BOTTOM LINE: Indiana is looking to end its seven-game losing streak with a victory against Miami.
The Heat are 10-10 in conference matchups. Miami scores 119.5 points while outscoring opponents by 2.1 points per game.
The Pacers are 4-15 against Eastern Conference opponents. Indiana has a 3-16 record in games decided by 10 or more points.
The Heat average 119.5 points per game, 1.1 more points than the 118.4 the Pacers allow. The Pacers average 12.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.2 fewer made shots on average than the 14.2 per game the Heat allow.
TOP PERFORMERS: Kel'el Ware is averaging 12.4 points and 10.7 rebounds for the Heat. Norman Powell is averaging 25.0 points over the last 10 games.
Pascal Siakam is averaging 23.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Pacers. Jarace Walker is averaging 4.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Heat: 2-8, averaging 109.2 points, 44.5 rebounds, 24.3 assists, 8.6 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.3 points per game.
Pacers: 2-8, averaging 108.3 points, 40.6 rebounds, 23.7 assists, 7.3 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.4 points.
INJURIES: Heat: Bam Adebayo: day to day (back), Tyler Herro: day to day (toe).
Pacers: Obi Toppin: out (foot), Ben Sheppard: day to day (calf), Isaiah Jackson: day to day (concussion), Aaron Nesmith: out (knee), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Memphis Grizzlies (15-16, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. Washington Wizards (6-23, 14th in the Eastern Conference)
Washington; Sunday, 6 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: CJ McCollum and the Washington Wizards host Santi Aldama and the Memphis Grizzlies in out-of-conference action.
The Wizards have gone 3-10 at home. Washington is 4-3 when it wins the turnover battle and averages 14.9 turnovers per game.
The Grizzlies have gone 8-8 away from home. Memphis ranks sixth in the league with 29.1 assists per game led by Vince Williams Jr. averaging 5.0.
The Wizards are shooting 46.3% from the field this season, 0.3 percentage points lower than the 46.6% the Grizzlies allow to opponents. The Grizzlies average 13.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.4 fewer made shots on average than the 14.9 per game the Wizards allow.
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Wizards won 130-122 in the last matchup on Dec. 21. McCollum led the Wizards with 28 points, and Aldama led the Grizzlies with 37 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Alex Sarr is scoring 18.2 points per game and averaging 8.3 rebounds for the Wizards. Kyshawn George is averaging 23.0 points and 6.0 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Aldama is scoring 14.3 points per game with 6.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists for the Grizzlies. Jaren Jackson Jr. is averaging 24.0 points and 9.0 rebounds while shooting 50.0% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Wizards: 3-7, averaging 113.7 points, 45.9 rebounds, 25.0 assists, 5.8 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.5 points per game.
Grizzlies: 6-4, averaging 119.5 points, 45.5 rebounds, 29.8 assists, 9.2 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.4 points.
INJURIES: Wizards: Corey Kispert: day to day (hamstring), Cam Whitmore: out (shoulder).
Grizzlies: John Konchar: out (thumb), Vince Williams Jr.: day to day (knee), Scotty Pippen Jr.: out (toe), Zach Edey: out (ankle), Ty Jerome: out (calf), Brandon Clarke: out (calf).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Denver visits the Orlando Magic after Nikola Jokic scored 56 points in the Nuggets' 142-138 overtime victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Magic are 10-6 in home games. Orlando is third in the NBA with 18.2 fast break points per game led by Franz Wagner averaging 4.2.
The Nuggets are 12-3 on the road. Denver ranks second in the Western Conference with 29.8 assists per game led by Jokic averaging 11.0.
The Magic average 11.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.7 fewer makes per game than the Nuggets give up (13.1). The Nuggets are shooting 51.3% from the field, 3.5% higher than the 47.8% the Magic's opponents have shot this season.
The two teams play for the second time this season. The Nuggets defeated the Magic 126-115 in their last meeting on Dec. 19. Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 32 points, and Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 26 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Desmond Bane is averaging 19 points and 4.5 assists for the Magic. Anthony Black is averaging 24 points, four assists and two steals over the past 10 games.
Jokic is averaging 29.8 points, 12.1 rebounds and 11 assists for the Nuggets. Murray is averaging 35.0 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 4-6, averaging 111.0 points, 45.0 rebounds, 26.3 assists, 7.7 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.4 points per game.
Nuggets: 8-2, averaging 128.2 points, 40.8 rebounds, 29.8 assists, 8.0 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 52.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.0 points.
INJURIES: Magic: Franz Wagner: day to day (leg), Goga Bitadze: day to day (knee), Moritz Wagner: day to day (knee), Jalen Suggs: day to day (hip).
Nuggets: Cameron Johnson: out (knee), Christian Braun: out (ankle), Aaron Gordon: out (hamstring), Tamar Bates: out (foot).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: San Antonio hosts Utah trying to prolong its six-game home winning streak.
The Spurs are 14-6 against conference opponents. San Antonio is fourth in the Western Conference scoring 120.3 points while shooting 48.7% from the field.
The Jazz are 6-14 in conference matchups. Utah gives up 127.5 points to opponents while being outscored by 7.2 points per game.
The Spurs are shooting 48.7% from the field this season, 0.6 percentage points lower than the 49.3% the Jazz allow to opponents. The Jazz are shooting 45.8% from the field, 0.6% lower than the 46.4% the Spurs' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Victor Wembanyama is averaging 23.4 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and three blocks for the Spurs. De'Aaron Fox is averaging 29 points over the past 10 games.
Keyonte George is averaging 24.1 points and 6.8 assists for the Jazz. Lauri Markkanen is averaging 4.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 9-1, averaging 122.5 points, 48.8 rebounds, 26.3 assists, 7.0 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 48.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.9 points per game.
Jazz: 4-6, averaging 123.9 points, 44.0 rebounds, 30.4 assists, 7.2 steals and 2.7 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 131.8 points.
INJURIES: Spurs: De'Aaron Fox: day to day (adductor).
Jazz: Ace Bailey: out (hip), Georges Niang: out (foot), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Boston Celtics (19-11, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (12-19, 10th in the Western Conference)
Portland, Oregon; Sunday, 6 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Portland hosts Boston looking to break its three-game home slide.
The Trail Blazers have gone 5-9 at home. Portland ranks sixth in the Western Conference with 14.6 fast break points per game led by Shaedon Sharpe averaging 3.9.
The Celtics are 9-6 on the road. Boston is seventh in the Eastern Conference scoring 116.8 points per game and is shooting 47.3%.
The 116.6 points per game the Trail Blazers score are 6.2 more points than the Celtics give up (110.4). The Celtics are shooting 47.3% from the field, 0.4% lower than the 47.7% the Trail Blazers' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Deni Avdija is shooting 46.7% and averaging 25.6 points for the Trail Blazers. Toumani Camara is averaging 5.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Jaylen Brown is averaging 29.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists for the Celtics. Payton Pritchard is averaging 29.0 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Trail Blazers: 4-6, averaging 113.3 points, 44.2 rebounds, 24.2 assists, 7.3 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 44.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.0 points per game.
Celtics: 8-2, averaging 120.6 points, 43.2 rebounds, 23.4 assists, 8.0 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 49.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.3 points.
INJURIES: Trail Blazers: Scoot Henderson: out (hamstring), Matisse Thybulle: out (thumb), Jrue Holiday: out (calf), Blake Wesley: out (foot), Jerami Grant: out (achilles), Damian Lillard: out for season (achilles).
Celtics: Jayson Tatum: out (achilles), Chris Boucher: day to day (personal).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Detroit Pistons (24-7, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (9-21, 13th in the Western Conference)
Inglewood, California; Sunday, 9 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles aims to keep its three-game win streak alive when the Clippers take on Detroit.
The Clippers have gone 5-8 at home. Los Angeles has a 1-6 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Pistons have gone 11-5 away from home. Detroit ranks sixth in the Eastern Conference with 26.9 assists per game led by Cade Cunningham averaging 9.6.
The Clippers average 111.5 points per game, 1.4 fewer points than the 112.9 the Pistons give up. The Pistons average 11.1 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.0 fewer made shots on average than the 14.1 per game the Clippers allow.
TOP PERFORMERS: James Harden is shooting 44.1% and averaging 26.3 points for the Clippers. Brook Lopez is averaging 9.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Cunningham is scoring 26.5 points per game with 6.3 rebounds and 9.6 assists for the Pistons. Tobias Harris is averaging 16.0 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 46.2% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Clippers: 4-6, averaging 110.9 points, 40.2 rebounds, 23.4 assists, 8.5 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.5 points per game.
Pistons: 7-3, averaging 121.0 points, 46.7 rebounds, 28.8 assists, 10.4 steals and 6.4 blocks per game while shooting 46.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.3 points.
INJURIES: Clippers: Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), Derrick Jones Jr.: out (knee), Ivica Zubac: out (ankle).
Pistons: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Atlanta heads into the matchup with New York as losers of five straight games.
The Hawks have gone 9-12 against Eastern Conference teams. Atlanta is third in the NBA with 17.6 fast break points per game led by Jalen Johnson averaging 4.0.
The Knicks are 17-8 against Eastern Conference opponents. New York is third in the league with 46.1 rebounds per game led by Karl-Anthony Towns averaging 11.8.
The Hawks make 48.3% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.1 percentage points higher than the Knicks have allowed to their opponents (46.2%). The Knicks average 120.3 points per game, 0.5 more than the 119.8 the Hawks give up to opponents.
TOP PERFORMERS: Johnson is shooting 52.5% and averaging 23.8 points for the Hawks. Trae Young is averaging 5.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Jalen Brunson is scoring 29.3 points per game with 3.3 rebounds and 6.5 assists for the Knicks. Jordan Clarkson is averaging 25.0 points and 1.0 rebound while shooting 52.9% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hawks: 2-8, averaging 119.9 points, 41.5 rebounds, 31.2 assists, 8.1 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 128.7 points per game.
Knicks: 8-2, averaging 120.3 points, 46.8 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 8.1 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 49.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.0 points.
INJURIES: Hawks: Kristaps Porzingis: out (reconditioning), N'Faly Dante: out for season (knee).
Knicks: Landry Shamet: out (shoulder), Josh Hart: out (ankle), Miles McBride: day to day (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Golden State Warriors (16-15, eighth in the Western Conference) vs. Toronto Raptors (18-14, fourth in the Eastern Conference)
Toronto; Sunday, 3:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Toronto looks to stop its five-game home losing streak with a victory over Golden State.
The Raptors are 8-7 in home games. Toronto ranks fifth in the NBA with 29.3 assists per game. Immanuel Quickley leads the Raptors averaging 6.4.
The Warriors are 6-11 on the road. Golden State ranks fourth in the NBA allowing only 112.4 points while holding opponents to 46.2% shooting.
The Raptors score 113.5 points per game, 1.1 more points than the 112.4 the Warriors give up. The Warriors average 114.5 points per game, 2.0 more than the 112.5 the Raptors allow to opponents.
TOP PERFORMERS: Quickley is scoring 16.1 points per game and averaging 4.3 rebounds for the Raptors. Brandon Ingram is averaging 29.0 points and 6.0 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Jimmy Butler III is scoring 19.7 points per game and averaging 5.6 rebounds for the Warriors. Al Horford is averaging 4.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Raptors: 3-7, averaging 104.3 points, 41.0 rebounds, 28.0 assists, 8.3 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.0 points per game.
Warriors: 5-5, averaging 114.6 points, 46.0 rebounds, 29.2 assists, 9.2 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.9 points.
INJURIES: Raptors: Jakob Poeltl: day to day (back), RJ Barrett: out (knee), Collin Murray-Boyles: day to day (illness).
Warriors: LJ Cryer: day to day (back), Seth Curry: day to day (thigh).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Philadelphia 76ers (16-13, fifth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (26-5, first in the Western Conference)
Oklahoma City; Sunday, 3:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder host Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers in non-conference action.
The Thunder are 14-2 on their home court. Oklahoma City is 1-2 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The 76ers have gone 7-5 away from home. Philadelphia is ninth in the Eastern Conference scoring 116.1 points per game and is shooting 44.7%.
The Thunder average 13.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.0 more made shot on average than the 12.7 per game the 76ers give up. The 76ers average 13.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.8 fewer makes per game than the Thunder give up.
TOP PERFORMERS: Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 32.1 points, 6.5 assists and 1.5 steals for the Thunder. Isaiah Hartenstein is averaging 13.0 points over the last 10 games.
Maxey is averaging 30.8 points, seven assists and 1.7 steals for the 76ers. Joel Embiid is averaging 31.0 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Thunder: 6-4, averaging 119.4 points, 44.2 rebounds, 24.8 assists, 10.0 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 49.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.7 points per game.
76ers: 6-4, averaging 112.1 points, 47.0 rebounds, 22.7 assists, 9.0 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 41.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.2 points.
INJURIES: Thunder: Ajay Mitchell: day to day (concussion), Nikola Topic: out (groin), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee), Ousmane Dieng: day to day (calf), Jaylin Williams: day to day (foot).
76ers: Trendon Watford: day to day (thigh), Kelly Oubre Jr.: out (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
There was a bit of a scary moment for former Blue Devil Kon Knueppel against the Orlando Magic as he came down hard on his ankle and had to leave the game. He got an X ray and fortunately it doesn’t look too bad.
It’s too soon to know what will come of this but it doesn’t sound like a serious injury so he may be back fairly quickly.
Everton are already minus Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye and an already thin squad is getting stretched further with recovering injuries and the threat of suspensions looming large. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is still not back from his hamstring ailment, and the trio of James Tarkowski, Vitaliy Mykolenko and James Garner are sitting on four yellow cards each and a one-game suspension hanging over their heads if they get a yellow card in the next two games.
The Toffees head to Burnley this weekend looking to add another away win to their tally this season, but it won’t be easy with the numbers David Moyes will have on hand.
For Scott Parker, the Clarets have a few players missing. Hannibal Mejbri is serving the final game of a four-match ban, with Lyle Foster and Axel Tuanzebe at AFCON with South Africa. Zeki Amdouni, Connor Roberts, Bashir Humphreys and Jordan Beyer all miss out with injuries with defender Maxime Esteve facing a late fitness check.
Who’s Out?
Seamus Coleman (hamstring), Jarrad Branthwaite (hamstring) and now Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (hamstring) are all confirmed out.
” “[We’re looking] just about the same as we were at the weekend – not too much change.
“[The players who are out injured], are all improving as we get on. Jarrad is getting closer to the grass now and getting closer, so we’re hoping we can maybe get him by the end of the [next] month – but it might be a bit longer than that. We’ll need to see.”
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest: Predicted City starting eleven and latest City injury news
Manchester City take on Nottingham Forest today at The City Ground. Today’s match is another important Premier League fixture for Pep Guardiola’s side. They enter today’s match off the back of seven consecutive wins in all competitions. City will face a Nottingham Forest side who sit 17th in the Premier League table. After a slow start to the 25/26 season and having suffered an identity crisis when briefly managed by Ange Postecoglu, Forest has improved under manager Sean Dyche. They are tough to beat at home, so Pep Guardiola’s side will have to be at their best today to pick up all three points.
Here is the latest City injury news and my predicted City starting eleven ahead of today’s match.
Latest Manchester City injury news.
There are several players who are unavailable for Manchester City today. Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri are out of today’s match due to international duty. The pair are busy at the African Cup of Nations with Egypt and Algeria.
Mateo Kovacic, Jeremy Doku, and John Stones will all miss today’s match due to injury. Pep Guardiola told the media yesterday that Doku and Stones are edging closer to a return to the pitch. Unfortunately, today’s match comes too soon for the pair. There has been no further update on the condition of Oscar Bobb. Bobb suffered a hamstring injury in Manchester City’s 2-nil Carabao Cup quarter-final tie win over Brentford. It would be a surprise if he played today.
There was good news on the injury front to emerge yesterday. Pep Guardiola has also revealed that Rodri could return to action today against Nottingham Forest. A decision on Rodri’s availability for today’s match was due to be made yesterday.
Predicted City starting eleven.
Gianluigi Donnarumma: Donnarumma is a certain starter in goal for Manchester City today.
Matheus Nunes: Nunes has been crucial in Manchester City’s recent winning run, and he is a certain starter at right-back, in my opinion.
Ruben Dias: A big challenge awaits the Manchester City defence today, and I expect Ruben Dias to start and lead by example.
Josko Gvardiol: The Croatian international is working his way into good form. He looks sure to partner Ruben Dias in Manchester City’s defence.
Nico O’Reilly: O’Reilly has become a key player at left-back, both going forward and defensively. He looks to be a lock to start today’s match.
Nico: The Spanish midfielder has finally had a period of rest, and he will have a vital role to play in midfield for Pep Guardiola’s side today.
Bernardo Silva: Manchester City’s captain seems to be a certain starter today, and his energy and work rate will be key for his team.
Tijjani Reijnders: Reijnders has shown signs recently that he is adjusting to his role at Manchester City. I believe he will start and his ability to drift forward from midfield could be key against a packed Nottingham Forest defence.
Phil Foden: Foden is another player who will have benefited from a week between matches. He looms as a crucial player in today’s match.
Rayan Cherki: The French international has established himself as an important attacking weapon for Pep Guardiola’s side. I think he’ll start today and he could be a match-winner for City if he fires.
Erling Haaland: Haaland will start up front today and if he can fire he could decide today’s match.
What really stopped Real Madrid from signing three defensive targets – report
Real Madrid have been eyeing a new defensive signing for a long time now, and events that have transpired in recent months have only further fuelled that desire.
Dean Huijsen’s relative fall-off in form, Antonio Rudiger’s uncertain future, Eder Militao’s injuries and David Alaba’s persistent fitness struggles leave Los Blancos with a dysfunctional defence – one that has been the root of so many of their problems this season.
The plan, thus, was to wait for the summer transfer window and sign an elite centre-back to serve as a starter.
In fact, Los Blancos had already identified several players who will be free agents in the summer to target and pursue.
The current situation
As explained by Mario Cortegana in a recent report, Real Madrid’s plan of luring a top defender on a free transfer does not seem to be close to working out, despite how promising it sounded on paper.
Ibrahima Konate, one of the team’s top targets, has seemingly been ruled out of Real Madrid’s plans given his poor form with Liverpool this season – something the offices in Madrid understandably consider to be a deal breaker.
Dayot Upamecano will renew his contract with Bayern Munich. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Dayot Upamecano, the team’s next best option, seemed to be a great target for Los Blancos, but the reason for them ruling him out as well is the excessive financial demands of the player.
The third free-agent Real Madrid had on their radar was Marc Guehi. As it stands, however, they have not made any direct effort to seriously get in touch with his entourage.
The fact that Real Madrid reached out to the environment of the aforementioned two players but not Guehi suggests that he too is likely off the table.
The Merengues, thus, appear to be back to square one and may well have to find a target whose contract situation is not as favourable.
Given the defensive situation, however, a new recruit is needed even if it takes up a significant part of the team’s transfer budget.
England ended an 18-match winless streak in Australia and avoided an Ashes clean sweep in a staggering and absurd two-day Test in Melbourne.
In one of the most bizarre matches ever played, England chased 175 to win on the second evening of the fourth Test, leaving the series at 3-1 before the finale in Sydney.
In devilishly difficult batting conditions, England's Bazballers revelled in the chaos as they finally found a situation in Australia to suit their freewheeling method.
They reached their target inside 33 overs, England's four-wicket victory delighting the thousands of travelling fans who finally have something to celebrate on a hitherto miserable tour.
The chance of a first Test victory in Australia since 2011 was created when England dismissed the home side for 132 in their second innings at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Brydon Carse claimed 4-34 and captain Ben Stokes 3-24 to cover for the loss of Gus Atkinson, who is a doubt for the fifth Test after sustaining a hamstring injury.
To add to the silliness, Carse then arrived as a pinch-hitter at number three after Crawley and Ben Duckett struck 51 in 6.5 overs - England's highest opening partnership of the series.
Crawley made 37, Duckett 34 and Jacob Bethell justified his recall with a classy 40.
The winning runs came off the thigh pad of Harry Brook, drawing a deafening roar from the corner of England supporters at the end of a breathtaking day.
Where to start making sense of this chaotic, frantic and memorable Boxing Day match? This was the 2,615th Test on record and the 27th to finish inside two days.
Until this series began in Perth in November, there had been no two-dayers in Ashes cricket since 1921. Now there have been two in five weeks - the first series between any teams to contain two two-day Tests since 1896.
Was the pitch, covered in a lush 10mm of grass, suitable for Test cricket? It certainly gave an advantage to ball over bat that bordered on unfair. Still, that takes nothing away from the quality of the bowling, or excuses some of the batting, with Australia especially guilty.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry - no other sport has such a variance in conditions holding such influence over the outcome. On this occasion, the conditions may have produced cricket of questionable quality, but the theatre was utterly compelling.
Yes, there is the disappointment of missing a third-day sellout at the colossal MCG, yet the near 200,000 inside for the two days of action cannot say they were not royally entertained.
At the end of it all, England have their first Test win in Australia in almost 15 years. It comes after the tourists surrendered the series inside three Tests and follows reports of excessive drinking on their holiday in Noosa.
It may alleviate some of the pressure building on captain Stokes, coach Brendon McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key. At the very least, it gives England greats Stokes and Joe Root their first win in Australia after 12 years of trying.
Bazball's day in the sun
On this surface, attack was the best form of defence - ideal for an England team who "run towards the danger". Rightly criticised for failing to adapt to conditions earlier in the series, this was the perfect scenario for some Bazballing.
Duckett has endured a difficult tour with the bat, made worse when a video of the opener apparently drunk in Noosa was shared online. Here the travelling fans chanted his name as he clipped and slashed England to a rapid start, even scooping Michael Neser over the wicketkeeper for six.
Crucially, Duckett was dropped by a diving Mitchell Starc in his follow-through on eight - England were 13-0 at the time. Reprieved, Duckett gave England momentum before he was yorked by Starc.
Carse's promotion from number 10 to number three was astonishing, as England looked for further impetus from a pinch-hitter. By this point, Crawley was into his stride, planting Neser for a straight six.
Carse swiped only six before he top-edged to third man, and Bethell's arrival signalled the start of orthodox Test cricket. His partnership with Crawley added 47, the third-wicket pair astutely taking the singles allowed by a deep-set Australian field.
Crawley played across Scott Boland to be lbw when England still needed 63. Bethell remained unflappable on his Ashes debut, adding another important 25 with Root before he slapped Boland to cover.
It would have been fitting for either of Root or Stokes to be at the crease when victory was completed, though both were dismissed when victory was in touching distance.
There was a hint of tension when Jamie Smith faced his first ball with 10 needed to win, only for his clip off Starc for three to bring the Barmy Army to their feet.
Victory was sealed in the next over, England's players streaming on to the field to acknowledge the supporters who filled this cathedral of Australian sport with joyful song.
England bowlers set up victory push
Beginning the day 46 runs behind, England needed to continue the fast-forward cricket of a 20-wicket first day to remain in the Test.
Their bowlers once again used the helpful conditions, managing to absorb the loss of Atkinson, who limped off after having nightwatchman Boland caught behind.
Only when Travis Head was making 46, the highest individual score of the match, did Australia look like getting away. Will Jacks' drop at point when Head was on 26 could have been costly in the context of a low-scoring game.
Carse found a full length for his best spell of the series, bowling Head with a beauty. Josh Tongue ended with seven wickets in the match and Stokes bowled within himself but found the perfect rhythm for the pitch.
Though wicketkeeper Smith and the slip fielders were often too deep, England caught well. At various points, Australia lost three wickets for six runs, three for two, and had a final slide of four for 13 to leave Steve Smith out of partners on 24 not out.
Overall, Australia were bowled out twice in the match in 79.5 overs, the fastest they have lost 20 wickets in a Test since Don Bradman's debut in 1928.
Rutgers women’s basketball hits the road on Sunday, Dec. 28, for a Big Ten clash against #24 Michigan State. The Scarlet Knights, coming off an 8–4 non-conference slate, face one of the league’s hottest teams at the Breslin Center. Michigan State is 11–1 and rolling, a balanced, experienced squad that can score in bunches and defend with physicality, making it a serious early test for Rutgers.
The Spartans’ lone loss came against Big Ten foe Wisconsin, which Rutgers will face at 2 PM on New Year’s Day back in Piscataway. MSU dominated through a relatively easy nonconference slate, although they earned victories against fellow high-majors in Clemson and #15 Ole Miss, both in invitational championship games.
Michigan State is led by forward Grace VanSlooten, who had 16 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists against the Rebels. Fellow forward Isaline Alexander had 14 points and six boards, while Purdue transfer guard Rashunda Jones had 13 points, three rebounds, and two assists. MSU has been playing without senior guard Theryn Hallock, who has been out for the past five games with an injury.
Rutgers is coming off a 54-45 win over Lafayette, one in which the team struggled at times offensively, which has been a trend so far this season. Faith Blackstone had her best game as a Scarlet Knight with 22 points and 12 rebounds, while Nene Ndiaye had 19 points and 10 rebounds. Outside of those two and Imani Lester, no other scorer had more than three points in the win, which is not a recipe for success.
Before that game, the Knights fell 79-36 against #14 Iowa and 81-63 against #25 Princeton, showing that they still have a long way to go before challenging for conference supremacy. Although Rutgers has a strong record, many of those wins came against inferior competition, and even then, they often struggled to pull out wins.
Michigan State will be a strong test for Rutgers to open conference play and will set the tone for the rest of the season. A win or even a close loss here will go a long way for confidence building, before RU turns the page to 2026 with a home date against Wisconsin on New Year’s Day.
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England have won a Test match in Australia for the first time in almost 15 years, beating the hosts by four wickets in a remarkable two-day Test at the MCG.
Here are our player ratings for the Melbourne contest:
England
Ben Duckett – 6 – Surely would have been glad to be back on the field after a difficult time off it. Another across-the-line dismissal in the first innings, but got England going in the second.
Zak Crawley – 6 – Another under-pressure England opener who did well to get them going in the second innings. Still needs a score in what are likely to be more traditional conditions in Sydney.
Jacob Bethell – 6 – Justified his selection with an assured second-innings 40 that surely would have been beyond Ollie Pope. Will be interesting to see him get a chance on a flat pitch.
Joe Root – 3 – A duck in the first innings, but battled for 15 in the second innings to ensure Australia did not get on a roll. Has looked short of rhythm since that epic hundred in Brisbane.
Harry Brook – 7 – Swashbuckling 41 in the first innings was the most important knock of the match. Can be infuriating, but possesses a touch of genius.
Ben Stokes – 7 – Important runs in the first innings and stepped up with the ball when Gus Atkinson got injured. Deserves this for everything he has given to England.
Jamie Smith – 4 – An improved game with the gloves that could have been even better if he did not stand so deep. Has anyone in the England backroom mentioned it?
Will Jacks – 2 – Did not bowl, only batted once and dropped a catch, yet can say he was part of a rare England win in Australia.
Gus Atkinson – 6 – His best display of the series, which might now be cruelly ended by a hamstring problem. Much better with the ball and crucial runs late on day one.
Brydon Carse – 7 – Started slowly with the ball, then improved to put in his best display of the series on the second morning. Gets an extra mark for the audacity of batting at number three.
Josh Tongue – 7 – Sublime on the first day to pick up five wickets, including his bunny Steve Smith. Staking a claim to be in England's first-choice attack every time he is fit. Named player of the match.
Australia
Jake Weatherald – 2 – Has not looked Test quality since making a maiden half-century in Brisbane. Should have been a weakness England exploited while the series was alive.
Travis Head – 6 – Started the week on the front of the Herald Sun, pictured with his family in front of a Christmas tree. Has a poor record at the MCG, yet made the highest score of the match.
Marnus Labuschagne – 2 – Struggled in the conditions. Another Australia batter going backwards and battling to justify his recall.
Steve Smith – 5 – Ran out of partners in the second innings, continued as Josh Tongue's bunny in the first. Gets a point for correctly predicting how difficult batting would be in this match.
Usman Khawaja – 4 – Batted for a relatively long time in the first innings, without scoring quickly, then a duck in the second. Will Sydney be the last Test of his career?
Alex Carey – 4 – Quiet match with the bat for one of Australia's players of the series. Still superb with the gloves.
Cameron Green – 4 – Twice got starts, twice found a way to get out, first with a run out then a poor shot. Slowly slipping down the order. Could soon end up as number 12.
Michael Neser – 7 – Australia's top performer in the first innings with both bat and ball, though could be vulnerable if Sydney is flat.
Mitchell Starc – 4 – Would have expected to feast in such helpful conditions, only to have a strangely quiet game. Drop of Ben Duckett proved to be vital.
Jhye Richardson – 3 – Used sporadically on his return to Test cricket – a four-year wait for two days of action.
Scott Boland – 6 – No heroics to match the Boxing Day Ashes Test of four years ago. Added mark for batting 11 and opening in the same day.
“He is out’ – Enzo Maresca provides fresh injury update, confirms Chelsea star will miss Aston Villa clash
Enzo Maresca has confirmed Jorrel Hato will miss Saturday’s game against Aston Villa after picking up an injury in the warm up before the Newcastle game.
The Blues go into the game at Stamford Bridge seven points behind Villa who sit third, and really need the three points to close the gap.
Villa have won ten games in a row in all competitions, and are the form side in the league, but Chelsea will be hoping to make home advantage count.
Enzo Maresca confrims Jorrel Hato will miss Aston Villa game
Chelsea’s injury list heading into the game stands at three with Levi Colwill, Dario Essugo and Romeo Lavia, but Maresca has confirmed Hato will now miss the game.
Hato has struggled for regular game time this season.
“Hato suffered an injury during the warm-up against Newcastle, at half-time,” he told Chelsea’s website.
“He is out for tomorrow’s game.”
Hato arrived from Ajax in the summer as an alternative at left back for Marc Cucurella, but he’s struggled for regular game time.
The Dutch international has made nine appearances in all competitions, with just four of those coming in the Premier League.
Delap’s season has been hampered by injury, but it’s a boost to have the England under-21 international available, and to have another option at the top end of the pitch.
Estevao missed the last two games with a muscle injury, and he will be hoping to get on the pitch and continue with the impact he’s made so far this season.
FC Breakfast: Gasset and Zlatan 🫶, a wild career change 🤯
Crazy Career Change 🤯
Eight years ago, Brandon Aubrey was playing soccer with Toronto FC in the MLS and featured in FIFA 18 as a central defender with an overall rating of 60.
Fast forward to 2025, and Aubrey now appears in Madden 26 as a kicker rated 88. An incredible career change for someone who now plays for the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL.
When Zlatan Praised Gasset 🫶
An iconic figure in French football, Jean-Louis Gasset passed away Friday morning at the age of 72.
"With Laurent Blanc, we had a positive period, we won a lot of things. He made sure the players could be themselves and express themselves. He imposed very few restrictions and he had a very good assistant (Gasset, ed.), a really fantastic guy [...] Together, they created a style of play that I rarely experienced at club level, which reminded me of Barcelona," explained the Swedish giant to L'Équipe Magazine in 2018.
📸 FRANCK FIFE
The Best U20 Players Outside the Top 5 Leagues 🇪🇺
In its weekly letter, the CIES Football Observatory revealed the names of the top 10 U20 players outside the five major leagues. You can already start up FM 26.
10. Alvaro Montoro - 18 years old - Botafogo
9. Joane Gadou - 18 years old - Salzburg
8. Jorge Salinas - 18 years old - Racing de Santander
7. Rayan Victor - 19 years old - Vasco de Gama
6. Pedrinho Henrique - 18 years old - Zenith FK
5. Kees Smit - 19 years old - AZ Alkmaar
4. Rodrigo Mora - 18 years old - FC Porto
3. Caleb Yirenkyi - 19 years old - FC Nordsjælland
The American Athletic Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference will collide when East Carolina and Pitt meet in the Military Bowl on Saturday.
After a 3-3 start, the Pirates (8-4) won five of their last six games, ending the regular season with a dominant 42-3 victory over Florida Atlantic. East Carolina will face Pitt without starting quarterback Katin Houser, who recently decided to enter the transfer portal.
The Panthers (8-4) will look to capture their first bowl trophy since 2022 after failing to reach the ACC title game. Freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel will lead Pitt into its final contest of the 2025 campaign and attempt to take down the defending Military Bowl champions.
Here is everything you need to know about East Carolina vs. Pitt, including TV and streaming options for the Military Bowl.
East Carolina vs. Pitt will air nationally on ESPN. College football fans can also stream the game on the ESPN app and Fubo.
Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL and college sports, plus "SportsCenter," "First Take" and all your favorite ESPN shows — anytime, anywhere — only in the new ESPN app.
East Carolina vs. Pitt start time
Date: Saturday, Dec. 27
Time: 11 a.m. ET
East Carolina vs. Pitt will kick off at 11 a.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 27. The game will be played at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md.
You can listen to the East Carolina vs. Pitt radio broadcast on SiriusXM. Coverage will be available on channel 201.
New subscribers can listen to SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
Uli Hoeneß has a reputation as something of a firebrand. The Bayern Munich honorary president is known for speaking his mind and not mincing words when he does so. If it means taking to the media and putting an appropriate party on blast, then so be it.
But that’s not the only side to him. It’s just the one that comes out when the club needs defending.
“I’m actually someone who prefers to deal with people reasonably,” Hoeneß expressed in recent comments captured by @iMiaSanMia. “I don’t like arguments, but if someone attacks FC Bayern, then there’ll be fire.
“To get to the top, I did use my elbows. But when we were at the top, I completely changed my strategy. When you’re at the top, you have to become social and give something back.”
Hoeneß is a guy you don’t mind having at your back in a scrap. For FC Bayern, he has certainly given his all — holding nothing back.
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…
Below are my Week 17, 2025 positional ranks for PPR leagues.
As always, these ranks are continually updated throughout the week, so check back often. And don’t forget to check out Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry every weekday LIVE at 12 p.m. ET on YouTube and on Peacock at 5 p.m. ET.
And then on Sunday mornings, be sure to tune into Fantasy Football Pregame, 11 a.m. ET to 1 p.m. ET on Peacock and the NFL on NBC YouTube channel.
LOVES PARK, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — Rockford’s newest soccer team drew in a big crowd at Mercyhealth Sportscore Two Friday night, but it couldn’t deliver a win.
The Rockford Thunder lost to the Chicago Mustangs 8-6 in a Major League Indoor Soccer contest. The Thunder scored the first goal of the contest late in the first period on a shot by Mauricio Campos, but the Mustangs tied it up before the period ended. The Mustangs then put three more goals on the board in the second period to go up 4-1.
The Thunder was outscored 2-1 in the third period before erupting for four goals in the fourth period to make things interesting, but the comeback came up short.
This game was only the second home game in the Thunder’s young existence. The Thunder is an expansion team in the MLIS. It’s next home game won’t be played until Saturday, February 14 at 7:30 pm against the Cleveland Crunch.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
It was the only tennis match to start with a piglet being handed over to one of the competitors - but this was no ordinary match.
On 20 September 1973, an estimated 90 million people around the world watched Billie Jean King beat self-proclaimed chauvinist Bobby Riggs in a best-of-five match at the Houston Astrodome.
There was pageantry, pomp and a $100,000 (£74,765) cheque for the winner. It was the second instalment of the Battle of the Sexes - but that name is more than just a marketing slogan.
King's victory over Riggs was a part of the women's right movement. It had the potential to influence politics and the future of women's tennis.
When Aryna Sabalenka faces Nick Kyrgios on Sunday, it will be under the banner of the Battle of the Sexes, but the stakes will not be as high as those that faced King 52 years ago.
"The only similarity is that one is a boy and one is a girl. That's it," King told BBC Sport when asked about the Sabalenka-Kyrgios match.
"Everything else, no. Ours was about social change; culturally, where we were in 1973. Mine was really political.
"I knew I had to beat him for societal change. I had a lot of reasons to win."
In 1973, King was 29 years old, a 10-time Grand Slam singles champion and at the height of her powers. Riggs was 55, having won the men's singles, doubles and mixed doubles title at Wimbledon in 1939 before his career was interrupted by World War Two.
"He had been following me around for two years, asking me to play. I kept saying 'Bobby, I'm not going to play you'," King told BBC World Service's Sporting Witness programme in 2017.
"I only said yes because Margaret lost."
Australia's Margaret Court, the 24-time major singles champion and then world number one, was one of King's fiercest rivals. She stepped in to play Riggs in the first Battle of the Sexes in May 1973.
It ended up being labelled the 'Mother's Day Massacre' after Riggs comprehensively beat the 30-year-old 6-2 6-1.
King was very aware of what winning - or losing - her match could mean.
Tennis turned professional in 1968. But when King won the first Wimbledon singles title in the Open era, she claimed £750 in prize money. Rod Laver, the men's champion, took home £2,000.
King and eight other women, now known as the 'Original Nine', demanded better.
[Getty Images]
They formed their own women's circuit, signing a symbolic $1 contract to compete in a tournament in Texas.
They were subsequently banned from competing at the Grand Slams but their bravery paid off. In 1973, they founded the Women's Tennis Association, a unified body to promote and govern the women's game.
American showman Riggs had spent much of 1973 giving inflammatory interviews, claiming women "play 25% as good as men, so should get 25% of the money men get" and "if I am to be a chauvinist pig, I want to be the number one pig".
Riggs knew what he was doing in challenging King, a player whose public figure was tied into the ever-growing women's rights movement. But King knew how symbolic a victory over Riggs would be.
"It represented so much - equality, freedom, equal pay for equal work. I knew I had to win," King said.
"But I like pressure. I am built for that kind of match."
[Getty Images]
A student of the game, King classed Riggs as one of her heroes, and she prepared both physically and mentally for the match.
She watched a replay of his match against Court. At the start, Riggs presented Court with a bouquet of roses. Court curtseyed in response - a move King felt played "right into his hands".
"If that was me, I would have grabbed him and kissed him. If he gets too dirty, I can get tough too," King told Time magazine in 1973.
Riggs' preparation was not quite as meticulous. He had gone to Wimbledon earlier that year to watch King play and was not fazed.
"Billie Jean King is one of the all-time tennis greats, but she doesn't stand a chance against me," he told Time.
"I'll psych her out a little bit - she won't admit it but I can see her coming apart at the seams already..."
[Getty Images]
King got into the spirit, mocking the way Riggs waddled around court like a duck. But she knew where to draw the line.
Riggs turned up to a practice session wearing a shirt with two circles cut out where his nipples were. He joked that King would look better in it than him.
The next day, in their final news conference, a direct-speaking King called him a creep. Riggs asked her to take it back. King looked him straight in the eye and said: "Creep stands."
She later told the WTA website: "I knew some people actually did believe some of the sexist things he was spouting, and I wanted to be forceful and clear: it was not OK."
[Getty Images]
When matchday arrived, the Astrodome was packed. King's competitors on the Virginia Slims circuit were in attendance. Those in the premium $100 seats held signs that read "whiskey, women and Riggs" and "who needs women?".
King knew she had a part to play in the pre-match theatre. She entered the arena first on a litter decorated with feathers, carried by four shirtless men dressed as Egyptian slaves.
"The promoter said 'oh you're a feminist, you probably won't get on this Egyptian litter'," King told Sporting Witness.
"I said 'are you kidding? What does being a feminist have to do with it? We love entertainment. Pick me up and we go!'"
[Getty Images]
Riggs followed on a rickshaw pulled by women wearing "Sugar Daddy" t-shirts - the name of a candy company.
The pair exchanged gifts. Riggs gave King a giant lollipop with Sugar Daddy written on it. King handed over a piglet - a reference to Riggs' reputation as a "male chauvinist pig".
"I called it Robert Larimore Riggs,which is his real name," King said.
"I said [to the promoter], you have to make me one promise, you can't kill the piglet - you cannot use it for bacon or pork, you've got to leave it on a farm, and they did."
[Getty Images]
Unlike the Sabalenka and Kyrgios match, there were no adjustments made. King and Riggs would play five sets - which only the men do at the majors - on a standard court.
In such a boisterous environment, the first set would be crucial. No matter how innately talented Riggs was, he was still a 55-year-old who had not played competitively in years.
But it was King who went an early break down.
"I felt the first set was going to be major, psychologically, to him, so I had to win it. I was playing horribly, making mistakes, and I was giving it to him, basically," King said.
"Then I said 'this is my moment of truth, this could mean the difference of winning or losing if you don't win this set'."
From 3-2 down, King broke back. At 5-4 down, and with King having set point on the Riggs serve, the American, who claimed the day before he had "no nerves", double-faulted. The set went to King.
"That was major. Psychologically for Bobby, that really hurt him. When we changed ends I could tell he couldn't believe he lost the first set," King said.
[Getty Images]
A naturally aggressive player, King changed tactics against Riggs. She dictated play from the baseline, forcing Riggs to run from corner to corner and tiring him. One report said that of the 109 points she won, 70 of them were outright winners.
King, leading 6-3 6-4, missed her first two match points. But again, Riggs, now serving to stay in the match, faltered. A double fault at deuce when 5-3 down gave King a third match point - and Riggs sent a volley into the net to confirm her victory.
King threw her arms into the air in celebration, before embracing Riggs at the net. As she lifted the trophy King knew she had stood up for women's sport and won.
"Winning is always a relief. I was so happy it was over," King said.
"That tennis court is my stage, and you share it with everybody and you want to give it the best show, but this had a lot riding on it.
"I had been living for that moment for a long time."
[Getty Images]
In the immediate aftermath, Riggs said he had underestimated King. "Whenever I thought I had the point won on our exchanges, she saved it," he said.
Later, there were allegations that Riggs had deliberately thrown the match to pay off his gambling debts to the Mafia.
Whatever the circumstances, King's victory has stuck in the public mind. Not a day goes by when someone does not mention the Battle of the Sexes to her.
"When I met President Obama in the Oval Office for the first time, he said 'I watched that match when I was 12. I have two daughters now and it made a difference in how I raise them'," King said.
"The women who saw it, it empowered them and gave them self-confidence.
"And the men come up to me and they're the ones who are very emotional - sometimes they have tears in their eyes."
King and Riggs, who died in October 1995, stayed in touch afterwards, and he remained a sporting hero to her.
"We stayed in touch and the night before he died, I had a great discussion with him," King said.
"He finally understood it was about history. I used to say to him it was about history, and he said no, it was about money.
"He told me he loved me and the next day, he passed away."
King ended her career with 39 Grand Slam titles across singles, doubles and mixed doubles.
But she is remembered just as much for her fight for equality in sport, and beating Riggs was a crucial part of that.
The New England Patriots are among the teams that won’t be in the market for a new quarterback this offseason. In contrast, their division rival, the Miami Dolphins, may be on the lookout for an upgrade.
Miami benched quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on Dec. 17, and there is a good chance he won’t be on the roster next season. If the Dolphins are considering a change at quarterback, NFL.com’s Nick Shook believes that trading for Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray would be an exciting move for Miami.
“So, why Miami? That’s where I return to Tua Tagovailoa, who appears destined to leave the Dolphins in 2026, especially if ownership decides to retain Mike McDaniel,” Shook wrote on Friday.
“After a 1-6 start to the season, McDaniel rebounded relatively well — that is, until his squad laid an egg on a national stage against the Steelers in Week 15, largely because of Tagovailoa’s failures. McDaniel’s response to that loss was to bench Tagovailoa in a manner that reminded me of Russell Wilson’s final weeks in Denver in 2023, which preceded an unceremonious split in 2024.”
Murray is in his seventh NFL season but appeared in five games this season due to a foot injury.
Both Murray and Tagovailoa sense a need for a change of scenery, and there’s a possibility they could find themselves in each other’s current homes.
Dec 26, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; LA Clippers center Brook Lopez (11) high fives teammates during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
The Los Angeles Clippers were not expected to do much this season after a disastrous start, sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference standings as one of the league's most injured teams.
Starting the season without key players and dealing with setback after setback, expectations were low for this group as of late.
However, they've shown signs of life and now have some wins to back it up.
For the first time THIS SEASON
The LA Clippers have won 3 straight games
And for the first time since Week 1
The LA Clippers came back from a double-digit deficit
Final score: Clippers 119, Portland 103. 2nd straight game with 20 3s after NONE in first 28 games.
Los Angeles grabbed their third win in a row on Friday night for the first time all season, defeating the Portland Trail Blazers 119-103 at Moda Center.
Despite the team's difficult 9-21 start to the year, the Clippers took care of business against a Portland squad that has now dropped three games in a row.
Leonard Credits Lopez for Big Night from Deep
After the game, star forward Kawhi Leonard pointed to the team's three-point shooting as a major factor in the victory, specifically highlighting Brook Lopez and his historic night.
"Making those 9 3s tonight. It's been a big emphasis for us, is just getting up more 3s, making more 3s, and he helped us out tonight with that," Leonard said.
Lopez's nine made three-pointers set a new career high for the veteran center, who has been thrust into a bigger role with Ivica Zubac sidelined due to a Grade 2 ankle sprain.
Brook Lopez also became the third player in NBA history with nine three-pointers in a game after turning 37, joining Steph Curry and LeBron James. Yes, that is a real stat from a real Clipper game.
The 36-year-old big man caught fire in his second start of the season and gave Los Angeles exactly what they needed from deep.
Star Duo Keeps Clippers in the Fight
Leonard and James Harden have continued to be the driving forces behind whatever success the Clippers can muster this season.
Leonard entered the night averaging 26.1 points per game, while Harden was putting up 26.0 points and 8.1 assists.
Both stars delivered again on Friday, leading the offense and keep the Clippers in control for most of the second half.
They combined for 62 points on Friday night and were instrumental in keeping the lead for the Clippers down the stretch.
Per OptaStats, James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and Brook Lopez are the first trio of teammates 34 or older to score 25+ points in the same game in NBA history.
Leonard has now scored 20 or more points in 12 straight games, while Harden continues to run the offense at a high level despite the team's struggles.
Second Half Surge Puts Game Away
The Trail Blazers (12-19) gave the Clippers a fight in the first half, using their pace and energy to keep things close at the break, with Portland holding a 62-56 lead.
But Los Angeles came out of the locker room with a purpose, outscoring Portland in the second half and pulling away down the stretch.
The Clippers locked in defensively and found their rhythm from beyond the arc, with Leonard and Harden leading the charge in the third and fourth quarters.
They closed the 3rd quarter on a 23-6 run, per Amazon, and it was an avalanche of energy, focus, and defensive intensity that the Clippers have not seen much of this season.
The New York Jets have reconsidered their decision to disqualify a fan from a $100,000 kicking competition after a considerable backlash on social media.
The team was reported by the New York Post on Thursday to have canceled season ticket-holder Ashley Castanio-Gervasi’s spot in the finals of its “Kick for Cash” competition this weekend due to her work as a high school soccer coach.
Castanio-Gervasi told the Post the team reached out to her after seeing her kick at a tailgate in September and asked her to join the competition, without asking if she was a coach mentioning any rules banning coaches. Castanio-Gervasi also reportedly told the employees she was a Division I soccer player in college, playing goalkeeper for Stony Brook University from 2010 to 2014.
Her recollection, from the Post:
“These two workers for the New York Jets kind of chased me down and invited me back to get into this competition,” she recalled. “The one question I was asked was if I played college soccer, and how long ago.”
Castanio-Gervasi went on to qualify for the final — the lone woman to do so — by making a 20-yard field goal in October, with the team even promoting her appearance with local media. The Long Island Herald picked up the story and identified her as a coach in the second paragraph. It wasn’t until last week, however, that Castanio-Gervasi was informed about a rule prohibiting recent players and coaches from Olympic, college, and high school soccer, rugby, and football teams.
The Jets initially stood by the policy when reached by the Post:
“In accordance with competition rules and regulations, one individual who successfully made the qualifying kick will not be able to advance to the final stage of the challenge,” the team said in a statement to The Post.“We understand the disappointment associated with this and have made an effort to provide an alternative benefit to show our appreciation,” the Jets statement added.
The team reportedly attempted to mitigate the situation by offering Castanio-Gervasi a consolation custom jersey, a $100 Visa gift card and a donation to Esophageal Cancer Education Foundation. The latter was significant as Castanio-Gervasi was hoping to donate part of the winnings to the foundation in honor of her father Frank, who died of esophageal cancer in 2011.
The Jets have somehow turned a field goal into an own goal. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Justin Casterline via Getty Images
The team also reportedly offered to cover the cost of the tickets purchased by at least 15 friends and family members who were going to see Castanio-Gervasi kick.
"We realized there was an unfortunate misunderstanding regarding Ashley’s eligibility for the contest. In an effort to remedy the situation, we are allowing her to kick this Sunday for an opportunity to win the prize. We value the passion and loyalty of our fans and are committed to creating memorable experiences.”
It’s unclear what the team means by “misunderstanding,” but it can definitely expect more interest than usual for the “Kick for Cash” contest this weekend. The Jets are scheduled to play the Patriots on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Midway through the season, Manchester City sit two points off Premier League leaders Arsenal with both sides having won 12 of their 17 league games so far.
After last season's disappointing campaign, when the club that had won six titles in seven years only secured third place on the final day of the season, and a difficult start to the current campaign that saw them lose two of their opening three games, Pep Guardiola's team have roared back into form.
There is a widespread belief about what a Guardiola team looks like, but every league title the Spaniard has won has been secured with a unique system.
The current version of Manchester City is unlike anything we have seen from them before though, so just how has Guardiola reinvented his team tactically?
What City's new XI looks like
Over the past few weeks, Pep seems to have settled on a side that looks like this:
In possession, City's preferred starting XI looks like this [BBC Sport]
The only real change seen to this City side is when Tijjani Reijnders plays in Jeremy Doku's absence, with the Netherlands midfielder taking Foden's central position and the England man moving to the left.
Let's take a close at what these 12 players have been asked to do.
Why two attacking midfielders at full-back work
When Guardiola reinvents his system, changes are made based on the players he has rather than a predetermined idea of what system he wants to play.
City have options at full-back this year - Nathan Ake offers a pure defensive profile, as he did in City's Treble-winning season, while Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rico Lewis give City positional versatility and attacking quality in small spaces.
But Guardiola instead uses Nico O'Reilly and Matheus Nunes in those roles, in part because of their ability to cover large distances at pace in both attack and defence.
Their physical profile helps them dominate defensive duels as well as get back to defend counter-attacks too.
It also allows them to push high up the pitch, acting as attackers, usually in one of two ways.
Both full-backs can play wide, which frees City's wingers to move centrally, a tactic that has been very successful this season.
On the ball, they can play crosses from these positions on their stronger foot too.
Matheus Nunes assisted Erling Haaland's goal against Liverpool this season - note Nico O'Reilly's central position with Jeremy Doku positioned wider on the edge of the box. [BBC Sport]
Alternatively, when wingers take a wider position, both full-backs have the ability to underlap the wingers, getting into dangerous areas centrally.
O'Reilly in particular has shown a strong sense for goal through these late runs into the box which are hard for opponents to track, as the defender directly responsible for the City full-back is often the opposition's winger.
O'Reilly scored against Bournemouth after surging into a central shooting position. Nunes is slightly wider, with Cherki moving into the box. [BBC Sport]
Their experience as attacking midfielders provides a level of comfort when operating in the opposition's final third in this way, while the variety of solutions they offer alongside the wingers creates unpredictability in City's play, making it harder for opponents to prepare for each attack.
Packing the centre of the pitch with roaming wingers
Guardiola's use of his wingers this season has been another change and one that works partly thanks to the versatile full-backs.
In certain games, Guardiola has empowered players like Doku, Rayan Cherki and Foden to take up central positions, close to each other.
This licence to roam and interact with each other with more freedom is a big change from what we've seen from City in the past and there are a few reasons for this change.
The first comes back to the rule we established at the start of the piece; Guardiola platforms his players according to their strengths.
After Bournemouth's 3-1 loss to City, Cherries manager Andoni Iraola said: "Even when you are tight and you don't allow them a lot of spaces, Cherki and Foden can play one-touch. [Their] coordination is amazing."
Both players mentioned have also scored impressive goals from outside the box this season.
Aware of the danger these players possess, defenders are drawn towards the City attackers, which in turn frees up space in the wide areas, allowing Nunes and O'Reilly to receive the ball unmarked.
Against Liverpool, City's wingers and Foden roamed freely, playing very narrow at times. When Liverpool's defenders man-marked them, space opened up for likes of O'Reilly to run into. [BBC Sport]
Another benefit to packing the middle of the pitch with many bodies is that it ensures City are well positioned to press or win second balls.
Out of possession, if City lose the ball, numerous players in the centre of the pitch prevent opponents from progressing down the middle. This reduces the number of dangerous counter-attacks City's defenders face.
In possession, it has also worked by giving Erling Haaland nearby team-mates to play passes into, following long balls up to him - allowing City to create counter-attacks of their own.
By putting more players in central areas near each other, it is easier for City to support Haaland when playing long. [BBC Sport]
City's new counter-attacking threat hard to stop
Generally, City under Guardiola have prioritised ball possession and slower passages of play to maintain control and energy while reducing the number of turnovers and chances conceded.
Though this is still a priority, this season we have seen City lean into attacking in transition with more pace.
Guardiola has played on the strengths of players like Haaland, Foden, Reijnders and O'Reilly by attacking quickly over long distances.
As a result, City have scored from more fast breaks this season than during the 23-24 and 24-25 seasons combined. Their 27 total fast breaks is more than any other side in the Premier League this season too.
This is partly because of the skillset of their players but it is likely in response to the rise in intense man-to-man pressing.
By playing long and direct, opposition pressure can be bypassed and the space that opens up high up the pitch can be taken advantage of.
The introduction of Cherki to the side has brought about a level of passing and creativity from deep that helps City play over this pressure for attackers running in behind, a trait they missed following Kevin de Bruyne's departure.
Although not the fastest, Cherki has proved valuable in counter-attacks with his impressive passing. [BBC Sport]
'It's not enough. We have to play better' - Guardiola
City have won seven of their past eight Premier League games so it appears the changes are working, but Guardiola has unrelenting standards and sees potential areas for improvement.
Despite winning 3-0 against West Ham, he was still not entirely happy.
"If the players were in their positions, we could create more and concede less [but] we didn't do it," he said - suggesting he wants his players to occupy specific zones on the pitch in a similar manner to what we have seen from City in the past, at least against a team like West Ham.
Another tell about perhaps wanting to slowly reintroduce more familiar ideas came from the same news conference in which he praised City's intensity.
"I love [how much we run], last season we didn't have that. But it's not enough, we have to play better [so] we could run less."
By attacking in a more structured way, City would likely lose the ball less, resulting in fewer periods that require intense defending and fewer chances conceded.
No team has covered more distance in the Premier League than Manchester City. [Getty Images]
What next for City this season?
It feels like Guardiola is looking to strike a balance - wanting his team to pick the right moments to use their exciting, new tactics, while ensuring the control and structure of past seasons remains.
City did not win four league titles in a row under Guardiola without this attention to detail, while the number of solutions that he can now choose from, paired with their impressive squad, combine to put City in a promising position.
For as good as they have been, it is scary to think that this is not yet their final form with midfielder Rodri returning and Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo potentially joining in January too.
How Chelsea could line up in Premier League clash vs Aston Villa (4-2-3-1)
Chelsea return to Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening looking to end Aston Villa’s 10-match winning streak across all competitions.
The Blues know another setback will officially end their title hopes and even put their top-four challenge in jeopardy, so they’d be keen to secure maximum points.
Just last month, Chelsea were level on points with Villa and comfortably sat in the top three.
Since then, the Blues have fallen off the wagon, while Saturday’s visits have established themselves as surprise contenders for the title.
Chelsea head into this weekend’s must-win six-pointer seven points off Villa, having won just one of their last five Premier League outings.
The Blues fought back from two goals down to earn a point against Newcastle United in their last outing and will hope to go one step further against Villa.
Chelsea picked up a comfortable 3-0 win the last time they hosted Villa, but will be wary of Unai Emery’s side, having lost 2-1 in their most recent meeting.
However, there’s a decent chance that both players will start on the bench on Saturday.
Robert Sanchez is expected to start against Villa, with Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana anchoring the back line.
With Reece James and Marc Cucurella likely taking up full-back roles, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo will be ready again as the main midfield engine room.
Further forward, Cole Palmer is expected to take his place in the number 10 role, with Maresca confirming that the England international is now ready to play a full 90 minutes.
Palmer’s fitness has been carefully managed since he returned from a groin and toe injury.
Alejandro Garnacho will likely get the nod ahead of Jamie Gittens on the left flank, while Pedro Neto starts on the right.
Joao Pedro is expected to keep his place after scoring against Newcastle, although Delap will be hoping to get some minutes.
The Minnesota Vikings have one game left in the 2025 campaign, a home date with the Green Bay Packers, where the purple team could potentially spoil Green Bay’s playoff seeding. In the meantime, the rumor mill persists, especially with the offseason about one week away.
Three separate threads are starting to converge for Minnesota — a contract decision on defense, a premium pick draft debate, and a veteran linebacker resurfacing at the exact time teams get serious about January.
Here’s a peek at the first batch of Vikings rumors for the weekend.
Three Vikings-Themed Rumors Pick Up Momentum
It’s the Purple Rumor Mill for December 27th, 2025.
Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores watches from the sideline as play unfolds during a divisional matchup on Oct. 15, 2023, at Soldier Field in Chicago. Flores evaluated alignments and communicated adjustments as Minnesota navigated a tightly contested NFC North game against the Bears. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports.
Rumor: The Vikings indeed want Flores back in 2026.
Minnesota’s interest in keeping Brian Flores for a fourth season is no longer just assumed. It’s now explicit per the who’s who of NFL reporting. NFL Network‘s Tom Pelissero reported late last week that the Vikings are actively hoping to retain Flores, whose contract expires after the season.
He wrote, “Vikings have experienced a mess of injuries — including to quarterback J.J. McCarthy, whose development was a priority after he missed his entire rookie season because of meniscus surgery. (McCarthy has played better in recent weeks and now is 4-4 as the starter.)”
“Minnesota has many decisions to make this offseason with an expensive, veteran roster. Another issue to address: Defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ contract is up after the season. The Vikings hope to work out a deal to retain him.”
The timing here matters. For nearly a year, there had been no visible momentum toward an extension — no leaks, no reporting, no urgency — despite Flores steering a defense through constant injury churn. That silence fueled the assumption that Minnesota was content to let the situation play out.
The most logical explanation has always been Flores himself. He still wants another head coaching gig. His Miami tenure ended controversially after the 2021 season, followed by failed interview processes in New York and Denver and an ongoing lawsuit against the league. He drew interest during last year’s hiring cycle, even if it didn’t materialize into an offer.
If Flores is positioning himself for another shot at the top job, the lack of an extension tracks. If not, waiting this long never really made sense.
But we now know that Minnesota wants him back. Why wouldn’t it?
Rumor: Minnesota could use its 1st-Round pick on an off-ball linebacker.
With the 15th pick following a Week 16 win over the New York Giants, CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards slotted linebacker Barrett Styles to Minnesota in his latest mock draft.
He noted, “Minnesota isn’t a linebacker away from contention, but it remains a clear point of weakness on the roster. Styles has been fantastic for the defending national champions this season.”
“The Vikings also need to start turning draft picks into production, as many of their key contributors were either selected by the previous regime or acquired via free agency.”
Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Sonny Styles lines up during game action on Oct. 18, 2025, at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. Styles was active around the ball as Ohio State faced Wisconsin, showcasing range and physicality in a high-profile Big Ten matchup. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images.
Elsewhere in the mock, two other familiar names for Minnesota landed early. Ohio State Caleb Downs went fourth overall to the New York Jets, while Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love came off the board at No. 12 to the Kansas City Chiefs. LSU Cornerback Mansoor Delane followed shortly after, heading to Carolina at No. 19.
Minnesota will enter the 2026 offseason with no shortage of needs, largely because Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s first four draft classes have yet to produce even league average returns. Inside linebacker is on the list, but it’s far from alone. Cornerback, safety, center, running back, and possibly defensive tackle all loom larger in terms of urgency.
A true difference-maker at linebacker would help, no question. But history — and roster math — still apply. Productive off-ball linebackers can routinely be found outside Round 1. Spending a premium pick at the position is typically a luxury move made by stable rosters. That’s not where the Vikings are right now.
Rumor: Eric Kendricks saw regular season action with the 49ers, his first of 2025.
Roughly four hours before kickoff against Indianapolis on Monday Night Football, Kendricks’ name reentered the picture. San Francisco elevated the veteran linebacker to the active roster, a move that immediately drew some attention, given both timing and Kendricks’ former All-Pro reputation.
CBS Sports reported, “Eric Kendricks was elevated from the 49ers’ practice squad to the active roster Monday. The 33-year-old joined the 49ers’ practice squad in late November and is now in line to make his first appearance of the 2025 season during Monday night’s matchup against the Colts.”
“Kendricks last played for the Cowboys in 2024, recording 138 total tackles, including 3.0 sacks, three passes defensed, two interceptions, and three forced fumbles over 15 contests. Now with San Francisco’s active roster, Kendricks is expected to operate as one of the team’s top inside linebackers.”
San Francisco 49ers linebackers Eric Kendricks and Dee Winters bring down Colts tight end Tyler Warren during the fourth quarter on Dec. 22, 2025, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The stop capped a late defensive sequence as San Francisco worked to close out a physical road win. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images.
The move mattered because Kendricks hadn’t logged a single snap this season — not in San Francisco, not anywhere. Elevating him this week, with the playoffs less than three weeks away, signals urgency and trust. Teams don’t make that kind of decision lightly this late in the year.
Kendricks wound up playing 10 defensive snaps in the 49ers’ win over the Colts, perhaps a preview of upcoming usage in the playoffs.
The Hoosiers earned the No. 1 seed in the 12-team field after beating the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Big Ten title game Dec. 6 in Indianapolis, which guaranteed the defending national champions wouldn't finish the season undefeated regardless of when it ends.
Given the Hoosiers' recent football history, a bye week is uncharted waters for Cignetti. But it's nothing his team can't handle, he told reporters Monday.
“Would I prefer to play earlier? Yeah, I probably would, to be quite honest with you. But that’s not the case, so," Cignetti said. “We’re excited about playing. We’re off to a good start. And, it’ll be a tremendous challenge.”
"Well, you know, it is what it is, so you make the most of it,” Cignetti said. “The way we approached it until we knew the opponent? We treated it like two bye weeks, and now we have almost two weeks to prepare for the opponent.”
The game will likely come down to whoever is the most efficient quarterback between Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson, which should make for a potentially thrilling shootout in Pasadena, Calif.
Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET, as the winner extends the season.
Utah defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley gestures to his players during the second half of an NCAA football game against the Kansas State Wildcats held at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.
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Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
After Kyle Whittingham stepped down as Utah’s coach two weeks ago, it was only a matter of time until Morgan Scalley’s first game as the Utes’ new head coach.
Scalley’s head coaching debut was supposed to be Sept. 3, 2026, when Utah opens next season at home against Idaho, but after Whittingham accepted the head coaching job at Michigan, that date has been moved up.
Scalley will be leading the Utes in the Las Vegas Bowl on New Year’s Eve when they take on Nebraska.
“I’m fired up. I’m excited. I mean, there’s going to be learning on the go. At the same time, I have complete trust in our coaching staff and our players. They’re locked in. They’re dialed in,” Scalley said on Friday night in Las Vegas.
“You see in that first team meeting guys that are intent on finishing this season off the right way. Eleven wins, we’ve only had that three times in University of Utah football history and we want to make that four.”
Prior to news breaking Friday that Whittingham was taking the Michigan job, there were only three opt-outs among the two-deep on the Utes’ depth chart — offensive tackle Spencer Fano, offensive tackle Caleb Lomu and defensive end Logan Fano, all of whom have declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.
On Friday, Scalley said he did not expect the roster for the Las Vegas Bowl to change.
“No, and again, I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that the players have known that this has been coming,” Scalley said.
While Utah senior center Jaren Kump won’t be coached by Scalley next year, he is motivated to get Utah’s new leader his first win on New Year’s Eve.
“I’m really happy for Coach Whitt, honestly, and I’m really happy for him to have this opportunity, but I’m also excited to be coached by Morgan Scalley and I’m going to tell our team ‘Let’s go get Coach Scalley’s first win on Wednesday,’” Kump said.
In the wake of Whittingham leaving for Michigan, Scalley expressed gratitude for the former Utah coach.
“Well, you never want to be the guy that follows the guy and unfortunately that’s me, but he got me into the profession. He got me to switch from offense to defense as a player. I’ve been with him since 2001,” Scalley said.
“So I’m just grateful for everything he’s done for me personally everything he’s done for the program, and the biggest thing that I’ve learned from him is it’s all about the players and in this profession, you can’t let your ego get in the way and he never did that and I’m so grateful for his legacy, what he’s taught me and for his mentorship along the way.”
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Whittingham informed Utah’s team in Las Vegas that he planned to take the Michigan job before flying to Orlando — where Michigan will play in the Citrus Bowl versus Texas — to meet with his new team.
“What I do know is that I guess it was his initial intent to truly retire, but then he did express that if there were certain opportunities that came up, that he would think about those, and he expressed that one of those opportunities did come up,” Kump said.
“But initially it was his intention to retire and to just be done with coaching, unless there was some opportunities that arose, and he expressed that one of those opportunities arose, so he put some thought into it and considered it with his family and did what is, I believe, a great decision for him.”
Scalley is at work trying assembling his staff while preparing his team for the bowl. Meanwhile, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported Friday that Utah offensive coordinator Jason Beck and BYU defensive coordinator Jay Hill are targets for Whittingham’s coaching staff at Michigan.
However, Scalley says that everyone is focused on getting Utah that 11th win. Beck and the rest of Utah’s staff were on the team flight to Las Vegas.
“A lot of it is understanding it’s all about the players,” Scalley said. “We’ve got an unbelievable staff that’s handled this thing the right way and their intent as well is to get that 11th win for our players, so it’s been a pretty seamless transition and because of how the administration and how coach Whittingham has handled the whole thing.”
Alexander Isak’s broken leg is yet another problem for Liverpool to deal with in a troubled campaign - Getty Images/Alex Pantling
The Premier League champions were floundering; beaten six times before Christmas, out of the title race by New Year’s Day, uncertain of Champions League qualification, and desperate for the January transfer window to kickstart a recovery.
For Manchester City in December 2024, read Liverpool in December 2025.
Pep Guardiola reacted to his club’s troubles by spending a combined £180m on Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis, Omar Marmoush, and Nico González.
City improved, preserved their Champions League status and are back fighting for every honour a year on. It could be argued the new blood gave City the short-term impetus they needed. Alternatively, it’s debatable how much impact their mid-season signings had and if longer-term it was a well-judged spree.
Assessed at the time, and even more so in retrospect, investing so much in January looked like a knee-jerk reaction to a desperate situation, veering from a usually well-considered recruitment plan. None of City’s recruits have been particularly influential in the team’s return to form this season.
Liverpool can take inspiration from how City have bounced back. Equally, they will be desperate to ensure any business they engage in next month is not viewed as a sign of panic. It’s a risk they must take.
If Arne Slot does not have another attacker and centre-back before the end of January, his team will struggle to finish in the top four.
Isak’s injury has left Liverpool light in attack - Reuters/Marc Atkins
When clubs spend heavily in mid-season it is usually because they are in a state of emergency, the needs of those fighting relegation the greatest. West Ham’s recruiters should be the busiest in England for the next four weeks.
But Liverpool cannot allow a disappointing first half of this campaign to become a terrible full season by missing out on the Champions League spots.
Liverpool will not have planned to reinforce in this window when they were signing all those cheques last summer. Now the impact of Alexander Isak’s broken leg, allied to the shortage of centre-back cover for Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté, means that the circumstances have changed. Slot’s squad were already imbalanced and lacking depth before Isak’s setback.
Injuries have mounted up since the start of the season, the ACL surgery of young centre-back Giovanni Leoni one of the most overlooked but serious given it has left Van Dijk and Konaté without back-up.
Defender Giovanni Leoni tore his anterior cruciate ligament 81 minutes into his Liverpool debut - Getty images/Nikki Dyer
Joe Gomez, Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley have all been frequent absentees, too, while further upfield Cody Gakpo has been missing and it is obvious Slot still does not see Federico Chiesa as a starter.
Injuries are part of the game and must be expected when trying to compete on all fronts. Nevertheless, the clearest sign of the overall strength in depth can be seen every week on the substitutes list. Liverpool’s bench has been a worry for months.
Teenage winger Rio Ngumoha has been in the match-day squad in 25 of Liverpool’s 26 fixtures so far this season. Ngumoha only turned 17 in August. He is a wonderful prospect who will hopefully go on to enjoy a brilliant career, but Slot having to use him as a back-up even when his senior players are fit sums up the need to add more. Ngumoha has been rarely used. In fact, he has hardly played any football at youth level this season because the first team squad needs him. Another prospect, 18-year-old Trey Nyoni, has been in the match-day squad on 10 occasions. Again, there has been little prospect of Slot regularly using him in a Premier League game at this point in his career.
Every club can expect to be short of two or three players each match day. What you do not anticipate is for the bench to be filled with a couple of under-21 and academy players for the whole season.
That’s why there has been an expectation for months that Liverpool will add depth at the earliest opportunity. Liverpool’s track record buying in mid-season is generally positive. Van Dijk, Luis Suárez and Luis Díaz are among those who joined in the first weeks of January and hit the ground running. All were tracked for months, even years. They were clever rather than panic buys.
Interest in Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo made sense on the same basis. It is no surprise so many have been tracking him given his current form. Wherever he ends up, he has much to prove to demonstrate he can become a world-class player rather than a good and useful squad asset, but he has qualities a top side needs; a winger with pace, power, the ability to carry the ball long distances on the counter-attack, and the possibility of playing on either flank. If Semenyo opts to go elsewhere, Slot needs someone else of a similar profile.
Antoine Semenyo looks to be on his way to Manchester City in January - Reuters/Peter Powell
Liverpool’s interest in Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi is well-documented. If Liverpool do not or cannot get Guéhi now, they need an alternative. Van Dijk has been carrying the defence all season. He is not at his best, but even slightly off form he is better than 90 per cent of centre-backs in the Premier League. Without him, Liverpool would be in a worse position.
We cannot ignore some of the factors which have contributed. The year 2025 will be forever one of the most cherished and yet saddest in Liverpool’s history. The euphoria of winning the Premier League for the second time in 35 seasons was rapidly overtaken by the horrendous tragedy of Diogo Jota’s death. Life went on amid excitement at new signings, and wild anticipation that the arrival of Isak and Florian Wirtz as part of a record spending spree would help defend the title and help win the Champions League.
Instead, Liverpool head towards the new year having seen their record signing break his leg, and their highly-rated young defensive prospect still six months from recovery.
There is no sympathy for a rivals’ sporting misfortune, especially at the highest level when tribalism grips.
But the coldest hearts must consider all the recent events at Anfield and recognise there have been more challenges for the manager and hierarchy to overcome in the past six months than many will encounter in a career. Even the title parade left the club in a state of shock when a driver ploughed into spectators.
In multiple ways, it feels like Liverpool are slowly recovering from numerous recent traumas. On the field, at least, the January transfer window is an opportunity to aid and accelerate that process.
A deal for a wide attacker and centre-back would not guarantee Liverpool finish in the top four, but it would make a stronger second half of the season more likely and help ensure there is an instant return on the £450m already invested.
The time has passed for Liverpool to linger on the problems and misfortunes that put them in such a tough situation in the Premier League. Now they need fixes.
For the second consecutive year, East Carolina football is in the Military Bowl. This year, the Pirates (8-4) will take on the Pitt Panthers (8-4).
This season, ECU clinched bowl eligibility with an early-November win over Charlotte. That game came in the midst of a four-game winning streak, which was snapped with a loss in the second-to-last game of the regular season, although the Pirates managed a win over Florida Atlantic to build some momentum entering postseason play.
Pitt, meanwhile, clinched bowl eligibility after beating North Carolina State in late October. However, the Panthers ended the regular season on a bit of a slump, falling to Notre Dame and Miami for two losses in their final three regular-season games.
The Military Bowl will be televised on ESPN, with Jay Alter and former NFL linebacker Rocky Boiman on the call. It can also be streamed through Fubo, which offers a free trial to new customers.
East Carolina football vs. Pitt in Military Bowl kickoff time
Date: Saturday, December 27
Time: 11 a.m. ET
The Military Bowl will kick off from Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. on Saturday at 11 a.m. ET.
The recent World Juniors Championships can motivate Team Canada, which has achieved back-to-back fifth-place finishes at the WJC.
This hopeful redemption tour will continue on Saturday, Dec. 27, against Latvia.
Team Canada's Gavin McKenna came up with a motto for his nation's role in this year's WJC. McKenna said, "Every team's goal is to win it, and we want to kill their dreams."
This year's team is looking to make its way back to the podium after several years of disappointment.
The Sporting News has all the details on how to watch Canada vs. Latvia at the World Juniors.
Where to watch Canada vs. Latvia at 2026 World Juniors
TV channel: TSN
Live stream: TSN app
Canada vs. Latvia will air on TSN and live stream on the TSN app.
Canada vs. Latvia World Juniors 2026 radio station
It’s almost two years to the day since Sunderland secured a vital 1-2 win at Doncaster to ease the pressure on the then Sunderland manager Phil Parkinson, who was under huge pressure after a nine-game winless run. On this day in 2021, Sunderland came into this game in much better shape and put in a commanding performance to win 0-3.
Lee Johnson’s side had played some sublime football at times this season and this continued in this game, where players such as Elliot Embleton, Alex Pritchard and Leon Dajaku starred. In particular, Pritchard was the creative force in this game and was involved in everything good.
From the very start, we dominated proceedings against a Doncaster team that lacked inspiration and creative spark, and there were only seven minutes on the clock when Ross Stewart scored from the penalty spot after Dajaku was taken down in the box.
Dominance continued for the rest of the first half, and just as frustration was growing, we finally got our second through Embleton, who poked in a second from close range after being set up by the instrumental Pritchard.
Just after half-time, an own goal by youngster Ben Blythe, who was making only his second league appearance, made it three after he diverted Alex Pritchard’s flick into his own net right in front of the raucous Sunderland away end.
This was an easy day at the office for Sunderland, but it was also a crucial result as table toppers Rotherham United had dropped points on Boxing Day making it essential that we took full advantage in this game. A win here put Sunderland into second position, and it looked like we were purring just as the season was getting a little more tense.
After the game, Johnson readily admitted that it was crucial to get the victory to close the gap on Rotherham, but also expressed his delight in the all-round performance.
We had to be professional today. We had to find some control, and obviously the early goal did us a right favour.
Then we left them off the hook a bi,t but the second goal was really good timing for us because it was getting a bit frustrating.
It’s a really big three points. We had to capitalise on closing the gap (to leaders Rotherham), and we did.
Three days later, we backed this performance up with a huge 5-0 win at home to fellow play-off rivals Sheffield Wednesday, which displayed the good in what we could do when we were on form under Johnson.
Sunderland sit towards the bottom of the WSL2, a position that naturally invites scrutiny, frustration, and emotional reaction. Yet the table tells a more nuanced story: the gap between 11th and 7th is a mere three points, meaning that a short burst of good form could transform the club’s outlook almost overnight. This tension between concern and possibility is at the heart of the current conversation, and it is why the question of Reay’s future is far from straightforward.
To understand the debate properly, one must first appreciate the context in which Reay has operated for several years.
Sunderland AFC Women have not enjoyed the financial muscle, infrastructure, or stability that many of their Championship rivals take for granted. The club’s journey from the top tier to the third and back again has been turbulent, shaped by off-field decisions that had little to do with the players or coaching staff. Through all of this, Reay has been a constant presence, guiding the team through periods of uncertainty with a level of resilience that deserves recognition. Her tenure has been defined by working with minimal resources, a reality that has shaped both her achievements and her limitations.
One of the most significant aspects of Reay’s management has been her commitment to developing young players and providing a pathway from the academy to the senior squad. Sunderland’s history in women’s football is rich with examples of home-grown talent rising to prominence, and Reay has played a meaningful role in continuing that tradition. Players have been given opportunities earlier than they might have received elsewhere, and the club has maintained a reputation for nurturing potential even when results have been inconsistent. This emphasis on youth development is not merely a philosophical stance; it has been a practical necessity in a club where financial constraints have often limited recruitment options.
Yet it is also something that supporters value deeply, and it forms a key part of the argument for giving Reay more time.
However, football is ultimately a results-driven business, and the current league position cannot be ignored.
Sunderland’s struggles this season have been marked by recurring patterns that have frustrated supporters. One of the most concerning trends has been the team’s tendency to concede goals quickly after scoring themselves or shortly after the opposition has found the net. This fragility in key moments has cost the team valuable points and has raised questions about game management, concentration, and tactical organisation. Whether this issue stems from the players, the coaching staff, or a combination of both is a matter of debate, but its impact on the team’s league standing is undeniable.
The tactical side of Reay’s management has also come under scrutiny. Supporters have expressed frustration with certain decisions, from substitutions to formation choices to the perceived lack of adaptability during matches. There is a sense among some fans that the team can be predictable, that they struggle to impose themselves on games, and that they do not always respond effectively to the opposition’s adjustments. These criticisms are not unique to Sunderland, nor are they unusual in a team fighting near the bottom of the table, but they contribute to the growing pressure on the manager.
At the same time, it is important to acknowledge that tactical execution is not solely the responsibility of the manager. Players must perform, maintain focus, and take responsibility for their roles on the pitch. There have been matches this season where individual errors have undermined the team’s efforts, where lapses in concentration have led to avoidable goals, and where promising spells of play have not been converted into results.
It is fair to ask whether the squad has the experience, depth, and consistency required to compete at the level demanded by the WSL2. Reay can only work with the players available to her, and while she is accountable for their preparation and organisation, she cannot control every moment of decision-making during a match.
This raises a broader question: if Sunderland were to part ways with Reay, who would realistically replace her? The women’s game is growing rapidly, but managerial recruitment remains a challenge, particularly for clubs with limited budgets. Attracting a high-profile or experienced manager would likely require financial investment that the club may not be willing or able to make. Promoting from within is an option, but it would represent a gamble at a time when stability is crucial. Appointing an external candidate with potential but limited experience could invigorate the squad, yet it could equally introduce new uncertainties. The reality is that the pool of available managers who fit Sunderland’s circumstances is not large, and any change would carry risks as well as potential rewards.
Supporters who advocate for a managerial change argue that a fresh face could revitalise the team, bring new ideas, and inject energy into a squad that appears to be struggling for confidence. They point to other clubs that have benefited from mid-season changes, where a new manager has lifted performances and results almost immediately. They argue that the current trajectory is unsustainable and that waiting too long to act could jeopardise the club’s WSL2 status. For these fans, the need for change is not personal but practical: they believe that the team requires a new direction to avoid further decline.
On the other hand, those who support Reay’s continued leadership emphasise the importance of stability, especially in a league as competitive and unpredictable as the WSL2. They argue that the margins between success and failure are small, that Sunderland’s position in the table is not as dire as it appears, and that a run of positive results could transform the season. They highlight the fact that the team is only three points from 7th place, a reminder that the league is tightly contested and that momentum can shift quickly. They also stress that Reay has earned a degree of loyalty through her long service, her commitment to the club, and her ability to navigate difficult circumstances in the past.
January looms as a pivotal month. The transfer window offers an opportunity to strengthen the squad, address weaknesses, and provide the manager – whoever that may be – with the tools needed to steer the team to safety. It is possible that the club’s hierarchy will choose to wait until then before making any major decisions, allowing Reay the chance to demonstrate that she can turn things around. If results improve, the pressure may ease; if they do not, the calls for change will grow louder. The coming weeks will therefore be crucial in shaping the narrative of the season and determining the future direction of the club.
The emotional dimension of this debate should not be underestimated. Sunderland supporters are passionate, loyal, and deeply invested in their club’s fortunes. They want to see progress, ambition, and competitiveness, and they are understandably frustrated when results fall short of expectations. Yet they also value identity, continuity, and the sense of community that has long defined Sunderland Women. The question of whether to support or dismiss the manager is not simply a matter of statistics; it is a reflection of how fans perceive the club’s values and aspirations.
In weighing the arguments for and against sacking Melanie Reay, one must acknowledge that there are valid points on both sides. Reay has contributed significantly to the club over many years, often under challenging circumstances, and her commitment to youth development is commendable. At the same time, the team’s current struggles cannot be ignored, and the tactical and psychological issues that have emerged this season require urgent attention. Whether Reay is the right person to address these problems is the central question, and it is one that does not have an easy answer.
The January Transfer Window and Its Implications
As the debate around Reay’s future continues, the January transfer window looms large as a potential turning point. For a club like Sunderland, January is rarely a period of lavish spending or dramatic squad overhauls, but it does offer an opportunity to make targeted improvements.
The question is whether the club will be able to attract the right players and whether those players can make an immediate impact in a league as competitive as the WSL2. The window also raises the issue of whether Reay should be the one overseeing any new arrivals or whether a change in management should occur before reinforcements are brought in. This is where the conversation becomes particularly delicate, because decisions made in January can shape not only the remainder of the season but the long-term trajectory of the squad.
Sunderland’s recruitment strategy has traditionally relied on identifying undervalued talent, developing young players, and making the most of limited resources. This approach has produced success stories in the past, but it also requires stability and clarity of vision. If the club were to change managers mid-season, it could disrupt the recruitment process, complicate negotiations, and create uncertainty for potential signings.
On the other hand, if the club retains Reay but results do not improve, any January additions may struggle to make the desired impact. The window therefore becomes a test of the club’s conviction: do they believe that Reay is the right person to guide the team through the second half of the campaign, or do they feel that a new manager is needed to maximise the potential of any incoming players?
The January window is also a moment for reflection on the squad’s current composition. Sunderland have shown flashes of quality this season, but they have also displayed vulnerabilities that need addressing. Defensive lapses, inconsistency in midfield, and a lack of cutting edge in the final third have all contributed to the team’s struggles.
Strengthening these areas could provide the foundation for a resurgence, particularly given how tight the league table is. A couple of well-chosen signings could help the team climb several places, especially if they bring experience, leadership, or a different tactical dimension. The WSL2 is a league where momentum matters, and Sunderland are not far from turning narrow defeats into draws and draws into wins.
Yet the transfer window is not only about arrivals; it is also about retaining key players. If the club were to lose important squad members in January, it could undermine any progress made through new signings. This is another reason why managerial stability matters: players are more likely to stay if they feel confident in the direction of the team.
A change in management could unsettle the dressing room, while keeping Reay might reassure those who have developed under her guidance. The club must therefore balance the desire for improvement with the need to maintain cohesion.
How Sunderland’s Rivals Are Performing
To fully understand Sunderland’s situation, it is essential to consider the performance of their rivals in the WSL2.
The league is notoriously competitive, with small gaps between teams and frequent shifts in momentum. This season has been no exception, and the fact that Sunderland sit eighth while being only two points from second bottom illustrates just how tight the table is. The performances of rival clubs, therefore provide important context for evaluating Reay’s position and the team’s prospects.
Several teams in the mid-table have experienced similar inconsistencies to Sunderland, alternating between strong performances and disappointing results. This volatility has kept the league compressed, offering opportunities for teams to climb the table quickly if they can string together a few positive results. It also means that Sunderland’s struggles, while concerning, are not unique.
Other clubs have faced defensive issues, tactical challenges, and periods of poor form, yet they remain within reach of the top half of the table. This reinforces the idea that Sunderland are not adrift but are instead part of a broader pattern of unpredictability that defines the WSL2.
At the same time, some of Sunderland’s rivals have shown signs of improvement, making the competition for survival and mid-table security even more intense. Clubs with greater financial backing or more established infrastructures have been able to strengthen their squads, adapt their tactics, and build momentum. This raises the stakes for Sunderland, who must find ways to compete despite their limitations. It also highlights the importance of making the right decisions in January, as rivals will undoubtedly be looking to reinforce their own squads.
The performances of rival teams also shed light on the managerial landscape. Several clubs have made managerial changes in recent seasons, with mixed results. Some have benefited from a new approach, while others have struggled to adapt. This variability underscores the risks associated with sacking a manager mid-season. A new manager may bring fresh ideas and renewed energy, but there is no guarantee of immediate improvement. In a league as competitive as the WSL2, even small disruptions can have significant consequences.
Understanding how rivals are performing also helps contextualise Sunderland’s tactical challenges. Many teams in the league have adopted flexible, dynamic approaches, adjusting their formations and strategies based on the opposition.
Sunderland’s perceived lack of adaptability has therefore become more pronounced as rivals demonstrate the ability to respond to in-game developments. This is an area where supporters feel that Reay could improve, and it is one of the reasons why some fans believe that a change in management might be beneficial. Yet it is also worth noting that tactical evolution requires time, resources, and the right personnel – factors that are not always readily available.
The Psychological Impact of Relegation Battles
Relegation battles exert a psychological weight that is often underestimated by those outside the dressing room.
For Sunderland Women, the mental strain of hovering near the bottom of the table has undoubtedly shaped performances, confidence, and decision-making. When a team is fighting for survival, every mistake feels magnified, every missed chance becomes a symbol of wider struggles, and every goal conceded reinforces the sense that momentum is slipping away. This emotional burden can affect even the most experienced players, and for a squad that includes several young talents still finding their feet at senior level, the pressure can be particularly intense.
The psychological dimension of relegation battles is complex because it influences both individual and collective behaviour. Players may become more cautious, fearing errors rather than embracing creativity. They may hesitate in key moments, second-guessing decisions that would normally come instinctively. Confidence, once lost, is difficult to rebuild, and it can take only a few poor results to create a sense of inevitability around the team’s trajectory. This is why the role of the manager becomes so crucial: they must not only organise the team tactically but also provide emotional stability, reassurance, and belief.
For Reay, this aspect of management has long been one of her strengths. She has guided the team through difficult periods before, maintaining unity and resilience even when external circumstances were challenging. Supporters who advocate for her continued leadership often point to this quality, arguing that her understanding of the club’s culture and her rapport with the players make her well-suited to navigating the psychological demands of a relegation fight. They believe that her presence provides continuity and calm, qualities that are invaluable when the pressure intensifies.
However, critics argue that the psychological patterns emerging this season – such as conceding quickly after scoring or struggling to respond to setbacks – suggest that the team may no longer be fully responsive to Reay’s methods.
They question whether a new voice, a new approach, or a new energy might help break the cycle of hesitation and fragility. This is where the idea of a managerial change gains traction: not necessarily because Reay lacks ability, but because sometimes a shift in leadership can reset the emotional tone of a squad. A fresh face can bring renewed confidence, different motivational techniques, and a sense of renewed purpose.
The psychological impact of relegation battles also extends to supporters. Fans experience the same anxiety, frustration, and hope as the players, and their emotional investment can influence the atmosphere around the club. When results are poor, tension grows; when performances falter, patience wears thin. Yet supporters also have the power to lift the team, to create a sense of unity, and to reinforce belief. This is why the debate around Reay is so emotionally charged: it reflects not only tactical concerns but also the deeper question of how best to protect the club’s spirit during a difficult period.
It reminds us that football is not played in a vacuum; it is shaped by emotions, pressures, and human responses. Sunderland’s fate will depend not only on tactics and recruitment but also on their ability to manage the mental demands of the months ahead.
The Long-Term Vision for Sunderland AFC Women
Beyond the immediate concerns of league position and managerial decisions lies a broader question: what is the long-term vision for Sunderland Women? The club’s history in the women’s game is rich, marked by the development of exceptional talent and periods of impressive success.
Yet the journey has also been turbulent, shaped by structural changes, financial constraints, and shifting priorities. As the women’s game continues to grow, Sunderland must decide what role they want to play in its future.
A long-term vision requires clarity about identity, ambition, and investment. Sunderland have traditionally prided themselves on developing young players, fostering a strong community connection, and competing with determination even when resources are limited. This identity has served them well, but the landscape of women’s football is changing rapidly.
Clubs with significant financial backing are raising standards across the league, and those who cannot keep pace risk being left behind. Sunderland must therefore consider whether they are content to remain a development-focused club or whether they aspire to re-establish themselves as a competitive force capable of challenging for promotion.
This question has direct implications for the managerial debate. If the club’s long-term vision prioritises stability, youth development, and gradual progress, then retaining Reay may align with that philosophy. Her track record in nurturing talent and navigating difficult circumstances fits this model. Supporters who favour continuity argue that building a sustainable future requires patience, consistency, and trust in a manager who understands the club’s ethos.
However, if the club aims to accelerate its progress, compete more aggressively, and push for higher league positions, they may need to consider whether a different managerial profile is required. A manager with experience at higher levels, a more expansive tactical approach, or a stronger recruitment network could help drive the club forward. This does not diminish Reay’s contributions, but it raises the question of whether she is the right person to lead the next phase of the club’s evolution.
The long-term vision also depends on investment. Without increased financial support, the club will struggle to compete with rivals who are expanding their infrastructures, improving their facilities, and strengthening their squads.
This is where the club’s ownership and leadership must provide direction. Supporters want to see ambition, not only in words but in actions. They want to know that the club is committed to growth, that it values the women’s team, and that it is willing to invest in its future.
Closing Thoughts
In the end, I pose the question of Mel in or Mel out not to push a particular agenda nor to claim certainty about what the club should do, but to invite thoughtful discussion among supporters who care deeply about Sunderland Women.
The intention is not to sway opinion but to acknowledge the complexity of the situation and the legitimacy of differing perspectives.
If anything, I remain inclined to hold on to a measure of optimism – perhaps misplaced, perhaps not – that things may yet turn around, that performances might stabilise, and that the season could still take a more positive shape. This optimism is not a conclusion, merely a feeling, and it is offered here only as a point of reflection rather than persuasion, encouraging readers to explore their own view of the club’s direction.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto reunited with two of his former NPB teammates, Soichiro Yamazaki and Taishi Hirooka, during Christmas this year 🙌 pic.twitter.com/vfIkymhrQI
Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s rise is a two-chapter story. In NPB with the Orix Buffaloes, he became a standard of excellence. A 5× NPB All-Star, three-time Triple Crown winner, and Pacific League MVP from 2021 through 2023, Yamamoto built a resume that felt historic in real time. Three Eiji Sawamura Awards followed, along with multiple ERA titles, strikeout crowns, and wins championships. Then came the exclamation points: two no-hitters that froze entire stadiums in silence. That dominance built belief in Los Angeles before he ever threw a pitch for the Dodgers.
Dodgers outlook after the reunion
Then came the Dodgers and the World Series stage. From there, Yamamoto backed up the hype with numbers and moments. Across the season, he finished with a 2.49 ERA, logged 173.2 innings, and struck out 201 batters, anchoring the rotation with precision and durability. In October, he also closed out Game 7 of the World Series, delivering the final outs with the same calm he showed in Japan. As a result, a third-place NL Cy Young finish reinforced what the eyes already saw: a true Dodgers ace had arrived.
Meanwhile, the holiday reunion showed the other side. Old teammates. Winter air. Stories of bus rides, practices, and pennant pressure. Yamamoto looked relaxed. The grind paused. The connection stayed.
For the Dodgers, this is more than a photo-op. Instead, a refreshed ace returns with confidence and roots that keep him grounded. Yamamoto brings elite stuff, postseason poise, and the mentality shaped in NPB into another title chase. Fans can already picture the scene under the stadium lights: the set, the stare, the strikeout that tilts October. How far can Yoshinobu Yamamoto take the Dodgers next season?
A 74-year-old woman said she had been given a "once in a lifetime chance" after she qualified for the Hyrox World Championships.
Annie Reid, from Bulmer, Essex, has always been active, but started training at a gym in Lavenham, Suffolk a few years ago and wanted a new challenge.
She began training for a Hyrox race, which involves running and a mixture of workout stations, before competing at an event in London earlier this month.
Mrs Reid was shocked to hear she had qualified for the world championships in Stockholm, Sweden, next June, but said she would "grab" the opportunity.
"I'd heard about Hyrox and I thought it looked interesting, but then I thought I can't do that because it means you've got to run 8km," Mrs Reid said.
The athlete spoke with her trainer, Vicky Edwards at E3 Fitness, about the possibility of competing and was given the belief she was capable.
"I felt very lucky to have someone who believed in my abilities at a time when I wasn't sure whether I could," Mrs Reid said.
Throughout the year the pair worked on Mrs Reid's running endurance and strength to prepare for the race that involves eight legs, each with a 1km run followed by a fitness exercise such as sled pushes, sled pulls, rowing and kettlebell walks.
Mrs Reid said she paced herself and was not so much worried about a time, instead wanting to complete the race, but finished in 2:11:56.
A few days after the Hyrox London event, Mrs Reid received an email explaining she had qualified for the world championships.
"It is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to take part in this event, so I'm just going to go and grab it," she said.
Vicky Edwards travelled to London to support Mrs Reid in her Hyrox event [Vicky Edwards]
Mrs Edwards said they often described each of Mrs Reid's training sessions as her "paying into her health pension".
"To see Annie not only complete her first Hyrox at 74, but then qualify for the world championships in Stockholm, has been an incredible testament to what structured, age-appropriate training can achieve," she said.
The entire Los Angeles Clippers seemed to take a plunge into the Fountain of Youth with the way they handled business against the Portland Trail Blazers. Brook Lopez will be grabbing the headlines after the 37-year-old big man nailed a career-high nine triples in a 119-103 win over the Blazers, but Kawhi Leonard’s contributions on the night must not be forgotten as well.
Leonard had a bit of a rough shooting night, but he did end up with 28 points on the night — with no two points being more emphatic than the ones he put on the board with 9:25 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Clippers star was isolated against Rayan Rupert on the wing, forcing some early help from Donovan Clingan. But that did not matter at all.
Leonard split the double team and climbed the summit of Mt. Clingan — throwing down a mean one-handed jam that made it seem as though he was 10 years younger and still had youthful knees.
KAWHI LEONARD THROWS IT DOWN OVER DONOVAN CLINGAN 😤
Leonard had 18 points in the fourth quarter as he put the game to bed for the Clippers. He added eight rebounds, six assists, three steals, and one block on the night to help LA earn its third-consecutive victory.
Clippers looking to salvage what’s left of 2025-26 campaign
Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
The Clippers have been playing markedly better basketball as of late, and this is exactly what they’ve needed to at least give themselves a glimmer of hope after their putrid start to the 2025-26 campaign. They’ve also beaten two winning teams in their current three-game winning streak, which shows that they truly have some signs of life to cling on to.
Leonard and company, however, will be tested on Sunday as the Clippers put their winning streak on the line against the 24-7 Detroit Pistons. The Pistons will be raring to redeem themselves after losing on a game-winner against the Utah Jazz on Friday.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — James Harden had 34 points, Brook Lopez scored 31 points, including a career-high nine 3-pointers, and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 119-103 on Friday night for their third straight win.
Kawhi Leonard pitched in 28 points, eight rebounds and six assists, including 18 points in the fourth quarter.
Deni Avdija led Portland with 27 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
The Clippers outscored the Blazers 63-41 in the second half, including a 19-1 run in the third quarter to take control.
A free throw by Donovan Clingan made it 71-59 Blazers with 8:16 left in the third quarter, matching Portland’s biggest lead of the game. After a drought for both teams, the Clippers took over.
After Lopez’s seventh 3-pointer made it 72-67, acting Blazers coach Tiago Splitter was called for a technical foul. Leonard made the free throw to make it 72-68.
Harden hit two free throws and then scored on a driving layup to tie the game at 72.
The Clippers took their first lead at 75-72 with 3:23 left in the third quarter on Lopez’s eighth 3. Lopez connected on his ninth 3 to make it 78-72.
Harden’s four-point play with 1:06 left in the third quarter pushed the lead to 85-77.
Leonard had a ferocious dunk on Clingan to make it 95-86.
After a basket by Avdija cut LA's lead to 7, the Clippers had a six-point possession to push their lead to 101-88 with 8:19 left.
After the Clippers cut Portland’s first-half lead to 52-50, the Blazers went on a 9-0 run, capped by a fast break dunk from Shaedon Sharpe to make it 61-50, forcing a Clippers timeout.
After the timeout, a three-point play from Harden and a 3-pointer from Kobe Sanders helped cut the Portland lead to 62-56 at halftime.
Up next
The Clippers host the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night.
Australia’s Scott Boland appeals successfully for an lbw against England’s Zak Crawley as the wickets tumble on day two at Melbourne
Kevin Pietersen led the criticism of the Melbourne Cricket Ground wicket, describing it as “disrespectful to the greatest form of the game”.
The fourth Test of the Ashes series looks almost certain to finish in two days after 10mm of grass was left on the wicket.
That gave the bowlers a huge amount of assistance and after 20 wickets fell on day one it looks likely that the Test will come to a close with England chasing 175 to win.
Here, Telegraph Sport looks at the reasons the Boxing Day clash was the most ludicrous Test match in history.
A furry, green monster
The die was cast on Boxing Day, when Steve Smith confirmed Australia would not be playing a spinner on a pitch he described as “furry” and “green”. Others used the word “tufty”, which was enough to send shivers down the spines of batsmen on both sides.
Matt Page, the MCG’s groundsman, left 10mm of grass on the pitch, in the belief that the warm weather forecast on days three and four could make it too good for batting. Page need not have worried about day three, with 20 wickets falling on the first day of a Test in Australia for the first time since 1951. By the end of the day, the ball had made indentations in the surface, and Page was predicting batting would get even harder.
MCG groundsman Matt Page inspects the pitch during lunch on day two of the fourth Test - Shutterstock
A record crowd
There were more than 94,000 in on the opening day, and close to 90,000 on the second. The final crowd figure was 186,244 across two days. It would have been the same on the third. What a game for the largest recorded cricket crowd at this great ground to see. Perhaps 20,000 were English.
Batting’s race to the bottom
England have really struggled with the bat in this series, with only Joe Root making a century. But, sneakily, Australia’s batting order is in a bit of a state too, with Jake Weatherald struggling, Marnus Labuschagne averaging 20.8 in 2025, Usman Khawaja now 39, and Cameron Green plummeting down the order. Only Travis Head and Alex Carey, with help from Mitchell Starc, have held it together. Here, they were bowled out twice in 79.5 overs, which is quicker than they have been bowled out twice in a Test since 1928.
At times, this game resembled a race to the bottom with the bat. Yes, the pitch did more than it should in the first two days. But there were some dreadful dismissals too, in an era where the techniques and temperaments of batsman are just not set up to tough it out. Bowlers from both sides cashed in on cricket’s equivalent of the Boxing Day sales.
Excluding a washout at Nottingham in 1926, only two Ashes Tests since the 19th century have not featured a single individual half-century: this match, and Edgbaston 1981, amid another crazy series. The highest score was Travis Head’s second-innings 46.
Scott Boland, Test opener
Perhaps the biggest roar of the whole Test came when Scott Boland, promoted to open as nightwatchman, guided Gus Atkinson past England’s bulging slip cordon for four. The local hero, he of six for seven, Build-the-Man-a-Statue fame, played consummately, just a few hours after recording a first innings golden duck.
Brydon Carse, Test No 3
Brydon Carse is one of many enigmatic cricketers in this England team. He has had an utterly baffling tour: electric in Perth, all over the shop since. But he has the utter faith of his captain, to the point that he opens the bowling.
On the opening day, his wayward, wasteful spell was arguably the difference between the sides. Every other seamer was on the money, but he was all over the shop. Yet he found a way to get into the game, pulling off England’s first Ashes run-out in 11 Tests. On day two, he was much better, picking up four crucial wickets, including a superb caught-and-bowled in his follow through to get Michael Neser.
In their chase of 175, England started with a partnership of 51, their best for the first wicket in the series and just the second 50-stand of the match. Ben Duckett made a crazy, caffeinated 34, which featured huge cheers when he deigned to defend, but the loss of his wicket saw Carse make a surprise appearance at No 3. The nighthawk? More the teahawk. He gave a huge swing at his first ball, and missed, and was eventually caught at third man for six. A crazy contribution to a crazy match.
Brydon Carse swings in Melbourne - Getty Images/Martin Keep
18 matches without a win across almost 15 years
That is – or was – England’s wait for a victory in Australia. A run that seemed like it would never end is now over. On the unforgettable 2010-11 tour, England won three matches by an innings. But with a whitewash in 2013-14 and a pair of 4-0s following then this, the death throes of Bazball, have made for a wretched sequence in the biggest series of all. Sixteen losses, two draws, and finally a win.
The context of this tour is vital. England came into this game under the pump, having prepared so poorly and being so wasteful across the first three days. Before this game, they were batting off questions about the Noosa farrago, and dealing with the loss of Jofra Archer, easily their best bowler across the series. The mood was not exactly festively, but two days is a long time in Ashes cricket.
What a difference eight years makes
In 2017, England recorded one of those two draws came at the MCG. In it, Alastair Cook made an unbeaten 244, the highest score by a visiting batsman on the great ground. It was an epic feat, but because just 24 wickets fell in five days of cricket, the pitch was given the lowest rating possible by the ICC, setting in train a change of strategy at the MCG, a venue that sought more life in its drop-in surfaces. Anyway, Cook’s innings lasted 634 minutes, and he was at the crease for all 144.1 overs of the innings. This time, the first three innings did not last as long as that in minutes, and just 109.4 overs in total.
The great man’s influence
Perhaps the only thing about this game that Shane Warne would not have loved was that not a single over of spin was bowled. But his influence was writ large: his son Jackson buzzed around the ground, speaking to anyone and everyone; the Shane Warne Legacy charity was providing free health checks for fans; and at 3.50pm on both days, every fan in the ground bowed and took off their hats in memory of his iconic celebration.
Bad for business
When the Perth Test lasted just two days, the estimates were that it would cost Australian cricket somewhere between $5-8m. This will be plenty more, given the huge volume of ticket sales for the third day. Speaking on broadcaster SEN before play on the second day, the Cricket Australia chief executive did not strike a positive tone.
“A simple phrase I’d use is short Tests are bad for business,” he said. “I can’t be much more blunt than that.”
There have only been four two-day Tests in Australia ever. The first was at Melbourne in 1934. The next three have come in 2022, 2025, and 2025.
The St. Louis Blues were heavy participants in the IIHF World Junior Championships the past two years.
It's slim picking this year with just two (Adam Jecho had to bow out for Czechia with a hand injury) in defenseman Adam Jiricek (2024 first round, No. 16) for Czechia and goalie Love Harenstam (2025 sixth round, No. 179) for Sweden, and Harenstam is off to a strong start.
He made 23 saves in the opening game on Friday when the tournament opened at Grand Casino Arena, home of the Minnesota Wild, in St. Paul, Minn. when Sweden opened with a 3-2 win over Slokavia.
The Swedes won the game when Ivar Stenberg, younger brother of 2023 Blues first-round pick Otto Stenberg, scored the eventual game-winner with 3:57 remaining in regulation.
Harenstam, 18, entered the tournament after playing in 19 games for Sodertalje SK in Sweden's HockeyAllsvenskan with a 1.90 goals-against average and .918 save percentage.
Sweden will look to improve to 2-0 in group play when it faces Switzerland on Sunday at Grand Casino Arena at 1 p.m. in Group A play.
As for Jiricek and the Czechs, it wasn't as good of an opener when they fell to Canada, 7-5, in the final game of the night at 3M Arena at Mariucci, the home of the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
The 19-year-old who has been tearing it up with 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists) for Brantford of the Ontario Hockey League, did not factor in the scoring for Czechia and was a minus-2 with four shots on goal and a game-high 23:04 time on ice.
The Czech's have no time to fret and will look to rebound in group play when they face Denmark on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at 3M Arena at Mariucci in Group B play.
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Michigan football won’t have to wait too much longer for its new coach.
Kyle Whittingham will join the Wolverines in Orlando, Florida, ahead of U-M’s Citrus Bowl date with Texas on Wednesday, Dec. 31 (3 p.m., ABC), the Michigan and Utah programs announced on Friday night.
Whittingham, who stepped down at Utah earlier this month and was signed to a five-year contract by Michigan on Friday, was originally set to coach the Utes in their Las Vegas Bowl game against Nebraska on Wednesday, with kickoff set for approximately 30 minutes after the Wolverines’ game at Camping World Stadium.
Instead, Whittingham will turn the reins over to Morgan Scalley — the defensive coordinator promoted as his replacement soon after Whittingham’s resignation, as well as the Utes’ longtime coach-in-waiting — and join the Wolverines immediately.
“After discussions with Coach Whittingham, his representatives and the University of Michigan, we have granted their request to allow him to join the Michigan program immediately.”
The Wolverines have been coached for the past week by assistant Biff Poggi, a candidate for the full-time job who posted an endorsement of Whittingham after news broke of the hire on Friday night: "Michigan Football is in GREAT hands under Kyle Whittingham. ... " Poggi wrote in a post on X. "Proven winner, true gentleman, tough nosed Michigan coach of days gone by. Great hire by Warde Manuel. The kids will love him. Exciting days ahead for Michigan."
Michigan football won’t have to wait too much longer for its new coach.
Kyle Whittingham will join the Wolverines in Orlando, Florida, ahead of U-M’s Citrus Bowl date with Texas on Wednesday, Dec. 31 (3 p.m., ABC), the Michigan and Utah programs announced on Friday night.
Whittingham, who stepped down at Utah earlier this month and was signed to a five-year contract by Michigan on Friday, was originally set to coach the Utes in their Las Vegas Bowl game against Nebraska on Wednesday, with kickoff set for approximately 30 minutes after the Wolverines’ game at Camping World Stadium.
Instead, Whittingham will turn the reins over to Morgan Scalley — the defensive coordinator promoted as his replacement soon after Whittingham’s resignation, as well as the Utes’ longtime coach-in-waiting — and join the Wolverines immediately.
“After discussions with Coach Whittingham, his representatives and the University of Michigan, we have granted their request to allow him to join the Michigan program immediately.”
The Wolverines have been coached for the past week by assistant Biff Poggi, a candidate for the full-time job who posted an endorsement of Whittingham after news broke of the hire on Friday night: "Michigan Football is in GREAT hands under Kyle Whittingham. ... " Poggi wrote in a post on X. "Proven winner, true gentleman, tough nosed Michigan coach of days gone by. Great hire by Warde Manuel. The kids will love him. Exciting days ahead for Michigan."
Miami's Norman Powell scored 25 points to lead the Heat in an NBA victory over Atlanta (Todd Kirkland)
Chicago's Coby White scored nine of his 13 points in the fourth quarter and the Bulls rallied to beat Philadelphia 109-102 on Friday, stretching their win streak to five games.
Reserves Tre Jones and Zach Collins each scored 15 points while White added seven rebounds and six assists as Chicago scored the last 10 points to win, improving to 15-15.
"It was a 'grind it out' win coming off Christmas. It was sloppy, a little bit, but we got the win," White said.
"There's no quit in us. To come back and win five straight, that says a lot about our character and who we are."
Joel Embiid, who led the 76ers with 31 points, sank a layup to give the Sixers a 102-99 lead with 3:45 remaining before the Bulls stampeded to the finish.
Jalen Smith made a slam dunk and White sank a three-pointer that put Chicago ahead for good.
White slipped on the court on the next Chicago possession but, while sitting in the lane, passed the ball to Jones to assist his layup. Jones added another layup and a free throw for the final margin.
"We kept fighting. We kept being us and we stayed together," White said. "Everybody contributed down the stretch and we made some big-time plays."
Tyrese Maxey added 27 points for the 76ers, who squandered a 24-point lead in losing to Chicago last month.
Eastern Conference leader Detroit was upset 131-129 at Utah when Keyonte George sank the winning jump shot with 2.1 seconds remaining.
Cade Cunningham made two tying free throws with 18.1 seconds remaining but missed a winning three-point attempt at the buzzer.
The loss snapped Detroit's three-game win streak and dropped the Pistons' East lead over New York to 2.5 games. Utah (11-19) snapped a four-game losing skid.
George led Utah with 31 points while Lauri Markkanen added 30. Cunningham led Detroit with 29 points and 17 assists.
Off the court, there was a setback for the Los Angeles Lakers, who revealed guard Austin Reaves will miss at least the next four weeks with a left calf strain. He was injured in a Thursday loss to Houston.
At Indianapolis, Boston's Jaylen Brown scored 30 points while Payton Pritchard added 29 points and nine rebounds to lead the Celtics in a 140-122 victory over Indiana.
Boston's Sam Hauser added 23 points off the bench, hitting 7-of-8 three pointers on his only shots of the game.
The Celtics (19-11) won their fourth game in a row while the Pacers (6-25) saw their losing streak reach seven games.
The Washington Wizards, powered by 23 points from Kyshawn George and 21 each from C.J. McCollum and Bilal Coulibaly, defeated visiting Toronto 138-117.
The Wizards improved to 6-23, moving ahead of Indiana to escape the NBA basement, while the Raptors, led by Brandon Ingram's 29 points, fell to 18-14.
Coulibaly, a 21-year-old French guard, added eight rebounds and three steals to his season-best scoring total as Washington rallied from a 73-62 halftime deficit.
"We were a little soft not touching them. We came back with physicality. That's what we needed," Coulibaly said of the fightback.
"Guys were finding me in the right spot. I feel like I'm getting my rhythm back. We just rolled."
- Heat, Suns win -
Norman Powell scored 25 points and Pelle Larsson added 21 to lead Miami's 126-111 victory at Atlanta.
The Heat snapped a three-game losing skid while the Hawks dropped their fifth in a row.
Trae Young led Atlanta with 30 points while Jalen Johnson added 24 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.
Phoenix's Devin Booker scored 30 points to lead the Suns in a 115-108 victory at New Orleans. Reserve Zion Williamson had 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Pelicans.
Charlotte's LaMelo Ball scored 22 points to lead the Hornets in a 120-105 triumph at Orlando while Jaren Jackson led Memphis with 24 points and nine rebounds in a 125-104 home victory over Milwaukee.
Another year of college and amateur golf is in the books.
As the year winds down, it's time to look back at some of the best moments throughout the year in the college and amateur game. Whether it was teenagers breaking out on a national stage or established players making history in their own journey, it was an exciting year for fans who follow golf up-and-coming stars.
Let's take a look back at some of the biggest stories of the year, starting with perhaps the biggest breakout of them all.
Mason Howell's arrival
First, Howell won medalist honors at a U.S. Open qualifier to earn his first major championship start. Then he won medalist honors at the U.S. Junior Amateur. That wasn't enough. He got into the U.S. Amateur match-play bracket via a playoff and proceeded to win the biggest amateur championship in the world and represented the U.S. on the Walker Cup team, going 2-1. Mason Howell is here.
It's hard to describe what an incredible week it was at the Walker Cup. Cypress Point is one of the cathedrals of golf in the entire world, ranked No.1 on Golfweek's Best list of Classic Courses in the U.S., and it was a perfect venue for many of the best amateurs in the U.S. and Great Britain & Ireland to battle it out. The crowds were spectacular, sights breathtaking and Cypress Point got to show off in primetime. Hard to find how it wasn't an unforgetable week for players and fans alike.
Megha Ganne's crowning moment
From one Pacific coast beauty to another, Bandon Dunes was spectacular theater for the 2025 U.S. Women's Amateur, but perhaps it's fitting that Megha Ganne found a way to come out on top. She's long been a star in the game of golf, but her triumph at Bandon Dunes was her crowning achievement on one of the biggest stages in golf. She was spectacular all week in Oregon and got to hoist the trophy after a dominant week.
Luke Clanton's stellar run
Luke Clanton was a professional for more than half the year, but the first five months of 2025 belonged to Clanton in the amateur game. The former No. 1 earned his PGA Tour card thanks to his play in those events, and he also dominated at the collegiate level, winning the Ben Hogan Award and nearly claiming the Fred Haskins, too. Now, it seems he's due for his first PGA Tour win in 2026.
Lottie Woad's remarkable consistency
From one former Florida State No. 1 amateur to another, Woad was a constant presence near the top of leaderboards all year. So much so, that she won the Women's Irish Open as an amateur and then finished third at the Amundi Evian Championship, locking up her LPGA card and turning pro the next week. And then guess what? She went and won the women's Scottish Open. She won the 2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur to put her on the map, but she was destined to be a star long before.
LPGA's LEAP makes debut
And how did Woad get her card? LEAP is how. The program, which is similar to PGA Tour University in that college players earn points based on finishes in top college and amateur events to provide a pathway directly to the Tour, had a stellar debut with Woad earning her card after the third-place finish at the Amundi Evian. Don't be surprised to see Kiara Romero earn her LPGA card via the same pathway in 2026.
Division II history
There was a college golfer who made Division II history this fall. Drew Zielinski, a senior at Lee University, won the Golfweek Fripp Island to Bermuda Invitational, becoming the first player to win a D-II event that offered an exemption into a PGA Tour event. He later played in the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, where he finished T-15 in the field in birdies made but just missed the cut.
Niel Phillips had a day he will never forget in October. He aced the same hole not once, but twice in the same day. Phillips began the first round on Monday on the 182-yard hole, and he pulled a 6-iron and made it on his first shot of the day. He shot even-par 72 in the opening round before returning to the eighth hole in the afternoon for the second shotgun start of the day. This time, he hit a 7-iron. Different club, same result. His second ace in about 6 hours in the same spot where he made the first one.
It's coming. A 59 in a college golf event is going to happen soon, possibly in the spring. It happened early this year in a practice round, with Utah's Sergio Jimenez accomplishing the feat. But how long until it happens in competition?
After missing the first 14 games of this season due to sciatica, LeBron James has looked more like his usual self over the last few weeks. In his last seven games, he has averaged 25.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and six assists a contest while shooting 53.3% from the field and 35.3% from 3-point range.
But his performance on Christmas Day in the Los Angeles Lakers' 119-96 loss to the Houston Rockets left something to be desired. He took a modest 13 shot attempts, making seven of them, and ended up with 18 points and five assists. He didn't assert himself that much, and according to one ESPN personality, his body language was poor.
Kendrick Perkins said that James' body language was "awful," and he seemed to suggest that the superstar needs to be traded.
"When he's not engaged or he feels some type of way, it speaks in his body language. Last night his body language was awful. He was not engaged, he was pouting, he was moping, he was walking up and down the damn floor, he was complaining.
"LeBron and the Lakers -- their relationship has run its course, and they need to figure out a solution and the solution is not him being in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform. ... He knows that this roster is not built. ... He knows that this roster don't have enough."
James does have somewhat of a history of displaying poor body language when things haven't gone well for his team. Right now, things aren't exactly going well for the Lakers.
After starting the season 15-4, they have lost six of their last 10 games, and their lackluster defense is being exposed by the rest of the league. Following Thursday's loss, coach JJ Redick publicly called out the lack of effort and execution by his players and accused them of not caring enough.
Even worse, Austin Reaves, who has arguably been playing at a borderline superstar level this season, will now be out for at least four weeks due to a Grade 2 gastrocnemius strain. He recently missed three games due to a left calf strain, and he didn't play in the second half of Thursday's game after experiencing soreness in that same left calf.
Another club has emerged as a contender to acquire oft-maligned Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka — Napoli.
However, one obstacle is that Napoli wants Goretzka…now.
While that would make Goretzka’s vocal legion of haters happy (Come on, show your faces in the comments! 🤣), the Bavarians would probably not thin out their depth for the stretch run of the season:
Napoli are looking to strengthen their midfield in January and see Leon Goretzka as the preferred candidate. However, Bayern are unlikely to sell Goretzka mid-season even though his contract will expire in the summer. Therefore the Italian champions are looking at other names like Kobbie Mainoo, Soungoutou Magassa and Lorenzo Pellegrini.
Goretzka seems to have a lot of clubs eager to bring him now right now. For his sake, let’s hope that remains the same for the summer and he can land on his feet after leaving Bayern Munich — which seems inevitable at this point.
Bayern Munich has been closely linked to Crystal Palace center-back Marc Guéhi for months now, but Manchester United could be looking to swoop in and steal the England international:
One of the top targets remain Jarrad Branthwaite. The Everton defender’s Premier League experience, physical presence, and improving composure in possession make him a strong candidate for Amorim’s system.
Another key option is Marc Guéhi. Beyond his defensive quality and leadership, Guéhi also helps United meet homegrown player requirements, an increasingly important factor in squad construction.
United are also casting an eye toward the future. Honest Ahanor, the highly rated 17-year-old from Atalanta, is firmly on the club’s radar. Seen as a high-upside project, Ahanor fits Amorim’s preference for recruiting young talents who can be developed internally.
On the left side, Nathaniel Brown is another name being considered. His athleticism and comfort pushing forward make him an appealing option in a system that demands attacking output from wide defenders.
Sure, Bayern Munich has met with Guéhi’s representatives multiple times, but that does not guarantee anything. As a pending free agent, the wild west opens up for Guéhi in just a few days. Will Bayern Munich be ready for a battle?
Alaba’s exit from Bayern Munich was not exactly smooth, but he is still a beloved figure in the club’s history. As far as Alaba and Real Madrid go, well, Total Recall has a line for that:
Former Bayern Munich star and current FC Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski was once rumored to eschew the thought of going to Saudi Arabia.
Now?
Maybe not:
Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski is keen to continue playing for as long as possible and is tempted by a two-year deal in Saudi Arabia, according to AS. The 37-year-old’s agent, Pina Zahavi, is set to meet Saudi Pro League representatives about a deal that would compete financially with the one currently on the table from MLS’ Chicago Fire. Meanwhile, the Spanish champions are keeping a watchful eye on the form of Levante striker Etta Eyong, according to Fabrizio Romano, with the forward enhancing his reputation by scoring the winning goal for Cameroon against Gabon at the Africa Cup of Nations on Christmas Eve.
The money could be overwhelming, but it still seems like a longshot that the “sometimes Foul Pole” would move his family to to Saudi Arabia at the moment.
Manchester United defensive midfielder Casemiro will be on the move…but to where? MLC and the Middle East are both eager to bring him in:
Casemiro’s future is approaching a decisive moment as his Manchester United contract runs toward its conclusion, with growing interest from Major League Soccer and the Middle East shaping the next chapter of his career. The Brazilian midfielder remains a respected figure at Old Trafford, but any extension beyond the current deal is far from straightforward, sources close to the agents industry have informed CaughtOffside.
While a new contract remains on the table, United are reluctant to activate a 12-month option at Casemiro’s existing salary level, making it clear that any stay would require a significant pay cut. That stance has opened the door to serious conversations elsewhere. In MLS, Columbus Crew have emerged as a particularly strong option. Columbus would likely need to structure a deal outside the designated player (DP) slot, placing Casemiro on a lower wage band supplemented by incentives, bonuses, and appearance-related triggers.
The financial contrast becomes stark when compared with Saudi Arabia. Interest from Al Nassr, Al Ittihad, and Al Hilal is described as firm, with all three capable of offering substantially more aggressive salary packages than any MLS side. A Saudi move would likely include a sizeable signing bonus, a high weekly wage, and performance-related add-ons.
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…
Yahoo! Sports | Jared Bloom: The beginning of Camilo Doval’s time with the Yankees did not go as anticipated. After being acquired at the trade deadline, the former San Francisco Giants closer struggled to transition to a mid-inning role. Despite this rough introduction to the pinstripes, however, manager Aaron Boone and the Yankees are “optimistic” that Doval will build on his strong end to the 2025 season and be the key bullpen piece he was acquired to be.
Sports Illustrated | Joseph Randazzo: Speaking to New York Post reporter Greg Joyce, manager Aaron Boone revealed that Amed Rosario, who re-signed with the Yankees earlier this month after being acquired at the trade deadline from the Washington Nationals last season, has been spending time in Tampa working at first base. When it was revealed that Rosario was learning the position, it seemed a bit of a new development, designed to allow the Yankees additional flexibility on their bench; Boone, however, revealed that Rosario had begun to learn the cold corner while with Washington, although he had never gotten into a game at the position.
MLB.com: MLB.com released their annual “Each team’s prospect to watch for 2026” list yesterday. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Yankees’ prospect to watch is Spencer Jones. Although the site ranks him as the organization’s 4th overall prospect, his 35-homer season has put him in position to force his way into what Bryan Hoch describes as “a crowded outfield picture.”
The Athletic | Jayson Stark: (subscription required) Jayson Stark of The Athletic is wrapping up 2025 with a year-end “Strange But True,” pulling together all the best stuff from his weekly series. The Yankees only appeared twice — one a memory we don’t want to remember (it’s ALDS-related), and one that we definitely do (the Fried Rice battery). Still, if you have a subscription to The Athletic, it’s worth a read.
Real Oviedo seal first signing of January transfer window
Real Oviedo are in dire need of improvement in the second half of the season, and have made their first signing of the January transfer window to that end. Los Carbayones currently sit second-bottom, with just 11 points to their name, and a gap of five to make up in order to get themselves to safety.
Their first signing of the winter window, and indeed the Guillermo Almada era, will be a compatriot of their new manager. Midfielder Nicolas Fonseca has been brought in on loan until the end of the season from Club Leon in Mexico.
Nicolas Fonseca adds to midfield options
After spending time at AC Milan as a youngster, Fonseca returned to Uruguay to play for River Plate (URU) and then Montevideo Wanderers, before a €2.07m to River Plate across the water in Buenos Aires. In January last year, Fonseca made a €2.15m switch to Club Leon, where he has 15 appearances, of which 13 were starts.
Image via Real Oviedo.
With six caps to his name, Fonseca is also hoping to earn himself a spot in Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay squad for the 2026 World Cup next summer.
Real Oviedo’s needs in January
Undoubtedly Real Oviedo’s biggest need is up front. Veteran Venezuelan forward Salomon Rondon has struggled to replicate his form from yesteryear in La Liga, while Federico Vinas has also been estranged from goals. Between them, just three goals have come, contributing to their league-wide lowest total of seven. Oviedo have been linked with Bournemouth forward Enes Unal, who is seeking more game time in the second half of the season.
Oviedo have rotated through their midfield options this season, but Fonseca will be competing for a spot with Leander Dendoncker, Alberto Reina, Santiago Colombatto, Kwasi Sibo, Luka Ilic, Brandon Domingues and Santi Cazorla. There has been a suggestion that Sibo could be on the move in January too.
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With undisputed champion Naoya Inoue off the heels of an unanimous decision win against Murodjon Akhmadaliev in September, the Japanese boxer is set to defend his titles against Mexican Alan David Picasso.
The undefeated Inoue (31-0-0) battles undefeated Picasso (32-0-1) in an epic pay-per-view super bantamweight title bout in Saudi Arabia.
On Saturday, Nov. 22, The Ring V: Night of the Samurai, Inoue vs. Picasso takes place at Mohammed Abdo Arena in Riyadh, with a start time of 3 a.m. ET/12 a.m. PT. Ringwalk for the main event is expected around 7:55 a.m. ET/4:55 a.m. PT.
Inoue vs. Picasso is available as a PPV boxing event priced at $39.99 for DAZN subscribers.
However, if you’re not a subscriber, you can sign up for DAZN’s new “Ultimate Tier” plan for just $44.99/month to get access to this PPV event, as well as 11 other PPV events throughout the year at no extra cost — just the flat monthly subscription price. The plan also have access to more than 100 live fights all year long, as well as fight replays, highlights and documentaries.
Naoya Inoue vs. Alan David Picasso Odds & Predictions
For the main event, Inoue is the favorite to win against Picasso. Oddsmakers give Naoya Inoue a -3500 moneyline, while Alan David Picasso received a line of +1300, as the underdog. Want more odds? Check out the complete odds and wagers at BetMGM.com online here.
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Will there be any Karate Combat events in 2026 or ever again? The future is unclear, but the whole show seemed suspicious with how much money they were paying athletes despite know clear source of revenue. Their last card was delayed quite a few hours before finally starting, and the primary talk was that unpaid workers opted not to set up the pit.
Financial Crisis at Karate Combat as Fighters, Vendors, and Partners Allege Non-Paymenthttps://t.co/LDconL3N99
I’m also hearing from multiple sources that Karate Combat is likely to have its promotion license suspended for a year after the debacle of KC 58 https://t.co/vLnN2pGJoP
Hey @KarateCombat & @onlylarping, I’ve been waiting since July for my 2 months of pending salary (~$1000). I was told it was coming "soon" back in October, but now my messages are being ignored. It’s disappointing to see a global league fail to pay its workers. #KarateCombat
🚨 Karate Combat $KARATE on Hedera may be in a crisis as allegations arise about unpaid fighters and staff, raising concerns about $KARATE's stability heading into 2026.
Blockchain data allegedly shows millions of tokens have been sold from Dec 24' onwards. Source:… pic.twitter.com/E6aZPhnPTL
Chase DeMoor might be the worst boxer I’ve ever seen. Getting to watch Andy Ruiz obliterate him inside 60 seconds would be a new peak for influencer boxing.
Top C. 🤝 I duck zero smoke because I fully believe in order to test my limits I must put myself in uncomfortable situations. I’ll get the job done pic.twitter.com/wV3SyVmY37
Losing to Charles Johnson is a great way to book a ranked opponent.
Per sources, a flyweight bout is in the works for March 14 as Lone'er Kavanagh (9-1) locks horns with Bruno Silva (15-7-2) at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/RPTZXsvwD2
The Miami Heat have had a rollercoaster season with a 16-15 record after 31 games. Despite some disappointment after the hot start to the year, there were some promising signs for head coach Erik Spoelstra and the Heat.
Players like Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic have carved out roles for themselves, as the former has become a top scorer for Miami. On the other hand, Jovic has continued to improve as a role player, which Spoelstra appreciates.
Spoelstra believes Jovic is standing out under the radar
When people speak about the Heat, most people will bring up the stars, which are Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and Norman Powell. They also have Kel'el Ware, who is the most prominent young player on the roster.
It is a promising roster because they have a good mix of talented veterans and youngsters. Spoelstra always wants to make a difference with his team, and he feels Jovic's performance against the Atlanta Hawks was quite impressive. In just 21 minutes, he had 10 points, seven rebounds, and four assists off the bench.
Spoelstra can be a tough coach to impress, as seen with his dynamic with Ware. However, Jovic is a different story because he has been one of the Heat's long-term projects for the past few years. Spoelstra is seeing the results, so he sees a bright future ahead.
"I think this was a good step for him to contribute and impact the game without making shots. You didn't see the body language stuff when he misses open 3s or layups/turnovers. He got onto the next play. He did some very good things. When he gets in better rhythm, I have no doubt the shooting will be better," Spoelstra said about Jovic's game.
Moving forward, Jovic could be one of the most impactful players on the roster. Of course, Jovic is not a star player like some of his teammates, but he will do his best to be impactful.
Spoelstra has long-term plans, and if Jovic continues to play like this, he will be part of them. It will be a promising future for the Heat and their fans, which should be quite exciting.
We’ve heard several Virginia Tech players reveal their intentions to return in 2026 over the past week. Only a few have announced intentions to enter the transfer portal. On Friday, redshirt sophomore quarterback William “Pop” Watson confirmed he was entering the portal.
This should come as no surprise. The 5-foot-11, 201-pound native of Springfield, Massachusetts, served as Kyron Drones’ backup in 2025. Watson played in only two games, completing 2 of 4 passes for 77 yards. He also rushed for 22 yards and a touchdown.
Watson is the second Virginia Tech quarterback to announce he’s entering the portal, following Garret Rangel. Drones’ eligibility expired, meaning the Hokies will be without their top three quarterbacks from 2025. Again, no surprise. Head coach James Franklin is looking to upgrade the position and has the means to do so. He’ll likely add at least two quarterbacks from the portal. Kelden Ryan and A.J. Brand are current quarterbacks on the Virginia Tech roster, both of whom will be redshirt freshmen in 2026. The Hokies received a commitment from quarterback Troh Huhn in the 2026 recruiting class.
Watson is best remembered for his start against Virginia to end the 2024 regular season. He completed 14 of 21 passes for 254 yards and a touchdown, and also rushed for 48 yards and another score. Overall, he played in five games in 2024, making two starts.
For his Virginia Tech career, Watson appeared in 11 total games, completing 36 of 63 (57%) passing attempts for 558 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He rushed for 81 yards and two touchdowns.
Since winning the title, Michin and B-Fab have had a problem with Cargill's attitude. Cargill confronted them a few weeks ago after overhearing them talking about her attitude problem. Last month, Cargill defeated B-Fab in a non-title match in two minutes. Two weeks ago, Cargill threw Michin into a wall. Last week, Michin got revenge by attacking the champion with a kendo stick.
During Friday night's episode, Byron Saxton confronted Cargill about her feud with Michin. She said Michin wouldn't confront her to her face because she's afraid of her. She encouraged Michin to bring the kendo stick because she'll need it. Cargill declared, "I don't need weapons, I am the weapon."
B-Fab doesn't want anyone getting hurt on her behalf and recommended to play it safe. Michin reminded her that they're not scared of Cargill, they just don't respect her because "she's no locker room leader, she has a horrible attitude, and because she has bigger muscles she thinks she's better than us and can walk all over us? No. She needs to get humbled."
"SmackDown" moves to three hours next week. Already announced is Aleister Black vs. Damian Priest's rematch in an Ambulance Match. There will also be an eight-woman tag match between Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, Lash Legend and Nia Jax, Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY, and tag team champions, Asuka and Kairi Sane.
“It’s possible that while Anthopoulos was discussing trades, he couldn’t agree on a deal that Ozuna’s agent could also sign off on. Just because Ozuna is leaving the deadline out of his hands doesn’t mean the 10-5 rights go out the window. He could have simply handed over those rights to his agent for the discussions,” SI’s Harrison Smajovits wrote.
With Ozuna aging and other factors at play, he isn’t an especially appealing free agent candidate so far this offseason.
“The problem Ozuna faces now is that he has only gotten older, his performance last season was subpar at best, and the teams that were previously considered to be landing spots for him feel unlikely to pursue him this offseason especially with how more and more organizations are treating the DH position,” HTHB’s Eric Cole wrote.
FanSided’s Christopher Kline believes the Cleveland Guardians could sign Ozuna to a low-risk deal, adding protection in the lineup alongside José Ramírez.
“This Cleveland Guardians team desperately needs more pop in the heart of the lineup. Kyle Manzardo made a strong first impression as a rookie. Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana are coming behind him as top prospects who can rip it. But even if it's a one-year deal, Ozuna has the goods to protect José Ramírez in the heart of the order and pop a few more dingers than Cleveland fans are used to,” Kline wrote.
The Guardians won the AL Central last year after a late-season comeback against the Detroit Tigers. Ozuna, meanwhile, just wants to finish his career on a strong note after a difficult 2025 season.
