie nodded on the free kick, which grazed Ndicka’s arm, landing kindly for substitute Federico Gatti to fire in from close range.

Roma 3-3 Juventus

Wesley 39 (R), Conceicao 47 (J), Ndicka 53 (R), Malen 65 (R), Boga 78 (J), Gatti 93 (J)

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Video: Francisco Conceicao screamer gets Juventus level

Incidents: The story of the match

3':

Opportunity wasted. Lorenzo Pellegrini from Roma took a left-footed shot from the center of the box, but it went over the goal and to the left.

3':

Missed opportunity. Lorenzo Pellegrini from Roma took a left-footed shot from the center of the box, but it went over the bar and to the left.

3':

Opportunity wasted. Lorenzo Pellegrini from Roma took a left-footed shot from the center of the box, but it sailed high and to the left.

11':

Opportunity wasted. Francisco Conceição from Juventus attempted a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area.

11':

Opportunity wasted. Francisco Conceição of Juventus attempted a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it sailed high and to the left. The assist came from Pierre Kalulu.

12':

Opportunity wasted. Kenan Yildiz of Juventus attempted a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area after a quick counterattack.

12':

Missed opportunity! Kenan Yildiz from Juventus took a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it sailed over the crossbar. The chance was set up by Khéphren Thuram during a quick counterattack.

12':

Opportunity wasted! Kenan Yildiz from Juventus took a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it sailed over the crossbar. The assist came from Khéphren Thuram after a quick counterattack.

33':

Missed opportunity. Weston McKennie from Juventus attempted a header from the middle of the penalty area.

33':

Opportunity wasted. Weston McKennie of Juventus attempted a header from the center of the box, but it narrowly missed to the left. The cross was delivered by Pierre Kalulu.

36':

Missed opportunity. Bryan Cristante from Roma attempted a header from the middle of the penalty area.

36':

Missed opportunity. Bryan Cristante from Roma attempted a header from the center of the box, but it narrowly missed the upper right corner.

Roma takes the lead with a score of 1-0 against Juventus. Wesley scores with a right-footed shot from the left side of the penalty area, finding the top right corner of the net. The assist comes from Niccolò Pisilli.It's now Roma 1, Juventus 1. Francisco Conceição scores for Juventus with a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area, finding the top left corner of the net. The assist comes from Bremer.Roma takes the lead with a score of 2-1 against Juventus. Evan Ndicka finds the back of the net with a left-footed shot from the center of the box, placing it perfectly into the right corner. The assist comes from Lorenzo Pellegrini, who delivered a cross following a corner kick.

62':

Opportunity wasted. Donyell Malen of Roma attempted a right-footed shot from the center of the penalty area but sent it wide to the left. The assist was provided by Bryan Cristante.

Roma leads 3-1 against Juventus. Donyell Malen scores with a right-footed shot from the middle of the box, finding the center of the net. The assist comes from Manu Koné, who delivered a perfectly timed through ball.Roma leads 3-2 against Juventus. Jérémie Boga from Juventus fires a right-footed shot from the center of the box into the bottom left corner.It's now 3-3 between Roma and Juventus. Federico Gatti scores for Juventus with a right-footed shot from close range!It's now Roma 3, Juventus 3. Federico Gatti from Juventus scores with a right-footed shot from close range, sending the ball into the top left corner!

Aston Villa midfielder Missy Bo Kearns has revealed the news that she is pregnant and expecting her first child.

The 24-year-old Liverpudlian took to her social media accounts to make her personal announcement this evening.

Kearns is expecting to give birth in September and she will therefore not be available for selection for Aston Villa for the remainder of this season and will remain sidelined in the early stages of the 2026/2027 campaign. The midfielder is likely to remain in light ‘non-contact’ training in the coming weeks and will be supported by Aston Villa throughout her pregnancy.

Aston Villa signed Kearns in summer 2024 after the player opted to leave Liverpool. The midfielder has made 11 appearances for The Villans in the Barclays Women’s Super League this season, helping the club to continue their progress under head coach Natalia Arroyo. She has not featured for the Midlands side since mid-January.

On the international stage, Kearns has been capped by England on three occasions. She will miss the Lionesses’ qualifying campaign for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027. She will have time to play herself into contention for tournament finals should England secure their qualification.

Aston Villa continue the season without Kearns when they play host to Manchester City on Sunday 15 March 2026.

William Saliba, one of Arsenal’s goalscorers, has admitted that the 2-1 victory over Chelsea was far from straightforward. Although the Gunners secured all three points, the defender acknowledged that the contest posed a significant challenge.

This Arsenal side has faltered in certain matches this season, and those moments will have given Chelsea encouragement that a positive result was achievable. With both clubs pursuing important objectives before the end of the campaign, the fixture carried considerable weight and demanded maximum focus from the outset.

A Testing Encounter at the Emirates

Arsenal have developed a reputation for delivering in high-profile home fixtures, particularly against fellow London sides. Their strong record at the Emirates meant Chelsea were fully aware of the calibre of opposition they faced, especially given Arsenal’s standing as one of the strongest teams in the world at present.

Chelsea demonstrated their quality, much as they did when the sides met twice in the Carabao Cup semi-final. On this occasion, however, their efforts were insufficient to halt an Arsenal team determined to maintain momentum. The match showcased two evenly matched sides capable of troubling one another, yet Arsenal’s overall performance ultimately proved decisive.

(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Saliba Reflects on a Hard-Fought Win

Despite emerging victorious, Saliba was candid about the difficulties his team encountered. He said on Sky Sports:

“Today was not an easy game against a top team. We should not concede the goal before half-time. But we did well after half-time and scored a good goal with set-pieces.”

While Arsenal celebrated an important win, the defender’s assessment reflects a squad mindful of the fine margins that can influence results at this decisive stage of the season.

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1 March 2026, 18:46

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey is going to have another operation on his ailing left ankle.

The 7-foot-3 Edey has been sidelined since Dec. 7 because of a stress reaction in his ankle. He is averaging 13.6 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks over 11 games in his second season.

Edey's operation is expected to address ongoing discomfort and bone stress, according to the team. He also had surgery on his left ankle in June after he was voted to the All-Rookie first team.

The 23-year-old Edey, a two-time AP National Player of the Year at Purdue, missed 12 games early in his rookie season because of a sprained left ankle.

Edey is expected to make a full recovery, the Grizzlies said, and a timeline will be provided following his surgery.

The team also said forward Brandon Clarke will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks. The 29-year-old Clarke has been out since Dec. 20 because of a strained right calf.

___

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Browns WR Combine stock tracker: 3 NFL Draft risers and fallers after workouts originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The NFL Combine is where "draft crushes" are either validated or evaporated in a matter of seconds. For the Cleveland Browns, who are hunting for explosive playmakers to rebuild a dead offense, Saturday’s wide receiver workouts provided plenty of fireworks. 

Draft stocks were definitely affected, and we’ll certainly see a shift in mock draft narratives this upcoming week. Carnell Tate did nothing to diminish his status as the No. 1 wide receiver prospect, but after the Ohio State product, the pecking order at wide receiver is wide open.

Here are the three risers and fallers GM Andrew Berry should be paying close attention to.

More: Browns to pass on Ty Simpson? Grossi reveals the ‘real’ QB target

1. RISER: Ja’Kobi Lane (USC)- 6’4”, 200-lbs

It was the “other” USC receiver that did the most to raise their NFL Draft stock at the Combine. Makai Lemon was adequate at Lucas Oil Stadium, but it was Lane who popped off the screen with his size-speed combination.

At a shade over 6'4", Lane wowed scouts by blazing an official 4.47-second 40-yard dash. Add in a massive 40-inch vertical, plus 10.5” hand size, and you have a vertical threat that fits the Browns' X-receiver profile perfectly. His unique cheerleader/dance background gives him the ability to make acrobatic catches and in-bound toe taps as well. In the gauntlet drill Lane showed natural hands, ran through the catch and an impressive burst.

The Trojan alum came into Indianapolis with a third-round draft grade, and leaves as a possible second rounder. If the Browns punt on a receiver in round-one, then snagging Lane on Day 2 would be a fantastic pick up.

2. FALLER: Denzel Boston (Washington)- 6’4”, 212-lbs

Boston arrived with a first round buzz, but his Saturday was underwhelming. While his ball skills are undeniable, he lacked the "second gear" in Combine drills that talent evaluators were looking for. Critics noted he struggled with explosive cuts during route-running drills, looking a bit "linear" and stiff. Boston decided not to run the 40-yard dash, and delivered a disappointing 35” vertical (five inches less than Ja’Kobi Lane).

He’ll need to hope that NFL front offices focus on his impressive in-game displays of contested catches and sure hands, instead of this Combine clunker.

3. RISER: KC Concepcion (Texas A&M)- 6’0”, 196-lbs

Concepcion skipped the 40-yard dash, which is usually a red flag—until he stepped onto the field for drills. He was a human highlight reel in the gauntlet, hitting 18.5 MPH (per Next Gen Stats) while looking completely effortless. His "suddenness" at the break point makes him a nightmare for man coverage.

For a Browns team looking for a versatile "Z" or slot weapon who can also return punts, Concepcion’s stock is officially at an all-time high. After this weekend’s performance, Concepcion has likely cemented himself as a late Day 1 selection.

More Browns News:

• Steal of the Draft? The 1 sleeper QB the Browns must target after the NFL Combine
• Browns must sign this Super Bowl champion in free agency, says ESPN insider
• Browns Draft rumors: Ty Simpson 'super excited' for Todd Monken; 'I'm a franchise QB'
• Stephen A. Smith: Deshaun Watson must 'retire' if he loses Browns job to Shedeur Sanders
• NFL Combine tracker: Browns top 3 linebacker targets to pair with Carson Schwesinger

Red Sox's Roman Anthony Discusses 'Dream' Of Playing In World Baseball Classic originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Roman Anthony will take an unanticipated spring detour when competing in the World Baseball Classic.

The Boston Red Sox received another WBC representative when Anthony accepted an invite to replace injured Arizona Diamondbacks star Corbin Carroll on the United States' WBC roster. Former Red Sox teammate Alex Bregman recommended the 21-year-old to Team USA manager Mark DeRosa.

Anthony reflected on the events that led to him participating in the WBC during an interview with MLB Network's Chris Young.

"Came back in the clubhouse one day and saw the unfortunate news about Corbin, so I hope he's doing all right," Anthony said. "And then, at that point, (Alex Cora) had mentioned something to me, and Bregman was texting me a bit. Then that night, I got to speak with DeRo, which was unbelievable."

Team USA's youngest player was born two years before the inaugural WBC took place in 2006. The Florida native is excited to play in the tournament.

"Growing up, it's been a dream of mine," Anthony said. "Coming into the spring, I didn't really expect it. I thought they had the roster set already. So for me, it was about coming in and getting ready for my first full year. And then got that call, got the approval from the team, all the guys.

"For me, it was a no-brainer. It's a blessing, for sure."

Anthony is one of four outfielders on the U.S. roster alongside Aaron Judge, Byron Buxton and Pete Crow-Armstrong. Team USA plays Brazil at the Houston Astros' Daikin Park on Friday night.

More MLB: Why Red Sox's Alex Cora Owes Ranger Suarez Dinner After Spring Start

‘Bones’ vs. ‘Poatan?’

Notre Dame men’s basketball is coming off a Senior Day victory over NC State, which was led by some of its young stars.

That trend could continue into next season, as the Irish signed a solid class of three. The highest ranked signee is Jonathan Sanderson, whose father is currently the strength and conditioning coach for Notre Dame. He earned his scholarship by merit, not the family connection, as the 6-foot, 2-inch and 170-pounder is ranked as the No. 71 overall player by the 247Sports Composite.

On Saturday, Sanderson threw down an impressive dunk, as his La Lumiere team defeated No. 1 Spire Academy. You can see the highlights below, as the jam is clearly the most impressive part of the package. Sanderson beats his defender past midcourt, shows elite speed to get to the line, and bounce to finish off the breakaway.

Recruits like him typically don’t sit on the bench during their freshman seasons, so expect to see Sanderson in come compacity on the court for Notre Dame next season.

DUNK OF THE DAY: Notre Dame commit ☘️ Jonathan Sanderson SHUT DOWN La
Lumiere Senior Night as the Lakers knocked off #1 SPIRE Academy pic.twitter.com/NK9JSvsGkp

— Scott/Ballislife (@BallisLifeCHI) February 28, 2026

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: See Notre Dame signee Jonathan Sanderson’s monster ‘Dunk of the Day’

Among Texas A&M's 13 players who participated, four of the Aggies' 2025 starters along the offensive line made their way to Indianapolis (IN) with a great opportunity to improve their draft stock, especially for three-year starter Chase Bisontis, who is currently predicted as a late first-round or high second-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Starting his Aggie career as the team's starting right tackle as a freshman during former head coach Jimbo Fisher's final season at the helm, Chase Bisontis switched to left guard during the 2024 offseason under current coach Mike Elko and has thrived ever since.

One of the strongest players in college football, Bisontis finished his final season allowing just one sack and 12 pressures, while earning an impressive 70.7 pass protection grade, per Pro Football Focus. Bisontis was officially measured at 6'5" and 315 pounds, and was highly impressive during the various offensive line drills on Saturday afternoon, led by the New Jersey native's impressive 5.02 40-yard dash.

Combined with a 1.76 10-yard split, Bisontis looked in control and moved well during the lateral drill, while his size and position versatility, similar to his 2025 teammate Trey Zuhn, make him a candidate to play at tackle, guard, and center, and he is on track to become an immediate starter for any O-line-needy franchise next season.

Here are Bistontis's official measurements:

• 40-yard dash: 5.02
• 10-yard split: 1.76
• Vertical: 32"
• Broad Jump: 8' 9"
• 3-Cone Drill: 7.53
• 20-yard Shuttle: 4.78
• Bench Press; N/A

Texas A&M's Chase Bisontis comes in with a 5.03u on his first attempt

2026 NFL Combine on @nflnetwork
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/jz6RAU9VdJ

— NFL (@NFL) March 1, 2026

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: OL Chase Bisontis's combine performance boosts NFL Draft hopes

Tennessee is recruiting toward its 2027 football signing class.

Four-star linebacker Roman Igwebuike named Tennessee in his top 12 schools, along with Miami, USC, Clemson, Indiana, Missouri, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Ole Miss and Florida, according to Hayes Fawcett of On3.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound prospect is from Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. 247Sports ranks him as the No. 6 linebacker in the class and No. 4 player in Illinois.

Tennessee offered Igwebuike a scholarship on March 13, 2025 and has not visited the Vols.

Illinois was the first school to offer him a scholarship on Jan. 10, 2025. Other Power Four schools to offer Igwebuike scholarships include Iowa State, Syracuse, Purdue, Louisville, Minnesota, Kansas State, Wisconsin, Vanderbilt, Michigan State, Arizona State, Oregon, Kansas, Iowa, Boston College, North Carolina, Texas, Washington, Florida State, North Carolina State, Maryland, Arkansas, West Virginia, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, Baylor, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Oklahoma State.

Tennessee has four commitments in its 2027 football recruiting class: linebacker JP Peace, offensive tackle Princeton Uwaifo, defensive lineman Kadin Fife and quarterback Derrick Baker.

Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).

This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: 2027 four-star linebacker names Tennessee football in top 12 schools

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Vanessa Gilles, Janine Sonis, Sydney Collins and Nichelle Prince scored and Canada beat Colombia 4-1 on Sunday in the opening match of the SheBelieves Cup.

Canada ended a five-game losing streak in international play. It will face the United States on Wednesday in Columbus, Ohio.

Gilles opened the scoring in the 31st minute, heading in a corner from Sonis. Sonis was awarded a penalty kick in the 67th minute and scored on an arcing shot that beat goalkeeper Katerin Tapia to the left corner.

Collins connected in the 73rd, and Leicy Santos beat Kailee Sheridan on a penalty kick for Colombia in the 81st. Prince scored in the 90th minute.

It was chippy throughout, with seven yellow cards issued, two to Colombia’s Gisela Robledo, which culminated in a red card.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK — Which New York Knicks were going to show up to Madison Square Garden on Sunday?

It was the question of the hour as a mixed bag of Knicks chock full of inconsistencies on both ends of the floor hosted the Western Conference’s No. 2-seeded San Antonio Spurs in a matinee matchup serving equal parts barometer and way-too-early NBA Championship preview coming out of their three-game road trip.

The Knicks hadn’t acquitted themselves particularly well in any of their higher-leverage games leading into Victor Wembanyama’s arrival at The Garden on Sunday. Coming out of the All-Star break, they’d lost to both the Detroit Pistons (0-3 against the East’s No. 1 seed this season) and Cleveland Cavaliers by 15. They had also beaten the Houston Rockets by two and the Milwaukee Bucks (without Giannis Antetokounmpo) by nearly 30.

The swing was a microcosm of the Knicks’ season. They look like world beaters on some nights and a team on the brink of an epic collapse on others. And for the second time this season, in a 114-89 victory on Sunday, the Knicks looked like world beaters against a team they very well could face in the NBA Finals.

They looked like a team that could win it all.

Time will tell which rendition of themselves the Knicks put on the floor for the remainder of the season. There might not be another team whose ebbs and flows have been so volatile. Yet Sunday’s victory embodied many of the staples Mike Brown has tried to install on both ends of the floor in his first year on the job.

Case in point: The Knicks were disorganized offensively, to say the least, to start the first quarter but hung tough with their defense long enough for Jalen Brunson to erupt for one of his signature early outbursts. Brunson scored 11 points in the first quarter against the Spurs on Sunday. He scored 22 game-opening points against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday and ranks second behind only his former teammate Luka Doncic in first-quarter points per game (9.6) on the season.

The defensive effort wasn’t new. The Spurs and Knicks ranked second and third, respectively, in defensive rating over the eight games walking into Sunday’s meeting at MSG. Yet the sustained defense in minutes with Karl-Anthony Towns on the floor was a refreshing sight. The Knicks held the Spurs scoreless for nearly the first four minutes of the second quarter behind a lineup of Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Mohamed Diawara and Jose Alvarado. That lineup had only played nine minutes over two games prior to Sunday but owned a net rating of nearly 60 in those minutes — and on Sunday, it was the lineup that gave the Knicks a double-digit lead.

From the 10:57 mark of the second quarter on, the Spurs never cut New York’s lead to less than eight. A rare appearance from an aggressive Mikal Bridges blew the game wide-open.

Bridges scored a team-high 25 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field and five-of-nine shooting from three-point range to go with five steals and five rebounds for his first game with 20 or more points since the All-Star break. Brunson finished with 24 points and converted on four of his seven 3-point attempts, and all five Knicks starters scored in double figures for the second game in a row. Towns added 12 points and 14 rebounds, and Diawara seized his opportunity with 14 points in 15 minutes.

Jeremy Sochan played in two minutes of garbage time at the end of the game.

Wembanyama finished with 25 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks but turned the ball over seven times. The Knicks held De’Aaron Fox, Brown’s old point guard, to seven points on 3-of-10 shooting, and allowed just 23 points to San Antonio’s bench. Seven of them came in garbage time.

Next up, the Knicks travel to Toronto to face the Raptors before returning to The Garden for another test: Their first game of the season against the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the second leg of a back-to-back.

____

The president of Iran's soccer federation has cast doubt on his country's participation in the 2026 World Cup following the U.S. bombing of Iran on Saturday, Feb 28.

The missile attacks, which were also carried out by Israel, killed a number of top Iranian officials including the country's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran’s state broadcaster reported the death toll from the strikes has reached 201 with 747 people injured as of Sunday, March 1.

"What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope," Mehdi Taj told Iran state television.

Iran has retaliated with attacks on countries such as Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, all of which host U.S. military bases.

The conflict broke out only months before Iran is scheduled to travel to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, which will also be co-hosted by Canada and Mexico.

Iran was drawn into Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand. Team Melli is scheduled to play two group-stage games in Los Angeles (June 15 and 21) and one in Seattle (June 26).

Visitors from Iran are already set to be barred from entering the United States for the World Cup. Iran was among 19 countries included in a travel ban that the Trump administration announced in June.

In the immediate aftermath of the attacks on Saturday, FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom said his organization was focused on "all the teams participating" in the World Cup as planned.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Iran unsure of 2026 World Cup status after US bombing, missile strikes

LEXINGTON, Ky (AP) — Madina Okot had 21 points and 13 rebounds to lead No. 3 South Carolina to a 60-56 win over No. 16 Kentucky on Sunday.

The Gamecocks (29-2, 15-1 Southeastern Conference) took a 54-43 lead with 8:28 left in the game, but only got baskets from Okot and Tessa Johnson the rest of the game as the Wildcats (21-9, 8-8 Southeastern Conference) mounted a late rally.

Clara Strack had 24 points and nine rebounds, scoring eight points down the stretch, to lead the rally. The Wildcats had the ball down two at 58-56, but Teonni Key missed a layup and a tie-up on the rebound gave South Carolina the ball. Okot put in a layup for the final basket.

Johnson had 12 points and Raven Johnson added 11 for the Gamecocks.

Strack was 11 of 19 for the game, but the rest of the Wildcats shot 13 of 44.

South Carolina led 33-27 at the half, but a quick 10-4 run by Kentucky sparked by a pair of 3-pointers from Asia Boone tied the game at 37.

Okot quickly put the Gamecocks ahead with consecutive layups and they took a 54-43 lead and held on for the win.

Boone was the only other Wildcat in double figures with 11 points.

Up next

South Carolina: Friday in SEC tournament as top seed.

Kentucky: TBD in SEC tournament.

__

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

Led by Milton Williams and Christian Barmore, the interior defensive line was one of the strengths of the New England Patriots’ roster in 2025. Both remain under contract, as do multiple backups such as Cory Durden, Joshua Farmer and Eric Gregory. And yet, the Patriots making some offseason investments at the position could very well happen.

One candidate for such a move is exclusive rights free agent Isaiah Iton. Let’s assess his situation.

Hard facts

Name: Isaiah Iton

Position: Defensive tackle/Interior defensive line

Jersey number: 68

Opening day age: 25 (8/23/2001)

Measurements: 6’2 5/8”, 277 lbs, 34” arm length, 10 1/8” hand size, 4.84s short shuttle, 32 1/2” vertical jump, 9’3” broad jump, 29 bench press reps, 6.22 Relative Athletic Score

Experience

NFL teams: Tennessee Titans (2024), New England Patriots (2025-) | College: Northern Colorado (2019), Hutchinson CC (2020), Ole Miss (2021-22), Rutgers (2023)

Typically, the term “journeyman” is used to describe NFL players bouncing between teams on a fairly regular basis. Iton, however, was a journeyman back in college.

Initially a no-star recruit out of Pearland High School in Pearland, TX, he began his career at Northern Colorado but after playing in 12 games with three starts transferred to Hutchinson in 2020. While Covid-19 prevented him from appearing in any games for the Blue Dragons, his stint at the Juco level allowed him to meet his academic requirements and find a spot at Ole Miss.

In two seasons with the Rebels, Iton played 23 games with two starts. He entered the transfer portal following his junior campaign, moving to Rutgers to close out his college career. He spent only one season with the Scarlet Knights, but it was the best of his career: Iton started all 13 games in 2023, registering 38 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks and a fumble recovery — production good enough to secure him a spot with the Titans after he went undrafted the following spring.

After one season on Tennessee’s practice squad, he joined the Patriots in the spring of 2025.

2025 review

Stats: N/A

Season recap: Following the conclusion of the Titans’ 2024 season, Iton signed a futures contract with the team for 2025. However, he was let go by the organization in mid-April and had to spend the next month without a team. During that time, the Patriots brought him in to their rookie minicamp on a tryout basis and apparently liked what they saw: in mid-May, they signed Iton to their 90-man roster.

The Rutgers product remained there through the early stages of training camp and preseason. However, his 44th preseason snap — 42 on defense, 2 on special teams — proved to be his last of the year: Iton suffered a hip injury against the Vikings in the second exhibition contest that led to him getting waived with an injury designation two days later. He went unclaimed, reverting to season-ending injured reserve.

Moving to IR was a disappointing end to what had been a solid summer for Iton. Steadily increasing the quality of his reps and showing some promise against the run in particular, he appeared to be a dark-horse candidate for a spot on the practice squad if not the 53-man team.

Iton ended his 2025 season with those two preseason appearances as well as three tackles, including one for a loss of yards.

Free agency preview

Free agency status: Exclusive fights free agent (ERFA)

What is his contract history? Iton has signed multiple contracts since turning pro, but his compensation through two years reflects his career so far. In total, he has earned $755,000, according to Over the Cap, with his year-long stint on the Patriots’ injured reserve in 2025 actually his most lucrative stretch so far.

Which teams might be in the running? Teams such as the Ravens, Chargers, Bears, Panthers or Saints are in need for defensive line help, and therefore could take a look at Iton if he makes it to the open market. That said, realistically the entire league might be a possible landing spot: all 32 teams are trying to fill out their offseason rosters, and developmental depth players like Iton in some demand between now and the draft.

