Atletico Madrid vs Tottenham Preview as Champions League Tie Draws Focus

European nights have long carried their own sense of narrative. For Tottenham, that narrative now arrives with unusual weight. A club battling domestic turmoil must suddenly step onto the grandest stage of continental competition, where margins shrink and reputations are shaped. The Champions League last 16 meeting between Atletico Madrid and Tottenham therefore carries an intrigue that stretches well beyond the scoreline.

For Igor Tudor, the evening in Madrid represents something close to a turning point. Spurs arrive amid a bleak Premier League run, hovering dangerously near the relegation zone after the damaging defeat to Crystal Palace. The Champions League has offered rare encouragement this season, yet the context around the club has rarely felt more fragile.

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Across Europe, Atletico Madrid remain a familiar presence in these decisive moments. Diego Simeone’s team approach this contest with momentum and confidence, and the contrast between the clubs’ current circumstances forms the backdrop to one of the more fascinating ties in this stage of the competition.

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Champions League Stage Brings Relief From Domestic Struggles

Tottenham’s Premier League problems have been well documented, yet their Champions League form has delivered something entirely different. Spurs navigated the league phase with confidence, suffering only one defeat to reigning European champions Paris Saint Germain.

That run helped construct the sense that continental football may represent a temporary sanctuary from domestic anxieties. It also ensured Tottenham progressed into the knockout rounds with belief intact.

For Tudor, maintaining that European rhythm has become crucial. His managerial record in the Champions League is modest, with only two wins in nine matches. Those victories arrived during his brief spell at Marseille in 2022, both against Sporting.

The situation therefore places Tottenham in a delicate position. European success could steady the atmosphere around the club, while another setback risks intensifying the scrutiny surrounding Tudor’s tenure.

Atletico Madrid Form and Champions League Context

Atletico Madrid enter the match with a steadier sense of direction. Simeone’s side have won four of their last five matches, building momentum before the Champions League resumes.

Their recent triumph over Barcelona in the Copa del Rey added another layer of confidence. Atletico advanced 4-3 on aggregate, a result that reinforced their resilience in knockout football.

European results earlier in the season have been less consistent. Atletico suffered defeats against Liverpool and Arsenal during the league phase, results that exposed occasional vulnerabilities against elite opposition.

Even so, the structure and discipline that define Simeone’s teams remain firmly in place. In a stadium that regularly produces intense European nights, Atletico will view Tottenham as an opponent currently struggling to find stability.

Liverpool’s victory against Atletico earlier in the competition also provides a useful reference point. It demonstrated that Simeone’s side can be tested when confronted with sharp attacking transitions and relentless pressure.

Team News Shapes Atletico Madrid vs Tottenham Encounter

Injury concerns continue to shape Tottenham’s preparations. Several players remain unavailable, though there are signs of encouragement with the return of a few defensive options.

Djed Spence and Radu Dragusin both travel with the squad after missing the defeat against Crystal Palace. Their availability should strengthen Tottenham’s defensive choices as they prepare to face Atletico Madrid’s attacking threat.

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Destiny Udogie remains sidelined with a thigh injury, while Lucas Bergvall will stay in London after suffering an ankle sprain. Ben Davies also remains unavailable.

Mohammed Kudus is recovering from a quad tendon injury that will keep him out until next month. Long term absences also include Wilson Odobert and James Maddison, both expected to miss the remainder of the campaign. Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski continue their own rehabilitation programmes.

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Despite Tottenham’s defensive issues, Micky van de Ven is available despite being sent off against Crystal Palace. Cristian Romero can also play despite serving a domestic suspension.

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Atletico Madrid arrive with fewer complications. Pablo Barrios remains unavailable because of a thigh injury, while Rodrigo Mendoza is recovering from an ankle sprain. Ilias Kostis is ruled out for the season following an ACL rupture.

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Julian Alvarez is expected to lead Atletico’s attack. His five goals in nine Champions League appearances place him among the competition’s most productive scorers this season.

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Atletico Madrid vs Tottenham Prediction

Matches of this nature often revolve around composure and structure. Atletico Madrid traditionally thrive in these environments, particularly in front of their own supporters at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

Tottenham’s season has yet to reveal a clear tactical direction under Tudor. With confidence fragile and injuries limiting squad balance, the challenge facing Spurs appears considerable.

Atletico are not without flaws. Earlier defeats against Bodo Glimt, Arsenal and Liverpool demonstrated that Simeone’s side can be exposed by well organised opponents.

Yet Tottenham’s recent trajectory suggests a difficult evening could await in Madrid. Atletico’s organisation, physical intensity and experience in Champions League knockout ties position them as favourites to claim the first leg advantage.

Prediction, Atletico Madrid to win 4-1.

The Green Bay Packers will have a new linebacker in Zaire Franklin after agreeing to swap defensive tackle Colby Wooden in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts.

Franklin, who turns 30 this year, has started for the last four years in Indy, developing from a seventh-round pick to a Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-Pro in 2024. He is coming off a down year in 2025 though.

What should Packers fans expect from Franklin in green and gold? To a large extent it depends whether last year was an aberration, or the start of a steep decline. Here are his percentile rankings compared to his fellow linebackers in 2024:

His 61 PFF grade may not indicate it, but the majority of his underlying statistics in 2024 were legitimately fantastic, and Franklin was worthy of the accolades he garnered.

Specifically he was a menace around the line of scrimmage, producing his best season as a run defender as well as a pass rusher.

Franklin was active and impactful in run defense, leading the NFL with 173 tackles and ranking well above average in stop rate against the run (tackles resulting in a failure for the offense) and average depth of tackle. This was not a case of padding stats by mopping up plays five yards downfield.

The biggest difference in Franklin’s game that year was his missed tackle rate in the run game went way down, which had been an issue previously, and was again in 2025. He missed only 5.7% of tackle attempts in run defense in 2024, which was 11th-best in the league.

It was his best season in terms of playmaking, as he racked up four forced fumbles and two interceptions. Franklin was remarkably efficient as a blitzer, putting up 15 pressures and four sacks per PFF on just 52 pass rush reps.

His discipline was also improved from previous years, as he only committed one penalty, his career best since becoming a starter.

In 2025, his numbers plummeted, as you can see below:

Franklin’s missed tackle rate regressed massively to the worst ranking of his four years as a starter, as he whiffed 16% of the time, and he also fell to below average in solo tackles per snap and stop rate.

Last season was his least effective as a pass rusher. He rushed the passer 60 more times, only managed four additional pressures and had one fewer sack. Perhaps it was a case of the Colts getting too carried away after his success the previous year and asking him to do it too often.

His splash plays dipped significantly, as he only forced two fumbles and did not have a pick. Penalties also ramped up.

One thing you will notice in both charts is that Franklin is a below average player in coverage. He is not a true liability, and should provide an upgrade on Isaiah McDuffie, who was currently slated as Green Bay’s tandem linebacker with Edgerrin Cooper, but that is not a high bar.

The natural way to evaluate Franklin is how he compares to Quay Walker, who he will be replacing. It is an interesting discussion.

Both players have started for four years, and on the whole they have been of almost the exact same quality according to the numbers, but they get there in different ways.

Walker’s problem was that he was a perfectly safe and satisfactory starting linebacker, but he did not make enough plays or impact games enough for his draft pedigree. Franklin is the opposite. He will shoot his shot and make highlight plays, but will also get it wrong and hurt his team.

Franklin’s 2024 season was better than anything Walker has produced, but his 2025 performance was worse than any of Walker’s seasons.

There are a couple of stats which show their difference in style well. Walker ranked in the 94th percentile for missed tackle rate in 2025 but only the 44th percentile in average depth of tackle. Franklin ranked in the 18th percentile in missed tackle rate but the 83rd in average depth of tackle.

Franklin is not as strong in coverage, but Walker has not been a plus in that aspect himself, and had his worst year in 2024.

It is easy to see how the Packers arrived at the conclusion to make a trade for Franklin, especially as they will only pay him a non-guaranteed $7 million in 2026, compared to Walker’s $13.5m AAV with the Raiders.

The risk is obvious; that Walker is still young and could improve, whereas Franklin may be trending in the wrong direction. Green Bay is gambling he will be closer to the 2024 version of himself than 2025.

Their linebacker room will mostly go as Cooper goes though, as he is the crown jewel of the group. If Franklin can even improve moderately on his 2025 performance, he will be a perfectly fine running mate.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: What Zaire Franklin brings to Packers: Is he better than Quay Walker?

The NFL officially announced the 33 compensatory selections for the 2026 draft on Monday, and the New York Giants were not among the teams receiving any additional picks.

Compensatory selections are awarded to teams that lose more or better qualifying free agents than they sign during the previous offseason. Those picks are distributed between the third and seventh rounds based on the value of the players lost.

In total, the NFL handed out 33 compensatory picks to 15 teams for the 2026 draft, which will take place April 23–25 in Pittsburgh.

Several teams received multiple selections, including the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. The New York Jets were also awarded two compensatory picks.

One additional compensatory selection was granted outside of the traditional formula. The Detroit Lions received a special third-round pick after the New York Jets hired Aaron Glenn as their head coach, part of the NFL’s initiative designed to promote minority hiring opportunities. That pick has since been traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Because the Giants did not qualify for a compensatory selection, they will enter the 2026 draft with only their currently owned selections unless additional picks are acquired through trades before draft day.

The 2026 NFL Draft will begin April 23 in Pittsburgh, where the Giants will look to add new talent through the standard seven rounds without any extra compensatory help.

It is now crunch time in the Champions League with the last 16 ties and the knockout stage proper kicking in.

There are some blockbuster fixtures to look forward to and we look at five big questions to consider.

And users in Australia can bet on all of the exciting action ahead with Ladbrokes.

Club World Cup final repeat

One of the most exciting and intriguing contests comes with a repeat of last summer's Club World Cup final between PSG and Chelsea.

In the new, revamped version of the traditional competition between continental victors, the Blues shocked the defending Champions League winners with a ruthless 3-0 win.

They meet in the French capital first this week for a fixture that is guaranteed to produce fireworks and talking points aplenty.

Some key players on both sides are now back at full fitness and fully firing and if there's one thing that can be expected here it is goals.

PSG have never been involved in a 0-0 draw in a Champions League knockout clash - a feat that now stretches over 58 games.

Giants face off - again!

If watching Real Madrid take on Manchester City feels familiar, it should as this is the fifth consecutive season these giants of the modern game have met in the knockout stage of this competition.

Overall, they just cannot be split either as from their 15 meetings, both have five wins apiece while the others have ended in draws.

This will actually not be their first face-off in this year's Champions League either, with the Cityzens coming out on top on matchday six of the league phase with a 2-1 win in Madrid.

Los Blancos are on an unfortunate run against English opposition of four straight defeats, although may garner hope from the fact that in their last 10 two-legged meetings with Spanish sides, they've been eliminated seven times.

The decisive factor could be the absence of Kylian Mbappé in the first leg and when combined with Rodrygo's injury, could dull the firepower required for Alvaro Arbeloa.

Newcastle's biggest ever game

Real Madrid aren't the only Spanish side facing Premier League opposition as eternal rivals Barcelona also have a showdown with Newcastle to look forward to.

It is a game that is 'the biggest in Newcastle's history' in the words of their head coach Eddie Howe, a bold claim when you consider they have fought for league titles and contested cup finals - but it is the furthest they have progressed in Europe's premier club competition.

Also like Real Madrid and Manchester City, these clubs have also previously met this season when the Blaugrana went to Tyneside and left with a 2-1 win courtesy of a Marcus Rashford brace on his return to England.

Howe has also been calling on his side to channel the spirit of their heroic side of the mid-'90s when a Faustino Asprilla hat-trick saw Newcastle beat Barça 3-2 on an epic night at St James' Park.

Can they recreate the magic or will LaLiga's leaders march on?

Big milestone looms for Bayern star

Harry Kane firmly has Atalanta in his sights as Bayern Munich aim to avoid becoming the next Bundesliga side to be upset by the Italian underdogs.

In the last round, they fought back from the brink to see off Borussia Dortmund and set up a tie with Kane and co. as the England international aims to add more impressive pages to his record books.

This season the 32-year-old has already netted 45 goals in 37 games in all competitions and has scored in each of Bayern's last three last 16 fixtures.

He is now just two goals away from the 50-goal mark in this competition and he would become the first Englishman to achieve that.

Would you really bet against him doing it this week?

Will the fairytale continue?

One of the stories of this season's tournament has been the continued meteoric rise of Norwegian underdogs Bodø/Glimt who are competing in this stage for the first time.

Everyone is by now undoubtedly aware of all the stats surrounding their fantastic surge into uncharted territory and they will be quietly confident of advancing into the last eight.

Although Sporting CP are favourites to progress (isn't it always the way against the Norwegians?), this is a much more appetising task than beating the likes of Manchester City, Inter or Atlético de Madrid - all of which they've managed to do of late.

It is just part of their incredible recent form which has resulted in Kjetil Knutsen's side winning seven of their last nine two-legged UEFA ties.

How far can they go?

The first day of the NFL’s negotiation window was a quiet one for the New England Patriots as the team ended up signing just three players.

With the dust settled, here’s who was impacted the most, both positively and negatively, by their moves on Monday.

Winners

WR Kyle Williams: Internally, the Patriots remain high on Kyle Williams entering the receiver’s second season. After playing just 31 percent of the team’s offensive snaps last season as part of a crowded depth chart, it’s expected that Williams will have a chance for more opportunities moving forward. With the Patriots not adding a wide receiver on day one of free agency, the path towards that role remains clear for Williams — in addition to fellow second-year wide receiver Efton Chism III. 

DL Cory Durden: The Patriots saw defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga depart and sign a three-year, $21 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs. Tonga made a big impact during his one season in New England and took on the largest role of his career (337 snaps). That will lead to more work for Cory Durden, who had played himself into a larger workload down the stretch last season in the first place. Leonard Taylor III (aka Lenny T.) will likely also continue factor into the defensive line rotation.

RBs Rhamondre Stevenson & RB TreVeyon Henderson:New England’s rushing attack improved down the stretch — specifically as they leaned on their six offensive line package — but still ranked as one of the league’s most inefficient units. Some of that had to do with their run blocking personnel at the tight end and fullback positions, which will now be improved with the addition of Reggie Gilliam (No. 41). The former Bills fullback was a big part in the Bills’ No. 1 ranked rushing attack last season often paving the way for James Cook — welcomed news for both Stevenson and Henderson.

Losers

FBs Jack Westover and Brock Lampe: New England tendered Westover’s contract early Monday morning, but earning a roster spot projects as an upward battle for the converted fullback next season after the addition of Gilliam. The same is true for Lampe, who seemed set to make the roster last season before suffering a season-ending foot injury in training camp.

Honorable mention

QB Drake Maye: A late night addition along the offensive line in Alijah-Vera Tucker upgrades Maye’s protection up front by filling a hole on the Patriots starting offensive line. But on the first day of free agency, the Patriots did not add any pass catchers for their 23-year old quarterback and saw potential replacements for Stefon Diggs sign elsewhere. There is plenty of time to go, but upgrading Maye’s supporting cast continues to rank as the clear-cut No. 1 thing on New England’s to-do list.

Championship Sunday concluded for women's college basketball. ESPN's Charlie Creme released the latest bracketology Sunday to reflect results from the conference tournaments.

LSU is slated as the No. 2 seed in Region 2 Sacramento. The Tigers would host the Baton Rouge Regional and face No. 15 Navy in the opening round. No. 7 Washington and No. 10 Colorado face off in the other first-round game.

UCLA, the Big Ten tournament champion, is the No. 1 seed in LSU's corner of the bracket. UConn, Texas and South Carolina hold the other projected top seeds. Vanderbilt, Duke and Iowa join the Tigers as No. 2 seeds. The Longhorns won the SEC tournament. Creme's latest projections include 12 teams from the Big Ten and 10 from the SEC.

As the No. 4 seed in the SEC Tournament, LSU won its first game against Oklahoma. It held a lead at the half against South Carolina in the semifinals but the Gamecocks prevailed.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Latest ESPN bracket predictions for LSU women's basketball

The women's basketball NCAA Tournament will tip off March 18 with First Four games.

Following Monday's games, Charlie Creme of ESPN released updated women’s basketball bracketology for the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Tennessee (16-13) remains projected as a No. 8 seed and would open NCAA Tournament play in Los Angeles, California, hosted by UCLA.

The Lady Vols are projected to face No. 9 seed Syracuse in the first round. The winner between Tennessee and Syracuse would advance to play either No. 1 seed UCLA or No. 16 seed California Baptist in the second round.

Creme projects UConn as the No. 1 overall seed, Richmond as the last team in and BYU as the first team out of the NCAA Tournament.

Selection Sunday is scheduled for March 15 at 8 p.m. EDT (ESPN).

The Lady Vols' last game was a loss to Alabama, 76-64, on March 5 in the SEC Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.

More: Kim Caldwell discusses if Tennessee deserves to make NCAA Tournament

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

This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Lady Vols' updated March Madness projection after March 9 games

This year’s safety class has become all about Caleb Downs.

Rightfully so as the Ohio State product has all the tools to become a starter at the NFL level. However, there is another defensive back prospect out of Toledo who has begun catching the eyes of many as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches. That player is Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.

Background

Statistics

• 2022: 7 tackles, 1 forced fumble (13 games)
• 2023: 69 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 3 passes defended, 2 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles (14 games)
• 2024: 61 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, 5 passes defended, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble (8 games)
• 2025: 77 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, 5 passes defended, 2 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumbles recovered (13 games)

Measurables

• Height: 6′ 3 1/2″
• Weight: 201
• Hand Size: 9 1/4″
• Arm Length: 32 1/8″
• 40-Yard Dash: 4.52
• 10-Yard Split: 1.58
• 20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
• Vertical: 35.5″
• Broad Jump: 10′ 2″
• 3-Cone: N/A
• Bench: N/A

Experience is not an issue for McNeil-Warren heading into the NFL. He began making starts during his sophomore season in 2023 before taking over the role fully during his junior year. While his 2024 season was cut short due to an undisclosed injury. That didn’t seem to hamper him in 2025 though as he bounced back and had another fantastic season for the Rockets.

Strengths

McNeil-Warren is an absolute demon at the safety position against the run. He is not afraid of contact and uses his size to deliver massive hits, hence why he forced nine fumbles over his four years in college, including a MAC-leading four during his sophomore year in 2023. His ability to drive downhill on running lanes in the box and bring some pop is a special trait that NFL defenses will crave.

The athletic ability should not be slept on either. McNeil-Warren has an innate ability to pick the right lane through blockers and turn his hips to make seamless direction changes, sniffing out the football along the way. His ability to make open field tackles is extremely impressive.

On top of that, among FBS safeties with at least 200 coverage snaps in 2025, he was PFF’s top graded player with a coverage grade of 92.0. He was targeted just 15 times this season, and he gave up just six receptions for 116 yards with five pass breakups.

Weaknesses

Much like Quinyon Mitchell a couple years ago, many of the concerns stem from the level of competition McNeil-Warren went up against in college. It’s easier to make plays when you’re one of the fastest players on the field, but that speed will become the norm at the NFL level.

While tackling has been a strong suit throughout his career, there seemed to be some lapses in focus during his senior season. He more than doubled his missed tackle numbers from six in 2024 to 13 in 2025. H0pefully, that won’t become a trend as a pro.

2026 NFL Draft Projection

• NFL Draft Projection: Day 1-Day 2 (Mid-Round 1 to Early Round 2)
• Team Fits: Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers

McNeil-Warren may end up falling a bit further in the draft because of where he played his college football, but at some point, talent is talent. The man is an extremely fun football player to watch, brings tons of energy and physicality, and he has the potential to be a cornerstone for a defense in the NFL.

Editor’s Note: Statistics from Pro Football Focus helped with this article.

🔴 Newcastle vs Barça live: Follow the Champions League round of 16 clash!

Newcastle vs Barcelona / @x.com/sport/

Newcastle United hosts FC Barcelona this Tuesday, March 10, at St James’ Park for a highly anticipated showdown in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16.

The two sides have already faced each other during the group stage last September. The Catalan club came out on top 2-1, thanks to a Marcus Rashford brace. On the other side, Anthony Gordon scored the lone goal for the Magpies in the 90th minute.

Kick-off for this evening’s encounter is set for 8:00 PM (GMT) at St James’ Park, with Italian referee Marco Guida officiating.

Live audio coverage of Newcastle United vs FC Barcelona

We invite you to follow the live audio broadcast of the clash between Newcastle United and FC Barcelona via the following link:

Former Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone is saying goodbye to the community, as another fan-favorite leaves Detroit.

On Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Anzalone is signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with initial contract terms for two years and $17 million.

First signed in 2021, Anzalone worked together to create an identity for the Lions defense with Aaron Glenn after the two had shared time in New Orleans with the Saints. The four-time captain developed into a key player, tallying 73 starts, 490 tackles, 9.0 sacks, 33 passes defended, and three interceptions in five years.

Anzalone took to Instagram to say goodbye to the fanbase.

“Five years ago, when I joined the Lions, I had no idea how much this city would shape not just my career, but our entire family’s life,” he wrote. “Detroit embraced us from day one, and it became the place where so many of our most meaningful memories were made.”

The veteran linebacker went on to describe how Detroit is where he and his wife Lindsey raised their kids, and always received love and support each step of the way.

“Being named captain was an honor I never took lightly. We went through the rebuild together, fought through the hard moments, and then got to experience the turnaround. The playoff runs, the excitement back in Ford Field, but most importantly the brotherhood with my teammates,” he wrote.

Anzalone said every moment is burned into his memory — from the big plays, the celebrations, and even the “Fanzalones,” aka the group of fans who wore long, blonde wigs to support him.

“I gave everything I had to help lead this team. The business side of football doesn’t always line up with exactly how we think things should go. Contracts end, decisions are made, and sometimes paths diverge. It’s bittersweet, no doubt. I leave with nothing but appreciation. Detroit will always hold a special place in our hearts,” he wrote.

A few days before the announcement, Anzalone told one X user that he’ll always be a Lion at heart.

This also isn’t the first time he’s written to Detroiters, penning another passionate piece in February 2024 after the Lions lost the NFC Championship. Looking forward to the memoir he undoubtedly writes when he finally decides to hang up the cleats.

And onto the rest of your notes.

• Speaking of leaving Detroit, the Lions gave Taylor Decker a fond farewell after he requested his release last week.

• “A guy that holds you accountable and holds his own teammates accountable.” That’s how one former Ohio State teammate describes Tyleik Williams. Detroitlions.com’s Abigail DeYoung has that story.

• Detroit Football Network’s Justin Rogers offers his thoughts on all the craziness that has been free agency so far.

Back in July 2025, TN community member JP Money had a great idea- let’s look back on the hits and misses among prep signees under Mike Norvell. Now that we’re over half a year removed from that piece and starting spring ball, why not revisit things for the transfer portal signees?

Mike Norvell is entering this seventh season as the head coach for Florida State Seminoles this fall. Let’s take a look to see how many transfer portal signees developed into contributors for the program (or are expected to this coming season). I defined “contributors” as players who have been full-time or partial starters, significant role players, or consistent depth options over the course of their careers in Tallahassee.

Come with me, once again, down the rabbit hole.

2020 (ranked 4th, 10 enrollees)

High level/impact starter

• RB Jashaun Corbin
• OL Devontay Love-Taylor
• DL Fabian Lovett
• DB Jarrian Jones

Solid depth/partial starter

• TE Jordan Wilson
• DL Jarrett Jackson
• DB Meiko Dotson

Minimal/no impact

• DL Deonte Williams
• LB Cornell Jones
• DB Caleb Blake

Not a terrible hit rate by any means for the first class of transfers under Norvell. Corbin, Love-Taylor, Lovett, and Jones turned into starters. Corbin rushed for 887 yards and seven touchdowns in his final year in Tallahassee after playing a rotational role the prior year. Jarrian Jones and Lovett left Mississippi State as a package deal and while they dealt with inconsistency and nagging injuries, respectively, both eventually played significant roles in raising the level of play on defense. Love-Taylor had 16 starts and earned All-ACC Honorable Mention.

Wilson lost his initial year in Tallahassee to injury and while he only caught 11 balls for 132 yards in his lone season of action, he ended the season as FSU’s top tight end and showed the importance of having a tight end serve as a “sixth OL” in run packages. Jackson provided decent depth for two seasons before leaving for Michigan State and playing 16 total snaps in one game for the Spartans. Dotson started four of 10 total games over two seasons in the DB rotation. Williams, Cornell Jones, and Blake did nothing.

Contributor rate: 70%

2021 (ranked 3rd, 12 enrollees)

High level/impact starter

• OL Dillan Gibbons
• DL Jermaine Johnson
• DL Keir Thomas
• DB Jammie Robinson

Solid depth/partial starter

• QB McKenzie Milton
• WR Andrew Parchment
• DB Jarques McClellion

Minimal/no impact

• RB DJ Williams
• DL Marcus Cushnie
• LB Cortez Andrews
• DB Brandon Moore
• DB Joe Lang

Ah, the Jermaine Johnson transfer class. The first example where Norvell proved that a talented player looking for more opportunity could come to FSU and make it to the first round of the NFL Draft. But Johnson, who was a one-season revelation and earned ACC Defensive Player of the Year among all kinds of awards, wasn’t the only important addition this cycle. Gibbon is perhaps the most important offensive lineman FSU has signed under Norvell when you factor in his enormous impact on the culture of the locker room and his contributions off the field in addition to his contributions on the field. Gibbons started every game in his two seasons at FSU and earned first team All-ACC honors his final year. Thomas and Robinson started the multi-year South Carolina to FSU pipeline and both developed into integral defenders and NFL draft picks.

Milton will forever be remembered for his gutsy performance against Notre Dame, but was otherwise forgettable in the rest of the action he saw. Parchment will always be remembered for that glorious game-winning touchdown against Miami but was otherwise an average performer, while McClellion put in two seasons of rotational contributions as a quality depth piece.

Williams didn’t see much action before transferring to Arizona and finding success there. Cushnie was a major disappointment, Moore left the program before ever playing in a game, and Andrews and Lang were walk-on equivalents.

Contributor rate: 58%

2022 (ranked 10th, 14 enrollees)

High level/impact starter

• RB Trey Benson
• WR Johnny Wilson
• OL D’Mitri Emmanuel
• OL Jazston Turnetine
• DE Jared Verse
• LB Tatum Bethune

Solid depth/partial starter

• RB Caziah Holmes
• WR Deuce Spann
• WR Mycah Pittman
• OL Bless Harris
• DB Greedy Vance

Minimal/no impact

• WR Winston Wright
• OL Kayden Lyles
• DB Malik Feaster

A hit rate of nearly 80% on a class of 14 transfers is great work no matter where you are, and the 2022 transfer class laid the foundation for the greatness to come in 2023. I would argue it proved to be the most important to date under Norvell, and earned him contention for the Portal King title.

FSU bet big on Benson recovering from a nasty knee injury and won big, with Benson accumulating just under 1900 rushing yards and 25 total touchdowns in two seasons. Wilson couldn’t completely shed his inconsistency but still proved a dominant force on the outside, eventually forming a deadly duo alongside fellow transfer Keon Coleman in 2023. Emmanuel reunited with former Charlotte 49ers position coach Alex Atkins and started all 27 games he played in, earning various all-ACC nods in each of his two seasons and helping establish consistency and culture along the offensive line. Turnetine could be argued for either high level or solid depth, but starting eight of 13 games and coming on strong toward the end of the season gives him the nod in my book. Verse was a force of nature at defensive end and arguably the most talented transfer Mike Norvell has ever signed, while Bethune was a steady and reliable presence at linebacker who maxed out his ceiling under Randy Shannon.

Holmes was often (puzzlingly) the odd man out in the RB rotations but certainly qualified as solid depth. Spann didn’t contribute much from a receiving standpoint but that return touchdown against Duke gets him into the solid depth tier for me. Pittman showed value in the return game and had a decent year in Tallahassee, though he never reached the potential FSU hoped for and transferred to Utah for a final year. Harris lost his first year to injury and started a handful of games in his second season, later finding greater success at his next destination, TCU. Vance was a solid contributor, particularly in the nickel role in Adam Fuller’s scheme, though his play often left much to be desired before he left for USC to end his career.

Wright is a sad case of what might have been, missing his first season in Tallahassee after sustaining a serious injury in a car accident and never being able to overcome it, though he eventually transferred to East Carolina and found modest success there. Lyles never suited up for FSU due to injury, a big blow considering he was a former Rimington Watch Lister at Wisconsin. Feaster did nothing in his lone season in garnet and gold but became a contributor at Memphis the next year.

Contributor rate: 79%

2023 (ranked 6th, 12 enrollees)

High level/impact starter

• WR Keon Coleman
• TE Jaheim Bell
• OL Casey Roddick
• OL Jeremiah Byers
• DL Braden Fiske
• DL Darrell Jackson Jr.
• DB Fentrell Cypress

Solid depth/partial starter

• TE Kyle Morlock
• OL Keiondre Jones
• DL Gilber Edmond
• LB Juice Cryer

Minimal/no impact

• DB Peter Warrick

If the 2022 transfer class was Norvell’s most important, the 2023 portal class represented a group full of players with huge expectations and varying degrees of attainment- some exceptional, some frustratingly subpar, but boasting the highest overall contributor rate at a blistering 92%. While certainly one of, if not the best to matriculate into Tallahassee, this is also a transfer class that could have easily been one of the greatest transfer classes nationally since the birth of the portal but was waylaid by some underperformers at key positions.

Those who held up their end of the bargain, exceeding or matching high expectations? Coleman was a massive addition, immediately showcasing his star power against LSU with three touchdowns in his first appearance and adding more highlight reel performances throughout 2023. Fiske teamed with Verse (and has since done so again in the NFL with the Rams) to front a fearsome defensive line unit and saved his best for last, notching three sacks against Louisville in the ACC Championship game. Bell carved out a strong role quickly, attaining over 500 receiving yards while showcasing great blocking and landing second team all-ACC. Jackson wasn’t able to play in the 2023 regular season but was a bright spot in an otherwise forgettable 2025 campaign. Roddick, Jones, and Byers, while inconsistent and frustrating at times, ended up being contributors along the offensive line and essentially lived up to FSU’s expectations coming in.

Speaking of expectations… the players FSU invested in who failed to deliver on their high promise definitely contributed to the 2024 disaster. Fentrell Cypress held down a starting corner position in both of his seasons despite not coming close to the player he was at Virginia. FSU really could’ve benefitted from the UVA version of Cypress. Gilber Edmond was counted on to be a high level rotational player at edge with starting capability, but only managed one sack in 14 games before transferring back to South Carolina. Cryer was eventually able to carve out some starting reps in an atrocious linebacker unit but was also capped out developmentally and likely should not have been more than a rotational player for most of his time in Tallahassee. He has since transferred. And then there’s Kyle Morlock, one of the most frustrating misses to date under Norvell. FSU (and many of us) believed that Morlock had all of the intangibles and measurables that would allow him to develop into a major impact player in Tallahassee and have a legitimate shot at the NFL. Instead, Seminoles faithful watched Morlock slog through two painful campaigns full of dropped passes and mental errors on his way to a paltry career total of 402 yards on 32 catches and zero touchdowns. He could not make the transition to major college football and it cost FSU in more ways than one.