Cleveland is a playoff-caliber team that could benefit from Ozuna’s bat and veteran presence in the clubhouse. This type of one-year deal could pay major dividends for the Guardians.
The Rogers State Hillcats women’s basketball team erased a 4-point deficit entering the final quarter and exploded for 27 fourth-quarter points to defeat Oklahoma Christian Eagles 70-66 last Saturday at the Claremore Expo Center.
RSU [4-8] leaned on pressure defense and efficient ball movement to flip the game, scoring 19 points off turnovers and piling up 40 points in the paint. Despite Oklahoma Christian [5-6] leading twice and tying the game five times, the Hillcats’ late surge proved decisive.
RSU set the tone early, opening the game on a 7-0 run sparked by an Ella Hafer layup and a fast-break 3 from Samantha Shanks.
The Hillcats controlled the paint throughout the opening quarter, building an 18-12 lead behind inside buckets from Destiny Jones and Michelle Arens.
The Eagles rallied late in the second quarter, capitalizing on RSU turnovers to edge ahead 25-24 at halftime.
Oklahoma Christian maintained momentum into the third quarter, but steals from Hafer and Kate Melton helped keep the Hillcats within striking distance. RSU entered the final frame trailing 47-43.
Everything changed in the fourth.
Shanks drilled a 3-pointer at the 6:53 mark to tie the game at 50, and the Hillcats never looked back.
Bailey Layman buried a clutch 3 with 2:05 remaining to give RSU the lead, then added a jumper moments later. Ataya Casaus sealed the outcome with a tough jumper in the paint with 37 seconds left, as RSU closed the quarter on a 27-19 run.
Casaus and Shanks each scored 14 points, with Shanks adding 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Layman finished with 12 points, while Jones added 10 points and 2 steals.
Taylor Jackson led Oklahoma Christian with 22 points and 9 rebounds, while Sofia Lopez chipped in 10 points.
The Hillcats return to action on New Year’s Day in Wichita, Kansas, against Newman Jets at 5:30 p.m.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
On the men’s side, Jabryn Anderson delivered a performance rarely seen in Claremore.
Anderson recorded a triple-double — 12 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds — to lead Rogers State men’s basketball to an 87–59 win over Texas A&M–Kingsville at Northside Sports Gym in the final game of the River City Holiday Classic on Dec. 17. He became just the second Hillcat to record a triple-double in program history.
RSU dominated from the opening minutes, building a 17-point halftime lead behind sharp shooting and relentless defense.
The Hillcats knocked down 11 3-pointers, dished out 25 assists and forced 16 turnovers, converting those miscues into 23 points.
Caden Fry sparked the offense early with multiple 3-pointers and closed the first half with a dunk as RSU led 46-29.
The Hillcats continued to pour it on after halftime, with Benard Omooria opening the half with a 3 and Fry adding another moments later.
Fry finished with a game-high 20 points and 6 rebounds, while Omooria added 14 points. Damondre McKnight chipped in 12 points as RSU cruised to the 28-point victory.
The Hillcats will face Newman on New Year’s Day in Wichita at 7:30 p.m.
MEN'S SOCCER
Rogers State men’s soccer capped a historic season with its highest national ranking ever.
The Hillcats [14-4-5] finished sixth in the final United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll, marking a landmark achievement in coach Jake Simpson’s first season.
RSU hosted the first three rounds of the NCAA Tournament, earning home wins over No. 17 Cedarville and No. 15 Lincoln before advancing to the quarterfinals.
Rogers State also finished second in both the GAC/MIAA regular-season and tournament standings.
Alex Laing claimed the program’s first GAC/MIAA Defensive Player of the Year award, while Louis Bassett and Artur Carvalho earned All-GAC/MIAA First Team honors.
The accolades continued at the national level.
Laing was named a D2CCA All-America Second Team selection, Bassett earned United Soccer Coaches All-America Third Team honors and Brandon O’Rourke and Jaxon Kendall were recognized as College Sports Communicators Academic All-Americans.
Claremore’s football season was already one for the record books, and the District 5A-4 honors only reinforced it.
Coming off an 8-4 campaign that included a first-round playoff upset of District 5A-3 champion Coweta and a third-straight trip to the Class 5A quarterfinals — a school first — the Zebras were well represented on the District 5A-4 All-District teams .
Leading the way was Hayden Lee, who was named Outside Linebacker of the Year after a two-way season that showcased his versatility.
Lee totaled 62 tackles, a sack, 5 interceptions and a fumble recovery on defense, while also contributing 32 receptions for 394 yards and 6 touchdowns on offense. He added a punt return touchdown as well, impacting games in all three phases.
In the trenches, Ladon King shared Defensive Lineman of the Year honors, recognition that matched his disruptive production.
King finished with 48 tackles, including 16 tackles for loss, along with 6 sacks.
Offensively, Cecil Garrett IV earned Running Back of the Year honors after a dominant season in the backfield.
Garrett carried the ball 240 times for 1,565 yards and 19 touchdowns, averaging 6.5 yards per carry and 130.4 yards per game. He also added 11 receptions for 117 yards.
Beyond the headline awards, Claremore placed several additional players on the All-District teams and honorable mention lists — Bryson Hall, Hudson Lee, Blake McCuan, Cam Wolf, Luke Roberts, Landon Phillips, Lex Clark [HM], Logan Dotson [HM] and Josh Carrillo [HM].
Momentum doesn’t always show up in the win column right away.
Sometimes it looks like brief stretches of clarity, a glimpse of what a team can be once the details catch up to the effort.
Claremore boys basketball headed into the Christmas break at 3-4, but the Zebras have offered just enough evidence — particularly in December’s mid-month surge and their balanced district win over Durant — to believe the foundation is forming under first-year coach Randy Rutherford.
The season started with a pair of tough District 5A-4 losses, including a 60-43 defeat to East Central at the Frank Mobra Gymnasium. The turning point in that game came the moment Rickey Bruner’s 3-pointer dropped, sparking a momentum-snatching 10-0 run to end the first quarter.
Claremore had led 11-7 late in the opening frame, but turnovers, including 10 in the first quarter and 26 for the game, fueled the Cardinals' separation and kept the Zebras from ever fully recovering.
“We had the opportunity to try to pull off an upset tonight, but we didn’t,” Rutherford said. “But it allowed us to see a lot of things that we need to work on and correct, and we’ll do that.”
Even in defeat, Rutherford pointed to growth compared to last year’s matchups against the Cardinals, noting Claremore’s improved defensive discipline and the ability to keep East Central well below its previous scoring output.
Tobin McGill was the bright spot, producing a 22-point, 11-rebound double-double.
“Tobin is a great student, great kid and fortunately enough he is a pretty good basketball player as well,” Rutherford said.
Claremore began to find its footing at the Big Dawg Shoot-Out in Vinita, where the Zebras picked up back-to-back wins over host Vinita and Grove before falling 62-52 to Rogers County rival Catoosa in the championship.
The tournament opener against Vinita doubled as Rutherford’s first win at Claremore, and it came after a moment that could have rattled a young team.
The Zebras were assessed a technical foul for dunking during warmups, giving Vinita two free throws before the opening tip.
Rutherford didn’t blink.
“We’re going to beat them by more than 2 points anyway,” he told his team.
Vinita missed both shots, and Claremore never trailed in a 42-36 win powered by Nolan Sherl’s 17 points and defensive disruption, plus timely late baskets from Mike Tarver.
Rutherford also highlighted the impact of Nate Jefferson and McGill despite modest scoring, with both controlling the interior and delivering critical defensive plays down the stretch.
Two nights later, Claremore’s defense again took center stage in a 52-34 semifinal win over Grove, a team that had just beaten Salina 84-26.
The Zebras held Grove to 11 first-half points and rode a steady three-headed effort from McGill [12 points, 10 rebounds], Tarver [13] and Sherl [12].
But the most telling moment came with a 17-point lead.
As Grove closed the third quarter with consecutive 3s, Rutherford used the break before the fourth to challenge his team’s focus.
“This game isn’t over,” he told them. “You are 1-2 right now. You can be 1-3 or 2-2. Which one do you want?”
“2-2, coach,” the team replied.
“Then start playing like it,” Rutherford said.
Claremore responded, stretched the lead to as many as 21 and advanced to the title game — its second straight Big Dawg championship appearance.
While the Zebras’ 62-52 loss to Catoosa in the final exposed ball-security issues [36 turnovers], it also reinforced what Rutherford believes can become the program’s backbone: defense, physicality and a willingness to compete.
That growth showed up again three days later.
In the team’s most balanced offensive outing of the season, Claremore defeated Durant 62-54 at the Doug K. Mosier Athletic Complex, placing five players in double figures.
Sherl, coming off an illness that limited him in the tournament final, erupted for 11 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter after scoring just 2 in the first half.
Tarver finished with 14, Jefferson scored 10 with key momentum-shifting bursts, McGill added 10 and Graham Williams posted 10 points and 8 rebounds, including a layup with 1:51 remaining that helped seal the win.
Claremore’s next test came against district leader Memorial, and the learning curve showed in a 74-28 loss on the road — a harsh reminder of the standard the Zebras are chasing as they build depth and consistency.
Claremore isn't done in 2025, though.
Before entering the new year, the Zebras have a chance to find sustained traction before getting back into District 5A-4 play when they travel to Gravette, Arkansas, for the Gravette Christmas Classic next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Claremore has already shown what it can look like when the ball is protected, the defense travels and multiple scorers contribute in waves.
If the second half of December was any indication, Rutherford’s group has a blueprint, and now it is about stacking it.
“We’re a team in process, and we’re constantly working, and we’re going to get better as the year goes,” Rutherford said after the Durant win. “Hopefully come January and early February, we’ll look like the team we want to start looking like."
Momentum has a way of building quietly, and as Claremore girls basketball heads into the new year, the Lady Zebras are doing so with a belief that didn’t exist a year ago.
Claremore enters the break at 6-2 overall after opening the season with five-straight wins, already matching nearly three-quarters of last season’s eight-win total before December came to a close.
The early surge, paired with competitive losses against some of the state’s toughest competition, has positioned the Lady Zebras as a team finding its identity and confidence under head coach Lynn Roper.
The tone was set immediately.
Claremore opened the 2025-26 campaign with a statement 58-51 road victory at McAlester, powered by a dominant showing from twin sisters Asia and Autumn Roper.
Asia poured in 24 points, while Autumn added 22 behind four 3-pointers, giving the Lady Zebras a one-two punch the Lady Buffaloes couldn’t contain. The poise shown in a tight road environment signaled a team ready to take a step forward.
That confidence carried into a district win over East Central — played inside the historic Frank Mobra Gymnasium — where Asia Roper delivered 26 points and 10 rebounds in an intimate, high-energy setting. Claremore’s defensive pressure forced 23 turnovers, a theme that would become a calling card early in the season.
The Lady Zebras followed by sweeping through the Big Dawg Shoot-Out at Vinita High School, picking up wins over Grove, Kiefer and Salina.
The tournament run culminated in a 63-36 championship victory over Salina, Claremore’s first tournament title since 2016. Asia Roper earned MVP honors after averaging 28 points over three games, while Autumn Roper joined her on the All-Tournament Team.
Along the way, Claremore showed growth beyond its star power.
Freshman Claire Pilkington emerged as a reliable interior presence, Alayna Eberley delivered key two-way performances and Grace Waters provided steady minutes and late-game free throws.
Defensive pressure and timely adjustments fueled multiple decisive runs, including a 15-0 burst against Grove and a game-breaking surge against Salina.
“Now we’ve set the tone,” Asia Roper said after the title game. “We’ve gotta keep winning.”
The Lady Zebras’ first stumble came in heartbreaking fashion, a 62-58 double-overtime loss to Durant in a District 5A-4 showdown.
Claremore surrendered an 11-point fourth-quarter lead and was undone by second-chance points and late-game miscues. While the loss stung, it also reinforced how far the program has come, trading punches with a district favorite deep into double overtime.
The Lady Zebras responded immediately, bouncing back with a gritty 45-42 road win at Memorial. Once again, Asia and Autumn Roper carried the scoring load, while late defensive stops and timely execution sealed the victory.
The break arrives after a challenging 52-41 loss to Class 6A Sand Springs, a reminder of the work still ahead. Still, the bigger picture remains promising.
Claremore owns wins over 5A programs McAlester, East Central and Memorial, captured a tournament championship and enters January with confidence, chemistry and clear leadership.
“We have a good mix of senior leaders and youngsters with a lot of potential,” coach Lynn Roper said. “They have good chemistry, they like each other and are having fun."
The Lady Zebras will look to carry that momentum into the new year when they return to action at 6 p.m. Jan. 6 at home against KIPP Tulsa.
When the 2025 Class 3A-4 All-District honors were released, they read less like a list and more like a recap of one of the most significant seasons Inola football has ever produced.
Coming off a 9-3 campaign that delivered a long-awaited return to playoff relevance, the Longhorns were rewarded with a wave of major awards and all-district selections that reflected both individual excellence and a program-wide breakthrough.
Inola finished 9-3, earning a home playoff game for the first time since 2016 and securing its first winning season since 2019. The nine-win total marked just the sixth time in school history the Longhorns reached that benchmark, and the postseason success carried historic weight as well.
Inola’s first-round playoff victory over Checotah was its first playoff win since 1994 and first home playoff win since 1984 — milestones decades in the making.
The district awards were headlined by Brennan Lawley, who was named Offensive Player of the Year after spearheading an offense that consistently delivered in key moments.
On the defensive front, Inola’s dominance in the trenches was recognized twice, with Alejandro Gallegos and Brock Landsaw both earning Defensive Lineman of the Year honors. Elsewhere, Eddie Yang was named Special Teams Player of the Year.
The district also acknowledged toughness, resilience and impact beyond the stat sheet, as Jenner Estes received the Purple Heart Award.
At the top of it all, Brett Thomas was voted Coach of the Year, a fitting honor for the architect behind Inola’s resurgence.
That success extended well beyond the major awards. Several seniors earned First Team All-District honors, including Micah Schwing at wide receiver, Tyler Yoder on the offensive line, Caleb Helling at defensive line, Angel Mata at inside linebacker and Huston Wilhite in the defensive backfield.
Additional recognition went to Zeke Rodriguez, Caleb Sims, Chance Lawrence, Alejandro Pando and Gus Robertson, all of whom received Honorable Mention honors after playing key roles in the Longhorns’ historic run.
For years, I’ve had the ambition to create true All-County teams for every sport. The problem was never the desire.
It was figuring out how to tackle a project that big without cutting corners or doing it halfway.
Because make no mistake: this is a massive undertaking.
The idea finally became reality this school year after some inspiration from longtime Muskogee Phoenix sports editor Mike Kays — now a correspondent for that paper — whose approach helped crystallize something I’d been circling for a long time.
With the amount of success Rogers County teams experienced this year, and with records and milestones falling at what felt like a record pace, it became clear this was the moment to act.
How could we at the Claremore Progress not recognize what just happened?
So I went all in.
Nomination forms went out to every coach for every sport, and yes, I mean every sport.
This isn’t a football-only venture. Softball, volleyball and cross country are all getting their due. Each sport will feature Players of the Year or MVPs, and each will go at least two teams deep with First Team and Second Team All-County selections. In some cases, depending on the volume and depth of nominations, a third team will be added.
At the heart of this process is one guiding principle: numbers matter.
Although there will always be a degree of opinion involved — that is unavoidable — these teams are being built primarily on statistics.
Numbers aren’t subjective. You can debate style or system, but you can’t argue production.
Strength of schedule will be considered, but it isn’t the be-all, end-all. Some performances are simply too dominant to ignore, regardless of who lined up on the other side.
That balance is important, especially in a county like ours.
Claremore is the largest school, which usually means the toughest schedule, bigger rosters and more depth. That matters.
However, it doesn’t mean the All-County teams should be made up entirely of Zebras. Athletes from every program in Rogers County earned their spots this season, and this project is about recognizing all of them.
Some sports required a different lens.
Cross country, for example, isn’t as simple as circling the fastest time on a results sheet. One great race doesn’t define a season.
That is why coaches were asked to submit both a runner’s fastest time and their average time. Consistency matters. Being great once is impressive. Being great all year is what deserves recognition.
All nominations are now in.
In cases where the margins were razor-thin, I’ll reach out to coaches for additional context. Once that final layer of communication is complete, the All-County teams will be in the process of being finalized.
So get ready, Rogers County.
The Claremore Progress hasn’t done something like this in a long time, and certainly not to this extent.
I’m proud of the work that has gone into it, and I can’t wait to share who made the cut when the All-County teams are released in January 2026.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah's Ace Bailey left Frday night's game against the Detroit Pistons in the first half with a left hip strain and did not return for the second half.
The Jazz rookie was scoreless in 11 minutes but the No. 5 overall pick in this year's draft averages 10.7 points per game. The 6-9 guard had reached double figures in four straight games and has often been on the court during crunch time for the Jazz.
Brice Sensabaugh started the second half in Bailey's spot.
The Tennessee Titans finished their on-field preparations for their game against the New Orleans Saints on Friday and will now head inside to make some last-minute preparations for their Week 17 home finale.
Tennessee enters the contest relatively healthy, with only cornerback Marcus Harris sidelined among those available on the 53-man roster. Edge Femi Oladejo and wide receiver Bryce Oliver practiced, but neither will be activated from injured reserve before the game.
Starting offensive guard Kevin Zeitler was limited and is questionable, and edge Ali Gaye practiced fully and could be activated from injured reserve before the game. He is also listed as questionable heading into the weekend. Cornerback Micah Robinson did not practice due to an illness and is questionable as well.
Linebacker Cedric Gray passed concussion protocol and does not have an injury designation for the week.
The final injury report and game statuses for the Titans and Saints are below.
Tennessee Titans
Out: CB Marcus Harris (knee), Edge Oluwafemi Oladejo (fibula)*, WR Bryce Oliver (knee)*
Doubtful: None
Questionable: OL Kevin Zeitler (groin), CB Micah Robinson (illness), Edge Ali Gaye (knee)*
New Orleans Saints
Out: DT Bryan Bresee (knee), RB Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle), TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden (knee), OL Cesar Ruiz (ankle)
The massive deal would send Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and Chris Paul to the Heat. Miami would trade Tyler Herro, Andrew Wiggins, K asparas Jakučionis and Terry Rozier to the Clippers.
"It's been a while since the Heat had a whale, and if that dry spell doesn't snap soon, mediocrity might become the norm in Miami," Buckley said.
Miami would also send its 2030 and 2032 first-round picks in the trade. Those might be a deal-breaker for the Heat, who have been reluctant to include them in recent trade talks.
"If everything broke right—a more likely scenario than it sounds due to the presence of Erik Spoelstra—the Heat could have enough talent to capitalize on the wide-open Eastern Conference," he wrote.
It would be a steep price to pay. Herro and Jakučionis are considered two foundational pieces, and Wiggins has been a dependable player throughout his career.
"Leonard could serve as the resident superstar, while Harden and Paul would combat the creativity limitations that spurred this squad into running with reckless abandon."
Any team trading for Rozier seems unlikely at this point considering his impending legal status. Paul and the Clippers parted ways earlier this month after he voiced his displeasure with the team's direction.
"Miami has manufactured a fully loaded supporting cast, it just needs the right stars to support. This deal would deliver two without forcing the Heat to dismantle what they've built."
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Zayne Parekh scored twice, Canada had four goals in the third period and the Canadians defeated Czechia 7-5 on Friday night at the World Junior Championships.
Canada, the 20-time champion, is looking to return to the podium after being eliminated by Czechia in the quarterfinals in each of the past two tournaments. Czechia took the bronze both times.
There were three goals in the first 6 1/2 minutes of an explosive third period capped by Tij Iginla's goal that gave Canada a 5-4 lead. Ethan MacKenzie's goal a few minutes later made it 6-4 for the Canadians.
Tomas Galvas scored for Czechia with 4 1/2 minutes left in the game and Porter Martone found the empty net for Canada to wrap up the scoring.
Czechia outshot Canada 33-27.
Carter George stooped 28 shots for Canada and Michal Orsulak had 20 saves for Czechia.
On this episode of the Testudo Talk Podcast, hosts Matt Germack, Ryan Alonardo and Nolan Rogalski react to Sidney Stewart and Zahir Mathis announcing their returns to Maryland football in 2026, and give their outlooks on the Terps’ offseason with the transfer portal opening in January.
Listen to the episode here. You can also listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere else you get your podcasts.
If you would like to sponsor an episode of the Testudo Talk Podcast, email Matt Germack at mgermack@gmail.com or message us on X at @testudotimes.
Through the 2024-25 season, the Los Angeles Lakers have had a total of 506 players suit up for them, going back to their days in Minneapolis. Some were forgettable, some were serviceable, some were good and a select few were flat-out legendary.
During the Lakers' 80th season of existence (they were founded back in 1946 as the Detroit Gems in the National Basketball League), LeBron Wire is taking a look at each player who has worn their jersey, whether it has been a purple and gold one or the ones they donned back in the Midwest during their early years.
Milt Wagner played five seasons of college basketball at the University of Louisville, and he helped the school get to the Final Four three times and reach the NCAA championship game in 1986. He was a second-round draft pick by the Dallas Mavericks in 1986, and after spending the 1986-87 season in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), he joined the Lakers for the 1987-88 campaign.
That season, he appeared in 40 regular-season games, averaging 3.8 points and 1.5 assists in 9.5 minutes a game. The 6-foot-5 guard earned an NBA championship ring that June with the Purple and Gold.
Wagner returned to the CBA the following season and spent the 1989-90 season playing in Israel before returning to the States for the 1990-91 season to appear in 13 games with the Miami Heat. That would do it as far as his NBA career, but he played several more years of basketball, as he had stints in the CBA and the Global Basketball Association, as well as in Paris, Israel and Germany
Redemption day finally came for Canada. Czechia knocked the Canadians out of the 2025 World Juniors with a power play goal with less than a minute to play. It was back-to-back quarterfinal exits and devastation for Hockey Canada and their fans.
Both countries began their 2026 tournament facing off against each other for the final match on Day 1. It was the most anticipated game on the schedule, and it lived up to the hype.
Carter George got the nod in net for Canada, where he plans to be “The Backbone” for his team. He made several big saves in the opening 20 minutes, as the Canadians were a bit shaky with their transition defense. Shortly after George made a breakaway save and a clear-cut stop in the slot on Czechia star Adam Benak, the trio of Michael Hage, Brady Martin, and Gavin McKenna connected on Canada’s first goal of the tournament.
Hage used his puck-carrying speed to gain the zone before dropping it off to McKenna. The projected top pick in the upcoming NHL draft used his playmaking skills to find Martin in the slot, who fired home his first of the tournament.
Those three played together in Canada’s first pre-tournament game against Sweden back on Dec. 17. Canada narrowly edged past the Swedes 2-1, with both tallies coming from that trio. When Michael Misa was loaned to Canada, he slid in on the first line between McKenna and Martone, but after one exhibition game, Dale Hunter went back to his line of Hage, McKenna, and Martin, and he may not look back.
Czechia tied it up later in the period, but the shift directly after, Hunter threw out the trio he trusts. Ben Danford led the play up ice before bumping the puck to Martin on the zone entry. Martin found Hage in the high slot, who ripped home an absolute rocket, bardown, to put Canada back on top.
Czechia scored two unanswered goals in the second period, starting to put the seed of doubt into the Canadians. However, former OHL Defenseman of the Year Zayne Parekh did what he does best, floating in a seeing-eye wrister that found the top corner to tie the game up at three heading into the final 20 minutes.
A classic Czechia versus Canada game, heading to the third, all tied up. These two countries have developed some highly entertaining games at the international level, particularly in the U18 to U20 events. This game was no different. Who was going to be the hero?
The third period was similar to the first; frantic with goals scored both ways. An undisciplined roughing penalty taken by Brantford Bulldogs defenseman Adam Jiricek put the Czechs on the penalty kill. The Zayne Parekh magic struck again, finding the open ice to skate through and burying the puck to put Canada up 4-3.
However, Canada’s lapses in their defensive zone coverage continued, and Tomas Poletin buried his second of the night to tie the game up. It was time for the heroes to show up, and it was a couple of WHL players who stepped up.
Utah Mammoth top prospect Tij Iginla took the zone entry pass on the left wing by former OHL MVP Michael Misa, and capitalized on a slick curl-and-drag shot.
Not too long after Iginla made it 5-4 Canada, defenseman Ethan MacKenzie was able to walk into a wrister and gave Canada their first two-goal lead of the night.
Czechia closed the gap again, but Canada held on to win their tournament opener in this thrilling 7-5 match.
Brady Martin led the OHL contingent on Team Canada in their opener with a goal and an assist. Ben Danford, Cameron Reid, and Cole Beaudoin each notched an assist, while Carter George earned the victory in net. And shoutout to Sam O'Reilly for the big defensive zone faceoff win on the empty net goal. He showed right there at the end of the game why Head Coach Dale Hunter loves having him in London.
Canada is back in action on Saturday, Dec. 27, taking on Latvia at 4 pm EST.
Make sure you bookmark THN's OHL site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.
The first day of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship has officially passed, with two Vancouver Canucks prospects’ teams taking part in today’s matchups. While only one, Braeden Cootes, played today, Wilson Björck and Team Sweden also registered a win during the opening day of the preliminary round. Here’s how today’s matchups concluded.
Sweden 3, Slovakia 2
Björck, whose brother Viggo is also on Team Sweden during the 2026 World Junior Championship, was listed as a healthy scratch for today’s match against Slovakia and did not end up playing. He also sat during Sweden’s second exhibition game against Canada earlier in the lead-up to the tournament’s start. A big factor in Sweden’s win was Ivar Stenberg, who scored the game-winning goal and assisted on his team’s opening tally. Stenberg played alongside Viggo in Sweden’s first game of the preliminary round of the tournament.
Canada 7, Czechia 5
For a good chunk of the game, Canada and Czechia were knotted at equal scores of 3–3 and 4–4, before Canada took an eventual lead thanks to Tij Iginla and Ethan MacKenzie. During this game, Cootes reprised the role he has been showcased in at times during the exhibition games, acting as Canada’s fourth-line center paired with Los Angeles Kings prospect Liam Greentree and Sam O’Reilly of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Cootes played a total of 9:21 throughout the game.
December 27 Schedule
Latvia vs. Canada: 1:30 pm PT
USA vs. Switzerland: 3:00 pm PT
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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The Chargers will be seeking to put some demons to rest in a rematch of the 2024 AFC Wild Card against the Texans on Saturday.
Here are a few reasons to be pessimistic about LA's chances to get it done.
Pass rush duo
Texans edge rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. are tied for third and seventh in the NFL with 13 and 11.5 sacks, respectively, which presents a bad matchup against a severely injured Chargers offensive line. LA will have right tackle Trey Pipkins III back on Saturday, but third-string left tackle Jamaree Salyer is out with a hamstring injury, which will press former Texan Austin Deculus into action once again on Justin Herbert's blindside. Add a knee injury for right guard Mekhi Becton, who is officially questionable, and the Chargers are likely going to be picking Herbert up off the turf another heaping handful of times on Saturday.
No weak links
Houston leads the league in points per game allowed (16.6), yards per game allowed (272.3), yards per pass (5.61), first downs per game allowed (16), defensive EPA per play (-0.137), and defensive success rate (38.5 percent). They are also third in third-down defense (34.6 percent), tied for sixth in interceptions (17), and tied for sixth in sacks (41). 4 different Texans have four interceptions this season, and cornerback Kamari Lassiter leads the team in passes defended with 16 despite most of the attention going to the performance of former first-round pick Derek Stingley Jr. "They do everything well, and I'm not stretching it. They're a complete defense," offensive coordinator Greg Roman told the media this week.
Injury woes
Along with Becton's knee injury and Salyer's hamstring issue, the Chargers will be without returner Derius Davis and cornerback Benjamin St-Juste on Saturday, and will have to wait until warmups to see if defensive lineman Teair Tart (groin) and running back Kimani Vidal (neck) can play. Tart's absence would be the biggest - he's been the Chargers' best defensive lineman and LA is slightly thinner at that spot after waiving Naquan Jones (who was claimed by the Texans). Vidal's potential absence would be a big one as well, as the former sixth-round pick has held onto a complementary role thanks to his performance in relief of an injured Omarion Hampton earlier in the year.
Denzel Perryman's absence
Along with all of the injuries, LA will also be missing linebacker Denzel Perryman on Saturday after a two-game suspension for repeated unsafe hits was upheld earlier this week on appeal. Perryman will miss the rest of the regular season, then return for the playoffs for the Chargers. That pushes Troy Dye back into the starting lineup for the first time since Week 5, the last of four starts Dye made while Perryman was on IR with an ankle injury. Dye has been passable in almost 400 snaps this season, but Perryman is still the team's best linebacker against the run and his loss will likely be felt strongly on Saturday.
Jolt to the run game
Houston also gets rookie running back Woody Marks back on Saturday after he missed last week's game with an ankle injury of his own. Marks is the Texans' leading rusher with 584 yards despite the presence of Nick Chubb, and his early exit two weeks ago and absence last week actually led to practice squad elevation Jawhar Jordan, leading the Texans in rushing over the last two weeks. Marks has been in and out of the lineup this season, but he's a clear threat when he's in the game and could help stabilize a Texans offense that sputtered at times against the Raiders last week.
Welcome back to Wrestling Inc.'s regular review of "WWE SmackDown," with a surprisingly eventful pre-taped episode taking place at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Following up on the events of WWE Saturday Night's Main Event earlier this month, tonight's show continued the push for a wave of new talent, with two NXT stars further solidifying themselves on the blue brand. Even more notably, another former WWE NXT Champion picked up their first title on the main roster.
As always, we found bright spots as well as blemishes during tonight's show, and we won't be shy about sharing them with you. Take a look at our "SmackDown" results page for a strict recap, or continue on to discover what we loved and hated about the latest episode.
Trick Williams with an intense look on his face - WWE
Though it was just a short backstage segment, Trick Williams made a splash as he debuted on "WWE SmackDown" as a free agent, coming face-to-face with WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. Williams made it clear that he intends to start strong on the main roster, stepping up to the company's biggest star right away. To his credit, Rhodes didn't brush Williams off, instead seeming to take the threat to his title seriously.
Rhodes has plenty of other problems to deal with, from Drew McIntyre to Nick Aldis, so it doesn't seem like a match between the champion and Williams is imminent. Still, it (hopefully) shows that WWE means to push Williams immediately, and rightfully so. He checks all the boxes and should be able to jump right into the mix with the rest of the main roster. Plus, it just so happens that his old friend-turned-rival Carmelo Hayes happened to win his first main roster title on the same show. Surely a coincidence, right? RIGHT?
Anyways, contrary to prior reports, it doesn't yet seem certain that Williams will land on the blue brand, and it seems safe to assume he'll appear on "WWE Raw" in the near future to tease a possible landing there. Either way, it's nice to see WWE following through on the promises of John Cena's final show, with some new stars coming into focus.
Written by Nick Miller
Hated: Farewell, two-hour SmackDown, we hardly knew ye
Paul Levesque AKA Triple H wearing a black shirt - Jerod Harris/Getty Images
Admittedly, this isn't exactly a problem with this week's episode, but it needs to be addressed: two hours is the perfect amount of time for a weekly pro wrestling television show. Ever since "WWE Raw" changed to the three-hour format more than a decade ago, it's been evident that the extra time has plenty of drawbacks, and that show has benefited from the looser format over on Netflix. Now that "SmackDown" is moving back to three hours, it'll be able to fit more of the company's talent on the roster, but at what cost? It becomes exhausting to watch, especially for those who have to sit through all the commercials, and on a Friday night, no less.
It's hard enough to put together a cohesive show at two hours in length. As evidenced by countless episodes of "Raw" (and "SmackDown," for that matter), that extra hour makes that even more difficult. At the end of the day, as usual, it comes down to money, and WWE will make plenty more money from that extra hour each week. And as I mentioned, it's great for the roster to have a considerable amount of extra TV time. However, from this viewer's perspective, the move back to three hours is a net loss.
Written by Nick Miller
Loved: WWE Women's Tag Team Championships finally have spice
Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss confront IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley in the backstage area. - WWE
Who knew that the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships would be the titles to watch heading into 2026?
The WWE Women's Tag Team Championships have been plagued by poor booking, ever since their inception. On Cagematch.net, the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships boast a 3.73/10 crowdsourced ranking, with many netizens justifiably criticizing WWE's women's tag team division for their inconsistent booking, lack of depth, and placeholder status. If you've looked at pretty much any WWE Women's Tag Title reign from 2020 up to now, you can see exactly where fans are coming from: WWE hands the tag titles to the most over female duo, the new champions defend them once or twice on a weekly show (or premium live event preshow), and the titles get exchanged to the newest flavor of the week.
I don't know what exactly changed in the WWE's writer room. Maybe they felt threatened by the advent of AEW's women's tag team division. Maybe they finally got the message Sasha Banks and Naomi were trying to send with their 2022 walkout, nearly four years later. Maybe Triple H woke up after being visited by the Ghost of Women's Wrestling Future, and had a change of heart. Either way, WWE has significantly beefed up their women's tag team wrestling game, and I'm loving it.
Where the WWE Women's Tag Team titles would be contested once every four weeks, both "WWE Raw" and "WWE SmackDown" are now consistently showcasing these titles week-in and week-out. Where WWE's female tag team scene once boasted stars like...Isla Dawn (no shade to Dawn; I needed a midcarder), we now have certified main eventers like Charlotte Flair and IYO SKY in the division, vying for those coveted tag team titles. Where the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships felt like an afterthought or consolation prize, they are now something to gun over, with four must-watch teams all vying for their shot at The Kabuki Warriors' gold. Where the women's tag division once felt flat, with no emotional stakes, we have deep companionship, and deep hatred, between all women involved in the tag title scene. These titles are beginning to mean something. These teams are beginning to mean something.
Yes, the extent of tonight's WWE Women's Tag Team title feature was limited to a backstage segment, but bringing in RHIYO and The Kabuki Warriors from "Raw" went a long way. It allowed for the tag team picture to be a lot more cohesive, and with all four teams nearly getting into it in the back, the difference between the WWE women's tag team scene pre- and post-2025 Q4 is tangible.
Will WWE carry into this momentum into 2026? Who knows. Let's just be grateful now.
Written by Angeline Phu
Hated: Bully/Queen match-up fails to meet expectations
Charlotte Flair locks up with Lash Legend. - WWE
I've been singing the praises of Lash Legend over the past few weeks, and to my credit, she has been very good on the main roster (especially considering her in-ring inexperience). She's managed to hold her own against the dominating force of Nia Jax, she's put on some decent-to-great performances in WarGames, and against Alexa Bliss, and overall is a new, dominant face in a women's division that is sorely lacking the fresh dimension she provides. Legend is on a hot streak in WWE, so by that logic, a match between her and proven talent Charlotte Flair should've been great, right?
Wrong.
I wanted to like this match so bad. On paper, it was a total draw: Legend is, again, one of the hottest female Superstars on "SmackDown" right now, and Flair is a fourteen-time world champion — like her or not, she is a proven in-ring performer. In the ring, though, this match was almost unwatchable. If I didn't have to be here for work, I would have turned to television off. It was so bad.
We all know wrestling is predetermined. I know kayfabe warriors in the comments will yell at me, but let's be realistic: all of these stunts are choreographed, so that they look as real as possible without hurting the other person. A part of the mystique and appeal with professional wrestling is just how real everything looks, even though its moves are fanciful and illogical. This is why flippy wrestlers like Will Ospreay and Carmelo Hayes (shout-out to the new US Champion) are so coveted in the industry. Pro wrestling is like live-action anime. Wrestling is choreographed, but in order to serve its purpose, the choreography has to...look like an actual hit. Legend and Flair had none of that.
I haven't seen a match this clunky in a while, and while that could possibly be spun as a positive for WWE, I need Flair and Legend to clean up their act if this feud is going to last any longer (and with the blossoming of the women's tag team division in WWE, it looks like it just might). Flair and Legend just kind of fumbled around each other the entire evening, with chops that didn't quite land, and Big Boots that required the other person to pause as they waited for their target to conveniently place themselves into position for the blow. This match wasn't just bad, clunky, and unwatchable. It was so awkward that everything in this match, right down to Flair's delayed reaction to Jax jumping onto the apron, threatened to ruin the illusion of kayfabe.
Exaggeration aside, this match was really the worst of the night. We should have left this one in the drafts.
Written by Angeline Phu
Loved: Carmelo Hayes finally has main roster gold
Carmelo Hayes celebrates his title win - WWE
Carmelo Hayes is HIM and now he has the title to prove it. Hayes was drafted to SmackDown in April 2024 and it's been a bumpy road for him ever since, with more questionable booking than strong storytelling. He had a best-of-seven series with Andrade and then struggled to gain much footing. He also got bogged down in a tag team with The Miz, but despite all that, the fans have long been behind him and have finally been rewarded for their support.
Hayes had a barnburner of a match with Ilja Dragunov on tonight's "SmackDown." Dragunov has been a highlight on a show that can be a chore to get through. His style doesn't fit with WWE's style of wrestling (sports entertainment), which is part of the reason he's such a standout. Hayes matched him at every turn tonight and really excelled. Dragunov was so impressed with Hayes winning, that he placed the title around Hayes's waist. Their history makes the win even sweeter. The match could be considered a late Match of the Year contender.
It's well past time that WWE rewarded Hayes for everything they've made him endure since joining the Blue brand. Hayes cannot be denied and hopefully his title reign reflects that. I hope that he continues the open challenge stipulation as champion. It appears his first challenger is going to be Johnny Gargano after he attacked the champ during his post-victory segment, reminding Hayes he already has a target on his back.
Written by Samantha Schipman
Hated: The women's division needs more Superstars
Jade Cargill holding up the title - WWE
As of today, Jade Cargill has been WWE Women's Champion for 56 days, and she will finally have her first title defense next Friday night. After winning, she put the division on notice with a short, blunt promo. Since then, she's mostly been in backstage segments and had two matches that lasted under two minutes. In that time, Michin and B-Fab are the only two women who have shown interest in her title. Shouldn't women be clamoring for the biggest title on the blue brand?
This is not a slight at Michin, but she is the only one who ever seems to be interested in a singles title. She feuded with both Chelsea Green and Giulia during their respective U.S. title reigns. Giulia barely defended her title, but is at least trying to get a match with Green to get a shot at winning the U.S. title again. A majority of the other women in the division are competing for the tag titles. It's great that the women have three titles to compete for, but it shows just how thin the division is. Candice LeRae and Zelina are wrapped up in their respective husbands' business. Kiana James and Nikki Cross only occasionally wrestle. Stratton hasn't been seen since losing to Cargill. The aforementioned B-Fab has competed for the tag titles. "SmackDown" would benefit from several women making the jump to NXT to help fill out the division and make a play for both singles titles.
The Houston Rockets will play host to the Cleveland Cavaliers as they look to remain in the win column after a stretch of poor play dropping them significantly in the Western Conference standings. The Cavs have been dealing with some struggles of their own in the Eastern Conference standings of late as well, so expect this to be an intense contest.
We expect the Rockets to come away with a win given how both ball clubs have been playing in recent games, but there is ample opportunity for an upset for Houston given how desperate Cleveland will likely be to get a victory on the road this Saturday (Dec. 27) night.
Records, standing, and streaks
At present, the Rockets have an 18-10 record, which puts them in the Western Conference standings' sixth-place slot.
The Cavs are the owners of a 17-15 record, good enough for seventh place in the East.
The Los Angeles Lakers will move forward with a major concern regarding Austin Reaves.
The star guard is dealing with a calf injury, which is going to keep him off the court for at least one month. The setback occurred on Thursday night, as the Lakers battled against the Houston Rockets on the anticipated Christmas Day slate.
Following the action, Lakers star Luka Doncic spoke to the media and addressed Reaves’ in-game setback. While he wasn’t aware of the official diagnosis and timeline at the time, Doncic had a clear message for Reaves.
“I talked to him. He just said he didn’t know. He’ll have an MRI tomorrow,” Doncic told reporters. “I just said, ‘If you need something to help, I know what it is to go through calf injury.’ It’s not fun at all. Just be there to support him. Calf (injuries) are dangerous, so just take your time.”
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Lakers labeled Reaves’ setback as a grade 2 left gastrocnemius strain. The team plans to evaluate him in four weeks. While that’s the initial timeline, there’s no guarantee that Reaves will be back on the floor for the Lakers before February.
The timing couldn’t be worse for Reaves and the Lakers. Not only has Reaves been off to an All-Star-caliber start to the season, but the Lakers have been struggling as of late. After Thursday’s blowout loss against the Rockets, the Lakers dropped their third game in a row.
Fortunately, LA remains fourth in the Western Conference with a 19-10 record. However, it’s clear that their status as championship contenders is slipping as the team continues to show clear signs of struggling in the same areas, leading to public frustration from the coaching staff down to the players on the roster.
In 23 games this season, Reaves has been averaging 26.6 points, while shooting 50 percent from the field and 36 percent from beyond the arc. Along with his scoring, Reaves has come down with 5.2 rebounds, and produced 6.3 assists per game.
The Lakers will be back on the court on Sunday night to take on the Sacramento Kings. Facing one of the West’s worst this season, it will be a good opportunity for the Lakers to try and get back on track.
Team USA defeated Team Germany by a 6-3 final score during their opening game of the World Junior Championship on Dec. 26. It was an impressive win for Team USA, and Boston Bruins prospect Will Zellers was a big reason for it.
Zellers put together a fantastic night for Team USA, as he scored two goals in the second period and recorded an assist in the club's victory. With this, there is no question that Zellers impressed for Team USA in this matchup.
Zellers is considered one of the Bruins' most promising prospects, so it is certainly good to see him put together such a strong game for Team USA. He will now be looking to stay hot as the tournament rolls on from here.
Zellers is currently in his first collegiate season with the University of North Dakota, where he has recorded 10 goals and 15 points in 18 games thus far. Overall, the 19-year-old forward is having a strong start to his collegiate career, and he is now translating that success to Team USA early on.
The Bruins acquired Zellers this past season from the Colorado Avalanche in the deal that sent Charlie Coyle to the Central Division club. In 52 games this past season with the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League (USHL), Zellers posted 44 goals and 71 points.
While the Bengals’ trade of Logan Wilson was not met with favorable reactions by the majority of the fanbase directly after it happened, it seems the Bengals knew exactly what they were doing on this one.
The Cincinnati defense has played better as a whole the last couple of months. The play of Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr. has still been inconsistent, at best. However, it was clear Logan Wilson was not going to be part of the future here. Getting the young guys’ snaps was important for a defense that is looking for pieces to build around going forward.
At worst, they may have a better idea of what they need to do at the position moving forward. Wilson had already been benched and was clearly not willing to be a locker room leader like he initially said he would be.
The Bengals were able to get a 7th-round draft pick in exchange for Wilson. They also cleared $2.684 million in cap space this season. They will also have an additional $2.55 million in cap space for next season.
Meanwhile, Wilson has not been the impactful linebacker the Cowboys were hoping for. The Cowboys have had issues at linebacker all season, yet Wilson did not log a single snap during the Cowboys’ most recent game.
Logan Wilson did not play a snap for the #Cowboys yesterday.
That means two of the worst defenses in the league have completely benched him in 2025.
I guess the saving grace for Wilson and his wife is how much they have enjoyed the Dallas area and facilities, because his time as a starting linebacker in the NFL appears to be over.
The Boston Celtics battled the Indiana Pacers for the second time this week on Friday, and the rematch followed a similar script. The Celtics fell behind early, only to storm back and win behind another big game from Jaylen Brown.
Four days after erasing a 20-point deficit and beating the Pacers 103-95 at TD Garden, Boston overcame another double-digit deficit on Friday, blowing out Indiana 140-122 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Whereas the Celtics waited until the second half and the fourth quarter specifically to mount their comeback on Monday, this time they did so in the second quarter. After ending the first quarter down 11, Boston erupted for 47 points in the second quarter and never looked back, cruising to their fourth straight victory.
8TH STRAIGHT 30-PT GAME FOR JAYLEN BROWN.
☘️ 30 PTS ☘️ 4 AST ☘️ 4 STL ☘️ BOS W@FCHWPO joins Larry Bird (9 straight in 1985) as the only players in @celtics franchise history to record such a streak! pic.twitter.com/eFOzR17vdL
Brown, who also had four steals on defense, had plenty of help on offense. Payton Pritchard scored 29 points, Sam Hauser had 23 and Derrick White had 21. The 23 points were a season high for Hauser, who also matched his season high with seven 3-pointers.
Friday’s rout kicks off a five-game road trip for Boston, which improved to 19-11. The Celtics continue their West Coast swing on Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers, where Brown will look to match Bird’s record and help extend Boston’s winning streak.
Welcome back. | Emanuele Comincini/NurPhoto via Getty Images
It happened. Fiorentina won a Serie A game and it only took 16 tries. With that success fresh in their minds, the Viola will try to repeat that performance at 17th-place Parma, which has shown signs of life recently under disgustingly young manager Carlos Cuesta, who’s all of 30 years old. The Viola won’t haul themselves out of the drop zone with a win here but would at least peel themselves out of last place, so there’s plenty of pressure on them to get a result.
The match will be played on Saturday, 27 December 2025, at 14:30 GMT/6:30 AM EST, at the Stadio Ennio Tardini in Parma. The forecast calls for a crisp day with nary a cloud in the sky. Everything’s set up for an excellent game except for, you know, Fiorentina being Fiorentina.
Three things to watch for
1. The back 4
Last week’s win was Paolo Vanoli’s first real tactical change and it worked well. Fiorentina looked miles better with a back 4 featuring Fabiano Parisi and Albert Guðmundsson on the wings. Sure, Udinese made it veeerrrrryyy easy by getting its goalkeeper sent off early and sacrificing a midfielder instead of a forward, but there were potentially repeatable solutions in Vanoli’s new approach.
This week, of course, he’ll have to change it. The key absence is Luca Ranieri, who’s suspended. My guess is that, even though Robin Gosens is back in the squad for the first time in 2 months, Mattia Viti will get the nod at leftback. That’s partly a fitness concern but also because the leftback behind Guðmundsson has to sit deep, which negates much of Gosens’ impact. Viti, on the other hand, is well-suited to the role and even took it over from Ranieri late on against Udinese.
The centerbacks and rightback (Pietro Comuzzo Marin Pongračić, and Dodô, respectively) are all locked in. The question is how they mesh with Viti and how they react to Parma’s attack. Mateo Pellegrino is an underrated target man (61 aerial duels won, 2nd-best in Serie A) and will cause problems when Parma goes straight to him, while Milan Djurić comes off the bench and is the best aerial threat in the league. Vanoli will try to get his guys to cut off the supply as much as possible but the centerbacks have to step up too.
2. How sleepy Guðmundsson is
The forward who scored a beauty against Udinese and was at the heart of numerous moves was one we’ve seen maybe half a dozen times in Florence in his year and a half with the team. As usually happens on those rare occasions when he’s fully awake and engaged, the attack looked dangerous. If he can string together consecutive strong outings—which I can’t recall him doing previously—it’ll got a long way towards taking the pressure off Moise Kean, balancing the Viola attack, and adding a bit of unpredictability to the approach play.
Guðmundsson will probably operate in a nominal left midfield role again but will have a lot of freedom to roam in search of space. His direct opponent will be 19-year-old Sasha Britschgi, who’s had some good moments but shouldn’t provide too formidable an obstacle. Cuesta will doubtless get his young defender some help but Guðmundsson needs to assert himself here, both to help his team and to improve his standing in the transfer window; I can’t help but think all his comments about Juventus and Inter Milan eying him up a couple years ago were made to drum up interest.
3. Parma’s shape
Fiorentina’s not the only team struggling with its shape. Cuesta played 3-5-2 to start the season but has gone to a back 4 over the past couple games as well, testing out both a 4-3-3 and a lopsided 4-4-2. My guess is that we’ll see something more like the former, which gets Adrian Bernabé on the ball more often while ensuring that Parma doesn’t get overrun in the middle, especially with Cher Ndour and/or Simon Sohm breaking forward and Guðmundsson drifting in.
Gaetano Oristanio and Adrian Benedyzcak, the likely wingers, are both quick and tricky enough without being particularly interesting. The man who makes Parma tick is Adrian Bernabé (Fiorentina beffata) and one of Cuesta’s primary aims will be getting the Spaniard on the ball in the right spaces. He’ll drift around as the primary creative hub and locking him down will make things a lot easier for the Viola. If he’s shackled, Parma won’t be able to progress through the middle and will become very one-dimensional.
Possible lineups
Ted’s Memorial Blind Guess Department
I don’t know how or why but the bookies have Fiorentina as the favorite here. I’m not a gambler and generally disapprove of the entire industry, not least because it’s designed to take money from bettors, but I have a lot of trouble seeing how this line makes any sense. Fiorentina, despite last week’s big win, remains a Superfund site. Parma hasn’t impressed but has beaten up on teams in the drop zone. I wouldn’t bet my rent on the hosts but I’d feel better about that than any other outcome.
Even so, I’ll pick the visitors to squeak out a 1-2 win because I’m an idiot and TMBGD is a place for unbridled optimism. Parma has Serie A’s worst attack (just 10 goals scored) but you know, I know, and the demons down under the sea know that it’ll get a scrappy goal off a set piece, probably from a centerback. Lautaro Valenti’s bigger than Enrico Delprato so I’ll say it’s him. Nevertheless, I’ll take Kean and Sohm (back to haunt his old team) to get the visitors over the line in a game that is nigh unwatchable at times as both teams kick up dust rather than playing.
“We'll see what happens. Don't know what the future is going to hold. If not, it's been an honor playing with all these guys and wish everyone best of luck whether it’s playing next year or not with them,” Tucker said.
With the offseason underway, the Cubs could pursue another big-name trade. FanSided’s Christopher Kline believes the team should target St. Louis Cardinals’ third baseman Nolan Arenado.
“This would require the St. Louis Cardinals eating a significant chunk of the $31 million Nolan Arenado is owed over the next two seasons. That said, Arenado fits the Chicago Cubs' M.O. rather perfectly. He's an exceptional defender at third base, even as he ages into his mid-30s. The defensive quartet of Arenado, Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner and Michael Busch would give Chicago one of the best infields in MLB,” Kline wrote.
For Arenado, a trade seems likely at some point this offseason.
“The St. Louis Cardinals have spent the better part of the last year trying to unload Nolan Arenado, and they will likely renew those efforts this winter with a focus on getting younger across the roster. The future Hall of Famer is a shell of the player he was in his prime, but he is still a strong defender at third base, and he has adjusted to a more contact-oriented approach as his power has diminished,” Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter wrote.
This trade makes a lot of sense for the Cubs, and the defensive combination could be the best in MLB. Arenado has had a storied career and would likely aim to finish it competing for a World Series.
Coming off a playoff berth last season, the Cubs could use this deal to advance beyond the Wild Card round. A trade for Arenado could instantly make them favorites in the NL Central.
Kon Knueppel did not return to the Charlotte Hornets' 120-105 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday after suffering an injury.
The fourth overall pick suffered a right ankle sprain, according to the Hornets. Knueppel had jumped to try and block a shot under the basket before landing awkwardly on his ankle.
Knueppel had 16 points and three rebounds in 15 minutes of play on Friday. The rookie has averaged 19.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 30 games played.
When do the Charlotte Hornets play next?
The Hornets host the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, Dec. 29 at 7 p.m. ET. Knueppel’s status for the game has not been disclosed.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored 30 points and the Boston Celtics made 20 3-pointers in a 140-122 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.
The All-NBA forward, who is averaging 29.4 points, shot 13 of 20 from the field and made two 3-pointers. Payton Pritchard added 29 points, making three 3s, and grabbed nine rebounds.
The Celtics were 20 of 39 from beyond the arc compared to the Pacers’ 18 of 44. Reserve Sam Hauser was 7 for 8 behind the arc and scored 23 points, while Derrick White added 21 points with three 3s.
The Celtics, winners of four in a row and back-to-back games against Indiana, were starting a five-game road trip.
Andrew Nembhard led the Pacers with 18 points and four 3s.
The Celtics trailed by 15 midway through the first quarter, but methodically chipped away at the deficit, then pulled away with six 3-pointers in a 47-point second quarter for a 75-61 halftime lead.
HEAT 126, HAWKS 111
ATLANTA (AP) — Norman Powell had 25 points, Pelle Larsson scored a career-high 21 and struggling Miami handed Atlanta its fifth straight loss.
Kel’el Ware had 16 points and 13 rebounds in place of Bam Adebayo, who missed the game with a back injury. Andrew Wiggins had 18 points and Jamie Jaquez Jr. had 16 points off the bench.
The Heat had lost eight of nine games entering Friday, but got back over .500 at 16-15. Tyler Herro missed his eighth straight game with a toe injury. Larsson started after missing five games with a sprained left ankle.
Trae Young led the Hawks with 30 points and he also had seven assists. Jalen Johnson added 24 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.
Wiggins turned in one of the plays of the game in the fourth quarter. He saved the ball along the sideline after stealing an inbounds pass, got a return pass and hit a running reverse layup to stretch Miami’s lead to 102-87 with 9:05 to play. A 9-0 run capped by an over-the-head layup by Powell later in the quarter pushed the lead to 17.
The Heat outrebounded the Hawks 52-42 and forced 21 turnovers while committing 12. That resulted in 19 more field goal attempts for Miami.
WIZARDS 138, RAPTORS 117
WASHINGTON (AP) — Keyshawn George scored 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting, and last-place Washington beat struggling Toronto.
CJ McCollum and Bilal Coulibaly each added 21 points to help the Wizards to their highest-scoring performance of the season. The Raptors owned the NBA’s fourth-best defensive rating entering Friday.
Washington halted a four-game home losing streak but still has the NBA’s worst record (6-23). The Wizards shot 59.3% (54 of 91) as a team, out-rebounded the Raptors 46-33 and outscored the visitors 36-17 in the fourth quarter.
Brandon Ingram scored 29 points and Immanuel Quickley added 25 for Toronto, which has lost nine of 13.
Sandro Mamukelashvili had 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Raptors, who played without starters RJ Barrett (knee sprain) and Jakob Poetl (back strain).
HORNETS 120, MAGIC 105
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — LaMelo Ball had 22 points and seven rebounds, and Charlotte beat Orlando after losing rookie forward Kon Knueppel to a right ankle injury in the first half.
Miles Bridges had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Hornets and Moussa Diabate added 10 points and 13 rebounds. Charlotte shot 19 for 39 (48.7%) from 3-point range and led by 24 points in the fourth quarter.
Anthony Black led Orlando with 24 points. Desmond Bane added 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Wendell Carter Jr. had 16 points and eight rebounds.
The Hornets had a 57-48 lead in the final seconds of the first half when Knueppel, who ranks second among NBA rookies in scoring and 3-point shooting, went down with the injury. He had scored 16 points, all in the first quarter, while making all four of his 3-point shots. Hornets coach Charles Lee said X-rays on Knueppel’s ankle were negative and he would be evaluated again when the team returns to Charlotte.
Three 3-pointers by Collin Sexton late in the third quarter helped the Hornets stretch a 16-point lead to 24.
Led by Diabate, Bridges and Tidjane Salaun, the Hornets had a 53-42 rebound edge in winning for the fourth time in six games.
BULLS 109, 76ERS 92
CHICAGO (AP) — Jalen Smith sparked a game-ending run with a thunderous dunk on Joel Embiid, and Chicago matched a season high with its fifth straight win, beating Philadelphia.
The Bulls scored the final 10 points of the game, starting with Smith’s driving dunk. Tre Jones and Zach Collins each had 15 points, and Coby White scored 13, helping the Bulls match their best streak since a 5-0 start. They also evened their record at 15-15.
Embiid led Philadelphia with 31 points. Tyrese Maxey scored 27 and had five 3-pointers. Paul George shook off a slow start to finish with 15 points and a season-high 12 rebounds, but the 76ers lost for the fourth time in as many games this season with their three stars in the lineup.
The Sixers led 102-99 after Embiid backed in with 2:45 remaining, but that was all the scoring for them. Smith then drove the baseline and dunked on a rotating Embiid with about 2:30 remaining, bringing the crowd to its feet.
White then nailed a step back 3, drawing more roars, and Jones hit a reverse layup. After a driving Maxey got blocked by Nikola Vucevic, Jones tracked down a loose ball and laid it in with 47 seconds left. He added a free throw with 17 seconds remaining.
GRIZZLIES 125, BUCKS 104
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 24 points, Ja Morant had 17 points and 10 assists in his return from a four-game absence and Memphis beat Milwaukee.
Cam Spencer finished with 19 points for Memphis. Jackson added nine rebounds and five blocks as Memphis beat Milwaukee for the eighth straight time, all of them by double digits. Morant had been out with a left ankle sprain.
AJ Green matched his season high for Milwaukee with 20 points, connecting on 7 of 13 overall and 6 of 11 from 3-point range. Kevin Porter Jr. finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Bobby Portis Jr, Kyle Kuzma and Ryan Rollins scored 15 points apiece as Milwaukee lost for the fourth time in five games.
Milwaukee continues to play without leading scorer Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has missed the last eight games with a right calf strain. That’s 28.9 points and 10 rebounds out of the lineup.
Milwaukee chipped into the Memphis double-digit lead to get within 92-85 early in the fourth, but Memphis scored the next seven points to take it back to a 14-point margin.
SUNS 115, PELICANS 108
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Devin Booker scored 30 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, to lead Phoenix to a victory over New Orleans in the opener of a two-game series.
The Suns trailed 100-97 after Zion Williamson hit a free throw with 4:58 left, but the Suns closed out New Orleans by outscoring the Pelicans 18-8 the rest of the way. Booker started the surge with two free throws, and Mark Williams then made four consecutive free throws and a dunk off an alley-oop feed from Booker. Williams finished with 24 points, including 10 in the final period, and 13 rebounds.
Williamson led the Pelicans with 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Jordan Poole and Trey Murphy III had 19 points apiece. But the Pelicans hurt themselves with an abysmal night from the foul line, going 25 of 42.
The teams play again Saturday in New Orleans.
Williamson’s layup with 1:51 left cut the Suns’ lead to 107-106, but Phoenix iced the game with a 15-foot jumper by Collin Gillespie that started a five-point run in a 35-second span.
Sophie Cunningham is sharing her thoughts on OnlyFans and if she would consider starting one.
The Indiana Fever star is currently a free agent as the WNBA figures out contract negotiations. During a conversation with Caleb Pressley for Sundae Conversation, the host asked if she was getting paid which she replied: "Oh, you know, just barely, but we’re still surviving."
Pressley responded: "If the WNBA screws you, you’ll find a Plan B."
Cunningham laughed before she corrected him, responding, "Not Plan B. Project B."
Pressley continued to get some details out of Cunningham, asking her if she was considering playing over Saudi Arabia. However, it doesn't seem as though that is on the radar for Cunningham as she doesn't think Saudi Arabia will be giving women athletes millions of dollars to play in their league.
"No Saudi money involved," she said.
Pressley then asked if she would consider starting her own OnlyFans for financial compensation, a move that other professional athletes such as Liz Cambage, Paige VanZant, Ebanie Bridges, and more. He added that she would need the league's popularity to gain viewership since she has made a name for herself outside of the court.
“No, I think you do need the leagues cause that's what gives you the platform to have all these fans," she explained.
She did, however, see why people with several fans and followers opt to direct to consumer platforms to make content.
"OnlyFans can be a platform in themselves," she said, adding, "Maybe Project B should support that platform."
Cunningham gave an unclear answer on whether she sees it as a possibility, but only time will tell.
Where is the WNBA in negotiations now?
As 2026 nears, a deal between the WNBA and the Women's National Basketball Players Association has yet to be made. According to an update per ESPN, WNBA president Nneka Ogwumike revealed that there a strike could occur which the WNBA calls an "unavoidable response to the state of negotiations with the WNBA and its teams."
WNBA players are asking for a larger share of revenue, a salary system based on the growth of the league, and other benefits towards childcare and eventually retirement.
"This means we could possibly strike if we need to, but it doesn't mean that we want that to happen," Ogwumike told ESPN. "But we have it in our arsenal in order for us to get exactly what we need, which is a fair deal that represents our value in a very meaningful way."
The Kansas City Royals continued their active offseason by acquiring a 2025 College World Series champion on Friday. Former LSU Tigers third baseman Michael Braswell III announced via his Instagram that he signed with the team.
Braswell specifically signed a minor-league deal, per Just Baseball's Jared Perkins.
"Per his IG, Michael Braswell has signed a minor league deal w/ the Kansas City Royals," he reported. "He was the 3B for the LSU Tigers last year & a huge part of their national championship run. Recently transitioned to the mound where he’s been in the mid-90s."
Braswell played 65 games (48 starts) as a senior with the Tigers in 2025, logging six doubled, two homers, 18 RBIs and 20 runs. He also committed just three errors in 93 chances.
Braswell will now convert to a right-handed pitcher. He notched one win and three saves as a reliever as a freshman for South Carolina in 2022.
Per his IG, Michael Braswell has signed a minor league deal w/ the Kansas City #Royals. He was the 3B for the LSU Tigers last year & a huge part of their national championship run. Recently transitioned to the mound where he’s been in the mid-90s. pic.twitter.com/r72GZvEPJU
Historical Precedence for Successful Hitter-to-Pitcher Transitions
It's hard enough for anyone to make it in professional baseball, but it's even harder for a collegiate position player to succeed as a pitcher at the next level. However, several players have done it successfully.
An example is Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman, who notched 601 saves, a 2.87 ERA, and a 1.06 WHIP in his career. He opened up about what the transition was like after \struggling as a shortstop in his first two minor-league seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, via Baseball America's Everett Merrill.
“I wasn’t hitting and was making some errors,” Hoffman said. “I got behind some other shortstops in the Reds’ system and some guys they drafted the next year. The Reds asked me about giving pitching a shot."
The Reds drafted Hoffman as a shortstop out of the University of Arizona in 1989, but he recorded 55 errors and hit just .227 over two seasons in Rookie League and Low-A.
“The answer wasn’t hard for me to reach," he said. "As a shortstop, I could already see the writing on the wall. I wasn’t going anywhere. I kind of looked at the shortstop-to-pitcher move as a positive. I felt like with [a] good arm, this could be an opportunity.”
Jacob deGrom, Sean Doolittle, and Kenley Jansen are other examples of former position player who have thrived as pitchers in the big leagues. deGrom is a two-time NL Cy Young Award-winner, Jansen is MLB's active saves leader, and Doolittle was a two-time All-Star before becoming a Washington Nationals coach.
Those success stories don't guarantee anything for Braswell, but it shows what's possible.
Center Tanor Bortolini (concussion) has been ruled OUT for Sundays game against the Jaguars. Bortolini has been unable to practice all week due to the concussion and still remains in the leagues concussion protocol. With Bortolini out, expect veteran backup Danny Pinter to get the start at center.
Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (neck) has been ruled OUT for Sundays game against the Jaguars. Buckner re-aggravated his neck injury from earlier in the season and will need surgery to fix the herniated disc. He has been placed on injured reserve ending his season early. Expect a platoon of Neville Gallimore and Ade Adebawore to replace him in the starting lineup.
Backup tight end Drew Ogletree (neck) has been ruled OUT for Sundays game against the Jaguars. Ogletree missed practice all week with the neck injury and will therefore miss Sundays game. With Ogletree out, expect to see Will Mallory active this week to provide depth at the position.
Quarterback Anthony Richardson (eye) and safety Daniel Scott (knee) have both been ruled OUT for Sunday’s game against the Jaguars. Both have managed to practice this week, as Richardson has been limited all week; however, they both have not been deemed ready to be activated from injured reserve yet. Next week will be their last opportunity to return from injured reserve or face remaining inactive for the rest of the year, even if the Colts were able to make the playoffs.
Cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf) has been listed at QUESTIONABLE for Sunday’s game against the Jaguars. Although he carries a questionable designation, Colts head coach Shane Steichen had deemed him ready to return to playing this Sunday. Gardner will be a huge boost for a struggling Colts defense.
Starting left tackle Bernhard Raimann (elbow) has been listed as QUESTIONABLE for Sundays game against the Jaguars. Raimann missed last week’s game due to the elbow injury, but Coach Steichen has deemed him able to return, upgrading the questionable injury designation. Raimann will be a welcome return to an offensive line struggling for healthy pieces.
Wide receiver Ashton Dulin (hamstring) has been listed as QUESTIONABLE for Sunday’s game against the Jaguars. Dulin was designated to return from injured reserve earlier in the week and looks like he could be activated just in time for Sunday’s key divisional game.
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett sits one sack away from the single-season record. He'd like to get there by taking down Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
"[Rodgers is] legendary himself, and it's a legendary record I'm here chasing," Garrett said Friday, via Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com. "That'd be a great one to put a picture on the wall with."
Garrett currently has 22 sacks. The record of 22.5 is shared by Hall of Famer Michael Strahan and Rodgers's current teammate, linebacker T.J. Watt.
Of course, there's a chance Rodgers will get the day off. If the Ravens lose to the Packers on Saturday night, that "may" affect Steelers coach Mike Tomlin's personnel decisions, since the Steelers will have clinched the AFC North title before their Week 17 game at Cleveland even begins.
And that would perhaps give Garrett a chance to set the record by sacking an old nemesis, Mason Rudolph. If, of course, Tomlin decides to roll with Rudolph and not to give some game reps to rookie Will Howard, who could be a candidate to become the team's post-Rodgers option at the position.
Regardless of who the quarterback is, Garrett needs just one. And it's unlikely Rodgers will do the same favor for Garrett that his Green Bay predecessor, Brett Favre, did for Strahan 24 years ago.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Devin Booker scored 30 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 115-108 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night in the opener of a two-game series.
The Suns trailed 100-97 after Zion Williamson hit a free throw with 4:58 left, but the Suns closed out New Orleans by outscoring the Pelicans 18-8 the rest of the way. Booker started the surge with two free throws, and Mark Williams then made four consecutive free throws and a dunk off an alley-oop feed from Booker. Williams finished with 24 points, including 10 in the final period, and 13 rebounds.
Williamson led the Pelicans with 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Jordan Poole and Trey Murphy III had 19 points apiece. But the Pelicans hurt themselves with an abysmal night from the foul line, going 25 of 42.
The teams play again Saturday in New Orleans.
Williamson's layup with 1:51 left cut the Suns’ lead to 107-106, but Phoenix iced the game with a 15-foot jumper by Collin Gillespie that started a five-point run in a 35-second span.
Despite shaky outside shooting – just 5 of 24 from long range – the Suns built a 53-48 halftime lead on the power of their rebounding. Phoenix outrebounded New Orleans 31-23 in the first half, including a 12-6 advantage on the offensive boards that led to a 17-6 edge in second-chance points.
Rasheer Fleming came off the bench in the second quarter with three layups in an 11-2 spurt to give the Suns a 44-37 lead. Poole kept the Pelicans close with 11 first-half points that included a pair of 25-footers and a four-point play.
The Pelicans missed seven free throws in the third quarter but still managed to close the deficit to 81-80 entering the final period.
The Hawkeyes nearly knocked off eventual Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza and Indiana in September.
Later this month, they have a second chance to defeat another Heisman finalist, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia. Pavia threw for more than 3,000 yards and 27 touchdowns. He has the Hawkeyes’ full attention.
“He’s a guy that can do a little bit of it all. He can run it, he can throw it. So that just adds more layers, more things you have to prepare for defensively, but I think we’ve seen little bit of elements, you know,” said Jayden Montgomery, an Iowa junior linebacker. “You get guys that can run, quarterbacks who are great passers. So you see elements of that throughout the season that you can kind of combine. It gives you an idea of kind of what we are going to face so.”
“(Pavia) really can make any throw, he can do anything with his feet. He’s real capable in both aspects, he really runs the offense really well and that whole team and coaching staff has a lot of trust in him,” said Xavier Nwankpa, an Iowa senior defensive back. “He has playmaking ability so we gotta go out there and try to limit him. He’s done a great job obviously going and being a Heisman finalist. You gotta do a good job to get that. He’s been a really good guy going around and makes plays, and makes that team better so we gotta try to limit him the best capability we can.”
“He’s got a good yards per carry on him, but where it really gets scary is if you chart the yards per carry on scrambles, it’s times two basically,” said Kirk Ferentz, Iowa football’s head coach. “I think that’s pretty telling. Somehow, some way, you’ve got to try to keep him contained. Easier said than done because what you don’t want to do is just start running in place up there, too. You still have to try to pressure the quarterback and disrupt him.”
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The Pittsburgh Pirates have already made two big-time acquisitions this offseason.
They swung a trade for Brandon Lowe, and then they signed Ryan O'Hearn in free agency.
They may not be done.
They've been linked as one of the teams interested in signing free agent Yoan Moncada, according to insider Francys Romero.
Moncada was once the No. 1 overall prospect in baseball as a five-tool Cuban player. He's had major flashes in the big leagues but never quite become that level of player.
He'd still be an upgrade for the Pirates, potentially to play third base.
The Angels, White Sox and Blue Jays are the other teams that Romero reports are in on Moncada.
Moncada has already played for the Angels and White Sox in his career, so those would be more familiar landing spots.
It's tough to see Moncada getting full-time at bats for the Blue Jays, although if Bo Bichette left, maybe he'd be viewed as the replacement.
The Pirates could fully embrace giving Moncada every opportunity. If that's what he seeks, Pittsburgh may be the best landing spot.
It's certainly encouraging for the Pirates to be reported as in this picture. It means they're still trying to get veterans and keep improving. Their fans have to love that.
NEW YORK -- The Brooklyn Nets have been playing their best basketball of the season lately due to how well they have improved on the defensive end of the floor, especially in December. Brooklyn has been playing this well as of late while dealing with some key injuries to players like guard Cam Thomas and rookie forward Drake Powell. It looks like both players are back from their injuries.
The Netsannounced on Friday that Thomas, who has missed the past 20 games with a left hamstring strain, is back in head coach Jordi Fernandez's rotation for Saturday's game at the Minnesota Timberwolves. Thomas being back on the court for Brooklyn is bound to make the offense more dangerous, even if he doesn't bear out in the advanced numbers like offensive rating, for example. Thomas was all business when discussing what he expects to do on the floor now that he's healthy.
"I just want to get back on the court and play. I mean, it’s obviously good seeing them playing well. I just want to get back on the court and play," Thomas said after Friday's practice. Thomas, 24, is averaging 21.4 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 40.2% from the field and 35.6% from three-point land in eight games played and players like forward Michael Porter Jr. should be happy to see Thomas on the floor on Saturday.
Moving on in the injury report, Powell wasn't listed on the report as well after missing the past two games with a right ankle sprain that he suffered in a 106-95 loss to the Miami Heat on Dec. 18. Powell being back in the rotation for the Nets should be positive as he can bring his trademark athleticism and wingspan to the floor that allows Brooklyn to be disruptive on the defensive end of the court.
Rookie guard Ben Saraf is on his assignment with the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn's G League afiliate, despite being recently called up to Brooklyn following a 40-point performance in the G League showcase. It looks like rookie guards Egor Demin and Nolan Traore have shown enough during their time splitting the point guard minutes that Saraf could be the odd man out until something within the rotation changes.
For tomorrow's game at the Timberwolves, the Nets say that rookie Ben Saraf is OUT due to his G League assignment.
Cam Thomas (hamstring) is finally off the injury report after missing the past 20 games.
Haywood Highsmith (knee) remains OUT as he rehabs from offseason surgery.
Sarr is progressing through his sophomore campaign in the NBA with the Wizards. He has significantly improved with his production, being more active in the scoring and rebounding departments.
Sarr showed off another example of his rise throughout Washington’s game against Toronto. In 24 minutes of action, he finished with a stat line of 15 points, three rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and a steal. He shot 7-of-9 from the field, including 1-of-1 from beyond the arc.
Rajakovic reflected on Sarr’s performance after the game, per reporter Bijan Todd. The Raptors coach had high remarks on the young center, praising him for his growth in maturity and skillset on the court.
“Every time I see him, I see that he’s maturing as a player and getting better,” Rajakovic said.
Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic on Alex Sarr:
“Every time I see him, I see that he’s maturing as a player and getting better.” pic.twitter.com/ZCfrTJgxzi
Darko Rajakovic was right to praise Alex Sarr, noting his huge growth in the NBA as the Wizards stunned the Raptors in a 138-117 blowout win.
Both teams traded blows throughout the course of the game as the score was at 102-100 after three quarters. It was the case until Washington exploded with a 36-17 display in the final period to pull away with the victory.
Shot selection, rebounding and inside scoring made the difference in this matchup. The Wizards prevailed in all three categories by making 59% of their total shots, securing 46 rebounds and scoring 62 points inside the paint. It wasn’t the same for the Raptors as they only converted 44% of their total shot attempts, grabbed 33 rebounds and produced 44 points inside the paint.
Six players scored in double-digits for Washington in the win, including Sarr. Kyshawn George led the way with 23 points, six rebounds, three assists, and a block. He shot 9-of-13 from the field, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, and 2-of-3 from the free-throw line. CJ McCollum came next with 21 points and four assists, Bilal Coulibaly had 21 points and eight rebounds, Bub Carrington put up 15 points and four assists, while Tre Johnson provided 12 points and three assists.
Washington improved to a 6-23 record on the season, sitting at 14th place in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Indiana Pacers by one game while trailing the Brooklyn Nets by 3.5 games and Charlotte Hornets by four games.
The Wizards will look forward to their next matchup, being at home. They host the Memphis Grizzlies on Dec. 28 at 3 p.m. ET.
MINNEAPOLIS (KELO) — Rock Valley, Iowa, native Andrew Van Ginkel served as a major catalyst for the Vikings defense in their 23-10 Christmas Day win over the Detroit Lions.
Van Ginkel recovered two fumbles. The first came in late in the first quarter and gave Minnesota the ball in the redzone, which led to the first touchdown of the game. The second happened with just over three minutes left in the fourth quarter and helped to all but seal the Viking win as it also led to points with Will Reichard booting his third field goal to extend the lead to 13.
Gink and the D forced six Detroit turnovers.
“They come in bunches, and it’s something we struggle with at times this year,” Van Ginkel said. “We knew once we got it rolling, the ball will come out and it would start bouncing away. It hasn’t been bouncing our way most of the season, but to have a night like this, it just speaks to this group, who we are and what we’re made of.”
Van Ginkel also had 1.5 sacks as the Vikings improved to 8-8.
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Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham looks on during the first half of an NCAA football game against the Kansas State Wildcats held at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.
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Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
A whirlwind two weeks has resulted in Kyle Whittingham accepting a five-year deal to coach the Michigan Wolverines.
“I’m a free agent. I’m in the transfer portal,” Whittingham said Dec, 18. “So yeah, it’s a different feel, but like I said, I’m at peace and I did not want to be that guy that overstayed his welcome and people just saying, ‘Hey, when’s this guy going to leave?’
“That was not my intention ever and I hope I didn’t do that. I’m sure with some people I did do that, but to me the timing is right.”
Asked that day what the process of deciding whether to pursue other opportunities or move into his special assistant role at Utah looked like, Whittingham replied, “If my phone rings, I answer it, I like who’s calling? Then we’ll see. Yeah, that’s pretty much the process.”
Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel called Whittingham, and Whittingham liked what he heard. After wearing red for 21 years as Utah’s head coach, the next time we see Whittingham, he will be wearing Michigan blue.
Whittingham’s contract with Michigan is a five-year deal with an average salary of $8.2 million per year, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, who says the contract is 75% guaranteed.
What could have been a seamless transition for the Utes from Whittingham to coach-in-waiting Morgan Scalley has turned into a tug of war that could have wide-ranging effects on college football in the state of Utah.
With the transfer portal opening on Jan. 2, Whittingham has to quickly fill his staff, and while he will search nationally, some of his best options could be in his home state.
Utah offensive coordinator Jason Beck and BYU defensive coordinator Jay Hill are already targets for Whittingham’s coaching staff at Michigan, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz.
Beck turned around Utah’s offense in one offseason, leading the Utes to 40.9 points per game (No. 5 in the nation) and 269.8 yards rushing yards per game (No. 2 in the nation).
Hill, meanwhile, has transformed BYU’s defense, boosting it from 29.5 points allowed per game in 2022 to 19.6 points per game in 2024 and 19 points per game in 2025.
Utah tight ends coach Freddie Whittingham, Kyle’s brother, seems like a lock to also move to Ann Arbor.
Other potential targets include Utah offensive line coach Jim Harding, who just completed perhaps his best coaching job yet, and defensive ends coach Lewis Powell.
Scalley, whose first game as Utah’s head coach will be in the Dec. 31 Las Vegas Bowl vs. Nebraska, could have a wildly busy first few weeks as the Utes’ head coach.
Depending on what happens with Whittingham’s staff, Scalley could now potentially be looking for an offensive coordinator, a defensive coordinator, an offensive line coach, a defensive ends coach and more for his first year at Utah.
Which players could follow those coaches if they were to leave to Michigan? Which current Utah players would be an upgrade over the caliber of athletes that Michigan has and will be able to attract?
There are a lot of unknowns, but one thing is for sure: Scalley is going to have his hands full while also preparing the Utes for their bowl game.
Utah has enjoyed relative stability for 21 years under Whittingham’s leadership in an increasingly unstable college football world. Now, Scalley and the Utes are in the midst of one of the most important moments for the program since late 2004, when Whittingham decided to take the Utah job over BYU after Urban Meyer left for Florida.
If the coaching staff and much of the roster had remained mostly intact, as was the plan, Utah would have been seen as one of the contenders for the Big 12 title in 2026.
Instead, depending on which coaches and players follow Whittingham to Michigan, it could be an uphill battle for Scalley in his first season as Utah’s head coach.
Yes it’s easier than ever to rebuild a program in the portal era, and Utah has historically had to deal with about 50% roster turnover each season, but it won’t be the smooth transition that the school originally planned for Scalley.
Instead, he’ll have to assemble a staff at a fast pace and try to get enough key pieces retained or hired before the transfer portal officially opens.
For Michigan, Whittingham’s hire is a home run considering the limited options that the Wolverines had after Christmas.
Michigan had been looking for a new coach since the school fired Sherrone Moore for having ”an inappropriate relationship with a staff member" on Dec. 10.
Shortly after Moore was fired, he was arrested on charges of third-degree home invasion, breaking and entering and stalking after allegedly confronting a Michigan female staffer in her home.
Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham and Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer were the reported top targets of Michigan’s coaching search, but after the two decided to stay put at their schools, Michigan’s focus turned toward Whittingham.
Following retirement, Whittingham’s contract called for him to move into a “Special Assistant to the Athletics Director” role at Utah for two years following retirement at a salary of $3.45 million per year.
Whittingham, however, still had the desire to coach.
“I don’t know if it’s ever out of your system. I mean it’s in your blood and so I don’t know about that,” Whittingham said last Thursday.
“That being said, I’m not sure what I’m going to do, but when you got the coaching in your blood, it just doesn’t go away.”
For Whittingham, it’s an opportunity to extend his career and chase the one thing that has eluded him during his storied run — a College Football Playoff appearance.
At Michigan, he’ll have the resources necessary to compete for a spot in the CFP, and more. After turning down offers from schools like Tennessee while he was at Utah, Whittingham will now have the opportunity to show what he can do at a blue-blood school.
After Michigan struck out on its top choices, Whittingham could prove to be a great hire for the Wolverines. The 66-year-old ran a pretty clean program at Utah and was never personally involved in any scandals. Whittingham will provide a culture reset to a program that badly needs it.
Aside from the benefit of keeping Michigan away from any further controversy, Whittingham is a proven winner. He holds a 177-88 record as Utah’s head coach and has won three conference titles, including two Pac-12 championships and had an undefeated season in the Mountain West Conference in 2008, which included a Sugar Bowl victory over Alabama.
Whittingham transformed Utah from a Mountain West school to a consistent winner in a power conference. In his 21 seasons at Utah, Whittingham posted winning records in 18 years, including eight seasons with 10 or more wins.
With a 10-2 record this season, rebounding from a 5-7 2024 campaign, Whittingham proved that he still has good coaching years left in him.
With Utah turning the page to the Scalley era, however, the twilight of Whittingham’s coaching career will come in Ann Arbor.
Recruit Bode Sparrow talks with Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham and Morgan Scalley as Utah and Cincinnati prepare to play at Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel came into Friday averaging 19.4 points on 47.4% shooting. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Julio Aguilar via Getty Images
Kon Knueppel went off before he went out Friday night. The rookie guard erupted for 16 points in the first quarter of the Charlotte Hornets' 120-105 win over the Orlando Magic (17-14), but the No. 4 overall pick suffered a right ankle injury late in the first half that sidelined him the rest of the game.
Head coach Charles Lee said afterward that it sounded like the X-rays on Knueppel's ankle were negative, and that the Hornets (11-20) will get more information about Knueppel when the team returns to Charlotte, as reported by The Charlotte Observer.
With less than 30 seconds to go in the second quarter, Knueppel appeared to roll his ankle after landing on the shoe of Magic guard Desmond Bane on a contest in the paint.
Charlotte Hornets rookie sensation Kon Knueppel left tonight’s game against the Orlando Magic with a right ankle injury. He’s out for the rest of the game. Entering the game, Knueppel’s averaged 19.4 points, including shooting 42% from 3-point range, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists. pic.twitter.com/ecxMV1bKUF
While Knueppel was quiet in the second quarter before his injury, he turned heads with his first-quarter outburst, which saw him make all four of his 3-point attempts.
The Duke product has enjoyed record-breaking success from beyond the arc this season. Earlier this week, during a 139-132 defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the 20-year-old Knueppel became the fastest player in NBA history to make 100 3s.
He needed only 29 games to do it, surpassing Lauri Markkanen, who reached the milestone in 41 games with the Chicago Bulls in 2017-18.
Knueppel came into Friday's matchup in Orlando averaging 19.4 points per game on 47.4 shooting, with a 41.9% clip from long range.
Like college teammate Cooper Flagg, Knueppel has swiftly translated his skill set to the NBA.
Knueppel's injury is the latest the Hornets have taken on this season. They were notably down two of their top-three centers Friday, as both Ryan Kalkbrenner and Mason Plumlee weren't available.
Still, Charlotte found a way to win on the road. Seven different Hornets players scored in double figures. LaMelo Ball led the charge with 22 points and splashed four 3s, albeit with six turnovers attached to his stat line. Collin Sexton, in just his second game back from a quad injury, chipped in 13 points off the bench.
The Hornets have been playing better basketball of late, but losing Knueppel for any significant amount of time could stunt that progress.
It can be hard to determine intent from a single social media post or fashion choice, but there are only so many ways to interpret Harper posting a video of himself on TikTok takings swings while wearing a shirt that says “Not Elite.”
The could obviously mean a few things. Maybe Harper is still peeved about Dombrowski’s comments. Maybe he’s become friendly enough with the executive that the elite question has become a joke to them. Maybe he’s decided to lean into the criticism and is now presenting it as motivation.
Still, it’s quite a choice to drag that argument back into the public sphere, especially during an uneasy offseason for the franchise.
There are a lot of things Bryce Harper could be saying with his "Not Elite" shirt. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Katelyn Mulcahy via Getty Images
In case you need a refresher, here’s what Dombrowski said about Harper in an end-of-season news conference:
"He still is a good player. Is he elite like he was before? Probably not to the same extent. And so that's nothing negative. Freddie's a tremendous player, and that, to me, is Bryce. Can he rise to the next level again? I don't really know that answer. I mean, really, he's the one that will dictate that more than anything else, is what it comes down to.
"I don't think he's content with the year that he had. And, again, it wasn't a bad year, but when I think of Bryce Harper, you're thinking elite, you're thinking one of the top 10 players in baseball, and I don't think [his 2025 season] fit into that category. But, again, very good player."
Dombrowski wasn’t exactly wrong with his initial comments, though, which might be why the comments bothered Harper.
It’s been four years since the 33-year-old won his second MVP award in 2021 after hitting .309/.429/.615 with 35 homers. In the seasons since then, he’s hit .281/.374/.506 while struggling with injuries, which still makes him a very good hitter, just not in the top tier of MLB hitters. His. 361 wOBA ranked 21st among qualified MLB hitters last season.
Travis Head is bowled by Brydon Carse after frustrating England to reach 46 (Martin KEEP)
A fighting England won their first Test on Australian soil in 15 years Saturday, restoring their battered pride with a gutsy four-wicket victory to clinch a chaotic fourth Ashes clash that was all over inside two days.
The pumped-up tourists dismissed Australia for 132 soon after lunch in front of a bumper 92,045 crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, following the 20 wickets that tumbled on day one.
It left them chasing 175 to win, with Harry Brook (18) and Jamie Smith (three) seeing them home for the loss of six wickets to huge roars from their travelling "Barmy Army" of fans. Jacob Bethell contributed 40 and Zak Crawley 37.
England crashed in the first three Tests and came to Melbourne under enormous pressure amid questions about their limited preparations and allegations of excessive drinking during a mid-series beach break.
But they finally came good and will head to Sydney for the fifth and final Test brimming with confidence.
England had not won a Test in Australia since January 2011 at Sydney, losing 16 and drawing two since, and openers Crawley and Ben Duckett had a clear objective to snap the streak -- play ultra-aggressive "Bazball" style.
Duckett hit a boundary off Mitchell Starc in his first over while Crawley slammed Michael Neser for a six and a four in successive balls.
They brought up a whirlwind fifty opening partnership but next ball Duckett was bowled by a Starc yorker for 34.
Fast bowler Brydon Carse then strode to the middle as a surprise number three in place of Bethell.
But England's pinch-hitting experiment failed as Carse lasted only eight balls before skying Jhye Richardson to Cameron Green.
Crawley fell lbw to Scott Boland after a gritty knock and Bethell was caught by Usman Khawaja from the same bowler.
Richardson trapped Joe Root (15) lbw and Starc accounted for Ben Stokes (2), but by then only 10 runs were needed and Brook and Smith completed the job.
- Atkinson injury -
Australia resumed on 4-0 in their second innings after an explosive opening day of searing pace saw 20 wickets fall with the hosts dismissed for 152 and England just 110.
It was the most wickets to tumble on the first day of an Ashes Test since 1909, and eclipsed the 19 on day one of the series opener in Perth.
With 10 millimetres of grass on the track it was a bowler's dream, but a host of former greats criticised the pitch for "doing too much" and being "unfair for the batters".
Nightwatchman Boland added two to his overnight four, but his time was always going to be limited and he edged Gus Atkinson to wicketkeeper Smith.
Atkinson left the field soon after clutching what appeared to be his left hamstring.
Josh Tongue came into the attack on a hat-trick after bagging the last two Australia wickets on day one, but Jake Weatherald whipped his full ball for three.
Weatherald needed a decent knock to cement his spot at the top of the order, but he failed again, bowled by Stokes for five leaving a delivery that nipped back.
Travis Head was joined by Marnus Labuschagne but he only made eight, caught by Root in the slips off Tongue.
Head was in good touch before being bowled on 46 by a peach of a delivery from Carse that beat the outside edge, and when Khawaja (0) and Alex Carey (4) departed in the space of nine balls the momentum was back with England.
After reaching lunch at 98-6, Green (19) became the seventh wicket to fall with the score on 119, edging a rising Stokes ball to Harry Brook at slip.
Carse bagged Neser and Starc without scoring and Richardson fell to Stokes with the last four wickets tumbling for 13 runs, leaving Steve Smith unbeaten on 24.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — LaMelo Ball had 22 points and seven rebounds, and the Charlotte Hornets beat the Orlando Magic 120-105 on Friday night after losing rookie forward Kon Knueppel to a right ankle injury in the first half.
Miles Bridges had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Hornets and Moussa Diabate added 10 points and 13 rebounds. Charlotte shot 19 for 39 (48.7%) from 3-point range and led by 24 points in the fourth quarter.
Anthony Black led Orlando with 24 points. Desmond Bane added 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Wendell Carter Jr. had 16 points and eight rebounds.
The Hornets had a 57-48 lead in the final seconds of the first half when Knueppel, who ranks second among NBA rookies in scoring and 3-point shooting, went down with the injury. He had scored 16 points, all in the first quarter, while making all four of his 3-point shots. Hornets coach Charles Lee said X-rays on Knueppel's ankle were negative and he would be evaluated again when the team returns to Charlotte.
Three 3-pointers by Collin Sexton late in the third quarter helped the Hornets stretch a 16-point lead to 24.
Led by Diabate, Bridges and Tidjane Salaun, the Hornets had a 53-42 rebound edge in winning for the fourth time in six games.
The Magic, who have lost four of six after winning in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup, played without injured starters Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs,
Up next
Hornets: Play at Milwaukee on Monday night.
Magic: Play at home against Denver on Saturday night.
Carmelo Hayes is the new U.S. Champion. (Photo by Syndey Yonker/WWE via Getty Images)
WWE via Getty Images
WWE delivered its last "SmackDown" of 2025 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, sending fans home happy with some fun Christmas themes and an even more fun title match. Let's not waste any more time. Read away and then go watch the epic U.S. title match if you missed it.
👑 Uncrowned Gem of the Night 👑
Surprise, surprise. The "SmackDown" Uncrowned Gem of the Night still belongs to the men's U.S. title scene. Ilja Dragunov just doesn't know how not to put on bangers, but this time he lost.
Stunningly, the champion was dethroned by one Carmelo Hayes, with whom he teamed last week.
I stand by the fact that Hayes should have advanced through the John Cena retirement tournament and been the one to defeat the legend. (If LA Knight wasn't going to.) But this was a great way to prop him up highly by beating the company's best work-rate champion since Dragunov returned. And for Dragunov, his run has been excellent, and practically a weekly seminar on how to have killer matches with zero storyline attached. Now, he can go on to bigger and better things. That's wishful thinking, but exactly what should happen.
As for the match itself, I mean, my God. It was perhaps Dragunov's best yet, and some of the late match sequences were absurd. A mid-air cutter reversal from Hayes, the H-Bomb reversal, then the First 48 counter off a coast-to-coast into a Nothing But Net. Madness.
When WWE tries and gives wrestlers time, you see brilliance like what these two did.
Three hours — I mean, stages — of hell
Perhaps lost in translation last week, Drew McIntyre was granted the decision of where his title match with Cody Rhodes would take place and what the stipulation would be. That was so wildly illogical that it's difficult even to dissect. If anything, it's only deepening the hole WWE has put itself in, where McIntyre has to win the match to avoid looking like a complete clown.
Before all that, however, McIntyre made Rhodes look like the clown in their face-to-face when McIntyre made the announcement of their match. The Scotsman antagonized and attempted to get Rhodes to hit him, cutting a devilishly excellent heel promo. The match will be a three stages hell match on "SmackDown" in Berlin, Germany, two weeks from now.
That's not a stipulation we get often, so I'm here for it — although it makes it easier to excuse a McIntyre loss. Well done there, WWE. But really, this entire segment only bolstered the notion that McIntyre should win.
Watch out for Miz-tletoe
Joe Hendry has officially arrived in WWE as a member of the roster, and I dare say his introduction on "SmackDown" was perfect.
This time, it was the silliest business you can think of, but in a fun, harmless way — not the way that makes you want to slam your head into a wall. Playing up the holiday season, WWE pitted Hendry against The Miz after their interaction at Saturday Night's Main Event, and made it a Christmas-themed street fight.
It all came after Hendry opened the show with a hilarious song about Miz.
Hendry shined, and as he should have, with Miz continually playing his role to perfection. Alpha Academy and R-Truth even got involved in the fun, battering Miz with their finishers, utilizing cookies, trees and tables.
Though it was intentionally comical, it makes one wonder exactly what Hendry's run on "SmackDown" will look like.
We've already seen it over on "Raw" with Je'Von Evans, but WWE is seemingly realizing it needs to freshen things up with its main roster. What's always an easy way to do that? Bring up the NXT stars.
Now, of course, the art of the surprise, while nearly dead in this day and age, is the best route. However, the teasing of "free agents" Evans — and now Trick Williams on "SmackDown" — is a pretty intriguing approach.
The former NXT and TNA Champion Williams has been pushed to feel like a big deal, and it was noticeable in his presence alongside "SmackDown" general manager Nick Aldis — and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. Teasing that match alone is a great way to establish Williams early as a new threat, not lacking in confidence. To keep the storyline afloat, Williams mentioned "Raw" has made him a big offer, but he wants to hear out "SmackDown," or at least play the field. That's until Rhodes cut him off.
Even more interesting, Oba Femi received a brief vignette later in the night. Are times actually about to change?
🤷 IT HAPPENED 🤷
1. Charlotte Flair defeated Lash Legend with a roll-up. WWE had this in the palm of its collective hand here and entirely dropped the ball with the finish. Don't get me wrong, the match was perfectly fine, but how you don't have Legend beat Flair clean to establish her as the force she's been presented as is quite frankly absurd. It was barely a distraction, too. Flair would have lost nothing from taking the pin, as we've seen her lose plenty since WrestleMania 41.
The women's divisions' booking is almost unsalvageable at this point. Nothing but wrong decisions to close 2025.
2. Giulia and Kiana James defeated Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre in their tag team match, when Giulia pinned Green. So this was nothing special, and as Uncrowned readers know, this program is dumb. However, some pluses were highlighted in this match. The big one being that it was mostly a showcase for James, who looked great. Additionally, this program was an easy way to flip Giulia and James to faces. They just both deserve better. If anything, it would be more interesting to see James go for the U.S. title than Giulia.
Jade Cargill, Michin and B-Fab all cut promos on each other backstage. The mind legitimately can't stop being boggled by WWE taking this route for the first extended program of Cargill's title run. Even if they wanted to do a short-lived one, there are better options than someone who lost their way out of the U.S. title picture.
👑 It's a Christmas miracle. The last "SmackDown" of the year was pretty solid. I give this show a Crown score of: 7/10. 👑
The shooting guard is expected to be replaced by Marcus Smart in the starting lineup based on the projected depth chart for the Lakers.
Austin Reaves' 2025-26 season stats
Reaves has averaged 26.6 points, 6.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game in 23 games played this season. His 26.6 points per game rank 11th in the league.
Dec 26, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) gestures to the Chicago Bulls bench during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Crunch-time issues led to another Sixers loss in Chicago, with Philadelphia falling 109-102 to the Bulls despite 31 points from Joel Embiid and 27 points from Tyrese Maxey.
Here’s what I saw.
Finding the balance with Embiid
As Tyrese Maxey has climbed to his rightful spot in the captain’s chair for Philly, Joel Embiid has been viewed through an even harsher lens than usual. Sixers lose with him? He ruined the flow. Sixers lose without him? His contract and availability are killing the team. Whether he plays well is sometimes immaterial to the debate surrounding him as a player. But he is, as it turns out, still capable of playing basketball pretty well.
Friday’s first half felt like the right balance of Embiid hunting his own offense while playing his part to get the rest of the team going. The Sixers got off to a 13-2 start with Embiid setting bone-crushing screens at the point of attack, mixing in face-up jumpers and the occasional duck-in along the way. When Zach Collins came in to spell old friend Nic Vucevic, Embiid was very deliberate about attacking the smaller/thinner big man, generating some deep paint touches for flip shots around the rim. His handle was the main thing that let him down — Embiid had a couple of driving opportunities that went awry as he tried to collect his handle and turn the ball over for a layup, coughing it up to Chicago instead.
Finding the right balance of Embiid and Maxey this season has been trickier than it ought to be, even though they play so effortlessly off of one another in two-man actions. Embiid had some excellent quick decision-making for hockey assists to Maxey in this one, driving into space before hitting a kick-out that eventually found its way to their most dangerous shooter. When the ball can simply find Maxey in an open pocket without No. 0 having to run through a maze of screens and handoffs to get there, it allows Maxey to provide significant offensive value without overtaxing him. How these two play off of and understand one another is key to hitting their highest ceiling in the playoffs if they hope to compete this year.
That said, Maxey’s best scoring flourishes largely came on his own without Embiid to run with and off of, with the younger guard deferring a bit when the two shared the floor. There is a real conversation to be had about how to structure the offense around the full-strength version of this team, but the Sixers had some good offensive process moments that led to poor results in crunch time, missed threes from VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey as two examples. That will lead to a lot of people focusing on the fact that Embiid featured on the possessions, which feels like misplaced blame, even if there are larger structural questions. Don’t just run static post-ups in the guts of the game, would be the corner I’m standing on.
I continue to be more concerned about the defensive stuff. In recent games, it has felt like Embiid is getting more comfortable and more helpful on the defensive end as he gets more reps and gains a better understanding of his current physical limitations. Still, he lacks the recovery speed to make plays with the same regularity that he used to, and while his positioning and effort have slowly improved over time, Embiid is more susceptible than ever to being beaten in space by smaller perimeter players, as Coby White showed in crunch time.
Stabilizing the defense
The Sixers have stabilized as a firm playoff team largely on the strength of their defense. Their early-season shooting was eventually going to cool off, and they were able to minimize the impact of their regression by locking in on the other end. For the last month, they’ve been among the best defensive teams in basketball.
You wouldn’t have known that watching Friday night’s first half. Nick Nurse was red hot in the huddle (quite literally, according to Prime’s Cassidy Hubbarth), watching his team make basic execution errors he must have thought they had grown out of. The Sixers struggled to pass off switches, failing to communicate or otherwise identify that they needed to pass off a driver, leading to a lot of uncontested drives down Main Street for the Bulls. Quentin Grimes appeared to be a target of Nurse’s ire, yanked out of the game after a particularly brutal second-quarter stretch in favor of Justin Edwards, who is not exactly Scottie Pippen himself.
(Perhaps Nurse should have stuck with Grimes on the pine, because choosing Grimes over Dominick Barlow in crunch time looks like an indefensible decision in hindsight. While Barlow’s inability to shoot did cause some floor spacing issues, the Sixers handily lost Grimes’ minutes all night long.)
Having blown a massive lead to the Bulls in the same building earlier this season, you would have thought the Sixers would come prepared for their brand of basketball. Chicago wants to play up-tempo whenever possible, in the halfcourt and in transition, but the Sixers took a while to recognize it on Friday. Early turnovers didn’t help the cause, nor did some long missed threes that led to a few two or three on ones for the Bulls in transition.
There haven’t been many “out of control” moments for VJ Edgecombe this season, at least not compared to the average rookie, but he had a few genuine headless chicken moments against the Bulls, battling first-half foul trouble and compounding defensive issues with wild drives to the basket. While he was hard done by a non-call on one of those journeys to the hoop, I thought Nurse did the right thing sitting him down in favor of more minutes for Jared McCain, who brought some stability to the floor on both ends. But it ultimately felt like they never found the right combination of players on the floor, losing one battle right as they started winning another.
Other notes
— I simply love watching Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker attacking the offensive glass. They are tough, no-nonsense battlers around the rim, constantly digging extra possessions out of the mud for the Sixers. The two-way duo combined for five offensive rebounds in the first half alone, helping the Sixers make up for a rough start shooting the ball.
— Thought Adem Bona was better than his box score line indicates during a brief second-half shift.
— For most of this game, Paul George was not particularly good, at least not on offense. The looks were clean enough, but he was fighting himself for most of the first 2.5 quarters. At least he continued to chip in elsewhere, grabbing double-digit rebounds while playing (mostly) sturdy defense, because he put together some ball-stopping possessions on the other end that would make Kelly Oubre blush.
Then again, George sticking it out long enough to leave his mark is exactly what many of us asked for last season, when he treated their sinking ship as a problem for others to deal with. So it felt like a deserved breakthrough when George got a pair of wing threes to drop late in the third, pulling the Sixers into a lead to open the fourth through little more than perseverance. A brief flash in the pan, or the start of a larger heater? When George quickly rose into another three on a play where he barely touched the ball early in the fourth, it appeared we had our answer.
#15 G Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball up the floor during an NBA game against the Sacramento Kings on October 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers’ first turbulence of the 2025-26 season has worsened. If they hope to stabilize the ride, they will have to do it without one of their most indispensable players.
Guard-forward Austin Reaves has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 left gastrocnemius strain — a moderate tear to the main muscle in the calf — and will be sidelined until he is re-evaluated in four weeks, the team announced Friday.
Reaves left Thursday’s Christmas Day matchup against the Houston Rockets at halftime with renewed calf discomfort. He did not return to the game, which ended in a 113-94 Lakers loss that was one-sided to the point Houston led by double digits for the entire second half.
The injury stems from a calf strain Reaves initially suffered two weeks earlier. The Lakers had classified the first injury as mild, and it cost him three games. He returned to practice last week and was cleared for game action, but coach JJ Redick acknowledged after the Rockets loss that something was still off.
Redick said the Lakers’ next practice, scheduled for Saturday, would be “uncomfortable” for certain players — a remark aimed at a team that has shown defensive and effort-related breakdowns in recent weeks. Redick clarified that Reaves was not among the group drawing frustration, praising him privately and publicly for professionalism, competitiveness, and consistency.
Still, the absence will sting. The Lakers have lost three straight and six of their last 10 after opening the season as one of the West’s most efficient offensive teams. Their defensive numbers, already trending downward against younger, faster teams, will now be tested further without a player who had become their connective tissue — a scorer who also initiates, defends multiple positions, and fills the gaps around the generational duo of Luka Dončić and LeBron James.
Reaves’ emergence as the Lakers’ third star has been one of the defining narratives of the NBA season. The 27-year-old entered the year viewed as a high-level role player, but by December he had rewritten expectations, averaging 26.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1 steal per game, and logging more than 35 minutes nightly while shooting efficiently from all three levels. His pick-and-roll chemistry with Dončić had become the Lakers’ most reliable secondary action, while his late-clock shot-making often bailed them out of stagnant possessions.
Reaves’ breakout arc has made him not only a central piece of the Lakers’ present, but also a flashpoint for their future. Because he is in a contract year, and because the Lakers’ roster has holes they may need to patch at the trade deadline, Reaves has been mentioned in outside league speculation — particularly from executives who see him as one of the few Lakers players who could return All-Star-caliber value in a deal.
His recovery timeline now intersects awkwardly with the NBA calendar. The Lakers are scheduled to play 14 games between now and the four-week mark, meaning Reaves could miss nearly all of them if his body heals on schedule. His re-evaluation is expected to land in late January, barely one week before the Feb. 5 trade deadline — a date that now carries even more significance for the Lakers given their recent slide.
The Philadelphia 76ers paid a visit to the Chicago Bulls on Friday looking to kick off a 5-game road trip the right way. The Sixers took a tough loss at home before the Christmas holiday and invaded the United Center looking not only to bounce back from that loss, but also a loss to the Bulls back on Nov. 4.
In an entertaining back-and-forth affair, the Bulls did just enough to squeak out a 109-102 win and send Philadelphia to an 0-4 record when the Big 3 of Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Paul George have all played together. The Bulls received a big effort from their bench unit which was the big difference on this night.
Embiid had 31 points and five rebounds for Philadelphia while Maxey had 27 points and eight assists, George had 15 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists, and VJ Edgecombe added 10 points and seven rebounds. The Sixers also received seven points and six rebounds along with three steals from Dominick Barlow while Jared McCain added six points.
Here are the player grades following the loss:
Tyrese Maxey: A-minus
The night for Maxey started with him knocking down an open 3, thanks to a fantastic Embiid screen to free him up. After that first shot, he went through a dry spell on the offensive end. He then was able to get going in the second quarter when he put the ball on the ground and decided to make things happen on the offensive end. He made some big 3-pointers in the second half as he was able to fight through a slow start on the offensive end to make sure he found a way to lead this group on the offensive end of the floor. With that being said, Maxey came up short in the fourth when the Bulls made their run.
VJ Edgecombe: C
The rookie had a tough start on the offensive end. He deserves credit for being able to put his head down and attack the basket, but he kept running into Bulls big men Nikola Vucevic and Matas Buzelis as they made life miserable for Edgecombe. With that being said, he fought his behind off on the defensive end and was helpful on the glass. He was able to contribute more offensively in the second half, but he overall didn’t shoot the ball well and was unable to find much in that department.
Paul George: A-minus
The star forward didn’t shoot the ball well at the start, but George did some winning things in this one. He defended different positions whether it was Buzelis or Josh Giddey as he switched onto many different players. That allowed him to contribute while the shot was working itself out. The 3s he made in the second half were critical for the Sixers to get the scoreboard moving at a high rate. The offense needed George to find a rhythm and he did so with some big 3s in the second half.
Dominick Barlow: B-minus
The big man made his return to the lineup and looked like he was shot out of a cannon in this one. He was tough to keep off the glass and he made some big plays defensively by using his size and length to force the Bulls into tougher looks. On the offensive end, he converted on some tough looks on that end and was a pain for Chicago to account for.
Joel Embiid: A
Despite being questionable for this contest, Embiid looked like himself in the early going. He was going to work in the post and used his size and strength to score against Chicago’s big men in the paint. The big fella knocked down a 3 in the second quarter and helped create so many open looks for his teammates in an effort to get the offense rolling. He was big in the third quarter as he threw the Sixers on his back on the offensive end. He attacked Vucevic, Buzelis, Isaac Okoro, and whoever else the Bulls decided to put on him. There wasn’t much Chicago could do against the big fella as he was in a rhythm all night. If one wants to criticize, one can point to a few defensive mishaps and he missed a few rebound opportunities.
Jared McCain: C
The second-year guard provided a much-needed scoring punch to this group off the bench. The Sixers were struggling to get things going against the physicality the Bulls played with early and McCain put his head down and got to the basket in order to make things happen for Philadelphia on that offensive end. Other than that stretch, McCain didn’t do much on offense as he had some struggles with his 3-point shooting.
Quentin Grimes: D-plus
The initial stint for Grimes in his return from an illness included him missing a couple of early 3-pointers, but he had a nifty finish at the basket to help the Sixers get things moving on that end of the floor. He didn’t do much in the second half as it was an overall struggle in his return.
Andre Drummond: B-minus
Drummond hopped off the bench and immediately did what he does best which is attack the glass and create extra possessions for the Sixers. He made some big plays off the bench and helped the Sixers control the glass on either end of the floor. He didn’t get a look in the second half.
Jabari Walker: B-minus
Like they can with Barlow, the Sixers can turn to Walker and he can step in and produce on the glass. He was part of a dominant effort in the rebounding department to help the Sixers have a big advantage in that area.
Adem Bona: C-plus
Bona got a look in the second half as coach Nick Nurse wanted to go in a different route at the backup center spot behind Embiid. He missed a corner 3 and was unable to do much on that end, but did make an impact defensively.
Justin Edwards: Incomplete
The initial stint for Edwards didn’t produce much as he missed an open 3, but he was able to make an impact defensively so the Sixers will take that. He only played four minutes in this one.
The Steelers are on the verge of securing a playoff spot and could clinch it as early as Saturday night.
If the Baltimore Ravens fall to the Green Bay Packers on Saturday, the Steelers will clinch the AFC North title, regardless of their outcome against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
If the Ravens actually lose, the Steelers could sit some starters against Cleveland to make sure they are healthy for the playoffs.
The Browns currently have a 3-12 record, which puts them in position to select No. 3 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Given that Cleveland has one of the weakest schedules in the NFL, it’s likely they would win any draft position tiebreakers with teams that have the same record.
Currently, five teams have secured three wins. The New York Giants and the Las Vegas Raiders, both with two wins, face off this Sunday. The winner of that game — barring any ties — will drop below the Browns in the draft order, assuming Cleveland loses to Pittsburgh.
The Browns’ primary objective right now is to position themselves within the top two picks of the draft. This would allow them to select a franchise quarterback if they don’t believe rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders is the solution.
If the Steelers rest some starters, like quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the Browns might actually secure a win. This scenario could potentially drop them from the No. 2 draft position all the way to No. 6, especially if none of the other three win teams come out on top this weekend.
The upcoming quarterback draft class is expected to be weak, with potentially only two quarterbacks worth selecting in the first round. If Cleveland doesn’t secure a top-two pick, it likely won’t have a chance to draft one, which could mean waiting until 2027 for a viable option.
If the Steelers want to secure a double win this weekend, they should be cheering for the Ravens to lose to the Packers and then to fall to the Browns. This way, the Steelers could grab a playoff spot while pushing Cleveland out of position to draft a quarterback.
The Boston Celtics survived another early onslaught by the Indiana Pacers to win the second half of a home-and-away series 140-122, a historic scoring quarter in the game's second frame setting up the Celtics for the win courtesy of a Payton Pritchard (29 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal) outburst.
Among the starters, Jaylen Brown (30 points, 3 boards, 4 assists, as many steals) continued his streak of 30-point plus games, and Derrick White (21 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 1 block) had another solid outing for Boston after a slow start to the season. Off the bench, Sam Hauser (23 points, 4 boards) also continued rounding into form after an early-season slump, and Luka Garza (15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists).
With the road victory, the Celtics improve to 19-11 on the season and remain in the Eastern Conference's third place spot at the start of their current West Coast road trip.
Boston next plays the Portland Trail Blazers at Oregon's Moda Center on Dec. 28 at 6 pm ET.
Naoya Inoue defends his undisputed world championship against Alan Picasso at “Night of the Samurai” in Riyadh today.
The fight will headline a full card of action in Saudi Arabia, which also features Junto Nakatani moving up to the same division as Inoue, and Kenshiro Teraji aiming for a world title in a third weight class
Bad Left Hook will be here with live updates and results, with discussion down in the comments section. Join us!
How to watch Naoya Inoue vs Alan Picasso – Ring V: Night of the Samurai
“The Ring V: Night of the Samurai” will stream live on DAZN worldwide starting at 4 am ET for the main card. DAZN Ultimate tier subscribers will have access, otherwise it will be an extra pay-per-view charge.
Date: Saturday, December 27
Start time: 4 am ET (main card)
How to watch: DAZN (Ultimate tier or pay-per-view)
Location: Mohammed Abdo Arena – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
What time will the Inoue vs Picasso main event start?
Naoya Inoue and Alan Picasso are set to walk to the ring at approximately 7:57 am ET. Here’s the rundown of start times, fight-by-fight, and the running order:
4:10 am ET: Reito Tsutsumi vs Leobardo Quintana, super featherweights, 6 rounds
4:54 am ET: Taiga Imanaga vs Armando Martinez, lightweights, 10 rounds
5:47 am ET: Willibaldo Garcia vs Kenshiro Teraji, super flyweights, 12 rounds, for Garcia’s IBF title
6:47 am ET: Junto Nakatani vs Sebastian Hernandez, super bantamweights, 12 rounds
7:57 am ET: Naoya Inoue vs Alan Picasso, super bantamweights, 12 rounds, for Inoue’s undisputed championship (WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO titles)
UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria and former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili recently tested their power on the always-telling punching machine and both Georgians passed with flying colors.
Topuria, who is currently taking a hiatus from fighting to handle some personal issues, joined forces with Dvalishvili this week for a little Christmas Bro Down. The two enjoyed a laundry list of activities, which included a session with the punching machine to see how their power stacks up against some of the best fighters in the world.
As you may have guessed, both Topuria and Dvalishvili delivered huge strikes to the punching machine. Topuria, who is one of the most vicious knockout finishers in the sport today, registered a whopping score of 2,801. Dvalishvili, on the other hand, topped the machine at 2,507, which is still very respectable.
Check out the footage below:
👀💪Ilia Topuria and Merab both hit the punching machine and get huge scores
Topuria, 28, is coming off a massive knockout finish over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 to claim the 155-pound title and make himself a two-division champion. The victory pushed Topuria’s current UFC win streak to nine, but fans want him back sooner rather than later. Dvalishvili, 34, is coming off a title fight loss to Petr Yan at UFC 323 earlier this month, which snapped a 14-fight win streak for the Georgian star.
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Charlotte Hornets coach Charles Lee said X-rays were negative on the right ankle injury sustained by rookie Kon Knueppel in a 120-105 win over the Orlando Magic on Friday.
Knueppel sustained the injury just before halftime, when he appeared to roll his right ankle in the paint defending a layup attempt by Desmond Bane. He required assistance off the court to the locker room and was ruled out of returning to the game.
The fourth pick finished with 16 points, three rebounds and one assist in 15 minutes, 13 minutes of action. He remained in the locker room for the duration of the game, but he was able to greet and congratulate the team after pulling out the win.
"(It) sounds like X-rays were negative," Lee said. "We'll get more information as we get back to Charlotte, but I love what he gave our group, and we needed all 16 of those points before he exited the game."
Knueppel entered the contest on Friday, averaging 19.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting 41.9% from 3-point range with the Hornets. He is second in rookie scoring and is one of two first-year players with three 30-point performances.
The 20-year-old on Monday became the fastest player in history to reach 100 career 3-pointers, doing so in 29 total games. He is currently on pace to shatter the rookie record for a season, set by Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray in 2022-23 (206).
Knueppel was the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in October and November. He currently has the second-best odds (plus-450) to win Rookie of the Year, trailing only Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (minus-550).
Fans of the LSU Tigers wanted a re-worked offensive line this offseason and it looks like they will get their wish as another big man entered the transfer portal on Friday.
Hayes Fawcett of On3Sports broke the news on Friday that Tigers offensive lineman DJ Chester will enter the portal when it opens in a week. Chester is the third player in that unit to make his plans to leave known, joining Coen Echols and Carius Curne.
Chester was an elite prospect out of the 2023 recruiting class. 247Sports had the four-star player listed as the No. 54 overall recruit in the nation, the best interior offensive lineman and the fifth-best player in Georgia.
The Conyers native didn't see the field much as a true freshman, but his redshirt freshman campaign was very promising. He was the starting center for every single game. It wasn't always clean, but he did earn Freshman All-SEC honors.
The reason that it isn't too shocking that Chester is entering the portal is that he lost the starting center job and LSU tried switching him to left tackle to very limited success. He started only the Oklahoma Sooners game and played in just seven games overall. It was a massive step down for him.
It's not all Chester's fault. Pretty much the enter offensive line struggled at times this year and the development of talent has been slacking for a while. The Tigers will hope that things will change now that Lane Kiffin has brought in Eric Wolford from the Kentucky Wildcats.
Japan has formally announced their 23-player roster for the 2026 Olympics in Milano Cortina.
Former PWHL forward Akane Shiga headlines the roster up front. Shiga is in her second season with Lulea in Sweden scoring at a point-per-game pace this season, and February will mark the second Olympic Games for the 24-year-old.
She's joined up front by Haruka Toko, who also plays professionally in Sweden, as well as five members of Daishin - Rio Noro, Riri Noro, Ai Tada, Umeka Odaira, and Rui Ukita. Rounding out their forward group are Suzuka Maeda, Mei Miura, Remi Koyama, Yumeka Wajima, and Makoto Ito.
Mei Miura was Japan's leading scorer at the 2025 Worlds.
Aoi Shiga and Ayaka Hitosato will anchor Japan's blueline. The duo are playing in the SDHL this season with MoDo and Linkoping respectively. Nana Akimoto, Kohane Sato, Shiori Yamashita, Kanami Seki, Shiori Koike, and Akane Hosoyamada will round out the blueline,
Miyuu Masuhara, who was Japan's starter at the 2025 World Championships is back in net. She'll be joined by Riko Kawaguchi and Rei Halloran in Japan's crease.
The Los Angeles Lakers are in the midst of what some could call a free fall. After hovering around the two seed for most of the season, they find themselves at the four seed with no hope for improving anytime soon.
JJ Redick recently had quite the words for the effort his team has been displaying, and he's not wrong. If the team continues playing at the level they have been, a trade will have to be made.
In the meantime, most of the Lakers on the chopping block will have their chance to prove themselves.
The diagnosis from Austin Reaves' MRI came back today, and the Lakers will certainly have to do everything in their power to keep their heads above water while he's out.
Austin Reaves' injury news is about as bad as it gets
Austin Reaves went into the locker room at halftime and proceeded not to play the rest of the second half against the Houston Rockets on Christmas.
After not returning, the Lakers were then blown out for the third game in a row. The team announced that Reaves would be getting an MRI today, and the results are in.
ESPN's Shams Charania announced that Austin Reaves has suffered from a grade 2 left gastrocnemius strain.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves has been diagnosed with a grade 2 left gastrocnemius strain and will be reevaluated in four weeks.
After looking that up, I came to find that the gastrocnemius is the chief muscle of the calf and also runs to the Achilles tendon.
Given how often calf and leg injuries in sports have resulted in torn Achilles recently, I'm sure all Lakers fans would rather the team take a cautious approach.
The Lakers certainly avoided the worst for Reaves, but what's next without the NBA will be no walk in the park for this Los Angeles roster. This team needs to shape up and fast.
When he arrived on campus at the University of Minnesota in the fall of 2024, Brodie Ziemer became the first Gopher in more than 100 years of hockey to wear number 74.
Serving as captain of Team USA in the World Juniors, which started on Friday in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Ziemer is wearing 74 in red, white and blue as well.
The source of those unique digits is a point of some debate at the Ziemer home in Carver. Brodie’s father Eric was born in 1974 and is convinced that it’s a paternal tribute. His mother Nicole thinks it comes from watching another Minnesotan – TJ Oshie – wear that number for Team USA in his famous one-man shootout show at the Winter Olympics in 2014.
The newest American 74 was on the ice of Grand Casino on Friday night, setting up a first-period goal and coming oh so close to a breakaway goal of his own in the second period. Team USA prevailed 6-3 over Germany in the opener — Ziemer’s first since being named the team’s captain following their pre-Christmas training camp in Duluth.
Looking a bit relieved and winded after Game 1, Ziemer confirmed — sorry dad — that Oshie was the inspiration for his unique digits, and talked about the honor and pressure that comes from wearing the C on his sweater.
“I’m so honored. Like, I’m feeling super blessed,” he said. “Such a good group of dudes to be able to be captain for, getting to do it on such a big stage in my home state. Just super blessed, super lucky.”
If there was grumbling among the Gopher haters out there when one of the top players in maroon and gold was named captain on an American team led by U head man Bob Motzko, the coach made it clear that the players, not the staff, always pick the captains on his teams.
“Obviously these guys are tight. We had nine returning players … and we spoke with all of those guys individually,” Motzko said following the Germany game. “You’ve got to know, this wasn’t a Bob Motzko thing with one of his players.”
Ziemer, 19, was named the Gophers’ top rookie last season, which would be the highlight of any player’s winter. But the gold medal he won with Team USA in Ottawa at the 2025 World Juniors was clearly the high point in a career, so far.
Motzko noted that in talking with those returnees from the 2025 gold medal team, almost to a man they chose number 74 to be the 2026 team captain.
“The leadership group is great, but if there’s one guy they leaned on, it’s Brodie,” Motzko said.
As his parents took a breather after the first period on Friday, they reflected on the youngest of their three children and how Brodie was the classic little brother, determined to outwork his siblings in everything.
“He was always trying to keep up, absolutely. His older brother never gave him an inch of leeway, and his sister was just as tough,” Eric Ziemer said. Their oldest, Brady, played college hockey at St. Cloud State and Augustana. Their daughter Brier was a college volleyball player.
“His sister took care of him really well, but it was competitive,” Eric said.
One of the earliest indicators that a young Brodie was into hockey would become obvious whenever it snowed.
“I gave him a hard time, because we had a rink in our backyard, and it would snow,” Nicole Ziemer said. “He would shovel the rink, but he wouldn’t shovel the driveway. The rink is clear, but I can’t get out of my driveway.”
The Ziemers made the tough decision to have Brodie move away when he was 14, first to Faribault where he won a 14U national title at Shattuck-St. Mary’s, then to Michigan where he skated for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program for two years.
It was there that the Ziemer parents made friends with the families of other players who today are college rivals, but teammates on Team USA once again.
“We have a group of the Hagens, the Eisermans, the Stigas and the Plantes, and it’s a great group,” Nicole said.
That friendship and growing team chemistry was on display early on Friday, as Ziemer’s set-up pass to Will Horcoff produced a 3-0 U.S. lead.
“He’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever met, just seeing his habits on and off the ice,” Horcoff said, praising the decision to bestow the C on Ziemer. “It makes you want to do the same.”
As the old friends from the parent group gather in Minnesota this year to pursue another gold medal, the local families are playing host and hoping to treat their friends from Illinois, Massachusetts and New York to a taste of winter fun around these parts.
Eric has an ice fishing outing planned, but the weather is causing problems.
“It’s getting warm, but hopefully at the end of the week we’ll go back out,” he said. “But they aren’t dressed for that when they come to watch hockey, and I don’t have enough gear for everyone. We’ll see.”
At least, if the forecast is correct, there will be no need to shovel the Ziemer family driveway.
ORLANDO, Fla. — Before the Magic took to the Kia Center court against the Hornets on Friday night, coach Jamahl Mosley said Charlotte‘s 10-20 record wasn’t indicative of what the team was capable of accomplishing.
Mosley made it clear Orlando needed to focus on taking care of the little things in order to secure the desired outcome during their second meeting of the season against the Southeast Division foe.
And he wasn’t wrong on either viewpoint.
The Magic trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half and by as many as 24 in the third quarter as Charlotte exited a sold-out Kia Center on top, 120-105, outrebounding Orlando 53-42 with 25 second-chance points.
Charlotte (11-20) had seven scorers finish in double figures, including 22 from star LaMelo Ball. The Hornets shot 19 for 39 (48.7%) from 3-point range.
In comparison, Orlando ended 11 for 35 (31.4%) from distance, nothing came easy on offense and the team couldn’t come up with the necessary defensive stops to mount a comeback.
The Magic (17-14) return to Kia Center on Saturday for the second game of a back-to-back when three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets (who beat Orlando by 11 points Dec. 18) make their lone trip of the season to Central Florida.
Starting 5
The Magic playing without Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain) and Jalen Suggs (left hip bruise) again, Tyus Jones and Anthony Black remained in the starting lineup alongside Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane and Wendell Carter Jr. (16 points) against the Hornets.
Black, who had scored 19-plus points in the past four games, posted 15 in the first half, hitting his first three triples. He added his fourth 3-pointer in the fourth, registering 24 total points in 36 minutes.
While Black had some success from distance, Bane and Banchero did not. The pair combined to shoot 0 for 4 from 3 before the break and ended 0 for 8 distance.
Bane drove to the basket early to reach 10 points by the half but was responsible for all three of Orlando’s first-quarter turnovers. He ended with 15 points.
Banchero missed his first three shots from the floor, opened 1 for 5 and couldn’t find his footing the rest of the night. The Magic forward ended 4 for 13 with 13 points in 31 minutes.
Second unit
The Magic upgraded Tristan da Silva from probable to available earlier in the day after he had missed the past four contests due to a right shoulder bruise.
The second-year pro had eight points with two assists.
Charlotte’s bench outscored Orlando’s 41-29.
Reserve center Goga Bitadze (left knee strain) missed his second straight game.
Rookie watch
Jase Richardson and Noah Penda entered in the first quarter but failed to make an offensive impact early.
Penda missed first three shots from the floor, including a pair of 3s, and played 8 minutes through the first three frames. Richardson got on the board late in the third quarter with a triple and ended with 14 points in 22 minutes.
Hornets No. 4 pick Kon Knueppel posted 16 points but did not return in the second half due to a right ankle injury.
Magic give back
At halftime of Friday’s game, the Magic surprised a local family with a variety of gifts as part of NBA Cares Season of Giving.
With help from president of business operations Charlie Freeman and Magic community ambassador Bo Outlaw, the team presented a family of four a new 2026 Kia Sorento EX, $5,000 for home furnishings courtesy of AdventHealth, family meals for a year from Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks, a three-day, two-night stay at Caribe Royale, four Chick-fil-A for a year packs, one phone and three tablets with service from Total Wireless, a free ice cream party at Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream, four gift bundles from hair ties company Teleties, a 65-inch TV, an air fryer, a kitchen aid mixer, pots and pans, arts and crafts and other household essentials to assist them through difficult times.
It marked the 17th consecutive season the Magic have hosted one family around the holidays for “The Big Give.”
On Thursday, the Jacksonville Jaguars announced that they placed cornerback Jourdan Lewis on injured reserve with a foot injury.
Lewis suffered the injury against Denver last Sunday. According to NFL Network, Lewis will undergo surgery and miss the remainder of the season.
Prior to Friday's practice, head coach Liam Coen discussed Lewis being placed on IR.
"Always hard when you lose a leader, your lead communicator guy that brings energy, and focus and playmaking to our defense," Coen said. "So, that's always hard but he's handled it like a pro."
"We've just got to have to see how he handles it, I have no question about how he will. He's done a nice job and those guys up front have done a nice job preparing him."
This season, Lewis has held opponents to just 7.6 yards per catch while recording two interceptions and four pass breakups. Most of Lewis' snaps came from the nickel.
The Jaguars signed Lewis as a free agent during the 2025 offseason to a three-year, $30 million deal.
Along with his contributions on the field, Lewis quickly became one of the leaders of this Jaguars' team.
"He'll definitely help us," Coen added. "There's no question throughout this stretch as we go. The guys all trust him, they all believe in him. He'll have great guidance for all those guys that are playing in the back end and be able to continue to contribute that way."
Without Lewis moving forward, Jarrian Jones will step in at the nickel, with Greg Newsome and Montaric Brown outside.
"He'll definitely help us. There's no question throughout this stretch as we go. The guys all trust him, they all believe in him. He'll have great guidance for all those guys that are playing in the back end and be able to continue to contribute that way."
Eli Sanders #1 of the USC Trojans dives for the end zone during the first half against Missouri State at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Not only was 2025 a great year for sports teams in Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii but it was also a great year for sports images. The Sporting Tribune's photographers covered many unique moments. From the Dodgers winning the World Series with a parade and rally at Dodger Stadium to the Las Vegas Aces celebrating winning another WNBA championship.
Los Angeles Rams cornerback, Cam Kinchens (26) breaking up a pass during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 15, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.
Jess Cryderman - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Rams cornerback, Cam Kinchens (26) breaking up a pass during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 15, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.
Fans raise a “5,000” sign behind Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson (22) after becoming the fastest WNBA player to score 5,000 points during a WNBA game between the Las Vegas Aces and the Connecticut Sun, Wednesday June 25, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.
DJ Cabanlong - The Sporting Tribune
Fans raise a “5,000” sign behind Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson (22) after becoming the fastest WNBA player to score 5,000 points during a WNBA game between the Las Vegas Aces and the Connecticut Sun, Wednesday June 25, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.
Vegas Golden Knights D Nicolas Hague (14) pushes over Minnesota Wild F Ryan Hartman (38) during an NHL playoff game on Sunday April 20, 2025, at T-Mobile Arena.
RJ Forbus - The Sporting Tribune
Vegas Golden Knights D Nicolas Hague (14) pushes over Minnesota Wild F Ryan Hartman (38) during an NHL playoff game on Sunday April 20, 2025, at T-Mobile Arena.
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell (7) celebrates after a walk-off against the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday August 12th, 2025 at Angel's Stadium in Anaheim, Calif.
Paige Creason - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell (7) celebrates after a walk-off against the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday August 12th, 2025 at Angel's Stadium in Anaheim, Calif.
Brandon Pollard - The Sporting Tribune San Diego State guard BJ Davis (10) is fouled during an NCAA Basketball game between Lamar and San Diego State, Wednesday December 10, 2025 at Viejas Arena in San Diego, Calif.
Brandon Pollard - The Sporting Tribune
Brandon Pollard - The Sporting Tribune San Diego State guard BJ Davis (10) is fouled during an NCAA Basketball game between Lamar and San Diego State, Wednesday December 10, 2025 at Viejas Arena in San Diego, Calif.
Eli Sanders #1 of the USC Trojans dives for the end zone during the first half against Missouri State at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Ric Tapia - The Sporting Tribune
Eli Sanders #1 of the USC Trojans dives for the end zone during the first half against Missouri State at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Club América midfielder Cristian Borja (26) and LAFC defender Sergi Palencia (14) collide during a FIFA Club World Cup play-in match, Saturday May 31, 2025 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Jordan Teller - The Sporting Tribune
Club América midfielder Cristian Borja (26) and LAFC defender Sergi Palencia (14) collide during a FIFA Club World Cup play-in match, Saturday May 31, 2025 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) farewell game during an MLB baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday September 19th, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Nico Alba - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) farewell game during an MLB baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday September 19th, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Anaheim Ducks defense Olen Zellweger (51) celebrates after scoring a goal during an NHL game against the Los Angeles Kings on November 28, 2025 in Anaheim, Calif.
Steven Park - The Sporting Tribune
Anaheim Ducks defense Olen Zellweger (51) celebrates after scoring a goal during an NHL game against the Los Angeles Kings on November 28, 2025 in Anaheim, Calif.
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward (3) dives into third base during the MLB game against the Boston Red Sox Tuesday June 24th, 2025 at Angel's Stadium in Anaheim, Calif.
Paige Creason - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward (3) dives into third base during the MLB game against the Boston Red Sox Tuesday June 24th, 2025 at Angel's Stadium in Anaheim, Calif.
#12 PG Juju Watkins of USC blocks the shot of #3 G Londynn Jones of UCLA during a NCAA basketball game on February 13, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.
Darwin Walker - The Sporting Tribune
#12 PG Juju Watkins of USC blocks the shot of #3 G Londynn Jones of UCLA during a NCAA basketball game on February 13, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.
A USC fan makes the victory sign as the sun sets during a college football game against the Michigan Wolverines at the Los Angeles Coliseum on October 11, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Jordan Teller - The Sporting Tribune
A USC fan makes the victory sign as the sun sets during a college football game against the Michigan Wolverines at the Los Angeles Coliseum on October 11, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Edmonton Oilers celebrate after an overtime goal during a NHL playoff game between the Las Vegas Golden Knights and the Edmonton Oilers, Wednesday May 14, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.
DJ Cabanlong - The Sporting Tribune
Edmonton Oilers celebrate after an overtime goal during a NHL playoff game between the Las Vegas Golden Knights and the Edmonton Oilers, Wednesday May 14, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.
Rodrick Pleasant #18 of the UCLA Bruins breaks up a pass against Jackson Bennee #23 of the Utah Utes during the first half at Rose Bowl Stadium on August 30, 2025 in Pasadena, California.
Ric Tapia - The Sporting Tribune
Rodrick Pleasant #18 of the UCLA Bruins breaks up a pass against Jackson Bennee #23 of the Utah Utes during the first half at Rose Bowl Stadium on August 30, 2025 in Pasadena, California.
Ohio State Buckeye leaps over UCLA Bruins in Columbus, Ohio.
Robin Alam - The Sporting Tribune
Ohio State Buckeye James People #20 leaps over UCLA Bruins on November, 15, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.