Why should he be expected back? Iton showed some promise during his limited practice and preseason opportunities in 2025, and if building on those could compete for a roster spot this summer. He also would provide cheap depth at a position facing some uncertainty due to Khyiris Tonga’s own free agency status as well as the legal issues surrounding Christian Barmore.

Why should he be expected to leave? Promise alone won’t keep you on an NFL roster for long, and if the Patriots feel they already know what Iton can and cannot be, they won’t go out of their way to tender or re-sign him. The fact that they waived him rather than immediately sending him to injured reserve — thus risking losing him on waivers — already suggests a certain willingness to move on.

What is his projected free agency outcome? Considering their present situation along the interior defensive line, the Patriots will be using the ERFA tender to keep Iton in the fold. Of course, the nature of that tender — it is a non-guaranteed one-year contract that is worth $885,000 in his case — shows that his spot on the roster is still anything but safe.

Now it’s your turn to play GM: What would you do with Isaiah Iton? Tender him? Let him go? Please head down to the comment section to share your plan.

Chicago White Sox fans can’t be too upset with how spring training has kicked off in 2026. The Sox have gotten breakout performances from a handful of young players, and as a team they’re currently 6–4 with a +19 run differential — tied for the best mark in the Cactus League.

Of course, spring training stats are never the end-all, be-all — especially when it comes to breakout performances from players fighting to earn a roster spot. These games can be about as predictive as a coin flip.

Still, it’s hard not to get excited when a young player or reclamation project with upside is thriving in the early weeks of camp. And on the flip side of that metaphorical coin is the familiar dread: seeing a player who departed your organization suddenly look revitalized in a new uniform.

White Sox fans, unfortunately, have plenty of experience in this department.

Just last year, first baseman Andrew Vaughn was batting .198 with a .531 OPS through 48 games in Chicago. After being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers, the 27-year-old hit .308 with an .869 OPS the rest of the way and fully revived his MLB career.

In three seasons with the White Sox, infielder Romy Gonzalez appeared in 86 MLB games and posted a .222 batting average with a .600 OPS. The talent was always there — it simply never translated consistently at the big league level in Chicago.

Over the last two seasons in Boston, though, Gonzalez has developed into a meaningful contributor. In 2025, he played in 96 games, hit .305 with 53 RBIs and an .826 OPS, all while providing tremendous defensive versatility for the Red Sox.

Gavin Sheets also found new life, hitting a career-high 19 home runs with the San Diego Padres in 2025 and extending his MLB career with a bounce-back season.

It has happened often in recent years. So who might it be next in 2026? Which former White Sox player could land elsewhere and suddenly thrive?

A handful of candidates are already flashing signs during the early stages of spring training. Let’s take a look.

Eloy Jimenez – Blue Jays

It has been mostly downhill for Eloy Jimenez since he was traded by the White Sox in 2024. He appeared in 33 games for the Baltimore Orioles and hit just one home run with a .586 OPS following the deal.

Jimenez spent time in the Tampa Bay Rays organization at the beginning of 2025 on a minor league contract before being released and eventually joining the Toronto Blue Jays in the final weeks of the season. After playing in the Dominican Winter League, he arrived at Blue Jays camp this spring and is off to a surprisingly strong start.

In six games, Jimenez has six hits, including two doubles and a home run. He leads all Blue Jays hitters in total bases during spring training and owns a 1.171 OPS in the Grapefruit League.

Eloy Jimenez in his #BlueJays Spring Training debut:

2-for-3, double, home run, 2 RBIs#WhiteSoxpic.twitter.com/dgYQJW2XI8

— White Sox Roundtable (@WhiteSoxRTB) February 22, 2026

At the end of the day, this is still the reigning American League champion we’re talking about, and even with Anthony Santander dealing with injury, it may be difficult for Jimenez to crack the Opening Day roster. But if he keeps swinging it like this, Toronto could give him another MLB opportunity.

He’s still only 29 years old and possesses effortless power that can make him a force in any lineup when healthy. That’s a significant “if,” but it’s been an impressive start to the spring — and White Sox fans are quietly bracing for the possibility that Jimenez could finally realize his full potential elsewhere.

Mike Tauchman – Mets

I was openly critical of the White Sox when they chose to non-tender outfielder Mike Tauchman earlier this offseason.

Yes, there were legitimate concerns about his health at 35 years old. But it’s undeniable that Tauchman was one of the more polished and professional hitters in the White Sox lineup last season.

He posted a .756 OPS, consistently put together quality at-bats, and served as a respected veteran presence in the clubhouse.

Ultimately, Chicago decided it couldn’t justify rostering both Tauchman and Andrew Benintendi — two aging corner outfielders with limited defensive value at this stage. With Benintendi owed $17.1 million this season, the financial commitment made the decision fairly straightforward.

Tauchman signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets and has wasted no time making noise. In three spring games, he’s 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, three RBIs, and a 1.771 OPS.

Roster spots won’t be easy to come by, but injuries happen — and teams always need steady veterans who can grind at-bats. If an opportunity opens, Tauchman feels like the obvious choice. His early success only reinforces the feeling that the White Sox may have let a dependable piece walk away.

Cam Booser – Rays

Another non-tendered player this offseason was left-handed pitcher Cam Booser, who spent just one year with the White Sox after being acquired in a regrettable trade with the Boston Red Sox.

Chicago sent right-hander Yhoiker Fajardo to Boston. Fajardo went on to post a 2.25 ERA over 19 minor league outings, reached Low-A as an 18-year-old, and was later traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. He was considered a top-10 prospect in both farm systems along the way.

Booser, meanwhile, struggled to a 5.52 ERA in 2025. He was an easy player to root for and flashed legitimate dominance at times, but the walk rate proved problematic. Despite multiple years of team control remaining, the White Sox opted not to bring him back.

Booser signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays and has thrown three hitless innings this spring. He has walked two and struck out two.

Given Tampa Bay’s bullpen construction, he stands a real chance of making the Opening Day roster. The Rays’ track record of revitalizing pitchers makes this one particularly intriguing — and potentially painful for White Sox fans if it works out.

Jesse Scholtens – Rays

Another former White Sox arm generating buzz in Rays camp is right-hander Jesse Scholtens.

The Rays claimed Scholtens off waivers in August 2025 after the White Sox designated him for assignment. He last pitched extensively in the majors for Chicago in 2023, posting a 5.29 ERA over 85 innings. He missed the entire 2024 season recovering from Tommy John surgery and was still working his way back for much of 2025.

After being claimed, Scholtens made two appearances out of Tampa Bay’s bullpen and logged a 5.40 ERA over 8.1 innings.

This spring, however, he has thrown three scoreless innings with four strikeouts and just two hits allowed. That’s 12 strikeouts per nine innings, and reports out of camp suggest noticeable improvements in the shape and vertical movement of his off-speed pitches.

The underlying metrics from his small MLB sample in 2025 were encouraging, and the early 2026 returns are even better. This has all the makings of a classic Rays pitching lab success story — where a 32-year-old suddenly becomes a meaningful contributor.

Bryan Ramos – Orioles

It has been a chaotic offseason for 23-year-old infielder Bryan Ramos.

Roster math forced the White Sox to designate Ramos for assignment at the end of January. He was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for cash on February 1, designated for assignment again less than a week later, claimed by the St. Louis Cardinals, DFA’d once more, and ultimately landed back in Baltimore on the 40-man roster before the start of spring training.

Despite the instability, Ramos has gone 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI in three spring games. He ripped a double earlier this week off Pirates starter Mitch Keller.

Even in camp, though, playing time has been scarce. With Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg dealing with injuries, there is at least a path — but Blaze Alexander, Coby Mayo, and Jeremiah Jackson present stiff competition.

The wrinkle here is that Ramos has no minor league options remaining. To send him down would require exposing him to waivers again, and there’s a real chance another club would claim him. Mayo and Jackson still have options, which could make roster flexibility the deciding factor.

However it shakes out, Ramos simply needs a consistent opportunity. It became clear that opportunity wasn’t going to come in Chicago given the organization’s infield depth.

It’s always bittersweet watching a former White Sox player thrive elsewhere — especially when the departure wasn’t acrimonious.

Part of you roots for their success. Another part cringes at the thought of unrealized potential finally clicking in a different uniform.

Ultimately, it’s a case-by-case situation. But if we’re searching for a 2026 breakout candidate who could rediscover himself outside of Chicago, these are the names worth monitoring closely.

Manchester City playmaker Bernardo Silva has expressed his gratitude to Pep Guardiola for all he has learnt working with the Catalan at the Etihad Stadium.

Silva has established himself as one of City’s greatest ever players since his £43 million arrival to England from AS Monaco in the summer of 2017.

The 31-year-old has helped the Blues lift six Premier League titles, a maiden UEFA Champions League en route to a historic treble and a plethora of cup titles over the course of an illustrious, trophy-laden career in Manchester.

Guardiola and the Manchester City board will be dreading Silva’s upcoming departure should the Portuguese midfielder decide to leave when his contract expires in June, with no indications as yet of talks over a renewal.

However, a final decision on Silva’s intentions is not expected to be made public till the end of the season as Manchester City remain in the running for an unprecedented quadruple.

This term more so than ever, Guardiola has hailed Silva as one of the best players he has ever had the fortune of working with as the Benfica academy graduate looks to spearhead a new-look, young Manchester City dressing room back to winning titles after a subpar 2024-25 season.

In an interview for the March issue of Manchester City’s official magazine, Silva has responded to the ultimate compliment from his manager.

“It’s a huge honour for a manager like Pep (Guardiola), probably the best ever, to say the things he does because when you hear that from him, it makes you realise that he really enjoys working with you – so it’s a huge privilege,” Silva said.

“I think in football, you have a mix of two things. One is the intuition of that comes from the streets – when you’re a kid and how you played back then. It’s because at the end, football will always be about feeling about emotions, about intuition, about these kind of things.

“And then there’s the part of and understanding the game and trying to learn. And I think the part of being competitive, the part of intuition, the part of loving the game, of passion.

“It’s always been there for me, and then when I joined City, and when I joined Pep, even though that I felt like I was already a player that understood really well the game, it took me to another level.”

Should this be his final season at the Etihad Stadium, Silva will be given the sendoff of all sendoffs when the time comes and club bosses will no doubt go on to honour the first-team skipper with a statue – in similar fashion to the likes of Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne.

Former Bayern Munich head coach and current Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovač is someone who often likes to point out the financial disparity and operational methods between BVB and the Bavarians.

After his team absorbed a painful 3-2 loss in the Bundesliga on Saturday, Kovač, again, talked about those differences.

“I’m disappointed about the result but pleased with the effort. We need to take the progress into account. Last year, we were 25 points (behind Bayern). This year, it’s 11. Bayern can buy top players for €70m or €80m. We sign players with development potential with whom we’re largely satisfied. we’re not doing so badly at all,” Kovač said (as captured by @iMiaSanMia).

It is true, Borussia Dortmund has shown improvements this season, but this week — with a Champions League elimination at the hands of Atalanta and a loss to Bayern Munich in Der Klassiker — is probably not going to make BVB fans feel better.

If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…

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WWE talent Trick Williams is officially a main roster star, and in time he'll get to step into the ring with the biggest names in the promotion in order to prove himself. While Williams might be enjoying the bigger arenas, there's one life-change that's come with his main roster jump that he's far more excited about.

"I feel like, you know, I cracked the cheat code in life," Williams said during an interview on "107.7 The Bone," referencing how both he and his fiancée – WWE talent Lash Legend – were called up to the main roster at the same time. "Me and my fiancée travel the world every single week, and they pay for it. Like, we on honey moon every single week! ... And we just enjoy each other; we enjoy being together at this exciting time in life."

Williams briefly opened up about the plans he and Lash Legend have in place, revealing that not only do the couple plan to get married soon, they've already got a house together. "It's good to be with someone who understands you as a person and you as a performer as well, you know? So, we can always support each other," he pointed out.

The work schedule of pro wrestlers has infamously led to many divorces, especially in decades past. Veterans like Ric Flair, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Undertaker, and Hulk Hogan have all cited the intense travel schedule as one of the (often many) reasons they got divorced. Luckily for Williams and Lash Legend, this won't be something the couple will have to tackle at this rate.

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit "107.7 The Bone" and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription. 

Read more: Times Wrestlers Got In Trouble For Breaking Kayfabe

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Read the original article on Wrestling Inc.

"He was a home team referee", who "doesn't understand football."

Furious interim Tottenham manager Igor Tudor left nobody in any doubt about his thoughts on Fulham's opening goal on Sunday, as a 2-1 defeat deepened his side's relegation fears.

Tudor also accused Fulham's Raul Jimenez of "cheating" by pushing Radu Dragusin before Harry Wilson swept home.

And such was his anger, he made the accusation of Thomas Bramall being a "home referee" twice.

What made it worse for the 47-year-old Croatian was a belief Tottenham were denied a goal in similar circumstances last week when Randal Kolo Muani thought he had made it 2-2 against Arsenal, only for the goal to be ruled out for a push on Gabriel.

Tudor, furious at what he called an "incredible mistake", told BBC Sport: "Their first goal changes the situation on the pitch. It's a big refereeing mistake. There's no consistency last week, what happened today was incredible. The referee was incredible today – not giving a goal there is madness.

"It's about consistency of the decision, they need to understand even if it is a soft touch but he is not watching the ball, it is a foul. He [Jimenez] gained an advantage and they scored. You need to give these fouls.

"I didn't like the referee today, too much of a home team referee. I didn't feel well with him. All the decisions were on their side. He doesn't understand football, the feeling of what is wrong and what is right.

"He [Jimenez] was not thinking about the ball, he was thinking how to cheat, he cheated the player, was pushing, it was cheating and it's a foul. Ninety-nine of 100 people will say it's a foul, it's so obvious."

• Spurs lose at Fulham as winless league run extends to 10

'We know this is a big emergency'

Ever since a one season spell in the old Second Division in 1977-78, Tottenham have been a top-flight club - and that position has rarely been under threat.

Yes, Spurs came 17th in 2024-25, but they ended 13 points better off than 18th-placed Leicester, with Ange Postecoglou focusing on the Europa League towards the end of the season, a competition which they went on to win.

This year feels more perilous.

Make no mistake, Tottenham – 16th in the Premier League and four points above the relegation zone – are in a battle to stay up.

Speaking after the 2-1 loss at Fulham, Spurs midfielder Yves Bissouma, said: "We lost again. It is not easy, especially for us, for the club. It is not good for everyone.

"We know this is a big emergency. We need to change a lot of things, we need to put effort into the game to try and win games. At the moment, it is just hard."

Reacting to that interview, former Premier League title winner Chris Sutton, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, said: "If you're a Spurs fan and listening to that Bissouma interview, there are alarm bells ringing. They are in real danger of going down."

A 2-1 loss at Fulham might not sound too bad in isolation against an impressive Cottagers side that have eyes on Europe, but it is now 10 league games without a win. They are currently suffering their worst run in 32 years since a similar streak under Ossie Ardiles in 1994.

Against Fulham, Spurs scored from their only effort on target through Richarlison's header and it was the hosts were threatened to add to their own tally – Fulham manager Marco Silva bemoaning the score "not reflecting our superiority on the pitch".

Facing far bigger problems, Tudor, who has now lost both of his games since replacing the sacked Thomas Frank, said: "We need to find forces inside each of us, where are we going to go?

"When we attack, we lack the quality to score the goals. I want to see everything more, more personality, more wish to do things. We were not good, lacked everything. Attacking and defending, Fulham were much better.

"Of course it is a confidence problem, it's not about systems. I don't want to speak about relegation all the time - I give the same answer, my answer is always the same.

"We don't need to think about that [relegation], not because it cannot happen, but we must focus on growing mentality as a team, concentration, physically."

No new-manager bounce for struggling Spurs

Tudor, a two-time Serie A champion as a player with Juventus, is getting first-hand experience of how Spurs have been a team of great contrasts this season, struggling domestically but progressing nicely in the Champions League with a two-legged tie against Atletico Madrid in the last 16 to come.

A second-half capitulation saw Tottenham lose 4-1 at home against leaders Arsenal in Tudor's first game, but the manner of their loss at Craven Cottage may be more worrying.

"We want our Tottenham back" was one of the chants from those Spurs supporters, on another miserable day for them.

Former Tottenham goalkeeper Joe Hart, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, summed up the feelings and said: "It is serious, really serious.

"With 28 games played now, they're looking at the table with 29 points on the board.

"That is the only thing their focus can be on this season. Obviously, they have got the Champions League to enjoy, but when it comes to the league it is about amassing as many points as possible."

For Tudor and Tottenham, 10 league games remain, starting with Crystal Palace at home on Thursday, before the first of their two European ties with Atletico.

"We need to forget this game and focus on training," added Tudor. "We need to stay calm, believe in what we are dong in training, and get out, staying all together.

"The problems are more complex [than attitude and commitment] second half was better, but the first half was not enough.

"There are problems here, big problems."

'VAR is about fixing clear and obvious errors' - analysis

There is a misconception that VAR exists to ensure consistency of decision-making, but this has never been its remit.

It is there to fix clear and obvious errors – and that is why we see similar situations with different outcomes.

It is one of the many reasons why fans struggle to understand what VAR is trying to achieve.

We can pick out four decisions - three were goals, and one was disallowed – though all three involving Spurs went against them.

Earlier this season, Tottenham conceded a goal against Liverpool when Hugo Ekitike had hands on Cristian Romero.

Last week, Tottenham had a Randal Kolo Muani goal ruled out when there was a small push in the back of Gabriel.

And on Sunday, Fulham's goal stood despite Igor Tudor's claims of a push by Raul Jimenez on Radu Dragusin.

Fulham themselves will point to a goal they conceded against Manchester United at the start of the season.

Leny Yoro had two hands on the back of Calvin Bassey, but the goal was allowed to stand.

Judging the consistency of VAR is about the intervention, not the final outcome.

All these decisions have been left to referee's call, whichever way they have gone.

Yes, you could argue that the inconsistency is on the field, but it is a pipe dream to expect overall consistency when every situation is slightly different.

What is certain is that VAR has not wavered from sticking with the original decision.

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COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Tariq Francis scored 19 points and Rutgers, which once led by 20 points in the first half, defeated Maryland 69-65 on Sunday to sweep the season series between the teams.

Rutgers won 68-57 at home against Maryland in the other meeting this season.

Trailing by 19 at halftime, Maryland stormed back early in the second half. Elijah Saunders and Andre Mills hit 3-pointers and the Terrapins added five three throws in a 13-0 run that got them within 45-41 six minutes into the second half.

Maryland took the lead once at 48-47 and the score was tied at 54 with a little under five minutes remaining. Rutgers quickly went back ahead 60-54 and led the rest of the way. The Terrapins were within two points twice in the final half-minute but both times Rutgers delivered at the free-throw line to preserve the win.

Darren Buchanan Jr. scored 14 points and Jamichael Davis had 12 for Rutgers (12-17, 5-13 Big Ten).

Mills had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Saunders had 11 and 14 for Maryland, which had a 50-26 advantage on the boards but had 19 turnovers to six for Rutgers. Solomon Washington had 15 points and four blocks and David Coit scored 10 for the Terps (11-18, 4-14).

Maryland made only 1 of 14 3-pointers and had 14 turnovers in the first half. Rutgers had a 14-0 advantage in points after turnovers, helping the Scarlet Knights take a 39-20 halftime lead. In one eight-minute stretch the Scarlet Knights outscored the Terrapins 18-4.

The Scarlet Knights gained their second road win of the conference season.

Up next

Maryland: at Wisconsin on Wednesday.

Rutgers: at No. 13 Michigan State on Thursday.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Fluminense and Vasco face each other this Sunday (1), at Maracanã, at 6 PM (Brasília time), for the second leg of the Cariocão 2026 semifinals.

Having won the first leg 1-0, the Tricolor das Laranjeiras needs a draw to advance to the tournament final.

The Cruz-Maltino, on the other hand, needs to win by two goals to qualify.

If they win by one goal, the spot will be decided in a penalty shootout.

Regarding the last match (2-1 against Santos, in the Brasileirão), interim coach Bruno Lazaroni opted for the inclusion of Pumita Rodríguez, David, and Brenner in place of Paulo Henrique, Nuno Moreira, and Spinelli, respectively, for Vasco.

Meanwhile, in Fluminense, which comes from a 2-1 defeat to Palmeiras, also in the national championship, coach Luis Zubeldía (to be replaced by Maxi Cuberas due to a suspension in the first leg) chose to field Samuel Xavier, Jemmes, Renê, Hércules, Canobbio, and John Keneddy in place of Guga, Ignacio, Arana, Bernal, Ganso, and Savarino, respectively.

📋 Check out Fluminense's lineup

📋 Check out Vasco's lineup

Featured photo: Disclosure/X Fluminense F.C.

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

The Cleveland Browns are heading into the 2026 NFL Draft with needs at two main positions, offensive line and wide receiver. Thankfully, this year’s class is projected to be chock-full of excellent options at both spots in every round.

One particular player seems to be a pretty nice fit for what Todd Monken likes to do at “Z”, and that’s Oklahoma WR Deion Burks.

The 5’10”, 180-pound pass-catcher had an excellent day at the NFL Combine, posting top-notch numbers in the 40-yard dash (4.3 flat), vertical jump (42.5”), and bench press (26 reps). Yes, you read that correctly, he pumped out more bench reps than quite a few defensive linemen who are 100+ pounds heavier than him.

Despite being so light, he’s pure muscle and is incredibly explosive out of the break after throttling down and making cuts on short to intermediate routes. Very few wide receivers in this year’s class can run a 5 to 7-yard slant route better than he can, and though that may not sound too exciting, every quarterback would kill to have a player who runs quick-game routes like Burks.

His physical limitations will definitely hinder his overall draft stock regardless of the testing numbers, but he may be the best player at the position in rounds 4-5. Cleveland could be targeting someone like Burks when looking for their second wide receiver after hopefully finding one early in round 1 or 2.

Burks would provide Todd Monken with a player similar to Zay Flowers, whom Monken utilized perfectly in Baltimore over the past few seasons. A playmaker that could be moved around and be incredibly effective on tunnel screens, in different “Dagger” concepts, and on bubble screens.

The Browns could definitely use some help in the explosive play department, and Burks would undoubtedly provide some potential there.

Grêmio and Inter have been named for Gre-Nal 450, which kicks off the grand final of the Campeonato Gaúcho in 2026.

The first leg of the final takes place this Sunday (1st) at the Arena, with the match starting at 6 p.m.

Inter had a better campaign during the qualification phase and therefore has the right to host the return match at Beira-Rio next Sunday (8th), at the same time.

If the aggregate score is tied after both matches, the champion will be decided by penalties.

Check out the starting lineups for the match below:

Grêmio

João Pedro and Balbuena are out of the match due to physical problems. 

On the other hand, Arthur, Willian, Monsalve, and Tetê have left the medical department and have been included in the squad.

Inter

Colorado is at full strength for the match.

Victor Gabriel and Bruno Tabata had minor muscle injuries and are available, but will start the derby on the bench.

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

A Familiar Feeling

"I just feel confident I can finish the fight in the first round"

Javier Reyes kept the scorecards out of it with a big TKO at #UFCMexico

Complete Prelim Results ➡️ https://t.co/3UHRGfEGj2pic.twitter.com/wSv58CmbsE— UFC News (@UFCNews) March 1, 2026

The Miami Dolphins are going to look much different under the leadership of new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and new head coach Jeff Hafley in 2026 and beyond. However, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN, the organization plans to keep four core players in the team’s plans for many years to come.

On Sunday, Graziano published an article on ESPN’s website discussing the rumors he’s heard while at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis last week. Regarding the Dolphins, he said that fans should “expect” the team to work on contract extensions for running back De’Von Achane, center Aaron Brewer and linebacker Jordyn Brooks. He also mentioned that the team views wide receiver Jaylen Waddle as a building-block for the future as well.

“Expect the Dolphins to work on extensions this offseason for running back De’Von Achane , center Aaron Brewer and linebacker Jordyn Brooks . Miami is under new management and likely entering something of a rebuild. But along with wide receiver Jaylen Waddle , the Dolphins view those three as core players and moving forward. Waddle is already signed long term, but the other three are free agents in 2027.”

While trade rumors have been running rampant this time of year — especially regarding Achane and Waddle — it doesn’t sound liked Sullivan or Hafley is interested in moving on from Miami’s “core four.” If the organization can stabilize the quarterback position, having electric weapons, stout protectors and tenacious defenders will go a long way towards returning the Dolphins to the upper echelon of franchises in the National Football League.

The Division I women’s basketball selection committee released its updated top-16 rankings Sunday, with UConn remaining at No. 1 heading into the final day of the regular season. The Huskies face St. John’s on Sunday night in their Big East season finale. With a win, UConn would complete its 11th perfect regular season in program history.