Contributor rate: 92%

2024 (ranked 7th, 17 enrollees)

High level/impact starter

• OL Jacob Rizy
• OL Richie Leonard IV
• DL Marvin Jones Jr.
• DB Earl Little Jr.

Solid depth/partial starter

• QB DJ Uiagalelei
• RB Roydell Williams
• WR Malik Benson
• OL Terrance Ferguson
• DL Grady Kelly
• LB Cam Riley

Minimal/no impact

• WR Jalen Brown
• DL Tomiwa Durojaiye
• DL Sione Lolohea
• LB Shawn Murphy
• DB Omarion Cooper
• DB Davonte Brown

Real talk, I wouldn’t blame you for just skipping over this class. I wish I could. After back-to-back transfer portal classes that took him to great heights, the 2024 cycle played a significant role when it all came crashing down. Ten of the 17 signees were given 4-star rankings by 247, but I would argue that the only one to come close to living up to that billing was Little, and even he was maddeningly inconsistent more often than would be acceptable. It was a master class in the failure that happens when you rely on relationships from prep recruiting and DON’T keep in mind what happened at the first collegiate stop. Mike and his staff thought they could salvage everyone and yikes, did they fail hard.

I know it looks like I was absurdly generous with some of these guys but when you add in the context of just how bad the 2024 team was, being an impact start or partial starter was a very low bar. So keep that in mind. Little was the bright spot before transferring to Ohio State this offseason and Jacob Rizy was a pleasant surprise, as he punched above his weight and ended up as a reliable swing offensive lineman and among the more dependable options on a very poor OL. Leonard battled injuries and arguably raised the floor of the unit a smidge, but was otherwise below average most of the time. Jones Jr. was a significant disappointment and only attained modest production before transferring to Oklahoma, where he again found nothing above mediocrity.

We’ve talked enough about the disaster that was DJU, so I’m not going to waste any more space on him. Roydell Williams was unable to overcome injuries and poor vision, Malik Benson’s primary talents were wasted by poor QB play and blocking (as evidenced by the great year he just had with the Oregon Ducks), Kelly provided decent depth and basically hit what FSU expected from him before transferring again, Riley provided rotational help and also hit his expectations, and Ferguson managed to finish as one of the worst offensive line performers in the modern history of the program before somewhat rehabilitating his image at Syracuse last year. It’s the first (and hopefully only) time in my life that I ever publicly called for a player to never put on a Seminole jersey again based on performance alone.

Then you have the grouping who was either waylaid by injury or was just a flat-out terrible take. I was so excited about Jalen Brown but he provided nothing more than drops and a poor attitude that saw him get dismissed from the program. Durojaiye, for reasons unknown, never really played and has since transferred twice more. Lolohea was not able to add anything to the pass rush, Murphy lost the majority of the season to injury prior to transferring and finding starter-level success at South Carolina, Cooper did nothing in his second stint in Tallahassee, and I bet you forgot Davonte Brown was ever on the team before you read his name here.

The spectacular failures from this class, especially when considering (lack of) return of investment, is a cautionary tale for modern football coaches. Damn shame it had to be authored by FSU.

Contributor rate: 59%

2025 (ranked 6th, 23 enrollees)

High level/impact starter

• QB Tommy Castellanos
• RB Gavin Sawchuk
• WR Duce Robinson
• TE Randy Pittman
• OL Luke Petitbon
• OL Gunnar Hansen
• OL Micah Pettus
• OL Adrian Medley
• DB Jerry Wilson

Solid depth/partial starter

• TE Markeston Douglas
• Edge James Williams
• DL Deante McCray
• DL Jayson Jenkins
• LB Elijah Herring
• LB Stefon Thompson

Minimal/no impact

• QB Jaylen King
• WR Squirrel White
• WR Gavin Blackwell
• OL Josh Raymond
• OL Ja’Elyne Matthews
• DL Deamontae Diggs
• LB Caleb LaVallee
• DB Jarvin Boatwright

This is the first portal class that is still in progress, another nod to just how bad the 2024 cycle was. FSU worked to right its wrongs from 2024 and an influx of new coaches helped a bit. The instant/high-impact starters found differing levels of success. Robinson has proven to be a fantastic addition on and off the field, easily the crown jewel of this class. Castellanos was basically who we thought he’d be, warts and all, and Sawchuk figured prominently into the running back rotation (if not puzzlingly so). The four offensive linemen brought in to be starters raised the floor of the room under Herb Hand. Jerry Wilson was… disappointing.

In the next tier, there are names with plenty of reps and varying degrees of production. Thompson and McCray were as advertised. Williams and Jenkins certainly were not, and have both moved on, as has another disappointment in Herring. Douglas had a quiet garnet and gold reunion. Better play from Herring and Williams, and not rushing Jenkins back too early from injury, might’ve been the difference between a winning record and FSU’s 5-7 finish.

The final tier is comprised of guys who didn’t offer much (some expected, others not so much), though a couple have the opportunity to get off the minimal/no impact tier. White was grossly misutilized based on his skill set and outside of a massive catch against Alabama, just kind of took up space. Diggs was unable to level up to the better competition, though he apparently has another year in the program upcoming. LaVallee was injured all year and should hopefully be healthy in 2026. King did his job running the scout team and has moved on to Mercer. Boatwright, Matthews, and Raymond were all brought in with the understanding they wouldn’t see the field much, and that proved true (Matthews and Raymond have since transferred again). Blackwell remains one of the dumbest takes in FSU transfer portal history.

Contributor rate: 65% (to date)

2026 (ranked 27th, 23 enrollees)

Quarterback Ashton Daniels (Auburn), 1 year of eligibility left

Quarterback Dean DeNobile (Lafayette College), 1 year of eligibility left

Running back Tre Wisner (Texas), 1 year of eligibility left

Running back Gemari Sands (FAU), 2 years of eligibility left

Tight end Desirrio Riles (East Carolina), 1 year of eligibility left

Offensive lineman Nate Pabst (Bowling Green), 1 year of eligibility left

Offensive lineman Bradyn Joiner (Purdue), 2 years of eligibility left

Offensive lineman Paul Bowling (Troy), 3 years of eligibility left

Offensive lineman Xavier Chaplin (Auburn), 1 year of eligibility remaining

Offensive lineman Chimdia Nwaiwu (Stephen F. Austin), 2 years of eligibility left

Edge rusher Rylan Kennedy (Texas A&M), 2 years of eligibility left

Defensive tackle Jordan Sanders (Texas State), 1 year of eligibility left

Linebacker Chris Jones (Southern Miss), 2 years of eligibility left

Linebacker Mikai Gbayor (UNC), 1 year of eligibility left (needs waiver)

Defensive back Nehemiah Chandler (South Alabama), 3 years of eligibility left

Defensive back Karson Hobbs (Notre Dame), 2 years of eligibility left

Defensive back CJ Richard (Illinois State), 3 years of eligibility left

Defensive back Ma’khi Jones (Duke Blue Devils), 3 years of eligibility left

Long snapper Caleb Bowers (North Dakota State Bison), 1 year of eligibility left

Kicker Gabe Panikowski (Oklahoma State), 1 year of eligibility left

Kicker Conor McAneney (Quincy University), 3 years of eligibility left

Punter Daniel Hughes (New Mexico), 3 years of eligibility left

With just ten games left in the Serie A season, AC Milan and Inter Milan face a challenging run-in that could decide the Scudetto.

According to Tuttosport via FCInterNews, both teams will have to contend with a tricky schedule in the final stretch.

Though Inter had seemed on the verge of winning the title, Milan rekindled their Scudetto ambitions on Sunday.

Indeed, Massimiliano Allegri’s side snatched away a narrow 1-0 victory in the Milan derby to reduce the gap to seven points.

Despite losing another high-profile fixture, Cristian Chivu still holds a solid seven-point advantage at the top.

Therefore, Inter remain in control of the title race.

AC Milan & Inter Face Challenging Serie A Schedule

Inter will look to bounce back from the derby heartbreak when they take on Atalanta at home on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Milan will meet Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico on the following day.

In addition to the Lazio game, the Rossoneri will also face Atalanta, Juventus, and Napoli down the final stretch.

Needless to say, any slip-up would likely inflict irreparable damage on Allegri’s title hopes.

On the other hand, Inter will lock horns with Fiorentina, Roma, and Como after the abovementioned clash against Atalanta.

Any dropped points for either team in the remaining fixtures could prove decisive in the title race.

Ukrainian and Russian athletes competed against each other for the first time at the Milan/Cortina Paralympics on Tuesday, in cross country skiing.

Sprint qualifying in the sitting category saw all five Ukrainians led by Pavlo Bal in third place qualify for the semi-finals. Russia's Ivan Golubkov was 19th and failed to advance.

In the women's race for vision impaired athletes Anastasiia Bagiian of Russia placed second to advance along with one of the two participating Ukrainians, Oksana Shyshkova.

Golubkov started 30 seconds after Bal and remained behind but was passed by the other four Ukrainians who started behind him. Bagiian was not caught by Shyshokova who had started 40 seconds behind her, and they are not in the same semi-final.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) decided last year to end sanctions and allow Russians and Belarusians to compete with their national symbols such as flag and anthem again at the Games in Italy.

Russians could only compete as neutrals at the 2018 Paralympics as part of sanctions over doping practices. Russia and Belarus were banned in 2022 over Russia's invasion of Ukraine which started a few days before the Paralympic opening ceremony.

On Tuesday, para alpine skier Varvara Voronchikhina won Russia's first ever Winter Paralympics gold medal, in the standing super-g. The Russian anthem was played and the flag raised for her for the first time since 2014.

After narrowly defeating Wrexham, Chelsea’s focus now shifts to replicating their Club World Cup triumph against Luis Enrique’s reigning Champions League champions, PSG.

In that previous meeting, a brace from Cole Palmer and a goal from Joao Pedro were enough to pull off an upset and hand Chelsea the trophy. Liam Rosenior would love nothing more than a repeat performance this time around.

The injury situation has not improved much for Chelsea ahead of the trip. Jamie Gittens, Levi Colwill, and Estevao are still expected to miss out, though both Dario Essugo and Romeo Lavia featured in the win over Wrexham.

Reece James and Cole Palmer sat out that match but should return fresh for the journey to Paris. As for PSG, Luis Enrique might be without two key midfielders, while there is also an update on Ousmane Dembele’s availability.

PSG’s injury situation before Chelsea match

PSG suffered a 3-1 home defeat to Monaco on Friday night, narrowing their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to just one point over Lens. But ahead of their match against Chelsea, the Spanish manager did get some positive updates.

Dembele, who had missed the last three games, came off the bench and played nearly half an hour. Goncalo Ramos also continued his return from injury. However, PSG were missing three players for that match.

Quentin Ndjantou remains out until the summer, and Fabian Ruiz has been unavailable since mid-January. However, there is better news concerning midfielder Joao Neves.

The young playmaker has missed the last two matches with an ankle issue but is said to be making good progress. According to Le Parisien, a decision on his availability could come after Monday’s training session. He is expected to be at least on the bench.

Key areas to watch as Chelsea try to take control in Paris

Rosenior will want a result on Wednesday night that keeps Chelsea in the tie ahead of their return to Stamford Bridge. A draw would be considered a strong result, and even a narrow defeat would not be disastrous.

The midfield could play a major role, especially with Neves expected to start on the bench and Ruiz still out. With James fresh, Chelsea have an opportunity to take control in that area.

If Dembele starts, containing him along with players like Desire Doue, Bradley Barcola, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will be important. They will face a Chelsea backline that has kept just three clean sheets in 15 games under Rosenior.

However, the most significant factor could be how much freedom Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro get in attack. If Chelsea can give them space to work in the final third, they’ll have a real opportunity to make an impact.

Read more:

With Day 1 of NFL free agency in the books, let's take a look back at everything that happened with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

In terms of outside additions, it was a quiet first day for the Jaguars. In fact, Jacksonville was one of five teams that did not make an outside signing on Monday.

Here is everything you need to know.

Jaguars re-sign CB Montaric Brown

A big win to start the day for the Jaguars, who were able to re-sign Brown to a three-year, $33 million deal before he was able to hit the open market. Brown will start opposite of Travis Hunter this season.

Jaguars re-sign LB Dennis Gardeck

Gardeck provided the Jaguars defense with a versatile presence, able to play linebacker and defensive end. He was also a core special teams contributor.

Travis Etienne signs with the Saints

New Orleans signed Etienne to a four-year deal worth $52 million. Here is a look at what's next for the Jaguars at the running back position.

Devin Lloyd signs with the Panthers

Carolina signed Lloyd to a three-year deal worth $45 million in total. Here are three takeaways from this move and how it impacts the Jaguars.

Jaguars release TE Johnny Mundt

This move freed up $2.732 million in needed cap space for Jacksonville. With Brenton Strange, Quintin Morris, and Hunter Long, the Jaguars are comfortable with their depth at tight end. On the game day roster last season, Jacksonville often carried just three tight ends. Mundt provided a heavy-blocking presence, but so does Morris.

This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: NFL free agency: Highlighting 5 moves involving Jaguars on Day 1

Great Britain slipped to a fourth successive defeat in the wheelchair curling mixed team event at the Winter Paralympics and remain second-bottom of the standings as a result of an 8-6 loss to Italy.

Only the top four of the 10 competing nations in Cortina will qualify for the semi-finals and the British side's latest defeat means the best they can achieve in the round-robin phase is four wins - a tally already reached by four teams.

For the second time in the competition, Great Britain switched their quartet during the course of a match. Trailing the hosts 5-3 at the halfway stage, alternate Graeme Stewart replaced Austin McKenzie.

The decisive moment came in the sixth end when Italian skip Egidio Marchese delivered a superb final stone into a packed house to score three, moving his side into an 8-5 lead with two ends remaining.

Great Britain were unable to find a way back, leaving them with a record of one win and five defeats from six matches.

They have three round-robin games left to play and two of those are on Wednesday, against defending Paralympic champions China (08:05 GMT) and Latvia (19:05).

"We're going to do the very best we can," said skip Hugh Nibloe.

"The pressure has left us now.

"There are positives. We've not been destroyed like other teams have been.

"It's an inexperienced team and some of these guys have more Paralympics in them so let's see what it feels like to win again."

On Monday, British pair Jo Butterfield and Jason Kean narrowly missed out on qualification for the semi-finals of the mixed doubles.

• Frozen out? The 'mixed' team event with one female player
• 'Devastated' GB curlers miss out on semi-finals

Twelve gold medals will be decided on Tuesday - six in Para-Alpine skiing and six in Para-cross-country skiing.

Neil Simpson and guide Rob Poth will hope to clinch Great Britain's first medal of this year's Winter Paralympics in the men's visually-impaired Alpine combined.

The pair lie fourth after the super-G run, 1.02 seconds behind leader Giacomo Bertagnolli of Italy, with the slalom to follow at approximately 12:50 GMT.

Simpson, who won super-G gold at Beijing 2022, finished fourth in both the downhill and the super-G earlier in these Games.

He told Channel 4: "We're in a good position and we can really charge in the slalom. It's set up quite nicely and we'll try to make the most of it."

British team-mate Fred Warburton, guided by James Hannan, failed to finish his super G run in the same event, while in the women's Alpine combined, Menna Fitzpatrick and her guide Katie Guest are ninth after the visually-impaired super-G.

• What happens when at the Winter Paralympics?
• Winter Paralympics medal table
• What do I need to know about the 2026 Winter Paralympics?

Former LSU football offensive lineman Ed Ingram signed a massive multi-year deal Monday morning, agreeing to a three-year, $37.5 million contract with the Houston Texans, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. This makes Ingram the 19th-highest-paid offensive guard in the league, with an APY of $12.5 million.

Ingram spent five years at LSU, making 45 appearances and 34 starts from 2017 to 2021. He was a key part of the Tigers’ 2019 offensive line, which earned the Joe Moore Award, given to the best unit in the country. That same season, he helped LSU win a national championship, rotating in along the Tigers’ talented line, totaling 411 offensive snaps that year.

The final couple of seasons of Ingram’s time in Baton Rouge were less illustrious from a team perspective, but he continued to develop and excel, earning second-team All-SEC honors for his performance in the 2021 season.

Ingram was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, but after three challenging years, Ingram was traded to the Houston Texans. There, he finally hit his stride, finishing the 2025 season with the 13th-best PFF offensive grade among guards and the sixth-best PFF run-blocking grade.

Ingram's presence on the Texans’ offensive line was a breath of fresh air for much of the 2025 season, playing a key role in improving a unit that was among the worst in the league the previous year. 

The former Tiger has finally found a place in the league, and he can hopefully continue on his upward trajectory in the coming years.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Former LSU football National Champion earns multi-year NFL contract

Atletico Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur face each other in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie on Tuesday.

Diego Simeone’s side, who sit third in La Liga and have reached this season’s Copa del Rey final, are looking to make the Champions League final for the first time in a decade.

Spurs, meanwhile, are enduring a horrendous run of form in the Premier League, which has plunged them into a relegation battle.

Atletico Madrid team news

The home side is likely to have almost a full squad available, with only one major concern. Rodrigo Mendoza is a strong doubt for the match and is expected to miss out, while Pablo Barrios has returned to training and is fit again, although he is likely to begin the game on the bench.

January signing Ademola Lookman has added greater depth to Atletico’s attack, with the Nigerian forward already contributing goals and assists since arriving from Atalanta during the winter transfer window.

Alexander Sorloth has also played an important role this season. The Norwegian striker has reached double figures in La Liga and comes into the match in strong form, scoring six goals in his last five appearances, including a hat-trick against Club Brugge in the Champions League play-off round.

Ahead of the game, Simeone cautioned his players against taking Tottenham lightly despite their recent struggles. The Atletico manager stated that form and league positions do not decide matches, stressing the need for focus and intensity against a dangerous Premier League opponent.

Atletico Madrid predicted lineup

Possible Atletico Madrid starting XI: Oblak; Llorente, Le Normand, Hancko, Ruggeri; Simeone, Koke, Cardoso, Gonzalez; Sorloth, Alvarez

When will the match kick off?

The match will kick off at 8pm BST on Tuesday, 10th March.

How to watch Atletico Madrid vs Tottenham?

The game will be shown live in the United Kingdom on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports 3.

Read – Atalanta vs Bayern Munich match preview and team news

See Also – Rice urges Arsenal to ignore ‘noise’ around style of play

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With all of their questions on the offensive side of the ball heading into 2026, the San Francisco 49ers answered one of them on Monday when they agreed to a deal with future Hall of Fame wide receiver Mike Evans.

While having Evans on the roster is a huge win, it looks even better when taking the contract into account.

Originally, the deal was reported as a three-year deal worth $60.4 million. However, new reporting shows that the deal is actually for $42.4 million with $16.3 million guaranteed and a fair amount of incentives.

Evans has been one of the most consistent receivers in NFL history, tying former 49ers wideout Jerry Rice for the most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons (11) before injuries limited him to just eight games played in 2025.

If Evans is healthy, he can be a true No. 1 receiver and a game-changer for San Francisco's offense, as he'll open things up more for Ricky Pearsall, Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle (when he's back).

More 49ers: 49ers 2026 free agency tracker: Latest news, rumors and signings

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: NFL free agency: Mike Evans contract with 49ers is a great deal

Former footballer Joey Barton and a second suspect have been arrested after a man was assaulted near a golf club.

It happened on Sunday at 21:00 GMT in Fairway, near Huyton and Prescot Golf Club on Merseyside.

Officers arrived at the scene and found a man with injuries to his face and ribs, Merseyside Police said.

A 50-year-old man and a 43-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of wounding. Both men remain in custody for questioning.

Police said the victim was taken to hospital for assessment of injuries to his face and ribs.

At a High Court hearing earlier over a libel claim involving Barton, Gervase de Wilde, representing ex-England footballer Eni Aluko, said his instructing solicitor had "received a call from a duty solicitor in a police station in Liverpool" shortly before the hearing.

Mr de Wilde told the court that Barton "was arrested yesterday and is currently being held in custody".

Barton played for clubs including Manchester City, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers, Burnley and Rangers.

The midfielder then moved into management after his retirement from playing football in 2017.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

Related internet links

• Merseyside Police

Peterborough United striker Pemi Aderoju has signed a long-term contract with the League One club.

The 21-year-old agreed the new deal over the weekend after scoring his first goal for Posh in their 6-1 thrashing of Wigan last month.

"A lot of hard work has gone into getting me where I am today," Aderoju told the club website.

"The manager, his assistant, (director of football) Barry Fry and (chairman) Darragh MacAnthony have showed a lot of faith in me and now it is about taking the opportunity I have been given."

Aderoju has spent time out on loan with Boston United and Eastbourne since signing for Posh from non-league in 2024.

He added: "I want to continue to improve and develop over the next few years and hopefully build on what I have managed to do in my time at the club and out on loan with Boston United and Eastbourne.

"Those loan spells have really helped me. I would have liked to have played more games at Boston United, but I was at a decent level and I learned a lot from my time there and obviously at Eastbourne, I scored a lot of goals at a decent level and enjoyed my time there."

Aderoju scored 15 goals in 24 National League South games at Eastbourne in the first half of this season, including four in one match, a 6-0 thumping of Hampton & Richmond.

Posh boss Luke Williams added: "Pemi has showed a lot of promise in the under-21s and on loan at Eastbourne. He has shown us some glimpses in the first team so we have high expectations for him and are delighted he has signed a new contract."

Peterborough have not disclosed the exact length of Aderoju's new deal.

PERTH, Australia (AP) — Japan kept its perfect defensive record intact to reach the quarterfinals of the Women's Asian Cup without conceding a goal as Taiwan and the Philippines also qualified Tuesday.

On a day when the action on the field was overshadowed by five players from the Iranian team being granted asylum by host nation Australia, Japan's 4-0 win over Vietnam ensured a spot for the Philippines on goal difference.

Collisions between players marred Taiwan's 3-1 win over India. Both teams' goalkeepers were taken off after blows to the head.

Japan keeps perfect record

Japan heads into its quarterfinal matchup against the Philippines with three wins from three games and a tournament-leading 17 goals. Japan is the only team yet to concede at the Asian Cup.

Vietnam started against Japan knowing that a three-goal loss would end its chances of qualifying as one of the best third-place teams if Taiwan avoided defeat to India.

Vietnamese goalkeeper Khong Thi Hang made a series of impressive saves to limit Japan to a 1-0 halftime lead but was constantly under pressure from an opponent which had scored 11 goals against India.

Riko Ueki headed Japan's opening goal, her fourth of the tournament, before Maika Hamano, Aoba Fujino and Kiko Seike all scored against a tiring Vietnamese defense. Japan will meet the Philippines in the quarterfinals.

Vietnam’s Duong Thi Van was taken off late in the game after a clash of heads with Japan’s Mina Tanaka.

Injuries for Taiwan and India

Taiwan heads to a quarterfinal meeting with China after a win over India which ended with concerns over the welfare of key players on both teams.

Su Yu-hsuan gave Taiwan the lead before Manisha Kalyan's free kick off the crossbar brought India back into the contest. Taiwan restored its lead when a penalty bounced off the post and in off Indian goalkeeper Elangbam Panthoi Chanu for an own goal.

Taiwan was leading 2-1 when its goalkeeper Wang Yu-ting was taken off following a head injury assessment. The immediate cause wasn't obvious but Wang had previously played on after an earlier collision when Sanfida Nongrum's shoulder made contact with her head.

Chen Yu-chin made sure of the win with Taiwan's third goal on the break but two Indian players ended up stretchered off after they collided while trying to stop her.

Goalkeeper Panthoi charged out toward Chen and was leaping to attempt a save when defender and captain Sweety Devi's knee struck her in the face. Panthoi was taken off on a stretcher with severe swelling on her face and Devi was briefly motionless on the ground before being taken off the field.

It was the second time Panthoi had treatment after being struck on the head. In the first half she was hit by a shot which caused her to fall back and her head hit the ground.

___

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

The 2019 US Open champion Gary Woodland has revealed he felt he was "living a lie" while concealing his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following life-saving brain surgery.

The 41-year-old underwent an operation in 2023 to remove a tumor. He returned to the PGA Tour the following year, but was diagnosed with PTSD a year ago.

Woodland described hypervigilance as a symptom, recalling an incident where he was startled by an on-course scorer, leading to blurred vision and tears.

He struggled to finish his round and spent the remainder of the day crying.

Speaking to the Golf Channel, Woodland said: "In an ideal world I’m probably not playing. But in an ideal world I don’t have this. This is my dream."

He added: "There are days when it’s tough – crying in the scoring trailer, running to my car just to hide it. I don’t want to live that way anymore.

“I can’t waste energy any more hiding this and I’m blessed with a lot of support out here on the tour. I appreciate that love and support. But inside, I feel like I’m dying and I feel like I’m living a lie."

Woodland’s 2023 surgery came just months after his best-ever finish at the Masters, when he came joint-14th.

He missed last year’s Masters after his five-year exemption from winning the 2019 US Open expired.

This year’s Masters is just weeks away, with the four-day event due to run from April 9-12.

Rory McIlroy will be aiming to defend his crown after completing his career grand slam in dramatic fashion at Augusta National last year when he beat Justin Rose in a play-off.

The final field for the Maters is yet to be confirmed, but Tiger Woods has teased a comeback after failing to play at all in 2025 due to his ongoing fitness issues.

Eagles lose $24.75 million free agent to Texans originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Philadelphia Eagles have lost another Super Bowl champion.

In free agency, Reed Blankenship chose to leave town and instead sign with the Houston Texans.

The deal, according to multiple reports, is for three years and $24.75 million, and it was signed late Monday.

It's a tough one for the Eagles. Blankenship had been such a reliable safety for them.

He actually wasn't even drafted out of Middle Tennessee State, but he played in 56 games over the past four seasons, 50 of them starts.

In his 10 games in 2022 as a rookie, he had 34 tackles and one interception.

Blankenship broke out in 2023 with 113 tackles, three interceptions and 11 passes defensed.

MORE: Trey Hendrickson's free agency is getting confusing

In 2024, he added 78 tackles and four interceptions.

The 2025 season featured another 83 tackles and an interception from Blankenship.

Now, the Eagles will have to find a way to replace him in the secondary.

It's a potentially huge pickup for the Texans. Houston had already the NFL's arguably top defense in the 2025 season, and it carried them into the playoffs and to a playoff victory.

The Texans want to get past the Divisional Round for the first time, though, and so they aren't sitting back. This is the kind of upgrade, both talent-wise and with winning experience, that can help push Houston to the next level.

More NFL news:

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• This is why the Cowboys failed in trading for Maxx Crosby
• Ravens' former 1st-round pick retires after 8 NFL seasons
• Jets trade rumor would mean major WR upgrade
• Ravens have a $38 million last-gasp Lamar Jackson solution to contract problem

Real Madrid have officially announced that Rodrygo Goes has successfully undergone surgery after suffering an ACL injury with meniscus damage.

“Our player Rodrygo has undergone successful surgery to repair the anterior cruciate ligament and lateral meniscus tears in his right knee,” the club statement read.

“The operation was performed by Dr. Manuel Leyes under the supervision of the Real Madrid Medical Services. Rodrygo will begin his rehabilitation in the coming days.”

Rodrygo suffered the injury during Real Madrid’s La Liga game against Getafe last week on the night of his return after a month out from a previous injury.

Moments after coming onto the pitch as a substitute, the Brazilian international went down clutching his knee in pain. But after medical examinations, he was allowed to continue playing for close to 30 minutes until the full-time whistle.

Soon after an ACL rupture was confirmed along with damage to the lateral meniscus, with Rodrygo now undergoing surgery to repair it earlier today.

A long recovery road lies ahead for the Brazilian international who is very unlikely to play again in 2026 and is expected to be out for close to a year.

Italian football has always been known for its defensive stability, the flawless structural units at the back, rather than being aggressive on the attacking front. Whenever someone mentions football in Italy, the first thing that comes to mind is how solid they are at defending.

However, this hasn’t always been the case. Although the Italian defence focused more on intelligent positioning and defensive solidarity, a lot of work also went into the goal-scoring part of the game, which, as all of you will agree, is one of the most important factors in winning a game.

While the traditional identity remains true to Italian football, the game has evolved a lot over the years, and Italian teams have had to change their style to keep up with modern times. One of the biggest changes we’ve noticed is in the goalscoring trends.

From the 1990s through the early 2000s, matches in the Italian top division, Serie A, averaged around 2.4 to 2.6 goals per game. This trend continued into the 2010s, reaching a notable peak between 2019 and 2021, when an average of nearly 3 goals were scored per match. However, scoring rates have since returned to their usual levels, which in football analysis reflects the strong balance that now exists between defensive organisation and attacking play in modern Serie A football.

This evolution in gameplay is largely driven by the tactical approaches adopted by the league’s top teams. Clubs like Inter deploy a 3-5-2 formation, where three central defenders provide defensive stability while the wing-backs push high up the pitch to support attacks. During defensive transitions, they drop back to form a compact 5-3-2 shape, giving the team the necessary defensive cushion. Watching these tactical shifts unfold becomes even more engaging when following the fastest live football scores, as fans can track every key moment of Serie A matches in real time.

During their latest golden era, Milan often adopted a 4-3-2-1 formation, allowing them to play a fluid, dynamic brand of football. Wide players and central midfielders combined effectively to carve out spaces with precise passing and intelligent movement. Maintaining possession is not their primary objective; instead, they focus on quick decision-making and rapid ball progression to force mistakes from the opposition. These fast-paced transitions make keeping up with the fastest football live scores essential for fans who want to stay updated with the action as it unfolds.

Napoli, particularly during their recent Scudetto-winning season featuring players like Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, adopted a vertical style of play. Their approach relied on quick wingers and a traditional number nine leading the attack, emphasising direct passing and rapid offensive transitions. Napoli demonstrated that vertical football can be highly effective in the Italian league when supported by the right quality of players. Their attacking intensity often leads to exciting matches, which is why many fans rely on the fastest live football scores to follow every crucial moment of Napoli’s high-tempo games.

Despite the advancements in the attacking front, defensive structures still remain one of the core characteristics of Italian football. Juventus were quite adept in doing this, as they kept their lines compact, didn’t commit too quickly, which could open up small spaces in the middle, and added a hint of intelligent positioning and solid coverage from the midfielders to complement it.

Football in Italy isn’t focused on aggressive pressing. Instead, the Italian football teams focus on controlling the spaces smoothly with a lot of patience off the ball, forcing the attackers to move to less dangerous parts of the pitch, from where the odds of chance creation are minimal. There are a few teams now who still adopt deeper defensive blocks, but most teams try to win the ball higher up the pitch, which is quite uncanny to the style of football in Italy. This approach is one of the main reasons why Italian football seems quite tactically intense, although some might label it as boring to watch due to the low probability of exciting moments in the game.

MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 08: Mike Maignan of AC Milan clashes with Alessandro Bastoni of Inter during the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on March 08, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Set-pieces have been an integral part of Italian football since its inception. If we look at the stats across all of Europe, about 20-25% of the goals come from set-piece situations, of which 8% is being constituted from the Serie A only. Italian teams do focus a lot on set-piece situations, especially free-kicks and corners. Their well-built defenders and midfielders have an edge over most other players when it comes to contesting a duel, and are usually successful in finding the back of the net from such circumstances.