San Diego State University wide receiver Donovan Brown (14) catches the ball during an NCAA football game against Colorado State, Friday October 03, 2025 in San Diego, California.
Aaron Brenner – The Sporting Tribune
San Diego State University wide receiver Donovan Brown (14) catches the ball during an NCAA football game against Colorado State, Friday October 03, 2025 in San Diego, California.
Right wing Alex Laferriere #14 of the Los Angeles Kings walks out of the tunnel to the ice during an NHL game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Crypto.com Arena on October 16, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Jordan Teller - The Sporting Tribune
Right wing Alex Laferriere #14 of the Los Angeles Kings walks out of the tunnel to the ice during an NHL game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Crypto.com Arena on October 16, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Hassan Haskins #28 of the Los Angeles Chargers is tackled during the second half against the New Orleans Saints at SoFi Stadium on August 10, 2025 in Inglewood, California.
Ric Tapia - The Sporting Tribune
Hassan Haskins #28 of the Los Angeles Chargers is tackled during the second half against the New Orleans Saints at SoFi Stadium on August 10, 2025 in Inglewood, California.
Los Angeles Rams Puka Nacua #12 catches the ball at SoFi Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Inglewood, Calif.
Jordon Kelly - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Rams Puka Nacua #12 catches the ball at SoFi Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Inglewood, Calif.
Alex Call #12 of the Los Angeles Dodgers squares up a pitch from Eduardo Rodriguez #57 of the Arizona Diamondbacks during an MLB game at Dodger Stadium on August 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Jordan Teller - The Sporting Tribune
Alex Call #12 of the Los Angeles Dodgers squares up a pitch from Eduardo Rodriguez #57 of the Arizona Diamondbacks during an MLB game at Dodger Stadium on August 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres celebrates a walk off home run against the Los Angeles Angels at Petco Park on May 12, 2025 in San Diego, California.
Robert Sloter - The Sporting Tribune
Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres celebrates a walk off home run against the Los Angeles Angels at Petco Park on May 12, 2025 in San Diego, California.
Manny Machado #13 hits a grand slam against the Mets at Citi Field on September 17, 2025 in New York.
Robert Sloter - The Sporting Tribune
Manny Machado #13 hits a grand slam against the Mets at Citi Field on September 17, 2025 in New York.
James Harden #1 of the LA Clippers drives to the rim during an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Tuesday December 23, 2025 in Inglewood, Calif.
Jordan Teller - The Sporting Tribune
James Harden #1 of the LA Clippers drives to the rim during an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Tuesday December 23, 2025 in Inglewood, Calif.
Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers breaks his bat on a single against the Tampa Bay Rays at Steinbrenner Field on August 1, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.
Robert Sloter - The Sporting Tribune
Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers breaks his bat on a single against the Tampa Bay Rays at Steinbrenner Field on August 1, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.
Nolan Schanuel #18 of the Los Angeles Angels is tagged out at home plate by Francisco Alvarez #4 of the New York Mets at Citi Field on July 22, 2025 in New York City.
Robert Sloter - The Sporting Tribune
Nolan Schanuel #18 of the Los Angeles Angels is tagged out at home plate by Francisco Alvarez #4 of the New York Mets at Citi Field on July 22, 2025 in New York City.
It's a hire by Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel that has current interim coach Biff Poggi's stamp of approval. Though the university has not officially announced Whittingham's hire at the time of this writing, the Detroit Free Press has confirmed ESPN's report that it is a five-year deal for the 66-year-old coach, which will reportedly pay him an average of $8.2 million per year.
"Michigan Football is in GREAT hands under Kyle Whittingham. ... " Poggi wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, Dec. 26. "Proven winner, true gentleman, tough nosed Michigan coach of days gone by. Great hire by Warde Manuel. The kids will love him. Exciting days ahead for Michigan."
"We have work to do over (the) next five days. Texas is excellent. GoBlue."
Michigan Football is in GREAT hands under Kyle Whittingham !!!! Proven winner, true gentleman, tough nosed Michigan coach of days gone by. Great hire by Warde Manuel. The kids will love him. Exciting days ahead for Michigan. We have work to do over next five days. Texas is…
Poggi is expected to carry out his interim head coach tag in Michigan's Citrus Bowl matchup against Texas at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The Wolverines announced they landed in Orlando at 8:44 p.m. ET on social media, over an hour after Poggi commented on Whittingham.
According to multiple reports, Whittingham is expected to join the Wolverines on Saturday, Dec. 27 in Orlando for their bowl prep. With the expected arrival of Whittingham on Saturday, the long-time Utah coach seems as though he will not coach the Utes in the Las Vegas Bowl on Wednesday, Dec. 31.
The Citrus Bowl will be the third game this season that Poggi will serve as the interim head coach. He led the team in Weeks 3 and 4 during Moore's two-game suspension for his involvement in the Connor Stalions sign-stealing scandal. Poggi, a longtime high school coach, is in his second stint as the associate head coach at Michigan.
Poggi told reporters during the team's final media availability on Tuesday, Dec. 22 that he wanted the job as the permanent head coach at Michigan, and that he wanted to "fix the program."
Ultimately, Michigan landed on Whittingham to take over for Moore, who was fired with cause by the university on Wednesday, Dec. 10 after a university investigation found he engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. He was arrested that same day and charged on Friday, Dec. 12 with three charges, including a third-degree felony for home invasion.
INDIANAPOLIS -- Jaylen Brown scored 30 points to lead the Celtics to a 140-122 win over the Pacers on Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Pacers have lost seven straight and fell to 6-25, holding the worst record in the NBA. The Celtics have won four straight and improved to 19-11, sitting at third place in the Eastern Conference.
Celtics guard Payton Pritchard added 29 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Wing Sam Hauser scored 23 points, hitting 7 of 8 3-point attempts. Guard Derrick White scored 21 points and posted six assists and five rebounds. Center Luka Garza added 15 points. Guard Andrew Nembhard led the Pacers with 18 points and eight assists. Guards Bennedict Mathurin and T.J. McConnell had 13 points each.
Here are three observations.
Celtics' second quarter starts 3-point avalanche
Just as they did on Monday night in Boston, the Pacers took control of the game in the first quarter thanks to much better shooting than usual. They scored 39 points for their highest-scoring first quarter of the season, making 16 of 27 field goals and 7 of 12 3-pointers to post 1.35 points per possession.
On Monday, when the Pacers scored 35 first-quarter points, they held a 20-point lead into the third quarter. Friday, their lead hit 15 points but it disappeared much faster because the Celtics went berserk in the second quarter and didn't slow down that much offensively after that.
Boston scored 25 points in the first 5:30 of the second quarter and spent most of the period averaging better than 2.00 points per possession. They finished with 47 points in the period, the most of any Pacers opponent in any game this season, making 16 of 25 field goals including 6 of 12 3s to go with 9 of 11 free throws, posting an absurd 1.82 points per possession. The Celtics erased a 39-28 end-of-first-quarter deficit and led 75-61 at the break. They scored 14 points in the paint in the period, but just one of them was a layup.
The Pacers showed fight in the third, but they still couldn't slow the Celtics jump shooting as Boston scored 36 points in the third on 13 of 18 shooting including 6 of 8 from 3-point range to post another 1.46 points per possession.
Boston finished 47 of 83 from the floor, 20 of 39 from 3-point range in the game with 1.40 points per possession.
Hauser led the charge, hitting seven straight 3-pointers before finally missing his last one to finish with 23 points. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard hit three each. Anfernee Simons and Jaylen Brown hit two each.
Jaylen Brown goes for 30 again
Jaylen Brown hadn't even taken a 3 until the game's final seven minutes and seemed to stay in the game just to try a couple. He was 11 of 17 from the floor and got most of his work done in the mid-range, creating the gravity going to the basket that opened up opportunities on the perimeter. When he finally did shoot from outside, he made his first two 3s before a miss. The second got him to 30 points for the eighth straight game and he came out after that.
Brown finished with exactly 30 points on 13 of 20 shooting including 2 of 3 from 3 to go with 2 of 2 at the line. He also posted four assists, four steals and three rebounds and the Celtics were +19 when he was on the floor.
T.J. McConnell ignites Gainbridge
The Pacers spent most of the second half trailing by double figures, but veteran point guard T.J. McConnell got the crowd engaged as he tends to do.
McConnell took a shove from Boston's Jordan Walsh and was determined to give it right back to him. The 6-1, 190-pound McConnell pointed at the 6-6, 205-pound Walsh and pushed him with both hands, bringing officials and Pacers teammates to the scene to separate the two players. An official review levied technical fouls on both players, and McConnell drew obvious juice from the proceedings and scored layups on the next two possessions.
McConnell finished with 13 points on 5 of 6 shooting, posting double figures for the third straight game. In the last six games, McConnell is 33 of 46 from the floor (71.7%).
INDIANAPOLIS -- Jaylen Brown scored 30 points to lead the Celtics to a 140-122 win over the Pacers on Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Pacers have lost seven straight and fell to 6-25, holding the worst record in the NBA. The Celtics have won four straight and improved to 19-11, sitting at third place in the Eastern Conference.
Celtics guard Payton Pritchard added 29 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Wing Sam Hauser scored 23 points, hitting 7 of 8 3-point attempts. Guard Derrick White scored 21 points and posted six assists and five rebounds. Center Luka Garza added 15 points. Guard Andrew Nembhard led the Pacers with 18 points and eight assists. Guards Bennedict Mathurin and T.J. McConnell had 13 points each.
Here are three observations.
Celtics' second quarter starts 3-point avalanche
Just as they did on Monday night in Boston, the Pacers took control of the game in the first quarter thanks to much better shooting than usual. They scored 39 points for their highest-scoring first quarter of the season, making 16 of 27 field goals and 7 of 12 3-pointers to post 1.35 points per possession.
On Monday, when the Pacers scored 35 first-quarter points, they held a 20-point lead into the third quarter. Friday, their lead hit 15 points but it disappeared much faster because the Celtics went berserk in the second quarter and didn't slow down that much offensively after that.
Boston scored 25 points in the first 5:30 of the second quarter and spent most of the period averaging better than 2.00 points per possession. They finished with 47 points in the period, the most of any Pacers opponent in any game this season, making 16 of 25 field goals including 6 of 12 3s to go with 9 of 11 free throws, posting an absurd 1.82 points per possession. The Celtics erased a 39-28 end-of-first-quarter deficit and led 75-61 at the break. They scored 14 points in the paint in the period, but just one of them was a layup.
The Pacers showed fight in the third, but they still couldn't slow the Celtics jump shooting as Boston scored 36 points in the third on 13 of 18 shooting including 6 of 8 from 3-point range to post another 1.46 points per possession.
Boston finished 47 of 83 from the floor, 20 of 39 from 3-point range in the game with 1.40 points per possession.
Hauser led the charge, hitting seven straight 3-pointers before finally missing his last one to finish with 23 points. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard hit three each. Anfernee Simons and Jaylen Brown hit two each.
Jaylen Brown goes for 30 again
Jaylen Brown hadn't even taken a 3 until the game's final seven minutes and seemed to stay in the game just to try a couple. He was 11 of 17 from the floor and got most of his work done in the mid-range, creating the gravity going to the basket that opened up opportunities on the perimeter. When he finally did shoot from outside, he made his first two 3s before a miss. The second got him to 30 points for the eighth straight game and he came out after that.
Brown finished with exactly 30 points on 13 of 20 shooting including 2 of 3 from 3 to go with 2 of 2 at the line. He also posted four assists, four steals and three rebounds and the Celtics were +19 when he was on the floor.
T.J. McConnell ignites Gainbridge
The Pacers spent most of the second half trailing by double figures, but veteran point guard T.J. McConnell got the crowd engaged as he tends to do.
McConnell took a shove from Boston's Jordan Walsh and was determined to give it right back to him. The 6-1, 190-pound McConnell pointed at the 6-6, 205-pound Walsh and pushed him with both hands, bringing officials and Pacers teammates to the scene to separate the two players. An official review levied technical fouls on both players, and McConnell drew obvious juice from the proceedings and scored layups on the next two possessions.
McConnell finished with 13 points on 5 of 6 shooting, posting double figures for the third straight game. In the last six games, McConnell is 33 of 46 from the floor (71.7%).
Former Boles Lady Hornet Bailey Miller, who just finished her college career with 28-4 Arizona State, is joining an Austin team in an indoor professional volleyball league.
The Austin team in the League One Volleyball league announced the addition of the 6-3 Miller.
As an outside hitter this past season at Arizona State, Miller earned first-team All-Big 12 honors, All-Pacific All-Region honors, academic all-district honors and was named to the honorable mention list on the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s all-America team.
Miller finished second on the team in kills for the season with 392 to go with 37 assists, 39 aces, 52 blocks and 293 digs.
She played two seasons at Arizona State and two at West Virginia after leading the Boles Lady Hornets in kills and blocks during her high school career.
There are other LOVB pro teams in Houston, Madison, Wisc., Salt Lake City, Atlanta, Ga., and Omaha, Neb.
League play starts on Jan. 7.
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Dr. Marcus Sedberry, a former Greenville Lion athlete, served as the General Manager for the University of Wisconsin’s football program this season.
His duties included overseeing roster management, player personnel and operations for the Badgers. He’s also served as a Deputy Athletic Director for Wisconsin.
Sedberry, who ran track at Nebraska after running on a state finalist 4x400 relay for the Greenville Lions, has also been an administrator at Baylor, Central Florida, Arkansas and in the National Football League with the Philadelphia Eagles.
His father Marvin Sedberry Sr. coached three stints as the head football coach of the Greenville Lions and his brother Marvin Sedberry Jr. is the head football coach of the Terrell Tigers.
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Nevaeh Zavala’s double-double helped High Point to an 85-83 double-overtime women’s basketball victory over Yale.
Zavala, a 6-0 senior from Royse City, scored 21 points and pulled down a team-high 14 rebounds.
Zavala is averaging 9.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game for the 11-2 Panthers, who’ll next play at North Carolina-Asheville on Dec. 31.
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Maggie Hutka, a 6-0 junior from Royse City,scored two points and pulled down a rebound during Montana’s 90-85 women’s basketball victory over Tarleton State.
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Brett Nix, a former Wolfe City basketball player, has scored 14 points and pulled down three rebounds in two basketball games this season for Oklahoma Science and Arts.
Nix, a 6-0 freshman who transferred from Wayland Baptist, is shooting 57.1% from 3-point range for the 5-8 Drovers.
Three Greenville Lady Lions earned All-District 9-5A honors in volleyball, led by senior Jaxey Walker.
Walker repeated as a first-team selection. Walker, who was a setter and a right-side hitter, led the Lady Lions for the season in kills with 296 to go with 46 service aces, 18 blocks, 253 digs and a team-high 357 assists.
Greenville senior Caitlyn Teague and junior McKenzie Scarbrough made the second team.
Teague ranked second on the team in kills with 138 to go with 10 aces, a team-high 70 blocks, 33 digs and nine assists.
Scarbrough recorded 63 digs, seven aces, 28 blocks, 54 digs and eight assists.
Greenville sophomore setter Gail Lazoda also made the honorable mention list. Lazoda ranked second on the team in assists with 291 to go with 20 kills, 27 aces and 127 digs.
McKinney North, which won the district title with a 14-0 record, claimed four of the top honors with libero Gabi Rodriguez as the Most Valuable Player, Chloe Lewis as the Blocker of the Year, defensive specialist Brynli Burgess as the Newcomer of the Year and the McKinney North staff as the Coaching Staff of the Year.
Walnut Grove of Prosper finished second in the district standings at 12-2, followed by 10-4 Lucas Lovejoy, 8-6 Melissa, 5-9 Anna, 4-10 Sherman, 2-12 Greenville and 1-13 Denison.
All-District 9-5A Girls Volleyball Team
Most Valuable Player — Gabi Rodriguez, L, McKinney North, Sr.
Offensive MVP — Danielle Whitmere, DS, Prosper Walnut Grove, Fr.
The Eau Claire North boys hockey team is coming off a six-win campaign last year and is hoping to find its footing.
Huskies coach Ryan Parker has seen his roster shift from year-in to year-out, with this year showing a true test of its depth.
“We went through a phase where we graduated 24 guys in two years,” Parker said. “We had to start playing a lot of young guys early. Maybe they weren’t ready to play, but we had to start them early and the last couple of years have been very trying (with) a lot of growth.”
A 4-3 start to the season has seen highs like the Huskies winning their first two games and lows like losing to conference foes Hudson and New Richmond.
North’s biggest high, in its most lopsided game of the season so far, was its 13-1 win over Wisconsin Rapids on Dec. 16 at Hobbs Municipal Ice Arena.
“I feel like (we did) a lot of the little things right,” forward captain Garrett Stange said. “We were working hard down low. Bearic (Wolle) was finding the back of the net a lot that game so that helped a lot.”
A senior forward, Wolle notched a hat trick against the Red Raiders. His five goals this season is tied with defenseman Cam Moseler for the team lead.
“We had a pretty bad first period (with) only one goal,” Wolle said. “Our second period, we had nine goals (by) pretty much just pounding home around the net.”
The younger Huskies also helped pick up the slack, as freshman defenseman Bennet Pecor tallied two goals and two assists, sophomore forward Ty Haats had two goals and junior defenseman Easton Parker had a team-high five points (one goal, four assists).
North junior goaltender Carter Duss also had 21 saves and boasts a 2.73 goals against average in five games this season.
“Everyone was just stepping up and playing their role in what they needed to do,” forward Westley Thillman said.
“We got a lot of young guys stepping up, taking on some pretty big roles and doing what they have to do,” Stange said.
The Huskies still have 11 seniors, including Stange, Thillman and Wolle, who have all felt the need to improve their recent standing in the Big Rivers Conference. North has won a combined four BRC games over the last two years, finishing last in the 2023-24 season and only above Menomonie last year.
“We got a lot of guys with experience from past years,” Wolle said. “We’re really using that to get above where we’ve been in past years. I feel like this year we got a pretty good chance to do that.”
Parker said his team still needs to work on its in-zone offensive presence and its ability to play calmer and more together as a unit.
“We work fairly hard in our d-zone and I think we need to get a little more of a rhythm, a little more flow as we enter the offensive zone,” Parker said. “Then, our in-zone offensive play, we have to get that clicking a little smoother and fluid. Once we get that down, we should create a lot more opportunities.”
More opportunities will come for North heading into the new year as it competes in the Rocket Red Nose Classic holiday tournament from Dec. 28-30 in Appleton.
“(It’ll come with more) playing, listening, executing and trying to keep understanding where we’re at and what we need to keep growing,” Parker said.
With teams like NHM, New Richmond, Bay Area, Middleton, University School of Milwaukee, Tomahawk and Stevens Point Area Senior High, the tournament is a true measuring stick for the Huskies.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Stange said. “I think we got a pretty good chance of doing pretty good this year.”
“I’m excited to play some of the top teams in the state,” Thillman said. “They’re going to push us and we’re hopefully going to push them.”
“New guys to hit, new guys to score on,” Wolle said.
After three seasons at the University of Mary, Lewis entered his name in the transfer portal.
UW-Eau Claire coach Zach Malvik took notice. And virtually hit the jackpot by landing Lewis, a powerful, athletic and versatile 6-foot-7 post player from Chicago.
Lewis has played a significant role while leading the Blugolds to a blazing 11-0 start this season. The senior scored a season-high 27 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in a win over Northwestern-St. Paul.
Lewis is averaging 13.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game for UW-Eau Claire. He has converted on a remarkable 65 of 87 field goal attempts for an impressive 74.7 percent.
“Xavier is a beast,” UWEC point guard Andre Renta said. “He has adjusted to our style of play and has fit in really well. He’s just been incredible. He’s been phenomenal. He’s been dominating in the paint and it’s been awesome to see.”
In his most recent game, Lewis delivered with 19 points and nine rebounds in a 70-66 win over an excellent North Park team last Sunday at home. He was 9-of-12 from the floor, including powering home three emphatic dunks.
Lewis and the Blugolds have won nine of their 11 games by double digits.
“This team has really come together already,” he said. “We have a great bond, on and off the court. Everybody comes in the gym every day and puts the work in. We have seen it pay off already.”
The decision to leave Mary has paid huge dividends already for Lewis and his new team.
“This is closer to home and I felt welcomed here,” he said. “I felt like it would be a great opportunity for me. As you can see, it’s been a great opportunity and I love it here.”
Lewis also has benefited from already being familiar with several of his new teammates.
“There is definitely some good chemistry in this group,” he said. “I played against Andre, Kenji (Scales) and Will (Boser) in the NSIC and now we are all teammates. It’s nice to come together with those guys and be dominating together here.”
Lewis said the team’s chemistry and cohesion has played an integral role in the early success.
“We obviously spend a lot of time together in practice on the basketball court,” he said. “But we also hang out together off the court, going to get food or watching college basketball on TV. We are all very tight and close knit.”
Lewis also has bought into UW-Eau Claire’s philosophy of being stingy defensively.
“Defense is a big key to what we do,” Lewis said. “We give a great effort as a team and it’s been effective for us. We watch a lot of film and break it all down. We know what to expect and we have been able to execute our game plan.”
Lewis said he is looking forward to tackling the challenging WIAC schedule in January and February.
“I know from what I’ve heard and what I’ve seen that this is one of the best Division III conferences in the country,” he said. “I am very excited for it. I love to compete. I think we will be ready for it.”
As a senior, Lewis knows he is closing in on the end of his collegiate basketball career.
“I am definitely going to give it my all, no matter what,” he said. “I just need to keep going hard.”
Lewis already has become a fan favorite in Eau Claire with his energetic play and dazzling dunks. Lewis and the Blugolds played in front of 1,734 fans in their most recent home game.
“I loved the atmosphere we had with all the fans,” he said. “It’s nice to know they are behind us. It feels really good to know our hard work is being supported. I am thankful for the community coming out to cheer for us. We are going to continue to put on a show for them.”
Malvik has been impressed with the immediate contribution Lewis has made for UW-Eau Claire.
“X brings a different dimension. He’s athletic, and he’s big and strong,” Malvik said. “Give him credit, he’s dropped about 25 pounds since he’s been here. He’s worked himself into really good shape. He’s been playing really well.
“X has been terrific. He’s extremely coachable and he just keeps getting better. We are lucky to have him and we are excited to see what he keeps doing for us.”
The New Year’s ball still hasn’t dropped, yet the UW-River Falls football team is already celebrating.
Last weekend, the Falcons clinched their first appearance in the NCAA Division III championship game. They will head to Canton, Ohio, and face defending champion North Central (Ill.) on January 4.
One of those excited to participate in the game is Falcons defensive back Bradley Arndorfer.
The former Eau Claire Memorial defensive back has mainly manned a special teams role in his sophomore campaign. He said he always knew the Falcons could go on a deep run in the playoffs.
“This year, I think that the group of guys we had, we’re all really tight,” Arndorfer said. “We had a bunch of older guys on the team in the past two seasons. I think collectively as a group, we have stepped up.”
UW-River Falls lost its opening WIAC game at UW-Oshkosh. Unlike the last two seasons, where the Falcons finished 7-3, they responded.
“The group just rallied together,” Arndorfer said. “Nobody flinched at all. We all just doubled down on what we were doing, and we won next week at home versus Platteville. And if you ask (Falcons) coach (Matt Walker), that’s the big turning point in the season.”
The Falcons didn’t lose again in the regular season, and clinched an automatic appearance in the NCAA Division III playoffs, their first since 1996. Their 9-1 record was also good enough for the program’s first conference title since 1998.
Quarterback Kaleb Blaha was selected as the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year after leading the NCAA Division III’s top-ranked offense. Gage Timm was named the Defensive Player of the Year and Walker was honored as the Coach of the Year.
“The whole culture here has been great since I’ve got here, and I think this place has always had a really strong culture,” Arndorfer said.
UW-River Falls’ first playoff win, a 58-7 thrashing of Chapman, established a new school record for wins.
Their third round matchup against Saint John’s represented a different challenge, as the Falcons hadn’t beaten the Johnnies since 1937.
“One thing for us going into the playoffs is we know we play in one of the toughest regular season conferences in the country, and so when we play playoff teams, it’s like we’ve been playing playoff teams for five, six weeks,” Arndorfer said. “When a good team like Saint John’s comes into town, we don’t flinch.”
A 42-14 win over the Johnnies proved just that.
In the quarterfinals, Wheaton College came to town and were greeted with a 46-21 River Falls win. That advanced the Falcons to their first NCAA semifinal.
The pinnacle of the Falcons’ postseason run came in its semifinal against Johns Hopkins.
“It was a great game to be around,” Arndorfer recalled. “For those who love the game of football, these are the kind of games that, when you’re kid, you dream about.”
Blaha found wide receiver Blake Rohrer for a 79-yard touchdown in the final minute to give the Falcons a dramatic 48-41 win.
“It was just the most electric, energetic celebration on the sideline I’d ever been a part of,” Arndorfer said. “It was the biggest game in River Falls history and it felt like that.”
UW-River Falls extended its home-winning streak to 14 games.
“It was awesome to do it at home,” Arndorfer said. “The town has always been rallying around the football team, but I think we’ve just united the town even more. You go anywhere in River Falls right now wearing anything Falcon football, and there’s somebody saying, ‘Congrats.’
“For me personally, I love being a Falcon football player, and this team has given me so much.”
Arndorfer said he has at least 10 members of his close circle planning to attend the national championship game.
“My family has been huge in supporting me. My dad’s probably my number one supporter, and guy that I go to when I’m struggling with things,” Arndorfer said. “I got a bunch of people from Eau Claire, whether it be former coaches or trainers, that I’ve seen a bunch of things on Facebook and gotten messages online (saying), ‘Congrats on making it to the championship. Go win this whole thing.’”
Arndorfer said he and River Falls are excited for the opportunity and look forward to saving their best game for the start of 2026.
“It’s really just about playing and living up to our best standard that’s been carrying us through this whole season,” Arndorfer said. “That’s what we’re going to need to do to end up bringing the trophy home to River Falls.”
Gianna Paul’s Alabama chapter may be closing, but her story in the game is just getting started.
The Crimson Tide star officially took the next step in her soccer career Friday, signing a three-year professional contract with the National Women’s Soccer League’s Kansas City Current. It’s a well-earned moment for one of the most accomplished players to ever wear an Alabama uniform, and a reminder that greatness in Tuscaloosa still translates to the highest level of the sport.
Congratulations to Gianna Paul!
Gianna has signed a three-year contract with the @thekccurrent
Paul becomes the ninth Alabama soccer player to sign an NWSL contract, joining a growing list of Tide alums competing on the league’s biggest stages.
With the league eliminating its draft in 2024 under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, Paul’s signing speaks volumes about how highly she is valued and how ready she is for the professional game.
From the moment she arrived, Paul changed what was possible for Alabama soccer. She leaves as the program’s first two-time All-American, earning the honor in both her junior and senior seasons.
Along the way, she rewrote the record book, surpassing two long-standing marks from 2005 to become Alabama’s all-time leader in goals (40) and points (94).
Consistency defined her career.
Paul led the Tide in goals in back-to-back seasons, scoring 12 each year to close out her time at UA. She also owns program records for career shots (279), shots on goal (115), and single-season shots (80), a testament to both her work rate and relentless attacking presence.
Nationally, her impact was just as clear.
By the end of her collegiate career, Paul ranked among the top active Division I players in both goals and points.
During her senior season, she led Alabama across nearly every major offensive category and finished ranked among the nation’s best in goals, points, and shots per game.
Accolades followed as well. First-Team All-SEC honors, multiple United Soccer Coaches All-Region selections, and a spot on the Hermann Trophy Watchlist. But Paul’s legacy goes beyond awards. She helped elevate Alabama soccer’s standard and showed what belief, consistency, and competitiveness can build.
Now, that same edge heads to Kansas City.
And for Gianna Paul, the next chapter looks every bit as promising as the last.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored 30 points and the Boston Celtics made 20 3-pointers in a 140-122 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.
The All-NBA forward, who is averaging 29.4 points, shot 13 of 20 from the field and made two 3-pointers. Payton Pritchard added 29 points, making three 3s, and grabbed nine rebounds.
The Celtics were 20 of 39 from beyond the arc compared to the Pacers' 18 of 44. Reserve Sam Hauser was 7 for 8 behind the arc and scored 23 points, while Derrick White added 21 points with three 3s.
The Celtics (19-11), winners of four in a row and back-to-back games against Indiana, were starting a five-game road trip.
Andrew Nembhard led the Pacers (6-25) with 18 points and four 3s.
The Celtics trailed by 15 midway through the first quarter, but methodically chipped away at the deficit, then pulled away with six 3-pointers in a 47-point second quarter for a 75-61 halftime lead.
In parts of 20 MLB seasons, David Ortiz established himself as one of the greatest hitters the game of baseball has ever seen. He retired with 541 home runs (which currently ranks as the 17th-most in league history), and he was a 10-time All-Star, seven-time Silver Slugger Award winner, three-time World Series champion, and a one-time World Series MVP. He is also the first primary designated hitter to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on his first ballot.
Most know Ortiz for his time with the Boston Red Sox. He spent 14 seasons of his career in Boston and remains one of the franchise's greatest players of all time. However, he began his career with the Minnesota Twins and spent six seasons there before they released him in 2002.
Recently, Torii Hunter, who was teammates with Ortiz during his entire run in Minnesota, addressed this decision over two decades later on the Haymaker Network.
"At this point, we released him because he was still pulling, trying to learn the other way, so he didn't get to maximize his power with the Twins," Hunter said about the Twins releasing Ortiz in 2002. "When they released him, they said, 'Hey, we're big on defense,' and he couldn't play first base at the time. ... Now he goes to the Red Sox, and they made him a permanent DH. That's what we could've [done], but we didn't."
David Ortiz Quickly Became Crucial to the Red Sox' Success
The Red Sox signed Ortiz ahead of the 2003 season, and it did not take long for him to make an impact. In his first season in Boston, the Dominican Republic native batted .288 and recorded 31 home runs and 101 RBIs. He finished fifth in AL MVP voting and helped Boston reach the postseason for the first time since 1999.
Just one year later, Ortiz played an instrumental role in helping Boston end its 86-year World Series drought with a 4-0 sweep against the St. Louis Cardinals in 2004.
In 2016, former Red Sox manager Terry Francona spoke about Ortiz and what he meant not just for the organization but for the game of baseball (h/t Scott Lauber of ESPN).
"He went there [to Boston] and, some guys kind of shrink in that atmosphere, and he just blossomed," Francona said. "It brought out his true personality and he embraced it. He's been through a lot there. He's certainly the face of the Red Sox, or one of them, and probably the same goes for the face of baseball."
Ortiz established himself as a Red Sox legend and remains one of the team's most important players in franchise history. Luckily for them, it did not take much for him to fall into their lap after Minnesota's decision back in 2002.
Real Madrid cult hero on Negreira case – “That a club has paid a person within the referees is difficult to explain”
Real Madrid could currently do with the services of Lucas Vazquez, who departed at the end of last season. The veteran right-back was not offered a new contract due to the arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is out injured at the moment alongside club captain Dani Carvajal.
There is no hard feelings from Lucas, who spoke on his summer move to Bayer Leverkusen during an interview with Diario AS.
“Very nice from the first moment, because the reception from the club, the teammates and the fans, was spectacular. They treated me wonderfully from minute 1. Then, on a personal level, it has been a big change. We had been at Real Madrid for many years, many years living in Madrid and every change is difficult. But we are very happy, very adapted and happy with the move to Bayer Leverkusen.”
Image via AFP7
Lucas: Real Madrid have to be patient with Xabi Alonso
Lucas also gave his thoughts on Xabi Alonso, who is revered at Leverkusen, and his start to life as Real Madrid manager.
“Xabi at Leverkusen is an institution. What he did with them is impressive, part of history. And well, of course we talk about what happens at Real Madrid and so on… but people in football also know that they are moments, phases, like a period of many changes at Real Madrid, in which you have to be patient and trust both the great players we have, and the coach.”
“It’s not normal, it’s not normal. I said it recently in another interview. I think it’s louder than the hype that’s being given to it. That a club has paid a person within the referees is difficult to explain. I believe that, sooner or later, justice will be served. But yes, of course what has happened is something that cannot happen in football. They are not fair play issues, or anything. It’s all much stronger than it seems. And maybe you’re right that everything… that everything has also been able to influence that achievement of other leagues.
The New York Knicks have had a strong season so far, even though they have been struggling with injuries throughout the year. After their Christmas Day win against the Cleveland Cavaliers, they have a new addition to the injury report.
Josh Hart sprained his ankle against the Cavaliers, resulting in his early exit from Thursday's game. The severity of the injury is unclear, so it remains to be seen if Hart can play against the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday.
Hart out and McBride in for the Knicks' injury report
It is not all bad news for the Knicks, even though Hart stepping on Dean Wade's foot resulted in his injury. The Knicks received an encouraging update for Miles McBride, who was also dealing with an ankle injury.
Losing Hart is a big deal because he is one of the most crucial energy players on the roster. His rebounding and overall hustle are huge traits that they often utilize to win games, but that won't be possible against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.
McBride is considered "questionable" for the game against the Hawks, which is a huge shift. Tyler Kolek has been doing well as the backup point guard over the past few games. However, McBride can still earn his place back, considering he has been excellent over the past few seasons.
Hart's exit from the lineup also means that there will be more minutes to throw around. The energetic 30-year-old is a crucial part of the rotation, so McBride, Kolek, and other players will do their best to contribute. McBride has not played since December 7, so he will take some time to get used to game speed.
Thankfully, the rest of the team is playing well, so they can get past some of their depth issues without Hart. Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby can seamlessly fit in, so there won't be much of a big absence. Most Knicks fans are hoping that this will be a quick turnaround for Hart, as he has been quite reliable over the past few years.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Keyshawn George scored 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting, and the last-place Washington Wizards beat the struggling Toronto Raptors 138-117 on Friday night.
CJ McCollum and Bilal Coulibaly each added 21 points to help the Wizards to their highest-scoring performance of the season. The Raptors owned the NBA's fourth-best defensive rating entering Friday.
Washington halted a four-game home losing streak but still has the NBA’s worst record (6-23). The Wizards shot 59.3% (54 of 91) as a team, out-rebounded the Raptors 46-33 and outscored the visitors 36-17 in the fourth quarter.
Brandon Ingram scored 29 points and Immanuel Quickley added 25 for Toronto, which has lost nine of 13.
Sandro Mamukelashvili had 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Raptors, who played without starters RJ Barrett (knee sprain) and Jakob Poetl (back strain).
Toronto closed an 11-point halftime deficit to two by the end of the third quarter before succumbing to Washington's late onslaught.
Justin Champagnie and Bub Carrington sank consecutive 3-pointers to stretch the Wizards' lead to 10 points with 10:08 to play. Later, McCollum and Carrington hit 3s sandwiched around George's running layup in a spurt that extended it to 120-104.
Coulibaly's dunk in transition with 3:50 remaining made it a 20-point game for the first time
Up next
Raptors: Begin a five-game homestand Sunday against Golden State.
Wizards: Continue their homestand Sunday against Memphis.
Carmelo Hayes won his first title on "SmackDown" when he dethroned Ilja Dragunov to become the men's United States Champion.
The two were evenly matched with both men matching every aggressive move. Dragunov went for the H-Bomb, but was caught in midair with an enzuiguri. Hayes followed with a backwards cutter from the middle rope. Dragunov was undeterred and connected with the Constantine Special to flip Hayes inside out. He followed with a senton, but Hayes kicked out.
Dragunov caught Hayes in midair when he was trying to connect with The First 48. Hayes headbutted Dragunov off the turnbuckle. Dragunov kicked Hayes in midair. He superplexed Hayes off the top. Dragunov slammed Hayes, but Hayes kicked out, frustrating the champ. Hayes countered a superplex into a cutter from the top, but Dragunov kicked out at 2.99. Dragunov blocked a cutter on the apron. They battled on the apron before Dragunov did a Death Valley Driver on the apron. He immediately went for a Coast to Coast, but Hayes hit The First 48 in midair. He followed with Nothing But Net for the win. Dragunov ripped the title from the ref and put the belt around Hayes' waist.
This was Hayes' second attempt at Dragunov and the US Championship. The Miz cost him the match the last time. Hayes and Dragunov's history goes back to NXT where Dragunov defeated Hayes to become NXT Champion in 2023. Hayes is a two-time NXT North American Champion and also held the NXT Championship.
Across mock drafts — from veteran analysts to armchair GMs — one theme is nearly universal: the Chicago Bears are expected to prioritize the defensive line early in the draft.
Pro Football Focus’ latest mock draft has the Bears selecting Ohio State defensive lineman Kayden McDonald in the first round, and most full seven-round mocks from other outlets echo the same approach, with Chicago targeting the trenches in the opening rounds.
The logic is sound. While Bears’ defense leads the league with 31 takeaways, Chicago’s defense has also revealed clear vulnerability particularly up front. The Bears rank near the bottom of the league in sacks, hurries and overall pressures.
Bears defensive line playing better but not good enough
The defensive line has improved since a year ago, but offseason addition Grady Jarrett has yet to make the kind of on-field impact the Bears envisioned. His value has come more as a veteran presence and locker-room leader for a unit blending youth and experience.
Montez Sweat has been the exception, producing at a high level with 9.5 sacks, but much of the remaining group remains unproven. Under defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, the Bears are leaning on promising talents like Austin Booker and Dayo Odeyingbo, complemented by rotational contributors Andrew Billings, Chris Williams, and Dominique Robinson.
Will the Chicago defense be the downfall of the Bears?
Playoff experience is another concern. Outside of Jarrett, the defense has very little of it. While it’s tempting to imagine quarterback Caleb Williams and head coach Ben Johnson carrying the Bears on a deep postseason run, that scenario remains unlikely without further defensive upgrades.
For what it’s worth, Bears fans argue that they’ve been caught by the injury bug, but a lot of teams have and that’s no excuse to be ranked 27th in the NFL at stopping the run.
The Bears’ (11-4) defense has a big test on Sunday night against the San Francisco 49ers (11-4), whose offense has looked unstoppable as of late.
ATLANTA (AP) — Norman Powell had 25 points, Pelle Larsson scored a career-high 21 and the struggling Miami Heat handed the Atlanta Hawks their fifth straight loss, 126-111 on Friday night.
Kel'el Ware had 16 points and 13 rebounds in place of Bam Adebayo, who missed the game with a back injury. Andrew Wiggins had 18 points and Jamie Jaquez Jr. had 16 points off the bench.
The Heat had lost eight of nine games entering Friday, but got back over .500 at 16-15. Tyler Herro missed his eighth straight game with a toe injury. Larsson started after missing five games with a sprained left ankle.
Trae Young led the Hawks with 30 points and he also had seven assists. Jalen Johnson added 24 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.
Wiggins turned in one of the plays of the game in the fourth quarter. He saved the ball along the sideline after stealing an inbounds pass, got a return pass and hit a running reverse layup to stretch Miami's lead to 102-87 with 9:05 to play. A 9-0 run capped by an over-the-head layup by Powell later in the quarter pushed the lead to 17.
The Heat outrebounded the Hawks 52-42 and forced 21 turnovers while committing 12. That resulted in 19 more field goal attempts for Miami.
The Hawks fell to 5-10 at home and are the only team in the NBA with a winning record on the road (10-7) and a losing record at home.
Dyson Daniels returned for Atlanta after missing one game with right hip inflammation. He had eight points and six rebounds.
The Los Angeles Angels finally made a series of baseball moves in the last month or so, but there are still questions about how they’re all going to fight together. Some of this is a muddle, and Jeremy Elwood of Halo Hangout broke down the team’s moves into three questions that clarify the issues to some extent.
The Opening Day roster. This is still the big one. For all the moves the Angels have made, there are still only three positions that are locked in—Logan O’Hoppe behind the plate, Zach Neto at shortstop and Nolan Schanuel at first base.
Jo Adell will play in the outfield somewhere, but the Angels are hoping it’s one of the corner outfield positions. The Angels have a major need for Adell’s power, but he’s a minus defender in center who would be at least adequate and perhaps slightly better in left or right.
Mike Trout will be in the lineup somewhere, too, probably at DH. GM Perry Minasian has been talking about Trout possibly playing some in center, but very few people think this is a good idea given Trout’s injury history.
Who plays where, and who’s in the rotation? This question list is long and varied. Who starts at second, Christian Moore or new trade acquisition Vaughn Grissom? Does whoever loses the battle for that job move over to third? Where do Oswald Perez and Denzel Guzman fit into the picture, and who gets the utility job and backup jobs?
In the outfield, the candidates to join Adell include Jorge Soler, Matthew Lugo, Bryce Teodosio or rookie prospect Nelson Rada? Who plays where, and what happens to those who don’t make the cut?
The rotation seems slightly less unsettled, but there’s still a lot that’s tbd. Yusei Kikuchi and Jose Soriano seem like locks to go with new acquisition Grayson Rodriguez, but there are also questions about whether reliever Reid Detmers can make a successful transition to starter, and what happens if Rodriguez can’t stay healthy? And where do potential starters Alek Manoah and Caden Dana fit in?
Is there a big move coming, along with some stability?
These two questions go together to some extent. The Angels spent the fall with the Tyler Skaggs trial hanging over the franchise, along with the contract status of former third baseman Anthony Rendon. Now that both of those questions have been answered, does that open things up for a larger move? And how much do the settlement numbers for both of those situations limit the Angels to make some kind of move?
The Los Angeles Lakers' list of problems is growing. They have lost six of their last 10 games, and their weaknesses on the defensive end are being increasingly exposed by their opponents. Following their 119-96 loss to the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day, coach JJ Redick said that his players "don't care enough" about doing what's needed to win games.
In that same game, Austin Reaves, who had recently missed three games due to a calf strain, didn't play in the second half due to soreness in that same calf. He was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Friday, and he has now been diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain. As a result, he will miss at least four weeks of action.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves has been diagnosed with a grade 2 left gastrocnemius strain and will be reevaluated in four weeks.
Reaves has been having a stellar season so far with averages of 26.6 points and 6.3 assists a game while shooting 50.7% from the field and 36.5% from 3-point range.
His absence will be a sizable blow to a Lakers team that isn't elite enough all around on offense, even when fully healthy, to overcome their defensive problems.
Before the Magic took to the Kia Center court against the Hornets on Friday night, coach Jamahl Mosley said Charlotte‘s 10-20 record wasn’t indicative of what the team was capable of accomplishing.
Mosley made it clear Orlando needed to focus on taking care of the little things in order to secure the desired outcome during their second meeting of the season against the Southeast Division foe.
And he wasn’t wrong on either viewpoint.
The Magic trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half and later by as many as 24 in the third quarter when Charlotte exited a sold-out Kia Center on top 120-105, outrebounding Orlando 53-42 with 25 second-chance points.as
Charlotte (11-20) had seven different scorers finish in double figures, including 22 from star LaMelo Ball, as the team shot 19 for 39 (48.7%) from 3-point range.
In comparison, Orlando ended 11 for 35 (31.4%) from distance when nothing came easy on offense and the team couldn’t come up with the necessary defensive stops to mount a comeback.
The Magic (17-14) return to Kia Center on Saturday for the second game of a back-to-back when three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets (who beat Orlando by 11 points Dec. 18) make their lone trip of the season to Central Florida.
Starting 5
Playing without Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain) and Jalen Suggs (left hip bruise) again, Tyus Jones and Anthony Black remained in the starting lineup alongside Banchero, Desmond Bane and Wendell Carter Jr. (16 points) against the Hornets.
Black, who had scored 19-plus points in the past four games, posted 15 in the first half after he hit his first three triples. He added his fourth 3-pointer in the fourth when he notched 24 in 36 minutes.
While Black had some success from distance, Bane and Banchero did not. The pair combined to shoot 0 for 4 from 3 before the break and ended 0 for 8 distance with missing all six of his attempts.
Bane drove to the basket early to reach 10 points by the half but was responsible for all three of Orlando’s first-quarter turnovers. He ended with just 15 points when he found himself in foul trouble after he picked up his fourth foul with 10 minutes left in the game and his fifth about two minutes later.
Banchero was passive at times when he missed first three shots from the floor and opened 1 for 5 and couldn’t find his footing the rest of the night. The Magic forward ended 4 for 13 shooting with just 13 points in 31 minutes.
Second unit
The Magic upgraded Tristan da Silva from probable to available earlier in the day after he had missed the past four contests due to a right shoulder bruise.
The second-year pro made his presence felt early when he hit his first 3-pointer and was the lone member of Orlando’s bench to score in the first half when he had 8 points with 2 assists. He didn’t score again.
Charlotte’s bench outscored Orlando’s 41-29.
Reserve center Goga Bitadze (left knee strain) missed his second straight game.
Rookie watch
Both Jase Richardson and Noah Penda entered in the first quarter but failed to make an offensive impact early.
Penda missed first three shots from the floor, including a pair of 3s, and only played 8 minutes through the first three frames. Richardson got on the board late in the third quarter with a triple and ended with 14 points in 22 minutes.
Hornets No. 4 pick Kon Knueppel posted 16 points when he shot 4 for 4 from 3, but did not return in the second half due to a right ankle injury.
Magic give back
At halftime of Friday’s game, the Magic surprised a local family with a variety of gifts as part of NBA Cares Season of Giving.
With help from president of business operations Charlie Freeman and Magic community ambassador Bo Outlaw, the team presented a family of four a new 2026 Kia Sorento EX, $5,000 for home furnishings courtesy of AdventHealth, family meals for a year from Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks, a three-day, two-night stay at Caribe Royale, four Chick-fil-A for-a-year packs, one phone and three tablets with service from Total Wireless, a free ice cream party at Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream, four gift bundles from hair ties company Teleties, a 65-inch TV, an air fryer, a kitchen aid mixer, pots and pans, arts and crafts and other household essentials to assist them through difficult times.
It marked the 17th consecutive season the Magic have hosted one family around the holidays for “The Big Give.”
ATLANTA — What do you get when a pair of teams enter at 2-8 in their previous 10? The desperation of Friday night at State Farm Arena.
Miami Heat vs. Atlanta Hawks wasn’t about making a statement.
It was about coming up for air.
To that end, the Heat can breathe a bit easier, after stealing into the Georgia night with a 126-111 victory.
With his team playing in the ailment absences of Bam Adebayo (back) and Tyler Herro (toe), Heat coach Erik Spoelstra reshuffled his rotation and found enough to stop the bleeding.
Overcoming 30 points from Hawks guard Trae Young and 24 from forward Jalen Johnson, the Heat got 25 points from Norman Powell, 21 from replacement starter Pelle Larsson, 18 from Andrew Wiggins, 16 from Jaime Jaquez Jr., as well as a 16-point, 13-rebound double-double from Kel’el Ware.
The Heat are right back at it on Saturday night, against the Indiana Pacers at Kaseya Center.
Five Degrees of Heat from Friday night’s game:
— 1. Game flow: It was tied 32-32 after the opening period. Then, boosted by a 12-0 run late in the second period, the Heat moved to a 63-51 halftime lead, with 14 fast-break points in that second period.
From there, the Heat took a 90-84 lead into the fourth, pushing their lead back to double digits early in the period, with Wiggins stepping up his scoring.
Eventually the lead got to 15, forcing Hawks coach Quin Snyder to call timeouts 49 seconds apart. But as has been the case all season amid the inability to build leads into bigger leads, it soon was an eight-point game.
A banked-in Larsson 3-pointer eventually provided needed relief, the Heat holding on from there.
— 2. No Bam: Not only was Adebayo out Friday, but Spoelstra did not cast an optimistic tone about Saturday night against the Pacers.
“We’ll see,” Spoelstra said before Friday night’s game. “We’ll treat him day-to-day. I know him, I know his personality, I know how much he wants to be out there. But since it is back soreness and he wasn’t moving well two days ago, it didn’t really get better yesterday. Today was just full treatment and some light activities. So we’ll see where he is tomorrow.”
Spoelstra declined to address whether the back had impacted Adebayo’s recent uneven play.
“I’m not going to comment on that,” he said. “He wouldn’t want me to comment on that. But we’ll just do as much treatment as we possibly can. I do know that he needs this right now.”
— 3. The Larsson factor: With Adebayo out, Spoelstra immediately injected Larsson into the starting lineup in the first game back for the second-year swingman after missing the previous five with an ankle sprain.
It was Larsson’s 17th start of the season. The first five was rounded out by Powell, Ware, Wiggins and Davion Mitchell. The Heat entered 4-2 with that lineup.
Larsson was injured in the Dec. 9 NBA Cup road loss to the Orlando Magic.
Larsson was 3 for 3 for eight points in his initial six-minute stint, and he kept going from there.
Larsson finished 9 of 13 from the field, with six rebounds and five assists.
— 4. Jovic, too: In addition to Larsson, also back was Nikola Jovic, who missed the previous four games with an elbow contusion.
Jovic was fourth off Spoelstra’s bench, behind Jaquez, Kasparas Jakucionis and Dru Smith.
That had Simone Fontecchio out of the rotation for just the second time this season.
After an 0-for-4 start, Jovic completed a four-point play early in the second period, before then falling to 1 of 8, as his season-long struggles continued, later falling to 1 of 11.
Jovic closed 3 of 14, although he did add seven rebounds and four assists.
— 5. Powell play: The uneven recent run for Powell continued early, at just six points midway through the first quarter.
Previously on pace for his first All-Star berth, Powell in the three previous games had shot 7 of 21, 7 of 17 and 6 of 17.
This time it was a 2-of-6 start. With Herro and Adebayo out, more was needed. So Powell immediately responded with back-to-back 3-pointers.
Powell came around to close 9 of 16 from the field, with seven rebounds and five assists.
Through it all, Powell extended his streak of games scoring in double figures to 29, six off the longest such run of his career.
The Los Angeles Lakers are in a rough spot right now, with little indication that a turnaround is imminent. The Christmas Day loss was a gut punch, and afterward, the team’s issues became impossible to ignore. Jake LaRavia even suggested there may be a disconnect within the locker room.
“I couldn't tell you. I think there might be a disconnect right now. But we'll get on track. Have this meeting, what JJ was talking about, and hopefully the uncomfortability of it can kind of move us in the right direction,” LaRavia told the media.
Head coach JJ Redick didn’t hold back either, making it clear that the upcoming practice would be anything but pleasant. His comments suggested that changes are coming.
“We're a terrible basketball team and tonight we were a terrible basketball team...we don't care enough to be a professional...we don't have it right now. Saturday's practice I told the guys it's gonna be uncomfortable. The meeting is gonna be uncomfortable. I'm not doing another 53 games like this,” Redick said after losing to the Houston Rockets.
Adding to the misery, Austin Reaves reinjured his groin during the game, and the injury is expected to sideline him for at least a month.
“Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves is expected to miss at least four weeks due to a calf strain, a source told ESPN's Shams Charania on Friday,” ESPN posted.
The timing couldn’t be worse. If the disconnect isn’t addressed quickly, this is exactly how a manageable issue can turn into a major problem. Redick must stabilize the situation fast, or it may be too late by the time Reaves returns.
LeBron James wants to contend at the end of his career, but that goal may be slipping away this season. Things are starting to look bleak in Los Angeles.
The San Francisco 49ers knew exactly what they were getting when they brought Robert Saleh back into the building last offseason.
What they may not have anticipated was just how quickly his return would reignite league-wide interest in him as a future head coach and how determined they would be to keep him.
#49ers GM John Lynch won’t go down swinging in trying to keep Robert Saleh this offseason 👀
Saleh’s second stint as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator has come under some of the most challenging circumstances imaginable.
San Francisco’s defense has been battered by injuries, losing cornerstone players Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, and rookie Mykel Williams for the season.
Additional contributors such as Yetur Gross-Matos, Malik Mustapha, and Tatum Bethune have all missed extended time, forcing constant adjustments and untested depth into significant roles.
Still, the results have been respectable, if not impressive.
Despite the attrition, the 49ers rank 18th in the NFL in yards allowed, at 333.6 per game, and sit 11th in points allowed, at 20.9.
Those numbers underscore Saleh’s ability to adapt, coach, and maximize what he has, which continues to make him appealing to teams searching for their next head coach.
General manager John Lynch acknowledged that interest while making it clear the organization isn’t eager to move on.
When asked whether the 49ers could keep Saleh from leaving for another head-coaching job, Lynch struck a balance between honesty and optimism.
“Robert has big aspirations. He always has,” Lynch said. “I think he will be more choosy in terms of not wanting to coach anywhere. He probably wants a really good situation because he has one here and we’re blessed to have Robert, but at some point you have to allow people to go chase their dreams. However we can make it very attractive for him to stay and we plan on doing that.”
John Lynch was asked if the 49ers can keep Robert Saleh from leaving for a head coaching job after the season:
“Robert has big aspirations. He always has. I think he will be more choosy in terms of not wanting to coach anywhere. He probably wants a really good situation because… pic.twitter.com/IcYBNrIKTT
Saleh himself has echoed that sentiment. While he hasn’t hidden his desire to eventually reach the top of the profession, he’s also emphasized patience and comfort in his current role.
“Is my desire to get to the top of the profession and hoist the Lombardi one day? Absolutely,” Saleh told ESPN. “Am I in a hurry? No, I love it here.”
That mindset could prove crucial this offseason.
Teams like the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans are expected to be in the market for a head coach, but both situations come with questions.
A return to New York seems unlikely, while Tennessee’s recent pattern of coaching turnover may not align with Saleh’s preference for stability.
For now, the 49ers are betting that a strong organizational foundation, a competitive roster, and a leadership group that values Saleh’s influence will be enough to keep him in red and gold, at least a little longer.
A months-long negotiation-turned-strike has caused the Jacksonville Icemen to postpone their Friday game against the Orlando Solar Bears.
It was one of 13 total games across the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) to be postponed as players with the Professional Hockey Players’ Association, the union representing the Icemen and other players in the ECHL, are demanding more money and better working conditions.
In a post on the ECHL’s website, it argues it made a final offer to the union yesterday, addressing all of those concerns. The ECHL released the following statement about the ongoing negotiations:
“Unfortunately, union leaders deprived players of the opportunity to vote on our last, best, and final offer – an offer that would dramatically raise player salaries by 20 percent in the first year, boost the per-diem rate, guarantee more off days, and expand the top-of-the-line equipment available to players. We did everything possible to avoid this outcome, and hope that the union leadership will drop its unworkable scheduling demands, let the players vote on our offer, and make it possible for players to return to work.”
The decision to postpone the Icemen game came as a shock to ticketholders like the Dodge family, who tell Action News Jax they flew from California to see family in Jacksonville for the holidays, but were planning to also go to the game.
“We’re a bit devastated,” said Johann Dodge, “this was the first icemen game for us, we were looking forward to it, sad to be missing it.”
Johann’s 14-year-old son, Mattias, plays hockey back home in Long Beach. He said he’s been following the Icemen for a few years and has been looking forward to seeing them play in person.
“I’m just really bummed we don’t get to see them now,” Mattias said.
The Jacksonville Icemen released a statement from its players on Friday afternoon responding to the game being postponed, saying, in part:
“We have not seen the final offer from the owners [of the league], and we feel strongly that all players deserve the opportunity to review the exact proposal before conclusions are drawn.”
A spokesperson for the Icemen told Action News Jax that fans can get refunds from the game against the Orlando Solar Bears, or they can hold onto them to be used whenever the game is rescheduled.
The next Icemen game isn’t until Saturday, January 3rd.
Yet another New York Islanders prospect has scored at the 2026 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship. In a preliminary game against Canada, forward Tomáš Poletín tallied Czechia’s first goal of the tournament off a netfront deflection.
With three minutes left in the first period, center Adam Benák tossed a point shot towards Canadian goaltender Carter George, who was being screened by Poletín.
The Czech winger then made an impressive redirection to knot the game at 1-1.
Poletín was a fourth-round pick by the Islanders in 2025 and currently plays in the WHL. This is the forward’s first World Juniors.
Canadian defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson is the only Islanders prospect yet to get on the scoreboard in what’s been an impressive day for New York’s farm system.
The Denver Broncos were in need of a new center and they have signed a player away from the Los Angeles Chargers' practice squad to help take care of it.
After having to place starting center Luke Wattenberg on injured reserve on Christmas Day, the Broncos were left thin at the position. Wattenberg will have to miss at least four games, meaning he will be out for the team's first two postseason games, if they make it that far. However, there is a chance he won't play again this season.
That is a big loss for the Broncos, who signed Wattenberg to a four-year contract extension last month. In his place, the Broncos will start Alex Forsyth, who played well against the Kansas City Chiefs in his first assignment of the season.
But to add depth to the position, the Broncos have signed Sam Mustipher off the practice squad of their division rival. Mustipher spent the 2024 preseason in Denver but was part of the team's final roster cuts. The Broncos will face the Chargers in the last game of the regular season next Sunday.
Undrafted out of Notre Dame in 2019, Mustipher has played for five NFL teams and had two stints each with the Chargers and Baltimore Ravens. His longest stint was spent with the Chicago Bears, where he played from 2019 to 2022. He has played in 64 games with 43 starts in his career.
That experience is what the Broncos were looking for and his familiarity with the team likely played a significant factor in this move. To make room for him on the 53-man roster, the Broncos waived offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton. The Broncos will likely bring Throckmorton back to the practice squad as long as he clears waivers.
Per wire, #Broncos have waived OL Calvin Throckmorton to make roster room for Sam Mustipher signing. Would expect Throckmorton to return on practice squad if he clears waivers. Also RB Cody Schrader cleared waivers.
This is a significant development for the Broncos, who have already played without starting guard Ben Powers for a good chunk of this season. Having to shake up the offensive line right before the playoffs is a less-than-ideal situation, but one the team needs to make the best out of.
PHOENIX (AP) — Jalen Smith scored his second touchdown on a diving 12-yard catch in the first overtime and Minnesota extended its postseason winning streak to nine games with a 20-17 win over New Mexico in the Rate Bowl on Friday.
A year after Kansas State beat Rutgers 44-41 in the Rate Bowl, the 2025 version turned defensive in the desert — until a flurry early in the fourth quarter.
The teams returned to trading punts, sending the game to overtime at Chase Field, home of baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks.
New Mexico (9-4) failed to get a first down on the opening possession and Luke Drzewiecki kicked a 36-yard field goal.
The Gophers and their fans then got to celebrate Smith's spectacular touchdown twice — once live, the other after an official review confirmed the catch.
Minnesota's bowl winning streak — seven straight under coach P.J. Fleck — matches Southern California and Utah for second-longest all-time, behind Florida State’s 11 in a row from 1985-95.
The Lobos earned a spot in their first bowl game since the 2016 New Mexico Bowl behind a vastly improved defense. Fourth-worst in the FBS a year ago, New Mexico climbed to No. 49 this season, allowing about 222 yards less in total defense.
The Lobos shut down Minnesota for most of the first half, recovering a botched snap on a midfield fourth-and-1 attempt and holding the Gophers to 112 first-half yards.
Minnesota finally found an offensive rhythm late in the half, moving 75 yards in nine plays on a drive capped by Drake Lindsey's rainbow 10-yard touchdown pass to Smith in the back corner of the end zone.
Minnesota's defense wasn't bad, either.
The Gophers allowed two drives deep into their own end, but stiffened when they needed to, holding New Mexico to two field goals and 124 total yards for a 7-6 halftime lead.
Up next
Minnesota: The Gophers open the 2026 season at home against Eastern Illinois on Sept. 3.
New Mexico: Hosts Central Michigan on Sept. 5 to open next season.
There were plenty of state titles at the high school level.
Central East earned its second championship in program history, its first since Xavier Worthy helped them to the title in 2019.
Worthy finished out his rookie year with the Kansas City Chiefs at the Super Bowl.
Buchanan girls' cross country got back to the top of the podium, and boys wrestling won state at the beginning of this year.
Immanuel girls volleyball went back-to-back, winning the D-IV state title in three sets.
A former Firebaugh High School quarterback is the NFL MVP, had a high school field dedication and became the first Wyoming Cowboy to have his jersey retired.
Josh Allen and the Bills are poised for another playoff run, they hope ends at Super Bowl 60.
It was a third MVP for Aaron Judge as the former Diamond Dog earned the American League honor back-to-back seasons.
The Fresno native left Central as a 0-star recruit, but Cedric Coward was drafted in the first round and is already making a name for himself in the NBA.
San Joaquin Memorial grad Max Arfsten pulled up to the US men's national team and was named a finalist for men's player of the year, with a chance to play in next year's World Cup.
Former Fresno State head coach Jeff Tedford retired and became just the third coach inducted into the Ring of Honor.
The Matt Entz era began in 2025, leading the Bulldogs to an 8-win regular season and a bowl game appearance this weekend.
The Arizona Bowl will mark the Bulldogs' final game in the Mountain West Conference, as they look ahead to what the Pac-12 will bring in 2026.
🚨 Jordan Carrillo joins Pumas as their new signing for 2026
The skillful Mexican joins the ranks of the Pumas, arriving with the firm conviction of becoming the new offensive engine at CU.
The news was confirmed through the club's social media, where the player's commitment and excitement to wear the university jersey were highlighted.
"Welcome to Pumas, Jordan Carrillo; the auriazul family welcomes you with open arms," was the message with which the institution welcomed him. The player is already at the Cantera facilities to immediately join the training sessions and meet his new teammates.
Tom Saintfiet criticises referee after Mali denied penalty in 1-1 AFCON draw with Morocco
Saintfiet voices frustration after AFCON stalemate in Rabat
Tom Saintfiet criticises referee after Mali denied penalty in 1-1 AFCON draw with Morocco
Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet has openly criticised the refereeing decisions following his side’s 1-1 draw with Morocco in the second round of the AFCON 2025 group stage.
The Group B encounter played in Rabat saw both teams awarded penalties but Saintfiet believes the officiating favoured the tournament hosts and denied Mali crucial second spot-kick.
Saintfiet questions penalty decisions
The Belgian coach took issue with the penalty awarded to Morocco for handball while insisting Mali were unfairly denied another penalty after what he described as clear handball by Moroccan defender Nayef Aguerd.
“I saw the incident again on television,” Saintfiet said. “The defender clearly touched the ball with his hand. It’s disappointing that we didn’t get that penalty.”
While acknowledging the difficulty of refereeing, the Mali coach pointed towards the Cameroonian referee’s decisions as decisive factor in the outcome.
Despite his frustration, Saintfiet praised his players’ performance especially after securing second consecutive draw in the tournament.
“I’m happy with my team’s performance but I’m not completely satisfied with the result,” he explained. “As a coach, I want to win every match.”
He added that Mali had entered the tournament with clear ambitions including topping the group, a goal now made more complicated after failing to beat Zambia in the previous round.
Looking ahead to the final group matches, Saintfiet admitted Mali’s fate may depend on other results.
“I hope Zambia give everything to get point against Morocco,” he said. “We will also give everything to win our match. Finishing top of the group will make things easier for us later.”
After securing survival in 2024 via the playoffs, there was hope that Daegu FC would enjoy an upturn in fortunes in 2025. However, a disastrous first half of the season left them with too much ground to make up, and despite an impressive late surge in form, it proved too little, too late. The campaign ended with the Sky Blues slipping into K League 2 after nine consecutive seasons in the top flight.
What Went Well
With manager Park Chang-hyun relieved of his duties early in the season following a poor start, his successor Kim Byung-soo did little initially to change the team’s fortunes. However, things appeared to click late in the campaign, as Daegu went on an impressive run that saw them lose just once in their final 12 matches. This late revival gave the Daegu faithful renewed optimism that the club can make a swift return to K League 1 next season.
Another bright spark in an otherwise miserable campaign was the form of club legend Cesinha. Despite now being 36 years old, he showed no signs of slowing down, finishing the season with 12 goals and 12 assists, as well as picking up Player of the Month awards in both September and October. If, as expected, he decides to stay for another year, he will once again be Daegu’s key man.
In a season that saw the team win just seven league matches, there was little that went well overall. Recruitment during the winter window was particularly poor, with none of the new signings making a significant impact. There was considerable excitement surrounding the return of Brazilian midfielder Bruno Lamas from Busan IPark, but after a bright start to the season, he failed to impress and spent large portions of the campaign on the bench. Elsewhere, striker Park Dae-hoon managed just three goals after joining from Chungnam Asan, while left-back Jeong Woo-jae featured only 16 times before eventually being dropped from the squad for disciplinary reasons.
Despite the lack of effective reinforcements, the season began promisingly, with Daegu recording two wins and a draw from their opening three matches. That form did not last, however, as six consecutive defeats followed, culminating in the resignation of Park Chang-hyun and the appointment of Kim Byung-soo after a longer-than-ideal recruitment process.
Beyond the problems on the pitch, Daegu FC were also beset by significant issues off it. Supporters spent much of the season protesting against the club’s leadership, with criticism focused on recruitment, frustration over managerial appointments, and growing dissatisfaction with the way the club communicated with its fanbase.
At the end of the campaign, Korean football legend Cho Kwang-rae resigned as CEO under sustained supporter pressure. Several players publicly expressed their sadness at his departure on social media, with Cesinha even urging him to reconsider his decision.
However, the unrest did not end there. Fans continued their protests after the season’s conclusion, most notably by arranging funeral wreaths to be placed outside Daegu City Hall, calling for more drastic reshuffles of the administrative system including the recruitment of a new CEO on a merit-based process who genuinely can steer the club in the right direction.
A new general manager was eventually appointed on the 23rd December in the form of former Pohang Steelers leader Jang Young-bok, however this has done little to appease the fans due to Jang’s history of controversy during his time there.
The emergence of Han Tae-hee as Daegu’s number one goalkeeper was one of the few positives on the pitch. The 21-year-old made his debut early in the season and went on to cement his place as first choice, an area in which Daegu have struggled for consistency in recent years.
The young stopper commands his area extremely well and is particularly adept at dealing with high balls into the box, which is all the more impressive given his age. He ended the season with a call-up to the South Korea under-23 squad, a fitting reward for what was a successful individual campaign despite the team’s struggles.
Team MVP
With few players covering themselves in glory this season, it once again fell to veteran attacker Cesinha to lead the way. He topped both the club’s scoring and assist charts and collected numerous man-of-the-match awards, as well as two K League Player of the Month honours.
It is clear that Daegu are a very different team without him, and there is a strong sense that had he not missed two months through injury, the club might well have avoided relegation.
A special mention must also go to Brazilian defender Caio. He was an absolute mountain at the back, while also posing a threat from set pieces at the other end of the pitch. Daegu’s situation could have been considerably worse without him, and he is certain to attract interest from clubs higher up the pyramid during the off-season.
Most Disappointing Player
Much was expected of winter signing Park Dae-hoon, who arrived from Chungnam Asan fresh from scoring a brace against Daegu in the 2024 playoff. However, he struggled to make an impact, taking 11 matches to score his first goal — a well-taken strike in the cup against Anyang in May. He would not score again until late August, when his two goals secured a 3–1 victory over Suwon FC.
That proved to be his final meaningful contribution, as he failed to find the net again and finished the season with a meagre return of three goals and no assists. Daegu supporters will expect far more from him in K League 2 next season as the club looks for someone to ease the scoring burden on Cesinha.
Most Important Decisions of the Off-Season
There are several areas of the squad in need of strengthening, as well as a number of players who likely need to be moved on. The club currently have two senior goalkeepers in Oh Seung-hoon and Choi Young-eun, neither of whom were making the bench in the latter part of the season, and both will surely need to depart to free up wages.
Mid-season signing Carlos Jatoba is another candidate to move on, having barely featured after his first few weeks and even making an appearance for the club’s K4 ‘B’ team. If he is not going to play a role moving forward, freeing up that squad space is essential.
A lack of consistency also plagued central midfield, with the club never settling on a regular partnership. Although Han Kook-young has recently been signed from Jeonbuk, there are doubts over whether the 35-year-old can play week in, week out, meaning further reinforcements are required. Left-back is another position that needs attention, and an experienced, reliable option should be high on the club’s shopping list.
In terms of retention, veteran striker Edgar has already renewed his contract for another year, a sensible decision given his experience and leadership as the club looks to bounce back at the first attempt. It is equally vital that Daegu retain Cesinha, and while his age and wages could be a factor, his love for the club makes a move elsewhere unlikely.
Finally, there remains lingering unrest off the pitch. With Jang Young-bok now in place, he faces a demanding list of responsibilities. Beyond guiding structural changes within the club, he is tasked with managing every aspect of the playing roster. Decisions surrounding the future of head coach Kim Byung-soo—who is widely expected to remain—along with negotiations and potential changes involving the rest of the coaching team, will ultimately be determined by him in what is sure to be a challenging off-season for the club.
You know you're running a successful college football program when there are very few players who want to transfer out.
Of course, there are a few who will leave the Oregon Duck program via the transfer portal. It happens every season. But there are a lot more players who want to transfer into Oregon than who want to leave.
Even in the middle of a playoff run, however, there are a few players who will leave and look for more playing time elsewhere, and the Ducks' short list of players leaving became a little longer the day after Christmas as offensive lineman Lipe Moala announced he will be entering the portal and play elsewhere in 2026.
Moala, a 6-foot-5, 336-pounder from Riverside, Calif., and Mater Dei High School, was a redshirt sophomore this season, where he appeared in seven games, all as a backup performer. He redshirted his freshman season in 2023 and played in four games in 2024.
Moala was a consensus three-star prospect and was ranked as the No. 3 offensive tackle in California by Rivals, as well as being rated as the fifth-overall guard in the state by ESPN and as the No. 5 interior offensive lineman in the 247Sports composite.
Oregon has been building up the offensive line depth chart for a few seasons now, and there are just so many spots on the field. Players such as Moala is going to be lost in a crowd from time to time. But with his talent and size, teams will be ringing Moala's phone until he decides on a new destination.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes and opinions.
Rutgers cornerback Cam Miller has accepted an invitation to play in the 2026 Hula Bowl. He is joined by two other Scarlet Knight seniors, quarterback Athan Kaliamanis and Safety Jett Elad, who have both opted to participate in the senior showcase.
The Hula Bowl is the oldest senior invitational all-star game in college football. It was originally called the Hula Bowl because it was originally played in Hawaii, however the game has been moved to Florida in recent years.
Miller transferred to Rutgers after spending three seasons at Penn State. During his only season on the banks, Miller started all 12 games, recording 47 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, six passes defended, and one interception. He also picked up a blocked punt for a touchdown in the Knights season opening win over Ohio.
During his career at Penn State, Miller appeared in 40 games and made five starts at cornerback. During that time, he recorded 56 tackles, 8 passes defended, and one interception. He saw action in two college football playoff games and a Big Ten championship game with the Nittany Lions. He transferred to Rutgers with the knowledge that he would likely start his senior season.
Now he will have one last chance to prove himself in a game-like setting to NFL scouts.
The game itself will be hosted on January 10th, 2026, at Noon inside SPEC Martin Stadium in Deland, Florida. The game will be broadcast live on CBS.
Coming into the season, many predicted that the Cleveland Cavaliers would be a lock for being one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, competing with the New York Knicks for an NBA Finals appearance, especially with injuries to the franchise players of the last two conference champions, Jayson Tatum for the Boston Celtics, and Tyrese Haliburton for the Indiana Pacers.
Although that still could happen, so far the Knicks have lived up to the hype among the two teams, while the Cavs are currently underperforming expectations with a 17-15 record. The question everyone's asking is why this has been the case.
After losing another tight matchup on Christmas Day against the Knicks, the problem has been identified.
Once the game concluded with a 126-124 win for the Knicks, ESPN's Bobby Marks shed some light on the problems in Cleveland by providing an interesting stat. In their last nine clutch games, the Cavaliers are 1-9 and 6-12 in total on the season.
It was also noted that the team last season, which earned the top seed in the conference, was 26-12 in close games.
Winning close games is a necessity for any team to achieve greatness, and teams that struggle to do so will have a tough time, regardless of their talent.
Not to mention, it also did not help that Cleveland blew a 17-point lead against New York in a game that could have represented the turning point the Cavs needed to get them back on track; however, with the reality of things, it appears matters have gotten worse, but only time will tell if they can right the ship.
For one, they'll have to take care of business themselves—against the NFC-leading Seattle Seahawks at home. And that, of course, shouldn't be an easy task—as the Seahawks will enter Bank of America Stadium at 12-3 and as the No. 1 overall seed in the conference.
The help, obviously, would have to come at the expense of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—who are currently one game behind the Panthers for the division lead. Carolina would benefit from a Tampa Bay loss to or tie with the 6-9 Miami Dolphins.
So, here's the playoff-clinching scenario:
Panthers win versus Seahawks
Buccaneers loss or tie at Dolphins
If those outcomes are met, the Panthers will capture their first division title since 2015 (and their first postseason berth since 2017) this Sunday.
And if they are not, then the Panthers and Buccaneers will match up for a winner-take-all showdown for the NFC South at Raymond James Stadium in Week 18.
The Golden State Warriors have had over 600 players don the more than 60 jersey numbers used by their players over the more than 75 years of existence the team has enjoyed in its rich and storied history.
Founded in 1946 during the Basketball Association of America (BAA -- a precursor league of the NBA) era, the team has called home the cities of Philadelphia, San Francisco, Oakland, and even San Diego.
To commemorate the players who wore those numbers, Warriors Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team. For this article, we begin with the 12th of 19 players who wore the No. 34 jersey for the Warriors.
That player would be Golden State forward alum Barry Stevens. After ending his college career at Iowa State, Stevens was picked up with the 43rd overall selection of the 1985 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets.
The Flint, Michigan native played the only seasons of his pro career with the Golden State Warriors after several seasons in other leagues following being cut by the Nuggets.
During his time suiting up for the Warriors, Stevens wore only jersey No. 34 and put up 1.0 points and 1.0 rebounds per game.
All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
The Brooklyn Nets have 52 jersey numbers worn by over 600 different players over the course of their history since the franchise was founded in 1967 as a charter member of the American Basketball Association (ABA), when the team was known as the "New Jersey Americans".
Since then, that league has been absorbed by the NBA with the team that would later become the New York Nets and New Jersey Nets before settling on the name by which they are known today, bringing their rich player and jersey history with them to the league of today.
To commemorate the players who played for the Nets over the decades wearing those 52 different jersey numbers, Nets Wire is covering the entire history of the franchise's jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team.
And for today's article, we will continue with the first of 15 people to wear the No. 34 jersey, big man alum Tim Perry. After ending his college career at Temple, Perry was picked up with the seventh overall selection of the 1988 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns.
The Freehold, New Jersey native played the first four seasons of his pro career with the Suns. He also played for the Philadelphia 76ers before he was dealt to the (then) New Jersey (now, Brooklyn) Nets for the last season of his NBA career in 1995.
During his time suiting up for the Nets, Perry wore only jersey No. XXX and put up 2.4 points and 1.6 rebounds per game.
All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
The Houston Rockets have had players donning a total of 52 different jersey numbers (and have one not part of any numerical series for Houston assistant coach and general manager Carroll Dawson) since their founding at the start of the 1967-68 season, worn by just under 500 players in the course of Rockets history.
To honor all of the the players who wore those numbers over the decades, Rockets Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who wore them since the founding of the team all those years ago right up to the present day.
With seven of those jerseys now retired to honor some of the greatest Rockets of all time to wear those jerseys, there is a lot of history to cover.
And for today's article, we will continue with the 17th of 19 players who wore the No. 3, guard alum Chris Clemons. After ending his college career at Campbell, Clemons went unselected in the 2019 NBA Draft, instead signing with the Houston Rockets.
The Raleigh, North Carolina native played the only season of his NBA career with Houston, leaving the league as a player afterward.
During his time suiting up for the Rockets, Clemons wore only jersey No. 3 and put up 4.9 points per game.
All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
With the odds firmly stacked against them, Manchester United not only clinched all three points against Newcastle but also claimed their second clean sheet of the season.
The Red Devils produced a 1-0 win on Boxing Day at Old Trafford, earning plaudits for the spirit shown by the players.
However, he seemed to pick up an injury, and given the mounting injury crisis at the club, Amorim was in no mood to take further risks.
“He felt something at half-time,” Amorim told Sky Sports (via the club website). “He wanted to go [on] and that is also a good thing.
Amorim provides injury update
“He wanted to go to the second half but we cannot lose more players, if you are not 100 per cent. And Jack did a very good job.”
Hopefully, the fact that the England international was ready to soldier on means he will be available for the clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers next week.
To add to that, Amad, Bryan Mbeumo, and Noussair Mazraoui are busy with international commitments. At a time the squad is stretched thin, Amorim could do with the talented Mason Mount for the games to come.
It’s Friday, which means it’s time for our Victory of the Week (VOTW) post! This evening’s conversation prompt is straightforward: What was your victory this week? Did something remarkable happen? Is there a small achievement worth celebrating? This could relate to the Miami Dolphins, your professional life, or your personal life. We all experience victories, big or small, and we want to hear about yours.
This post is for you, our site members, who are part of our Phinsider family. This is your opportunity to share your successes from the past week. Your triumphs can be significant, such as the birth of a new child or grandchild, or finally landing that job or promotion you’ve been working hard for. They can also be smaller victories, like winning $100 on a lottery scratch-off ticket, or any other positive experience you’d like to share.
This is your post to celebrate your achievements, so feel free to share them in the comments section below.
In the preliminary round of the 2026 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship on Friday, New York Islanders prospect Cole Eiserman made a splash, sniping one to extend Team USA’s lead over Germany in the second period.
After getting robbed by German netminder Lennart Neisse, Eiserman made no mistake on his second opportunity:
Eiserman received a perfect dish from Cole Hutson on an odd-man break, rifling the puck over Neisse short-side to put Team USA up 6-3 in the dying minutes of the middle frame:
Currently, the Islanders' prospect is taking first power play reps for Team USA as a third-line winger. Eiserman is known for his lethal shot, and the Boston University forward scored three goals with four assists for seven points in seven games in last year’s World Junior Championship.
Two more Islanders prospects will be taking the ice tonight, with Kashawn Aitcheson of Team Canada facing off against Tomas Poletin of Czechia at 8:00 p.m.
Michigan has a new head coach in Kyle Whittingham, signing him to a contract on Friday afternoon. And now the contract details have been divulged.
Per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Whittingham’s deal with Michigan is for five years and averages $8.2 million per year. The contract is 75% guaranteed.
Kyle Whittingham’s five-year deal at Michigan averages $8.2 million per year over the course of the deal, sources tell me and @danwetzel. The deal is 75-percent guaranteed, and he’s expected to make $8 million in salary at Michigan in 2026. https://t.co/wFb7a8PRRU
Whittingham’s getting paid roughly $2 million more per year than Sherrone Moore was, and rightfully so. Whittingham, who spent 21 seasons as Utah’s head coach, has gone to Fiesta Bowls and Rose Bowls and brings with him a 177-88 career record.
The New York Yankees have yet to make any impactful moves this offseason, but there is still time for them to make some legitimate additions.
While the Yankees have one of the best offenses in baseball, they could use some more lineup depth, and that could include finding another middle-of-the-order bat.
Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter has put together a list of potential moves for New York the rest of the way, and among them was signing first baseman Rhys Hoskins to a one-year, $7.5 million contract.
"The Yankees essentially used Paul Goldschmidt as a platoon player against left-handed pitching down the stretch last season, and pairing Ben Rice with a right-handed hitting veteran is a logical approach to addressing first base," Reuter wrote.
Rice managed an .836 OPS in a breakout 2025 campaign, but he slashed .208/.271/.481 against lefties, which has led many to believe the Yankees should bring in a platoon bat.
Enter the right-handed hitting Hoskins, who has historically mashed left-handed pitching.
"Veteran Rhys Hoskins failed to live up to the two-year, $34 million deal he signed with the Brewers, but he is still a legitimate power threat, and his .882 OPS in 1,012 career plate appearances against lefties makes him the ideal target for the Yankees," Reuter added.
Hoskins slashed .237/.332/.416 with 12 home runs and 43 RBI over 328 plate appearances in 2025, but he owns a lifetime .820 OPS and once led the National League in walks with the Philadelphia Phillies back in 2019.
Now, the caveat is that Hoskins has not posted an OPS of .800 or better since 2021. He missed all of 2023 with a torn ACL and then registered OPSes of just .722 and .748 in 2024 and 2025.
However, Hoskins is a very compelling hitter who could comprise a potential low-risk, high-reward acquisition for a New York squad that definitely needs to do something.
Of course, it's entirely possible that the Yanks roll with Amed Rosario — who they re-signed on a one-year deal — to serve as Rice's first base partner, but if they would prefer to keep him over at third base to mix and match with Ryan McMahon, Hoskins could make sense.
That being said, Yankees fans are surely hoping for much more potent additions this winter.
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — Rockford IceHogs games will have a new and enhanced look from here on out. A look that is certain to catch your eye.
The BMO Center will be lit like never before starting with the IceHogs home game Saturday night against the Texas Stars. New Dasher boards that are backlit with LED lighting have been installed all the way around the ice. The lighting on the boards will be in sync with the video scoreboard above the ice and with the ribbon lights around the concourse walk area.
“The great thing about these boards is you can do virtually anything with them,” said IceHogs President of Business Operations Ryan Snider Friday morning during a demonstration. “It’s just backlit LED lights, and we can change these things up to look in any pattern and any motion, with any graphics, anything we want to do.”
These boards are the absolute latest in arena technology. The BMO becomes only the fourth arena in all of North America to have the full 360-degree version of it, and the BMO is the first arena in North America to have the Athletica Sport Systems version of it.
“Athletica had our old Dasher boards. They’re one of the leaders in the industry,” said Gretchen Gilmore, the general manager of the BMO Center. “We’re just really excited to have new technology in the building. Our Dasher boards were at the end of their life, and they needed to be replaced, and now is the perfect time to have some new dasher boards with new technology.”
This is the perfect time because their arrival is just in time for the upcoming AHL All-Star Event that will be held here in early February.
“We were able to work with them (Athletica) knowing the All-Star game was coming and will be broadcast live in North American on the NHL Network and TSN in Canada. It’s going to be a great debut of the system,” said Snider.
Money to pay for the LED boards came from reserves in the Capital Improvement Fund through the city of Rockford’s Redevelopment Fund. Gilmore wouldn’t disclose what the cost was, but as she said, new Dasher boards were needed, and for now Hogs fans can boast that their team has the best boards perhaps in all of North America.
“Really, it should bring the arena to life with just another exciting element, something that will really help get the fans on their feet.,” said Snider.
Again, your first chance to see these new boards in person will be tomorrow night (Saturday night) when the IceHogs host the Texas Stars. It’s a seven o’clock game.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
“I don't think this Warriors team has any chance,” Simmons said Wednesday. "We just saw Draymond (Green) blow up last night. Can we just do LaMelo (Ball) and a bunch of picks, send (Stephen) Curry back to Charlotte, and let's just go?"
As talented as Ball is, he isn’t the type of asset the Warriors, or any franchise for that matter, would be rushing to rebuild with. The former first-round pick doesn’t play a competitive brand of basketball, making it nearly impossible for an organization to eventually contend for a championship.
The 6-foot-7 highlight machine hasn’t come close to leading the Hornets to the postseason as the franchise’s No. 1 scoring option, leading many to conclude that he isn’t a winning player.
Will Ball dazzle fans with one-legged fadeaways and mesmerizing layups around the rim? Absolutely, but his exhilarating play won’t equate to many wins.
With Curry wanting to remain in the Bay for the entirety of his career and the Warriors being one blockbuster trade away from raising their ceiling, the seven-time NBA champions will likely avoid the rebuilding stage and attempt to find Curry the help he’s been desperately seeking.
Luka Doncic has played very well overall for the Los Angeles Lakers so far this season. He continues to lead the NBA in scoring average and is putting up 33.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game.
However, he continues to have his share of critics who don't like how he plays. His critics charge that he controls the ball too much, takes too many tough, contested shots and still doesn't exert enough energy on the defensive end. These are the types of negative things the Slovenian superstar has heard over and over again for years from those who aren't fans of his.
Sam Mitchell, a former NBA coach, slammed Doncic during an appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio for not having a more well-rounded game on offense, and he even said that LeBron James and Austin Reaves have the same weaknesses.
“Luka Dončić cannot play basketball without the ball. He don’t cut, he don’t move, he don’t set screens. He’s great with the ball -- he does nothing to make his teammates better when he doesn’t have it. And the problem with the Lakers is, Austin Reaves and LeBron James are the same way. They gotta have the ball, because they don't want to do the hard things -- pass, cut, move, set screens.
Mitchell then brought up another living legend — Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry — as an example of someone who makes things happen without the basketball.
“The reason we give Steph Curry so much credit is not because he’s a traditional great point guard. He averages about four and a half to five assists per game for his career. Steph Curry do the hard things. He’s always cutting and moving without the ball, which—when you’re a great player and you make a hard cut—somebody’s going to follow you.”
While L.A. is second in field-goal percentage and seventh in offensive rating, it is only 27th in assists per game, which illustrates what Mitchell said about its three stars. The team's offense often lacks ball and player movement when Doncic is operating at the top of the floor, which empowers defenses.
Add to that the Lakers' many problems on the defensive end, and it isn't hard to see why they have lost six of their last 10 games and are now in danger of falling out of the top six spots in the Western Conference.
They currently hold fourth place with a 19-10 record, but they're just half a game ahead of the sixth-place Houston Rockets, who handed them a 119-96 defeat on Christmas Day.
The Buffalo Bills are getting familiar with having to make this decision.
What do you do with Josh Allen once a playoff spot is clinched?
It's a question every winning NFL team has to answer late in the regular season. There's a balance between maintaining a rhythm and protecting a quarterback's health.
QB is the most important position in sports. For most teams, especially the Bills with Allen, big hopes for the season would go away with an injury.
It's not that the odds of injury are that immense. But this is football. Injuries happen.
Just a week ago, Allen limped off at halftime before returning in the second half.
He has recovered from that ailment and is good to go for Week 17 against the Eagles. And the Bills weren't going to sit him for Week 17 anyway, not with a chance to lock up a superior wild card spot.
But what about Week 18? The Bills have done this all different kinds of ways, including starting Allen just to keep his consecutive games streak alive before removing him immediately.
It'll be something to keep an eye on over the next 10 days. The Bills have to get this right.
The AFC is wide open this year. It's a season that feels like it is genuinely set up for Allen to lead the Bills to the Super Bowl.
But for Allen to do that, he needs to be on the field in the playoffs.
If that means sitting him a bit across these final two games, it's worth considering. The season is about winning the final game, not these ones that come before.
The Houston Texans are riding a seven-game winning streak and will look to keep it alive on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers.
These two teams met in the Wild Card round of the playoffs last season, a game Houston controlled from start to finish in a 32–12 win. The Texans’ elite defense led the way, forcing Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert into four interceptions.
Much like last year, Houston’s offense has been inconsistent, and they’ll need a strong, disciplined game plan if they want to leave Los Angeles with another victory.
Here is a look at Thursday’s injury report:
Did Not Participate
-LB Jamal Hill (Calf / Wrist) OUT
-OT Trent Brown (Ankle / Knee) OUT
Full Participation
-LB Azeez Al-Shaair (Knee / Ankle)
-CB Kamari Lassiter (Knee / Foot)
-CB Derek Stingley Jr. (Oblique)
-RB Woody Marks (Ankle)
-DE Darrell Taylor (Ankle) OUT
-WR Justin Watson (Calf) OUT
-TE Dalton Schultz (Knee)
-DT Sheldon Rankins (Knee)
-DE Dylan Horton (Hip)
Limited Participation
-LT Aireontae Ersery (Hand) QUESTIONABLE
-DE Denico Autry (Knee)
If the Texans can go into Los Angeles and beat the Chargers, they will officially clinch a playoff spot. Houston can also punch their ticket if the Colts lose to the Jaguars.
A new coaching rivalry in the state of Michigan has been born. But next year's battle for the Paul Bunyan trophy won't be the first time these new Michigan and Michigan State head coaches have met on the field.
As we all know by now, Michigan State football will have a new head coach next season with Pat Fitzgerald taking over the Spartans. And now, we know who will be leading the rival Wolverines next year: former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. News broke on Friday that Whittingham would be named the next Michigan head coach, with the longtime Utes head man expected to sign a five-year deal with Michigan.
So, like we saw just two years ago with Jonathan Smith and Sherrone Moore, next fall's matchup between the Spartans and Wolverines will feature two new head coaches to the rivalry. But this will actually be the second time that Fitzgerald and Whittingham squared off in a game, which Fitzgerald came out with the victory.
Fitzgerald led Northwestern to a Holiday Bowl comeback victory over Whittingham's Utes in 2018. The Wildcats were able to overcome a 17-point halftime deficit to stun Utah and earn the Holiday Bowl victory. That was the lone meeting between these two longtime head coaches, but obviously will not be the last moving forward.
Fitzgerald's halftime speech that helped spark the comeback in the 2018 Holiday Bowl circulated on social media on Friday shortly after the news of Whittingham heading to Michigan. You can check out that video in the social media post below:
Inside the halftime speech from Pat Fitzgerald in the 2018 Holiday Bowl win for Northwestern.
“One stop, one score, one stop, one score, now here we go.”
NU defeated Utah 31-20 and forced five second half turnovers after trailing 20-3 at halftime of the game.
Ultimately, Fitzgerald's record against Whittingham from their previous stops means nothing in the future of the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry. Just like how Fitzgerald's abysmal record against the Wolverines while coaching Northwestern is also meaningless. But, nonetheless, it's still a fun little nugget to keep in mind as we dive into the next chapter of the Spartans-Wolverines rivalry.
The date for next year's Michigan-Michigan State game has not yet been announced but it should once again be a high-energy and fun matchup. Hopefully, Michigan State can come out on top and pick up their first victory over the Wolverines since Kenneth Walker III stole the show in 2021.
Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page onFacebookto follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
Bully Ray smiling with his fists raised - Roy Rochlin/Getty Images
The second season of "WWE LFG" concluded in October, with the "Future Greats" mentored by The Undertaker walking away with the win: Shiloh Hill and Skylar Rae. Wrestling veteran Bully Ray has served as another mentor on the series, and in an episode of "Busted Open: After Dark," he explained why Hill and Skylar caught his eye.
"Both have a hell of a future ahead of them. I like what they're doing with Shiloh so far, [but] we're only gotten a bit of a taste of Skylar," he said. Still, Bully criticized the gimmick match that the two took part in on "NXT" against Channing Stacks and Arianna Grace. "I don't think that Shiloh Hill and Skylar Rae should be in a match like that yet. I don't think they're prepared for it yet, but they did a good job."
Bully continued, further criticizing the match quality but noting that it was ultimately entertaining and fans enjoyed the match. "I just don't know if talent, who are just coming out of the system, whether that be any of the WWE developmental areas – Evolve, LFG, anyplace – should be doing these gimmick matches yet," he noted, explaining that he thinks wrestlers should be given time to get good at normal matches before being tossed into the system. "But like I said, a good job by the four of them, they kept it tight enough to keep it entertaining. There were definitely times in there where you could tell that things were – talent were on different pages, but they did a good job of keeping it entertaining."
If you use any quotes from this article, please credit "Busted Open: After Dark" and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
ST. LOUIS – To say it was a lean sports year in St. Louis would be an understatement. The Blues painful playoff exit. A third consecutive Cardinals season without Red October. And even Jayson Tatum blowing out his Achilles.
The 2025 calendar year for St. Louis sports leaves many asking, “Is it 2026 yet?” But even in a tough year, there were moments worth celebrating. FOX 2 Sports Director Martin Kilcoyne looks back on the highs and lows of St. Louis sports in 2025.
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Christian Humphreys is proving the doubters wrong.
About a month before training camp opened, several writers at Mile High Hockey were tasked with evaluating a broad cross-section of Colorado Avalanche prospects. Humphreys—selected in the seventh round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft (215th overall)—stood out, though not for reasons that inspired much optimism.
At the time, he appeared to be among the least improved prospects in the organization in recent memory. His skating looked sluggish, and while his transfer from the University of Michigan to the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers resulted in a noticeable uptick in production, it was difficult to fully disentangle that output from an underwhelming stint in Ann Arbor. Fairly or not, his collegiate experience continued to shape—and limit—his evaluation.
That skepticism lingered even as players trickled in for optional skates ahead of training camp.
As the days passed, however, a different picture began to emerge. Humphreys did not appear slow; instead, he looked stronger, more assertive, and more purposeful in his movements. There was a heightened sense of urgency to his game, paired with a finishing ability that had not previously been part of his profile. He scored goals that demanded attention, and with each one, the initial evaluation became increasingly difficult to justify.
I Was Wrong
Training camp tends to reveal familiar patterns. First, there are the players expected to stand out—the Nathan MacKinnons, the Cale Makars, the Martin Nečas types—whose excellence is a given. Then come those who may not yet occupy superstar territory but possess undeniable talent. Gavin Brindley fit that mold, bursting onto the ice and flying from the moment he arrived in Denver.
And then there are the surprises. The players who arrive without expectation and leave an impression anyway. This year, that player was Christian Humphreys.
It reached a point where his improvement was impossible to ignore. Once that was noted, a few things happened. Michele Humphreys—presumably his mother—followed my account X, as did Lorne Goldenberg, who I identified as a strength and conditioning coach.
Later that night, Goldenberg responded with a pair of videos and photos showing Humphreys and another player participating in drills. While critics, myself included, focused on his shortcomings, he was diligently developing his skills, and by the time training camp began, his performance left a strong and undeniable impression. And he stunned us all.
In a condensed season with the Kitchener Rangers last year, Humphreys recorded 11 goals and 22 assists over 28 games. For context, a full OHL season consists of 68 regular-season games.
This year, Humphreys has appeared in 32 contests and has already amassed 12 goals and 27 assists for a total of 39 points. Projected over a full season, that pace would equate to 26 goals and 57 assists for 83 points, placing him well above the threshold for point-per-game production.
Equally notable is that Humphreys has never previously played 60 games in a single season at any level of competition. Despite this, he is rapidly developing as a prospect, and at his young age, he has ample time to progress to the NHL. His dedication over the last offseason has demonstrated that he is far more capable than many initially believed.
The sky is the limit for the 19-year-old and Humphreys and we're looking forward to see him blossom as a player.
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The Pittsburgh Pirates are reportedly one of the few teams interested in infielder Yoan Moncada in free agency.
Pittsburgh vowed to be aggressive this offseason to build a contending team around Paul Skenes and its deep pitching staff. MLB insider Francys Romero reported that the Pirates are one of four teams showing interest in Moncada.
“Several teams, including the Angels, Pirates, White Sox, and Blue Jays, have shown early interest in free-agent third baseman Yoan Moncada, per sources,” Romero wrote on X on Friday. “Despite thumb and knee issues, Moncada had a solid 2025 and could contribute even more next season among third basemen.”
Moncada spent last season with the Los Angeles Angels after spending one year with the Boston Red Sox and eight years with the Chicago White Sox. The Red Sox signed Moncada in 2015, as he was one of the top free agents available, but the infielder has struggled to live up to the hype.
Moncada’s best season came in 2019 with the White Sox when he hit .315 with 25 home runs and 79 RBIs. But injuries have derailed his career as he hasn’t played over 100 games since 2022, when he played just 104. With the Angels last season, Moncada hit .234 with 12 home runs and 35 RBIs.
If the Pirates sign Moncada, he would join an infield that features Jared Triolo at third base, Nick Gonzalez at shortstop, newly-acquired Brandon Lowe at shortstop, and Spencer Horwitz at first base.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have ruled out outside linebacker T.J. Watt (lung), cornerback Brandin Echols (groin), cornerback James Pierre (calf) and wide receiver Calvin Austin III (hamstring) for Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns.
Watt has been sidelined since suffering a partially collapsed lung on Dec. 10. Watt’s injury reportedly followed him undergoing a dry needling procedure at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex after a workout on a players’ off day. He was quickly hospitalized and had a procedure to correct the injury.
Watt missed each of the Steelers’ last two games, but returned to practice this week. He was a limited participant in all three practices.
No, there is no NFL game on Friday night, Dec. 26.
There is some college football bowl action to watch, as well as the NBA. There is also World Juniors hockey.
But no NFL on Friday.
Is there NFL on Saturday this week?
There are two NFL games on Saturday, Dec. 27:
Texans at Chargers, 4:30 p.m. ET
Ravens at Packers, 8:00 p.m. ET
Then there is a regular slate of Sunday games in the 1 p.m., 4:25 p.m. and 8:20 p.m. ET slots, and there's a regular Monday night game at 8:15 p.m. ET.
LB Nate Landman had five tackles, a sack and a tackle for loss in the Rams’ loss to the Seahawks. Landman, who leads the team with 123 tackles and has forced four fumbles, has been a revelation for the Rams adding range and instincts at a position they have tended not to value. Landman, who played for Atlanta in 2022-24, will be important in trying to corral Falcons RB Bijan Robinson as both a runner and receiver.
Falcons player to watch
Robinson leads the NFL with 131.5 scrimmage yards per game. He needs 151 scrimmage yards to break William Andrews’ team record of 2,176 set in 1983. Robinson has at least 100 combined rushing and receiving yards in 10 games this season.
Key matchup
Rams WR Puka Nacua will be a difficult matchup against a short-handed Falcons secondary. Atlanta CB Mike Hughes is expected to miss his second consecutive game with an ankle sprain, leaving undrafted rookie Cobee Bryant and backup C.J. Henderson to work with starter A.J. Terrell. Henderson was signed from the practice squad last week and had a game-saving interception at Arizona. Nacua leads the NFL with 114 catches for 1,592 yards and eight touchdowns.
Key injuries
Rams:: WR Davante Adams (hamstring) and RG Kevin Dotson (ankle) could be held out as the Rams will prioritize making sure both key players are ready for the playoffs. … S Quentin Lake (elbow) will return to practice next week and could be available for the regular-season finale against the Cardinals. … CB Roger McCreary is expected to play this week after sustaining a groin injury in his Rams’ debut Nov. 23 that led to a stint on injured reserve.
Falcons: Hughes was declared unlikely to return this week by coach Raheem Morris and is expected to miss his second consecutive game. ... WR Drake London (knee) was limited in practice. London returned against Arizona after missing four games. He briefly left the game against the Cardinals after appearing to aggravate the injury but Morris expressed confidence in London's status this week. CB Clark Phillips III (triceps, illness) was designated to return from injured reserve on Wednesday.
Series notes
The Rams have won the past two regular-season games against the Falcons, scoring at least 31 points in both games. … The Falcons ended Rams coach Sean McVay’s first season with a 26-13 victory in the NFC wild-card round in January 2018. … Atlanta has won both postseason matchups in this series, which goes back to 1966.
Stats and stuff
Rams QB Matthew Stafford needs two touchdown passes in his last two games to set a single-season career high. He had 41 scoring throws in 2011 with the Detroit Lions and again in 2021 with Los Angeles. … Stafford leads the NFL with 40 TD passes with only five interceptions. ... The Rams have scored 30 points in three straight games for the first time since 2018, when they did it in four straight. … Nacua had a career-high 225 yards receiving in the loss to the Seahawks. It was his third straight game with over 100 yards and sixth of the season. … The previous time the Rams led the league in scoring was in McVay’s first season as head coach in 2017. They have done it six times since the AFL-NFL merger. … TE Colby Parkinson has six touchdown receptions this season and needs one more to set the Rams’ single-season record at the position. … DL Kobie Turner got his first career interception against the Seahawks. Turner needs 2 1/2 sacks in his last two games to set a career high; he had nine sacks as a rookie in 2023. … Morris was the Rams defensive coordinator from 2021-23. ... Atlanta assistant coaches who previously worked on McVay's staff in Los Angeles: offensive coordinator Zac Robinson (2019-23), pass game specialist/game management Tim Berbenich (2023), offensive assistant K.J. Black (2022-23), assistant offensive line coach Nick Jones (2021-23) and director player performance John Griffin (2021-23). ... The Falcons rank second in the league with 50 sacks, five away from their team record of 55 set in 1997. ... Three of the Falcons' six wins came in prime-time games against Minnesota, Buffalo and Tampa Bay. Atlanta lost a prime-time game at San Francisco.
Fantasy tip
Falcons TE Kyle Pitts has at least six catches in four straight games, including seven for 57 yards and a touchdown last week. His 395 receiving yards in the past four games are the most by a tight end in a four-game span in franchise history. Pitts has set career highs with 80 catches and five touchdown receptions this season and has been especially effective with Kirk Cousins at quarterback.
The Classic at Damien has another loaded field and the Platinum Division bracket headlines the end-of-year festivities in La Verne, Calif.
There’s never any shortage of exciting finishes at the event. Crean Lutheran (Calif.) pulled off an impressive 62-59 victory against Owyhee (Idaho), putting together a huge second half to erase what was once a 17-point deficit.
Owyhee notched 18 points in each of the first two quarters on Friday to build a 36-26 lead at halftime. The Storm came out hot, going 8-14 from the floor in the first quarter. Senior point guard Logan Haustveit has been the primary weapon and he finished with a team-high 18 points on 6-16 shooting.
The Saints recovered well from the slow start and hung with Owhyee heading into the break. They then flipped the script in the third quarter.
Just six Crean Lutheran players scored on Friday, and it was Hunter Caplan that led the charge. He dropped 20 points on 5-13 shooting, knocking down a trio of 3-pointers. Senior center Chadrack Mpoyi was right behind with 15 points of his own. The Minnesota commit led the team with seven field goals and he also added four rebounds.
Down by just a point heading into the fourth, the Saints kept chugging and led by as many as five with just over four minutes to go in regulation. Owhyee had a couple of last gasps, but Lutheran didn’t relinquish the momentum and hung on for the win to continue on in the winner’s bracket.
Saints senior guard Nick Giarrusso played nearly 30 minutes and poured in 13 points to go with a game-high seven rebounds and five assists. He finished +13, the best of anyone on the court. Lutheran shot nearly 49 percent from the floor in the comeback win.
Behind Haustveit, Owyhee also got 12 points from senior Canaan Magness. The Storm got 18 points from its bench, while Crean Lutheran had just two. Owyhee led for over 17 minutes of game time, but will now look to get back on track in the consolation bracket. It will face the loser of Friday night’s game between Centennial (Calif.) and Sandra Day O’Connor (Ariz.) on Saturday.
Crean Lutheran will take on the winner. The Saints are the No. 18 team in California, according to the Massey Ratings. Owyhee remains the No. 1 team in Idaho.
How to Follow National High School Boys Basketball
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The New Orleans Saints regrouped on Friday for their final practice of the week after being given the day off on Christmas Day, and with it came the team's final Week 17 injury report. Four Saints players have been ruled out for Sunday's road game with the Tennessee Titans and three others are questionable to play. Here's what we know.
Defensive tackle Bryan Bresee (knee), running back Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle), tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden (knee), and right guard Cesar Ruiz (ankle) have all been preemptively ruled out. Veteran tight end Foster Moreau (knee) was placed on injured reserve with rookie backup Moliki Matavao coming up from the practice squad to replace him.
Additionally, a trio of wide receivers Chris Olave (back) and Mason Tipton (groin) plus kicker Charlie Smyth (illness) are questionable. Saints head coach Kellen Moore was optimistic about Olave's status and doesn't anticipate any restrictions for him on Sunday. Smyth's status is worth monitoring as the Saints don't have a backup kicker on the roster.
Four other Saints players will be available on Sunday after being listed on the injury report this week. That group includes veteran defensive tackles Davon Godchaux (rest) and Nathan Shepherd (ankle/knee), swing tackle Asim Richards (ankle), and starting quarterback Tyler Shough (hip).
What about the Titans? They already ruled out cornerback Marcus Harris (knee) plus outside linebacker Oluwafemi Oladejo (fibula) and wide receiver Bryce Oliver (knee), both of whom are on injured reserve. Another outside linebacker on IR, Ali Gaye (knee), is questionable to play after practicing fully this week. Cornerback Micah Robinson (illness) is also questionable. But the other seven players listed on the injury report are expected to be available when teams begin to warm up Sunday morning in Tennessee.
At this point, it's undeniable — the Oklahoma City Thunder have a San Antonio Spurs problem. With everybody watching from home, the reigning NBA champion stomached through a 117-102 loss to the same team for the third time in two weeks.
That's never happened before with this group. It's pretty unprecedented to see the Thunder lose three in a row against the same squad. For the first time since last season, OKC has gone from a win machine that's unbeatable at home to a vulnerable team that's looked a step slow.
No matter what happens for the rest of the regular season, the Thunder will have this stretch hover over their heads. Anytime you want to say they'll go back-to-back, the Spurs will be most folks' counterpoint. Much like OKC two seasons ago, San Antonio looks like a team ready to compete for a title right now.
After the signature win, Victor Wembanyama talked about how the Spurs have solved the Thunder. The 21-year-old is universally seen as a top-five player when healthy. What should scare OKC is that he's played in a limited role off the bench. It's been the rest of San Antonio that has stepped up. From De'Aaron Fox to Stephon Castle to Keldon Johnson.
"Definitely learned a lot. This is like a playoff series. We've played them three times in 12 days. We learned a lot on the tactical side," Wembanyama said. "I don't want to say too much about it. Keep something for us."
Regardless of whatever basketball secrets Wembanyama is pocketing, the Spurs' roster is perfectly built to counter OKC's league-best defense. They have several ball-handlers who can slash through their defenders and get to the rim with ease. They have the perfect mix of speed, size and athleticism.
One possession, Castle is out-muscling Williams on his way to an and-one layup. Next possession, Wembanyama is forcing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to second-guess himself on his drives to the basket.
We'll see what a potential NBA playoff series could look like. If you've followed the NBA long enough, you should know that what happens in December and in April/May are two completely different beasts. The Thunder have the track record to back up their basketball style results in rings. The Spurs aren't there yet.
Until then, though, the Thunder have seen their first real challenger step up that could prevent them from going back-to-back. Don't expect Wembanyama and the Spurs to go anywhere for the foreseeable future, either.
You never want to see your key fantasy player pop up on the injury report in the middle of a week.
That's what happened to Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts on Friday.
Pitts was a full participant in Thursday's practice with no injury designation.
On Friday, Pitts was added to the list as a limited participant with a knee injury.
The Falcons don't play until Monday night this week, so they'll have another day of an injury report on Saturday. Pitts' status on that will be telling.
If he was denoted as limited on Friday because he got hurt midway through practice, there's no way to know for sure how bad it is until he does or doesn't practice on Saturday.
And if Pitts is questionable, that gets tricky for fantasy managers who are counting on him on Monday night in the last game of the week.
Roy Keane delighted with the spirit shown by United vs Newcastle
Plenty of Manchester United fans were apprehensive heading into the Boxing Day clash against Newcastle owing to the sheer number of key personnel sidelined for the game.
The Red Devils were without two of their most potent attackers in Amad and Bryan Mbeumo, and without their midfield talisman in Bruno Fernandes, as well as their best defender this season, Matthijs de Ligt.
Not to mention the likes of Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire, and Noussair Mazraoui, also missing in action. However, the Red Devils dug in at Old Trafford on Friday and came up trumps.
Not only did they secure all three points courtesy of a 1-0 win, but they also clinched their second clean sheet of the current Premier League campaign.
The win catapulted them to fifth in the standings, level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea.
Club legend, Roy Keane, who has been fierce in his criticism of the team in recent weeks, was delighted with the spirit shown by the team.
As a defensive midfielder himself, the Irishman was most pleased with the fact that the team won ugly, a trait not too often seen under the current head coach.
“Yeah, it’s a big night for them. You can talk about the players who were missing, particularly Bruno. So to get a clean sheet, a lot of young players are getting an opportunity.
“It certainly wasn’t pretty to watch, but I’ve said that many times before, give me the points over the plaudits all the time,” he told Sky Sports.
Roy Keane praises “special” goal
“Big win for them, some games coming up, and you’re thinking, “Can they get some momentum, can they go on a proper run?” And obviously now, they’ve got to keep this momentum going. A big win, an ugly win, but a huge win for them.”
Roy Keane also praised Patrick Dorgu’s special effort, while also claiming the team showed pride when trying to stop the opposition.
“To come out and win an ugly game, specifically from a defensive point of view, keeping that clean sheet. There has to be pride in your defending.
“The goal was fantastic, a special goal. But if you want to make progress, it has got to be about being defensively solid.
“It is a start in terms of momentum for the younger players, but you have to find something.”
And with bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers to come next at the Theatre of Dreams, surely United will be looking to climb further up the table next week.
Bayern Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen is sometimes the boss, other times the mediator, and always a participant in the important discussions at the club.
With Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Uli Hoeneß still playing prominent roles at the club on the supervisory board, Dreesen has been witness to sparks flying. When asked about Rummenigge recent statement of “FC Bayern doesn’t need less, but more Uli Hoeneß,” Dreesen could only concur.
“Karl-Heinz and Uli are part of our supervisory board. We would be remiss if we didn’t seek their opinions and engage with them. I think other clubs envy us for their capacity. We have intensive exchanges, especially during transfer periods. Uli has strong opinions, and people can rally behind strong opinions. That’s part of what we do; it raises FC Bayern’s profile,” Dreesen told Welt am Sonntag (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). “Being on the board of FC Bayern is a wonderful and simultaneously challenging job. It’s perfectly normal and even necessary that there are different perspectives within a club. We’re all working together to achieve the best result for FC Bayern. That means we sometimes have different opinions, and we don’t always embrace each other from the start.”
Some executive might be intimidated by two big players like Hoeneß and Rummenigge still having such big voices, but Dreesen seems happy to just roll with the punches. As you can probably tell, he like has had a lot of practice in dealing with just that.
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…
The Los Angeles Lakers are in absolutely putrid shape as of right now. They are 4-6 in the month of December and just got the brakes beaten off of them by the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day.
Following the loss due to the same factors that have plagued this group for a month, JJ Redick ripped the team in their postgame press conference.
Redick stated that there are too many players on the current roster who just don't care. If you look at the teams' performances as of late, Redick is not wrong.
If this team wants to not waste a single year of Luka Dončić's prime, changes need to be made and fast because, as presently constructed, this is not a championship-caliber roster.
NBA insider Kevin O'Connor reported after the game that changes to the roster could be right on the horizon in LA.
Kevin O'Connor says trades are coming in LA
After the Rockets blew out the Lakers at home, Kevin O'Connor got on Twitter/X and laid out exactly what the plan is in LA after their abysmal showing through the month of December.
Trades are coming in Los Angeles. Just a matter of who and when. Without them, this team has no chance of winning a title this year. That much is obvious after watching the Lakers as of late and listening to what JJ Redick said postgame.
This leads you to think, if trades are incoming, who's on the way out the door?
There are many players on the roster not carrying their weight. Players that come to mind would quickly be players like Rui Hachimura, Jake LaRavia, Dalton Knecht, Maxi Kleber, and Gabe Vincent.
All of those players combined take up just north of $50 million in cap space. That is far too much money to go towards what is now essentially dead weight.
While the Lakers don't have anywhere near the assets a team like OKC does, they are not without them completely. Between a mix of all those players' tradeable salaries and the picks the Lakers have to give, we could definitely see a move soon.
Don't be shocked to see any or all of those players gone within the next month, as the Lakers have to take a real look in the mirror prior to the deadline.
The only issue for Los Angeles: teams know they're desperate, and as everyone knows, there's always going to be a Laker tax. We'll see if and how the team is able to improve its roster before the trade deadline.
Before the NBA Cup tournament semifinals, the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder were 24-1 and had many fans and experts believing they could break the regular-season record for wins, set by the Golden State Warriors in 2016.
However, after losing to the San Antonio Spurs for the third time this season on Christmas Day, the conversation has quickly shifted, as the Thunder have struggled to contain the young star power. San Antonio has been led by the 7'5" French superstar Victor Wembanyama, who has gotten the best of OKC's seven-footer, Chet Holmgren, in the three matchups.
On Friday, ESPN NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins let it be known how he feels about the difference in play between the two giants.
"I gotta get on Chet (Holmgren) for a minute. He's playing soft in this matchup. Victor Wembanyama wants the smoke, he's ducking that smoke right now....Chet gotta come with it next time they play the Spurs, it might be in the postseason, but he gotta come with it, because right now the Spurs are pucking the Thunder and making them look soft," Perkins said on ESPN's 'Get Up'.
It is hard to disagree with Perkins' point when considering the players' stats against each other across the three games. Holmgren has averaged only 11.1 points per game, 7.3 rebounds, and one assist.
Wembanyama, on the other hand, has nearly averaged 20 points per game with 17.7, while grabbing 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists, while also disrupting the rhythm of SGA and the Thunder on defense.
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton has been shooting with his teammates prior to recent games as he recovers from a torn Achilles tendon. He has provided updates on social media and in podcasts about his recovery but this is the latest public glimpse of his recovery.
Haliburton is scheduled to miss the 2025-26 season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
When did Tyrese Haliburton get injured?
Despite dealing with a right calf issue for a while, Tyrese Haliburton scored 9 points in the opening minutes of Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on June 22, 2025. He made a move toward the basket with about 5 minutes to go in the first quarter and fell to the court with a torn Achilles tendon. The Pacers lost 103-91.
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton has been shooting with his teammates prior to recent games as he recovers from a torn Achilles tendon. He has provided updates on social media and in podcasts about his recovery but this is the latest public glimpse of his recovery.
Haliburton is scheduled to miss the 2025-26 season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
When did Tyrese Haliburton get injured?
Despite dealing with a right calf issue for a while, Tyrese Haliburton scored 9 points in the opening minutes of Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on June 22, 2025. He made a move toward the basket with about 5 minutes to go in the first quarter and fell to the court with a torn Achilles tendon. The Pacers lost 103-91.
He was never ruled out for the entirety of the campaign. Unlike Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, Tatum's injury happened early in the playoffs, changing his chances of getting back.
There have been suggestions all along about different return timelines, from February to March to the start of the playoffs.
But there's pretty much no question Tatum will be back.
That's an exciting light at the end of the tunnel for the Celtics. It's up to them to make sure they set themselves up in good position so that when Tatum gets back, there are meaningful games for him to play in.
brian clough's maine road puzzle Ahead of Saturday's clash, we look at a time when European champions Nottingham Forest couldn't buy an away goal against City... By David Clayton
Resurfacing a special feature we first published in September 2023...
It’s impossible to face Nottingham Forest and not think about their legendary manager Brian Clough, such is the legacy of perhaps the greatest English boss of all time.
There was a period when the brilliant Clough’s Forest not only ruled England’s top division, but Europe as well.
Back in 1979 and 1980, Clough’s team arrived at Maine Road as champions of Europe.
That's right - not once, but twice in succession our, East Midlands visitors were reigning European champs.
Clough’s achievements with Forest are the stuff of legend, taking charge of a floundering second-tier side in January 1975 and shaping a team in his image over the next few months.
Clough had previously steered Derby County to the First Division title in 1971/72 alongside his friend, trusted confidante, and irreplaceable assistant Peter Taylor.
Outspoken and brash, Clough’s feisty relationship with the Derby chairman Sam Longson deteriorated and when he and Taylor handed in their resignation on October 15, 1973, in an attempt to force Longson out, the feuding chairman accepted their letters – the bluff had failed, and Clough and Taylor were out of work.
There was a furious reaction from the Derby fans who called for the pair to be reinstated, but the damage was irreparable, and Dave Mackay was given the job as manager soon after.
Clough and Taylor weren’t out of work long, accepting a lucrative offer to manage third tier Brighton, but Clough had a burning desire to manage at the top level again and when Leeds United came in for him during the summer of 1974, Clough accepted the role.
Taylor would remain loyal to Brighton and Clough’s attempts at replacing former City player Don Revie at Elland Road proved to be an abject failure – the first of his career – and his tenure lasted just 44 days before he was sacked.
He would be out of work for 16 weeks, becoming a popular TV pundit with viewers loving his straight-talking, opinionated style – but he craved return management, and in early 1975, Nottingham Forest offered him the chance to do what he did best.
The remainder of the 1975/76 campaign was spent assembling a side made of players he trusted and making those he had inherited better and, crucially, he patched up his relationship with Peter Taylor with the pair reunited for the 1976/77 season.
It seemed neither could work effectively without the other, but together they were unstoppable.
Taylor’s unique eye for talent and Clough’s brilliant coaching and management guided Forest to promotion in their first full season at the City Ground.
Over at Maine Road, Tony Book’s City had missed out on becoming First Division champions by one point that same season, but the Blues were strong favourites to compete for the title again in 1977/78 – Forest, who had scraped promotion by the skin of their teeth, were tipped by many to go straight back down.
But something very special was forming in the East Midlands.
Clough had added Peter Shilton, Dave Needham, Archie Gemmill and Kenny Burns to a squad that already included the likes of a rejuvenated John Robertson, John McGovern, Viv Anderson, Ian Bowyer, Larry Lloyd, Tony Woodcock and Peter Withe.
With 10 games of the new season played, Forest were top of the table, Liverpool second and City third.
Book’s side travelled to Nottingham knowing victory would likely take the Blues top – as well as issuing a statement of intent - and when Brian Kidd hooked home from close range, more than 5,000 travelling City fans went berserk – but Clough’s side would fight back with goals from Woodcock and With – the latter scoring on 86 minutes - to win 2-1.
Bizarrely, the teams would meet again in the FA Cup fourth round a few months later, again in Nottingham, and again Clough’s side would win 2-1 with Kidd on target for the Blues and Withe scoring what would turn out to be the winning goal – a total gate approaching 80,000 had watched both clashes that year.
City were there or thereabouts for much of the campaign, but by the time the teams met in the return fixture at Maine Road, it was Forest who were in the ascendency, having won the League Cup and not lost for 18 league games.
More than 43,000 packed Maine Road, but in a taut battle with few genuine opportunities, the game ended 0-0.
Forest remained unbeaten for the final seven games to end seven points clear of Liverpool, while City finished in fourth – Clough had guided his team to the title in their first season back in the First Division – a rare and remarkable feat.
It was an incredible achievement and the first time Nottingham Forest had been crowned champions of England in their then 113 years of existence.
But the 1978/79 campaign would be even better for Forest.
They would remain unbeaten until early December in the league – a run of 42 matches without defeat in the league – before Liverpool ended their incredible run with a 2-0 win at Anfield.
Their next away game on December 23, 1978, was at Maine Road, and while Book’s team were progressing well in the UEFA Cup having boked a place in the quarterfinals, the Blues’ league form was largely disappointing.
But the symmetrical nature of the previous meetings continued as City and Forest ground out another 0-0 draw in front of a crowd of 37,012.
It was a largely bad tempered affair, too, with Ron Futcher fortunate not to be sent off for flattening a Forest defender with what appeared to be a right-hook in the closing stages.
The fight continued in the tunnel in full view of BBC’s Match of the Day cameras after the final whistle.
Forest would go on to win the League Cup again, but finish runners-up to Liverpool in the First Division while City floundered to a disappointing 15th place finish.
Clough and Taylor had also somehow guided Forest to the European Cup final at the first attempt – an incredible achievement – and the fairy-tale was completed by future City star Trevor Francis who headed home in first half added time to seal a 1-0 win over Malmo.
Nottingham Forest, a Second Division side less than two years before, were now champions of Europe.
It’s fair to say the nation was united in celebrating Forest’s success with many wondering how this unfashionable club had somehow done what Liverpool, Juventus and Real Madrid couldn’t that season.
The next campaign in 1979/80 saw the paths of City and Forest going in vastly different directions.
Clough had added City favourite Asa Hartford to his squad and when Forest arrived at Maine Road in early October, they did so as European champions and league leaders of the First Division.
It was hard to imagine a stiffer test for a City side that were unpredictable at best, capable of both impressive and lacklustre performances in equal measure.
A crowd of 41,683 packed into Maine Road to see City take on Clough’s all-conquering side, but just after half-time, Michael Robinson crossed into the box and Kaziu Deyna thumped the ball past Peter Shilton to give the Blues a 1-0 lead.
Forest came back strongly, but Joe Corrigan was in excellent form and City held out for a single goal victory.
For all Forest’s domestic and European dominance, they left Maine Road for a third successive season having failed to score a goal.
It was arguably the Blues’ season high, as a miserable second half to the campaign saw an FA Cup exit to Fourth Division Halifax Town followed by 15 matches without a win – one of which was a 4-0 drubbing away to Forest with Trevor Francis scoring a hat-trick.
The returning Malcolm Allison’s team restructure had gone badly wrong and only a run of three wins in the final four games staved off relegation.
As for Clough’s men, league aspirations were cast aside as the mercurial manager guided his team to a second consecutive European Cup triumph following a 1-0 win over Hamburg in the final, becoming one of only six teams to successfully defend the crown – the others? Real Madrid, Ajax, Benfica, Liverpool, Inter and AC Milan.
That would effectively mark the end of Forest’s glorious few years, with the team going into a slow decline in the years that followed, but it had been some journey.
As a footnote, Forest arrived as European champions for the second year running at Maine Road in 1980/81 and though Paul Power scored an early goal for the Blues, Francis levelled on 55 minutes to end almost a six-hour wait for Clough’s Forest to score a goal away to City in a 1-1 draw.
The next meeting in Manchester reverted to type with a 0-0 draw so despite Forest’s incredible successes at home and abroad under Clough and Taylor, they never once beat City at Maine Road and scored only one goal in five visits.
The tables, of course, have well and truly turned in recent years, but the memories of that magnificent Brian Clough team still resonate some 40 years on and are perhaps even more poignant as City and Forest - two of only six English sides to be crowned European champions - go head-to-head at the Etihad.
One can only wonder what a Pep Guardiola v Brian Clough tactical battle might have looked like, but chances are it would have been a wonderful spectacle for all concerned….
For another, victory was achieved with 33.4% possession, their lowest in any game this season. It was United's lowest percentage of possession in a victory since the 29.4% they had when beating against Manchester City in January 2023.
They had nine shots at Old Trafford compared to Newcastle's 16. The visitors had 43 touches in their opponents' box. Amorim's men had 15.
Yet it was Manchester United who prevailed, thanks to a combination of Patrick Dorgu's first goal for the club - which was a sublime first-half volley from the edge of the area - and only a second clean sheet of the season.
It wasn't pretty. But even for Amorim, sometimes there are days when substance trumps style.
"Yes," was the unequivocal reply when asked if this was one of the 'most satisfying' wins of his, at times, tortuous 13 months in charge.
"The feeling is good. If you compared to other games, we suffered so much more today but in certain moments we put everything on the line.
"We are defending every cross. Especially if you see the second half, sometimes we managed to defend with a back six.
"We had so many games when we controlled the opponent so much better, but it is a good feeling to have a clean sheet. We suffered together. If we always have this spirit, we are going to win so many games."
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe headed back to the north-east of England reflecting on yet another disappointing away performance. He admitted his side failed to turn their territorial advantage into the type and volume of meaningful chances that would have earned maximum points.
But for the home side, the outcome felt significant.
Lisandro Martinez and Ayden Heaven are at other ends of the experience scale.
One is a World Cup winner, albeit one just returning from the latest in a sequence of bad injuries. The other is a 19-year-old with 15 senior appearances under his belt – who has now extended the longest playing sequence of his first-team career to five games.
Paired together in the middle of a revised back four, with Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot as full-backs and Dorgu switched to the right side of Amorim's attack, Martinez and Heaven were immense.
"He [Martinez] is a guy with a lot of character," said Amorim.
"He is really good on the ball - and has won a World Cup, so he is used to that stress - but he showed today he is a top player.
"He is a small guy but today he did well against a team with tall players."
The sight of 5ft 9in Martinez leaping high to win a header against 6ft 6in Nick Woltemade in the first half was impressive.
Even though there was an element of Amorim having to protect a player starting for the first time since February following his recovery from cruciate knee ligament surgery, there must have been concern when Martinez left the field two minutes from time and 20-year-old Tyler Fredricson came on in his place.
The concern was misplaced.
For the first time under Ruben Amorim, Manchester United started a Premier League game with a back four formation – last doing so in November 2024 against Leicester City, in their final game before he arrived [Getty Images]
Fredricson did his job well. But he had Heaven with him to bring more solidity.
It is hard to believe when the former Arsenal youngster started against West Ham on 4 December, he was booked almost immediately and looked so shaky, it was almost a shock he lasted until half-time when he was replaced by Leny Yoro.
In the space of five games and three weeks, Heaven has advanced rapidly.
He was excellent in the defeat at Aston Villa on 21 December and followed that up with a performance of maturity against Newcastle that earned him the host broadcaster's man-of-the-match award.
So good has Heaven been that Amorim is warning Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt, currently sidelined, they can't be certain of getting their places back when they are fit again.
That is significant in two ways. Firstly, De Ligt was, by common consent, United's best defender until a back injury ruled him out of the West Ham game. Maguire, meanwhile, is still waiting to learn whether United will offer him a new contract when his current one expires in the summer.
"I am really pleased with Ayden," said Amorim.
"You can feel that he is improving every game. He trained really well, which shows if you train well, it can help you play.
"If he continues to play like that, it is going to be really hard to take his place."
With Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire unavailable, Lisandro Martinez captained Manchester United [Getty Images]
Hello and welcome back to the Friday Feedbag where I will never serve you slop. This week is weird! It’s a Friday today and also day after Christmas, so many are either not working at all or have had the last one to two days off. To anyone who had to work both Christmas Eve and Christmas, you are the real MVP and I salute you. But, today feels like one of those “unearned” Fridays and so I’m reminded that many refer to the week between Christmas and New Year’s as a “liminal space.” A liminal space is a place or state of transition. It can be a physical place, like an airport, or a psychological/metaphorical place.
This being a Mariners blog, we’re gonna talk about Mariners Liminal Spaces. I’ll throw out a few and then y’all can have at it in the comments.
The Stadium Light Rail Station: An obvious pick, but it is a literal place of comings and goings, usually frantic at both the arrival at the game and during the exiting. But, if you’ve ever worked at the stadium and had to catch a lonely train home long after most of the crowd had gone home, you’ve probably spent more time here in this liminal space than you’d like, waiting for a train that should have been here 10 minutes ago and maybe never ends up coming.
The Left Field Gates at T-Mobile Park: Probably the entrance I have used most in my life and yet have never spent more than a passing few moments in after getting through security and then going up those iconic stairs to the main level concourse, or straight to the elevators to the 300 level (the elevators being another great liminal space!)
The 2021 Mariners season: The last season of the drought. They almost ended it that year, or came close like in 2014, 2016, and 2018 (well….kinda), but the momentum for the 2022 playoff run arguably started in August and September 2021. The 2021 season deserves its flowers for being a wildly fun year at the ballpark while many were still emerging from the pandemic and figuring out how to live in public again.
You get the idea, right?
Okay, let’s hear about your favorite or least favorite Mariners liminal spaces and have a great, if unearned for some, weekend!
WRC Co-Driver Gets Behind the Wheel and Shows OutHyundai Motorsport
It takes a special kind of person to willingly strap oneself into a hatchback aimed at flying through the woods at high speeds. Rally drivers are madmen full-stop, but their shotgun-riding co-drivers are a whole different breed. Don’t discount the amount of driving know-how tucked away in those high-flying passenger seats, however. Hyundai Motorsports co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe recently took the wheel of a Hyundai i20 N Rally2 at the 2025 Rallye du Pays Vençois in France, making fellow co-drivers round the world beam with pride.
While you might not be familiar with Martijn Wydaeghe, you have likely heard of his teammate Thierry Neuville. The two have been driving together since the 2021 season, with Wydaeghe co-driving during Neuville’s 2024 WRC Driver’s Championship effort. This year wasn’t as successful for last year’s champs, with Neuville finishing 5th overall in the standings. The results were largely tempered by two consecutive retirements at the Central Europe and Japan rallies towards the end of the season. The pair came back to win the final event of the year at Rally Saudi Arabia.
While the automaker didn’t put Wydaeghe out in the proper Rally1 machine he’s used to riding in, the Belgian driver made his driving debut in the production-based Rally2 machine. He did previously get a go in the Rally1 car at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed, however. I’m sure the co-driver-turned-wheelman wasn’t too upset about the more approachable platform for his first go either.
With co-driver Florian Haut-Labourdette alongside, Wydaeghe pushed the IXO-sponsored Hyundai through the 25-mile rally. His pace was undeniable, with Wydaeghe managing to take home a stage win on his very first attempt. The pair only managed to muster sixth place overall, but fans were more than happy to see Wydaeghe give it a shot. That said, I don’t think Neuville needs to be too worried about job security for the time being. Perhaps the WRC should look at a co-driver shootout event moving forward, though.
In addition to workouts at nearby Boston College, the cadets have bonded once more on an extended road trip — for the final time in 2025 — and shared the sights of one of America's most historic cities. The team got special tours of Fenway Park — home of the Boston Red Sox — and enjoyed a Boston Harbor cruise. The bowl committee presented the players with personalized engraved bats as a memento.
"I think it's been amazing being here on the holidays,'' said Army senior linebacker and co-captain Kalib Fortner during a Friday media session. "It's not truly ideal to be away from your true family but you have family right here, and to be in this amazing city that's hosting us, its been awesome.''
"These guys have had some free time, which is nice,'' said Army head coach Jeff Monken during his Friday radio show. "They don't get a whole lot of that during the school year so it's nice for them to have some free time and walk around town and walk around this mall that's connected to the hotel here. ... It's nice to be part of a team that really feels a sense of brotherhood like we do. These guys, they feel a sense of family, and I think they've really enjoyed the time together here.''
For nearly 25 seniors, this will be the last game of their football careers that probably got a start when they were youngsters. The 2022 and 2023 Army teams both finished 6-6 and last season Army was 12-2, so the Class of 2026 owns a 30-20 mark with one game to play.
"I've been reflecting a lot this past week,'' said Army senior linebacker and co-captain Andon Thomas. "I've been playing this game for 15 years, and for it to be my last four quarters of football it's kind of crazy, but all the guys kind of realize that.''
It's been two weeks since Army (6-6) lost to Navy, 17-16, in their annual clash, in Baltimore. The Black Knights returned to practice right away, mixed in semester final exams and had an opportunity to get away for the holidays for a few days before gathering in Boston on Tuesday.
"Obviously, coming off that Navy game, (it was) not the outcome we wanted but the guys are hungry,'' Thomas said. "We're coming back for a 13th game and that's an absolute blessing. The guys realize it's our last game as a team together before they go on next year and do great things (but) it's been a couple great weeks of practice. ... We're excited for this game.''
It's critical that Army shakes off the Navy loss with the Fenway Bowl ahead.
"I think a big thing is you can't let a team beat you twice,'' Fortner said. "(There's) a lot of emotion behind that Navy game and obviously we didn't get the result we wanted. ... We had a couple good weeks of preparation, good rest and recovery, and we're ready to go and hopefully do enough to beat UConn. They're a really good team, they’ve got great players, and we're excited to play in this amazing venue and hopefully get a chance to beat a really good opponent.''