UCLA and South Carolina, which have both remained unbeaten since the last top-16 reveal on Feb. 14, stayed at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. The Bruins claimed the Big Ten regular-season crown a week ago with a win over Wisconsin, while the Gamecocks took the SEC regular-season title this past week by defeating Mizzou.

The big move near the top of the rankings came from Texas, which leapfrogged Vanderbilt to No. 4 — a ranking that would give the Longhorns the final No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. If these seedings hold, it would be the third time in women’s NCAA Tournament history that the previous year’s Final Four were the subsequent season’s No. 1 seeds.

NCAA DI Women’s Basketball Top 16 Reveal. #NCAAWBB x #MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/Qo0azaliYe

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 1, 2026

The SEC and Big Ten dominated February’s reveal, with six teams apiece. In this round, Minnesota jumped into the top 16 to give the Big Ten seven teams, while the SEC claims five spots, including four of the top seven.

Here’s today’s top-16 reveal (previous rank in parentheses):

1. UConn (1)

2. UCLA (2)

3. South Carolina (3)

4. Texas (5)

5. Vanderbilt (4)

6. Iowa (11)

7. LSU (8)

8. Michigan (6)

9. Louisville (7)

10. Duke (10)

11. TCU (12)

12. Oklahoma (16)

13. Maryland (13)

14. Michigan State (14)

15. Minnesota (NR)

16. Ohio State (9)

Dropped from the rankings: Ole Miss (15)

On March 14, the day before Selection Sunday, the committee will release an unranked grouping of the top 16 teams. These teams will host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Historically, home-court advantage has proved to be key — in 2024 and 2025, 13 of the 16 host teams in each tournament advanced to the Sweet 16.

How the bracket looks for now

Fort Worth 1: UConn (1), LSU (7), Louisville (9), Maryland (13)

Sacramento 2: UCLA (2), Vanderbilt (5), Duke (10), Ohio State (16)

Fort Worth 3: South Carolina (3), Michigan (8), TCU (11), Minnesota (15)

Sacramento 4: Texas (4), Iowa (6), Oklahoma (12), Michigan State (14)

The great Vanderbilt-Texas debate marches on

These rankings provide a sense of what the committee values most at this point in the season. Ahead of the February rankings, Vanderbilt had beaten Texas in a game in which the Longhorns didn’t look particularly competitive for long stretches. The committee ranked the Commodores ahead of the Longhorns then, preferring Vandy’s head-to-head advantage over criteria such as bad losses. (Vanderbilt had a 29-point defeat to South Carolina in late January.)

Since that reveal, Vanderbilt has lost at Georgia, while the Longhorns have won four straight, including a win over the Lady Bulldogs. That was enough to push Texas past Vanderbilt for the final No. 1 seed, but it’s possible the two teams could swap places again before the official bracket is revealed.

The SEC tournament could ultimately determine whether Vanderbilt or Texas snags that last No. 1 seed. Sunday’s games could still impact seeding for the Nos. 2-4 positions in the conference tourney between Vanderbilt, Texas and LSU. However, if all three win on Sunday, the Commodores and Longhorns would both be in the bottom half of the SEC bracket, with the possibility of facing off in the semifinals with a potential No. 1 seed in the Big Dance on the line.

Another head-to-head matchup impacts the rankings

Michigan and Iowa swapped places as the second-highest Big Ten team in the rankings, behind UCLA. This appears to be another credit to the weight the committee is placing on head-to-head results, as the Hawkeyes took down the Wolverines, 62-44, on Feb. 22 in Iowa City, Iowa.

This should flag to teams in the top 16 (and those sitting just outside of it) that conference tournament results could be crucial in the final rankings. Wins over ranked opponents could allow some teams to secure their top-16 status or spur others to jump into the rankings and secure hosting positions in the NCAA Tournament field.

Minnesota moves into the top 16

The Gophers’ climb into the rankings is a testament to the committee’s respect for the Big Ten’s depth and to Minnesota’s growth under third-year coach Dawn Plitzuweit. If they remain in the final top 16, the Gophers should receive their highest tournament seed since 2005, when they advanced to the Sweet Sixteen as a No. 3 seed.

Minnesota has recorded two signature wins in the last three weeks. The Gophers handed Iowa its only home loss of the season on Feb. 5 and notched an impressive 13-point win over Ohio State on Feb. 18. Given that Iowa rose five spots in Sunday’s rankings compared to the previous top 16, that victory in Iowa City appears to have given the Gophers’ resume a major boost.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Minnesota Golden Gophers, Vanderbilt Commodores, Iowa Hawkeyes, Connecticut Huskies, Michigan Wolverines, Texas Longhorns, Women's College Basketball

2026 The Athletic Media Company

Liam Rosenior says Chelsea’s disciplinary record and the manner of the goals they have conceded of late are not acceptable.

Rosenior’s side received another red card in their 2-1 defeat to Arsenal with Pedro Neto being shown two yellow cards.

It means Chelsea have had seven red cards in the Premier League this season, a league high, and nine in all competitions.

“I think, as a group, me as the leader as well, we have to take more accountability for some of the decision making we have in terms of our discipline,” Rosenior said after the defeat.

“The goals we’re conceding, some of them, are just not acceptable at this level.”

Stay up to date with all the latest Chelsea news by joining our Chelsea WhatsApp channel. 

Expanding on his side’s disciplinary issues, Rosenior explained: “It’s not about the punishment, it’s about finding the reason why.

“I don’t think Pedro Neto today or Wes Fofana last week would have, in that moment, been thinking about ‘if I get a red card, I’m going to get fined’.

“It’s a focus and a concentration thing that we need to get right. I know the record at the club is not great from the start of the season.

“We had ten games when I came in where we didn’t have these issues but now we’ve had two in two games so it’s something deep lying that we need to get to the bottom of.

“The thing for me is if we get to the bottom of those two main things (set pieces and discipline), we can be a very, very good team and we can achieve all the things we want to achieve.”

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The Cleveland Cavaliers will look to break their two-game skid as they head to New York to take on the Brooklyn Nets.

I’ll be in the comments throughout the game sharing my thoughts. Feel free to join in on the conversation and let your voice be heard in the comments below.

Go Cavs!

Who remembers the pictures taken after Bayern Munich won the 2020 UEFA Champions League? Leon Goretzka’s incredible physique was the envy of the world (though some saw his receding hairline compared with the body and drew other conclusions) as he flexed next to the trophy. He was Bayern’s strong man in midfield for many years.

But he is leaving in the summer. Bayern will need another strong man in midfield.

Aleksandar Pavlović is the most natural candidate for the job, given his height at 6’2″. Though Goretzzka’s departure is clearly not the main reason for this, he has notably been putting work into getting stronger. The results of which can be seen down here:

The 21-year-old recently published this picture of himself on social media and, in a recent interview, he was asked about it. Because of course he was.

“A little (laughs). But I don’t want to be a bodybuilder, I don’t want to gain too much muscle mass,” Pavlović answered in turn. “That can be a hindrance. Still, it feels good to be in such good athletic shape.”

Of course, calling back to those buff Goretzka pictures, the interviewer asked whether the senior Germany international was a role model in this aspect.

“Leon used to have significantly more muscle than I do now. More like Cristiano Ronaldo. He’s a role model of mine in general. He’s a model of a professional in every respect.”

It is funny to think that Pavlović came fairly close to falling through the cracks at Bayern due to a lack of physicality. Then he had a late growth surge, grew to his current big height, added the physique required to his game and continues to build on it. Now he is one of Bayern’s most important outfield players. Pavlović’s story is one of opportunism as well as hard work. That has to be respected.

Back to Salt River Fields for the D-backs, who are now without most of their expected starting infield. Carlos Santana, Ketel Marte and Geraldo Perdomo are now off to join their country for the World Baseball Classic, so won’t be back for a while. It’ll therefore be up to Nolan Arenado to marshal the infield in their absence, and that’s what we see in the line-up today. Luken Baker, Tommy Troy and Jose Fernandez take over for the trio named above, with Arenado and Alek Thomas perhaps the only players who’ll be in our Opening Day line-up. Which is now this month, folks. Welcome to March!

Michael Soroka, who now looks to be back in the rotation to start the year, following Merrill Kelly’s issues, gets his second start of spring. So I’d expect him to try and get through three innings this afternoon. He allowed a run on two hits and a walk over two innings his first time out, with three strikeouts. We should get to see some familiar names out of the bullpen after Soroka, with the following potentially on the list: LHP Kohl Drake, RHP Kevin Ginkel, RHP Ryan Thompson, RHP Drey Jameson, RHP Shawn Dubin, RHP Alfred Morillo and LHP Spencer Giesting.

Again, no TV for this one, but as was the case yesterday, you can tune in on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM or online, with Chris Garagiola & Brandon Webb bringing you the game.

Finally, the first big bunch of roster moves for Arizona this morning.

Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva has rallied a new-look dressing room to push for silverware in the future as he looks to pass over the baton to the next generation of stars at the Etihad Stadium.

The Portuguese has under four months left on his current contract as he looks to lead Pep Guardiola and co to a fifth Premier League title in six seasons in what is increasingly looking like Silva’s final season in England.

Silva is not expected to make a public announcement over his next chapter anytime soon as Manchester City remain in the hunt for silverware on four fronts in the closing months of the season.

A sole goal from Antoine Semenyo against Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday saw Manchester City claim a sixth consecutive win and move to within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal, who face Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday evening.

City are set to push Arsenal all the way in the title race once again as Guardiola and co aim for a successful finish to their premier campaign under the stewardship of director of football Hugo Viana.

Viana has revamped Guardiola’s squad significantly since replacing Txiki Begiristain and in an interview for the March issue of Manchester City’s official magazine, Silva has admitted he is hoping to instil a culture of winning in a young, new-look dressing room for the future.

“For sure, the hunger is still here, even though we were really successful in the past,” the 31-year-old said. “The challenge of having all of these young guys coming in and trying to put the club back where it deserves to be and putting these young guys ready to fight for this club, for the next five, six years, like we did our generation in the past.

“That’s a massive challenge and I would love to do that successfully, you know? I would love to be gone one day, to look back and to see that when I left the club, I left it at a time where it was in a very good place and could still fight for all the top honours. That’s my goal.”

Silva played 90 minutes at Elland Road on Saturday evening as Manchester City maintained the pressure on Arsenal, who have it all to do if they are to fend off another title hijack from the masters of the chase at the Etihad Stadium.

City fans will be secretly retaining a glimmer of hope that club officials can somehow convince their skipper to extend his contract but it is more hope than belief at this point.

There has been next to zero chatter over contract talks between Silva and executives at the Etihad Stadium, who will be looking to recruit in the transfer market accordingly should they witness the Portugal international head towards the exit door when the time comes.

Until then, Silva and the Manchester City regiment remain in the running for an unprecedented quadruple and while the jury remains out on how ready this new-look side are for sustained success, it could well and truly be a special season for the Blues if they play their cards right.

Gary Neville understands how psychologically demanding it can be for Arsenal to overcome Chelsea, particularly after playing second following Manchester City’s victory. The Gunners had watched as a solitary goal secured City a win over Leeds United the previous day, leaving them fully aware that they needed to respond with three points of their own.

Chelsea represented a sterner challenge than Leeds, and despite Arsenal having defeated them twice in 2026, the Blues approached the fixture determined to restore pride. The context added further intensity to an already significant contest.

Early Promise and Renewed Pressure

Arsenal began with authority, demonstrating composure and intent as they sought to assert control. Their strong start was rewarded with the opening goal, reinforcing the belief that they could handle the mounting pressure. However, as many anticipated, Chelsea responded. The Blues found an equaliser and showed resilience, making it clear they would not be easily subdued.

The remainder of the match demanded persistence from Arsenal. They continued to search for a decisive breakthrough, although they were occasionally exposed by a sharp and enterprising Chelsea side. The contest ebbed and flowed, reflecting the high stakes involved for both teams.

(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Holding Firm Under Expectation

Eventually, Arsenal found the winning goal, a moment that shifted the balance in their favour. Even then, the task was not complete. Chelsea pressed forward in pursuit of another equaliser, forcing Arsenal to demonstrate defensive resolve and mental strength during the closing stages.

Neville acknowledged the significance of the achievement, particularly given the circumstances. He said on Sky Sports, “Arsenal have found a way.

“It’s never easy to play second, especially when Man City get the points on the board. It adds pressure, it does.

“But they got over the line. It’s a good day for the Gunners.”

His assessment highlights the psychological fortitude required to sustain a title challenge when every result carries profound consequences.

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You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.

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More Stories / Latest News

“Found a way” Gary Neville gives his reaction to Arsenal beating Chelsea

1 March 2026, 20:00

Arsenal overcome a determined Chelsea to go five points clear

1 March 2026, 18:46

Confirmed Arsenal team v Chelsea – Eze keeps his place in team

1 March 2026, 15:15

Although ECW legend Rob Van Dam hasn't wrestled for WWE in 12 years, he hasn't ruled out the possibility of returning to the company, so long as he can pass the drug test.

During a live question and answer period on his YouTube channel, RVD was asked if he would consider joining Paul Heyman's faction, The Vision, on "WWE Raw," due to the amount of injuries the group has endured, explaining that he's always open for opportunities, especially now that the promotion allows its talent to use marijuana.

"Hey man. Paul's got my number ... I'm not sure I'll pass the drug test. I gotta study," he stated. "Everybody knows they're not testing for weed anymore ... it gets brought up to me all the time in interviews and stuff, and lately after talking about how they don't test for marijuana anymore, they like to bring up that interview that Cody [Rhodes] did with [Finn Balor] ... they want to know my opinion on that and I think that's great. It's going to add longevity to their careers and their lives."

It was first revealed that marijuana had been taken off WWE's banned drug list last year when "WWE SmackDown" star Michin confirmed that the company accepted that talent like to use it for pain relief or enjoyment. RVD hasn't been shy about his love for weed, having founded his own cannabis brand in 2019 and can be seen smoking during many of his podcast episodes. 

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit "Rob Van Dam" with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Read more: Every Paul Heyman Guy, Ranked By Accomplishments

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Read the original article on Wrestling Inc.

Liam Rosenior has been asked about Chelsea’s dire red card record in the league, and pushed back against the ideas that fines might help.

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Chelsea have just had another defeat and another red card, and at full time a very frustrated Liam Rosenior spoke to the media.

They asked him about the red card, the 7th of Chelsea’s Premier League season. Was asked about what plans he had to stop them happening, including the suggestion that the players could be docked wages.

Rosenior rejected the idea that fines might be something which helped the players find some discipline:

“You can fine players. It’s not about the punishment. It’s about finding the reason why. I don’t think Pedro Neto today or Wes Fofana last week would have in that moment been thinking about, if I get a red card, I’m going to get fined. It’s a focus and a concentration thing that we need to get right. I know the record of the club is not great from the start of the season, and now it’s getting bad.”

Well, at least Rosenior is admitting it’s a problem, rather than living in denial like some former coaches.

Rosenior points to ten games without a red

Liam Rosenior in his press conference.

“We had 10 games when I was in where we didn’t have these issues, but we’ve had two in two games,” the manager continued.

“There’s something deep-lying that we need to get to the bottom of. The thing is, for me, if we get to the bottom of those two main things, we can be a very, very good team and we can achieve all the things we want to achieve.”

In other news…

Reece James also spoke after the game, and was gutted about some of the silly mistakes his team had made.

The Daily Telegraph’s Matt Law was as fuming as most Chelsea fans were after another red cards for the Blues.

Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:

Today the Texas Rangers travel over to Peoria, AZ where they will take on the reigning AL West champion Seattle Mariners who are fresh off being just a handful of outs away from the World Series before heartbreak last October.

Texas will send LHP Jacob Latz to the mound opposite RHP Logan Gilbert for Seattle.

The Mariners have video, otherwise you can listen via 105.3 The Fan or follow along on Gameday. First pitch from Peoria Stadium is scheduled for 2:10 pm CT.

Go Rangers!

Indiana men’s basketball is set to take on Michigan State as the Hoosiers look to work their way to an NCAA Tournament bid.

It’s the second matchup between the Hoosiers and Spartans this season with the first having resulted in a 81-60 loss at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. This is a Michigan State team with a ton of size and strength of the kind Indiana has struggled against all season. The Hoosiers have to be efficient on offense if they want to pull off the upset.

There’s plenty to talk about with this matchup. Learn more about the game below and join the discussion!

How to watch

• How to watch Indiana vs Michigan State: Tipoff time, TV and streaming options, spread

Pregame reading list

• Indiana fans have mixed feelings about men’s basketball’s tournament chances
• Indiana men’s basketball vs Michigan State: 5 things to know about the Spartans
• Indiana men’s basketball: 3 key factors against Michigan State

Jiri Prochazka has opened up as an early betting favorite for his upcoming light heavyweight title fight opposite streaking contender Carlos Ulberg at UFC 327 on April 11 LIVE on Paramount+ from inside Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.

On Friday, both Prochazka and Ulberg learned that their next fight would be for UFC’s vacant 205-pound title. UFC CEO Dana White announced that Alex Pereira was relinquishing his championship throne and that Prochazka and “Black Jag” would step in on six weeks notice to crown a new divisional king. It sucks to see “Poatan” leave the division behind, but getting to see “BJP” and Ulberg duke it out for UFC gold is going to be pretty exciting.

As of now, oddsmakers have pegged Prochazka as an early betting favorite to take care of business in Miami and walk away with another UFC title belt. That’s according to our friends over at Bet Online, which currently lists Prochazka at -120. Ulberg, who was actually a slight betting favorite when initial odds released Saturday morning, is currently being listed at +100.

Check it out below:

UFC 327 will feature much more beyond the light heavyweight main event. In the co-headliner, UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van will defend his title for the first time against dangerous challenger Tatsuro Taira. The card will also feature notable names like Beneil Dariush, Dominick Reyes, Curtis Blaydes, Paulo Costa, Aaron Pico, Kevin Holland, Mateusz Gamrot, Patricio Pitbull, Kelvin Gastelum, Randy Brown, Vicente Luque, and a few more.

For more UFC 327 fight card news and coverage click HERE.

It’s hard to believe we’re already in the last week of the ACC regular season, but as the calendar flips to March, that’s where we are. The Tar Heels play their last home game of the 2025-2026 season on Tuesday night, hosting the Clemson Tigers as both teams vie for a top-4 finish to conference play and that sweet, sweet double-bye. It’ll be a ceremonious occasion, too, as it will be the game for R.J. Davis’ jersey honoring and Seth Trimble’s Senior Night. With a lot at stake in terms of both ball and vibes, here are some things to look for as the Heels gear up for their penultimate game of the regular season.

Three-Point Defense

Clemson is kind of like UNC this season in that the Tigers have a lot of players who are alleged as shooters, and take three-pointers like a team that thinks it can shoot, and while sometimes that’s worked out for them like in their most recent game against Louisville where Jestin Porter shot 4/8 from behind the line to propel his team to victory, most of the time it has ended up hurting them — during the 4-game losing streak that preceded the Louisville game, they shot worse than 30% from three-point range, and they’re shooting a mediocre 34% from distance this season. On one hand, you’d rather face a team that’s not shooting well than one that is shooting well, but on the other, we have seen too many times that this is exactly the kind of team, one with a history of making shots that isn’t currently making those shots, that just needs to see a couple of open looks go down before turning into absolute snipers. Clemson’s best shooters by the numbers are not the guys who are taking the most shots — Jake Wahlin and Dillon Hunter shoot 37% and 36% respectively on about 85 attempts each on the season, while Efrem Johnson shoots 35% on 95 attempts this season and the aforementioned Porter shoots 34% on a whopping 158 attempts. This is not a game where Carolina should be “paying attention to the scouting report” and prioritizing a team’s best shooters so much as just getting sticky on the perimeter. The way to beat this Clemson offense is to let them shoot while contesting every shot — don’t send help to shooters, don’t help off other ones, but just stay on your man. This is a willing shooting team that isn’t very good at passing — to some extent, the best way to beat them is to let them beat themselves.

Turnovers

The Tar Heels have the 18th-best turnover rate in the country, but when they do turn the ball over, it tends to be in bunches, which give their opponents quick and easy offense and, on an off day, let those opponents put together quick runs that are difficult to counter and make games harder than they should be. That could be an ugly combination with this Clemson defense, which has been the second-best in the ACC during conference play at forcing turnovers. It’s not a great time for UNC to have point guard questions anew, with Derek Dixon’s play having seriously regressed in the past couple of weeks — against Virginia Tech, he played just 17 minutes to Kyan Evans’ 24, and after spending most of the season as UNC’s most reliable perimeter shooter, he’s hit just 5 of his last 28 three-point attempts, and that’s brought an average that was in the 40’s down to 34%. That said, he and Evans were responsible for just 1 of UNC’s 13 turnovers against the Hokies and handed out 6 combined assists, so it’s not completely like taking care of the ball was all that related to said point guard questions. Rather, half of those turnovers came from players not being strong enough with the ball in the paint: 6 from the combination of Jarin Stevenson and Zayden High, and another one from Henri Veesaar. Unfortunately, that’s where Clemson also feasts on generating turnovers; starting center Carter Welling boasts a genuinely impressive steal rate for a big man. The Heels will have to be smart with the ball in the paint given their lack of real bulk among the three players rotating in the post. This is certainly not a game where you win by just pounding it inside and expecting results.

The Home Streak

Alas, I still mourn the fact that I can’t just stick a jab in these articles about Clemson being an auto-win in Chapel Hill anymore. But even though I’m not talking about the Tigers being 2-61 or whatever when visiting UNC, there’s still some home stadium history at stake with this one: the Heels are so far undefeated at home this season. Thanks to the ACC’s unbalanced scheduling (with the exceptions of Louisville, Duke, and Georgia Tech, UNC has played basically all its weak ACC opponents at home and all its okay-to-good ones on the road — and Syracuse, whom they’ve played twice, basically splits the difference) and a pretty weak non-conference slate, it’s not all that impressive when you dig into it, but that home record still includes wins against good Louisville, Kansas, and Duke teams. The Smith Center has felt a little more hostile (complimentary) this year than in some previous; I suspect people are finally starting to remember how to be in crowds again after 5 years and the vibes of this team are a lot less sour than those of most Hubert Davis teams (‘24 excepted). Maybe the discussion that’s recently popped up about the Center’s potential relocation has played a role in people feeling more passionate about being there; there’s nothing like the threat of something being taken away to make you hold on to it tighter.

All that is to say that the last time UNC went undefeated at home, they cut down the nets. I’m not saying that’s at stake on Tuesday, I’m just saying that it could be fun to dream.

Terence Crawford thinks fighters need to be more assertive in combat sports.

The first man to capture undisputed titles in three weight-classes in the four-belt era of boxing, Crawford is widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time. Last year, Crawford retired after beating Canelo Alvarez, saying he had nothing left to accomplish in the sport. But while “Bud” may be done, combat sports roll on, and he’d like to see some changes from his peers. Specifically, Crawford wants his fellow fighters to understand how much power they have.

“These combat sports, it’s got to come from the fighters,” Crawford told Joe Rogan on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast when talking about weight-cutting being a problem in the UFC. “Just like boxing. I think if the fighters come together, they can make anything happen. The fighters don’t understand the level of power that they carry, because they think, ‘Oh, since they’re cutting the check, they’ve got the power.’ But they can’t cut the check without us.”

The idea of MMA fighters banding together has been around for years but never come even close to happening. Various attempts at organizing fighters have started and stopped, faltering early on as fighters seem broadly disinterested in the idea. Or, as Crawford says, because the financial realities of opposing the promoters are not viable for many fighters.

“But it’s the fighters that need the money that makes it hard, because the fighters already got the money, they can make a stand for something,” Crawford said. “But the fighters that doesn’t, they’re like, ‘You can do that. I’ve got to provide for my family. You can take a chance of going at the organization for a year or however long it’s going to last, but who’s going to pay my bills? Who is going to put food on my family’s table while we’re doing this, while we’re making a stand? So it’s a little tougher for them to make that stand than a person that’s already established. I think that’s where the seesaw effect happens with boxing and UFC.”

Arsenal and Chelsea Tracking Senny Mayulu as €60m PSG Exit Looms

Premier League heavyweights are circling once more, and this time the focus is on one of Paris Saint-Germain’s most gifted young midfielders. As first reported by Caught Offside, Senny Mayulu’s contract talks with Paris Saint-Germain have reached an impasse, placing Arsenal and Chelsea firmly on alert ahead of the summer window.

Mayulu, 19, remains under contract until 2027. However, PSG’s proposal to extend that agreement until 2030 has been turned down amid disagreements over salary expectations. It is a familiar theme in modern football, elite potential meeting commercial reality, and English clubs are poised to capitalise.

Sources close to the situation have informed Caught Offside that Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City are closely monitoring the situation. Tottenham Hotspur wanted to sign Mayulu at the start of the season.