In other words, Serie A is one of the most tactically contested leagues in the world right now. It may not seem pleasing to the eye, but one cannot deny the amount of work that happens behind the scenes of the defensive and attacking phases. They have stayed true to their defensive traditions, making it a hallmark for teams to follow in the future while embracing modern high-tempo football to make the games more exciting. Once Zlatan Ibrahimovic said, Italian football is one of the toughest leagues in the world and also one of the most tactical, even if it’s not visible to the naked eye. Well, who can argue with the big man himself?

Serie A pacesetters Inter Milan have looked like a completely different team whenever Lautaro Martinez is on the pitch.

According to Tuttosport via FCInter1908, the San Siro giants have sorely missed their captain in recent games.

Lautaro Martinez suffered a calf injury during the first leg of Inter’s fateful Champions League playoff tie against Bodo/Glimt.

As a result, he has missed the last five matches in all competitions, including the return fixture against the Norwegian champions.

Furthermore, Cristian Chivu was unable to call upon his talisman for Sunday’s mouth-watering clash against AC Milan.

Unfortunately, the Rossoneri took advantage of El Toro’s absence to claim a vital 1-0 win in the Milan derby.

Inter Milan Heavily Reliant on Lautaro Martinez

Inter have picked up just two wins in five matches since losing their captain to injury last month.

Moreover, they lost two of the other three games in the disappointing sequence, averaging just 1.4 points per game.

For perspective, they have accumulated an average of 2.2 points per match in 35 outings with Lautaro in the team.

It’s also worth noting that Chivu’s men have failed to score in back-to-back games for the first time this season.

After being held by Como in the Coppa Italia, the Nerazzurri drew a blank in another Serie A clash against Milan.

Serie A giants Inter Milan have reportedly grown frustrated with Luis Henrique after yet another underwhelming performance in the Milan derby.

According to Corriere dello Sport via FCInter1908, the Brazilian winger could drop to the bench in Saturday’s clash against Atalanta.

Despite dashing out around €24 million to sign Luis Henrique last summer, Inter may soon cut ties with the ex-Botafogo man.

Indeed, the 24-year-old has failed to live up to expectations this season despite being given ample time and space to prove his worth.

Furthermore, Denzel Dumfries’ long-term absence gave the former Marseille star a chance to shine.

However, he has failed to seize the opportunity.

Inter Milan Grow Frustrated with Luis Henrique

Henrique emerged as the main culprit for Inter’s narrow 1-0 defeat in Sunday’s Serie A derby against AC Milan.

Indeed, he lost track of Pervis Estupinan, who decided the high-stakes showdown already in the first half.

Therefore, Cristian Chivu is reportedly looking to bench Henrique this weekend as Inter prepare to face Atalanta in a must-win home game.

With Dumfries back from a lengthy spell in the pits, Chivu is ready to reinstate the Dutch star on the right wing.

However, it’s worth noting that the 29-year-old made a cameo appearance against Milan, but failed to find his usual rhythm and impact on the flank.

Atalanta will be hoping they can produce another shock against a German side in the Champions League as they host six-time champions Bayern Munich in the first leg of their round of 16 contest.

Quarter-finalists in 2020, Atalanta are the last Italian team remaining in the competition, and stopped a potential Der Klassiker by dumping out 2024 finalists finalists Borussia Dortmund 4-3 on aggregate.

They face one of the competition favourites in Bayern Munich, who are 11 points clear of Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga, with normal service having has resumed following Bayer Leverkusen’s incredible 23/24 season.

Atalanta will be bolstered by an impressive 2-1 victory over Napoli in their last league outing, making it one defeat in their last 12 league games – dating back to December against Inter Milan.

Their form hasn’t done much in terms of league position, however, as Atalanta currently sit 7th in the league and sit five points off a Champions League place.

The team from Bergamo will be hoping to welcome back midfielder Edersen after he was rested against Napoli over the weekend due to fitness concerns, yet they will still be without Charles De Ketelaere and Giorgio Scalvini.

Munich head into Tuesday’s match-up on the back of 20 games without defeat, their last loss coming against Arsenal when they lost 3-1 in the league phase.

Vincent Kompany’s side were knocked out by eventual finalists Inter Milan last season and will be looking for revenge against an Italian side this time round.

Bayern have scored a remarkable 92 goals in 25 games, largely put down to the electrifying form of England striker Harry Kane and his 30 league goals with nine matches still to play.

Vincent Kompany’s side will be hoping to add a seventh Champions League to their trophy cabinet – their first since 2020 – but face a difficult path with either Real Madrid or Manchester City set to face the winner of this tie.

The German side will be without key players in Manuel Neuer and Canadian wing-back Alphonso Davies whilst defender Hiroki Ito is also expected to miss the first leg at least.

Kane is particularly someone Atalanta need to watch out for, as is winger Luis Diaz, who have scored a combined 44 goals, as Kane targets the first European trophy of his career.

The game gets underway at 20:00 (GMT) at the Gerwiss Stadium, with live coverage on TNT Sports.

Day 1 of NFL free agency is over, and there were a lot of moves made, including some notable running backs changing area codes or staying.

Breece Hall is still a Jet. Kenneth Walker is now a Chiefs RB. As for Travis Etienne? He'll be heading to the New Orleans Saints. This is important to the 2026 NFL Draft because there was some buzz over some of those teams as destinations for Notre Dame sensation Jeremiyah Love.

In the latest 2026 NFL mock draft from our Christian D'Andrea, he had Love dropping all the way to No. 18 to the Minnesota Vikings. But in ESPN's latest mock -- a mini-mock from Field Yates -- he's got Love at No. 7 to... the Washington Commanders.

Here's his thinking:

The Commanders landed one of the best free agent pass rushers in Odafe Oweh, which checks the box for their most pressing need and enables general manager Adam Peters to take my No. 2 prospect in this class. We can debate the merits of taking a running back early in perpetuity, but Love is a dynamic, dual-threat player who would instantly supercharge what was a middle-of-road backfield last season. Teaming up Love with Jayden Daniels could be a lot of fun.

Intriguing! Make sure to check out the latest 2026 NFL mock draft from D'Andrea!

This article originally appeared on For The Win: NFL mock draft 2026 from ESPN has Jeremiyah Love to surprise team

With Day 1 of NFL free agency in the books, let's take a look back at everything that happened with the Indianapolis Colts.

Here is everything you need to know.

Colts re-sign Alec Pierce

Not long after the negotiating window opened, Pierce and the Colts agreed to a new deal, paying him a maximum of $116 million over four years. Pierce did reportedly have a larger offer elsewhere, but chose to stay with the Colts.

"I knew where my heart was," Pierce told Pat McAfee. "I love the city of Indianapolis. Just seeing where we were at last year early in the year, like rolling, I truly believe we were the No. 1 team in the NFL."

Michael Pittman is traded to the Steelers

Along with Pittman headlining this trade, the Colts and Steelers agreed to a late-round pick swap as well. Ultimatley, this move was made to clear salary cap space. The Colts freed up $24 million in cap space this season by trading Pittman.

Colts sign DE Arden Key

Key, who spent the last three seasons with the Titans, is joining the Colts on a two-year deal worth $20 million. Key will fill more of a rotational role at defensive end for the Colts, bolstering the depth and -- hopefully -- providing more pass rush juice behind Laiatu Latu.

Kwity Paye to the Raiders

Paye is signing a three-year, $48 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. After having an inconsistent pass rush last season, the Colts seem to be reshaping the defensive end position.

Neville Gallimore to the Bears

Defensive tackle Neville Gallimore has a new home, signing a free agent deal with the Chicago Bears. This is a two-year deal worth $12 million. Gallimore provided a solid rotational presence at tackle last season for the Colts.

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: NFL free agency: Highlighting 5 moves that include the Colts

With a womens lightweight title unification on the horizon when Caroline Dubois takes on Terri Harper on April 5, both fighters sat down with Sky Sports for the latest iteration of The Gloves Are Off. Check out some of what both fighters had to say during a face to face conversation filled with tension.

Harper on when she first became aware of Dubois

“I saw Caroline as soon as she turned professional. I did use to be a big fan of her. I think she’s a good boxer, she’s got a great style but I think once I got to know what her attitude is like, arrogance, it kind of puts a bad taste in your mouth.”

Dubois on her beef with Harper

“There isn’t. I think, for me, I’m a competitive person. I mean, I’m looking at her, this is a woman coming to take my belt, coming to take everything I’ve been fighting for since I was nine years old, coming to take my legacy that I believe I can lay, and obviously my future. If she wins, she’s taken all of that. So obviously there’s that energy from me. I don’t understand how [Harper] can call yourself a professional fighter and you’re backing away from that energy.”

Harper on whether Dubois has been chasing her for a fight

“I feel like this is a fight she needs. She’s probably disappointed that I’m the one sat in front of her, not Rhiannon Dixon, but I like to prove people wrong — Caroline being one of them. And this fight, for me, is not about the belts. Like, it’s nice to win the belts but it’s even nicer to beat Dubois and that’s what I’m doing it for, just to say I beat Caroline.”

Dubois on facing Harper

“I said she’s irrelevant and she is. It’s not about her. I’m looking through her, I’m looking for the belts. That’s what it’s about.”

Dubois on becoming more outspoken and playing the agitator role

“I think it’s my energy…I would rather be the wicked than the weak and that’s just my intensity.”

Harper on Dubois taking her lightly

“I’m glad she thinks it’s going to be easy. It’s good. She’ll probably miss a few more training sessions. Good. Brilliant…Caroline gives me that fire in my belly and just more to prove doubters wrong and Caroline wrong.”

Dubois on her assessment of Harper

“I think she’s checked out, mentally. I think she’s a weak person. She doesn’t believe herself, but that’s not really my business, not really my problem…I think that fight against Sandy Ryan showed a lot. I think that fight against Rhiannon Dixon showed a lot…I was like ‘you’re a three weight world champion and you’re fighting like that?! Damn.’

“I don’t rate you. I don’t rate what you’ve done, I don’t rate what you are as an athlete, as a fighter, as a person. I don’t rate you.”

Amidst the glittering array of footballing royalty gracing the Champions League's last 16 this week – Real Madrid, Liverpool, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City – one name stands out for its sheer unlikeliness: Bodø/Glimt.

Hailing from a modest fishing town of just 55,000 residents in northern Norway, this unassuming club defies expectations, proving they belong among Europe's elite. Not only are they competing, but they are also triumphing, boasting a remarkable four-win streak that has propelled them into the knockout stage of Europe's top club competition.

Their scalps include a stunning 3-1 home victory over Manchester City, a 2-1 away win against Atletico Madrid, followed by crucial home and away successes against last season's runner-up, Inter Milan, during the Norwegian league's off-season. Their improbable journey continues on Wednesday, as they prepare to face Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon in the first leg of the last 16.

Here's what to know about the tiny club delivering the feelgood story of this or any Champions League campaign:

Bodø is located above the Arctic Circle, more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) north of the Norwegian capital, Oslo. Nestled along the western coastline off the Norwegian Sea, it is farther north than soccer’s top club competition has ever previously been.

A map of Bodø:

The town — which has its own airport — has less than an hour of sunlight during its shortest days, meaning players take supplements to combat a lack of sun.

It can be bitterly cold and windy in the long winters but the locals are through the latest one. The forecast temperature for kickoff against Sporting is 3 Celsius (37 Fahrenheit).

Away from soccer, Bodø gained some repute in 2024 when it was named the European Capital of Culture.

A plastic pitch

Bodø/Glimt’s Aspmyra stadium has a capacity of around 8,000 spectators, hardly built for hosting big matches in Europe's top club competition.

A new stadium — the 10,000-seat Arctic Arena — is being built on the edge of town but isn't much bigger.

Adding to the quirky feel of the Aspmyra is the fact it has an artificial field, which is criticized by some in soccer for the way the ball rolls and bounces in comparison to grass.

UEFA allows approved artificial pitches to be used up to and including the semifinals of its competitions.

The fighter pilot bringing belated success to Bodø/Glimt

Founded in 1916, Bodø/Glimt had to wait more than a century before being crowned Norwegian champion for the first time — and the change in fortune had much to do with hiring a former fighter pilot.

The team had just been relegated to Norway's second tier — underling its status as an “elevator club,” as it’s called in Norway, for going back and forth between the top two divisions — when Bjørn Mannsverk was asked in early 2017 to join the backroom staff as a mental coach.

Mannsverk had developed techniques for his squadron before bombing missions in Libya and he brought a philosophy and culture at Bodø/Glimt that made players talk openly about their feelings, change their attitudes and routines about things like preparation and nutrition, and remove the stigma around mental training.

The players and coach Kjetil Knutsen fully bought into Mannsverk's ways — like, for example, having a rotating cast of captains to share leadership duties and gathering in a circle after conceding a goal to discuss what happened and maintain solidarity — and it has helped the team grow.

Bodø/Glimt won its first Norwegian league title in 2020 and captured three of the next five, finishing runner-up last year. The team's success transferred to continental competition as it reached the Europa League semifinals last season — losing to Tottenham over two legs — and then qualified for the Champions League for the first time.

Bodø/Glimt isn't funded by a Middle Eastern sheikh or American private investment so its inexpensively assembled squad is filled with largely unheralded players from Norway and Denmark.

In Norway's most recent squad selection, there were only two Bodø/Glimt players called up.

Its star striker is Kasper Høgh, a 25-year-old Dane who has never played for his country. Its other leading attacker is Jens Petter Hauge, who returned to Bodø/Glimt in 2024 — four years after leaving for AC Milan but failing to establish himself.

Under Knutsen, who joined in 2018 and has masterminded the team's rise, Bodø/Glimt isn't just a plucky underdog that sits back and defends. It is a free-flowing, high-intensity, attacking team which, for example, outplayed Man City when Pep Guardiola's team visited Aspmyra stadium.

In 2017, Bodø/Glimt had around 40 employees and a 4.2 million-euro ($5 million) budget.

Last year, the club's revenue was 80 million euros ($93 million), boosted by making more than 26 million euros ($30 million) in the Europa League and then earnings from the Champions League. Compare that to Real Madrid, whose 2025 revenue was more than 1 billion euros, according to Deloitte.

It is budgeting for 50 million euros ($58 million) in 2026, though that figure will increase the deeper the team gets in the Champions League.

Who could Bodø/Glimt get next?

If Bodø/Glimt was to create more history and get past Sporting, it would face either Premier League leader Arsenal or Bayer Leverkusen, the German champion from the 2023-24 season, in the quarterfinals.

The owners of the TD Garden sports arena in Boston have launched a trademark lawsuit against a Massachusetts cannabis dispensary operating under the name “The Boston Garden,” alleging the branding is too similar to the name of the former stadium, Boston Garden, which closed in 1995.

TD Garden, home to the Boston Bruins in the NHL and the Boston Celtics in the NBA, is just 10 minutes from the dispensary in Cambridge. The company behind the store also has outlets in Somerville and Athol.

Delaware North, the owner of TD Garden, is arguing that the similarity in names is “deceptive,” “confusing,” and has caused “irreparable harm,” insisting that members of the public may wrongly assume the marijuana shop is somehow endorsed by, or affiliated with, the sports venue.

In its complaint, the company asks a court to order the destruction of any materials bearing what it calls the dispensary’s illegally obtained trademark. The filing leans heavily on the idea that “Boston Garden” remains one of the most recognisable brands in the city’s sporting history – even though the original arena closed in 1995 and was demolished three years later. Its successor, TD Garden – built on a site nine inches away at its closest point – has never used the old name.

The dispensary’s owners have said they followed every legal step before adopting the name. Jonathan Tucker, co‑owner of The Boston Garden, said they hired a law firm to vet the name thoroughly. “We weren’t just, like, hunting and pecking on Google,” he said.

Delaware North, which began as Jacobs Brothers in 1915, is still family-owned and operated by Jeremy Jacobs, who also owns the Boston Bruins.

"At no point in time did Delaware North ever reach out and say that they objected to this."

Tucker and co‑owner Ivelise Rivera secured trademarks in 2020 for use of “The Boston Garden” on smoking accessories and a cannabis website. They say Delaware North’s lawyers began sending “very strongly worded letters” about 18 months ago, urging them to abandon the name.

The pair briefly considered rebranding if the arena’s owners helped cover the estimated $500,000 cost. But Rivera told The Boston Globe that the idea was dismissed outright.

“We are not going to surrender because a billionaire family decides they want our name,” the dispensary said in a statement. “No consumers are confusing us with a sports arena. We believe we’re on the right side of the law.”

Tucker says the lawsuit threatens the survival of their small business. “We’re just a local company trying to serve our communities,” he said. “It’s a little scary. They’re an out‑of‑town, very powerful family, they’ve got a lot of money, and we did everything by the books.”

Delaware North maintains it has acted reasonably. In a statement, the company said: "'Boston Garden' is among the most recognized brands in Boston sports and entertainment, tied to a historic arena that has been part of this city's history since 1928. Delaware North has developed substantial goodwill in connection with this famous brand and holds multiple trademark registrations for 'Boston Garden' (which are in full force and effect).

"We have made good‑faith efforts over a period of years to resolve this matter amicably and remain hopeful that an agreement can still be reached."

Where to watch Wrexham vs. Hull City live stream, TV channel, start time for EFL Championship match originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Wrexham is preparing to host Hull City at Racecourse Ground on Tuesday for a showdown between two teams already sitting in the Championship playoffs. 

Wrexham is pulling a quick turnaround as the club just competed 120 minutes in an eventful FA Cup matchup against Chelsea over the weekend, ending in a 4-2 loss. The Red Dragons will be hungry for a win, as they've been unable to defeat Hull City at home in 30 years.

Though Hull might have a three-point advantage in this matchup, they'll be traveling to Racecourse Ground on the back of multiple consecutive losses. The Tigers fell to Ipswich Town first, and then Millwall at home. Hull City will be desperate for a win as they're nine points outside of the top two.

Who will take the win?

Here's everything you need to know about Wrexham vs. Hull City, including TV channel and streaming options for the EFL Championship game.

Wrexham vs. Hull Citylive stream, TV channel

Here's how to watch this match in the U.S.:

• TV channel: None
• Live stream: Paramount+

This game is available via Paramount+.

EFL Championship matches throughout the season are available on Paramount+.

Paramount+ gives subscribers the ability to watch basketball, football, golf and soccer, and they won't have to break the bank in order to follow along with the latest sporting events.

What time does Wrexham vs. Hull Citykick off?

This clash takes place at Racecourse Ground in Wrexham, Wales and kicks off on Tuesday, March 10 at 7:45 p.m. local time

Here's how that time translates across the U.S.:

EFL Championship fixture schedule this week

Tuesday, March 10

• Leicester City vs. Bristol City (3:45 p.m. ET)
• Millwall vs. Derby County (3:45 p.m. ET)
• Portsmouth vs. Swansea City (3:45 p.m. ET)
• Sheffield Wednesday vs. Watford (3:45 p.m. ET)
• Wrexham vs. Hull City (3:45 p.m. ET)
• Stoke City vs. Ipswich Town (3 p.m. ET)

Wednesday, March 11

• Birmingham City vs. Queens Park Rangers (3:45 p.m. ET)
• Middlesbrough vs. Charlton Athletic (3:45 p.m. ET)
• Norwich City vs. Sheffield United (3:45 p.m. ET)
• Oxford United vs. Blackburn Rovers (3:45 p.m. ET)
• West Bromwich Albion vs. Southampton (3:45 p.m. ET)
• Coventry City vs. Preston North End (4 p.m. ET)

Despite the Iowa Hawkeyes (20-11, 10-10) being unable to secure the double-bye ahead of the conference tournament, they enter the six-day extravaganza 8th in the conference at +6500 according to FanDuel.

The action kicks off in Chicago later today with a pair of games. #16 seeded Oregon plays #17 Maryland at 3p on Peacock before #15 Northwestern/#18 Penn State hits the hardwood. Among these four teams, only Oregon has bettable odds on the site (300/1). Dana Altman has done less crazy things, I’m sure.

We’ll have 4 games each of the following three days. As the 9-seed, Iowa will take on the winner of Oregon/Maryland at 11a on Wednesday. If Iowa wins, they’ll continue to hold down that time slot.

The action can be found on Peacock before the games switch over to Big Ten Network Wednesday evening into Thursday and Friday. The semis & finals are on CBS.

Despite the 8th best odds, Iowa are seeded ninth which makes them the favorite to come out of the 4-team pigtail which includes Ohio State (100/1) on a double bye. HMMMMMMM Waiting the winner of that group is Michigan (-105), who functionally has a 50% chance of winning according to the odds.

KenPom rates Iowa as the 7th best Big Ten team at 24th overall. There is not much distance between teams 6 (Wisconsin at 23) and 9 (UCLA at 28). OSU is just below Iowa at 26.

Bart Torvik and TeamRankings have similar reads on the ooey gooey middle of the conference with those four in a similar range plus Indiana in the mix at 29 according to Torvik. Iowa are just above Wisconsin at 25 according to TeamRankings.

Full odds below, from FanDuel:

1. Michigan -105
2. Illinois +370
3. Purdue +700
4. Michigan State +700
5. Nebraska +1000
6. Wisconsin +2700
7. UCLA +5000
8. Iowa +6500
9. Ohio State 100/1
10. Indiana 175/1
11. Washington 300/1
12. USC 300/1
13. Oregon 300/1
14. Minnesota 300/1

The New York Giants were unable to secure free-agent guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, who agreed to terms with the New England Patriots on a three-year deal worth $42 million, with potential to reach $48 million, on Friday.

SNY's Connor Hughes reports that the Giants and Vera-Tucker could not agree on the length of the contract despite optimism lingering late into the night.

Sources: The #Giants and Alijah Vera-Tucker reached an impasse other the length of the contract. It proved too much to work through, even though there was internal optimism within New York’s building that they could as late as 1030pm tonight.

Instead, AVT heads to the #Patriots… pic.twitter.com/xPx2rGmNF3

— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) March 10, 2026

Vera-Tucker, a former first-round pick (14th overall) by the New York Jets in the 2021 NFL draft, had drawn interest from the Giants as they sought to address their interior offensive line needs under new head coach John Harbaugh.

Reports from earlier in the week, including from SNY's Connor Hughes and ESPN's Jordan Raanan, positioned Vera-Tucker as a key player to monitor for New York, given his versatility—he has started at both guard spots and tackle—and strong performance when healthy, including elite run-blocking and pass protection skills.

The Giants were expected to target a high-level guard in free agency, with Vera-Tucker among the names linked alongside Wyatt Teller.

Despite the pursuit, the Giants could not close the deal.

Vera-Tucker, who missed the 2025 season due to a torn triceps and has a history of injuries, including a torn Achilles and prior triceps tear, instead landed with the Patriots to bolster their line in front of quarterback Drake Maye.

The Giants now remain in search of reinforcements at guard. They could pivot to the aforementioned free agent Wyatt Teller or explore in-house options, such as re-signing Greg Van Roten.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants couldn't close the deal on guard Alijah Vera-Tucker

The Dallas Cowboys have done some work, but they still have work left to do. On the first day of free agency, two days before the league year actually starts, the Cowboys pulled off a string of moves. They traded for edge rusher Rashan Gary, sending a 2027 fourth-round pick to Green Bay. They reworked the contracts of RT Terence Steele and safety Malik Hooker, cutting their pay to create an additional $11.5 million in cap space. They agreed to terms with safety Jalen Thompson and will sign him to a three-year, $33 million deal when the league year opens on Wednesday.

But they still have work to do. Not only does Dallas still need to add talent to their defense, especially at the linebacker and cornerback positions, but Dallas will need to do additional cap work just to make the moves they've already agreed to. The Cowboys enter Tuesday nearly $14 million over the 2026 salary cap thanks to their new additions.

Adding Gary via trade on Wednesday occurs at his current contract level. Dallas must have the space available for his $19.5 million salary and bonus. They can restructure the deal, but that can't happen until the following business day.

Thompson's contract comes with a $5.9 million cap hit for 2026. The team also brought back Sam Williams on a one-year, $3 million deal. The net increase to the cap, as Dallas entered the day with just $220,000 of room, is that the Cowboys are now back over the limit in the amount of $13.5 million.

The Cowboys have several options to create additional space, including extensions or restructures for their defensive tackles Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams.

This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys begin Day 2 of free agency nearly $14 million over salary cap

NEW YORK -- The Brooklyn Nets (17-47) felt great about themselves coming off their huge comeback win at the Detroit Pistons on Saturday despite facing impossible odds on the road. Brooklyn still has the rest of the season to play out and with the Memphis Grizzlies (23-40) visiting while missing most of their rotation players, the Nets managed to bring the intensity that helps them win.

The Netsbeat the Grizzlies on Monday 126-115 in a game where they led by as many as 21 points thanks to the Grizzlies missing plenty of bodies along with Brooklyn shooting the ball well overall. Center Day'Ron Sharpe had one of his best games of the season as he dropped 19 points, five rebounds, and two steals while guard Ochai Agbaji had his best game as a Net with 18 points and three rebounds off the bench.

There was a point in the third quarter where Memphis was able to cut their deficit to 68-67 with 9:16 left to play in the third quarter as players like forward Rayan Rupert (20 points) and guard Javon Small (19) were doing their part to aid in the Grizzlies' comeback. With 10:33 left to play in the fourth quarter, Brooklyn was able to build up its lead to 98-88 and from that, Memphis was unable to make another sizable run.

The Grizzlies had 10 inactive players for Monday's matchup at the Nets, including players like Ja Morant that could've given the team a better chance of being competitive. Ultimately, Brooklyn relied on the contributions of Sharpe, Agbaji, and the entire bench as the Nets' reserve unit outscored Memphis' bench 67-40. The Grizzlies' matchup also presented a chance for rookie guard Nolan Traore to respond after a poor showing in Saturday's win at Detroit.

Against Memphis, Traore dropped 17 points and four assists in just 23 minutes as he showed his ability to bounce back from poor performances without needing much time to reset. The Nets have now amassed a two-game winning streak, but they will have a tough matchup on the second night of a back-to-back as they will be facing the visiting Pistons on Tuesday.

Here are the Nets player grades following Monday's win over the Grizzlies:

Nolan Traore: A

Traore came into this game following a disappointing outing on Saturday at the Detroit Pistons and he looked like a different player against a hobbled Grizzlies roster. Traore did a great job of shooting the basketball and when he didn't have a shot he liked, he found his teammates for open shots.

Drake Powell: B

With rookie guard Egor Demin out for the rest of the season due to his left plantar fasciitis, fellow rookie forward Powell drew the start and looked like he learned something from his recent stint in the G League. Powell didn't do anything outside of hitting open shots and giving effort on the defensive end of the floor.

Danny Wolf: B+

With Michael Porter Jr. being given the night off, something had to start at the small forward spot and head coach Jordi Fernandez chose Wolf to fill the role. Wolf has had more efficient days shooting the ball, but he did a good job of being aggressive with the ball in his hands along with being all over the glass.

Noah Clowney: C

Clowney has been one of the most consistent players in the rotation over the past few games, but he struggled against the Grizzlies despite getting some good looks over the course of the contest. Clowney was solid on the defensive end and he still gave his normal effort, but his shots just didn't fall.

Nic Claxton: B

Claxton had a good matchup going against the Grizzlies given that the starting big men were GG Jackson and Olivier-Maxence Prosper due to all of the injuries. Claxton did a good job of scoring in the paint and remaining composed amongst the smaller Grizzlies that were trying to make matters difficult for him.

Jalen Wilson: B

Due to some of the injuries that the Nets were dealing with coming into this game, Wilson got a chance to see some playing time against a depleted Grizzlies roster. Wilson did a great job of shooting the basketball and he showed off some of his passing chops in what turned into an up-and-down kind of pace for both teams.

Ziaire Williams: B

Williams has been playing some of his best basketball of the season over the past few games and he continued his solid play against his former team in the Grizzlies. Williams didn't exactly explode off the bench in terms of his scoring, but he was still efficient while contributing on both ends of the floor.

Day'Ron Sharpe: B+

Similar to Claxton, Sharpe had a similar matchup against a Memphis team that was missing plenty of rotation players, including their big men. Sharpe did a great job of scoring all over the floor, including a huge dunk in transition, while maintaining his usual effort in the rebounding phase of the game and on the defensive end.

Ochai Agbaji: A

Agbaji had his best game since coming to the Nets in a trade from the Toronto Raptors prior to the trade deadline and it was because of how well he played on both ends of the floor. Agbaji did a good job of scoring at all three levels and he also used his length and athleticism to make plays on the defensive end.

Ben Saraf: B-

Saraf is most likely set to be the backup point guard for the rest of the season due to Demin being ruled out for the rest of the season and he still has some learning on the job to do. Saraf had his fair share of struggles scoring the ball against Memphis' perimeter pressure, but he did a great job of passing the ball and limiting his turnovers at the same time.

This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets player grades after 126-115 win over shorthanded Grizzlies

The first day of the NFL free agency legal tampering period brought us two new starters to the Cincinnati Bengals. There were reports that Cincinnati would be aggressive in the free agent market to revamp one of the league’s worst defenses in 2025, and those reports proved to be true.

Their first signing was safety Bryan Cook away from the Kansas City Chiefs. Cook was not only the top safety target on the free agent market, but he is also a local product who fills a big need for his hometown team. Cook played high school football at Mt. Healthy High School before playing at the University of Cincinnati. He was then drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft before becoming a very solid safety for them.

Not long after the Cook news came the signing of Seattle Seahawks defensive end Boye Mafe. Mafe’s production has slipped since his nine-sack season in 2023 after scheme changes in Mike MacDonald’s defense, but he brings a ton of upside.

Similar to Trey Hendrickson in 2021, the Bengals are banking on a lesser-known player to blossom in Cincinnati. Mafe’s 118 QB hurries over the last three seasons bring lots to get excited about, especially if he can convert those pressures in to sacks.

With that in mind, here’s a look at the winners and losers from a productive Day of the legal tampering period.

Winners

Al Golden: Golden kept his job after a disaster of a 2025 season. You could call year one a wash if you factor in that it was his first season as an NFL coordinator and he needed to evaluate the roster for his system, maybe. That’s over now. With all of the investments on the offensive side of the ball, the heat will be on Golden to turn things around.

Signing Cook fills one of the biggest needs Golden’s unit had last season. Geno Stone missed 25 tackles in 2025. Cook has missed 22 tackles in his first four seasons in the NFL. That alone will be a massive upgrade, but Cook is also a step up in coverage from Stone.

Jordan Battle: Battle has received strong endorsements from the coaching staff all offseason. As he moves into his second season as the full-time starter, having Cook next to him will likely allow him to not only play more freely, but also allow Golden to be a little more creative with him. With Cook’s coverage ability, he can play more of the deep part of the field, allowing Battle to play more downhill. That is where Battle will excel.

Losers

Shemar Stewart: Signing Mofae for three years and $60 million signals that the Bengals expect him to play real snaps from the start. After Stewart’s rookie season was filled with an offseason contract dispute and missing time to injury, Mofae may keep him off the field more than you would expect for a player who was drafted 17th overall.

Stewart does have the potential to play inside on true passing downs, and the Bengals will rotate their defensive ends a bit, so Stewart won’t be banished to the bench all season, but the addition of Mofae will cut down his true pass-rushing opportunities.

Geno Stone: Stone was a free agent and likely wasn’t coming back anyway, but Cook’s signing slams the door for any return shut. Stone isn’t hitting the market with much good tape from his time in Cincinnati, either. With Cook in and Stone out, he will be looking for his next home without the (small) possibility of a return.