Junior quarterback Cale Hellums said the time off between games and the holidays came at a good time,
"We've had a good amount of days, a long break ... we kind of treat it like a bye week, in a way,'' he said. "My body feels good. I'm ready to go and I'm excited for the opportunity (Saturday).''
"We know it's going to be a tremendous challenge,'' Monken said. "(UConn has) a lot to play for, obviously: for a 10-win season and back-to-back bowl champions here in Fenway, So our guys know that there's going to be a test. They know that we're going to be challenged (Saturday). Athletically, those guys are very, very good and have a lot of weapons. But our guys are going to play hard, they're going to play tough and we're going to do the very best we can to play our brand of football and hope that'll be good enough.''
AUSTIN (KXAN) — With the Longhorns bowl game against the University of Michigan just five days away, head coach Steve Sarkisian needed some good news in regards to his roster. Friday afternoon, defensive back Jelani McDonald posted on Instagram that he “will be returning to the University of Texas” to complete his career as a senior.
In his junior season, McDonald was an intricate peace to Longhorns 35th ranked defense. His final stat line after 12 games were 73 tackles (43 solo), three interceptions, and three pass deflections.
McDonald’s role becomes more important without Michael Taaffe in the backfield. His first test without Taaffe and a handful of new faces in the defensive rotation will be in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl Dec. 31 against Michigan.
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Now 11-4 overall on the season after pulling away from the Cowboys en route to a 34-17 victory in Dallas on Dec. 21, the Chargers will host a critical Week 17 matchup from SoFi Stadium against the red-hot Houston Texans (10-5) on Saturday that holds significant AFC playoff picture implications.
The Chargers currently hold the No. 5 seed in the AFC Playoff picture, thanks to a four-game winning streak since their Week 12 bye, and are 1.2 games behind the Broncos.
While the Denver inched closer to both clinching the AFC West division and the conference's No. 1 seed with a 20-13 win over Kansas City on Thursday night, Los Angeles must win on Saturday to ensure that the Chargers still have the opportunity to win the division with a win over the Broncos in Week 18.
Meanwhile, the Texans have been hot on the Chargers' tail for most of the season and enter the matchup on a seven-game winning streak, bolstered by their stellar defensive play as of late. If Houston is victorious, it would clinch a playoff spot and knock the Bolts out of the No. 5 seed.
With both teams needing a win to bolster their playoff status/positioning, who has the advantage in the key areas of this game?
As we all know, the game is not played on paper, but where these two teams rank in essential statistical areas could provide valuable insight into where the Chargers may have the upper hand over the Texans and where they may not.
Texas A&M's 2026 offseason began just minutes after the Aggies' 10-3 loss to Miami in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday afternoon, forcing head coach Mike Elko to quickly reflect on the defeat and prepare for the opening of the transfer portal on January 2.
So far, seven Texas A&M players have announced their plans to enter the transfer portal, including defensive ends Rylan Kennedy and Solomon Williams, who would likely have seen more playing time next season. However, nothing is guaranteed in today's college football landscape, and potential NIL deals at other landing spots usually result in veteran players at least testing the portal.
While nearly every one of the Aggies' transfer losses isn't surprising, an eighth addition has entered the chat, as junior tight end Theo Melin Öhrström will reportedly enter his name into the portal after three seasons with the program. A native of Stockholm, Sweden, it's been quite the journey covering the international player, who, despite a tough learning curve, continued to improve every season.
After reeling in ten receptions for 184 yards and two touchdowns during the 2024 season, Melin Öhrström caught 19 passes for 168 yards and one score this season, while his inline blocking improved after working with tight ends coach Christian Ellsworth, who followed Collin Klein to Kansas State earlier this month.
Could Melin Öhrström follow his former OC and TE coach to K-State? It's possible, but focusing on Texas A&M, incoming sophomore Kiotti Armstrong is the name to watch heading into the 2026 season, while Mike Elko will likely need to add at least one tight end from the portal.
Texas A&M TE Theo Melin Ohrstrom is set to enter the transfer portal.
One of the Aggies only returners at the position is set to explore the market this offseason: https://t.co/mabTh8R55D
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.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan has agreed to a five-year contract with Kyle Whittingham to replace fired and disgraced football coach Sherrone Moore, according to two people familiar with the situation.
The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Friday because the move had not been announced.
Whittingham announced two weeks ago that he would step down after 21 seasons as Utah’s coach. Morgan Scalley was promoted from defensive coordinator to replace Whittingham, who has won a school-record 177 games.
The 15th-ranked Utes will play Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 31.
Moore was fired on Dec. 10, when the school said an investigation uncovered his inappropriate relationship with a staffer. Two days later, Moore was charged with three crimes after prosecutors said he “barged his way” into the apartment of a woman he’d been having an affair with and threatened to kill himself.
Michigan was hoping to hire a coach this month, helping its chances of retaining recruits and keeping key players, including quarterback Bryce Underwood, out of the transfer portal.
Whittingham has been Utah’s coach since December 2004 and a member of the Utes’ staff since 1994. He has a 177-88 (.668) record over 21 seasons. Utah finished with 18 winning seasons under Whittingham and won at least 10 games eight times.
Whittingham twice helped Utah navigate conference changes. The Utes moved from the Mountain West Conference to the Pac-12 Conference in 2011 and then departed the Pac-12 for the Big 12 Conference in 2024.
Utah found success following both moves. Whittingham led the Utes to back-to-back Pac-12 championships and Rose Bowl appearances in 2021 and 2022. Then, after a 5-7 campaign in its first Big 12 season, Utah went 10-2 this season and finished in a tie for third place in the league.
Utah capped an undefeated season in 2008 with a win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
Whittingham won three national coach of the year awards, including the AFCA and Bear Bryant awards in 2008 and the Dodd Trophy in 2019.
Whittingham was a linebacker at BYU under LaVell Edwards from 1978 to 1981.
Kittle missed the full week of practice after getting hurt Monday night in a win against Indianapolis. But coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday that he still has a chance to play with the team having a better idea of his status closer to the game.
Receiver Ricky Pearsall is also questionable after missing last week's game and being limited all week in practice by a knee injury. Cornerback Renardo Green will miss a second straight week with a neck injury.
The 49ers (11-4) clinched a playoff spot last week but are still in the hunt for a division title and possibly the top seed in the NFC playoffs. With wins at home over Chicago (11-4) and Seattle (12-3) the next two weeks, the Niners would clinch home-field advantage and would have a chance to win the Super Bowl on their home field Feb. 8 without having to take another road trip all season.
Being without Kittle would be a big blow to a San Francisco offense that has been operating at a high level during a five-game winning streak. The Niners have gone back-to-back games without having to punt for the first time in franchise history.
Kittle is a key part of both the run and pass game for the 49ers. The Niners’ running game has improved since Kittle returned after missing five games early this season with a hamstring injury.
Kittle has 31 catches for 415 yards and four TDs during the current winning streak and is second on the team to running back Christian McCaffrey in catches (52) and yards (599) despite missing five games.
The 49ers have a 144.6 passer rating when targeting Kittle this season, according to Sportradar, which would be the highest for any player with at least 50 targets since Russell Wilson had a 158.3 rating targeting Tyler Lockett in 2018.
Here are the top three performers for UNC so far this season. Each has made a substantial impact on the team’s success, consistently delivering in key moments and setting a high standard for teammates. As the season continues, their play will remain a critical factor in determining how far UNC can go.
Henri Veesaar
Veesaar is averaging 16.8 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. He is shooting 64.1% from the floor, which ranks 19th in the country. He is also shooting 50% from 3-point range, 33rd nationally, and has a 70.6 effective field goal percentage, which ranks 14th nationally and first in the ACC, according to KenPom. His true shooting percentage is 70.5, 18th in the nation.
Caleb Wilson
Wilson has exceeded expectations so far, averaging 19.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.4 steals per game — all team highs. He is shooting 55.4% from the field and has nine double-doubles this season, tied for the third most by a freshman in North Carolina history with Sam Perkins (1980-81) and J.R. Reid (1986-87). He has also posted nine 20-point games, which is likewise tied for the third most by a Tar Heels freshman.
Jarin Stevenson
While his stat sheet does not jump off the page, Stevenson is best evaluated by what he does on the floor rather than in the box score. His value comes from his versatility, as his length and agility make him a matchup problem on both ends of the court.
He can play the three, four or five for North Carolina when called upon and can guard almost anyone at any spot on the floor. He is averaging 6.5 points and 4 rebounds per game off the bench.
Honorable Mention: Seth Trimble
Despite appearing in only four games so far because of injury, he is averaging 14.5 points and 3.7 assists. He looks like a veteran — and he should. He is in his fourth year of college basketball at the same school, a rarity in today’s transfer-heavy era.
Since Trimble’s return, North Carolina has looked faster and freer in transition. That is not a coincidence; it is exactly what head coach Hubert Davis emphasized after the Tar Heels beat Ohio State on Dec. 20.
Trimble would have been on my top three had he had not gotten hurt and miss nine games.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
The ECHL postponed 13 games Friday after players went on strike, causing a work stoppage in the North American development minor hockey league two tiers below the NHL.
The Professional Hockey Players’ Association announced it “commenced job action” and cited travel for back-to-back games, a holiday break, guaranteed contracts, health benefits during the offseason and player compensation as unresolved issues in talks on a new collective bargaining agreement.
“Our members are simply seeking reasonable improvements that allow them to work safely and earn a sustainable living while continuing to perform at a high level,” executive director Brian Ramsay said. “Despite the union’s repeated efforts to meet and engage in bargaining, the league has continued to communicate directly with players in a manner that bypasses the union’s role as the exclusive bargaining representative.”
Members of the PHPA voted last week to authorize its negotiating committee to call for a strike. The league and union have been engaged in collective bargaining since January.
“Unfortunately, union leaders deprived players of the opportunity to vote on our last, best, and final offer," the ECHL said in a statement, adding it would raise player salaries 20% in the first year, increase per diems, guarantee more off days and expand equipment made available to players. "We did everything possible to avoid this outcome and hope that the union leadership will drop its unworkable scheduling demands, let the players vote on our offer and make it possible for players to return to work.”
The league said its latest offer ups the salary cap by 19.8%, an increase from the 16.4% from the proposal posted to its website Monday.
“The ECHL made clear to union leadership that this was the best offer and that any future offers likely will need to account for losses in revenue attributable to missed games from a player strike,” the league said in a statement. “While we did not receive a formal response, we have heard from certain players that they will not be reporting for their scheduled games.”
The ECHL has 30 teams, 29 of which are in the U.S. and one in Canada in Trois-Rivières, Quebec.
And you'd be right if you assumed the Kansas City Chiefs' legendary tight end didn't just play football growing up. He also was an impressive basketball player in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
On Friday, with Kelce's NFL career potentially winding down, fans started sharing the highlights from his final high school game.
Kelce put up 16 points and 11 rebounds in his last game, a district final loss, despite battling foul trouble.
Have a look:
03/01/2008
Travis Kelce’s final HS game was an 81-71 loss to a really good Warren Harding team in the district final at a jam-packed Warrensville Hts HS.
Kelce finished with 16 pts/11 rebs despite playing just 19 mins due to foul trouble. Here’s his final two baskets…. pic.twitter.com/ddPtiksoyG
Kelce was also a strong high school baseball player.
And in football, he was a quarterback.
It's all part of the story of how Kelce became one of the greatest tight ends ever. His movement skills and spatial awareness are special. And he got that from all his sports.
The Buffalo Bills take on the Philadelphia Eagles in just under two days’ time — a Week 17 game many have predicted as the matchup for Super Bowl LX. The Eagles have locked up the NFC East, while the Bills still have a sliver of hope in claiming the AFC East a sixth-consecutive time.
With that in mind, one might expect each team will manage their game-day rosters in Week 17 based on playoff scenarios. What does that mean for One Bills Drive? Let’s take a closer look, after learning which players have been ruled out, and those who remain questionable for Sunday’s game at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills rule 4 players out for Week 17
Head coach Sean McDermott informed reporters on Friday, December 26 that safety Jordan Poyer (hamstring), kicker Matt Prater (quadriceps), plus defensive tackles Jordan Phillips (ankle) and DaQuan Jones (calf) have all been ruled out for Week 17 against the Eagles. Poyer picked up his injury late in action against the Cleveland Browns in Week 16, while Prater has been sidelined since the start of Week 16 — and ceded responsibilities to free-agent kicker Michael Badgley in the short term.
It remains to be seen how quickly Poyer can return to action from the hamstring injury, but anyone looking to count out the football warrior need only recall the lengths he took to get to and play a road game against the Kansas City Chiefs. It’s possible that Poyer is given rest to end the regular season, which hopefully allows him to return to the field playing his pivotal role alongside safety Cole Bishop in 2025.
Bills Mafia continues watching reports for positive news about Prater, but the elder statesman still needs some time to recover from a quadriceps injury to his kicking leg. After incumbent kicker Tyler Bass was lost for the entire 2025 campaign due to season-ending left hip/groin injuries that necessitated surgery, Prater stepped in and immediately solidified the position. Prater could return in time for the playoffs, depending on the severity of his quad injury.
Both Phillips and Jones have been managing injuries for a number of weeks, with Jones’ injury first occurring during pregame warmups in Week 9. As shared by Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic, McDermott explained that Jones has since “suffered ‘a little bit’ of a setback on the calf injury,” adding that “it’s around the same it’s been or a little worse and they’re figuring it out.” It’s likely that One Bills Drive wants to proceed cautiously with the pair of defensive tackles, given the playoffs are just around the corner.
Bills HC Sean McDermott said DT DaQuan Jones suffered "a little bit" of a setback on the calf injury he's been dealing with for much of the season. McDermott said it's around the same it's been or a little worse and they're figuring it out. Jones, their starting DT, has been a…
Bills list 2 TEs as questionable for Week 17 vs. Eagles
While the Bills likely have enough capable reinforcements to offset the above losses, at least in a fair amount of respects, it’s at tight end where things continue to confound. Ahead of Sunday’s game, both Dalton Kincaid (knee) and Dawson Knox (knee) are listed as questionable versus the Eagles.
First and foremost, one must understand of Kincaid that Buffalo will continue managing his health with extra care, likely in an effort to avoid any major setbacks. Having said as much, it does call to question how much managing can be done on game days, where adrenaline and physical exertion cannot be replicated in-week for more realistic management scenarios. What that meant in Week 16 was a fairly reduced role on offense, and a dip in Kincaid’s snap load. Expect the same to be true in Week 17 (and beyond) if Buffalo’s X-factor and field stretcher is able to suit up.
Dawson Knox joins Kincaid in the knee injury department, and it remains to be seen how that will affect him in Week 17. If he’s able to play, do the Bills limit his snap counts similarly to Kincaid? I’d expect Knox to play for several reasons.
Of note are the incentives in Knox’s contract that he’ll want an opportunity to try hitting during these last two regular-season games. Knox needs just one additional catch, 37 more receiving yards, and one touchdown to activate three separate $100,000 incentive payments. With Kincaid’s continued injury status, Knox could actually earn even more money if he hits a few extra statistical milestones. If Knox scores six touchdowns total, he earns an extra $150,000; for eight touchdowns Knox gains yet another $150,000. While hitting 50 total receptions seems unlikely this season, he’s just 11 away from 40 receptions — a mark that would net him another $100,000.
The other reason Knox is likely to suit up is due to the team’s reliance on the tight end room, where they often employ 13 personnel by adding in rookie tight end Jackson Hawes as the third tight end on a given play. Without Kincaid or Knox, that would leave Hawes as the team’s top tight end. The Bills also have rookie tight end Keleki Latu on the practice squad, and fullback Reggie Gilliam has moonlighted at the position in the past.
Without one of Kincaid or Knox, Buffalo is at a schematic disadvantage in 2025. With both Kincaid and Knox sidelined, it’s likely the Bills’ offense struggles to operate as intended.
Bills QB Josh Allen, six others full participants during Friday practice
As expected, Josh Allen was listed as a full participant on Friday. Allen injured his right foot during an ill-advised scramble drill that nearly allowed defensive end Myles Garrett to set a new single-season NFL sack record. Though Allen avoided becoming highlight-reel material for the wrong reason, the hope is that his injury really isn’t of note beyond the lead-up to Sunday’s game.
McDermott reported that “the soreness has dissipated” for Allen, and that “Allen should play without any limitations” on Sunday, as shared by Joe Buscaglia.
Bills HC Sean McDermott said "the soreness has dissipated" and said QB Josh Allen should play without any limitations vs. the Eagles. Allen has been dealing with a foot injury.
Also practicing in full on Friday were safety Cole Bishop (ribs), defensive end Joey Bosa (hamstring), running back Ray Davis (knee), cornerback Taron Johnson (quadriceps), defensive back Cam Lewis, and linebacker Shaq Thompson.
As with Allen, each of Bosa, Johnson, Lewis, and Thompson improved from a limited status on Thursday, to full on Friday. What the team does or doesn’t do in terms of practice-squad call-ups by 4 p.m. EST on Saturday, December 27 could tell us a lot about Sunday’s starting personnel and beyond in Week 17. The Bills and Eagles clash at 4:25 p.m. EST on Sunday, December 28.
The business of college football waits for no one, if this year's coaching carousel taught any lesson. After 15 power-conference programs hired a new head coach, player movement is inevitable.
The transfer portal doesn't actually open for players until Jan. 2, thanks to new rules adopted by the NCAA, but murmurs of certain players making plans to enter the portal began as soon as the regular season came to an end.
Quarterback movement promises to dominate the headlines as the college football season wraps up, particularly with a few major programs searching for new signal-callers.
The Sporting News is tracking all of the quarterback movement in the college football transfer portal. Follow along below with the latest news.
NCAA transfer portal tracker 2025: Latest news on QBs changing schools
Friday, Dec. 26
UNLV's Anthony Colandrea returns to portal
Former Virginia QB Anthony Colandrea will enter the transfer portal for the second consecutive year. Colandrea threw for 3,459 yards, 23 touchdowns and nine interceptions under Dan Mullen in 2025, rushing for 649 yards and 10 touchdowns, and is likely looking for a Power Four return.
James Madison QB Alonza Barnett III entering portal
Fresh off a College Football Playoff appearance, James Madison QB Alonza Barnett III will enter the transfer portal. Barnett, who has one year of eligibility remaining, has spent the last two seasons as the Dukes' starter with 71 total touchdowns to 12 interceptions, including 15 rushing touchdowns this season. Barnett's coach, Bob Chesney, recently accepted the head coaching job at UCLA.
Tuesday, Dec. 23
Kennesaw State's Amari Odom headed to portal
Kennesaw State QB Amari Odom plans to enter the portal, according to CBS Sports' Chris Hummer and Matt Zenitz. Odom was part of a Kennesaw State team that surprised with 10 wins and won the Conference USA title, throwing for 2,594 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions along with seven rushing touchdowns. Odom will have multiple years of eligibility remaining.
Monday, Dec. 22
Nebraska QB Marcos Davila to enter portal
Matt Zenitz reported that Davila would be entering the transfer portal, leaving Nebraska. He was a four-star recruit in the 2024 class, and saw limited action. Davila redshirted for the 2025 season.
USF's Byrum Brown enters transfer portal
Just a couple weeks after USF's hire of Brian Hartline was announced, the Bulls' signal-caller for the few seasons is on the move, per ESPN's Pete Thamel. He has been with the Bulls since 2022, throwing for 7,691 yards with 61 touchdowns and 19 interceptions, adding another 2,265 yards with 31 scores on the ground.
Expect Auburn to be a heavy favorite, since Brown's former head coach, Alex Golesh was just hired there.
Air Noland re-enters the transfer portal
Noland began his collegiate career at Ohio State in 2024. He transferred to South Carolina ahead of the 2025 season, likely to serve as the heir apparent to LaNorris Sellers. When Sellers got hurt, it was QB turned WR turned back to QB Luke Doty who actually got the reps under center. Between that and Sellers returning to the Gamecocks for the 2026 season, Noland decided to enter the transfer portal once again, per Pete Nakos.
Sunday, Dec. 21
Memphis QB AJ Hill to enter portal
Hill was a Top 100 recruit in ESPN's Class of 2025 rankings. He had offers from Alabama, Georgia and Notre Dame, but chose to play for the Tigers for a better chance of seeing game action sooner.
Hill saw limited action behind starting quarterback Brendon Lewis. He finished his first season with 223 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
Saturday, Dec. 20
Iowa State's Rocco Becht entering portal
After Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell departed for Penn State, starting quarterback Rocco Becht is entering the transfer portal, per On3.
The redshirt junior had been the Cyclones' QB1 for three seasons, leading them to a 26-13 record in that span and moving up the program's charts for all-time passing yards and touchdowns. Becht is set to become one of the top quarterbacks in the portal, especially with a winning history, and a reunion with Campbell at Penn State could be one possible destination for the quarterback.
Friday, Dec. 19
LSU's Tre People entering portal
On3 reported that People is heading to the portal. He will have four years of eligibility remaining after redshirting as a freshman. People opted not to stick around for the Tigers as LSU enters the Lane Kiffin era.
Thursday, Dec. 18
TCU's Josh Hoover to enter portal
Pete Thamel reported that Hoover intends to enter the portal. Barring any surprises, the former Horned Frogs quarterback is expected to have the most passing yards and passing touchdowns of any QB in the portal this season.
In 2025, Hoover threw for 3,472 yards with 29 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Hoover is more of a pocket presence, and is not known as a dual-threat quarterback, but he does have two rushing TDs.
Beau Pribula to enter portal
On Thursday, CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz reported that Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula informed his team that he plans to enter the transfer portal.
Pribula had 11 passing touchdowns and six rushing touchdowns with nine interceptions for the Tigers in 2025, his first season with the team after transferring from Penn State. With a dual-threat skillset, Pribula will now be headed elsewhere.
On Tuesday, On3's Pete Nakos reported that Mestemaker — who led the nation with 4,129 passing yards this season — will enter the transfer portal.
Mestemaker was arguably the best non-power conference signal-caller, leading North Texas to an 11-2 season where it lost to Tulane in the American Conference championship. He was tied for second in America with 31 passing touchdowns and never threw for less than 200 yards in a game.
He immediately becomes not only one of the top quarterbacks, but one of the top targets, in the transfer portal.
Jadyn Davis to enter portal
Michigan backup Jadyn Davis will be entering the portal, On3 reported on Tuesday. This is the first Wolverines signal-caller to transfer since the shocking firing of Sherrone Moore.
Davis, the sophomore from Charlotte, North Carolina, appeared in one game for Michigan over his two-year career, throwing two passes.
Of course when it comes to the Wolverines, all eyes are on quarterback Bryce Underwood and whether he will leave Ann Arbor.
Aaron Philo to enter portal
Georgia Tech quarterback Aaron Philo, who backed up Haynes King in the Yellow Jackets' 9-3 season, will enter the transfer portal, On3 reports. Philo took $1 million to stay at Georgia Tech this season.
Philo is an intriguing transfer prospect primarily because of his historic high school production, where he became the all-time leading passer in Georgia high school history with 13,922 yards, breaking the record previously held by Trevor Lawrence. Furthermore, he demonstrated his potential in limited action at Georgia Tech, notably earning a 93.7 PFF grade in one appearance and leading the team to a late-game victory over NC State with an 18-yard game-winning touchdown run.
This pedigree is coupled with the fact that he has multiple years of eligibility remaining, making him a valuable long-term asset.
The writing had been on the wall for Raiola to leave Nebraska, as his brother decommitted from the program and his uncle was fired from his role as offensive line coach. A former five-star recruit, Raiola made tangible progress in 2025 but saw his season cut short by a broken leg in early November.
Brady Allen, Brendan Sorsby latest to enter portal
Allen will have two years of eligibility remaining after being granted a medical redshirt for the 2023 season. He only saw action in five games this past season for Louisville.
Sorsby has one eye on the portal and one eye on the 2026 NFL Draft. Thamel reported that the dual-threat quarterback is waiting on feedback for the NFL Draft to see if it is worth declaring this year, or staying in college another season.
Michigan State junior Aidan Chiles enters portal
ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that Chiles will be entering the transfer portal. He is a true junior and has one year of eligibility remaining. It will be his second time transferring after starting his career at Oregon State.
Florida Gators QB DJ Lagway enters portal
ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that Lagway intends to enter the transfer portal. The dual-threat QB had a down year as Florida left the Billy Napier era, but is still just two years removed from being the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the 2024 class. If he bounces back to the player he was recruited to be and lands in the right spot, he could be the steal of the portal.
Lagway then released a statement, announcing his intention to transfer.
Stokes was one of the best players in Division II, tallying 3,664 yards & 40 TDs this season. He is a finalist for the Harlon Hill award, which is the equivalent of the Heisman.
Since entering the portal, Stokes has heard from plenty of schools.
West Florida standout transfer QB Marcus Stokes has heard from these schools since entering the @TransferPortal, he tells @On3Sports
The 6’2 210 QB totaled 3,664 yards & 40 TDs this season
The portal is set to receive one of its top overall players in Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt, as Leavitt is expected to be on the move, according to PHNX Sports. Leavitt helped push the Sun Devils to a surprise Big 12 championship in 2024 and started 2025 strong before undergoing season-ending surgery. Still only 20, Leavitt's name has been floated as a potential first-round draft prospect in 2027.
Notre Dame's Kenny Minchey plans to enter portal
Notre Dame backup QB Kenny Minchey will enter the portal, On3 reports. Minchey lost a preseason battle with CJ Carr and threw only 26 passes in 2025. With Carr in line to start again in 2026, Minchey will seek an opportunity to compete to start elsewhere as he enters his redshirt junior season.
Texas backup Trey Owens headed to portal
Texas backup QB Trey Owens will hit the portal, On3 reports, after spending 2025 behind Arch Manning. While Manning's status for 2026 isn't yet clear, Owens was a four-star recruit in 2024 and will head into his redshirt sophomore season looking for a chance to compete for a starting job elsewhere.
Utah backup QB Isaac Wilson heads to portal
Utah QB Isaac Wilson will hit the portal, per Hayes Fawcett. Wilson didn't see the field much, playing in only one game. He attempted just one pass, but it fell incomplete. He is the younger brother of NFL quarterback Zach Wilson, and will have three years of eligibility remaining.
Friday, Dec. 5
North Carolina QB Max Johnson plans to enter portal
Journeyman QB Max Johnson is entering the transfer portal and will petition the NCAA for a seventh year of eligibility. Johnson, who started games for LSU as early as 2020, appeared in four games at North Carolina as Gio Lopez's backup this season, but major injuries have largely kept him off the field in recent years. With four or fewer games played in three of his six seasons, Johnson will hope to gain an additional year of eligibility and play out his age-25 campaign elsewhere.
Thursday, Dec. 4
Boston College QB Dylan Lonergan entering portal
Boston College's Dylan Lonergan is set to enter the transfer portal after an ugly season in Chestnut Hill. Lonergan actually started out the season strong, but he was benched in October before returning to the starting role for a Boston College team that just couldn't find ways to win. A former Alabama backup, Lonergan completed 66.9 percent of passes for 2,025 yards, 12 touchdowns and five interceptions in 2025.
Wednesday, Dec. 3
UCF starter Tayven Jackson entering portal
UCF's Tayven Jackson will enter the transfer portal after spending most of the season as the Knights' starter. A former Indiana backup who started his career at Tennessee, Jackson threw for 2,151 yards, 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2025. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
To be honest, I had not been paying particular attention to the “OMG! ALEX BREGMAN TO THE D-BACKS!!!” reports doing the rounds. It seemed like too much of a budgetary stretch, for a team frequently reported to be looking to reduce payroll. Even in the wake of a Ketel Marte trade, there simply did not seem to be enough room in the budget for the team to add him. After all, MLB Trade Rumours had Bergman as the #5 free-agent on the market this winter, predicting a contract for him of six years and $160 million. That’s an average annual value of $27 million, close to twice as much as the team’s next most expensive position player (Marte at $15 million).
I think it’s a matter of time before they get Alex Bregman. I think that’s a done deal, to be honest with you. When they signed Corbin Burns, I had a very good source tell me that Alex Bregman was begging them as well for a contract. Alex Bregman wants to live in Arizona, the same way Corbin Burnes did, and he’s about to give the Diamondbacks a discount to do so. He’s going to be on this baseball team. It’s just a matter [of] can they trade Ketel Marte beforehand? There’s a weird game of chicken going on. So I think Alex Bregman is going to be here, regardless.
Now, I must confess to being a bit skeptical of Bickley, at least compared to John Gambadoro, who has a very solid track record of reporting with regard to the D-backs. It always felt to me that Bickley’s interests don’t particularly seem to be in baseball, so much as other sports. But the above sounds remarkably sure of itself: there isn’t a lot of “maybe” and “possibly” to be found in that paragraph. So it may be time to start at least considering the possibility that this might be a little more than Bregman’s agent – Scott Boras, naturally – trying to drive up the asking price for his client, by trying to generate a bidding war.
The appeal to Arizona is obvious. Bregman would be a long-term solution at third-base, a place where the team has had a hole since the departure of Eugenio Suarez. Presuming the team does trade Marte as well, then this would likely mean Jordan Lawlar takes over at second-base. But just the difference between the price of Marte and Bregman would likely use up all remaining resources for team improvements – and still might require some creative financing involve deferrals [Hey, if it’s good enough for the Dodgers…] Things like rebuilding the bullpen would then need to be handled in another edition of Dumpster Diving with Mike Hazen.
If it does not happen, then that will confirm that Bickley is not to be trusted when it comes to the D-backs. For what it’s worth, Gambadoro addressed the Bergman report on X, saying “Have never ruled it out, still think it is a long shot but not impossible… Don’t see it happening unless they move Marte.” I think it’s interesting that we have two reporters from the same broadcast outlet: one calls Arizona signing Bergman a “done deal”, the other thinks it is “a long shot.” We’ll see who’s right in the coming days!
Thea Hail during a WWE NXT backstage segment - WWE
Reigning Women's North American Champion Thea Hail's victory over former champion Blake Monroe has led to a lot of conversation in the pro wrestling industry, mostly because of the botch that led to the win. While many have analyzed what went wrong and reported on the way forward, Bully Ray believes that Hail's win was legitimate.
"As far as I'm concerned, and from what we saw tonight, Thea Hail beat Blake Monroe fair-and-square!" Bully said during an episode of "Busted Open After Dark" after watching this week's "NXT" and seeing the exchange between Blake and Hail. "There were no mistakes. The referee didn't screw up. Thea beat Blake." The veteran then picked apart Hail's promo, noting how the fans seemed to be behind her as well. He also pointed out that Monroe seemed to be a wreck during the segment, in the way of a classic heel.
The WWE Hall of Famer recounted the events of the segment, including how the two went back-and-forth about the title before Hail laid down a challenge at Monroe at the upcoming New Year's Evil event, where she'll defend the title against her. "With all of the controversy surrounding this match and the finish from last week, in my opinion, the best thing that NXT could do is leave that championship right where it is," Bully stated. The now-retired wrestler then said that having Hail drop the title back to Monroe so quickly would be a bad look and could end up ruining Hail's momentum. "Don't fix it. Leave it alone. I think it's really good. I think you run with it. I think there's a definitive victory from Thea Hail."
If you use any quotes from this article, please credit "Busted Open: After Dark" and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
The spot on Manchester United’s right wing has been filled by George Best, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo. If many another has struggled to live up to their standards, they have had few more unlikely successors than Patrick Dorgu. And yet, if only for one night, he was a revelation as a right winger.
For United, there was something endearingly improbable about. A left-field choice in one respect, the right man in another, Dorgu played out of position, delivered a barnstorming display and capped it with a wonderful winner. United, who have spent the last few weeks missing the chance to go fifth, took this opportunity with a weakened team. It was Newcastle who were left to rue the result. A glance at the teamsheets suggested they would chalk up a sixth win in seven attempts against another United. They departed defeated by an improbable cast of characters.
Newcastle United looked confounded by the way Ruben Amorim configured his team: with a back four, for only the second time in his reign, with Dorgu, often the left wing-back, on the right of midfield. They appeared dumbfounded by his prowess there. If Old Trafford wondered where United would draw their inspiration in the absence of the injured Bruno Fernandes, it came from an unexpected source, with Dorgu’s tour de force.
Manchester United’s Dorgu celebrates scoring his first goal for the club with a stunning volley (AFP via Getty Images)
But the January signing had played well against Aston Villa. It formed the basis for arguably the best week of decidedly mixed United career. It was capped with a touch of class. It took Dorgu 38 games and 31 shots to open his United account, but he did it in style. He volleyed in with precision and power after latching on to Nick Woltemade’s header. “It was a good hit,” said Dorgu. “I didn't know I could do that.”
Neither did anyone else, but his impact extended beyond that. He had a second shot saved by Aaron Ramsdale. He was the provider, with a low cross, when Benjamin Sesko skewed a shot wide.
Dorgu had often played on the right for Lecce and Amorim explained: “You put him in one position that is more in front, the responsibilities are not the same, and he has more freedom to lose the ball. I think it helped Patrick to play better.”
It did. He was a relentless runner. There were times when it seemed that Newcastle could not contain him. After he was switched to the left, Sandro Tonali was booked for fouling him. By then, Dorgu felt United’s only outlet, as they tried to hold on.
They had been inches from doubling the lead. Sesko, a Newcastle target before they signed Woltemade, rifled a shot against the bar with his final touch of the ball. Diogo Dalot could also have given United the cushion of a second goal. So, too, the shot-happy Matheus Cunha.
None did, rendering it a nervy end for a new-look side. They were operating in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Amorim, the manager who had been too inflexible, improvised and adapted. Minus seven players, four of whom would figure in their strongest 11, United then lost Mason Mount at half-time.
When Casemiro was surprised to be substituted, it left United with a distinctly unusual midfield of Diogo Dalot, Manuel Ugarte, Jack Fletcher and Dorgu. By the end, the defence took on a different complexion with a first top-flight appearance of the season each for Tyrell Malacia and Tyler Fredericson. And yet United had determination. “If we have always this spirit we are going to win so many games,” said Amorim. “We put everything on the line.”
Casemiro looked stunned to be substituted but Amorim’s substitutes finished the job (Reuters)
They found a new way of winning. “Finally, a clean sheet,” said the excellent Ayden Heaven. Just United’s second of the season came in adversity, but admirably. “We suffer all together,” said Amorim.
But it was an illustration that his United can be better as underdogs. They had just 33 per cent of possession, their lowest in a Premier League win for almost three years. Starved of the ball after the break, they were pinned back, penned in. “In the second half, we just defended,” said Amorim. But there was a defiance.
Some of it stemmed from his captain; with Fernandes, for once, a spectator, wearing a woolly hat rather than the armband, Lisandro Martinez made his first start of the season as the stand-in skipper. He survived a penalty appeal, when Fabian Schar’s volley hit his hand, but at close proximity. Otherwise, he was terrific. “He is a guy with a lot of character,” said Amorim.
Stand-in captain Lisandro Martinez celebrates victory after Man Utd held on (Getty Images)
The relatively short Martinez helped United blunt a taller Newcastle attack. They should have other regrets. They attempted 621 passes but created too little. “We didn’t do enough,” Eddie Howe admitted. Before Dorgu struck, Senne Lammens made a fine save to repel Bruno Guimaraes’ close-range header.
They almost levelled in spectacular style, with Lewis Hall arcing a long-range shot against the bar. When they got in the penalty area, Anthony Gordon rolled a shot across the face of goal. Both the winger and Lewis Miley blazed over. “We need more creation, goalmouth action and to be more clinical,” accepted Howe.
Newcastle were frustrated as they failed to break Manchester United down (AFP via Getty Images)
He claimed Newcastle were not caught out by Amorim’s tactics; yet Newcastle seemed to engineer a tactical timeout when Ramsdale went down and Hall and Gordon came over to get instructions from the manager. Howe later turned to a stronger bench. Whatever he tried, though, did not work.
“We are finding a way to concede goals and we are not scoring goals and it is a deadly mix for us,” said Howe. Whereas putting Dorgu on the right flank proved a deadly combination for Amorim.
The mark Nix had yet to reach entering Christmas night was the 7,500 passing yards. He's now at 7,565 yards through the air after the win over the Chiefs.
Nix has 23 wins (23-10 record) and 54 touchdown passes.
He has also run for 737 yards in his career with nine additional touchdowns.
The Broncos are a victory away from securing the AFC's No. 1 seed, currently sitting at 13-3 on the season.
It's been a bit of a dicey ride, with the Broncos trailing a lot and needing to mount some big comebacks and win some close games.
That can be used as a knock against Nix, of course, but he has also delivered when it has counted, like on a late TD pass to rookie RB RJ Harvey on Thursday night.
Nix still has growth he can show in his game. But he's also started his career in an exceptional way.
New York trailed by as many as 17 points in the fourth quarter but rallied back to defeat the Cavaliers. The 17-point deficit was the largest fourth quarter comeback on Christmas Day in NBA history.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown said his team was sparked by guard Josh Hart, who gave the Knicks a message a halftime.
"One of the things Josh said was: 'Young guys and guys coming off the bench, when we as starters don't have it going, you guys have to uplift us, too. You guys have got to hold us accountable, and when you get your opportunity, be aggressive,'" Brown said.
Hart would later leave the game with an ankle injury. The Knicks' bench scored 46 points Thursday, including 25 from Jordan Clarkson and 16 points and nine assists by Tyler Kolek.
Kolek was a key part of the comeback, as he hit three 3-pointers in the final period. The Knicks shot 21/44 (48%) from deep in the game.
"Our bench basically won the game for us," Brown said. "They put us in position down the stretch where a guy like Jalen (Brunson), who's one of the frontrunners for MVP in this league, can go show everybody why he is that."
Brunson scored 34 points and went 6/12 from three. He also had four assists in 39 minutes.
The Knicks are 21-9, good for second in the Eastern Conference. New York returns to action Saturday against the Atlanta Hawks.
Willis is expected to start on Saturday for the Packers, as preferred starting quarterback Jordan Love did not pass through concussion protocol this week.
Here’s what Fowler had to say about Willis:
Speaking of Willis, he’s a very intriguing free agent to watch next spring. He was the 86th pick in the 2022 draft, which means he’s playing on the fourth and final year of his rookie deal. He is 26 years old and has now spent basically two full seasons being coached by Matt LaFleur, Adam Stenavich and the Packers’ offensive coaching staff, and he has played well when he has had to fill in for Love because of injury. As we discussed above, there are a lot of teams that are going to be in the QB market this offseason. Not all of them will be able to address the position via the draft, and several have their eyes on Willis as a potential solution given what he has been able to do in Green Bay. The Packers like him a lot and could try to keep him, but if he has a chance to go somewhere else and compete for a starting job, that might be tough to do.
The point about the draft is interesting because of how few underclassmen quarterbacks have declared. This was never going to be a deep class of senior passers, but the assumption was that the underclassmen would help bump the class up.
So far, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, USC’s Jayden Maiava, Cincinnati’s Brandan Sorsby, Texas’ Arch Manning and Duke’s Darian Mensah have all decided to go back to school. The only underclassman who seems to be a lock to declare this year is Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman winner who is likely to go first overall.
There’s going to be more demand in the NFL than just four healthy quarterbacks in this draft cycle. That will probably help Willis’ camp at the negotiating table when numbers really start to fly around at the combine in February.
Also, Fowler mentioned that the Packers believed that Love was going to earn a Pro Bowl honor this year, even though he was left off for the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott, the Rams’ Matthew Stafford and the Seahawks’ Sam Darnold. Had Love made the Pro Bowl, he would have been paid an extra $250,000 by the team.
Six players who deserve a Seleção 🇧🇷 call-up before the Copa, your view
Carlo Ancelotti will have only the upcoming March FIFA window to define the list of players called up to the Brazilian National Team for the 2026 World Cup.
There will be friendlies against France (3/26) and Croatia (3/31).
In other words: those who don’t already have a guaranteed spot at the World Cup in Mexico, the United States, and Canada need to hurry to convince the coach.
See below some players who could be tested before Carleto announces who will represent Brazil at the next World Cup.
The list includes athletes who have had a chance and even one who has already played in a World Cup. As well as those seeking their first opportunity.
Do you agree with all the options? Share your opinion in the comments.
Igor Thiago
📸 Mike Hewitt - 2025 Getty Images
A Cruzeiro youth product, he joined Brentford for the 2024/2025 season, costing 33 million euros after standing out at Brugge and Ludogorets.
But he suffered a meniscus injury in his left knee while playing a friendly on July 20 of last year.
He only became fit to play in November.
This current season, everything changed. He earned a spot among the starters and has scored 12 goals, eleven of them in the Premier League. Only Haaland (19) has more.
He is a typical number 9, with a strong presence in the box. And he’s only 24 years old.
Antony
📸 Fran Santiago - 2025 Getty Images
He finished the 2024/2025 season on loan from United to Betis and stood out.
The Andalusian club fought hard but reached an agreement to secure the 25-year-old winger, committing to pay 22 million euros.
And the "Goat" has delivered after such a significant financial effort.
He has eight goals and five assists in 18 games this season.
Estêvão has been consolidating his spot on the right wing for the National Team, but Antony is making a case for himself with an eye on a new World Cup.
Rayan
📸 Wagner Meier - 2025 Getty Images
He was Vasco’s main star in the second half of the season.
He finished 2025 voted as the breakout player of the Brazilian Championship and was decisive in helping Cruz-Maltino reach the final of the Copa do Brasil.
The still young 19-year-old scored 20 goals over 57 matches.
He is a target for Zenit, who have already had two offers rejected by Vasco.
He can play deeper, as a false 9, or on the right—which is his preference.
Léo Pereira
📸 LUIS ROBAYO - AFP or licensors
He was Flamengo’s main center-back in a season full of titles.
But he is still seeking an opportunity with the Brazilian National Team—he has even admitted that it bothers him not to have been called up so far.
He saw, for example, Fabrício Bruno (now at Cruzeiro), Léo Ortiz, and Danilo being called up by Ancelotti.
That position has only Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhães as “guaranteed” for the World Cup.
Matheus Pereira
📸 Pedro Vilela - 2025 Getty Images
The sky blue number 10 had another standout season.
He shared responsibility with Kaio Jorge to lead Raposa in a positive year that ended with a spot in the group stage of the 2025 Libertadores.
Matheus Pereira has already had an opportunity with the National Team, but under Dorival Júnior.
He played about 17 minutes against Peru in November of last year.
He is an option to form an attacking quartet, playing the number 10 role.
Kaiki Bruno
📸 Alexandre Schneider - 2024 Getty Images
At 22 years old, the left-back for Raposa had a breakthrough season.
He was even targeted by Benfica, but Cruzeiro wasn’t interested in negotiating.
He was, for example, the second player with the most tackles in the Brasileirão: 98.
He would be an option for a position that would have only Alex Sandro as a “guarantee” for the World Cup.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "I felt we should have come away with something but we only have ourselves to blame for that.
"It's a frustrating game. In the first half it was there for us to grab and we didn't and I was disappointed with our performance at half time. Second half was a lot stronger. I thought we dominated the game in terms of possession and chances. It was that elusive first goal, if we get it the win is there for us."
"I always hold myself accountable first and of course then i look at the players as well. I thought the performance was good today. I am not stood here going, 'we were miles off'.
"If we win everyone is saying, 'it's an outstanding performance' but of course we haven't and we are going to get criticised for that. We have to do more to win today."
Did you know?
Newcastle have won just one of their last 12 away league games (D4 L7) - a 4-1 victory at Everton in November. Since the first game in this period (1-4 defeat at Aston Villa on April 19th), the only ever-present Premier League side with fewer away points than the Magpies (7) are Wolves (4).
Newcastle attempted 16 shots in this match – their second-most on record (from 2003-04) in a Premier League game at Old Trafford (21 in May 2024). It was their joint-most in a Premier League match in which they failed to score in 2025-26 (also 16 v Aston Villa in August).
The Panthers have been without linebacker Trevin Wallace three of their last five games and they'll continue to play without them until their season comes to an end.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales announced on Friday that Wallace will miss the rest of the season after having shoulder surgery. Wallace had 61 tackles and two sacks in his 12 starts this year.
"He was a stud about it," Canales said, via the team's website. "And it was a playable condition, but he wasn't really turning the corner to be able to play confidently the way that we know he can. And so we reevaluated that and really just collectively made that decision to make sure we can get this thing right, get ahead of it right now, and we have him getting ready to go for the spring and get him strong."
Claudin Cherelus will join Christian Rozeboom as the starting linebackers for Carolina.
The Panthers also ruled out defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton for Sunday's game against the Seahawks with a hamstring injury. Guard Robert Hunt (biceps) and wide receiver David Moore (elbow) are both questionable to be activated from injured reserve.
After a year like 2025, trying to narrow the year’s top-10 stories proved to be an extremely difficult task.
For evidence of this, simply glance at the extensive honorable mention list that follows this year’s iteration of the Herald Bulletin’s Top 10 local sports stories.
1) End of an Era
In early March, an announcement that the tradition of Madison County’s tournaments would, for the most part, be coming to an end shook the local sports community.
While those considered ‘individual’ sports – tennis, golf, wrestling, track and field, and cross country – would continue, basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball tournaments would no longer be held. Although Anderson stated the Nick Muller Tournament – long considered the county baseball championship – would continue, the development sent many schools scrambling to schedule new events.
The three schools that drove the decision – Alexandria, Elwood, and Frankton – announced they would jointly hold 18-team boys and 12-team girls showcases in late December and early January.
2) Three of a Kind
For nearly 20 years, 2005 Miss Basketball Jodi Howell stood as the lone girls player in Madison County history to have scored over 2,000 points.
That all changed in 2025 when Indiana All-Stars Jacklynn Hosier of Alexandria and Kaycie Warfel from Pendleton Heights reached that milestone last January and Lapel’s Laniah Wills did as well in December.
Hosier finished with 2,108 points and Warfel at 2,107 and they graduated as the top two overall scorers in county history. They also helped their teams end long sectional championship droughts in February.
Provided she remains healthy, Wills should pass both in January and also will break the all-time state rebounding record.
3) Stellar Debut
While the inaugural IHSAA sanctioned season for girls wrestling began in 2024, the postseason was held entirely in 2025 and featured a number of area successes.
On the team front, Frankton won the sectional championship at Alexandria while five individuals – Maddie Marsh of Pendleton Heights, Kynlie Keffer of Daleville, Paige Stires from Lapel, Karsyn Merritt of Shenandoah and Frankton’s Jaden Hughes – advanced to the state finals.
Both Keffer and Stires earned podium finishes at the state finals while Marsh captured her second straight state championship at 140 pounds. All five state finalists are back this year.
4) Gridiron Greatness
While Howell stood alone on the court, the 1987 Elwood Panthers were the solitary regional football champion in Madison County history.
That changed in 2025 when the Lapel Bulldogs built on an unbeaten regular season and a second straight sectional championship with a 38-7 win at Indianapolis Lutheran for the regional title.
Quarterback Devin Craig graduated fifth on Indiana’s all-time passing yardage list while linebacker Isaiah Young led a dominant defense to a 13-1 season that only ended against fellow unbeaten Brownstown Central at semi-state. The pair also repeated as THB Sports Football-Offense and Football-Defense Athletes of the Year.
5) Haralson Loving It
While playing at La Lumiere Prep School in Northern Indiana, Anderson native Jalen Haralson was named to the McDonald’s All-American game, which was played in April.
From there, Haralson went on to begin his collegiate career at Notre Dame. Through the first 12 games – including 10 starts – of the season, he is averaging 14.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game for the Fighting Irish.
6) Pitch Perfect
Mirroring their school’s football counterparts, the Lapel girls soccer team also carried an unbeaten record all the way to semi-state this fall.
Led by area player of the year Leila Wilson, Lapel finished with a 19-1 season that included a second straight sectional title and a win over defending 1A state champion Faith Christian in the regional championship.
7) Roaring Tigers
Making history became habit for the 2025 Alexandria softball team, which won its first ever Madison County title, but also achieved the No. 1 ranking and won a regional title for the first time.
Led by the area’s player (Kinley Webb) an pitcher (Brynlee Humphries) of the year, Alexandria finished their season at 20-2, won the Central Indiana Conference championship, and routed Lapel 18-3 for their first regional crown.
8) Conference Call
In early October, Lapel and Shenandoah announced they would be among the founding members of the new Eastern Crossroads Conference.
Eastern Hancock and New Castle were also part of the original announcement as Lapel joined a conference for the first time since 2014 and Shenandoah left the Mid-Eastern Conference, where they had been a member since 2017. Conference play is expected to begin in the 2026-27 season.
9) Running Mates
After their historic tandem top-five finishes at the fall 2024 cross country state meet, Pendleton Heights senior Ava Jarrell and freshman Anya Zoeller made headlines again in the spring.
Both won regional championships, Zoeller in the 1,600 meters and Jarrell in the 3,200 meters, and went on to earn podium finishes at the state finals. Zoeller was runner-up and Jarrell was ninth in their state races.
10) Rolling Raiders
After a recent string of postseason disappointments, the Shenandoah baseball team came through big-time in the spring.
Led by University of Louisville commit Collin Osenbaugh, the Raiders defeated Hagerstown for their first sectional title since 2006 and defeated Triton Central to win their first regional crown since 1987. The season ended for the Raiders at 22-5 after falling to Evansville Mater Dei at semi-state.
Honorable Mention: Alexandria repeats Madison County wrestling championship; Alexandria girls tennis wins sixth straight sectional and seventh straight Madison County titles; Anderson Prep wins first girls team sectional (basketball) and boys team sectional (baseball) championships in school history; Lapel girls golf team advances to state finals; Simon Nickelson (Lapel) and Anya Zoeller (Pendleton Heights) earn All-State at cross country state finals; Eli Pancol signed to Colts practice squad; Anderson (boys) and Pendleton Heights (girls) wins basketball county titles; Liberty Christian repeats boys hoops regional title; Daleville wins boys basketball sectional; girls basketball sectional titles for Alexandria and PHHS; Alex’s Ezra Fye and Madison-Grant’s Tripp Haisley advance to boys wrestling state finals; PHHS wins third straight boys golf county title and advance to regional; Lapel wins third straight softball sectional; Lapel wins Muller and baseball sectional titles; Lapel wins 11th boys tennis county title in 12 years; Lapel girls and PH boys win inaugural Madison County swim championship.
PINEVILLE — South Laurel rolled to a convincing 64-35 victory over Hancock County, Tenn., on Friday to advance to Saturday’s quarterfinal round of the 3rd Annual Redmond Auto Group Holiday Classic.
The Cardinals improved to 5-3 on the season and will square off against Jefferson County, Tenn., with a spot in the semifinals on the line.
South Laurel set the tone early, jumping out to a 16-4 first-quarter lead and never allowing Hancock County to get into a rhythm.
Kaiden McQueen led the early surge with seven points in the opening period while Garrison Brown added five as the Cardinals established control on both ends of the floor.
The momentum continued into the second quarter as Brendan Murphy scored four points, Kaden Taylor knocked down a three-pointer, and Braydan Cassidy added three points to help South Laurel take a 28-14 advantage into halftime.
Taylor poured in seven points in the third quarter, McQueen added six, and Murphy chipped in five as South Laurel extended its lead to 54-23 entering the final quarter.
McQueen and Cassidy led the Cardinals with 13 points apiece. Murphy finished with 10 points and was named Player of the Game while Taylor also scored 10 points. Brown rounded out the scoring with nine points.
Following the win, South Laurel coach Jeff Davis said his team still has room to improve heading into Saturday’s quarterfinal matchup.
“Not the start we wanted,” he said. “Too many mental errors in the first half. Which was expected coming off a three day break. Thought second half we played a lot better and with a lot more energy. We will have to play a lot better tomorrow if we are going to stay in the game.”
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan has agreed to a five-year contract with Kyle Whittingham to replace fired and disgraced football coach Sherrone Moore, according to two people familiar with the situation.
The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Friday because the move had not been announced.
Whittingham announced two weeks ago that he would step down after 21 seasons as Utah's coach. Morgan Scalley was promoted from defensive coordinator to replace Whittingham, who has won a school-record 177 games.
The 15th-ranked Utes will play Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 31.
Moore was fired on Dec. 10, when the school said an investigation uncovered his inappropriate relationship with a staffer. Two days later, Moore was charged with three crimes after prosecutors said he “barged his way” into the apartment of a woman he’d been having an affair with and threatened to kill himself.
Michigan was hoping to hire a coach this month, helping its chances of retaining recruits and keeping key players, including quarterback Bryce Underwood, out of the transfer portal.
Whittingham has been Utah's coach since December 2004 and a member of the Utes’ staff since 1994. He has a 177-88 (.668) record over 21 seasons. Utah finished with 18 winning seasons under Whittingham and won at least 10 games eight times.
Whittingham twice helped Utah navigate conference changes. The Utes moved from the Mountain West Conference to the Pac-12 Conference in 2011 and then departed the Pac-12 for the Big 12 Conference in 2024.
Utah found success following both moves. Whittingham led the Utes to back-to-back Pac-12 championships and Rose Bowl appearances in 2021 and 2022. Then, after a 5-7 campaign in its first Big 12 season, Utah went 10-2 this season and finished in a tie for third place in the league.
Utah capped an undefeated season in 2008 with a win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
Whittingham won three national coach of the year awards, including the AFCA and Bear Bryant awards in 2008 and the Dodd Trophy in 2019.
Whittingham was a linebacker at BYU under LaVell Edwards from 1978 to 1981.
The Raiders made it official on Friday: Edge rusher Maxx Crosby (knee) and left tackle Kolton Miller (ankle) will not play in Sunday's game against the Giants.
Miller is trying to work his way back from his injury, which has kept him out since Week 4. It is unclear whether he can return for the final game of the regular season.
The Raiders list running back Raheem Mostert (ankle/knee) and wide receiver Jack Bech (back) as questionable. Mostert returned to practice on a limited basis after missing the first two practice days, while the Raiders added Bech to the injury report on Friday.
Michigan is expected to hire former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham as its next head football coach to replace Sherrone Moore, according to ESPN.
The move ends Whittingham’s 21-season run atop the Utah Utes program and ushers in a new era for the Michigan Wolverines following Moore’s firing for cause earlier this month.
Whittingham stepped away from Utah after a 10-2 season in 2025, saying publicly that the “timing is right” and joking that he had entered the transfer portal. At the time of his departure, he was the second-longest tenured head coach in the FBS, trailing only Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz.
Whittingham took over Utah in 2005 after Urban Meyer left for Florida, guiding the Utes to a Fiesta Bowl win over Pittsburgh before earning the permanent job. He went on to build one of college football’s most stable programs with a 177-88 record with three conference championships, eight 10-win seasons and an 11-6 bowl mark. Utah thrived across multiple conference transitions, winning the Mountain West in 2008 and the Pac-12 in 2021 and 2022 before posting another double-digit win total in the Big 12.
Whittingham’s hiring comes with immediate questions about roster retention and timing. Michigan moved quickly with the transfer portal set to open Jan. 2, a key deadline after Moore’s abrupt exit and ongoing investigations that strained the program’s offseason.
It remains unclear whether Whittingham will coach Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl against Nebraska on New Year’s Eve, which kicks off shortly after Michigan’s Citrus Bowl game. Utes defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley has been the coach-in-waiting for year and moved on with the full-time label in Salt Lake City.
An official announcement from Michigan is expected soon, could be as early as Monday.
The San Francisco 49ers are set to take on the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears on Sunday night at Levi's Stadium for a pivotal Week 17 matchup.
Ahead of the game, the 49ers held their final practice of the week on Friday. After the session, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan shared injury updates for four of his players heading into the weekend.
According to Shanahan, quarterback Kurtis Rourke (NFI) and cornerback Renardo Green (neck) won't play against the Bears on Sunday night, while tight end George Kittle (ankle) and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) are questionable.
Sometimes I think fans kind of glaze over the departure of offensive linemen. Regardless if the player is transferring or leaving for the NFL — it never really is met with as much concern as other positions. Maybe it’s because we look at the offensive line as more of a unit than a “room” when we go down the depth chart — and you wouldn’t be wrong.
Still, any puzzle piece missing is a puzzle that’s much harder to put together. Notre Dame’s puzzle along the offensive line for 2026 took a hit this weekend when starting left guard, Billy Schrauth, decided to leave a year of eligibility behind and enter the NFL Draft.
As with Wagner’s decision, I’m not thrilled about Billy Schrauth’s either. For sure these guys can do what they want and I wish them nothing but the best of luck, but this absolutely hurts Notre Dame. Like Wagner, Schrauth was a captain last year as a second year starter, but unlike Wagner, Schrauth has had to battle through injuries to get here.
If you’re keeping tack, Notre Dame lost its best two running backs, starting tight end, two starting wide receivers, and two starters along the offensive line.
I know there’s a tendency to want to believe “everything witll be fine” and in some regards it might even be true, but losing two captains on the offensive line doesn’t make Notre Dame better in 2026. Offensive line is also the least likely position where you can expect a true freshman to come in and contribute at a high level right away. While young guys have certainly done it in the past, those are the exceptions and not the rule.
Spring is definitley going to be interesting as we see how the starting five start to take shape.
While the first half of the Bundesliga season is not technically over, the Winterpause is as good an opportunity as any to take stock of the how the season is going so far, and to determine what can be done to improve. So far, things aren’t looking bad. With a 9-5-1 record through the first 15 games of the season, Dortmund are in second place in the Bundesliga, three points above RB Leipzig, and nine points behind Bayern Munich, who are flying high with a 13-2-0 record.
Things could be worse. Dortmund are on pace for about 72 points, which is certainly a respectable finish. It would’ve been enough to win the title in 2022-23. It would be Dortmund’s highest point total since 2018-19. While Dortmund are out of the DFB Pokal, they are positioned to at least contend for a spot in the top-eight in the Champions League table. So given that the club’s results from the first half are at a minimum perfectly acceptable, why does it feel so much worse than that? Why are so many fans upset with the club’s management, to the point that some want individuals like Niko Kovac or Sebastian Kehl to be fired?
My instinct for that the reason that Borussia Dortmund’s decent record is being overlooked is that it’s due to Dortmund’s stellar defensive record. And yes, it really is stellar. Of the 96 teams in Europe’s top five leagues, only four have conceded fewer goals than BVB in their domestic leagues (note: a few Italian and French teams have played a game or two more, but on a per-game basis, the results would be the same). In expected goal terms, it’s the same case. Dortmund are right there alongside Arsenal, Bayern, Inter, PSG, and Juventus as one of the top defensive sides.
The difference between Dortmund and these clubs is that, with the exception of Juventus, those clubs actually score goals too. This is where the results are less pretty. Dortmund have scored 26 goals in 15 domestic matches, which amounts to 1.73 per game, or a pace of about 59 goals over the course of a full season, which would be Dortmund’s worst total since the club’s disastrous 2014-15 season. In the aforementioned top five leagues, it ranks them 25th out of 96. Their expected goals? 35th. Even so, Dortmund’s defensive record is so strong that even with the lackluster offense, in overall expected goal differential per 90 minutes, Dortmund rank 10th in Europe—which is quite good! This is a undoubtedly a good football team, but with some offense, it could be great.
So the reason that Dortmund is successful is because Niko Kovac has them playing very solid defensive football, and over the course of a game they are usually able to nick out a goal or two while mostly keeping the ball out of their own net. This is quite an unusual situation for Dortmund fans, who have gotten used to high-flying offense, often at the expense of defending, over the last two decades. When Dortmund are in complete control of a game on paper, the final scoreline can still be too close for comfort, and it does leave room for things to go awry.
The question of what is causing this is a little vexing to me. On paper, many of the secondary stats suggest that Dortmund are successfully getting the ball into dangerous areas. They’re second in the Bundesliga in passes into the penalty area and seventh in total touches in the penalty area. In touches in the attacking third, they’re second in the league. This indicates to me that what you would call the “buildup,” or the process of moving the ball from the defensive third through midfield into goal-scoring areas, is not the issue. The primary issue is a lack of “clinicality,” if that’s a word, or the ability to convert possession in dangerous areas into actual shots or scoring chances.
The numbers back this up. Despite their possession in attacking areas, Dortmund are in the bottom half of the league (14th, in fact) in total shot attempts. As Dortmund’s leading striker, Serhou Guirassy leads the team both in total shots and shots per 90 minutes with 2.73. This is slightly low for his career, but not horrible. The real issue is that almost nobody else is even close. The only other players with more than two shots per 90 are Karim Adeyemi (2.44), Julian Brandt (2.27), and Maximilian Beier (2.18). That’s four BVB players total who shoot at a rate higher than twice per game. Meanwhile, in Dortmund’s last three seasons, that number would’ve been six, eight, and nine. It’s also worth noting that each of these three players has barely played half of the total minutes of the season. Very rarely are they all on the pitch at the same time.
Between this data and what I’ve noticed from my experience watching games, here’s my hypothesis on why this is happening: at any given moment, only 2-3 players on the pitch at any given moment are genuine shooting threats. This means that when BVB get the ball into attacking areas, defenders are able to focus their efforts on only a handful of threats. Players like Julian Ryerson, Daniel Svensson, Felix Nmecha, and Pascal Groß are great at getting the ball to the attackers, but they are unlikely to be prolific goalscoring threats themselves.
Further, in Kovac’s 5-2-3, the two central midfielders have major defensive responsibilities, and they often seem quite hesitant to risk getting caught out of position by advancing too far. With or without the ball, Guirassy is almost constantly marked or double-marked, and when he gets the ball to his feet, he has almost no one to play off of. So he either loses the ball or tries to force a shot that is easily blocked, or he loses the ball to a challenge before he even gets the shot off.
I’m hesitant to suggest any individual tactical changes, because I believe that a major reason for BVB’s defensive success is because of the conservative positioning of Nmecha, Sabitzer, and Bellingham. If they start to get involved in the attack more, then they will be caught out of position. But it’s a fine line to ride, and it’s also entirely possible that there are some instances where Dortmund could be more aggressive without risking too much on the other end.
I would not be opposed to certain players taking more long-shots too. Felix Nmecha and Marcel Sabitzer in particular have proven to be threats from range in the past, and both are at their career lows in shots per 90 minutes this season. There is definitely debate in the analytics community about the value of long-shots and whether it’s worth potentially losing possession over a shot that has such a small chance of scoring, but they aren’t without their defenders.
So all that was a very long-winded way of saying that to score more goals, Dortmund need to take more shots and get more bodies in the box. I’ll take my $1,000,000 consulting fee now.
Note: All data in this article is from FBRef
Your Thoughts
What do Dortmund need to do to score more goals? Are there other tactical considerations I didn’t raise? Let me know your thoughts!
Sunday the Raiders return to Las Vegas for a matchup with the Giants. The final injury report is out for that game and it features two of their star players who will be OUT.
Two weeks ago T Kolton Miller returned to practice, but has yet to be activated from injured reserve where he has been for the past two months. His return opened his 21-day window for coming off IR, which means this is the final week they can opt not to activate him. Which works out well timing wise considering there is just one more game left.
The team has also ruled out Maxx Crosby and reports are they would like to sit him the remainder of the season much to Crosby's extreme displeasure.
Questionable for the Raiders are RB Raheem Mostert and WR Jack Bech.
The Giants will be without four players -- DL DJ Davidson (neck/concussion), OL Evan Neal (neck), DB Tyler Nubin (neck), and T Andrew Thomas (hamstring). OL John Michael Schmitz (finger) is doubtful.
Coming out of the Christmas break, Florida basketball (8-4) is ranked No. 22 overall in the NET.
A 30-point win over Colgate on Sunday led to a four-spot jump — from No. 25 to No. 21 — but other results around college basketball led to a one-spot dip ahead of the holiday. Florida has stayed inside the 20s throughout the month after debuting at No. 33 on Dec. 1.
Florida has one more non-conference game against Dartmouth on Dec. 29 before closing out the calendar year. It should be Florida's final Quadrant 4 game, with most SEC matchups landing in Quadrants 1 and 2, starting with Missouri on Jan. 3.
It’s important to remember that while they are called “rankings,” the NET is an evaluation tool at heart — that’s what the E and T stand for. It’s a sorting tool for the selection committee to use when close decisions are needed come bracket time.
Breaking down Florida’s wins by Quadrant
Before going into Florida’s resume, it’s important to understand how the quadrants are divided. Where a game is played has as much to do with the quadrant as the quality of the opponent. As the rankings change, so does the quality of the wins.
Quadrant 1: Home 1-30, Neutral 1-50, Away 1-75
Quadrant 2: Home 31-75, Neutral 51-100, Away 76-135
Quadrant 3: Home 76-160, Neutral 101-200, Away 135-240
Quadrant 4: Home 161-353, Neutral 201-353, Away 241-353
Florida is 1-3 in Quadrant 1 games, with losses to No. 2 Arizona, No. 3 Duke and No. 8 UConn. The Arizona loss looked bad when it happened, but the Wildcats have emerged as one of the best teams in the country. The Gators' lone Q1 win comes against No. 34 Miami at a neutral site in Jacksonville. The Hurricanes remain firmly in the middle of Q1 territory, although they continue to move closer to the threshold between Q1 and Q1 — No. 50.
In Quadrant 2 games, Florida is 2-1, most recently defeating No. 80 George Washington at a neutral site. The other two results came at the Rady Children's Invitational in San Diego over Thanksgiving. The loss came in the first round against No. 66 TCU, and the win came against No. 100 Providence, which is on the threshold between Q2 and Q3.
The only Quadrant 3 game Florida has played in so far was a home game against No. 129 Florida State. The Seminoles would need to climb all the way to the top 75 for that win to become a Q2 victory. Instead, FSU has slowly dropped in the NET, making the loss look worse and worse. If Florida State falls below No. 160, it becomes a Q4 win.
Florida is 4-0 against Q4 teams, beating No. 162 Colgate, No. 267 Merrimack, No. 341 North Florida and No. 359 Saint Francis by an average of 36.5 points. The only one of those that could improve to Quadrant 3 status is Colgate, which was a Q3 matchup going into the game. Colgate only needs to move up two spots for that change to occur.
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RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Empty seats in sold-out stadiums. Out-of-reach prices on the black market.
Moroccan soccer fans, in particular, are being frustrated at the Africa Cup of Nations because many can’t get tickets for their own team's games.
Morocco and neighboring Algeria were the only teams to have their group-stage tickets sell out, but again on Friday there were empty seats for the host nation’s match against Mali in the near 70,000-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
“I tried to log in to the (ticketing) site early, but unfortunately many people logged in at the same time and I couldn’t get a place. It was completely full,” said Morocco supporter Amin Mazraoui, who was waiting outside the stadium before kickoff.
Another fan named Hicham had the same experience, trying the official ticket portal but finding every game sold out almost as soon as he started looking. He was going to watch the match at home.
The official attendance for Friday's game was given as 63,844 – more than had attended the opening game and ceremony in the same stadium.
Touts are being blamed for snapping up tickets to the matches they feel are likely to be most popular, sensing an opportunity to sell them on for as much as 10 times what they paid. Reports suggested 50-euro ($59) tickets were being offered for 500 ($590).
“There are people connecting with 10 computers, maybe 15 computers connecting at the same time and buying a lot of places, so it’s because of them that we didn’t manage to get any seat,” Mazraoui told The Associated Press.
But all supporters (and journalists) have to provide identification through a local app called Yalla to get access to stadiums, and it seems the additional measures are making it more difficult for touts to transfer ticket-ownership.
One fan who gave his name only as Khalid was lucky and said he paid 100 Moroccan dirhams ($11) for his ticket to the game. Compared to nearby Europe, starting prices are far cheaper, while there’s no comparison to the asking prices for 2026 World Cup games.
On Wednesday, only 16,115 attended Algeria’s game against Sudan in the 22,000-capacity Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, which had been sold-out long before.
Some fans waited outside after hearing reports they'd be let in for free, then rushed the gates in an effort to get in once the game had started. Security at other stadiums has allowed free entrance after kickoff in order to increase attendance.
“They won't open the gates for Morocco,” Mazraoui said.
The attendance at Congo’s match against Benin in the 18,000-capacity Stade El Barid in Rabat was corrected from 6,000 to 13,000.
Other games have seen little difference, with heavy rain also discouraging local fans from attending.
The 68,000-capacity Grand Stade de Tanger in Tangier felt mostly empty on Tuesday for Senegal’s match against Botswana despite 18,500 being in attendance.
The Confederation of African Football, the organizing authority, did not respond to a request for comment.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have lost three games in a row and six of their last seven, but they still control their own destiny in the NFC South. They can set up a winner-take-all Week 18 matchup with the Carolina Panthers if both teams are victorious this week.
Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins are looking to play spoiler for their in-state rivals. They're coming off a 45-21 home loss to the Bengals, though, with Quinn Ewers taking over at quarterback.
My Buccaneers vs. Dolphins predictions are looking at Tampa Bay to limit Baker Mayfield’s passing responsibilities as road favorites.
Read on for the best NFL picks on Sunday, December 28.
Buccaneers vs Dolphins prediction
Buccaneers vs Dolphins Best bet:Baker Mayfield Under 31.5 passing attempts (-114)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield came out of the gates hot this season, but he’s cooled off along with the weather. Even with this game being in Florida, I’m looking at Mayfield to continue to be limited in the passing game.
Mayfield has completed fewer than 20 passes in 10 of 15 games this season, including in each of his last six contests. He did have 19 and 18 completions in the last four games, but he hasn’t really come close to this 31.5 number.
Joe Burrow and Aaron Rodgers got into the mid-20s in passing completions the past two weeks, but Mayfield isn’t nearly as trustworthy as they are. Tampa Bay should look to control the game on the ground as road favorites against the Miami Dolphins.
Buccaneers vs Dolphins same-game parlay
We can’t use our best bet in a same-game parlay, so let’s fade Mayfield in his passing yards instead. He’s only averaging 209.6 passing yards per game and has gone under this number in eight of 15 games this season.
The Bucs should still be able to put up points, though, with Miami scoring enough to get us to the over.
Buccaneers vs Dolphins SGP
Baker Mayfield Under 218.5 passing yards
Buccaneers -5.5
Over 44.5
Our big-ticket SGP: Achane brings life to Fins
Adding Mayfield's passing touchdowns to the over is trying to thread the needle a bit, but the odds reflect that here. And if the game is going to go over, the Dolphins are going to have to score a touchdown or two.
De'Von Achane leads the way with a dozen scores for Miami this season.
The Miami Dolphins have hit the Game Total Over in 11 of their last 20 games (+3.30 Units / 15% ROI). Find more NFL betting trends for Buccaneers vs. Dolphins.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Ayden Heaven reveals best part of Man United’s 1-0 win over Newcastle
Manchester United beat Newcastle United in a topsy-turvy Boxing Day clash to steal into fifth place in the Premier League.
The points were sealed by a stunning Patrick Dorgu volley, but safeguarded by a robust defensive performance in an incredibly one-sided second half.
Ruben Amorim started with a back four for the first time since his arrival at Old Trafford, and each member performed well to protect a rare clean sheet.
He did not stint on his traditional substitutions, and United finished the match with the likes of Tyrell Malacia and Tyler Fredricson in the backline.
“Finally!”
Ayden Heaven was arguably the best of the bunch, and speaking to Sky Sports after the match said: “Finally, clean sheet, we’ve been waiting for this, and I’m just so happy.
“This guy [Patrick Dorgu] here helped us get there, so thankful to everyone that helped us.”
The 19-year-old was also asked about the change of system, having already established himself as an effective option in a back three.
“It was different again, I was playing on the right side, obviously, my weaker foot,” he said. “The manager, we play loads of formations with him, whatever he does we know it’s going to work, you saw today. I’m so proud of the team.”
Aiming high
The points take United, albeit only briefly before the rest of the teams play over the next few days, into fifth place.
Finishing in that spot would guarantee a place in the Europa League next season, and European football will certainly be top of the United hierarchy’s wishlist.
Heaven said: “I think as Manchester United, we belong in Europe. We want to get back there next season so we can even push for top four, possibly win the league, anything’s possible. We want to keep trying.”
United squeeze in one more match this year, home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday.
Ruben Amorim explains thinking behind bold formation switch in 1-0 win over Newcastle
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has revealed why he made the decision to abandon his controversial 3-4-2-1 for a new system during the club’s 1-0 win over Newcastle.
The Red Devils started the game as the much better of the two sides, but Newcastle steadily grew into it.
However, against the run of play, the hosts took the lead. Patrick Dorgu capitalised on a partially cleared long throw, volleying a stunning first-time finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to score what proved to be the winner.
The Magpies pushed for a goal in the second half but United held on for all three points, primarily thanks to the rock-solid performances of their defence and goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
Amorim initiated a radical tactical shift, abandoning his customary three-man defence for a back-four. The defensive line consisted of Diogo Dalot, Ayden Heaven, Lisandro Martínez, and Luke Shaw, with Dorgu deployed further forward on the right wing.
Since his appointment, Amorim has been unwavering in his commitment to a core tactical philosophy. His decision to deviate from it was therefore surprising, despite the subtle hints he had dropped in recent days.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the final whistle, he revealed that the change was made to make the players comfortable.
Amorim explains tactical switch
He told Sky Sports [as quoted by the BBC], “We need to suffer all together in the stadium. In the game really difficult for us. I think we did a good first half, and then the second half, we just defended, tried to do something with [Matheus] Cunha.”
“We had the opportunities in the second half with transitions, but it was a good win. But I had so many games here saying we played very well and didn’t get the three points, today was the opposite. I think we suffered together and we managed to win the game.”
“I think we spent a lot of time with each other. We had some low moments and that sometimes can bring good things to the group, but it’s good to have that feeling to have the experienced players helping the kids in helping the team understanding we are suffering.”
He added, “It doesn’t matter if you’re outside the pitch, you can play the game, and I think everyone played the game.”
On the formation change, Amorim remarked, “In the first half, I think we showed that I felt that was the only way to create more danger, to have more opportunities was with the back four with a lot of guys inside.”
“Even to keep the ball, because I remember the game last year we lost one against one outside. We just tried to imagine the game and to help the players to feel comfortable.”
United are next in action on Tuesday when they host Wolves.
RB Kenny Gainwell. “Kenny G” is hitting all the right notes during Pittsburgh's three-game winning streak. The versatile five-year veteran is averaging nearly 100 yards from scrimmage during the Steelers' late-season surge. Gainwell's 62 receptions also lead the team, and they're not just checkdowns. Just look at his diving one-armed grab on a 45-yard touchdown late in the first half last week against Detroit as proof.
Browns player to watch
DE Myles Garrett. With 22 sacks, the All-Pro pass rusher needs one to pass the single-season record held by Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan (2001 with the New York Giants) and Pittsburgh’s TJ Watt (2021). Garrett, who also leads the league with 32 tackles for a loss, has never sacked Aaron Rodgers in two meetings.
Key matchup
Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers vs. Garrett. Rodgers has been pressured on a league-low 21.9% of his drop-backs this season. He’s averages 2.63 seconds to throw, the fastest in the league. Garrett has not sacked Rodgers the two times he has faced him and has had only four quarterback pressures.
Key injuries
Steelers: LB T.J. Watt will miss a third straight game as he recovers from surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung. ... WR Calvin Austin III (groin) ,LG Isaac Seumalo (triceps), CB Brandin Echols (groin) and CB James Pierre (calf) have also been ruled out. ... LB Nick Herbig (hamstring) could return after missing the win over Detroit.
Browns: RB Quinshon Judkins (leg) was placed on injured reserve after undergoing surgery on Tuesday. ... TE Harold Fannin Jr. (groin) and QB Dillon Gabriel (shoulder) were injured in practice on Friday and are likely to be game-time decisions. ... TE David Njoku (knee) has not practiced this week and will miss his third straight game. ... CB Denzel Ward (calf) is expected to return to the lineup after missing the past two weeks. ... RB Dylan Sampson's (hand) status is uncertain.
Series notes
The Steelers have dominated the Browns since Cleveland’s return to the NFL in 1999, but Pittsburgh has found the going a little rough on the road lately when playing its oldest rival. Cleveland has won 5 of 6 at Huntington Bank Field against Pittsburgh, including three straight. ... The Browns are 4-1 against the Steelers in December. Pittsburgh's last visit to Cleveland in December came in 2009, a 13-6 Browns victory. ... Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers is 4-0 all time against the Browns, throwing for 11 touchdowns without a pick.
Stats and stuff
Pittsburgh has won three straight to take control of the AFC North with two weeks to go. The Steelers can clinch their first AFC North title since 2020 this weekend with a win or a Ravens loss to Green Bay. ... Pittsburgh will have to do it without star receiver DK Metcalf, who has been suspended for the team's final two games following an in-game altercation with a fan in Detroit. ... Pittsburgh is 6-2 all time in division-clinching games under Mike Tomlin. ... Tomlin is one win shy of tying Hall of Famer Chuck Noll for the most regular-season victories in franchise history. Noll’s 193 regular-season wins rank ninth all time. Seven of the eight men ahead of Tomlin and Noll on the list are either in the Hall of Fame or will be (Andy Reid, Bill Belichick). ... Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers has bounced back strong after a dismal performance against Buffalo on Nov. 30. The 42-year-old has completed 73 of 102 passes for 774 yards with five touchdowns and no picks during Pittsburgh's three-game winning streak. ... Eleven different players have caught touchdown passes this season for the Steelers, tied with Tampa Bay for the most in the league. ... The Steelers are 52-15 when facing rookie quarterbacks since 1970, including a victory over Cleveland on Oct. 12 when Dillion Gabriel started for the Browns. Cleveland QB Shedeur Sanders will be the third different rookie to face Pittsburgh in the past five meetings between the longtime division rivals. ... The Steelers have been strong finishers over the past eight seasons. Pittsburgh's 17 wins across Week 17 and Week 18 during that span are tops in the NFL. ... The Steelers defense has dominated the third quarter in each of the past two weeks, holding Miami and Detroit to a combined minus-23 yards of offense. ... Cleveland is on pace to be led by rookies in pass attempts, rushing carries and receptions. The only other team to do that is the 1968 Buffalo Bills. ... QB Shedeur Sanders is 1-4 as the Browns' starting QB. He has six touchdown passes and eight interceptions on the season. ... Cleveland has allowed a league-high 45.3% QB pressure rate, the third-highest rate in a single season by any offense since Next Gen stats started tracking in 2018. ... RBs Raheim Sanders and Trayveon Williams combined for 105 scrimmage yards last week after Judkins' injury. ... WR Jerry Jeudy has at least five catches in his past three games against the Steelers. ... LB Carson Schwesinger leads NFL rookies in tackles (137) and tackles for loss (11). ... Cleveland's defense has generated pressure on 39% of pass drop-backs, the fifth-highest rate in the league.
Fantasy tip
Cleveland TE Harold Fannin Jr. is one of just three NFL players to play at least 45 snaps in the backfield, lined up at as slot receiver, out wide or at tight end. He has been targeted on 24.8% of his routes and has 367 yards after the catch. He has a TD catch in three of the past four games and had seven receptions for 81 yards in the first meeting against Pittsburgh.
The Seahawks will be down a starter on both sides of the ball for Sunday's road game against the Panthers.
Safety Coby Bryant was ruled out on Friday due to the knee injury he suffered in the team's win over the Rams in Week 17. Bryant has started all 15 games this season and has played in 39 consecutive games overall.
Ty Okada is expected to step into his starting role this weekend.
Left tackle Charles Cross is the offensive starter that the Seahawks will be missing on Sunday. Cross is going to miss his second straight game with a hamstring injury and Josh Jones will fill his spot on the offensive line.
No other Seahawks players have injury designations in Week 17.
2026 Status: Player exercised option with club option for 2027
2025 Review
The ability to be goofy has to be one of my favorite dynamics in baseball. It differentiates the sport from so many others where player personalities are limited to postgame interviews, offseason media appearances, and the player’s private social media. For the D-Backs, Lourdes Gurriel Jr has been the unquestioned team goofball for the past three years since he was traded over as the other half of the package that brought Gabriel Moreno to the desert in a rare example of a trade that worked out well for both teams. Whether it’s the “Piña Power” brand and movement for he and his brother, his ostentatious rotating hairstyles, or the various hijinks he’s pulled over the years including building sandcastles during a blowout and sipping on a smoothie while studying tape, he has properly earned the silly reputation. But he’s also brought plenty of production to the field alongside his goofiness as he earned an All-Star selection in his inaugural season with the team and followed it up with an equally solid season after signing back up with the D-Backs.
Unfortunately, the good vibes from the previous two years hit a bit of a speed bump this season as Gurriel started off the season on a cold spell, posting a .181/.204/.343 through the first month-plus of the year. He turned it around with an incredible May and cashed in an impressive 32 RBI in August before tragically tearing his ACL on an awkward diving play near the warning track at the onset of September. Even before that awful ending, Gurriel failed to recapture the same kind of output he generated previously, posting a below-average OPS+ for the first time in his career. He was particularly weak against offspeed pitches with a 36% whiff percentage on them and posting a miserly .190 BAA against them, allowing opposing pitchers to attack him with a particular pitch that he failed to adjust to throughout the season. Additionally, since his calling card has always been his work at the dish rather than his roaming around the outfield grass, even a relatively minor decrease in the quality of his batting work can absolutely tank his overall value as he was just over replacement-level on the year.
2026 Outlook
Generally, ACL tears require a six to nine month recovery depending on the severity of the tear and the specifics of the treatment. That kind of timeline means that Gurriel wouldn’t be available for a theoretical rehab assignment until the late spring or early summer and couldn’t realistically rejoin the club until sometime around the All Star Break. His presence would undoubtedly be a joy for the fans and could provide a boost to his teammates’ morale, but it’s fair to ask what kind of role he’ll be able to play when he does rejoin the major league team. He is starting to show some age with his hard hit rate, arm strength, and fielding range (already below-average for most of his career) all taking steps back over the past three seasons with the snakes. If you combine those trendlines with the inherent question marks around a serious injury recovery like an ACL tear, it paints a bleak picture that might necessitate a position move to DH or even first base – a position he isn’t entirely unfamiliar with as he’s accumulated around 100 innings at the major league level there. That kind of position change would also allow the team to give some of their upper-level outfield prospects an opportunity to develop further or even make their debut. Regardless of his role, the fan experience and dugout will undoubtedly be less fun while he recovers and I for one will be anxiously waiting for his return.
DURHAM – Winncunnet High School junior Jaxon McDonald entered Friday’s game in the 14th annual Oyster River Bobcat Holiday Classic averaging 12 points a game.
With two starters out, head coach Jay McKenna needed a little bit more out of McDonald against Division I rival Spaulding in a first-round game.
McDonald answered the call.
McDonald scored 10 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter, and the Warriors hung on for a 52-47 win over the Red Raiders at Oyster River High School.
“He was everywhere,” McKenna said. “We liked how aggressive he was attacking the hoop. He wasn’t settling for jumpers, he kept going hard to the rim and getting to the free throw line. He stepped up today, and was able to rise to the occassion.”
Winncunnet and Spaulding were tied 24-24 at halftime, and the Warriors took a 32-31 lead into the final 8 minutes.
“Anytime you play a Division I opponent, you know you’re going to have a challenging game,” McKenna said. “For us to come in shorthanded and have some guys step up and play well, and for us to come out with a W, we’re always pleased with that.”
Like Winnacunnet, Spaulding was missing a couple of starters.
“We’re trying to reinvent ourselves and how do we move forward with our injuries,” Spaulding head coach Lorne Lucas said. “I told our guys before the game, win or lose, I really didn’t care what happened. I was looking for guys. I am looking for guys who can be our 6, 7 and 8 players; that’s what I needed them to show me. I saw some positive things out there; something we definitely can work on.”
Senior Nate Sanchez-Martinez led Spaulding with 14 points, while junior Noah O’Brien had 13.
Winnacunnet junior Robert Nowak’s second 3-pointer of the fourth gave the Warriors a 43-41 lead with 2:41 left.
Sanchez-Martinez' turnaround jumper in the paint tied the game at 43-43, but Winnacunnet ended the game on a 9-4 run.
Liam McNally finished with seven points for the Warriors, while Nowak and Henry Denio each had six, and Sean Griffin five.
“(Nowak) has worked incredibly hard to make himself into the player he is,” McKenna said. “He’s getting better and better. He saw an opportunity (today), and I was very proud of him being resilient and mentally tough to step up and come big when we needed him.”
Nine players score for Dover boys in win over Newmarket
Three players scored in double-figures and six others scored as Division I Dover rolled to a 72-27 over Division IV Newmarket.
Junior Michael Gorman led Dover with 12 points, while Ethan Skidds and Dillon Salinas added 11 and 10 points, respectively. Yavier-Morales Perez added nine points for the Green Wave, while Owen Corringham had eight.
"I liked how we were sharing the ball, and passing up good shots for great shots," Dover head coach Matt Fennessy said. "We have a lot of guys who can put the ball in the hoop; we need to develop that trust and not having empty possessions. I thought we did a really good job with that today. Today was an opportunity to acclimate some of the younger kids, I thought they did a really good job of keeping up."
Dover jumped out to a 20-8 lead after the first quarter, increased that lead to 35-15 at halftime, and 55-21 going into the fourth quarter. Dover, led by Skidds' three, had 12 3-pointers in the game. Corringham, Salinas, and Gorman all had two, and Connor Lynch, Ryan Hebert and Morales-Perez all had one.
"If the (3-point shot) is there, we're going to take it," Fennessy said. "Obviously, teams are going to work to take that away, so we have to counter that. We have some kids who can shoot the ball in the program, and that's always a nice weapon to have."
Senior Matt Napoletano led Newmarket with 11 points, while sophomore Nick Minutelli had six. Newmarket is 6-0 in Division IV regular-season play.
Newmarket head coach Nick Farrer said the speed of the game was much faster than his Mules are accustomed to in Division IV play.
"We were reacting instead of anticipating and acting, that is the biggest challenge from Division IV to I, just the speed," Farrer said. "Defensively we got after it, but we just weren't up to that speed. I liked how we competed. We'll be ready to take this experience (back to our regular season)."
St. Thomas Aquinas boys fall in final minute
Cam Stevens' layup gave Division I Timberlane a one-point lead over St. Thomas with 30 seconds left. The Saints had two potential game-winning shots in the paint, but fell short, 48-47.
Jack Brennan led Division III St. Thomas Aquinas with 17 points, while sophomore Grant Baker had 11.
"Tough loss today, Timberlane played well," St. Thomas head coach Dave Morissette said. "I'm proud of how we played. We got better from our last (game) out. We just have to get some more consistency throughout the lineup."
Oyster River boys have five in double-figures in win
Max Scopel scored 14 points and Aaron Clough and Will Jernigan both had 13 for Division II Oyster River in its 68-54 win over Noble High School, which plays in Maine's Class A South.
Evan Clift had 11 points for the Bobcats, while, Ryland Sweatt had 10.
"It was a very balanced scoring attack for us," Oyster River head coach Zach Lewis said. "We’re working hard on improving our consistency and it’s starting to show."
Spaulding girls get 'big win' over fellow Division I school
Spaulding rallied from a 31-22 halftime deficit to pull out a 47-45 win over Keene in a battle between two Division I schools.
The Red Raiders outscored Keene, 14-4 in the final 8 minutes, and scored the game's final eight points.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Sydney Daly and Ellie Averill tied the game at 45-45 with 1 minute left, and Meagan Uraskevich hit the game-winning layup with 20 seconds remaining.
"This is a big win for us," Spaulding head coach Scott Blake said. "Today we played with composure and effort and attention to details was great on both ends. We need to keep building on this as it shows what we can do."
Daly led Spaulding with 12 points, while Uraskevich and Ava Damon both had nine, and Averill had eight.
Dover's Littlefield hits game-winner in final seconds
Avery Littlefield scored 25 points for Dover in its game against St. Thomas Aquinas, but none were bigger than her final two.
The junior guard drained a mid-range pull-up basket with 4 seconds left, leading Dover to a 49-48 win over St. Thomas Aquinas.
Littlefield scored 13 points in the first half, two in the third quarter, and 10 in the fourth.
"We grinded out a win in a back-and-forth game by a really good St. Thomas team that came to play," Dover head coach Jimmy Flynn said. "Looking forward to our next game and getting better."
Makenzie Curry added nine points for the Green Wave. Senior Emma Toriello led STA with 25 points, while Mollie Gaynor had six.
"A true fight to the end," STA head coach Zach Snow. "All in all, very proud of how we competed against a well-coached Division I team."
Three score in double-figures for Newmarket girls against Oyster River
Amaya Beckles scored 20 points, Kiara Rugora had 17 and Lydia Edgerly had 10 for Division IV Newmarket in its 59-50 win over Division II Oyster River.
"We weathered their early storm of 3-pointers and finally settled in and played some better team defense with balance, communication and rotation," Newmarket head coach Randy Edgerly said. "We also rebounded well. Most of all we executed well on the offensive end. This was probably our best all-around team effort so far this year."
Ashling Ferris led Oyster River with 13 points, while Jazzy Alvarez had 11 and Eva Bebbington had 10.
"We knew Newmarket would be tough for sure," Oyster River head coach Bryan Wall said. "I felt like our girls did great. We just hit a 5-minute span in the third where our defense faltered a bit and our baskets just didn’t fall. We just couldn’t overcome the deficit we got in, but at the end of the day we learned a lot and will improve."
Winnacunnet girls advances over Kearsage
Julie Allan had 18 points and Kate Starr added 16 for Division I Winnacunnet in its 55-35 win over Division III Kearsage.
Winnacunnet led 12-3 after the first quarter and held a double-digit lead for the rest of the game.
Winnacunnet head coach Brian Gray called it a "great team win."
"It was great execution on both sides and look forward to playing in semifinals," Gray said. "It's always great to get a win and build confidence especially in a tournament setting."
Saturday's schedule
All winner's bracket semifinals for both the both boys and girls will be played at Oyster River High School, while all consolation games will be played at Oyster River Middle School.
In boys action, the two semifinals feature Winnacunnet and Timberlane at 1:30 p.m., and Dover and Oyster River at 3. In the consolation games, Spaulding and St. Thomas will play at 1:30, and Newmarket at Noble at 10:30 a.m.
In girls action, the two semifinals feature Newmarket and Winnacunnet at 10:30 a.m., and Spaulding and Dover at noon. In the consolation games, St. Thomas Aquinas and Keene will play at 10:30 a.m., and Oyster River and Kearsage will play at noon.
The Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Browns in Cleveland this week and they will once again be without superstar T.J. Watt.
A future Hall of Famer, Watt had surgery two weeks ago to repair and stabilize a partially collapsed lung and is still not ready to play despite returning to practice this week.
Watt suffered the partially collapsed lung during a dry needling treatment at the Steelers' practice facility. He hasn't played since Week 14 against the Baltimore Ravens.
Watt has 7.0 sacks, 22 solo tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 18 QB hits this season for the Steelers, who are in first place in the AFC North. The Black and Gold are 9-6 with two games left in the regular season.
Watt signed a three-year, $123 million extension in July. He's one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history and has spent his entire career with the Steelers.
Watt has 115.0 sacks with Pittsburgh. He won the Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2021.
The Steelers face the Browns and Ravens to close out the regular season. They are currently the fourth seed in the AFC playoff picture.
Pittsburgh hasn't won a playoff game since the 2016 season.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jasper Kuhta led Finland with three assists, including two on goals from Roope Vesterinen in a 6-2 win over Denmark in each team's opening game of the world junior championships on Friday.
Kuhta was one of five players to finish with at least two points for Finland — and 12 with at least one point — along with Vesterinen, Aron Kiviharju, Lasse Boelius and Leo Tuuva. Kuhta and Tuuva both assisted Vesterinen inside the first two minutes to open the scoring, and Onni Kalto scored a second goal 30 seconds later.
After William Bundgaard scored for Denmark 6:08 into the first period, Oliver Suvanto responded with a power play goal for Finland four minutes later. Finland — last year’s silver medalist — had 20 shots on goal to Denmark's two in the opening period.
Aatos Koivu, Joona Saarelainen and Vesterinen all scored in the second period to put Finland up 6-1 with 8:39 remaining in the period.
Anton Linde scored a power play goal for Denmark 2:22 into the third period. Anton Wilde saved 37 shots for Denmark on 43 attempts (0.860 save percentage).
Denmark returned to the top division of the world junior championships for the first time since 2019, after earning promotion by winning the Division I-A tournament over Austria last year.
Both teams will continue Group B play over the weekend. Denmark will face Czechia on Saturday, while Finland will take on Latvia on Sunday.
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — The Las Vegas Raiders have decided to bench defensive end Maxx Crosby for Sunday's home game against the New York Giants in a matchup of teams with the NFL's worst records.
The loser has the inside track to the top overall draft pick, and the Raiders will be resting other key players this week.
Tight end Brock Bowers (knee) and safety Jeremy Chinn (back) were placed on season-ending injured reserve on Wednesday. Bowers is a two-time Pro Bowler who earned first-team All-Pro honors last season.
Crosby has a knee injury that has led to him missing numerous practices this season, but he has started every game. Crosby left the team facility after the Raiders informed him of the decision.
“After an evaluation we did Monday or Tuesday, it just looks too bad,” coach Pete Carroll said Friday. “He didn't want to take the news like that and I didn't want to take the news like that, so we worked our way through to get to this point. He's been practicing on Fridays. If we had let him, he would've gone out there and he would not have hesitated, but he knows that he's banged up.”
Carroll said he expected Crosby's negative reaction to the decision.
“He's been fighting his (butt) off the whole time,” Carroll said. “He's as good a competitor as you can be. You can't battle more than he's battled. He'd do anything to be able to be playing.”
Carroll said he didn't know if Crosby would return next week for the season finale against Kansas City, but acknowledged it was possible that Crosby would also miss that game.
The Raiders and Giants each head into their meeting with 2-13 records. Las Vegas could use the top pick on a quarterback, such as Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, in hopes of addressing a longtime need for an organization that has gone more than two decades without a playoff victory.
Crosby is one of the league's top pass rushers. He has 10 sacks and a career-high 28 tackles for loss this season. Crosby has recorded double-digit sacks three of the past four seasons.
Crosby made clear earlier this week that winning was more important than getting the top draft selection.
“I don’t give a (expletive) about the pick,” Crosby said at the time. “I don’t play for that. That’s not my job. My job is to be the best defensive end in the world, and that’s what I focus on every day and being a great leader and being an influence and on being that guy on a consistent basis for my team. The front office, the coaches, they do that.”
Ruben Amorim has revealed Mason Mount “felt something at half time” and explained that Manchester United decided not to risk him in the second half after the midfielder was withdrawn during the Premier League win over Newcastle.
Mount started alongside Matheus Cunha in behind Benjamin Sesko at Old Trafford, with United already missing their injured captain Bruno Fernandes as well as Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo, who are at the Africa Cup of Nations.
He was replaced at half-time by 18-year-old Jack Fletcher, the son of former Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher, as United ultimately saw out a 1-0 victory for their first home win at Old Trafford in two months.
Amorim explained it was a “good sign” that Mount wanted to continue, but said he could not take any chances with the attacking midfielder’s fitness given United’s injury list ahead of facing Wolves at Old Trafford on Tuesday 30 December.
"He felt something at half-time and he wanted to go in the second half but we cannot lose more players,” Amorim told Sky Sports after United survived waves of Newcastle’s attacks to go fifth in the Premier League.
According to multiple reports, Whittingham is expected to join the Wolverines in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday, Dec. 27 for their preprations to play against Texas in the Citrus Bowl. He is expected to inform his current players of his decision on Friday, Dec. 26 once the Utes land in Las Vegas.
Whittingham has agreed to a five-year deal with the Wolverines, according to Tony Garcia of the Detroit Free Press — part of the USA TODAY Network — to be the successor to Sherrone Moore in Ann Arbor. It is just the second stop for Whittingham in his career as a head coach, as he spent 22 seasons at the helm of the Utes program.
Whittingham is just the second Michigan head coach who did not have a previous tie with the program since Bo Schembechler retired in 1990. He brings a 177-88 overall record as a head coach to the Wolverines.
At Michigan, Whittingham will now be tasked with leading the program after numerous offseason scandals over the past several seasons, including the firing and subsequent arrest of Moore. The Wolverines announced on Wednesday, Dec. 10 that Moore was fired with cause after a university investigation found "credible evidence" of him having been engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.
More pressing to Michigan at the moment will be Whittingham's ability to retain the talent on the Wolverines' current roster, most notably freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood. Players have five days following the hiring of a football coach to enter their names into the NCAA transfer portal.
Interim head coach Biff Poggi is still expected to lead Michigan in the Citrus Bowl. Morgan Scalley, who had already been announced as Whittingham's successor at Utah, is expected to coach the Utes in the Las Vegas Bowl.
Patrick Dorgu’s first-half volley was the game’s winning goal - Getty Images/Adam Vaughanb''b''
Manchester United have thrown away far better opportunities than this to break into the top five this season but, on a night when they were severely depleted and missing some of their biggest players, they finally found a way to get over the line.
Ruben Amorim had urged his players to “step up” in the absence of captain Bruno Fernandes and a host of other senior personnel and a patched up United certainly did that.
Trailing to a thunderbolt of a volley from Patrick Dorgu, which was quite the way to claim your first United goal, Newcastle threw everything they had at Amorim’s makeshift side in the second half.
But United demonstrated exactly the kind of defensive resilience that had been lacking in games against Nottingham Forest, Tottenham, Everton, West Ham and Bournemouth, when they missed the chance to climb into the top five. Not here. Not with Lisandro Martínez, captain on the evening with Fernandes missing, back to man the fort and watch a host of others follow his lead.
Ayden Heaven and Dorgu had their best performances in United shirts and Senne Lammens proved once again what a shrewd piece of business he looks with a commanding display in goal.
Ayden Heaven with his Player of the Match award 🏆
Man United's standout player against Newcastle at just 19 years old 👏
This was Martínez’s first start for United since Feb 2 but he played like he had never been away and it was with good reason the Argentina defender was given a standing ovation as he came off moments before the fourth official Sam Barrott signalled seven minutes of stoppage time.
There were more than a few anxious moments in those closing stages as the Old Trafford crowd willed Anthony Taylor to blow his whistle and the roar that erupted at the end spoke volumes. United finished the game with Jack Fletcher, Tyler Fredricson and forgotten man Tyrell Malacia on the pitch but, in a way, that only added to the sense of Amorim’s men claiming a precious win in the face of adversity.
United fans could have been forgiven for raising an eyebrow at the sight of Dorgu lining up as a right winger in a 4-2-3-1. By the time he had crashed home a stunning volley midway through a first half in which his can-do attitude, both offensively and defensively, had typified his team’s effort, it no longer looked a strange move.
Late in the half, an approving Casemiro bounded over to Dorgu to give his team-mate a congratulatory shove after the Denmark international had raced back to win a tackle on Lewis Hall.
On the opposite flank a couple of minutes later, Matheus Cunha was busy shielding the ball from Nick Woltemade to win a goal kick. Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro were straight over to embrace the Brazilian for his defensive diligence.
Manchester United’s defence was better for the return of Lisandro Martinez - Getty Images/Simon Stacpoole
When Ruben Amorim talked about players needing to step up in the absence of captain Bruno Fernandes and six other senior absentees, this is what the United manager probably had in mind.
United were by no means perfect in those opening 45 minutes, but they were markedly better than a Newcastle side who turned over the ball too cheaply and, full of running.
Amorim has moved on four wingers – Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Jadon Sancho – since taking charge at Old Trafford 13 months ago so there was always going to be a degree of improvisation required with the switch to this system.
Indeed, Dorgu may have felt like a square peg in a round hole at the outset but he did not play like it.
The high point was a volley of which any of the great Premier League left footers, from Robin van Persie to Mohamed Salah, would gladly have called their own.
A long throw-in from Diogo Dalot was only partially cleared by Woltemade and as the ball hung high in the air and Dorgu raced to meet it 15 yards out the betting was that it would end up anywhere other than where it was eventually dispatched.
"What a FABULOUS HIT!"
Patrick Dorgu scores his first goal for Manchester United and what a way to score it! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/0Th4FRYd1c
Dorgu could have been put off by his team-mate Manuel Ugarte, who made a movement towards the ball and then thought better of it. It was a good job. Dorgu’s connection could not have been sweeter as the ball flew into the bottom corner, his first goal for United on his 38th appearance.
United are down to the bare bones at the moment and a glance at a bench comprising a 17-year old, three 18-year-olds and two 20-year-olds merely underlined it. So the loss at half-time of one of his most creative sparks and best players this season in Mason Mount was another cruel blow for Amorim. Mount had set the tone with his clever, industrious pressing and intelligent movement in the No 10 position and Cunha was another creative, attacking presence off the left. Newcastle then will have been relieved to see the back of Mount, who was replaced by Jack Fletcher, son of former United midfielder Darren.
Matheus Cunha (left) encourages Jack Fletcher, son of former United midfielder Darren - Shutterstock/Adam Vaughan
It felt implausible United were going to have it their way in the second half and Newcastle re-emerged with far greater impetus as they ramped up the tempo and cut out some of the sloppiness. If United had a rather makeshift look at the beginning, by the hour mark they were an unusual assembly of parts. Fletcher and Ugarte formed the central midfield, Leny Yoro was at right back and two full backs – Diogo Dalot and Dorgu – were operating as wingers as Casemiro and Sesko made way, the latter seconds after hitting the crossbar.
It was a rare venture forward for United who found themselves getting dragged deeper and deeper and hoping for a break on the counter.
Eddie Howe threw on Joelinton, Yoane Wissa and Harvey Barnes as Newcastle pressed for an equaliser.
Lewis Hall, one of Newcastle’s biggest threats from an inverted left back position, made another dangerous run that carried him past Ugarte before thundering a shot off the underside of the crossbar.
Lewis Hall hit the bar with this shot from distance - Shutterstock/Adam Vaughan
Newcastle thought they had a decent shout for a penalty when a shot by Fabian Schar cannoned off Martinez’s chest and on to an arm but VAR - correctly - sided with the United defender.
He was excellent, Martinez. Afforded the captain’s armband in Fernandes’ absence on his first start for over 10 months, he played like he had never been away. Ayden Heaven certainly felt like a big beneficiary of the Argentine’s presence.
He knows how to pick a pass, too, and an expert free-kick almost helped to yield a second goal for United. Spearing a long pass over the head of Schar, Dalot, cutting in from the right, took the ball beautifully on his touch but when he just needed to massage the ball over the advancing Aaron Ramsdale, he got too much on it and powered it narrowly over the crossbar.
Amorim had switched to a back five by the final 15 minutes. They hung on.
10:33pm
Eddie Howe pre-match comments
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, speaking to Sky Sports post-match, said: “The second half was a lot better than the first, but it wasn’t enough [for a win]... It wasn’t for a lack of effort.
“I actually thought we started the game really well, but we were rocked by the goal. I don’t think we responded well to that moment.
“I was a bit disappointed after half time at our inability to grab a hold of the game, as I thought it was there for us to take.”
10:27pm
A Heavenly performance at the back for Ayden
Ayden Heaven won 100% of his duels, completed 94% of his passes, made 8 clearances and committed 0 fouls in Man United's 1-0 victory against Newcastle.
Manchester United defender Ayden Heaven was given player of the match by Sky Sports for his performance this evening, particularly in the second half, as the home side held on to their 1-0 lead.
Tonight’s win was Manchester United’s 23rd Premier League win on Boxing Day, the most in the competition’s history.
This was also the club’s fourth Boxing Day Premier League victory over Newcastle, after wins in 2012, 2014 and 2019.
10:16pm
Heaven and Dorgu post-match comments
Manchester United defender Ayden Heaven, speaking to Sky Sports, said: ”Finally, a clean sheet, we’ve been waiting for this for a couple of weeks. I’m just so happy.”
Manchester United defender Patrick Dorgu, speaking to Sky Sports, said: “Yeah it was a good hit [his goal]... I’m just very happy to score my first goal, especially in this stadium.
“I just took what he told me [Amorim] to work on my confidence and stuff. And I think I did well today. I just looked at the ball and saw it drop and I just hit it.”
10:04pm
A rare clean sheet for Man Utd
Manchester United’s 1-0 victory tonight against Newcastle secured just their second league clean sheet of the season, after their first in a 2-0 win against Sunderland in October.
10:00pm
Man Utd find a way to win without Fernandes
Man United's win against Newcastle is their first Premier League victory without Bruno Fernandes in the starting XI since the 2022/23 season 😮
2022 - Man Utd won a Premier League game in which Bruno Fernandes did not feature for the first time since a 3-2 win over Spurs in March 2022 under Ralf Rangnick. The Red Devils had lost five of their last six league games without the midfielder before today (D1). Independence. pic.twitter.com/LDqzaFSGLI
The game has finished! Manchester United have held on to claim a very precious, hard-fought three points.
Newcastle, despite all their endeavour in this game could not penetrate the home side’s rearguard and now succumb to their fifth away league loss in six matches.
09:55pm
90+4 minutes: Manchester United 1 Newcastle 0
Well, Lammens has had an interesting few minutes in the Manchester United goal.
First, the Belgian goalkeeper charges out commandingly to claim Bruno Guimaraes’ cross.
Yet, a minute later, Lammens almost fumbles a cross from the left in the path of Miley before recovering the ball at the second attempt.
09:52pm
90+2 minutes: Man Utd 1 Newcastle 0
It’s that left hand side again that is producing chances for Newcastle. This time, Miley controls a cross from the left inside the box but can only spoon the ball high over the bar on the turn.
Seven minutes of stoppage time have been announced at Old Trafford.
Can Manchester United cling on to claim this win?
09:48pm
88 minutes: Man Utd 1 Newcastle 0
With just two minutes left, Ruben Amorim has removed his two most experienced defenders still on the pitch: Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez with Fredricson and Malacia coming onto the pitch to preserved the home side’s lead.
09:46pm
85 minutes: Man Utd 1 Newcastle 0
Anthony Gordon has just ballooned the ball over the bar, after some well-worked build up play.
Eddie Howe cries out and looks to the sky in frustration. The visitors have Manchester United pinned back inside their own half, but they just cannot find their way through.
09:44pm
Will Newcastle be left lamenting the final outcome?
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Newcastle will be livid if they do not get at least a point from this game. They have been the better side in the second half and have dominated for long spells, yet they have not made the pressure count.
Worryingly, they also have gifted Manchester United two decent chances at the other end through defensive lapses.
Ruben Amorim’s side have lacked control and have been defending for their lives. It has not been pretty but they have the one goal advantage and this would be an excellent three points if they can hang on.
09:41pm
80 minutes: Man Utd 1 Newcastle 0
If Newcastle are to get their equaliser, you can bet it will come through their left-hand side via Hall and Gordon.
Both players are haring down the left wing, pushing their team forward, but that quality final ball is lacking from both men so far in this half.
09:38pm
78 minutes: Man Utd 1 Newcastle 0
Sandro Tonali, who moments ago collected a yellow card for his challenge on Dorgu has been replaced by Joe Willock.
Lammens, the Manchester United goalkeeper is a very relieved man after the Belgian goalkeeper flaps at a Newcastle corner, but a free kick is eventually given for his team.
09:34pm
73 minutes: Man Utd 1 Newcastle 0
Martin Rickett/PA WireCarl Recine/Getty Images
Diogo Dalot has just spurned a massive opportunity to double the home side’s lead, as he ventures into the box, peeling off Lewis Hall but he can only a direct the bouncing ball over the bar with only the goalkeeper to beat.
09:29pm
67 minutes: Man Utd 1 Newcastle 0
Newcastle have come close once again to getting their leveller, with Gordon’s low drive inside the box from the right-hand side fizzing past the far post.
Eddie Howe is setting his team up to get an equaliser, and has just made a triple change with Wissa, Barnes and Joelinton all entering the pitch.
The visitors even had a penalty shout moments ago for a handball call on Lisandro Martinez, but referee Anthony Taylor did not give the spot kick, as per the guidance from VAR.
09:24pm
Nick Woltemade lacking the cutting edge for Newcastle
Darren Staples/Getty Images
It has been all Newcastle United so far in the second half but for all the pressure and territorial dominance they are still not creating chances in open play.
You have to point the finger at Nick Woltemade. Yes, he does some nice flicks, but he did not have a single touch in the Manchester United penalty box in the first half and has been a yard behind the game all evening.
There have been plenty of crosses delivered but he has not got on the end of anything. It is surely only a matter of time until we see Yoane Wissa come off the bench to replace him.
Newcastle have been much better since half time but they need a goal. Lewis Hall has been superb tonight and very unlucky his shot came back off the underside of the crossbar.
Benjamin Sesko has come very close to doubling the home side’s lead against the run of play, with the Slovenia international being put through on goal outside the box, thanks to Ugarte’s interception.
His strike, though rattles the crossbar and bounces out of play.
This was his last act of the game, as he and Casemiro make way for Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro.
09:18pm
56 minutes: Man Utd 1 Newcastle 0
The match has quietened down a little in this second half, with Manchester United striving to restore control in this match.
The home side, however are not able to retain possession consistently, as Newcastle seek to prise open their defence in search of an opening.
09:11pm
52 minutes: Man Utd 1 Newcastle 0
Newcastle have now earned a series of set-pieces in the attacking half, as they have started the second half brightly in search of the equaliser.
The home side, to their credit have stood up tall and defended their penalty area well each time Newcastle have sent the ball into the box.
09:06pm
46 minutes: Man Utd 1 Newcastle 0
A fabulous flick from Woltemade at the edge of the box tees up his teammate Jacob Ramsey with a potential scoring opportunity, but the midfielder stumbles and falls before he can fire an effort on goal.
09:05pm
Second half begins
We are back underway in this game, and Manchester United have made a change at half-time, with forward Jack Fletcher, son of club legend Darren, coming on for Mason Mount.
09:03pm
Can Eddie Howe engineer a second-half comeback for Newcastle?
Darren Staples/Getty Images
Newcastle have come out as winners in four of their last five top-flight meetings with Manchester United. Before the match, the visitors were looking to claim their third straight league victory over their opponents for the first time in 103 years.
However, Newcastle now have their work cut out for them, especially when considering they have only secured one away Premier League win since April.
Can Eddie Howe’s team avoid their fifth away league defeat in six games?
08:55pm
Dorgu deserves a Pat on the back after his first half
Patrick Dorgu's first half by numbers vs. Newcastle:
31 touches 4 duels won 2x possessions won 2 clearances 2 touches in opp. box 2/2 shots on target 1 chance created 1 goal#MUNNEWpic.twitter.com/LBz1QBgtex
The half time whistle has gone, and Dorgu’s special strike has proven the difference between the two teams, as the home side enter the interval 1-0 in front.
Can Eddie Howe’s Newcastle respond or will this yet another away league defeat this season?
08:48pm
45 minutes: Man Utd 1 Newcastle 0
Sandro Tonali was down on the ground receiving treatment from the Newcastle physios after the Italian midfielder’s legs clashed with Sesko following a sliding challenge.
Thankfully for Newcastle fans, Tonali is back on his feet and back in the game
08:43pm
41 minutes: Man Utd 1 Newcastle 0
Manchester United have just breathed a huge sigh of relief, after Jacob Murphy whips in a delicious low cross across the penalty area that evades the long legs of Woltemade, as well as any other player in black and white to roll out for a throw-in.
A very good cross from the right winger there.
08:39pm
Dorgu doing the business so far
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Patrick Dorgu is having quite a game this evening. Having banged in a volley for his first goal for Manchester United he almost squeezed a low shot past Aaron Ramsdale for his second.
Manchester United are benefitting from some loose play from Newcastle, who keep giving the ball away cheaply. It has been a recurring theme on their travels this season. They invite pressure through their own mistakes.
08:37pm
Patrick Dorgu’s piledriver
"What a FABULOUS HIT!"
Patrick Dorgu scores his first goal for Manchester United and what a way to score it! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/0Th4FRYd1c
Newcastle are on the ropes, as Manchester United continue to fly forward in pursuit of their second goal.
Dorgu receives the ball inside the penalty area on the right-hand side and fires a low shot across goal, which Ramsdale plunges low to parry away from goal.
08:33pm
Newcastle fail to make bright spell count
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Manchester United’s goal came against the run of play but that will not offer much comfort for Eddie Howe. Newcastle had taken control of the game and were putting their hosts under pressure.
What they did not do, though, is create a lot of chances. A header from a corner by Bruno Guimaraes at a corner was the closest they came to a goal. They are now behind and the home side have their tails up.
08:32pm
30 minutes: Man Utd 1 Newcastle 0
Manchester United have been energised by that Dorgu goal, and moments ago, conjured a rapid counter-attack in search of a second, in a 4-on-3 situation.
However, Cunha overhits his through ball into Sesko, and the Slovenian’s cross is plucked by Ramsdale.
Shortly afterwards, Manchester United set off on another fast break, but once again this doesn’t end in a chance for the home side.
Still, plenty of encouragement for Manchester United since going in front.
08:26pm
GOAL! Man Utd 1 Newcastle 0 - Dorgu
Dave Thompson/AP
The home side have taken the lead, and it’s Patrick Dorgu who has unleashed a thunderous volley to put his team in front! Woltemade’s headed clearance falls perfectly for Dorgu at the edge of the box, who lashes the ball low past Ramsdale into the net.
His first goal for the club, and what a way to get it!
08:23pm
21 minutes: Man Utd 0 Newcastle 0
Newcastle earn another corner through some purposeful wing play from Lewis Hall and Anthony Gordon on the left flank.
The set piece, eventually ends without a real chance created for the visitors, but Newcastle are gaining more territory into the Manchester United half.
08:20pm
18 minutes: Man Utd 0 Newcastle 0
The home side, after a bright start to this match in possession are now looking ragged on the ball.
Newcastle are applying pressure on the home side, and are now moving the ball confidently inside Manchester United’s half.
08:16pm
Unhappy Howe making his feelings known
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Eddie Howe turned to the coaching staff on the Newcastle bench and screamed something at them after Casemiro’s free header from a corner went over the bar.
His assistant Jason Tindall also got an ear full and also retreated to the bench, presumably to watch a replay to work out what had gone wrong. Newcastle have not started particularly well in open play either.
08:15pm
13 minutes: Man Utd 0 Newcastle 0
Newcastle have finally gained a foothold in this match, and moments ago came very close to taking the lead, courtesy of a Casemiro header towards his own goal. Goalkeeper Lammens, though produced a sharp save to keep the score level and deny the visitors the lead.
08:13pm
11 minutes: Man Utd 0 Newcastle 0
Newcastle have looked shaky in these opening stages, as they lose the ball just outside their 18-yard box, which eventually leads to a chance for Sesko in the penalty area, who swivels and steers his shot wide.
08:11pm
8 minutes: Man Utd 0 Newcastle 0
Here’s an injury concern for Newcastle, with goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale clutching his hamstring and going down for treatment.
Nick Pope is moving up and down the touchline, warming up, but Ramsdale is eventually ready to carry on.
As this all happened, Lewis Hall has been given instructions by manager Eddie Howe to pass on to the rest of his teammates.
08:07pm
Man United team shape
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Manchester United are in a 4-2-3-1 shape, with Mount in behind Sesko, and Dorgu as the right sided forward.
08:06pm
Which Newcastle will turn up tonight at Old Trafford?
b''
At least we finally have some Premier League football to enjoy on Boxing Day and I always felt this would be the game chosen for live television coverage.
Newcastle United have, historically, struggled in this fixture but have only lost once in their last six games against Manchester United and won here last season during the Christmas period.
Eddie Howe’s side have had a rare chance to rest and recharge this week, their last game a lunchtime kick off on Saturday against Chelsea.
That should mean they bring plenty of energy into this one, but their away form has been terrible, winning just once on the road in the league.
With Manchester United missing players, including talisman and captain Bruno Fernandes, this feels like an opportunity for the Magpies to improve that statistic. The problem is - and this is becoming a major issue for Howe - you do not know what version of Newcastle is going to turn up game to game.
08:04pm
2 minutes: Manchester United 0 Newcastle 0
The first big chance of this match falls to the home side, with Casemiro heading over from a corner, and the Brazil midfielder ought to have done much better with his effort, having been unmarked inside from around six yards out.
08:01pm
And we’re off!
We are underway at Old Trafford!
07:59pm
The teams are out and ready to go
Both teams have made their way onto the pitch, with Manchester United’s pre-match anthem: “This Is The One” by the Stone Roses ringing out around Old Trafford before John Denver’s “Take Me Home” is sung heartily by the home fans.
Ruben Amorim is all smiles as he walks down the touchline to his seat, but in his 23rd match in charge at Old Trafford, he has actually suffered more losses (9) than victories (8) since taking charge of the club last November.
07:52pm
Amorim pre-match comments
"We are prepared" 😤
Ruben Amorim says everyone must step up in the absence of Bruno Fernandes for Manchester United vs Newcastle 🔴 pic.twitter.com/EJCAQOzbFV
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim, speaking to Sky Sports pre-match, said: “We are prepared. We know that we have some players out, but there are no excuses. We need to perform well. We are performing so much better in the last games, but for some reason [and] some details, we are not winning the games, but we will try to win this one.”
Speaking on why he chose to make Lisandro Martinez captain tonight, he said: “We put on a list at the beginning of the season, Licha [Martinez] was on that list. We don’t have Bruno, we don’t have Harry [Maguire], we have Licha and some other guys who could be captain. Licha has the armband but everyone else needs to step up like I said before the game, as Bruno is not here.”
07:45pm
Sub-plots aplenty at Old Trafford tonight
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There are some interesting subplots tonight. Newcastle were in direct competition with Manchester United for Benjamin Sesko only to lose out on the Slovenia striker and eventually instead sign Nick Woltemade instead, who has made the better start of the two forwards in England.
It was against Newcastle last Christmas that Joshua Zirkzee was cheered off by United fans and was close to tears as he left the pitch in shock. The Dutchman is on what is a very young and inexperienced bench tonight as Amorim feels the impact of a glut of absentees, not least captain Bruno Fernandes.
In Fernandes’ absence, it is Lisandro Martinez who has been given the armband - on his first start for United since Feb 2.
07:41pm
Eddie Howe pre-match comments
🗣️ "We need to do better"
Eddie Howe believes Newcastle can rise to the challenge today against Manchester United 💪 pic.twitter.com/ZHlfQUlCfK
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, speaking to Sky Sports pre-match, said: “There’s no getting away from the fact we need to do better. There’s only one way to respond though, and that’s by trying to win as many games as we can. This is a tough assignment today, but one I think we can rise to - certainly a big challenge.”
07:35pm
Some stats to whet your appetite...
This Boxing Day match takes place between Manchester United, the team with the most Boxing Day Premier League wins in the competition (22) and Newcastle, the team with the joint-most Boxing Day Premier League defeats (16).
Manchester United have lost four of their last five Premier League games against Newcastle, with only one win from these encounters. These four losses were as many as they had in their previous 38 top-flight matches against the north-east club (W25 D9).
Manchester United have won all three of their Premier League Boxing Day games against Newcastle, with all three coming under different managers – 4-3 in 2012 (Ferguson), 3-1 in 2014 (van Gaal) and 4-1 in 2019 (Solskjaer).
Manchester United have lost 14 Premier League games for the third consecutive calendar year.
Newcastle United have won their last two away league matches played between Christmas and New Year, beating Leicester on Boxing Day 2022 and Manchester United on 30 December last year. They had won just two of their previous 34 away league games played between Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve (D6 L26).
07:25pm
It’s Wolte-mania up in Tyneside this season
Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade has scored seven Premier League goals in 14 matches since joining the club from Stuttgart in the summer. - George Wood/Getty Images
Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade has settled in rather well up in the north-east of England, scoring seven top-flight goals so far this campaign, including a double in his most recent league match against Chelsea.
Only three German players have scored more in their debut Premier League season: Jürgen Klinsmann in 1994-95 (20), Lukas Podolski in 2012-13 (11) and André Schürrle in 2013-14 (8).
07:17pm
Both teams in full
Here’s a reminder of how both teams line up tonight at Old Trafford.
Manchester United Lammens, Martinez, Heaven, Shaw, Dalot, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dorgu, Cunha, Mount, Sesko. Substitutes: Bayindir, Zirkzee, Malacia, Yoro, Fredricson, Jack Fletcher, Lacey, Mantato, Tyler Fletcher.
Newcastle United Ramsdale, Miley, Thiaw, Schar, Hall, Tonali, Guimaraes, Ramsey, Jacob Murphy, Woltemade, Gordon. Substitutes: Pope, Joelinton, Wissa, Barnes, Willock, Alex Murphy, Shahar, Neave, Alabi.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).
07:13pm
Can Manchester United finally banish their bruising form without Bruno?
Alex Pantling/Getty Images
For only the seventh time since the 2022-23 season, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes will not feature in a Premier League game for the club, due to the injury the 31-year-old picked up against Villa last weekend, which is set to rule the Portuguese out of first-team action for at least a few weeks.
In these six previous top-flight matches United have played without Bruno, they have lost all six of these matches, scoring just four goals in the process.
Will the home side be able to find a way to cope without their star midfielder tonight?
Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe has kept the same starting XI from his side’s 2-2 home draw vs Chelsea last weekend.
Goalkeeper Nick Pope returns to the squad after missing Newcastle’s last seven matches through injury. Former Manchester United winger Anthony Elanga is absent from the squad this evening due to injury.
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has made two changes to the starting XI from his team’s 2-1 defeat away at Aston Villa last Sunday.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is missing from the squad due to injury, and is replaced in the midfield by Casemiro. Lisandro Martinez comes into the team as captain, in place of Leny Yoro in defence.
04:57pm
Amorim extends an olive branch to Kobbie Mainoo
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Ruben Amorim has challenged Kobbie Mainoo to prove he still has a future at Manchester United after ruling out the prospect of him leaving the club next month.
The out-of-favour England international has yet to start a Premier League game this season and his half-brother wore a ‘Free Kobbie Mainoo” T-Shirt at Old Trafford in last week’s dramatic 4-4 draw with Bournemouth. The 20-year-old has been linked with a loan move away from the club next month with Napoli among a handful of clubs interested in signing the midfielder.
However, United boss Amorim has extended Mainoo an olive branch to the academy graduate despite the provocation from family members by asking him to stake a claim for a starting position in the team in the coming weeks with captain Bruno Fernandes sidelined with a hamstring injury.
“If we are not getting someone, it’s hard (for someone) to leave because we are shorter,” said Amorim when asked whether Mainoo could depart in January. “Even with the full squad, we are shorter for something that can happen here.
”We are a club with a big responsibility. We are dealing with all these issues. In your heads, in my head, in everybody’s head, we need to win every game. There are no excuses. So, it’s going to be hard for someone to leave the club if we don’t get a substitution.
“Kobbie will have the opportunity that he has all the time. He has played in different positions. We talk about the position of Casemiro, well he can do that position. He can play, if we play with three, he can play like we played in the last game with two. The position of Mason Mount in the last game, he can play there.
“So, in the future, he’s going to be the future of Manchester United. That is my feeling. So, you just need to wait for each chance. Everything can change in football in two days.”
Mainoo has been ruled out of the visit of Newcastle United to Old Trafford on Boxing Day after failing to shake off the calf problem that sidelined him for the weekend defeat at Aston Villa. However, with Fernandes targeting a return for the Manchester derby on January 17, he is expected to be given more minutes than the 302 Amorim has granted him so far this season.
With Mainoo joining a casualty list that already includes Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt, the loss of Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui to the African Cup of Nations has stretched United’s squad to breaking point. Teenager academy graduates Jack Fletcher and Shay Lacey will once again be involved against Newcastle after being on the bench for last Sunday’s 2-1 defeat Villa Park.
The Toronto Maple Leafs had a tumultuous week before the NHL’s holiday break, firing assistant coach Marc Savard and entering Tuesday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins with five losses in their previous six games.
However, Santa Claus was good to the Maple Leafs, as veteran defenseman Chris Tanev returned from injury and played meaningful minutes in Toronto’s 6-3 win over the Penguins.
Indeed, Tanev didn’t have a perfect night, as his rink rust was readily apparent. But Tanev’s return meant that Leafs coach Craig Berube had a significantly better defense corps to work with, scratching struggling veteran Simon Benoit in favor of another D-man who has struggled this year – Philippe Myers.
Tanev’s knack for knowing how to make the simple, zone-clearing play made life much easier for Leafs goalie Joseph Woll, who stopped 29 of 32 Pens shots for a .906 save percentage.
The Leafs’ win sent them into the break on a positive note. And Tanev’s return means Toronto’s D-corps is going to be much-improved on a night-in, night-out basis.
That said, the Maple Leafs’ win over Pittsburgh is only going to hold off the attack dogs for so long.
If the Leafs falter once the Christmas break is over, Berube’s job security is going to come into question. Also, Toronto GM Brad Treliving is going to be beating the bushes – if he isn’t already – for veteran help, most likely at forward.
If their performance thus far this season tells us anything, it’s that the Maple Leafs are going to have great difficulty rising the ranks of the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference with the lineup they have right now.
Although Toronto’s record improved to 16-15-5 after the win over Pittsburgh, the Leafs currently sit in last place in the Atlantic and in 15th place in the East.
That means the Maple Leafs’ destiny is partly out of their hands. They’re going to need the teams above them to lose, and lose in regulation time, if they’re going to move into a playoff spot.
While Toronto is just five standings points out of a playoff berth, the teams above them in the standings are all going to play one another, meaning some of the teams above them will consistently be picking up points. It's a daunting challenge for the Leafs.
But let’s get back to Tanev, who hadn’t played since being injured in a game on Nov. 1. Toronto went 9-10-4 in the 23 games Tanev missed, and there was nobody on the trade market who can step in and give Berube 20 minutes a night of low-event hockey the way Tanev can.
Tanev’s minutes are indeed down this season, but given the choice between playing Tanev more and playing Benoit or Myers at all, the choice for Berube is clear.
We’re not here to tell you Tanev is the most important component of the Leafs’ blueprint for success. He’s a 36-year-old veteran with a lot of miles on his competitive odometer, and he won’t be challenging for the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top D-man.
But for this Maple Leafs defense corps, Tanev is a crucial piece of the puzzle. Furthermore, it’s not a coincidence that Toronto looked calmer and more confident with Tanev in the lineup on Tuesday.
His panic threshold is the best of any Leafs blueliner, his instincts are always to make the smart play, and his return to action is one of the best Christmas presents the Buds could ask for.
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LONDON (AP) — Jack Draper, who has played just one tennis match since Wimbledon because of injury, will not be fit for next month’s Australian Open.
The 10th-ranked Draper's 2025 season was prematurely curtailed by bone bruising in his left arm.
“Unfortunately, me and my team have decided not to head out to Australia this year," the 24-year-old British player said in a video on X on Friday. “It’s a really, really tough decision. Obviously Australia being a Grand Slam, it’s one of the biggest tournaments in our sport.
“However, I’ve had this injury for a long time. I’m at the very, very end stages of the process and to step back on court into best-of-five-set tennis so soon just doesn’t seem like a smart decision right now."
Draper withdrew from his second-round match at the US Open in August before calling time on his season soon after. He was beaten by Marin Cilic in the second round of Wimbledon in July.
The Australian Open in Melbourne starts on January 18.
Michigan hired former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham on Friday, a move that will be met with favorable reviews.
Given the state of the program in the aftermath of Sherrone Moore's unceremonious firing – this is a win for the Wolverines, similar to how Penn State landed Iowa State coach Matt Campbell.
Whittingham, 66, took over for Urban Meyer at Utah after the 2004 season. Whittingham kept the program competitive in the Mountain West Conference, Pac-12 and Big 12 – and Michigan offers something in return for the long-time coach – one he never got in all those seasons with the Utes. What is that?
Better College Football Playoff access in the Big Ten. If you believe age is just a number, then Whittingham-to-Michigan should work out for at least the next five years.
Michigan could not afford to wait on a shot at Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer – who led the Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl with a 34-24 victory against No. 8 Oklahoma on Dec. 19. Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham – another target – signed an extension to stay with the Sun Devils.
The Wolverines were thin on options heading toward the opening of the transfer portal window on Jan. 2, and the program needed a coach to fix an unstable environment in Ann Arbor.
Jim Harbaugh led Michigan to a national championship in 2023, but the Wolverines were subject to a pair of NCAA investigations – one from impermissible contact with recruits during COVID-19 and the other the in-person scouting and sign-stealing scandal involving former staffer Connor Stalions. Moore was fired on Dec. 11 after "credible evidence" was found he engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.
Michigan needed a no-nonsense makeover that made a clean break from the Harbaugh era – and from that standpoint Whittingham is the perfect coach to take that on. It should be noted that Utah is 3-0 against Michigan under Whittingham, and all of those wins came at notable inflection points for the Wolverines' program.
On Aug. 30, 2008, Utah beat Michigan 25-23 in Rich Rodriguez's debut with the Wolverines – an ominous harbinger for a three-year period in which the Wolverines went 15-22. Utah finished 13-0 that season.
On Sept. 20, 2014 – Utah beat Michigan 26-10. That fast-tracked the end of the Brady Hoke era. On Aug. 30, 2015 – the Utes beat the Wolverines 25-23 in Harbaugh's debut at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Now, Whittingham takes over at one of those turning points.
Grading Kyle Whittingham to Michigan
We gave Penn State an A- for hiring Campbell. Did Michigan land a similar hire given the circumstances? Whittingham was ranked No. 13 when Sporting News ranked the coaches 1-136 this season, and that was coming off a 5-7 season at Utah. Look at some of the other coaches on that list in between the gap to DeBoer – who was at No. 6.
James Franklin (No. 8) is at Virginia Tech now. Brian Kelly (No. 9) was fired by LSU and replaced by Lane Kiffin (No. 10). Whittingham had a 177-88 record at Utah.
Since the start of the CFP era in 2014, Michigan is 111-40. Utah is 101-49. The Wolverines have won 10 or more games six times. The Utes have won 10 or more games five times – including a 10-2 season this year.
Utah has 36 NFL Draft picks since 2015 – and Whittingham has a solid track record of player development. That includes three first-round picks in tackle Garrett Bolles (2017), linebacker Devin Lloyd (2022) and tight end Dalton Kincaid (2023). Tackle Spencer Fano won the Outland Trophy and was a Unanimous All-American this season. Whittingham's teams are known for their physicality. The Utes ranked second in the FBS with 269.8 rushing yards per game.
Whittingham faced criticism for his handling of injury reports this season in the Big 12. For the most part, Whittingham avoided scandal during two-plus decades with the Utes, and that kind of a well-respected reputation is exactly what the Michigan athletic department needs right now given the temperature around athletic director Warde Manuel.