Contract Stalemate Opens Premier League Door

There is no disguising the stakes. PSG are determined not to lose him for free. If no agreement is reached, they are expected to open negotiations at around €60 million, with the fee potentially rising to €65–70 million. A move to England would likely see his wages triple.

Photo: IMAGO

This is where the Premier League’s financial strength becomes decisive. Arsenal view him as a modern midfielder who could succeed Kai Havertz, Chelsea want him as part of their squad rebuild, and City admire his passing range and football intelligence. Aston Villa and Newcastle have also made informal approaches.

The phrase “most likely” has been attached to Arsenal or Chelsea making a decisive move this summer. That feels significant. PSG may attempt a last minute push with a record salary offer, yet the sense is that time is pressing. If no deal is struck by May, PSG will have little choice but to sell.

Tactical Profile Suits English Football

Scouting reports highlight Mayulu’s versatility, he can dictate play from midfield while contributing goals and assists, fitting the profile of a modern mezzala. His physical strength and success in duels suggest he is ready for the Premier League’s intensity.

For Arsenal, the attraction is clear. A technically secure midfielder who can operate between the lines and drive forward fits Mikel Arteta’s evolving blueprint. At Chelsea, where long term squad building remains a priority, Mayulu would represent both investment and identity, youthful, dynamic, and resale savvy.

Caught Offside’s report underscores the broader point. The 19-year-old French midfielder is highly rated across Europe, and he could develop into a top-class player with the right guidance. If Arsenal or Chelsea manage to secure his signature, they could have a future star on their hands.

In an era where recruitment defines trajectories, this feels like a calculated gamble rather than a speculative punt. Both clubs have the financial muscle to get the deal across the line, and they would do well to sign a promising young player like him.

As ever, timing will be everything. Should PSG blink first, England may become Mayulu’s next proving ground.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

From an Arsenal supporter’s perspective, there is understandable caution around this report. The talent is evident, the upside considerable, yet €60 million remains a substantial commitment for a 19-year-old who has not yet completed a full season as a regular starter in a top five league.

Arsenal’s midfield already contains established options, and while succession planning for Kai Havertz makes sense on paper, supporters will question whether this is the priority area. Depth at centre forward and defensive reinforcement may rank higher in the minds of many.

There is also the Premier League adaptation factor. French prospects have thrived in England, yet others have required patience. Physical readiness is one element, consistency across 38 matches is another entirely. The expectation at Arsenal is immediate impact, not gradual bedding in.

An unconvinced fan might argue that PSG’s willingness to sell raises its own questions. If he is viewed internally as elite, why risk losing him amid stalled wage talks. Is this a negotiating tactic, or a sign that the valuation reflects potential more than proven output.

None of this diminishes Mayulu’s ability. It simply frames the debate. Arsenal must be certain, not hopeful, when committing such sums. Recruitment has improved markedly in recent seasons, and supporters will expect that same rigour to apply here.

Torino got life under Roberto D’Aversa off to a flying start this evening, with a 2-0 win against Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio, Giovanni Simeone and Duvan Zapata scoring to help secure an important three points.

Speaking at his first post-match press conference as Torino boss, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb, D’Aversa was delighted with his side’s performance against the Biancocelesti.

“When there is a change of manager, a reaction is normal,” he said. “I’m pleased with the strikers’ goals, we had the courage to start them both immediately to send a signal. When everyone sees Zapata and Simeone working hard and sacrificing for the team, everyone gives more.”

TURIN, ITALY – MARCH 1: Roberto D’Aversa, Manager of Torino FC greets Maurizio Sarri, Manager of SS Lazio during the Serie A match between Torino FC and SS Lazio at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on March 1, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Chris Ricco/Getty Images)

Torino 2-0 Lazio – D’Aversa: ‘Important win, now we focus on Napoli’

He also credited his 3-4-2-1 system, noting that the same formation can be interpreted in very different ways depending on the approach. “We tried to occupy the width with Duvan attacking the depth. We had prepared it that way.”

On what message he delivered to his players before kick-off, D’Aversa was candid and refreshingly human.

“I reminded them that we were going out to play football, to be enthusiastic, to consider ourselves fortunate given what is happening in the rest of the world. We needed to restore enthusiasm and confidence.”

TURIN, ITALY – MARCH 01: Duvan Zapata of Torino FC scores a second goal during the Serie A match on March 01, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

He was equally quick to keep expectations in check, repeatedly stressing that nothing had been achieved yet.

“We haven’t done anything,” he said more than once. “The win was important, but now we think about Napoli.”

Trust the Process

"I got in there, I had a smile on my face...I felt that energy from all the Brazilians"

Ryan Gandra (@gandra_ryan) discusses his epic UFC debut, halting his opponent in just 41 seconds

Complete Prelim Results ➡️ https://t.co/3UHRGfEGj2pic.twitter.com/awonTrr2DU— UFC News (@UFCNews) March 1, 2026

In a game that figured to be a toss-up, the Wisconsin Badgers asserted themselves as the real UW in the Big Ten with a 90-73 dominating over the Washington Huskies. It was a fantastic response by the Badgers after they were embarrassed in their last game against Oregon, leaving the Huskies red-faced.

After shooting a poor 14-of-45 from behind the three-point line against Oregon, the Badgers improved their three-point accuracy against Washington. Wisconsin connected on 17-of-38 three-point shots in Seattle. We know how much Greg Gard loves to use the three-point shots in this offense, but the Badgers will be a tough out in March when they are setting up good three-point shots and not settling.      

Moving forward, the Badgers, a projected seven-seed in both CBS’s Bracketology and Joe Lunardi’s ESPN projection, have two more regular-season opportunities to bump up to a sixth seed in the NCAA Tournament. They must avoid a massive letdown performance against Maryland next Wednesday on Senior Day before taking on Purdue at Mackey Arena on Saturday. 

Here are three standouts from Wisconsin’s win over Washington.

Braeden Carrington

If Carrington’s three-point shooting performance did not put his name into the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year, I do not know what will. On Saturday, Carrington led all Badger scorers with a career-high 32 points off the bench and shot 9-of-15 from three-point range.

It was the first time a Badger player scored 30 or more points off the bench since Rob Wilson’s game against Indiana in the 2012 Big Ten Tournament. Those nine three-point field goals made are a new school record.   

Nick Boyd

Boyd continues to etch his name among the best starting transfers in the Greg Gard era. The senior point guard led all Badgers starters with 22 points on 11-of-20 shots, with 14 of those points coming in the Badgers’ stellar first half.

In addition, Boyd matched his career-high with nine rebounds against the Huskies. It was Boyd’s 18th game of 20+ points, placing his name among some Badger greats.

Nolan Winter

It was another solid game for Winter, finishing one rebound shy of another double-double. The junior forward scored 13 points on 5-of-10 shots from the floor, including 3-of-5 from three-point range, and tied Nick Boyd with nine rebounds on the day.

His last three-pointer even got a strong “Let’s Go Badgers” chant going at Alaska Airlines Arena.

Mookie Betts is in the lineup for his first Cactus League game in 2026, one of a handful of Dodgers regulars being slow-played this spring. Freddie Freeman is also in the lineup, in his planned cleanup spot.

Sunday game info

• Teams: Dodgers vs. Angels
• Ballpark: Camelback Ranch
• Time: 12:05 p.m. PT
• TV: SportsNet LA
• Radio: AM 570

Who is Gennings Dunker? Meet the mullet-clad Iowa OT known for crushing blocks and flowing locks originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The 2026 NFL Combine featured a fair few notable performances.

Sonny Styles, Eli Stowers and Taylen Green all impressed with dazzling showcases atop the artificial Lucas Oil Stadium turf over the weekend. On Sunday, another luminary came to the stage, making his mark in an entirely different way.

Iowa offensive lineman Gennings Dunker was one of the country's finest trench talents during his final two years of college. During Sunday's combine session, the 22-year-old thrust himself into the conversation of draft class' most interesting man, becoming a media darling following a captivating 40-yard dash that saw his hair dance in the wind.

It wasn't the first time Dunker made waves on the draft circuit. Weeks earlier, he went viral for an interview with NFL Network during the Senior Bowl. During that chat, Dunker waxed lyrical about his love for coffee — specifically from Culver's.

In case you missed the full Gennings Dunker experience at the @seniorbowl …pic.twitter.com/SstMGsL2Brhttps://t.co/F1611WWgoA

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 1, 2026

So, just who is the man behind the hairdo? And what are Dunker's actual NFL prospects?

NFL COMBINE HQ:Live results | SN's 2-round mock draft | Top 140 big board

Who is Gennings Dunker?

Dunker is a 22-year-old offensive tackle who starred at Iowa. A Des Moines native who grew up in Iowa State territory, Dunker starred at Lena-Winslow High School in Lena, Illinois, earning three-star billing in the process, per 247 Sports. After redshirting as a freshman, the 6-foot-5, 315-pound lineman appeared in 12 games in 2022. 

He emerged as a starter in 2023, starting all 13 of the Hawkeyes' contests at right tackle. He proceeded to earn second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2024 and first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2025, emerging as one of the nation's finest offensive linemen across his final two years in Iowa City.

MORE:NFL Combine measurements tracker

Gennings Dunker mullet

Dunker is perhaps best known for his mullet, which billows in the wind as he makes his way down the field. He sports a fiery mane cloaked in an amber tint. It pairs nicely with his mustache, which is similarly distinctive.

Dunker dons his coiffure for a simple reason. He believes it will help him make it to the NFL.

“I did copy [former Iowa guard Connor] Colby because he had a season without one, a season with one. You know, he played a lot better with it,” Dunker told The Daily Iowan in 2025. “There’s a correlation.”

Colby was selected by the 49ers in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Dunker seems likely to join him in the professional ranks, with most mock drafts listing him as a Day 2 prospect. He enjoyed a strong showing at the 2026 Senior Bowl and continued his exploits with a spirited showing at the Combine on March 1.

MORE:NFL Combine bench press records

Gennings Dunker draft projection

Dunker was not listed on TSN's Vinnie Iyer's latest mock draft, published after the first run of draft combine drills. Other publications fancy him to be a late-first or early-second-round selection, with NBC Sports' Kyle Dvorchak pegging Dunker to be selected No. 29 overall by the Rams in his post-Super Bowl mock draft.

IYER:Latest post-Combine NFL Mock Draft 

Gennings Dunker NFL Combine results

Here's a look at Dunker's performance at the 2026 NFL Combine.

Dunker's 40-yard dash proved especially notable, with his nest-like hair wafting in the warm Lucas Oil Stadium breeze.

Gennings Dunker in all of his mullet glory 😅

2026 NFL Combine on @nflnetwork
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/VnqhZWbTo9

— NFL (@NFL) March 1, 2026

Gennings Dunker and Rich Eisen... two great mullets 😂 pic.twitter.com/aIa2iffX6J

— NFL (@NFL) March 1, 2026

MORE:Why is the NFL Combine always in Indianapolis?

Gennings Dunker Iowa highlights

Dunker captivated audiences during his time at Kinnick Stadium. Here's a look back at his finest moments in black-and-gold.

Where is Gennings Dunker from?

Dunker hails from Des Moines, growing up a stone's throw from Iowa State's campus. Despite his proximity to the school, his family was Hawkeyes through and through.

“We took family photos and [I’m wearing] Hawkeye shirts and stuff,” Dunker said. “I got a picture of me and my little brothers wearing Hawkeye shirts.”

Dunker moved to Lena as a child. There were no youth leagues in his hometown, so he took his talents to nearby Dakota as a child. There, he gravitated to the trenches, finding his footing while crashing into opposition defenders. It started as a hobby but soon became an obsession, one which followed him as he morphed from the spindly 6'1 freshman who entered into Lena-Winslow's halls to the 6'4, 240-pound talent who captivated audiences as a junior.

MORE:Inside the NFL Combine records

Cody Gakpo Response Highlights Liverpool Character Amid Criticism

Cody Gakpo’s name has echoed loudly around Anfield in recent weeks. As Liverpool have searched for rhythm under Arne Slot, frustration has often settled on the Dutch forward. Against West Ham, he offered a reminder of resilience, scoring his first Premier League goal since January 4 and nudging the conversation in a different direction.

It was not a thunderbolt. His effort deflected off Aaron Wan Bissaka and wrong footed Mads Hermansen. Yet in seasons shaped by fine margins, such moments matter. Liverpool required composure, and Gakpo delivered.

Jason McAteer Backs Liverpool Forward

Former Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer has urged perspective. Speaking on The Official Liverpool Podcast, he expressed sympathy for the 26 year old.

“I’ve a slight sympathy for Cody, I think sometimes he can be unfairly criticised,” said the scouser.

“When it’s not going well I think he’s an easy target. He puts a right shift in and sometimes doesn’t get the credit he’s worthy of. He’s having quite a productive season, scoring goals.”

McAteer acknowledged the predictability in Gakpo’s approach but framed it within context.

“He is kind of predictable,” McAteer conceded. “He’s right-footed, he comes in off the left, the gap opens up and he takes that opportunity. He’s maybe not as productive as last season but he’s still contributing a lot this season in front of goal and he gets his reward.”

Those words capture the duality of Gakpo’s campaign. He cuts inside, searches for space, strikes. Defenders anticipate it, supporters expect more variation, yet the numbers still hold weight.

Photo: IMAGO

Work Rate and Mental Strength in Focus

Perhaps the most revealing part of McAteer’s assessment centred on character.

“He shows good character because he misses that really big glaring opportunity, fluffs his lines and then he gets booked two minutes after. It’s a really bad four or five minutes and you’re thinking please don’t take him off! And then he goes and gets his goal and makes way. I’m a Cody fan, I am. And he’s such a nice lad as well. A lovely human being, a great fella.”

That sequence against West Ham illustrated a forward wrestling with pressure. A missed chance, a booking, then redemption. In elite football, the response defines reputation.

Under Arne Slot, whose first season delivered a Premier League title in 2024-25, collective discipline has underpinned success. Individual dips are inevitable. Gakpo’s challenge has been consistency rather than commitment.

Numbers Suggest Contribution Remains Significant

Gakpo’s strike against West Ham was his 49th for Liverpool. One more will bring a half century. He has reached double figures in each of his two full seasons and sits two goals shy of repeating that feat.

These are not negligible statistics. They speak of contribution within a side navigating tactical evolution and injury disruption. Liverpool have lacked attacking fluency at times, and criticism has followed. Gakpo has often worn it.

Is he capable of more? Undoubtedly. Supporters recognise his technical ability, his balance and his intelligence in tight spaces. Yet football rarely permits extended reflection. Momentum must be seized.

Liverpool need Gakpo sharp in the final weeks. With limited alternatives on the left flank, Slot’s trust carries significance. Saturday’s goal may not silence every doubter, but it reasserts value.

In campaigns defined by scrutiny, composure becomes currency. Cody Gakpo, backed by Jason McAteer, has shown he still possesses it.

Leeds United and Sunderland go head-to-head at Elland Road this Tuesday in the Premier League. The match will be broadcast live at 19:30 on TNT Sports.

Leeds United have won 31 points to date and are placed in 15th position. In their last game, Daniel Farke's team lost 0-1 against Manchester City (Premier League 2025/26).

Sunderland have 37 points to their name this season and occupy 12th position in the table. Last time out, Régis Le Bris's team drew 1-1 against Bournemouth (Premier League 2025/26).

The last meeting between the two teams ended in a 1-1 draw.

Unavailable

Leeds United

• Noah Okafor - Injury

Sunderland

• Reinildo Mandava - Injury
• Romaine Mundle - Injury
• Dennis Cirkin - Injury
• Nordi Mukiele - Injury
• Brian Brobbey - Injury
• Jocelin Ta Bi - Injury

Last starting XIs

Leeds United ( vs Manchester City 2026-02-28): Karl Darlow, Jayden Bogle, James Justin, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Pascal Struijk, Joe Rodon, Anton Stach, Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev, Brenden Aaronson, Calvert-Lewin

Sunderland ( vs Bournemouth 2026-02-28): Robin Roefs, Lutsharel Geertruida, Omar Alderete, Daniel Ballard, Trai Hume, Noah Sadiki, Granit Xhaka, Chemsdine Talbi, Habib Diarra, Enzo Le Fée, Eliezer Mayenda

Did you know...by playmaker stats

MANAGERS

• Daniel Farke has faced Régis Le Bris on three occasions, recording one win and two draws
• Régis Le Bris has faced Leeds United on three occasions, recording two draws and one loss
• Daniel Farke has faced Sunderland on seven occasions, recording one win, four draws and two losses

TEAMS

• Away from home, Sunderland currently has one win in the last 11 games.
• Away from home, Sunderland has gone two consecutive games without losing.
• Sunderland has scored in three consecutive games.
• Sunderland has gone two consecutive games without winning.
• At home, Leeds United has conceded goals in three consecutive games.
• Leeds United currently has three losses in the last 17 games.
• Leeds United currently has one win in the last seven games.
• Leeds United has conceded goals in seven consecutive games.
• Leeds United has gone four consecutive games without winning.

HEAD TO HEAD

• Leeds United and Sunderland have faced each other 98 times, with Leeds United having an advantage: 41 wins, against 35 victories for Sunderland.
• At Elland Road, Leeds United has an advantage in duels against Sunderland: 25 wins in 49 games. Sunderland has 11 victories.
• In the English League, 63 matches have been played between the two teams, with Leeds United winning 29, 13 draws and 21 victories for Sunderland.

Al Ahly staff member handed lengthy suspension

(Video) After post-match clashes: the full story behind the eight-match ban for Al Ahly administrator

The Egyptian FA suspended Al Ahly youth team official for eight match after violent scenes in Republic League final.

What happened after the final whistle

The Egyptian Football Association announced a series of disciplinary sanctions on Sunday following incidents after the Republic League U2009 final between Al Ahly & Zed FC.

The match ended with Zed winning 3-1 allowing them to claim the league title for second consecutive season. However celebrations were overshadowed by clashes between staff members from both clubs after the final whistle.

Eight-Match ban for Al Ahly administrator

According to the official statement, Abdelrahman Saeed an administrator with Al Ahly’s 2009 team was handed eight-match suspension and fined 10,000 Egyptian pounds.

The sanction followed his physical assault on Abdelrahman Tarek Yehia, deputy head of Zed’s youth sector which led to the match being stopped after full time.

The FA described the incident as a serious breach of discipline and stressed that strict action was necessary to protect fair play in youth competitions.

Multiple sanctions for Al Ahly staff

The Egyptian FA also imposed several other penalties on Al Ahly:

• A fine of 1000 pounds for delaying kick-off
• A 5000 pound fine for repeated collective protests and pitch invasion by technical and administrative staff
• Another 5000 pound fine for inappropriate behavior toward the opposing team

In addition Walid Soliman head of the youth sector was suspended for one match and fined 1000 pounds after being sent off for protesting.

Head coach Mohamed Mohamed Ezz received two match ban and 5000 pound fine for inciting players and objecting to decisions while goalkeeping coach Ehab Khamis Mohamed was banned for four match and fined 1000 pound for unsporting conduct.

Zed official also punished

The FA confirmed that Abdelrahman Tarek Yehia, Zed’s deputy youth sector head was not exempt from punishment.

He received two match suspension and 1,000 pound fine for entering the pitch and showing unsporting behavior toward opponents.

A downward spiral for the Cameroonian?

برايتون: ثلاث دقائق لعب في مباراتين، كارلوس باليبا يفقد ثقة المدرب

The trend is worrying for Carlos Baleba. After starting during Brighton’s recent disappointing performances, the Cameroonian midfielder now finds himself relegated to the bench. This Sunday against Nottingham Forest, Baleba came on in the 88th minute, symbolically resuming his role as a substitute. It’s the second match in a row he’s started on the bench, while in previous games where he was a starter, Brighton struggled to secure a win.

His recent run highlights the situation. Over the last four matches, Brighton has claimed three victories and suffered one defeat, but Baleba only played a small part in those wins. Against Crystal Palace, who lost 1-0, he featured for 71 minutes before making way for Diogo Gomez. Versus Aston Villa, he played just 22 minutes before being replaced by James Milner—an early tactical adjustment from the coaching staff. Then against Liverpool, once again in the starting lineup, Baleba lasted 62 minutes before being subbed off for Kaoru Mitoma, and Brighton fell 3-0.

The turning point came on February 21, in the match against Brentford: Baleba played only one minute, coming on in the 90th, while Brighton secured a 2-0 victory. Since then, the team’s collective balance has been found without Baleba in the starting eleven.

Against Nottingham Forest, the trend continued: Baleba remained on the bench, and his late introduction (88th minute) was mostly to help secure an already favorable scoreline. Brighton won 2-1, and Baleba was once again confined to a substitute role.

The Cameroonian is experiencing his first real rough patch in the Premier League. This situation could even cost him his place in the national team.

Elche star Rafa Mir could be facing up to a lengthy incoming spell away from the pitch.

This comes with the striker accused of racially abusing Espanyol’s Omar El Hilali on Sunday afternoon.

Elche played host to Espanyol earlier today, giving rise to an entertaining four-goal affair which saw the two sides forced to settle for a share of the spoils.

The aforementioned Rafa Mir proved himself decisive when it comes to the scoreline, notching a last-gasp penalty to level things up at 2-2.

As alluded to above, however, in the game’s aftermath, the name of frontman Mir has taken its place centre stage in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

As per the referee’s official post-match report:

“In the 78th minute, RCD Espanyol player number 23, Mr. Omar El Hilali, informed me that Elche CF player number 10, Mr. Rafael Mir Vicente , addressed him in the following terms: ‘You came in a dinghy,’ which could not be heard by any of the members of the refereeing team. Consequently, I proceeded to activate the anti-racism protocol, which is why the match was stopped for 3 minutes.”

In the case of Mir being found guilty of the alleged offence, according to Mundo Deportivo:

‘The Elche player could face a suspension of up to ten matches under Article 105.’

Conor Laird – GSFN

Resignation rejected as Marseille owner steps in

Marseille owner rejects Mehdi Benatia resignation at Marseille

Marseille owner Frank McCourt rejected Mehdi Benatia’s resignation and confirmed he will remain sporting director until June 2026.

Benatia’s exit bid blocked

Former Morocco defender Mehdi Benatia has remained in his role as sporting director of Marseille after club owner Frank McCourt turned down his resignation.

Benatia had decided to step away on 15 February following difficult period for the club marked by poor results and the recent separation from head coach Roberto De Zerbi.

The situation worsened after heavy 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

Owner shows full confidence

Despite the turbulent run, McCourt chose to keep Benatia in place and renewed his trust in the former defender. The Marseille owner confirmed that Benatia will stay on as sporting director until June 2026.

Following the decision, Benatia was granted full sporting authority including responsibility for all football-related matters and the appointment of the club’s next head coach.

At the same time, the role of club president Pablo Longoria was reduced to institutional duties and official representation, away from day to day sporting decisions.

“No Conspiracy” behind coaching change

Benatia later spoke publicly to address the recent events at the club. In comments reported by Journal du Dimanche, he denied any hidden agenda behind De Zerbi’s departure.

“There was no conspiracy” Benatia said. He explained that he accepted McCourt’s request to stay because he felt a strong sense of responsibility toward the club.

He added that he could not walk away from Marseille during such a difficult moment.

Benatia also rejected claims that he was seeking more power within the club stressing that his decision was driven by loyalty and concern for stability.

A project still moving forward

Benatia joined Marseille in November 2023 as sporting advisor before taking over as sporting director in January 2025.

Despite recent setbacks, he believes the club’s long-term project remains on track even if results have been disappointing.

The calendar has turned to March, and that means the regular season finale is here for the Iowa Women’s Basketball team. They end the season with a good matchup to have right before the tournament: what should be a tune-up game against the Wisconsin Badgers. A win today would be Iowa’s 24th of the season, which would have Jan Jensen matching second highest regular season win totals in the history of the program…in her second season at the helm. This has been a remarkable season in so many ways for this young team. Add in the fact that they lost senior guard Taylor McCabe to an ACL tear and lost 3 straight games as a result, the Hawkeyes haven’t lost since, thanks to some major progression from sophomore Taylor Stremlow and freshman Journey Houston in particular.

Speaking of Houston, she will get the second start of her Hawkeye career this afternoon, as senior Hannah Stuelke will sit out of the game to recover the elbow that she almost certainly hyperextended Thursday night in the gritty win against Illinois. Stuelke could probably play if the team really needed her, but with Wisconsin sitting near the bottom of the Big Ten standings, it’s another good opportunity for players like Addie Deal, Callie Levin, and Teagan Mallegni to get some extra minutes as a result of being down a starter. Look for freshman Layla Hays to also get some big minutes as Ava Heiden continues to try and get fully recovered from illness to be at 100% for this week’s business trip to Indy.

Last time the Hawkeyes were without Stuelke, it resulted in a win against Purdue where the Boilermakers were able to claw back into the game from a 20+ point deficit when the Hawkeyes were messing around with lineups, so we might see that again today as well, but hopefully the end result will be the same. It should be a fun time regardless – let’s close out the regular season strong! I’ll be around in the comments and recapping as well – be kind in the comments and GO HAWKS!