After the first day of the Tampering Period, the Bengals have +3300 odds to win the Super Bowl on FanDuel Sportsbook.

Texas A&M's 2027 recruiting class is headlined by newly minted five-star safety Kamarui Dorsey, who is widely considered the best defensive back prospect in the cycle outside of five-star cornerback John Meredith, who is also a slight favorite to commit to the Aggies in the coming months. Already landing four-star safety JayQuan Snell and four-star cornerback Raylaun Henry, A&M's future secondary looks borderline elite on paper.

In today's age of lucrative NIL deals and the ability to enter the transfer portal after just one season, keeping recruits committed during the spring and summer months before Early Signing Day feels impossible for some programs, but under head coach Mike Elko, the Aggies kept nearly every commit over the last two cycles, while flipping several elite blue-chip prospects, including freshman running back KJ Edwards.

Among the program's ten 2027 commits, Kamarui Dorsey will continue to be pursued by nearly every blue-blood program, but like Raylaun Henry, the Georgia native remains locked in with the Aggies, which he further explained during his interview with Georgia beat writer Jeff Sentell. Stating that he prefers to play in the SEC, Dorsey looks like a perfect fit in Mike Elko's defensive scheme.

“I’m really locked in on Texas A&M right now,” Dorsey stated. “I’m not taking any other visits right now. I always keep an open line of communication with Texas A&M. That’s really the only school I’m looking at. I’m locked in with A&M.”

While this is great news for Elko and his staff, Dorsey did state that several programs, including the Georgia Bulldogs, could be in the mix for future visits. This isn't surprising, knowing that this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for every prospect. However, Texas A&M remains No. 1 going forward and will take an official visit to College Station on June 12.

“A&M is my home right now, but if I did have to say other schools it would probably be Ohio State, Georgia and LSU.”

According to Rivals, Dorsey is currently positioned as the No. 1-ranked prospect in the 2027 class.

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: 2027 5-star S Kamarui Dorsey reaffirms commitment to Texas A&M

The golf course that Pete Dye built for the PGA Tour in Ponte Vedra Beach in 1980 was a different animal than the course that hosts The Players Championship we see today.

Dye’s original Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass was like a scruffy and ravenous hyena scavenging golf balls and psyches. Moguls on and around the greens randomly kicked approaches into grassy hollows and lakes. Shots that missed fairways ended up in a deep salad of mixed roughs. Playing from poor angles left players in pot bunkers or with long putts that broke in two directions. No good shot, it seemed, went unpunished.

After years of complaining about the difficulty of TPC Sawgrass, the tour softened some of Pete Dye's most challenging elements.

Dom Furore / Golf Digest

The hyena laughed, but the professionals howled. After two years of exasperation, The Players succumbed to the players’ complaints and the TPC was modified, beginning a long journey to the much more predictable and pristinely presented Stadium Course.

RELATED: Pete Dye had very different plans for TPC Sawgrass’ 17th hole in his original drawings

PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman, who had instructed Dye to create a course uniquely capable of challenging the best players in the world, got a little too much of what he asked for. Dye’s ideas were forward-looking—and effective—to the point of being avant-garde. Asked to draw out the greatness in tour players’ games, he succeeded in drawing out their ire. Yet he wasn’t wrong in his analysis of how to combat the modern professional game with angles, precision, water and hard surfaces. The pros just didn’t like being forced to hit the hard shots Dye drew up, or the random fates the TPC often inflicted.

It made us wonder what kind of course would be developed in 2026 if the entire experiment were run back, but with the contemporary professional game of 330-yard drives and 210-yard 7-irons in mind. If the tour were to give a blank-slate site like the original Ponte Vedra property to an architect or firm who innately understood how the pros play, how would they coax out great golf while keeping scores in check in the way Dye attempted with The Stadium Course?

Mike Cocking and Geoff Ogilvy of the Australian firm Ogilvy, Cocking and Mead (OCM) are among the most in-demand architects in the world. Their East Course at The Fall Line in central Georgia won Golf Digest’s 2025 Best New Course award and their major remodel of the famed #3 course at Medinah Country Club outside Chicago was named our 2024 Best Transformation. They currently have numerous projects under construction in the U.S. and Australia. We asked them if they were to design a new marquee venue for the PGA Tour, what would their version look and play like?

RELATED: The Fall Line is golf's next great exclusive club—and our experts got a first look

They began by acknowledging that while the original TPC has been greatly sanitized from its early years, many of the concepts Dye introduced are still relevant, especially the use of angles and the way the routing constantly turns and bends the holes, forcing players to select precise lines and shape the ball.

RELATED: The best Pete Dye courses, ranked

Working off these strengths, OCM outlined a variety of architectural concepts they believe necessary to challenge and stimulate the best players in the world.

This was perhaps Dye’s greatest innovation, at Sawgrass and most of his other designs. His ability to mask distances and hide landing areas with hazards made even the best players indecisive. It’s a tactic OCM says isn’t used often enough on most courses the tour visits. In their own work the architects often try to disguise targets by using or manufacturing contours that obscure the ground short of the green.

“It's a little psychological trick that makes the shot look shorter than it plays and can help to throw some doubt in the player’s mind,” Cocking says. “On a tour course, we may even use such a technique to hide a more dangerous hazard that sits behind it, say a water hazard against the green. From the wrong position on the fairway, the green and the hazard are blind, and it again adds to the confusion and doubt.” 

Golf Digest Logo America's 100 Greatest Public Courses

Stephen Denton

Angles were vital to the TPC and all of Dye’s architecture before the course began to be narrowed. Without some lateral space, however, angles become irrelevant, and a degree of width is required to make players think and tempt them into taking aggressive lines.

“On holes that are too narrow from tee to green, we’re finding better players are reluctant to hit a layup club and instead opt for driver,” says Ogilvy. “The logic being that it’s just as easy to miss the fairway with a 3-iron or hybrid, but at least with a missed driver I end up with a shorter shot.” 

Giving players space and multiple tactical options can also create doubt, whether it’s cutting a corner, attempting to carry a set of bunkers or playing conservatively to a larger landing area. Cocking and Ogilvy would design holes where the choice off the tee isn't always obvious, where there might be four or five different shots or clubs to consider in order to create confusion, with each one bringing in a different degree of risk and reward.

“The 11th at Kingston Heath (in Melbourne) does this pretty well, especially after we made some changes to the fairway bunkering a few years ago,” Cocking says. “It’s a wide-to-narrow fairway that also turns at just the awkward distance between a 3-wood and driver. Driver is a scary play, but the reward is a much simpler pitch to one of the smallest greens on the course.  Laying up with an iron is relatively straight forward but leaves a much more difficult 4- or 5-iron approach.”  

RELATED: The World's 100 Greatest Courses

Straight holes allow the longer hitters to take a free swing with their driver—if there’s no advantage to shaping the ball, their distance becomes an even greater advantage. Making golfers turn the ball with the shape of the hole puts more pressure on the tee shot, so OCM would emphasize doglegs and diagonal fairway zones.

“It’s amazing how often you seem to be hitting across the fairway rather than directly down the fairway at Sawgrass,” Ogilvy says. “There are so many holes where you are fearful of driving through the dogleg. The same goes for a hole like the 13th at Augusta National. Making them turn the ball with their driver both ways is an important aspect to retain for any course designed to test the best.”

David Cannon

Feet matter in professional golf. Missing a fairway in the rough by three yards can decrease the precision of the approach to the green, meaning longer putts. PGA Tour statistics show that the make percentage on putts from eight feet decreases by 50 percent when lengthened to 15 feet. Architectural elements that can put the professionals marginally farther away from their target can have a significant cumulative scoring impact over the course of 18 or 72 holes.

One of the most effective ways of making aerial shots fly even slightly off target is to create uneven lies that make the player factor additional shape and trajectory calculations. “We prefer to see some movement in the fairways, especially the small to medium scale ridges, mounds and hollows that can alter how a hole plays day to day due to the bounce, roll and uphill, sidehill or downhill lie,” Cocking says.   

This can also be achieved through longer contours. Cocking explains one of their favored tactics is to create, or utilize, reverse camber fairways, usually found on dogleg holes, where the slope of the land falls away from the preferred shot shape.

“It's a fantastic extra strategic element on top of just using angles,” he says. “Augusta does this incredibly well with holes like the ninth clearly setting up for a high draw, but the ball being below your feet in the fairway is doing everything to force a low cut.” For their modern TPC, they would seek out land that naturally falls away from the line of play, or in the best Pete Dye fashion, move earth to create the reverse camber.

Golf Digest Logo America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses

An example of the challenges Ogilvy, Cocking and Mead present around the greens at The Fall Line (East), Golf Digest's 2025 Best New Private winner.

Brian Oar

Both Cocking and Ogilvy grew up in Melbourne, so they have a natural affinity for tight, short-grass lies around greens. While it’s become popular for many modern courses to present shaved, fairway-height aprons and green run-offs, it’s a feature that can subtly impact the psychology of shot making in a professional tournament setting.

“There is a place for a deep bunker, a nasty grassy hollow or water around greens, but we also like to use short grass and a slope to inflict a different sort of punishment, in much the same way that The Old Course, Royal Melbourne or Augusta National do,” says Ogilvy. “From back in the fairway a shaved bank off the green can make for a much scarier approach than to a green surrounded by rough, knowing a miss might lead to a 30- or 40-yard return pitch. Plus, professionals don't much like recovering from tight, firm short grass.  They'd much prefer a simple option to chip with a 60-degree wedge out of beautifully maintained rough.”

RELATED: 6 new courses on our bucket list for 2026

TPC Sawgrass has remained an effective course despite the relatively modest yardage of 7,275 yards, due to many of the architectural aspects discussed. But when constructing a modern version from scratch, additional length would be necessary given the realities of the modern professional game.

Cocking believes the course would need to be at least 7,500 yards to somewhat handle the distances players hit the ball. But despite the overall length, he says, “we would still be looking to include some short holes, including two or three potentially drivable par 4s (330 to 350 yards), some reachable 5s with an aggressive play off the tee and a short par 3.” These would be offset by some holes on the opposite end of the spectrum. “A really long par 3,” he says, “and some par 4s that place a long iron in the best players' hands ... for once!”

Kevin C. Cox

Growing thick rough has always been part of the program when setting up courses for major tournaments, and long grass can certainly be an effective way of punishing errant shots. But in keeping with their preference for creating a design that’s more psychologically taxing than physically punitive, OCM would opt for a lighter presentation of rough that creates uncertainty when playing out of it.

“What really makes the professional edgy isn't long thick green rough but actually that slightly wispy, thin Bermuda that puts an element of doubt into the golfers’ minds,” says Ogilvy. “How is the ball going to come out? Will I catch a flyer? Will it come out clean?” He says that having some sand in the soil mix would make the grass sparser and increase the chance the ball might be sitting slightly down. “Ideally it’s a 50/50 scenario anytime you miss the fairway as to how the ball is lying,” he says.  

RELATED: The 40 best public courses in Florida

Milan’s 1-0 win over Inter on Sunday was decided by an 80-second spell in which Inter could have scored, but Milan struck instead.

There’s an old saying in Italian football that goes: ‘Goal sbagliato, goal subito.’ The translation is quite easy: miss a goal-scoring opportunity, and the opponents will score instead.

The decisive 80 seconds of Milan vs. Inter

It’s exactly what happened in the Milan derby on Sunday when the Rossoneri took all three points thanks to Pervis Estupinan’s first goal with the club.

MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 08: Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Inter competes for the ball with Fikayo Tomori of AC Milan during the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on March 08, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The ex-Brighton defender found the net just a few seconds after Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s missed chance on the other end.

Below, via Lega Serie A, is the video of the 80 seconds that determined Milan’s win in the Derby della Madonnina.

MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 08: Pervis Estupinan of AC Milan celebrates celebrates with his team-mates Adrien Rabiot and Youssouf Fofana after scoring their team’s team’s first goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Inter at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on March 08, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The NFL’s free agency window opened up on Monday and the Atlanta Falcons made several notable moves.

The Falcons and former Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa have agreed to a 1-year deal, per multiple reports. Tagovailoa will start for the Falcons until Michael Penix Jr. finishes rehabbing his injured knee.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The Miami Dolphins released Tagovailoa and they will be on the hook for nearly $55 million in guaranteed money. The Falcons will sign him for the veteran minimum of $1.3 million.

The Falcons are reuniting with former wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, who played for three different teams over the last three seasons. Atlanta drafted him in 2019.

Former tight end Austin Hooper is also returning to the Falcons on a 1-year deal with the team.

ATLANTA FALCONS FREE AGENCY TRACKER*

• QB Tua Tagovailoa
• WR Olamide Zaccheaus
• TE Austin Hooper
• WR Jahan Dotson
• CB Natrone Brooks (contract extension)
• DE Cameron Thomas
• K Nick Folk
• P Jake Bailey

*Combined reports from league sources, ESPN, NFL Network, Associated Press and Falcons official social media

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He's tucked away on Team USA's World Baseball Classic roster amid Cy Young Award winners and All-Stars.

Yet even as Nolan McLean's career is just getting started, he's lined up to take on a significant role for the Americans.

McLean, the New York Mets' 24-year-old right-hander, has made just eight career major-league starts but might end up getting the ball in the WBC championship game. Team USA manager Mark DeRosa has lined up ace Paul Skenes for the semifinal round, to get the Americans to the championship.

From there, it might be McLean's turn.

He's starting Team USA's fourth pool-play game on Tuesday against Italy, which already will be a significant task as both teams enter undefeated in pool play. So how did such a relative newbie earn such esteem so quickly?

Who is Nolan McLean?

It wasn't that long ago that McLean was harboring dreams of following in Shohei Ohtani's footsteps, not Skenes'. The Mets drafted him as a two-way player in the third round out of Oklahoma State in 2023, and he kept the bat in his hands into the 2024 season.

At least until his pitching far out-kicked his hitting.

As McLean's arm got him to Class AA, making contact became a problem: He struck out 74 times in 143 plate appearances at high A and AA. Pitching it was.

On that side of the ball, he averaged a strikeout per inning, a good thing. And in 2025, he needed just five starts to graduate from Class AA Binghamton up to AAA Syracuse - where he was even better.

As McLean stacked dominant starts at Syracuse, posting a 2.78 ERA across 16 appearances the clamor for him to buttress a Mets rotation gasping for air grew louder. He finally arrived Aug. 16 - and became perhaps the most reliable cog on a Mets team that couldn't stop a free-fall.

Lest we forget, McLean was originally a three-way player: He was a highly recruited quarterback out of Garner, North Carolina, and on Oklahoma State's football roster as a freshman. Seems like he picked the best lane.

Nolan McLean stats

Startlingly, his numbers were even better in the National League than the International League. He gave up just 34 hits in 48 innings. Posted a 2.06 ERA, a 57-16 strikeout-walk ratio and 1.04 WHIP.

Oh, and he essentially couldn't lose.

The Mets won seven of his eight starts, his lone setback a 1-0 defeat to the division champion Phillies. Not that Philly got the best of him: He also spun eight shutout innings against the Phillies at Citi Field, giving up just four hits in his third major league start.

Yes, perhaps the WBC won't faze him too much.

Nolan McLean pitch repertoire

It usually takes pitchers the better part of a decade to master a half-dozen pitches, the result of endless tinkering, exposure to a wide swath of teammates and greater self-knowledge.

Yet McLean, at 24, might already be there.

He typically pitches off a four-seam fastball that averages 95 mph and has touched 98, along with a power sinker that most often serves as his putaway pitch. Yet his sweeper and curveball play significant roles as well, and gain greater effectiveness thanks to his trusty No. 1 and his daunting sinker.

McLean also throws a cutter, though that for now remains his perpetual workshop pitch, and a changeup.

No, they're not all perfect weapons. But for a guy to confidently throw that many pitches in a major league setting at such a tender augurs well for when McLean is, say, 30 years old.

Nolan McLean salary

Yep, he's perhaps the biggest value on both the WBC and star-studded Mets squad.

McLean will make $791,500 this season, the slight raise from the major league minimum of $780,000 a nod to his late-season contribution in 2025. He also figures to be a prime candidate for additional earnings through the pre-arbitration bonus pool that was enacted in the most recent collective bargaining agreement.

And while McLean still has six full seasons via free agency, he and other younger players should keep a wary eye on CBA negotiations and any significant changes to arbitration eligibility or free agency. He received a $747,600 signing bonus after getting drafted in 2023.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nolan McLean could start for Team USA in World Baseball Classic final

If you asked people who their favorite Duke Basketball player is, you’d get some very different answers.

Fans who saw Art Heyman play might pick him. People might pick Johnny Dawkins, too.

More recently, we have a ton of players to choose from: JJ Redick, Kyrie Irving, Zion Williamson, Paolo Banchero, Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Cameron Boozer, to name a few.

It’s a smorgasbord!

However, if you wanted to pick one guy who sort of sums up what most of us like in Duke Basketball, you’d have a hard time beating Shane Battier.

C’mon…say it with us…Who’s your Daddy? Battier! Who’s your Daddy? Battier! Who’s your Daddy? Battier!

Wow, that felt good.

Battier was sort of the ultimate Dukie. He was talented, to be sure – he had a long NBA career, culminating with rings in 2012 and 2013 – but he is also wicked smart and a great interview.

Once, when Duke had briefly fallen out of first place, Battier was asked how it felt to be back on top. His answer?

“Normal.”

His Duke career culminated with the 2001 NCAA championship, and his play in that game was surreal. The old saying is that someone “left nothing on the court.” In his case, that was totally true. We’ve never seen anyone play harder than Battier in the 2001 title game.

So on top of his many other good qualities, Battier is a superb leader. Duke’s had many great players, as noted, but no one has had his combination of leadership, quiet charisma, confidence, and passion.

Battier was truly one of a kind.

'Tis the season for NCAA tournament bubble teams.

With the 2025-26 men's college basketball regular season in the books, its time now to look to the conference tournaments. In the 68-team field for March Madness, only 31 conference tournament champions can earn auto berths into the NCAA tournament.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness favorites: Ranking top 20 teams based on odds

While some teams on the bubble can secure their bids for the Big Dance by winning their respective conferences, there are not enough of those for each of them all to qualify.

Then there are teams that are not even in the conversation for the NCAA tournament that are potentially in line to steal a bid completely by winning their conference tournaments.

Here's a look at four teams that potentially steal bids from teams on the NCAA Tournament bubble by winning their conference tournaments in the Power Five:

Florida State (17-14, 10-8 ACC)

Florida State has quietly been one of the hottest teams in college basketball over the last couple of months. Following a loss to SMU on Jan. 24, the Seminoles were sitting at a season-worst four games below .500 at 8-12 and just 1-6 in ACC play.

Since that point, FSU has won nine of its 11 games, including three three-game winning streaks in that span. The team has found its footing under first-year coach Luke Loucks, who is following in the footsteps of legendary coach Leonard Hamilton.

Of course, the Seminoles will have their work cut out for themselves to win the conference tournament. FSU earned the No. 8 seed for the tournament and will take on No. 9 California on Wednesday, March 11. If it wins that, it will face No. 1 Duke on Thursday, March 12.

No. 4 North Carolina could potentially await the Seminoles in the semifinals, while No. 3 Miami and No. 2 Virginia are the two teams favored to get in from the other side of the bracket into the championship game.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness bracketology: Latest NCAA tournament bubble predictions

Oklahoma (17-14, 7-11 SEC)

ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi moved Oklahoma to his "next four teams out" on Sunday, March 8. That's quite a rise for a program that looked poised to fire coach Porter Moser on Feb. 4, when the Sooners sat at 1-9 in conference play amid a nine-game losing skid.

However, Oklahoma closed out the season with six wins in its final eight games, including a four-game winning streak to close out the regular season. The Sooners have found their footing and could make some noise in the SEC Tournament.

For Oklahoma, a couple of wins in the conference tournament could position it to make the NCAA Tournament — but winning it all would guarantee entry. As the No. 11 seed, the Sooners open the tournament against No. 14 South Carolina.

If they beat the Gamecocks, they play No. 6 Texas A&M and, assuming a win vs. the Aggies, No. 3 Arkansas in the quarterfinals. No. 2 Alabama could await them in the semifinals, if they make it that far. That would likely be enough to get into the NCAA Tournament, but a win against Florida in the championship game would not only lock up a spot, but also help in seeding.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness teams rising, falling in NCAA Tournament bracket predictions

Cincinnati (17-14, 9-9 Big 12)

Following a regular season finale loss to TCU on Saturday, March 7, Cincinnati is in the first four teams out according to USA TODAY Sports' latest bracketology. However, the Bearcats have shown throughout the regular season they can hang with the best teams in the Big 12 and are a threat to go on a run.

Cincinnati has wins over then-No. 2 Iowa State and then No. 2 Arizona on its resume. Baba Miller ― an FSU transfer ― has lived up to the potential he had coming out of Spain, before having to sit out his freshman season by the NCAA for receiving improper benefits.

The Bearcats will open the Big 12 Tournament against No. 16 Utah on Tuesday, March 10, and must face No. 8 UCF if it advances. No. 1 Arizona would await Cincinnati in the quarterfinals if it were to win that one.

According to KenPom, the Bearcats have the 12th-best defense in the country this season. If it can hold up in the Big 12 Tournament, Cincinnati has a real chance to make a deep run.

Marquette (12-19, 7-13 Big East)

Marquette is the biggest reach on this list, as the Golden Eagles have underperformed all season. But could Saturday's 68-62 upset victory over No. 4 UConn could be a sign of things to come?

The victory denied the Huskies the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament, but also set up a potential rematch in the second round, if the Golden Eagles can defeat No. 10 seed Xavier in the first round on Wednesday, March 11 to kick off the tournament.

A team seven games below .500 has likely shown us what its true colors are already. But all you need to do in March Madness is get hot at the right time and win games when they count the most.

It helps that Nigel James Jr. has seemed to play his basketball at the right time. He has averaged 21.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.5 assists over his last six games.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Power 5 conference teams that can steal NCAA Tournament bids

College basketball is well into postseason mode with the remaining high-major conference tournaments getting underway around the country this week.

It's a time of the year that makes or breaks a head coach's career at their respective school. Look at the handful of universities that "part ways" with head coaches each March after disappointing postseason runs.

But it's also one that can make a name for a young head coach as they lead their respective team on a March Madness run. A recent example of this is Dusty May, who leveraged a Florida Atlantic Final Four run into becoming the head coach at Michigan, which won the outright Big Ten regular season championship this season.

Think you can beat our experts? Join USA TODAY’s Bracket Challenge today!

The 2026 men's NCAA Tournament is expected to be flooded with some of the top coaching talent in the country, both young and experienced. There's Dan Hurley, who's looking for his third national title in the last four years at Connecticut. There's also Jon Scheyer at Duke, who is looking to bring the first national championship to Durham, North Carolina since Mike Krzyzewski retired.

There are also veteran coaches such as Michigan State's Tom Izzo, Arkansas' John Calipari and Kansas' Bill Self, who have all proven they can rip off a deep run in March at any time. But who are the top coaches in the sport heading into the heart of this year's conference tournaments and March Madness?

Here's a look at the top coaches, ranked, in men's college basketball heading into March:

Ready to win March Madness? Join USA TODAY’s Survivor Pool today!

Ranking top 10 coaches in men's college basketball

1. Dan Hurley, UConn

When Hurley took over the program in 2018, the Huskies had not made the NCAA tournament in back-to-back years since 2011-12. The program lacked the physicality and toughness that it once had under Jim Calhoun. He has since built UConn back into a national powerhouse, famously warning the entire country about this after a loss at Villanova in 2020 that the Huskies were "coming" after all.

Since then, he led the Huskies to back-to-back national championships in 2023 and 2024 and has his program back to being a national championship contender after not meeting expectations last season with a second-round exit in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

2. Jon Scheyer, Duke

Taking over for the legendary Krzyzewski can be a daunting task. Jon Scheyer, however, has made it look seamless, as the Blue Devils have retained their status as one of the top programs (with the help of players such as Cooper Flagg and Cameron Boozer). He's once again in the mix for national coach of the year with the Blue Devils sitting at 29-2 overall on the season and in line for their second consecutive ACC tournament title.

But Scheyer's resume is still missing a national championship, and that's what has him under Hurley on the list. That title very much could be in store for him this season, though, given how dominant the Blue Devils have been.

3. Tommy Lloyd, Arizona

Speaking of former assistants who have thrived as head coaches, Tommy Lloyd is right up there with Scheyer. The former Gonzaga assistant under Mark Few is 140-35 in his five seasons with Arizona, and has passed Brad Stevens for the most wins in the first five seasons.

Lloyd hasn't made it past the Sweet 16, however, and has a first-round loss to No. 15 seed Princeton in 2023.

4. Dusty May, Michigan

Everyone remembers the Owls' Final Four in 2023 that helped May land the Michigan job, and a 19-win improvement in his first season that finished with a trip to the Sweet 16.

He bought into the transfer portal over the offseason to build a national championship contender that's in line for its fourth NCAA tournament 1-seed in program history. Their NCAA tournament resume features 14 Quad 1 wins — highlighted by their 3-0 record at the Players Era Festival Championship over San Diego State, Auburn and Gonzaga — and five top-25 wins in Big Ten play over Southern California, Nebraska, Purdue, Michigan State and Illinois.

5. Todd Golden, Florida

In Year 3 at Florida last season, Golden, then 39 years old, became the youngest coach to lead a team to a national championship since Jim Valvano did so at North Carolina State in 1983. It's a national championship that brought the Gators back into national contention for the first time since the Billy Donovan Era in Gainesville, putting him in the class of elite young coaches in the country.

This season, Golden has done a fantastic job of turning around the Gators' season after they went 5-4 in the first month and 0-3 against top five opponents in Arizona, Duke and UConn. Since then, the Gators are 19-2 and are knocking at the door of the 1-seed line.

6. Tom Izzo, Michigan State

It's March, so don't count out Izzo. The 71-year-old coach has won 59 games in the NCAA tournament, which he'll be leading the Spartans to for the 28th consecutive season this year. He might not have his best national contending roster this year, but the Spartans can still do some damage in the NCAA tournament.

7. Kelvin Sampson, Houston

Houston hasn't lost a beat under Kelvin Sampson since they made to the Big 12 in 2023. The Cougars have remained one of the top programs in the country, earning back-to-back No. 1 seeds and making the national championship game last season. The Cougars' likely top-three seeding projection in the NCAA tournament will be their fourth straight under Sampson.

Ready to win March Madness? Join USA TODAY’s Survivor Pool today!

8. John Calipari, Arkansas

There aren't many active coaches who have a national title and multiple Final Four appearances on their resumes outside of John Calipari. He led the Razorbacks to a Sweet 16 appearance in Year 1 at Arkansas, where they nearly made the Elite Eight.

His Xs and Os may not be what they were during the prime of his tenure at Kentucky, but he can still recruit like no other, develop NBA talent and still coach. Any form of Coach Cal is better than no Coach Cal.

9. Bill Self, Kansas

Kansas' 2025-26 season hasn't necessarily gone exactly as planned with a 22-9 record and Darryn Peterson drawing attention for his limited minutes usage. Yet, the Jayhawks still find themselves between the 3- and 5-seed line. It's a true testament to Self's coaching and adaptability.

10. Rick Pitino, St. John's

Rick Pitino led St. John's on a magical run last season, where it won its first Big East Tournament crown since 2000 and earned a 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Basketball Hall of Fame coach, who won his 900th career on-court game earlier this season, reloaded his roster through the transfer portal and has the Johnnies once again atop the conference with UConn.

The Johnnies sometimes lack production from their front court outside of Zuby Ejiofor, but their defense is what makes them a headache for teams to scout. Just look at their statement win at Madison Square Garden vs. the Huskies.

Think you can beat our experts? Join USA TODAY’s Bracket Challenge today!

Honorable Mentions

Here's a list, in no particular order, of coaches that just missed the top 10 cut line:

• Mark Few, Gonzaga
• Matt Painter, Purdue
• T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State
• Brad Underwood, Illinois

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College basketball's top 10 coaches before conference tournaments

“Speaking of Giannis, on a scale of 1 to 10 — 10 being no doubt about it, 1 meaning it’s a possibility he’s gone — how confident are you that Giannis will be in a Bucks uniform next year?” Bobby Portis: “10 is what?” Host: “10 is no doubt in your mind.” Bobby Portis: “Uh, I’m at a five, bro. I’m right in the middle. Yes, sir … For real, it’s up in the air, man. “Obviously, just being here, our goal just isn’t to make the play-in, right? The goal isn’t to just make the playoffs. Since I’ve been here, since 2020 during the pandemic, the goal has always been championship. “So, I don’t know what that outlook is for next year. I don’t know what Giannis and his staff are going to put together to make the roster better, make us better, so we can compete for championships next year. I don’t know that.

YouTube

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Bobby Portis gives 50/50 odds on Giannis Antetokounmpo returning to Milwaukee next season

Bobby Portis: “But if you ask me that question, I would say it’s right there in the middle. Obviously, when the season’s over, if you’re a basketball fan, you know what’s going to go on. Since I’ve been here since 2020, like I said, each and every summer, once our team is eliminated or whatever, the conversation is going to get brought up again, and it’s going to be a super lingering thing all summer long, especially leading up into the draft. “So, I guess we’ll have to see, man. But I think it’s right there at that five, six, seven mark.”

YouTube

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “But if you ask me that question, I would say it’s …

"It's important for him to get them playoff time," Spears continued. "Because I think he knows, whether it's a Giannis [Antetokounmpo], whether it's a LeBron James, there's going to be somebody next summer, that's going to join him, join Jimmy, join Draymond [Green], assuming he's still there too." "Remember, this is the Warriors," Spears added. "They have a brand. They could quick fix and add some talent. But on the cheaper side is the younger guys, and if you get them that good experience like they're getting now, then it's going to help the franchise in the long run and save them some money for somebody bigger in the process."

NBC Sports Bay Area

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "It's important for him to get them playoff time," …

Charlie Villanueva on Jokic saying he never wants to leave the Nuggets: "Most European superstars don't want to leave their team. These international cats don’t have the same mentality as a US born player where if sh*t don’t go right we want to leave, you know, they want to fix the problems.”

reddit

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "Most European superstars don't want to leave their …

Fred VanVleet: “But there’s no more free there’s no there’s no opportunity. You can’t move. You can’t keep a player. There’s no free agency anymore. Free agency is the trade deadline. Now you you have a situation like JK where it’s like we don’t want to play you, we’re not going to pay you and we’re not going to trade you. So like I feel like that part of of the CBA is where the the real harm is done at and the Second Apron is the excuse for the teams to say, ‘Oh, we can’t do anything because of Second Apron.’ So obviously I feel like everybody is going to go to the table with like an idea that we need to change that somehow.”

YouTube

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: NBPA president Fred VanVleet: 'There’s no free agency anymore. Free agency is the trade deadline'

Thunder wing Luguentz Dort said he apologized to Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic after committing a second fourth-quarter flagrant foul on him in the past two weeks. "Just lost in the competition," Dort told ESPN's Tim MacMahon. "But shook his hand, [said] 'great game' and I apologized that that happened."

ESPN

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Luguentz Dort apologizes to Nikola Jokic after second flagrant foul in two weeks

In this instance, Dort swung his left arm around while trying to navigate a Jokic screen on the wing and whacked Jokic in the face. Officials ruled it a flagrant 1 after review, giving Jokic two free throws and Denver possession. "I didn't mean to hit him in the face," Dort said. "But when I go over screens and stuff like that, my arms are just everywhere, and then unfortunately I just hit him in the face. ... I didn't think it was a flagrant 1. Unnecessary means I did [it] on purpose, which I didn't."