Whittingham's age and the circumstances from his departure from Utah will be scrutinized, but those concerns should be secondary for Michigan. Imagine the reaction had the Wolverines hired Kelly, a 64-year-old coach who had head coaching stints at Grand Valley State and Central Michigan. It would have been met with far-more criticism. Whittingham has built a reputation as one of the “good guys” in the sport, and now we get to see it on the biggest stage in the Big Ten.
That will be the expectation. Michigan finished 8-5 in 2024 in Moore's first season, and the Wolverines were 9-3 this year. That was not enough to get back to the College Football Playoff after three straight appearances from 2021-23.
This is the carrot for Whittingham. Utah never made the four-team CFP.
Utah finished 12-0 as the Mountain West Conference champion in the regular season in 2008, and that was good for No. 5 in the final BCS standings. The Utes pushed up to No. 5 in the CFP rankings in 2019 before a 37-15 loss to No. 13 Oregon in the Pac-12 championship game. Utah finished 10-2 in the Big 12 this season but was No. 15 in the final CFP rankings. Whittingham has fought for respect in all of those conferences, but Michigan offers a different opportunity.
If you get to 10 wins with the Wolverines, then you will be in the College Football Playoff almost every time. Michigan was close this season. The 2026 schedule is brutal with four games against playoff teams from this season, including home games against Oklahoma and No. 1 Indiana and road games at No. 5 Oregon and No. 2. Ohio State. Speaking of rivalries, Whittingham was 11-6 against BYU in the Holy War, albeit with head-to-head losses in the Big 12 each of the last two seasons.
The key will be the coaching staff, especially with Whittingham's age. Michigan needs an offensive coordinator like Utah's Jason Beck who can immediately maximize the talent around sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood and maintain the defense that stood out during the national championship run in 2023. That combination seems more possible with Whittingham on a shorter timeline than the other candidates, and the timing is what it is.
Non-conference play is officially over in the MAAC. All 13 teams have finished their non-league slates, in addition to the two early December conference games they played. So where does the conference stand? It’s time for a reset of expectations, understanding, and everything else heading into the final 18 games of the season.
Marist
The Red Foxes were 9-2 at this point last year, but they also didn’t play two games against high-major opponents. It was certainly jarring to see that Marist’s game against Georgia Tech turned into a shootout rather than a rock fight, but the Yellow Jackets were unfortunately too much to handle.
So far, Marist has played six Division I home games. In those six home games, it has allowed .889, .976, .811, .782, .904, and .772 adjusted points per possession, per KenPom. Bart Torvik has the Red Foxes as the 24th-best defense in the country in home games, but that metric slides down to 147th in games played on the road.
Justin Menard and Rhyjon Blackwell have both been hits out of the transfer portal. Blackwell adds scoring pop as the team’s sixth man, while Menard has given Marist terrific all-around play. How John Dunne manages the guard rotation is interesting, but how he manages the center rotation is what I have my eye on.
Jason Schofield slid into the starting lineup, while Parby Kabamba slid down the rotation, playing just 18 minutes over the last four games. Tarik Watson has been in and out of the lineup, but both he and Schofield are talented post scorers, while Kabamba and freshman Jordan Gabriel don’t have the ball in their hands quite as much.
Marist doesn’t need Jadin Collins-Roberts to be a scorer, but I’m curious to see if he can impact the team’s ceiling by tapping a little more into his scoring ability. Regardless, he and Jaden Daughtry are the heart and soul of the defense that makes Marist such a dangerous team.
Quinnipiac
We’re all on Jaden Zimmerman watch. He was the MAAC’s leading scorer before he missed the last three games heading into Christmas break. Tom Pecora said after the Hofstra game that he’s hoping to have him back “around” Jan. 11.
Obviously, it’s never good to lose a star player to an injury of any kind, but one does wonder if Zimmerman being off the floor allows some of Quinnipiac’s role players to develop in their spots. Zimmerman and reigning MAAC Player of the Year Amarri Monroe carried so much of an offensive load early in the season that finding a third consistent option was somewhat of a concern at one point.
I mentioned Asim Jones developing into that last time, and that has continued. Freshman Keith McKnight continues to provide offense in doses as well.
Regardless of scoring, the Bobcats are really feeling the loss of Paul Otieno on the glass. Quinnipiac went from the 27th-ranked defensive rebounding team in the country last season to now being 326th. Part of that is the schedule. Part of it is Monroe having to take more of the minutes at the five and not having Otieno next to him.
If there’s a concern for Quinnipiac right now, it’s that — especially with a matchup against Marist, a great rebounding team, coming up.
Iona
Iona’s win over Vermont without CJ Anthony was one of the most impressive performances by a MAAC team in the month of December. Yes, Vermont doesn’t have a great defense, but it does reinforce the Gaels’ offensive prowess to only make six 3s without your top scorer and assist man, but still drop 1.22 points per possession.
Even though he didn’t score, it may have been Alliou Fall’s most impressive performance as the Gaels utilized him as one of their offensive hubs on some possessions. Toby Harris has been dynamite off the bench and is one of the frontrunners for Sixth Player of the Year. I’m not sure he’ll attempt 10 free throws in a game again all year, though.
Lamin Sabally climbed up the scouting report in November and is starting to see different looks. As a senior, he’s playing a role that he’s never played before, and thus has to read the game differently and in more evolutions than ever. That’s hard, but I’m looking forward to seeing how he grows.
Vermont was Keshawn Williams’ best game of the season, something Iona really needed for some backcourt punch. He and Denver Anglin probably have more of their best basketball in an Iona uniform ahead of them.
I think Iona might have the highest ceiling in the conference. They’re the top offensive team per KenPom, also rank in the top 200 in defense, and have had more “freight train” moments than anybody else in the league. While Dan Geriot has had to adjust to the college game, he’s also made the college game adjust to him.
Siena
This won’t be the last time I mention a statistic like this. Siena is 0-4 against teams in KenPom’s Top 200, and 9-0 against teams outside of it. The good news? Most of the MAAC is outside of it. The bad news? In order to win the MAAC, you have to beat the top teams.
Despite that, I’m not really concerned about Siena. Now, it’s important that the Saints be fully healthy in the frontcourt. Tassie Goodrick and Riley Mulvey didn’t play in the game against Indiana. Francis Folefac has been a revelation as a freshman, but he’s more impactful on winning when he’s used in doses in a rotation where he’s not playing 30 minutes. He makes you play a certain style offensively, and isn’t as good on the glass as Chandler or Goodrick.
Siena ranks seven spots higher offensively than it did last season, despite Brendan Coyle shooting just 29% from three so far. The Saints can still score off of his gravity when he’s not making shots, but it just makes them so much more dangerous when the shots do fall. It can also bail Siena out of a game where it really needs another pulse.
Gerry McNamara’s team has impressed me with its defensive discipline throughout the year, even if Gus Yalden and Vermont tore it apart. Siena’s matchup with Iona on January 2 will be an interesting test of the defensive discipline, as the Gaels play a fairly unique offensive style for the MAAC.
Merrimack
Sacred Heart’s first opponent in conference play will be a Merrimack team that hasn’t played since Dec. 14 in Vermont. The Warriors swept Fairfield and Rider as part of a four-game winning streak to enter that Vermont game.
It’s pretty simple to read thus far. Merrimack is 6-0 against teams ranked below 230th on KenPom, and is 0-7 against teams ranked higher than that. Now, that’s a little unfair, considering none of those seven games were at home.
The zone probably still isn’t performing up to its usual standards. Yet, over the last five games, Merrimack has forced 23 more turnovers than it has given away, which is much closer to the expectation inside the program. Kevair Kennedy’s growth as the point guard has been fast, now averaging over 15 points per game on the season. Additionally, Merrimack’s 3-point shooters have been inconsistent, but it was like that last season as well.
To me, the next evolution of this Merrimack team is when it blends the right amount of Todd Brogna into the mix. He’s averaging 8.7 points in wins and 2.9 points in losses. As Joe Gallo said in the preseason, he’s much better suited to playing the five in the MAAC than in the non-conference.
Sacred Heart
I sat with Anthony Latina in the Sacred Heart locker room after Towson went on a 35-6 run to close out a win in the non-conference finale. The Pioneers used two timeouts in the first half, so Latina hesitated on using one as the Tigers started their run in the second.
“In retrospect, a timeout would probably have been the move there,” he said. “But because we only had two, and we were so close to the media, we were seeing if we could get to the media still in decent shape.”
He also mentioned that he wasn’t sure if taking the timeout would’ve helped, as Towson began to flex its physical advantage in a game that Sacred Heart was playing without its two starting forwards. Latina doesn’t expect the absences for Anquan Hill or Yann Farell to carry on much longer, and they need that inside-out game to help the guards on both ends of the floor.
Mekhi Conner has had his big games, but hasn’t been consistent as a second-year point guard. Latina encourages him to shoot when teams go under his ball screens, and it’s a game-changer when he can make a few of those. But as a 27% career 3-point shooter, he’s shot Sacred Heart out of a few games.
Latina didn’t want to give a grade to the overall non-conference portion of the season. He cited a few close losses that “change the perception of it,” but also acknowledged that his team has to play better.
What I wrote before the season is still true. So many players on this team can go out and change the game offensively on a given night. It’s about identifying the right matchups, spacing the floor, and playing just enough defense.
Fairfield
No team has raised its stock in the MAAC more than Fairfield since the final buzzer sounded on Dec. 7. The Stags were 0-2 and had just played an entire game with only four players scoring – until the final seconds – in a loss to Merrimack. Since then, Fairfield pulled out a gutty win over Monmouth and blew the doors off of Central Connecticut in New Britain. It also won a non-Division I game.
Braden Sparks is leading the MAAC in scoring with 18.2 points per contest. The top two rebounders in the league on a per-game basis are the freshman bigs, Brandon Benjamin and Declan Wucherpfennig. Benjamin missed the CCNY game with a hand injury that “isn’t believed to be serious,” per the TV broadcast.
Chris Casey was extremely disappointed with how his team rebounded last season. It was paramount for him to have the Stags end defensive possessions after the first shot, as it allows them to run in transition. We’ve seen much more of that this year, as the Stags are the top rebounding squad in the MAAC coming out of non-conference play.
The Stags have played five different starting lineups this year. The one that it used for the Monmouth and CCSU games is the most fascinating, as it surrounded Sparks with four freshmen. Deuce Turner came off the bench for most of his career and has scored 11 points in back-to-back games off the bench after putting up goose eggs against Monmouth and Merrimack.
Saint Peter’s
Another year, another non-conference schedule with only seven Division I opponents for Saint Peter’s. The Peacocks have played just one Division I game since the wins over Canisius and Niagara, and it was a battle with Georgetown on the road.
The Peacocks’ matchup with Fairfield on Monday is an especially intriguing one. As previously mentioned, Fairfield is on the upswing, and Saint Peter’s is looking to build off of its 2-0 start in conference play. Bashir Mason’s team has dealt with a bunch of different injuries over the course of the season and has already played six different starting lineups through the first ten games.
The Peacocks have to go with a pretty deep rotation because of how much they foul – not a new phenomenon for a Mason team. Lucas Scroggins, Bol Agu, Zaakir Williamson, Jahki Gupton, and, when he’s been healthy, J’Quan Ewing have cycled in and out of the forward spots.
In the backcourt, there are two key differences from last season. First, Bryce Eaton went from a .89 assist-to-turnover ratio to a 2.15 this year. And second, TJ Robinson is a legit second ball handling option that can score and playmake next to Eaton, or when Eaton is off the floor.
Mount St. Mary’s
I’ve kept my hands off the panic button for the Mount this year despite a 4-9 overall record and a 0-2 start to MAAC play. Mount St. Mary’s also faces one of the more difficult schedules over the next five games of anybody in the MAAC, with Iona, Merrimack, Quinnipiac, Saint Peter’s, and Siena on the docket. That’s why I probably won’t be in full-on panic mode even if the team goes 2-3 in those games and sits at 2-5 in MAAC play heading into the Buffalo trip.
There are some unsolvable issues with this group. It’s going to turn the ball over a ton, and it’s not going to force a ton of turnovers. Donny Lind has tried to assuage that unfavorable arithmetic by leaning much more on outside shooting this season. But I also think that Luke McEldon is one of the few true centers with legit size in the conference, and that can be used to the team’s advantage once he returns from injury – he’s missed the last two games.
But the team’s reliance on the 3-pointer isn’t an accident. Xavier Lipscomb and Justin Amadi are the only two players who really get to the line a lot, and Amadi isn’t exactly a good foul shooter. Can the Mount get more consistency from its guards as a whole? How does bringing Anthony Arrington back into the mix help that?
We’ll have to see quickly.
Manhattan
In 2022-23, Manhattan was 4-10 before turning to a zone defense as its primary defense. It helped then-interim coach RaShawn Stores control the game a little bit more, and the Jaspers played .500 ball the rest of the year, including winning five MAAC road games.
This season, John Gallagher has turned to a zone defense – in fact, a few different zone defenses – to try to offset the Jaspers’ lack of size and overall individual defensive capability. Unlike the 2023 zone though, this Manhattan team is okay with it being a faster-paced game, even with the zone. At the end of the day, that’s how a team built on its offense will thrive.
Devin Dinkins and Jaden Winston are each shooting 38% from beyond the arc, the key to the offense so far. The key to the offense in January though, will be Fraser Roxburgh playing at his best. He’s scored in the single digits in the last three games and is just six for his last 29 from deep. Roxburgh is a better player than that, and he needs to provide that offensive boost alongside the guards.
I’m also looking forward to seeing how the MAAC game suits Anthony Isaac, who played poorly in both games against Fairfield and Marist, but has been one of the team’s key pieces this year. How much differently are we looking at the Jaspers if they win one or both of the overtime games against Wagner and Army and are sitting at 7-6 instead of 5-8? On the flip side, is that lack of late-game execution in both of those games just a variance issue? Or is it part of a trend like we may have seen emerging in Hawaii?
Canisius
Do you want me to say it again? Canisius is 5-0 against teams outside of KenPom’s top 300 (including non-D1), and 0-8 against teams in KenPom’s top 300. I’ve also said throughout the year that that’s important progress for a program that won just three games in total last year and was missing a key piece in Marcus Niblack for most of non-conference play.
Now, the Griffs get a week and a half off for Christmas before facing Fairfield and Sacred Heart with a healthy Niblack. Canisius only has one game against the MAAC’s top 4 KenPom teams out of the next eight games. That should give the team a chance to sneak some wins in the first part of conference play.
My biggest question for the Griffs offensively is how much does Niblack open up for the rest of the team? Can that return make it easier for players like Bryan Ndjonga to create effective offense? Will it speed up the development of the freshmen? Or relegate them to the bench?
Rider
Still winless against Division I competition, Rider limps into conference play ranked 349th in KenPom. The Broncs are dead last in the country in effective field goal percentage, 364th in 3-point percentage, and 363rd in 2-point percentage. That sums to the 360th-ranked offense in the sport on KenPom, and 362nd in points per game.
Where does Rider go from here, you might ask? The Broncs aren’t going on the Buffalo trip this year; that is good for travel purposes. But, bad for the fact that they’ll only get one game against the other two worst teams in the league. And those games come in late February.
The Broncs host Siena, Marist, and Iona before the first half of January is done. It’s hard to call anything a must-win game in the first month of the year, but Rider’s “easiest” game of the next 14 is the Manhattan matchup on Monday.
I could go on and list some of the poor offensive metrics for Rider’s players, but I do think it’s important to highlight what Rider has done well. Shemani Fuller and Caleb Smith are impacting the game on the glass, as is Mo Diallo. If Rider wasn’t 124th in offensive rebounding rate, the Broncs’ offense would be in an even more dire state than it is right now.
Zion Cruz had six assists against VCU, his most in a game since early last January. If he can continue that, and take some of the playmaking load off of Flash Burton’s shoulders, maybe scoring becomes easier for both of them.
Niagara
Niagara got a pick-me-up win over a non-D1 opponent heading into Christmas break, but has lost eight Division I games in a row and sits 3-9.
Its top two players by On-Off splits are low-usage players Josiah Sabino and Kabeya Tshibangu, and its third-highest ranked On-Off player is energizing scoring guard Trenton Walters, who has missed the last five games with injury.
The Purple Eagles are allowing opponents to shoot 10.8% better from distance than what they are shooting themselves, an issue that has compounded with Walters, the team’s best 3-point shooter, being hurt.
Somebody or something needs to ignite this team, or else it will be two straight years missing the MAAC Tournament for Niagara.
Aston Villa Have Already Made Initial Contacts To Sign This German Veteran: A Good Choice For Emery?
Aston Villa are looking to strengthen the team in the January transfer window. The Premier League club are very interested in signing Barcelona keeper Marc-André ter Stegen. A report from Radio Marca says the Birmingham club has already made contact about the German international.
Ter Stegen transfer saga:
Ter Stegen currently struggles to get regular games in Spain. Because of that, the 33-year-old is searching for a way out. Joan García is the top choice for the Catalan giants this season. Ter Stegen has had a massive career with six La Liga titles and plenty of European experience.
Even so, he isn’t interested in sitting on the bench at this point in his career. On top of that, what happens with Emiliano Martínez plays a big part in this move. The Argentine World Cup winner is still a target for several top European clubs.
If Martínez does leave Villa Park, the club would need someone with just as much experience right away. Ter Stegen fits that mould perfectly because of his passing skills and leadership.
VILLARREAL, SPAIN – DECEMBER 21: Marc-Andre ter Stegen of FC Barcelona warms up prior to the LaLiga EA Sports match between Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio de la Ceramica on December 21, 2025 in Villarreal, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Right now, Unai Emery’s side is third in the Premier League. They need experienced players to keep up this push for a Champions League spot during a tough second half of the season. Plus, Barcelona seem happy to let the move happen.
The board wants to move on players who aren’t starting to clear up some cash for new signings. Since Ter Stegen is on high wages but barely plays for Hansi Flick, letting him go helps the Spanish club’s finances. In the end, a move to England works for everyone. It gives the German keeper the start he wants and gives Villa a proven winner in goal.
Opinion: Do Aston Villa Need Ter Stegen?
Aston Villa should only go after Ter Stegen if Emiliano Martínez actually leaves in January. If they bring in the German veteran while keeping Martínez, it would just leave them with two expensive keepers, which would mess with the team’s chemistry. However, if the Argentine moves on, Ter Stegen is a great, affordable option who brings immediate stability.
Michigan was put in a tough spot when revelations of an improper relationship forced the exit of coach Sherrone Moore after the coaching carousel had largely come to a stop.
While the Wolverines made it clear they planned to conduct a full search to try to reset the program, doing so in mid-to-late December comes with fewer replacement options and a very small window to make a hire.
Michigan's search reached a conclusion on Friday, and the result was a coach many believed was retired. The Wolverines agreed to hire former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, who stepped down after 21 seasons at the helm of the Utes on Dec. 12.
Here's what you need to know about Michigan's decision to hire Whittingham after Moore's unexpected firing.
In many ways, Whittingham can be viewed as a stopgap option. He is in his late 60s and at least weighed retirement in recent years. That could be exactly what Michigan was looking for, despite its prestige and championship expectations.
Interim coach Biff Poggi told reporters after Moore's firing and arrest that the program has been a "malfunctioning organization" for five years and required a "massive self-examination." Whittingham may be year-to-year at Michigan at his age, but after running a mostly clean program at Utah for more than two decades and winning plenty of games while doing so, he might be the ideal candidate to reset the Wolverines.
Whittingham said he had anticipated retiring after the 2024 season but wanted to return for at least one more run because of a disappointing finish. As expected, Whittingham stepped down after going 10-2 this past season, but he didn't label the decision a retirement, telling reporters recently that he was "in the transfer portal."
Whether Whittingham envisioned becoming the next head coach at Michigan or not, the Wolverines are giving him the chance to steady the ship and finish his coaching career at a premier program after more than two decades of winning at Utah.
Here's a look at some of the other candidates Michigan considered:
Jeff Brohm
Reports tied Michigan to Louisville coach Jeff Brohm in recent days, and Brohm unintentionally fed into the rumors when he told reporters, "I don't speak on other jobs," after the Cardinals' Boca Raton Bowl win over Toledo.
Brohm, who had success at Purdue before returning to his alma mater three years ago, was "directly contacted" by Michigan, 247 Sports reported.
Alabama coach Kaleb DeBoer was one of the earliest targets of Michigan's search as some wondered whether Ann Arbor might be a better fit for Nick Saban's successor, but the Crimson Tide's playoff win over Oklahoma delayed the timeline of a potential exit, and DeBoer himself quelled rumors by telling reports he had "no plans of talking with anyone" at Michigan.
Kenny Dillingham
Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham was reported as a potential candidate for Michigan, but he agreed to a new contract extension with the Sun Devils after the Wolverines job opened up and told reporters he never received a formal offer from Michigan.
Whittingham agreed to a five-year contract, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported, with the deal worth $8.2 million annually.
Whittingham is set to make $8 million in 2026, and the contract is 75 percent guaranteed.
While Whittingham may be viewed as a stopgap option after the Moore scandal, the five-year deal indicates Michigan at least plans to move forward with the veteran coach for more than one or two seasons.
Who will coach Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl
Now that Whittingham is headed to Michigan, ESPN's Pete Thamel reports that he won't coach Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl in Nebraska. Instead Morgan Scalley, Utah's replacement for Whittingham in 2026, will serve as the head coach.
How old is Kyle Whittingham?
Whittingham turned 66 in November, making him one of the oldest FBS head coaches.
A BYU graduate who got his coaching start as a graduate assistant with the Cougars, Whittingham spent a whopping 32 seasons at Utah. He started his Utes tenure as defensive line coach in 1994 before taking over as defensive coordinator in 1995. Urban Meyer retained Whittingham when he took over the program in 2003, and Whittingham took the reins after Meyer's departure for Florida at the end of the 2004 season.
Why did Kyle Whittingham leave Utah?
Whittingham said he strongly considered retiring after the 2024 season but "couldn't step away on that note," referencing a disappointing 5-7 season. After a 10-win campaign in 2025, Whittingham stepped away as many expected.
"The time is right to step down from my position as the head football coach at the University of Utah," he said in a statement, offering few details.
While many initially believed Whittingham was retiring, reports indicated he planned to keep his options open, and the veteran coach himself later said he was "in the transfer portal."
Whittingham may have simply viewed this juncture as the right time for a change after 32 years at Utah and 21 as the head coach. His defensive coordinator, Morgan Scalley, had already been labeled Utah's coach-in-waiting, so a succession plan was in place. Whittingham's decision to exit came two days after Moore's firing at Michigan, so the Wolverines' opening could have been in the back of his mind.
Here's a season-by-season breakdown of Whittingham's tenure at Utah:
Season
W
L
Pct.
2004
1
0
1.000
2005
7
5
.583
2006
8
5
.615
2007
9
4
.692
2008
13
0
1.000
2009
10
3
.769
2010
10
3
.769
2011
8
5
.615
2012
5
7
.417
2013
5
7
.417
2014
9
4
.692
2015
10
3
.769
2016
9
4
.692
2017
7
6
.538
2018
9
5
.643
2019
11
3
.786
2020
3
2
.600
2021
10
4
.714
2022
10
4
.714
2023
8
5
.615
2024
5
7
.417
2025
10
2
.833
Career
177
88
.668
Whittingham had only three losing seasons at Utah, winning at least 10 games in eight different seasons.
Whittingham guided the Utes to an undefeated season in the Mountain West in 2008 and won back-to-back conference titles in the Pac-12 between 2021 and 2022.
Whittingham ranks as the fourth-oldest head coach in the FBS:
Coach
Age
School
Bill Belichick
73
North Carolina
Kirk Ferentz
70
Iowa
K.C. Keeler
66
Temple
Kyle Whittingham
66
Michigan
Willie Fritz
65
Houston
Curt Cignetti
64
Indiana
Jim Mora
64
Colorado State
Rich Rodriguez
62
West Virginia
Sherrone Moore Michigan scandal
Michigan wasn't expected to make a head coaching change after going 9-3 in 2025, but Moore was fired on Dec. 10 after the university received evidence of a longstanding relationship between the coach and a staffer.
Reports have since alleged that the relationship began before Moore succeeded Jim Harbaugh as head coach in 2024 and that the relationship was rumored within the facility. Moore is married with three children.
Hours after being fired, Moore was arrested for allegedly breaking into the home of the woman with whom he was involved in the improper relationship and threatening to take his own life. Moore was hit with three charges on Dec. 12, including felony home invasion.
More reports in the wake of Moore's firing have detailed the erosion of relationships within Michigan's program, with The Athletic alleging Moore became "increasingly volatile" in the months leading up to his firing to the point that "fellow staff members became concerned about his mental state.
In a vote that ended Dec. 26, Cincinnati.com readers selected the 2025-2026 Cincinnati Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Athletes of the Week from high school sports action through Dec. 21.
Winners can print their certificates from this week starting Monday and other weeks now using this Drop Box link. Send a photo of the winners with their certificates for our photo gallery.
Ohio big-school boys basketball team:St. Xavier – The Bombers are winners of three straight after wins against Trotwood Madison and Ballard.
Ohio small-school boys basketball team:Norwood – Norwood grabbed two wins, slipping by St. Bernard-Elmwood Place before pounding New Richmond.
Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys basketball team:Grant Country – Grant County is 7-1 and beat Williamstown, Western Hills and Franklin County last week.
Ohio big-school girls basketball team:Ursuline Academy – Ursuline Academy went on the road and took down Summit Country Day, 50-43.
Ohio small-school girls basketball team:Monroe – Monroe claimed a pair of wins over Ross and Cincinnati Christian, building out a four-game winning streak.
Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls basketball team:St. Henry – The Crusaders won two games at the Mercer Tourism Christmas Clash, beating Mercer County and Casey County.
Boys winter team: Elder bowling – The Panthers won the Holiday Classic, beating Hamilton, Milford and Miamisburg in the bracket as the No. 5 seed.
Girls winter team:Taylor bowling – The Jackets beat Reading 2,009-721 and Deer Park 1,943-1,722 to improve to 5-0 for the season.
Ohio big-school boys basketball:Johnny Vieth, St. Xavier – He was the MVP of the game in a 74-55 win over Trotwood-Madison with 22 points and six rebounds.
Ohio small-school boys basketball:Matthew Dick, Eastern – He had 24 points on 11-of-13 shooting plus nine rebounds and three blocks, in a 69-47 win over Whiteoak.
Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys basketball:Dylan Topmiller, Beechwood – He averaged 23 points, 5.7 rebounds and four assists in three Tigers wins, including 30 points against Conner.
Ohio big-school girls basketball:Makenna Bowman, Kings – She had 12 points, five rebounds and four assists in a comeback win over Anderson.
Ohio small-school girls basketball:Bella Kelly, Blanchester – She had 20 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and two assists in a win over Felicity-Franklin.
Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls basketball:Anna Bain, St. Henry – She had 15 points and four rebounds in a win over Pendleton County, then had 14 points and two rebounds in a win over Mercer County at the Mercer Tourism Christmas Clash.
Boys big-school bowling:Jace Amann, La Salle – He had games of 255 and 224 in the first GCL South Quad match of the season at Northwest Lanes.
Boys small-school bowling:Josh Royse, Deer Park – He had games of 230 and 218 in a win over Taylor.
Girls big-school bowling:Mary Hollon, Simon Kenton – She finished second in the Boone County singles tournament.
Girls small-school bowling:Lucy Heringer, Deer Park – She had games of 156 and 151 in a win over Madeira.
Ohio boys swimming/diving:John Larson, Talawanda – He improved his 100-yard butterfly time to win in 54.99 seconds and took fifth place in the 100-yard breaststroke in a new season’s best of 1:13.94 at Butler.
Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys swimming/diving:Zach Kelley, Campbell County – He took fifth place in the 50-yard freestyle in 25.03 seconds and sixth place in the 100-yard freestyle in 55.56 seconds at the St. Henry Winter Classic.
Ohio girls swimming/diving:Maddie Roos, Seton – She won the 50-yard freestyle in 25.78 seconds, took second place in the 100-yard butterfly and swam on two top-two relays at Butler.
Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls swimming/diving:Jessica Shoemaker, Campbell County – She improved her times in both the 50-yard freestyle (27.49 seconds) and the 500-yard freestyle (6:02.6) at St. Henry.
Boys wrestling:Luke Freund, Wyoming – The senior went 5-0 to win the 285-pound title at the SWOWCA Coaches Classic and is 15-0 for the year with 14 pins.
Ohio girls wrestling:Laylla Sears, Blanchester – At the Washington Court House Queen of the Jungle, Sears went 4-0 in the 100-pound pool with three pins.
Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls wrestling:Peyton Brinkman, Ryle – Brinkman took first at 107 pounds in the Cardinal Clash, going 4-0 including two pins and a tech fall.
If you win, what's next?
The Enquirer will no longer mail certificates to schools after getting feedback that families weren't receiving them. Alex Harrison will make digital copies of all certificates available to families by 8 a.m. the Monday after the Friday win. Families will access the PDFs through this public Dropbox link.
Once printed, families can email a photo of athletes with their certificates to Melanie Laughman at mlaughman@enquirer.com, through Messenger on Facebook, or tag her on X at @mlaughman. We'll put those images in a photo gallery.
In a vote that ended Dec. 26, Cincinnati.com readers selected the 2025-2026 Cincinnati Enquirer/Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Athletes of the Week from high school sports action through Dec. 21.
Winners can print their certificates from this week starting Monday and other weeks now using this Drop Box link. Send a photo of the winners with their certificates for our photo gallery.
Ohio big-school boys basketball team:St. Xavier – The Bombers are winners of three straight after wins against Trotwood Madison and Ballard.
Ohio small-school boys basketball team:Norwood – Norwood grabbed two wins, slipping by St. Bernard-Elmwood Place before pounding New Richmond.
Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys basketball team:Grant Country – Grant County is 7-1 and beat Williamstown, Western Hills and Franklin County last week.
Ohio big-school girls basketball team:Ursuline Academy – Ursuline Academy went on the road and took down Summit Country Day, 50-43.
Ohio small-school girls basketball team:Monroe – Monroe claimed a pair of wins over Ross and Cincinnati Christian, building out a four-game winning streak.
Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls basketball team:St. Henry – The Crusaders won two games at the Mercer Tourism Christmas Clash, beating Mercer County and Casey County.
Boys winter team: Elder bowling – The Panthers won the Holiday Classic, beating Hamilton, Milford and Miamisburg in the bracket as the No. 5 seed.
Girls winter team:Taylor bowling – The Jackets beat Reading 2,009-721 and Deer Park 1,943-1,722 to improve to 5-0 for the season.
Ohio big-school boys basketball:Johnny Vieth, St. Xavier – He was the MVP of the game in a 74-55 win over Trotwood-Madison with 22 points and six rebounds.
Ohio small-school boys basketball:Matthew Dick, Eastern – He had 24 points on 11-of-13 shooting plus nine rebounds and three blocks, in a 69-47 win over Whiteoak.
Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys basketball:Dylan Topmiller, Beechwood – He averaged 23 points, 5.7 rebounds and four assists in three Tigers wins, including 30 points against Conner.
Ohio big-school girls basketball:Makenna Bowman, Kings – She had 12 points, five rebounds and four assists in a comeback win over Anderson.
Ohio small-school girls basketball:Bella Kelly, Blanchester – She had 20 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and two assists in a win over Felicity-Franklin.
Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls basketball:Anna Bain, St. Henry – She had 15 points and four rebounds in a win over Pendleton County, then had 14 points and two rebounds in a win over Mercer County at the Mercer Tourism Christmas Clash.
Boys big-school bowling:Jace Amann, La Salle – He had games of 255 and 224 in the first GCL South Quad match of the season at Northwest Lanes.
Boys small-school bowling:Josh Royse, Deer Park – He had games of 230 and 218 in a win over Taylor.
Girls big-school bowling:Mary Hollon, Simon Kenton – She finished second in the Boone County singles tournament.
Girls small-school bowling:Lucy Heringer, Deer Park – She had games of 156 and 151 in a win over Madeira.
Ohio boys swimming/diving:John Larson, Talawanda – He improved his 100-yard butterfly time to win in 54.99 seconds and took fifth place in the 100-yard breaststroke in a new season’s best of 1:13.94 at Butler.
Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys swimming/diving:Zach Kelley, Campbell County – He took fifth place in the 50-yard freestyle in 25.03 seconds and sixth place in the 100-yard freestyle in 55.56 seconds at the St. Henry Winter Classic.
Ohio girls swimming/diving:Maddie Roos, Seton – She won the 50-yard freestyle in 25.78 seconds, took second place in the 100-yard butterfly and swam on two top-two relays at Butler.
Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls swimming/diving:Jessica Shoemaker, Campbell County – She improved her times in both the 50-yard freestyle (27.49 seconds) and the 500-yard freestyle (6:02.6) at St. Henry.
Boys wrestling:Luke Freund, Wyoming – The senior went 5-0 to win the 285-pound title at the SWOWCA Coaches Classic and is 15-0 for the year with 14 pins.
Ohio girls wrestling:Laylla Sears, Blanchester – At the Washington Court House Queen of the Jungle, Sears went 4-0 in the 100-pound pool with three pins.
Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls wrestling:Peyton Brinkman, Ryle – Brinkman took first at 107 pounds in the Cardinal Clash, going 4-0 including two pins and a tech fall.
If you win, what's next?
The Enquirer will no longer mail certificates to schools after getting feedback that families weren't receiving them. Alex Harrison will make digital copies of all certificates available to families by 8 a.m. the Monday after the Friday win. Families will access the PDFs through this public Dropbox link.
Once printed, families can email a photo of athletes with their certificates to Melanie Laughman at mlaughman@enquirer.com, through Messenger on Facebook, or tag her on X at @mlaughman. We'll put those images in a photo gallery.
The Atlanta Falcons have designated defensive lineman Sam Roberts to return from the injured reserve list, opening his practice window ahead of the team's Week 17 game against the Los Angeles Rams. Roberts is still technically on IR but can be activated at any time.
The 27-year-old was placed on the injured reserve list due to ankle and knee injuries back in Week 11. Roberts has appeared in five games this season, recording 18 tackles (six solo), two QB hits and one sack. The veteran defensive lineman was originally selected by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft.
After spending his first two seasons with the Patriots, Roberts landed with the Carolina Panthers in 2024. The Falcons poached Roberts off the Panthers' practice squad in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season.
The team also designated cornerback Clark Phillips III to return from IR. Check out the Falcons' updated 53-man roster and practice squad entering Week 17.
The Falcons will look to secure their third straight win on Monday night, although defeating the 11-4 Rams will be no easy feat. Atlanta still has a chance to match last season's win total of 8-9, which could go a long way in helping head coach Raheem Morris keep his job.
Monday's game starts at 8:15 p.m. ET inside Mercees-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The list includes starting nickel cornerback Jourdan Lewis, who was placed on injured reserve Thursday due to a foot injury. Lewis is not expected to return this year, but will remain involved with the franchise.
The Jaguars entered this week with a slew of injuries, including to three defensive backs, Lewis and cornerbacks Montaric Brown and Greg Newsome II. Both Brown and Newsome are good to go after being sidelined a little this week due to neck and shoulder injuries, respectively.
Brown practiced limited all week, while Newsome missed practice on Wednesday due to a personal matter before returning to practice on Thursday. Both players were removed from the injury report on Friday.
Though defensive tackle Arik Armstead was not seen during the media availability portion of practice on Friday, the team removed him from the injury report, noting that he was out on Friday due to an illness.
The Jaguars did get good news this week, though. Rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten practiced limited all week and was designated as questionable on Friday. It appears Tuten could be ready to play next week, if not this week, after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured finger.
Jacksonville listed just six players with injury statuses, including Lewis, who is mandated by the league to remain on the injury report even though he went on IR.
Here's the team's Friday, Week 17 injury report ahead of their game vs. the Colts.
Jaguars Week 17 game-status report vs. Colts
Here's the Jaguars' injury updates as of 12/26/25:
Note: We will not include Lewis among those ruled out on Sunday, as he is already on IR and has no possibility of playing.
C Robert Hainsey (groin) - Questionable
RB Bhayshul Tuten (finger) - Questionable
LB Jalen McLeod (ankle) - Out
G Patrick Mekari (back) - Out - It's expected that OL Walker Little will start at right guard in place of Mekari.
The festive week has finally come around for Liverpool after their last win to Tottenham on Saturday, and the club has enjoyed some much needed rest and relaxation, including having the rare Christmas Day holiday off due to not having a Boxing Day match. That means that the next match is on Saturday, this time hosting Wolves at Anfield in what will no doubt be an emotional meeting.
Captain Virgil van Dijk reflected in his final program notes of the year, looking back on all the good, the incredible, and the tragic that was 2025 in the world of Liverpool Football Club.
“I want to start by wishing each and every one of you guys a very Merry Christmas,” wrote the captain.
“This is a very special time of year, of course, and I hope you all enjoy it as much as possible, however you celebrate it.
“Because of the schedule, we were able to have Christmas Day off. I think that is the first time that has happened since I came to England and it was great to spend that time with my family and really enjoy the day.
“Saturday marks our last fixture of 2025 and when I reflect back on the year there have been a wide range of emotions for everybody at the club. There have been some incredible highs, of course. To become Premier League champions, as we did back in April, was incredible. Lifting that trophy in front of you guys at Anfield is a memory that I will never forget, I can assure you. It was a real team effort and a deserved reward for a season of hard work, on and off the pitch.
“Soon after that, though, came the most devastating of lows. The loss of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in July was something none of us could ever have prepared for, and something all of us are still coming to terms with.
“Our thoughts, as ever, remain with Diogo and Andre’s family. They will never, ever be forgotten, and we will carry their memory always.
“In terms of football, this season has been mixed, to say the least. We have seen a lot of changes in terms of the squad, with players leaving and new players arriving, and I think it’s fair to say that we have not yet shown our very best, in terms of consistency.
“We have had some good games and some memorable victories, still, but it has also been extremely challenging, with some really tough moments along the way. As captain, trust me when I say I feel those tough moments as much as anyone.”
At least the lads were able to stop the skid but losing 9 out of 12 in all competitions was not a great moment for the season. There was often criticism that it appeared that the squad was too unaffected by the losses, so the actual admission is a nice touch. Van Dijk then goes on to focus on the upcoming challenges of the rest of the season, as we head into the second half of the campaign, starting with Wolves. Wolves, who have yet to win a match in the Premier League, despite their best efforts, but the captain is sure to acknowledge that a win might not be as easy as some expect.
“Now though, the focus is solely on Saturday’s game against Wolverhampton Wanderers, where we will be looking to build on some positive recent results, and end the year on a high in front of our supporters at Anfield,” the defender continued.
“I know that a lot of people will be looking at this game, looking at our opponents’ position in the league table and expecting us to win, but we know that this will be an extremely tough game against a team which will have a lot of motivation.
“We come into this game off the back of an important win at Tottenham last weekend, but we accept that even in victory, there were clear areas for improvement in terms of our performance level. Liverpool fac WWe did a lot of things well down in north London, but we know that the last 10 or 15 minutes were far from our best, and we have to keep working hard each and every day to improve, because in the Premier League, sloppiness is punished more often than not.
“That said, we are all looking forward to getting out there on Saturday afternoon, and I know we can bank on your fantastic support as ever.
“Let’s finish the year on a high.”
Wolves come to visit Anfield on Saturday, December 27, at 5:30pm BST/12:30pm EST.
DETROIT (AP) — Preston Stone threw three touchdown passes and Northwestern turned four turnovers into touchdowns and beat Cent. Michigan in the GameAbove Sports Bowl at Ford Field.
The Wildcats (7-6) extended their bowl game winning streak to six. They haven’t lost in the postseason since a 45-6 loss to Pittsburgh in the 2015 Outback Bowl.
Central Michigan (7-6) is 0-3 against the Big Ten in bowl games, with all three losses coming at Ford Field. The Chippewas lost 51-48 to Purdue in the 2007 Motor City Bowl and 21-14 to Minnesota in the 2015 Quick Lane Bowl.
Central Michigan had the first scoring opportunity of the game after stopping Northwestern on 4th-and-1 at the Wildcats 34, but Cade Graham missed a 43-yard field goal attempt.
The game was still scoreless midway through the second quarter, but Braden Turner intercepted Angel Flores’ pass at the Central Michigan 29. Three plays later, Stone threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Griffin Wilde to give the Wildcats a 7-0 lead.
Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has a strong admirer in SC Freiburg’s Noah Atubolu.
Atubolu, 23, is one of several up-and-coming keepers in the Germany ranks and a potential successor down the line to, well, whoever starts at the World Cup next summer. Oliver Baumann is 35. Marc-André ter Stegen is 33, and risking his spot on the national team by not playing for Barça and not leaving, either.
And then, of course, there is Neuer. Whether he comes out of retirement or not, he’s got GOATed status and rightfully so. For Atubolu, he is a model to follow.
“I’m learning a lot from him. For me, he’s the best goalkeeper there’s ever been,” Atubolu said in remarks captured by Sky Germany (via @iMiaSanMia). “He completely changed the game. He’s a completely different goalkeeper than anyone else, with a completely different technique, a unique technique.
“I also honestly ask a lot of questions about Manu, for example, to [Germany GKs coach Andreas Kronenberger]. I’m interested in how he lives, how he trains, because even from a distance, I can still learn a lot from him. I watch his matches or highlights and pay attention to what he does in which situations, and I can also learn a lot from the games against Bayern.”
Atubolu may have to battle Neuer’s designated Bayern successor, Jonas Urbig, in future national team call-ups. But that is an issue for another day. For now, he’s in his third straight season starting and starring for Freiburg in the Bundesliga, and featuring in Germany’s youth setup.
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…
Gary Neville claims Amorim decision has left Man United “all out at sea” in the second half
Manchester United are currently leading 1-0 against Newcastle United in the Premier League.
Patrick Dorgu scored midway through the first half to hand his side the lead. Manchester United did reasonably well during the first half, but they are struggling right now. Newcastle United have been all over the home team in the second half, and the job has only become harder for the Red Devils after their recent substitutions.
Ruben Amorim has made changes in the second half
Amorim brought on Joshua Zirkzee to replace Benjamin Sesko, and Casemiro made way for Leny Yoro around the hour mark.
Neville told the BBC: “Newcastle were on top anyway, but I’d be very surprised if this goes well for Man Utd in the next half an hour. They look all out at sea at the moment after those substitutions.”
Ruben Amorim, Manager of Manchester United, gestures during the Premier League match (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
It will be interesting to see if Manchester United can hold onto their lead and grind out a vital three points. They need to pick up wins in these games if they want to compete in the UEFA Champions League next season. A club of their stature should be competing at that level regularly.
Manchester United will have to control the game better in the remaining 30 minutes if they want to get the job done. Newcastle have done really well to push the home back into their box, and they have the quality to find a breakthrough if Manchester United do not end their spell of domination.
The departure of Casemiro in particular seemed baffling as the Brazilian did well to keep the Newcastle attackers under control. He had an impressive first half, and Manchester United should have kept him on.
The player himself looked bewildered while coming off.
Sean Dyche challenges Pep Guardiola on weight-watching approach towards Manchester City stars
Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche has responded to Pep Guardiola’s revelation that Manchester City stars will have their weights monitored this Christmas.
Guardiola’s festive warning became one of the most talked-about moments from City’s 3-0 win over West Ham, with the Catalan coach revealing that every member of his squad was weighed before being allowed time off. Any noticeable increase upon their return, Guardiola insisted, could have direct consequences for team selection.
The comments arrived at a time when City are navigating a crucial period of the season, balancing Premier League ambitions with domestic and European commitments. With Forest next on the fixture list, Guardiola made it clear that professionalism over the holiday period would not be optional, particularly with a demanding schedule looming.
As has been the case throughout Pep Guardiola’s tenure, the remarks were interpreted as both tongue-in-cheek and deadly serious, reinforcing his reputation for strict standards and marginal gains.
Unsurprisingly, the comments drew reactions from outside the Etihad Stadium, including from Manchester City’s upcoming opponents.
Speaking ahead of Nottingham Forest’s clash with Manchester City this weekend, the comments were put to Sean Dyche by reporters, who responded, “Is he weighing himself in do you think?! One rule for one… Come on, Pep,” Dyche responded with a smile.
The former Burnley and Everton coach continued, “I just tell the players to use a bit of common sense, I don’t mind them having a Christmas dinner – why not?
“Sometimes the psychology is as important as anything with athletes. And within reason, you want them to enjoy their Christmas Day, I certainly do.
“But I’m not obsessed with it, and weights, all that sort of stuff, but it’s fair to say I’ve got my eye on it. They’ll be encouraged to enjoy their day, they have got the day off.”
Sean Dyche’s response offered a clear contrast in managerial style, highlighting a more relaxed approach centred on trust and balance rather than strict monitoring. While acknowledging the importance of fitness, the Forest manager suggested mental wellbeing and enjoyment can be just as valuable.
For Pep Guardiola, however, the upcoming trip to Nottingham Forest has already been framed as a litmus test of discipline as much as tactics, and his warning after the West Ham victory explicitly referenced selection decisions for the December 27 fixture.
Whether Guardiola’s no-nonsense approach or Dyche’s emphasis on moderation proves more effective on the pitch will be decided soon enough, but the festive debate around Christmas dinners and weigh-ins has already ensured the build-up is not short of talking points.
GREEN BAY – It will be a battle of backup quarterbacks in the Green Bay Packers’ final home game of the regular season.
Jordan Love has been ruled out against the Baltimore Ravens after dropping out of last week’s game in Chicago with a concussion. Love practiced all week, and receiver Christian Watson indicated he took all the first-team reps Dec. 24 ahead of Saturday night’s kickoff.
Malik Willis is expected to start in Love’s place. Willis missed a practice this week with an illness and injured his shoulder late against Chicago, but he finished the game in overtime. The Packers also downgraded guard Aaron Banks and receiver Savion Williams to questionable because of illness.
Since general manager Brian Gutekunst sent a seventh-round pick to the Tennessee Titans for Willis before last season, Willis has played well in spot duty replacing Love.
For Willis, the game will be a prominent showcase to garner a shot at being an NFL starting quarterback entering his free agency this spring. The Packers likely will be facing Ravens backup quarterback Tyler Huntley with starter Lamar Jackson listed as doubtful because of a back injury.
Coach Matt LaFleur foreshadowed the uncertainty for both teams at quarterback earlier this week, saying he had a worse than usual feel for who the Packers and Ravens would have available.
While the Packers clinched a playoff spot with the Detroit Lions’ loss at Minnesota on Christmas, they remain in contention for an NFC North title. The Packers will win the division if they win their final two games and the Bears lose their final two. The Bears close their season at the San Francisco 49ers this week and home against the Lions in the finale.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Not too long ago, it appeared Saturday’s New Mexico Bowl, pitting No. 23 North Texas against San Diego State, would be all about quarterback uncertainty.
A week ago, Aztecs starting quarterback Jayden Denegal had surgery on his non-throwing shoulder to repair an injury suffered in the season opener. And the Mean Green’s Drew Mestemaker, who led the country in passing yards with 4,129 and had 31 touchdowns, hit the transfer portal.
While Denegal will miss the bowl game and be replaced by Bert Emanuel Jr., redshirt freshman Mestemaker, who rose from unrecruited walk-on to a star who will be able to name his price for name, image and likeness deals, still will play.
“I think for me specifically, I am not one to quit out on the team and kind of leave before we finish something,” Mestemaker said in explaining his decision to play. “I felt like we had more on the table. I didn’t want to go out like how we went out. I know we’re a better football team than how we went out against Tulane, and so my thing was, I wanted to come back, finish this thing the right way and get our 12th win for the season.”
For the Aztecs, Emanuel, a junior transfer from Central Michigan, is the son of former NFL wide receiver Bert Emanuel, who played eight seasons, primarily with the Atlanta Falcons.
Study in contrasts
The game will match the country’s top team in scoring (44.8 points per game) and total offense (504 yards per game) in North Texas (11-2) against stingy San Diego State (9-3), which was fifth in defensive scoring at 12.6 points a game.
Blowing up the Mean Green’s offensive schemes will be critical, said Aztecs coach Sean Lewis.
“We’re going to work to limit all their explosive playmakers,” he said. “I think the team that comes out and plays fast, as you watch all these bowl games, who can start quick, who can start fast, is going to be critically important. Because for us, it’s been close to a month since we played a ball game. So we just want to do a great job with our communication, with our alignments, our assignments and try and impact a really good quarterback as much as possible.
And North Texas will be looking to continue doing what it does best.
“They’ve got guys all across the field that fly around and are always making plays on the ball,” Mestemaker said. “We’ve seen great defenses, and they’re just another great defense that we got to play against.”
Run, baby, run
The Aztecs' game plan called for an emphasis on the ground attack no matter who takes the snap, so expect to see plenty of running back Lucky Sutton, who led the Mountain West Conference with 1,237 yards and scored 10 touchdowns.
“Our offense definitely tries to step in every moment and tries to just keep on bringing up our confidence,” Sutton said. “Throughout the whole season, we’ve been improving and getting better and better and just stepping out and doing our job and control what we can control.”
Clogging the line will be part of the Mean Green goal.
“They’re a very physical, tough football team, and really, regardless which quarterback would have played, I don’t think it’s going to change their style,” said North Texas interim coach Drew Svoboda, who replaced Eric Morris after he went to Oklahoma State. “They’re tough up front. They want to establish the run. They’re going to take their shots and play-action pass, but they’re going to be a physical, tough football team.”
Jon Sumrall is bringing three familiar faces from Tulane with him to Florida. According to 247Sports, Sumrall is hiring Byron 'Bam' Hardmon as Florida's outside linebackers coach, Greg Gasparato as the inside linebackers coach and Evan McKissack as the tight ends coach.
"I don't hire my friends," Sumrall said in his introductory press conference. "Honestly, when I took my first head coaching job, I lost some friends, maybe, or at least for a little while. They were like, you know, I thought we were buddies. And I was like, we are. That doesn't mean you're the right fit here.
"...I took this job because, man, this is the job I want to be at for a long time, but I don't hire staff off of who are my buddies. I hire staff based upon what is the absolute best group of people we can put together to serve and develop our players and win championships at that place. Every place is different.
Sumrall said he would bring in a few people "that have been around (him)" and add some outside help, too. With these hires, he's satisfied both of those conditions.
OLB/EDGE coach Byron 'Bam' Hardmon
Hardmon has spent the last two years with Tulans under Sumrall, serving as the run-game coordinator and outside linebackers coach. A former All-SEC linebacker and four-time letterwinner at Florida, Hardmon spent three years playing in the NFL before starting his coaching career.
His first coaching job came as a graduate assistant at Illinois, where he spent three seasons. In 2011, the Fighting Illini broke a school record with 41 sacks and ranked fourth nationally in tackles for loss. Ten-year NFL veteran Whitney Mercilus was a notable name in that group, as was 2011 first-round pick Corey Liuget.
Hardmon spent a year with Charleston Southern as the special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach and then served two seasons with Idaho as the defensive line coach. He then went to Troy as a linebackers coach — first with the inside linebackers and then with the outside linebackers — and helped turn the Trojans into one of the best defenses in the Sun Belt Conference.
Over nine years, Hardmon saw Troy finish ranked for the first time in program history and mentored several top defenses, according to national rankings. He was a Broyles Award nominee in 2018 and a finalist for the 2020 Football Scoop Linebackers Coach of the Year.
It was at Troy that Hardmon first coached under Sumrall, ultimately following him to Tulane in 2024.
ILB cocach Greg Gasparato
Gasparato played at Wofford, winning a Southern Conference championship in 2007, and started coaching at Richland Northeast High in South Carolina, overseeing safeties and special teams, in 2010. He moved to Juniata College in 2011 as a defensive backs coach and then went to Brevard College in 2012 as an outside linebackers coach.
He became a graduate assistant at Appalachian State while pursuing a master's degree from 2013-14 before returning to his alma mater (Wofford) as an inside linebackers coach in 2015. In 2018, he returned to App State for his first Division I coaching job as a safeties coach. He was named the football Scoop Defensive Backs Coach of the Year that season and helped the Mountaineers win the inaugural Sun Belt Championship Game. In 2019, App State had a top-30 defense.
Army brought him on as a co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach for the 2020 season, where the Knights ranked first in the nation in total defense. Gasparato spent the next two seasons at Louisville, first as a safeties coach and then working with the outside linebackers.
Sumrall brought him to Troy as a defensive coordinator in 2023, and he served as the interim head coach before following Sumrall to Tulane. He helped the Trojans set a program and Sun Belt single-season record with 47 sacks.
TE coach Evan McKissack
McKissack was a standout offensive lineman for Troy in 2014, and he started his coaching career at Enterprise High in Alabama in the fall. He ended up moving to Colquitt County High in Georgia for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
His collegiate coaching career started at Kentucky as a graduate assistant alongside his offensive line coach while at Troy, John Schlarman. The trio of Bunchy Stallings, Logan Stenberg and George Asafo-Adjei were all drafted after playing under McKissack. They blocked for All-American running back Benny Snell.
McKissack went to Murray State in 2020, coaching both the tight ends and running backs for two seasons. He joined Sumrall's staff at Troy in 2022, the year the Trojans finished ranked No. 19 in the AP Top 25. Sumrall brought him to Tulane in 2024 as a co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach.
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The Jets will play their final home game of the 2025 season without a few notable players on both sides of the ball.
Head coach Aaron Glenn revealed on Friday that edge rusher Will McDonald IV (knee), tight end Mason Taylor (neck), defensive lineman Jay Tufele (foot), and linebacker Kiko Mauigoa (neck) won't suit up for Sunday's meeting against the division-rival Patriots.
In fact, McDonald, Tufele and Mauigoa were all placed on injured reserve, ending their seasons.
Taylor, who leads the Jets in receptions (44) and targets (65) this season, will now miss a third straight game with a neck issue suffered in Week 14 against the Dolphins.
McDonald is still the team's sacks leader, with 8.0 takedowns complementing his career-best 19 solo tackles across 15 games (14 starts).
While Friday's injury report will offer more clarity on the statuses of quarterback Tyrod Taylor (knee) and defensive lineman Harrison Phillips (knee), their availability for Sunday isn't in doubt. They were both limited participants in Wednesday's practice.
The Jets (3-12) and Patriots (12-3) are scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. at MetLife Stadium.
A general view of the field-goal post before a game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.Photograph: Mike Stobe/Getty Images
The New York Jets have reversed a decision that had barred a longtime fan from participating in a $100,000 halftime field-goal contest, announcing Friday that she will be allowed to take part in Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots.
The New York Post first reported that Ashley Castanio-Gervasi, a Long Island high-school soccer coach and lifelong Jets supporter, had been informed earlier this week that she was no longer eligible for the team’s “Kick for Cash” promotion because of her coaching status.
“We realized there was an unfortunate misunderstanding regarding Ashley’s eligibility for the contest,” the team said in a statement. “In an effort to remedy the situation, we are allowing her to kick this Sunday for an opportunity to win the prize.”
Castanio-Gervasi, 33, had earned her place in the contest after successfully making a 20-yard field goal at a Jets-sponsored tailgate event in October. She was originally identified by team staff earlier in the season after attempting kicks at a September home game, according to her account.
The Jets said the initial disqualification stemmed from rules that prohibit current or recent coaches in soccer, football or rugby from participating in the promotion for insurance reasons. Castanio-Gervasi said she had disclosed both her college soccer background and her coaching role during the qualification process and was not made aware of any issue until days before the scheduled contest.
“This is a bad look for an organization that should be looking for any positive PR,” Woody said on X.
The $100,000 prize, sponsored by Hellmann’s, would be “life-changing”, Castanio-Gervasi said, noting that she planned to use any winnings toward buying a home and supporting cancer-related charities.
She has said the opportunity carries particular meaning because she is attempting the kick in memory of her father, Frank, a devoted Jets fan who died of esophageal cancer in 2011. The family has continued attending games together in his honor and has raised tens of thousands of dollars for cancer education causes.
After learning of the disqualification, Castanio-Gervasi said she planned to skip Sunday’s game, though the Jets had offered alternative compensation including team merchandise and a gift card. Following the team’s reversal, she and several family members now plan to attend the game at MetLife Stadium.
The distance of the final kick has not been announced. Castanio-Gervasi is currently recovering from knee surgery on her non-kicking leg but said she intends to participate as scheduled.
The team’s decision restores her chance to compete alongside three other finalists during half-time of Sunday’s home finale. The Jets enter the contest with a 3-12 record, good for dead last in the AFC East division.
DETROIT (AP) — Preston Stone threw three touchdown passes, and Northwestern turned four turnovers into touchdowns and beat Central Michigan 34-7 in the GameAbove Sports Bowl at Ford Field on Friday.
The Wildcats (7-6) extended their bowl game winning streak to six. They haven't lost in the postseason since a 45-6 loss to Pittsburgh in the 2015 Outback Bowl.
Central Michigan (7-6) is 0-3 against the Big Ten in bowl games, with all three losses coming at Ford Field. The Chippewas lost 51-48 to Purdue in the 2007 Motor City Bowl and 21-14 to Minnesota in the 2015 Quick Lane Bowl.
Central Michigan had the first scoring opportunity of the game after stopping Northwestern on 4th-and-1 at the Wildcats 34, but Cade Graham missed a 43-yard field goal attempt.
The game was still scoreless midway through the second quarter, but Braden Turner intercepted Angel Flores' pass at the Central Michigan 29. Three plays later, Stone threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Griffin Wilde to give the Wildcats a 7-0 lead.
Joe Labas, the other half of Central Michigan's quarterbacking duo, fumbled on the first play after the kickoff to give Northwestern the ball on the Chippewas 18. Caleb Komolafe scored on a 2-yard run to put Northwestern ahead 14-0.
Flores fumbled on first down, giving Central Michigan turnovers on three straight plays. Stone hit Lawson Albright for a 23-yard touchdown on the next play — Northwestern's third touchdown in a span of 3:02.
Flores fumbled for the second time on Central Michigan's first drive of the second half and Turner returned it 47 yards for a touchdown. Jack Olson missed the extra point to leave the score at 27-0. Stone hit Wilde for another touchdown in the quarter to make it 34-0.
Central Michigan avoided the shutout when Labas hit Brock Townsend for a 3-yard touchdown pass with 6:11 to play.
Takeaways
Central Michigan: The Chippewas turned the ball over four times — three fumbles and an interception — in a span of 12 plays spanning the second and third quarters. They only picked up one first down in that sequence.
Northwestern: The Wildcats scored four touchdowns with an average drive length of 17.5 yards, including Turner's fumble-return touchdown. Their two longest drives in the first half — 48 and 44 yards — both ended in punts.
Up next
Central Michigan: Build an offense. Head coach Matt Drinkell built an outstanding defense in his first season after six years as an assistant coach at Army, but the Chippewas finished 93rd in scoring offense (23.8 points per game) and 107th in offensive yards per game (335.7). On Friday, they were overmatched against Big Ten opposition.
Northwestern: Find some playmakers in the transfer portal. It wasn't a problem on Friday, thanks to the turnovers, but the Wildcats didn't put together a sustained scoring drive until late in the third quarter. Central Michigan has a great MAC defense, but Northwestern struggled to average three yards on the ground.
MONTPELLIER, France (AP) — French coach Jean-Louis Gasset, who was fired mid-tournament by Ivory Coast before it went on to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, has died aged 72.
“The loss of Mr. Jean-Louis Gasset is a significant blow to Ivorian and international football," the Ivorian Football Federation said in a statement on Friday. "A seasoned coach, a man of duty and principle, he left his mark on the technical management of the Elephants of Ivory Coast through his expertise, professional rigor and dedication to the sport.
"His tenure at the helm of the national team contributed decisively to the Elephants’ success at the Africa Cup … cementing his legacy in the sporting history of Ivory Coast.”
Gasset was the son of Bernard Gasset, one of Montpellier’s founding members, and he went on to play for the club before moving into coaching.
He had three stints as Montpellier coach, most recently from October 2024 to April 2025.
Gasset also coached other French clubs including Marseille, but internationally he achieved fame after taking over Les Elephants in 2022.
Ivory Coast was left to rely on other results, but eventually went on to win the tournament under his assistant, Emerse Faé, who is still coach of the team currently defending the title at the Africa Cup in Morocco.
It's been difficult to process some of the games the Minnesota Vikings have played this season. Sometimes, finding any silver lining is almost impossible (see the loss to the Packers in Week 12). But it was equally challenging to find any negatives in their wins over the Bengals and Cowboys.
On Christmas Day, the Vikings encapsulated their entire 2025 season when they defeated the Detroit Lions, 23-10. The positive aspects were great, while the negative parts were atrocious. It was a microcosm of a season full of disappointment and missed opportunities, so it was fitting that it came in Week 17.
The victory moved Minnesota to third in the NFC North, dropping Detroit to last place. The loss eliminated the Lions from the playoffs, even though their chances were slim. It was the Vikings' first season sweep of Detroit since 2020.
Here is the good, the bad, and the ugly from the Vikings' victory on Thursday.
The Good: The defense
This was an exceptional performance from Brian Flores' defense. They terrorized Jared Goff all day, sacking him five times, picking him off twice, and recovering all three forced fumbles. In total, the Vikings forced six turnovers on the day.
Goff only completed 18-of-29 passes for 197 yards, unable to stretch the field and make the Vikings pay for their aggressiveness. He wasn't helped out by the run game, either, as the Lions were limited to 68 yards on 30 rushing attempts. It was perhaps the Vikings' most complete defensive performance of the season.
The Bad: Justin Jefferson's limited production
Justin Jefferson's pursuit of 1,000 yards is in jeopardy. He needed 87 yards to reach the milestone heading into Thursday's game. But Jefferson was only targeted five times, catching four passes for 30 yards.
That leaves him 57 yards short of 1,000, an output that would be attainable any other season for him. But Jefferson has only eclipsed 57 yards twice since the start of November. Perhaps getting J.J. McCarthy back next week can help some, but Jefferson's production has waned since Carson Wentz left the lineup.
This is not an anti-Jefferson post. It is aimed at only pointing out his lack of production, which has not been his fault this season.
The Ugly: The passing attack
The Vikings had only 3 net passing yards on Thursday, their fewest in team history. Rookie Max Brosmer was 9-of-16 for 51 yards, losing 48 yards on seven sacks. He wasn't comfortable in the pocket, passing up opportunities to throw downfield to open receivers.
It didn't help that Minnesota was down three starters on the offensive line. We also need to remember that Brosmer is not only a rookie, but also undrafted. But his performance was a reminder of how essential it is for the Vikings to bring in another option at quarterback this offseason to provide insurance if McCarthy can't stay healthy and/or continue progressing into a more consistent passer.
There should be plenty of offensive fireworks in Sunday night's matchup between the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers, and that could raise some concerns for the traveling Bears team.
Both teams are fighting for not only their playoff position but also for the top of their respective divisions, with the Bears atop the the NFC North and San Francisco looking to get to the top in the NFC West.
With plenty of talent on offense for the 49ers, the Bears defense is going to have to bring their best effort and limit the big play opportunities for San Francisco. Despite being without quarterback Brock Purdy for most of the season, the 49ers still have eclipsed double-digit wins this regular season, showing the high-level of success their head coach Kyle Shanahan can pull together no matter who is on the field for him.
Here are the top causes for concern as the Bears meet the 49ers in a pivotal high-stakes matchup in the NFC playoff race.
Christian McCaffrey
The All-Pro dual-threat running back out of the San Francisco backfield is going to be the most important player on either team come Sunday night. Having totaled over 1,800 scrimmage yards and 16 touchdowns on the year, Christian McCaffrey has been healthy this year, which has been his biggest flaw in his highly successful career. Chicago's defense gives up 131 yards per game on the ground to their opponents, and they'll have their toughest test of the season in McCaffrey and the unique ways he's used in their offense.
Defensive injuries
Chicago is coming into this matchup with defensive backs Nahshon Wright, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and Josh Blackwell all listed as questionable, which is a bit alarming. While none have been ruled out just yet, the Bears are going to need all hands on deck to take on the high-powered offense of the 49ers. While they lead the NFL in takeaways and interceptions, the Bears defense has yet to play up to their full potential because they've yet to have a fully healthy starting lineup on defense. Most teams are struggling with injuries this late in the season, but for Chicago, with the playoffs around the corner, they have to get as close to full strength as possible to find their rhythm.
Remain strong in red zone
In their miraculous comeback over the Green Bay Packers last Saturday, the Bears were able to truly flex their muscles with their red zone defense. Chicago held the Packers to 0-5 on touchdown attempts in the red zone last week, holding their rival to three field goals, one fumble, and one turnover on downs. San Francisco is very surgical in the way they operate their offense, and if the Bears can hold them to field goals, they should put themselves in great position.
The week before Christmas brought good tidings to sports bettors in the Empire State.
Key Takeaways
New York sports betting revenue fell 24.5% from the previous week.
Operator profit was the lowest in two months.
BetMGM got crushed last week on its record handle.
The New York State Gaming Commission reported on Friday that the eight online sportsbooks won back just 6.2% on a $588.6-million handle during the week ending Dec. 21. NFL bettors thriving in Week 16 hit New York in a rare win for the public over the last two months.
New York online sportsbooks generated just $37 million in gross revenue, a 24.5% week-over-week decrease and the lowest output since the $32.5 million in the week ending Oct. 19. That was also the last time Empire State operators posted a hold below 7%, as a run of eight consecutive weeks with at least $49 million in gross revenue came to an end.
The amount wagered during the week ending Dec. 21 was up 19.7% from the previous period and gave New York sports betting its 17th $500-million handle in the last 18 weeks.
Big loss
BetMGM had the roughest week of any New York operator. The mobile sportsbook recorded its largest handle ever in New York with over $65 million wagered in the period, but BetMGM took an $898,828 loss.
It’s the first time BetMGM has finished a week in the red since October 2024, and it’s the third-biggest loss recorded by the operator since launching in January 2022. Only a $1.8-million loss during the NCAA Tournament in April 2023 and a $9.6-million deficit from the 2023 Super Bowl were worse.
Setbacks for top dogs
FanDuel and DraftKings experienced a similar week during the period ending Dec. 21, with both operators seeing a significant revenue drop-off from what they’ve been doing for most of the NFL season.
FanDuel led with a $208.5-million handle. The 6.8% win rate was its first single-digit hold in eight weeks and led to $14.2 million in gross revenue, FanDuel’s first weekly profit under $15 million in nine weeks.
DraftKings achieved a slightly higher win rate, generating $14 million on a $201.2-million handle, just its second over $200 million over the last five weeks. The latest period produced the lowest profit since the week ending Oct. 19.
Two good finishers
Behind a hold of over 11%, Fanatics had one of the better weeks among New York operators, generating $5.9 million on a $50.6-million handle. Bally Bet also finished in double digits on a $2.9-million handle.
Caesars produced a 5.1% hold on a $35.6-million handle, while theScore Bet and BetRivers each went over $10 million in wagers for the week, but neither reached 8% win rates.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Barcelona are planning to open a new section of the stands by the end of next January!
The Catalan club wants to expand the stadium.
Getty Images
Barcelona's long-awaited return to a full Camp Nou is accelerating, with the club setting its sights on a major capacity increase in the coming weeks.
As reported by Diario SPORT, the Catalan giants have formally requested permission from the city council to welcome up to 62,000 spectators as soon as January 25th. This pivotal step hinges on completing work on the first and second tiers, which would allow fans to occupy the entire lower bowls—including the reopening of the iconic Gol Nord stand.
This phase is crucial for the grander vision: unlocking the final stage of construction on the massive third tier. Once fully realized, the transformed stadium is projected to hold an awe-inspiring 105,000 fans, marking a monumental step in the club's journey back to its historic home and ushering in a new era for one of football's most famous grounds.
Northwestern entered Ford Field in Detroit feeling disrespected.
Disrespected by the Big Ten media and coaches for a series of snubs when the all-conference teams were released in early December. Disrespected by the bowl committee for arguably the least prestigious postseason placement in the Big Ten. And disrespected by anyone and everyone who picked this year’s side to finish well under the 7-6 record the ‘Cats secured on Friday afternoon.
Northwestern took its anger out on an overmatched Central Michigan (7-6, 5-3 MAC) side in a 34-7 rout to win the GameAbove Sports Bowl. Head coach David Braun’s side dominated every facet of the game, forcing four turnovers in the blowout victory.
Griffin Wilde had perhaps his best game as a Wildcat to secure game MVP, finishing with 10 catches for 97 yards and two scores. Preston Stone put a bow on his five year collegiate career with a near perfect final game, completing 19-of-31 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns. Caleb Komolafe paced Northwestern on the ground with 15 carries for 55 yards and a touchdown of his own. On defense, senior edge rusher Aidan Hubbard tied his career-high with three sacks and a forced fumble.
For Central Michigan, quarterback Joe Labas put together a respectable stat line despite the scoreline, completing 21 of 25 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown. Trey Cornist led the way on the ground with 11 carries for 66 yards.
And perhaps most impressively, Northwestern did not have a single player – senior or otherwise – opt-out of the bowl game. Seniors Aidan Hubbard, Mac Uihlein and Carmine Bastone all made big plays on defense to end their storied careers in purple and white. Northwestern’s vaunted offensive line – led by four seniors, including NFL draft darling Caleb Tiernan – surrendered just one total pressure. Graduate student tight end Lawson Albright caught his first career touchdown.
Northwestern extended its bowl-game winning streak to six with the win. It was a dream send off in Detroit.
The Chippewas won the toss and elected to defer to Preston Stone and the Wildcats. Some good open field tackling from Central Michigan forced a fourth-and-one for the Northwestern offense and an early decision. Braun, who has grown increasingly aggressive in his third year at the helm, opted to leave the offense out on the Northwestern 34-yard line, and the Chippewas stuffed Komolafe at the line to force a turnover on downs.
The Wildcat defense bailed out their head coach on the ensuing drive. The Chippewas picked up a quick first down after two completions to wideout Tommy McIntosh, but a third-and-six sack from Aidan Hubbard forced Central Michigan to trot out its field goal unit. Kicker Cade Graham missed wide left from 43-yards out to keep things knotted at zero.
Following the missed kick, Northwestern again failed to pick up a first down on offense. Stone threw behind an open Hayden Eligon on third down to again bring out Luke Akers.
Backup quarterback Angel Flores saw his first action of the contest for the Chips after the punt, picking up a first down on a nifty three-yard carry, but the Chippewas’ quarterback-by-committee quickly showed its shortcomings. Flores was sacked on the next snap, and Central Michigan was called for a delay-of-game penalty as Labas was slow to the line for second down. The Chippewas punted back to NU two plays later.
CMU defensive coordinator Sean Cronin dialed up some pressure on first down, and Keshawn Hayden chased down Stone for an 11-yard sack. Stone bounced back to hit Wilde on a pretty out route for 12 yards on second down to set up a manageable 3rd-and-9.
However, the carnage continued for the dormant Wildcat offense on third as Wilde took a brutal hit on a Stone hospital ball to bring out Akers yet again. Wilde headed to the medical tent after the play, but he would return to the field on the next Northwestern drive.
Taking over at the CMU 38-yard line, the Chippewas brought out quarterback number three – junior Marcus Beamen – in the hopes of generating some offense. Mac Uihlein stuffed Beamon at the line on third down to force the games’ fourth punt.
Northwestern showed its first signs of life on offense to end the first quarter. After a three-yard scamper from Komolafe, Stone hit Wilde for seven to pick up the first Wildcat first down of the afternoon. Robby Preckel was subsequently stuffed for a two-yard loss on first down to end an overall frustrating first quarter for the ‘Cats.
Caleb Komolafe woke up a sleepy Ford Field with a 13-yard run to open quarter two, slipping through the left side of the line before linebacker Caleb Spann wrangled him down at the NU 45. Stone kept the momentum rolling with a beautiful lofted pass to tight end Hunter Welcing, bringing Northwestern into Chippewa territory for the first time of the game.
The Wildcat offense would soon sputter to a standstill at the CMU 36. Braun opted against sending out kicker Jack Olsen to attempt a 53-yard field goal on 4th-and-7, and Ore Adeyi downed a 30-yard punt at the CMU six-yard line.
After a first down throw from Labas connected with Tyson Davis on third down for 12 yards to give the Chippewas some breathing room. Flores took over under center on second down, and the junior backup promptly committed the first turnover of the game. Hubbard got to Flores early, and Braden Turner made an acrobatic interception on a throwaway pass to set the ‘Cats up at the CMU 26 with 8:06 left in the half.
Northwestern wasted no time making Central Michigan pay. Two plays after Turner’s interception, Stone found Wilde in the left corner of the end zone on a perfectly drawn-up route for the first score of the game. Just like that, it was 7-0, ‘Cats.
CMU head coach Matt Drinkall went back to Labas after the turnover, but his starter proved no better at taking care of the football. Hubbard continued his blistering final game as a Wildcat with a strip sack of the Chippewa quarterback. Bastone jumped on the loose football, and Northwestern took over at the CMU 18.
The ‘Cats again found paydirt off a turnover, this time thanks to a two-yard burst up the middle from Caleb Komolafe on fourth down. After a first down incompletion intended for Wilde at the CMU 5-yard line, Lujan drew up three consecutive runs to extend the Northwestern lead to 14.
The Komolafe touchdown was the straw that broke the camel’s back in this one. Labas fumbled the snap on the first offensive play following the Wildcat touchdown, and Michael Kilbane secured the ball to again set up the Northwestern offense deep in Chippewa territory.
Stone found a wide-open Lawson Albright in the end zone for Northwestern’s second touchdown in just 10 seconds of gametime, giving the ‘Cats a 21-0 lead with 3:37 remaining in the first half.
The Chippewa offense finally took care of the football after three straight turnovers, but three consecutive tackles from Kilbane forced a quick three-and-out.
The Northwestern offense was unable to add to its lead before the break as Eligon was unable to secure a Stone moonball on third down, but Central Michigan had no time for a response, keeping it 21-0 ‘Cats at the half.
Stone finished the first half 13-of-21 with 145 yards and two touchdowns. Wilde led all pass catchers with six receptions for 58 yards and a score, and Komolafe paced the running backs with 41 yards and a touchdown of his own.
The beatdown continued into the third quarter. Mac Uihlein forced a fumble on a third down run from Angel Flores, and Braden Turner took the loose ball 47-yards to the house. Central Michigan could only take some solace in a missed extra-point from Jack Olsen.
Robert Fitzgerald appeared to go down with a shoulder injury on the ensuing Chippewa drive in a scary moment for the recently christened All-Big Ten safety, but he returned to the field after a quick stint in the medical tent. Hubbard snuffed out any Central Michigan momentum with a sack – his third of the day – inside Wildcat territory.
Stone and Co. took the field for the first time in the second half with 7:53 remaining in the third quarter. The fifth-year senior continued his banner swan song with a symphony of a 10-play, 92-yard touchdown drive. Stone added the exclamation point with a beautiful 11-yard touchdown float pass to Wilde slotted between two Chippewa defenders. This time around, Olsen made the kick to cap off the drive and extend Northwestern’s lead to 34-0.
Central Michigan got on the board midway through the fourth quarter on a three-yard touchdown pass from Labas to running back Brock Townsend to end the shutout.
Northwestern put in the reserves, including redshirt freshman quarterback Ryan Boe, after the score. Boe’s first drive ended unceremoniously with an interception on a fourth down throw into double coverage intended for tight end Carson Grove. The Northwestern backup finished 1-of-4 for 10 yards.
Central Michigan ran out of time to capitalize on the turnover, and Northwestern hoisted the GameAbove Sports Bowl trophy with a 34-7 victory.
The Buffalo Bills have a playoff spot locked up for the seventh consecutive season, which is the longest streak in the NFL after the Kansas City Chiefs were eliminated from postseason contention in Week 15.
Even though a spot in the playoffs is locked up, the Bills still have a lot to play for in the final two weeks of the season. They are still chasing the New England Patriots for the lead in the AFC East, which would ensure that they would get to play at least one playoff game at home. Additionally, several Bills players have personal milestones to reach that will trigger massive bonuses.
One of those players is tight end Dawson Knox, who has the chance to earn up to $300,000 in Week 17 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Per Spotrac, Knox needs one more catch to trigger a $100,000 bonus for reaching 30 receptions. He also needs 37 yards to reach 400 for the season, which triggers another $100,000. And should Knox catch a touchdown, he gets another $100,000 for reaching four touchdowns on the season. So, theoretically, Knox could catch a 37 yard touchdown and make $300,000 in one play.
The Bills are currently the No. 6 seed in the AFC playoff picture, and the No. 5 and No. 7 seeds play each other on Saturday when the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers. Should the Texans defeat the Chargers and the Bills defeat the Eagles, the Bills will take over as the No. 5 seed. However, if the Bills win and the New England Patriots lose to the New York Jets, the Bills will take over as the AFC East leaders and will finish the week no lower than the No. 3 seed.
Clemson’s season comes to an icy close on Saturday afternoon as the Tigers meet Penn State at Yankee Stadium in the Pinstripe Bowl, a matchup that looks far different than anyone expected back in August. When the year began, this was the type of pairing many envisioned happening deep in the College Football Playoff, not as a fight to end a turbulent season on a positive note. Instead, both programs had to grind through adversity and rely on late surges just to punch a postseason ticket.
For Clemson, that surge was real. Dabo Swinney’s team closed the regular season with four straight wins, capped by a physical road victory over South Carolina in the Palmetto Bowl. Cade Klubnik delivered one of his sharper performances down the stretch, throwing for 268 yards, while the defense flipped the game after halftime by completely shutting down South Carolina’s offense. Timely takeaways turned momentum into points, including a pick-six that sealed the outcome.
Penn State’s path to the postseason was far rockier. Once viewed as a national title contender, the Nittany Lions unraveled during a brutal midseason stretch that featured a six-game losing streak and a coaching change. Credit Penn State for stabilizing late, though, as three straight wins allowed the Lions to claw their way back into bowl eligibility and reset the tone heading into December.
Now, all of that leads to a cold, potentially snowy afternoon in the Bronx, where conditions could dictate pace, style, and strategy. Here’s what we’re thinking for Clemson vs. Penn State.
Turri: Clemson 17, Penn state 13
The weather is going to play a huge factor here, but I think this game comes down to who’s the more stable program. Well, they both don’t look spectacular in 2025, but the Tigers have a lot more going for them with Dabo Swinney still with the program and ready to make some changes.
Give me Clemson in a low scoring matchup.
Holley: Clemson 26, Penn State 23
The weather forecast looks miserable, and wintry conditions would seem to favor Penn State. But I like Clemson in this game with the way they’ve been playing. Their four-game winning streak to close the season was impressive. Cade Klubnik braves the conditions in his final Clemson start and has a solid day, the defense plays (mostly) well, and the Tigers end the year with a five-game winning streak similar to two years ago.
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Note: Browns didn't practice on Thursday and their participation was an estimate.
Legend
DNP: Did not practice
LP: Limited participant
FP: Full participant
(–): Not listed
Week 17 game statuses
Steelers:
Jalen Ramsey (illness) — Questionable
Calvin Austin III (hamstring) — Out
Brandin Echols (groin) — Out
James Pierre (calf) — Out
Isaac Seumalo (triceps) — Questionable
T.J. Watt (lung) — Out
Browns:
Harold Fannin (groin) — Questionable
Dillon Gabriel (left shoulder) — Questionable
Myles Harden (shoulder) — Questionable
Sam Kamara (elbow) — Questionable
David Njoku (knee) — Out
Winston Reid (back) — Out
Dylan Sampson (hand) — Questionable
Wyatt Teller (calf) — Questionable
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The NFC South-leading Carolina Panthers host the NFC West-leading Seattle Seahawks, with both teams clinging to one-game divisional leads and looking to clinch.
The Panthers have alternated wins and losses, straight up and ATS, for the last nine weeks. They’re on schedule for a loss this week if the pattern continues. Seattle has won five straight but is just 2-3 ATS over that span.
Seattle has the best record in the conference, while the Panthers hover just over .500. My Seahawks at Panthers predictions and NFL picks look for Seattle to cover as a road favorite.
Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. ET from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
Seahawks vs Panthers prediction
Seahawks vs Panthers Best bet:Seahawks -7.5 (-102)
The Carolina Panthers have been winning by the skin of their teeth. After a 30-point victory over Atlanta for their first win, Carolina has earned its next seven wins by a total of 25 points, six of them by a field goal.
As a result, the Panthers have a negative point differential of 50 points. No other team with a point differential that low has more than six wins, and every other playoff contender has a positive differential.
The Seattle Seahawks, on the other hand, have a 12-3 record, and their point differential of +164 leads the NFL. Seattle has topped 30 points in five of its last eight games and three of the last four road games.
The Seahawks also have one of the league’s best defenses. They rank No. 2 in scoring defense, first in Football Outsiders’ DVOA and second in yardage.
Seattle also has an outstanding special teams unit. Kicker Jason Myers leads the league in field goals, and over their winning streak, the Seahawks have had game-breaking kickoff and punt return scores.
The Panthers are getting healthier. Starting tackle Ikem Ekwonu, corner Jaycee Horn and backup players Cam Jackson, Cade Mays and David Moore have missed time recently, but they were all listed as full participation on the most recent injury report.
Seattle played last Thursday night, giving the Seahawks a few extra days to heal up as well, so both teams should be at relatively full strength considering it’s a late-season matchup.
Seattle should be able to keep the train rolling against a team that has had a successful season thanks in large part to luck, clutch play and mirrors.
Seahawks vs Panthers same-game parlay
The Panthers have gone under in three of their last four, including the last two weeks. They’re weekly script generally calls for a low-scoring grind-it-out game.
Seattle has an offense capable of putting up points, but the Seahawks’ defense prevents totals from getting too high. Prior to last Thursday’s shootout with the Rams, Seattle had given up a total of 25 points in the three previous games.
The Panthers’ run defense is No. 19 in yardage, No. 25 in scoring and No. 23 in average gain. Zach Charbonnet has found the end zone in three of the last four games despite getting 15 or fewer carries every week.
Seahawks vs Panthers SGP
Seahawks -7.5
Under 42.5
Zach Charbonnet anytime touchdown
Our big-ticket SGP: Darnold motivated by facing former team
Bryce Young has had a breakout year, leading a number of late comebacks and setting the team’s single-game passing record. Most games, however, he’s a game manager. He’s been below 193 yards three of the last four weeks.
Tetairoa McMillan has had big plays as a rookie, but he hasn’t been consistent. He’s made only 11 catches on 23 targets over the last four games and has been under 42 yards three of last four weeks.
Sam Darnold is facing his old team, and he’s had 30 or more pass attempts each of the last three weeks.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
The Ravens will be starting backup QB Tyler Huntley, it appears, which means the Packers' defense might get the ball back for the offense early and often.
Baltimore has been in the bottom half allowing fantasy points to quarterbacks this season despite not allowing tons of touchdowns. The yardage the Ravens has allowed suggests that Willis will be able to move the ball.
We're not saying Willis is an automatic starter. But if he's the guy you've got to go with, it actually could work out just fine.
The Eagles are set to get defensive tackle Jalen Carter back in the lineup against the Bills on Sunday.
Carter has missed the last three games with injuries to his shoulders, but he has no injury designation for this weekend's game. He was listed as a full participant in practice all this week.
Right tackle Lane Johnson will not be back, however. Johnson will miss his sixth straight game with a foot injury.
Linebacker Nakobe Dean has also been ruled out. Dean missed practice all week because of a hamstring injury.
Tackle Cameron Williams is listed as questionable to play because of a shoulder injury. Everyone else on the Eagles' 53-man roster is ready to go in Week 17.
A former Michigan State defensive lineman is reportedly on the move again via the transfer portal.
For the fourth time, former Spartans defensive lineman Tunmise Adeleye will reportedly enter the transfer portal. Chris Hummer of 247Sports reported the notable transfer portal addition on Friday.
Adeleye played this past season at UNLV, helping the Rebels win 10 games. He finished the season with 49 tackles (7.5 for loss) and six sacks.
Prior to his time with UNLV this year, he made one year stops at Texas A&M (2022), Michigan State (2023) and Texas State (2024). During his time with the Spartans, he appeared in only six games where he recorded nine tackles and one sack.
Adeleye was a 4-star recruit out of high school, where he was the No. 85 ranked player in the 2021 class.
UNLV edge Tunmise Adeleye plans to enter the transfer portal, his rep @IanJohnsonAce tells @247Sports.
The former top-100 recruit recorded 49 tackles, 43 pressures, 7.5 TFLs and 6 sacks this season.https://t.co/cnkArppuQq
Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page onFacebookto follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
Michigan has its man ... well, its man after Kalen DeBoer, Kenny Dillingham, Jedd Fisch, and a few others, according to multiple reports. The university is reportedly finalizing a deal with former Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham.
Whittingham, of course, comes from Utah, where he's spent the past 21 seasons compiling a 177-88 record with the Utes. He is the all-time winningest coach at the University of Utah and comes from the Urban Meyer coaching tree. Whittingham replaced Meyer in Salt Lake City after the latter left to take the helm at Florida. Meyer advocated for Whittingham to take over head coaching duties, and the rest is history.
Whittingham has had success leading the Utes to an 11-5 bowl record in his tenure, including a 2009 upset win over Nick Saban and Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. He is a three-time National Coach of the Year winner. However, maybe the only stat Ohio State would care about is Whittingham's career record against the Buckeyes, which is zero wins and one loss. That loss came in spectacular fashion as Buckeye Nation fondly remembers the come-from-behind win over Utah in the 2022 Rose Bowl.
Even though the Wolverines weren't able to lure their top few choices to Ann Arbor, Whittingham is a win. Not splashy necessarily, but a win nonetheless. Michigan wanted someone who would be able to stabilize a program that has been in turmoil for several years now, from illegal sign-stealing allegations to FBI computer seizures to Sherrone Moore's inappropriate relationship with a female staffer and more. University officials also sought someone with experience as a winning head coach. Whittingham checks both of those boxes.
And as much as Buckeye fans might hate to hear it, Whittingham is a likable guy, unlike the previous few head coaches who have worn the Block M hat and headset. He brings a tough, physical brand of football, but respects opponents in both victory and defeat. To be honest, it will be refreshing in a rivalry that used to have a solid foundation of mutual respect. Yes, dislike for the other side, but respect for the opponent and reverence for the rivalry. You'll see no flag planting from Whittingham-coached teams. No taunting opposing fans in the stands. Just well-coached, hard-nosed football.
Whittingham is putting the final bow on his Utah career as he plans to coach the Utes in the Las Vegas Bowl against Nebraska on New Year's Eve at 1:30 pm ET. If not familiar with his game, Ohio State fans can tune in as a precursor to the Cotton Bowl Classic.
Whittingham is 66 years old, so this isn't a long-term hire. But it is a safe move that will help Michigan distance itself from a tumultuous past few years. In three to five years, a new search will begin in Ann Arbor. And if Whittingham does his job, it could be a highly sought-after position once again.
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion.
Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers shoots over Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets during an NBA basketball game, Tuesday December 23, 2025 in Inglewood, Calif.
Rundown: The Los Angeles Clippers (8-21) travel to the Moda Center to tip off with the Portland Trail Blazers (12-18) in a battle of two teams looking to get back into the mix in the Western Conference.
Los Angeles enters looking to build off consecutive convincing home wins over the Lakers and Rockets. Before the two-game surge, the Clippers had dropped 10 of their previous 11 contests while searching for answers on both ends of the floor. This matchup opens a brief road stop before Los Angeles returns to the Intuit Dome for a five-game homestand that stretches into the new year. Despite covering five of its last 10 games, the Clippers own a disappointing 10-19 record against the spread this season and have been far more reliable away from home, covering seven of 16 road games compared to just three of 13 at home.
Kawhi Leonard and James Harden powered Los Angeles in Tuesday’s win over Houston, combining for 70 points in one of the team’s most complete performances of the season. Leonard poured in 41 points while Harden added 29, showcasing the offensive ceiling the Clippers will need to reach consistently to build momentum heading into the second half. Sustained production from the star duo remains critical for a team still searching for stability.
Portland continues a five-game homestand looking to bounce back after consecutive losses to Detroit and Orlando. The Trail Blazers have struggled to capitalize on home-court advantage, winning just five of 13 games at the Moda Center, but they have performed better against the spread than their record suggests. Portland is 15-15 ATS this season and has been particularly strong as an underdog, covering in 13 of 19 games when catching points. Forward Deni Avdija has led the way offensively for a team ranked 14th in total offense, averaging 25.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists.
Expect Portland to keep this one within a possession on its home floor against a Clippers team still trying to turn the corner.
The Philadelphia Eagles issued their third and final official injury report in advance of their Week 17 road game against the Buffalo Bills.
The Eagles ruled two players OUT: Lane Johnson and Nakobe Dean.
For the second week in a row, Lane Johnson was reportedly slated to return to practice but it didn’t happen. At this point, it seems like the Eagles are saving Lane Johnson until the playoffs start. Fred Johnson will continue to start at right tackle in the meantime.
Dean did not practice this week after suffering a hamstring injury during the Eagles’ win over the Washington Commanders. Jihaad Campbell will start in his place at linebacker next to Zack Baun. This will be Campbell’s first start since Week 8 (October 26).
The Eagles ruled one player QUESTIONABLE: Cameron Williams.
The Eagles opened Williams’ 21-day practice window to return from injured reserve two weeks ago but the team doesn’t seem to be in a rush to activate the rookie offensive tackle.
A.J. Brown, Landon Dickerson, Jalen Carter, DeVonta Smith, Zack Baun, Jihaad Campbell, Fred Johnson, and Cameron Latuare all listed without a game status.
This means they’re ready to play despite appearing on the injury report this week.
Carter is set to return to the field after missing the Eagles’ last three games. Why not just rest him some more? Well, the Eagles are trying to win this weekend. And the team probably feels like he needs to get into game shape instead of having a long layoff before the postseason starts.
Brown missed practice on Wednesday and was listed under did not participate again for Thursday’s walkthrough due to a recent oral procedure. He was back in full on Friday.
Dickerson missed practice on Wednesday and was listed under did not participate again for Thursday’s walkthrough due to an illness. He was back in full on Friday.
Latu is set to return to the field in Week 17 after missing Week 16 due to a stinger injury.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES INJURY REPORT (FRIDAY)
OUT
LB Nakobe Dean (hamstring) OT Lane Johnson (foot)
QUESTIONABLE
OT Cameron Williams (shoulder)
…
RESERVE/RETIRED
CB Jaire Alexander EDGE Za’Darius Smith
Smith unexpectedly retired from football on October 13. Alexander was placed on this list on November 12.
RESERVE/INJURED
OT Myles Hinton G/C Willie Lampkin S Andrew Mukuba EDGE Azeez Ojulari EDGE Ogbo Okoronkwo FB Ben VanSumeren OT Cameron Williams (practice window open) WR Johnny Wilson
The Eagles opened Williams’ 21-day practice window to return from IR on December 11. Mukuba and Ojulari are currently eligible to return from IR. Practice windows to return from IR were previously opened for Lampkin and Hinton but the Eagles did not activate them before they closed, thus ending their seasons. BVS, Wilson, and Okoronkwo suffered season-ending injuries.
BUFFALO BILLS INJURY REPORT (FRIDAY)
Josh Allen is listed without a game status.
The Bills’ starting quarterback was full go on Friday after being listed as limited on Wednesday and Thursday.
The Bills ruled four players OUT: starting defensive tackle DaQuan Jones, starting safety Jordan Poyer, kicker Matt Prater, and rotational defensive tackle Jordan Phillips.
Jones ranks second in defensive tackles snaps played for the Bills this season while Phillips ranks fourth. The Bills have already been bad at stopping the run when healthy and now they’re banged up on the defensive interior.
Poyer, who began his NFL career as an Eagles undrafted rookie free agent signing, is out after suffering a hamstring injury in Week 16. With Poyer out and Taylor Rapp on injured reserve, there isn’t a clear cut starting safety option next to Cole Bishop. The Bills’ depth on the back end could be tested.
The Bills originally signed Prater in September after Tyler Bass suffered a season-ending injury prior to Week 1. With Prater hurt, the Bills are down to using their third kicker option: Michael Badgley. who is on the practice squad. Badgley missed an extra point in his Bills debut last weekend. Prior to that, he had missed four kicks in seven games with the Indianapolis Colts before they waived him. And so Jake Elliott might not be the only kicker to struggle in this Sunday’s game.
The Bills ruled two players QUESTIONABLE: tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox.
Both players were listed under DNP on Wednesday and Thursday before being limited on Friday. We’ll find out if they’re suiting up this weekend or not when inactives are announced at 2:55 PM Eastern on Sunday afternoon.
The Bills like to lean into multiple tight end sets, especially since they’re so thin at wide receiver. Kincaid and Knox rank second and third on the team in receiving yards, respectively … only behind Khalil Shakir. Not an ideal development for the Bills’ offense if Kincaid and/or Knox can’t play.
OUT
DT DaQuan Jones (calf) DT Jordan Phillips (ankle) S Jordan Poyer (hamstring) K Matt Prater (right quad)
QUESTIONABLE
TE Dalton Kincaid (knee) TE Dawson Knox (knee)
…
RESERVE/DID NOT REPORT
CB Darius Slay
Reminder: Slay was claimed off waivers by the Bills after the Pittsburgh Steelers cut the veteran cornerback. The Eagles also put a claim in on Slay but the Bills ranked higher in the claiming order. Slay has not reported to Buffalo to play for the Bills.
RESERVE/INJURED
K Tyler Bass DT DeWayne Carter S Damar Hamlin DE Michael Hoecht EDGE Landon Jackson P Cameron Johnston OT Chase Lundt DT Ed Oliver DB Wande Owens S Taylor Rapp WR Curtis Samuel CB Dorian Strong
After a sluggish first quarter, the ‘Cats flipped the script and dominated Central Michigan, closing the season with a winning record. The performance served as a feel-good finish, as Northwestern found its rhythm and ended the year on a high note.
Stock Up
Defensive Takeaways
Northwestern entered the game against Central Michigan facing a team that had been strong in taking care of the football, coming in with a plus-eight turnover differential. That trend flipped starting in the middle of the second quarter when Braden Turner made a terrific play to come down with an interception on what initially looked like a harmless throwaway. The momentum continued on CMU’s next possession, when Aidan Hubbard came off the edge for a strip sack to force another turnover. Northwestern quickly capitalized by scoring a touchdown, then immediately forced yet another fumble on Central Michigan’s very next offensive snap.
The defense was not finished after halftime. Early in the second half, Robert Fitzgerald forced another turnover that was recovered by Turner, who took it all the way back for a touchdown to extend the ‘Cats’ advantage. The sequence marked a dominant stretch for Northwestern’s defense, completely reversing Central Michigan’s usual turnover success and turning takeaways directly into points.
Defensive Line
Northwestern’s defensive line had an outstanding performance and set the tone throughout the game. The unit consistently applied pressure and disrupted Central Michigan’s offense from the opening drive. The line recorded three sacks in the first half and directly forced two turnovers, including a strip sack by Aidan Hubbard and a second fumble that occurred when CMU’s quarterback pulled the ball on a run and knocked it loose off his running back, leading to a recovery by Michael Kilbane. Just as importantly, the defensive line limited Central Michigan to only 26 rushing yards in the first half, a major accomplishment against a team that relies heavily on the run game.
The ‘Cats carried their momentum into the second half as Hubbard recorded his third sack of the game, putting an exclamation point on his season and Northwestern career. Northwestern’s defensive line remained a major strength throughout the game. While the unit allowed a few more rushing yards after backups rotated in, the group as a whole showed clear improvement and continued to control the line of scrimmage.
Griffin Wilde
Wilde continued his terrific season for Northwestern and served as a steady anchor for the offense. The junior finished the game with 10 catches, 97 yards and two touchdowns, consistently providing a reliable option in the passing game. After briefly heading to the injury tent following a high throw from Preston Stone that left him exposed to a hit from behind, Wilde returned quickly and showed no lingering effects. He finished the first half with six catches for 58 yards and a touchdown, production that could have been even higher if he had secured a second potential score in the second quarter.
Wilde built on that performance in the third quarter, adding 39 more receiving yards and hauling in a 23-yard touchdown pass for his second score of the game. Throughout the game, he consistently found ways to get open despite facing frequent double teams, further underscoring why he has been such a valuable and reliable part of Northwestern’s offense all season.
Honorable Mentions: Aidan Hubbard (Three sacks), Braden Turner (INT, FR, TD), Robert Fitzgerald (FF and five tackles), Preston Stone
Stock Down
Questionable Game-Management Decisions
This has been an issue for the team all season. On the opening drive, Coach Braun showed a rare burst of aggression by going for it on fourth down at Northwestern’s own 33-yard line. The ‘Cats failed to convert but were spared when Central Michigan missed the ensuing field goal. After Northwestern finally put together its first respectable offensive drive, Braun returned to his more familiar approach, electing to punt from CMU’s 37-yard line on 4th-and-7. That decision was difficult to justify given how much Central Michigan had struggled offensively and with alternatives available like attempting a 54-yard field goal or going for it.
Northwestern later took another risk by going for it on fourth down at CMU’s two-yard line, a call that paid off with a touchdown. Late in the first half, the ‘Cats opted to punt rather than attempt a 55-yard field goal, a choice that was probably reasonable given the situation and time remaining. Still, a confusing screen pass on the final drive resulted in a five-yard loss and likely took a field goal attempt off the table altogether.
It also did not end up mattering much, but Northwestern repeatedly passed on field goal opportunities, opting to go for it on fourth down multiple times when a kick was available in the fourth quarter.
Altogether, the game-management decisions reflected a season-long pattern in which Northwestern leans heavily toward conservatism, punctuated by occasional moments of aggression that feel misaligned with the flow of the game.
First Quarter Offense
The ‘Cats really struggled offensively in the first quarter. The team totaled just 23 yards despite 26 coming through the air to Wilde and finishing with negative three rushing yards after accounting for the sack yardage taken by Stone. Drives stalled quickly and Northwestern had difficulty sustaining any rhythm or tempo. The offensive line was surprisingly overmatched in both the run game and the passing game as Central Michigan loaded the box and consistently applied pressure, forcing rushed decisions and limiting any chance to establish balance early.
Several Minor Injuries
Northwestern dealt with several injuries over the course of the game, though none appeared to be serious. Wilde was shaken up early but returned quickly and continued to contribute. First-year Caden O’Rourke also went down, adding to the list of players banged up for the ‘Cats. Braden Turner was briefly forced out after an injury before returning, while Robert Fitzgerald also left the game momentarily but was able to come back shortly after.
Honorable Mentions: Weather canceling my flight, three failed fourth-down conversions, missed DPI calls
Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokić reminded everyone in the basketball world who he is on Christmas day. The three-time MVP dropped a stat line of 56 points, 16 rebounds, and 15 assists in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. It was one of the craziest performances in NBA history.
There’s a ton of talk about Jokić reclaiming his rightful title as the best player in the world, despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander winning an MVP and NBA Finals trophy last season.
Jokić has left little doubt this year about his superior status above all other players in the league, and it might have something to do with his adjusted attitude towards officials.
In a surprising reveal, Joker recently admitted that his decision to stop interacting so much with refs has allowed him to take his game up another level.
“Stopping talking to the referees was the biggest thing for me (in terms of improving),” Jokić said. “I mean, I’m still going to talk to them, but I’m not going to lose my temper or energy over something I know isn’t going to change.”
Nikola Jokic on how he has taken his game to the next level
“Stopping talking to the referees was the biggest thing for me. I mean, I’m still going to talk to them, but I’m not going to lose my temper or energy over something I know isn’t going to change.”
There are definitely a few superstars that come to mind who would benefit from a similar mindset.
Jokić has dominated in 2025-26 with averages of 29.8 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 11.0 assists over 30 games. His Christmas masterpiece was the crowning achievement of the season this far. It included 18 points in overtime and the third-highest scoring output on the holiday ever. This performance vaulted him to the MVP betting favorite.
Jokic’s career, spanning from his 2014 draft as the 41st pick to now, features the aforementioned three MVP awards, one championship in 2023 with Finals MVP honors, seven All-Star selections, and seven All-NBA nods. He holds the record for most assists by a center and has 179 triple-doubles, blending unparalleled vision, scoring, and rebounding into a revolutionary big-man style.
New England's 10-game winning streak came to an end in Week 15 with a 35-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills. They responded with a win over the Baltimore Ravens in prime time last week to keep pace with the Broncos atop the AFC.
The Patriots won their first matchup with the Jets: a 27-14 victory on "Thursday Night Football" in Week 11. New England's win came thanks to three touchdowns from electric rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson.
Henderson, the team's second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, leads the Patriots in scrimmage yards (997) and touchdowns (eight) through 16 games. This comes even after he missed most of the Patriots' win over the Ravens due to a concussion.
Will Henderson play in Week 17? Here's the latest update.
Is TreVeyon Henderson playing this week?
Henderson was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday as he makes his way through concussion protocol. He was on the field for practice again Friday but he was not wearing a red non-contact jersey, per ESPN's Mike Reiss.
RB TreVeyon Henderson (32) is here at Friday’s in-stadium practice, and no longer wearing a red, non-contact jersey.
The Las Vegas Raiders informed defensive end Maxx Crosby that they are shutting him down and he won’t play in the Raiders’ final two regular-season games against the New York Giants and Kansas City Chiefs, according to Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer. Reportedly, that caused a disagreement between Crosby and the club, leading to the Pro Bowler leaving the facility.
Scoopage: Raiders told Maxx Crosby they want to shut him down last two games. Crosby, who has played with injuries for much of the year, vehemently disagreed and has left the building @nflonfox has learned. This could lead to questions on his future in Vegas
Las Vegas was eliminated from the playoffs at the end of November and has a chance to earn the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft with a loss to New York, which currently owns the top selection, on Sunday. However, Crosby has made it no secret that he wanted to finish out the season. Earlier this week, he said that he “doesn’t give a s*** about the pick” and “doesn’t play for that”.
Crosby has been dealing with a knee injury this season, missing at least one practice per week regularly, and didn’t practice at all this week. This news also comes after Las Vegas put Pro Bowl tight end Brock Bowers and starting safety Jeremy Chinn on injured reserve on Wednesday. So, there are plenty of signs that the organization has its sights set on the first overall pick in April.
At the time of writing, head coach Pete Carroll hasn’t spoken on the matter. Silver and Black Pride will update this story once Carroll comments.
The Raiders also have to make a decision on starting left tackle Kolton Miller, who has spent the majority of the campaign on injured reserve. Miller had his 21-day practice window activated on Dec. 11, meaning he needs to be activated by New Year’s Eve or will be shut down for the rest of the season. Given Las Vegas’ recent decisions, the latter seems more likely.
The NFL’s Week 17 backup quarterback parade will continue Saturday evening, with Tyler Huntley and Malik Willis filling in for Lamar Jackson and Jordan Love. This season, the Ravens are 1-2 SU with Jackson inactive. This will be the first time in 2025 that Green Bay has been without their starting signal caller for a full game.
Kickoff between the Ravens and Packers is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Peacock.
If looking for a fun way to sweat Saturday’s action, I have put together a three-leg same game parlay (+415) for this game. As always, it is worth noting that straight wagers are a far more profitable long-term betting strategy than parlays. Still, parlays can be a fun way to get some extra action on a game to make things interesting!
Baltimore Ravens @ Green Bay Packers Same Game Parlay
Leg 1: Baltimore Ravens Under 17.5 Team Total Points
(-130)
Green Bay’s defense has been sensational at home in 2025. They have held their opponents to 13, 18, 18, 16, 10, 6 and 21 points in seven games at Lambeau Field. Saturday, they will get to host the Lamar-less Ravens.
Baltimore has scored 10 points or fewer in two of the three games started by someone not named Lamar Jackson in 2025, with the lone exception being a home game against a bad Chicago defense. They aren’t likely to find a similar level of success in this matchup against Green Bay.
Leg 2: Derrick Henry 60+ Rushing Yards
(-195)
In three games without Lamar Jackson this season, the Ravens have done everything they can to get Derrick Henry going on the ground. He’s had 15, 24 and 21 rush attempts in those contests.
Green Bay’s run defense has done a good job limiting big plays, but they have struggled on a down-to-down basis, ranking only 24th in success rate since Week 13. Henry should be able to find at least some room to run on the ground in this matchup.
Leg 3: Zay Flowers Over 4.5 Receptions
(-142)
Our FTN model loves this play on Zay Flowers, who has at least 5 receptions in each of the team’s three games that they have started a backup quarterback in 2025. Tyler Huntley doesn’t have a particularly good deep ball, but that shouldn’t be a major detractor for Flowers, who operates a lot near the line of scrimmage in short and intermediate routes.
In addition to several updates to the final injury report, including the downgrading of quarterback Jordan Love to out for Saturday night against the Baltimore Ravens, the Green Bay Packers also made a roster move on Friday, placing linebacker and special teamer Kristian Welch on injured reserve. No corresponding move immediately replacing Welch on the 53-man roster was made Friday.
Welch injured his ankle against the Chicago Bears in Week 16 and missed the entire week of practice. He was ruled out on Thursday's final injury report.
Welch played in eight games with the Packers in 2025. He was signed to the 53-man roster from the practice squad in November as a replacement for Nick Niemann, who went on injured reserve with a pectoral injury. Over eight games, Welch produced three assisted tackles covering kicks and punts. Rich Bisaccia had him playing snaps on punt coverage, kick coverage, punt return and kickoff return, and Welch's season will end after playing 87 total special teams snaps.
The Packers will likely elevate rookie Jamon Johnson -- the only off-ball linebacker on the practice squad -- to help replace Welch on special teams. He played 11 snaps as an elevated player in Week 13 against the Detroit Lions.
It's been a rough season for the Las Vegas Raiders, as Pete Carroll's squad is 3-12 on the year and has lost nine straight games,
The Raiders haven't won a football game since October 12 versus the Tennessee Titans, and frustration is starting to boil over for superstar edge rusher Maxx Crosby based on a recent report from FOX Sports.
According to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports, Las Vegas approached Crosby with the idea of shutting him down for the final two games of the season. Crosby wasn't a fan of that request, so much so that he stormed out of the facility.
Glazer adds that the event could raise questions about Crosby's future with the franchise.
"Scoopage: Raiders told Maxx Crosby they want to shut him down last two games. Crosby, who has played with injuries for much of the year, vehemently disagreed and has left the building nflonfox has learned. This could lead to questions on his future in Vegas," Glazer said on X.
Crosby is one of the most dominant defensive players in the sport, but the 28-year-old has been stuck on a dysfunctional Raiders team that hasn't posted a winning season since 2021.
If Crosby does become available this offseason, he will have a packed trade market. The five-time Pro Bowler tallied his fourth double-digit sack season in 2025 and has also posted a career high of 28 tackles for loss.
The Falcons added tight end Kyle Pitts (knee) to the practice report on Friday as a limited participant.
Pitts has 80 catches for 854 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games this season, playing 87 percent of the snaps.
The Falcons also added defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro (knee) and defensive lineman Sam Roberts (knee/ankle) to Friday's report as limited participants. Roberts is in the first day of his 21-day return-to-practice window.
Wide receiver Drake London (knee) and edge rusher James Pearce Jr. (neck) also were limited.
Wide receiver Teagan Quitoriano (hamstring) was upgraded to a full participant on Friday after being estimated as limited on Christmas Day when the Falcons did not practice.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts placed Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner back on injured reserve Friday, ending his season with two games still to play.
Steichen also ruled out starting center Tanor Bortolini (concussion protocol), receiver-return specialist Anthony Gould (foot), tight end Drew Ogletree (neck) and defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau (oblique) for Sunday's game against AFC South-leading Jacksonville (11-4).
It wasn't all bad news. Steichen is hopeful two-time All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner could return Sunday after missing three straight games with a strained calf. Indy acquired Gardner from the New York Jets in a trade deadline move in which the Colts sent two first-round draft picks to New York and he played three games before getting hurt. Gardner finally returned to practice this week.
Still, Indy's playoff hopes have plummeted during a five-game losing streak and a stretch in which it has lost six of seven heading into Sunday.
The Colts (8-7) and Jags also will be watching Saturday's Texans-Chargers game closely because the Jags can clinch their first division title since 2022 with a win and a Texans loss. Indy, meanwhile, needs the Texans to lose to avoid elimination and Colts quarterback Philip Rivers, the 44-year-old grandfather, said Wednesday he'll rooting hard for his former team, the Chargers.
Buckner's first stint on injured reserve came in November — just before the Colts flew to Berlin to face Atlanta. Buckner returned to practice in mid-December and was activated last weekend before the 49ers game. He had not practiced this week.
Buckner, a captain and one of the defense's strongest voices, was seventh on the team with 47 tackles, was second with nine tackles for loss and was tied for second with four sacks despite missing five games in his 10th pro season.
San Francisco drafted the former Oregon star with the seventh overall draft pick in 2016. He was traded to Indy in 2020.
BetMGM has the Jags as 6-point favorites and -275 on the money line. The Colts are +225. The over-under is 48.5.
Who’s injured?
Jaguars: Out — CB Jourdan Lewis (foot), LB Jalen McLeod (ankle), OG Patrick Mekari (back), DE Danny Striggow (ankle). Questionable — RB Bhayshul Tuten (finger), C Robert Hainsey (groin).
Colts: Out — C Tanor Bortolini (concussion), DT DeForrest Buckner (neck), WR Anthony Gould (foot), TE Andrew Ogletree (neck), QB Anthony Richardson (eye), S Daniel Scott (knee), DE J.T. Tuimoloau (oblique). Questionable — CB Sauce Gardner (calf), RB Tyler Goodson (ankle), WR Ashton Dublin (hamstring), LB Buddy Johnson (illness), OT Bernhard Raimann (elbow), OG Dalton Tucker (shoulder).
What’s the series history between the Jaguars and Colts?
The Colts lead 28-21 and are 18-6 at home. Indianapolis has won four of the last five at Lucas Oil Stadium.
What happened the last time the Jaguars played the Colts?
Trevor Lawrence threw for two touchdowns and Travis Etienne scored twice on the ground as the Jaguars won 36-19 on Dec. 7 at EverBank Stadium.
Pierce has been a particular challenge for the Jaguars' secondary in the past two seasons, catching 10 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns in the three games the two teams have played. In eight career games vs. Jacksonville, Pierce has caught 17 passes for 350 yards and four scores, with a 20.6 per-catch average.
Newsome got his first interception as a Jaguar, knocked down another pass and had five solo tackles in the game against the Colts on Dec. 7 at EverBank Stadium. He has played only one other game in his career against the Colts, making three tackles for Cleveland in a 2023 game.
What’s notable about Jaguars vs. Colts?
The Jaguars can clinch the AFC South with a victory, depending on the outcome of Saturday's game between the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers. ... The Jaguars have already won 11 games during the regular season for the first time since 2007 and in the postseason for the ninth time overall and the second time in four seasons. ... Running back Travis Etienne needs 1 yard for his third 1,000-yard season with the Jaguars. ... Trevor Lawrence is the fourth quarterback since 1970 to have 10 touchdown passes and no turnovers in back-to-back games. His 14 TD passes since Week 13 are the most in the NFL. ... The Jaguars will break their team single-season scoring record of 410 points with one more touchdown and will break the record of 50 touchdowns with two more trips to the end zone.
In head-to-head leagues, it all comes down to the weekend. You can have a comfortable lead in multiple categories or by a bunch of points, but if you don’t make the most of the weekend, you can walk out with a loss.
12 teams only play once this weekend, including the Nets, Hornets, Cavaliers, Mavericks, Nuggets, Warriors, Rockets, Lakers, Timberwolves, Knicks, Thunder and Spurs. Avoid those teams if you’re just looking to maximize your games played.
That’s often what it comes down to in standard points and category leagues, but that’s not always the case. Leagues with some sort of games cap or best ball formats like Yahoo!’s High Score leagues aren’t just looking for volume, though having two chances at a big night is a good strategy in best ball leagues.
Absolute must-start: Kel’el Ware, Miami Heat
Ware’s production has been inconsistent this season, but when he gets the opportunity to start and play big minutes, he has had some excellent nights. This weekend provides an opportunity for that to happen. They have a back-to-back against the Hawks and Pacers, two of the worst rebounding teams in the league, on Friday and Saturday. Bam Adebayo (back) is listed as doubtful for Friday, and it wouldn’t be surprising if that kept him from playing against Indiana.
Ware has averaged 12.7 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in six games without Adebayo this season. The last game he played was rough, but prior to that, he averaged 24.7 points, 15 rebounds and four three-pointers across his previous three starts.
Guards:
Collin Gillespie, Phoenix Suns
With Grayson Allen sidelined for Friday’s game against the Pelicans, Gillespie will continue to start. This is a mini two-game series against New Orleans, so there is a good chance Allen remains out against the Pelicans on Saturday as well. Gillespie has averaged 16.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.7 steals and 3.1 triples in 10 starts this season.
Ryan Rollins, Milwaukee Bucks
Gary Trent Jr. (calf) exited early from the Bucks’ last game, which allowed Rollins to take on extra minutes. GTJ has been ruled out against the Grizzlies on Saturday, so Rollins could start, but even if he doesn’t, he’s playing well enough that it doesn’t matter. Both the Bulls and Grizzlies have struggled to defend the three-point line recently, and Chicago has allowed the fifth-most points per game over their last 10.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks have a back-to-back this weekend, and with Trae Young coming off the knee injury, it is unlikely he plays in both games. He isn’t on the injury report against the Heat on Friday, so NAW should start in place of Young against the Knicks on Saturday. Miami plays with enough pace that NAW should still have a productive night as a reserve. However, it is the starting opportunity that makes NAW an appealing option.
Forwards:
Jaime Jaquez Jr., Miami Heat
With Tyler Herro (toe) still sidelined, Jaquez has taken on more minutes and usage. With Adebayo expected to miss Friday’s game as well, Jaquez could be one of the primary scoring options for Miami this weekend. Matchups with the Hawks and Pacers should be favorable, specifically against Atlanta, one of the worst defensive teams over the past few weeks.
Santi Aldama, Memphis Grizzlies
Aldama has had some big nights recently, and now he gets to take on two teams that have struggled to defend the three-point line recently. The Bucks have allowed the 10th-most three-pointers per game over their last 10 games, while the Wizards are tied for the most triples allowed during that stretch. Aldama has two 37-point outings over his last three appearances and should feast on these defenses.
Anthony Black, Orlando Magic
Black has been starting in place of Franz Wagner (ankle), but with Jalen Suggs (hip) out as well, he has seen a large bump in production. Suggs has missed Orlando’s last four games, and Black has averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game during that stretch. The Magic take on the Hornets and Nuggets this weekend, and Black should take advantage of the increased opportunity.
Centers:
Sandro Mamukelashvili, Toronto Raptors
Jakob Poeltl is still sidelined, which means Mamu should get another start. In five starts this season, he has averaged 16.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 3.4 three-pointers per game. They’ll take on the Wizards and Warriors this weekend, and while Golden State isn’t a favorable matchup, Washington has struggled to defend the paint and rebound this season. Mamu should be a must-roster player until Poeltl returns.
Neemias Queta, Boston Celtics
Queta has been productive all season, and now he has two favorable matchups this weekend. The better one is on Friday against the Pacers, one of the worst rebounding teams in the league this season. The Trail Blazers have been better than Indiana, but they have been in the bottom half of the league in rebounding percentage over their last 10 games.
Derik Queen, New Orleans Pelicans
Queen is becoming a regular of this list. The Pelicans host the Suns on both Friday and Saturday, and Phoenix has the third-worst rebounding percentage over their last 10 games. Queen has been playing well lately and should be in for a big weekend. Mark Williams still hasn’t played both legs of a back-to-back this season, which should only help Queen.
Remaining schedule: At Raiders (2-13), Dallas Cowboys (6-8-1).
Raiders, 2 spot, 2-13 record:
Remaining schedule: Giants (2-13), Kansas City Chiefs (6-9).
Cleveland Browns, 3 spot, 3-12 record:
Remaining record: Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6), at Cincinnati Bengals (5-10).
New York Jets, 4 spot, 3-12 record:
Remaining schedule: New England Patriots (12-3), at Bills (11-4).
Arizona Cardinals, 5 spot, 3-12 record:
Remaining schedule: At Cincinnati Bengals (4-10), at Los Angeles Rams (11-4).
Tennessee Titans, 6 spot, 3-12 record:
Remaining schedule: New Orleans Saints (5-10), at Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4).
Conclusion:
There will be tiebreakers, based on strength of schedule, that will come into play in the final two weeks and this chase will be continue. Yet, the Giants game will loom large for the Raiders. But the season finale against the Chiefs could be huge as well as their games now look more like preseason games.
Nearing the conclusion of nonconference action, where do the Alabama Crimson Tide currently stand in the latest KenPom rankings entering SEC play?
As of Friday, Dec. 26, Alabama is currently considered as the nation's No. 17 team, per the latest KenPom rankings, with an overall rating of +24.36. Alabama is the fourth-highest ranked SEC, according to KenPom rankings, trailing only No. 8 Vanderbilt, No. 12 Florida, and No. 15 Tennessee.
The Crimson Tide are also ranked by KenPom as one of the nation's top teams in offensive efficiency, sitting at No. 3 with a rating of 126.7. In terms of defensive efficiency, the Crimson Tide currently rank No. 68 nationally with an overall rating of 102.3.
Alabama enters their final nonconference game this upcoming Monday against Yale with a 9-3 overall record. The Crimson Tide will then open SEC play Saturday, Jan. 3, at home against Kentucky.
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After more than two weeks of searching, the Michigan football program has its 22nd ever head coach with Kyle Whittingham set to take over. At 66 years old, Whittingham has been the head coach at Utah since 2005 and has been considered one of the best coaches in all of college football the last several years.
Here’s a look his background and what he’ll be bringing to Michigan in 2026 and beyond.
Whittingham’s path to Michigan
Whittingham attended BYU and played linebacker for the Cougars from 1978-81. He got his start in coaching there as well as a graduate assistant in 1985. After that, he worked on defensive staffs at Eastern Utah and Idaho State before eventually being hired as Utah’s defensive line coach in 1994. He was quickly named the Ute’s defensive coordinator, serving that role for 10 seasons. Two of those years (2003-04) were under Urban Meyer.
After Meyer left to take the head coaching job at Florida, Whittingham was promoted and has done nothing but win over the last 21 seasons. In total, he’s compiled a 177-88 record, including a mark of 10-2 this year and an undefeated 13-0 season in 2008 that culminated in a win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
Whittingham stepped down shortly after the regular season ended, with his longtime defensive coordinator and head coach in waiting Morgan Scalley taking over. While many initially viewed it as a retirement for him, he made it clear he wasn’t retiring and even quipped he was, “in the transfer portal,” and will now get a chance to continue competing at the highest level as Michigan’s head coach.
Why he’s a good fit for Michigan
Although folks might be initially turned away by him being 66 years old, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about this next era for Michigan.
For starters, Whittingham wins. As previously mentioned, he’s won 177 games over the last 20+ seasons, which is something none of the other candidates could say. Not only has he won, but he’s a perfect example of a coach that’s done “more with less,” going up against the likes of Oregon, USC and Washington in the Pac-12 for years.
By coming to Michigan and having a wealth of financial resources, he’ll have the chance to do more in recruiting and the transfer portal than he ever would have been able to at Utah. Additionally, he might have the chance to hire a pretty expensive coaching staff around him, which would be all the more important considering the potential need for a succession plan when he does choose to retire for good.
In addition to the fact that he wins, Michigan fans might be a big fan of how he wins. His teams have been a mirror image of how Michigan has won over the past several years, with a dominant defense and strong rushing attacks contributing to a boa constrictor-like identity the Wolverines had lost under Sherrone Moore. Whittingham’s teams are also known for being highly disciplined and physical, something that should go over well with fans.
Of course, there’s risk in any hire. Even though Whittingham has been one of the best and winningest head coaches in college football the last two decades, it’s fair to wonder how he’ll perform outside the environment he’s been in for his entire career. Furthermore, his teams have never recruited at a high level, but he’s always been a great developer of talent and has been able to get players to the NFL.
On the surface, it seems like Whittingham and Michigan could be great fits for one another, even if it’s only for a few years. While many fans might have been hoping to find the football version of Dusty May, the Wolverines might have ended up with the football version of John Beilein instead — something that should still go over well.
After a much-publicized firing of its football coach and ensuing search for his replacement, Michigan seems to have found who next to lead its program.
The Wolverines are finalizing a deal to bring longtime Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham to Ann Arbor to replace Sherrone Moore, who was fired on Dec. 10 and subsequently charged with home invasion, stalking, and breaking and entering on Dec. 12 — the same day Whittingham abruptly announced he was stepping down from Utah after 21 seasons leading the program.
The timing works well for Michigan, not only in the fact a well-established coach became available to lead the program following Moore's firing, but also in that the Wolverines can minimize the damage that may be done via the transfer portal.
NCAA rules allow players of teams to enter their names into the transfer portal five days after a new coach is hired. If Michigan were to officially announce the hiring on Friday, Dec. 26, Michigan players could enter their names into the portal on Dec. 31 — only two days before the 15-day portal opens for the rest of the country on Jan. 2.
Early reports indicate that Whittingham may also be in Orlando for Michigan's Citrus Bowl matchup vs. Texas, which kicks off a half-hour before Utah and Nebraska face off in the Las Vegas Bowl. It is unclear whether Whittingham will finish the season with the Utes or, potentially, get a head start getting to know his new team.
Here is how social media is reacting to the news Michigan is finalizing a deal to hire Whittingham:
Kyle Whittingham to Michigan: Social media reacts
This process for Michigan fans has felt like years. Now we got a coach, a proven winner, with incredible character.
Best thing we can do as a fan base is support this new coach to the ends of the earth.
What I love about the Wittingham hire: - he’s a great coach. Period. That’s most important. - the timing. It’s early enough where he can meet with the players, the recruits, their families, and keep the young talent together. This has always been extremely important - the…
It was announced earlier in December that Aaron Harang would be inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame during the summer of 2026. His spate of brilliance came during the mid-aughts era of Reds history, a time when he became both the first pitcher in National League history to lead the league in both wins and strikeouts in the same year and not win the Cy Young Award, but also logged a 4th place finish one year later.
His 2005 season can be, in hindsight, considered his breakout campaign, a year in which he logged 211.2 IP and 4.5 bWAR. In any era, that’s borderline ace stuff, and he hadn’t even peaked yet.
Eric Milton, Ramon Ortiz, Brandon Claussen, Luke Hudson, Randy Keisler, and Elizardo Ramirez combined to make 126 starts that year next to Harang’s 32, and that six-some combined to post -3.5 bWAR. The dearth of pitching depth behind Harang is what torpedoed that entire era of Cincinnati Reds baseball, a roster construction epidemic that was endemic for decades within this organization, who had – even when insanely successful – been built on hitting first, second, and third with starting pitching deep down the pecking order of priority.
Congrats to Aaron, by the way. It’s a well deserved honor while also being a timely reminder of just how different things used to be on the Reds roster. Nowadays, it’s almost the inverse – they’re as deep in starting pitching as they’ve perhaps ever been while desperately on the hunt for someone, anyone who can hit a line drive over a hundred miles per hour.
Even after losing both Nick Martinez and Zack Littell into the realm of free agency, Cincinnati’s potential rotation for the 2026 season looks stout. It’s headlined by the likes of Hunter Greene and Andrew Abbott, a pair of All Stars who have consistently shown themselves to be among the few elite pitchers on the senior circuit (even if they go about their craft in vastly different ways). Nick Lodolo, a former 1st round pick and top prospect himself, has flashed ability just as elite as those two, and his 2025 season was his most complete to date. Brady Singer has served as an absolute rock and innings-eater wherever he has been, and Cincinnati’s where he calls home once again. Then there’s Chase Burns, whose arm has as much upside as any we’ve seen around here since perhaps Aroldis Chapman, though Greene himself would probably like a word in that conversation.
Here we are on the cusp of 2026, a playoff appearance in 2025 freshly under their belt, and we aren’t even talking about their former 1st rounder from 2023. The guy who Baseball America ranked as the #26 prospect in the game after he dazzled at the big league level for 30.2 IP at the tail end of 2024. If the Reds had a player with that profile in the era of Harang, we’d have already crowned him the next great hope of the entire franchise.
It’s a similar story for one Brandon Williamson, who’s already been a) a 2nd round pick, b) a Top 100 prospect in his own right, c) a huge piece of a major trade, and d) a pitcher who’s thrown to a 106 ERA+ across 131.1 IP at the big league level! In how many eras would a player with that profile be an afterthought heading into an upcoming season? In those cavernous mid-aughts rotation, he’d be the team’s #2 starter on paper at this juncture of the winter!
Pitching, as we all now know, is a far cry from where it was two decades ago. From 2004 through 2008, Harang averaged 204.2 IP per season. Over the last five seasons, no more than three pitchers have had single-seasons with more than 204.2 IP in any year. The attrition rate at this point in MLB history is absurd, and depth of any variety is a luxury – let alone at the level the Reds have built theirs to.
In other words, being #6 or #7 on the team’s depth chart no longer means what it used to. These days, it means just as much that you might only have 100 innings in your arm for the season than it does that there are five starters on the roster better than you, and that’s where Lowder and Williamson find themselves right now. With both fresh off lost 2024 seasons – Lowder to a combo of forearm and oblique issues, Williamson due to Tommy John recovery – the Reds are going to do everything they can to slow-play these two until they are absolutely needed, and ‘absolutely needed’ they will most certainly be at some point down the road.
The Reds have an envious stockpile, and it’s as talented as its ever been. Still, it’s pretty easy to see why Nick Krall & Co. are hesitant to move any of that in deals to acquire hitting, as odds are they’ll need to tap into that depth more often than they’d ever let on. It’s a well-built arsenal that’s designed for just how much the times have changed across the Major League pitching landscape, one that evolved into a literal arms race where the Reds are positioned quite well.
College Park could become home to one of the best pass rushing units in the country next season.
2025 freshman All-American defensive ends Zahir Mathis and Sidney Stewart both announced on social media Thursday their plans to return to Maryland football in 2026.
The arrival of incoming freshman edge rusher and top-five recruit Zion Elee created some uncertainty related to the portal, but those worries are now put to rest.
Stewart and Mathis broke out as two of the most exciting freshman in the country last season, independent of position. Stewart racked up seven sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss and 40 pressures while Mathis finished with six sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss and 31 pressures. Both played through nagging injuries in the latter half of the season.
Those efforts earned both of them freshman All-American honors from On3 and 247Sports.
Head coach Michael Locksley affirmed he believes Elee, Mathis and Stewart can all be on the field at the same time. With the limitation of only two edge rusher positions, this could mean Stewart sees some off-ball linebackers snaps or Mathis gets bumped into a 5- or 3-tech role — roles they each project into physically. Or defensive coordinator Ted Monachino could simply take advantage of having excellent depth and keep the trio better-rested.
However it shakes out, though, the Terps’ edge rusher unit is set to be a nightmare for opposing offensive coordinators this upcoming season.
🔝Luis de la Fuente remains the world’s top national team coach
The Spanish coach, Luis de la Fuente, has capped off a dream 2025 by being named, for the second consecutive year, the best men's national team coach in the world. The prestigious recognition, awarded by the IFFHS (International Federation of Football History & Statistics), confirms the absolute dominance of the coach from La Rioja on the international stage.
De la Fuente led the ranking with 136 points, comfortably surpassing figures such as Roberto Martínez and the Argentine Lionel Scaloni, who was the winner of the 2022 and 2023 editions.
A Year of Historic Records
The merits for this award are undeniable. Under his leadership, the Spanish National Team not only secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup, but did so by breaking historical barriers. Spain reached the astonishing figure of 31 official matches unbeaten, setting a new world record for invincibility.
Return to the Top of Football
In addition to the results on the field, De la Fuente's management allowed "La Roja" to reclaim the top spot in the FIFA ranking. These achievements consolidate his footballing vision and establish him as the most influential coach of the moment. With this IFFHS double championship, Spain heads into the World Cup year as the top team to beat.
Texas A&M's 2027 recruiting class is on the right track to finishing as the No. 1-ranked cycle by this time next year. With nine commitments so far, head coach Mike Elko and his staff have made headway with several prospects, including four-star defensive lineman Amari Vickerson, who will announce his decision on January 18.
Three of the Aggies' nine 2027 commits are on the defensive line, which now includes underrated four-star DL Myels Smith, while rising four-star edge Kaden McCarty has already embraced the new members of the coaching staff, especially new co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Elijah Robinson.
The addition of Elijah Robinson should immediately pay off in the transfer portal. At the same time, Amari Vickerson, who is likely familiar with Robinson from his six-year stint in College Station and his two seasons at Syracuse, should serve as a potential momentum boost heading into the next two weeks.
A multi-sport athlete with the size and athleticism to wreak havoc in the pocket, while already showing the ability to stop the run at a consistent rate, Vickerson is down to SMU, Michigan, Texas, Florida State, and Texas A&M, feeling that five programs would benefit him both on and off the field.
According to 247Sports, Vickerson is currently positioned as the 52nd-ranked defensive lineman in the 2027 class, and the 29th-ranked prospect in Texas.
🚨NEWS🚨 2027 DL Amari Vickerson will announce his commitment on January 18, @samspiegs reports⏳
Vickerson is down to Florida State, Texas A&M, Texas, SMU and Michigan.
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.
Devin Haney bounced back from a nightmare 2024 to reclaim his status as a pound-for-pound star in 2025.
Richard Pelham via Getty Images
Ryan Garcia’s thrashing of Devin Haney inflicted something greater than a momentary blemish on the 28-year-old’s résumé. By the time 2024 closed, Haney had endured a nightmarish narrative collapse.
Garcia dropped him multiple times in the April 2024 fight itself, leaving Haney badly hurt, visibly shaken and perhaps fortuitous to have heard the final bell. Public opinion was immediate and unforgiving: Garcia had exposed Haney as chinny and overrated. Haney's previous wins over George Kambosos, Vasiliy Lomachenko and Regis Prograis? Suddenly dismissed at best, if not forgotten entirely.
Even though Garcia tested positive for the banned substance ostarine, which turned the fight into a no-contest, the damage was done. No lab result could erase the image of Haney suffering those brutal knockdowns again and again. To make matters worse, Garcia's erratic behavior outside of the ring, from his feral pre-fight behavior to his social media antics, dragged Haney into a clown show the former undisputed lightweight champion never belonged in, in the first place.