How to watch:

Date: March 1, 2026
Time: 2 p.m. CST
Matchup: No. 9 Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Wisconsin Badgers
Location: Kohl Center — Madison, WI
TV: B1G+ (ugh, but it’s for the last time this season! Don’t forget to cancel your subscription!)

Mikel Arteta said Arsenal are happy to embrace their 'Set-Piece FC' nickname after using their deadly corner routines to seal a vital 2-1 win against Chelsea on Sunday.

Arteta's side moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League thanks to headers from William Saliba and Jurrien Timber at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners have scored 16 goals from corners this season -- equalling the Premier League record set by Oldham and West Bromwich Albion.

No wonder Arsenal's jubilant fans celebrated by chanting "set-piece again, ole, ole".

Chelsea also scored from a corner when Piero Hincapie headed Reece James' delivery into his own net on the stroke of half-time to cancel out Saliba's opener.

That was a rare blemish for Arsenal when it comes to dead ball action as set-piece coach Nicolas Jover underlined his growing reputation with another masterclass.

As they chase a first English title since 2004, Arsenal's prowess at set-plays has emerged as their defining characteristic.

But not everyone is enamoured with the set-piece barrage fuelling their title charge.

Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton was scathing about Arsenal's reliance on the tactic.

"Set-piece Arsenal, again. I think they are going to win it," Sutton told BBC Radio Five Live.

"If they get over the line, will they be the ugliest Premier League winning team in history? The performance wasn't there."

Yet Arteta has no qualms about emphasising the value of set-pieces.

"We knew the importance of the individual duels at set plays because Chelsea are a top side attacking and defending them," the Gunners boss said.

"Every team to be fair. There is so much quality at set pieces in the Premier League.

"It's very important. We have lost points to long throws and lately we haven't scored from many set-pieces. Today we did it. To have these options is great."

- 'We are right up there' -

Manchester City, who have a game in hand and host Arsenal in April, are still firmly in the title hunt.

But Arteta's faith in set plays is understandable given Arsenal are in contention to win the quadruple after recovering from a damaging wobble by beating Tottenham and Chelsea in successive games.

"We are really happy because we know we had two difficult games in the last week or so. The attitude and willingness ot go for it and be dominant, I am happy with it," he said.

"In March, we are in every competition, we are right up there."

Chelsea have conceded nine goals from set-pieces in Liam Rosenior's first 13 matches and five of those have been against Arsenal.

The Blues also had Pedro Neto sent off for two second half bookings, extending a poor disciplinary record that Rosenior said they must "eradicate". 

Rosenior was frustrated with his players' failure to contain Arsenal at corners despite working on a new plan for the occasion.

"To concede two goals from set plays, that ultimately cost us the game, is very disappointing," Rosenior said.

"We conceded from a corner against Burnley last weekend as well. It's something that has come into our game and is costing us points. We worked on a certain new scheme and it didn't work today.

"Arsenal are probably the best team in the world at them. It's a combination. The marking, the zone players. The goalkeeper is involved. I won't single out. I will address it on the training ground."

Chelsea appealed in vain for a foul before Timber's winner and Rosenior said football's lawmakers might need to change their rules to combat teams like Arsenal, who have perfected the art of holding the opposition before the ball is delivered.

"There is a rule that says there can't be a foul while the ball is not in play. There's lot of holding and grappling that goes on before the ball is delivered," he said.

"Set plays are massively important in this league. It is something that is coming in and it needs to be looked at. But we have to deal with it better."

smg/dmc

Before wrapping up his career at the 2026 Royal Rumble, AJ Styles got to share the ring with Shinsuke Nakamura, his long-time friend, one last time. According to Styles, this clash was important to him not only because of their personal connection, but also for the fact that their previous one in WWE wasn't as well-perceived as they had hoped.

"Of course I have favorite moments and matches, but there's so many that I can't just throw them out there," Styles told "Raw Recap: WWE Now." "Let's talk about the most recent favorite. Shinsuke Nakamura and myself had an unbelievable match at Saturday Night's Main Event. I'm probably proud of that match because I know a lot of people didn't like the first one we had in WWE, so I think we made up for it."

Under the WWE banner, Nakamura and Styles battled over the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 34, with the latter emerging victorious to retain the title. Afterward, Nakamura blindsided Styles with a low blow and Kinshasa, signaling a heel turn. This go-around at Saturday Night's Main Event, the in-ring faceoff between Styles and Nakamura remained respectful across the board as both men laid in their signature offenses. Styles again left with a victory via the Styles Clash.

Aside from his rematch against Nakamura, Styles pointed to his bouts with John Cena and CM Punk as other recent favorites. "The match with John Cena at Crown Jewel in Australia. Man, I'm so glad I got to wrestle that guy. Punk, having that match with him. There are a lot of matches that I didn't think I'd have the opportunity to have at the end of my career and was able to pull off some unbelievable matches and unbelievable moments."

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit "Raw Recap: WWE Now" with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Read more: 5 Wrestlers Worse Off After Leaving WWE

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Read the original article on Wrestling Inc.

If the Boston Celtics putting up historic numbers in terms of efficiency vs. the Brooklyn Nets in Boston's 148-11 blowout at TD Garden this past Friday (Feb. 27) evening was not enough of a clue that new Celtics center Nikola Vucevic was starting to feel more at home in Boston's elite offense, the fact that the Montenegrin big man tied star Celtics forward Jaylen Brown in scoring with 28 points off the bench should be.

And Vooch admitted as much after the win, saying "I’m still getting used to, obviously, the new offense and all my teammates and learning their tendencies and things like that, finding my way"

"At times I do feel like I overthink a little bit, and then makes me kind of hesitant and it takes away my aggressiveness," he added.

"I felt like (vs. Denver), I was just able to put a little more together, just play off teammates when I was getting good looks, shots were falling which obviously helps," said Vucevic. "Just have to find the right balance of playing my game, being aggressive, and using my instincts, but make it fit within what we want to run."

"I think just the more we play together, the more I learn my teammates tendencies, the more they learn what I like, it’ll help us. But, I thought tonight it came together pretty well. I think the offense was running pretty smoothly."

Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:

Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKp

iTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47

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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Nikola Vucevic is getting comfortable in Celtics offense - and it shows

The Athletics have had a rough start to spring training, going 1-6 in their first seven preseason games. However, a new month means a fresh start and a sign that the start of the regular season is inching closer. With the calendar shifting to March, it is time for the A’s to start playing better in preparation for Opening Day at the end of this month against the defending American League champion Toronto Blue Jays.

Right-hander J.T. Ginn will be making the start for the A’s this afternoon against the Cincinnati Reds. Ginn pitched well against the San Francisco Giants a few days ago in his spring debut, racking up three strikeouts over two perfect innings. The focus will be on Ginn today to see if he can follow up that performance with another strong outing, one that will likely last longer as the A’s evaluate whether the best place for him is in the starting rotation or the bullpen. Ginn should be on the A’s roster to begin the season in some capacity as he is proficient at inducing groundouts, something A’s pitchers need to induce more often in year two of the team’s temporary residence at Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park.

The A’s lineup this afternoon shakes out like this:

For the second day in a row, Nick Kurtz is batting behind Jacob Wilson atop the lineup, an alignment that should carry over into the regular season. If Kurtz homers with Wilson—or another leadoff hitter—on base, that’s two runs on the scoreboard. In general, it’s a sound strategy to place a power threat behind a high-contact hitter who consistently gets on base.

Both of the team’s catchers are in this afternoon’s lineup as is third baseman Max Muncy, who is off to a hot start this spring with four hits in ten at bats. Muncy can put some ground between him and the other third base competitors with another strong performance today. Lastly, today’s outfield starters are all prospects. Henry Bolte and Junior Perez are getting extended looks early this spring, yet both have struggled so far.

The Reds have Andrew Abbot, one of the best left-handed pitchers in the National League, lined up for his second spring start this afternoon. Here is how Cincinnati lines up behind him:

The Reds have several regulars in their starting lineup, so it should be another good test for Ginn and the pitchers lined up to follow him out of the A’s bullpen. JJ Bleday has gotten off to a strong start this spring, but can he keep it going against his former team?

What better way to start a new month than with an A’s win. Let’s go A’s!

IndyCar's defending champion starts 2026 the same way he started 2025, with a dominant win in the St. Petersburg Grand Prix, Sunday evening. This marks the Spanish driver's only third street course win in his career-defining 20 wins in 99 starts.

Palou had his best qualifying effort at the circuit, starting fourth behind Team Penske's Scott McLaughlin, Andretti's Marcus Ericsson, and Dale Coyne Racing rookie Dennis Hauger.

Before the final pit of the afternoon race, Palou led the field by over 14 seconds. In the final 20-lap sprint, he rebuilt that lead over the field to nearly 13 seconds. Kyle Kirkwood, on an alternate strategy, was in second and started to fade as the only driver in the top eight needing to fuel save. With seven laps to go, McLaughlin and McLaren's Christian Lundgaard made it by to Kirkwood to complete the podium.

Kirkwood was able to hold onto fourth ahead of McLaren's Pato O'Ward in fifth.

Following Palou's win, Fox Sports caught up with team owner Chip Ganassi, who was proud that his team is keeping things upfront, as Palou and the No. 10 CGR Honda team look to improve on a record-breaking season, winning 8 of 17 races, their first Indianapolis 500, and a fourth championship.

"It’s interesting that all the other teams are not flat-footed over the offseason; they’re working to try and beat us," Ganassi said. "You never know how hard they work, and how hard you work. I’m pleased to maintain some gap with the competition."

The race was not without attrition, with a lap one caution being brought out for Sting Ray Robb over-driving into a corner and collecting Santino Ferrucci and Mick Schumacher in his IndyCar debut.

Will Power finished the race 31 laps down following his second crash of the weekend. In his first race with Andretti, Power had issues all weekend with lockups, crashing in the second practice as well as the race.

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No. 1 Tennessee (19-0) won its finale in the Tennessee Invitational on Sunday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. The Lady Vols defeated Appalachian State (13-5), 6-2.

Karlyn Pickens (6-0) started for the Lady Vols and pitched a complete game. She totaled 15 strikeouts, tying a career high, and 124 pitches (75 strikes) against 29 batters. The right-handed pitcher allowed two hits, two runs (two earned), four walks, one home run and hit one batter.

Appalachian State hit four flyouts and two groundouts against Pickens.

Tennessee's offense totaled nine hits against the Mountaineers, including two doubles, one triple and one home run. Ella Dodge hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning. She totaled four RBIs.

The Lady Vols recorded four two-out RBIs and were 4-for-11 with two outs, 4-for-12 with runners on base and 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Tennessee leadoff batters recorded two hits in six at-bats.

Tennessee left seven runners on base.

The top-ranked Lady Vols will return to action on Tuesday against Belmont at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. First pitch for the in-state matchup is slated for 5 p.m. EST and can be watched on SEC Network+.

More: Karlyn Pickens signs first college softball player NIL pro league deal

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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: No. 1 Tennessee softball defeats Appalachian State, remains undefeated

Five memorable Celtic moments, with a nod to the late Celtic Historian and Celtic Star legend David Potter, on this day starting in 1919…

Andy McAtee scored

ONE – SATURDAY 1st MARCH 1919 – Vale of Leven, one of the pioneer teams of Scottish football, are at Celtic Park today for the Victory Cup. There is not a Scottish Cup this year because there was not enough time after the Armistice to organise it, so the Victory Cup (which will eventually be won by St Mirren) takes its place. Celtic win comfortably with goals from Andy McAtee and Joe Cassidy.

Stevie Chalmers scored

TWO – SATURDAY 1st MARCH 1969 – Celtic and St Johnstone serve up an excellent cup-tie at Celtic Park from which Celtic emerge as victors 3-2, but following a late rally by the Saints, the result is in some doubt right up to the final whistle. John Hughes, Bobby Lennox and Steve Chalmers are the goal scorers for Celtic. 39,000 enjoy the game on a fine spring day.

Johnny Doyle scored

THREE – SATURDAY 1st MARCH 1980 – Celtic maintain their challenge for the Scottish League with a 1-0 win over Greenock Morton (who have had a good season) at Cappielow. Johnny Doyle scores the only goal of the game, but the general performance is none too impressive.

FOUR – TUESDAY 1st MARCH 1994 –This is the night of the boycott. Only 9,887 appear at Parkhead to see Celtic v Kilmarnock and many of them leave before the end in protest at the Board. Celtic win 1-0 with a late John Collins goal, but this will not save the Board. A bizarre note is struck with the appearance of an urban fox. No-one seems to know where it came from, nor where it eventually went to. But the revolution is only days away.

Lee Naylor scored

FIVE – SATURDAY 1st MARCH 2008 –Celtic have a good 2-0 win at Easter Road today with a couple of goals from Lee Naylor and Georgios Samaras, but they could be forgiven if their minds were elsewhere, because their return game against Barcelona in the Champions League is imminent. .

Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr. Click on image to order

More Stories / Latest News

1st March – Five Memorable Celtic Moments on This Day

Mar 1 2026, 19:44

“We finally scored the penalty, what was it, the sixth attempt,” Martin O’Neill

Mar 1 2026, 17:55

The Rangers 2-2 Celtic – Jekyll and Hyde performance but Celtic still in title race

Mar 1 2026, 17:06

Mikel Arteta says Declan Rice will undergo an assessment after going off with an injury concern in Arsenal’s win over Chelsea.

Goals from William Saliba and Jurrien Timber gave Arsenal victory over their London rivals, but Rice was forced off in the second half.

“I don’t know,” Arteta said when asked about Rice’s problem.

“Declan had to be substituted so he’s going to have to get checked to see if he’s available for Wednesday and the rest are hopefully okay but we don’t know.”

Stay up to date with all the latest Arsenal news by joining our Arsenal WhatsApp channel. 

Arteta also says David Raya has been battling fitness issues of late and took a knock against Chelsea.

“I don’t know what happened in that action,” Arteta said. “He had some niggles this week so I don’t know if it’s related to that.”

Both of Arsenal’s goals came from corners and Arteta praised his players for finding a way to win.

“We haven’t scored set-pieces for a few weeks now, but we scored so many in open play, today it was an option to score from these kind of situations,” he said. “We’ve done it so well but we conceded as well.”

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Everton and Burnley face each other this Tuesday at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Match Day 29 of the Premier League. The match will be broadcast live at 19:30 on TNT Sports.

Everton have won 40 points to date and are placed in 8th position. In their last fixture, David Moyes's team won 2-3 against Newcastle (Premier League 2025/26).

Burnley currently have 19 points and lie in 19th position. In their last encounter, Scott Parker's team were beaten 3-4 by Brentford (Premier League 2025/26).

The last meeting between the two teams ended in a 0-0 draw.

Unavailable

Everton

• Carlos Alcaraz - Injury

Burnley

• Axel Tuanzebe - Injury
• Josh Cullen - Injury
• Connor Roberts - Injury
• Jordan Beyer - Injury
• Zeki Amdouni - Injury
• Mike Trésor - Injury
• Armando Broja - Injury

Last starting XIs

Everton ( vs Newcastle 2026-02-28): Jordan Pickford, Jake O’Brien, Jarrad Branthwaite, James Tarkowski, Vitaliy Mykolenko, Gana Gueye, James Garner, Dwight McNeil, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Iliman Ndiaye, Beto

Burnley ( vs Brentford 2026-02-28): Martin Dúbravka, Bashir Humphreys, Joe Worrall, Maxime Estève, Josh Laurent, James Ward-Prowse, Hannibal Mejbri, Lucas Pires, Bruun Larsen, Zian Flemming, Jaidon Anthony

Did you know...by playmaker stats

MANAGERS

• David Moyes has faced Scott Parker on three occasions, recording one win and two draws
• Scott Parker has faced Everton on four occasions, recording two wins, one draw and one loss
• David Moyes has faced Burnley on 24 occasions, recording nine wins, seven draws and eight losses

TEAMS

• Away from home, Burnley currently has one win in the last nine games.
• Away from home, Burnley has been conceding goals in 14 consecutive games.
• Away from home, Burnley has gone two consecutive games without losing.
• Burnley currently has two wins in the last 21 games.
• Burnley has been scoring goals in four consecutive games.
• Burnley has been conceding goals in 12 consecutive games.
• Burnley has gone three consecutive games without a win.
• At home, Everton currently has one win in the last nine games.
• At home, Everton has been conceding goals in seven consecutive games.
• At home, Everton has gone seven consecutive games without a win.
• At home, Everton has suffered two consecutive defeats.
• Everton currently has two losses in the last nine games.
• Everton has been conceding goals in six consecutive games.

HEAD TO HEAD

• Everton and Burnley have faced each other 125 times, with Everton having the advantage: 55 wins, against 39 victories for Burnley.
• At Hill Dickinson Stadium, Everton has the advantage in clashes against Burnley: 37 wins in 63 games. Burnley has 12 victories.
• In the English League, 115 matches were played between the two teams, with Everton winning 50, 30 draws and 35 victories for Burnley.

Kicker reports that relegation-threatened Wolfsburg are considering hiring Dieter Hecking to help them avoid the drop. An embarrassing 4-0 defeat against Stuttgart on Sunday leaves current head coach Daniel Bauer on thin ice. Wolfsburg didn’t respond to Bauer’s call-to-action following last week’s Bundesliga defeat against Augsburg. The only Wolfsburg professional to pick up a yellow card in the latest match was Bauer himself. 

Wolfsburg running low on options

Having already sacked head coach Paul Simonis and sporting director Sebastian Schindzielorz this season, Wolfsburg earnestly wished to avoid any more upheaval. As an alternative to two coaching changes in a single season, it’s been widely reported that the Lower Saxon Autostädter were considering moving newly appointed sporting director Pirmin Schwegler to the bench.

With only ten matchdays remaining, however, Germany’s green company team may have to employ something more drastic. Sunday’s Bundesliga loss keeps Wolfsburg in the second automatic relegation spot. The German Wolves sit two points below the relegation playoff place and three points adrift of outright safety thanks to weekend wins from St. Pauli and Werder Bremen.

Dieter Hecking available for return

Speaking to German broadcaster DAZN prior to kickoff on Sunday, Schwegler confirmed reports that Wolfsburg are not at all interested in bringing back head coach Felix Magath.Kicker nevertheless notes that Wolfsburg are interested in bringing back a separate former coach. Hecking coached the VWers from December 2012 to October 2016.

During his 165-match tenure, Hecking helped Wolfsburg capture both the DFB Pokal and the DFL Super Cup in 2015. Most recently, however, he was unable to keep Bochum from escaping relegation during the 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign. Hecking remained with Bochum in the 2. Bundesliga this year, before being sacked five games into the season.

GGFN | Peter Weis

Ahead of Wednesday’s big Coppa Italia showdown, Lazio were hoping to lift their spirts with a win over Torino, but they returned to Rome empty handed, as Roberto D’Aversa marked his Granata debut with a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Giovanni Simeone and Duvan Zapata in each half.

Here are our player ratings for Lazio who were outplayed by their hosts Torino on Sunday evening.

Lazio XI (4-3-3)

Ivan Provedel – 5.5

The shot-stopper was part of the mix-up that culminated in the opener. He couldn’t get close enough to the ball on Zapata’s header, but produced a couple of good saves on Simeone and Nikola Vlasic.

Adam Marusic – 5

An shaky peformance from the Montenegrin who left Cancellieri alone against two opponents in the buildup for the opener.

Alessio Romagnoli – 6

The former Milan captain was the most solid Lazio defender on Sunday, but some might accuse him of failing to preoperly organize the backline.

Oliver Provstgaard – 5.5

The Dane won several aerial duels, but was eventually beaten by the powerful Zapata on the second goal.

Luca Pellegrini – 4.5

A disappointing display from the left-back, who was the main culprit on the opener, as he failed to clear the ball or prevent Simeone from reaching it. He made some important blocks afterwards, but the damage had already been done.

Reda Belahyane – 5.5

A mixed bag from the Moroccan, who made some daring runs in the middle, but wasted possession too many times for Sarri’s liking, which may have prompted his half-time exit.

Danilo Cataldi – 5

The Lazio Regista lost the plot, especially in the second half. He was second best to Vlasic and Co.

Kenneth Taylor – 5.5

The former Ajax ran his socks off, but did not provide the required quality in either phase of the game.

Matteo Cancellieri – 5.5

The Italian worked hard while chasing the ball, but Lazio fans were expecting more than discipline from the talented winger.

Petar Ratkov – 5

The Serbian’s highlight was winning back possession on one occasion. His attacking threat was almost non-existent, and he was never provided with proper service.

Mattia Zaccagni – 5.5

The Lazio captain set up Belahyane’s first-half chance with a clever cut back, but it was still another sub-display considering his standards.

Substitutes

Tijjani Noslin – 5.5

The Dutch attacker was more dynamic that Ratkov, but not enough to trouble Torino’s defences.

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru – 5

The Nigerian was arguably a downgrade on Belahyane. Lazio completely lost the midfield battle following his introduction.

Gustav Isaksen – 5

The Dane had little to no impact on the game.

Nuno Tavares – 6.5

The Portuguese is becoming Sarri’s most best super-sup. His introduction set the left flank ablaze, as he provided his teammates with promising opportunities that went begging.

Boulaye Dia – N/A

Oliver Glasner singled out Matheus Cunha for his game-changing impact in his side’s trip to Old Trafford.

Although the Crystal Palace boss disagreed with Chris Kavanagh’s decision to award a penalty (and subsequent red card following a VAR check) for Maxence Lacroix’s foul on Cunha, Glasner did concede that the Manchester United star played the situation to his advantage.

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What Glasner had to say about Cunha

(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

He told reporters post-match: “The red card changed the game completely. I think it’s a very hard decision. The foul starts outside the box. Matheus Cunha is very smart to wait until he is inside the box and falls down.”

Indeed, it was that passage of play that turned the contest on its head for both sides.

United were gifted an opportunity to level the clash, while Palace had to navigate the remaining half hour with just 10 men.

After Fernandes converted his spot-kick, the hosts’ sustained pressure culminated with United completing a full turnaround as the skipper delivered a sensational pass into the area, which was headed home by the in-form Benjamin Sesko.

His contribution would end up being the match-winner, ensuring United took their chance to move up to third in the aftermath of Aston Villa’s loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

United continue stunning run under Michael Carrick

(Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Under Michael Carrick’s reign, the side remain unbeaten, and have now won six of their seven matches played.

Such form will undoubtedly have INEOS mulling over the prospect of appointing him long-term, especially considering his reputation with the United faithful and the backing they’d give him.

Ironically, the man on the other side of the dugout has also been brought up in conversations regarding the club’s managerial search.

Oiver Glasner has already confirmed he’ll be leaving Selhurst Park at the end of the term when his contract expires, but it’s safe to say he’s not among the fans’ favoured candidates.

More Stories / Latest News

Not Fernandes or Sesko: Glasner concedes Man Utd ace did something ‘very smart’ that completely changed the game

Mar 1 2026, 19:37

Man Utd fans will love what Bryan Mbeumo was heard shouting at Benjamin Sesko immediately after his goal

Mar 1 2026, 18:09

As well as Shaw: Man Utd star who’s started every game under Carrick was spotted going down tunnel with medical staff

Mar 1 2026, 16:56

DALLAS (AP) — The Dallas Mavericks have signed point guard Ryan Nembhard to a standard NBA contract after he thrived as an undrafted rookie free agent on a two-way deal.

The multiyear agreement announced Sunday fills the roster spot created when the Mavericks waived point guard Tyus Jones, an 11-year veteran who was part of the three-team, nine-player trade that sent 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis from Dallas to Washington.

The Mavericks also filled two openings for two-way contracts by signing guard John Poulakidas and forward Tyler Smith. Dallas waived two-way guard Miles Kelly to make room for both signings.

Nembhard was closing in on the maximum number of games allowed under two-way contracts when the Mavericks turned Jones loose to give him a chance to sign with a contender. Dallas has lost 12 of its past 14 games and is on the way to missing the postseason for the second year in a row.

Nembhard has made 17 starts in 38 appearances for the Mavericks, averaging 6.7 points while leading all rookies at 4.9 assists per game. He became the first undrafted rookie with at least 25 points and 10 assists without committing a turnover, scoring 28 points with 10 assists in a 131-121 victory over Denver on Dec. 1.

Poulakidas started the season with the G League's San Diego Clippers after going undrafted out of Yale.

Smith started this season with Rio Grande Valley in the G League. He previously played one season for the G League Ignite before getting drafted by Milwaukee in 2024. Smith played 23 games as a rookie for the Bucks.

___

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

Through no fault of his own, Mick Schumacher was forced to retire from the IndyCar Series season opener in St. Petersburg, driving the #47 RLL Honda. The son of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher was involved in an accident at the very start. Through no fault of his own, he is now out of the race.