ESPN

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "I didn't mean to hit him in the face," Dort said.

Jokic gave a quick "no" response when asked postgame whether he felt this Dort foul crossed the line, different from his reaction to Dort's foul on Feb. 27, when he jumped up and confronted Dort in the moment, creating a scrum at center court, and afterward called Dort's trip "unnecessary." "It was over since last time," Jokic said when asked Monday night whether there remained any hard feelings.

ESPN

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "It was over since last time," Jokic said when asked …

Gilgeous-Alexander received the ball near the half-court logo, with Denver's Spencer Jones on his left hip. Gilgeous-Alexander surveyed the floor as he took a few dribbles to the right wing, recognizing that Christian Braun was positioned to help on a drive. Gilgeous-Alexander created just enough space with a step-back move to his right to launch the winner over Jones' outstretched hand, a close facsimile of the dagger Gilgeous-Alexander drilled in Saturday's win over the Golden State Warriors. "Just trusting my work, first and foremost, and then just reading the defense," said Gilgeous-Alexander, who was 14-of-21 from the floor. "Obviously, they were sending two [defenders] basically the whole second half, and I knew if I wanted to get an attempt late, I would have to go quick, go fast. And the deeper I drove, the more bodies would come. Yeah, kind of had no choice."

ESPN

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "Obviously, they were sending two [defenders] …

Bennett Durando: Christian Braun on Shai: “He busted my ass tonight. ... That last game, I knew I played well and got a block in a big moment. Tonight, he made the shot in a big moment. He made a couple of them. So I know that I’m gonna play him again. I’m gonna play him in the playoffs.”

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Christian Braun on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 'He busted my ass tonight'

Nikola Jokic on SGA tying Wilt with 126 consecutive 20-point games: “I don’t know that people know how hard it is to do that. To make 20 pointsin 10 (straight) games, not 120 whatever it is, it’s special. He’s a special player.”

reddit

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “I don’t know that people know how hard it is to do …

Joey Linn: Darius Garland on Bennedict Mathurin: “He has no fear. I didn’t know he was that creative with the ball in his hands… In Indiana he was aggressive, but over here T-Lue and everybody is letting him rock out. I really like it… Ben is gonna be Ben. We really need him to go be Ben. I love the aggression. I didn’t see it in Indiana but I love it over here.”

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “He has no fear. I didn’t know he was that creative …

‪llimllib‬: The Celtics are the only team in the league that has no players with a negative net points rating in their top 10 by minutes Without Tatum they've thrived not by having anybody be great, but instead by having nobody play consistently poorly

bsky.app

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: The Celtics are the only team in the league that has …

What's your level of concern after losing three of four? You haven't been in a stretch like this since late January. Karl-Anthony Towns: I know there'll be noise, but at the end of the day, we just have to continue to worry about what's in this locker room, stay in the present, continue to worry about what we can control, and continue to find ways to get better. I think we found ways to get better in these last two games. I know it sounds weird, but I think we have to build off the things we've been doing well, and the things we haven't done well, we obviously have to correct. But there's a recipe there for success, and we just have to continue to work on the formula.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Karl-Anthony Towns: I know there'll be noise, but at …

This week, Chiefs Wire's Ed Easton Jr. spoke with retired Pro Bowl center Mitch Morse.

In his interview with Easton Jr., Morse discussed his experience playing for Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and offensive line coach Andy Heck.

"I remember walking into that building and feeling, you know, it's interesting, because Coach (Andy) Reid is very personable, but he also has this presence about him, this aura that is incredibly intimidating for a young football player. You understood when you got in there that it was a professional setting. "I remember he didn't say much to me for a while," said Morse. "The first time I really had a conversation, Coach Reid had allowed me to go with the ones." This is during Phase Three, when we'd do these days: you'd work on your first few opponents and maybe the end-of-division opponents. It was really an opportunity for one-on-one. It was also the first test to do this mystic long drive drill."

The Chiefs selected Morse 49th overall in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft after an impressive college career at Missouri.

"It was my first opportunity to do a long drive drill. He had told me that. I was going to be with the ones, and those long-drive drills are ones-versus-ones for 18 straight plays. I'm getting absolutely cooked play after play after play," said Morse, "I remember it's like play six of 18. Donatari Poe hits me with the most incredible inside move; Alex Smith barely gets the ball out. He's being touched, and I remember Coach Reid, he has that little bit of a disappointed scout mustache, and he looks at me, and he goes, '61' quit blowing your chance. My heart felt like it was going to go to my scrotum, and that happens, and I remember I still have 12 plays. I'm gonna have to call my mom after this, all that stuff. It was also kind of what he does the best, and in Kansas City, that's what you're going to get as a young player. You're pliable, not only physically, but mentally. So you're going to get your trial by fire, and you're going to sink, or you're going to swim, and they do a beautiful job of making sure that you swim. It's just going to be a little uncomfortable for you. There were growing pains for both parties as a young Mitch Morse surrounded them, but it was great."

Offensive line coach Andy Heck has been with the Chiefs since 2013 was an impactful part of Morse's development as a young player.

"Andy Heck is an incredible teacher, maybe one of the great teachers in this business. He had his hands full, coming from a guy who played in a spread offense, playing tackle and going to your first nine-on-seven short-yardage goal line, and I'm seeing guys I didn't even know existed. He would get so frustrated," said Morse, "He was so kind that we would be in meetings, and we would take a break, and then we'd come back, and I would just be messing up what was on the screen, and he'd have to take another five-minute break. His patience, but at the same time, his ability to instill a sense of urgency, understanding, allowing me to understand the gravity of the situation I was in, which was that you had the keys to the castle, you're the center, and all that entails."

Morse was tasked with starting as a rookie, protecting veteran quarterback Alex Smith, and eventually, as time progressed, Patrick Mahomes.

"You have a quarterback who's in year 13. We had just come off a season in 2014 that was maybe the last time the Chiefs weren't in the playoffs, so the stakes were very high and it was stressful. It was conducive to growing as a football player," said Morse, "Andy Heck was a great teacher not only of the technique but also of the game of football, and he fostered opportunities for all of his young players to grow."

Morse played center for 10 seasons in the National Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Jacksonville Jaguars, earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2022. He also played college football for the Missouri Tigers. He hosts a weekly podcast, Monday Mornings with Mitch, and can be followed on Instagram and X.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Mitch Morse on experience playing for Chiefs HC Andy Reid, Andy Heck

Today in Boston Celtics history, the Celtics beat a Western Conference foe in the twilight of Larry Bird's career, a 111-109 overtime road win over the Portland Trail Blazers in 1991.

The Hick From French Lick, a future Hall of Fame forward for the Celtics, put up 27 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and a steal, contributing in a big way to Boston's victory. Although the Celtics star was not particularly efficient overall, shooting 9-of-23 from the field, he excelled with a 2-of-5 performance from beyond the arc and a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line during his 52 minutes on the court.

“I would love to have a situation in which we play Portland again this year,” Celtics head coach Chris Ford said at the time via the UPI. “That would mean we’d both be in the finals. I would love it to happen.”

Historic milestones

Also today, the Celtics beat the Indiana Pacers 114-111 behind 30 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals from Jayson Tatum. It was the last game that would be played that season for Boston until the season restarted at the end of July in a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in the Orlando bubble.

The reason was the onset of and interruption caused by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

Birthdays

It is the birthday of former Boston guard Richard “Dick” Murphy, born today in 1921 in New York. He played for Manhattan College before joining the New York Knicks in the Basketball Association of America (BAA — a precursor league to the NBA) era. He didn’t finish the season with New York, however, joining the Celtics for a short stint of 25 games, over which he averaged 0.3 points and 0.4 assists per game.

Finally, it’s also the birthday of wing Edward “Bulbs” Ehlers, who came into this world two years later in Joliet, Illinois, and played collegiately for Purdue before being drafted by Boston with the third overall pick of the 1947 BAA Draft. He played two seasons with the Celtics, averaging 8.1 points and 2.3 assists per game over that stretch.

This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics history: Last game before pandemic pause; Murphy, Ehlers born

When and where to watch Newcastle United v FC Barcelona – FC Barcelona
International kick-off times and viewing guide for UCL Last 16 first leg at St. James’ Park.

Newcastle United v FC Barcelona: Did you know? – FC Barcelona
The time has finally come and on Tuesday at St. James’ Park, kick off 9pm CET, Barça will take on Newcastle United in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie. The Blaugranes lead La Liga and on the European front Hansi Flick’s team come up against one of the best teams in the Premier League in their attempt to make it to the quarter-finals.

Hansi Flick: ‘It’s one of the most important moments of the season’ – FC Barcelona
The German coach is clear about the need for a good performance against Newcastle in the first leg of their Last 16 Champions League tie.

Joan Garcia: ‘We’re sure what we have to do’ – FC Barcelona
Always ready for the big challenges. Joan Garcia spoke ahead of the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 clash against Newcastle. “We’re really looking forward to the match against Newcastle” said the Barça keeper. “We’re clear about what we have to do … It’s a two-legged tie. At home they’ll want to get the best possible result. We’ll do our job: try to keep possession and minimise mistakes.”

Xavi Hernández: “Laporta signed me but ended up letting me down” – La Vanguardia
The former FC Barcelona player and coach explains that Laporta blocked Leo Messi’s return even though everything was already agreed upon. Xavi: “Messi was signed, Laporta backed out because he didn’t want a war with him.”

Laporta gives his version of the failed Messi signing in 2023 – Mundo Deportivo
“Jorge Messi came to my house and told me that Leo would be under too much pressure here. He had offers and went to Miami,” the former president explained.

Laporta: “With the same players, Xavi lost and Flick won” – Mundo Deportivo
The former president states that “as president you have to make difficult decisions and it hurts me that Xavi allowed himself to be used.”

Laporta-Font debate: exchange of personal recriminations and direct accusations – Mundo Deportivo
“You are a danger to the sporting project,” said the former president, who also accused his rival of lying: “You said we would turn Barça into a public limited company and that’s a lie.” Font responded “While you were eating macaroni and slicing ham, I was presenting proposals,” and added: “Even those of us you don’t like carry Barça in our hearts. I don’t carry Barça in my wallet.”

Tebas contradicts Xavi regarding Messi’s attempted return to Barça – Mundo Deportivo
The statements made by the former FC Barcelona player and coach to La Vanguardia regarding a possible plan for the Argentine’s return to the club clash with the version of the LaLiga president, who assures that the league “never gave its approval”.

Here are your Pens Points for this Tuesday morning…

The Pittsburgh Penguins begin a difficult stretch of games on Tuesday, with a five-game road trip against several likely playoff teams, including the Carolina Hurricanes, Vegas Golden Knights, and Utah Mammoth. Pittsburgh recently earned some important points despite Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin’s absences. Is it too dramatic to call this a season-defining swing? [PensBurgh]

There are about 20 games left on the regular season schedule for most teams, and for those teams in the Eastern Conference, many of whom are fighting alongside Pittsburgh for a playoff berth, like the Columbus Blue Jackets or New York Islanders, the playoff race is tightening by the day. These points are worth their weight in gold. [PensBurgh]

The Pittsburgh Penguins loaned defenseman Jack St. Ivany to the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for a conditioning assignment on Monday. St. Ivany has not played since Jan. 25 after suffering a left-hand injury that required surgery. [Trib Live]

News and updates from around the NHL…

The Florida Panthers’ playoff odds remain questionable at best, and one of their heart-and-soul players, Brad Marchand, continues to deal with a lower-body injury, which may end his season altogether. [Sportsnet]

Ottawa Senators forward Dylan Cozens is playing an important role in his team’s push for the playoffs, providing scoring and physical play on the second line as the team battles for a postseason spot. [NHL]

It has been anything but a positive year for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are on life support, trying to find any way to save what rapidly appears to be a lost season. However, some within the locker room are hoping this was just a down year, a blip on the radar. [TSN]

FC Barcelona have issued an official statement confirming the contract renewal of teenage defensive prodigy Guillem Victor until the summer of 2028.

The deal will also contain an option for a one-year additional extension.

“FC Barcelona have reached an agreement with player Guillem Victor to renew his contract, which will link him to the club for the next two seasons, until June 30, 2028, with the option to extend the agreement between both parties for one more year.”

Born on May 3, 2008, Guillem Victor is in his ninth season as a Barça player. He joined the Club in 2017 as a first-year youth player from Junior CF.

The brother of former Barcelona striker Pau Victoru, the 18-year-old stood out as a versatile player during the early stages of his career.

Last season saw the teenage right-back break into the Juvenil A setup, while he has now become a part of the Barça Atletic roster under Juliano Belletti.

So far this term, he has played seven games for Juliano Belletti’s side, and has even trained with the first-team squad.

The Islanders’ final out-of-time-zone road trip comes to a conclusion tonight in St. Louis, with a golden chance to go .500 on a four-game trip that began with a couple of stinkers in Southern California.

The Blues are in the middle of a cratering season that has brought Brayden Schenn to Long Island. However, they are now on a 4-0 post-Olympic run — including a 4-0 win over the Ducks, with a Jonathan Drouin slumpbuster — that has lifted them a few points above the not-Vancouver line, sending the fanbase into panic over the potential spoiling of their lottery odds. Their youth movement is underway, with Jake Neighbors (who praised Schenn’s influence on his way out) a young power forward now getting a letter, and 2023 first-rounders Otto Stenberg and Theo Lindstein getting called up before this game.

Ilya Sorokin will get the start for the Isles. This one is a TNT/HBO broadcast.

First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News

• This week in Islanders Anxiety features our own Jenny, daughter of a Drouin-loather and fresh off a globe-spanning, time zone-disorienting flight from the other side of our planet, discussing the moves, games and watching the Islanders over breakfast. [LHH]
• Brayden Schenn’s old teammates will miss him and the impact he had on their (the youngers’) careers. He’s ready to get an “emotional” return out of the way. In the Year of Our Bossy, 2026, a player has wiaved his NTC to come to the Islanders so he could join a “competitive” team on the rise. [Newsday | Athletic]
• His new teammates were immediately pleased to see him in action. [Post+]
• Bo Horvat gives his side of his $2,500 for unsportsmanslike conduct against Eklund’s brother: the dude took his stick and threw it down the hall, so he asked for it back and popped his visor up. [Newsday]
• The Tri-State Hockey podcast with Arthur Staple welcomes its first-ever guest: Mathieu Darche, fresh off the trade deadline, being up front about what he’s thinking and doing, leaning into the current core’s age while waiting for the next wave of prospects. On the Schenn trade, he admits it’s “fairly aggressive for where we are.” On the Pageau extension, he says he even reached out to the other UFAs like Anders Lee to let them know why he was negotiating with this one mid-season. [YouTube]
• No surprise, Matthew Schaefer is your Calder favorite. [NHL]

Elsewhere

Last night’s NHL scores included the Senators picking up another win and the Blue Jackets picking up an OTL point.

• Bylsma: At the trade deadline, communication between coach and GM on needs is critical. [NHL]
• How Matthew Knies went from being The Future to a possible Future Trade Bait in Toronto. [Sportsnet]
• There’s a good chance Brad Marchand won’t play again this season. [Sportsnet]

The first spring football under Will Stein is here, and just before it starts on Tuesday, two more pieces have been added to the staff. Eli Wicklund and Adam Kleffner would be joining the staff as analysts.

Wicklund, who is originally from Nicholasville, comes from D-III program Christopher Newport University, with prior stints at Bucknell, Rice, and Miami (OH). He will serve as a defensive analyst under Defensive Coordinator Jay Bateman, focusing on game planning and practice implementation.

Kleffner does not have a prior relationship with the program and is not from Kentucky. Instead, he comes from LSU and rejoins offensive coordinator Joe Sloan, whom he served under as lead offensive analyst the previous two seasons. Prior to that, he had stops at Illinois, Missouri, Portland State, and Stephen F. Austin.

While it is March, and all eyes are on Kentucky Basketball, Will Stein and his staff are about to get an eye and identify what they have on this roster this Spring.

Welcome to the Morning Commute

Today we’re talking about Mizzou Hoops and a little bit of baseball

For the second straight year, Mark Mitchell has been awarded SEC honors. The senior has landed on the second team — per an announcement on Monday.

Currently leading Mizzou in points, assists, and rebounds — Mitchell became the second Mizzou player to earn second-team honors multiple times (joining Kobe Brown).

From MUTigers.com:

On target to be just the second player in school history to lead the team in points, rebounds and assists in a single campaign, Mitchell has tallied 17.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists as a senior. One of just five players in the nation to have totaled 550 points, 160 rebounds and 110 assists this season, Mitchell is also aiming to be the first Tiger to average 17 points, five boards and three assists in a single season since 1992 Big Eight Player of the Year Anthony Peeler.

Mitchell is certainly a player that deserves to be in the NCAA Tournament. Mizzou’s postseason play starts on Thursday in the 2nd round of the SEC Tournament against either Kentucky or LSU (so …. Kentucky).

On the diamond, Mizzou Baseball has won 12 in a row and Tyler Macon has been a key cog in the lineup. The St. Louis native from Kirkwood High School was named SEC Extra’s Player of the Week.

Yesterday at Rock M and Rock M+

• Morning Commute from Josh Matejka: Mizzou Baseball can’t stop winning!

Look, no one is pretending the Tigers are out here downing the 2025 LA Dodgers, but they’re winning games (and lots of them) which is something they haven’t been able to do under Kerrick Jackson much during his time in Columbia. Winning is habitual, and the best thing Missouri can do right now is teach themselves how to win before the more intense competition heats up.

It’s a step in the right direction, for sure.

• Recruiting Reset from Josh Matejka: Jabarri Lofton is a underrated commitment for Mizzou

It’s always good to continue Mizzou’s strong connection to East St. Louis, and Lofton represents yet another brick in that wall. Like many of the great Flyers before him, he’s got the eye-popping talent to join the lineague of great ESL Tiger alumni.

MIZ – ESL!

• SEC Tournament Picture from Sam Snelling: Mizzou against the field

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Missouri is +8000 to win the tournament, so if you like the Tigers chances you have time to get on that. BartTorvik.com has them at a 49.2% chance to reach the Quarterfinals, a 6.1% chance to reach the Semi-finals, a 1.8% chance to reach the Finals, and a 0.6% chance to win the whole tournament.

Just win one game in Nashville, Mizzou.

• BREAKING from Josh Matejka: 2027 OL Lual Aleu commits to Mizzou

Rivals/On3 and 247 both have Aleu listed as a three-star prospect, but his star is rising in the recruiting game. Aleu boasts offers from several SEC schools as well as a few other Power Four programs.

Lual Aleu is a solid addition to Mizzou’s 2027 recruiting class.

• From Karen Steger: Tigers earn highest road score of season in close loss to Georgia

Apparatus-wise, all events remain ranked in the top 10, which is super cool. The Tigers have moved up one spot nationally to no. 8 on beam, and down one spot nationally to no. 9 on vault. They are holding steady on bars and floor from a week ago.

It was still a strong showing for Mizzou Gymnastics in Athens. Tigers remain at No. 7 in the latest Road to Nationals rankings, which are based entirely off scores. The team’s 197.300, while it didn’t jump them in the rankings, did up their NQS.

• Over at Rock M+: The latest bubble talk on Mizzou

Plus, our ongoing Championship Week thread — and more on Lual Aleu’s commitment.

Rock M Radio’s Before the Box Score: Spring football preview and taking a look at Mizzou’s receivers

Subscribe to Rock M Radio on Apple Podcasts. Or stream episodes through Megaphone or Spotify. Have a question for us? Leave a 5-star review with your question and that show just might answer it in an upcoming episode!

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As Bayern Munich prepares for a crucial UEFA Champions League clash against Atalanta, one of the biggest lineup questions surrounds the availability of Jamal Musiala.

The young Bayern Munich star has been working his way back toward full fitness after a leg injury, and the coaching staff now faces a delicate decision — should he start such a high-stakes match or should Bayern Munich continue easing him back into action?

On talent alone, the answer might seem obvious. Musiala is arguably Bayern Munich’s most dynamic attacking midfielder and one of the few players in the squad capable of breaking open compact defenses with his dribbling, creativity, and quick combination play. Against an Atalanta side known for its aggressive pressing and disciplined defensive structure, having a player who can carry the ball through tight spaces could be a major advantage. A fully fit Musiala gives Bayern a different dimension in the final third and could help unlock a match that might otherwise become tactical and cagey.

However, the bigger question might be whether starting him is worth the risk.

Musiala is still working back toward 100% fitness, and rushing him into heavy minutes could create unnecessary risk. Bayern Munich has already dealt with its share of injury concerns this season, and protecting one of the club’s most valuable players is likely a priority. Even if Musiala is medically cleared to start, there is a difference between being healthy enough to play and being fully match-sharp.

Another factor is the intensity of Atalanta’s style. The Italian side is known for its physical, high-energy approach. Throwing Musiala into that kind of match from the opening whistle could put additional strain on a player who is still regaining rhythm and conditioning.

That leads to the alternative option — using Musiala as an impact substitute. Bringing him on for the final 30 minutes could allow Bayern Munich to inject creativity and unpredictability just when the match might be opening up. It would also limit his workload while still allowing him to influence the game.

Of course, Bayern Munich may also decide that a Champions League knockout match is simply too important to leave their best playmaker on the bench if he is available.

So the question becomes a balancing act between immediate results and long-term player management.

If you were in charge at Bayern Munich, would you start Musiala against Atalanta — or bring him off the bench while he continues to build back to full fitness?

Tell us in the comments below!

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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Football:

The lack of excitement around spring practice is not reflective of the energy in the building. Mike Norvell noted the team had high energy in a productive day with guys playing fast because they were moving well and confident in what they were doing.

Andrea Adelson sees linebacker as the most interesting position group to watch this spring for FSU.

Duce Robinson took the feedback seriously when made the decision to forego the NFL and return for another year at Florida State but he also really wants to give the fans something positive to root for.

All Sports:

FSU Baseball has surged to No.12 in The Athletic’s top-25 Baseball rankings; they hit the road for the first of four-straight ranked road opponents starting tonight against the 23rd-ranked Florida Gators:

Florida State is surging in every poll after a 5-0 week.

FSU Hoops is in Charlotte; tomorrow night they’ll face the California Golden Bears in the 8-9 matchup of the ACC tournament:

FSU finished the regular season 10-8 in the ACC; the first time the team has been over .500 in conference play since 2021.

Robert McCray V was named All-ACC receiving 90 overall votes placing him on the third team:

Women’s Softball, Women’s Lacrosse, and Men’s Golf will be providing all of the in Tallahassee entertainment this weekend;

She’s a three-time ACC Champion, a three-time All-American, and a former USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year and now Lacey Waldrop’s jersey is being retired by Florida State:

Pro Noles:

Asante Samuel Jr. is returning to the Steelers on a one-year deal; a chance to prove he’s 100% back and re-enter free agency in 2027:

A fan’s individual evaluation of top free agent Odafe Oweh most likely determines how they view Adam Peters’ first day of legal tampering. Opinions and grades vary, but everyone will agree more work needs to be done on the second day of legal tampering. Boxes have been checked for edge, cornerback, backup QB, interior defensive line, and starting left tackle. However, there are a number of needs still remaining, including a starting cornerback, wide receiver, safety, linebacker, running back, and tight end. Fortunately, as the frenzy of the first day ends, teams can reshuffle their priorities and target value additions from the remaining free agent pool and recently released players. A short list of the best available from both groups is provided below, as Hogs Haven continues to cover the free agency period in 2026.

Cornerback

There were plenty of quality cornerbacks at the start of the free agent period, but also plenty of teams with a clear need at the position. Several top free agents went off the market, including Jaylen Watson and Montaric Brown. The Commanders added Amik Robertson, but he should not be viewed as more than a depth piece. The position is being hit hard early, so Adam Peters will need to move fast to secure a player with starting potential.

Tariq Woolen, Age 26: Riq Woolen carried several red flags into free agency, but he has the size and length to play the boundary. He has been inconsistent for a lot of his career, but proved he could play at a high level during the second half of last season and the postseason. Woolen’s valuation in free agency was widely variable and so far his market hasn’t materialized, but he has definite starting potential alongside Trey Amos.

Nahshon Wright, Age 27: The concern with Wright was paying a lot of money for what amounted to one breakout year of production. A lower price tag would make the Pro Bowl cornerback far more enticing, and at 6’4”, 199 pounds he definitely has the size and athleticism to play the boundary. Wright played under both Daronte Jones and Dan Quinn, so they should be able to effectively evaluate his fit for their new defense.

Rasul Douglas, Age 31: More of an emergency option at starting cornerback, Rasul continues to play at a high level at age thirty-one, and at 6’2”, 209 pounds he has the needed size to cover the boundary. Rasul is good in run support and can cover the slot. Nobody is going to be locking Douglas in long-term as he will turn thirty-two before the start of the season, but a one-year deal would make him a fine placeholder for a draft pick.

Linebacker

Devin Lloyd went off the market late in the first day of legal tampering, and his lower-than-projected contract is a reminder that teams need to see players as a fit in their system to invest. Multiple linebackers went off the market as well, but the position was fairly deep and has been restocked with recently released players:

Dre Greenlaw, Age 28: Released yesterday by the Denver Broncos, Greenlaw may be an immediate fit for the GM that knows him well from his time with the Niners. Familiarity is not the only reason Adam Peters should sign Greenlaw; at 6’0”, 237 pounds he has sideline-to-sideline speed and plus coverage ability. Injuries have been the primary concern, but on a short term deal he could be a fit in the middle of Daronte Jones’ defense.

Leo Chenal, Age 25: Chenal is highly athletic and strong in run support. His coverage skills need polishing, but he has shown improvement. As a purely rotational player for the first four years of his career, his valuation as a full-time starter is difficult to judge. Still, Chenal has the athleticism and desired age for the Commanders to take a chance on him. You can see his profile here.

Safety

The safety market was also hit hard the first day of legal tampering. Top candidates Bryan Cook and Coby Bryant flew off the market, and even mid-tier options like Dane Belton and Julian Blackmon were signed. Fortunately, the safety market is deep this year, and there are plenty of options in the draft:

Jaylinn Hawkins, Age 28: Hawkins is a versatile safety able to play in two-high and single-safety looks and move into the box in run support. He lacks a long history of production, but would project as a great fit in Daronte Jones’ three-safety system.

Jaquan Brisker, Age 26: Brisker is a versatile, do-it-all safety that would also be a fit in Jones’ system. He has issues with injuries, and had extended time missed with a concussion in 2024. He is also not a great coverage safety, but at 6’1″, 204 pounds he has the size and physicality to add to the Commanders’ safety room.

Tight End

Isaiah Likely had a hot market, and the Giants overpaid him to replace Wan’dale Robinson, who departed for the Titans. Cade Otton was the other top target but he was re-signed by the Buccaneers.

Chigozeim Okonkwo, Age 26: The move tight end and receiving threat has been well covered by Hogs Haven and should be a well-known target at this point. You can read his profile here.

David Njoku, Age 29:Njoku has a lengthy injury history and is starting to show signs of decline, but he’s had some great production in the past and is still relatively athletic. The Commanders shouldn’t be looking to sign him to a long-term deal, but Njoku does not have to be an every-down tight end for David Blough to provide him the receiving target he needs.

Running Back

Three down running backs went off the market early but there are still some free agents that can upgrade the room. Value free agent Kenneth Gainwell was also swept off the board early.

Rachaad White, Age 27: White leaves a lot to be desired in the running game, but perhaps with a superior line and a zone blocking scheme he can find his form. The big appeal is in pass protection and adding a receiving back for Jayden Daniels. You can read his profile here.

Wide Receiver

Adam Peter reportedly pursued Alec Pierce only for the top free agent wide receiver to remain with the Colts. Wan’dale Robinson quickly found a home with the Titans, and Mike Evans found one with the Niners. There are still several options available:

Romeo Doubs, Age 25: Doubs’ market has been slow to develop possibly because his asking price is too high. Lower-ranked options, Jalen Nailor and Tyquan Thornton were signed yesterday, while Romeo remains on the market. A young, productive wide receiver that can play on all three levels, Doubs projects as a strong WR2 for the team that lands him. You can read his profile here.

Jauan Jennings, Age 28: Jennings is getting older and has been inconsistent throughout his career, but Adam Peters knows him, and Jennings can still upgrade a wide receiver room that lacks proven talent. The big wide receiver is more of a possession than vertical threat.

Calvin Austin III, Age 26: Austin has been inconsistent throughout his career and can disappear from games, but on an affordable contract with 4.32 speed, he can be the vertical deep threat the Commanders need to stretch defenses opposite Terry McLaurin.

Center

It is hard to know what Adam Peters’ plan was at the center position when he released Tyler Biadasz, but hopefully it didn’t rely on Tyler Linderbaum, who was signed to a lucrative deal, or Cade Mays who was swept up by the Lions. Elgton Jenkins is an option, but is more of a power/gap player and struggled in zone at the pivot.

Matt Hennessey, Age 28: After being drafted in 2020 by the Falcons and being named their starter in 2021, Hennessey is a nice fit for a zone scheme and is a known quantity for Dan Quinn. Matt has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, but is still fairly young. He’s played over 1,000 snaps at center and has spent some time at guard, so at a minimum, he would be a good depth add.

Luke Fortner, Age 27: A third-round pick Fortner struggled in his early career but had a bit of resurgence with the Saints last season. His addition is all about fit, as he excelled at pass protection last year and is well suited for a zone scheme. You can read his profile here.

There is still plenty of talent available for the Washington Commanders on Day 2 of legal tampering so make sure to come back to Hogs Haven frequently for news and fan reactions.

We are on to day two of the NFL’s Legal Tampering Period. Check in below for all of the latest updates!

Bengals News:

Historic Day For Bengals Defense As Bryan Cook Comes Home and Boye Mafe Comes Over From The Dark Side

The Bengals had a $100 million day to start free agency.

Why Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook Are Perfect Fits for Bengals’ Biggest Weaknesses

Not only big signings, but big signings in the right spots.

Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson update from ESPN insider is confusing for his free agency market

Hendrickson’s market doesn’t appear to be what he and his agent were hoping it would.

Bengals get disappointing grade for $60 million splash signing

Not everyone is thrilled with one of the Bengals’ Day 1 signings.

Former Bengals free agent sure sounds like he wants Cincy return

A reunion could make a lot of sense here.

NFL News:

Falcons to sign QB Tua Tagovailoa to one-year minimum contract

Tua wasn’t on the market long.

Star WR Mike Evans leaving Buccaneers to sign with 49ers

It will be odd to see Evans in another uniform.

Panthers agree to terms with LB Devin Lloyd

The Bengals were in the mix, but Lloyd ultimately chose Carolina.

Raiders Land Ravens Center Tyler Linderbaum Days After Maxx Crosby Trade

A big loss for Baltimore.

Steelers reportedly trade for WR Michael Pittman Jr., agree to new 3-year, $59 million contract

Pittsburgh was active in the trade market on the first day of free agency.

Good morning, Broncos Country!

Yesterday’s soft launch of free agency might have been a little disappointing to Broncos fans who had their sights on a splashier open.

Instead the Broncos chose to spend the first days officially signing back a slew of their own free agents — JK Dobbins, Alex Singleton, Justin Strnad, Adam Trautman, Alex Palczewski, Sam Ehlinger and Nate Adkins.