Boxing insiders banished Haney from their pound-for-pound lists, if they had even ranked him, and he was no longer regarded as the elite technician he once was.
Filing a lawsuit against Garcia didn’t help things either, as Haney alleged battery, fraud, breach of contract and unjust enrichment tied to his opponent’s drug test and conduct. Haney argued that Garcia violated the spirit of their agreement — specifically clean and fair competition — resulting in physical injury, reputational harm and financial damage. Though Haney later dropped the lawsuit, the damage, again, lingered. Not for the one who tested positive for a banned substance, but for the athlete who defied the code in a sport whose fans expect scores to be settled in the ring, rather than a court.
Regardless of the result, Pacquiao’s legacy was already secure. As an eight-division world champion, his career was already defined by era-shaping fights against Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera, Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather.
Against Barrios, considering everything he'd already achieved, Pacquiao had nothing to lose.
Manny Pacquiao, 46, was robbed of making history in July against Mario Barrios.
Anadolu via Getty Images
Haney, by contrast, was supposed to be in the middle of his prime years and suddenly scrapping for relevance.
Against Jose Ramirez in May, Haney boxed with discipline and controlled the tempo against a veteran pressure fighter and former unified champion to remind observers that his fundamentals and ring IQ remained elite. Fierce critics continued to follow Haney around, though, but even they couldn't deny how meaningful his dominance over Brian Norman Jr. was in November.
Norman had just posted a Knockout of the Year contender against Jin Sasaki and was expected by some to trouble Haney. Instead, the under-fire fighter handled the younger, aggressive titleholder with his customary composure, answering questions about his resilience in style. Haney fought more aggressively against Norman, floored him with a second-round combination, and, at least in the first half of that fight, produced some of the best boxing the sport saw all year.
With scores of 114-113, 117-110 and 116-111, Haney inflicted the maiden defeat on Norman's record and became a three-weight world champion in the process.
What’s more is that, with the two wins combined, he put the Garcia loss and its subsequent drama in the rear-view mirror, and now looks ahead to what could be an even bigger 2026 for himself and his brand.
Haney, through his father and trainer Bill, has targeted WBA welterweight champion Rolly Romero, but there is still an obvious mega-fight to be made — a rematch with Garcia.
Both bouts could happen in 2026, and, should he succeed, Haney would not only unify world titles again, but secure the most significant revenge of his career.
Judging by his recent form, few may now bet against him, because Haney turned a year that once threatened his standing into one that reinforced it. Because in 2025, Haney reasserted himself as one of the best fighters in America, and reclaimed his place among the sport’s elite.
Toronto Raptors guard Alijah Martin is off to a productive start in the G League, and the two-way rookie can see improvement in his game since the start of training camp.
Martin has spent most of the year with the Raptors 905, averaging 19.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 41.2% from 3-point range in 17 games. He has appeared in every game for the 905 since the season began on Nov. 7.
The 39th pick helped the 905 to their best start in franchise history (16-0) before falling to the Salt Lake City Stars in the G League Winter Showcase title game. He produced a season-high 33 points and six rebounds in that loss on Monday.
"The game is all about winning," Martin told Rookie Wire. "The game is all about stopping your man from scoring and impacting everyone, and that's what I've been focusing on. Obviously, you work on your game in the offseason, but during the season, you got to find a way to help the team win."
Martin currently ranks 18th among all players in the G League in total scoring (300 points) and 28th in 3-pointers (38). He has scored in double figures in every appearance and is one of 15 players with at least three 30-point performances this season.
The 24-year-old was honored as the G League Player of the Week for games played Dec. 1-7, becoming the first rookie to win the award this season. He ranked second in the G League in points (78) and seventh in field goals (25), leading the 905 to a 3-0 record that week.
"I've been down here getting reps all year," Martin said. "I feel myself getting better. I'm just waiting on the opportunity, staying patient, trusting God's timing and trusting their timing, as well. We're just going to keep stacking days."
Martin joined the Raptors after a five-year college career between Florida Atlantic and Florida. He led the Owls to the Final Four in 2023 before helping the Gators to their third national title last season, becoming the first player to start with two teams in the national semifinal round.
The 6-foot-2 guard believes that high-level experience has helped prepare him to contribute with the Raptors and 905. By the looks of it, Martin is flourishing this season, as a result.
"It helped me prepare in most ways because I've been on the side of losing and I've been on the side of winning," Martin said. "I've been on the side with adversity and injuries, and I've been on the side of trying to figure out how to win games. The college journey has helped me a whole ton, and I had a lot of experience with that."
San Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams made it clear after a Monday night win that he’s got a few years left. Williams has been playing at an elite level this season at the ripe old age of 37. What Williams is accomplishing this season is far from normal. Yet, there isn’t anything in his play that suggests he’s close to falling off the proverbial cliff.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler believes the 49ers will need to make a decision this offseason about Williams, thanks to his cap hit:
Could one of the greatest left tackles of all time enter free agency in March? Trent Williams is healthy this season, and it’s showing. The 49ers think Williams, 37, is having one of his best months in recent memory. But his massive 2026 cap hit of $38.8 million is approaching. That’s second on the team behind pass rusher Nick Bosa ($42 million), who is 28 and unlikely to go anywhere. Meanwhile, Williams — who’s a 2027 free agent — has said he’s open to playing until age 40. If that’s still the case, the 49ers have a decision to make: Give an elite but aging player a market deal (hint: it’s not a small market), stand pat and ride out the cap hit, or entertain a player release or trade. Williams is a fixture in San Francisco, so perhaps it can work something out. But it’s not lost on the player that this decision is looming and something most likely must be done. Williams’ current contract includes $22.2 million in base salary and a $10 million option bonus due April 1.
The 49ers have always found creative ways to structure their contracts and keep both sides happy. They could theoretically restructure Williams’ deal and continue to kick the can down the road. By doing so, the 49ers would save $15.7 million in 2026, but an additional $25.4 million in 2027 and $26.5 million in 2028. Those final two years are the “ghost” years of Williams’ contract.
Extending Williams would have a similar impact. The team would save $16.8 million against the cap in 2026, and over $42.5 million for the next three years after that.
It’s difficult to envision a 49ers offense without Trent Williams in it. Thanks to the loopholes in the salary cap, the front office can ensure Williams retires a Niner.
On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers could be playing a "win and you're in" situation against the Cleveland Browns. The Browns put out their game status report and several prominent players made the list.
The biggest headliner is starting tight end David Njoku who is already ruled out. This injury is made even bigger with co-starting tight end Harold Fannin listed as questionable. The Steelers struggle to stop tight ends on defense so even being down just Njoku is an advantage for Pittsburgh.
New starting running back Dylan Sampson is also listed as questionable. Sampson took over the job after fellow rookie Quinshon Judkins went on IR. The Browns also have backup quarterback Dillion Gabriel listed as questionable. If Gabriel cannot go, Bailey Zappe would be the primary backup for Shedeur Sanders.
Browns game status vs. Steelers:
H. Fannin - questionable D. Gabriel - questionable M. Harden - questionable S. Kamara - questionable D. Sampson - questionable W. Teller - questionable D. Njoku - out W. Reid - out
Fannin is dealing with a groin injury and Gabriel has a…
If the Baltimore Ravens beat the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night, this game becomes meaningless for Steelers as they would secure the AFC North by virtue of the loss.
With two starters unavailable, the New England Patriots will have to rely on their wide receiver depth in Week 17 against the New York Jets.
Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins, who are dealing with a concussion and abdominal injury, respectively, have both been ruled out by head coach Mike Vrabel on Friday. In turn, the spotlight shifts to the other options available at the position.
Stefon Diggs is the main man, and he likely will be involved heavily versus the Jets. The same is true for third-round rookie Kyle Williams, who already saw an uptick in opportunities earlier this season when Boutte was nursing a hamstring injury. Behind those two, however, the questions begin.
One is the availability of slot receiver DeMario Douglas, who himself is questionable with a hamstring issue. Regardless of his status, the Patriots will tap into even deeper layers of their depth chart: semi-regular healthy scratch Efton Chism as well as practice squad options John Jiles and Jeremiah Webb are all realistic candidates now to see the field on Sunday.
Chism is the most experienced of the three, having appeared in six games so far. Primarily serving as a kickoff returner, he has 16 runbacks for an average of 23.9 yards to show for.
And while his offensive production has been lacking — zero targets in 25 snaps — he received some praise from his coach.
“He’s always prepared,” said Mike Vrabel. “There are hard workers on this team, I would say none that probably work harder than Efton. I’m not going to say that he’s the hardest worker, but you’d be hard-pressed to find players who work harder than him to be prepared, to be ready, to take advantage of his opportunity, which it looks by all accounts that he’ll get opportunities.“
An undrafted rookie earlier this year, Chism found his way onto the roster with a strong training camp and preseason performance. Among the players he managed to beat out for one of the coveted 53 spots were the aforementioned John Jiles and Jeremiah Webb.
Depending on DeMario Douglas’ outlook, at least one of the two should be expected to be elevated for the game in New York. According to Vrabel, both have left a positive impression behind the scenes so far this year.
“I have enjoyed working with those guys,” he said. “John since we got started, and Webby since after the draft. I think both improved. Both have been, I would say, multiple show team players of the week in their respective receiver or on special teams. That’s great to see.”
Jiles has been with the Patriots since joining their practice squad as an undrafted rookie in 2024, with Webb joining the mix as a UDFA himself this offseason. So far, neither has been given any non-preseason opportunities in their careers.
The Green Bay Packers face an interesting out-of-conference matchup with the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday night as they look to take the race for the NFC North to the final week of the season.
Offensively, the biggest X-factor for Baltimore is who is playing quarterback. Former MVP Lamar Jackson injured his back last week and is doubtful to play, but there is a chance his injury could still subside enough for him to gut it out.
The Ravens need to win both of their remaining games to be in with a chance of making the postseason. If Jackson cannot go, it will be Tyler Huntley, who almost led Baltimore to a win over Green Bay back in 2021, with a failed two-point conversion the difference in that game.
Stylistically, Huntley will provide a similar challenge to Jackson for Jeff Hafley’s defense, but of course he is not nearly the same caliber of player.
Huntley will be helped by a solid offensive line in front of him, and he has some pass catching weapons to work with as well.
Zay Flowers is Baltimore’s most dangerous target, and they mix up his usage between the perimeter and the slot, where he will pose a real test for either Javon Bullard or Nate Hobbs.
DeAndre Hopkins is not the receiver he once was, but his size, experience and excellent hands are allowing him to dominate in contested catch and man-to-man situations. Hopkins ranks fifth among receivers in PFF grade versus man coverage.
The Ravens also have two proven tight ends in Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, which allows them to deploy 12-personnel at the third-highest rate in the league.
Then of course there is Derrick Henry, who had a career renaissance in his first year with Baltimore in 2025, and although this season has not been so productive, the bruising back is still averaging five yards per carry.
Henry is a constant threat to posterize defenders at the second and third level if he gets loose with a truck or stiff arm.
The Packers have done a decent job in the past against him, and it is really about not allowing him to get up ahead of steam, as Henry is not slippery or elusive if you make contact before he can build up speed. They will need to follow that same recipe on Saturday night.
The run game is the straw that stirs the drink for Baltimore’s offense, and whether it is Jackson or Huntley, the quarterback is also a threat to run, adding to the challenge for opposing defenses.
Baltimore leads the league in yards per carry as a team and ranks third in expected points added (EPA) per rush. Fortunately for Green Bay, stopping the run has been something they have done quite effectively this season, ranking eighth in yards per carry allowed and seventh in EPA per rush.
This is a "good on good" matchup in that sense, and in general, this is an interesting game because most of the aspects of offense Baltimore does well, Green Bay is strong against defensively, and the Ravens are not all that effective in the areas the Packers defense is weak.
For example, Hafley’s defense has not produced many turnovers this year, but the Ravens do put the ball up for grabs. Green Bay is 25th in red zone touchdown rate allowed, but only two teams convert red zone trips into touchdowns at a lower rate than Baltimore.
One of the Packers’ bigger weaknesses has been defending the pass on third down, ranking 24th in the NFL in EPA per pass allowed on late downs. The Ravens however only rank 25th offensively in yards per pass on late downs.
Likely the most pivotal factor in this game is which team jumps out to an early lead, as the Ravens offense is a completely different beast when they are playing from ahead as opposed to behind.
When leading, Baltimore is fifth in EPA per play, 15th in EPA per pass and third in EPA per rush. When trailing, they drop to 25th in EPA per play, 29th in EPA per pass and eighth in EPA per rush. It makes sense as the Ravens rely on being able to run the ball, which is harder to do from behind.
On the other side, Green Bay’s defense is very much built to play with a lead, ranking third in EPA per play when leading compared to just 24th when trailing. The best defense will be a strong offense for the Packers in this one.
Selling out to stop the run on early downs will be the name of the game for Hafley and his guys, as the run game is the dangerous part of Baltimore’s offense regardless of who’s at quarterback.
If the Packers can get their opponents into obvious pass situations regularly, it will set them up for success.
Winning in the red zone will also be key. Despite Green Bay allowing a high rate of touchdowns inside the 20, their underlying numbers are much more positive, as they rank 16th in defensive EPA per play in the red zone and 10th in success rate.
Maybe it has been a lack of turnovers, an unlucky bounce or a great play by an opposing quarterback here and there that has been the difference from them holding more teams to three points or less once they get to the red zone. Could their fortune turn this week?
Based on the profile of the two teams, it will be a fascinating matchup when the Ravens have the ball on Saturday, but if it is indeed Huntley under center instead of Jackson, the Packers have to like their chances to just edge the battle.
The Professional Hockey Players' Association self-imposed strike deadline for its ECHL members passed at noon, Friday, Dec. 26, with varying results.
Teams like the Atlanta Gladiators, Adirondack Thunder, Cincinnati Cyclones, and Toledo Walleye all announced their Friday games are postponed. The Jacksonville Icemen announced their game against the Orlando Solar Bears is expected to be played.
What about the Florida Everblades?
The Blades are scheduled to open a three games in three nights run starting Saturday, Dec. 27, against the Reading Royals. As of 1:30 p.m., Dec. 26, a Blades spokesman said there is no change to the schedule as of yet.
The hockey league has been operating without an active collective bargaining agreement since the previous deal expired in June. The league posted a statement on its website the morning of Dec. 26 stating it made its “last, best, and final offer” on Christmas Day.
"While we did not receive a formal response, we have heard from certain players that they will not be reporting for their scheduled games. We strongly encouraged union leadership to submit our offer to a vote of its membership, but we do not believe that happened," the statement read.
How will the strike affect the Florida Everblades?
The Blades could lose a significant number of home games if there is a prolonged work stoppage. That would impact Florida fans wanting to watch the Blades over the holidays with five games on tap in an eight-day stretch.
The Blades are scheduled to face the Reading Royals three times at Hertz Arena for a Peanuts Weekend promotion on Dec. 27 and 28 and a New Year's Celebration on Dec. 29, and the Orlando Solar Bears on Jan. 2 and Jan. 3.
The Blades are in their 28th year and have been one of the ECHL's most successful programs with a league-high four Kelly Cup titles, including three straight from 2022-2024. Through play Dec. 22, Florida is in first place in the South Division and second place in the Eastern Conference, one point behind the Wheeling Nailers, with 40 points and a 19-6-1-1 record.
As fas as the players, besides not being paid during the strike, they will also lose team-provided housing and medical benefits.
The ECHL proposal
Provisions of the most recent proposal from Dec. 25, posted to the website of the 30-team ECHL, offered some increases to the previous offer. The latest proposal included an immediate 19.8% increase to the salary cap for this season to be paid retroactively from the start of the season upon ratification, which is higher than the 16.4% increase proposed before.
The proposal also called for additional salary cap increases in future years, which would increase total player salaries nearly 27% from the current cap. The ECHL will continue to cover 100 percent of player costs for fully furnished housing, utility and internet costs, and medical and dental benefits.
They have also made several proposals aimed at improving health and safety, including mandatory days off, addressing travel between back-to-back games, and modifying holiday and mid-season breaks.
The players' association position
Although not publicly addressing the latest proposal, the players' association previously said the economic portion of the proposal fails to keep up with the pace of inflation compared to the prior collective bargaining agreement, which took effect in July 2021.
In addition, the union cited other issues, including clubs supplying players with used equipment and excessive travel schedules.
"The league shows no concern or regard for players' travel schedule and has said that the nine-hour bus trip home should be considered our day off. Until a few days ago, the league was not prepared to give us a day off per week, and they refused to negotiate a meaningful holiday break that allows players to be home with our families, which would be consistent with professional hockey in North America," the PHPA said in a Dec. 22 open letter to fans.
The association also said that it has filed a new unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board, stating that the league directly communicated with "inaccurate and inappropriate" statements to players regarding bargaining issues during the past week, rather than negotiating through the PHPA's committee.
The PHPA reports that it represents more than 1,800 players in both the ECHL and the second-tier American Hockey League.
The Minnesota Vikings have won four games in a row, and currently sit at 8-8 on the season with a chance to finish the regular season above .500. The Vikings upset the Detroit Lions on Christmas Day, 23-10, eliminating them from playoff contention. You see 23 points scored, and you think to yourself that the offense did their part in this victory, but it's just the opposite.
Max Brosmer went 9/16 with 51 yards, but was sacked seven times for 48 yards. This means the offense gained a net of three passing yards. Yes, you read that right. Three.
According to Kevin Seifert of ESPN, this is just the third time in the last 40 years that a team has won a game with fewer than ten passing yards. The other two teams were the 1987 St. Louis Cardinals, who finished with four net passing yards, and the 2006 Houston Texans, who somehow managed to win a game with minus-five net passing yards.
NFL teams want to make history during games, but this is not the type of history teams want to make. Yes, wins are wins in this league, and you don't apologize for how you get there. But there needs to be a long look at this front office about the effectiveness and longevity of winning games in this fashion. When your defense forces six turnovers, you are likely to win no matter what your offense does. But with net three passing yards, it is a miracle this Vikings team pulled off the upset.
Issa Diop is attracting interest from Nantes: Is a move from Ligue 1 on the cards?
Photo: BBC
The relegation battle in Ligue 1 is tightening its grip, and FC Nantes, with Metz breathing down their neck, finds itself dangerously close to the dreaded red zone. In a desperate bid for survival, the club's management is working tirelessly behind the scenes to bolster its squad before it's too late.
As reported by Ouest-France, a key target has emerged to shore up their fragile defense: Issa Diop. The 28-year-old Franco-Moroccan defender, once a promising talent in France, has found himself frozen out at Fulham, making a mere four Premier League appearances this season. While his experience in English football is considered an asset, his current stagnation makes a move imperative.
For Diop, a return to his home country could be the perfect catalyst to resurrect a career that has lost its momentum. For Nantes, it represents a potential lifeline—a chance to add top-flight steel to their back line in their fight for survival. However, this ray of hope has recently dimmed. The initial enthusiasm from the Canaries has cooled considerably, with Fulham's asking price presenting a formidable obstacle.
The financials are daunting. Diop's market value is estimated at €10 million, and his current contract with the London club, which runs until 2027, sees him earning a substantial annual salary of over €4 million. This combination of transfer fee and wages is casting a long shadow over the deal, leaving Nantes to ponder whether this crucial reinforcement is a risk they can afford to take.
Calvert-Lewin And Okafor To Start | 5-3-2 Leeds United Predicted Lineup Vs Sunderland
Leeds United will clash heads with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light this Sunday as they look to secure a positive result on the road in the Premier League. The Whites managed to earn a dominant 4-1 win over Crystal Palace recently, so they would be eager to keep their good form going versus the Black Cats this weekend.
Daniel Farke will opt for the 5-3-2 formation and is expected to keep changes to a minimum for this clash. Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Noah Okafor will lead the line for the Yorkshire club up top.
5-3-2 Leeds United Predicted Lineup To Face Sunderland
Defence
Lucas Perri will operate in between the sticks for Leeds after he conceded one goal in his last outing. Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol and Pascal Struijk will play as Farke’s centre-backs. They would look to keep things solid at the back during the 90 minutes.
Jayden Bogle will function as the right-back, while Gabriel Gudmundsson fills in on the other side as the left-back. Both of them will get the freedom to go forward and express themselves inside the opponent’s half at every chance they can get.
James Justin will offer cover for the full-back positions on the bench.
LEEDS, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 20: Anton Stach of Leeds United (R) celebrates scoring his team’s fourth goal with teammates Wilfried Gnonto (C) and Joel Piroe (L) during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Crystal Palace at Elland Road on December 20, 2025 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Ed Sykes/Getty Images)
Midfield
Anton Stach, Ethan Ampadu and Brenden Aaronson will make up Leeds’ midfield. Their main job would be to retain possession well at the centre of the park and engineer some clear-cut chances in the final third.
Ao Tanaka and Ilia Gruev will have to settle for a spot on the bench as they wait for their chance to shine in the second 45 minutes if needed.
Attack
Noah Okafor and Dominic Calvert-Lewin will lead the charge for the North London club up top. Both of them will have to combine well if they are to cause a few headaches for the Sunderland defenders throughout the game.
Joel Piroe will have to be content with a place on the bench and might come on to influence the game in the latter stages if the Whites are in need of a goal by then. However, Lukas Nmecha is unlikely to recover in time for this game.
During the 2025 trade deadline, the New York Yankees made some moves to help strengthen the bullpen. One of the moves they made was acquiring Camilo Doval from the San Francisco Giants.
However, he did not perform as expected initially. He had fits of struggles, allowing 10 runs in his first 16 games.
Toward the end of the regular season, Doval would return to his usual self. He tallied six straight scoreless innings and parlayed that into some great outings in the postseason. Now, he is expected to play a much bigger role in 2026.
Yankees' Aaron Boone 'optimistic' on Camilo Doval's potential in 2026
The Yankees are expected to give the ball to David Bednar in the ninth inning to close out games. Doval is expected to be the setup man, allowing Bednar to get to the ninth inning.
Bronx Bombers manager Aaron Boone is excited to see what Doval can bring to the table in 2026. Per NY Daily News' Gary Phillips, he is'optimistic' that Doval can bring how he finished the 2025 season into 2026.
"I know just in talking to our pitching guys, it seems like he's had a really good, efficient winter in terms of communication and throwing program and getting himself ready to go. So I'm really optimistic on what Camilo is going to do for us, just based on how we were able to finish with him and from what I'm hearing about his winter so far."
Boone reveals that Doval has had an excellent winter thus far, particularly in his throwing program and communication with the club. He has his manager feeling good about where he is and the shape of the bullpen. So, don't be surprised if the hard-throwing righty comes into the new season locked in from the get-go.
Jacques Vermeulen scored his first two tries for Sale in their win against Harlequins [Getty Images]
The Prem
Sale (12) 43
Tries: Wills, Cowan-Dickie, Vermeulen 2, Ma'asi-White, Quirke, Jibulu Cons: Ford 2, Du Preez 2
Harlequins (17) 17
Tries: Smith, Walker Cons: Smith 2 Pens: Smith
Sale scored five tries in a dazzling second-half performance to totally outclass Prem rivals Harlequins on Boxing Day.
Quins took a five-point lead in at the break thanks to tries from Marcus Smith and Jack Walker at the start and end of the half.
But the Sharks scored 31 unanswered points in a clinical display in the second period, with tries from Jacques Vermeulen [two], Rekeiti Ma'asi-White, Raffi Quirke and former Quin Nathan Jibulu as the visitors crumbled in Greater Manchester.
The hosts remain seventh in the table but move within three points of sixth-placed Saracens, while Harelquins are 16 points off the play-off places with eight matches played.
More to follow.
Sale: Carpenter; O'Flaherty, Du Preez, Louw, Wills; Ford, Quirke; Rodd, Cowan-Dickie, Harper, Bamber, Andrews, Vermeulen, Van Rhyn, T Curry
Real Oviedo has made its first official move in the winter market with the addition of Nico Fonseca. The Uruguayan midfielder arrives on loan from Club León of Mexico until the end of the current season, with the aim of bringing balance and international experience to the Carbayón team in the second half of the championship.
An Elite International Journey
Fonseca, 27, has a cosmopolitan career that began in the youth ranks of AC Milan. After his time in Italian football, he consolidated his career in Uruguay, playing for River Plate of Montevideo and Montevideo Wanderers. His great performance led him to make the leap to River Plate of Argentina, where he played 28 matches, before moving to Mexican football.
The Marcelo Bielsa Seal
The quality of the midfielder has not gone unnoticed by his country's national team. Under the technical direction of Marcelo Bielsa, Fonseca has been an international with Uruguay, ensuring Oviedo a player with high-level competition rhythm.
In his recent stint at Club León, the Uruguayan was a key player, participating in 35 matches. The player will immediately join training, although the club has reported that he will not make public statements until the day of his official presentation at Carlos Tartiere.
The New York Giants are signing safety Patrick McMorris to their practice squad, reports NFL insider Aaron Wilson.
McMorris was released by the Arizona Cardinals from their practice squad on Wednesday. He fills the spot left by punter Cameron Johnston, who had his contract terminated by the Giants earlier this week.
#Giants are signing former #Cardinals safety Patrick McMorris to practice squad, per a league source @KPRC2
The Giants added McMorris as insurance for Tyler Nubin, who has not practiced this week due to a neck injury.
McMorris, 24, was a sixth-round pick of the Miami Dolphins in 2024 out of Cal. He has been active for just six games in his career, all last season for the Dolphins.
With most of his snaps on special teams, McMorris has recorded just one career tackle.
The Detroit Tigers went out brutally in the playoffs, losing in the ALDS in five games. Now, they have one last chance to make a championship run, as their two-time Cy Young Tarik Skubal is pretty much out the door next offseason.
One of the first things they can do is try to upgrade their offense. Fansided’s Christopher Kline believes that Detroit can do this by signing Gold Glove outfielder Harrison Bader, whose slugging bat would be a major upgrade over Parker Meadows.
“The Detroit Tigers need a bit of oomph in their lineup, and while Harrison Bader's production tends to fluctuate wildly year to year, he was sensational in 2025. He'd effectively replace Parker Meadows as the everyday center fielder, offering comparable value as a defender and a baserunner with substantially more upside as a hitter…But if the market collapses and the Tigers can get him on the cheap, it's a worthy swing. Bader, at the very least, plays with an ineffable spunk and self-confidence that can elevate the energy of a clubhouse and hopefully spark improvements on the field. Those are vague and abstract traits, but it was on full display in Philadelphia after the trade deadline,” Kline wrote.
This past season, Bader slashed .277/.347/.449/.796 with 24 doubles, 17 home runs, 54 RBI, and 11 stolen bases in 146 games played. His Gold Glove would play well in center, and he offers much more power than Meadows.
While a one-year deal is probably preferable to Detroit, Bader is projected to receive a two-year, $20 million deal. However, with how much of an upgrade Bader is from Meadows, it might be prudent to give him the deal.
Hopefully, the Tigers consider this, as this might be their last year in contention if their superstar ace Tarik Skubal leaves next season.
The Cleveland Browns are facing the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17, and while Myles Garrett chases the sack record and Shedeur Sanders eyes a chance to start in 2026, the offense is being dealt a tough blow.
Not only did Quinshon Judkins break his leg in Week 16, but the Browns are likely going to be very thin at tight end. David Njoku is out, and as ESPN's Adam Schefter explained, Harold Fannin Jr. got injured at practice and is now questionable.
Amid those two injuries and potential absences, the Browns' tight end depth chart comes into question. Whether it's Browns fans or fantasy football managers, the new-look Browns tight end room is vastly different than when it's at full strength.
How Browns' TE depth chart looks amid David Njoku Harold Fannin Jr. injuries
Other than Fannin and Njoku, there are two other tight ends on the roster, one of whom is also dealing with an injury. Blake Whiteheart is healthy and would likely be the starter, while Brendan Bates is a bit banged up with an ankle injury.
Bates has two catches for 23 yards this season, but with the Houston Texans. With the Browns, Bates has yet to make a catch. Whiteheart has two catches of his own, but both came in Cleveland and totaled just four yards.
With Njoku out, and Fannin potentially joining him, and with Bates questionable, the Browns are likely to call up a tight end from the practice squad.
One of Cade Prieskorn or Sal Cannella could be called up by the Browns. Prieskorn is a 26-year-old tight end who has bounced around the NFL this season as an UDFA.
Now, he could finally get a chance to suit up for his first NFL game. Canella is also in a similar boat, as he could make his NFL debut this weekend if he were to be called up by the Browns for gameday.
Canella's bounced around the NFL and the XFL, UFL, and USFL in recent years. But this season, he signed with the Browns' practice squad and might finally get a chance in the NFL.
If Fannin is out, the Browns' tight end room will be significantly worse off than it was at times this season. Both top tight ends would be out, and the backups would come in with very limited NFL experience.
It's not a deep depth chart of NFL talent, but a lot of young or inexperienced players could get a chance to prove their worth this weekend against the Steelers.
We'd say we have seen it all, but we won't. Every time those words are typed or uttered, we see something we've never seen, or, at worst, something that we have never seen in a long, long time.
Questions are being answered. The guys in Midnight and Kelly Green still possess the hearts of champions. They're set up to win for a while. Their general manager, the game's best, will keep tweaking this roster to ensure it remains competitive.
First things first. There is a title to defend some postseason time, but regardless of how long this ride lasts or how it ends, several Eagles have already established themselves as guys who must be a part of this team's long-term future.
Nakobe Dean, linebacker
We've all weighed the pros and cons, and there is only one reason to let a player like this walk during free agency. There would have to be damning evidence that he's injury-prone and his body isn't built to handle the rigors of an 18-week, 17-game season.
Having other good players at his position isn't a good enough reason. Needing to pay those players at some point isn't a good enough reason.
After reaching the finish line as a rookie, Nakobe Dean's second and third seasons concluded with trips to the injured reserve, so he was under a bit of a spotlight this season. Boy, has he responded. Ladies and gentlemen, this guy is truly special.
One can argue that Dean has played his way into being one of the Eagles' top priority signings of the offseason. He has, without question, been one of the best and most consistent players on Vic Fangio's defense.
Dallas Goedert, tight end
Speaking of 'spotlights', welcome to Dallas Goedert's portion of the conversation. If there were an offensive comparison to Dean, Philadelphia's starting tight end might be the guy we'd have to mention.
The Eagles have, at times, undervalued the linebacker position. They have, at times, undervalued tight ends. One must also take into account that Goedert gets hurt a lot. He has missed a lot of time because of injury.
A stagnant offense hasn't proven that it's good enough to function without its best players. There's no guarantee Goedert or Dean will return, but no one will complain if they are retained.
Jordan Davis, defensive tackle
Jodan Davis isn't a free agent until 2027, but it may be wise to carve out an extension now before he becomes more expensive. It took a while, but he is beginning to showcase the talent and game-wrecking ability that Philadelphia hoped he had when they drafted him 13th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Braden Mann, punter
Handing an extension to a punter isn't sexy, but fortune changes quickly if your team doesn't have a good one. You remember Arryn Siposs, don't you? Trust us. The Eagles want Braden Mann in the fold, and they'd be making a massive mistake if they didn't get this deal done.
Jaelan Phillips, EDGE
If Jalelan Phillips' name isn't on this list or a similar one, that list loses all credibility. He has been a revelation since his arrival and his reunion with Vic Fangio. The most significant question mark surrounding Phillips and most of the guys on this list is his durability. There are no questions about his talent.
There's an old saying. Teams can never have too many good edge rushers, and Philadelphia taught us a lesson early this season. They aren't deep enough to let someone this good walk and potentially fall into the hands of another organization.
Linfield manager David Healy says his side "need a little bit more fire in their bellies" after their first ever Boxing Day Big Two derby defeat at Windsor Park.
Joe Thomson's goal secured the three points for the east Belfast side and ended the Blues' 41-year unbeaten home record on Boxing Day.
The result also means that the defending champions have lost their past two games after going down 2-1 to bottom of the table Glenavon.
"I don't think there was too much in the game. I think Glentoran, to their credit, were slightly better. We huffed and puffed a little bit," Healy told BBC Sport NI.
"It is always disappointing to lose a derby, especially coming off the back of a loss last week. It's important that we responded in some sort of way and we didn't today.
"I can take as much responsibility as I can and want to do but, when the players cross the line, they need a little bit more fire in their belly and a bit more today and we just couldn't get that."
The Blues have won just one of their past four league games and are now 13 points behind league leaders Larne.
Linfield return to action mid-week when they travel to the Coleraine Showgrounds to face Ruaidhri Higgins' side on Tuesday, with Healy adding that his team will need a "better performance" against the Bannsiders.
"Certainly not ideal. We are miles off it," Healy continued when asked about their position in the Irish Premiership table.
"We are taking it game by game. We will look at the Coleraine game, try to get a better performance and a better result.
"Coleraine is a difficult place to go. I know there were beaten in their derby so they will look for a response."
The Steelers head into Week 17 on the verge of winning their first division title since 2020. Their opponent, the Cleveland Browns, who are currently projected to finish with another top-five pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. I spoke with Chris Pokorny of Dawgs By Nature ahead of this divisional contest.
1. Cleveland rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders now has five starts under his belt. What should the Steelers’ defense expect from him? Has he earned a shot at starting in 2026, or is Cleveland looking at drafting another passer in the 2026 NFL draft?
Chris Pokorny: Overall, it’s been a decent rookie showing for Shedeur Sanders. His biggest issue is that he takes a tick longer to deliver the ball than most quarterbacks. Another issue is that at times, he still retreats a little on third-and-long when a pass rush gets free, not accepting the fact that the play is either dead or he needs to throw to a checkdown. Besides that, I’ve been encouraged by what we’ve seen in his starts — I see the confidence and tools of a guy who could be a starting quarterback in this league, especially when you consider he’s working with almost an entire backup offensive line, and receivers that might not even be on many other NFL rosters. He has a good degree of escapability, throws a nice deep ball, and has that natural knack for trying to encourage receivers to stay with him on scramble plays. He’s also shown better poise when standing in the face of a rush and calmly delivering a throw despite the fact that he’s about to get blasted. It’s just tough to discern about the 2026 NFL draft, though. While I like what I see from Sanders, if there’s a quarterback who the front office is blown away with in the draft, I don’t think they will pass on him just because Sanders has ‘shown some potential.’ In an ideal world, Sanders would get better and be the quarterback next year, which would allow the Browns to target the offensive line and wide receiver positions in the top of the draft to fill more voids higher.
2. Kevin Stefanski has two winning seasons and two Coach of the Year awards in six seasons, but the Browns could realistically finish with just three wins for the second year in a row. Cleveland is clearly in rebuild mode. Does that include making a change at head coach this offseason?
CP: Cleveland is stuck in so many weird positions. When our owner first came on, he was criticized for the quick trigger and firing head coaches too quickly. However, Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry (our GM) are the group he’s tried to make stick for continuity. However, I think behind the scenes, they are getting a pass for the struggles because our owner realizes he screwed up by giving the go-ahead to do everything possible to acquire Deshaun Watson several years ago. That move set a chain of not only ruining the quarterback position, but taking several years of first-round draft picks away, which the team is now paying the price for. Granted, I think we’ve seen enough scenarios — like Ben Johnson in Chicago — to indicate that a head coaching change doesn’t mean it has to be several years of a rebuilding setback, but my hunch is that we stick with Stefanski.
3. Myles Garrett is just one sack away from breaking T.J. Watt and Michael Strahan’s single-season sack record. I know Steelers fans don’t want to see him get there, but how sweet for Browns fans would it be to see him get it against his closest peer/rival’s team?
CP: It’s always sweet to get a sack against the Steelers, although I’m fully aware that they mitigated the Browns’ pass rush in the first meeting with quick throws by Aaron Rodgers. However, if Myles Garrett breaks the record, to me, I won’t care that it was against the Steelers — instead, I’ll be happy that it happened in front of our home crowd, giving them something to cheer for or remember from another miserable season.
4. Who are some under-the-radar players on either side of the ball we should watch out for? Bonus points if they differ from your Week 6 answers.
CP: I had to look back at my Week 6 answers, lol. On offense, I previously said Harold Fannin Jr, and he’s continued to establish himself as the lead receiver on the team. This time, I’ll go with Isaiah Bond. He has 16 catches for 309 yards (19.3 yards per reception). Jerry Jeudy is the next highest with 12.3 yards per reception. Bond’s shown an ability to stretch the field on deep balls with Sanders, so that’s something to look out for. On defense, injuries have started to rattle the group a bit, taking some wind out of their sails. I’ll have to pick middle linebacker Carson Schwesinger, even though he’s not very under-the-radar. The rookie leads the team with 137 tackles and has logged 10-plus in six straight games.
5. The Steelers are currently 3.5-point favorites on FanDuel. Cleveland is also currently projected to pick third overall in the upcoming draft. Would Cleveland fans rather play a possible playoff spoiler for Pittsburgh or lose and attempt to get the highest possible pick in the draft?
CP: With the Giants and Raiders squaring off against each other this week, that means that Cleveland can jump ahead to the No. 2 pick with a loss. Several weeks ago, I said that I didn’t care about wins anymore. Last week’s game against the Bills was the ideal type of situation — a close, competitive game, seeing some promise from a guy like Shedeur Sanders, but also still seeing that draft position continue to improve. Also, the only way Pittsburgh misses the playoffs is with two losses and the Ravens winning both of their final games. I guess it’s possible, but I don’t see that scenario as likely — I view it more so as not only would we hurt our draft position, but the victory probably wouldn’t even impact the Steelers making the postseason. I know that may sound like a loser’s mentality, but we’ve seen this rodeo before, lol — give us the most ammunition for 2026.
There are no words to describe this one, but we'll try.
Wrexham won one of the most absolutely mad matches in Boxing Day's storied English football history on Friday, a start-to-finish sprint of a marathon against Sheffield United that no one will forget anytime soon.
The final score was Wrexham 5, Sheffield United 3, and even that eight-goal total doesn't begin to tell the story.
The match began in earnest just even minutes in when Patrick Bamford scored the goal of the season for Sheffield United. Cutting across the box, Bamford somehow hit a left-footed, backhand (backfoot?) flick from 15 yards out into the far corner of the goal.
Wrexham equalized within two minutes on an own goal.
But then Bamford scored again six minutes later, and Callum O'Hare made it 3-1 Sheffield United after 24 minutes.
The lanky striker Kieffer Moore netted to cut the deficit in half four minutes after that. Yep, five goals in the first 28 minutes.
Somehow, the match waited until the 52nd minute for its next tally, Ryan Longman to knot it 3-3.
And then in the 76th minute, it was Moore with a smooth finish in the box with his right foot for 4-3.
Five minutes later, Wrexham earned a penalty, and Josh Windass scored it, and from 3-1 down, it was 5-3 Wrexham.
The fans at the Racecourse had seen a poor run of recent home form. But on this night, their post-Christmas outing shifted from potential disaster to absolute elation.
It surely was a tough trip home for the fans from Sheffield who had traveled to Wales hoping to enjoy the holiday and instead had their hearts ripped out, even being forced to watch a high-velocity volley in stoppage time bound off the crossbar and down, not in.
These teams had both begun the side mid-table in the Championship, the second-tier of English football. Wrexham are a headline-grabbing name thanks to their Hollywood owners and their recent string of promotions to within one rung of the Premier League.
It doesn't appear likely that Wrexham grabs a promotion spot this season, but a result like this will propel them toward the new year with quite the momentum.
And sometimes, this sport isn't about the big picture.
It's about the cold winter night on Boxing Day when a game changes from defeat to victory in scintillating fashion, one the scriptwriters could hardly even produce. Who needs Hollywood when we've got sports? This match was as brilliant an evidence of that as any.
Historically, the University of Miami has been irrelevant in the college basketball landscape. The dominant football powerhouse has been a perennial underachiever on the hardwood. However, signs are pointing up, and skies appear to be brightening. New head coach Jai Lucas has brought in the winning pedigree he sustained as an assistant at Duke.
Since his arrival back in March, Lucas has implemented a system predicated on sharing the ball and playing tough defense. His vision has come to life so far during his rookie season. Currently, the Hurricanes are 11-2. In the process, UM earned key victories over Georgetown in the ESPN Events Invitational and at Ole Miss in the ACC/SEC Challenge.
The Ole Miss win is the program’s first true road victory since a win at Notre Dame on January 24, 2024. A roster of former local high school stars has facilitated the quick turnaround. Veterans Malik Reneau (Miami), Tre Donaldson (Tallahassee), and Ernest Udeh (Orlando) have been in the starting lineup all year. Marcus Allen (Miami) has also been a key contributor off the bench, along with freshman guard Dante Allen (Miami).
Dante and fellow freshman Shelton Henderson are key figures in the turnaround of the program. Both were four-star prospects who chose the University of Miami over any other team. Both originally committed to other schools before flipping to the Canes for various reasons.
They are some of the biggest recruits for this program in recent memory. Their arrivals have brought life into a program that has been desperately seeking it. Now, even more optimism has swept through Coral Gables. On November 19, UM was able to entice four-star power forward Caleb Gaskins to sign a letter of intent to play for the Canes. The early collection of top talent has been a welcome change, and for the second year in a row, Miami has added a top-20 recruit.
More importantly, the core of Henderson, Allen, and Gaskins will give plenty of contribution to the program, which is something that many previous high-caliber signings haven’t done at Miami. For example, before the atrocity that was last season, UM signed five-star guard Jalil Bethea from Pennsylvania.
Of course, Bethea would be stuck amidst the mess of a 7-24 season that saw the coach he committed to step down after only 12 games. He never produced what was expected of him and is now at Alabama. The same could be said of many other high-caliber recruits that signed in Coral Gables.
Earl Timberlake (2020) only appeared in seven games for the Canes in 2020-21 before suffering an injury. After, he would find success at tiny Bryant University. Austin Swartz (2024) was ineffective, averaging 18.6 minutes per game last season. He is now at Creighton.
Harlond Beverly (2019) spent four seasons with UM, but the peak of his production in the green and orange came during his freshman season. AJ Casey (2022) was a quick flameout, never cracking the rotation in two seasons. There are plenty of more high-profile recruits that didn’t pan out at Miami.
However, this instance feels different. First-year head coach Jai Lucas is slowly building this program back to respectability. Not only is he doing that, but the former Texas star is also trying to take the once lovable losers to a place they’ve never been. Signings, including Gaskins, see and are buying into his vision.
The acquisitions of Gaskins, Henderson, and Allen are opening up the door for a potential new ACC power. Gaskins will join the two soon-to-be sophomores next season. The star from nearby Columbus High School will instantly become an impactful freshman from the moment he arrives on campus.
There will be plenty of room for him to shine. Although it’s still early, he can be an opening night starter, depending on how the roster is constructed before then. Miami’s current frontcourt stars are in their last season of eligibility. Gaskins’ skillset as a power forward will translate well into the college game right away.
The 6’8”, 210-pound prospect is strong and physical, which are traits that Shelton Henderson shared before jumping to the college level as well. Offensively, Gaskins’s best aspect is being able to score efficiently from the mid-range areas. He can post up, put the ball on the floor, and hit jump shots from inside the arc.
His dribbling skills are good for both hands. Defensively, he can rebound well. He is always engaged on his end of the court and can guard multiple positions, expanding his versatility. Gaskins is consistently effective at not overcommitting or being faked.
He keeps opponents in front of him and can get around screens well for a player of his stature. The 18-year-old still has plenty of room to grow and has already established himself as a potential future star in the collegiate ranks. He still needs to add more muscle, which will be done once he gets to the Miami weight room. He also has a wingspan over seven feet.
Overall, Caleb Gaskins will continue to raise the profile of Miami Hurricanes basketball. The Melbourne, Florida, native will make his presence felt come next season. Canes fans couldn’t feel any better with the quick progress Jai Lucas has completed. His superb recruiting skills have been on display, and it’s paid off for Miami early. It’s no longer about if there will be great days ahead, but when for Miami basketball.
The Seattle Seahawks didn’t have a bad special teams unit last season under coordinator Jay Harbaugh; they even ranked 10th by FTN’s DVOA. But it was an often ruinous group with return specialists who were so game-damaging bad that they were let go in the same week after combining for two lost fumbles. Their loss to the New York Giants involved a would-be game-tying field goal resulting in a blocked kick and a touchdown. Jason Myers and Michael Dickson were doing heavy lifting for the special teams, and Harbaugh was easily the one Seahawks assistant under a microscope heading into 2025 season.
Speaking of the Seahawks and the Jets as well, both of those teams now rank among the best special teams units we’ve ever tracked. The Jets’ special teams DVOA is particularly crazy considering just how bad they are on offense and defense (30th in both).
Seattle’s 2025 ST DVOA is 10th best dating back to 1978, while the Jets are 4th and at least have something positive to talk about this season.
There isn’t a single subcategory (kickoffs, kick returns, punts, punt returns, and field goals/extra points) in which the Seahawks are on the negative side of the DVOA metric. Their biggest strength is kickoff coverage, ranking No. 1 overall by miles over the second-placed Washington Commanders (whose ST coordinator is Harbaugh’s predecessor in Seattle, Larry Izzo). Seahawks opponents average the worst starting field position off of kickoffs, which is a credit to both Pro Bowl snub Jason Myers and the return coverage team.
Whether in close wins or blowouts, Seattle’s special teams has repeatedly generated big plays after spending too much of last season giving them up.
vs. Steelers: George Holani’s unique kickoff recovery touchdown
The Seahawks had just taken a slender 17-14 lead over the Pittsburgh Steelers early in the fourth quarter. Rookie returner Kaleb Johnson let the ball bypass him, and it stayed in the field of play for Holani to recover and score a critical touchdown. Kicking teams cannot advance recovered kickoffs unless it’s a fumble, but if it’s in the end zone then it’s fair game. Pittsburgh never had an opportunity to tie or take the lead on an offensive possession after this score.
Not that the Seahawks needed a lot of help from their ST given how poorly the Saints played, but it’s never a bad thing when you can break a game open in the first quarter with a franchise record 95-yard punt return touchdown, followed by a blocked punt setting up another score.
Myers did play a role in this game even coming down to a last-second field goal when he missed a kick that would’ve made it 23-13 late in the fourth quarter, but he made up for it in the end. While Seattle has had its share of field goal kicking disasters at Arizona’s stadium, this one had a much happier ending.
vs. Commanders: Jared Ivey and Connor O’Toole combine for fumble turnover
The Seahawks hadn’t forced a fumble through their first seven games, which seems hard to believe given the greatness of this defense. Leave it to special teams to end the drought through a pair of undrafted rookies; Jared Ivey knocked the ball out of Jaylin Lane’s hands, Connor O’Toole pounced for the recovery, and rookie tight end Elijah Arroyo scored his first NFL touchdown on the next snap.
vs. Falcons: Nick Emmanwori blocked field goal, Rashid Shaheed kick return touchdown
Sam Darnold gifted the Falcons a short field on a terrible interception. Nick Emmanwori made sure the Falcons wouldn’t even get a field goal out of what was Seattle’s second blocked field goal on the year. The explosive second half that turned a 6-6 tie into a 37-9 blowout started with Rashid Shaheed’s first Seahawks touchdown, which went 100 yards for what is still the longest NFL play of 2025.
vs. Colts: Six made field goals by Jason Myers, including the game-winner
No touchdowns? No problem. Jason Myers becomes the first kicker in Seahawks history to make six field goals, never mind convert six without a miss. His 56-yard field goal is the longest game-winning kick in franchise history, and without it the Seahawks are not the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
This is an easy thing to say but I’ll say it anyway: I do not think the Seahawks beat the Rams if Rashid Shaheed doesn’t house this. Shaheed provided a spark that was the best case scenario of a quick score touchdown. It was such a key play that the Rams fired their special teams coordinator.
Have there been hiccups? Sure. Chimere Dike had a 90-yard punt return score in the Tennessee Titans game, Myers had a routine kick blocked versus the Houston Texans, and Seattle (mostly Shaheed) has been a little too willing to fair catch punts inside the 10. But the Seahawks have yet to turn the ball over on special teams and Michael Dickson hasn’t had a punt blocked or even slightly altered all year.
When you look at total Expected Points Added (EPA), no one has amassed more through special teams than the Seahawks.
Prior to Thursday, the Rams had lost the 8th-most EPA on special teams this year. Pretty crazy that a Super Bowl contender is firing a coordinator this late in the season. https://t.co/UPGl2eGObwpic.twitter.com/oDltHLliuv
While there is almost no chance this will actually happen, Harbaugh should be in consideration for the Associated Press NFL Assistant Coach of the Year award. He’s more than earned it.
A versatile midfielder capable of operating in multiple roles, Pedro has been tipped for a bright future at Barcelona.
New contract talks on the horizon
As such, Barcelona intend to sit down and open contract renewal talks with the teenager and his camp soon, reports AS.
Pedro’s current contract with the Blaugrana runs until 2027, following the three-year deal that he had signed in 2024.
While there are still 18 months left on his deal, Barcelona do not wish to wait to secure his future as the young midfielder is starting to attract interest.
Pedro Rodriguez is a top prospect coming through at La Masia. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
Indeed, as per the report, clubs from England, France, and Italy have taken note of Pedro and are closely monitoring him.
The La Masia prodigy, for his part, is only focused on Barça and dreams of making his first-team debut for the club soon.
As far as Barcelona are concerned, they fully believe in the 17-year-old midfielder’s potential, and thus, plan to begin talks over a contract renewal soon.
Pedro has been at La Masia since 2019, having arrived from the Granada youth setup. The 17-year-old has made three appearances for Barça Atletic, all of which came last season.
In the current season, the youngster, who idolises Andres Iniesta, has played six games in the UEFA Youth League, scoring one and assisting two goals.
The Army Black Knights will look to pick up their third straight bowl game victory as they take on a Connecticut Huskies team reeling from some recent departures in the Fenway Bowl this Saturday.
Between how the Black Knights like to play and the Huskies losing some key offensive components, I’m taking the Under in my UConn vs. Army predictions.
Let’s take a closer look at how bettors should approach the Fenway Bowl in my college football picks for Saturday, December 27.
UConn vs Army predictions for the Fenway Bowl
Who will win the Fenway Bowl?
If there’s one program that doesn’t have to worry about players sitting out a bowl game, it’s the Army Black Knights. The Black Knights will come out on top against a UConn Huskies team that is missing its starting quarterback and head coach.
UConn vs Army best bet: Under 43.5 (-105)
We all know precisely what to expect when it comes to the Army Black Knights football. The Black Knights are committed to their style of play: namely, disciplined offense that runs the ball fairly effectively and rarely puts the ball in the air.
As a result, Army doesn’t tend to score much, averaging just 22.4 ppg this season. But that style also keeps the clock moving and allows the Black Knights to stay in games, as their defense has held opponents to 22.1 ppg on the year.
The UConn Huskies is almost the polar opposite, scoring 36.9 ppg in a pass-first, up-tempo offense. But we’re not going to see the vintage Huskies attack on Saturday, as they’ll be missing the key pieces that led the team to nine regular-season wins.
UConn starting quarterback Joe Fagnano, who threw for 28 touchdowns and just one interception this year, has opted out of the Fenway Bowl. The Huskies will also be without head coach Jim Mora, who has taken a new job at Colorado State.
If there was a thought that UConn would push up the total from where Army normally plays, I can’t see that happening given the team’s current situation. Without that possibility, I’m taking the Under.
UConn vs Army same-game parlay
Because I’m expecting this to be a low-scoring game, I’m also going to take UConn to cover the spread in the Fenway Bowl.
Before the departures from their program, the Huskies likely would have been a slight favorite in this contest, and I think there’s still enough talent on the field to keep this one close – even if Army should be able to win in the end.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
The Pittsburgh Panthers always put on a show in bowl games, but they don't have much of a dance partner Saturday at the Military Bowl, when they'll be taking on the East Carolina Pirates, who won this same bowl last year.
With major upheaval at the most important position for the Pirates (more on that below), the Panthers are healthy 9.5-point favorites in the college football odds.
Our Pittsburgh vs. East Carolina predictions and college football picks have Pitt dominating at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, MD.
Pittsburgh vs East Carolina predictions for the Military Bowl
Who will win the Military Bowl?
The biggest news is who's not playing in this game, as East Carolina starting QB Katin Houser announced he is opting out of the Military Bowl and entering the transfer portal when it opens Jan 2.
Houser was the centerpiece of a team that finished 14th nationally in total offense, rolling up 464.7 yards per game. He accounted for 3,300 yards passing with 19 touchdowns against just six picks.
That's not something East Carolina will recover from – at least not against a battle-tested Panthers' side that currently has every player set to play in the Military Bowl. It's not worth a wager, but I'm taking the Panthers.
Pittsburgh vs East Carolina best bet: Pittsburgh Panthers -10.5 (+100)
Not only is Katin Houser out to dent a potent offense – they'll now be leaning on redshirt senior Michael Wright Jr, a journeyman playing on his fourth team in five years – but the East Carolina Pirates are also down some of their brightest coaches.
ECU defensive coordinator Josh Aldridge announced his move to South Florida for the same position, so he likely won't be directing a defense that finished inside the Top 50 in total defense (348.9 yards per game).
The Pirates ranked first in the American Conference in defense, allowing just 20.3 points per game, and were first against the run, limiting teams to 120.3 yards on the ground.
Their weakness was the passing game, where they allowed 228.7 yards per game, which was seventh in the conference. This is where the Pittsburgh Panthers should take advantage.
The Panthers were the top scoring team in the ACC, pouring in 35.1 points per game, and they did much of their damage through the air, piling up 274.8 yards per contest, good for 20th in the nation.
In their final eight games of the season, they scored at least 30 points in six of them, only held down by the 9th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish (15 points) and the 12th-ranked Miami Hurricanes (7 points).
East Carolina didn't play a ranked team all season (BYU was unranked when they played in September), and Pitt ended its year with three straight Top 16 teams.
While they may shake some rust off as they haven't played since Nov 29, they should find their footing just fine to win by double digits – five of their final six wins were by at least 10 points.
Pittsburgh vs East Carolina same-game parlay
We're going to combine the spread and the total into a nice 2-legged SGP. Pittsburgh has fallen off the radar offensively a little bit, but that will happen when you have Notre Dame and Miami on your schedule to close out the year.
Take away those two games, and the Panthers have scored at least 24 points in every game and have touched 30+ points in eight games. They shouldn't have any problem pulling away from ECU.
Unfortunately, I don't see ECU nearly as potent without Houser under center, and expect their offense to take a big step back in this one.
Pittsburgh vs East Carolina SGP
Pittsburgh Panthers -10.5
Under 55.6
Pittsburgh vs East Carolina odds
Spread: Pittsburgh -6 (-110) | East Carolina +6 (-110)
Moneyline: Pittsburgh -210 | East Carolina +175
Over/Under: Over 59.5 (-110) | Under 59.5 (-110)
Pittsburgh vs East Carolina trend to know
Pittsburgh has covered the spread in each of its last four games as a favorite. Find more college football betting trends for Pittsburgh vs East Carolina.
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The Pinstripe Bowl greets us with the Penn State Nittany Lions taking on the Clemson Tigers.
Both of these teams would have had preseason expectations far larger than this bowl game. The Tigers never really got going, and Penn State fired its coach midway through the season.
That said, it should culminate in a pretty interesting matchup with minimal separation between the two teams.
Read on as I break down the matchup in my Penn State vs. Clemson predictions and college football picks for Saturday, December 27.
Penn State vs Clemson predictions for the Pinstripe Bowl
Who will win the Pinstripe Bowl?
I'll go with the Clemson Tigers. College football trends are less valuable than they've ever been, but you don't win 14 consecutive bowl games by accident. This seems like the ideal spot to back a "rah, rah culture" guy in Dabo Swinney against a team in such flux.
I also like the matchup for the Tigers.
Penn State vs Clemson best bet: Clemson Tigers -3.5 (+100)
I'll take the more stable team in this matchup.
The Penn State Nittany Lions are walking into the bowl with an interim head coach, an unsettled staff, and a quarterback room in disarray since the Drew Allar injury.
On top of that, PSU already has RB Nicholas Singleton and DT Zane Durant opting out. Furthermore, multiple starters could be on limited snap counts.
In a one-off bowl, this usually shows up in the little things: protection calls, money downs, and redzone sharpness.
On the field, things line up nicely for the Clemson Tigers, too. That's why I projected this number at -5.5.
It's safe to say that quarterback Cade Klubnik never lived up to expectations, but the Tigers' passing offense has at least been efficient. They actually enter this game ranked in the 75th percentile nationally for pass success rate.
Penn State's pass defense is solid, but its run defense has been the soft spot (45.5% success rate allowed), which gives Clemson a way to stay on schedule through two facets: short passes and runs between the tackles.
Clemson isn't untouched. WR Antonio Williams and multiple defenders are out, but their overall defensive efficiency has been better.
With Penn State likely forced into a conservative, run-heavy script and operating with an unsettled roster, Clemson needs to win the "manage the game" battle to cover a short number.
Penn State vs Clemson same-game parlay
I'm pairing the Under with my best bet for many of the same reasons I'm backing Clemson to win the game.
Penn State's offense is still starting a backup quarterback, and now he'll be managing an offense that has a ton of opt-outs. That's something that you think would usually kill early-down efficiency and red-zone finishing.
An ideal script when playing the Under.
Penn State vs Clemson SGP
Clemson Tigers +3.5
Under 48
Penn State vs Clemson odds
Spread: Penn State +3.5 (-115) | Clemson -3.5 (-105)
Moneyline: Penn State +130 | Clemson -155
Over/Under: Over 48.5 (-110) | Under 48.5 (-110)
Penn State vs Clemson trend to know
Clemson has hit the 1H Moneyline in six of their last eight games (+4.50 Units / 5% ROI). Find more college football betting trends for Penn State vs Clemson.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
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The No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs (12-1) play the No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels (12-1) in a rematch between a pair of SEC rivals in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. Georgia won the first meeting, 43-35, back in October, but a lot has changed as the two teams prepare to meet in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana on Thursday, Jan. 1.
The Sugar Bowl will kick off at 8 p.m. ET on New Year's Day. The Georgia-Ole Miss game will be a neutral site game with both teams expected to have their fans take up about half of the stadium. Greg McElroy (analyst), Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Molly McGrath (sideline) and Laura Rutledge (sideline) are ESPN's commentators for the playoff game.
Georgia is favored by 6 1/2-points over Ole Miss. The Bulldogs and quarterback Gunner Stockton could not be stopped in the first meeting with Georgia not punting a single time. Ole Miss is without former head coach Lane Kiffin, who left for the LSU job. Former defensive coordinator Pete Golding has taken over as the Rebels' head coach, but he's still getting an elite level of play from quarterback Trinidad Chambliss.
"They (Ole Miss) got a really high-powered, explosive, great wideouts, really good tight end, one of the best backs in the country, arguably the quarterback that may be playing the best in the country, in terms of his ability to make throws in all areas," Georgia coach Kirby Smart said on Ole Miss. "I mean, the guy's elite (Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss). He's elite last time he played him. He's just as elite or more elite now because he's gotten more experience and more confidence."
Georgia vs. Ole Miss TV channel, kickoff time
Date: Thursday, Jan. 1
Kickoff time: 8 p.m. ET
TV channel: ESPN
Location: Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana
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The Denver Broncos moved to 13-3 on the season with a tough win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas night. As Head Coach Sean Payton said after the game, ‘It doesn’t have to be aesthetically pleasing to be effective’ and that is exactly right. Denver is now one win away from locking it all up and getting a much-needed week of rest heading into the playoffs.
Denver’s offense really didn’t struggle as much as people are saying. They controlled the ball for nearly 40 minutes and racked up 11/18 on third downs, while out-gaining the Chiefs 303-139 in total yardage. The game was close due to three significant plays that went Kansas City’s way: a tipped-drill interception, a very suspect defensive pass interference call on Pat Surtain, and a long return on special teams. Otherwise, the Broncos would have handily beaten their rival last night. It doesn’t matter anyway, a win is a win in the NFL and that’s what the Broncos came away with.
Here are Mile High Report’s game balls for the Broncos’ 20-13 victory against the Chiefs on Christmas night!
Bo Nix
I’m starting to understand that Bo Nix is a pretty damn good cook. He will look at a game and pick up the correct recipe to compete and to win. The Chiefs plays this game with the goal of forcing the Broncos to string together long drives to put up points. The goal there was clearly to keep the score low knowing that would give them the best chance to win. So Nix, while he struggled at times, dropped four scoring drives of 14-plays or more. Those drives ate up the clock and eventually put up the points necessary to come out with the win. He’ll get hate from the media for the apparent lackluster effort, but what I saw was a team that is just cooking up different ways to win games depending on what their opponent is throwing at them. – Tim Lynch
RJ Harvey gets my game ball this week. It was a sloppy game, but Harvey balled out. He had over 40 yards on 13 carries rushing, over 30 yards on 5 catches, and one touchdown catch. There’s room to grow for sure for this rookie, but he’s starting to shed tacklers, find open cut back lanes, and is a dangerous weapon in either facet of the offense. – Sadaraine
Second-round pick R.J. Harvey has a lot of room for growth, but tonight he had 19 touches for 77 yards and 1 touchdown. Harvey’s touchdown grab late in the fourth quarter cemented the Broncos’ big victory over the Chiefs. That was his 12th touchdown of his rookie campaign which leads all rookie skill position players. He now has over 850 all-purpose yards on the season. In big moments, Harvey has thrived and been a difference maker. He may not be Head Coach Sean Payton’s ‘Joker’ yet, but it’s clear Payton is utilizing him a lot like he did Alvin Kamara during his tenure with the New Orleans Saints. His future looks bright. – Chris Hart
Wil Lutz
On a night the offense struggled early in the red zone, Lutz came through. And with points at a premium that makes his field goals even more important. That allowed the Broncos to stay in the game. And when the offense finally got into the endzone, he made both extra points. With how inconsistent kickers are these days, having one in Lutz is huge. On top of that, his kickoffs didn’t result in any big returns, especially the final kick of the game. – Ian St. Clair
Jaleel McLaughlin
I’ve had this feeling for the last couple of weeks, but Jaleel McLaughlin is the best between-the-tackles running back on this roster, given the Dobbins injury. His vision is good, he finds the proper cut back lanes, and he is a lot better than Harvey at falling forward. I think the Broncos should look to him a few more times a game for their Inside Zone plays in particular. He helped keep the run game from completely sinking tonight.
It’s almost like he’s one of the best rushers in college history or something. – Ross Allen
Fun fact, often forgotten: Jaleel McLaughlin is college football's all-time leading rusher.
We have seen this before, and so I have to give out a gameball to Chris Jones. Don’t stop me if you heard this. In a pivotal moment in a “big” game, a Chiefs player is called for a penalty. Kadarious Toney was famously flagged on offense against the Bills in 2023, which helped Buffalo win that game. Jones had a roughing the passer against Tom Brady and the Patriots in an AFC Championship. Now he has an offsides in 4th and 2, which allowed Bo Nix to use a little more clock and throw a TD pass to RJ Harvey. A little snarky, but here’s your game ball Mr. Jones. – Adam Malnati
Alex Forsyth
Alex Forsyth played a heck of a game coming in for the injured Luke Wattenberg and playing against a guy like Chris Jones. – Joe Mahoney
Who gets your game ball for the Broncos-Chiefs game? Share in the comments section below.
DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic's magnitude is matched only by his modesty.
“I mean, I had a good game,” Denver's superstar center said in his typical understated fashion after setting an NBA record by scoring 18 points in overtime, leading the Nuggets past Minnesota 142-138 on Thursday night.
Those 18 points came in the final 2:53 of overtime, no less, and Jokic finished with 56 points along with 16 rebounds and 15 assists for his 179th career triple-double.
No player in NBA history ever had a 55-15-15 triple-double before Jokic's masterpiece capped the league's five-game Christmas Day slate.
Every bit of it was necessary for the short-handed Nuggets, playing without three opening night starters, to overcome a 44-point performance by Anthony Edwards, who sent the game to overtime with a twisting 3-pointer from the left corner with a second to go in regulation.
Edwards scored 11 points in OT but picked up two technical fouls in the final minute, one for knocking the ball out of Jokic's hands on a dead ball following a basket.
Edwards scored seven quick points at the start of overtime as the Wolves used a 9-0 run to take a 124-115 lead and silence the sell-out crowd at Ball Arena.
The Nuggets looked cooked. And coach David Adelman called timeout with 2:59 remaining.
That's when Jokic took over.
The Nuggets' 27 points from that point on set an NBA record for most points scored in a five-minute overtime, and it started with a 3-pointer from Jokic at the 2:53 mark.
Jamal Murray, who added 35 points, blocked Rudy Gobert's putback and dished to Tim Hardaway for a 3. After Julius Randle made two free throws, Jokic hit another 3-pointer, then tied it 126-all with a floating jump shot with 1:26 remaining.
Over the final 56 seconds, Jokic made 10 of 11 free throws, giving him 18 points in the extra period, breaking Steph Curry's record of 17 points in a single overtime set in 2016.
“The best player in the world,” Adelman marveled, rattling off what he called a “crazy stat line” and terrific efficiency by Jokic, who made 15 of 21 shots, including 4 of 6 from beyond the arc, sank 22 of 23 free throws and had a 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
“I'll just keep saying: Don't get tired of this," Adelman said. "He's the best player in the world, just the bottom line. And what he does nightly it's important to the game of basketball. It's good for sports — it's good for his head coach.”
The Nuggets certainly are accustomed to historic performances from their Serbian superstar and three-time MVP.
Told that Jokic broke Curry's individual record of 17 points in an overtime, Murray said, "Seems about right.”
With the Wolves so focused on Jokic, Murray shot a career-high 18 3-pointers and sank half of them, including a key 3 in overtime when he was being guarded by Edwards and Jaden McDaniels.
“Yeah, I just told the bench I was going to shoot a pull-up because of the way they were guarding Jokic,” Murray said. “The way he was scoring, they were so focused on him. I don't think I shot for most of the fourth and overtime.”
The Nuggets are accustomed to Jokic's superlative performances, but this one stood out given that Denver blew a late 15-point late lead in regulation and fell behind by nine in overtime.
Edwards scored seven of those points and finished with 44 before his ejection for picking up two quick technical fouls in overtime as the Nuggets closed on a 27-14 spurt.
“They're gonna show this game 20 years from now, I'll crack open a beer and watch it," Adelman said. “There's other ones that I flip on NBA TV and I immediately turn the channel. So, this was one of those crazy NBA games with two really good teams, top-tier teams, so just proud that we found a way.”
While the Detroit Lions entered this game with slim hopes for the postseason, they let their final opportunity slip through their fingers with self-inflicted mistakes (six turnovers) and another ineffective game plan. Let’s take a look at how the Lions adapted their approach to their rematch with the Minnesota Vikings.
Quarterbacks:
Jared Goff: 64 snaps (100%)
Kyle Allen: 0 (0%)
After being efficient with the football all season, Goff accounted for five of the Lions’ six turnovers on the day. While you can argue he wasn’t at fault in several of the mistakes, there were clear chemistry issues between him and the rest of the offense. In general, Goff’s been very good this season and one of the Lions’ best players, but this was arguably his worst performance of the year.
Running backs:
Jahmyr Gibbs: 44 (69%)
David Montgomery: 22 (34%)
Sione Vaki: 0 (0%) — 19 special teams snaps (73%)
Jacob Saylors: 0 (0%) — 19 (73%)
With the Lions’ game plan calling for adaptability, they once again leaned on Gibbs at a higher rate than normal as they constantly looked for answers on offense. Montgomery was more involved in the run game, but he struggled more than he has in recent weeks, a theme for the entire offense on the day.
St. Brown was the Lions’ best offensive weapon, per usual, but TeSlaa also stepped up his game, as Goff struggled to get Williams the ball due to his route concepts being further down the field. Overall, the wide receivers’ usage took a step back in this game as the Lions’ offense needed to adjust to the Vikings’ pass rush. As a result, we saw the Lions use their tight ends significantly more in an attempt to give Goff time in the pocket.
Tight ends:
Shane Zylstra: 42 (66%) — 11 (42%)
Anthony Firkser: 35 (55%) — 13 (50%)
Giovanni Ricci: 32 (50%) — 8 (31%)
Choosing to lean on three tight ends over 50% of the time in order to slow down an aggressive pass rush matches traditional methods. However, when at least two of the three tight ends you’re needing to lean on are practice-squad level at best—resulting in your more talented skill players staying on the bench—it’s not surprising that the offense failed to move the football with any consistency.
Decker was unexpectedly ruled out of this game after illness prevented him from playing, Sewell missed a half-dozen snaps due to injury (and looked noticeably uncomfortable upon return), and Glasgow was benched, making way for second-year center Eguakun to get his second consecutive start. While coach Dan Campbell said Glasgow was healthy enough to contribute as a backup, but not a starter, that sounds more like coach-speak to protect a veteran who has put it on the line for the team this season.
The moving parts created instability throughout the offensive line and resulted in 13 pressures (per Next Gen Stats), five sacks, and directly contributed to five turnovers—two poor snaps leading to fumbles, a sack fumble, and pressure leading to two interceptions. They also got very little push up front in the run game, turning 30 rushing attempts into just 68 yards (2.3 per carry) and averaging a disastrous -0.82 yards before contact.
The Lions made an effort to open up their pass rush more this week, and they managed to generate 15 pressures and seven sacks on 23 dropbacks. Hutchinson accounted for two sacks and four pressures, while Davenport managed two pressures of his own.
However, Muhammad led the team with six pressures and two sacks, and he did this while only rushing the passer on 12 of his 17 snaps. Folks, that’s an insane 50% pressure rate, which begs the question: why is Muhammad only playing on 12 pass rushing snaps?
Defensive tackle:
Roy Lopez: 32 (59%) — 5 (19%)
DJ Reader: 31 (57%) — 4 (15%)
Alim McNeill: 14 (26%) — 1 (4%) — injured (abdomen)
McNeill showed up on this week’s injury report with an abdominal injury and was given a questionable designation ahead of the game. While he got the start, it wasn’t long before he reaggravated his injury and was forced from the game. The Lions increased the opportunities for Lopez and Williams, with the veteran getting a few extra opportunities.
Linebacker:
Jack Campbell: 54 (100%) — 3 (12%)
Alex Anzalone: 31 (57%) — Injured (concussion)
Derrick Barnes: 53 (98%) — 6 (23%)
Malcolm Rodriguez: 19 (35%) — 24 (92%)
Trevor Nowaske: 3 (6%) — 24 (92%)
Grant Stuard: 0 (0%) — 24 (92%)
Anzalone was ruled out following a second-half concussion examination, resulting in the Lions increasing the opportunities for Barnes and Rodriguez. Campbell and Barnes stayed on the field in two-linebacker sets, while Rodriguez was close to a one-to-one replacement at WILL for Anzalone. Nowaske saw some situational work, while Stuard was limited to special teams.
Cornerback:
Rock Ya-Sin: 53 (98%) — 5 (19%)
D.J. Reed: 53 (98%)
Amik Robertson: 18 (33%)
Arthur Maulet: 1 (2%) — 8 (31%)
Khalil Dorsey: 0 (0%) — 18 (69%)
Nick Whiteside: 0 (0%) — 8 (31%)
With Robertson dealing with a hand injury, he was once again relegated to nickel-only assignments, opening up the opportunity for Ya-Sin to lead the cornerbacks group for the third week in a row.
The safety position has been through the wringer this season, and for a team that puts a ton of responsibilities on the position, the results have been brutal.
With Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch on injured reserve, the Lions turned to Harper and Maddox to start, but Maddox couldn’t make it to the game (back injury and illness), and Harper was concussed (his second concussion in a month), leaving the Lions in a tough spot. The next man up this season has been Erick Hallett, but he was poached off the practice squad by the Titans, leaving the Lions with their sixth and seventh options at the position. Thomas, who is primarily a special teamer, was called upon to start, while Mills saw his first defensive snaps since Week 12 of 2024.
The Washington Commanders' Northwest Stadium is consistently ranked one of the worst venues in the NFL, with accessibility issues, plumbing problems that have gone viral, and architectural failures that have literally left fans falling from the stands onto the field. There are currently plans for the team to leave Landover, Maryland for a shiny new $3.7 billion stadium to be built closer to the U.S. Capitol.
But Cowboys wide receiver and return man KaVontae Turpin is sure going to miss the old place.
"I'll just say I like playing here," he said Thursday after the Cowboys' Week 17 win. "I did something here last year; I did something here this year. So yeah, it's one of my favorite places I like to play."
The 30-23 Christmas Day victory was, in large part, sparked by Turpin's 86-yard touchdown bolt that gave the Cowboys a three-score lead midway through the second quarter. The electrifying catch-and-run was the longest reception of Turpin's career.
"I try to remind everybody, man," Turpin told reporters following the game. "I try to show excitement to the fans, show them what they came here for. That's me when I get the ball. I always just try to make a play."
It's something that comes naturally for Turpin, but it seems to happen with regularity on this particular field. It was at Northwest Stadium in Week 12 last year when he mishandled a kickoff, backtracked to retrieve it at the 1-yard-line (of the same end zone as Thursday's score) and then proceeded to turn in one of the highlights of the league's 2024 season with a full-360-degree spin and a 99-yard return for a touchdown.
On Thursday, Turpin once again left Commanders defenders grasping at air on a play whose outcome was obvious to everyone while the speedy 29-year-old All-Pro was still quite a long way from the goal line.
"I knew he wasn't getting caught, by the way. When he caught it, I was like, 'Bye-bye,'" Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said in his postgame press conference.
"[The defense] went to what we call 'tricky-2,' where they trying to ask guys that probably aren't used to running with guys that run 4.2 down the middle of the field."
Spreading CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens wide to either side of the field to invite double coverage in a 3rd-and-long situation set the table. But then a Commanders miscue also helped Prescott get the play off to an even faster start.
"They key to that one was [the defense] actually jumped offsides, and we pulled the ball faster," Prescott explained to the media after the win. "I think with the jump offsides and those guys trying to panic in getting back, Turp did a good job of getting over the top. Obviously, I saw it, and with a guy like that, you just want to put it down the middle and give him a chance. He went and did the rest."
The exact play was one Dallas has run- using Turpin and against Washington- in recent memory, Schottenheimer revealed. In Week 12 of 2023, this time at AT&T Stadium, Prescott and Turpin connected for 34 yards and a touchdown on the exact same call.
"Turp affects the game in so many ways," the coach explained. "That's what you love about him, because if they do want to try to double the outside studs, Turp can hurt you in so many ways."
Turpin has certainly made a habit of hurting the Commanders and their fans, often in their own house. So as the Washington faithful filed out of Northwest Stadium to go spend the remainder of Christmas licking their wounds, it was Prescott and Turpin who were playing Grinch, devouring roast beast and clad in red fur-lined robes given by Netflix to the players of the game.
Dak Prescott and KaVontae Turpin FEASTING after their NFL Christmas Gameday win 🥩 pic.twitter.com/xU03CvMLqj
Inter set sights on promising Croatian defender Branimir Mlacic to rejuvenate back-line
The Nerazzurri are determined to rejuvenate the back-line ahead of next season as Inter have set sights on promising central defender of Hadjuk Split Branimir Mlacic.
Milanese newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the Beneamata are observing the situation very closely as they seek to add more liveliness in the defensive department as it seems very likely that veterans Stefan De Vrij and Francesco Acerbi will not extend their respective stays in Milan at the end of the season when their contracts expire.
Mlacic shows great promise as he serves as a modern central defender who is quick, agile, very comfortable on the ball, and who is very strong physically at such a young age.
If the Biscione were to complete a move in the winter market, it would be a similar formula to the deal for Petar Sucic, in which they would have Mlacic remain at Hadjuk Split on a six-month loan until the end of the season.
Indeed, the Croatian rising star is attracting a great deal of interest as Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Newcastle are all monitoring Mlacic very closely.
Hello from Orlando! We made sure to get to town early for a truly rare event: a specialty showcase of Pop-Tarts derived dishes that will be available to those coming to the Pop-Tarts Bowl on December 27th (tomorrow).
I tasted three items: Pop-Tarts Nachos Frosted S’mores, Loaded Pop-Tarts Frosted S’mores, and a vanilla pudding/strawberry Pop-Tart trifle (pictured above). Lemme tell ya, somehow they make chocolate nachos make sense and taste so good. They prepeared them so well at the perfect heat so the chip wasn’t floppy but the chocolate and marshmallow was still melty.
This little dish was exactly what I needed a couple hours after getting into town. Was I on an empty stomach? Yes. Was coffee the only thing I consumed all day up to this point? Also yes. But man, this little dish was rich enough that I may not eat again until dinner. I had two of them and then two tiny cups of the trifle and I was set.
What took the cake though wasn’t the deep fried Pop-Tarts that I will be consuming tomorrow, but it was the greatest helmet I have ever had the pleasure to see in person: the Georgia Tech sprinkle helmet:
Excuse my hyperbole. It’s not my favorite helmet and in fact one I think is better sits in my office (which also includes a very distinct pattern from a particular time in the CPJ era), but what a world we live in where combining sugary snacks in a city that makes no sense and wrapping it all together to put on a food exhibition decorated with snack themed helmets for a college football game that technically doesn’t count for anything in the road to the championship exists. We know we’re lucky as hell.
Coming up from the rest of FTRS this weekend: Game Thread posts tomorrow morning, game recap tomorrow evening. Episode 296 of Scions of the Southland will record Sunday or Monday night. Our film photo album from the bowl by Chris Paschal will post later in the week.
The New England Patriots will visit the New York Jets down seven starters.
Wide receivers Mack Hollins and Kayshon Boutte, guard Jared Wilson, defensive tackles Milton Williams and Khyiris Tonga, as well as linebackers Harold Landry III and Robert Spillane have been ruled out for Sunday’s game, head coach Mike Vrabel announced.
But running back TreVeyon Henderson moves forward as questionable after shedding the red non-contact jersey for the final practice of the week.
Here’s the rest of the game statuses heading into the 1 p.m. ET kickoff at MetLife Stadium.
OUT
Patriots
WR Mack Hollins (abdomen)
WR Kayshon Boutte (concussion protocol)
G Jared Wilson (concussion protocol)
DT Milton Williams (ankle — IR return)
DT Khyris Tonga (foot)
LB Harold Landry III (knee)
LB Robert Spillane (ankle)
Jets
TE Mason Taylor (neck)
DE Will McDonald IV (knee)
DT Jay Tufele (foot)
LB Kiko Mauigoa (neck)
After four games on injured reserve, the Patriots opened the 21-day practice window for Williams to return earlier in the week. Even so, the four-year, $104 million March arrival will not be greenlit for the visit to East Rutherford. The active roster will also be without 1,007 receiving yards and eight touchdowns out wide, plus its rookie starter at left guard, plus captains across the ball who rank atop the team in sacks and tackles. And also the run-stuffing Tonga, whose campaign has spanned 14 snaps at fullback, 337 snaps at defensive tackle and 65 snaps on special teams.
“Just not available for the game,” Vrabel said Friday when asked whether it’d take a New Year’s miracle for any of the seven to be back at practice next week. “A couple of them are in protocol and a couple of them have something else going on. We’ll see where we’re at after the game. That’s the most important thing.”
QUESTIONABLE
Patriots
RB TreVeyon Henderson (concussion protocol)
WR DeMario Douglas (hamstring)
Jets
TBA
Henderson entered concussion protocol only a dozen scrimmage yards in last Sunday night. But after being ruled out at halftime, the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month was listed as a limited participant on Christmas Eve and projected the same again on Christmas Day. As for Douglas, the 2023 sixth-rounder out of Liberty sustained a hamstring injury during the matchup at M&T Bank Stadium. A string of partial practices have followed for a shorthanded wideout depth chart that could soon see standard elevations from the practice squad.
But tight end C.J. Dippre, offensive tackles Morgan Moses and Thayer Munford Jr., outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings, as well as cornerbacks Carlton Davis III and Charles Woods all will go without game designations for New England.
PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers are sitting at 16-12 and are currently the No. 5 seed in the East as they begin a 5-game road trip on Friday with a matchup against the Chicago Bulls. The Sixers have found ways to win despite once again having to deal with injuries.
Joel Embiid and Paul George have been in and out of the lineup as both stars have continued to recover from their respective knee injuries. Tyrese Maxey has missed time due to an illness and Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford have missed an extended period of time with their respective injuries.
Despite all of that, the Sixers have found ways to be successful and Embiid sees a key in his mind as to why they have been able to find ways to win.
"I think just everybody's together," Embiid said. "Just everybody being together and playing on the court. Obviously, Tyrese has had a great season, and he's a big part of it of why we're in this position, but a lot of guys are stepping up. Even some of the two ways, whether it's Dom (Barlow) or Jabari (Walker), I mean, everybody has been able to contribute. I think that's been the key."
Barlow and Walker have stepped up when the Sixers have needed it the most. It is mind-boggling that the Sixers were able to get both players on two-way deals when it's obvious that they both deserve standard deals.
Walker, especially, has stepped up amid the injuries and given the Sixers a lot of good production that has impressed Embiid.
"He just does everything," Embiid said. "Everything that I don't do at all times. Whether it's offensive rebounding, playing hard, guarding one of the best offensive players on the other team, and rebounding. That's been one of the main things. So, I think we need some of those guys to bring that energy. It changes everything."
The Sixers will look to keep things moving int he right direction when they take on the Bulls on Friday night.
Iowa StateQB Alex Manske was well-regarded as an in-state signee last year for the Cyclones. However, amidst the coaching change, he intends to now play elsewhere next season.
“These past few weeks have been crazy and nothing any of us expected,” wrote Manske. “First of all, I’d like to thank God for all of His blessings, including the opportunities that He has given me within the game of football. I’d like to thank Coach Campbell and the staff for believing in me and supporting me throughout this journey. I’ll forever be grateful for all you have done for me. I’d also like to thank Iowa State University, the fans, and the community for your support this past year. You guys make Ames a special place to be. To my teammates, I am so grateful for all of my friendships we’ve made. I will forever cherish the time we spent together and the many memories we created this year.”
“Finally, I want to thank my family and friends for their unwavering support and for always being there for me when I need it the most,” Manske wrote. “After much consideration and many conversations with my family, I have made the decision to enter the transfer portal with four years of remaining eligibility.”
Manske, a reserve quarterback as a true freshman this year behind QB Rocco Becht, appeared in three games for Iowa State. He completed four of five pass attempts for 28 yards, while having rushed seven times for 33 yards and a score.
A native of Algona, Manske ranked as a Top-300 overall recruit and as a four-star in the 2025 recruiting cycle. He also rated as the No. 20 QB in the class last year and as the No. 2 player out of the state of Iowa, behind only TE Thomas Meyer (Iowa). That’s according to Rivals’ Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
This report will be updated further
To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire.
Despite a losing season at 9-19, the Nets have won two consecutive games, and their defense has shown significant improvement.
Michael Porter Jr. leads the way on offense, but another dynamic scorer will rejoin the team in Minnesota.
According to the New York Post's Brian Lewis, Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez announced that shooting guard Cam Thomas will make his return after a two-month absence with a hamstring injury.
Lewis added that Thomas participated in Brooklyn's full-contact practice on Friday.
Thomas is ready to make an impact
Thomas, 24, last played on November 5 against the Indiana Pacers. In eight games before his hamstring injury, he averaged 21.4 points per night on 40% shooting from the field and 35% from beyond the arc.
He paid close attention to the Nets during his time away from the court and wants to contribute to his team's recent success.
"I just want to get back on the court and play. I mean, obviously, it's good seeing them playing well," Thomas told Lewis. "I just want to get back on the court and play."
Thomas can add a big boost to the Nets' offense, potentially limiting some of the opposing teams' focus on Porter.
Considering the Las Vegas Raiders have already lost to the Tennessee Titans and the Cleveland Browns this season, one could argue that those were the Divisional and Conference Championship rounds for the No. 1 overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. And now that the two worst teams in the NFL, the Raiders and the New York Giants, are set to square off in late-December, Week 17 is officially the Tank Bowl!
To preview the game, Silver and Black Pride reached out to our friends at Big Blue View, and Ed Valentine was kind enough to answer a few questions about the Giants for Raider Nation.
Q: Seeing as the only thing on the line in this game is the No. 1 pick of the draft, are the Giants in tank mode, or is interim head coach Mike Kafka trying to establish a culture/prove he can handle the permanent job? What’s the fanbase’s mindset heading into the game?
A: No, they are not in tank mode. They just have no idea how to win games, very little assignment discipline, all the traits of a bad team.
Kafka is trying to establish himself. He has disciplined Abdul Carter twice, fired two coaches and done the best he can to fix a country club locker room culture lacking accountability. But, he is 0-5 and has little to no chance of getting the full-time job. That said, I still believe he might be a head coach somewhere eventually.
You know how fans are. The vocal ones at this point care only about getting the No. 1 pick. There will be unhappiness if the Giants win on Sunday.
Q: On that note, if the Giants get the No. 1 overall pick, do you think they’d look to trade it to a quarterback-needy team like the Jets and Raiders, or stick and pick?
A: I think the obvious play is to trade down. The Jets, Raiders and maybe a couple of other teams are quarterback-needy. The ideal scenario is trade down, stay in the top five, add some early picks this year and next, and use that to fortify the roster.
Q: The Raiders and Giants could also be competing for head coach candidates this offseason. Who do you think New York will be targeting? What will make the job an enticing opening?
A: The job is enticing because it is New York, and winning in New York is not like winning anywhere else. It is enticing because there is a rookie quarterback who looks like he could be the real deal to work with. It is enticing because there is stable ownership, even though the fan base loves to throw darts at the Mara family.
There have been a lot of reports that the Giants have Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman on their list. After that, it’s anybody’s guess. I think we need to wait a couple of weeks and see if the Giants are really intending to keep Joe Schoen as GM.
Q: What are the early reviews on rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart? Are there any concerns after last week’s performance, where he went 7/13 for 33 yards and an interception?
A: That game you reference was against defensive coordinator Brian Flores and the Minnesota Vikings. It was, in my view, the only time all year that Dart has played like a confused rookie. There is a narrative being pushed by some in the media that Dart has regressed since his concussion, which coincided with Brian Daboll’s firing as head coach. I’m not buying. I think the kid had one bad game, and I dare you to find me the rookie starting QB who has gotten through a season without at least one or two total clunkers.
I am bullish on Dart. He has play-making ability and occasionally a little flash of magic. He has toughness, sometimes to his own detriment. He can throw it, although he doesn’t have a Josh Allen howitzer. He can lead. He has a magnetic personality that is great for the New York/New Jersey market. He just needs the right coach and more talent around him.
Q: Wrapping up with the offseason theme, who are the Giants’ biggest impending free agents, and what needs do you anticipate them having?
A: Wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, cornerback Cor’Dale Flott, and right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor are the biggest free agents.
Needs? It’s a long list. Wide receiver help, interior offensive line, maybe a right tackle if Eluemunor walks, maybe an upgrade at tight end, interior defensive line, linebacker, cornerback, more athleticism and play-making at safety. Is that a long enough list?
Julien Stephan was pleased to take a point after QPR's 1-1 draw at Portsmouth.
Rangers were poor in the first half but better in the second and Jimmy Dunne equalised for them with a second-half header.
"Two different halves. It was a very difficult first half for us - not good enough in terms of intensity and quality," R's head coach Stephan told BBC Radio London.
"It was a poor first half from us and a good reaction in the second. We scored and had two or three opportunities to score another one.
"It was really better at the beginning of the second half and I think it changed the momentum of the game a lot. And after that we know have some quality, with offensive players able to create some danger.
"When you play only one half away, it's very difficult to get a top result. But we have to take this point. I think it's a good point for us.
"We played only 45 minutes with quality and it's a point, so we take the point."
The Patriots may have running back TreVeyon Henderson in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Jets.
Henderson suffered a concussion in last Sunday's win over the Ravens, but has made enough progress in the concussion protocol to be listed as questionable for this weekend. The news was not as positive for a couple of other players who suffered head injuries against Baltimore.
Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte and left guard Jared Wilson have both been ruled out for this week. Both players will try to get cleared for Week 18, but the Patriots may wind up resting players against the Dolphins if they clinch the AFC East title this weekend. A win and a Bills loss would make that happen.
Defensive lineman Milton Williams (ankle), linebacker Robert Spillane (ankle), defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga (foot), wide receiver Mack Hollins (abdomen), and edge rusher Harold Landry (knee) have also been ruled out. Wide receiver Pop Douglas (hamstring) joins Henderson with a questionable designation.
Michigan football is expected to hire former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham as the program's head coach, according to multiple reports on Dec. 26.
Whittingham stepped down as the Utes' head coach after the 2025 season, in which the team went 10-2. He was Utah's head coach for 21 years and was with the program for 32 years. He served as the school's defensive coordinator starting in 1995 and was ex-Ohio State coach Urban Meyer's defensive coordinator at Utah for the 2003 and 2004 seasons.
Whittingham was elevated to head coach at Utah in December 2004 after Meyer departed for Florida. In October 2025, Meyer called Whittingham "as good a football coach as I've ever been around."
Whittingham had a 177-88 record over 18 seasons. He totaled seven or more wins 17 times and had eight seasons of 10 wins or more. During his best season at Utah in 2008, the Utes went 13-0 and beat Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide in the Sugar Bowl.
Whittingham has faced the Buckeyes once in his head coaching career. In the 2022 Rose Bowl, the No. 6 Buckeyes beat the No. 11 Utes 48-45. Utah led 35-21 before Ohio State came back with help from wide receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba, who set the single-game receiving yards and receptions record for a Buckeye (347 receiving yards, 15 catches).
Michigan began its head coaching search after firing previous head coach Sherrone Moore for cause on Dec. 10. Michigan said it had found "credible evidence" that Moore "engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member."
Utah still has yet to play its bowl game against Nebraska Dec. 31. In Utah's announcement about Whittingham's departure, the school said it expects Whittingham to be on the sideline against the Cornhuskers, coaching his final game with the Utes.
#Colts Pro Bowl DL DeForest Buckner aggravated a neck injury and will have season-ending surgery on his herniated disc, per coach Shane Steichen. Another significant injury blow for Indy.
When it rains in Indianapolis, it seems to pour with injuries, as the Colts are already without starting quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) for the season and now their best player will be joining him on I.R.—along with a pair of starting veterans: right tackle Braden Smith (neck/concussion) and Charvarius Ward (concussion), recently.
Not to mention, former NFL All-Pro cornerback Sauce Garder’s (calf) return isn’t exactly imminent.
Regarding Buckner, the veteran defensive tackle returned last Monday night for Week 16 against his former team, recording 5 tackles (4 solo). Per PFF (subscription), he earned a +61.1 overall grade in primetime.
Prior to his return, he had been out recovering from his initial neck injury since Week 9 on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers—and was subsequently activated off injured reserve just ahead of this past Monday night’s game.
That being said, while it looked like it may have just been routine veteran rest or maintenance for his still recovering neck, having missed Wednesday’s practice, it was a discouraging sign when Buckner missed a consecutive practice on Thursday—downgrading his chances for playing Sunday at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The 31-year-old former Pro Bowl veteran defensive tackle finishes his 2025 campaign prematurely because of the re-occurring neck injury with 47 tackles (30 solo), 9 tackles for loss, and 4.0 sacks during 10 starts. He has one-year left on his current contract with the Colts and is due a $26.6M cap hit next year.
James Nnaji has been with FC Barcelona since 2020. He declared for the 2023 NBA Draft and was selected 31st overall. His draft rights have since been traded to the New York Knicks. (Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Though college sports is now professional in almost every sense — including players who have signed pro contracts in Europe and the NBA G League finding their way to college basketball this year — the Nnaji development feels like new territory. This isn’t someone who slipped through the cracks or got bad advice, turned pro out of high school and ran into a career dead end. Nnaji, who has been playing in Europe, was one draft slot away from being a first-round pick with a guaranteed NBA contract. He played in the NBA Summer League and has even been part of a trade.
“Santa Claus is delivering mid season acquisitions…this s*** is crazy!!” UConn coach Dan Hurley wrote on X shortly after the news became public.
Is this really the type of player who should be part of college basketball? Who knows, maybe Arizona can get LeBron James on the bench for its Final Four push if he wants to play with his son Bryce.
That would be absurd, of course — and, to be clear, expressly against NCAA rules since these pro-to-college cases must take place within five years of high school — but you can be forgiven if it seems like anything goes these days.
And guess what? As more college programs pursue mid-year additions, some have even checked in with G League players on two-way contracts who have appeared in actual NBA games. That seems inevitable at some point, too, given where this trend seems to be headed.
But don’t blame Baylor or any program for pursuing those players.
While you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone in college sports who thinks this is a good development, schools are merely doing what the NCAA has given them the green light to do as it waits and hopes for some kind of antitrust protection from Congress that would allow for the actual enforcement of the rulebook rather than a mishmash of eligibility rulings.
It’s tempting to wail away on the NCAA’s ineffectiveness here, especially if you’re, say, a Kentucky fan who remembers when the NCAA denied Enes Kanter’s eligibility because he received $33,000 over his necessary living expenses from a pro team in Turkey. That seems picayune compared to what’s happening regularly now, where schools are arranging for far higher payments to European teams just to get players bought out of contracts so they can come to college.
At the same time, the NCAA is in an incredibly difficult spot. Their executives and attorneys understand that each time the line of demarcation moves, as it has here, it chips away at the NCAA’s ability to ensure college students are playing college sports, not people who bypassed that opportunity and want to suddenly turn back because NIL has become so lucrative.
But they also see a legal environment with a deluge of eligibility cases, with some judges granting sixth and seventh years to players. Gonzaga’s Tyon Grant-Foster, who will turn 26 before the NCAA tournament, was originally denied eligibility but granted a preliminary injunction in Washington to play this season — seven years after he enrolled in junior college.
NCAA officials would argue nothing major has changed from a policy standpoint; rather, what’s different is the willingness of schools to recruit and enroll those players — and, of course, the willingness of those players to come play college basketball. Before there was big NIL money involved, it just wouldn’t have been something to consider. Now, it’s often a far more lucrative path than trying to make it to the NBA from the G League.
The combination of schools looking for players outside the traditional recruiting realm and judges eroding the NCAA’s ability to enforce eligibility rules has led everyone here, whether they like it or not.
Sports attorney Darren Heitner theorized Friday in his “Newsletter, Image, Likeness” blog on the legal landscape in college sports that this could also be part a calculated strategy by the NCAA to present college basketball as “one option within a broader professional and semi-professional basketball market that includes the G League, international leagues and other alternatives” to make the argument that the NCAA isn’t a monopoly.
“If the NCAA can establish through these eligibility decisions that college basketball and professional leagues occupy the same competitive labor market, it will fundamentally reshape the antitrust analysis in ongoing and future cases,” Heitner wrote.
The question, though, is to what end? Is the point of this enterprise now merely about legal survival while college basketball transforms into a place for guys stuck in the NBA developmental system to come and get a big payday?
That doesn’t seem right. And even if the NCAA can get some kind of protection from Congress — it’s been six years and counting since the organization started down that path, so no guarantees there — it’s hard to imagine some of this stuff just comes to a hard stop. Once the window opens this wide, it’s difficult to close.
Maybe it’s time for college basketball and the NBA to sit down and figure out a different model, one that perhaps mimics hockey’s system where players can be drafted but play in college until they decide to sign with their pro team.
Imagine a world where nobody has to enter the NBA Draft, they’re just automatically in the pool of draft-eligible players the year they turn 18 years old. At that point, decisions about what’s best for their development would take place collectively between the NBA franchise that drafted them and their college team. Perhaps you could even construct a system where a drafted player can join the NBA or G League team on a provisional basis after the college season and then go back to college if they feel like they need another year.
Of course that would require a lot of work, cooperation and collective bargaining changes on the NBA side. But it makes a lot more sense than college coaches who need another body to bypass a high school kid and instead recruit a grown man who never intended to go to college with a six-figure payday.
If they’re simply going to wait around for Congress to deliver guardrails, Nnaji is going to be the first of many former NBA Draft picks to find their way back to college basketball and make the NCAA look like it has no rules at all.
John Cena's heel turn was undeniably unforgettable, even if what happened afterward may not have lived up to expectations.
WWE via Getty Images
The stage was set and the retirement tour booked. John Cena's goal was made loud and clear upon the start of his final year in pro wrestling — he wanted to hoist a world title one final time and make history as WWE's only 17-time champion. A loss at February's Royal Rumble left him with seemingly one final Hail Mary option: WWE's Elimination Chamber in Toronto in March. And in the end, Cena did it. He overcame the odds, defeating five other men — including one of his greatest rivals, CM Punk — to earn his opportunity to challenge the Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes, at WrestleMania 41.
But it was what happened immediately afterward that dropped jaws around the globe.
When heroes become villains
WWE wanted its moment to ignite the road to WrestleMania 41, and with Cena back at its disposal, it delivered an all-timer.
It was a unique scene. Rhodes was also in the midst of potentially giving his "soul" to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. What precisely that soul business was about, we may never know. But it led to a fascinating standoff between Cena, Rhodes and Johnson after Cena's win. (And rapper Travis Scott, but that part we all like to forget about.) A "go f*** yourself" from Rhodes ultimately shut down The Rock's request, and Rhodes moved to embrace his next challenger, Cena. Good seemed to overcome evil once again, and all was right in the world.
Looking over Rhodes' shoulder and locking eyes with The Rock, Cena made the flip. Expressionless, the all-time good guy betrayed more than 20 years of babyface lore with one swift low-blow to Rhodes. The subsequent beatdown created one of the biggest shocks in wrestling history — Cena had succumbed to the dark side to increase his odds of getting what he wanted from his final run before the game was over.
What made Cena's turn so special and shocking was that it was beyond overdue, to the point where fans had long given up on it ever happening. All the goodwill in the world had been built up for WWE's resident superhero, yet he channeled his inner "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan and joined his version of WCW's New World Order. It was unpredictability at its peak and execution at its most uncensored.
There are countless ways to dissect Cena's heel turn as a whole in the aftermath. But in a vacuum, and remembering it for what it was as it unfolded, it's impossible to deny that scene in Toronto as 2025's Wrestling Moment of the Year.
Best of the Rest
As with every year, the past year in wrestling was filled with plenty of notable moments. Here are the others the Uncrowned team all voted for in 2025:
2. Hangman Adam Page ends Jon Moxley's title reign of terror: Moxley and the Death Riders swiftly became AEW's version of the Bloodline with its seemingly never-ending storyline. Fans begged for a title change over and over again, yet several defenses made it seem as if it would never come. But then AEW's longtime "main character" and former champ returned to the mix, completing yet another phenomenal character arc. It was one of the most blatant "this must change" moments in recent pro-wrestling history, and the match that led to Page's coronation at AEW All In 2025 was nothing short of amazing.
3. John Cena taps out to Gunther in final career match: Hustle. Loyalty. Respect. Three words Gunther vowed to smear in Cena's face with his promise to make the WWE icon drop the "never" from his "Never Give Up" slogan. In the final appearance of Cena's iconic career, Gunther did just that, locking on a lengthy sleeper hold to force the tap. It was the first time Cena tapped out to lose a match in more than 20 years, and it added a second legendary name to Gunther's retirement résumé in 2025.
4. Jey Uso wins the Royal Rumble: Speaking of surprises and unpredictability, Jey Uso wasn't on anyone's bingo sheets to win the year's Royal Rumble match and challenge for a world title at WrestleMania 41. In doing so, Uso also inadvertently kick-started Cena's heel run, as the "Never Seen 17" was the man Uso last eliminated to cement his title run.
5. Naomi cashes in Money In the Bank contract, steals title amid Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Sky classic: Among all the stars of 2025, few shined brighter than Naomi. The veteran truly came into her own, turning over a new leaf with the best work of her career as a jealousy-driven heel. It all culminated with one of the steals of the year. In the main event of WWE's second-ever all-women Evolution PLE, Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky were bringing the house down with one of the year's best matches. But just as the action reached its crescendo, Naomi's music hit — and she took full advantage of the beaten-down competitors to snag the WWE Women's World Championship.
Uncrowned's voting breakdown for Moment of 2025:
(Hassan Ahmad, Yahoo Sports)
Honorable mentions:
Paul Heyman aligns with Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 41
Seth Rollins cashes in his Money In the Bank contract at SummerSlam
John Cena's in-ring tributes
Randy Orton vs. Joe Hendry at WrestleMania 41
Toni Storm vs. Mariah May in AEW's Hollywood Ending
The Lions committed six turnovers in the loss at the Vikings, its most all season and the most for Detroit since the Lions' five turnovers against Washington in last year's NFC Divisional Round loss from Ford Field. Entering Christmas Day, the Lions had committed just eight turnovers all season and had lost just three fumbles.
Against the Vikings, Lions quarterback Jared Goff had a hand in five of Detroit's six turnovers and the Lions fumbled it away four times.
Following the flop in a must-win situation, Goff was asked if he ever envisioned that this Lions team could miss the playoffs.
"No," Goff responded.
Goff was asked what his emotions are after missing the playoffs.
"Yeah, it sucks. It sucks. We'll reflect on the whole season after next week, but, yeah, it sucks," Goff said.
Goff finished 18-of-29 passing for 197 yards with one touchdown pass to Isaac TeSlaa. The 6-foot-4, 217-pound quarterback credited the Vikings for he and the Lions' ugly day.
"They did a good job on defense, they had a good plan and exploited some things on us and were able to get after us. Adding an extra rusher a lot of times. Whenever that happens, it's a free rush where I'm hot, and they did a good job with that. We had a plan that we thought would attack that and it didn't work well enough," Goff said.
While this winning streak may have come at the worst possible time, the Minnesota Vikings have, in fact, won four games in a row. Their abysmal offensive showing was overshadowed by one of their best defensive performances of the season. Let's take a look at two winners and one painfully obvious loser from this Christmas Day game.
Winner: Vikings Defensive Line
When you can hold Jahmyr Gibbs to 64 total yards on 19 touches, you're doing something right. This Brian Flores scheme this week was dialed in, as this defensive front was up to the challenge all game long. Gibbs' longest touch being 13 yards showcases just how dominant and prepared this unit was. Four forced fumbles on the day also speak to how stout this defense was, especially the line.
Loser: Max Brosmer
You can't sit here and believe that Max Brosmer should be brought back next season. You can't, which is another topic for another time. Net three passing yards is unacceptable. 9/16 for 51 yards and seven sacks is unacceptable, really at any level. The Wentz injury is proving to be more and more crucial as the weeks go on, as we are learning that the preseason "hype" surrounding Brosmer was not justified.
Winner: Blake Cashman
Blake Cashman is as crucial a piece to this defense as anyone. Cashman had yet another game with over 15 tackles, but this time registered a sack as well. 17 total tackles, including a handful of impactful tackles of that Lions backfield, played a major part in this Christmas Day win. The pairing of Cashman and Eric Wilson has been an integral part of this defense.
Curling becomes a hot sport on the international scene every four years. That's when the Winter Olympics take place. Suddenly, the people who have no idea about what a "stone" is become intrigued. One of the athletes who is a big reason for the sport's popularity is Russia's Anna Sidorova. The 34-year-old's role is that of the "skip." She been so successful in the sport that she currently skips her own team. Sidorova has won numerous medals at the European and World championships.
Scott Parker’s Burnley did grab a draw late on at Bournemouth last time out but they are without a win in eight after a horrendous run of seven-straight defeats. That run has them in deep trouble in the relegation zone and they're seven points from safety.
Everton lost 1-0 at home to Arsenal last week but pushed the Gunners all the way. David Moyes' side are in the hunt for European qualification but they are missing some key attacking players for the festive period.
For live updates and highlights throughout Burnley vs Everton, check out PST's live blog coverage below.
How to watch Burnley vs Everton live, stream link and start time
Kick off time:10am ET Saturday (December 27) Venue:Turf Moor — Burnley TV Channel: Peacock Streaming: Stream live on Peacock
Burnley team news, focus
Axel Tuanzebe and Lyle Foster are away at AFCON, while Jordan Beyer, Maxime Esteve, Connor Roberts and Zeki Amdouni remain out injured. Armando Broja stepped up with a big equalizer late on at Bournemouth and is pushing to start.
Everton team news, focus
Key playmaker Iliman Ndiaye and veteran midfielder Idrissa Gueye are both away at AFCON, while the impressive Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is injured. Jarrad Branthwaite is close to a long-awaited return from injury, while Seamus Coleman is still out. Dwight McNeil, Carlos Alcaraz and Tyler Dibling are tasked with replacing the creativity of Ndiaye and Dewsbury-Hall.
Burnley vs Everton prediction
This will be very tight and tense but Everton's extra quality will just get them over the line. Burnley 1-2 Everton.
And, unless something drastic happens, it will likely be the only deal that Real Madrid will do in the winter.
No midfielder will arrive
Indeed, according to COPE, Real Madrid will not make any move to sign a new midfielder in the upcoming January transfer window.
Los Blancos manager Xabi Alonso had requested the signing of a midfielder in the summer transfer window, but was shot down by the club.
And, heading into the winter, that stance has not changed, even though the lack of a midfield conductor, a player who can control and dictate the tempo, has been apparent.
No signings in January. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Real Madrid firmly believe that there are enough options and there is plenty of talent and quality in the midfield department at Alonso’s disposal already.
The Merengues have Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, Dani Ceballos, and Jude Bellingham as options in midfield, while Arda Guler has also been used in a central role this term.
Moreover, the club hierarchy also point towards the youth setup, where talents like Thiago Pitarch and Jorge Cestero are available, and have even made their first-team debuts earlier this month.
As such, there will be no new signing in the midfield department midway through the ongoing campaign. In fact, there will be no new arrivals, period. Any deals will have to wait until the summer transfer window.
Good afternoon, it’s Thursday, December 26. The Cleveland Cavaliers are 17-15 and play the Houston Rockets tomorrow at 8 PM.
We hope you had a fantastic holiday and were not too discouraged by the Cavs’ loss.
Today’s Game of the Day
Charlotte Hornets vs Orlando Magic – 7 PM, NBC, NBA League Pass
Check this one out and keep an eye on Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel. He’s averaging 19.4 points per game and became the fastest player in NBA history to reach 100 career three-pointers last week. Kon is legit, and he has as good of a chance at winning Rookie of the Year as anyone right now.
When you receive an endorsement from Stephen Curry, you know you’re on the right track as a young NBA player. This is why Cooper Flagg has reason to smile about his Christmas day performance this year, despite his Dallas Mavericks falling to Curry’s Golden State Warriors, 126-116.
The 19-year-old Flagg (he just turned 19 on December 21) led the Mavs in scoring on the day with 27 points on 13-of-21 from the field, to go along with six rebounds and five assists.
It was another strong outing from Flagg amidst what has been a very productive December, launching the No. 1 pick and Maine product back into Rookie of the Year discussions. Flagg is now averaging 19.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game over his first 31 NBA games.
“Just a true hooper, competitor,” Curry said of Flagg. “You forget how young he is. Just his presence out there on the court (is mature). The future is bright. … The league is in good hands.”
Flagg’s been on a heater this month: 24.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game. Before the Warriors game, he impressed the entire basketball world with a 33-point, nine-rebound, nine-assist performance against Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets on December 23.
A native of Newport, Maine, Flagg emerged as a basketball prodigy early on. Starting at Nokomis Regional High School, he transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida, where he dominated as the top-ranked recruit in the 2024 class. At Duke University for the 2024-25 season, Flagg showcased versatile scoring, rebounding, and defense, leading the Blue Devils on a deep tournament run and continually backing up his status as the consensus No. 1 pick.
To their credit, the Jets have performed an about-face regarding the most recent dysfunctional thing they did.
After the New York Post reported that the Jets had decided not to let Ashley Castanio-Gervasi participate in $100,00 field-goal kicking contest at halftime of Sunday's game against the Patriots due to a technicality, the Jets decided to allow her to proceed.
Castanio-Gervasi had said the team was aware she'd previously played college soccer, at the Division I level. The team disqualified her because she's a high-school soccer coach.
“This is life-changing money for me,” Castanio-Gervasi told the Post. “I was confident I could have made it. . . . This was the first time I was hearing of any of these [coaching] questions."
The story was published by the Post on Thursday. On Friday, the Jets decided to let her participate, along with three other finalists in a "Kick for Cash" competition.
“We realized there was an unfortunate misunderstanding regarding Ashley’s eligibility for the contest," the Jets said in a statement to the Post. "In an effort to remedy the situation, we are allowing her to kick this Sunday for an opportunity to win the prize. We value the passion and loyalty of our fans and are committed to creating memorable experiences."
The Jets had informed Castanio-Gervasi on Monday that she wasn't eligible, citing rules that prevent recent players and coaches from Olympic, college, and high-school soccer, rugby, and football teams. She had previously qualified for the contest by making a 20-yard field goal at a tailgate event in October.
The kicking distance for the final competition isn't currently known. Regardless, the Jets have restored her opportunity to try to win the money.
Colandrea is to transfer after one season as the Running’ Rebels starting quarterback. He also entered portal last offseason after spending his first two seasons as a starter at Virginia. Colander has 27 career appearances, 25 of those starts, for the Cavaliers and the Rebels.
In total, Colandrea has been one of the better dual-threat quarterbacks in the country while in Charlottesville and then Las Vegas. That’s as, in his career, he has posted 63.8% completion for 7,542 passing yards, 49 touchdowns, and 29 interceptions, while rushing for 1,151 yards and a dozen more scores. That averages him out to 263.4 total yards posted per game with 61 touchdowns overall while at UVA and UNLV.
This report will be updated further
To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire.
It's been two and a half weeks since Sherrone Moore was fired for the inappropriate relationship he had with a staff member. And the Wolverines are about to fall upwards.
Michigan had been considering Alabama's Kalen DeBoer, Arizona State's Kenny Dillingham, Louisville's Jeff Brohm, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, and interim head coach Biff Poggi. But another ended up being athletic director Warde Manuel's choice to lead the program.
Though it isn't as popular with Michigan football fans as some other options (but it is popular with the national media), the maize and blue are set to hire Utah's Kyle Whittingham as the team's new head coach. The deal should be announced on Friday, according to multiple reports.
Source confirms to Free Press Kyle Whittingham will be the 22nd head coach in the history of Michigan football. Announcement will be made relatively soon. pic.twitter.com/LeFHwantZt
— Tony Garcia | Detroit Free Press (@RealTonyGarcia) December 26, 2025
A former linebacker at BYU, Whittingham has been coaching at rival Utah since 1994. He was promoted to defensive coordinator the following year and took over the head coaching post from Urban Meyer when he left for the Florida job.
Whittingham has a lot of similar traits to former head coach Jim Harbaugh, albeit without much of the extracurriculars and drama that surrounded Harbaugh, predating even his time in Ann Arbor. At 66 years old, there are some questions about his longevity for the role, but Pete Carroll (74) took over the Seattle Seahawks at 59 years old, and the Las Vegas Raiders just this past year. Perhaps not a successful of a story, North Carolina hired a 73-year-old Bill Belichick to oversee the Tar Heels just this past year.
The Carolina Panthers will have to finish out their 2025 campaign without one of their defensive starters.
As announced by head coach Dave Canales following Friday's practice, inside linebacker Trevin Wallace underwent shoulder surgery this week. The second-year defender will now miss the remainder of the season.
"He was a stud about it," Canales told reporters this afternoon. "It was a playable condition, but he just wasn't really turning a corner to be able to play confidently the way that we know he can. So reevaluated that—and really just collectively made that decision to make sure we can get this thing right, get ahead of it right now and rehab him and get him ready for the spring."
Wallace was selected by the Panthers in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft. He's since gone on to start in 20 of his 25 games—amassing 125 combined tackles, 2.0 sacks and four passes defensed.
Canales added that third-year veteran Claudin Cherelus will start in Wallace's place moving forward.
Loan player check: a look at how our sextet are faring
New roles, successes and injury blows
A group of six players are currently on loan at other clubs until the end of the season. In this edition of our loan player check, we take a look at Hannover, Derby and Graz to update you on our loan boys' progress.
Hendry Blank | Hannover 96
Hannover have been without Marcus Mann, their former head of sport for a few days now - but they will still have the 21-year-old centre-back. Coach Christian Titz has not been selecting Hendry, however, with the defender waiting patiently since the end of October – partly due to injury – as they battle for promotion in Bundesliga 2.
Bobby Clark | Derby County
The Geordie native had already been a regular starter in his natural number 10 role, but since switching to the defensive midfield position against Queens Park Rangers two months ago, Bobby has flourished. "The rest is history!" said Bobby himself in an interview with BBC Sport. Since the switch, the one-time U20 international has been in the starting XI all the time, helping his team climb from the bottom of the Championship table to the middle of the standings.
Adam Daghim | VfL Wolfsburg
There was a tough start to the season in Wolfsburg, which can't be blamed on the speedy Dane – after all, he was the Wolves' only goalscorer for a spell five matches, netting both goals. Things have chanced since then though as former coach Paul Simonis – the bald Dutchman sometimes dubbed the Gouda Guardiola – had to leave, and interim coach Daniel Bauer became the permanent solution. After a six-week wait, the new coach can once again call upon Adam, who has overcome a back problem.
Gaoussou Diakite | FC Lausanne-Sport
The skillful player was particularly impressive in the first few months of the season, being a match-winner in the Swiss Super League against Winterthur, Young Boys Bern and Basel. His two goals also played a key role in ensuring that Lausanne Sport will remain in the UEFA Conference League in the new year. At club level, Gaoussou's performances have been somewhat inconsistent recently, but internationally he is reaching new heights: in October, the striker made his World Cup qualifying debut for Mali, and he is currently with his national team at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Leandro Morgalla | VfL Bochum
As we mentioned in our most recent loan player check, Bochum initially struggled to adapt to their new surroundings following relegation from the Bundesliga. The Ruhr club has now firmly established itself in the second tier, thanks in no small part to our export. The right-back is a regular starter and has clearly played a significant role in their current success: since mid-October, Bochum have suffered only one league defeat – Leo was suspended for that match.
Zeteny Jano | Grazer AK
Zizi is the unlucky one in this list, having suffered a serious foot injury in an away game against Rapid Vienna a few weeks ago – just as he was starting to find his form. Initially, there was some cause for optimism, but now, according to GAK sporting director Tino Wawra, the season is likely to be over for the U21 international. We're keeping our fingers crossed for him and wish him a speedy recovery!
Newcastle have won just two away matches all season but triumphed 2-0 at Old Trafford when the teams met last season.
When is Manchester United v Newcastle?
Kick off is 8pm GMT on Friday 26 December at Old Trafford.
How can I watch it?
It will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League.
What is the team news?
The hosts will be missing Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo due to injury while Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui are at the Africa Cup of Nations. Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt remain sidelined but Casemiro returns from suspension.
Newcastle remain without a host of defenders, including Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn, Tino Livramento and Sven Botman. Lewis Miley will continue to fill in at full-back.
Hauser came to Ohio in 2022 as safeties coach. He was promoted to defensive passing game coordinator in 2023 and defensive coordinator before the 2024 season. Hauser also was the associate head coach this season.
“Over the past four seasons, Ohio football has won 40 games, and John is a key piece in all that goes into our winning program. Additionally, he’s a proven leader, and his focus will be on the student-athlete experience, both on and off the field,” athletic director Slade Larscheid said in a statement.
The Bobcats (9-4) allowed only 295.2 yards per game this season, eighth best in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The 17.46 points allowed per game was 11th nationally.
“This is a special place for my family and me, and we are proud to be part of a community that cares so deeply about Ohio University and its football program," Hauser said in a statement. “I look forward to hitting the ground running with the team as we look to build on the program’s tradition of success in 2026 and beyond.”
Ohio will open the 2026 season at Nebraska on Sept. 5.
Hauser will be OU's third coach in three seasons. Tim Albin left to become the coach at Charlotte after the 2024 season, and Smith was promoted.
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The New York Jets' grind through the 2025 NFL season rolls on in Week 17. This time, the Jets will host the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium.
All week, topics and storylines have been discussed ahead of this battle between AFC East foes. In the end, regardless of what is said by players, coaches, media outlets and fans, it always comes down to what unfolds on the field in the NFL.
And once the battle arrives, there will be a few particular things to keep in mind to look out for.
The 2025 NFL season as far as MetLife Stadum is concerned will be closed out on Sunday. It's the Jets' final home game. What's that atmosphere going to be like? Probably something like the photo above...
Breece's milestone
A positive: Jets running back Breece Hall is closing in on a 1,000-yard rushing season. Despite all the downs New York has sustained this year, at least there is some good news. Hall is sitting at 954 rushing yards so far in 2025.
Find a damn interception
The Jets defense has gone 14 games without recording an interception. That's a terrible look for head coach Aaron Glenn and it's an NFL record. Snap that streak.
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has eight interceptions in 2025.
Maye motivation?
Speaking of Maye, while no one in New York will root for him against the Jets, he is a player that could be a source of motivation. A young quarterback that was drafted and worked out for his team. The Jets are aiming to do exactly that this offseason at the 2026 NFL draft.
Playing spoiler
The Patriots have secured a playoff spot but they have not wrapped up the AFC East title. The Buffalo Bills (11-4) are right on their heels.
Can playing spoiler be something that motivates the Jets? Glenn's team has been lacking that in recent weeks.
Currently sidelined with an ankle injury, the Dutch star could leave Inter Milan at the end of the season.
Therefore, the Nerazzurri must find an adequate replacement.
Atalanta & Inter Milan to Open Talks for Marco Palestra
CESENA, ITALY – OCTOBER 10: Marco Palestra of Italy U21 during the UEFA Under21 EURO Qualifier betweenItaly U21 v Sweden U21 and ad hoc Arena im Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld on October 10, 2025 in Cesena, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Marco Palestra has emerged as Inter’s top target to replace the 29-year-old Dutchman after an impressive first half of the season.
Indeed, the Italian youngster has gone from strength to strength at the beginning of his loan stint at Cagliari.
Aware of Palestra’s potential, Atalanta have slapped an eye-watering €40 million price tag on their rising star.
However, Inter can hardly afford such a hefty figure unless they sell Dumfries, who has a release clause in his deal.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (L) leads my Week 17 rankings. File Photo by Ian Halperin/UPI
Dec. 23 (UPI) -- CeeDee Lamb and Ja'Marr Chase lead my Top-50 fantasy football wide receiver rankings for Week 17, when many leagues hold their title games and third-place matches.
Puka Nacua, A.J. Brown and Amon-Ra St. Brown join Lamb and Chase in my Top 5. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Chris Olave, George Pickens, Drake London and Mike Evans are among my other Top-10 options.
All of my positional rankings will be updated until Week 17 kickoffs. Players also will be moved out of or adjusted within the rankings based on injuries.
Be sure to monitor your fantasy football team lineups, especially if you roster Rashee Rice, Ricky Pearsall, Troy Franklin or other injured wide receivers. Those ruled out due to injury should not be in starting lineups. DK Metcalf of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who is suspended for two games, should also be removed from lineups.
You should check your waiver wire/free agent pool -- if still unlocked in your league playoffs -- for valuable players who may have been dropped over the last several weeks to not only add to your roster, but also to keep away from your opponent.
Chicago Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore celebrates a game-winning overtime touchdown against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday at Soldier Field in Chicago. Photo by Mark Black/UPI
Week 17 wide receiver rankings
1. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys at WAS
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (L) could be a game-changing fantasy football option in Week 17. File Photo by John Sommers II/UPI
2. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals vs. ARI
3. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams at ATL
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) is tackled by New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. Photo by David Tulis/UPI
4. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles at BUF
5. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions at MIN
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (L) attempts a catch against the New York Jets on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Photo by Paul Kieu/UPI
6. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks at CAR
7. Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints at TEN
8. George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys at WAS
9. Drake London, Atlanta Falcons vs. LAR
10. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MIA
11. D.J. Moore, Chicago Bears at SF
12. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals vs. ARI
13. Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions at MIN
14. Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos at KC
15. Wan'Dale Robinson, New York Giants at LV
16. Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins vs. TB
17. Nico Collins, Houston Texans at LAC
18. Jakobi Meyers, Jacksonville Jaguars at IND
19. Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens at GB
20. Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers vs. CHI
21. Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders vs. DAL
22. Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals at CIN
23. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings vs. DET
24. Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots at NYJ
25. Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers vs. HOU
26. Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers vs. SEA
27. Deebo Samuel, Washington Commanders vs. DAL
28. DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles at BUF
29. Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills vs. PHI
30. Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders vs. NYG
31. Mack Hollins, New England Patriots at NYJ
32. Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MIA
33. Michael Pittman, Indianapolis Colts vs. JAX
34. Parker Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars at IND
35. Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers vs. BAL
36. Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers vs. HOU
Michigan football is finalizing a deal to hire Utah legend Kyle Whittingham as its 22nd coach in program history, a person with knowledge of the situation told the free on condition of anonymity because it's not official.
The official announcement is expected soon, and possibly as early as today.
Whittingham spent the last 32 years at Utah, including the past 21 as head coach. He was the second-longest tenured head coach in the FBS behind only Iowa's Kirk Ferentz, but now starts his next chapter in Ann Arbor after he stepped down from the Utes earlier this month and said he was entering the "transfer portal."
Whittingham led the Utes through numerous transitions, playing in three different conferences (Mountain West, Pac-12 and Big 12) and proved to be a consistent winner, taking home the Mountain West crown once (2008) and the Pac-12 twice (2021-22), before going 10-2 this past year in the Big 12.
He had a winning record in 18 seasons, won seven or more games 17 times, eight or more 15 times, nine or more 12 times and had eight seasons of 10 wins or more.
Whittingham has an 11-6 record in bowl games with one final game pending for the Utes, the Las Vegas Bowl against Nebraska on Wednesday, Dec. 31 (3:30 p.m., ESPN), just 30 minutes after U-M kicks off its Citrus Bowl matchup with Texas (3 p.m., ABC).
It's unknown how this deal will impact Whittingham's plans to coach the Las Vegas Bowl.
Whittingham went 177-88 in 21 full seasons with the Utes (including a 10-2 mark this year) after taking over when Urban Meyer left for Florida in 2004.
Whittingham, 66, is a defensive-minded coach, who has built his tenure on sound play, protecting the football and not making mistakes in addition to being technically detailed. Utah was tied with Michigan for No. 17 in scoring defense (18.44 points per game), tied for No. 35 in turnover margin this past season and tied for No. 49 in penalties against.
Whittingham still has a few things to improve, namely recruiting and winning against the top teams. His Utes have finished in the top-30 of the national recruiting rankings just once in the past decade (No. 19, 2022) per 247Sports Composite Rankings, but the U-M brand and pipelines could very well change that in year one.
Also, he'll have to show he can defeat the powers like Oregon, USC and of course, Ohio State. Whittingham and Utah went 2-2 in ranked matchups this season, defeating Arizona State 42-10 and Cincinnati 45-15, but losing 34-10 to Texas Tech and 24-21 to BYU in the "Holy war," as he comes to Ann Arbor with a 24-39 record (.381) against top 25 teams in his career.
Whittingham faced Michigan three times and went 3-0, including a win over Jim Harbaugh in his first game at Michigan in 2015.
"Michigan is steeped in tradition, one of the most storied programs in all of college football," Whittingham told reporters when he previewed Utah's season-opener that year which ended as a 24-17 win at Rice-Eccles Stadium. "It's certainly a little bit different, quite a bit different, as far as your mindset back in January as opposed to maybe opening up with a lesser opponent."
Now, he'll be leading the charge in a stadium that's more than twice as large as the one he's called home the past three-plus decades. U-M opens the 2026 season against Western Michigan at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 5.
Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
Michigan football is finalizing a deal to hire Utah legend Kyle Whittingham as its 22nd coach in program history, a person with knowledge of the situation told the free on condition of anonymity because it's not official.
The official announcement is expected soon, and possibly as early as today.
Whittingham spent the last 32 years at Utah, including the past 21 as head coach. He was the second-longest tenured head coach in the FBS behind only Iowa's Kirk Ferentz, but now starts his next chapter in Ann Arbor after he stepped down from the Utes earlier this month and said he was entering the "transfer portal."
Whittingham led the Utes through numerous transitions, playing in three different conferences (Mountain West, Pac-12 and Big 12) and proved to be a consistent winner, taking home the Mountain West crown once (2008) and the Pac-12 twice (2021-22), before going 10-2 this past year in the Big 12.
He had a winning record in 18 seasons, won seven or more games 17 times, eight or more 15 times, nine or more 12 times and had eight seasons of 10 wins or more.
Whittingham has an 11-6 record in bowl games with one final game pending for the Utes, the Las Vegas Bowl against Nebraska on Wednesday, Dec. 31 (3:30 p.m., ESPN), just 30 minutes after U-M kicks off its Citrus Bowl matchup with Texas (3 p.m., ABC).
It's unknown how this deal will impact Whittingham's plans to coach the Las Vegas Bowl.
Whittingham went 177-88 in 21 full seasons with the Utes (including a 10-2 mark this year) after taking over when Urban Meyer left for Florida in 2004.
Whittingham, 66, is a defensive-minded coach, who has built his tenure on sound play, protecting the football and not making mistakes in addition to being technically detailed. Utah was tied with Michigan for No. 17 in scoring defense (18.44 points per game), tied for No. 35 in turnover margin this past season and tied for No. 49 in penalties against.
Whittingham still has a few things to improve, namely recruiting and winning against the top teams. His Utes have finished in the top-30 of the national recruiting rankings just once in the past decade (No. 19, 2022) per 247Sports Composite Rankings, but the U-M brand and pipelines could very well change that in year one.
Also, he'll have to show he can defeat the powers like Oregon, USC and of course, Ohio State. Whittingham and Utah went 2-2 in ranked matchups this season, defeating Arizona State 42-10 and Cincinnati 45-15, but losing 34-10 to Texas Tech and 24-21 to BYU in the "Holy war," as he comes to Ann Arbor with a 24-39 record (.381) against top 25 teams in his career.
Whittingham faced Michigan three times and went 3-0, including a win over Jim Harbaugh in his first game at Michigan in 2015.
"Michigan is steeped in tradition, one of the most storied programs in all of college football," Whittingham told reporters when he previewed Utah's season-opener that year which ended as a 24-17 win at Rice-Eccles Stadium. "It's certainly a little bit different, quite a bit different, as far as your mindset back in January as opposed to maybe opening up with a lesser opponent."
Now, he'll be leading the charge in a stadium that's more than twice as large as the one he's called home the past three-plus decades. U-M opens the 2026 season against Western Michigan at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 5.
Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
The San Francisco 49ers have been one of the more banged-up rosters in the NFL this season, but after those early-season struggles, things have stabilized, and they're in a great spot heading into Week 17.
With a chance to secure the NFC's number 1 seed, the 49ers are eyeing a potential first-round bye. But the good news isn't done just yet, as the 49ers got some very interesting news on Friday ahead of Week 17.
As Cam Inman of CBS-5, during an appearance on KNBR, John Lynch revealed a surprising and incredible injury update on superstar linebacker Fred Warner.
John Lynch reveals unexpected Fred Warner 49ers injury update
"Fred Warner excelling at his ankle rehab where 49ers re-examining a potential playoff comeback," Inman shared from Lynch's report.
This is some unexpected and incredible news for Lynch to drop ahead of Week 17. While the Chicago Bears' matchup is important for their playoff odds, the Warner injury update is just as important as the upcoming matchup.
Warner is 29 years old, and during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game in Week 6 suffered a brutal dislocated and broken ankle, in what most expected, was a season-ending injury.
But after that October 12th injury, Warner now has a chance to return for the playoffs for the 49ers. This is a complete surprise, as most expected this injury to be a fully season-ending one for Warner.
Lynch isn't confirming that Warner will be back for the 49ers in the playoffs, but the fact that he's opening the door to such a possibility is nothing short of stunning.
This season, before the injury, Warner had 51 tackles, two forced fumbles, three passes defended, and he was one of the best linebackers in the NFL.
Getting him back for a playoff run would be huge, especially since the 49ers' defense has been suspect at times this season.
There's no guarantee Warner will be back, and this report only left the door open for a potential return. Warner could return, but for now, it's only a hope.
But considering the original reporting, this update is a huge piece of positive news for the 49ers as the playoffs approach.
The trade of Jeff McNeil to the A’s seemed to mark a new era for Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns, who is overhauling the team following a disappointing 2025 campaign. Stearns has now parted ways with Brandon Nimmo, Edwin Diaz, Pete Alonso and McNeil, but the Mets have yet to really address their most pressing need this offseason: the starting rotation.
Though Warner was expected to miss the rest of the season, general manager John Lynch provided a shocking injury update on the four-time All-Pro that could change everything.
Will Fred Warner return this season?
During an appearance on KNBR on Friday, Lynch stated that Warner is doing well in rehab and the team is exploring a potential playoff return for the veteran defender.
Lynch also added that tight end George Kittle will be a game-time decision versus the Chicago Bears in Week 17 as he deals with an ankle sprain.
"49ers John Lynch on KNBR: George Kittle likely a game-time decision Sunday night on if he can rush back from MNF ankle injury to face Bears Fred Warner excelling at his ankle rehab where 49ers re-examining a potential playoff comeback," Cam Inman of The Mercury News said on X.
Getting Warner back would be a major boost for the 49ers' defense, which has surprisingly held their own despite his absence. The BYU product is one of the best linebackers in football and is an elite game-changer on the field.
We'll see if Warner's return in the postseason comes to fruition. For now, San Francisco's focus is on the final two games of the regular season and a path to the No.1 seed.
Falkirk defender Leon McCann admits 2025 delivered the highest and lowest moments of his life, but he is now approaching the new year with major optimism on and off the pitch.
McCann's son, Brooks, was born profoundly deaf in March but tests have shown he could be able to hear when fitted with implants.
McCann, 25, said: "Everything's going great. We think by probably March time, we're hoping that he'll have had his operation for his implants and then they do a month of silence, they call it, before they turn the implants on.
"We're hoping that obviously opens a full new journey for us, for him and ourselves, that we'll be kind of going back to the start again. So I'm buzzing for that day.
"It's been a whirlwind of a year. Obviously the best thing that happened in my life was my son being born and then finding out that he was deaf was probably the lowest day of my life.
"And then on the pitch obviously you do well and you win a league.
"So it's been a whirlwind of a year, plenty of ups and downs. Now we're on the up again and we're just hoping that once this operation takes place and hopefully he can hear, then we'll be starting our own fresh journey and navigating him through life, being able to hear this time."