The accident occurred in Turn 4 of the very first lap during a major braking zone. Schumacher had started in 21st place and was unable to avoid an accident between Sting Ray Robb (Juncos-Hollinger Chevrolet) and Santino Ferrucci (Foyt Chevrolet).

Turn 4 turns into CHAOS! 😬

Sting Ray Robb, Santino Ferrucci and Mick Schumacher are involved in an incident on Lap 1. pic.twitter.com/JzRWGlMTqS

— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) March 1, 2026

According to initial replays, Robb braked too late, preventing Ferrucci from turning in. Those two cars slammed the barrier nose-first, and Schumacher had no chance to avoid. He actually climbed atop Ferrucci's rear wing. Both he and Ferrucci were unable to continue, while Robb was issued a 30-second stop-and-go for avoidable contact.

In an initial interview with FOX, which had to be cut short due to audio problems, Ferrucci was harsh in his criticism of Robb: "It's a 100-lap race with three stops. Everyone has different strategies. There's no reason for such maneuvers in the first lap."

Translated from German

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

The Dodgers hit the road on Monday afternoon to face the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale. This is the first of two meetings between these two National League West foes this spring and this week, with another battle coming Saturday at Camelback Ranch.

On Monday, non-roster invitee Ryder Ryan is slated to pitch for the Dodgers, the first of the Ryan brothers in camp to start a game this spring. Ryder has pitched three previous games, one inning apiece, and this will continue his schedule of pitching once every three days. River Ryan will be stretched out as a starter this spring, and last pitched last Wednesday, throwing one inning.

Other Dodgers slated to pitch Monday are Edgardo Henriquez, Paul Gervase, plus non-roster invitees Carson Hobbs and Jordan Weems.

Right-hander Jimmy Herget starts on the mound for Colorado.

Monday game info

• Teams: Dodgers at Rockies
• Ballpark: Salt River Fields, Scottsdale
• Time: 12:10 p.m. PT
• TV: SportsNet LA
• Radio: KOA (Rockies broadcast)

The 2026 high school baseball season is scheduled to get underway this week for teams in Class 2A. To prepare fans for the upcoming season, the Deseret News has compiled capsules for every team in 2A. Every coach was invited to participate and submit information.

The region rankings are based on coaches’ preseason projections.

There are one new baseball coach in 2A this year: Brian Donohue (Water Canyon).

Here are the 2A teams and players to watch this upcoming season.

2A North

1. American Leadership Eagles

Head coach: Dustin Johnson (9th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 7-18 (tied for second in Region 14 with a 4-5 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 15 in 3A

2025 postseason: 0-2 record, Eliminated by Juab in 3A Super Regionals

2025 offense: 5.1 rpg (No. 13 in 3A)

2025 defense: 8.9 rpg (No. 13 in 3A)

Returning contributors:

• Jesse Coxson, 1B/OF, Sr.
• Curtis Castleberry, OF, Sr.
• Ethan Barney, P/OF, Sr.
• Aryn Moody, C/1B, Sr.
• Houston Wilson, OF/P, Sr.
• Hunter Courtney, 2B/OF, Sr.
• Justus Brost, 3B/P, Jr.
• Ian Heaps, OF/P, Jr.
• Travin Hales, MI/P, Jr.
• Daxen Stream, SS/2B, Jr.
• Korver Swenson, P/2B/OF, Jr.
• Cody Mason, C/CI, Jr.
• Logan Young, 2B/P/OF, Jr.

Key newcomers:

• Jayden Young, OF/SS, So.
• Ryker Durrant, P/1B, So.
• Boston Fenn, P/CI, Fr.

Coach comment: “I am excited to see how our guys come out and play this year together. We have a lot of talent in all classes and expectations are high as we compete in 2A for 2026.”

2. Duchesne Eagles

Head coach: Ryan Goodliffe (9th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 11-15 (tied for third in Region 2A East with a 7-5 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 10 in 2A

2025 postseason: 2-2 record, Eliminated by San Juan in 2A Bracket Play

2025 offense: 7.1 rpg (No. 9 in 2A)

2025 defense: 7.3 rpg (No. 10 in 2A)

Additional info not provided

3. South Summit Wildcats

Head coach: George Fauci (2nd year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 7-16 (fifth in Region 13 with a 2-8 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 13 in 3A

2025 postseason: 0-2 record, Eliminated by Morgan in 3A Super Regionals

2025 offense: 4.8 rpg (No. 14 in 3A)

2025 defense: 10.3 rpg (No. 16 in 3A)

Returning contributors:

• Hayden Simons, P/1B, Sr.
• Owen Mair, P/SS, Sr.
• Ian Mair, 3B, Jr.

Key newcomers: Additional info not provided

Coach comment: “Excited for baseball this year. We were young last year as a team. The team is hungry and driven.”

4. Millard Eagles

Head coach: Dakota Bullock (5th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 5-21 (seventh in Region 2A West with a 3-11 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 13 in 2A

2025 postseason: 2-2 record, Eliminated by Gunnison Valley in 2A Bracket Play

2025 offense: 5.1 rpg (No. 12 in 2A)

2025 defense: 11.7 rpg (No. 13 in 2A)

Returning contributors:

• Zach Higgins, P/IF, Sr.
• Bodie Memmott, IF, Sr.
• Kamdyn Frampton, OF/P, Sr.

Key newcomers: Additional info not provided

Coach comment: “Handful of guys that worked extremely hard this offseason, Hopefully we are able to ride them and our other guys catch up. As always, 2A looks to be very competitive.”

5. North Summit Braves

Head coach: Beau Morrill (6th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 1-21 (seventh in Region 2A East with a 0-12 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 15 in 2A

2025 postseason: 0-2 record, Eliminated by Duchesne in 2A One-loss bracket

2025 offense: 2.5 rpg (No. 14 in 2A)

2025 defense: 13.8 rpg (No. 14 in 2A)

Returning contributors:

• Jaxon Preator, P/C/Util, Sr.
• Kestin Richins, P/SS, Sr.
• Cael Crittenden, CF, So.
• Kasin Richins, P/SS, So.

Key newcomers:

• Max Shaw, C/OF, Fr.

Coach comment: “I’m excited for the new season we will be young and we will also have 3 seniors to guide our sophomores’ and freshmen.”

2A East

1. Gunnison Valley Bulldogs

Head coach: Chad Avery (3rd year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 18-9 (tied for first in Region 2A East with a 11-1 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 6 in 2A

2025 postseason: 2-3 record, Eliminated by Milford in 2A Bracket Play

2025 offense: 7 rpg (No. 10 in 2A)

2025 defense: 4.3 rpg (No. 5 in 2A)

Returning contributors:

• Braxton Pickett, P, Sr.
• Waylon Sorenson, P/C, Sr.
• Landry Edwards, P/OF, Sr.
• Daxton Knudsen, SS, Jr.
• Dillon Dyreng, 1B, Jr.
• Porter Comin, 2B, Jr.

Key newcomers:

• Kason Brackett, UTIL, So.

Coach comment: “Gunnison Baseball looks to continue building and improving this season. With all of our top contributors returning, the team brings experience and leadership as we work toward competing at a high level.”

2. South Sevier Rams

Head coach: Eric Baker (8th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 26-6 (fourth in Region 2A West with a 10-4 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 5 in 2A

2025 postseason: 8-1 record, Beat Kanab in 2A Championship

2025 offense: 11.1 rpg (No. 1 in 2A)

2025 defense: 2.7 rpg (No. 1 in 2A)

Returning contributors:

• Cannon Barney, OF, Sr.
• Houston Blake, INF, Sr.
• Jax Christiansen, P/INF/OF, Sr.

Key newcomers: Next man up

Coach comment: “Looking forward to competing and growing with a young team. Should be a lot of fun this year.”

3. San Juan Broncos

Head coach: Jens Nielson (8th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 21-6 (tied for first in Region 2A East with a 11-1 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 1 in 2A

2025 postseason: 2-2 record, Eliminated by South Sevier in 2A Bracket Play

2025 offense: 9.9 rpg (No. 2 in 2A)

2025 defense: 4.4 rpg (No. 6 in 2A)

Returning contributors:

• Baylor Nielson, C/P/SS, Sr.
• Jagger Nieves, Utility, Sr.
• Nache Young, IF/OF, Sr.
• Brandt Bingham, IF/OF, Sr.
• Remy Whatcott, IF/DH, Sr.
• Cash Palmer, IF/DH, Sr.

Key newcomers:

• Jonas Jeppesen, OF, Sr.
• Grady Lacy, OF, Sr.
• Keilan Hutchins, P/IF, Jr.
• Trai Bass, C, Jr.
• Beau Yeomans, P/IF, So.
• Jonah John, P/OF, So.
• Kreed Herring, P, Fr.

Coach comment: “We graduated a very talented Senior class from last year but bring back 9 seniors this year with about 6 boys that have significant Varsity experience. We have several very good underclassmen that will help contribute to this years team. We are excited about the season to see what these boys can do. The talent is there, just need to play together and play the game the right way.”

4. North Sevier Wolves

Head coach: Blake Butler (2nd year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 6-16 (sixth in Region 2A East with a 2-10 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 12 in 2A

2025 postseason: 0-2 record, Eliminated by Millard in 2A One-loss bracket

2025 offense: 4.7 rpg (No. 13 in 2A)

2025 defense: 9.8 rpg (No. 12 in 2A)

Returning contributors:

• McKay Foote, C, Sr.
• Parker Jensen, P/SS, Sr.
• Koy Wasden, P/CF, Sr.
• Hunter Lund, P/LF, Sr.
• Kade Harward, P/1B, Sr.
• Davis Malmgren, P/3B, So.

Key newcomers:

• Tate Torgerson, P/RF, Jr.
• Boston Bosshardt, 2B, So.
• Houston Mickelsen, IF, So.
• Zander Christiansen, DH/OF, So.

Coach comment: “Excited to bring back six starters from last season. We were young last year. Should be a lot more competitive this year in region.”

5. Grand Red Devils

Head coach: Wylson Lamb (2nd year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 14-14 (tied for third in Region 2A East with a 7-5 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 9 in 2A

2025 postseason: 4-2 record, Eliminated by South Sevier in 2A Bracket Play

2025 offense: 7.3 rpg (No. 8 in 2A)

2025 defense: 5.6 rpg (No. 8 in 2A)

Additional info not provided

2A South

1. Beaver Beavers

Head coach: Daniel Carter (8th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 24-5 (first in Region 2A West with a 12-2 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 2 in 2A

2025 postseason: 3-3 record, Eliminated by South Sevier in 2A Championship Day

2025 offense: 8.6 rpg (No. 3 in 2A)

2025 defense: 3.3 rpg (No. 3 in 2A)

Returning contributors:

• Davin Orton, P/UP, Sr.
• Gabe Robinson, P/C, Sr.
• Noah Wolff, UP, Sr.
• Raider Blomquist, P/C/UP, Jr.
• Ki Anzalone, P/IF, Jr.
• Davis Carter, P/IF, Jr.
• Tyge Blomquist, P/UP, Jr.

Key newcomers:

• Carson Petty, UP, Jr.
• Drew Sorenson, UP, So.

Coach comment: “We are very excited for this season, we have a lot of returning players that are very experienced. We have some great pitchers this year and that are very talented. We also have some great younger players in our program that will be fun to watch. We can’t wait for green grass and the season to start.”

2. Kanab Cowboys

Head coach: Craig Brinkerhoff (4th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 20-8 (second in Region 2A West with a 11-3 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 4 in 2A

2025 postseason: 4-2 record, Eliminated by South Sevier in 2A Championship

2025 offense: 8.1 rpg (No. 4 in 2A)

2025 defense: 4.1 rpg (No. 4 in 2A)

Returning contributors:

• Brogun Virostko, 3B, Sr.
• Hayden Gubler, OF, Sr.
• Kyan Lyman, P, Sr.
• Kolton Blomquist, OF, Sr.
• Walker Baird, P/INF, Jr.
• Kanon Virostko, UTL, Jr.
• Latimer Glover, UTL, Jr.
• Brady Ramsay, UTL, Jr.

Key newcomers:

• Grady Anderson, UTL, So.
• Zachary Warino, INF, Jr.
• Nolan Baird, UTL, Fr.
• Sayer Fenus, UTL, Fr.
• Brenan Orton, UTL, So.

Coach comment: “Returning majority of starters from last year. We are excited as a coaching staff to see what we can do this year together.”

3. Enterprise Wolves

Head coach: Kyle Bundy (19th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 19-8 (third in Region 2A West with a 11-3 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 3 in 2A

2025 postseason: 2-3 record, Eliminated by South Sevier in 2A Bracket Play

2025 offense: 8.1 rpg (No. 5 in 2A)

2025 defense: 2.7 rpg (No. 2 in 2A)

Returning contributors:

• Javin Randall, P/SS, Jr.
• Aiden Emmett, P/CF, Jr.
• Julian Jones, P/C/INF, Jr.
• Jack Moyle, C, So.

Key newcomers:

• Koleman Styler, Util/P, So.
• Layne Whitman, Outfield/P, So.
• Jared Hess, Util/P, So.
• Kyler Bundy, Util/P, Jr.
• Jaxon Stauffer, Pitcher/Util, So.
• Trek Jones, 1B/P, So.
• Cody Bowler, 1B, Jr.
• Talyn Jones, Pitcher/Util, So.

Coach comment: “Young and basketball injuries won’t help out any. Hopefully we can figure out who can do what by the end of the year.”

4. Milford Tigers

Head coach: Kent Sullivan (5th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 17-13 (fifth in Region 2A West with a 6-8 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 7 in 2A

2025 postseason: 3-3 record, Eliminated by Grand in 2A Bracket Play

2025 offense: 7.3 rpg (No. 7 in 2A)

2025 defense: 4.9 rpg (No. 7 in 2A)

Returning contributors:

• Boston Sullivan, SS/P/C, Sr.
• Jex Ashworth, OF/P, Sr.
• Griffin Walker, OF/P/C, Sr.
• Tyce Barnes, P/C/2B, So.

Key newcomers:

• Haze Marshall, OF/P, So.
• Marco Saavedra, P, Jr.
• Bradyn Carter, 3B/1B/P, Jr.
• Slade Kesler, 1B/P, So.

Coach comment: “Excited to start the season with the team. Looking forward to our players growing into new roles and seeing them transform throughout the season.”

5. Parowan Rams

Head coach: Jed Townsend (8th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 6-14 (sixth in Region 2A West with a 3-11 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 11 in 2A

2025 postseason: 2-2 record, Eliminated by South Sevier in 2A Bracket Play

2025 offense: 5.5 rpg (No. 11 in 2A)

2025 defense: 7.1 rpg (No. 9 in 2A)

Returning contributors:

• Cooper Townsend, Infield, Sr.
• Hunter Bettridge, UTL, Sr.
• Luke Benson, RHP/OF, Sr.
• Tyrel Vest, RHP/Catcher, Jr.
• Lucas Williamson, RHP/Inf, Jr.
• Braxton Blauer, RHP/OF, Jr.
• Mason Biasi, OF, Jr.
• Jaiden Tuttle, OF/RHP, Jr.
• Gradey Osborne, RHP/Inf, So.

Key newcomers:

• Tiago Maher, RHP/Of, Sr.
• Kade Brown, RHP/UTL, Fr.
• Brodey Bradshaw, RHP/UTL, Fr.

Coach comment: “We’re excited about the outlook for Parowan Baseball this season. We return the core of our roster and lost just one senior from last year’s group, so we’ve got a lot of experience back—guys who’ve been contributing at the varsity level since they were freshmen. That continuity shows in our chemistry, work ethic, and competitive edge.”

6. Water Canyon Wildcats

Head coach: Brian Donohue (1st year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 0-16 (eighth in Region 2A West with a 0-14 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 14 in 2A

2025 postseason: 0-2 record, Eliminated by Parowan in 2A One-loss bracket

2025 offense: 1.1 rpg (No. 15 in 2A)

2025 defense: 18.5 rpg (No. 15 in 2A)

Additional info not provided

The 2026 high school baseball season is scheduled to get underway this week for teams in Class 3A. To prepare fans for the upcoming season, the Deseret News has compiled capsules for every team in 3A. Every coach was invited to participate and submit information.

The region rankings are based on coaches’ preseason projections.

There are six new baseball coaches in 3A this year: Trevor Thornton (Grantsville), Aaron Perkins (Morgan), Ty Hill (Manti), Blair Lucas (Delta), Kolton Brobst (Juab) and Brett Butler (Richfield).

Here are the 3A teams and players to watch this upcoming season.

Region 12

1. Morgan Trojans

Head coach: Aaron Perkins (1st year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 20-10 (second in Region 13 with a 8-2 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 4 in 3A

2025 postseason: 3-2 record, Eliminated by Emery in 3A Bracket Play

2025 offense: 8.9 rpg (No. 2 in 3A)

2025 defense: 5.6 rpg (No. 4 in 3A)

Returning contributors:

• Kanyon Leonelli, Outfield, Sr.
• Easton Venz, Infield/P, Sr.
• Cooper Stuart, Infield/P, Sr.
• Tyson Talbot, Infield, Jr.
• Owen Gilson, Infield, Jr.

Key newcomers: Additional info not provided

Coach comment: “Morgan High School Baseball is excited for the upcoming season! We look forward to the challenges ahead and competing this spring.”

2. Grantsville Cowboys

Head coach: Trevor Thornton (1st year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 15-13 (third in Region 13 with a 7-3 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 7 in 3A

2025 postseason: 4-3 record, Eliminated by Juab in 3A Bracket Play

2025 offense: 7.6 rpg (No. 5 in 3A)

2025 defense: 6 rpg (No. 6 in 3A)

Returning contributors:

• Payton Cummings, Pitcher/INF, Sr.
• Grae Warren, INF/OF/P, So.
• Guhner Kimber, 3B/P, Sr.
• Jordan Fawson, CF/P, Sr.
• Easton Hammond, OF, Sr.
• Patton Rose, OF/1B/P, Jr.
• Jaxxon Jensen, 1B/P, Sr.

Key newcomers:

• Karter Reed, C, Sr.
• Riley Williams, OF/P, Sr.
• Colt Thomas, OF/P, Jr.

Coach comment: “We have a strong group of seniors who have put in a lot of time preparing for this season, and our goal is to send them off the right way. We’re also excited about a talented group of juniors and sophomores who we feel confident can step in without missing a beat. If we put it all together, we believe we can really have a special year.”

3. Logan Grizzlies

Head coach: James Ramirez (3rd year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 5-18 (tied for sixth in Region 11 with a 2-10 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 23 in 4A

2025 postseason: 0-2 record, Eliminated by Provo in 4A Regionals

2025 offense: 3.6 rpg (No. 24 in 4A)

2025 defense: 7.7 rpg (No. 20 in 4A)

Returning contributors:

• Zac Stuart, P, Sr.
• Rylee Hoth, C/P/IF, Jr.
• Marcus Shopbell, OF/P/1B, So.
• Grayden Olsen, 1B/OF/P, Jr.
• Tyler Garren, DH/C/OF, Sr.
• Priest Ramirez, 2B, Sr.
• Kolt Redd, OF/IF, Jr.

Key newcomers:

• Kai Olsen, C/3B/P, Jr.
• Treyson Hernandez, OF/P/3B, Jr.
• Brayan Venegas, IF/P/OF, Jr.
• Mason Redd, IF/OF/P, So.

Coach comment: “We are excited. Got some seasoned guys along with some young veteran players that understand it’s about being who we are day in and day out.”

4. Ogden Tigers

Head coach: Kyle Bubak (2nd year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 5-22 (fourth in Region 13 with a 4-6 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 16 in 3A

2025 postseason: 0-2 record, Eliminated by Canyon View in 3A Super Regionals

2025 offense: 4.6 rpg (No. 15 in 3A)

2025 defense: 10.5 rpg (No. 17 in 3A)

Returning contributors:

• Rodrigo Torres, P/1B, Sr.
• Easton Green, UTL, Sr.
• Xavier Aldous, OF/P, Sr.
• Denver Rhodes, P/INF, Sr.
• Jonah Holmes, P/OF, Sr.
• Lucas Bushell, UTL, Jr.
• Jude Briskey, P/C/OF, Jr.
• Barrett Allison, 2B/P, Jr.

Key newcomers:

• Cooper Rowley, SS/P, Jr.
• Cristian Martinez, INF/P, So.
• Jase Corry, C/P, So.
• Spencer Deichman, P, Jr.
• Damian Krumperman, P/OF, So.

Coach comment: “We are excited for this year’s team. We are returning 8 starters from last year and have been working hard in the offseason to prepare for a competitive spring. We just finished a full remodel of the field and are excited to continue to put Ogden High Baseball on the map.”

5. Ben Lomond Scots

Head coach: Dawson Anderson (2nd year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 2-15 (sixth in Region 13 with a 0-10 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 18 in 3A

2025 postseason: Did not qualify

2025 offense: 3.2 rpg (No. 18 in 3A)

2025 defense: 13.8 rpg (No. 18 in 3A)

Returning contributors:

• Kai Langston, Utility, Sr.
• Koban Moyes, Utility, Jr.
• Nathan Huerta, 3B/P, Jr.
• Kale Ha’o, OF, Jr.
• Justin Church, 2B/C, So.
• Zion Turley, OF/P, So.

Key newcomers:

• Isaiah Long, OF/1B, Fr.
• Marcus Craig, Utility, Fr.
• Marco Avina, Utility, So.

Coach comment: “We are excited for another year in this competitive region. We are still rebuilding and young after losing 3 key seniors last year. We will be leaning on new freshmen and sophomores to mature quick to become key players this year.”

Region 13

1. Union Cougars

Head coach: Matt Labrum (4th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 21-8 (first in Region 13 with a 9-1 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 3 in 3A

2025 postseason: 2-2 record, Eliminated by Grantsville in 3A Bracket Play

2025 offense: 8.9 rpg (No. 3 in 3A)

2025 defense: 4.3 rpg (No. 2 in 3A)

Returning contributors:

• Gannon Labrum, OF/P, Sr.
• Tyson Marx, INF/P, Sr.
• Cade Frandsen, C, Sr.
• Gavin Roberts, INF/P, Sr.
• Bo Earl, OF/DH, Sr.
• Brennen Mecham, INF/P, Sr.
• Davin Brotherson, OF, Sr.
• Ryan Oakey, UTL/P, Jr.
• Dylan Watahomigie, INF/P, Jr.

Key newcomers:

• Cy Birchell, INF/P, Jr.
• Stetson Wills, INF/P, Jr.
• Jayden Williams, P, Jr.

Coach comment: “Excited about the opportunity to compete this season. We have a strong group returning and look forward to our strong schedule.”

2. North Sanpete Hawks

Head coach: Austin Hadley (5th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 12-15 (tied for sixth in Region 12 with a 4-10 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 9 in 3A

2025 postseason: 2-2 record, Eliminated by Morgan in 3A Bracket Play

2025 offense: 5.2 rpg (No. 12 in 3A)

2025 defense: 6.5 rpg (No. 9 in 3A)

Returning contributors:

• Wyatt Williams, Utility, Sr.
• Aaron Costello, Catcher, Sr.
• Bryce Swapp, Pitcher/Outfield, Sr.
• Ashton Olsen, Utility, Sr.
• Hudson Smith, Pitcher/1B, Jr.
• Tyson Guidos, SS/Pitcher, Jr.
• Chaetton Osborne, Outfield/Pitcher, Jr.

Key newcomers:

• Jaydyn Robinson, Pitcher/INF, Jr.
• Christian Giacomazza, Pitcher, Jr.
• Olie Hansen, Outfield, So.
• Mason Faux, 1B, So.
• Ethan Bailey, 2B, So.
• Hayden Gonzalez, Utility, So.
• Josh White, Utility, So.

Coach comment: “Excited to build on the last few successful seasons. Lots of kids coming back with lots of experience. Excited to see where that takes us.”

3. Emery Spartans

Head coach: Chase Julian (4th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 12-19 (tied for sixth in Region 12 with a 4-10 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 12 in 3A

2025 postseason: 4-2 record, Eliminated by Canyon View in 3A Bracket Play

2025 offense: 5.4 rpg (No. 11 in 3A)

2025 defense: 5.7 rpg (No. 5 in 3A)

Returning contributors:

• Peyton Nielson, INF, Sr.
• Tyce Larsen, C/INF, Sr.
• Zander Robinson, P, Sr.
• Beau Stilson, OF, Sr.
• Trygg Jensen, INF/P, Jr.
• Garrett Conover, OF/P, Jr.
• Bronx Olsen, INF/C, Jr.

Key newcomers:

• Mason thornley, OF, Sr.
• Easton stoker, INF, Jr.
• Ben Johansen, INF/P, Jr.
• Bodee Norton, Utility, So.
• Jess Larsen, Utility, So.

Coach comment: “Looking forward to another exciting year.”