And in a somewhat surprising move, Denver cut one of last year’s splashy signings — Dre Greenlaw.

In spite of the meltdown that seemed to be happening on Broncos’ Twitter (and MHR, for that matter), I applaud every one of these moves. The money to Singleton is possibly a little steep given his age, and health, but he is such a solid player and major locker room leader that I’m willing to trust the brass on this one. The inside linebacker beat cancer, led the team in tackles and made the defense better whenever he was on the field and wearing the green dot.

In fact, Nik Bonitto and PJ Locke both came to Singleton’s defense on X when one disgruntled fan tried to hate on the beloved player.

I’m also a big fan of keeping Dobbins. I know his injury history is a huge concern — rightfully so. As a three-time fantasy owner with Dobbins on my roster, I know the pain of investing in a guy who has phenomenal talent but cannot finish a season.

But the 27-year-old has such great potential. Last season he rushed 153 times for 772 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games, putting his 772 rushing yards as fourth best in the NFL. So far in his career, Dobbins has averaged 5.2 yards per carry and has 26 touchdowns in 47 games.

So $8-10 million per year in a two-year deal, with an exit strategy after one season if necessary, is both team-friendly and player-friendly.

More importantly, like my point about Singleton, when Dobbins was on the field, the offense was better. A lot better. And keeping him around on a relatively inexpensive contract is a smart move. If he and RJ Harvey can develop their “one-two punch” as planned and predicted, this duo will be better than ever come Week 1.

So do the Broncos still need to sign an elite player to make this team a bonafide contender next season?

As exciting as adding a top-tier linebacker, running back or even wide receiver to the roster would be, it’s clear the Broncos are pretty happy with the squad they’ve had. In fact, “running it back” as is another year and using the draft to add depth seems to be just fine by them.

That’s not to say that a big-splash signing still couldn’t happen.

What it does mean is that Denver really has all its “needs” met and doesn’t have to overpay just to fill a position. With one of the best offensive lines in the league, the Broncos will roll into free agency and the NFL Draft with the luxury of being able to be picky.

I would personally love to add more firepower on defense. The core group from last season remains, despite losing John Franklin Myers and Greenlaw, so Denver still should have a top-ranked D.

But I would never argue about adding another stud on the defensive line or the edge, and who wouldn’t like a stud inside linebacker added to the roster…say, Leo Chenal?

What do you think — do the Broncos need an elite player in free agency? If so, which position would have the most impact?

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

BEARSSSSSS

On free agency’s first day, Bears rework defense with focus on speed, versatility

Both would be good for a change.

Bears bringing back LT Braxton Jones

Smart play by Poles & Co.

Bears transaction tracker: Who’s coming, going this offseason

Lots of both today.

NFL finalizes compensatory draft picks: Bears get none for Falcons hiring Ian Cunningham

In case anybody was confused as to whether the league office sucks.

Former Bears linebacker Tremaine Edmunds gets 3-year, $36 million deal from Giants

Good for him.

Bears to sign playmaking veteran Devin Bush Jr. as they rebuild linebacker corps: source

I like this move. Speed to burn.

Bears to sign Seahawks standout safety Coby Bryant

I like this move, young, skilled and reasonable money.

Bears’ first move in free agency is deal with DT Neville Gallimore: source

I’m ‘wait and see’ on this move, but on social media Gallimore sure sounds happy to be coming to Chicago. So that’s good.

Bears Continue Adding Playmakers for Dennis Allen’s Defense in Free Agency

Our old friend Nicholas Moreano has joint the RTB crew, and expect to see more from them going forward.

Chicago Bears Turn Back to Braxton Jones to Solve Left Tackle Problem

The team must feel good about his health.

POLISH SAUSAGE

The full Tyler Linderbaum contract is guaranteed, as a practical matter

$81M for 3 years? YIKES!

Darron Lee used ChatGPT for advice on dealing with “unresponsive” person

ChatGTP? On trial for murder. This story is a bit off the rails.

Hayden Hurst announces retirement

Cya.

Former Bears QB Mitch Trubisky to sign with Titans

He’s made a lot of money to not play football. I wonder whatever happened to his grandma’s Toyota.

Column: Chicago Bears add speed to defense, while NFL shopping season begins with big contracts for linemen

Tribune paywall.

Three Chicago Bears Who Came Out Winning After Day One of Free Agency

SI special.

What Does the Signing of Coby Bryant Mean For Kevin Byard III and Jaquan Brisker?

Thunderdome!!! Two men enter, one man leaves!!!

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Nobody cares, so to hell with them.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Chicago Bears Re-sign LT Braxton Jones to 1-Year Deal

NFL Free Agency 2026: Chicago Bears News and Rumor Tracker for March 9

2026 Chicago Bears Free Agency Transaction Tracker, Story Stream, and Open Thread

NFL Awards Compensatory Draft Picks and the Chicago Bears Get None

Report: Chicago Bears re-sign Case Keenum

Bears to sign LB Devin Bush to three-year deal

Chicago Bears Sign Safety Coby Bryant

Report: Chicago re-signs D’Marco Jackson

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The 2026 edition of the World Baseball Classic is underway! If you plan to watch MLB’s World Cup of baseball today, below you can get a look at Tuesday’s games, upcoming matchups on the World Baseball Classic schedule, and other important details on this year’s WBC, including where to watch.

World Baseball Classic games today

Upcoming WBC schedule

What are the pools for the 2026 WBC?

The various nations taking part in the 2026 World Baseball Classic are broken into four pools. You can get a look at those groupings below.

Related Headlines

• Worst MLB Contracts 2026: Worst Contract At Each Position this Season
• Monday’s World Baseball Classic Schedule, Including Cuba vs. Puerto Rico (March 9, 2026)
• Sunday’s World Baseball Classic Schedule, Including Brazil vs. Mexico (March 8, 2026)

The closer we get to Opening Day, the sooner we’ll lean about the Yankees’ ultimate roster plans. Manager Aaron Boone got the obvious out of the way last night, with the confirmation that 2025 ace free-agent signing Max Fried will be the Opening Day starter.

If you had to line up the Yankees’ rotation beyond Fried right now, who would make your cut? For the purpose of this question, we want to know the specific order you’d use for the first time the Yankees need to pitch five starters in five days. Fried, Ryan Weathers, Cam Schlittler, Luis Gil, and Will Warren all figure to be in the mix, but how are you lining them up and why? Maybe you’d like to get Ryan Yarbrough in there, too. This is a no-judgment zone!

Also, as a secondary exercise, suppose that all of the Yankees’ injured starters return and all are healthy. (I cannot emphasize enough that I do not believe this will happen because the best-laid plans of healthy pitching are best forgotten. But we’re having fun here! How would you line the front five up with Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Clarke Schmidt in the mix? Yes, yes, the boring-but-correct answer is that it depends on how all the pitchers look in that moment, and especially how the arms respond to their various comebacks.

For the first prompt, my gut says to go Fried/Schlittler/Weathers/Gil/Warren, and for the second, Fried/Cole/Rodón/Schlittler/Schmidt — tagging Weathers in for Schmidt since I don’t really trust that his elbow will let him make so many starts for the 2026 Yanks. Let us hope that this is a problem the Yankees are forced to handle! I’m feeling optimistic about most of these names anyway.

Today on the site, John and Matt lead will recap the WBC action from Monday, Sam will preview Ryan Weathers’ 2026 campaign, Peter will look across town and read the tea leaves about the 2026 Mets, and Nick will celebrate the birthday of Steve Howe, a very talented pitcher whose own demons unfortunately kept him from sticking around on this Earth for very long.

Today’s Matchup

New York Yankees vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Time: 1:05 p.m. EST

Video: Gotham Sports Network

Venue: BayCare Ballpark, Clearwater, FL

As recently as 2022, Jacksonville State and North Dakota State were members of the FCS. In 2026, the recent FBS additions will open against each other in a Week 0 showdown.

The non-conference matchup between the rising Conference USA power and the former FCS dynasty-turned Mountain West member is slated for Saturday, Aug. 26, 2026 and will kick off from the Fargodome in Fargo, ND. This upcoming Week 0 contest is the first leg of a home-and-home, and the return trip to Jacksonville, AL is scheduled for Sept. 22, 2029.

This will be the fourth-ever meeting between the programs, which previously battled at both the Division II and FCS levels. Jacksonville State and North Dakota State share important history from about a decade ago, squaring off in the 2015 FCS National Championship Game. Led by quarterback Carson Wentz and wide receiver Darrius Shepherd, the Bison defeated the Gamecocks 37-10 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX to claim their fifth-consecutive FCS national title.

The Week 0 matchup also serves as the first-ever North Dakota State contest at the FBS level, and it’s a home game for the Bison. Jax State also made its FBS debut at home in 2023, defeating UTEP in a Week 0 matchup. Thus, this will be the Gamecocks’ second appearance in Week 0 in their four years of FBS membership.

For Jacksonville State, this matchup replaces a recently-canceled home-and-home series vs. San Jose State, which was announced in January. The Gamecocks were supposed to play at San Jose State on Sept. 26 but the series was axed, and North Dakota State filled the vacancy.

With this non-conference matchup set in stone, Week 0 now showcases seven matchups, including five in the United States:

• North Carolina vs. TCU (in Dublin)
• NC State vs. Virginia (in Rio de Janeiro)
• Jacksonville State at North Dakota State
• Hawaii at Stanford
• Memphis at UNLV
• New Mexico State at Florida State
• San Jose State at USC

ZURICH (AP) — Austria got permission from FIFA to select former England and Germany youth internationals ahead of playing at the World Cup against Argentina and Lionel Messi.

Borussia Dortmund winger Carney Chukwuemeka and PSV Eindhoven midfielder Paul Wanner both were born in Austria and eligible under FIFA rules to change their eligibility.

Chukwuemeka’s switch from England and Wanner’s transfer of eligibility from Germany were approved by FIFA late Monday.

Austria, coached by Ralf Rangnick, is in a World Cup group with defending champion Argentina, Algeria and Jordan.

The 22-year-old Chukwuemeka played for Aston Villa and Chelsea before moving to Dortmund. He was an England youth international who also was eligible through his parents to play for Nigeria.

The 20-year-old Wanner came through the Bayern Munich academy and played on loan last season with Heidenheim. He moved last August to PSV, which gave him the playmaker’s No. 10 jersey.

Austria will play at a men’s World Cup for the first time since 1998. The team opens against Jordan on June 16 at the San Francisco 49ers’ stadium, then plays Argentina at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium and Algeria at the Kansas City Chiefs’ home.

Chukwuemeka and Wanner will first be eligible for warmup games this month when Austria hosts Ghana and South Korea, which both qualified for the World Cup.

___

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

Jalen Hurts is a star quarterback, Super Bowl MVP, and now a listed author, after he revealed last summer on the Today Show that he'll be releasing a children's book, illustrated by Nneka Myers. The book is titled "Better Than a Touchdown," and you can order it from Penguin Random House. Better Than a Touchdown is an empowering story about friendship, teamwork, and achieving goals together.

Jalen is so excited for the new school year because this is the year he’ll finally get to try out for the football team! But when he arrives at school, he learns the unthinkable—that the football team has been cut. He and his friends are devastated. But Jalen isn’t ready to give up, and with some advice from some friends, maybe—just maybe—they can save the day.Better than a Touchdown is a love letter to the power of community, being there for one another, and how a piece of good advice can change the course of a day. Told with Jalen’s signature wisdom and gorgeous art by Nneka Myers, Better than a Touchdown carries a message we can all learn from: that by working together, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish.

A dream come true 📚@JalenHurts | #FlyEaglesFlypic.twitter.com/kJbYlMnFBv

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) June 23, 2025

During an appearance on Good Morning America, a young kid asked the Eagles star about the one time he considered walking away from the game of football. You can see Hurts' honest and heartfelt response at the 3:36 mark of the video.

"There was a time in college where i really questioned, what's going on and where do I go from here. I was counted out, broken and dissected."

Hurts talked about having the courage to persevere and keep going at one of his lowest points, likely referring to losing his position to Tua Tagovailoa, who, coincidentally, was released by the Dolphins on Monday.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Jalen Hurts Opens Up About the Time He Considered Quitting Football

Spurs Injury Latest Ahead of Atletico Madrid Champions League Clash

Tottenham’s season has veered into deeply uncomfortable territory, with domestic struggles now compounded by an extended injury list that continues to shape their campaign. As Spurs prepare for a crucial Champions League last-16 encounter against Atletico Madrid, attention has inevitably turned to the latest fitness news surrounding several key figures.

While European competition has offered brief relief from their Premier League difficulties, the club’s injury situation remains a major subplot. With Spurs hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone after a damaging 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace, the availability of players in the coming weeks could determine whether their season stabilises or deteriorates further.

Spurs Injury Latest Offers Mixed News Before Atletico Clash

Tottenham head into the Champions League tie hoping for some encouragement on the injury front. The most immediate concern surrounds Djed Spence, who has recently missed matches with a calf issue.

Spence was absent during defeats against Fulham and Crystal Palace, leaving Spurs short of options in wide defensive areas. However, there is cautious optimism he could return in time for the trip to Spain.

Photo IMAGO

“Djed is out,” said Igor Tudor before the Palace game. “Not ready. We hope for the Champions League game.”

Spurs will train publicly before travelling to Madrid, with further clarity expected when Tudor addresses the media ahead of the first leg. If Spence does return, it would provide a timely boost for a team that has struggled to maintain defensive balance in recent weeks.

Destiny Udogie Recovery Timeline

Destiny Udogie represents another important element of the Spurs injury picture. The left-back has been unavailable since suffering a hamstring problem during the trip to Manchester United on February 7.

Initial expectations suggested a recovery period of four to five weeks. That timeline indicates Udogie could soon return, although the Atletico Madrid fixture may arrive slightly too early for him.

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Spurs then travel to Anfield to face Liverpool in another high-pressure Premier League encounter. With Tottenham fighting to avoid sliding into the bottom three, the potential return of Udogie during that period would be particularly valuable.

For now, though, the Spurs injury latest suggests patience remains necessary as the medical staff carefully manage his rehabilitation.

Midfield Absences Continue to Impact Spurs

Midfield availability remains another area of concern. Lucas Bergvall continues his recovery after undergoing ankle surgery at the end of January. The young midfielder is not expected to return until after the March international break.

There has been speculation in Sweden that Bergvall could be involved in their World Cup play-off against Ukraine later this month, although Tottenham have not provided confirmation regarding that timeline.

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Elsewhere, Mohammed Kudus remains sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained against Sunderland in January. His absence came shortly after Brennan Johnson’s move to Crystal Palace, leaving Spurs lighter in attacking midfield options.

The club expect Kudus to return once the international break concludes, a development that could prove crucial during the final weeks of the campaign.

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Rodrigo Bentancur faces a similar schedule after undergoing surgery for a hamstring problem sustained at Bournemouth. The Uruguayan midfielder is targeting a return in mid April, leaving Tottenham without another experienced presence during a demanding period.

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Long Term Spurs Injury Concerns Persist

Beyond the short term issues, Spurs continue to deal with longer term absences that have shaped their season.

Dejan Kulusevski remains one of the most uncertain cases. The Swedish international has been out for nearly a year after suffering a patella injury before last season’s Europa League final.

Photo IMAGO

While Kulusevski has shared rehabilitation footage online, his return date remains unclear.

“We hope so, in this moment we don’t know,” said Tudor: “He’s had really big problems. But he’s positive. And also the doctors are positive. So we’ll see, next week, how it’s going.”

Wilson Odobert has also been ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering an ACL injury against Newcastle in February. The forward has already undergone surgery and faces a lengthy recovery process.

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Defensive options have also been reduced following Ben Davies’ broken ankle sustained against West Ham earlier in the year. With his contract due to expire this summer, there remains uncertainty over whether he will play for the club again.

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Meanwhile, James Maddison’s season ended before it began after he tore his ACL during pre-season. Although he has recently appeared in training videos alongside team-mates, a return this campaign is not expected.

Picture:IMAGO

Taken together, the Spurs injury latest paints a challenging picture for the months ahead. Tottenham’s Champions League ambitions remain alive, yet their domestic position highlights the fragility of a squad that has struggled to absorb repeated setbacks.

Whether the returning players arrive in time to influence the season could ultimately shape Tottenham’s trajectory during one of the most turbulent campaigns in recent memory.

Lewis Hamilton made his Ferrari debut at the Australian Grand Prix without Riccardo Adami, and fans are already noticing a difference in his 2026 season opener.

Last year was a tough one for both Hamilton and Ferrari supporters, with frequent radio clashes highlighting the disconnect between him and Adami. The Italian struggled to provide the right information at crucial moments, making communication between them a persistent issue throughout the campaign.

Going into 2026, Hamilton has made several changes behind the scenes. He’s split from Adami, who has since moved into a role with the Ferrari driver academy. Early signs suggest that fans have already taken notice of how these adjustments might be paying off.

Cedric Grosjean, previously with McLaren, is expected to step in as Hamilton’s new race engineer later in the season. Until then, Carlo Santi – who once worked with Kimi Raikkonen – is filling in on an interim basis.

In their first outing together at Albert Park, Hamilton finished fourth behind teammate Charles Leclerc in third – an encouraging start for Ferrari and a solid day for Santi in particular.

Fans react positively to Lewis Hamilton’s communication during Australian Grand Prix

Santi was on the radio throughout the race, giving Hamilton clear and timely updates. There were a few minor adjustments to be made, but overall, it was a positive debut for the new pairing at Ferrari.

It was only one race, but Santi’s approach already looked like an improvement. That point was underlined by his final message over team radio, where he credited Hamilton for his performance in the second stint.

Hamilton’s debut weekend working with Santi featured several interactions that fans seemed to appreciate. One person posted: “Santi after one race is SO MUCH better than Adami after a whole season.” Another added: “Loving Santi already, such a breath of fresh air!”

“I love that he communicates well,” one user wrote. Another added: “Solid comms, solid stint. It was very good for Lewis’ confidence.”

Another fan kept it simple: “Damn Santi is doing great.” And one even went as far as to say: “Okay I think we can keep Santi for now.”

Read more:

Without fans, professional football would be as lost as VfL Wolfsburg currently is in the league table. Every weekend, thousands of Bundesliga fans travel countless kilometers, especially for away games.

We took a look at which away supporters made it into the top 5 in the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga this weekend (Source: “DIE FALSCHE 9”).

5. VfB Stuttgart (in Mainz)

Fans: 5,000

4. 1. FC Köln (in Dortmund)

Fans: 6,000

3. Bielefeld (at Schalke)

Fans: 6,200  

📸 Lars Baron - 2025 Getty Images

2. Borussia Mönchengladbach (in Munich)

Fans: 6,500

1. Hamburger SV (in Wolfsburg)

Fans: 11,000

The Rothosen fans are the clear winners of the matchday. But the 6,200 Arminia supporters at Schalke are also more than impressive.

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

Mac Allister Targets Champions League Glory as Liverpool Prepare for Galatasaray Test

Champions League ambition driving Mac Allister

European nights often sharpen a player’s focus, and Alexis Mac Allister appears fully aware of the opportunity that lies ahead for Liverpool. As the Reds prepare for their Champions League last-16 clash with Galatasaray in Istanbul, the Argentine midfielder has spoken openly about his desire to add Europe’s most prestigious club trophy to his growing list of honours.

Liverpool return to continental action with serious intent. The squad that secured the Premier League title last season under Arne Slot is now aiming to make a deep run in the Champions League, and Mac Allister believes the quality exists within the dressing room to achieve exactly that.

Speaking ahead of the tie, the Liverpool midfielder made his ambitions clear.

“Yeah, it’s definitely my dream right now,” Mac Allister said. “Of course, it’s a World Cup year and why not to win it twice? But the Champions League is one of the most important goals this season. I think we have a team that can reach that, that can win it, but we need to show it on the pitch and I’m pretty sure the game tomorrow is going to be a tough one.”

That mixture of confidence and realism reflects the mood around Liverpool’s European campaign. The team believe they belong among the continent’s elite, yet they know the Champions League rarely allows easy passages through the knockout rounds.

According to the original source on Liverpool’s official website, Mac Allister emphasised that proving Liverpool’s quality on the pitch will be crucial as they face Galatasaray in what promises to be a demanding away fixture.

Galatasaray battle expected in Istanbul

If Liverpool are to progress in the Champions League, they must first navigate one of Europe’s most intense environments. Istanbul has long been known for its fierce atmospheres, and Galatasaray’s home support can transform matches into psychological battles as much as tactical ones.

Mac Allister expects exactly that kind of confrontation.

Asked which Galatasaray player might provide the toughest midfield duel, he pointed immediately to a familiar South American competitor.

“Well, if I have to choose one, I think Lucas Torreira, just because he is Uruguayan and we all know how we play in South America! He is a really tough guy, a really good player on the ball as well, so I expect a lot of good duels against him.”

It is a telling remark. Champions League ties often hinge on midfield control, and the contest between Mac Allister and Torreira could shape the rhythm of the first leg.

Liverpool’s style under Slot relies heavily on intelligent movement in midfield, with Mac Allister often operating as the team’s metronome. His ability to dictate tempo and break lines with passing has been a vital component of Liverpool’s domestic success and could prove decisive in Europe.

Liverpool midfield dynamics and adaptability

Liverpool’s midfield has evolved over the course of the season, with players frequently adjusting roles depending on tactical demands. Dominik Szoboszlai has even appeared at right-back during certain matches, highlighting the versatility within the squad.

Mac Allister appears relaxed about positional debates, focusing instead on what benefits the team most.

“I don’t think it is important what I think his best position is,” he explained. “I think it’s important that he plays in a position that he feels comfortable in. And he showed that he can play both positions. He is a really good player, I love playing alongside him. Of course, when he’s closer a little bit more! But I think he is in a really good level and he’s a really important player for the team.”

That sense of cohesion will matter in the Champions League, where adaptability often separates contenders from also-rans. Liverpool’s midfield unit blends work rate, intelligence and technical quality — attributes that could carry them far in the competition.

Liverpool adapting to challenges this season

Despite lifting the Premier League title, Liverpool have faced their share of challenges this campaign. Injuries, tactical adjustments and new partnerships within the squad have occasionally slowed their rhythm.

Mac Allister acknowledges that the team is still evolving, particularly in attack.

“It’s been a tricky, challenging season for all of us,” he said. “It is up to us to find the right things for him. It’s definitely our responsibility to get the best out of him. We have done it last season. This season we are struggling a little bit more.”

He added: “But I think he has said it a couple of times: he is still learning how to play with the new players. We are all adapting to each other and that’s the situation we are in. We are dealing with that and he knows very well what he has to do to improve his numbers. He’s a fantastic player, I don’t need to say it, and I’m pretty sure he is going to keep showing what he can do.”

Liverpool’s Champions League journey will depend not only on star quality but also on how quickly those connections on the pitch continue to strengthen.

For Mac Allister personally, the path forward remains clear. Having already conquered the World Cup and Premier League, the Champions League represents the next summit.

And in Istanbul, Liverpool’s No.10 hopes the climb truly begins.

Free agency starts on Wednesday, March 11, but the legal tampering period opened on Monday, March 9th. The Minnesota Vikings have pushed to address the cap problems Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s move left, and are now focused on revamping the roster.

Pierre Brings More Than Simple CB Insurance

They wasted no time in identifying their first target. Although it won’t become official until the new league year gets underway, cornerback James Pierre will join Brian Flores’ defense. Having previously been coached by Flores and defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander in Pittsburgh, it’s a comfortable landing spot for the former Steeler.

Last season the Vikings entered the year with just three cornerbacks on the 53-man roster. Oft-injured veteran Jeff Okudah joined Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers. He remained injured often for Minnesota, and a replacement was needed.

The come-up, though, is that Pierre could be much more than just a replacement.

Not only is Pierre’s deal worth just $8.5 million, but he was literally graded as the best pass coverage cornerback in the NFL last season. His 89.7 grade from Pro Football Focus was number one out of 140 cornerbacks.

Despite Pierre getting just a 59.1 run defense grade (60th), his overall tally of 86.8 ranked second across the league. He doesn’t have a track record of that sort of performance, but now gets to work with arguably the league’s best defensive coach once again.

The six-year veteran has spent his entire career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. His 11 passes defended last season were a career high, and he grabbed his fourth career interception. He’s been a reliable talent, and now gets a chance to make an impact elsewhere.

Murphy Jr. didn’t have the stellar year Minnesota was hoping for when the Vikings brought him back on a big deal. Rodgers was pleasantly surprised, but faded some down the stretch. Having a competent option that can push both of them rather than needing to dip into lesser depth is quite a nice development.

Trainer Paul Nicholls believes his horse No Drama This End could follow in the footsteps of legendary Cheltenham winner Denman at the festival this week.

No Drama is one of the favourites for the Turners Novice Hurdle on Wednesday and continues the long line of horses trained by Nicholls at the Ditcheat, Somerset, yard owned by the Barber family.

Denman, who won the Gold Cup in 2008, was the second horse trained by Nicholls-and co-owned by Barber to win the top prize in Cheltenham, after See More Business in 1999.

"He's almost following the Denman route who's going for the Turners and we're hoping that in the future he can be half as good as Denman as a chaser, we'd be happy," Nicholls told BBC Points West.

• Listen: BBC Radio Gloucestershire Cheltenham Festival preview

Nicholls began renting Ditchin yard almost three decades ago, after responding to an advert placed by renowned owner Paul Barber.

Barber died in 2023 but his legacy is being continued through his sons Chris and Giles, who have since taken over.

Six-year-old No Drama is the first horse since Barber's death that goes into Cheltenham with a shot at a major win.

"I'm so proud of a horse like No Drama, it's great that his two sons and the rest of the family are involved in it," Nicholls added.

"It's great to look back on all those fantastic winners - we had 50 Cheltenham winners and we're not far off training 4,000 winners and Paul was behind every one of them.

"I'm sure he's [Paul Barber] up there looking down now. If No Drama wins at Cheltenham he'll be shouting up there."

Chris Barber said his dad, Paul, would have been "so excited" about No Drama's prospects.

"He took passion in this sport to another level," he said.

"If we happen to finish in the first three at Cheltenham it's just going to be a fantastic honour to go into that winners' circle – hopefully we go there as number one."

• Golden Ace chasing more Cheltenham glory for Scott
• 'Everything was groundbreaking' - Fortescue-Thomas
• Cheltenham Festival: Race schedule & BBC coverage

STORRS, Conn. — There’s a lesson UConn coach Geno Auriemma learned long ago: Don’t wade into the “greatest ever” debate when it comes to his UConn players; leave that to everyone else. With the program’s 12 national championship teams and 27 All-Americans, it’s an impossible task by just looking at the numbers, and almost more impossible still having been the coach who molded them.

But it’s not the numbers that keep him out of those waters.

It’s that Auriemma has been fortunate enough to see greatness arrive in many forms and times during his career. And when you’ve been able to witness that, how could you possibly pick just one?

There was Diana Taurasi. She was in your face, telling you exactly how she was going to physically dominate. Sue Bird was more subtle in every way. You wouldn’t even realize she had taken over … until it was done. Maya Moore was a tornado. Auriemma would sit down on the bench after tipoff and she’d already have 15 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks. Breanna Stewart handled an 111-game winning streak with a playground-like ease Auriemma had never seen. Paige Bueckers announced her greatness to anyone within earshot.

And now, there’s Sarah Strong.

“She’s like this mist that’s everywhere,” Auriemma says, his arms fanning out to his sides and his fingers fluttering up and down. “Your eyes just keep following her everywhere she goes, every play she makes. And you don’t say anything and you wonder, how can anything be that easy? How can anything look that easy?”

Last season, as the national freshman of the year, Strong played alongside future 2025 No. 1 pick Bueckers and potential 2026 lottery pick Azzi Fudd, and Strong was arguably the most important part of their national title run. This season, she led UConn to its 11th undefeated regular season and was named The Athletic’s national player of the year as well as the Big East player and defensive player of the year. She ended the regular-season shooting 60 percent from the field, 42.5 percent on 3-pointers and 88.2 percent on free throws) — just shy of a 60-40-90 season, an achievement that has never happened in the NBA, WNBA or college basketball.

And somehow, she might be an even more impactful defender. She’s having the best defensive season since at least 2009, according to defensive rating statistics.

The Huskies, who won the Big East tournament title Monday night, will be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament — largely due to Strong’s play.

It often takes observers merely one possession of watching Strong to ask Auriemma if she’s the greatest player he has ever coached — or at least the greatest since … fill in the blank. Auriemma bristles at the question because she’s not even halfway through her UConn career, but he also understands why some are inclined to ask.

“She feels basketball like a 10-year veteran pro. She doesn’t feel it like a 19-year-old,” said ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo, Auriemma’s first All-American at UConn. “It’s like an old-soul, experienced sensibility that she has. I can’t think of a comparison when it comes to that for her, and I’ve been watching this game a really, really long time.

“I can’t think of a comp for her.”

Before Strong had even donned a UConn uniform or won a national title, Auriemma knew she was special. Not that she would be special or could be special. She already was.

He went so far as to put her in a different category entirely: Generational.

He had felt this way about players before. But in this current era, where fame is accessible to an elite group of women’s college basketball players, Strong is different from even the other special players he has coached.

She seemed completely indifferent to many of the modern appeals that often come with being a highly recruited elite player. She isn’t active on social media. She doesn’t have interest in being in front of the camera or giving interviews. Her teammates consider her funny and personable, but she has absolutely no intention of putting her personality on display.

Coaching has always been about more than putting a player in the right spot on the floor, and Auriemma has always thought of his job as trying to get his players to reach their respective potential, which includes (or results from) bypassing the deterrents that came up along the way. Strong’s mindset, at a time when there are more distractions and temptations than ever in college sports, means Auriemma is left playing defense against those obstacles far less.

“There are so many things you don’t know when a kid is coming in — You don’t know what’s in their heads, what their demons are, what outside influences are gonna get in the way. You don’t know these things,” Auriemma said. “She doesn’t have any (of those).”

Said Strong: “I’m not really waking up every day worried about how much money I can make. I’m just worried about how I can be better for my team and make it far in March.”

Moving into the NIL era, branding experts predicted that top female athletes would cash in because of their assumed ease on social media. Some athletes early in this era proved that charisma and candidness coupled with their athletic skills could be highly lucrative. There’s a benefit, many learned, to being a downpour instead of a drizzle.

Angel Reese was an early adopter of NIL opportunities, building a foundation in college, where there’s a broader audience, that became an empire spanning fashion, food, modeling, film and television. Paige Bueckers conducted a whirlwind offseason tour ahead of her senior season, spotted on NFL and WNBA sidelines, fashion weeks and photo shoots. Caitlin Clark wasn’t especially active on social media, but she used her fame to participate in golf tournaments in between commercial shoots for State Farm, Gatorade and Nike.

Those three college superstars carried their teams to national title games and became brands off the court. They average 3.7 million Instagram followers apiece. To brands, that following means a lot (with a dollar sign on the front and usually several zeroes at the end).

Strong’s so humdrum during news conferences, Auriemma calls it her “performance art.” Reporters learned quickly never to ask a question that could be answered with “yes” or “no,” because that was about all they’d get. Even in her extended answers, her quote might stretch to a sentence that involved a comma.