McCann and partner Morgan have raised thousands of pounds to help other deaf children through their B Heard charity.
"The charity has been great," he said. "The help of the fans has been unbelievable. It's been bigger than we ever thought it could be. We've managed to help out 15 families or something already. Our goal was just to help one."
And on the pitch, McCann is glad to be proving he can cut it in the Premiership with the Bairns, who could move back into the top six with victory at Dundee on Saturday.
"I always believed that I could play at this level," the former Airdrie left-back said. "I just needed to back it up and prove to people who probably thought I couldn't.
"I feel like it's not been that major step up. Obviously you do get select players that you go, wow, they are top, top players.
"But it's more just a fitness thing as well. For the past couple of years we've been used to keeping the ball off teams and letting them try to get it back.
"Now it's a wee bit different. We're not getting the ball as much and you're having to try and work hard to get the ball back and things like that. So you realise the fitness level is a step up."
Nottingham Forest are still lingering just above the relegation places, and Monday's defeat at Fulham was a disappointing result for them.
I still think Sean Dyche's side are going to be fine, however, and they have definitely made strides since he took charge at the end of October.
This is a tricky game for Manchester City but they are on a bit of a roll at the moment.
I thought Arsenal were going to run away with the title, but not any more.
City are getting better and better as the season goes on, and I can understand why Pep Guardiola feels there is even more to come from his side.
Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden are both flying, they are creating stacks of chances for Erling Haaland and, at the other end, they are keeping clean sheets now too.
You just cannot back against them at the moment, and I am expecting more moments of quality like we saw when they won 3-0 at Crystal Palace a couple of weeks ago.
Former Nottingham Forest forward Garry Birtles has been reflecting on his former team-mate John Robertson, following his passing at the age of 72, noting both his extraordinary talent on the pitch and his warmth off it.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Birtles praised Robertson's unique ability to deliver for his fellow players.
"Unbelievably lucky as a striker because you'd be holding it on a wide player delivering the right stuff for you to be able to have a chance of scoring," Birtles said, "and he was an absolute genius at that.
"He never tried to pick you out. He just played the ball into an area that we should be in, and if we weren't there, that was our fault.
"He was one of the best crossers of the ball you've ever seen. They say about David Beckham, but I think Robbo was probably just a bit better than that. He was two footed, a right-footed player really playing on the left-hand side."
Not only did Robertson shine with his talent, but Birtles remembered his personality leaving an impression on his team-mates too
"He was an absolute genius on the pitch and a lovely bloke off it," he added. "He was loved by everybody. He was just a very funny guy off the pitch. He was always telling jokes. He was always singing Rolling Stone songs, word for word. He was just a fun guy to be around.
"But when you got him on the pitch... we played on horrible pitches - mud baths - and he just used to glide across the surface."
Brunno Ferreira needs a new opponent for UFC 326 after Paulo Costa has withdrawn from the March 7 card, multiple people with knowledge of the situation confirmed to MMA Fighting following a report from Leo Guimaraes.
It’s still unclear what led to Costa’s pullout less than a week after the UFC officially announced the contest for the Las Vegas event.
A one-time title contender, Costa (15-4) returned to the winning column in July with a unanimous decision victory over Roman Kopylov, rebounding from consecutive defeats to Robert Whitakker and Sean Strickland that had dropped his UFC record to 6-4.
Ferreira (15-2), on the other hand, recently beat Marvin Vettori via decision to now ride a three-fight winning streak. “Hulk” did miss weight for that match in December, but improved his promotional record to 6-2 with key victories over Gregory Rodrigues and Vettori.
UFC 326 will take place at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena and feature a BMF title bout between Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira.
we did not practice on Thursday. today’s practice report is only an estimation of a player's participation if there was a practice. pic.twitter.com/khVO9LY5oE
CB Sauce Gardner was limited at practice today with a calf injury. This is the first time Gardener has managed to practice since injuring his calf injury a few weeks ago. It is an encouraging sign but his chances of playing this week still look slim.
Left tackle Bernhard Raimann was a full participant today despite being limited yesterday with an elbow injury. Raimann missed last week’s game due to the elbow injury so it is an encouraging sight to see him practicing fully. The Colts need to get him back to full health for the last two weeks of the regular season.
Guard Dalton Tucker managed a limited practice today after being unable to practice yesterday due to a shoulder injury. The Colts have undertaken a knock to the offensive line’s health recently so managing to get some depth pieces healthy will be a big boost. Hopefully, Tucker can continue recovering and will be available for Sunday.
Center Tanor Bortolini missed practice again today with a concussion. Bortolini is still in the concussion protocol and with a second missed practice today looks almost certain to be out this week. It will most likely be Danny Pinter starting at center on Sunday.
Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner missed practice today with a neck injury. Today marks a second missed practice for Buckner with a neck injury. It looks as though he may have re-aggravated his previous neck injury which landed him on injured reserve, or it could simply be another rest day. Buckner is tough and rarely misses time, but it isn’t looking great for his chances to play this Sunday.
Tight end Drew Ogletree missed practice again today with a neck injury. Ogletree missing two practices hurts his chances of being available. The Colts do have ample depth at the tight end position, but Ogletree is a valuable part of the offense with his blocking and occasional receiving looks.
The four-time Super Bowl-winning team announced that it would be bidding adieu to its longtime home at Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri in favor of a new playing location in Kansas.
Beginning in 2031, the team will no longer showcase its skills in Missouri, where the Chiefs have played for over a half-century, according to a statement by team officials released on Dec. 22.
The announcement came days after Kansas lawmakers approved funding for a new stadium in the Sunflower State.
“Today, we are announcing an agreement to bring our beloved Kansas City Chiefs right here to Kansas," Gov. Laura Kelly said. "For the rest of the nation, I say take heed. Kansas is not a flyover state. We are a touchdown state.”
The Kansas City Chiefs have secured a new stadium in Kansas, and it is mere minutes away from NFL tight end Travis Kelce's lavish $6 million mansion, where he asked Taylor Swift to marry him. (taylorswift/Instagram)The four-time Super Bowl-winning team announced that it would be bidding adieu to its longtime home at Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri in favor of a new playing location in Kansas. (Tammy Ljungblad/Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Clark Hunt, Chiefs owner and son of NFL team founder Lamar Hunt, compared the stadium's move to his father's bold nature, adding that it will bring a new level of football to the Midwest.
According to a statement from Hunt, their new playing field will feature a domed stadium that will be part of a “mixed-use district in Wyandotte County, and a best-in-class training facility, team headquarters, and mixed-use district in Olathe, totaling a minimum of $4 billion of development in the State of Kansas.
“When my father started the American Football League, he had big dreams, both for the league and for his team.
“His focus in every instance was to give the fans the best possible experience. Today is another step in that legacy of innovation and that fan-first mentality at the Kansas City Chiefs. We chase big dreams on the field, those dreams involve division titles, conference championships, and Lombardi Trophies. But off the field, we are big dreamers as well," Hunt told reporters.
Amid reports that Kelce is soon retiring, he may not even be able to enjoy the arena.
When asked about his retirement, Kelce dodged the question with a light-hearted joke.
"No. The only time it ever crossed my mind was when I was driving in the other day and I saw how much the Powerball was, and I was like, 'Man. If I could just win that. I wouldn't have to work another day in my life.'
"No, man. Honestly, I've just been focused on trying to win football games, man. I let that be a decision that I make with my family, friends, the Chiefs organization when the time comes," he teased.
The new stadium of the NFL team, which has soared in popularity in recent years, will be just minutes away from Kelce's luxe pad, where he asked Swift, 36, to marry him.
The 36-year-old athlete's home served as the backdrop for his engagement to Swift, which occurred in August.
It comes as no surprise that Kelce chose to ask Swift to marry him at his home, as it boasts an overwhelming amount of privacy and lush greenery—two things the pop star is known for adoring.
The Kansas City Chiefs tight end snapped up the 17,000-square-foot mansion in the desirable suburb of Leawood, KS, in September 2022 for $6 million.
Beginning in 2031, the team will no longer showcase its skills in Missouri, where the Chiefs have played for over a half-century, according to a statement by team officials released on Dec. 22. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)The announcement came days after Kansas lawmakers approved funding for a new stadium in the Sunflower State. (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Located inside a gated community, the grand estate sits on nearly 3.5 acres at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac.
The six-bedroom, six-bathroom mansion sits behind a gated entrance that opens to a dramatic circular driveway. The inside is an entertainer's dream and includes a chef's kitchen, formal dining room, media lounge, wine cellar, and full bar.
Outside, the expansive backyard is anchored by a "Beverly Hills-style" pool area with plenty of space for lounge chairs, umbrellas, and pool toys.
There's also an outdoor kitchen, a tennis/pickleball court, a waterfall, a hot tub, and a miniature golf course.
The abode is far more secluded than his other home in Kansas City, a 4,200-square-foot abode in the city's Briarcliff West neighborhood that he purchased for $995,000 in 2019.
The NFL star, who began dating the "Lover" hitmaker in 2023, popped the question with a stunning diamond ring that perfectly matched the other sparkler that he previously gifted her.
They captioned the Instagram post, "Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married."
According to TMZ, the sparkler on Swift's finger is an old mine brilliant cut and the designer is Kindred Lubeck.
According to a statement from team owner Clark Hunt, their new playing field will feature a domed stadium that will be part of a “mixed-use district in Wyandotte County, and a best-in-class training facility, team headquarters, and mixed-use district in Olathe, totaling a minimum of $4 billion of development in the State of Kansas." (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)The new stadium will be just minutes away from Kelce's luxe pad, where he asked Swift, 36, to marry him. (Instagram)
Kelce perfectly matched Swift's chic aesthetic by sporting a navy blue collared shirt and a pair of white pants.
The singer appeared to be overjoyed with the proposal as she embraced Kelce in a slew of photos while showing off her stunning diamond ring.
In one photo, Kelce could be seen kneeling among a garden of roses while Swift appeared shocked.
In another snap, Swift softly grabbed Kelce's face as she leaned in to hug him.
The newly engaged couple even posed for a photo on a swing, where Swift lay her head on Kelce's shoulder and gave the camera a soft smile.
According to Page Six, the engagement has been in the works for quite some time, with Kelce having reportedly asked Swift's dad, Scott, for her hand in marriage just months after they began dating.
It is never too early to begin watching prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft. General manager Jason Licht has made the draft the key cog in the machine for the Bucs in terms of roster building and transforming the team itself.
We are going to be covering every position in the draft, but not all of them will be the Bucs' needs necessarily. But of course, anything is possible for a team, and if not, they will be drafted by a division rival that the Bucs see twice a year.
For this report, we will be discussing a cornerback. The Bucs invested in this position heavily in 2025, specifically in the draft, but roster decisions have this group up for grabs. The 2026 NFL Draft cornerback group is loaded, so they make sense to be targeted once again in some fashion.
With that in mind, here is our report on Stephen F. Austin's Charles Demmings.
Information
Charles Demmings
School: Stephen F. Austin
Conference: FCS
Height/Weight: 6-1, 190 lbs.
Age when Drafted: N/A
Previous Schools: None
Background
0-Star Recruit
Ran track in High School
2026 Senior Bowl Invite
Notable Stats from his 2025 Season
Tackles: 18
Tackles for a Loss and Sacks: 0
Interceptions: 4
Pass Breakups: 5
Notable PFF Numbers from 2025
PFF Run Defense Grade: 66.8
PFF Zone Coverage Grade: 54.1
PFF Man Coverage Grade: 66.9
Completion % Allowed: 47.2
NFL QBR When Targeted: 38.7
Penalties: 3
Skills
Good speed to hang with most receivers in coverage
Excellent lateral quickness and movement skills
Has good anticipation skills to find the ball and break up passes
Uses his athleticism to make up and recover on plays
Didn't play football till his Senior year of high school
Player Summary
Charles Demmings is going to be a tough evaluation for many this draft cycle for a variety of reasons. He came to football really late in his athletic life, which is both good and bad. For that, some teams are going to see the player he is as one with limitless potential. While I see it as a good thing personally, I don't think everyone will. Demmings is likely to be one of the brighter spots in terms of day three picks if he is drafted. Demmings is worth a stash on a team with some good cornerbacks ahead of him.
Atletico Madrid set €22m asking price for January sale
Atletico Madrid may have done a lot of business in the summer, but there will be more to come in the winter transfer window. The sale of Javi Galan to Osasuna has already been finalised, and he is unlikely to be the only player leaving the RiyadhAir Metropolitano mid-season.
Conor Gallagher has been linked with a return to the Premier League, but more likely to depart is Giacomo Raspadori. The 25-year-old, who only joined in August from Napoli, has struggled for prominence under Diego Simeone, which is why he wants to leave for regular first team football.
Atleti want to recoup what they spent on Raspadori
Furthermore, it has been reported by Marca that Atleti would only consider any offers worth at least €22m, which is what they paid for Raspadori in the summer. The plan is to make the money back that was spent, as this would allow it to be reinvested without FFP being negatively affected.
The decision to sign Raspadori was questioned in the summer, and now that Atleti have decided to move him on already, those doubters have been vindicated. It simply has not worked out for him in the Spanish capital, so a return to Italy would be good for him – especially as he has ambitions to be at the 2026 World Cup.
It remains to be seen how the situation with Raspadori plays out over the coming weeks, but it seems that his time at Atleti is already coming to its end.
The Jets are big underdogs for their home finale against the New England Patriots in Week 17. Head coach Aaron Glenn announced the team will be without two starters in the game due to injury.
Rookie TE Mason Taylor (neck) and DE Will McDonald (knee) ruled out for Sunday against the Patriots. Aaron Glenn had expressed hope that Taylor would be back this week, but he will miss his third straight game. #Jets
With the season close to the end, there isn’t much of a need to the team to put injured players on the field. I wouldn’t be surprised to see more banged up players stashed on injured reserve in the days ahead. That will allow the Jets to call up players from the practice squad. Practice squad player contracts expire at the conclusion of the final game of the season, while players on the 53 man roster remain under contract with the team after the regular season ends.
Of the two, losing Taylor probably has the bigger long-term impact just because he is a rookie who could use the game reps to aid his development.
Beating New England will be a tough task that likely has become tougher.
After weeks of searching for Sherrone Moore’s replacement, the wait is finally over.
According to multiple reports on Friday afternoon, Warde Manuel and the Wolverines are turning to one of college football’s most respected veteran coaches, as former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham is expected to be hired as the next head coach of Michigan Football.
Michigan officials are expecting to complete negotiations later today in the hiring of former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, sources tell @YahooSports.
There is an expectation that Whittingham will join the Michigan team in Orlando for its bowl game.
Whittingham arrives in Ann Arbor after a long and successful run at Utah, where he spent two decades building the Utes into a nationally respected program in the Mountain West Conference, the Pac-12 and the Big 12. Known for having tough defenses and a physical style of play overall — along with program stability over the years — Whittingham consistently kept Utah in the national conversation despite not having the same amount of resources of a blue blood program.
During his tenure, Whittingham led Utah to a Mountain West title (2008), two Pac-12 championships (2021-22), nine AP Top-25 finishes (including three in the Top-10), and several appearances in major bowl games. Overall, Whittingham went 177-88 overall during his time at Utah, and 11-6 in bowl games.
Under his leadership, Utah earned a reputation for player development while regularly competing against more talent-rich programs. Some of the top Utah players that found success in the NFL include quarterback Alex Smith (first overall pick), safety Eric Weddle (second-round pick), tight end Dalton Kincaid (second-round pick), cornerback Jaylon Johnson (second-round pick) and many more. Overall, Whittingham has had 62 players taken in the NFL Draft.
Before becoming head coach in 2005, Whittingham served as Utah’s defensive coordinator from 1995-2004, while also coaching the defensive line (94), safeties (95-96, 98-2000) and linebackers (97, 2001-04). Before his time at Utah, he was a graduate assistant at BYU from 1985-86 before accepting his first full-time coaching job to be the defensive coordinator at Eastern Utah in 1987. He also coached at Idaho State from 1988-1993, starting off as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 1992.
After the mess that was the Sherrone Moore era, this is a step in the right direction for the program. Whittingham is a proven leader and has the ability to build and sustain winning cultures. His emphasis on physical football is also key, as that has been a Michigan football staple for years, so there shouldn’t be any worries about the identity of the on-field product changing too drastically, if at all.
Whittingham instantly becomes one of the most experienced head coaches in the Big Ten Conference and will be tasked with guiding the program through a new chapter in Ann Arbor — a chapter that is hopefully much cleaner and filled with less drama than the last one.
By about midday? There were reports that "Michigan officials are expecting to complete negotiations" with Whittingham. But then there's the fact that the Wolverines are playing in the Citrus Bowl on New Year's Eve. If this all goes through, will he coach the team or will Biff Poggi? Or would Whittingham have one last run with Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl?
The answer: He'd join Michigan for the game, per Ross Dellenger. That makes sense, and "joining" doesn't mean "coaching."
Michigan officials are expecting to complete negotiations later today in the hiring of former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, sources tell @YahooSports.
There is an expectation that Whittingham will join the Michigan team in Orlando for its bowl game.
Larne came from behind to beat Carrick Rangers 2-1 and extend their lead at the top of the Irish Premiership table to six points on Friday as Glentoran beat Linfield at Windsor Park on Boxing Day for the first time ever.
Paul Heatley gave Carrick the lead in the east Antrim derby at Taylors Avenue but two late goals in the space of three minutes from Tiarnan O'Connor and Paul O'Neill ensured the pacesetters went home with maximum points.
Joe Thomson's first-half long-range strike proved decisive as the Glens won 1-0 to make it two league wins in a row and leapfrog their opponents into third in the standings.
A goal in each half from Daire O'Connor gave Ballymena United a 2-0 victory over Coleraine at the Warden Street Showgrounds, Oran Kearney securing his first win as manager of the Sky Blues, against his former club.
Ryan Curran's own goal gave Crusaders the lead over Cliftonville in the first half of the north Belfast derby at Solitude, with Adam Brooks adding the second to complete a 2-0 win after the interval.
Luke Wilson grabbed the winner in Portadown's 1-0 home success over Glenavon and Adam Glenny's early goal saw Dungannon Swifts past Bangor 1-0 at Stangmore Park.
Larne bounce back to win at Carrick
Larne are unbeaten in 11 league games after defeating Carrick Rangers in their derby, having accumulated nine wins and two draws in that sequence.
The home side started brightly and Adam Lecky forced Larne keeper Rohan Ferguson into a fine diving save to his right after Danny Gibson picked him out at the far post with a good cross.
Benjamin Buchanan-Rolleston shot low across the face of goal while Paul Heatley also went close as Carrick Rangers pressed..
At the other end, skipper Leroy Millar was proving Larne's main attacking threat and he twice tested Nathan Gartside from distance.
And he turned provider moments before half-time when he slipped the ball through for Jordan McEneff whose goal bound effort was well saved by Gartside.
Benji Magee fired a shot just over the crossbar while Heatley saw his effort hacked off the goal line just before the break.
The deadlock was broken 11 minutes into the second half thanks to Paul Heatley's fifth league goal of the season, a fine individual effort.
Billy Joe Burns did brilliantly to win the ball inside his own half before playing his striker in behind the Larne defence with a beautiful pass with the outside of his right foot.
His erstwhile Crusaders colleague still had plenty to do but he raced clear of the defence before calmly lifting the ball over Ferguson into an unguarded net.
The league leaders drew level with just over 10 minutes remaining, second half sub O'Connor firing a low right shot from distance into the bottom corner.
And the comeback was complete just three minutes later when O'Neill showed a striker's instinct to poke home Jordan McEneff's low cross from the right on what could be a pivotal day in the title race.
Glens too strong for Blues
Bragging rights belong to Glentoran who beat Big Two rivals Linfield for the very first time in a Boxing Day derby at their rivals' ground since the festive fixtures were introduced in 1989.
Thomson's first half stunner earned a huge win for the Glens, with David Healy's side falling to two successive Irish Premiership defeats.
After a fairly even opening 25 minutes, the visitors began to get a foothold of the game and hit the front in spectacular style just before the half hour mark.
Thomson was afforded too much time and space in midfield as he ran forward and let fly with a powerful right-footed strike from distance, which nestled in the top corner for a 'goal of the season' contender.
The Glens almost doubled their lead 10 minutes into the second half, but Chris Johns produced a fine stop to deny Jordan Jenkins from doubling the visitors' lead.
The Blues continued to go in search of an equaliser, but were unable to create any meaningful chances.
Ballymena banish Bannsiders
Ballymena clinched a first top flight win in six matches as Coleraine went down to a fourth defeat in seven Premiership outings.
The home side went in front on 12 minutes when Kian Corbally slipped a clever through ball behind full-back Lyndon Kane for O'Connor to run onto.
The winger initially looked to have taken a heavy first touch but he recovered to stretch and poke the ball beyond advancing Coleraine keeper Ryan Schofield.
Coleraine almost equalised in first half stoppage time when substitute Jamie McGonigle cut inside and his curling shot was touched onto the top of the crossbar by Sean O'Neill.
In the second period, Cameron Stewart got his head on a Will Patching corner but O'Neill was able to flick the ball over the bar.
The home side doubled their lead on 67 minutes when Corbally once again found O'Connor on the left hand side of the penalty and he ran through to confidently slot past Schofield.
Despite Coleraine dominating possession, they were unable to seriously test O'Neill as Ballymena kept a clean sheet for the first time in 14 league games.
Crues stun Reds at Solitude
At Solitude, the visitors fashioned the first clear opening when PJ Morrison raced from his line to smother at the feet of Brooks, before Odhran Casey slid in with a superb last-ditch challenge to deny Finlay Thorndike with the goal gaping.
The Crues threatened again when Rory Hale was dispossessed inside the Cliftonville half, allowing Fraser Bryden's low effort to spill into the path of Thorndike, but the home side scrambled back to clear their lines.
Just before the half-hour mark, the visitors made the breakthrough as Thorndike's corner sparked chaos in the penalty area, with Ryan Curran inadvertently heading into his own net.
Into first-half stoppage time, Casey picked out Joe Sheridan at the back post, and his cut-back found Eric McWoods, who looked certain to score until Jordan Forsythe produced a vital goal-line clearance.
Midway through the second half, Jack Keaney almost levelled after bending a free-kick from 25 yards that seemed destined for the bottom corner, but Musa Dibaga reacted superbly, producing a fingertip save at full stretch to claw it away and preserve the Crues' lead.
With four minutes remaining, Brooks wrapped up the points with a clinical finish at the back post from a Crusaders corner for his fifth league goal of the season.
Deep into stoppage time, Casey pulled a goal back with a close-range header from Michael Glynn's corner, but it proved too little, too late for Jim Magilton's men.
Ports take derby bragging rights
A Wilson header in the 36th minute was enough for Portadown to claim all three points at home to bottom-of-the table Glenavon.
Steven McCullough saw his corner kick almost go directly into the back of the net, but for the fingertips of Glenavon keeper Jacob Carney.
But the resulting corner did find its way into the back of the net when the ball was met by a powerful Wilson header.
Towards the end of the first half, Portadown fans were sure their side had won a penalty when Carney collided with the onrushing Eamon Fyfe in the Glenavon area
The referee waved play on and Carney went on to be replaced by Sean Hamill at half time after picking up an injury in that collision.
There then followed a prolonged half-time break after an issue with the floodlights.
The floodlights had seemingly been serviced during the week but an apparent issue with the oil filter had caused concern and a 15-minute delay ensued.
After the floodlights were sorted and a second half short on quality followed.
Glenavon shaded the second half and came very close through a Paul McGovern effort that was smartly saved by Aaron McCarey, while Harry Murphy should have done better from a headed effort in the dying moments of the game.
After a quiet second-half, there was a lot of pushing and shoving between the two sets of players at the end of the game and the Portadown fans were in loud voice after claiming all three points.
Early goal enough for Swifts
Dungannon Swifts opened the scoring within two minutes. Kealan Dillon delivered a corner to the back post which was met by Peter Maguire.
The defender headed the ball back into the path of Adam Glenny, his shot deflected in off Bangor striker Ben Arthurs, to make it 1-0.
Bangor's fortunes did not improve after this early goal. Defender Mark Haughey was substituted three minutes later to be replaced by Stephen McGuinness.
This forced Lee Feeney to rethink his gameplan. After this change in approach, the visitors began to get a foothold in the game.
Bangor's best chance of the half came via Ben Arthurs. Picking up the ball in the middle of the park he made a great run against Peter Maguire.
Shifting the ball from right foot to left, he created space for a shot in the box, however Steven Scott was alert and blocked his effort.
The second-half was a competitive affair, both sides enjoyed their share of possession but there was little in the way of attacking quality.
Dungannon had calls for a penalty waved away near the end. Substitute Leo Alves entered the box using some close control and was taken down by Patrick Solis Grogan, but despite appeals from players and fans, only a corner was awarded.
Late on Ben Arthurs was sent through on goal and attempted a side-footed effort to try and equalise but this was easily saved by Declan Dunne in the Dungannon goal.
As per Ohio tradition, the Bobcats didn’t have to search far to find their next head football coach.
Ohio promoted interim head coach and defensive coordinator John Hauser to the full-time head coaching position on Friday, Dec. 26 — three days after Hauser guided the program to a Frisco Bowl victory over UNLV.
Hauser is Ohio’s third-straight internal head coaching hire, following in the footsteps of Tim Albin (2021) and Brian Smith (2024). He takes over for Smith, who was fired for cause Dec. 17 for “engaging in serious professional misconduct and participating in activities that reflect unfavorably on the university,” per a press release from the university’s athletic department. Prior to Smith’s firing, he was placed on leave Dec. 1, which thrust Hauser into the interim head coach role.
Hauser opens his career with a 1-0 coaching record after Tuesday night’s 17-10 Frisco Bowl win — Ohio’s 7th-straight bowl win. After the game, several Bobcats — notably strong safety DJ Walker during Hauser’s televised postgame interview — advocated for the 45-year defensive coordinator to become head coach. He spent four years as a Bobcat assistant, onboarding as a safeties coach in 2022 and receiving his defensive coordinator promotion in 2024. That year, he anchored the No. 9 defense in the FBS, leading Ohio to its first MAC championship since 1968.
Prior to his time in Athens, Hauser held other MAC roles, serving as a Northern Illinois defensive assistant from 2003-08 and continuing at Miami (OH) from 2016-21. The coach’s MAC ties extend to Ball State, where he played free safety in 1998 before finishing his college career at Division III program Wittenberg.
Hauser is the 31st full-time head coach in program history, taking over in the midst of Ohio’s most successful era. In the past four years, Ohio has won 9+ games four times, 10+ games three times, and a program-record 11 wins during its MAC title season in 2024. During the past 17 seasons, the Bobcats finished over .500 in 16 of them, a span which includes four different coaches: Frank Solich, Tim Albin, Brian Smith, and now John Hauser.
“We are thrilled to announce John Hauser as our next head football coach. John is committed to developing our team while continuing to build on the strong foundation,” Ohio athletic director Slade Larscheid said in a statement. “The success is evident since he arrived on campus in 2022. Over the past four seasons, Ohio football has won 40 games, and John is a key piece in all that goes into our winning program. Additionally, he’s a proven leader, and his focus will be on the student-athlete experience, both on and off the field. We look forward to John and his family making an immediate impact for Ohio University and Bobcat football.”
Norfolk’s Keyshawn Davis will return to the boxing ring next month at Madison Square Garden — his first fight since a hometown title bout unraveled at Scope and spurred Davis to announce a break from the sport.
Davis will fight former world title challenger Jamaine Ortiz at MSG on Jan. 31 in a 12-round junior welterweight match. Davis (13-0 with nine knockouts), was stripped of his World Boxing Organization lightweight championship belt June 7 after his missed weight for his scheduled match at Scope against Edwin De Los Santos.
The next day, the card that included Davis’ two brothers went on without Davis, but it was marred by a post-fight scuffle involving Keyshawn and Keon Davis after Kelvin Davis’ first professional loss.
Two months later, Davis announced he was taking a break from boxing and apologized to his hometown.
“I hate what happened, but what happened is going to change me,” Davis, 26, said during an August interview on “The Ariel Helwani Show.”
“To Norfolk, to my town, like, y’all know how much I love y’all,” Davis said. “Y’all know how much I put y’all on a pedestal, so for me to act out that way … on the same week that the state and the city gave me an award. … I was wrong. … In terms of Norfolk, I apologize for putting us on that pedestal and making us look so (expletive) bad.”
Ortiz (20-2-1, 10 KOs) has won three straight fights since losing a decision to Teofimo Lopez for the WBO junior welterweight world title. The Davis-Ortiz bout is part of the undercard of a main event between Teofimo Lopez and Shakur Stevenson.
Davis, a silver medalist at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, became the WBO lightweight world champion with a knockout of Denys Berinchyk on Feb. 14.
The Buccaneers will not have left tackle Tristan Wirfs in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.
Wirfs injured his toe in last Sunday's loss to the Panthers and head coach Todd Bowles said on Friday that Wirfs has been ruled out because of the injury. This will be the fifth game that Wirfs has missed this season with knee and oblique injuries accounting for the previous absences.
Bowles said that rookie Benjamin Chukwuma will start in place of Wirfs. He also started in the team's Week 14 loss to the Saints.
Edge rusher Anthony Nelson and defensive tackle Calijah Kancey have also been ruled out. Nelson injured his knee against Carolina while Kancey is working his way back from a Week 2 pectoral injury that landed him on injured reserve.
Miami Dolphins defensive back Isaiah Johnson is headed to injured reserve after tearing his ACL at practice, head coach Mike McDaniel revealed Friday.
Johnson, 25, spent his entire rookie year on the Dolphins' practice squad in 2024 and most of this season too. But he was elevated three times before Miami signed the second-year defensive back to the active roster earlier this month.
In four games, Johnson played only three defensive snaps and 55 on special teams. He recorded three tackles, including a big hit on Pittsburgh Steelers returner Calvin Austin two weeks ago.
"This guy has shown up a lot during practice," Dolphins special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman said of Johnson last week. "That’s what you’re looking for with a guy who is playing on the practice squad, is how are you developing, how are you getting better each and every single day and we saw that from Isaiah.
"This guy just stood out and each week I know our head coach gives out scout team players of the week and Isaiah I think had gotten it a couple of times. He has just really impressed us as coaches especially me. It’s been awesome to have him out there and for him to make a play on punt and to make a play on kickoff team. It was great to see all that hard work paying off for him.”
Johnson, who played collegiately at Dartmouth and Syracuse, joined the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL draft.
A new report claims one of the longest tenured head coaches in DI football has emerged as the likely pick to be the next leader of the Michigan Wolverines football program.
After winning a national championship in 2023, it has been a very bumpy ride for the Michigan football program. Head coach Jim Harbaugh left for the NFL with some black marks on his legendary resume due to recruiting and cheating scandals. Plus, former assistant Matt Weiss was found to have hacked into student social media accounts to get intimate photos.
Despite the drama, it seemed like Harbaugh’s replacement, Sherrone Moore, had stabilized the program and had them on solid footing despite the recent off-the-field drama. That was turned on its head earlier this month when the coach was ousted for an improper relationship with a staff member, then was arrested after threatening that individual and suggesting he might take his own life.
It left the university looking for a new head coach at a time when many of the best options are no longer on the market. Plus, the recent scandals have diminished what was once a top job in college football. Now, coaches like Kenny Dillingham would rather stay at Arizona State than be the new leader of the Wolverines program.
Kyle Whittingham is Now Michigan’s Top Target
Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
However, the search for Moore’s replacement continues, and on Friday, a new report revealed the latest favorite for the Michigan job. According to On3’s Pete Nakos, “Outgoing Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham has emerged as the top target for the Michigan head coaching job.”
Whittingham has been the Utes’ coach since taking over for school legend Urban Meyer all the way back in 2005. He amassed a 176-88 record as the leader of the program and is 11-6 in bowl games. The 66-year-old stepped down from the position after the 2025 season, but was not planning to retire.
Following that report, ESPN’s Dan Wetel and Pete Thamel added that a contract with Whittingham could be finalized as soon as Friday.
He was first linked to the Michigan job this week. The veteran coach doesn’t have any ties to Michigan and was a star at BYU before eventually having coaching jobs at Idaho State and Utah.
In the first half, a clip went viral on social media of Pittsburgh wide receiver DK Metcalf appearing to punch a Lions fan in the stands. It was a quick clip, and no context was provided for the interaction at the time, but the video itself looked bad for the pass-catcher.
Metcalf finished out the game because, by the current rule, the NFL can't intervene in a possible player disqualification unless there is a flag. Since the Steelers' offense wasn't even on the field, there were no flags, as the referees weren't even aware it had happened. He was, however, suspended two games by the league, a ruling that was then upheld after an appeal.
While the public may never know exactly what happened to cause Metcalf to react that way, he may have a history with the fan.
Here is more on the Lions fan that Metcalf punched in Week 16.
The Lions fan whom Metcalf punched is named Ryan Kennedy.
The Detroit Free Press was able to track him down after the game for his side of the story. He said he was "a little shocked. Like everyone’s talking to me. I’m a little rattled, but I just want the Lions to win, baby."
Initially, when asked his name, Kennedy said, "My name is 'Biggest Detroit Lions Fan Ever that got attacked by DeKaylin Zecharius Metcalf.'"
About the incident, Kennedy said, "He doesn’t like his government name. I called him that and then he grabbed me and ripped my shirt. I’m a little shocked. Like everyone’s talking to me. I’m a little rattled, but I just want the Lions to win, baby."
Lions officials talked to him, and he was not thrown out of the game.
While the NFL elected to suspend Metcalf two games for the incident, the investigation into the fan and whether Kennedy violated the NFL's fan code of conduct is still ongoing, per Tom Pelissero. This likely means the league is looking into whether or not Kennedy will be banned from future NFL games.
The public may never officially know the truth behind what caused the incident. Kennedy told the Detroit Free Press after the game that he called the wide receiver by his legal name, causing the outburst.
Sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero that Kennedy and Metcalf have history. Metcalf reportedly had issues with Kennedy last year when he was with the Seattle Seahawks and he reported the fan to stadium security.
Chad Ochocino said on a live stream appearance with Shannon Sharpe that sources told him that the fan called Metcalf a racial slur, and then made derogatory comments about the player's mother, but none of these claims have been confirmed.
What is DK Metcalf's real name?
Metcalf's real name is DeKaylin Zecharius Metcalf, but he prefers to go by DK.
After the claims from Ochocinco that Kennedy used racial or derogatory language against Metcalf, the Lions fan, via his lawyer, released a statement denying that report.
The statement reads, "Ryan Kennedy categorically denies using the "N-word," the "C-word," or any racial, misogynistic, or hate-based slur during the incident that occurred on December 21, 2025 at Ford Field during the Pittsburgh Steelers-Detroit Lions game. These allegations are completely false."
Given that the incident is now likely going to be a legal matter, Kennedy had no further comment at this time.
Ryan Kennedy, the fan involved in the DK Metcalf altercation Sunday, has issued a statement through an attorney “categorically denying using the “N-word,” the “C-word,” or any racial, misogynistic, or hate-based slur during the incident.
Kennedy's lawyer also announced that he and his client would be holding a press conference on Friday, December 26.
Ryan Kennedy, the fan involved in the DK Metcalf altercation, is having a press conference with his attorneys on Friday to “address the assault, correct misinformation that has been publicly repeated as fact, and discuss the serious consequences Mr. Kennedy has faced. …”
On Dec. 26, Kennedy attempted to clear the air. “I did not use any racial slurs…no hate speech…none of that stuff at the game," he said in a press conference, asking Metcalf to admit he didn't use any racial slurs.
DK Metcalf punches Lions fan video
Here is the initial clip that went viral on social media.
It was reported the morning after the incident that Metcalf may actually have a history with Kennedy.
According to Pelissero, Metcalf may have run into Kennedy at a Seahawks game last season, and the wide receiver may have reported him to stadium security.
Steve Maltepes, known as “The Philly Godfather,” will impart his gambling wisdom on the Eagles and where the smart money is going on various pro football games each weekend this season. Maltepes is one of the nation’s hottest sports betting experts who appears weekly on national radio, is the best-selling author of “Booked: The True Life Story of the PhillyGodfather,”and has his own website, www.thephillygodfather.com.
Philadelphia Eagles (10-5) at Buffalo Bills (11-4) at 4:25 p.m. Sunday
The Line: Bills minus-1.5/Total: 44
What is the line telling you:
The Vegas line on this matchup originally opened with the Buffalo Bills as a -3 home favorite, with the total set at 44.5. Since then, we’ve seen a 1.5-point adjustment in the market on the side. The current price has the Bills as short -1.5 home favorites at most sportsbooks, and I’ve even seen this line as low as pick’em (-120). The total has also dropped by a half point, now sitting at 44. Early betting splits from both U.S. and offshore markets show the Bills receiving roughly 60% of the early public money. That should concern anyone looking to back Buffalo this week, as the point spread has moved against them. This is known as reverse line movement, a classic indicator that sharp money is coming in on the Eagles early in the week.
When handicapping this game, the first thing to examine is overall team health heading into Sunday. Once again, the Eagles are the healthier team, holding a +4 health advantage. The biggest liability for the Bills is in their pass defense, where Philadelphia owns a substantial +10 health-score advantage. That suggests Jalen Hurts should be in a position to put up strong passing numbers this week.
The early weather forecast calls for some rain, but temperatures should be around 40 degrees at kickoff, with light winds of only 5 MPH—conditions that shouldn’t drastically affect the passing game.
Next, we look at the situational spot. A 10–5 Eagles team traveling on the road to face an 11–5 Bills team as short +1.5 underdogs tells us that on a neutral field, Philadelphia would likely be favored. Additionally, the Eagles’ overall DVOA is trending upward heading into the weekend.
Another concern for anyone looking to invest in Buffalo is Josh Allen’s health. He’ll be playing banged up, and his history against Philadelphia—even when healthy—has not been good. Allen has faced the Eagles twice in his career, losing both games and failing to cover the spread in each. In those matchups, Philadelphia outperformed the Vegas number by nearly 10 points on average. Notably, the Eagles are the only NFL team Allen has never beaten.
The Bills are clearly superior running the football, ranking 2nd in yards per rush attempt, while the Eagles rank 22nd. Buffalo also holds the edge in the passing game, ranking 4th in yards per pass attempt, compared to 11th for Philadelphia. Overall, the Bills rank 6th in yards per play, while the Eagles come in at 16th.
Against the run, both defenses rank near the bottom of the league. The Eagles are 21st in opponent yards per rush attempt, while the Bills rank 31st. However, both pass defenses are elite, with the Eagles ranked 4th and the Bills 8th in opponent yards per pass attempt.
Overall defensive efficiency favors Philadelphia, as the Eagles rank 8th in opponent yards per play, compared to 21st for Buffalo. Both teams rank in the top 10 in turnover differential, though surprisingly, the Bills defense has recorded two more takeaways on the season. Good news for the Eagles: Jalen Carter is returning, and Lane Johnson will be in the lineup. Nakobe Dean and Landon Dickerson are also trending toward playing. One key situation to monitor is A.J. Brown, who recently had his wisdom teeth removed. If he can’t go, it’s a significant loss for an Eagles offense that has struggled for most of the season, ranking 23rd in points per game. That average drops even further when you remove the 31 and 29 points they scored against the two worst defenses in the league over the past two weeks (Raiders and Commanders).
Bottom line:
This game feels like a true coin flip, and the team that has the ball last will likely win. With such a short point spread, kickers could play a major role in the final outcome. Given the way Jake Elliott has been playing, it’s not easy for me to back the Eagles on the road in Buffalo in this spot, but the Eagles are the healthier team and have some key guys coming back this week. Hopefully Elliot doesn’t lose the game for them. We like the Eagles here +1.5.
Keith Andrews’ Brentford beat Wolves 2-0 last time out to get back to winning ways and they are four games unbeaten at home as they sit 10 points above the relegation zone. The Bees continue to punch above their weight and a win against Bournemouth could put them into the race for European qualification.
Bournemouth are heading in the opposite direction and are without win in eight games as Andoni Iraola's side were extremely disappointed to cough up a late goal to draw 1-1 at home with Burnley last time out. Bournemouth have drawn three games in a row but they need to start winning to pull clear of the growing relegation scrap.
For live updates and highlights throughout Brentford vs Bournemouth, check out PST's live blog coverage below.
How to watch Brentford vs Bournemouth live, stream link and start time
Kick off time:10am ET Saturday (December 27) Venue:Gtech Community Stadium — West London TV Channel: Peacock Streaming: Stream live on Peacock
Brentford team news, focus
Frank Onyeka and Dango Ouattara are away at AFCON, while Josh Dasilva and Reiss Nelson remain out and duo Fabio Carvalho and Antoni Milambo are on their long road to recovery from serious knee injuries. Igor Thiago and Kevin Schade are a real handful and threat in attack and Brentford continue to be sturdy at the back and dangerous from set pieces and on the counter.
Bournemouth team news, focus
The Cherries are without USMNT star Tyler Adams through a knee injury, while Veljko Milosavljevic and Ben Gannon-Doak are out. This could be one of the final appearances Antoine Semenyo makes for Bournemouth as he is linked with a move to Manchester City early in the January transfer window given his release clause. Evanilson, Justin Kluivert and David Brooks have to step up to get the Cherries back to winning ways.
Brentford vs Bournemouth prediction
This feels like it will be another draw for Bournemouth and it should be a fun, open game as both teams will earmark this as a game they should win. Brentford 2-2 Bournemouth.
He isn't punting for the New Orleans Saints anymore, but Thomas Morstead says his experience with Drew Brees leading the offense prepared him for a couple of quiet weeks with the San Francisco 49ers. Morstead hasn't been asked to punt very often during the 49ers' five-game win streak -- he spent their last two games on the sideline watching the offense put up 37 and 48 points in statement wins.
While he acknowledged he was in awe of how much time he's spent on the bench in recent weeks without having to punt, Morstead noted it wasn't exactly unfamiliar territory.
Morstead hasn't punted in 10 regular season games and one Saints playoff win in his 286-game career (including the playoffs). Six of those regular season games were with New Orleans. His team won all but once in those matchups; the New York Jets lost 19-9 last December on a day where Aaron Rodgers insisted on throwing 42 times. He's in a different situation now, but it still feels a little familiar. If Morstead can end his career as a winner? Well, good for him. He's earned it after the Saints cut ties with him all too quickly.
Arsenal vs Brighton: Match Preview, Latest Team News and Score Prediction
Arsenal vs Brighton prediction: team news, kick-off context and key talking points
Arsenal return to Premier League action looking to consolidate their position at the summit, with Brighton arriving in north London carrying both confidence and complications of their own. This fixture has become an increasingly awkward one for the Gunners in recent seasons, yet the broader context of form, squad depth and momentum points towards a familiar outcome.
This is a meeting shaped less by flair and more by availability. Both managers are navigating significant absences, and how each adapts could define the afternoon at the Emirates.
Arsenal momentum and title pressure
Arsenal head into this weekend having steadied themselves after a brief wobble earlier in the month. Since defeat at Villa Park, the response has been controlled rather than spectacular, but that in itself underlines how far this side has come. Wins have been gathered without fluency, and progress in both domestic cup competition and Europe has reinforced a sense of resilience.
The league table offers little margin for error. Manchester City remain close enough to punish any slip, meaning performances do not need to impress so long as outcomes are secured. Arsenal have leaned into that reality. They are defending leads, managing games late on and showing a pragmatism that was sometimes absent in previous campaigns.
At home, their record remains imposing. Even with injuries stretching the squad, there is a belief that structure and intensity can compensate when creativity dips.
Brighton challenges and tactical questions
Brighton arrive as one of the league’s more unpredictable sides. On their day, they can dominate possession and disarm opponents through movement and rotation. On others, the absence of key personnel leaves them vulnerable, particularly in defensive transition.
Injuries and suspensions have disrupted continuity. Several first-team regulars are either unavailable or returning without full sharpness, forcing a rethink in both midfield balance and defensive organisation. Brighton’s pressing game relies heavily on cohesion, and that is difficult to replicate with enforced changes.
There is, however, no shortage of bravery in how they approach fixtures of this magnitude. Brighton will not retreat into a low block by default. They will attempt to play, to press, and to exploit any uncertainty in Arsenal’s reshuffled areas. Whether that approach can be sustained over 90 minutes is the central question.
Arsenal team news and selection focus
Arsenal’s injury list remains a concern. Several senior figures are sidelined, particularly in defence and midfield, limiting rotation during a demanding run of fixtures. The absence of established options has required younger players and recent signings to shoulder responsibility earlier than planned.
There is cautious optimism around one or two potential returns, but the likelihood is that Arsenal will again field a side adjusted for necessity rather than preference. That said, the spine of the team remains intact, and familiarity within the system often matters more than individual brilliance.
The attacking setup may continue to prioritise control over risk, with wide players asked to track diligently and midfielders instructed to protect defensive zones before advancing.
Brighton team news and availability update
Brighton’s situation mirrors Arsenal’s in scale, if not in profile. Long-term injuries, combined with suspensions and international absences, have reduced options across multiple lines. Defensive depth in particular has been tested, and any further disruption could expose weaknesses against Arsenal’s movement between the lines.
There are expected returns that will bolster the matchday squad, though not all are guaranteed to start. Fitness management remains a priority, especially with the schedule tightening.
Brighton’s ability to remain compact without sacrificing their identity will likely determine whether this contest stays competitive into the latter stages.
Arsenal vs Brighton prediction
This fixture has the potential to be closer than the league positions suggest, but Arsenal’s capacity to manage games is decisive. Brighton will have spells of control and moments of incision, yet the hosts’ defensive discipline and home advantage should prevail.
Expect Arsenal to dominate territory, limit transition opportunities and gradually assert authority. Goals may not come in clusters, but control should be consistent.
These holidays the New York Jets chose to go full bah humbug.
Ashley Castanio-Gervasi, a Jets season ticket holder who told the New York Post she attends games in honor of her late father, was given what she thought was an incredible gift: A chance to win $100,000. Castanio-Gervasi was chosen to take part in the “Kick for Cash” at the game on Sunday, which would have given her a chance to win what she calls “life-changing money.” The Jets then pulled out the rug, disqualifying the fan from taking part in the competition — all because she’s a high school soccer coach.
The Jets reached out to Castanio-Gervasi to take part in the competition after seeing her kick at a tailgate event back in September. At the time she told the team that she was a former Division I soccer player when asked about her background, which didn’t raise any concerns from the team.
“These two workers for the New York Jets kind of chased me down and invited me back to get into this competition,” she recalled. “The one question I was asked was if I played college soccer, and how long ago.”
It might seem like the Jets are trying to keep the field even without one fan having a significant advantage because of their background, but Castanio-Gervasi disclosed that she was a former player. Its unclear why the Jets think being a coach changes her ability as a kicker, but it doesn’t change the end result. They ostensibly strung along a high school math teacher who is also a soccer coach, making her think she had a chance of winning $100K during the holidays, then pulled it away due to a nonsensical technicality.
The Jets even tried to promote her participation further.
“The Jets had even promoted Castanio-Gervasi’s participation and asked permission to reach out to local media, with her local paper, the Long Island Herald, picking up the story earlier this month.”
This is absolute unacceptable. This wasn’t a guaranteed prize, the participant never lied to the team, and it’s far from a lock that somehow being a high school soccer coach makes you better and kicking NFL field goals — other than having kicking experience, WHICH THE JETS ALEADY KNEW ABOUT.
Jets owners Woody Johnson is worth $4 billion. The $100K prize money is one forty-thousandth of his net worth, which could have been won by someone who is unbelievably loyal enough to watch 17 Jets games a year. the organization is standing by their decision to keep her out of the competition.
At least the Jets wear green, because they’re in full Grinch mode.
Following the victory over Roma on Matchday 16, the Juventus Men's First Team are on the road to face Pisa on Matchday 17 of the Serie A season.
The Tuscan side sit in the relegation zone heading into the match.
Let’s get up to speed ahead of Saturday evening’s 20:45 CET kick-off.
Interesting Facts
Only against Cremonese (17) and Piacenza (16) have Juventus played more matches in the top flight without ever suffering a defeat than against Pisa (14, 10W, 4D).
All of the last nine matches between these two teams in Serie A have seen both sides score, with 37 goals in total, an average of over four per match.
The last Serie A match between these two teams in Pisa ended 1-5 on 13 January 1991: Pierluigi Casiraghi scored a hat-trick and Roberto Baggio scored twice (the last Juventus player to score away against Pisa in the top flight). Diego Simeone, the current coach of Atletico Madrid, scored for the Tuscan side in that match.
After scoring only three goals in their first five away games against Pisa in Serie A, Juventus have scored nine goals in their last two; the Tuscan side have never scored more than one goal in these seven games.
Pierre Kalulu is one of five outfield players to have played the most minutes in Serie A this season. He has played 1,440 minutes, and is joined in the top five by Pisa player Simone Canestrelli.
Among the players who have played at least 270 minutes in Serie A this season, Manuel Locatelli is the one who touches the ball the most on average per 90 minutes (95); in addition, Locatelli is second only to Luka Modric (970) for successful passes (933).
Opposition Focus
Pisa have failed to score in nine matches in this league season, with only Wolverhampton Wanderers (10) and Real Oviedo (13) performing worse in the five major European leagues currently underway.
Pisa have scored just one goal at home in this league season, fewer than any other team in the five major European leagues and their respective second divisions in 2025/26.
Pisa have never won their last Serie A match of the calendar year, with a record of seven draws and five defeats (five of the draws coming at home). Furthermore, the Tuscan side have failed to score in their last two such matches: in 1990 against Lazio and in 1991 against Roma.
Among Italian players with at least four goal contributions in this league season, none are older than Stefano Moreo (three goals, one assist, born on 30 June 1993). Considering all nationalities, only Jamie Vardy and Kevin De Bruyne were born earlier.
Only Francesco Camarda (2008) and Jeff Ekhator (November 2006) are younger than Lorran (4 July 2006) among the players who have scored in this Serie A season; Lorran scored his only goal away from home, against Napoli on 22 September.
😳 Kung fu Christoph: ex-Fortuna man sees red after horror kick
As usual, the ball is rolling on the island again today. Before the top match between Man United and Newcastle takes place at 9 PM, fans, hoppers, and those annoyed by their relatives traditionally enjoy the English 2nd league.
And today, there was quite a bang. In the duel between Birmingham City and Derby County, Christoph Klarer, who was previously active for Düsseldorf and Darmstadt, went for a high kick and caught his opponent.
Fortunately, the ball was still between the Austrian's leg and Ebou Adams. Otherwise, the risk of injury would have been much higher.
However, this did not help Christoph Klarer. The referee immediately pulled out the red card and sent the defender to the showers early.
The match ultimately ended 1:1 with two red cards. How long Klarer will be suspended for his Kung-Fu kick will be revealed in the coming days.
NFL referee Bill Vinovich and his officiating crew made several questionable calls during the Christmas Day showdown between the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday.
The most egregious call was guard Ben Powers being penalized for a false start, negating an offside penalty for the Chiefs. The replay showed that Powers did not even flinch. It may have been a case of mistaken identity, with officials confusing Powers with fellow guard Quinn Meinerz, because Powers did not make a false start:
Later in the game, cornerback Pat Surtain was called for pass interference on an overthrown pass that went way out of bounds. PS2 could have avoided the penalty by not making unnecessary contact, but the flag shouldn't have been thrown in the first place.
Another absurd penalty came when tight end Evan Engram was called for offensive pass interference. Engram and the defender made mutual contact, then the tight end did a soft "push-off" that triggered the flag:
Denver ended the game with five penalties for 57 yards. Kansas City's first penalty didn't come until late in the fourth quarter, and it proved to be costly. Facing 4th-and-2, the Broncos lined up in a wildcat formation with RJ Harvey in the backfield. Fullback Adam Prentice went in motion and defensive lineman Chris Jones jumped offside, gifting Denver a first down. The Broncos went on to score a touchdown, sealing a 20-13 win.
While many might not initially notice the several intricate references to Caitlin Clark's past that Nike cleverly included in their Christmas Day premiere advertisement featuring the Hawkeye legend's 2026 CC Signature collection, here is a breakdown of each "Easter egg."
The first Easter egg is when a trio of basketball players ask Clark, "How about from here?" while walking toward half-court. That group is wearing "Attack" on the front of their jerseys, which is a nod to Clark's summer Nike EYBL program, All Iowa Attack, before joining the Hawkeyes in 2020.
The next Easter egg features Travis and Jason Kelce's podcast "New Heights," on which she appeared on Jan. 20, 2025. The clip used in the advertisement is actually a spliced version of the two brothers bragging about their own basketball skills and asking if Clark can make the same shots.
The commercial's use of Lisa Bluder standing beside Clark's iconic "22" mark on the court of Carver-Hawkeye Arena is very straightforward, as it references her four years as a member of the Iowa women's basketball program and the location of her 3-point basket, which broke the NCAA's Division I record for most career points scored.
Musician Travis Scott is in the commercial as well, and he was in attendance the day that Clark set the new Division I all-time scoring record with that logo 3-pointer from Carver. Lastly, the commercial features the inclusion of comedian and co-host of Saturday Night Live's "Weekend Update" segment, Michael Che, whom Clark appeared alongside on the April 14, 2024, airing of the show.
While no specific date has been revealed for Clark's highly-anticipated Nike signature shoe just yet, the global athletic wear company is expected to launch her products sometime in spring of 2026.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews
Why can't it just be about football, right? Two games remain in the Baltimore Ravens' regular season. The result of Saturday's contest determines the significance of the finale.
It seems that's where we'd dedicate most of our discussion. Instead, we've talked about the health of the starting quarterbacks on both rosters, and now there's another angle? What's this we're hearing? There's friction between John Harbaugh and Lamar Jackson?
All of this feels like 'bad timing'. We mentioned that a must-win game is on the horizon for Saturday evening, right? Thank Heaven for Tyler Huntley. He hasn't lost sight of this game's significance. Lamar Jackson has been listed as 'doubtful' on the Ravens' injury report, and that means it is very possible that Huntley could be designated as the starter for a showdown with the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
"A lot of our games have been must-win [games], and every week we must win, so we have to focus on going 1-0 this week. If we're doing everything that we need to do, we'll get that."
Those were Huntley's words while speaking with the media on Wednesday. The Packers have questions about their quarterbacks that need answering. Jordan Love (concussion) and Malik Willis (shoulder) are both injured, but Love is practicing. It seems Love is trending towards playing, but that doesn't seem to be the case with Lamar Jackson.
"I don't think [Lamar Jackson] has had an injury like that before, but I feel like he is dealing with it pretty good. He's in there getting treatment and everything, and he's still in meetings. He's still coming to meetings, so I feel like if he's ready to play, he is going to play. He knows how to deal with it the best. He knows how his body is feeling, and I think he is going to do a great job with it... "[Lamar Jackson has] continued to go out there and play at a great level every time he's on the field, and that goes to show that [if he isn't] feeling the best, but then he goes out there and give his A-game every time. Hats off to him."
Every Ravens player and coach, to a man, said they believe in Huntley if he's forced into action. To his credit, he has shown no signs of being phased by a big situation, but why would he be? He's a veteran, and he's been here before.
"Just situationally, over the years, I've been thrown in there a couple of times. [I am always] just preparing myself during the week. That's why I think I've gained the most confidence, just trying to down the playbook and then just be ready for it... I look at it as a blessing to be able to just play football, and I just appreciate that – being able to play football – and that's all I take from this situation. Everything else will play the cards out how it is."
Fortunately, he doesn't have to do this alone. The offense has struggled at times, but it's loaded. The defense has played well enough. There is confidence in the special teams unit.
"Like you guys said, it's a must-win game. We've had a lot of games where the defense played great, and then we had games where the offense played great [or] special teams played great. Well, we just want the whole game to be everybody playing great."
The Ravens are road underdogs, but they have played better away from home than at home this season. If they do so again and win, their Week 18 game against the hated Pittsburgh Steelers will be a win-and-in scenario.
One of the few bright spots has been the play of linebacker Mykal Walker. Walker has been playing a notable amount of snaps at linebacker despite Jamien Sherwood and Quincy Williams being healthy and available. The former Fresno State standout might be playing himself into a 2026 role.
Walker registered seven tackles and three run stops versus the Saints in Week 16, according to Pro Football Focus.
The 2020 fourth-round selection did not miss a single tackle. Walker was also effective in coverage, allowing just two receptions on three targets for seven yards. His 89.3 PFF grade in Week 17 was second-highest among all linebackers.
Random shoutout but Mykal Walker has quietly been pretty darn good as LB3 for the #Jets.
His 89.3 PFF grade in Week 16 ranks 1st among all LBs so far.
Walker recorded 7 tackles (0 missed) and 3 run stops, allowing just 2 catches on 3 targets for 7 yards.
Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey are searching for future solutions on their rebuilding roster. Walker might be playing his way into securing a 53-man roster spot and rotational role next season. Walker is worth monitoring in Weeks 17 and 18.
Jets Wire will continue to provide updates throughout the 2025 season.
All week, topics and storylines have been discussed ahead of this upcoming cross-conference clash. In the end, regardless of what is said by players, coaches, media outlets and fans, it always comes down to what unfolds on the field in the NFL.
And once it's game time, there will be a few particular things to look out for.
Starting games has not always been a strong suit for the Bills in 2025. Against a top team like the Eagles, it could be pivotal to do so.
Taking it away
In the last four games, Buffalo has recorded seven takeaways. The defense getting hot in this area before the postseason could pay dividends... both against the Eagles and moving forward.
Josh bounce-back needed
Bills quarterback Josh Allen had a poor game last week despite the Bills beating the Cleveland Browns. He also sustained an ankle injury.
Is this a bounce-back game for Allen?
Again, it's a good time for it.
Tush push
Whenever the Eagles are on the field, opponents are aware of the "tush push." Can the Bills find a way to shut it down again Eagles QB Jalen Hurts & Co.
Super Bowl measuring stick?
Both teams won't point this out, but outsiders will. This contest will be called a "Super Bowl preview" by many... does that raise the game of both teams?
We remember it as if it were yesterday: the 2023 NFL Draft. The Baltimore Ravens were on the clock in the first round with the 22nd overall selection. Zay Flowers' name was scribbled on a draft card. No one had any fear that he would be a potential 'bust'.
Flowers had just spent four seasons in the ACC, cutting his teeth with the Boston College Eagles. He had twice earned First-Team All-ACC honors during his time there (2020, 2022). He was named a Third-Team All-ACC nod in 2021.
His final collegiate season in 2022 ended with him being named a Third-Team All-American. We repeat. Seeing him fail was never a part of anyone's thought process. As his third regular season at the professional level winds down, he has earned his second Pro Bowl nomination in as many years.
Flowers is as good as they come, but he's human. His most recent game re-emphasizes that. For most of the contest, he was special. He hauled in all seven of his targets for 84 yards. He scored a rushing touchdown on an 18-yard carry. Unfortunately, his night is more remembered for how it ended.
Baltimore's first offensive play following the two-minute warning would be their final play of the evening. Tyler Huntley delivered one to Flowers, but the ball was knocked free at Baltimore's 32-yard line. The Patriots would recover at the 36.
"[I saw on] Instagram and [the] NFL's [account]. I had just seen it on [the] NFL's [account], and I was like, 'Oh, I made the Pro Bowl?' [It was] in the morning when I came in to do some treatment... I made the Pro Bowl! I was still mad from the game, but I'm happy that I did [make it]. It's a good accomplishment. I appreciate everybody that voted."
Flowers sounds like many of his teammates. Personal recognition is cool and all, but sights are set on team goals, one of the short-term being a postseason invitation.
After a long break, the Los Angeles Rams will be back in action on Monday night when they visit the Atlanta Falcons. They're trying to rebound from a crushing loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 16, getting back into the mix in the NFC West and the race for the No. 1 seed.
The Falcons have nothing to play for but pride, and the Rams are certain to get their best shot on Monday night – especially with Raheem Morris coaching against his former team for the first time. Here are seven stats and facts to know for Week 17.
Falcons have had a turnover in 7 straight games
The Falcons are in the middle of the pack with 17 turnovers this season, ranking 14th in that category. But they’ve had at least one turnover in seven straight, including six in the last three games alone. They’re 2-1 in those three games, beating the Cardinals last week despite turning it over twice.
Bijan Robinson leads NFL in scrimmage yards
No player in the league has more total yards than Robinson. He has 1,250 rushing yards and 776 yards receiving, giving him 2,026 on the year. That’s the most in football, earning himself a Pro Bowl selection and potentially first-team All-Pro honors. Sean McVay called Robinson “unbelievable” and “as good as it gets” at running back, so he and the Rams are fully aware of how dangerous he is.
Rams are 3rd in red zone offense and defense
Great teams typically excel in the red zone and the Rams check both boxes on offense and defense. They rank third in red zone scoring efficiency, finding the end zone on a whopping 65.2% of their trips inside the 20-yard line. They’re also outstanding after teams reach the red zone, allowing touchdowns just 46.8% of the time – also the third-best in football.
Only 4 teams are worse on 3rd down than the Falcons
The Falcons struggle to sustain drives, largely because they’re terrible on third down. They rank 29th in third-down conversion rate, moving the chains only 33% of the time. They’re in for a really tough matchup against the Rams’ eighth-ranked third-down defense, too. If the Rams can prevent the Falcons from converting on third down, they’ll be in great position to win this one.
Falcons have 2nd-highest blitz rate in NFL
The Falcons love to blitz under defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. They send at least one extra rusher 35.4% of the time, which is the second-highest rate in football. That approach may not work against Matthew Stafford and the Rams, though. Stafford has the third-highest passing grade of any quarterback against the blitz this season, according to PFF, throwing a league-high 26 touchdown passes and only one interception when blitzed this season.
The next-closest quarterback has 14 touchdown passes when blitzed.
Matthew Stafford leads NFL in TD passes, interception rate and passer rating
Stafford is the MVP frontrunner for a reason, ranking first among all quarterbacks in touchdown passes (40), interception rate (1%) and passer rating (112.1). He’s only 303 yards behind Dak Prescott for the league lead in passing yards, too, with Prescott having played one extra game. It’s by far the best season of his career.
Matthew Stafford and Kirk Cousins each have 10 losses on MNF
Neither quarterback in this game has been particularly good on Monday Night Football in their career. Stafford is just 6-10 in Monday games with only 19 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions.
Cousins hasn’t been any better, going 5-10 on Monday Night Football with 22 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions.
As expected, Joshua Josephs will not play in next week’s Music City Bowl in Nashville. Tennessee is set to face Illinois in the matchup, marking the fourth time the Volunteers have played in the mid-state bowl.
JUST IN: Tennessee senior Josh Josephs is opting out of the bowl game he tells @Volquest_On3. He is focusing on the NFL Draft. https://t.co/mzWQm5Mg3Y
Josephs has been Tennessee’s starter at the LEO spot all season long, filling the shoes of James Pearce Jr. Pearce was a first round selection in last year’s NFL Draft, and Josephs is expected to be a day two selection in this year’s edition.
The 6-3, 240 pound pass rusher has been a contributor on the Tennessee front for a few years now, dating back to his freshman season. This season, his first as a full-time starter, saw him produce four sacks and 33 total tackles. Josephs forced three fumbles and recovered two of them in each of the past two seasons.
The former 4-star prospect out of Kennesaw, Georgia will now set his sights on the NFL Draft process.
Josephs joins Arion Carter, Jermod McCoy, Colton Hood and Chris Brazzell as NFL Draft opt-outs for Tennessee. The Volunteers will lean on Jordan Ross and Caleb Herring at the LEO spot — maybe even some on true freshman Christian Gass.
Kickoff in Nashville is set for Tuesday, December 30th at 5:30 p.m. ET.
🏟️Unbelievable: Inter Miami selling turf where Messi played
Inter Miami, the club chaired by David Beckham, is preparing for a new era. With the move to the new Miami Freedom Park scheduled for 2026, the institution announced a unique initiative: it will sell fragments of the turf from Chase Stadium, the field where Lionel Messi recorded his first chapters in American soccer.
This initiative aims to transform the playing field into a collectible item for the most passionate fans, allowing them to keep a tangible piece of the club's history before leaving its current venue.
Collection Options and Prices
The offer includes five product variants. The more accessible options are keychains in the shape of a field or jersey, ideal for daily remembrance. On the other end is the luxury edition, valued at 750 dollars: a piece of grass encapsulated in an acrylic cube. This premium piece is delivered in a piano-finish box, with a suede interior and a gold-engraved metal ticket.
The prices for these souvenirs start at 50 dollars, and deliveries are expected to take place in March 2026. The demand is expected to be extremely high, considering it is the surface that witnessed the goals and celebrations of the Argentine star in Florida.
A pair of Minnesota Vikings set records on Thursday afternoon in the team’s 23-10 victory over the Detroit Lions. Since it’s time to talk about the positives that came out of the victory, let’s talk a bit about them now.
The first one is a record that I think a lot of us expected to hear about this season, but that we expected would have happened a long time ago. With his 30 yards receiving against the Lions, Justin Jefferson surpassed Randy Moss for the most receiving yardage by a player in his first six NFL seasons. He now has 8,379 career receiving yards, passing Moss’ mark of 8,375.
Jefferson had put up huge numbers in his first five seasons, but those numbers have dropped this season with the team’s struggles at the quarterback position. At his usual pace, he would have blown the doors off of Moss’ mark by midseason. The fact that he hasn’t started pouting or melting down in the midst of everything that’s happened this year is truly a testament to him and what he brings to the franchise.
Now, the Vikings can hopefully help him get to another record. He needs 53 yards in the regular season finale against Green Bay to join Moss and Mike Evans as the only players in NFL history to record at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of their first six NFL seasons. Evans went on to do it for eleven straight years, while Moss went under 1,000 yards in his seventh year while dealing with a litany of injuries.
The other Viking to set a record on Thursday afternoon put his name into the team record books. That would be the player you could argue has been the team’s most consistent player this season, kicker Will Reichard. With two more field goals from beyond 50 yards, Reichard now has 11 such field goals on the season. He now holds the team record in that category, surpassing the record that Blair Walsh set as a rookie in 2012 when he hit 10 field goals of 50 yards or more. Reichard has now surpassed his point total from his rookie season, as he has put 116 points on the board for the purple this season.
Kudos to Justin Jefferson and Will Reichard for setting some new standards, whether they’re at the NFL level or at the team level, this season.
Tennessee edge rusher Joshua Josephs has opted out of the Music City Bowl to prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft, Knox News confirmed.
UT coach Josh Heupel is expected to address Josephs' decision when the Vols begin on-site bowl practice on Dec. 26.
No. 23 Tennessee (8-4) plays Illinois (8-4) in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30 (5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Nashville.
Josephs is the fifth Tennessee player to opt out of the Music City Bowl for purposes of preparing for the NFL Draft. He joins cornerback Jermod McCoy, cornerback Colton Hood, linebacker Arion Carter and wide receiver Chris Brazzell.
Josephs is projected as an early round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after a well-rounded senior season. He had 33 tackles, six tackles-for-loss, four sacks, six quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, including one returned for a touchdown.
With the assignment of the Super Cup now behind us, the league is ready to return at full speed: here are the most relevant news of the day, both on and off the pitch.
Juve, decisive exits and Gatti...
Juventus is working on the transfer market, balancing technical evaluations and outgoing strategies. Adzic may leave Turin on loan to find more playing time, while Joao Mario has yet to convince and risks leaving after just six months: Crystal Palace is interested in the winger and is ready to consider a permanent deal.
The situation is different for Gatti, who is currently not on the transfer list. According to Tuttosport, Rugani’s injury has changed the management’s priorities, and they do not want to part with a defender considered reliable and central to the squad’s rotation during this delicate phase of the season.
Milan, Maignan: renewal stalled and alternatives
At Milan, the Maignan issue continues to dominate discussions. The French goalkeeper, whose contract expires in 2026, is seen as central by both fans and the locker room: even Adrien Rabiot has publicly reiterated how crucial and difficult he is to replace, underlining the total respect the team has for Mike Maignan, both as a technical and human leader.
However, according to MilanNews.it, negotiations remain stalled: after an initial agreement at €5 million, the club lowered its offer to €4 million, which the player rejected. Talks have resumed but without a breakthrough, and for this reason Milan is considering alternatives such as Suzuki, Caprile, Atubolu, Lunin, and Hugo Souza. The priority remains renewal, but the road ahead is still uphill.
Inter, no incoming signings? The scenarios
According to Alfredo Pedullà, Inter’s transfer market will be marked by caution between January and June. The journalist rules out swaps between big clubs that could benefit direct competitors: the same goes for Frattesi, who is being followed by Juventus, but is valued at a price Inter does not intend to lower.
In his YouTube appearance, Pedullà explained that any moves by the Nerazzurri will mainly depend on departures. Should De Vrij leave, the Muharemovic option could be reopened, while Belghali remains an appreciated profile but is held back by regulatory issues. It’s a scenario of waiting and evaluation, with no immediate revolutions.
Napoli, sales required for the market
Napoli is preparing for an extremely complicated winter transfer window. The Azzurri club can only operate with a zero balance, matching income and expenses, a constraint that directly affects sporting director Manna’s strategies and Antonio Conte’s requests, as he aims to strengthen the midfield.
According to Tuttomercatoweb, some sales will be necessary to finance a possible signing. The outgoing names are Marianucci, Mazzocchi, Vergara, and Ambrosino, with Lorenzo Lucca’s situation to be monitored. Only after these departures will Napoli be able to invest again.
Roma, Disasi targeted: Chelsea sets the terms
Roma continues to work behind the scenes to strengthen the squad for the second half of the season. Among the profiles being closely followed is Axel Disasi, identified as a possible defensive reinforcement on the recommendation of Gian Piero Gasperini, with Frederic Massara working to assess the feasibility of the deal.
According to Fabrizio Romano, however, competition is fierce: the Chelsea defender has also been offered to Barcelona, as well as Lyon and Paris FC. The sticking point remains the formula: Chelsea is only open to a permanent transfer, a condition that complicates Roma’s plans and makes the race far from straightforward.
Lazio, Tavares towards Arabia: waiting for an offer
At Lazio, work on the transfer market doesn’t stop even during the holidays. Among the names that could leave in January is Nuno Tavares, who has caught the eye of Al-Ittihad, coached by Sergio Conceição, who had already shown interest in the full-back in the past.
According to Matteo Moretto on YouTube, talks are currently only underway between the Saudi club and the player, with a gap on salary: Tavares is asking for €7-8 million net plus bonuses. As reported by Tuttomercatoweb, Lazio is waiting for an official offer before entering the heart of negotiations.
Fiorentina: Martinelli, loan in January to grow
Fiorentina is reflecting on a summer decision that hasn’t paid off. Keeping Tommaso Martinelli as the second-choice goalkeeper has slowed his development: few appearances, lots of training, and insufficient playing time for a 2006-born player considered one of the most interesting prospects in the national scene. The idea of another apprenticeship season behind David De Gea has not yielded concrete results on the pitch.
According to FirenzeViola.it, the most likely scenario in January is a loan move. The goalkeeper’s entourage is evaluating solutions, in Italy or abroad, to guarantee him continuity and real matches. With Christensen returning and Lezzerini present, Fiorentina can afford to let him leave temporarily, finally allowing him to grow through regular game time.
The Jukebox Man had just one previous race in 2025, winning at Haydock in November [PA Media]
Harry Redknapp's The Jukebox Man rallied at the last to clinch a thrilling victory in the King George VI Chase.
The Grade One race at Kempton Park went down to a photo-finish with last year's winner Banbridge and 9-4 joint-favourite Gaelic Warrior.
Owner Redknapp faced an anxious wait before the ex-Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham manager could celebrate winning the Boxing Day showpiece.
The trio went into the final fence of the three-mile race together, with The Jukebox Man coming down in third.
But Ben Jones led the 7-1 shot, trained by Ben Pauling, back between his two rivals.
Although the Joseph O'Brien-trained Banbridge (16-1) edged fractionally in front, Redknapp's charge dug deep to win by a nose, with Gaelic Warrior a similar margin back in third.
Before the race, Redknapp said "we've come into the Champions League today", and the victory is worth £142,375 to the 78-year-old.
Redknapp, who retired from management after leaving Birmingham City in 2017, was trembling as he spoke to ITV Racing moments after his winner was confirmed.
"It is a dream, to have a horse that good is unbelievable," he said. "I love the game that much.
"To come here on King George day and just run made me so proud, but to have the winner is special. I am so lucky."
Joint-favourite Jango Baie was a length back going into the final fence and was closing on the lead trio right up to the line.
"After he jumped the last, I thought he was going to finish fourth because they came to him from all sides," said Redknapp. "But he's come again and the guts the horse has shown is just amazing.
"Everyone was jumping on me at the end and I didn't know I had won.
"But we had a lot of support here today and I love the racing, I love the game, I love the people in it, so to have a winner on the big stage is fantastic."
'The best we've achieved to date'
Ben Jones clenched his fist in celebration as he crossed the line, only to discover the finish was much closer than he thought [PA Media]
Il Est Francais, who finished second to Banbridge last year, led for most of the race before The Jukebox Man moved to the front before the final bend.
The eight runners were tightly grouped as they straightened up for home and then four went clear, with The Jukebox Man emerging victorious.
It was a fourth straight win for the seven-year-old, a run which included victory here in last year's Kauto Star Novices' Chase.
"I thought I'd won by a head and didn't have anything to worry about it," said jockey Jones.
Trainer Pauling added: "It was an incredible race. It was always going to be a proper horse race but to turn in with as many in with a chance as there was, that was exceptional.
"For us, it's huge. I was delighted it was a proper ding-dong of a race, and you want to win the good ones.
"It's something very special. Harry has been an exceptional owner. I've always had huge faith in this horse and so has Harry.
"We've won Festival races and we've won Grade Ones, but this is the best we've achieved to date."
Sir Gino makes triumphant return
Earlier in the day, Sir Gino made his eagerly-anticipated return with an impressive win in the Christmas Hurdle.
Nicky Henderson's charge had not raced since the Wayward Lad Novices' here 12 months ago as an infection curtailed his season.
The five-year-old's stablemate Constitution Hill won this race in each of the past three seasons.
Sir Gino came in as the 4-7 favourite and jockey Nico de Boinville pushed the pace throughout to win by six lengths from Golden Ace, with Rubaud in third.
In the meeting's other Grade One race, Kitzbuhel produced a fine front-running display to win the Kauto Star Novices' Chase.
After a triumphant chasing debut at Punchestown last month, the five-year-old stepped up in trip and class for the three-miler.
Paul Townend soon led the 13-8 favourite to the front and he sailed over the final fences to win by two-and-three-quarter-lengths.
That gave trainer Willie Mullins his first victory in the race, with Thomas Mor finishing second and Wendigo third.
There’s a political theory that people don’t vote in terms of self-interest, but in terms of their values. They are happy to hurt themselves, so long as they stay true to themselves.
England were eight for three when Harry Brook walked to the middle. Facing his first ball, he charged down the wicket at Mitchell Starc, swung, missed, and smiled.
“Most of the time when I’ve been overly aggressive is when we’ve lost early wickets,” Brook said ahead of the third Test in Adelaide. “I’ve tried to counterpunch and put them back under pressure.”
Harry Brook trod the line between intent and recklessness to end with the highest score of the day (AFP/Getty)
True to himself to the end.
Brook ended up with 41 from 34 balls. It was the highest score on a day where 20 wickets fell and England found themselves – again – on the wrong side of a day’s play.
It was a moment that divided opinion across the stadium. Commentators falling off their chairs, bereft at the recklessness, all while ignoring that three of his teammates had just perished and a fourth soon would also. At 16 for four, three of England’s players had nicked off defending. Joe Root recorded the longest duck of his career at 15 balls. Which is the greater crime?
“The pitch is doing too much if I’m brutally honest,” said former England bowler Stuart Broad on SEN radio. “Test match bowlers don’t need this amount of movement to look threatening.”
A MCG surface offering lavish movement has come under scrutiny (AFP/Getty)
Of the many disappointments of this Ashes series, high on the list is that we never saw the end of the story. For years, England have spoon-fed the public nonsense about running towards the danger, doubling down and going even harder. It has been utterly intoxicating.
And yet in Australia, they blinked. Defeat in Brisbane led to Ben Stokesimploring his players to “fight”. He referred to his changing room as “no place for weak men.” The result has been a different England.
Brook swiped at the first ball he faced on a day dominated by the bowlers (AP)
On a flat pitch in Adelaide, after picking a stacked batting lineup and with temperatures over 40 degrees, they blocked it.
“Surprising,” was Aussie skipper Pat Cummins’s offering on England’s showing with the bat in that instance. “It was 40-odd degrees, it was a very flat wicket and they shut up shop for half the day, which I was pretty happy with.”
And then here, with Australia all out for 152 on a wicket that was seaming all over the place, only Brook ran towards that danger they’d been talking about for so long.
Brook was the one England batter to ‘run towards the danger’ (Getty)
Bazball has been a cricketing social experiment. Born from a coach, Brendon McCullum, who was inspired by a no-consequences approach to cricket following the death of Australian batter Phil Hughes. And from a captain, Ben Stokes, who, having suffered from his own mental health issues, took over a team in the depths of one Test win in 17, a Covid-impacted rut, and felt the need for change. It is former England captain Mike Brearley, who later trained as a psychotherapist, who first made the connection between Bazball and it being a response to male mental health.
McCullum, for what it’s worth, has always pushed back against the name, saying it was given to him by someone else. But so was “Brendon”. It’s still his identity.
Of the four top-scorers on a remarkable day’s play, three had the highest strike rates where risk tallied with reward. When Brook was ultimately dismissed for 41, he had made 62 per cent of England’s overall total of 66 and almost a third of Australia’s. He had struck two sixes, one over extra cover and another when he bludgeoned a back-of-a-length ball over midwicket. It was phenomenal batting, made possible only with a huge amount of skill and a strategy that had a fair amount of evidence behind it. Brook’s scores for England when entering the crease with England three down for less than 30 runs? 186, 26, 123 and 158.
In Melbourne, England had Will Jacks, with five T20 centuries to his name, at number eight. This was a tailor-made opportunity for them to stick to the process that got them here by playing aggressive cricket that suited an aggressive lineup. They are still not out of the game, trailing only by 46 runs at the close, but they are still behind.
England appear to have lost conviction in their approach during this series (Robbie Stephenson/PA Wire)
Across the tour, their run-rate has been the lowest out of any of the 16 they have played under Stokes and McCullum. A considerable chunk of that is because of the quality bowlers Australia have on hand, but it is nevertheless indicative of where true, utmost, delusional self-belief has been tempered by a desire to do the “right” thing.
Naturally, it is easier to say this than to be in it. Stick to their guns throughout, fall in a heap like they did in Perth, and these same pages may read of a team that is stubborn to the point of stupid. But this England team block out the noise. They don’t care for others’ opinions because to do so would be to bend from the values they believe in, even if it hurts themselves.
Twenty wickets fell on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test, with Australia on top (PA Wire)
But as it happened, in Melbourne, they bent of their own free will.
High-scoring standouts, a defending state champion and a Wisconsin recruit headline this year's 2025-26 Fab 5 girls basketball team.
The team is a showcase of top seniors in the Fox Valley area as the bulk of the conference season begins in January. This year's team consists of Neenah's Rowan Klesmit, Xavier's Brynn Krull, Bay Port's Melia Lemorande, Shawano's Leah Nordin and Kimberly's Emily Urban.
Nordin is heading to the University of Wisconsin next fall, while Klesmit and Lemorande are expecting to lead their teams in scoring this season. Krull helped the Hawks reach the WIAA Division 3 state championship game last season, and Urban was a starter on last season's Division 1 state champions.
Rowan Klesmit
Neenah, point guard
Height: 5-5.
Family: Parents, Rich and Kelly; brothers, Max and Cal.
Favorite food: Pasta.
Favorite school subject: Science.
Favorite movie: “Carry-On.”
Favorite TV show/streaming: “Outer Banks.”
Favorite pro athlete: Kyrie Irving.
Favorite vacation spot: Florida.
Why she’s on the team: First-team all-FVA and WBCA all-state first team in D1. Averaged 22.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.6 steals. Entered the season with 1,209 career points. Will play collegiately at Wright State.
Brynn Krull
Xavier, guard
Height: 5-8.
Family: Parents, Rick and Amy; sisters, Joy and Elle; brother, Luke.
Favorite food: Chocolate chip cookies.
Favorite school subject: English.
Favorite movie: “Good Will Hunting.”
Favorite pro athlete: Sydney McLaughlin.
Favorite vacation spot: Nashville.
Why she’s on the team: Helped lead the Hawks to the Division 3 state championship game for the second consecutive season. Averaged 14.2 points and 4.3 rebounds. First-team all-Bay Conference and WBCA all-state first team in D3. St. Cloud State commit.
Melia Lemorande
Bay Port, small forward
Height: 6-1.
Family: Parents, Adam and Katie; sister, Alayna.
Favorite food: Seafood.
Favorite school subject: Science.
Favorite movie: “Daddy’s Home.”
Favorite TV show/streaming: “Stranger Things.”
Favorite pro athlete: Cameron Brink.
Why she’s on the team: Unanimous first-team all-FRCC and WBCA all-state honorable mention in D1. Averaged 17.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists. Will play collegiately at Maryville University.
Leah Nordin
Shawano, forward
Height: 6-2.
Family: Parents, Nick and Brenda; brother, Jack; sister, Lila.
Favorite food: Pickles.
Favorite school subject: History.
Favorite movie: “Pitch Perfect.”
Favorite TV show/streaming: “Friends.”
Favorite pro athlete: Tucker Kraft.
Favorite vacation spot: Cancun.
Why she’s on the team: First-team all-Bay Conference and WBCA all-state first team in D2. Averaged 24.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.9 steals. University of Wisconsin commit.
Emily Urban
Kimberly, point guard
Height: 5-6.
Family: Parents, Jeff and Wendy; brothers, Nathan and Andrew; dogs, Milo and Buster; cat, Addie.
Favorite food: Tacos.
Favorite school subject: Math or science.
Favorite movie: “The Christmas Chronicles.”
Favorite TV show/streaming: “The Summer I Turned Pretty.”
Favorite vacation spot: Florida.
Why she’s on the team: Outstanding athlete who is also a UW-Milwaukee soccer commit. Averaged 5.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.3 steals.
The Broncos took care of business on Christmas, defeating the Chiefs to move to 13-3 on the season.
While the Broncos have already clinched a postseason berth, they have a shot to clinch the No. 1 overall seed this weekend. But there’s a better chance the club could clinch the AFC West and a home playoff game, as that will be the case if the Texans defeat the Chargers on Saturday afternoon.
But if Los Angeles defeats Houston, the division title will come down to the Week 18 matchup between the Chargers and Broncos in Denver.
That’s part of why quarterback Bo Nix told reporters that he’s more concerned about the Broncos handling their own business than anything that might happen this weekend.
“At the end of the day, none of it really matters. We have to play the final game, and we have to take care of it,” Nix said in his press conference. “[The Chargers] are going to be a good football team. Some other team could help us along the way, but at the end of the day, it is going to come down to us versus them.
“We are excited to have them at home. It is going to be a really good environment and atmosphere. It is honestly playoff atmosphere. It is going to be tough. I have not beaten them, but it is going to be a good nine days of preparation. On the tenth day, it will be all you have got for four quarters, or however long it takes. We are excited about it. It will be good to have rest. It will be a good long weekend for us.”
As Nix said, he’s 0-3 against the Chargers so far over his first two seasons. He’s completed 63 percent of his passes against the club for 632 yards with five touchdowns and one interception.
Even by Nikola Jokic's lofty standards, his 56-point triple-double on Christmas night was pretty impressive.
Jokic on Thursday became the first player in NBA history to produce a 55-point, 15-assist, 15-rebound game. He set an NBA record by scoring 18 points in overtime as he led the Denver Nuggets to a 142-138 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in a hard-fought contest that saw Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards ejected.
Jokic though was the center of attention, as he bolstered his case for a fourth MVP award.
When asked though how he would look back on this instantly-iconic performance, Jokic gave the most Jokic response possible to arguably the most spectacular of his 15 triple-doubles this season.
"I had a good game, of course," Jokic said. "I don't know what I'm going to look back and say. Really good game."
Nikola Jokic asked about his 56 points, 16 rebound, 15 assists triple-double 🎙️
"I had a good game, of course. I don't know what I'm going to look back and say." pic.twitter.com/QHOGpoNyHS
If you are going to play against the 2025-26 Fab 5 boys basketball team, make sure to bring plenty of height.
This year's team has four players 6-foot-5 or taller, led by Kaukauna's Andrew Jensen (6-9). Oshkosh North's Bryce Ott (6-7), New London's Joseph Daly (6-7) and Seymour's Kyler Marks (6-5) provide plenty of size on the court, with Appleton North's Nathan Ramus (6-2) also a potential mismatch at guard.
Here's a closer look at the Fox Valley area's top five senior players to watch as we enter the bulk of the conference season.
Kyler Marks
Seymour, small forward
Height: 6-5.
Family: Parents, Paul and Connie; pet dogs, Rocky and Bandit.
Favorite food: Cheeseburger.
Favorite school subject: Social studies.
Favorite movie: “Pacific Rim.”
Favorite TV show/streaming: “The Boys.”
Favorite pro athlete: Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Favorite vacation spot: Florida.
Why he’s on the team: First-team all-Bay Conference. Honorable-mention WBCA all-state in D3. Averaged 21.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.
Bryce Ott
Oshkosh North, wing/forward
Height: 6-7.
Family: Parents, Luke and Carisa; sisters, Mallory, Natalie; brother, Eli.
Favorite food: Chicken wings.
Favorite school subject: Math.
Favorite movie: “The Notebook”
Favorite TV show/streaming: “Snowfall.”
Favorite pro athlete: Shedeur Sanders.
Favorite vacation spot: Tennessee.
Why he’s on the team: Honorable-mention all-FVA. Expected to be the top scorer and rebounder for the Spartans. Will play collegiately at Minnesota State Mankato.
Nathan Ramus
Appleton North, guard
Height: 6-2.
Family: Parents, Jerry and Vicki; brother, Alex; pet dog, Louie.
Favorite food: Chicken.
Favorite school subject: Sports marketing.
Favorite movie: “Happy Gilmore.”
Favorite TV show/streaming: “Outer Banks.”
Favorite pro athlete: Kyrie Irving.
Favorite vacation spot: Florida.
Why he’s on the team: Unanimous first-team all-FVA and all-defensive team. Averaged 13.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists. Honorable-mention WBCA all-state in D1. Will play at Northern Michigan.
Joseph Daly
New London, forward
Height: 6-7.
Family: Parents, Jay and Lisa; sister, Sarah.
Favorite food: Pizza.
Favorite school subject: Science.
Favorite movie: “Star Wars.”
Favorite TV show/streaming: “Stranger Things.”
Favorite pro athlete: Michael Jordan.
Favorite vacation spot: Florida.
Why he’s on the team: Co-player of the year in the Bay Conference and unanimous first team. Averaged 22 points, 12.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists last season. Honorable-mention WBCA all-state in D2.
Andrew Jensen
Kaukauna, forward
Height: 6-9.
Family: Mom, Melissa.
Favorite food: Steak.
Favorite movie: “Interstellar.”
Favorite TV show/streaming: “Outer Banks.”
Favorite pro athlete: Ja Morant.
Favorite vacation spot: Orlando.
Why he’s on the team: Unanimous first-team all-FVA and all-defensive team. Averaged 17.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists. Honorable-mention WBCA all-state in D1. Will play at DePaul University.
The MLB offseason didn’t take a break on Christmas Day. The Athletics popped up in the news on the 25th of December, signing left fielder Tyler Soderstrom to a seven-year, $86 million contract extension. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, it’s the largest guarantee in franchise history for the Athletics.
BREAKING: Left fielder Tyler Soderstrom and the A's are in agreement on a seven-year, $86 million contract extension, the largest guarantee in franchise history, sources tell ESPN. The deal includes an eighth-year club option and has escalators that max it out at $131 million.
Soderstrom, 24, batted .276 with 25 home runs, 93 RBIs, and an .820 OPS over 158 games in 2025, showcasing power and consistency. Soderstrom joined New York Yankees star Aaron Judge as one of only two players with at least 30 doubles, 25 homers, 90 RBIs, and a .275 average. His defensive prowess in left field earned him a Gold Glove finalist nod. Balanced splits (.804 OPS at home and .837 on the road) demonstrated reliability beyond ballpark factors.
Drafted 26th overall by the A’s in 2020, Soderstrom progressed as a top prospect before debuting in 2023. Early MLB stints yielded modest results across 314 at-bats in his first two years, with 12 homers and a lower average. Over three seasons, he holds a .250 career average with 37 homers and 126 RBIs.
Obviously, there is a theme over the last week and throughout the whole season. The theme is that the offense sucks and many people still think Nick Caley needs to be shown the door. I came out a little over a week ago and argued that Caley should stay even though I had been banging the drum the loudest to get him out of town earlier in the season. I’m certainly not going to throw any pity parties if he does get canned because he does more than enough to be relieved of his duties. However, I think it is important to make the case for him staying because that is the most likely result.
Simply put, Caley is running the offense that DeMeco Ryans wants him to run. Ryans wants to run a smash mouth offense and that is what Caley is doing. What we see is an offense that doesn’t match what the team is built to do. Some of that is by design and some of that is because of unforeseen events. Either way, at a certain point you need to either lean into what you are trying to do or you need to look at what you actually have and run the offense in a way that maximizes your talent.
The funny thing is that we were sold on Caley because we were told he would do that when he was hired. We were told that Bobby Slowik had not done that and that the biggest difference was that Caley would ask players to do what they were capable of doing. The only difference is that Caley is more conservative than Slowik was, so they get sacked less often, turn the ball over less, and are slightly more efficient passing the ball. Those are good things. The offense just looks clunky at times and it is always good to look at why.
It starts up front. Nick Caserio drafted only one lineman even though they jettisoned three starters from the 2024 offensive line. Granted, two of them were terrible. So, one could predict you would be better there by sheer accident and I suppose that has partially been true. Ed Ingram has been much better than Shaq Mason. Unfortunately, they probably whiffed at center and whiffed at left guard. It should be noted that they have been whiffing at left guard and center for several seasons now.
It continues with what I sometimes lovingly call the one footed Joe Mixon. No one knows what happened to him and it somehow took the entire organization by surprise. I find that very hard to believe. At any rate, they had designed an offense where Mixon would take a bulk of the carries, Nick Chubb would spell him and gain more tough yards, and then Woody Marks would develop into a change of pace back that could help out in the passing game.
Two of those three actually developed into what they were supposed to. Chubb was never going to be the 1400 yard back he was in Cleveland, but for a guy that was supposed to average between five and ten carries a game he hasn’t been terrible. Marks has turned out to be better than expected. However, neither is really a featured back in an offense that is supposed to be a run first offensive attack.
Like I said, I have to assume that they knew that Mixon was likely out long before we knew. If they didn’t know then that’s a serious problem. However, the bigger problem is not that Mixon was lost to them. I get the fact that if they found out in August or September then their options were severely limited in what they could do to compensate. However, one of those things you can do is alter the offense to become what your personnel says you are. Your personnel did not say you were a smash mouth football team. It said you were a pass first offense with a diverse group of receivers, tight ends, and running backs that could all contribute in the passing game.
So, it becomes important to realize what we are watching and why we have to watch it. We are watching an offense that is literally fighting with itself. It is fighting its own nature and its own identity. When you try to be something you aren’t you are going to struggle at times. When you try to be something you are not you will look clunky. However, it is important to understand that this is what DeMeco Ryans wants. He wants a team that will score between 20 t0 25 points and not turn the ball over. If they do that then his defense can carry you the rest of the way,
In that universe there is really only one thing you can do. It isn’t to fire the offensive coordinator. It is to give him the pieces he needs to run smash mouth football. That requires at least a new center and new left guard and an additional running back. You cannot count on Joe Mixon because there is no actual proof he even exists at this point or that he has both of his feet. You have a first rounder and two second rounders. If you don’t come out of that with at least one lineman and a running back or two linemen then Caserio and Ryans are not aligned. That is the bigger problem.
I know some people say you don’t need a first or second round running back and I certainly respect that, but this team desperately needs a bell cow back. Marks has been great, but he isn’t that guy. He ie best cast as a change of pace back that can catch passes out of the backfield. He is not a 20 carry per game guy and shouldn’t be cast in that role. It is time to lean into smash mouth football and actually give Nick Caley the pieces he needs to run that before we talk about letting him go.
The Chargers have waited almost an entire calendar year to get a shot at revenge against the Texans. Back in January, Houston’s defense picked off Justin Herbert four times en route to bouncing the Bolts from the postseason in a game many in The Bolt wish they could completely forget. The thing is, whatever motivation that outing can provide for the Chargers this week needs to be used for added motivation to make sure the same outing isn’t repeated.
Once again, both teams offer two of the best defenses in the league this year. The Texans are arguably THE best, ranking first in both yards and points allowed this season. The Chargers aren’t far behind, ranking fourth and eighth in those areas, respectively.
As for the offenses, the Chargers have the edge with the 11th-ranked unit compared to the Texans 19th-ranked offense. The thing is, when these defenses are as good as they are, who needs to be that good on the other side?
This week’s matchup will have plenty of storylines and should be a must-watch for all football fans.
With all that said, let’s go ahead and jump into the numbers for this matchup.
Chargers Offense
Total yards per game: 345.5 (11th) Points per game: 23.3 (17th) Passing yards per game: 220.2 (13th) Rushing yards per game: 125.3 (6th)
Dec. 26—GRAND FORKS — Matt Smaby was asked what he likes about this year's UND hockey team.
"How much time do you have?" he responded.
Then, UND's first-year associate head coach got into it.
"A lot," he said. "If you take the results out of it, take the hockey out of it, we have really good kids. That is the starting point for success for any good team. You need character, you need leadership, you need full buy-in from the guys. And you need a group of guys that really gets along well together. That's what we have in this room. We feel we have a tremendous group of kids in that room that really want to do it the right way."
The Fighting Hawks have returned from Christmas break to begin preparations for the second half.
The first half went about as well as they could have imagined under first-year head coach Dane Jackson, considering the massive roster turnover — 15 new players, which ties 1973 and 1951 for the most in a single season since Year 2 of the program.
UND is 14-4 and ranked No. 4 nationally. It is also No. 4 in the NPI, which is used to select and seed the NCAA tournament.
"I think we put ourselves in a really good spot," Smaby said. "The key for us is not the start, it's the finish. So, to build moving forward is the most important focus point for the group. We've still got better, we know that."
UND finished the first half of the season going 10-1 in its last 11 games. It swept St. Cloud State and Omaha in the last two weekends, but Smaby didn't think the Fighting Hawks were at their best in those games.
"If you look at the last four games heading into the break, probably not our best in regards to team play, but we still found a way," Smaby said. "I think the second half, it's really cranking it up, tightening things up, really continuing to grow our game a little bit day in and day out, and really looking to keep building. Really good first half. Happy with where we're at. But we're turning the focus point moving forward and trying to get better."
The Fighting Hawks host Mercyhurst on Jan. 2-3 in their final nonconference series of the season.
UND will be shorthanded for that series.
Forward Cole Reschny, forward Will Zellers, defenseman E.J. Emery and defenseman Keaton Verhoeff are at the World Junior Championship in the Twin Cities. They will all miss the series.
Junior defensemen Jake Livanavage and Abram Wiebe are at the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland. They are expected to arrive in Grand Forks on Jan. 2, but that arrival could be expedited if the U.S. Collegiate Selects are eliminated early.
If Livanavage and Wiebe are unable to play, UND will have five defensemen for the Mercyhurst series — captain Bennett Zmolek, Andrew Strathmann, Sam Laurila, Jayden Jubenvill and Ian Engel.
"We talk about our goals at the beginning of the season," Smaby said. "What are our big aspirations? We know that taking care of nonconference is extremely important for us. We've got two more coming out of break that are going to be extremely important as well. We have to be super dialed, super focused."
There were several factors behind UND's big start.
In net, freshman Jan Špunar has been sensational, going 9-0 with a .934 save percentage.
On the back end, UND's defensive corps has been as good as advertised.
Up front, Ben Strinden is having a breakout senior season. Strinden leads UND in goals (11) and points (19) at the break.
But UND's depth has worn out opponents, too.
"I really like a lot of the things our team is doing," Smaby said. "I know the rest of the coaching staff does as well. Regardless of the outcomes, the team is playing really hard. That's a great baseline to have. If you make mistakes giving 100% effort, it's much easier to correct those. That's what our team has shown in spades. They're not perfect, but the guys are working really hard.
"If we can carry that over, having that baseline work as we evolve, as we work on things, as we fix things, it becomes much easier for the group."
Justin Boone provides a weekly look at undervalued fantasy football players to consider starting this week and potential busts you might want to leave on your bench.
For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult his Week 17 rankings.
Starts
Brock Purdy, QB, 49ers
vs. Bears
We started the fantasy playoffs with me recommending the 49ers' passing attack and there’s no reason to shy away from them at this point.
Purdy has now thrown for 590 yards and eight touchdowns over the last two weeks, while rushing for 55 yards during that span.
Even with George Kittle’s status up in the air, the Niners have more than enough skill position talent for this offense to keep humming versus a Bears defense that allows the 12th-most fantasy points to QBs.
The Purdy party continues all the way to a fantasy championship.
Other QBs to start:
Jacoby Brissett at Bengals – After nine straight QB1 fantasy finishes, Brissett finally had a down game in Week 16. Fortunately, he gets a very nice bounce-back spot against a Bengals defense that’s the sixth-easiest matchup for passers.
Caleb Williams at 49ers – If 44-year-old Philip Rivers can throw for 277 yards and two touchdowns on this Niners’ defense, what can a dynamic young passer like Williams do?
Jaylen Warren/Kenneth Gainwell, RBs, Steelers
at Browns
Both Steelers are in play as quality starts in the fantasy championships, as they have been more often than not for several weeks now.
Warren has found the end zone five times in his last five outings, including a monster 151-yard, two-score effort last week.
Meanwhile, Gainwell has become a key piece in the passing attack with at least five receptions in five of his last six appearances. He has also topped 125 scrimmage yards in back-to-back games.
Their opponent isn’t a concern this week, since Cleveland’s once-vaunted defense has crumbled in the second half of the season. The Browns have let seven straight starting running backs post at least 70 yards and a touchdown against them - with five of those backs clearing the 100-yard mark.
With DK Metcalf suspended, the Steelers will need to rely on their backfield duo even more, so feel free to start them both as fantasy RB2s with upside.
Other RBs to start:
Omarion Hampton vs. Texans – Hampton is coming off a 95-yard, one-touchdown performance and will likely have the backfield to himself with Kimani Vidal dealing with a neck injury. While the Texans defense has been great this year, they’ve also given up at least 90 scrimmage yards or a TD to five consecutive starting running backs.
Rhamondre Stevenson at Jets – TreVeyon Henderson is trying to make his way through concussion protocol, so his status will need to be taken into account here. The Jets are an excellent matchup though, allowing the second-most fantasy points to RBs, including 14 TDs to the position over their last six games. If Henderson sits out, Stevenson will be a high-end RB2 and if the rookie plays Stevenson can still be started as a borderline low-end RB2.
Jauan Jennings, WR, 49ers
vs. Bears
Jennings is the WR34 in fantasy points per game on the season, but he’s been on fire lately with seven touchdowns in his last seven games.
Kittle being limited or possibly out for this contest due to an ankle injury will only make Jennings more valuable for fantasy thanks to increased volume.
To top it off, Jennings gets a matchup with a Bears defense that is giving up the fourth-most fantasy points to wideouts. Chicago has allowed some big stat lines to the position lately, like 5-84-1 to Romeo Doubs, 4-89-2 to Christian Watson and 10-132-2 to A.J. Brown just in the last month.
You can start Jennings with confidence as a fantasy WR2 with upside this week.
Other WRs to start:
DJ Moore at 49ers – Moore has been on a heater lately, benefitting from the injury absences of Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III. It’s possible Burden could return for this game, but I’m sticking with Moore as a fantasy WR2 this week after he posted two straight top-seven fantasy WR results. The path to attacking the 49ers is through the air and Moore will be a big part of Chicago’s success in Week 17.
Jakobi Meyers at Colts – Don’t let one quieter game against a tough Broncos defense fool you, Meyers is still the most valuable fantasy receiver in Jacksonville. He had at least 71 yards or a TD in four straight games before last week.
Juwan Johnson, TE, Saints
at Titans
With injuries in the receiving corps, Johnson saw his targets ramp up again, catching eight of the nine passes thrown his way for 89 yards last week.
Now, he gets a Titans defense that’s been more generous to tight ends recently, giving up 8-88-1 to Kittle in Week 15, 8-114-1 to Harold Fannin Jr. in Week 14 and 3-45-1 to Brenton Strange in Week 13.
Expect Johnson to be busy in this contest, en route to a strong TE1 fantasy performance.
Other TEs to start:
Colston Loveland at 49ers – Loveland hasn’t had the easiest schedule to work with, but he’s remained productive while flashing an elite skill set. Now, he gets his best matchup in a while against the 49ers defense that’s permitting the 11th-most fantasy points to TEs.
Taysom Hill at Titans – Hill has always been the ultimate boom-or-bust tight end. Last week, we finally saw the team give him enough volume to deliver, resulting in 42 rushing yards, 36 receiving yards and a 38-yard TD pass. We don’t know for sure that Hill will be the focal point of the Saints’ game plan again, but with the injuries in their backfield it would make sense. Fantasy managers who need a home-run swing at tight end should strongly consider Hill as a borderline TE1 for championship week.
Sits
Justin Herbert, QB, Chargers
vs. Texans
Herbert is coming off an excellent game with 200 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, 42 rushing yards and another score on the ground.
However, he did that against the Cowboys, who are the easiest opponent for fantasy quarterbacks. Now, he has to try and replicate the feat against the Texans, who are the worst possible matchup for his position.
Houston allows the fewest fantasy points to QBs and has been terrorizing passers all season long with the pass rush. That doesn’t bode well for a Chargers offensive line that’s been decimated by injuries this season.
Herbert is talented enough to deliver even when the odds are stacked against him, but he’ll be under severe pressure from the defense in this contest, which lowers his fantasy ceiling.
Even after the great performance in Week 16, Herbert is just a QB2 streamer this time around and not someone you should be relying on to help you win a fantasy title.
Other QBs to sit:
C.J. Stroud at Chargers – On the other side of that game is Stroud, who will have to contend with the Chargers defense that’s the second-most difficult opponent for fantasy quarterbacks. There’s a reason why this game has one of the lower projected point totals on the week at 39.5.
Bryce Young vs. Seahawks – You’re likely not considering starting Young in anything other than Superflex or two-QB leagues, but with three Christmas Day games there aren’t that many options to choose from for this final “sit” recommendation. Just know that the Seahawks are the ninth-hardest matchup for quarterbacks. Young hasn’t done enough to give fantasy managers hope that he can overcome a tough opponent like this.
Rico Dowdle, RB, Panthers
vs. Seahawks
Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard have settled into a split backfield that’s lowered the fantasy ceiling for both ball carriers.
Neither back has topped 55 scrimmage yards in any contest over the last two weeks and it’s going to be challenging to accomplish that feat versus Seattle.
This is Dowdle’s most difficult matchup in a while, versus a Seahawks defense that’s allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs.
A split backfield and a tough opponent is not where you want to place your chips when vying for a fantasy title.
Consider Dowdle a TD-or-bust RB3 this week.
Other RBs to sit:
Breece Hall vs. Patriots – Hall is averaging under 50 scrimmage yards per contest over his last three games and is likely lacking motivation to push for more on a non-playoff team with free agency looming. The Patriots are 13.5 point favorites in this contest and key run stuffer Milton Williams might return.
Woody Marks at Chargers – Marks returns from a week off just in time for a challenging matchup with the Chargers defense that’s giving up the eighth-fewest fantasy points to running backs. It would also be wise for the Texans not to overload Marks in his first game back after an ankle injury.
Khalil Shakir, WR, Bills
vs. Eagles
Shakir has only posted double-digit fantasy points twice in his last 11 outings and hasn’t reached that mark in over a month.
The Eagles defense, that allows the third-fewest points to opposing receivers, is not the spot to go chasing a big game from Shakir.
Weather could also limit passing attacks in this contest with rain and wind in the forecast.
Shakir is more of a bye-week replacement option rather than someone you want to put your faith in for the fantasy championships.
Other WRs to sit:
Quentin Johnston vs. Texans – The argument against Johnston this week is similar to what I wrote about Justin Herbert. Johnston had 104 yards and a score versus a soft Dallas defense last week and now has to deal with a Texans unit that’s the second-toughest against WRs. Houston also excels at shutting down outside receivers.
Emeka Egbuka at Dolphins – Egbuka has been held under nine fantasy points in nine of his last 10 games. If you have the guts to play him this week, I wish you all the luck in the world, but I can’t justify it.
Mark Andrews, TE, Ravens
at Packers
Andrews has been held to 21 yards or less in four of his last five outings. The veteran has also only eclipsed 50 receiving yards once this season.
Meanwhile, the Packers defense has only let one tight end top 50 yards since Week 2.
With Lamar Jackson listed as doubtful, the probability of Andrews coming through with a touchdown also diminishes.
There’s simply no explanation for having Andrews anywhere near your lineup this week. He’s well off the fantasy radar as a borderline low-end TE2.
Other TEs to sit:
Dalton Kincaid vs. Eagles – Kincaid hasn’t been as efficient lately, while trying to play through his injuries. A matchup with the Eagles defense that’s the least generous to fantasy tight ends makes him a risky TD-or-bust low-end TE2 streamer.
Oronde Gadsden II vs. Texans – Gadsden hasn’t posted double-digit fantasy points in over two months and has a grueling matchup with the Texans this week.
Dec. 26—MITCHELL — Unfortunately for the Mitchell High School girls basketball program, playing at full strength isn't an option this season.
Juniors Charleigh Collins, Matteah Graves and Londyn Schroeder were expected to factor into the MHS rotation, but all three were injured before the Kernels took the court for their first contest.
A knee injury Collins suffered late in the volleyball season was already going to cost her the entire basketball season. Then, during the 'Meet the Kernels' scrimmage on Dec. 6, Graves suffered a season-ending knee injury, and Schroeder suffered an ankle injury that has her sidelined for several weeks, at least.
"When they went down, we were all really upset because of how close we are," said senior guard Addie Siemsen following the season opener at Watertown. "But now all of us who are healthy are really trying to play the best that we can for the people who are hurt, because we know that no one wants to be in those shoes."
There was also an ankle injury scare for eighth-grader Nia Talley just prior to the season opener. Though Talley didn't miss the first contest, she wasn't in the starting lineup either. She was named to the starting five for Mitchell's second and third games later in the week.
However, if there's a silver lining to the situation, the rash of injuries has had a galvanizing effect on the Kernels. Though seeing teammates go down to injury can take a psychological toll on the healthy teammates, as well, spirits are as high as can be expected under the circumstances.
"I think the morale is pretty good, and a lot of that is because those kids who are hurt are involved. They're not hanging their heads because woe is me. They're pretty excited, and they want the team to do well," said MHS head coach Dave Brooks. "If those kids were really down in the dumps, I think it would have an impact on those who are healthy, but they're ready to go, which is what we need."
Brooks said that the injured Kernels rarely miss a practice, and if they do, it's because of a doctor's appointment or therapy. Even on those days, they'll make an effort to be at practice, either before or after.
Whether it's at practice or on gamedays, the injured Kernels aren't just passive observers, either. They're regularly giving feedback to the teammates who are on the court.
"At practice, they're always telling us things we can do better, and in games, they're telling us what they see and helping that way," Siemsen explained. "It's just really helpful to have them be engaged even if they can't play."
"They're fully engaged," Brooks added. "We just can't put them on the floor."
Without three juniors in the mix, the already youthful Kernels are even younger on the court. Other than Siemsen, there are only two other healthy upperclassmen listed on the roster: starting junior guard Mia Larson and reserve junior forward Rylee Jennings. Notably, sophomore guard Londyn Hajek is one of two returning starters, with Siemsen as the other.
Elsewhere in the starting lineup, Mitchell looks to two eighth-graders in Talley and forward CeCe Morgan. Though they're the youngest members of the group, both have proven to be up to speed early on. Morgan emerged as a trusted member of the basketball rotation last season, and Talley was a key player for the MHS volleyball team this fall.
"As eighth-graders, some might not expect them to be as well-skilled as they are, but they come in with no fear at all," Siemsen said. "They're playing with full confidence, and that's really cool to see."
Mitchell (1-2) picks up its schedule on the other side of the holiday break at the Hoop City Classic, where matchups with Lyman and Sisseton await.
Dec. 26—ST. PAUL, Minn. — The World Juniors are running from Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Forum Communications has a team covering the tournament and those journalists shared their predictions on how it will play out.
Medalists
Gold: Sweden.
Silver: Canada.
Bronze: United States.
Comments: Canada's lauded group of under-20 players takes the "dream killer" mantra all the way to the gold medal game. But ultimately, Ivar Stenberg and Viggo Björck will cap their North American coming-out parties in gold-medal fashion. Team USA's bid for a 3-peat ends in the semifinal round, but the Americans walk away with bronze in a close game against Czechia.
Directorate awards
Forward: Viggo Björck, Sweden.
Defenseman: Zayne Parekh, Canada.
Goaltender: Michal Pradel, Slovakia.
Comments: In a tournament that features top-pick hopefuls Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, Keaton Verhoeff and Carson Carles, Björck will make his case to enter the conversation. Parekh brings so much offensively to the Canadian blue line and will likely quarterback the top power-play unit. I believe Slovakia will pull off a big upset at some point, and Pradel will be the reason why.
Medalists
Gold: Sweden.
Silver: Canada.
Bronze: United States.
Comments: The Swedish team is deep with talent — it has 17 NHL draft picks and two more likely first-rounders in 2026 — and comes at opponents in waves. Sweden hasn't won gold at the World Juniors since 2012. Anything less this year won't be a success in their players' eyes.
Directorate awards
Forward: Anton Frondell, Sweden.
Defenseman: Zayne Parekh, Canada.
Goaltender: Petteri Rimpinen, Finland.
Comments: While the hockey world awaits the WJC debut of Ivar Stenberg, a likely top-3 pick in next summer's draft, Frondell is a star in his own right. The No. 3 overall pick by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2025, Frondell has 10 goals and 15 points through his first 25 games in Sweden's top pro league. Parekh is an elite skater and puck handler, and will be a go-to guy late in tight games. Rimpinen, a Los Angeles Kings pick, backstopped the Finns to the gold medal game last year.
Medalists
Gold: Canada.
Silver: Sweden.
Bronze: United States.
Comments: Canada has failed to medal in the last two tournaments, which hasn't happened since back-to-back fourth-place finishes in 2013 and 2014. But the Canadians got a big boost from NHL teams loaning forward Michael Misa (Sharks), defenseman Zayne Parekh (Flames) and defenseman Harrison Brunicke (Penguins). No team in Minnesota is as complete as the Canadians.
Directorate awards
Forward: Gavin McKenna, Canada.
Defenseman: Cole Hutson, United States.
Goaltender: Carter George, Canada.
Comments: It was an up-and-down first half at Penn State for McKenna, but his NCAA experiences should come in handy in this tournament. Hutson is an electric offensive machine from the back and George is returning to the World Juniors after a good experience last year.
Despite Rúben Amorim’s recent comments, Roma continues to move decisively for Joshua Zirkzee, identified as a priority reinforcement for their attacking lineup.
The Giallorossi’s strategy remains clear: bring the striker to Trigoria in the next transfer window, building a sustainable yet ambitious deal.
As reported by Daniele Longo of Calciomercato.com, Roma is in advanced negotiations with Manchester United to finalize the terms that would trigger the obligation to buy.
The overall deal is estimated to be between €38 and €40 million, a figure that would include a fixed component and bonuses tied to sporting objectives, such as appearances, performances, and team results.
The crux of the discussion concerns the terms of the obligation: Roma is pushing to tie it to what they consider realistic targets, while United would like greater guarantees regarding the financial return on their investment.
An open dialogue, continuing smoothly, in the mutual understanding that the right formula can be found.
The Los Angeles Rams' Week 17 match against the Atlanta Falcons is more interesting than it appears.
Not only does this game weigh heavily on the Rams' 2025 playoff seeding, but it will also affect one of the team's first-round draft picks in 2026. L.A. owns Atlanta's pick from the 2025 draft day trade, and a win by the Rams over the Falcons will make the pick even more valuable. Meanwhile, a win will also help the Rams' chances of winning the NFC West and earning a higher seen in the NFC playoffs, so long as other top NFC teams also lose.
Experts heavily agree that the Rams should win this game. All but three picked Atlanta to win over L.A. The Falcons are playing for pride at this point, but it's not like a win or a loss will change where they pick in the first round anyway.
Here are the top expert picks for the Rams' Week 17 matchup with the Falcons.
Good morning and Happy Boxing Day, Devils fans and hockey fans alike. One of the best hockey tournaments is getting underway once more, and it starts with some solid matchups. It is the World Juniors Championships once more, and it will run from today, December 26, to Monday, January 5. Today, we have some group stage action, which will run through New Year’s Eve.
December 26
Group A Matchup #1: Sweden vs. Slovakia The Time: 1:00 PM EST The Spot: Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA The Broadcast: TV — TSN1/3, NHL Network, Fubo
Group B Matchup #1: Denmark vs. Finland The Time: 3:30 PM EST The Spot: 3M Arena in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA The Broadcast: TV — TSN1/4, NHL Network, Fubo
Group A Matchup #2: USA vs. Germany The Time: 6:00 PM EST The Spot: Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA The Broadcast: TV — TSN1/3, NHL Network, Fubo
Group B Matchup #2: Canada vs. Czechia The Time: 8:30 PM EST The Spot: 3M Arena in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA The Broadcast: TV — TSN2, NHL Network, Fubo
December 27
Group A Matchup #1: Slovakia vs. Germany The Time: 2:00 PM EST The Spot: Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA The Broadcast: TV — TSN3, NHL Network, Fubo
Group B Matchup #1: Canada vs. Latvia The Time: 3:30 PM EST The Spot: 3M Arena in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA The Broadcast: TV — TSN1/4, NHL Network, Fubo
Group A Matchup #2: USA vs. Switzerland The Time: 6:00 PM EST The Spot: Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA The Broadcast: TV — TSN3, NHL Network, Fubo
Group B Matchup #2: Denmark vs. Czechia The Time: 8:30 PM EST The Spot: 3M Arena in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA The Broadcast: TV — TSN1/3, NHL Network, Fubo
The Rosters
Please see the following hyperlinks for each roster for qualified teams. Please note that not all teams have posted their rosters on their official sites. Teams have been ordered by their 2025 finish.
Best of luck to all the young hockey players trying to show their best game on the big stage.
Your Thoughts
What do you think of these first two days of World Juniors hockey? Will you be watching? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and feel free to treat this post like a gamethread when the times come.
Pep Guardiola issues triple Manchester City fitness update for festive Nottingham Forest trip
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has handed a fitness update on Rodri, John Stones and Jeremy Doku ahead of Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off against Nottingham Forest.
City have won their last seven games in all competitions and can remain on Arsenal’s heels with three points over an in-form Forest side after Guardiola gave his squad three days off over Christmas – in the backdrop of a comfortable 3-0 triumph over West Ham at the Etihad Stadium last week.
A brace from Erling Haaland and a first Etihad Stadium strike for summer signing Tijjani Reijnders helped the Blues see off the Hammers to maintain their fine run of form in recent months that has propelled into a finely-contested title race with the Gunners.
The Blues have won the race to sign Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth and are expected to complete the signing of the 25-year-old Ghana international in January, having beaten the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal to the forward’s signature.
Oscar Bobb and Nathan Ake could be among those who leave Manchester City next month as director of football Hugo Viana and co look to plug further loopholes in the squad by making additions where needed as the Blues compete for silverware on multiple fronts.
Guardiola’s men reached the Carabao Cup semi-final last week as they beat Brentford at the Etihad Stadium, having also taken a giant stride towards the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 earlier this month by coming from behind to claim a monumental 2-1 win over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
City have spent a large share of the current campaign in the absence of Ballon d’Or winning midfielder Rodri, who has remained out of action since sustaining a hamstring pull in a narrow Premier League win away at Brentford in early October.
The 29-year-old Spain international has suffered a series of fitness setbacks since making his long-awaited return from ACL injury in May and Guardiola has been hesitant to risk the former Atletico Madrid in recent months, despite Rodri being fully fit since mid-November.
Nico Gonzalez has been an ever-present for the Blues in the middle of the park amidst Rodri’s injury concerns and the 23-year-old Spaniard is expected to retain his starting place away at Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon.
However, Guardiola has offered hope that the City Ground could witness the return of Rodri. “Rodri is much, much better. Available or not, we’ll decide today,” the Manchester City manager said, as quoted by the club’s official channels on Friday.
Guardiola went on to confirm that Jeremy Doku and John Stones, the pair of whom have missed recent games with injury, will not play any part against Forest this weekend. “(Jeremy) Doku and John (Stones) still aren’t there but soon they’ll be back,” the Catalan added.
It is also unlikely that Oscar Bobb, who went off injured against Brentford in the Carabao Cup quarter-final, makes the trip to the City Ground, having also been recently linked with a likely departure from the Etihad Stadium in January should City complete a deal for Semenyo.
Noted pundit Didi Hamann is getting worried about Liverpool star Florian Wirtz and how his recent form could impact his performance with the German national team.
“If this continues until February or March, it wouldn’t be good,” Hamann told Sport1. “We saw in the international matches that he lacks confidence and is currently performing far below his potential.”
When asked if he thought Wirtz was putting his spot on the team at risk, Hamann dismissed that notion.
“The fact that he wouldn’t make it was out of the question for me,” Hamann said.
Wirtz’s decision to move to Liverpool during a World Cup year remains questionable, especially with the struggles he has had in acclimating to his new surroundings.
As far as being excluded from the German national team goes, it would an insanely shocking turn of events if that was to happen. Even in his current form, Wirtz has the potential to ramp it up in a tournament format.
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…
Seth Rollins and Triple H at Night of Champions 2023 - WWE
WWE's Seth Rollins has recalled coming close to being fired during his time in WWE developmental after clashing with certain people behind the scenes.
Rollins recently spoke to actor Jay Mohr, where he remembered how he was tough to work with during his early years in WWE, and had friction with a few people backstage. Triple H, who was then head of WWE's developmental program, warned him that he would be fired if he clashed with WWE personnel.
"I was on the chopping block. They [Triple H] told me, 'Yeah, one more. One more and you're gone. One more. I don't care how good you are. You're not going to get a chance to show the world. We will fire you.' I had that conversation with Triple H," he recalled. "I was sitting in Full Sail University. I remember sitting in the back, and he [Triple H] was like, 'Hey, I don't care how good you are. You're being difficult with this guy. This guy thinks you're difficult.' I butted heads quite a bit when I got down to Florida. And, you know, Triple H didn't appreciate it, and my attitude wasn't appreciated, and it was like, if one more negative report comes back, we will fire you."
The former WWE World Heavyweight Champion had issues in developmental with WWE coach and former wrestler Terry Taylor, which WWE Hall of Famer Ricky Steamboat had alluded to in the past as well. Rollins revealed in the interview that he was eager for more opportunities because he believed he was the best independent prospect at the time, which led him to constantly demand chances, something he also attributes to his youth.
Rollins also stated how Triple H wasn't a fan of his style of wrestling, despite him being the ROH World Champion when he signed with WWE. Thankfully for Rollins and WWE, things changed and fell into place for him, eventually becoming one of the promotion's most trusted stars.
“Chelsea want to keep” striker called out for poor training levels by his manager
There is a lot of good stuff in the Athletic’s explainer about Chelsea’s transfer situation for this January, and we honed in on some action about Marc Guiu in particular.
If you’ve missed the story so far – Chelsea bought him from Barcelona in the summer of 2024. He played a bit last season as a backup, but missed some time injured too. In the summer of 2025 we loaned him to Sunderland, only to recall him before the window closed after an injury to Liam Delap.
Guiu locked in at Chelsea and with no real prospects of playing
Marc Guiu in action for Chelsea against Cardiff. (Photo by David Horton – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Now Guiu is locked in – he can’t play for a third time this season. But with Delap fit, he’s barely featuring for us either. He could technically return to Sunderland, but there’s no guarantee he would play much there anyway, given how well they’re doing. Plus, according to this piece:
“Chelsea want to keep the 19-year-old striker for the rest of the campaign, despite the Spaniard remaining a fringe member under Maresca.”
His decision to come to Chelsea certainly doesn’t look like the right one for his career, and even though the striker was positive about it the last time he was interviewed, we can imagine his enthusiasm is only dipping as time passes.
The fact that Enzo Maresca called out his attitude in training has only increased the sense that a departure is inevitable.
In other news…
Even though we don’t expect a first team signing for Chelsea, there’s a lot to be done in this January transfer window. Two players who have been in the out tray for a while are considered the “biggest priorities” for the Blues to shift.
Robert Sanchez has been in good form of late, and he spoke to the club’s website about how important it would be to get a win tomorrow against the most in form team in the Premier League.
Report – Italian Media Plays Down Inter Milan Interest In Out-Of-Favor Tottenham Hotspur Defender
Serie A giants Inter Milan have emerged as potential suitors for out-of-favor Tottenham Hotspur center-back Radu Dragusin.
According to the Italian media via FCInter1908, the Nerazzurri are not in the race for the Romanian defender’s signature.
Despite moving to North London in January 2024 with high expectations, Radu Dragusin has flopped in the Premier League.
Indeed, the former Genoa star has found himself out of Thomas Frank’s project at Tottenham.
Therefore, he has not featured for Spurs this season and is likely to leave the club in January.
Inter Milan Not Interested in Tottenham Bust Radu Dragusin
LUGANO, SWITZERLAND – JULY 12: FC Internazionale Sportif Director Milano Piero Ausilio looks on before Pre-season Friendly between FC Lugano v FC Internazionale at Cornaredo Stadium on July 12, 2022 in Lugano, Switzerland. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Dragusin could soon return to Serie A, yet he won’t sign for Inter.
Meanwhile, Roma and Fiorentina are reportedly considering moves to bring him back to Italy in the winter transfer window.
Pinned to the bottom of the pecking order, Dragusin could be available in a cut-price deal.
However, Inter will not challenge their domestic rivals for his services.
Woods got to make his Trojan debut in USC's final non conference game against UC Santa Cruz, a vital opportunity for him to get acclimated to playing for the Trojans before he is vaulted into the thick of conference play in just over a week.
Here's everything that we learned about Woods' game and USC plan for his usage moving forward.
Woods' place in the rotation
USC's rotation against the Banana Slugs should be sort of taken with a grain of salt because it was nowhere close to normal. Gabe Dynes was inserted into the starting lineup for the first time, USC's regular starters had their minutes reduced, walk-on players saw some game action.
The way that Woods was used against a DIII opponent in a game the Trojans knew they could win easily is not an indication of his permanent place in the rotation.
Meaningful minutes
But, he did play 22 minutes off the bench, more than most of USC's starters. Ryan Cornish started over him but played less minutes. Jordan Marsh came off the bench and played more minutes, leading the Trojans with 25 minutes played. Woods's place in the rotation will always be evaluated in the context of how much the other Trojan guards play, which is why I mention that.
Let's revisit this conversation about what Woods's place in the rotation seems to be after USC plays Michigan on January 2. That will give us a much better idea of what to consistently expect.
Woods is a high-effort, energetic player
When Woods was on the floor, he played with all-out effort and impacted the game in nearly every facet. He pulled down 6 rebounds despite standing at only 6'2'', dished out 6 assists, and recorded 3 steals.
He showed a fair amount of emotion and cheered on his teammates, fired up like it was a postseason game despite the inferior opponent. I figure he will continue to lead by example and fire his Trojan teammates up with high energy and effort all season long.
Woods has great court vision, which is fun to watch
Speaking of Woods' 6 assists, he showed remarkable rhythm, timing, and court vision for a guy playing his first game for a new team in the middle of that team's season.
Woods's passing ability showed up in a particularly eye-popping way in the first few minutes of the second half. He had a couple of nice dishes to Gabe Dynes and Ezra Ausar to set up highlight reel dunks. Woods's connection with Ausar seems to be especially strong early, as Woods found Ausar for easy baskets multiple times
Woods also had a nice lob to Jerry Easter II late in the game.
Woods needs to get back in a scoring rhythm
It's important to note that Woods did not score in this game. He went 0-5 from the field and 0-2 from three point range.
Getting shots up at full game speed in college basketball is much different than shooting around or even playing scrimmage games, for obvious reasons. The stamina, toughness and levelheadedness needed to hit a shot in a game takes constant practice to maintain. Woods is going to probably need a few games before he can be an effective scorer for the Trojans.
Experience can pay off
But with five years of college basketball experience under his belt, it shouldn't be too hard for Woods to find that groove again.
The Trojans aren't necessarily in dire need of scoring after putting up great offense throughout their non conference slate,
Woods, Musselman preview the future
In the postgame press conference following USC's win over UC Santa Cruz, Kam Woods and head coach Eric Musselman talked in great length about what to expect from Woods as he finishes out the season with the Trojans.
Musselman said this about the impact Woods will make:
"He's going to force us to run more," Musselman said. "He's going to allow us to play in transition way more than we have because he's a kick-ahead, pass-first mentality. He led us in assists tonight. He's a guy that's going to really, really help us. He's a high-assist player and a high-steal player."
Woods said this about what he feels that he brings to the Trojans:
"I'm just bringing that energy and that dog that I got in me," Woods said. "I feel like that's what the team needs. Of course we're good, but I want to be that extra step that will get us over the hump, especially going into conference play."
Added insight
Woods also dropped an interesting nugget about how reuniting with his former Robert Morris teammate Amarion Dickerson helped him choose USC:
"Definitely a lot. I hate that he's hurt. We definitely got a connection on the court and off the court, but it helps knowing that he's in my ear and that he can help me with everything. I was there for him last year at Robert Morris coming in from JUCO. He played JUCO and his first year D1 was last year, so now it's reverse roles. He helped me now, so I definitely love that guy and it feels good being here with him."
Musselman and Woods discussed a lot of the elements I saw, in terms of energy and court vision. I am excited to continue to learn about his game, and hopefully see him reunite with Dickerson on the court after Dickerson returns to full health.
Barcelona scouting 22-year-old star at 2025 Africa Cup of Nations
Barcelona are making plans to address a number of important positions during next summer’s transfer window, with striker being one of those. Robert Lewandowski’s expected exit means that a replacement would be needed, and at this stage, there are several candidates being considered by sporting director Deco.
One such player is Karl Etta Eyong, who has been on Barcelona’s radar for several months. The Levante striker is seen as a low-cost option that could come in and compete alongside Ferran Torres, with the idea being for him develop into a world class number nine during his time at the Spotify Camp Nou.
Barcelona like Etta Eyong a lot, which is why he is considered to be high on their shortlist. Their scouting efforts have been stepped up in recent days, with Fabrizio Romano having reported that the 22-year-old is being watched by the Catalans at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Image via Denis Doyle/Getty Images
Barcelona have the likes of Julian Alvarez and Harry Kane as ideal striker targets, but their financial woes make those deals very improbable. Etta Eyong is considered to much more attainable, with the hope being that he can take his game to another level upon making the move to Catalonia.
Etta Eyong could be available for as little as €30m
In terms of Levante’s asking price, it is believed that an offer in the region of €30m would be enough for a deal to be done. Barcelona should have those funds available next summer, which means that the Cameroon international has a good chance of landing a move to the Spotify Camp Nou at the end of the season.
It will be interesting to see how the situation with Etta Eyong plays out next summer, but one thing for certain is that Barcelona are very interested in signing him.
Toby Collyer: Man United recall midfielder from West Brom loan
Manchester United have officially recalled Toby Collyer from his loan spell with West Bromwich Albion, but a host of other Championship sides are poised to make a move for the midfielder in January, according to a report.
A Frustrating Loan
Collyer, 21, has endured a frustrating campaign this year after Old Trafford executives decided a loan would best serve the next stage of his development.
He broke through into United’s first team last season under Erik ten Hag, and maintained his place in the squad once Ruben Amorim took over from the Dutchman in November.
The midfielder impressed his coaches at Old Trafford with an unrelenting work rate and outstanding stamina, combined with a tactical maturity which belied his age.
A number of clubs expressed interest over the summer once the decision to send him on loan was made, with the Championship seen as the perfect landing spot.
West Brom emerged victorious from a red-hot race and Collyer sealed a move to the Hawthorns on August 15. He made his debut for his newly adopted side the next day in a 3-2 win over Wrexham.
But a bright start has been curtailed by injuries with Collyer picking up a muscle injury in October after breaking into Ryan Mason’s starting eleven. This was then followed up by a more serious calf injury in November, having just recovered from the previous one.
Collyer returned to Carrington to complete rehabilitation with the midfielder expected to be ruled out for approximately eight weeks, according to The Athletic.
This set back led the Red Devils to decide to end the loan spell with West Brom early as the club considers the best option for the youngster after the new year.
Second Half of the Season
The Athletic reveals Collyer “could stay and provide midfield competition” with question marks over Kobbie Mainoo’s future.
Mainoo is expected to remain at Old Trafford, however, after Bruno Fernandes picked up his own muscle injury in the 2-1 loss to Aston Villa last week.
The report also details “several Championship clubs are interested” in Collyer should United decide another loan would serve him best.
Either way, a decision will not be reached until late February with the calf injury expected to rule the 21-year-old dynamo out until then.
Nikola Jokic was locked in from the opening tip of the 2025 NBA Christmas day finale between the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves. Jokic ripped a three-pointer on Denver’s first possession en route to an 18-point first quarter with the Nuggets missing three starters with injuries. From there, the 30-year-old big man spent most of his time hitting the glass, getting his teammates involved, and consistently forcing his way to the free throw line to slow down Minnesota’s running attack.
It felt like the Nuggets were on their way to a comfortable victory with a 15-point lead with under six minutes remaining in regulation. That’s when the Timberwolves’ offense roared back to form, tying the game on a nasty Anthony Edwards step-back three from the corner at the end of regulation. Jokic needed to go to work for five more minutes, and he made sure he team wasn’t leaving a Christmas game with coal in the extra session.