4. Carbon Dinos

Head coach: Rob Smith (4th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 10-15 (tied for third in Region 12 with a 8-6 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 8 in 3A

2025 postseason: 0-2 record, Eliminated by North Sanpete in 3A Super Regionals

2025 offense: 3.5 rpg (No. 17 in 3A)

2025 defense: 6.6 rpg (No. 10 in 3A)

Returning contributors:

• Paxton Falk, P, Sr.
• Maddex Willson, P/1B, Sr.
• Logan Bennett, OF, Sr.
• Jordan Nichols, 3B/P, Sr.
• Kanyon Grant, 2B/P, Sr.
• Cash Withers, OF/P, Sr.

Key newcomers:

• Brody Ware, OF/P, Sr.
• Marcus Vigil, UTL, Jr.
• Jakson Bosone, SS, Jr.
• Kaden Sandoval, 2B, Jr.
• Ricky Sandoval, DH, Jr.

Coach comment: “Excited for the season to get started we have a good core of returners coming back from last year and are eager to get playing”

5. Manti Templars

Head coach: Ty Hill (1st year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 12-13 (tied for third in Region 12 with a 8-6 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 5 in 3A

2025 postseason: 0-2 record, Eliminated by Emery in 3A Super Regionals

2025 offense: 7 rpg (No. 9 in 3A)

2025 defense: 7.3 rpg (No. 11 in 3A)

Returning contributors:

• Kellen Lund, IF/P, Sr.
• Boston Hatch, OF/P, Jr.
• Russell Squire, IF/P, Sr.
• Durke Larsen, OF, Sr.
• Zach Blackham, IF/P, Jr.
• Koy Johnson, IF, Sr.

Key newcomers:

• Spencer Robbins, IF/P, Sr.
• Gregg Powell, OF/P, Sr.
• Adam Andreason, C, Sr.
• Porter Daniels, OF, Jr.
• Maddox Holder, IF, Jr.
• Jacob Cox, 1B, Jr.
• Conor Dotson, C, Jr.
• Griff Cox, UT, So.
• Carter Kiesel, IF/P, So.
• Stephen Robbins, IF/P, So.
• Kooper Lund, IF, So.
• Jack Van Orman, OF, So.

Coach comment: “We as a coaching staff are extremely excited for this upcoming season. The kids have been working extremely hard to get themselves prepared. We return a lot of talent from last year’s squad, but are also excited to add some new faces as well.”

Region 14

1. Canyon View Falcons

Head coach: Jason Jacobsen (23rd year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 27-5 (second in Region 12 with a 12-2 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 1 in 4A

2025 postseason: 7-0 record, Beat Juab in 4A Championship

2025 offense: 9.8 rpg (No. 1 in 4A)

2025 defense: 4.3 rpg (No. 3 in 4A)

Returning contributors:

• Zach Maine, RHP/INF, Sr.
• Cannon Williams, OF, Sr.

Key newcomers:

• Jack Merrill, RHP/INF, Sr.
• Noah Sandoval, C, Sr.
• Jaxen Black, RHP/INF, Sr.
• Jeter Sanders, OF, Jr.
• Owen Williams, INF/RHP, So.
• Preston Higgins, INF/RHP, Fr.

Coach comment: “Looking forward to the season. Lost a lot of players, but we feel like we have guys ready to play.”

2. Juab Wasps

Head coach: Kolton Brobst (1st year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 25-7 (first in Region 12 with a 13-1 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 2 in 4A

2025 postseason: 4-3 record, Eliminated by Canyon View in 4A Championship

2025 offense: 7.1 rpg (No. 7 in 4A)

2025 defense: 3.5 rpg (No. 1 in 4A)

Additional info not provided

3. Delta Rabbits

Head coach: Blair Lucas (1st year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 11-15 (eighth in Region 12 with a 2-12 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 10 in 3A

2025 postseason: 0-2 record, Eliminated by Grantsville in 3A Super Regionals

2025 offense: 7 rpg (No. 8 in 3A)

2025 defense: 6.3 rpg (No. 7 in 3A)

Returning contributors:

• Ashton Stefanoff, INF/P, Sr.
• Kyler Davies, INF/P, Sr.

Key newcomers:

• Dreyden Wood, 1B/P, Sr.
• Clay Nielson, OF, Sr.
• Rustin Callister, UTL/P, Sr.
• Cooper Smith, INF/P, Jr.
• Bodey Shurtz, OF/P, Jr.
• Dayson Meinhardt, C/INF, So.

Coach comment: “Looking forward to first year as head coach. And building on great foundation for success left by previous head coach, Cory Webb.”

4. Richfield Wildcats

Head coach: Brett Butler (1st year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 12-19 (fifth in Region 12 with a 5-9 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 11 in 3A

2025 postseason: 4-3 record, Eliminated by Grantsville in 3A Bracket Play

2025 offense: 6.1 rpg (No. 10 in 3A)

2025 defense: 7.8 rpg (No. 12 in 3A)

Returning contributors:

• Kelby Rickenbach, P, Sr.
• Garrett Wayman, Utility, Sr.
• Porter Brower, OF, Sr.

Key newcomers:

• Max Albrecht, IF, Jr.
• Deigen Hansen, IF, Jr.
• Hayden Hansen, OF, Jr.
• Austin Morgan, P, So.

Coach comment: “This year we have of eager players looking to prove their abilities after losing seven seniors from 2025. Excited to see this team work together and be hopefully be a part of the dance in the end.”

5. Providence Hall Patriots

Head coach: Scott Sackett (4th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 14-10 (first in Region 14 with a 7-2 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 6 in 3A

2025 postseason: 1-2 record, Eliminated by Richfield in 3A Super Regionals

2025 offense: 8.6 rpg (No. 4 in 3A)

2025 defense: 6.5 rpg (No. 8 in 3A)

Additional info not provided

The 2026 high school baseball season is scheduled to get underway this week for teams in Class 4A. To prepare fans for the upcoming season, the Deseret News has compiled capsules for every team in 4A. Every coach was invited to participate and submit information.

The region rankings are based on coaches’ preseason projections.

There are seven new baseball coaches in 4A this year: Daniel Lopez (Orem), Nate Horrocks (Summit Academy), Jagun Leavitt (Desert Hills), Rafael Flores (Highland), Robby Jackson (Juan Diego), Isaac Norton (Murray) and Jesse Clingman (Deseret Peak).

Here are the 4A teams and players to watch this upcoming season.

Region 8

1. Timpanogos Timberwolves

Head coach: Kim Nelson (30th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 22-9 (first in Region 8 with a 11-1 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 4 in 4A

2025 postseason: 4-2 record, Eliminated by Crimson Cliffs in 4A Bracket Play

2025 offense: 9.1 rpg (No. 2 in 4A)

2025 defense: 4.4 rpg (No. 6 in 4A)

Returning contributors:

• Canyon Clegg, P/3B, Sr.
• Cooper Hawkes, SS/P, Sr.
• Jace Hunter, C/P, Sr.
• Corbin Hardy, P/OF, Jr.
• Ryder Smith, P/OF, Sr.

Key newcomers:

• Crew Peterson, 2B/SS, Jr.
• Boston Cook, OF, Jr.
• Max Martin, OF/IF, So.
• Shane Eaquinto, OF, Jr.

Coach comment: “Enough returners, especially pitching, it should be a good season, if everyone stays healthy”

2. Provo Bulldogs

Head coach: Lance Moore (27th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 18-10 (second in Region 8 with a 9-3 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 10 in 4A

2025 postseason: 2-2 record, Eliminated by Bear River in 4A Super Regionals

2025 offense: 6.7 rpg (No. 15 in 4A)

2025 defense: 4.9 rpg (No. 8 in 4A)

Returning contributors:

• Will Gulbrandsen, P/OF, Sr.
• Dawson Moore, SS/P, So.
• Taven Lancaster, C, So.
• Gehrig Orchard, P/IF, Sr.
• Drevin Christensen, 3B/P, So.
• Elijah Aulava, 1B/P, So.

Key newcomers:

• Tre Asisi, OF, Sr.
• Max Heriford, P/OF, Sr.
• Johnny Perkins, P/OF, Sr.
• Tyler Monn, OF/P, Jr.
• Cole Mildenstein, IF, Jr.
• Ty Nielsen, OF/C, Jr.
• Yendri Vinicio, OF/P, So.
• Max Chambers, IF, So.
• Mack Lamb, IF/P, Fr.
• Evan Frazier, IF/P, Fr.
• Ami Albert, Utility, Fr.
• Freddy Beesley, OF, Fr.

Coach comment: “The perennially young Bulldogs possess a lot of talent and potential as they head into the 2026 season. With a nice mix of solid, proven upperclassmen and talented, experienced underclassmen, Provo hopes to contend for a region title and challenge teams deep into the state tourney in May. Coming off of back-to-back eighteen win seasons, the Dogs look to improve on that mark this season.”

3. Orem Tigers

Head coach: Daniel Lopez (1st year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 20-11 (tied for second in Region 7 with a 8-6 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 6 in 5A

2025 postseason: 4-2 record, Eliminated by Brighton in 5A Bracket Play

2025 offense: 8 rpg (No. 8 in 5A)

2025 defense: 5.3 rpg (No. 12 in 5A)

Returning contributors:

• Mack Ellison, CF/P, Sr.
• Chase Ford, INF/P, Jr.

Key newcomers:

• Luke Jones, 1B/P, Sr.
• Mac Christiansen, OF/P, Sr.
• Coulson Rich, OF/P, Jr.
• Dalton Cox, C, Jr.
• Tyler Richards, 1B/3B/P, Jr.
• Lucas Engemann, OF/P, Jr.
• Jake DeMaria, C, Jr.
• Anthony DeMaria, P/INF, Jr.
• Michael DeMaria, INF, Jr.
• Beck Berge, INF, So.
• Benji Engemann, OF/P, Fr.

Coach comment: “This group is young at the varsity level, but they’re not short on talent or work ethic. We expect to compete every day, regardless of who we’re playing. Our focus is on development, playing with discipline, and building consistency as the season goes on. If we continue to improve and stay committed to our standards, I believe this team will be playing its best baseball when it matters most.”

4. Mountain View Bruins

Head coach: Curtis Ford (2nd year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 10-17 (fourth in Region 8 with a 3-9 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 18 in 4A

2025 postseason: 0-2 record, Eliminated by Uintah in 4A Regionals

2025 offense: 6.3 rpg (No. 16 in 4A)

2025 defense: 8.7 rpg (No. 23 in 4A)

Returning contributors:

• Caden Imes, C/RHP, Sr.
• Joshua Hair, CF, Sr.
• Logan Olsen, 1B/3B/RHP, Jr.
• Dirk Ford, 2B/RHP, Jr.
• Noa Ioane, UT/RHP, Jr.
• Diego Falcon, 1B, Jr.
• Michael Oakey, OF/RHP, Jr.

Key newcomers:

• Carson Tobler, SS/RHP, So.
• Mac Strong, UT/RHP, Jr.
• Henry Tatton, 3B/RHP, So.
• Andrew Johnson, UT, So.
• Deacon Telford, SS/CF, Fr.

Coach comment: “This season should be the best we’ve been in years. This team continues to get better every day. We are a resilient team that finds a way to win. Overall, we are still a young team young team with only 2 Seniors. This young group has been battle tested from a young age and is ready to bang. We’re pumped for the season to get going. The guys are ready to go make their mark in region 8.”

5. Uintah Utes

Head coach: Justin Decol (3rd year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 14-15 (third in Region 8 with a 6-6 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 15 in 4A

2025 postseason: 2-2 record, Eliminated by Snow Canyon in 4A Super Regionals

2025 offense: 7.6 rpg (No. 7 in 4A)

2025 defense: 7.1 rpg (No. 17 in 4A)

Additional info not provided

6. Summit Academy Bears

Head coach: Nate Horrocks (1st year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 4-16 (fourth in Region 14 with a 3-6 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 17 in 3A

2025 postseason: Did not qualify

2025 offense: 4.5 rpg (No. 16 in 3A)

2025 defense: 9.7 rpg (No. 15 in 3A)

Additional info not provided

Region 9

1. Crimson Cliffs Mustangs

Head coach: Justin Abbott (7th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 23-8 (tied for third in Region 9 with a 8-4 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 8 in 4A

2025 postseason: 7-0 record, Beat Snow Canyon in 4A Championship

2025 offense: 7.1 rpg (No. 12 in 4A)

2025 defense: 4.6 rpg (No. 7 in 4A)

Returning contributors:

• Cutter Christensen, OF, Sr.
• Austin Smith, C, Sr.
• Mason Anderson, RHP, Sr.
• Madden Smith, RHP, Sr.
• Rayce Bennett, SS/3B, Sr.
• Madden Neilsen, RHP, Sr.
• Ryker Taylor, INF/RHP, Sr.
• Quinn Chesnik, RHP, Sr.
• Cole Marchant, LHP, Jr.

Key newcomers:

• Ricardo Navarro, UT, Sr.
• Sam Chappell, INF/OF, Jr.
• Jamison Thornock, C/RHP, Jr.
• Jaxson Bird, OF, Jr.
• Kason Dickson, LHP, Jr.
• Mason Burbidge, OF, So.
• Ezra Luellen, 1B/DH, Sr.
• Ryan Macfarlane, 1B/LHP, Sr.
• Jace Haugewood, OF, Sr.
• Josh Gray, INF, Sr.
• Degan Soderquist, OF, So.

Coach comment: “This team is returning a lot of guys from last year which helps us big time when it comes to experience and leadership. Our young guys have had a really good fall and early spring. They’re ready to make an impact. A lot of good pieces to put together in a very competitive region.”

2. Snow Canyon Warriors

Head coach: Reed Secrist (22nd year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 23-8 (tied for third in Region 9 with a 8-4 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 2 in 4A

2025 postseason: 4-2 record, Eliminated by Crimson Cliffs in 4A Championship

2025 offense: 7.7 rpg (No. 6 in 4A)

2025 defense: 4.1 rpg (No. 2 in 4A)

Returning contributors:

• Zac Beck, P, Sr.
• Kade Kelsch, C, Sr.
• Diesel Lee, P/1B, Sr.
• PJ Hancock, P/SS, Sr.
• Logan Ross, 3B, Sr.
• Talan Hansen, LF, Sr.
• Braden Mugavero, P/CF, Sr.
• Trey Vaughn, P/RF, Sr.
• Trent Chris, P/1B, Jr.
• Jagger Mugavero, P/SS, Jr.

Key newcomers:

• Bridger Larsen, P/SS, Sr.
• Cael Esplin, P/OF, Sr.
• Milo Ence, OF, Jr.
• Cash Sissener, P/OF, So.

Coach comment: “Bringing back a lot of contributors from last year, so we are excited to see what this group has in store this spring.”

3. Dixie Flyers

Head coach: Chunner Nyberg (2nd year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 19-11 (tied for first in Region 9 with a 9-3 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 6 in 4A

2025 postseason: 3-2 record, Eliminated by Ridgeline in 4A Bracket Play

2025 offense: 7.5 rpg (No. 8 in 4A)

2025 defense: 5.1 rpg (No. 9 in 4A)

Additional info not provided

4. Desert Hills Thunder

Head coach: Jagun Leavitt (1st year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 24-6 (tied for first in Region 9 with a 9-3 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 1 in 4A

2025 postseason: 3-2 record, Eliminated by Timpanogos in 4A Bracket Play

2025 offense: 9.2 rpg (No. 1 in 4A)

2025 defense: 4.4 rpg (No. 5 in 4A)

Returning contributors:

• Harmon Skeen, SS/P, Sr.
• Jaxton Tolman, CF/P/3B, Jr.
• Roah Wall, P/1B, Jr.
• Hoyt Atkin, P, Sr.
• Isaac Swanson, C/Utility, Jr.
• Briggs Fillmore, 2B/3B/SS, Jr.
• Shad Robinson, C/IF, Sr.

Key newcomers:

• Brock Graf, OF/P, Sr.
• Keithen Dove, OF, Jr.
• Asher Williams, 3B/C/P, Fr.
• Cohen Fuller, P/Utility, Fr.

Coach comment: “Great returners with great upcoming freshman. Looking to achieve success on the ball field.”

5. Cedar City Reds

Head coach: Brad Larson (4th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 13-13 (fifth in Region 9 with a 5-7 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 12 in 4A

2025 postseason: 2-2 record, Eliminated by Park City in 4A Super Regionals

2025 offense: 7 rpg (No. 13 in 4A)

2025 defense: 7.3 rpg (No. 18 in 4A)

Returning contributors:

• Karver Tom, 3B/P, Sr.
• Karson Duncan, 2B/P, Sr.
• Brent Martin, P, Sr.
• Payton Ludlow, CF, Sr.
• Gavin Mackert, 1B/P, Sr.
• Collin Corry, SS/P, Sr.

Key newcomers:

• Colton Johnson, C, Jr.
• Maddox Giles, SS, Jr.

6. Pine View Panthers

Head coach: Kyler Walker (3rd year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 14-14 (sixth in Region 9 with a 3-9 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 13 in 4A

2025 postseason: 2-3 record, Eliminated by Timpanogos in 4A Super Regionals

2025 offense: 6 rpg (No. 18 in 4A)

2025 defense: 6.6 rpg (No. 13 in 4A)

Additional info not provided

7. Hurricane Tigers

Head coach: Steve Pearson (5th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 7-18 (seventh in Region 9 with a 0-12 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 20 in 4A

2025 postseason: 1-2 record, Eliminated by Pine View in 4A Regionals

2025 offense: 4 rpg (No. 22 in 4A)

2025 defense: 7.1 rpg (No. 16 in 4A)

Returning contributors:

• Jon Raddatz, Sr.
• Parker Selby, Sr.
• Jack FitzGerald, Sr.
• Lani Matsuoka, Sr.

Key newcomers:

• Jarston Goble, Jr.

Coach comment: “Hurricane will be a strong team again this year with six returning starters.”

Region 10

1. Park City Miners

Head coach: David Feasler (10th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 21-8 (first in Region 10 with a 14-1 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 5 in 4A

2025 postseason: 2-2 record, Eliminated by Desert Hills in 4A Bracket Play

2025 offense: 8.8 rpg (No. 3 in 4A)

2025 defense: 5.3 rpg (No. 10 in 4A)

Returning contributors:

• Wesley DeWitt, SS, Jr.
• Alex Brannigan, P, Sr.
• Joey Breza, 2B/OF/P, Sr.
• Cole Hill, OF, Jr.
• Jack Gallagher, Utility, Sr.

Key newcomers:

• Cooper Prichard, C, Sr.
• Brooks Baganz, P, So.
• Kye Sivo, P, Sr.
• Casey Rude, P, Jr.
• Andrew Perillo, OF, Jr.
• Micah Schuster, OF, Jr.
• Kai deLong, IF/P, Jr.
• Bleu Bielen, C, So.
• Jackson Noonan, C, Fr.
• Karsten Blum, IF/P, So.
• Anthony deVries, OF, So.

Coach comment: “Can’t wait for the season. We are excited to compete in Region 10 and the 4A classification with returning experience and several impactful newcomers. Play ball.”

2. Juan Diego Soaring Eagle

Head coach: Robby Jacobson (1st year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 14-14 (second in Region 10 with a 10-5 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 17 in 4A

2025 postseason: 1-2 record, Eliminated by Stansbury in 4A Regionals

2025 offense: 6.2 rpg (No. 17 in 4A)

2025 defense: 6.9 rpg (No. 15 in 4A)

Returning contributors:

• Nick Richardson, C, Sr.
• Nash Crowther, RHP, Sr.
• Maddox LaHue, LHP/OF, Sr.
• Anthony Bonacci, OF, Sr.
• Kael Buck, OF, Sr.
• Lange Livonius, 3B, Sr.
• Jordan Montoya, OF/LHP, Jr.

Key newcomers:

• Beckham Black, IF/RHP, So.
• Hudson Houtz, C/IF, So.
• Kieran Dolan, 2B/RHP, Jr.
• Aiden Lucero, SS/RHP, Jr.
• Anthony Barnard, RHP, Jr.
• Corbin Hurst, RHP, So.

Coach comment: “We believe this year will be a strong year for Juan Diego baseball. We are expecting great leadership from our seniors and looking to compete hard each pitch.”

3. Murray Spartans

Head coach: Isaac Norton (1st year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 17-7 (third in Region 4 with a 13-5 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 8 in 5A

2025 postseason: 1-2 record, Eliminated by Viewmont in 5A Super Regionals

2025 offense: 7.5 rpg (No. 11 in 5A)

2025 defense: 3.5 rpg (No. 3 in 5A)

Returning contributors:

• Baylor Chappell, OF, Sr.
• Brody Sofonia, P/IF, Sr.
• Bryson Preece, P/IF, Sr.

Key newcomers:

• Taylor Shelton, SS, Sr.
• Hayden Mount, IF/C, Sr.
• Braxtin Hoopiiania, P, Sr.
• Austin Lunt, IF/P, So.
• Korver Troxel, C, So.

Coach comment: “Limited varsity experience, limited juniors, new head coach, and a new classification. Lots of unknowns going into this year. But, Murray’s tradition of sending players to the next level will continue. Vibes are high with lots of confidence.”

4. Cottonwood Colts

Head coach: Travis Steed (2nd year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 15-10 (third in Region 10 with a 9-6 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 14 in 4A

2025 postseason: 1-2 record, Eliminated by Payson in 4A Regionals

2025 offense: 7.3 rpg (No. 9 in 4A)

2025 defense: 6.2 rpg (No. 12 in 4A)

Returning contributors:

• Milo Crayk, P/INF, Sr.
• Zane Wayman, P/INF, Sr.
• Kingston Griffin, OF/P, Sr.
• Porter Stonebraker, OF/P, Sr.
• Joaquin Reymus, 1B/C, Jr.
• Peyson Summers, C/P, Jr.
• Peyton Ruiz, OF/INF, Jr.
• MJ Diemoz, INF/P, Jr.
• Noble Weaver, SS, Jr.
• Quinn Mendenhall, P/1B, So.
• Zach Kitt, OF/P, So.

Key newcomers:

• Fischer Kunz, 2B/P, Fr.
• Blake Jensen, C/INF, Fr.
• Thomas Pratt, OF, Fr.
• Caerwyn Silva, 1B/P, Fr.

Coach comment: “We are very excited to get going and we’re looking forward to another great season of baseball. We have some great pitching returning for us this year and we’re ready for a few guys to make the leap into big contributions at the varsity level. We also have some really talented young players who we are confident will develop and grow over the next few years. Go Colts.”

5. Highland Rams

Head coach: Rafael Flores (1st year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 3-19 (seventh in Region 6 with a 2-18 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 28 in 5A

2025 postseason: Did not qualify

2025 offense: 2.7 rpg (No. 29 in 5A)

2025 defense: 11.2 rpg (No. 29 in 5A)

Returning contributors:

• Matt Fotheringham, Sr.
• Porter Rockwood, Sr.
• Isaac Rodriguez, Sr.
• Alex Just, Jr.
• Aidan Ashby, Jr.
• Hudson Manville, Jr.
• Zach Morgan, Jr.
• James Gordon, So.
• Keegan Butler, Jr.

Key newcomers:

• Taylor Saunders, So.
• Jackson Gold, So.
• Mathew Peters, So.
• Owen Hesley, So.
• Austin Evans, So.
• Gus Pollard, So.
• Josh Shurtleff, So.
• Jack Brown, Fr.

Coach comment: “We’ve made progress—on the field, in the halls of the school, and in the way we carry ourselves as a program. Our players are growing not just as athletes, but as young men, teammates, and leaders. That foundation matters. It’s the kind of progress that builds winning cultures. This season, our challenge is to turn all that hard work into visible, measurable results on game day. If we stay committed, stay coachable, and stay together, we’ll see that growth translate into smarter play, stronger performances, and a tougher, more competitive team.”

6. East Leopards

Head coach: Rob Elster (2nd year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 6-19 (sixth in Region 6 with a 6-15 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 26 in 5A

2025 postseason: Did not qualify

2025 offense: 4.5 rpg (No. 26 in 5A)

2025 defense: 10.1 rpg (No. 27 in 5A)

Returning contributors:

• Josh Treend, Sr.
• Elias Larson, Sr.
• Cannon Lunt, Sr.
• Beckham Christensen, Sr.
• Kollin Stevens, Sr.

Key newcomers:

• Zach Medrano, Jr.
• Rowan McDonald, Jr.

Coach comment: “We are still a young team, but we are returning with the majority of our starters from last year, and I’m excited to see how we perform this season.”

7. Judge Memorial Bulldogs

Head coach: Alex Miles (5th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 9-15 (tied for second in Region 14 with a 4-5 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 14 in 3A

2025 postseason: 0-2 record, Eliminated by Union in 3A Super Regionals

2025 offense: 7.1 rpg (No. 6 in 3A)

2025 defense: 9.4 rpg (No. 14 in 3A)

Returning contributors:

• Miles Augustine, 1B/P/OF, Sr.
• Jeter Soto, 1B/P/3B, So.
• Kip Hodson, MIF/P, Jr.
• Isaiah Ibarra, OF/P, Jr.
• Austin Harlan, MIF/P, Sr.
• Will Glenn, 1B/P/DH, Sr.
• JJ Walje, C, Jr.
• Jonathan Welch, OF/P, Jr.