No one goes to UConn imagining hiding in the shadows on one of the most visible teams in college sports, but the lights were never why UConn — or basketball — has been attractive to Strong. As a high school player, she competed on her dad’s AAU team, not the All-Star team or the collection of five-star recruit teams. In high school, she transferred from a school that competed at the second-highest level of North Carolina high school sports to a private school where she graduated with about 40 other students, she estimates.

Nothing about Strong even hints that she’s chasing any level of stardom.

Her management team takes care of her social media posts. She has 119,000 Instagram followers, has averaged a post a month over the last two years and doesn’t even know how to post a photo. Her Twitter/X account has been inactive since high school and she doesn’t know her login info.

TikTok is the app where she says she shares the most, but even there, with an algorithm that incentivizes frequent posting and constant interaction, Strong often goes several months between posts. Much to her teammates’ dismay — and teasing — Strong never even posted about winning the national title on social media, deciding at a point that she had waited too long to do so and by then, it would just be weird.

Said Fudd: “It’s just so Sarah that she doesn’t really care about all that other stuff.”

Strong’s virtual invisibility on social media and indifference with her public persona hasn’t been a turnoff for endorsements, signaling that major brands see an athlete whose play alone speaks volumes. She has signed with Jordan Brand and Madison Reed, and was one of a handful of talented college players to sign an NIL deal with Unrivaled.

“There’s certainly a tradeoff,” said Strong’s mom, Allison Feaster, who played in the WNBA and is an executive with the Boston Celtics. “Young athletes, quite frankly nowadays, are overexposed. We’ve always been of the belief that if it’s yours, it’s going to come. And there’s a way to be strategic and targeted in putting yourself out there.”

But it’s not all strategic, of course.

“It’s just Sarah and what her priorities are,” Feaster said. “She theoretically could be something else, but I think she’s very comfortable being who she is.”

When Auriemma started recruiting Strong, he was struck with the dichotomy of her personality — she seemed so mature and self-possessed on the floor. She met every moment and played well beyond her years. Off it, she seemed very much like a young teenager. She was shy and giggly when she felt uncomfortable.

UConn was her top choice, and Auriemma has more national championships than any women’s basketball coach. But while recruiting Strong, the No. 1 player in the Class of 2024, he could barely get her on the phone. She wouldn’t pick up when he called. When he reached her via her parents, Strong would hardly talk. There was a bit of an irony in this, and, if Auriemma is being honest, it made him like her even more.

“It was refreshing,” he says. “You don’t meet many kids that are that talented, that gifted and who aren’t affected by the things around them.”

Feaster reassured Auriemma that she was the same way when her college coach at Harvard recruited her. She said talking to Feaster was like pulling teeth. By that measure, Auriemma figured, by the end of his recruitment of Strong, he’d have a second career as an oral surgeon.

Even when she got to campus, Auriemma knew that public speaking might be the most challenging aspect of her college basketball career. After her first postgame media experience, Auriemma called her to his office and explained that this — the attention, the cameras, the questions — was going to be a part of her basketball responsibilities moving forward. She didn’t need to love it (he had coached plenty of players who didn’t) but she needed to do it better for her teammates.

When framed like that, she got on board. Strong began taking weekly media training sessions with a team staffer to help her feel less anxious in interviews.

As March Madness approaches, more eyes will be on the Huskies. A season ago, she could hide behind the storylines centered on Bueckers’ quest for a national title, but she’s the headliner now.

With six wins separating the Huskies from a second consecutive national title, a feat that has been accomplished by only three programs in NCAA women’s history (UConn, Tennessee and USC), the attention on Strong will continue to grow.

Her profile will continue to rise as the comparisons become more obvious. Will she win two in a row like Maya? Three in a row like Diana? Four in a row like Stewie?

As Auriemma looks to Strong, he knows that none of that will affect her. Not on the court. Not off it.

She’s special, and her greatness is evident. Will she be the greatest ever? That’s irrelevant to Auriemma. For now, his job is to let the mist settle in and to let Sarah be Sarah. She’ll learn to handle the attention, but if she can have it her way, the acclaim will be centered only on her basketball success.

“What a novel idea that someone is recognized around the country,” Auriemma said, “simply for the thing that she loves the most.”

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Connecticut Huskies, Women's College Basketball

2026 The Athletic Media Company

A year ago at this time, there was an air of defeatism for most of the teams headed to the ACC tournament with the league having endured an uncharacteristically down season and only one program harboring reasonable expectations of a deep run in the subsequent NCAA Tournament.

While there is once again a clear favorite this year, the conference has returned to its more typical number of squads that can expect to see their names on the Selection Sunday bracket. This will result in considerably more interest in the early rounds of the festivities in Charlotte, North Carolina, which hopefully will translate to a more exciting week as a whole.

No need for March Madness: 2026 Final Four has already been decided

ACC tournament schedule, bracket, scores

First round

Tuesday, March 10

• Game 1: No. 10 Stanford vs. No. 15 Pittsburgh, 2 p.m., ACCN
• Game 2: No. 11 SMU vs. No. 14 Syracuse, 4:30 p.m., ACCN
• Game 3: No. 12 Virginia Tech vs. No. 13 Wake Forest, 7 p.m., ACCN

Second round

Wednesday, March 11

• Game 4: No. 7 North Carolina State vs. Stanford-Pittsburgh winner, noon, ESPN/ESPN2
• Game 5: No. 6 Louisville vs. SMU-Syracuse winner, 2:30 p.m., ESPN/ESPNU
• Game 6: No. 8 Florida State vs. No. 9 California, 7 p.m., ESPN2/ESPNU
• Game 7: No. 5 Clemson vs. Virginia Tech-Wake Forest winner, 9:30 p.m., ESPN2/ESPNU

Quarterfinals

Thursday, March 12

• Game 8: No. 2 Virginia vs. Game 4 winner, noon, ESPN/ESPN2
• Game 9: No. 3 Miami (Fla.) vs. Game 5 winner, 2:30 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2
• Game 10: No. 1 Duke vs. Game 6 winner, 7 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2
• Game 11: No. 4 North Carolina vs. Game 7 winner, 9:30 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2

Semifinals

Friday, March 13

• Game 12: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 7 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2
• Game 13: Game 10 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 9:30 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2

Championship game

Saturday, March 14

• Semifinal winners, 8:30 p.m., ESPN

How to watch ACC tournament

• TV: ESPN/ESPN2 | ESPNU | ACC Network
• Streaming: ESPN app | ESPN+ | Fubo (free trial)

The ACC tournament first round will be broadcast on the ACC Network. The succeeding rounds will be shown on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU. The championship game will be aired on ESPN. All games will be streamed on ESPN+.

ACC favorite

Top-seeded Duke, as was the case last season, is expected to carry the league banner well into March Madness. The Blue Devils, however, might not be at full strength entering this event with starters Patrick Ngongba and Caleb Foster on the bench in walking boots by the conclusion of their final regular-season win against archrival North Carolina. The Tar Heels will be shorthanded themselves with standout freshman Caleb Wilson sidelined for the remainder of the season. The good news for those two squads, as well as fellow double bye recipients Virginia and Miami, is they’ll have until Thursday’s quarterfinals.

ACC top players

Cameron Boozer, F, Duke – The Blue Devils’ latest freshman star has lived up to his lofty expectations. The team leader in points (22.7), rebounds (10.2) and assists (4.1) might actually be asked to do even more given the health concerns.

Thijs De Ridder, F, Virginia – The Belgian standout has been the cornerstone of first-year Cavaliers’ coach Ryan Odom’s retooled roster. UVa’s top scorer (15.9) and rebounder (6.3) connects at a 51.3% clip from the field with a nice touch around the rim.

Malik Reneau, F, Miami – The Miami native returned to his hometown after starting his collegiate career at Indiana. Putting up 19 points and 6.6 boards a game, he quickly became a key piece of the Hurricanes’ rapid resurgence under new coach Jai Lucas.

Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina – The Estonia native and former Arizona transfer will have to shoulder even more of the load on both ends of the floor with Wilson sidelined. The seven-footer is averaging 16.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks for the Tar Heels.

Ryan Conwell, G, Louisville – With flashy freshman point guard Mikel Brown in and out of the lineup with recurring back issues, the Cardinals needed Conwell to provide another consistent scoring presence from the perimeter. He has delivered to the tune of 18.7 points a game and 102 made three-pointers.

NCAA tournament bubble storylines for ACC

While a couple of the teams in action Tuesday are clinging to faint bubble hopes, the real drama will take place on day two. North Carolina State and Clemson are probably safe, but the seventh-seeded Wolfpack would be advised not to tempt the fates with an early loss. SMU has struggled down the stretch and needs a win or two to breathe easier. California and Virginia Tech look on the outside looking in. A run to the final might be needed to get an at-large spot.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ACC basketball tournament bracket, scores, schedule, TV channel

The Negreira scandal has not painted a pretty picture of FC Barcelona in the global footballing community, and it is clear that the payments made directly to the former vice-president of the Technical Committee of Referees show them to be guilty.

For long, the Catalans have claimed that the payments were for refereeing reports. Judicial progress so far, however, guides good reason to doubt the legitimacy of that claim.

Real Madrid and Florentino Perez, for their part, have taken a strong position against the said corruption and have been spearheading the attacks on Barcelona. Needless to say, the entire saga has led to relations between the clubs reaching an all time low.

Barcelona president’s allegations

Speaking to El Partidazo de COPE in a recent interview, former Barcelona president and current presidential pre-candidate Joan Laporta delivered a scathing statement on Real Madrid with allegations of long-term favours from match officials.

“You don’t think it’s disgraceful that for 72 years the Technical Committee of Referees has been chaired by former members, former executives or former players of Real Madrid,” he began.

“Don’t you think that’s disgraceful? You think it’s the most normal thing in the world.”

Continuing, he added: “What are you saying? That what Barça does is undignified and what Madrid does with that is not undignified?”

Laporta fired shots at Real Madrid. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

He then explained the ‘Negreira scandal’ from his perspective and went on to point out how Barcelona had to pay for refereeing reports that Real Madrid never required or even had to request.

“What we did, was simply pay for scouting reports and referee advice, it wasn’t corruption.”

“Compare that to everything we had to go through with Real Madrid, ever since I was 5, Real Madrid always dominated in this,” Laporta added.

Speaking on how and why Los Blancos did not require the said reports from his perspective, the former Barcelona president said,

“Maybe they didn’t need to do the referee advice services we did with Negreira, because they had everything ready and done and free already.”

“So Barca had to pay to get what Madrid were getting for free? I’m saying Barca had to pay to get referee advice and scouting. While Madrid were in charge of everything. Seriously, do you not know who Madrid are?,” he concluded.

The new league year has not even started yet and owners have already shelled out well over a billion dollars in free agency. (Well, almost. More like agreed to do so. Reportedly.) Free agency is far from a cure-all for what ails teams, but the right additions can be the start of helping a struggling team become competitive and a competitive team turn into a Super Bowl contender.

Much like free-agent moves can alter the trajectory of a franchise, a player's decision on where he chooses to sign can change the narrative of his career (in a good or bad way) and have a huge impact on his potential fantasy impact.

For at least the next four days (March 9-10 - the two days of the legal tampering period - and March 11-12 - the first two days of the new league year), The Huddle will provide an extensive breakdown of every meaningful reported signing (at the four primary fantasy positions) and detail what it means from a fantasy perspective. (Players are listed by position and then in order of the overall worth of their reported contract.)

Note: Free agents cannot officially sign a contract with any team other than their own until 4:00 PM ET on March 11. The only players who can sign with teams before then are those who have already been released or were not already contractually tied to a team. Deals will occasionally fall apart in the 11th hour, which is why it is important to note that none of the players in this article have actually signed … yet.

QUARTERBACKS

Malik Willis, Dolphins (reportedly agreed to terms on a three-year contract worth $67.5 million)

After the 2024 preseason, the Packers traded a seventh-round pick to the Titans for Malik Willis and basically said, “We can rebuild him; we have the technology.” The Packers slotted Willis in as the backup to Jordan Love and got 11 games and three starts from Willis, to the tune of 972 passing yards, six touchdowns, zero interceptions, plus 261 rushing yards and three rushing scores. That production led the Miami Dolphins to entice Willis with a big-money deal to become their presumptive starting quarterback.

Under the braintrust of former Packers executive - and now Dolphins’ general manager - Jon-Eric Sullivan and former Packers defensive coordinator - and now Dolphins’ head coach - Jeff Hafley, Willis is a natural fit. Perhaps more than any other potential landing spot, they will give him every chance to succeed.

Early fantasy prognostication: Willis will be an instant fantasy sleeper thanks to his rushing ability, but in a small sample size, Willis displayed the ability to limit turnovers as well. We’ll see what he has learned when he starts in 2026 after a disastrous start to his career in Tennessee and a subsequent semi-rebound in Green Bay. Willis is a late-round sleeper quarterback with tons of fantasy potential in Miami.

RUNNING BACKS

RB Travis Etienne, Saints (reportedly agreed to terms on a four-year contract worth $52 million)

For what it's worth, Etienne's decision to leave for the Big Easy will mark his first time playing football in college or the pros without Trevor Lawrence. Etienne's arrival in New Orleans likely closes the door on Alvin Kamara playing another year in New Orleans. There is no question that Etienne provides the Saints with a big-play element at running back that they have lacked for a while. (He ranked in the top 10 among all players in rushes of 20-plus and 40-plus yards last season.) The problem with Etienne remains a bit of an enigma after four years in the league. For a player with as much explosiveness as he has, it is shocking that he has failed to average more than 4.3 yards per carry in any of the last three seasons. Even in his two best years as a pro, he has shown a tendency to wear down late in the year. The size of his contract likely guarantees that Etienne will begin the 2026 season as a three-down back for the Saints, but he will need to show he can keep his big-play ability for a full season if he doesn't want to eventually cede some early-down work to Kendre Miller or passing-down snaps to Devin Neal.

Early fantasy prognostication: The Saints have added enough quality pieces along their offensive line in recent years to give Etienne a chance to match or exceed his RB10 from last season (and head coach Kellen Moore should help in that regard). With that said, while Moore could view Etienne as his new Saquon Barkley (from their time together with the Eagles in 2024), the ex-Jag is not quite in the same class as Barkley, nor will his offensive line be on par with Philadelphia's most recent Super Bowl team. Moore also has not used his running backs all that often in the passing game traditionally (none of his last four offenses have ranked higher than 18th in running back targets). As a result, Etienne has RB1 upside in this offense if he can come relatively close to matching last year's touchdown rate (admittedly a tall order), but he comes with enough risk that a high-end RB2 investment feels like a safer call.

Kenneth Walker III, Chiefs (reportedly agreed to terms on a three-year contract worth $43.05 million)

The Chiefs have gone through a lot of running backs over the past few seasons and brought back some of them for another go-around as well. Last season saw the Chiefs go back to the well with Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt and rookie Brashard Smith in a rotation to limited success. All three backs averaged less than four yards per carry in 2025, necessitating a new approach at running back for a Chiefs team that was treading water until quarterback Patrick Mahomes went down with an ACL injury.

Enter Walker, fresh off a Super Bowl and Super Bowl MVP trophy. After playing a full 17-game season for the first time in his career, Walker averaged 4.4 yards per carry and notched his second 1,000-yard season in 2025. Walker represents a clear upgrade in talent in the Chiefs’ backfield. Now he should have the backfield to himself, courtesy of the commitment Kansas City is showing him financially. Only Smith remains from last season’s backfield, so Walker should be front and center as a dynamic long-distance threat that the Chiefs haven’t had in quite some time.

Early fantasy prognostication: For fantasy, Walker was RB22 and in a clear timeshare with Zach Charbonnet last season, but this payday virtually guarantees a bell-cow role for Walker in 2026. There’s a chance Mahomes may not be available in Week 1 following his ACL tear, but Walker will be relied upon to give opposing defenses something else to focus on rather than just Mahomes’ arm and legs. The touchdown equity available in Kansas City as a high-scoring team should vault the expectations of Walker into the RB1 range for fantasy, with best-case scenarios seeing Walker as a top-five running back overall in 2026.

Kenneth Gainwell, Buccaneers (reportedly agreed to terms on a two-year contract worth $14 million)

Long regarded as a good backup running back, Kenneth Gainwell saw a huge uptick in work splitting the Pittsburgh Steelers’ backfield in 2025 with career highs across the board in carries (114) and rushing yards (537), plus targets (85), receptions (73) and yards (486) as well. It’s going to be hard to reach those numbers with Tampa Bay, where he’ll work in as a likely clear second back to Bucky Irving.

Early fantasy prognostication: It’s a clear downgrade from his 2025. As long as Irving stays healthy, Gainwell won’t see as much work as he did in Pittsburgh. In fact, it probably hampers Irving’s fantasy value if anything. Gainwell slots into a late-round “Zero RB” running backs in 2026 fantasy drafts, where he’ll have a ton of contingent value if something happens to Irving. Barring an injury to Irving, Gainwell may not receive enough work to make him a standalone back either.

Tyler Allgeier, Cardinals (reportedly agreed to terms on a two-year contract worth $12.25 million)

It is hard to understand the fit from a player or team perspective here, and it might be even more surprising that Allgeier could not attract a bigger offer on the open market as a proven young power back with a low reading on his career odometer. James Conner just agreed to a restructured contract recently and appears likely to remain in Arizona as a result. He arguably provides many of the same qualities to an offense as Allgeier and is a more proven quantity in the passing game. Trey Benson has struggled to stay healthy, but he offers more explosiveness. (It is almost worth wondering if the Cardinals intend to move on from him at this point.) As far as the Cardinals are concerned, they probably won't have enough leads to protect anytime soon to benefit from someone like Allgeier as much as another team might have. A more optimistic outlook might be that Arizona knows it will not contend in 2026 and is looking forward to pairing Allgeier with Benson once Conner is likely off the roster in 2027. 

Early fantasy prognostication: Bad team, bad fit and a crowded backfield - three of the things no fantasy manager wants associated with their running backs. Allgeier should be considered the favorite now to lead the team in carries in 2026, but all bets are off after that. Arizona is clearly the worst team in the NFC West at this point, which means plenty of negative game scripts and situations that do not play into Allgeier's strengths. Worse yet, the Cardinals could be looking at some combination of Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew starting the majority of games at quarterback in 2026, which could lead to unfavorable fronts on running downs. Last but not least, Arizona's offensive line is a far cry from the quality one Allgeier ran behind for most of his time in Atlanta. Unless things change in a big way over the next few months in Arizona, Allgeier is shaping up to be a volatile RB3 in fantasy this year.

Rico Dowdle, Steelers (terms yet to be disclosed)

The first thing to note here is that investors of Kaleb Johnson should be concerned. As for Dowdle, he has managed to turn an injury-plagued start to his NFL career into back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons on two offenses that probably had no business supporting a 1,000-yard rusher. It could be argued that Pittsburgh is the best situation he has been in since emerging as a starter for the Cowboys in 2024. Who was his head coach that year, you ask? New Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy. That fact alone does not guarantee Dowdle will walk into a three-down role for Pittsburgh in 2026, but it should make him a heavy favorite to assume an early-down role much like the one Najee Harris had while sharing the backfield with Jaylen Warren in 2024. In that season, Harris rushed for 1,043 yards and six touchdowns and caught 36 passes - nearly identical numbers to the ones Dowdle has posted over each of the last two seasons.

The Steelers arguably have a better offensive environment now than Dallas did two years ago and Carolina did last year, especially following the addition of Michael Pittman Jr. on March 9. It probably does not hurt Dowdle's cause that McCarthy will be calling the plays instead of Arthur Smith in Pittsburgh this year.

Early fantasy prognostication: While the Steelers may not appear to be a great fit for Dowdle on the surface for present and future managers, he has a good chance of being a very good value in fantasy. Pittsburgh's defense should be improved in 2026, which should allow McCarthy to lean on the running game as much as he wants. The Steelers' offense should be significantly better as well (assuming Aaron Rodgers returns) with DK Metcalf and Pittman serving as credible threats on the perimeter and Pat Freiermuth and/or Darnell Washington doing the same inside the hashes. Harris typically pushed for low-end RB2 status during his time in Pittsburgh in a lesser offense. If Dowdle comes anywhere close to handling the same kind of volume, he has the explosiveness to do more with his touches than Harris ever did. What does McCarthy think of Warren? That is the big question. If McCarthy views Warren more as a nice complement, Dowdle has low-end RB2 fantasy upside. The decision to move on from Kenneth Gainwell suggests McCarthy - at least initially - prefers Warren in a change-of-pace role and wants Dowdle to be the man on running downs and near the goal line.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Alec Pierce, Colts (reportedly agreed to terms on a four-year contract worth $114 million) 

Pierce may not be changing his address, but the start of free agency has certainly changed his outlook for the 2026 season (and likely beyond). Box-score scouts will likely look at his 2025 season (47 catches for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns) and think it was just a continuation of his first three seasons but with more volume. The truth is that while he kept doing his big-play thing as well as he ever has, he was also the team's most complete receiver at times. The problem is that while he is now being paid like a No. 1 receiver, he has not been one (outside of maybe his final season at the University of Cincinnati when he posted 52 catches for 884 yards and seven touchdowns). In other words, Indianapolis is asking someone who has never topped 52 receptions in college or the pros to be an alpha receiver (or at least paying him like one).

While it is not unheard of for a No. 2 receiver to get paid like this (Jameson Williams, Tee Higgins and DeVonta Smith are recent examples, although all of them will now make less than him), Pierce has never consistently shown the ability to earn targets (seven career games of at least eight targets in 64 outings) or dominate games in the way they have. It is entirely possible that Pierce does more to make life easier for Tyler Warren and Josh Downs than to become the team's primary receiving threat. 

Early fantasy prognostication: The Colts obviously were thrilled at how much Pierce blossomed in 2025, but there is no way managers should subscribe to the "follow the money" theory in this particular case. Pierce's reported contract is the ninth-richest deal (average annual value) at his position. While he may eventually evolve into the complete receiver he appeared to be rounding into last year, managers don't need to make the same kind of investment that Indianapolis just did. Pierce should be considered a shaky fantasy WR3 with occasional WR1 upside and a WR4 floor.

Wan’Dale Robinson, Titans (reportedly agreed to terms on a four-year contract worth $78 million)

Robinson has been pigeonholed as a small, gadget-type slot receiver for his career. In 2025, however, he played more on the outside than he had in his three-year career. While still primarily working in the slot on almost 68% of his snaps, Robinson saw a career-high 31% utilization on the outside of the formation. Robinson IS small at 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, but now he’ll run his routes in Tennessee with former Giants head coach - and now Titans offensive coordinator - Brian Daboll calling the plays.

The Titans need to move the chains, and Robinson was ninth in the NFL last season in third-down receptions as well as 12th in first-read target rate among receivers with 50 or more targets. Sure, the Giants not having Malik Nabers played a large role in Robinson being that involved on money downs, but he delivered when needed and that shouldn’t be discounted. Tennessee was hard-pressed to form a functional passing game last season on the fly, but Year 2 of Cam Ward and adding an accomplished target like Robinson could help smooth things out for the Daboll- and Ward-led offense in 2026.

Early fantasy prognostication: Robinson followed up his 140 targets earned in 2024 with another 140 in 2025. He not only caught 92 balls last season, but Robinson also notched his first 1,000-yard season. Robinson was quietly fantasy football's WR14 in PPR formats and, while typically a short-area target, Robinson extended his aDOT from 5.1 yards in 2024 to 9.0 yards in 2025. Robinson will now likely compete for targets with Elic Ayomanor, Chimere Dike, Gunnar Helm and perhaps Calvin Ridley. However, the monetary investment in Robinson leads one to believe that he will be a featured target, and that puts him squarely in the WR3 conversation for fantasy purposes.

Mike Evans, 49ers (reportedly agreed to terms on a three-year contract worth $60.4 million) 

In case there was any doubt, Brandon Aiyuk has played his last snap for the 49ers. Evans should serve as a strong red zone weapon at the very least in San Francisco  - one that will be very much needed early in the 2026 season while George Kittle completes his recovery from a torn Achilles. While he will turn 33 years old before the start of the season, Evans also gives head coach Kyle Shanahan a traditional X receiver who will undoubtedly attract defensive attention whenever he is on the field. While durability has become more of an issue in recent years and the presence of Christian McCaffrey (and eventually Kittle) lowers Evans' fantasy floor a bit from a volume perspective, there is absolutely no reason why the longtime Buccaneer cannot score 10-plus touchdowns in this offense if the 49ers can get at least 12 games out of him. 

Early fantasy prognostication: Evans almost always possesses top-20 upside at receiver with occasional WR1 upside. The only caveat now is that his health (and age, to a lesser degree) is more of an issue. Depending on your league's risk tolerance with injuries, managers - especially zero-RB enthusiasts - might be able to snag him as their WR3.

Michael Pittman Jr., Steelers (reportedly part of a late-round pick swap and agreed to a three-year contract worth $59 million)

It is hard to understand how Daniel Jones' favorite receiver was available for a late-round pick swap, although the Colts' hands were probably tied somewhat given the size of Alec Pierce's deal (reported four years and $114 million). Regardless, Pittman's addition addresses what was arguably the worst receiver room in the NFL last season. Along with the freakish D.K. Metcalf (6-foot-4 and 230-plus pounds), Pittman (6-foot-4 and 220-plus pounds) gives Pittsburgh enviable size on the perimeter, which could come in particularly handy if Aaron Rodgers plays another year and builds enough trust with him to make him his preferred target on back-shoulder throws.

Early fantasy prognostication: It is far too early to make a good call on Pittman, most notably because no one knows the identity of Pittsburgh's starting quarterback for 2026 yet. If Rodgers returns, then Pittman has a decent chance of pushing for low-end WR3 value at a likely low-end WR4 price. If the quarterback is Mason Rudolph or Will Howard (or another low-end starter type), then low-end WR4 feels more like a best-case scenario for him.

WR Rashid Shaheed, Seahawks (reportedly agreed to terms on a three-year contract worth $51 million)

Shaheed had a career season in 2025, but it was truly a tale of two halves as his first nine games with the Saints were excellent, followed by a dismal nine games with the Seahawks after a trade at the deadline. Shaheed was nowhere near a full-time player with Seattle, as he could only earn 23 targets in nine games and ran routes on just 65% of dropbacks for the Seahawks.

Early fantasy prognostication: His new contract could be a key to increased utilization for Shaheed in 2026, so it’s fair to assume a bit of a bump in time on the field and more prominent utilization alongside Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Will Cooper Kupp be part of the equation as well? Time will tell, but the Seahawks putting a hefty financial investment into Shaheed is a good sign for a bounce-back. He could be a savvy late-round sleeper for fantasy in 2026 that could pay off handsomely for fantasy managers.

TIGHT ENDS

Isaiah Likely, Giants (reportedly agreed to terms on a three-year contract worth $40 million) 

Tight end was not exactly a pressing need for New York with Theo Johnson around, but he is not going to play ahead of another player at his position making more than $13 million per season. While the allocation of resources for the Giants can be questioned, the talent they are acquiring cannot. This move also does not happen unless it comes with new head coach John Harbaugh's blessing. Likely had the misfortune of being drafted on a run-heavy team that already had an established tight end like Mark Andrews four years ago, yet he somehow managed to look like Lamar Jackson's best playmaker at various times with the Ravens. Harbaugh had a front-row seat to that, so he will make it clear to new offensive coordinator Matt Nagy that Likely plays a key role right away.

Likely is not exactly a liability as a blocker in the run game, but where he truly excels is as a move tight end who serves as a mismatch against linebackers in coverage. Barring any other significant moves in free agency, Likely could replace what the Giants are losing in Wan'Dale Robinson - albeit from a player who is eight inches taller and about 60 pounds heavier. Assuming Likely effectively becomes the new No. 2 option in New York (replacing Robinson), there is a possibility Johnson's maintains the same role he had in 2025 and Likely ends up seeing the same kind of hybrid usage that Kyle Pitts did in 2025.

Early fantasy prognostication: While Johnson could prove to be better than the new regime believes, the presence of Harbaugh and the size of Likely's contract should be enough to give Likely's truthers something they have wanted for most of his pro career - a chance to be the clear No. 1 tight end in a potentially good offense. If Nagy views Likely as more of a hybrid matchup weapon and less as a traditional tight end (much in the same way Nagy saw Andy Reid use Travis Kelce during his time in Kansas City), then he probably has a low-end TE1 floor and could push for top-five status at his position in any given week.

Honorable Mention

QB Tua Tagovailoa, Falcons

QB Gardner Minshew, Cardinals

WR Kendrick Bourne, Cardinals 

WR Jahan Dotson, Falcons

WR Olamide Zaccheaus, Falcons

WR Jalen Nailor, Raiders

TE Austin Hooper, Falcons

TE Charlie Kolar, Chargers

Notable Players Who Re-signed (and should not expect their fantasy stock to change much)

RB J.K. Dobbins, Broncos

TE Travis Kelce, Chiefs

TE Greg Dulcich, Dolphins

TE Cade Otton, Buccaneers

Players Traded Before March 9

WR D.J. Moore, Bills

Franchise/Transition Tag Players

QB Daniel Jones, Colts

RB Breece Hall, Jets

WR George Pickens. Cowboys

TE Kyle Pitts, Falcons

This article originally appeared on The Huddle: 2026 Free Agency Recap - Day 1

LaLiga: Javier Tebas announces an offside rule revolution for next season

LaLiga: Javier Tebas announces an offside rule revolution for next season

Spanish football could undergo a major technological evolution starting next season. LaLiga is considering changing the way offside situations are detected, with the introduction of a more precise, fully automated system that has been approved by FIFA.

The announcement was made by LaLiga president Javier Tebas during the presentation of the first collective agreement for professional referees in Madrid. The aim is to improve the reliability of officiating decisions and reduce controversies related to offside positions.

A more advanced technology than the current system

Currently, the Spanish league uses the semi-automated offside technology, known as SAOT, which works in coordination with video assistant refereeing (VAR). However, this setup still relies on detecting the exact moment the ball is played, which can sometimes lead to uncertainty.

The LaLiga president emphasized this technological leap, explaining:

"We are in the process of implementing the automated offside system. We’ll see if it’s ready for next year. Right now, there’s a semi-automated system, but I don’t like the term 'semi-automated.' The new system would involve integrating a FIFA-approved chip into the ball to detect handball infractions."

Towards faster and more reliable decisions

The new system will require the installation of a network of specialized cameras in stadiums to precisely track movements on the pitch. Thanks to this combination of sensors and imaging, offside decisions could be made more quickly and with greater accuracy.

There are still a few technical adjustments to be made, particularly regarding the approval of equipment and adapting to the various ball brands used in competitions. However, for LaLiga’s management, this project is one of the top technological priorities to be implemented before the start of next season.

The Los Angeles Rams have wasted little time reshaping their roster this offseason — and the early moves have already changed the perception of their chances to win the next Super Bowl.

After opening with the third-best odds to win Super Bowl LXI in February, the Rams are now listed as the betting favorite at 15/2 (+750), according to BetOnline.ag, following a flurry of defensive additions and contract extensions.

Los Angeles now sits atop the odds board ahead of teams such as the Seattle Seahawks (8/1), Baltimore Ravens (10/1) and Buffalo Bills (11/1) after a series of moves aimed at strengthening its secondary and maintaining a championship window under head coach Sean McVay.