Key newcomers:

• Michael Gibbons, OF/C, So.
• Buddy Kuftinec, 3B, Sr.
• Isaac Hildebrand, OF, Sr.
• Weston Scholl, MIF, Jr.

Coach comment: “We are very excited for the upcoming season. We returned the majority of our starting lineup and pitching from last year. Moving from 3A to 4A is a challenge we look forward to. Our senior and junior heavy varsity is poised to compete every time we take the field this spring.”

Region 11

1. Ridgeline RiverHawks

Head coach: Justin Jensen (5th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 25-6 (first in Region 11 with a 10-2 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 3 in 4A

2025 postseason: 4-2 record, Eliminated by Snow Canyon in 4A Bracket Play

2025 offense: 7.8 rpg (No. 4 in 4A)

2025 defense: 2.6 rpg (No. 1 in 4A)

Returning contributors:

• Ripken Jensen, SS, RHP, Sr.
• Nate Dahle, OF, LHP, Sr.
• Cooper Clark, CF, Sr.
• Easton Hammond, LHP, 1B, Sr.
• Brady Cook, 2B, OF, Sr.
• Jackson Christensen, RHP, Sr.
• Maddux Jensen, 3B, SS, RHP, Jr.

Key newcomers:

• Freddie Wayment, RHP, 1B, Sr.
• Lincoln Jackson, RHP, UT, Sr.
• Luke Banning, C, OF, Sr.
• Jace Hansen, RHP, Jr.
• Cooper Wilson, DH, Jr.
• CJ Rampton, 2B, RHP, Jr.
• Cole Liechty, OF, RHP, Jr.
• Murphy Jensen, RHP, Jr.
• Jett Jensen, C, UT, So.
• Cole Christensen, OF, LHP, So.
• Broxton Purser, LHP, So.

Coach comment: “Should be competitive at the state level”

2. Mountain Crest Mustangs

Head coach: Trace Hansen (5th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 17-9 (tied for third in Region 11 with a 8-4 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 9 in 4A

2025 postseason: 2-2 record, Eliminated by Crimson Cliffs in 4A Super Regionals

2025 offense: 5.9 rpg (No. 19 in 4A)

2025 defense: 4.2 rpg (No. 3 in 4A)

Returning contributors:

• Jackson Pearce, INF, Sr.
• Mason Smith, SS/RHP, Sr.
• Ethan Nielsen, OF, Sr.
• Ryder Bradford, OF, Sr.
• Dawson Simper, INF/P, Jr.

Key newcomers:

• Brody Johnson, C, Sr.
• Sam Rowser, P, Sr.
• Levi Jensen, OF, Sr.
• Ben Welch, RHP/3B, Sr.
• Davis Hoffman, 3B/RHP, Sr.
• Ethan Christensen, RHP, Jr.

Coach comment: “We are coming off of a great summer and fall where we grew a lot as a team. We are looking forward to competing in a very talented Region 11. We are going to have a deep pitching staff with 5/6 guys that I believe can give us quality innings on the mound. Our offense has a lot of speedy guys look to create some havoc on the bases.”

3. Bear River Bears

Head coach: Donald Hawes (16th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 19-9 (tied for third in Region 11 with a 8-4 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 7 in 4A

2025 postseason: 2-2 record, Eliminated by Ridgeline in 4A Bracket Play

2025 offense: 7.2 rpg (No. 11 in 4A)

2025 defense: 4.3 rpg (No. 4 in 4A)

Returning contributors:

• Ethan Higgs, P/1B, Sr.
• Dallen Rice, OF/C, Sr.
• Broxton Gardner, 3B/P, Sr.
• Stephen Starnes, P/OF, Sr.
• Garrison Davis, P/OF, Sr.
• Jackson Barfuss, INF/P, Jr.
• Chipper Hawes, C/OF, Jr.

Key newcomers:

• Jaxon Thuerer, OF/P, Sr.
• Dallin Bevan, 2B, Jr.
• Oaklin Martin, U/P, Jr.
• Boston White, 1B/P, Jr.

Coach comment: “Hard working group of blue collar kids coming back for us. We have some experience back in our positional players that we will lean on. Our bullpen arms are returning and transitioning to starting roles this year as we replace 3 big graduating arms from last year. Looking forward to see where this team goes after playing well together in the summer and the growth they have made during this offseason.”

4. Green Canyon Wolves

Head coach: Ryan Eborn (2nd year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 6-21 (tied for sixth in Region 11 with a 2-10 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 22 in 4A

2025 postseason: 1-2 record, Eliminated by West Field in 4A Regionals

2025 offense: 4.9 rpg (No. 21 in 4A)

2025 defense: 9.1 rpg (No. 24 in 4A)

Additional info not provided

5. Stansbury Stallions

Head coach: Jason Jones (8th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 16-14 (fourth in Region 10 with a 8-7 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 16 in 4A

2025 postseason: 2-3 record, Eliminated by Desert Hills in 4A Super Regionals

2025 offense: 6.9 rpg (No. 14 in 4A)

2025 defense: 5.4 rpg (No. 11 in 4A)

Returning contributors:

• Kai Astill, OF/P, Sr.
• Skyler Jorgensen, IF, Sr.
• Ty Thorpe, P/OF, Sr.
• Ty Hadlock, C, Jr.

Key newcomers:

• Mack Simmons, 1B, Sr.
• Jett Pagnani, C, Jr.
• Jaxon Wayman, LHP, Jr.
• Corbin Wayman, RHP, Jr.
• Emmett Billings, IF/P, Jr.

Coach comment: “Our players have been working hard this offseason to prepare for the upcoming 2026 spring season. We have a great group of young men who are excited to play in a competitive new region.”

6. Deseret Peak Golden Eagles

Head coach: Jesse Clingman (1st year)

2026 Schedule

First-year school

7. Sky View Bobcats

Head coach: Todd Phillips (2nd year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 5-18 (fifth in Region 11 with a 3-9 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 24 in 4A

2025 postseason: 0-2 record, Eliminated by Mountain Crest in 4A Regionals

2025 offense: 3.7 rpg (No. 23 in 4A)

2025 defense: 8.5 rpg (No. 22 in 4A)

Returning contributors:

• CJ Lofthouse, C/INF, Sr.
• Drew Dillinger, P/INF, Jr.
• Chance Christensen, OF, Sr.
• Isaac Daniels, 2B/SS, Sr.
• Aiden Demetriades, P/3B, Sr.

Key newcomers:

• Rad Sparrow, SS/OF/P, Jr.
• Tucker Stokes, OF, Jr.
• Kade Blair, P, Sr.

Coach comment: “We are looking forward to a season that continues for our program to grow. The boys have worked hard this offseason, and hope for a chance to make a run at it this spring.”

8. Tooele Buffaloes

Head coach: Chris Taylor (5th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 6-20 (fifth in Region 10 with a 4-11 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 21 in 4A

2025 postseason: 0-2 record, Eliminated by Cedar City in 4A Regionals

2025 offense: 7.3 rpg (No. 10 in 4A)

2025 defense: 8.5 rpg (No. 21 in 4A)

Returning contributors:

• Connor Higgins, C, Sr.
• Luis Garcia, SS, Jr.
• Gabe Sutherland, OF, Sr.
• Hunter Fawson, 3B, Jr.
• Ethan Jenkins, P, Sr.
• Tanner Lay, OF, Jr.
• Coleman Dunford, 1B, Sr.

Key newcomers:

• Kai Howard, C, So.
• Mason Barnard, MIF, Fr.

Coach comment: “We have a solid and unified group of young men who are eager to compete and prove themselves”

The Detroit Lions are almost certainly going to be in the market for an offensive lineman this offseason, probably several. Whether it’s a future Taylor Decker replacement at tackle, a Frank Ragnow replacement at center, or just some competition at guard, the Lions could use all the help they can get.

Luckily, this year’s NFL Draft class is full of high-character offensive linemen that could help.

In my final installment of our Combine media session recaps, here are seven offensive linemen who will meet Detroit’s high bar for football character.

Previously:

• Tight ends
• Defensive linemen
• Linebackers
• Defensive backs

Penn State G Vega Ioane

Size: 6-foot-4, 320 pounds
Quick bio: A three-year starter almost exclusively at left guard (but has taken snaps at all five positions), Ioane may not make to the Lions at 17 overall. He’s a mauler in the run game, but not the most athletic of the class. That said, he dropped 20 pounds in his final year as a Nittany Lion to prove he can move better and retain his strength at a lighter weight.
Current draft projection: Round 1
Combine vibes:

Ioane’s presser didn’t blow me away, but his tape is very solid. When asked about his game, he offered a lot of the platitudes you’d expect from an offensive lineman.

“You’re going to get a competitive player. When I go out there on the field, I’m an entirely different person,” Ioane said. “Gonna get a competitive player out of me, an aggressive player, and, like I said, the mentality of being the most physical guy out there.”

It was interesting to hear him say that dropping the 20 pounds in his final college year was completely his idea to see if he could maintain his strength and effectiveness while improving his movement—which he did.

Florida C Jake Slaughter

Size: 6-foot-5, 303 pounds
Quick bio: Slaughter is in the discussion for best center in this draft after posting the fifth-best PFF grade in the country among centers in 2025. He’s a smidge undersized for the position, but Slaughter makes up for it with strong technique and smarts. He was also a two-time captain for the Gators.
Current draft projection: Round 1-2
Combine vibes:

Someone must have tipped Slaughter off that there were a bunch of Lions reporters in the audience, because he played all the hits. Not only did he say he met with the Lions, but he talked about personally meeting Penei Sewell last summer.

“I’ve never seen anybody move the way he does, special movement skills,” Slaughter said.

Then, when asked about who he models his game after, he said former Lions center Frank Ragnow.

Slaughter’s intelligence was easy to detect during his press conference. What jumped out to me was the way he professed his love for falling in love with the preparation process, much like Ragnow did.

“(It’s) one of my favorite parts of (playing center),” Slaughter said. “When you sit down on a Wednesday—for us it was Wednesdays—and you start breaking down the third-down (plays), exotics—‘How are we going to communicate this? How are we going to get on the same page as the quarterback?’ So it was a lot of fun.”

Oklahoma G/C Febechi Nwaiwu

Size: 6-foot-4, 319 pounds
Quick bio: A walk-on in North Texas, Nwaiwu worked his way up to captain before transferring to Oklahoma for his last two season. Nwaiwu mostly played right guard in college, but also logged starts at right tackle and left guard. Last in his last season, he filled in at center due to injury and he exclusively repped at center in the East/West Shrine Bowl.
Current draft projection: Day 3
Combine vibes:

One of my favorite answers of the week came from Nwaiwu when asked about his leadership style. Though he was pretty soft spoken with the media, I thought his answer about being direct without being disrespectful was very intuitive.

“I’m not a person that’s quiet. I’m not a person that’s gonna allow the standard to be dropped,” Nwaiwu said. “I’m going to say something. I’m not going to be disrespectful, but I’m going to let you know, ‘Hey, you’re not living up to your potential.’”

As for his recent work at center, Like Slaughter, Nwaiwu talked about the satisfaction of a week of preparation paying off during the game.

“It’s super exciting, because I know what you’re going to do before you do it,” Nwaiwu said. “Sometimes I’ll get out there and I’ll put my hand down and give a little smirk to myself. Like, ‘Okay, he’s about to move inside.’”

Kansas State C Sam Hecht

Size: 6-foot-4, 303 pounds
Quick bio: Hecht, too, is a bit undersized at center, but counters with excellent athleticism and movement skills. He stayed loyal to Kansas State, working his way up from walk on to two-year starter at center, where he was named All-Big 12 in both seasons.
Current draft projection: Round 3-4
Combine vibes:

I asked Hecht about what the walked-on mentality means to him, and he said the magic word.

“You’ve got to have some grit if you’re a walk-on,” Hecht said. “One of the adversitites that I had I was kinda lighter in high school, gained a lot of weight my first year (in college). That summer in my freshman year, I got bad shin splints. I didn’t want to tell anyone, I didn’t want to get help from the trainers, because I was fighting for my scholarship. So, as a walk-on, I just fought through it.”

Georgia OT Monroe Freeling

Size: 6-foot-7, 315 pounds
Quick bio: Freeling will likely shine during the on-field drills due to his size, length, and athleticism. In his 16 career starts, he split between right tackle and left tackle, and really broke out in 2025 with an 85.6 PFF pass blocking grade—seventh among all offensive tackles.
Current draft projection: Round 1-2
Combine vibes:

Freeling shared a great story about how he overcame a high ankle sprain to play the very next week—and play well. Freeling was in a boot all the way through Friday of a game week, but he still begged his coaching staff to let him travel with the team, if for no other reason than to help out the backup tackles prepare. They agreed, and even made him the emergency tackle. Lo and behold, he had to step in and play 65 snaps in the game

“Game day came and (OL) coach (Stacy) Searels came up to me, and was like, ‘Hey, if you’re the emergency tackle, can you go?’ I was like, ‘Yes coach, please. Please let me go if I can,’” Freeling said. “I wasn’t really anticipating to play, but when my name was called and they needed me to go in, I was so happy to be out there.”

Clemson OT Blake Miller

Size: 6-foot-7, 315 pounds
Quick bio: The first thing anyone talks about with Miller is his incredible experience (54 starts) and ability to navigate through injuries (more on that in a second). A four-year starter at Clemson, Miller has only allowed eight sacks over those 54 starts (about one every seven games).
Current draft projection: Round 1
Combine vibes:

Like Freeling, Miller has a great overcoming injury story. I asked Miller to talk about the time he broke his wrist in spring practice. Here’s him retelling the story:

Sounds pretty gritty to me.

Like pretty much every offensive tackle draft prospect at the Combine this year, Miller pointed to Penei Sewell as one of the people he studies.

“His physicality, finish blocks, his nastiness is awesome,” Miller said.

Notre Dame OT Aamil Wagner

Size: 6-foot-6, 306 pounds
Quick bio: Wagner is probably more known for his high character than his game, but as a two-year starting right tackle at Notre Dame, Wagner provided solid play. In 2025, he was named a finalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year (courage, integrity, sportsmanship) and a semifinalist for the Wuerffel Trophy (best community service/leadership off the field).
Current draft projection: Day 3/UDFA
Combine vibes:

Wagner was one of the most impressive men I talked to down at the NFL Combine. He comes from a family who gives back to the community, and I asked him why it was so important to him.

“My parents gave me a challenge when I was young to be humanitarian, to help other people,” Wagner said. “We’re not on this earth to be selfish and be by ourselves. We’re on this Earth to give back to others. Every since I was a kid, my dad worked in a homeless shelter, my mom worked at a senior center, so giving back to our community and giving back to others is extremely important.”

That servitude to his community also translates to his leadership on the field.

“My leadership style is […] like a servant leader, willing to do anything for the guys around you, no matter what it is,” Wagner said. “I think being a servant leader translates, whether it’s a vocal leader, leader by example. In the NFL, it really translates to I’m willing to do whatever for a team. It doesn’t matter what my role is, whether it’s tackle, guard, center, jumbo tight end. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to help my team out.”

And as a quirky fact, Wagner lives in Yellow Spring, a small community in Ohio that is most known for being the home of comedian Dave Chappelle. And, yes, Wagner says he runs into the comedian all the time and even grew up with his kids.

Nottingham Forest have decided against triggering their option to permanently sign Lorenzo Lucca, according to reliable transfer journalist Nicolò Schira, confirming what his performances this season have long suggested was coming.

The Italian striker joined Forest on loan from Napoli in January, with the English club holding a purchase option worth €35 million.

That clause will not be exercised, with Schira reporting that Forest are simply not satisfied with what Lucca has produced since his arrival at the City Ground.

It is difficult to argue with that assessment.

LEEDS, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 06: Lorenzo Lucca embraces Igor Jesus of Nottingham Forest as Omari Hutchinson and Sean Dyche look on during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Nottingham Forest at Elland Road on February 06, 2026 in Leeds, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

Lucca expected back at Napoli this summer

The 25-year-old has managed just 120 minutes of Premier League football, started only once, and was hooked at half-time during a Europa League playoff leg against Fenerbahce, a performance that drew sharp criticism from supporters.

The goal he scored on his debut against Leeds briefly raised hopes of a turnaround, but it has proven to be an isolated moment in an otherwise underwhelming loan spell.

The news will concern Napoli considerably.

TURIN, ITALY – OCTOBER 18: Adrien Tameze of Torino is challenged by Lorenzo Lucca of Napoli during the Serie A match between Torino FC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on October 18, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

The club paid close to €40 million to sign Lucca from Udinese, where he had impressed with 12 goals in a single season, only for him to completely fail to establish himself under Antonio Conte.

His contract runs until 2030, meaning Napoli cannot simply move him on cheaply, yet finding a buyer willing to meet their valuation after two consecutive failed loan spells will be an increasingly difficult task.

Lucca will return to Naples at the end of the season with his market value significantly diminished and his future at the club deeply uncertain.

The 2026 high school baseball season is scheduled to get underway this week for teams in Class 5A. To prepare fans for the upcoming season, the Deseret News has compiled capsules for every team in 5A. Every coach was invited to participate and submit information.

The region rankings are based on coaches’ preseason projections.

There are nine new baseball coaches in 5A this year: Jason Spencer (Hillcrest), Preston Vaccaro (Hunter), Andrew Wilde (Kearns), Bill Groves (West), Josh Taylor (Bonneville), Tyler Barfuss (West Field), Mike Hayes (Skyline), Jason Crawford (Salem Hills) and Russ Frame (Timpview).

Here are the 5A teams and players to watch this upcoming season.

Region 4

1. West Jordan Jaguars

Head coach: Travis Johnson (3rd year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 21-6 (first in Region 4 with a 16-2 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 3 in 5A

2025 postseason: 0-2 record, Eliminated by Salem Hills in 5A Super Regionals

2025 offense: 9.6 rpg (No. 1 in 5A)

2025 defense: 4.2 rpg (No. 6 in 5A)

Returning contributors:

• Cody Johnson, C, Sr.
• Brock Litchfield, SS, Sr.
• Tyson Ashworth, 1B/P, Sr.
• Brendan Wood, OF, Sr.
• Blake DiFrancesco, OF, Sr.
• Bryn Gibson, P/OF, Sr.
• Kekoa Wakley, IF/DH, Sr.

Key newcomers:

• Austin Kessler, MIF, So.
• Jake Henry, MIF/P, Jr.
• Mason Dorenbosch, P/OF, Jr.
• Kaizen Marsing, P, So.

Coach comment: “We have a large solid group of seniors that all had significant varsity time last year returning and some depth building in our younger teams. We will be pitching by committee and will need to manufacture runs to win games in a tough region this year.”

2. Cyprus Pirates

Head coach: Alex Aldana (2nd year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 21-9 (second in Region 4 with a 14-4 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 5 in 5A

2025 postseason: 3-3 record, Eliminated by Viewmont in 5A Bracket Play

2025 offense: 8.4 rpg (No. 5 in 5A)

2025 defense: 3.8 rpg (No. 4 in 5A)

Returning contributors:

• Brody Densley, 1B, Sr.
• Reiner Hidalgo, SS, Sr.
• Rene Hidalgo, CF, Sr.
• Carter Primm, 2B, Jr.

Key newcomers:

• Turner Wren, C, Jr.
• Noyker Velasquez, LF, Fr.
• Gianni Lucero, 3B, Jr.
• Humberto Nava, C, Jr.

Coach comment: “We are really excited for this season; great combination of seniors, juniors, and freshmen for this year.”

3. Taylorsville Warriors

Head coach: Jentry Beckstead (6th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 11-15 (fourth in Region 4 with a 11-7 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 18 in 5A

2025 postseason: 0-2 record, Eliminated by Northridge in 5A Regionals

2025 offense: 6.7 rpg (No. 15 in 5A)

2025 defense: 6.1 rpg (No. 15 in 5A)

Additional info not provided

4. Kearns Cougars

Head coach: Andrew Wilde (1st year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 3-20 (sixth in Region 4 with a 3-15 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 29 in 5A

2025 postseason: Did not qualify

2025 offense: 3.2 rpg (No. 28 in 5A)

2025 defense: 11 rpg (No. 28 in 5A)

Returning contributors:

• Boston Slaugh, P/1B, Sr.
• Lyrik Bandera, 1B/DH, Jr.
• Bostyn Ward, Inf/OF/P, So.
• Mason Rodarte, C/3B/P, So.

Key newcomers:

• Mac Stanley, OF/Inf, Sr.
• Traxten Gardner, C/3B, Sr.
• Zack Budge, Mif/OF/P, Jr.
• Cooper Drummond, Cif/OF/P, Jr.
• Bridger Wilde, C/3B, So.
• Diego Martinez, Mif/OF/P, So.
• Ramses Gonzalez, Mif/OF/P, So.
• Connor Gilgen, OF/Mif/P, So.
• Lucas Grable, OF/P, So.

5. Granger Lancers

Head coach: Clint Felion (6th year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 6-19 (fifth in Region 4 with a 6-12 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 27 in 5A

2025 postseason: Did not qualify

2025 offense: 4.7 rpg (No. 25 in 5A)

2025 defense: 8.7 rpg (No. 25 in 5A)

Returning contributors:

• Max Pace, CF, Sr.
• Wyatt Hooper, OF, Sr.
• Quinton Owens, INF/P, Jr.
• Cole See, SS, Jr.

Key newcomers:

• Jake Miller, Utility, Fr.
• Liam Salea, INF, Fr.

6. Hillcrest Huskies

Head coach: Jason Spencer (1st year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 2-21 (sixth in Region 10 with a 0-15 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 25 in 4A

2025 postseason: Did not qualify

2025 offense: 3.3 rpg (No. 25 in 4A)

2025 defense: 11.7 rpg (No. 25 in 4A)

Returning contributors:

• Andy Gonzales, Inf/RHP, Sr.
• Christian Adkins, OF/RHP, Sr.
• Beckham Monson, C/RHP, Jr.
• Luis Villasmil Hernandez, SS/RHP, So.
• Boston Carrell, 1B/OF/LHP, So.
• Bentley Jensen, C/Inf/RHP, So.

Key newcomers:

Additional info not provided

Coach comment: “Our Hillcrest Baseball group is a young team that has already invested a tremendous amount of effort into becoming better athletes, better teammates, and better young men. We’re focused on building a culture and an atmosphere where growth is expected, supported, and earned every day.”

7. West Panthers

Head coach: Bill Groves (1st year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 0-24 (eighth in Region 6 with a 0-20 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 30 in 5A

2025 postseason: Did not qualify

2025 offense: 1.2 rpg (No. 31 in 5A)

2025 defense: 13.6 rpg (No. 30 in 5A)

Returning contributors:

• JJ Martinez, CF/P, Sr.
• Taplin Everette, P/1B, Sr.
• Mike Garcia, SS/2B, Sr.
• Kayden Luce, C/P, Sr.
• Kingston Rillon, INF/P, Sr.
• Gideon Steele, OF, Jr.
• Jose Rodriguez, C, So.
• Felix Lozano, INF/P, So.

Key newcomers:

• Enrique Negrete, INF/P, Fr.
• Jaxson Winters, INF/P, Fr.
• Anderson Garrett, INF/P, Fr.

Coach comment: “We’re in a rebuilding phase, but we have great senior leadership and a team committed to improving every day. Our focus is on fundamentals and consistent development.”

8. Hunter Wolverines

Head coach: Preston Vaccaro (1st year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 0-24 (seventh in Region 4 with a 0-18 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 31 in 5A

2025 postseason: Did not qualify

2025 offense: 1.3 rpg (No. 30 in 5A)

2025 defense: 14.9 rpg (No. 31 in 5A)

Returning contributors:

• Sam Brito, Assistant Coach

Key newcomers:

• Preston Vaccaro, Head Coach
• Kaden Wilson, Assistant Coach
• Addison Beutler, Assistant Coach

Coach comment: “Rebuild the program into a respectable baseball program.”

Region 5

1. West Field Longhorns

Head coach: Tyler Barfuss (1st year)

2026 Schedule

2025 record: 17-13 (second in Region 11 with a 9-3 record)

2025 RPI ranking: No. 11 in 4A

2025 postseason: 2-3 record, Eliminated by Dixie in 4A Super Regionals

2025 offense: 7.8 rpg (No. 5 in 4A)

2025 defense: 6.8 rpg (No. 14 in 4A)

Returning contributors:

• Bear Penland, OF/P, Sr.
• Grady Garrett, C, Sr.
• Sam Smith, P/Util, Sr.
• Luke Penland, OF, Sr.
• Boston Kap, OF/P, Sr.
• Bryce Bagby, P/Util, Sr.
• Marshal Moon, Inf/P, Sr.
• Kason Taylor, SS, So.