The biggest splash came when the Rams acquired All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie from the Kansas City Chiefs in a blockbuster trade that included the 29th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and additional selections. McDuffie quickly signed a four-year, $124 million extension with $100 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history and signaling the Rams’ willingness to invest heavily in their defense. 

The Rams followed that move by signing former Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson to a three-year deal worth $51 million with $34 million guaranteed, reuniting him with McDuffie and further transforming a secondary that was considered one of the team’s biggest needs entering the offseason. 

The aggressive approach reflects a clear strategy by general manager Les Snead to fortify the defensive backfield after the retirement of veteran cornerback Darious Williams and the team’s NFC Championship Game loss last season. 

Los Angeles has also prioritized continuity within its defense. Safety Kamren Curl signed a three-year extension earlier this month, while Quentin Lake also received a multi-year deal to remain in the Rams’ secondary. Those moves provide stability behind a defense that already features one of the NFL’s most dynamic defensive fronts. 

Oddsmakers have taken notice.

The Rams’ position atop the betting board reflects both the impact of their offseason additions and the strength of a team that already returned quarterback Matthew Stafford and much of the core that helped power a deep playoff run to the NFC Championship Game last season.

With the NFL league year is just beginning and the draft still ahead, Los Angeles could still make additional moves. But after an aggressive opening to free agency, the Rams have already achieved something few teams do in March — convincing oddsmakers they are the team to beat for the next Lombardi Trophy.

The 24% stake that Otro Capital holds in Alpine’s Formula 1 team remains highly sought after in the paddock. It had already emerged that former Red Bull team boss Christian Horner was interested, something Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore certainly did not try to hide either. During the team's launch in January, he publicly confirmed Horner’s interest.

Around the season opener in Melbourne, however, another bidder has emerged. As first reported by The Telegraph, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff appears to have entered the race. Briatore had previously emphasised there were several interested parties besides the consortium linked to Horner, but did not mention any names – and therefore did not explicitly refer to Mercedes.

When contacted by Motorsport.com, Alpine still didn’t want to comment on specific names, but once more confirmed that several parties are interested and that the process is still ongoing.

“The team is regularly approached and contacted by multiple parties and potential investors,” a team spokesperson said.

“We do not comment on any specific names or individuals in question. Any discussions are not a matter for the team, they’re between the current stakeholders and parties expressing an interest. The primary focus for the team is the immediate task at hand which is the start of the racing season and seeing a sustained recovery of performance on track.”

Mercedes has not denied Wolff’s interest in the Alpine shares and instead confirmed that it always keeps an eye open for strategic opportunities: “Mercedes is a key strategic partner of Alpine and we are being kept apprised of the latest developments.”

Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing

Why the Alpine stake is so attractive for both

Although the story has quickly been linked in the public eye to another chapter in the rivalry between Horner and Wolff, in reality it goes beyond that – and is mainly about strategic interests.

For Horner, the Otro stake could offer a suitable way to return to F1. The Briton has already won everything as team principal and CEO of Red Bull Racing and has hinted several times that he would only consider returning to the pinnacle of motorsport in a “more senior role” – with acquiring shares being part of that ambition.

From Mercedes’ perspective, the interest also goes far beyond simply Horner versus Wolff. To begin with, Alpine is a customer team of Mercedes High Performance Powertrains this year, with the deal running until the end of 2030, making the relationship closer than before. After dismantling its own F1 power unit project in Viry, the French team now uses both power units and gearboxes from Mercedes.

What happens with the shares of that customer team is therefore an interesting development for Mercedes – as it directly concerns who it will be working with. Strategic decisions like these go beyond the F1 facilities in Brackley and Brixworth alone, and relate to the broader strategic direction of the Mercedes group as a whole.

Besides the commercial appeal of F1 and therefore of any available share package – with the effect of the new regulations still a key question mark – there is also a sporting element to the story.

Last year, McLaren CEO Zak Brown voiced concerns about certain ownership structures in F1. Although his comments were specifically about Red Bull and its ownership of sister team Racing Bulls, acquiring shares in Alpine would also involve a form of partial ownership. It could strengthen the synergy between both parties even further, which is why other F1 teams are also monitoring the developments closely.

A crucial difference, however, is that the Renault Group – regardless of who eventually acquires Otro Capital’s shares – would still retain a comfortable controlling stake in the F1 team with 76% of the shares.

Analysis: Mercedes versus its F1 customer teams – how can the gap be so large?

Christian Horner denies Verstappen influence on F1 exit, points to Helmut Marko input

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

Washington Capitals (32-26-7, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (29-23-11, in the Metropolitan Division)

Philadelphia; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: The Washington Capitals visit the Philadelphia Flyers after Connor McMichael's two-goal game against the Calgary Flames in the Capitals' 7-3 win.

Philadelphia has an 8-7-4 record in Metropolitan Division games and a 29-23-11 record overall. The Flyers are sixth in the league serving 10.0 penalty minutes per game.

Washington has a 12-4-2 record in Metropolitan Division games and a 32-26-7 record overall. The Capitals have committed 249 total penalties (3.8 per game) to rank eighth in league play.

Wednesday's game is the third time these teams meet this season. The Capitals won 3-1 in the last meeting.

TOP PERFORMERS: Owen Tippett has scored 20 goals with 17 assists for the Flyers. Matvei Michkov has three goals and two assists over the past 10 games.

Tom Wilson has 24 goals and 26 assists for the Capitals. Pierre-Luc Dubois has four goals and two assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Flyers: 5-3-2, averaging 2.1 goals, 3.8 assists, 2.9 penalties and 6.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game.

Capitals: 6-4-0, averaging 3.2 goals, five assists, three penalties and 7.1 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game.

INJURIES: Flyers: None listed.

Capitals: None listed.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

After establishing himself as a key player for Borussia Dortmund and in the Bundesliga, Jadon Sancho left the club in 2021 to join Manchester United for a reported €85 million.

However, after struggling to make a breakthrough in England, he returned to Signal Iduna Park on loan for the second half of the 2023/24 season.

Currently on loan at Aston Villa and set to become a free agent in the summer, Sancho is now once again being linked with Dortmund.

According to Sky Germany, the Black and Yellows are looking to sign a player who can immediately step in as a regular starter to replace Julian Brandt, who will leave the club on a free transfer this summer.

This has sparked renewed discussions about a potential reunion with Sancho, now 25. 

The winger would likely be willing to accept a significant pay cut to return, but doubts remain at Dortmund over whether he would fit in under Niko Kovac.

Los Angeles Kings (26-23-14, in the Pacific Division) vs. Boston Bruins (35-22-6, in the Atlantic Division)

Boston; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Bruins -152, Kings +127; over/under is 6

BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Kings visit the Boston Bruins after Adrian Kempe's two-goal game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the Kings' 5-4 overtime win.

Boston has a 35-22-6 record overall and a 24-8-1 record on its home ice. The Bruins have committed 306 total penalties (4.9 per game) to rank third in the league.

Los Angeles has gone 16-8-7 in road games and 26-23-14 overall. The Kings have gone 20-3-7 in games they score three or more goals.

The teams meet Tuesday for the second time this season. The Bruins won 2-1 in overtime in the last meeting. Morgan Geekie led the Bruins with two goals.

TOP PERFORMERS: David Pastrnak has scored 23 goals with 51 assists for the Bruins. Charlie McAvoy has two goals and nine assists over the past 10 games.

Brandt Clarke has eight goals and 26 assists for the Kings. Kempe has five goals and six assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Bruins: 5-2-3, averaging 3.5 goals, 6.1 assists, 4.9 penalties and 10.7 penalty minutes while giving up three goals per game.

Kings: 3-6-1, averaging 2.7 goals, 4.8 assists, 3.3 penalties and 8.4 penalty minutes while giving up 3.8 goals per game.

INJURIES: Bruins: None listed.

Kings: None listed.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Calgary Flames (25-31-7, in the Pacific Division) vs. New York Rangers (25-30-8, in the Metropolitan Division)

New York; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Rangers -131, Flames +110; over/under is 6

BOTTOM LINE: The New York Rangers host the Calgary Flames after Mika Zibanejad's two-goal game against the Philadelphia Flyers in the Rangers' 6-2 win.

New York has an 8-15-6 record at home and a 25-30-8 record overall. The Rangers are 11-14-4 in games they serve more penalty minutes than their opponents.

Calgary has a 25-31-7 record overall and a 9-19-3 record on the road. The Flames have a 9-14-3 record in games they serve more penalty minutes than their opponents.

Tuesday's game is the second meeting between these teams this season. The Flames won the previous matchup 5-1. Blake Coleman scored two goals in the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Alexis Lafreniere has scored 15 goals with 24 assists for the Rangers. Zibanejad has six goals and four assists over the last 10 games.

Coleman has 15 goals and 10 assists for the Flames. Joel Farabee has scored five goals with four assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rangers: 3-5-2, averaging 3.1 goals, 5.4 assists, 3.7 penalties and 8.5 penalty minutes while giving up 3.2 goals per game.

Flames: 4-5-1, averaging 2.5 goals, 4.6 assists, 3.6 penalties and 7.5 penalty minutes while giving up three goals per game.

INJURIES: Rangers: None listed.

Flames: None listed.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Hansi Flick has very few doubts about the starting lineup for FC Barcelona against Newcastle United tonight in the UEFA Champions League Round-of-16 first leg.

With the confirmed absences of Jules Kounde, Alejandro Balde and Frenkie de Jong, the options for rotating the team are reduced, and only the defence still carries a small question mark because of the opponent’s profile.

Barcelona will face a team that stands out for its physical presence. Players such as striker Nick Woltemade, centre-back Dan Burn, or midfielder Joelinton are just some examples of the aerial strength of the English side.

Despite that threat, everything suggests that Flick will once again rely on the same defensive line that started the match against Athletic Club, reports SPORT.

Eric Garcia would repeat at right-back, while Pau Cubarsi and Gerard Martin would form the centre-back partnership. Joao Cancelo would occupy the left-back position.

The big question mark

Will Araujo start? (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

The big uncertainty is what role awaits Ronald Araujo in this match. His attributes suit this kind of encounter perfectly, and he also delivered a great performance in the same stadium a few months ago, but he has mainly been an occasional option for Flick.

The German coach has not relied heavily on the Uruguayan to have him at his best for Tuesday’s match.

In the last two games, for example, he was used in a creative role as a makeshift No. 9 against Atletico Madrid and had only a minimal presence at San Mames.

If Flick were to include Araújo in the centre of defence, Cancelo would drop out of the starting lineup, and Gerard Martin would move to the left-back position. Araujo’s inclusion would also force Cubarsi to play as the left-sided centre-back.

So, this presents a major dilemma for Flick – whether to start Araujo at the expense of Cancelo or stick with the defence that worked well for them in the past few games.

Broken Window 🥶

Do you remember Tomáš Koubek, the former Czech goalkeeper of Stade Rennais?

The 33-year-old keeper made headlines this Monday for a particularly amusing incident.

The captain of the Slovan Liberec club sent one of his clearances... into an apartment window. Impressive.

Kimmich 🫡

Guest of Zack Nani this Monday, Mathys Tel delighted with this anecdote about his former Bavarian teammate Joshua Kimmich.

The Path to the Stars 🌟

This Tuesday, the Champions League round of 16 begins! The best moment of the season is back!

Yesterday's Must-Sees 🍿

- Neymar present with Brazil against France at the end of the month?

- The 10 buzz images of the weekend

- The unmissable duels of the European week

TV Program 📺

6:45 PM: Galatasaray vs Liverpool (Canal + Foot)

9:00 PM: Newcastle vs Barcelona (Canal + Foot)

9:00 PM: Atlético de Madrid vs Tottenham (Canal + Sport)

9:00 PM: Atalanta vs Bayern Munich (Canal + Sport 360)

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

Sturm Graz midfielder Filip Rozga is a Celtic transfer target as the Scottish champions have reignited their interest in the 19-year-old Poland international. (Record)

Celtic are among the clubs who are showing interest in 23-year-old Cologne defensive midfielder Eric Martel, who is out of contract this summer. (TeamTalk)

West Ham striker Callum Wilson has verbally agreed terms on a new one-year contract despite Celtic's interest in the 34-year-old Englishman. (Sky Sports)

Former Celtic player Charlie Mulgrew fears captain Callum McGregor may miss a significant part of the Scottish Premiership title run-in. (The Breakdown podcast via YouTube)

Rangers and Celtic have been warned by Greater Glasgow Division Chief Superintendent Emma Croft that large-scale away allocations for derby matches are "not workable" after the ugly scenes that followed Sunday's Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox. (Herald - subscription required)

It could take more than two weeks before the Scottish FA concludes its investigation into the post-match events that marred Sunday's Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox as spectators entered the pitch. (Record)

Napoli want to extend the contract of Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay until 2030 in a bid to ward off any interest in the 29-year-old this summer. (Il Mattino - in Italian - subscription required)

• Juve want Tottenham's Spence - Tuesday's gossip
• Leven fears relegation trouble for Aberdeen - gossip

Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou insists he has no plans to leave Fir Park any time soon and is planning for the future with the Scottish Premiership high-flyers. (Sun)

Former Scotland forward Kenny Miller believes Aberdeen could find their own version of Askou in Eirik Horneland, who has been linked with the Dons. (Press and Journal - subscription required)

Kieron Bowie says he could not turn down the opportunity to play in "a top-five league" when leaving Hibernian for Hellas Verona in January and the striker hopes his winning goal against Bologna on Sunday can help win him a return to the Scotland squad. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required)

Former Dundee and Dundee United defender Lee Wilkie believes the pressure will only increase on United manager Jim Goodwin should Dundee win Sunday's city derby. (Courier - subscription required)

Partick Thistle centre-half Lee Ashcroft admits the Scottish Championship club will find it difficult to hold on to Ben Stanway this summer amid Aberdeen and Dundee interest in the 21-year-old midfielder. (Daily Record)

Greenock Morton fans have voted overwhelmingly in favour of partnering with the Estrella Group to earn around £750,000 in investment as part of a multi-club partnership agreement. (Herald - subscription required)

Scotland midfielder Kenny McLean was brought to tears after being presented with a video to mark his 300th Norwich City appearance. (Sun)

The UEFA Champions League last 16 is here as Europe's top competition heats up. Ahead of the first legs this week, we've ranked every remaining team by their chances of winning the Champions League this season.

16. Atalanta

The Italians ousted Borussia Dortmund in the play-offs after a thrilling comeback. Atalanta, however, now face Dortmund's big Bundesliga brother, asBayern Munich come to town.

Eliminating Europe's top scorers would be a monumental feat, but even if achieved,Real Madrid or Manchester City await in the next round.

15. Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham are fortunate not to rank bottom here, given how shambolic their season has been. The North Londoners are 11 without a win in the Premier League and perilously close to relegation. Their improved form in this competition has been their only saving grace.

14. Bayer Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen suffered from the sad fate that comes to all teams that dare to punch above their weight, with their title-winning team picked apart by wealthier clubs in recent windows.

Leverkusen languish in sixth in the Bundesliga as a result and face anArsenal team with a perfect record in this season's competition in the last 16.

13. Bodo/Glimt

Everyone's new favourite underdogs have been some story this season. The Norwegian side saw off Inter Milan in the play-offs, and have claimed four consecutive upsets with wins over Manchester City,Atletico Madrid and Inter (2).

A favourable draw sees Bodo meet Sporting in the last 16, a fixture both teams will fancy.

12. Sporting Lisbon

Sporting sit just above Bodo in our rankings, given an impressive campaign to date. A top-eight finish was secured in the league phase, while domestically they've scored a whopping 64 goals in 25 Primeira Liga games.

11. Galatasaray

The Turkish champions are into the knockout stages for the first time in more than a decade and, while inconsistent, have the talent to trouble teams. Victor Osimhen has scored seven times in theChampions League already, while RAMS Park is a daunting trip for any side.

IfGalatasaray can just improve on the road...

10. Newcastle United

Eight of the last 16 have never won the Champions League before. Incredibly, seven of those sides, Newcastle included, find themselves on the same side of the draw.

The Magpies face the only previous winners,Barcelona, next in the 'blue path' but have previous in this fixture. Their result at St James' Park will be crucial.

9. Atletico Madrid

It's been a decade since Atletico Madrid last reached the final of this competition, and they've failed to progress past the quarter-finals since 2017.

However, Diego Simeone has deep experience in European competition. A struggling Spurs side is up next in the last 16, perhaps an ideal opponent to kickstart a run into the latter stages.

8. Chelsea

Chelsea are a peculiar side when it comes to the Champions League. The club's best-ever teams under Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti failed to make an impact in the competition, while underdog outfits won the damn thing in 2012 and 2021.

Few fancy Chelsea to win the Champions League this season, so maybe we should actually expect an open-top bus in the near future?

7. Liverpool

With their Premier League title defence in tatters, Europe has taken on added importance forLiverpool. Arne Slot's side secured a comfortable passage to the last 16 and face Galatasaray next up.

Liverpool lost in Istanbul earlier in the campaign but will start as favourites. From there, however, a run to the final looks tough.

6. Real Madrid

See Chelsea - and then some.

You can never write Real Madrid off in the Champions League, so putting them sixth will surely come back to haunt us.

5. Barcelona

The Spanish league leaders are aiming to win the Champions League for the first time in 11 years this season, a drought based on the standard set this century.

Barcelona breezed into this stage and have scored at will under Hansi Flick this season. Whether the Catalans can keep things tight at the other end is up for debate.

4. Manchester City

It's going a little under the radar that Manchester City are still chasing a quadruple this season. Pep Guardiola's team haven't quite been as dominant as in past years, but keep chalking up wins at big moments.

The winter window additions of Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi have added real quality to the ranks.

3. Paris Saint-Germain

Paris Saint-Germain lack the fear factor of last season, but can we really discount last season's all-conquering side?

Luis Enrique's side got better and better as the tournament progressed, culminating in a record-breaking 5-0 final win over Inter Milan. PSG will hope history can repeat itself.

2. Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich are powering towards yet another Bundesliga title, with their fantastic forward line tearing apart German football. Bayern have scored 92 goals in the league already and are on course to break the record for goals scored in a single season across Europe's top five leagues.

In Europe, one setback at Arsenal has been their only error. That performance is the only red flag for the German champions, who feel this is their year again.

1. Arsenal

Arsenal lead our rankings and have put together a 100% record in the Champions League this season. The Gunners have beaten Bayern, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan convincingly, and a combination of a rock-solid defence and set-piece threat bodes well for knockout football.

The major question mark is whether the North Londoners have the experience and composure to become first-time winners when the pressure is on.

Liverpool are firmly entering crisis territory over the contract of Ibrahima Konate.

The 26-year-old centre-back sees his terms expire at the end of the season - meaning he is firmly into the final stretch of his Anfield career.

Konate has been on Merseyside since 2021 - arriving from RB Leipzig in a £35m deal. Last season he grew to become one of the best centre-backs in the world alongside Virgil van Dijk as Arne Slot’s side won the Premier League title.

With his contract running down he was brought to the attention of Real Madrid - who are plotting major changes to their centre-back situation in the summer.

With David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger out of contract Los Blancos will have room in the squad - and the wage bill - for a new high-class defender.

Real Madrid re-ignite Konate interest

The Spanish capital side were reported to have cooled their interest in Konate amid some indifferent form earlier in the season. But now that the France international has got himself back on track Madrid are once again firmly on his trail.

It’s been reported that Konate would consider offers of £200k or more to renew with Liverpool but it’s looking less likely by the day that he will agree a new contract.

And now Defensa Central is claiming that Florentino Perez is ready to blow Liverpool out of the water with a mammoth signing-on fee for Konate - who will be eligible to join Madrid after June 30.

Madrid's £13m contract bonus for Konate

“Florentino Pérez is reportedly willing to pay the player around €15 million as a signing bonus,” the report reads.

“The defender has decided to leave Anfield.”

Liverpool have taken steps to add to their centre-back ranks - signing Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Jacquet in big-money deals.

Furthermore we could see a move for an established central defender with the likes of Malick Thiaw, Murillo and Fikayo Tomori also linked.

Richard Hughes either won’t - or cannot - meet Konate’s people in the middle for a contract renewal. And now Madrid are poised to take advantage with a welcome bonus worth a cool £13m.

Legendary English striker Gary Lineker believes Marcus Rashford would make a mistake by returning to Manchester United, as he’s better off at Barcelona on all levels.

The 28-year-old is one of the best players to emerge out of MUFC’s academy over the past decade or so. He made his breakthrough with the first team as a teenager in 2016 and went on to become one of the club’s biggest stars at one point.

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Sadly for the attacker, the landscape at Carrington drastically changed following Ruben Amorim’s arrival in November 2024. It only took the Portuguese manager one month to omit Rashford from the squad, which sparked a loan move to Aston Villa in January 2025.

Gary Lineker tells Marcus Rashford to stay away from Man Utd

Following his brief experience in Birmingham, Rashford finally made his dream move to Barcelona last summer, joining the Catalans on loan with an option to buy for €30 million.

While he hasn’t been an undisputed starter in Hansi Flick’s lineup, the Englishman has been a great addition to the Catalans’ squad. He has already contributed with 10 goals and 13 assists in 37 appearances.

In recent weeks, there have been major speculations regarding the player’s future, as Amorim’s sacking in January revived the hopes of Man Utd supporters of having their favourite back at Old Trafford.

Nevertheless, Lineker believes that Rashford’s wisest move is to prolong his stay at Barcelona, where he’s able to enjoy his football without having to worry about the British media’s toxicity.

“He’s not getting many minutes at the moment. That’s for obvious reasons,” said the Leicester legend during on the Rest is Football podcast (via Mirror).

“Lamine Yamal is playing on the right and Raphinha is playing on the left and they are both in the top five players in world football. So it’s understandable. But whenever he comes on he does really well.

“I think it will come down to Marcus. If he goes back to Manchester United he will face all the old criticism again. ‘Oh, He’s focusing too much on helping kids have food on their table’, like it’s a bad thing. They did this bizarre thing about why he was wearing some kind of flashy necklace.

“They don’t do that nonsense over there [in Spain] so he just gets on with his football. It was a fresh start and I would imagine he’s really loving it and not getting all the off-field nonsense he gets in this country. They leave you to live your life. It doesn’t compare to how our media is here.”

Rashford all set for permanent Barcelona move

Luckily for Rashford, Barcelona appear to be adamant about signing him on a permanent basis.

Some sources have suggested that the Spanish giants will try to negotiate lower figures with Man Utd rather than activating the current buy clause, but in either case, the player is set to play his football at Camp Nou next season.

Man Utd have also resigned to losing their youth product, and they’re already searching the market for a new left winger, with RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande apparently topping the club’s shortlist.

If you followed social media on the first day of NFL free agency as a Washington Commanders fan, you'd probably think they signed either no one or a bunch of backups.

Fans were prepared for a busy free-agency period this week, hearing such words as "aggressive" and "fireworks" in recent weeks. While the team offered no such promises, the Commanders were clear that they needed talent upgrades, which would begin in free agency.

Things were quiet for over two hours until Washington agreed to terms with Lions cornerback Amik Robertson. "Who," some would say. Then, the Commanders announced a lucrative extension for left tackle Laremy Tunsil and a deal with quarterback Marcus Mariota to return in 2026. For as good as those moves were, fans weren't satisfied.

However, four hours into free agency, Washington agreed to terms with edge rusher Odafe Oweh, one of the consensus top 10 free agents. Shortly afterward, the Commanders brought back veteran defensive tackle Tim Settle.

Fans were disappointed that Washington was outbid for wide receiver Alec Pierce. Hard to blame GM Adam Peters on that one. He tried hard. Pierce wanted to stay in Indianapolis. Other teams tried, too. Then, the Commanders lost out on center Tyler Linderbaum, who received a ridiculous contract from the Raiders. For most fans, missing on Linderbaum isn't the upsetting part. It's releasing Tyler Biadasz, a perfectly fine player, with no clear replacement in mind. Essentially, Washington created another need.

So, how are Commanders' fans feeling overall? Let's take a look at some of those reactions.

The biggest winners and losers of Free Agency Day 1:

Winners:

- Saints
- Bengals
- Giants
- Raiders
- Steelers

Losers:

- Falcons
- Browns
- Colts
- Seahawks
- Commanders (Worst by far)

— Cam (@42Cyc) March 10, 2026

Ngl, I know we are farrrr away from what our roster will shake out to be come week 1

But I gotta be honest, our roster right now is straight buns Lol.

You could probably argue we have a bottom 5 roster in the league.

Got work to do + hit on these few draft picks we have

— 🔴🟡 (@DQ_Special) March 10, 2026

WSH having possibly the worst roster in the league is compounded by the fact that they've wasted 2 years of JD5 on his rookie deal. Lacking draft capital makes it that much worse. But couple that with being unable to secure top talent in free agency, and its an abject disaster.

— His Imperial Majesty (@Treg2Cole) March 9, 2026

this is how much Washington paid for Kinlaw last offseason https://t.co/G37Kt0pDi0

— obvlon (@obvlon) March 10, 2026

Maybe I am not freaking out about FA because a lot of the players I want are still out there and available.

— Ashley Reynolds (@Ashley_Reynolds) March 10, 2026

If Blough spoke well about Sinnott I would feel better going into season as TE1… but saying he got a long way to go and not trying to upgrade would be crazy. Chig is a must, and if these mfs go back to a post ACL 36 year old Ertz I hope they all get fired next offseason.

— KB 🏈 (@KBDCSports) March 10, 2026

I just wonder how much playing in WR friendly systems is impacting their thinking on Jennings and Doubs.

Personally I’m good on paying a 29 year old Jennings a long term deal.

More intrigued by Doubs.

— ec (@dmv_ce) March 9, 2026

Trying to make sense of what the Redskins are doing… or not doing. This team was so bad last year and they add one difference maker on day one? A FA class that was actually setup strongly for their needs. Actually feel bad for Blough, Jones, and Jayden. Setup for failure

— Trey Wiltshire (@Hokieskins) March 10, 2026

This one was easy to see coming...nobody was outbidding the @Raiders who were going to pay whatever Linderbaum's camp wanted to help bring their number 1 pick along...He's making 3 million less per season than the @chargers are paying Biadasz for 3 years. https://t.co/g4IGnq6ICV

— mattmoneysmith (@mattmoneysmith) March 9, 2026

I admit that I am very guarded after witnessing the atrocity that was the 2025 season. Defense as a whole is still so bad, offense still lacks so much around 5.

We’ll see, I guess. https://t.co/DSizpTHHRa

— Marshall (@MarshW_7) March 10, 2026

Jayden Daniels should ask for a trade

— Sean 🪖 (@commiessean) March 9, 2026

Jayden Daniels is seriously going to be throwing to John Bates and Ben Sinnott bro https://t.co/CwqSHpimBX

— Wommanders (@Wommandrs) March 9, 2026

I’m not saying I need them to be the #1 spender/big splash of the off-season. But I want to get to August and feel confident that Jayden Daniels doesn’t need to be Thanos in order for this team to have a competitive season.

— Eric Sully (@CommandersRealm) March 10, 2026

Can you imagine turning down the opportunity to play with Jayden Daniels for Daniel Jones? pic.twitter.com/ZshSTd9i4C

— Mark Tyler (Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) March 9, 2026

Cam Ward has a better roster around him than Jayden Daniels 🫩 https://t.co/GnKVNutgqe

— Sean 🪖 (@commiessean) March 9, 2026

yeah im done with AP son LMAOOOO

AMIK ROBERTSON?????

— johnwicc 🚧 (@wicccsterr) March 9, 2026

Really gotta wonder what AP and the crew are lookin at right now. This roster has holes everywhere and we are watching talent go to other teams all day. I just don’t get it.

— DC Sports 💯 (@_mattschoen_) March 9, 2026

I got an idea let’s kidnap AP and ship him to China https://t.co/4zjRZJpFki

— PAIN (@Xommanders) March 10, 2026

AP digging in his butt

— johnwicc 🚧 (@wicccsterr) March 9, 2026

yall was all on me tweaking over cutting biadasz now allegretti ready be our center

— johnwicc 🚧 (@wicccsterr) March 9, 2026

This roster is Swiss cheese… we really shaming fans for an appropriate response to them twiddling fingers for 4 hours?

Oweh doesn’t make us instant contenders https://t.co/PttoNC79L0

— Bleeding Burgundy & Gold (@BleedinBnG) March 9, 2026

Commanders fans free agency cycle

Free agency opens up > Commanders do nothing > Commanders fans complain > fans complain about fans complaining > Commanders FO signs mid > Fans cope w mid signings > season rolls around and fans realize shit ass > everybody mad > repeat

— ARP Reez (@Reez_Delaghetto) March 9, 2026

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Fan reactions to Day 1 of free agency

The British football fan can smell corporate greed from across an ocean. Football folk do not like the mystique being stripped away from their passion.

Teams who win by pure design and numbers culled from mountains of data suddenly find themselves very unpopular if they disregard the human side.

The perfect example of this came last week.

Many fans with no direct stake in who they prefer to win the Premier League were quietly backing Arsenal.

With such a long wait since they were champions and having been runners up three times in a row, they had the sympathy vote.

On top of that, they had creative artists on the pitch such as Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke.

What's more, they were bringing through a raft of young talent from their own academy teams.

Over the period of a week however, a lot of that love seemed to evaporate, particularly after those two of ultra physical set-piece goals against Chelsea.

Mikel Arteta seemed to double down on the argument that any way you win is the right way to win.

It has lost them a lot of support and just about all of the sympathy, even if Eze and Madueke showed at Mansfield that they can still produce memorable open-play finishes if they really need to.‌

If they win the title they will not care, if they don't there will be fewer tears shed in the wider game.

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While we wait for the night to gift us a juicy Champions League matchday, here are the five news stories that might shape the football conversation on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. 

🐮 Laporta's Beef

Joan Laporta, in an exaggerated electoral mode, took advantage of his interview last night on 'El partidazo de COPE' to attack Real Madrid in relation to the Negreira Case.

"Is what Barcelona did disgraceful and not what Real Madrid does? Maybe they didn't need to hire him... the beef was theirs, don't f**** with me."

❌ No Mbappé against Manchester City

Real Madrid's idea is for their best player to recover before the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Manchester City, although he is not 100% ruled out for the first leg.

With Bellingham, the date marked in red is March 22, the day of the derby against Atlético de Madrid.

⚖️ The league wants to revolutionize offside

The intention is that the measurement no longer depends on the current SAOT or semi-automatic offside system, as Javier Tebas has announced.

"We are implementing, we'll see if for next year, the automatic offside. Now there's the semi-automatic, but I don't like 'semi'. It would involve placing a chip inside the ball that is FIFA-approved to detect it at the moment of ball impact," explained the league president at the presentation of the First Collective Agreement of Professional Arbitration, which was presented this Monday in Madrid.

🇮🇷 The Five from Australia

Five players from the Iranian women's national football team have defected in Australia, and the regime labels them as "traitors in wartime."

Protests have already been recorded at Sydney airport, and activists are trying to block the team's departure from Australia.

The five players have humanitarian visas to stay in Australia after fears for their safety in Iran triggered an international campaign that included intervention from Donald Trump.

📺 What matches can you watch today?

• 18:45 - Galatasaray-Liverpool
• 21:00 - Atalanta-Bayern
• 21:00 - Atlético de Madrid-Tottenham
• 21:00 - Newcastle-Barcelona
• 23:45 - Independiente-Unión Santa Fe
• 23:45 - Tigre-Vélez Sarsfield

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