The Nuggets beat the Wolves, 142-138, in overtime thanks to a historic performance from Jokic that again makes him the MVP front-runner and asserts his place among the game’s all-time greats. Jokic finished with 56 points, 16 rebounds, and 15 assists, setting multiple NBA records in the process:
He’s the first player to have a 55-point triple-double with at least 15 rebounds and 15 assists
His 18 points in a single overtime is a new NBA record, breaking Stephen Curry’s mark of 17 overtime points in a 2016 playoff game against the Trail Blazers.
The Nuggets were without starters Aaron Gordon, Cameron Johnson, and Christian Braun, but Jokic wouldn’t let them lose. The Wolves ended Denver’s dreams of back-to-back championships in the 2024 playoffs, and this remains one of the best rivalries in the league. Edwards (44 points) and Julius Randle (32 points) were outstanding for Minnesota, but Jokic consistently beat Rudy Gobert inside and delivered his team an incredible win.
There are so many incredible stats from Jokic’s Christmas day masterpiece. Let’s go over a few of them.
Jokic’s 87 combined points-rebounds-assists are tied for 8th most in NBA history since 1970.
Nikola Jokic with the first 55/15/15 game in NBA history.
On a day when the Thunder lost to the Spurs for the third time this season, it feels like Jokic passed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the NBA MVP race. Jokic already has three MVP awards, and he would pass Magic Johnson and Larry Bird while tying LeBron James and Wilt Chamberlain if he wins his fourth.
Beyond that, this performance is just another reminder that Jokic is an all-time great. Any list of the best big men in NBA history has to include Jokic alongside Shaq, Wilt, Bill Russell, Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Duncan, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Jokic only has one championship ring so far, but this is the sixth straight season he’s been the best player in the world. It’s already one of the longest runs of dominance ever, and he isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
Jokic was famously drafted during the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft as ESPN was playing a Taco Bell commercial. Denver gave away Taco Bell shirts ahead of the Christmas game, and Jokic arrived wearing a Taco Bell cardigan:
With a spot in the College Football Playoff Semifinals on the line, No. 4 Texas Tech and No. 5 Oregon will clash in the Capital One Orange Bowl on Jan. 1. The Ducks are seeking their first appearance in the Semifinals since they made a run to the National Championship in the inaugural CFP (2014), while Texas Tech is seeking its first ever CFP victory.
Both programs are great success stories of the Transfer Portal era, as many players that will suit up for either Texas Tech or Oregon in the matchup began their careers elsewhere.
Dan Lanning commends Joey McGuire and Texas Tech for mastering Transfer Portal
This past offseason, Texas Tech hauled in 21 players from the Portal, earning the No. 1 spot in On3’s 2025 College Football Team Transfer Portal Rankings. Their class boasted an estimated $7 million in adjusted NIL value, more than almost any other program in the sport.
Prior to the Ducks’ clash with Joey McGuire‘s Texas Tech program, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning commended him on building such a great roster with their strong NIL resources.
“He’s built a great roster,” Lanning said on Monday. “College football is about adapting. This is obviously a program that’s done an unbelievable job adapting and saying ‘let’s make our team the best it can possibly be’. They’ve done that this year. They deserve credit for how they’ve evaluated. There’s a lot of teams that take players out of the portal. There’s not a lot of those teams that necessarily have success evaluating that talent, getting them to play together, and creating a team that does that. This is a team that’s done that.”
As Lanning touched on, mastering the Portal is a very thin line. Five of the top-ten transfer classes this offseason helped their programs reach the College Football Playoff (No. 1 Texas Tech, No. 3 Ole Miss, No. 4 Oregon, No. 5 Miami, and No. 10 Ohio State), while three of the top-ten classes missed the postseason completely (No. 7 Auburn, No. 8 North Carolina, and No. 9 Rutgers).
The Orange Bowl matchup between No. 4 Texas Tech and No. 5 Oregon will surely be one of the most entertaining games in the entire College Football Playoff. Kick-off on Jan. 1 is scheduled for 12:00 PM on ESPN.
CORAL GABLES — The last time Ohio State and Miami met in a postseason football game, the Hurricanes spent a couple of seconds celebrating a victory that gave them back-to-back national championships.
And then The Flag came out.
The Hurricanes stopped celebrating. They haven’t celebrated a title since.
It was Ohio State vs. Miami in the Fiesta Bowl, the national championship for the 2002 season. Miami leads 24-17 in overtime, Ohio State throws into the end zone on fourth down, the ball hits the ground, one official signals it was an incomplete pass, and the game ends. Miami wins. Except it wasn’t over. Miami doesn’t win. Another official called pass interference to extend the drive, the Buckeyes scored to tie the game, then scored again in the second overtime and won the national title, 31-24.
Next week, they meet again in a postseason game — the Cotton Bowl, with Ohio State being the team seeking back-to-back national titles. The Buckeyes (12-1) and Hurricanes (11-2) will face off in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal on New Year’s Eve.
“It’s going to be a challenge for us offensively, but it’s a challenge that we’re looking forward to,” Miami quarterback Carson Beck said. “But we do recognize how talented they are, and we’re going to have to come and execute.”
And in fairness, the Hurricanes of 2002 did not execute as well as they needed against Ohio State. They turned the ball over five times and gave up four sacks.
But all anyone remembers is the fourth-down play where Craig Krenzel threw to the right corner of the end zone, intended for Chris Gamble. Miami cornerback Glenn Sharpe defended, Gamble didn’t make the catch, line judge Derick Bowers motioned the pass was incomplete and the Hurricanes started to jump for joy. Sean Taylor threw his helmet so high in the air in celebration that parts of it broke upon landing.
Then Terry Porter, the back judge, made the call. It did not go over well with everyone; even ABC analyst Dan Fouts twice said “bad call” while watching replays.
Porter has said over the years that he simply took an extra moment to make sure he got the call right.
“If you make a call and it’s right, the call goes away. If you make a call and the call is wrong, it never goes away. Ever,” Porter told the Stillwater News Press for a story published in August about his entry into that state’s officiating Hall of Fame. “So just take your time and try to get it right. That’s what we all want to do. When you walk out at night, out of the place — football, basketball, I don’t care — you just want to have gotten it right.”
Beck wasn’t even 2 months old when the Miami-Ohio State title game was played. What happened on Jan. 3, 2003, in theory, won’t matter much to either side. After all, most of the players in this game weren’t even born when that happened.
“We’re focused on the present,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. “We’re focused on the present.”
But matchups are often about history, about nostalgia. The teams have played twice since that Fiesta Bowl — Ohio State won in 2010, Miami won in 2011 — but those games are registering nary a blip of attention right now.
“I think games like this, with two storied programs, I think people are always going to want to pull out history and draw comparisons and all that other stuff,” Cristobal said. “And moments like that, they’re valid. They’re real. It’s what makes college football awesome, the pageantry. But this game is the 2025 Hurricanes and Buckeyes going after it, to be determined by the 22 guys on the field one snap at a time. That’s going to be the focus. That’s where all our attention will be.”
College Football Playoff quarterfinal
No. 10 Miami vs. No. 2 Ohio State
Cotton Bowl, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 31, Arlington, Texas TV: ESPN Line/OU: Ohio State by 9 ½; 42 ½
The Miami Dolphins are eliminated from the postseason and the results of their last two games won't influence anything other than their 2026 NFL draft picks. But that doesn't mean there's nothing to be gained from matchups against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New England Patriots.
Last week, against the Cincinnati Bengals, rookie wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. saw his first regular season snaps after getting elevated from the practice squad. Other young Dolphins players may seize similar opportunities before the season is over.
"There’s several guys that are up for consideration," Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said of practice squad elevations earlier this week. "There’s some battles on the practice field and that means we have a competitive practice squad where we have some extra roster possibilities if they choose to seize the opportunity.”
Other young players who have spent the entire year on the Dolphins' practice squad include wide receiver A.J. Henning, offensive lineman Josh Priebe, defensive lineman Alex Huntley, and pass rusher Derrick McLendon.
When asked about McLendon specifically, McDaniel said the young edge rusher "absolutely" has a chance at seeing the field before the year is over.
"He’s always developing his game; he got a lot more comfortable with his hand in the ground," McDaniel said of McLendon. "This past offseason you saw some productivity, relentless motor and he doesn’t waste a day on this team. He’s one of the guys that we rely upon to bring the juice; he always delivers. So yes, he would be in that pocket of consideration for sure.”
McLendon put together an impressive training camp and finished preseason with two sacks and eight tackles. But there was little room on the 53-man roster for edge rushers, especially after the team added Matt Judon to the mix before the end of August.
In the last few months, though, the team traded away Jaelan Phillips and released Judon. To fill those shoes, the Dolphins brought Quinton Bell back to the active roster and given Cameron Goode more defensive snaps. Still, Miami has plenty of reason to get a closer look at McLendon before the offseason begins.
McDaniel won't give those chances if they aren't earned, though.
"All the decisions that we made, it wasn’t like we were just going into the bucket and grabbing a young guy and saying, ‘let’s shoot our shot,’" McDaniel said. "It was more about the young guys developing and being ready for the opportunity.
"The best players, I play, and as the season progresses, who the best players are sometimes change. Then when you can identify that because of the growth of the (players), you make the move. You’re hoping for competitive practices, competition and when you have competition and people grow in their game, they're rewarded with doing right by the team which is playing the best players.”
After a three-game losing streak that ended their playoff chances, the Dallas Cowboys beat division rival Washington on Christmas Day, 30-23, bringing them one game closer to a .500 season. Nobody is happy with a 7-8-1 record, but quarterback Dak Prescott has never finished a season under .500. The Cowboys' offense controlled the game, and the defense made a couple of stops to survive Commanders' third-string quarterback, Josh Johnson.
There are plenty of major takeaways that could lead into the 2026 season for Dallas. The team left Northwest Stadium without significant injuries. Their offense had a great first half before playing keep-away in the second half. They had to do some things they hadn’t been confident about this year, but they succeeded and will hopefully carry that new mindset into 2026.
Early aggressiveness leads to an early lead
The Cowboys went for it on 4th-and-1 at midfield and converted with a run by Javonte Williams. The drive ended in a touchdown pass to Jake Ferguson. The second drive had three fourth-down conversions.
The first conversion was a fourth-and-one pass to George Pickens around midfield. The second was a fourth-and-two conversion to Jalen Tolbert from just outside the red zone, and the final conversion was a run inside the 10 by Williams, who scored a few plays later.
Dallas took an early lead, something they haven’t done often this season. Getting ahead 14-3 added a lot of pressure to Josh Johnson, the third-string quarterback starting for the Commanders and they ultimately fell short of a comeback.
The second-half offense has fallen off
Dallas started the game with four first-half drives, four scores, three touchdowns and one field goal. The second half was not as efficient.
They had to punt to open the half, then they were stopped for three field goal attempts, with Brandon Aubrey missing one from 58. This allowed Washington to make it a one-score game in the final quarter. The slow second half is becoming a trend to end the season, and they have to fix it going into the 2026 season.
Dallas dominated time of possession
The Cowboys ran 87 plays, more than twice as many as the Commanders. They had drives of 13, 17, 12, 11, and 14 plays, with four drives of at least four minutes long. Dallas held the football for over 38 minutes of the contest, compared to just over 21 minutes for the Commanders.
Excellent aggression, going six for six on fourth down, a great rushing attack, and the Cowboys' defense holding Washington to only one out of six on third down allowed Dallas to control the game by keeping their own defense off the field.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is part of a series of profiles created by UMass’ Journalism 332 Sports Writing class.
The boos ring down from the fans in Buffalo’s Alumni Arena. Alone at the free throw line, UMass women’s basketball’s Lilly Ferguson prepares to shoot with the entire arena trying to knock her focus.
Ferguson is at the line because she did what she does best — she took a charge.
The effort plays, the ones that don’t get the headlines, define Ferguson’s play.
“My role is to do all the quote-unquote hard things, rebound, hustle, take charges,” Ferguson said. “And honestly, just lead by example in any way I could. I like the effort plays.”
This is exactly why Ferguson is one of the Minutewomen’s leaders. Her impact isn’t built on points or recognition, but on the plays that demand toughness, sacrifice and consistency. It’s in those moments, when the game needs effort more than flair, that Ferguson stands out.
Ferguson loves to be loud on the court, but when she was a kid, she was really shy, kept to herself and didn’t really talk to the other kids in her class. In school, she found a book about American Sign Language and began to teach it to herself.
“She picked up that book and didn’t finish until she learned, you know,” said Ferguson’s mom, Stacy Rios. “That’s just a part of who she is; once she starts something, she does not stop until she finishes it.”
When she came to UMass, Ferguson was a two-time Gametime Connecticut All-State and CHSCA All-State selection and a 1,000-point scorer in high school.
Going from the focal point of your high school team to playing just 12 total minutes in your freshman year of college can be demoralizing, but it wasn’t for Ferguson. She changed her style of play to something new, the type of player to dive for every ball, not be afraid of contact and work as hard as she can at every little thing.
“It taught me to work, taught me to work my ass up again, because that’s how you shine,” Ferguson said.
“And sometimes it’s things that people don’t want to do. Do the things that people don’t want to do, do the things that people don’t really see as values, but there are certain values. And every year that translated into the role that I have now.”
That approach, over her four years at UMass, put her in a position where other players began to look up to her. Last season, in her role as the first player off the bench, she found that the energy she brought to the sideline and the court helped her teammates play harder.
This summer, the sport management major landed an internship that limited her ability to attend summer practices going into her final year. Despite the missed time, Ferguson built connections with the newcomers and continued making an impact on the players who already knew her. When voting for the team’s captains came around, Ferguson was an easy choice, and she became one of the team’s three captains.
“For me, a captain is about setting an example. Being the loudest on the court. Working the hardest on the court,” Ferguson said. “And I feel like those are all three things that are in my control and that I do, and I try to do, I try to be the best that I can every day, and I think people can follow that example.”
A characteristic of being a great leader in sports is doing what is required of you without being asked, and Ferguson does that in spades.
UMass coach Mike Lefler never had the conversation with his captain, asking her to work as hard as she can for every offensive rebound. It’s just who she is.
This season, UMass women’s basketball is off to an 8-2 start, and Ferguson has made her impact in her ways. She sits fourth in the team in rebounds, and the more important stat is her steals-to-turnover ratio. Ferguson has the fewest turnovers on the team and is tied for second in steals.
The numbers help show Ferguson’s value, but they don’t fully capture it. Her real impact is felt in the energy she brings every night. Those plays don’t show up in the stat sheet, but they win games, and they define a captain whose leadership continues to drive the Minutewoman forward.
PHILADELPHIA -- As the Philadelphia 76ers begin to embark on a 5-game road trip starting on Friday against the Chicago Bulls, it will mark just the second real road trip for this Sixers team this season--they had a 3-game trip in early November.
Being away from a team's home market can do some wonderful things for a group. The Sixers will look to grow chemistry amongst one another while being together all the time whether it's on the team plane or the hotel or the bus to the arena. All of this can be a good thing for this group as they prepare to take on some solid teams.
"Super beneficial," said Paul George. "It's a holiday that we'll be spending time together with New Year's coming up, and then a day right after Christmas. So, it'll be great. Great to get the guys together, spend some quality time away from the court, but you do build with long road trips."
One has to believe that the players have plans for one another for the holidays as they look to hang out, get to know each other more, and continue to find grow that all important chemistry that every team needs.
"You do build camaraderie," George explained. "You do build relationships, stronger bonds. So, it'd be a good test. We play some really good teams, and so it'll for sure be a test for us."
The Sixers will certainly be playing some tough teams. The Bulls have come down to earth, but they have won four in a row entering Friday's contest and Philadelphia saw a 24-point lead slip away in a Nov. 4 loss to the Bulls. They will then have to face the defending champion Thunder before heading to Memphis, Dallas, and finishing in New York.
"We're playing great basketball despite this loss," George added after the loss to the Brooklyn Nets. "I think we've won the last six out of seven, or something like that, five out of six. So we're playing pretty good basketball. One of those nights we were a little flat, and we'll pick up the pieces, and keep it moving."
It's still early in the season so the Sixers are still looking to find themselves, but one has to wonder if this 5-game trip could be a defining moment for them. They really have one really fantastic win and that was over the Knicks on Dec. 19, but that's really it. One has to wonder if that's how George and Co. view this trip.
"It's still early," he added. "As far as defining us, it’s still early. Again, we're playing good basketball. Our record doesn't indicate how well and challenging it's been. We haven't had a full roster at any point, I think, this season so far."
George is right about the roster never being at full strength. George and Joel Embiid have been in and out of the lineup while Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford have missed a slew of games due to their respective injuries. Tyrese Maxey battled an illness while VJ Edgecombe and others are sick at the moment. It will be interesting to see how Philadelphia handles everything when it gets fully healthy.
"Whether I've been down to start the season," George finished. "Myself, TWatt, I come back, Kelly goes down, Joel's been injured. Tyrese been sick. So, we really haven't had a full roster. So, it’s hard to tell what we are, and who we could be."
Billie Jean King in a match against Bobby Riggs in front of 30,472 spectators at the Houston Astrodome on September 20, 1973 in Houston, Texas. King defeated Riggs in three straight sets 6-4, 6-3, and 6-3, winning the match which came to be known as "The Battle Of The Sexes". (Focus on Sport via Getty Images)
Focus On Sport via Getty Images
There aren’t many days in the history of women’s sports more significant than Sept. 20, 1973.
Despite the garish spectacle of Billie Jean King being carried into the Astrodome on a chariot by barely-dressed men, then presenting Bobby Riggs with a baby pig to symbolize his chauvinism, tennis’ iconic Battle of the Sexes is remembered — and rightly so — as a serious turning point in the fight to legitimize female athletes in the eyes of a male-dominated culture.
Set against the backdrop of Title IX’s passage the year before and the establishment of the WTA Tour months earlier, 90 million people worldwide watched King’s victory on television. It turned her into a global superstar. It validated women’s tennis as a commercial enterprise, opening the door for other women’s sports to do the same. In many ways, it turbocharged the women’s liberation movement into households and workplaces across the country.
“(It) was really political,” King told BBC Sport in a recent interview. “It was rough, culturally, what was coming with it. I knew I had to beat him for societal change. I had a lot of reasons to win.”
For comparison’s sake, the next Battle of the Sexes on Dec. 28, 2025 is, uh, not going to be that.
If anything, the match between world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and tennis bad boy Nick Kyrgios — in Dubai, of all places — is a nakedly cynical, agency-arranged cash grab representing little more than the cultural rot of social media and the same addiction to meaningless theatrics that gives our overstimulated brains the dopamine hit we now wake up craving.
“Hollow and unserious and feckless while still being nugatory and pointless,” longtime commentator and soon-to-be International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Mary Carillo wrote in an e-mail to Yahoo Sports. “But in the larger sense it’s a useless, invalidating, inane piece of flapdoodle.”
It might be unserious, but it comes with a serious question: Given that women’s tennis is well past the point of needing gimmicks to gin up attention, would it potentially be damaging if the No. 1 player in the world and a four-time Grand Slam champion loses to a tennis carnival barker who has played six official matches since the start of 2023?
Evolve, the sports agency that represents both players and set up the event, is billing the match as an homage to the legacy of what happened 1973.
But not only is that ridiculous on its face, it’s completely unnecessary.
For one thing, this isn’t even going to be a real tennis match. Whereas King and Riggs played a standard best-of-five set format — a huge part of what made King's 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 victory so meaningful — the dimensions of the court for this one have been modified so Sabalenka has about 9-percent less real estate to defend on her side of the net. Also, both players will only get one serve, which probably plays to her advantage since Kyrgios — one of the biggest servers in tennis history — will be forced to play a bit safer.
So even if Sabalenka wins, the modified rules ensure an automatic asterisk.
“It’s more of a show — it has nothing to do with the Battle of the Sexes, with what Billie Jean King versus Bobby Riggs meant,” former No. 1 Garbiñe Muguruza said recently on the Spanish COPE podcast.
Billie Jean King was carried to the court by four men for the battle of the sexes tennis match with Bobby Riggs. (Getty Images)
Bettmann via Getty Images
Let’s face it, there’s also the misogyny of it all, starting with where the match is going to be held.
While the United Arab Emirates constitution guarantees equal rights in areas like education, employment and property, human rights groups have identified several areas of concern, especially regarding domestic violence and family laws that do not protect women equally and do not align with Western values.
There’s also the Kyrgios issue.
In 1973, Riggs was a 55-year old has-been and country club hustler whose garden-variety, Archie Bunker-style chauvinism was both cartoonish and reflective of a society in transition.
Kyrgios reflects modern society’s thirst for a circus from his on-court meltdowns, to his prodigious but largely wasted talent, to a guilty plea in Australia for pushing his ex-girlfriend onto the pavement during an argument in 2021 (the magistrate in the case did not record a criminal conviction) to an episode in 2024 where he had to disavow self-described misogynist and controversial influencer Andrew Tate over social media activity that became the source of complaints during Wimbledon when he was working as a broadcaster for the BBC.
At this point, with Kyrgios’ tennis career hanging by a thread, it’s hard to escape the feeling this is one last shot at a giant payday, using a vapid instrument that will accomplish nothing except once again validating his ability to generate attention.
“In whatever we do in today’s day and age there’s always going to be negative noise, there’s always people trying to tear us down,” he said in an interview with UK-based Talk Sport. “I have ultimate respect for Aryna. We have a good friendship. It’s done in a good way. We’re going out there to compete and we’re entertainers, going to have some fun, but we want to play a hard match. That’s it. She’s the No. 1 player in the world, she’s very capable. There’s going to be millions of people watching this. If I don’t get a good start it’ll feel like the world’s on my shoulders.
“Think about all the good that’s going to come from this.”
Good for his bank account, maybe. But for tennis? For the popularity of women’s sports? For the advancement of women’s rights in the Middle East?
Please.
“It’s quite funny to see how some people say that,” Sabalenka said on Piers Morgan Uncensored. “We’re just bringing our sport to the next level and bringing the show and the visibility this event got in the last couple months is incredible and we’re going to compete and fight and it’s going to explode our sport a bit more.”
Sure, if you believe all attention is good attention.
But the beauty of being a top-ranked women’s tennis player in 2025 is that you don’t need to do stuff like this. Largely thanks to the foundation King laid for the WTA Tour and pushing for equal prize money at the Grand Slams, Sabalenka has made $15 million this year alone in on-court earnings. Women’s tennis can stand alone as a premiere sport in practically any country in the world.
In fact, the whole point of what King accomplished that day in 1973 was building a sustainable sport so that women didn’t have to do anything like that again to get respect as athletes.
To reduce that legacy to crass commercialism and social media views is disappointing, but fitting.
“The only similarity is one’s a boy, one’s a girl,” King said. “That’s it. I hope it’s a great match. I want Sabalenka to obviously win. It’s just not the same.
Roma Learn Perimeters of Zirkzee and Raspadori Deals
Roma are eager to put their hands on Joshua Zirkzee and Giacomo Raspadori, but, while they could indeed be on the move in January, Manchester United and Atletico Madrid want to be remunerated appropriately, La Repubblica informs.
The Dutchman has put the Giallorossi at the top of his preferred destinations. The Red Devils wish to wait, as a pair of their attackers are playing in AFCON 2025. The formula should be a loan with a conditional obligation to buy, tied to the UEFA Champions League qualification or some personal objectives. However, the two sides need to find some common ground on the numbers. The opening offer was about €35M, while the Red Devils asked for €50M.
Roma could tender €40M late in the window, when it’ll be easier for the counterparty to lose Zirkzee, while luring Raspadori would cost about half as much. Atletico Madrid don’t want to lose money after investing €22M last summer.
The capital club is ready to overhaul its attack. They’ll listen to the offers for Artem Dovbyk and will likely send Evan Ferguson back to Brighton once they secure a replacement. Leon Bailey’s future hangs in the balance and depends on who they’ll manage to sign.
Instead, Paulo Dybala is expected to stay during the winter despite fresh rumors about Boca Juniors. The Giallorossi could accelerate as Lorenzo Pellegrini will miss most of January due to a thigh strain, according to Corriere dello Sport.
Our Take on Roma, Zirkzee, and Raspadori
The winter window is never as easy and streamlined as it sounds before it starts. Still, Gian Piero Gasperini deserves to get at least one of his wishes granted, as they have overperformed so far.
In what has been a highly successful season so far, Bayern Munich have suffered just one defeat – a 3-1 loss to Arsenal in the Champions League in November.
Reflecting on that game in an interview with AZ, Bayern's Jonathan Tah insists the Gunners weren’t on a different level and says he is eager for a chance at revenge later in the season.
“When you measure yourself against the best, you get a sense of where you stand. That gives the team a lot of confidence,” Tah said.
“And even against Arsenal, despite the defeat, we didn’t feel like they were that much better than us. After the match, we actually felt more like: Okay, next time. We’d love to play Arsenal again!”
Time will tell if Bayern and Arsenal will meet again later in the competition.
Yariel Rodríguez was signed in the winter before the 2024 season. He got a five-year, $32 million contract.
In his rookie year, he had a 4.47 ERA in 21 starts but a 1-8 record. The team didn’t score much for him, but his ERA was just a little worse than league average, which isn’t all that bad for a rookie.
He likely should have been a reliever, but we were short of starters in 2024.
A good ERA. Baseball Reference had him at a 1.4 WAR. But FanGraphs had him down at a 0.1, giving him a value of $800,000 to the Jays.
He had a 4.40 FIP and a 4.60 xFIP (which is why the fWAR was so much worse than the bWAR).
Yariel had a .228 BABIP. 81.2% of his baserunners were stranded. The BABIP is very low, I can’t imagine it will be that low next year.
His strikeout rate was 22.1% (down from 23.1), and his walk rate was 11.4% (up from 10.9).
Rodríguez’s line drive rate was 19.6% (down from 21.0). Ground ball rate 39.7% (up from 37.4). Fly ball 40.7% (down slightly from 41.6).
His soft contact was 20.8% (up from 18.4). Hard contact 27.1% (about the same as last year, 27.2).
Yariel was much better against RHB (.176/.241/.302) than LHB (.229/.393/.365). Too bad we can’t use relievers for one batter anymore.
He was much better at home (2.25, batters hit .145/.265/.265) than on the road (3.89 ERA, batters hit .239/.338/377).
He was better in the first half (2.47 ERA, batters hit .176/.267/.327) than the second half (4.21, batters hit .229/.362/.323).
Rodríguez by month:
April: 0-0, 5.68 ERA in 11 games, 1 start. In 12.2 innings, batters hit .255/.375/.596 with 4 home runs, 7 walks and 10 strikeouts.
May: 0-0, 0.53 ERA in 13 games. In 17.0 innings, batters hit .118/.164/.118 with no home runs, 3 walks and 18 strikeouts.
June: 2-0, 2.45 ERA in 9 games. In 11 innings, batters hit .132/.195/.342 with 2 home runs, 2 walks and 10 strikeouts.
July: 0-0, 2.13 ERA in 13 games. In 12.2 innings, batters hit .196/.315/.196 with 0 home runs, 7 walks and 11 strikeouts.
August: 0-1, 7.71 ERA in 11 games. In 9.1 innings, batters hit .273/.442/.424 with 1 home run, 9 walks and 8 strikeouts.
September: 1-1, 1.74 ERA in 9 games. In 10.1 innings batters hit .225/.340/.325 with 1 home run, 6 walks and 9 strikeouts.
Subtract April and August and it would have been a good season.
The Jays were 38-28 in game he appeared in.
By Catcher:
Tyler Heineman: 1.80 ERA. Batters hit .153/.242/.212 in 96 PA.
Alejandro Kirk: 3.50 ERA. Batters hit .211/.326/.385 in 191 PA.
Ali Sanchez: 10.80 ERA. Batters hit .333/.455/.333 in 11 PA.
He was better in high leverage spots holding batters to a .167/.292/.233 than in low leverage spots, .218/.316/.398.
Yariel threw 2 innings in 7 appearances (not allowing an earned run in any of those game) and more than one inning in 24 appearances, but never more than two innings.
Consistency is not Yariel’s middle name. Some days, he was great and some he wasn’t.
He was DFAed, dropped from the active roster, but he’s still in the organization. He’ll make $6.6 million in 2026, $7.6 million in 2027, and there is a team option for $11.6 million in 2028, with a $7.6 million player option. So the Jays are going to be spending $21.8 million on him, so he’ll get chances to make the team.
Rodriguez has potential and all. And he has good days.
He threw four pitches:
Slider: 41.3% of the time, batters hitting .134 against it.
Four Seamer: 40.8% of the time, batters hitting .266 against it. Averaged 95.7 mph.
Split finger: 11.9%. Batters hitting .182 against it.
Sinker: 6.0%. Batters hitting .292 against it.
I don’t know what the plan is with him. If they are going to bury him in the minors and take the loss, or if they will let him prove he deserves a spot on the team. He’ll be 29 by the start of the 2026 season, so if he’s going to have a career, he’ll have to get it going soon.
“Even though it was a short week, we prepared well,” Johnson said. “The things were out there that we wanted to get done. We just had a couple of plays here and there that we left on the field.”
That is perhaps the worst part of the Commanders’ 10th loss since starting the season 3-2. The Commanders were competitive, despite being down multiple starters and losing more to injury during the game itself. Johnson, who had just five days to prepare for his first start in four years, handled himself well, while the defense kept the league’s second-best offense subdued at times, or at least well enough to keep the score close.
But the Commanders, now 4-12, couldn’t find ways to finish in the game’s most critical moments, and it gave Dallas enough life to leave Northwest Stadium with a win.
“We competed to the end, but our execution, especially in the winning-time moments, it is not enough,” said head coach Dan Quinn.
In Washington’s 30-23 defeat, young players such as Johnny Newton and Bill Croskey-Merritt demonstrate how they might fit in the future.
The Commanders (4-12) were hardly recognizable from the team that began the season. They not only had eight starters on injured reserve, but another three were inactive because of injuries: quarterback Jayden Daniels, left tackle Laremy Tunsil and defensive tackle Daron Payne. They were even without key backups such as quarterback Marcus Mariota and running back Chris Rodriguez Jr.
Late in the second quarter, center Tyler Biadasz suffered knee and ankle injuries; he wore a walking boot in the locker room after the game. Biadasz will undergo an MRI exam and testing Friday to determine the severity of the injuries.
Nick Allegretti, who started at right guard in place of Sam Cosmi, who is on injured reserve with a concussion, had to slide over to center. Altogether, the Commanders finished the game with seven backups on offense and five on defense.
Brandon Coleman
Brandon Coleman started in place of Tunsil at left tackle for the second straight week. After a strong showing against the Eagles, he put forth another one against the Cowboys.
Coleman didn’t allow a single pressure when he replaced Tunsil for 32 snaps in Week 15 or when he started last week, according to TruMedia. And while the pressure data isn’t yet available for Thursday’s game against Dallas, he didn’t give up a sack.
The one significant blunder from Coleman was a false start penalty in the fourth quarter with the Commanders trailing 27-20 and facing a fourth and three. Instead of going for it, they punted. The Cowboys went on to extend their lead to 30-20 and effectively put the game away.
Josh Johnson held his head in his hands. He fidgeted at the podium. As he began, he first wished the assembled media a Merry Christmas. And he spoke from the heart, about a game that almost no one will remember, between two teams going nowhere, in two lost seasons. The “Hard Knocks” crew will make Cowboys 30, Commanders 23 look like the Super Bowl when they’re done with the highlights, but this was not the Christmas Day tripleheader kickoff that Netflix had in mind when it scheduled this game last spring.
“I’m just grateful for everybody in this organization, for supporting me in a tough situation,” Johnson said. “And, you know, it just hurts, man. S—.”
He is 39 and there aren’t many 40-year-old quarterbacks in the NFL, and certainly not many who aren’t starting. Philip Rivers coming off his couch to start for the Colts at 44 is a great story, but there’s a reason his story is so compelling — because it’s so unbelievably rare. Rivers has done everything possible the last two weeks to keep the Colts’ flickering playoff hopes alive. But Indy’s lost both of his starts. That doesn’t make what he’s done any less impressive.
In the same way, Josh Johnson’s play Thursday, for a terrible team going nowhere in a lost season, and his pain at not getting his team the win, spoke volumes about what competing really means.
Washington’s other four quarterbacks — Daniels, Mariota, newly signed backup Jeff Driskel and Sam Hartman — were with him for the morning walkthrough Thursday at 7:45, to go over everything they could to help him out.
With almost no time for Johnson to prepare, the Commanders kept things simpler than they normally do on offense. There was less tempo and fewer quick snaps, more huddling and deliberation. Knee and ankle injuries to starting center Tyler Biadasz forced even more offensive line shuffling, with Nick Allegretti spelling Biadasz for the second half. Fortunately for Washington, Johnson had been taking snaps from Allegretti as the two waited their turn all season to play.
He scrambled when he could, threw the ball away when he had to, and kept his team in the game.
But a lot of the air went out of the game afterward, as Dallas (naturally) drove 52 yards in 14 plays, and took half of the fourth-quarter clock off before Brandon Aubrey kicked a 51-yard field goal for a 30-20 Dallas lead. That was too much for Johnson to overcome, even as he completed five straight passes to set up Jake Moody’s 51-yard field goal with 2:09 left.
Croskey-Merritt’s potential for next season and beyond was evident in training camp and preseason, when he flashed his explosiveness, speed and decisiveness beyond the line of scrimmage. He had vision and instincts that can’t always be taught.
What he lacked were the skills of a complete back who can block, catch passes out of the backfield and contribute away from the ball.
Developing those parts of the game has been stressed by Washington coach Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. But the coaches also took note of Croskey-Merritt’s coachability. He wanted to develop those parts of his game, they said, and he put in the extra work to get there.
With nine minutes and 44 seconds left in the third quarter and the Commanders trailing the Dallas Cowboys 24-10, [Bill] Croskey-Merritt, Washington’s seventh-round rookie,” took a handoff 72 yards around the right side of the line for a touchdown, slipping through a crease and dodging a pair of tackles to reach a top speed of 21.62 mph, according to Next Gen Stats. The score was his second of the game and eighth of the season.
“I saw daylight and was like, ‘This is my chance to show when it’s an open field, I can take it the distance,’” he said afterward. “I mean, it worked out. It worked out perfect.”
Thursday’s home finale was more…baffling missed tackles and blown coverages, and repeated defensive failures on third and fourth downs. Although Washington’s pass rush was able to get home and notch a season-high six sacks (three from second-year defensive tackle Johnny Newton), the defense couldn’t get off the field. The Cowboys ran 87 offensive plays, the third-most by a team in a game this season.
Modesty wasn’t on the cards for Newton when he spoke to the media after the game. Instead, the player taken 36th overall in the 2024 NFL draft put it bluntly when he said, “Whenever I catch fire, it’s hard to cool me off,” per Monumental Sports Network’s Ethan Cadeaux.
Things changed in a big way in time for Christmas, with Newton getting maximum value from his playing time. He got to Prescott for two full sacks by himself and shared credit on two others, including this one with returning veteran edge-rusher Preston Smith in the second quarter.
Newton’s 4.5 sacks for this campaign puts him fourth on the team only underlines the lack of true game-wreckers up front.
Out for the season with a torn Achilles, the Commanders running back was on the desk for the Washington-Dallas game. Good opportunity for one of the game’s self-made men and brightest dudes – and maybe the signal of a transition given Ekeler, 30, isn’t under contract for 2026 and at least needs to be taking further steps into a pending life-after-football transition … whenever it comes.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Washington’s leading rusher has had an uneven rookie season while tasked with picking up the slack for Ekeler and departed Brian Robinson Jr. But Croskey-Merritt, aka “Bill,” had one of his best games of the year, eclipsing the century mark for the second time while also posting his second two-TD game – the second one a 72-yarder that represented a new professional best. He continues to look like a player who could be ready for an even bigger role in 2026.
Netflix
For the second Christmas in a row, the streaming giant offered the gift of NFL football with the Cowboys-Commanders and Lions-Vikings games, distributed to a global audience with the assistance of CBS and NFL Network on the production side. Certainly a victory for Netflix but also a significant one for the NFL as it continues to broaden its international reach.
It’s easy to make Quan Martin a scapegoat. His underperformance when a breakout campaign was expected is a microcosm of how things have unfolded for the Washington Commanders this season. And he won’t want to look back on Week 17 for too long, that’s for sure.
Martin remains a weak link on Washington’s backend defense. His positional sense in coverage support is nowhere near the required standard. He’s hesitant and technically flawed in the tackling department, which opposing offenses exploit with alarming success. This was another glimpse of his failures throughout the campaign, which won’t go unnoticed by those in positions of power when the time comes to assess the roster.
The 2023 second-round pick out of Illinois might get the chance to stick around on the final year of his rookie deal. However, that shouldn’t prevent the Commanders from finding the upgrades they need to put his starting spot in serious doubt.
This isn’t what anyone envisaged for Martin, but the flaws are undeniable.
Moody went 3-for-3 on field-goal attempts and 2-for-2 on point-after tries Thursday in a Week 17 loss to Dallas. Moody’s first two field goals were relative chip shots, coming from 29 and 23 yards out. However, he came through on a big 51-yarder with just over two minutes remaining in the game to keep the Commanders’ hopes of a comeback alive. Moody remains almost perfect since making his Washington debut Week 13, going 9-for-9 on FG tries and 7-for-8 of PATs. Moody’s 51-yarder Thursday was his first FG make of 50-plus yards this season.
Podcasts & videos
YOUTH ERUPTION: Johnny Newton and Jacory Croskey-Merritt WRECK Cowboys in Breakout Games
Commanders Postgame: Croskey-Merritt, Newton Flash, Commanders Fall on Christmas | Beltway Football
Brian Schottenheimer said KaVontae Turpin's 86-yard TD on Christmas was the same play Dallas ran against Washington on a third-and-long a couple of years ago.
That’s how the admonition/ homily/ observation has evolved through the eons. Credited to Hippocrates, speaking of how to treat rare illnesses in the days before Theodoric of Yorkick discovered bloodletting.
Though some cite Erasmus, another ancient as the first proclaimer.
Then there’s Willie the Shakes in “The Tempest.”
Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.
Such invocations apply to the fact that my performance so far in postseason picks have been as odoriferous as the Bean Bowl in Boca.
Thus I have fired my entire support staff and hired new ones, strangers I hardly know.
But it is far from why it is the lede, even with my mediocre 5-4 record so far, 2-2 in CFP.
It is to herald a gift from the ever beneficent Greek deity Bronconaguskius that shall keep on giving next football season. Or at least a portion of it. Over/ unders have been set.
Beleaguered Bill Belichick has hired Bobby Petrino as his new OC at North Carolina.
Yes, go ahead, exclaim it: WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go open your windows on this unseasonably warm day and bellow, “I’m pleased as punch, and I’ll take all of it I can get.”
Tis a motorspycho dream come true.
Ride like the wind, dudes. But be wary Billy and Bobby, there’s a violent windy storm out there.
Will Jessica Dorrell and Jordon Hudson become besties?
Stay tuned.
Just another twist and turn in Fansville. Has there ever been a gridiron postseason as wild and curious as this one?
Correct answer: Not even close.
My new support staff advises analytics have been adjusted, my hard drive has been defragmented, the data quadruple checked and the following are sure winners in the next few days:
New Mexico vs. Minnesota (Rate Bowl): If any thematic element can be gleaned from today’s selections, it’s that a majority of these bowl battles shall be contested on traditional baseball diamonds. This one on the D-backs diamond. The Rate Bowl is sponsored by some mortgage company, which used to be Guaranteed Rate. Wonder what might have caused that branding adjustment? Interest rate swings, maaaaaayyybee. The Mountain West co-champion Lobos come in with a six game winning skein at their backs. Mark it seven.
Georgia Tech vs. Brigham Young (Pop Tarts Bowl): Winners get to feast on the mascot after it/he/she/them has been baked through the world’s largest toaster. Actually such is this a marketing marvel, last year I actually bought and tried a Pop Tart for the first time since, oh, a one and done in 1964. Again a one and done. As for the football — which I am attempting to address every so often in this screed — it should be a good game. The Ramblin’ Wreck is/are gritty. The Cougs are mature, those two year missions and all. And chaste if not betrothed. Flip ‘o the coin. Book it, Mormons.
Virginia vs. Missouri (Tax Slayer): Every year I consider alternatives to the tax prep software I traditionally have used. This game’s sponsor being one of them. But always figure it’s not as robust and helpful for an old man whose math isn’t as good as when Miss Osborne had us doing multiplication tables first thing every morning in 5th grade. But here it is working the rounds during bowl time. Pretty decent matchup, this one. Will the Hoos have recovered from being an OT away from the CFP? Will the Tigers from Mizzou show us? Never have I been considered cavalier in the context of romance, though my dismissive attitude on occasion has been so described. But I am an ACC guy. UVa.
Connecticut vs. West Point (Fenway): I am curious by the thinking of this bowl’s sponsor’s branding arm. Wasabi Technologies. Why name your company for the root we grated and put on our saba at the the sushi place? Strange. But not as much as the marketing opp missed. Shouldn’t there be some Green Monster mascot walking out of that iconic left field wall? To the delight of the few wrapped for winter kids in the crowd, and to give the announcers something to shill during booth reviews besides cloud storage. The Long Gray Line shall be victorious on the oddly angled gridiron.
Pennsylvania State vs. Clemson (Pinstripe): No surprise here, another “battle” on a baseball field. This one being the House that Replaced the House that Ruth Built. In yet another sponsorship curiosity, what we have here is Bad Boy Mowers. In the most urban city in the land, with hardly a lawn of significance, and but a few “farm” sort of spaces, if any. BBM makes tractors, mowers and lawn tools. And silly you thought a walking around game mascot turning into an actual edible pastry was odd. As for the game: Top 5 rivals, James Franklin’s Nittany Lions vs. Dabo’s Tigers shall fight it out to move on. Oops. Except that Franklin’s been ditched and is now eating Crumbl cookies with his Hokies in Blacksburg, Dabo’s wondering if there might be some merit in learning about the portal, and neither team was very good at 6-6 and 7-5. I got a hunch that the dudes from State College git ‘er done.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (R) recorded 56 points, 16 rebounds and 15 assists in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday in Denver. Photo by Justin Edmonds/EPA-EFE
Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Nicola Jokic poured in an NBA record 18 of his 56 points in overtime to lead the Denver Nuggets to a thrilling win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The three-time MVP also totaled 16 rebounds and 15 assists in the 142-138 triumph Thursday in Denver. He scored 33 points after halftime, including his overtime surge, which broke Stephen Curry's previous record (17) for the most overtime points in NBA history.
"I keep saying, 'just don't get tired of this,'" Nuggets coach David Adelman told reporters. "He's the best player in the world, bottom line.
"What he does nightly is important for the game of basketball, good for sports and good for his head coach."
Jokic made 15 of 21 shot attempts, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range. He sank 22 of 23 free throw attempts en route to his 179th career triple-double. With two more, he can tie Oscar Robinson for the second-most in NBA history. Jokic trails all-time leader Russell Westbrook by 28 on the career triple-double list.
The Timberwolves outshot the Nuggets 49% to 46.5%. The Nuggets led by as many as 16 points, lost a 15-point edge in the fourth quarter and rallied from a nine point hole in overtime to earn their eighth victory over their last 10 games. They held a 44.2% to 26.7% edge in 3-point efficiency.
"We just tried to control what we could control in those minutes," Jokic said. "Just [keep] composure and believe in your team and yourself."
The Nuggets outscored the Timberwolves 39-29 in the first quarter, which featured four lead changes. Jokic supplied 18 points over the first 12 minutes. Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards scored 14 of his 44 points in the opening frame.
The Timberwolves rallied with a 17-0 run to steal back the lead in the second quarter, but the Nuggets bounced back and held a 57-55 halftime edge. They started the second half with a 12-4 surge to increase their lead to double digits. The Nuggets led by 16 midway through the third quarter and carried a 92-78 edge into the fourth.
Nuggets guard Jamal Murray scored 11 of his 35 points in the third quarter. He made three of his nine 3-pointers in the quarter.
The Nuggets led 106-91 with about six minutes remaining, but the Timberwolves answered with a 16-2 surge. Edwards, who scored 13 in the quarter, hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation to tie the game at 115-115 and force overtime. Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels chipped in a dozen during the fourth quarter rally.
Edwards and the Timberwolves parlayed that momentum into a 9-0 run to start overtime. But Jokic's Nuggets fought back with an 21-6 surge and never trailed again.
Edwards made 14 of 25 shots en route to his 44 points, but was ejected for arguing with officials with 21 seconds remaining. The Timberwolves trailed just 133-130 at the time.
Jokic is averaging a career-high 29.8 points and NBA-best 12.1 rebounds and 11.0 assists per game this season. He made 60.9% of his shot attempts through 30 starts, the second-best clip of his career. Jokic also is shooting a career-best 44% from 3-point range.
The Nuggets (22-8) will take on the Orlando Magic (17-13) at 7 p.m. EST Saturday in Orlando, Fla. The Timberwolves (20-11) will host the Brooklyn Nets (9-19) at 8 p.m. Saturday in Minneapolis.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has heard a lot of criticism over his 21 NFL seasons. It just comes with the territory, especially for a lightning rod like Rodgers who’s not afraid to speak his mind and stir up controversy.
He’s used to it and understands that part of the game, but he doesn’t always agree with it.
“There’s always a lot of different things that are said. Some things that are benign, and some things that aren’t,” Rodgers said. “I think there’s a mindset that you pay for a ticket, you say whatever the hell you want. I think there should be some sort of code of conduct. Obviously, that was intentional, and I think there was some celebration afterwards on (the fan’s) part.”
Oh Boy: Aaron Rodgers says the rise of gambling and fantasy football has changed the way fans behave at games for the worse.
“Now, at the same time, as you’re seeing parts of society erode, maybe the conduct has changed over the years.”
Rodgers also thinks fans feel emboldened to say mean things to players because they don’t have to face them up close, similar to online bullying. He said most of his in-person interactions with fans have been “cordial,” even in rival cities.
“Obviously, I don’t condone what DK did, but I understand. There’s been a lot of crazy comments said my way over the years,” Rodgers said. “The truth is, that would never happen face-to-face.”
Rodgers added that “there are two sides to every story” and said he’ll continue to support Metcalf, who’s been suspended for Pittsburgh’s final two regular-season games.
We've identified three potential X-factors on the Seahawks' offense for Week 17.
Kenneth Walker III, RB
Running back Kenneth Walker III rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries versus the Rams, averaging 9.1 yards per carry. Kubiak's run game has been inconsistent this campaign, so he appreciated that productivity in such a notable primetime spot. Walker will attempt to build momentum on the ground against the Panthers.
The Charlotte Hornets earned their 10th win of the season Tuesday, defeating the Washington Wizards by 17 points. After a brief Christmas break, the Hornets will return to action Friday night in Orlando.
In their last matchup, Hornets' guard Collin Sexton returned to action after missing nearly three weeks with a quad injury.
However, Charlotte did play without two of their three centers, missing both Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kalkbrenner due to injury.
On Friday, Kalkbrenner and Plumlee will remain out. Plumlee will miss his second straight game with a groin injury, while Kalkbrenner will be sidelined for his third consecutive contest due to a left elbow sprain.
Considering Kalkbrenner was questionable for Tuesday's matchup, it should be somewhat concerning that he hasn't progressed after two days of rest.
That said, Moussa Diabate has been dominant in Kalkbrenner's absence, making the case to be given a much bigger role, even when Charlotte's frontcourt depth returns.
In the last two games without Kalkbrenner, Diabate is averaging 8.5 points per game, 16 rebounds and three steals.
Luckily for Charlotte, the Magic are also dealing with injury concerns of their own. Brothers Moritz and Franz Wagner have been ruled out, while guard Jalen Suggs has been downgraded to doubtful.
Center Goga Bitadze is listed as questionable with a knee injury and Tristan Da Silva has been upgraded to probable.
We've identified three potential X-factors for a shorthanded Raiders offense.
Ashton Jeanty, RB
Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty is healthy and is coming off a season-best performance. The former Boise State standout accumulated 188 total yards and two touchdowns versus the Houston Texans last weekend. Jeanty leads all rookie running backs in rushing yards (828) and touchdowns (10).
Michael Mayer, TE
Michael Mayer steps into the lead TE role with Bowers on IR. Mayer is capable of taking advantage of the opportunity to run more routes and have more targets thrown his way. He'll need to be a reliable target for veteran quarterback Geno Smith in the passing game.
Stone Forsythe, OT
Rookie Giants EDGE Abdul Carter has been rushing the passer with productivity in recent weeks, compiling three sacks in three weeks. Veteran defensive end Brian Burns is also a consistent pass rusher. Raiders left tackle Stone Forsythe will be challenged on an every-snap basis.
On the Detroit Lions’ final injury report of the week in the lead up to their Christmas Day bout with the Minnesota Vikings, the team did not even list starting center Graham Glasgow with an injury designation. He was good to go after tallying two full practices this week—albeit in walkthroughs, not actual practices.
So it was a bit surprising to see that the Lions ended up trotting out second-year Kingsley Eguakun as the starting center against the Vikings.
It was a day to forget for Eguakun, who was just making his second career start. Against a tough and cerebral Brian Flores-led defense and in front of a loud Vikings crowd, Eguakun struggled all game. Particularly devastating were the two botched snaps between him and Jared Goff, both leading to critical turnovers at inopportune times. He was also called for a controversial false start, forcing Detroit to abandon their plans to go for it on an early fourth down and punt instead.
So why did the Lions go with Eguakun over Glasgow, a center with plenty of experience against this Vikings defense and a strong rapport with Goff? During his post-game press conference, coach Dan Campbell seemed to suggest it was still related to Glasgow’s knee injury.
“Graham was good enough to help us as a reserve. He’s got that knee, so we were fortunate to even have him as a reserve,” Campbell said. “So I gave Kingsley another go.”
This is far from the first time a team has made a player active, but didn’t feel they were healthy enough to get a full start. However, it does seem a tad odd for Glasgow to not even carry a questionable designation if he was that limited by the injury—especially after two “full” (walkthrough) practices.
It’s also worth noting that after Eguakun’s first start last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Campbell came away very impressed with how he performed.
“I thought it was really encouraging, I really did,” Campbell said. “For his first game to go out there, I thought he competed, I thought he fought, I thought he played fast. It was very encouraging.”
Regardless of the reason, it’s clear Detroit’s offensive performance was not helped by Eguakun or the rest of the offensive line. The Lions managed just 68 rushing yards on 30 carries (2.3 YPC), surrendered five sacks, and only produced a single drive that lasted longer than 40 yards on their way to a 23-10 loss.
The New York Giants are less than two weeks from concluding a challenging 2025 season and are currently projected to select in the top 10 of the 2026 NFL draft. A loss in their Week 17 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders would position them to secure the No. 1 overall pick.
Should they land the top selection, the Giants are widely expected to trade down to acquire additional draft capital, with quarterback Jaxson Dart firmly established as the starter. Nonetheless, the team faces significant roster needs, including limited depth across multiple position groups.
With college bowl season underway, Giants scouts have one final major opportunity to evaluate top prospects in live game settings. They will continue their evaluations on Friday, when three bowl games are scheduled.
Here is a quick breakdown of the players the Giants should have their eyes on today.
GameAbove Sports Bowl: Central Michigan vs. Northwestern
Player spotlight: Northwestern tackle Caleb Tiernan
The Giants may not need to scout offensive tackles if they intend to re-sign Jermaine Eluemunor, and even if they don't, rookie Marcus Mbow is waiting in the wings. Still, Northwestern tackle Calbe Tierman is the top prospect in the GameAbove Sports Bowl, and the exact player NFL teams should key in on.
The 6-7, 329 pound left tackle is a solid day two prospect, but his "homecoming" game could provide a great opportunity to solidify second round status. Tiernan is very solid in pass protection, and if he improves his run-blocking, he could become a Ronnie Stanley type of player.
The 31-year-old Ravens LT has been the anchor to Baltimore's offensive line, leading the way for a primarily ground-oriented attack. Tiernan has been the Wildcats linchpin this season, in a similar manner.
Other players of note:
Northwestern EDGE Anto Saka
Northwestern WR Griffin Wilde
Northwestern DB Fred Davis II
Northwestern QB Preston Stone
Central Michigan DB Brenden Deasfernandes
Central Michigan WR Stephan Bracey Jr.
Central Michigan DL Keyshawn Hayden
Rate Bowl: New Mexico vs. Minnesota
Player spotlight: Minnesota DL Anthony Smith
The Giants remain in desperate need of interior defensive linemen. Still, they may end up needing to boost their edge rush as well, especially if Kayvon Thibodeaux is traded during the offseason. The Rate Bowl has an intriguing mid-round option in Minnesota defensive lineman Anthony Smith, widely viewed as a tweener.
At 6-foot-6, 285 pounds, the Shippensburg, PA native has the ideal size and optimal length for an NFL DE/Edge rusher.
However, he also has the versatility to play on the inside as well. He doesn't line up in the interior all too often, but the fact that he can should help augment his draft stock quite a bit.
Smith could opt to return to Minnesota in 2026, but has not yet made that call.
Other players of note:
Minnesota RB Darius Taylor
Minnesota TE Jameson Geers
Minnesota S Aidan Gousby
Minnesota S Kerry Brown
Minnesota OL Greg Johnson
Minnesota DL Deven Eastern
Minnesota EDGE Jaxon Howard
New Mexico WR Keagan Johnson
New Mexico EDGE Darren Agu
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl: Florida International vs. UTSA
Player spotlight: UTSA running back Robert Henry Jr.
The Giants aren't actively on the hunt for a running back, but that may change this offseason. Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr. make a nice 1-2 combination, and Devin Singletary is a capable veteran, but the team has little behind that. In the event they part ways with Singletary, they'll need to backfill their depth.
In 11 games this season, Henry rushed for 1,045 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 6.9 yards per carry. He also hauled in 18 receptions for 144 yards and two additional touchdowns.
"One guy's not going to stop him," CSU coach Jay Norvell said in September, via Yahoo! Sports. "We have to do a good job of corralling them and putting edges on the defense, of guys playing their gap responsibility and filling and tackling as a unit."
Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones spoke with reporters during his postgame press conference after the Week 17 loss to the Denver Broncos, sharing his reaction to his costly offside penalty on fourth down that extended Denver's game-winning drive.
"I know, man, I'm beating myself up. Yeah, I could have saved us four points. I felt like the guard moved. It was a critical situation; I have to be better," said Jones. "I'm going to beat myself up about that one. So close. We're right there."
The penalty led to the Broncos scoring the go-ahead touchdown, leaving Kansas City's offense with little time to respond. The moment symbolized the many self-inflicted errors that have plagued the Chiefs all season, leading to their close-game losses.
"We've been beating ourselves up this year a lot, especially with critical errors in critical situations. It's like, I can't do that," said Jones, "But this has been happening throughout the year, we'll get better."
Kansas City ends the season in Week 18 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
As the years go by, the sporting world continues to grow and never was that more apparent than in 2025. Whether it was ever increasing viewership — on myriad platforms — for the NFL, expansion in the WNBA and women’s sports in general or controversy related to rapid change, growth ruled the year.
Here’s what we learned in the world of sports in 2025:
Super Bowl LIX drew a record average audience of 127.7 million viewers across across Fox, Fox Deportes, Telemundo, Tubi and the NFL's digital platforms. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
NFL
What we learned in 2025: Nothing can stop the league's runaway viewership train
Somehow, the NFL has become immune to the scattering media landscape.
The league keeps offering more content, and NFL fans keep stuffing themselves with it.
The ratings tell a story. Super Bowl LIX between the Chiefs and Eagles drew an average of 127.7 million viewers — a record — across Fox, Fox Deportes, Telemundo, the streaming site Tubi and the NFL's digital platforms. The NFL provided many ways for fans to watch the game, and viewers found them all.
Monster ratings weren’t limited to the Super Bowl. A Chiefs-Cowboys game on Thanksgiving became the most-watched game in regular-season history with 57.23 million viewers.
With the popularity growing, the NFL continues to expand its reach. There were three games on Christmas this year, as well as games on multiple Fridays and Saturdays as well as Thursdays, Sundays and Mondays. The league scheduled games to compete against the College Football Playoff’s first round, and its free-agency cycle has impeded on the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Offseason events like the NFL Draft and even the schedule release take over the calendar.
Other leagues wish they could continue to grow with no end in sight.
The NFL has dealt with various controversies, from complaints about officiating to betting scandals and off-field issues, and through the complaints people continue to tune in. It’s hard to know what would slow the NFL’s popularity, but we haven’t seen it yet. —Frank Schwab
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays delivered an epic seven-game World Series and appear poised to run baseball for years to come. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Daniel Shirey via Getty Images
MLB
What we learned in 2025: The Dodgers are a force — and so are the Blue Jays
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a juggernaut of epic proportions. We probably already knew this, but the club’s triumphant World Series title made them MLB’s first back-to-back champs since 2000 and solidified the organization as perhaps the best-run franchise in American sports.
Yes, the money helps, and the Dodgers’ spending power will play a factor in the labor dispute set to dominate the sport next winter. But that doesn’t take anything away from the historically superb performances delivered by the likes of Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto throughout the postseason. Whether the Dodgers can three-peat next fall will be one of the major storylines of the 2026 MLB season.
But the dramatic nature of L.A.’s Fall Classic victory was made possible only because the Toronto Blue Jays pushed them to the absolute brink — two outs away, to be exact. Toronto’s swashbuckling October run galvanized an entire country and elevated the Jays into the league’s top tier. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. — to whom the team gave a 10-year extension in April — is now a household name south of the border and a legend north of it.
So far this winter, the Jays already doubled down on their success, spending big in free agency to land starter Dylan Cease. In a few years time, we might very well look back at 2025 as the year Toronto started to mean business. —Jake Mintz
The Oklahoma City Thunder won their first NBA championship behind youth and depth. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Matthew Stockman via Getty Images
NBA
What we learned in 2025: The Thunder are the blueprint
We learned in the NBA that depth and youth prevail, and the Oklahoma City Thunder have the best of both. They were the youngest team ever to win the league's championship, and they did it on the back of its deepest rotation, led by 20-somethings Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren.
Is Gilgeous-Alexander the new face of the NBA? It is a question often asked in 2025, and he is certainly among a cast of them. There cannot be a face-of-the-league conversation without a discussion of Victor Wembanyama, who has taken the sport by storm. Nikola Jokic also exists as the game's best player, and even still Gilgeous-Alexander shone brightest, capturing both regular-season and Finals MVP honors, enjoying the best season by a guard since Michael Jordan, better than Kobe Bryant.
What became clear in 2025: The league is passing LeBron James by, even as he made a record 21st consecutive All-NBA team. To give you an indication of where he stands: James entered this season at the age of 40 with sciatica. He has, somewhat reluctantly, ceded control of the Los Angeles Lakers to Luka Dončić, whose trade in February was arguably the most shocking (or dumbest) in NBA history. Inside of 10 months it cost Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, a household name this year, his job.
A lot happened in 2025. Giannis Antekounmpo's relationship with the Milwaukee Bucks went on the fritz. Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton, all Nos. 0, each tore an Achilles tendon, as "calf strain" became the two scariest words in the sport. And as one member of the old guard, Kevin Durant, joined a contender with the Houston Rockets, another, Chris Paul, was sent home by the L.A. Clippers.
But we do not want to end the year on low notes. It belonged to the Thunder, an all-time great team — one of five ever to win 68 games and the championship — that looks poised to be even better in 2026. —Ben Rohrbach
The WNBA announced three expansion franchises in 2025 — in Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia — to begin play by 2030. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
WNBA
What we learned in 2025: The NBA is interested again
From viewership to attendance and everything in between, the WNBA’s stock continued to rise in 2025. And the NBA, who founded the league in 1996, made clear it wants to reap the returns.
The biggest news out of the WNBA this year was a bombshell in June that the league would expand to three additional cities, growing its footprint to 18 teams by 2030. The incoming Detroit, Cleveland and Philadelphia franchises are all affiliated with NBA teams, same as the Golden State Valkyries and Toronto Tempo before it. And a slew of already existing franchises.
The Valkyries reached the postseason and averaged a league-high 18,064 fans in their inaugural season as a counterpart to the Warriors. The Indiana Fever came in second, building a city-wide synergy with the Pacers while they attended each other’s games. Teams with NBA partnerships are investing in practice facilities and increased exposure. As collective bargaining negotiations continue, no one is crying foul on the WNBA as an asset.
When the initial interest in professional women’s basketball faded, the NBA took a backseat at times, appearing to hold the WNBA back with a lack of marketing, media rights and overall investment. It’s clear it is locked back into a growth opportunity three decades later. —Cassandra Negley
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid and Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon will play in Milan when NHL players return to the Winter Games for the first time in 12 years. (Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
NHL
What we learned in 2025: The appetite for Olympic hockey has never been higher
NHL players will return to the Winter Olympics hockey tournament for the first time since Sochi 2014. The 12-year absence cost fans the experience of seeing the likes of Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin vie for a gold medal during their prime years. While those two greats are in the twilight of their respective careers, there is a whole other crop of talent ready to now be showcased on the international stage.
Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, and Matthew and Brady Tkachuk are a few of the names who will feature in Milan. We were given a taste last February during the 4 Nations Face-off, which saw Canada top the United States in overtime in the championship game. That came after their first meeting in the tournament, which saw three fights break out in the opening nine seconds.
Hockey fans have wanted this for over a decade, and with the NHL and NHLPA agreeing to send players to at least the next two Olympics, the league can show off its stars to a worldwide audience and hope that new moments and new fans are created. —Sean Leahy
Miami's season-opening victory over Notre Dame proved to be quite consequential in the College Football Playoff. (Photo by Chris Arjoon/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
College football
What we learned in 2025: Growing pains dominate the news cycle
The 2025 college football season ended with a lot of coaching movement and, of course, some College Football Playoff controversy.
But the year began with its latest title game ever, as Ohio State was crowned the national champion on Jan. 20 with a win over Notre Dame. Ohio State, who won the first four-team playoff in January of 2015, became the first team to win the 12-team playoff, stringing together four wins after a loss to Michigan in the final week of the 2024 regular season.
Now onto the controversy. Miami beat Notre Dame in Week 1 during an opening weekend that also included Ohio State’s victory over Texas and a 48-14 blowout loss for North Carolina that showed just what trouble lay ahead for Bill Belichick’s team in his first year as a college head coach.
That Week 1 win for the Hurricanes didn’t come into play for playoff purposes until after the season was over. Despite spending the entirety of November ahead of Miami in the CFP selection committee’s top 25, Notre Dame was dropped out of the 12-team field in favor of Miami over a week after each team’s season had ended.
Why? Because Miami and Notre Dame hadn’t been close enough to each other in the rankings for that head-to-head to matter. Whether you want to believe that or not, that’s up to you. But it infuriated Notre Dame and led the Fighting Irish to decline a bowl bid entirely.
Before the committee decided the 12-team field, numerous head coaches changed jobs in one of the most hectic coaching carousels in years. Lane Kiffin ditched a playoff-bound Ole Miss in favor of LSU after the Tigers fired Brian Kelly, Penn State took over 50 days to hire Iowa State’s Matt Campbell after firing James Franklin, and two longtime fixtures won’t be around in 2026. One, Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy, was fired during the season. Another, Utah’s Kyle Whittingham, stepped down on his own at the end of the season. —Nick Bromberg
In his first stint heading a national team, Mauricio Pochettino looks to have revitalized the USMNT heading into a World Cup on home soil. (Photo by Mark Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
Mark Smith/ISI Photos/USSF via Getty Images
Soccer
What we learned in 2025: Mauricio Pochettino is on to something
Last spring, following a dismal performance by his full-strength U.S. national team at the CONCACAF Nations League finals in the Los Angeles area, Mauricio Pochettino recognized he had an enormous amount of work to do before returning to SoFi Stadium for the 2026 World Cup opener.
In stages, through the summer and fall, things began to fall into place. Pochettino reinforced the importance of team culture, getting players to take greater pride in representing the U.S. crest. He provided opportunity to young players — a shot across the bow of complacent veterans. He introduced fresh tactics.
By the end of the year, with a mix of young and old, the Americans had built a five-game unbeaten streak against teams headed to the World Cup. It wasn’t just the results; it was the harmony and confidence with which they played.
Indeed, Pochettino had positioned his team well for the run-up to soccer’s premier competition next summer. —Steven Goff
In the NIL era, Cinderella NCAA tournament runs like the one Saint Peter's embarked upon in 2022 are far less common. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Tim Nwachukwu via Getty Images
Men’s college basketball
What we learned in 2025: Cinderella is fading away
This is not the era to pick too many audacious early-round NCAA tournament upsets. Between the skyrocketing NIL market and the elimination of transfer restrictions, talent has concentrated at the top of men's college basketball. As a result, the gap between deep-pocketed power-conference programs and everyone else is rapidly widening.
Last March, for the first time since the NCAA tournament expanded to 32 teams in 1975, every school that advanced to the Sweet 16 hailed from a power conference. The lone surviving double-digit seed was an Arkansas team coached by John Calipari and assembled thanks to one of the sport's largest NIL war chests.
For days, debate raged over whether the absence of the usual March magic was a one-year aberration or, as former Duke star and current ESPN analyst Jay Williams argued, “the death of mid-major Cinderella runs." It's too soon to conclusively answer that question, but the start of the new season has provided some discouraging data.
Besides Gonzaga, not a single team from outside college basketball’s power conferences has cracked the AP Top 25 so far this season. There are no nationally relevant mid-majors, no Butlers, Loyola Chicagos or Wichita States. There were 378 matchups this November between high-majors and non-Gonzaga teams from other conferences. The so-called little guy won only 22 of them, the lowest rate in at least a decade. —Jeff Eisenberg
Paige Bueckers closed a decorated collegiate career by leading UConn to yet another national championship. (Photo by Thien-An Truong/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
Thien-An Truong/ISI Photos via Getty Images
Women’s college basketball
What we learned in 2025: UConn is inevitable
Death, taxes and UConn basketball. The Huskies ensured that any talk of the powerhouse’s collapse was premature, snapping their nine-year title drought with a dominating run through the NCAA tournament. It was the first and only title for Paige Bueckers, a line in the bio that will require context as the Huskies continue to stack championships and icons. Because the irony is Bueckers and UConn’s victory became something of a heartwarming story rather than another entry in the wicked dynasty that could never lose.
That was all the way back in April. As the calendar turns, the Huskies remain the No. 1 team in the country with a second consecutive projected WNBA lottery pick (Azzi Fudd) and, as always, a National Player of the Year contender (Sarah Strong). A repeat championship could be on the horizon. Their last repeat came in 2016, completing four in four years.
UConn’s return to the final confetti celebration showed the basketball world the Huskies are still one of the game’s great programs three decades after winning their first national title in 1995. While Southern Cal faded, Tennessee fell off for a while and Notre Dame actively evaporates, UConn and head coach Geno Auriemma remain inevitable. —Cassandra Negley
With his triumphs at both the PGA Championship and 153rd Open, Scottie Scheffler is in position to complete the career Grand Slam. (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Ramsey Cardy via Getty Images
Golf
What we learned in 2025: Scottie Scheffler still reigns supreme
This was the year the Golf Gods decided to reward humility and punish arrogance. As Rory McIlroy demonstrated on a memorable Sunday in Augusta, you can indeed achieve your life’s dream and your heart’s desire … but you’re going to go through hell to get there.
Fourteen years after his collapse in the Augusta pines, and 11 years since he’d won his last major, McIlroy at last closed the deal at the Masters, claiming both a green jacket and the career grand slam in one of the most agonizing, exultant final rounds in major history. (McIlroy’s arcing shot around a tree, over water and straight at the pin on No. 15 might be the shot of the century.)
We also learned it’s best to bet on Scottie Scheffler, always. He won two more majors, putting himself in position for a career grand slam of his own. We saw glory come from unexpected corners — Tommy Fleetwood winning his first PGA Tour event, journeyman J.J. Spaun rolling a 64-foot birdie putt to claim the U.S. Open, and a record 29 different winners capturing LPGA events.
We learned conclusively that not everybody understands how to act at a golf course. The only part of the Ryder Cup uglier than the U.S.’s performance in the first two days was the behavior of the Bethpage gallery.
And we learned that whatever golf looks like in 2026 — More indoor simulator golf! More documentaries! More YouTube creator golf! — it almost certainly won’t include a reunification. The PGA Tour and LIV Golf seem as far apart as ever, and both sides seem OK with that.
Scores settled, slates cleaned. The 2025 season will resonate longer than most in golf history. —Jay Busbee
Italy's Jannik Sinner and Spain's Carlos Alcaraz continued to own the Grand Slam scene in 2025. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Getty Images)
Tim Clayton via Getty Images
Tennis
What we learned in 2025: Top stars are as strong as they've ever been
With Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz splitting the men’s Grand Slam titles in 2025 — just as they did in 2024 — the duopoly ruling men’s tennis is stronger than ever. In fact, only Novak Djokovic’s upset of Alcaraz at the Australian Open prevented them meeting in the finals of all four majors, which has never happened in a calendar year.
How dominant have those two been? At the end of the season, the gap between No. 2 Sinner and No. 3 Alexander Zverev in the ATP rankings was 6,340 points. The gap between No. 3 and No. 50 Reilly Opelka was just 4,134 points.
We also learned that the next man to break up their stranglehold is probably not a current member of the top 10, particularly with 38-year-old Djokovic hitting the wall physically late in the majors. (It’s still remarkable he made the semifinals of all four this year). Brazil’s Joao Fonseca, who moved up from No. 113 to No. 24 at age 19, showed he might have the goods to challenge the top two over the next couple years.
The biggest revelation on the women’s side was that four-time French Open champion Iga Świątek can play on grass. Her surprise Wimbledon title — after not winning the French this year — solidifies her among the all-time greats with six majors and counting at age 24.
The best story of 2025, though, was Amanda Anisimova. After taking nearly a year off the tour to deal with burnout and mental health issues, the hard-hitting American broke through to the Wimbledon final, where Świątek beat her 6-0, 6-0. Several weeks later, Anisimova turned the tables at the US Open and beat Świątek en route to another Slam final, where she lost to Aryna Sabalenka. Now ranked No. 4, she is firmly planted among the game’s elite. —Dan Wolken
Denny Hamlin lost the NASCAR Cup Series championship in a heartbreaker at Phoenix, but weeks later scored a key settlement in a court case against the governing body. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
James Gilbert via Getty Images
NASCAR
What we learned in 2025: Denny Hamlin beat NASCAR despite losing the title
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season ended with a disappointed Denny Hamlin. The year ended with a very happy Hamlin.
Hamlin was set to capture his first Cup Series title in the waning laps of the winner-take-all season finale at Phoenix. But a late tire problem for fellow title contender William Byron caused a caution with two laps to go and a four-tire pit stop left Hamlin with too much ground to make up on the ensuing two-lap sprint to the finish.
Kyle Larson, meanwhile, took just two tires on his final pit stop. Larson, who hadn't sniffed the lead all day, went on to finish third and win his second Cup Series title. Hamlin, who led 208 of the race's 319 laps, finished sixth.
It was yet another heartbreaking moment for Hamlin, who is a surefire NASCAR Hall of Famer despite not (yet) winning a NASCAR Cup Series title. Hamlin won six races in his age-44 season and is now tied for 10th on NASCAR's all-time wins list with Kevin Harvick.
Roughly six weeks after that title race, Hamlin's 23XI Racing team was victorious in its legal battle with NASCAR. 23XI, the team Hamlin co-owns with Michael Jordan, banded together with Front Row Motorsports to sue NASCAR over the terms of the sanctioning body's charter agreement.
As the December trial for the lawsuit went into its second week, settlement talks got serious. Was it because NASCAR knew that it was going to lose? The settlement was a clear win for 23XI and Front Row. NASCAR relented on its refusal to grant teams permanent charters — NASCAR's version of franchising — and the teams also received monetary damages.
After the trial, all parties involved put on a happy face and said they were excited for the future of NASCAR. Will that future include those currently at the top of NASCAR's executive ladder? —Nick Bromberg
MMA fans were clamoring for Jon Jones to face Tom Aspinall in 2025, but it wasn't to be. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Sarah Stier via Getty Images
MMA
What we learned in 2025: The biggest fights are just pipe dreams
This past year we came to understand that MMA has a long way to go in terms of determining — and assessing — fouls. We saw a good many fight-changing eye-pokes (Tom Aspinall’s title defense against Ciryl Gane), groin shot controversies (Kevin Holland against Mike Malott) and blatant fence grabs in which no points were taken away, thus making the issue of consequential actions louder than ever.
If a foul is a foul, then it needs to be treated as a foul, regardless of intent. And if automatically deducting a point is too great a penalty to assess in the 10-point must system — the scoring system MMA uses in judging fights, adopted from boxing — then the system itself needs to be examined to accommodate the enforcement of those penalties.
In other words, the issue feels destined to grow far bigger before anything happens.
We also learned the American champion is an endangered species in MMA. Of the 11 total weight classes between the men’s and women’s ranks in the UFC, only two current titleholders are American — Kayla Harrison (women’s bantamweight) and Joshua Van (flyweight from Houston, and even he was born in Myanmar). In the PFL, it’s the same thing. Only light heavyweight Corey Anderson holds a title coming out of 2025. If MMA's not the fastest growing sport in the world, it’s the worldliest.
And next year, when the UFC holds a special event at the White House, it’s a near certainty that if there's an American in a title fight, he/she will be the challenger.
Which ties into the biggest thing we learned in 2025, given that so many people were hoping to see Alex Pereira vs. Jon Jones in a seemingly ill-fated bout at the White House event. Much as we love to try and will them into existence, the biggest fights are pipe dreams. Coming into the year the greatest fights the UFC could make would’ve been Jones and Tom Aspinall for the heavyweight title, and Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev in a superfight.
Neither happened. Rather than face Aspinall to unify the heavyweight title, Jones “retired,” thus giving us the consolation prize of Aspinall vs. Gane. Just as Topuria jumped to lightweight to challenge Makhachev, Makhachev jumped ship to welterweight to win a title in a second weight class. Dress the Christmas trees with big shiny blue balls because the fights we most wanted most never came to be. —Chuck Mindenhall
Despite a deep bench of strong fighters, Terence Crawford's shocking retirement after defeating Canelo Álvarez left no clear American heir in boxing. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
Steve Marcus via Getty Images
Boxing
What we learned in 2025: America is no longer boxing’s engine
One of the big takeaways in boxing this year isn’t that the sport is broken, because it’s not. It’s that traditionally its most influential nation, the United States, has surrendered power to Saudi Arabia and Japan.
Broadcast valuations in this country are at an all-time low. Top Rank’s last event on ESPN was in July and it's been homeless ever since. One Uncrowned source said Starz offered Top Rank an annual deal of $12 million for 12 events, which pales in comparison to the $7.7 billion the UFC just received from Paramount.
The big deals aren’t there anymore and, per sources, it’s because the product does not add up to prices American networks were previously paying.
One man who hasn’t struggled to sign deals, though, is Jake Paul, who ended 2025 boxing Anthony Joshua on Netflix — the same platform many of his Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) fighters have boxed on at least once this year. Between MVP, and the looming presence of Zuffa Boxing, the power structure in the United States is being reshaped into an entirely different image, as traditional promoters seem to get phased out.
To make matters worse, Terence Crawford’s sudden retirement removed the No. 1 fighter from the sport and left no clear American heir. The U.S. still produces extraordinary fighters, as Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez, Shakur Stevenson, David Benavidez and Devin Haney are rising on pound-for-pound lists. But it’s not just a question of talent pool. Momentum and investment is something the sport kept getting wrong in 2025.
It’s not all bad, though. Saudi Arabia remains a magnet for the majority of the world’s big bouts, and then there are Japan’s generational talents Junto Nakatani, Naoya Inoue and Kenshiro Teraji, who have all dominated globally, and increasingly maneuvered themselves into the sport’s most meaningful moments.
The lesson of 2025 isn’t that boxing is broken, but that America is no longer the sport’s biggest engine. It’s just one market among many now and has to earn its influence back. If it ever can. —Alan Dawson
The Dallas Cowboys did one thing really well on Christmas, and it won them a ballgame. They ran the ball through the middle of the Washington Commanders defense. They trucked the middle of Washington’s defense to the tune of 211 yards.
Much of that number came from an unexpected source – Malik Davis. The running back who just keeps hanging around had a great game, running for 103 yards on 20 carries. The reason he had so many carries was injury robbed Javonte Williams of a big night. He finished with 54 yards on 13 carries. but his violent style of running leads to huge collisions, and his shoulder has been bothering him recently. He sat out over half the game.
Also surprising was where the other 54 yards of the Cowboys’ ground total came from. Hunter Luepke chipped in 30 yards on seven carries, and Dak Prescott had 24 yards on four carries. Of course those yards for Prescott mainly came because of some poor pass blocking, but the team’s run blocking on the day, especially behind the right side of the line, was top notch.
This game was likely close to the script Brian Schottenheimer would like to see in terms of the run game dictating the overall game. Sure, the competition was suspect as they played a Commanders group that was very banged up, including at the most important position. And it was telling that a Cowboys defense gave up 23 points to 39-year old Josh Johnson and the Commanders offense. One side of the ball in Dallas is in need of a massive overhaul.
The other side, the offense, needs to solve two issues this offseason on their roster. One is their pass protection, especially around the tackle positions, even though pressure up the middle was prominent on this day. Tyler Smith had his struggles outside, but who knows what he would be like if he had a whole offseason to prep for the left tackle position. Or the Cowboys could decide to keep him where they know he excels, and work with other options at tackle. Whatever they do, they have to get some semblance of order on the edges for an aging Prescott.
The other issue is at running back. Javonte Williams has been excellent this year, but he will be a free agent and we know how Dallas feels about spending money at running back. That is a strategy that plenty of teams use, but if Dallas wants to run the ball like they did in this game as a blueprint for Schottenheimer’s offense, they’ll need to invest some money there. Or hit gold in the draft. Maybe they can get Williams re-signed, but they still need to have quality backups for injury.
On the whole, though, the offense is the least of the Cowboys’ problems. We know they need a defensive rebuild, but they also need to sort out their special teams. The fact that the Cowboys can’t get some explosive returns on kick returns with KaVontae Turpin back there is criminal. And even Mr. Automatic, Brandon Aubrey, is having a late-season downer. Special teams need a massive upgrade, and a lot of that probably has to do with the coaching.
The Cowboys run game was a thing of beauty on Christmas. They won’t be able to run the ball like that all of the time in the NFL, but if you can get close, and have a decent defense, and special teams that contribute field position, you can win a lot of games.
“We have hit a point…” – Chelsea starter explains why team’s defence has gone to next level
We can’t wait to see Chelsea back in action tomorrow – the Blues have battled back from a bad moment and have a huge chance to consolidate that when they face Aston Villa.
Key to that game will be keeping a clean sheet, and before the game goalkeeper Robert Sanchez spoke to the club’s official website about how he and his defenders had improved the side defensively.
Sanchez on Chelsea’s improved back 5
Robert Sanchez in action against Bournemouth. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
“Me and the four at the back, whoever plays, have all got to a point where we all understand each other, our weaknesses and our strengths, and we play to help each other out to have the best performance possible,” Sanchez explained.
“We have hit a point where we have become very consistent. There is always space to improve even more, which we know we can, but we are doing our best every game.
“We know if we keep a clean sheet that secures the team a point, and then the guys at the top will get us three. We need to make sure we keep a clean sheet because that will make the work of the rest of the guys easier.”
Sanchez has been the consistent ever present in that back 5 over the last two years, along with Marc Cucurella. Now that Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah have been able to settle into the middle, we’ve seen a big improvement overall. Tomorrow will be an even bigger test for them.
In other news…
Reece James has had a week off and will likely play a key role tomorrow, possibly in midfield. He spoke to the club’s official website about a player he looked up to.
Enzo Maresca showered James with praise in his press conference today and noted that the full back was among the world’s best.
There has been a lot of praise levied on Max Eberl for the incredible transfer window results from last summer for Bayern Munich.
However, there were even more player exits that played a key role in helping the team evolve to the dominant unit that we have seen so far this season.
Bayern Munich sold the following players: Mathys Tel (€35 million, Tottenham Hotspur), Kingsley Coman (€25 million, Al Nassr), Paul Wanner (€15 million, PSV Eindhoven), Adam Aznou (€9 million, Everton), Frans Krätzig (€3.5 million, Red Bull Salzburg), and Gabriel Vidović (€1.2 million, Dinamo Zagreb).
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich loaned out these players: João Palhinha (€5 million loan fee, Tottenham Hotspur), Jonah Kusi-Asare (€4 million loan fee, Fulham FC), Bryan Zaragoza (€1 million loan fee, Celta Vigo), and Daniel Peretz (€250k, Hamburger SV). Arijon Ibrahimović, Maurice Krattenmacher, Lovro Zvonarek, and Tarek Buchmann had no reported fees associated with their loans.
Finally, Bayern Munich also allowed Leroy Sané, Eric Dier, and Thomas Müller all to leave on free transfers.
Was Sané or Coman leaving the key to getting the stellar wing play the team has received so far this season? Did the club’s dubious handling of Müller’s exit lead to Karl’s emergence? Was clearing Tel off the books for a great price a great way to build the club’s coffers back up?
What about just deciding to move on from Wanner to allow Karl to take his place as the club’s resident next big thing?
There are plenty of possibilities. Tell us your selection in the comments!
Song of the Week: “Into Your Arms” by The Lemonheads
I’ve been back on a 90s alt rock kick of late and ran across this gem from The Lemonheads. I think my brain is not ready to get right back into the harder music I typically enjoy just yet (damn holiday season), but I am sucker for this period of music and was happy to bump into this one after a long time of not hearing it. Enjoy “Into Your Arms”:
Kane thinks squad development has been massive in year two under Kompany
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has been around the block, so when a coaching change occurs, the Englishman knows that it can sometimes take a couple of seasons before things really start to fall into place. In year two under Vincent Kompany, Kane thinks Bayern Munich has made great strides.
We did well last year too with the new coach. But a new coach always means you first have to understand how he wants to play. We now understand better what the coach expects from us and have grown as a team this season. I feel more comfortable with positioning and movement. When you train every day the way we do, you can only improve, and that’s why I’m developing personally as well. The connections with my teammates have improved, and I have a better understanding of them,“ Kane told Sky Germany’s Torben Hoffmann (as captured by @iMiaSanMia).
Kane is correct — the team has looked far more comfortable and confident in year two, but the group also has much better fitting pieces to play within Kompany’s system. Sure, it has been a personnel upgrade, but the fit is almost as important as the talent itself.
Entertainment Rundown
Still no updates on Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 2 or The Terminal List, but there was a trailer for the Peaky Blinders movie.
As a big fan of Peaky Blinders (though the last two seasons were not at the same level as previous seasons), this movie will be…interesting. Take a peek at the teaser trailer:
While this author is skeptical about how this will work, he will check it out.
Anyway, there should be some late night viewing this weekend of both Stranger Things and The Terminal List, so expect some updates next week.
Prediction Results
This is where we stand at the break…
Total: 332-177
Perfect Picks: 32
Bundesliga Last Matchday: 4-5
Bundesliga Overall: 80-55
DFB-Pokal: 45-11
World Cup Qualifiers/Friendlies: 99-45
Champions League: 65-43
Club World Cup: 39-23
Club Friendlies: 3-0
Franz Beckenbauer Supercup: 1-0
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…
Predicted Starting Line-Up: Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City (Premier League)
Manchester City will look to extend their seven-game winning streak with a trip to the City Ground on the Boxing Day weekend as they face Nottingham Forest.
City travel in strong form having recently recorded a comfortable 3-0 victory over West Ham in the Premier League. Two goals from the ever-reliable Erling Haaland, along with a strike from Tijjani Reijnders, ensured the Blues remained just two points adrift at the summit of the table.
The result marked Manchester City’s sixth consecutive win across all competitions, further adding to the momentum Pep Guardiola’s side have built up at such a crucial stage of the season.
That winning run has been accompanied by a growing sense of control in City’s performances, with Guardiola’s side striking an effective balance between attacking fluency and defensive stability.
With fixtures coming thick and fast, rotation remains a key talking point, and Pep Guardiola may look to manage minutes carefully while maintaining the rhythm that has served his side so well in recent weeks.
Next up for City is Nottingham Forest as Sean Dyche’s team currently sit in 17th and just five points above the relegation zone. With two wins from their last five league games, Forest are going through a tougher season than anyone could have predicted after the highs of last season.
Dyche has yet to get the best of Pep Guardiola, with the two managers having faced off 18 times and 16 wins falling for the Manchester City boss, with the other contests being draws. Despite Guardiola’s overwhelmingly dominant head-to-head record, he will know that taking too many risks against a team like this would be foolish. With Dyche having reverted Forest back to the same tactical set-up as last season, this match-up could be a very interesting affair.
Here’s how we predict Manchester City will line-up on Saturday lunch-time at the City Ground!
Predicted XI
With another impressive performance against West Ham, Gianluigi Donnarumma will be looking for his eighth Premier League clean sheet against Nottingham Forest. The Italian has an extremely impressive 50% clean sheet to games ratio in the league with seven in 14 matches.
Defending Manchester City’s right flank will likely be Matheus Nunes. The Portugal international has enjoyed an excellent season, and his influence was again evident last time out. No player registered more touches (136), completed more passes (103), or recorded more successful dribbles (3) than Nunes against West Ham.
There would be very little reason to break up the defensive duo of Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol. The pairing has gone from strength to strength, with Dias returning to his commanding best and Gvardiol looking more and more comfortable in the central role.
With Rayan Ait-Nouri at AFCON, the only real option for the left-back spot is Nico O’Reilly. That is not to say that O’Reilly only starts when there is no one else to contest, though. The natural midfielder has gone on to surpass any and all expectations placed on him at the start of the season, emerging as one of City’s most important players.
Anchoring midfield, Nico is in line to make his 14th consecutive start for Manchester City. The 23-year-old leads the squad in accurate passes per 90 (68.1) and is only bettered by Nico O’Reilly for tackles per 90, registering 2.10 to O’Reilly’s 2.90.
While statistics rarely tell the full story, they help underline just how influential Gonzalez has been. Until Rodri returns, the holding midfield role firmly belongs to the former FC Porto star and Barcelona academy graduate.
Tijjani Reijnders‘ goal against West Ham was his ninth goal involvement this season for Manchester City. His performances have drawn some criticism, but with nine goal involvements in 24 games, clearly things are beginning to click for the Dutchman.
Partnering Reijnders could be Phil Foden, who finds himself in the midst of an incredible run of form. Pep Guardiola was openly critical of Bernardo Silva’s performance against West Ham, leaving questions over whether he will start this one. It may be the most sensible option to keep both Foden and Reijnders starting whilst they are both in such good form.
There may not be enough superlatives left to describe Rayan Cherki‘s impact. The Frenchman has instantly become a fan favourite and for good reason – 13 goal involvements in 22 appearances does not even tell the full story. Every week produces a new highlight reel, and the game against Forest will be yet another opportunity to impress.
Erling Haaland is all but guaranteed for another start. The superstar leads the Premier League golden boot race with 19 goals – as many as the second and third placed players Igor Thiago (11) and Hugo Ekitike (8) have combined. You would be hard pressed to find anyone who does not back him to add to that tally this weekend.
Savinho has struggled for form in the early stages of this season, but in the last four or five matches the 21-year-old has started to look more like the exciting player City fans came to love last season.
Nottingham Forest right-back Nicolo Savona has rather struggled defensively this season, so this may be a perfect opportunity for Savinho to make an impact off the left and gain some much-needed confidence.
Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores observes drills during organized team activities at the Minnesota Vikings Training Facility as the club held minicamp on Jun 10, 2025, in Minneapolis. Flores has overseen a dramatic defensive turnaround in Minnesota, earning league-wide attention while working closely with a veteran-heavy roster during a pivotal offseason for the franchise. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn–Imagn Images.
In fairness, the article emerged prior to the Christmas game against the Lions, meaning the latest performance from Week 17 wasn’t factored into the mix upon considering the Vikings DC.
Regardless, the sentiment could very well remain.
On The Athletic, Ian O’Connor explained that the New York Giants opted for the “wrong Brian.” Put differently, New York would have done better opting for Vikings DC Brian Flores — someone who has proven to be an excellent coach — rather than the now-fired Brian Daboll.
The Vikings DC is Generating Jealousy & Regret
Consider some of the O’Connor argument, someone who knows far more about the Giants than I.
Some background: “Daboll got the job, and Flores, in his mind, got the shaft. He sued the NFL for racial discrimination and cited the Giants, among others, for putting him through what he called a sham interview. The Giants denied the charge and pointed to the fact that co-owner John Mara personally recruited Flores into the process, but in the end, new general manager Joe Schoen decided to hire his buddy in Buffalo, Daboll, rather than the Brian with head coaching experience, Flores.”
Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
Coach Flores then gets plenty of praise for the game plan from Week 16.
Some reflections: “The man was just doing his job, of course, as one of the finest defensive coaches in the league — a coordinator once good enough to run Bill Belichick’s defense in New England and to hold Sean McVay’s high-scoring Rams to a lousy field goal in the Super Bowl.”
Finally, consider how Brian Flores may have helped to push New York forward.
The quote: “Now the Giants are an undisciplined mess, losers of 38 of their last 49 games. At some point, Flores would have imposed his will on this team and held the culprits accountable. He is a tough guy from perhaps the toughest neighborhood in New York, Brownsville, and it’s hard to believe he would’ve let his city’s flagship NFL franchise become a laughingstock on his watch.”
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
As things stand, the Vikings boast the 11th-ranked defense. Not elite, but the context makes the feat quite impressive.
Minnesota is devoid of any Pro Bowl talent. Individually, all of Blake Cashman, Byron Murphy Jr., Ivan Pace, Jonathan Greenard, and several others have taken a step back. Some guys have emerged — Jalen Redmond, Eric Wilson, Isaiah Rodgers, and Jay Ward come to mind — but Brian Flores hasn’t had top-tier talent.
Worst of all, the Vikings DC has seen an awful offense (and a sometimes shaky special teams) put Minnesota in a bad spot. He has nevertheless found a way to create a defense that’s on the cusp of being very good.
Hard not to think, folks, that Coach Flores is among the NFL’s 32 most impressive coaches. If that’s true (rest assured that it is), then Coach Flores deserves to have a head coaching job.
Oct 24, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores watches from the sidelines against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
Best guess at this stage is that Brian Flores remains as the defensive coordinator. Not a locked-in reality, Flores has settled into Minnesota nicely, speaking fondly of his stay. Seeing him remain in the Twin Cities would be a major boost for a team that’s looking to bounce back in 2026.
The season’s final game takes place next week. The Green Bay Packers will visit U.S. Bank Stadium in what should be a challenging NFC North showdown. Outsmarting Matt LaFleur a time or two will help to further corroborate the notion that Brian Flores is among the game’s great tacticians.
In Today’s Links: an examination of the deviations between our Seattle Seahawks and the Carolina Panthers, Josh Jones looks to be starting again in place of the injured Charles Cross, a bit on Mike Jackson and his view of Sunday’s match-up with his former team, Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s chances of being named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year, a game preview from the wonderful men at the Sea Hawkers Podcast, and more! Hope y’all are doing the thing and having a good time with your loved ones. As usual, thanks for being here. We appreciate you. Go, ‘Hawks!
College football bowl season has long been a huge holiday tradition for bettors, but analyzing the bowl game odds isn't as easy as simply breaking down the team.
Thanks to the NCAA's transfer portal, keeping up with which players are actually participating is now equally as important.
To help you stay on top of all the movement, we will have a game-by-game opt-out tracker — plus live college football odds — for each Bowl Game matchup.
Bowl game opt-outs and injuries for 2025-26
Here is the full slate of 2025-26 bowl game matchups. Click on a specific bowl to see the latest opt-outs.
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: South Carolina State No injuries or opt-outs reported Prairie View A&M No injuries or opt-outs reported
Bucked Up LA Bowl
Saturday, December 13
LA Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: Boise State Ty Benefield (SAF) Kage Casey (OT) Ben Ford (WR) - injured Washington Charlie Crowell (TE) - undisclosed injury Tacario Davis (CB) - undisclosed injury Kade Eldridge (TE) - foot injury Justice Williams (WR) - undisclosed injury Rashid Williams (WR) - collarbone injury
IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl
Tuesday, December 16
Salute to Veterans Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: Troy Tae Meadows (RB) - Transfer Portal DJ Jackson Jr. (DL) - Transfer Portal Goose Crowder (QB) - ankle injury Jacksonville State Aghogho Eyafe (WR) - undisclosed injury Lucas Farrington (RB) - undisclosed injury Nabi Hoyt (WR) - undisclosed injury Jalen Likely (RB) - undisclosed injury Brock Rechsteiner (WR) - undisclosed injury
StaffDNA Cure Bowl
Wednesday, Dec. 17
Cure Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: Old Dominion Colton Joseph (QB) - Transfer Portal Maurki James (RB) - undisclosed injury Titus Myers (WR) - undisclosed injury South Florida Byrum Brown (QB) Kajuan Banks (CB) Alex Golesh (HC) - Hired by Auburn Jaden Alexis (WR) - undisclosed injury Christian Neptune (WR) - undisclosed injury Chas Nimrod (WR) - undisclosed injury Cartevious Norton (RB) - undisclosed injury Kory Pettigrew (WR) - undisclosed injury Brandon Winton (WR) - undisclosed injury Weston Wolff (TE) - undisclosed injury
68 Ventures Bowl
Wednesday, Dec. 17
68 Ventures Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: Louisiana Bryant Williams (OT) - Transfer Portal Delaware Thomas Amankwaa (WR) - undisclosed injury Ja'Carree Kelly (WR) - undisclosed injury Zach Marker (QB) - leg injury Oliver Redd (RB) - undisclosed injury Calvin Thomas (WR) - undisclosed injury Connor Witthoft (TE) - undisclosed injury
Xbox Bowl
Wednesday, Dec. 17
Xbox Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: Missouri State Tristian Gardner (WR) JJ O'Neal (DB) DJ Wesolak (DL) Ryan Beard (HC) - Hired by Coastal Carolina No injuries reported Arkansas State Nana Burris (WR) - undisclosed injury Jabari Bush (TE) - undisclosed injury Ja'Quez Cross (TE) - undisclosed injury Tyler Little (TE) - undisclosed injury Cash Hudson (OC) - Transfer Portal
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Friday, Dec. 19
Myrtle Beach Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: Kennesaw State JeRico Washington (CB) - Transfer Portal Caleb Offord (CB) - injury Garland Benyard (LB) - injury Antonio Stevens (SAF) - injury Western Michigan Nadame Tucker (DE) Cole Cabana (RB) - injury Noah Bishop (DL) - injury
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
Friday, Dec. 19
Gasparilla Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: Memphis Ryan Silverfield (HC) - Hired by Arkansas Travis Burke (OT) - injury Jaidyn Denis (CB) - injury Oliver Castaneda (K) - injury Grant Troutman (QB) - injury Chauncey Logan Jr. (CB) - injury Crews Law (LB) - injury Kourtian Marsh (DB) - injury Samson Israel (CB) - Transfer Portal NC State Justin Joly (TE) Hollywood Smothers (RB) - Transfer Portal Brandon Cleveland (DT) Devon Marshall (CB) Jacarius Peak (LT) Kamen Smith (OG) - injury Brody Barnhardt (SAF) - injury Sean Brown (LB) - injury Jamel Johnson (CB) - injury Jaren Sensabaugh (CB) - injury Rente Hinton (S) - injury
College Football Playoff Round 1
Friday, Dec. 19
CFP R1 Game 1 opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this game: Alabama Zabien Brown (CB) - injury Josh Cuevas (TE) - injury Kelby Collins (DL) - injury Kevin Dewberry (OG) - injury Justin Jefferson (LB) - injury Jam Miller (RB) - injury LT Overton (DL) - injury Kevin Riley (RB) - injury Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. (DB) - injury Jah-Marien Latham (LB) - injury Kameron Howard (DB) - injury Jeremiah Beaman (DL) - injury
Here are the opt-outs for this game: Miami Damari Brown (CB) - injury Malik Bryant (LB) - injury Dylan Upshaw (WR) - injury Keionte Scott (DB) - injury Texas A&M Collin Klein (OC) - Hired by Kansas State Jay Bateman (DC) - Hired by Kentucky Le'Veon Moss (RB) - injury Jerome Myles (WR) - injury
College Football Playoff Round 1
Saturday, Dec. 20
CFP R1 Game 3 opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this game: Tulane Jon Sumrall (HC) - Hired by Florida TJ Finley (QB) - Transfer Portal Dickson Agu (LB) - injury Bryce Bohanon (WR) - injury Gerrod Henderson (DL) - injury Dickson Agu (LB) - injury Jayden Lewis (DB) - injury LeRon Husbands (TE) - injury Ty Thompson (TE) - injury Mississippi Lane Kiffin (HC) - Hired by LSU Cedrick Beavers (CB) - injury Raymond Collins (LB) - injury Antonio Kite (CB) - injury
College Football Playoff Round 1
Saturday, Dec. 20
CFP R1 Game 4 opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this game: James Madison Bob Chesney (HC) - Hired by UCLA Jamal Olford (CB) - injury Cam McNair (OL) - injury Brandon Fique (LB) - injury Lee Johnson (LB) - injury Oregon Will Stein (OC) - Hired by Kentucky Tosh Lupoi (DC) - Hired by Cal Dakoda Fields (CB) - Transfer Portal Jahlil Florence (CB) - Transfer Portal Bryce Boulton (OL) - injury Justius Lowe (WR) - injury Kyle Kasper (WR) - injury Gernorris Wilson (OL) - injury Solomon Davis (DB) - injury Da'Jaun Riggs (RB) - injury
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Monday, Dec. 22
Potato Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: Washington State Anthony Palano (LB) - Transfer Portal Kenny Worthy (CB) - Transfer Portal Jaxson Porter (QB) - Transfer Portal Braden Pegan (WR) - Transfer Portal Tony Freeman (WR) - Transfer Portal Kirby Vorhees (RB) - Transfer Portal Carter Pabst (WR) - injury Brock Dieu (OL) - injury Utah State Samson Alofipo (LB_ - injury Naki Fahina (DL) - injury Jonathan Baird (S) - injury Byron Barnes (QB) - injury Williams Holmes (LB) - injury Broc Lane (TE) - injury Jack Hadfield (CB) - injury Demick Starling (WR) - injury Corey Thompson Jr. (WR) - injury Courage Ugo (CB) - injury
Bush's Boca Raton Bowl
Tuesday, Dec. 23
Boca Raton opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: Toledo Jason Candle (HC) - Hired by UConn Vince Kehres (DC) - Hired by Syracuse Malachi Davis (EDGE) - Transfer Portal Braden Awls (DB) - Transfer Portal Chris D'Appolonia (LB) - Transfer Portal Stephen Gales (OT) - Transfer Portal Louisville Chris Bell (WR) - injury Rene Konga (DT) Wesley Bailey (EDGE)
New Orleans Bowl
Tuesday, Dec. 23
New Orleans Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: Western Kentucky Dylan Flowers (CB) - Transfer Portal Caleb Nitta (OL) - Transfer Portal La'Vell Wright (RB) - Transfer Portal Southern Miss Charles Huff (HC) - Hired by Memphis Corey Myrick (SAF) - Transfer Portal Blake Bustard (OT) - injury JJ Hawks (DL) - injury
Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl
Tuesday, Dec. 23
Frisco Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: UNLV Alex Orji (QB) - injury Var'keyes Gumms (TE) - injury Ohio Brian Smith (HC) - fired Max Rodarte (WR) - injury Michael Molnar (LB) - injury
Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl
Wednesday, Dec. 24
Hawai'i Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: California Justin Wilcox (HC) - fired Hawai'i Jackson Harris (WR) - Transfer Portal Nick Cenacle (WR) - injury Virdel Edwards II (CB) - injury Jamih Otis (LB) - injury
GameAbove Sports Bowl
Friday, Dec. 26
GameAbove Sports Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: Central Michigan Kade Kostus (DL) - Transfer Portal David Chapeau (P) - Transfer Portal Angel Flores (QB) - injury Bryce Rowe (CB) - injury Northwestern Cam Porter (RB) - injury Dashun Reeder (RB) - injury Drew Wagner (WR) - injury Aidan Hubbard (DL) - injury Richie Hagarty (DL) - injury Evan Smith (CB) - injury Fred Davis (CB) - injury
Rate Bowl
Friday, Dec. 26
Rate Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: New Mexico Michael Buckley (WR) - injury Richard Pearce (OL) - injury Xavier Slayton (DL) - injury Abraham Williams (CB) - injury Minnesota Fame Ijeboi (RB) - Transfer Portal Malachi Coleman (WR) - Transfer Portal Kenric Lanier (WR) - Transfer Portal AJ Turner (RB) - injury Marcellus Marshall (OG) - injury Matt Kingsbury (LB) - injury Za'Quan Bryan (CB) - injury
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Friday, December 26
First Responder Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: FIU Mister Clark (CB) - Transfer Portal Daniel Michel (OT) - Transfer Portal Victor Evans III (CB) - Transfer Portal Jessiah McGrew (SAF) - Transfer Portal Keyone Jenkins (QB) - injury Joe Pesansky (QB) - injury Toddrick Brewton (DL) - injury Dwight Nunoo (LB) - injury UTSA Chidera Otutu (DL) - Transfer Portal Daemian Wimberly (EDGE) - Transfer Portal KK Meier (DB) - Transfer Portal Houston Thomas (TE) - Transfer Portal Kenny Ozowalu (DL) - Transfer Portal Davin Martin (CB) - Transfer portal Jimmy Wyrick (SAF) - Transfer Portal
Go Bowling Military Bowl
Saturday, December 27
Military Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: Pittsburgh Kyle Louis (LB) - NFL Draft Juelz Goff (RB) - Transfer Portal Zion Fowler-El (WR) - Transfer Portal East Carolina Katin Houser (QB) - Transfer Portal Jayvontay Conner (TE) - Transfer Portal Yannick Smith (WR) - Transfer Portal London Montgomery (RB) - Transfer Portal
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
Saturday, December 27
Pinstripe Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: Penn State Zane Durant (DL) - NFL Draft Zakee Wheatley (SAF) - NFL Draft Olaivavega Ioane (OL) - NFL Draft Nicholas Singleton (RB) - NFL Draft Vega Ioane (OG) - NFL Draft AJ Harris (CB) - Transfer Portal Clemson Khalil Barnes (SAF) - Transfer Portal Jamal Anderson (LB) - Transfer Portal DeMonte Capehart (DT) Avieon Terrell (CB) - injury Dee Crayton (LB) - Transfer Portal T.J. Parker (EDGE) - NFL Draft Antonio Williams (WR) - NFL Draft Peter Woods (DT) - NFL Draft
Wasabi Fenway Bowl
Saturday, December 27
Fenway Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: UConn Cam Edwards (RB) - Transfer Portal Joe Fagnano (QB) - NFL Draft Skyler Bell (WR) - NFL Draft Mel Brown (RB) - Transfer Portal Ben Murawski (OT) - Transfer Portal Carsten Casady (OT) - Transfer Portal Cam Chadwick (CB) - Transfer Portal MJ Flowers (RB) - Transfer Portal Brady Wayburn (OG) - Transfer Portal Oumar Diomande (LB) - Transfer Portal Osiris Gilbert (CB) - Transfer Portal Victor Rosa (RB) - Transfer Portal Army -
Pop-Tarts Bowl
Saturday, December 27
Pop-Tarts Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: Georgia Tech - BYU -
Snopp Dogg Arizona Bowl
Saturday, December 27
Arizona Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: Miami (OH) Dequan Finn (QB) Kam Perry (WR) - Transfer Portal Adam Trick (DL) - Transfer Portal Michael Yharbrough (CB) - Transfer Portal Fresno State -
Isleta New Mexico Bowl
Saturday, Dec. 27
New Mexico Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: North Texas - San Diego State Jared Badie (EDGE) - Transfer Portal August Salvati (EDGE) - Transfer Portal
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
Saturday, Dec. 27
Gator Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: Virginia Ja'Son Prevard (CB) Missouri Marquis Johnson (WR) - Transfer Portal Beau Pribula (QB) - Transfer Portal
Kinder's Texas Bowl
Saturday, Dec. 27
Texas Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: LSU Aaron Anderson (WR) - NFL Draft Mansoor Delane (CB) - NFL Draft Ahmad Breaux (DL) - Transfer Portal Harold Perkins Jr. (LB) - East-West Shrine Bowl prep Houston Demetrius Hunter (OL)
JLab Birmingham Bowl
Monday, Dec. 29
Birmingham Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: Georgia Southern - App State -
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
Tuesday, Dec. 30
Independence Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: Coastal Carolina - Louisiana Tech -
Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl
Tuesday, Dec. 30
Music City Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: Tennessee Boo Carter (CB) - Transfer Portal Jake Merklinger (QB) - Transfer Portal Illinois -
Valero Alamo Bowl
Tuesday, Dec. 30
Alamo Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: USC Makai Lemon (WR) - NFL Draft TCU Josh Hoover (QB) - Transfer Portal
ReliaQuest Bowl
Wednesday, Dec. 31
ReliaQuest Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: Iowa Judah Mallette (WR) - Transfer Portal Vanderbilt -
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Wednesday, Dec. 31
Sun Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: Arizona State Sam Leavitt (QB) - Transfer Portal Chamon Metayer (TE) Duke Brian Parker II (OT) - NFL Draft
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
Wednesday, Dec. 31
Citrus Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: Michigan Jaishawn Barham (LB) Giovanni El-Hadi (OL) Derrick Moore (EDGE) - NFL Draft Texas CJ Baxter (RB) Jaylon Guilbeau (CB) - NFL Draft
SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Wednesday, Dec. 31
Vegas Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: Nebraska Emmett Johnson (RB) - NFL Draft Dasan McCullough (LB) - NFL Draft Utah Caleb Lomu (OL) - NFL Draft Spencer Fano (OL) - NFL Draft Logan Fano (DE) - NFL Draft
Cotton Bowl: College Football Playoff Quarterfinal
Wednesday, Dec. 31
CFP Quarterfinal 1 opt-outs
We will list the opt-outs of this game once the official matchup is set.
Orange Bowl: College Football Playoff Quarterfinal
Thursday, Jan. 1
CFP Quarterfinal 2 opt-outs
We will list the opt-outs of this game once the official matchup is set.
Rose Bowl: College Football Playoff Quarterfinal
Thursday, Jan. 1
CFP Quarterfinal 3 opt-outs
We will list the opt-outs of this game once the official matchup is set.
Sugar Bowl: College Football Playoff Quarterfinal
Thursday, Jan. 1
CFP Quarterfinal 4 opt-outs
We will list the opt-outs of this game once the official matchup is set.
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Friday, Jan. 2
Armed Forces Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: Rice - Texas State -
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Friday, Jan. 2
Liberty Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: Navy - Cincinnati Brendan Sorsby (QB) - Transfer Portal
Duke's Mayo Bowl
Friday, Jan. 2
Duke's Mayo Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: Wake Forest - Mississippi State -
Trust & Will Holiday Bowl
Friday, Jan. 2
Holiday Bowl opt-outs
Here are the opt-outs for this bowl: Arizona - SMU -
Fiesta Bowl: College Football Playoff Semifinal
Thursday, Jan. 8
CFP Semifinal 1 opt-outs
We will list the opt-outs of this game once the official matchup is set.
Peach Bowl: College Football Playoff Semifinal
Friday, Jan. 9
CFP Semifinal 2 opt-outs
We will list the opt-outs of this game once the official matchup is set.
College Football Playoff National Championship
Monday, Jan. 20
CFP National Championship opt-outs
We will list the opt-outs of the National Championship once the official matchup is set.
2025 college football bowl game schedule
Bowl Name
Location
Date
Celebration Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Stadium Atlanta, GA
Sat, 12/13
LA Bowl
SoFi Stadium Inglewood, CA
Sat, 12/13
Salute to Veterans Bowl
Cramton Bowl Montgomery, AL
Tues, 12/16
Cure Bowl
Camping World Stadium Orlando, FL
Wed, 12/17
68 Ventures Bowl
Hancock Whitney Stadium Mobile, AL
Wed, 12/17
Xbox Bowl
Ford Center At The Star Frisco, TX
Thu, 12/18
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Brooks Stadium Conway, SC
Fri, 12/19
Gasparilla Bowl
Raymond James Stadium Tampa, FL
Fri, 12/19
CFP First Round
Memorial Stadium Norman, OK
Fri, 12/19
CFP First Round
Kyle Field College Station, TX
Sat, 12/20
CFP First Round
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium Oxford, MS
Sat, 12/20
CFP First Round
Autzen Stadium Eugene, OR
Sat, 12/20
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Albertsons Stadium Boise, ID
Mon, 12/22
Boca Raton Bowl
Flagler Credit Union Stadium Boca Raton, FL
Tue, 12/23
New Orleans Bowl
Caesars Superdome New Orleans, LA
Tue, 12/23
Frisco Bowl
Ford Center At The Star Frisco, TX
Tue, 12/23
Hawai'i Bowl
Clarence T. Ching Athletics Complex Honolulu, HI
Wed, 12/24
GameAbove Sports Bowl
Ford Field Detroit, MI
Fri, 12/26
Rate Bowl
Chase Field Phoenix, AZ
Fri, 12/26
First Responder Bowl
Gerald J. Ford Stadium Dallas, TX
Fri, 12/26
Military Bowl
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, MD
Sat, 12/27
Pinstripe Bowl
Yankee Stadium Bronx, NY
Sat, 12/27
Fenway Bowl
Fenway Park Boston, MA
Sat, 12/27
Pop-Tarts Bowl
Camping World Stadium Orlando, FL
Sat, 12/27
Arizona Bowl
Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ
Sat, 12/27
New Mexico Bowl
University Stadium Albuquerque, NM
Sat, 12/27
Gator Bowl
EverBank Stadium Jacksonville, FL
Sat, 12/27
Texas Bowl
NRG Stadium Houston, TX
Sat, 12/27
Birmingham Bowl
Protective Stadium Birmingham, AL
Mon, 12/29
Independence Bowl
Independence Stadium Shreveport, LA
Tue, 12/30
Music City Bowl
Nissan Stadium Nashville, TN
Tue, 12/30
Alamo Bowl
Alamodome San Antonio, TX
Tue, 12/30
ReliaQuest Bowl
Raymond James Stadium Tampa, FL
Wed, 12/31
Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl El Paso, TX
Wed, 12/31
Citrus Bowl
Camping World Stadium Orlando, FL
Wed, 12/31
Las Vegas Bowl
Allegiant Stadium Las Vegas, NV
Wed, 12/31
Cotton Bowl (CFP Quarterfinal)
AT&T Stadium Arlington, TX
Wed, 12/31
Orange Bowl (CFP Quarterfinal)
Hard Rock Stadium Miami, FL
Thu, 1/1
Rose Bowl (CFP Quarterfinal)
Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA
Thu, 1/1
Sugar Bowl (CFP Quarterfinal)
Caesars Superdome New Orleans, LA
Thu, 1/1
Armed Forces Bowl
Amon G. Carter Stadium Fort Worth, TX
Fri, 1/2
Liberty Bowl
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium Memphis, TN
Fri, 1/2
Duke's Mayo Bowl
Bank of America Stadium Charlotte, NC
Fri, 1/2
Holiday Bowl
Snapdragon Stadium San Diego, CA
Fri, 1/2
Fiesta Bowl (CFP Semifinal)
Mercedes-Benz Stadium New Orleans, LA
Thu, 2/8
Cotton Bowl (CFP Semifinal)
AT&T Stadium Dallas, TX
Thu, 1/9
CFP National Championship
Hard Rock Stadium Miami, FL
Mon, 1/19
Why do players opt out of playing in bowl games?
Players skip bowl games mostly for self-preservation and business reasons, not because they don’t care in the outcome of the game.
For top NFL prospects, the main concern is injury risk before the annual draft. A bad knee injury in a mostly “exhibition” bowl can cost millions in draft position and even shorten a career. High-profile cases like Notre Dame star Jaylon Smith, who saw his draft stock drop after suffering a devastating injury in the Fiesta Bowl, is the cautionary tale every agent brings up.
The transfer portal adds another layer. Once a player decides to transfer, playing in a bowl for a staff they’re leaving while risking injury before a fresh start often makes little sense. Some schools have even struggled to field full rosters after large portal waves.
You also see opt-outs tied to coaching changes, NIL and draft training. If a head coach bolts or an OC is fired, players may choose to protect their body, lock in draft prep with trainers, and avoid one more month of hits for a game that doesn’t impact a title chase in the modern CFP era.
What is the Transfer Portal?
The NCAA Transfer Portal is an online database the NCAA launched in 2018 to manage and publicize college athletes’ intent to transfer between schools. It's a sort of centralized “free agency” board in which coaches and recruiters at other NCAA schools can see a player's profile and legally contact them about transferring once they have officially entered the portal.
For football, the portal is now one of the main roster-building tools at both the FBS and FCS levels. A player who wants to move tells their current school’s compliance office; the school must enter the athlete’s name in the portal within a short time frame (generally two business days). Once listed, the athlete can be recruited by other programs and explore scholarship and playing-time opportunities elsewhere.
Transfers are regulated by portal windows which are specific dates when players can enter their names. Recent rule changes have settled on a single main window for Division I football in early January (with a short extra window for College Football Playoff participants), replacing longer December and spring periods.
Can players enter the Transfer Portal multiple times?
Yes, players now can transfer multiple times without having to sit out a season, as long as they meet academic and timing requirements. This has accelerated roster turnover and made the portal a critical tool for coaches who want experienced players instead of relying solely on high school recruiting.
Can players return to their original school after entering the Transfer Portal?
Yes, although it isn't common. The portal is basically a “I’m open to talking” signal, not an instant transfer. Until a player actually enrolls at a new school and signs scholarship paperwork there, they’re still eligible to return.
The original school has a choice: Once a player enters the portal, the school is allowed (but not required) to pull or reallocate that scholarship for the next term. So coming back usually depends on whether the staff wants them back and whether there’s still a scholarship and roster spot available.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
We here at The Good Phight hope you’ve enjoyed your holiday season, whether you celebrate one, multiple, or none of the holidays involved. We also hope you’ve been following along with Smarty’s annual holiday posts of nonsense. There’s still some time left in the season of giving, but with Christmas in the rear-view mirror, let’s use today to reflect on some of the best Phillies related gifts we’ve received.
If you’re like me, everyone you know probably assumes that something even remotely connected to the Phillies or baseball is an easy gift for either the holidays or birthdays. When in doubt, your loved ones can always find something at your local Rally House with a Phillies logo on it to give you.
And admit it: you usually love whatever it is, no matter how small or silly. Personally, one of my favorite Christmas gifts I’ve received is a collection of every Washington Post article that ever mentioned the Phillies by name. It’s something I never would’ve thought I’d need or even existed, but it’s something that is fascinating to look through.
We are several days removed from the Houston Texans disappointing victory over the woeful Las Vegas Raiders. They hit the 10-win mark but limp into an important matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. After the Raiders game, I asked the other writers of Battle Red Blog to express their frustrations with the team. And vent they did.
Provide your immediate reaction to the Texans nail biting win against the really bad Raiders. The offense looked bad and the defense started to show crack due to injuries up front. What frustrated you the most against the Raiders and who do you point the finger at?
Mike Bullock:
What frustrated me most?
Nick Caley.
Who do we point the finger at?
Nick Caley.
The offense looked borderline inept time and again today. Max Crosby coming untouched into the backfield multiple times. No receivers open multiple times. This was likey the worst defense the Texans will face before next season and Caley only managed to put up 1 touchdown? The next time Houston loses, if Caley isn’t promoted to unemployed within an hour of the end of the game, Cal should fire himself for gross negligence. Defensively it made me wonder just how much Al-Shair means to this unit. His on-field “quarterbacking” of the defense was clearly missed today. Hopefully he gets healthy and the team shakes off this clunker of a game fast.
Clayton Anderson:
I was most frustrated by how the Raiders’ defense was able to completely neutralize the Texans’ offensive game plan. Credit to Maxx Crosby and the defensive line for smothering the run and annihilating Houston’s offensive line, but there didn’t seem to be much urgency by Caley/Stroud to complete the easier passes to keep the offense on the field more. Too many tosses for negative yards, and 4+ 3-and-outs against a 2-12 Raiders team is unacceptable.
The run defense was exposed today. Henry To’oTo’o was caught again in coverage on a long touchdown reception to a running back. All in all, this was a notch below “a win is a win”. This felt like a disastrous regression for the offense, one that completely resets your expectations for what they can accomplish this season.
Kenneth L.:
Going to throw my own thoughts in here early too. What’s most frustrating is the playing to the level of competition. We should have put them away much like we did the Cardinals where it was close-ish, but the offense couldn’t get going. I thought Caley tried multiple different things ONCE and then completely abandoned them for the simple playbook he maintains.
Stroud’s footwork looked like it was back to its old inconsistencies. He’s had issues all season when under pressure. He throws jump passes, passes without a good base, and inconsistent drop backs. I also thought he could have run the ball several times and chose not to.
L4Blitzer:
This was a game that Houston should have closed out with little to no stress. Las Vegas has been even worse than Arizona, and the Texans squashed the Cards. Then, we had whatever that was at NRG on Sunday. An offense that couldn’t be bothered to get going until late in the game. An offensive line that when they weren’t getting injured, couldn’t hold off one of the worst units in the game, even factoring Maxx Crosby. Oh, and the defense made Ashton Jeanty think he was back at Boise State, playing against some suck Mountain West team. Probably isn’t helping that Houston is using players way, way down on the depth chart at DT. If not for Stingley, Fairbairn and some late offensive heroics, Houston takes one of the worst loses in recent memory.
Yet, Houston did manage to win the game. The Jeanty run in the 4th quarter was bad, but Houston was up 9 at that point, and Houston made sure that the Raiders didn’t get the ball back again. How often has Houston lost a game like this in the past? Instead, Houston found a way to do just enough to get the much-needed W. Good teams aren’t always good, but they are good when needed. Now, if they play that bad against the Chargers and the Colts, we are having a different conversation.
Vallretired:
I think the biggest frustration is that you knew your starting tailback was out. So why are we still running the same offense? This is beyond Nick Caley at this point. Ryan’s is determined to score only 20 points and only 20 points. With Azeez Al Shaiir out it was predictable they would struggle some defensively. Again, you’re trying to run the same thing you would before without any adjustments.
Patrick.H:
This was one of the most annoying Texans wins I’ve seen in a minute. The offense looked lackadaisical and I started seriously wondering if something was wrong with Stroud through most of the game. Plus, the defense had me wondering if they had a problem with covering tight ends. Between McBride last week and Bowers this week, it looks like they just can’t stop them from gashing an otherwise stellar defense. Granted, Al-Shaair, Settle, and Edwards were out and they’re a big part of what keeps the defense going, but it’s the start of a trend I don’t like.
There have been better Texans teams and there have been worse Texans teams. But this might be the most Jekyll-and-Hyde Texans team we’ve ever seen. Furthermore, I believe Nick Caley should be fired immediately.
VBallRetired:
(Caley) won’t be. The problem is you can’t hire an OC that will craft an offense around their talent. They’re playing smashmouth football if it hairlips the governor. The only hope is they can add a couple of lineman and a better back and actually lean into that. A different OC likely runs the same conservative shit Caley is.
Kenneth L.:
I also don’t think Caley will be fired – it’s his first time calling plays. It would also be Stroud’s third OC in as many years.
Patrick.H.:
I don’t expect it to happen, I’m just saying I’m done with him.
Kenneth L.:
BUT I would kill if Brian Daboll could coach C.J. Stroud.
Patrick.H.:
Offensive Coordinator/Asst. Head Coach Brian Daboll? Sign me up.
VBallRetired:
I dunno. He likes running quarterbacks.
The problem I see is that if you win just one more game then they can convince themselves they are good and moving in the right direction.
The Montreal Canadiens will be represented by five prospects at the 2026 World Junior Championship, which is set to take place in St-Paul and Minneapolis, starting on December 26, and culminating with the gold medal game on January 5.
Michael Hage – Team Canada
The most notable player taking part in the tournament will be none other than Michael Hage, the dynamic forward who has quickly become a top player in the NCAA, as well as one of the most important draft picks in the prospect pool.
Not only has he managed to produce an impressive 10 goals and 18 assists in 20 games, he also happens to lead the Michigan Wolverines (NCAA) in scoring, tied with Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Will Horcoff.
If you haven’t had a chance to watch Hage in action yet, you’ll notice that he’ll be among the most exciting players on the ice for Team Canada, a situation that may lead to a healthy amount of offence, as there’s a chance he’ll spend most of the tournament alongside Top 2026 prospect Gavin McKenna.
Canada’s first game will take place on Friday, December 26, versus Czechia, the very team that has eliminated them during the last two editions of the World Junior Championship.
Picked 70th overall in 2024, Koivu has spent the last three seasons playing professional hockey in Finland with TPS Turku (Liiga), a team part-owned by his father, Saku. It’s important to remember that Aatos and Saku possess very different toolkits. Aatos has a much better shot, and engages in physical play with more regularity, whereas his father was a finesse player who excelled at playmaking.
In 30 games, he’s only managed to score two goals and five assists, though we do have to keep in mind that most 19-year-olds do not have to face much older opponents on a nightly basis.
Even though he’s a natural centre, he’s expected to serve as Finland’s second-line right wing, playing alongside Philadelpha Flyers draft pick Heikki Ruohonen, and Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Joona Saarelainen.
Finland will be aiming for gold at this edition of the World Junior Championship, in a bid to improve upon their silver medal finish last year, after dealing with a 4-3 overtime loss to Team USA in the final game of the tournament.
Finland gets on the board first with Heikki Ruohonen tipping in Aatos Koivu's shot.
Team Finland opens the tournament with a game versus Denmark, on Friday, December 26.
L.J. Mooney – Team USA
While there’s no doubt we can criticize Team USA for their lack of results at the Olympics, the same cannot be said about their showings at WJC.
The Americans are the current champions, and will look to extend their win streak to an impressive three consecutive tournaments with a win in 2026.
They won’t be icing a lineup with the same talent level as previous years, which may play in L.J. Mooney’s favour. He’s clearly among the most skilled players on the team, and the strict rulebook enforced by the IIHF should allow him a little more time and space to use his impressive creativity.
Mooney has scored four goals and 11 assists in 15 games for the University of Minnesota (NCAA), and is expected to serve as a second-line winger throughout the World Junior Championship.
LJ Mooney just won the game for the United States with this overtime goal, and he does the dab to celebrate.
Team USA will face Germany in their first game of the tournament, on Friday, December 26.
Carlos Handel – Team Germany
Life as an 18-year-old defenceman is never easy, but Handel has displayed an encouraging level of skill while playing for the Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL).
Picked 117th overall in 2025, Handel is in his second season with the Mooseheads, and has maintained a relatively consistent production rate throughout, to the tune of two goals and 10 assists in 25 games (2025-26).
As one of the better puck-moving defencemen in the lineup, Germany will count on Handel to drive the play, in a bid to avoid yet another ninth place finish.
Vecvanags was picked 134th overall in 2024, and though he doesn’t necessarily represent the most hyped prospects, he may end up playing one of the biggest roles at the tournament.
After all, a goalie can re-write the script in a short tournament, which is exactly what Latvia is hoping Vecvanags will do, maintaining the momentum he created in pre-tournament play.
Recruiting news is a little slow lately, between signing day being a few weeks ago, a lack of visits with many recruits are home for the holidays, and the uncertainty of Michigan’s head coach vacancy. That said, there are a few updates to get to as the calendar turns to 2026, including a local quarterback speaking highly of the Wolverines.
While a lot can happen between now and Tabron enrolling in college, he’s one of the highest ranked players in his class. Tabron ranks 28th nationally, fourth among quarterbacks and second among Michigan recruits on the 247Sports composite. He told Rivals’ Greg Biggins ($) that Virginia Tech was his most recent scholarship offer, but he also has offers from Indiana, Oregon, Michigan and Michigan State, among others.
Michigan has an early advantage here since Tabron plays an hour away from Ann Arbor. He grew up following the Wolverines and Spartans, like almost every other young football fan from this state.
“I always root for the hometown teams, and that was Michigan and Michigan State,” Tabron said. “With Michigan, I’m just patiently waiting to see what they’re going to do and I’m going to have high interest in them no matter what.”
Tabron also mentioned he liked “Coach (Biff) Poggi a lot, and I know a lot of the players do, too.” He also plans to visit UCLA, USC, Texas and Texas A&M in the near future. Once Michigan has a head coach in place, Tabron will also likely come back for a visit.
Other programs pursuing a flip from 2027 Michigan QB commit
With a coaching search underway for the Wolverines, the vultures have been circling over Ann Arbor trying to get committed recruits to change their minds. One commit being courted by other schools is 2027 four-star quarterback Peter Bourque, who committed over the summer and was just named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Massachusetts.
Penn State and Virginia Tech have entered the fold for Bourque with recent offers from those new respective coaching staffs. And according to The Michigan Insider’s Brice Marich ($), Missouri is also a school to watch out for after Bourque’s primary recruiter at Michigan, Chip Lindsey, joined the Tigers coaching staff.
Bourque has previously talked about his affinity for Michigan several times, including this quote that Marich included from March after an unofficial visit.
“Always been a big fan of the program, Bourque said. ”This trip gave me the chance to really get to know the people involved and to see the culture. Michigan has so many things that are important to me. I want to play in the biggest games and compete for championships. I want to be in a quarterback room where there is great competition that will get the most out of everyone. The education and the Michigan network is a huge factor. I am excited to continue to build the relationships with the staff.”
Of course, a lot has changed around Michigan between now and then, but Michigan may need to put in a little effort to make sure he is retained.
2027 LB also high on Michigan
Michael Griffin, a 2027 three-star linebacker just outside the top 500 on the composite, has offers from 20 schools. Among the schools standing out to him include Oklahoma, Florida State and Michigan.
“It’s very big to me because I feel like a school keeping a relationship with their recruits plays a big part in the recruiting cycle,” Griffin told Rivals’ Chad Simmons ($).
Griffin visited Florida State for a camp this summer, and he said he wants to visit Oklahoma and Michigan for the first time in the near future.
“I look forward to being somewhere where I can be developed on and off the field and grow into a man,” said Griffin. “Michigan is a defensive program. They’ve always been good, and I want to get up there and see what they’re about.”
It’s nice for Michigan to be one of the early favorites, but it sounds like there’s still more work to be done by Michigan and whoever the linebackers coach is in the new regime.
Hail won her first title in pro wrestling on the December 16 edition of "NXT," where she ended Monroe's first run with the title. Monroe was originally supposed to win the match, as per backstage rumors, but the referee counted to three and crowned Hail the new champion. Now, "Fightful Select" has reported that Monroe — and those in charge of her creative — was reportedly not pleased with how things turned out and has claimed that she was injured before the count. The outlet, though, can't verify the extent of the former AEW star's injury. There's been some criticism of referee Felix Fernandez for counting to three, but the report stated that NXT's top management, including creative head Shawn Michaels and coach Matt Bloom, have praised him for doing things the right way.
The accidental title change came at an inopportune time for WWE and its crew, as they had reportedly filmed a lot of content ahead of the holidays. Most fans, though, are expecting Monroe — who's been pushed quite a bit since debuting in WWE earlier this year — to win back the title in the near future. And that could happen very soon, as it was revealed this past week on "NXT" that Monroe would be getting her rematch against Hail at NXT: New Year's Evil on January 6, 2026, after the former champion confronted the new champ and demanded a rematch.
So far, WWE has announced two other title matches for New Year's Evil – the WWE NXT Women's Championship match between champion Jacy Jayne and Kendal Grey, and the WWE NXT Championship clash between Oba Femi and Leon Slater.
The 5-10 New Orleans Saints will head to Nashville for a date with the 3-12 Tennessee Titans this weekend. As the season winds down and both teams are already eliminated from postseason contention, this Sunday will serve as an opportunity to earn valuable reps for young, developing players and put bragging rights on the line.
Tennessee’s offense ranks near the bottom of the league at 31st overall. They average fewer than 260 yards per game and only score 16.7 points per game. New Orleans’ defensive play has elevated tremendously over the second half of the season. They rank ninth overall in the NFL by allowing averages of just 303.5 yards and 22.5 points per contest.
First overall pick Cam Ward has tossed for 2,866 yards to this point in the season. While he has not put up any video game-like numbers, he has played well enough for the Titans to be excited about the team’s future at quarterback. Ward is completing over 60% of his passes and has a nearly 2:1 touchdown to interception ratio.
In a turn of events for Tennessee’s run game, it has been former Dallas Cowboy Tony Pollard as the head horse for the Titans rather than 2023 draft pick Tyjae Spears. After missing the first four weeks with an injury, Spears returned to the lineup, where many expected him to be the lead back for the Titans. However, Pollard has held a firm grasp on the starter role for the season.
Pollard has accumulated 949 yards on the ground with five TDs on more than 200 carries as opposed to Spears’ 263 yards on just 63 totes with two scores. Spears has been used more within the passing game, but not by much. He’s had nearly ten more receptions and under 100 more yards receiving than Pollard.
Chig Okonkwo has been the Titans’ leading pass catcher with just over 500 yards through the air, although he has just one score. For that matter, only three other players have multiple scores for Tennessee offensively. Wideouts Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor have four and three TDs, respectively. Tight End Gunnar Helm has found the end zone twice this season.
Demario Davis is leading the Saints with 131 total tackles this year. He has been a menace around the field this year with three pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Davis also has earned six tackles for loss.
Defensive end Cameron Jordan has proven to still be efficient in his aging years with New Orleans. He has eight and a half sacks this year, followed by Chase Young, who has seven. Both edge rushers have a forced fumble as well.
Cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry leads New Orleans in both interceptions and passes defensed. He’s managed to bat away 11 passes this season and picked off three more from opposing QBs.
New Orleans is coming off their best defensive performance all year last week when it limited the New York Jets to just six total points. They held New York to a combined 4-19 on third and fourth down attempts while forcing two turnovers.
If Brandon Staley’s group can get anywhere near as good a job as it did last Sunday versus the Titans, Tennessee fans will be in for a long day.
Knockouts are great, I know, but nothing is more alpha than forcing your highly-trained opponent to quit in combat.
Making jiu-jitsu popular around the globe was the main reason why the Gracie family created the UFC in 1993 — and promoted other forms of challenges decades before that in Brazil — and the martial art (and its variations) continues to amaze us decades later with jaw-dropping finishes.
The No. 1 submission of 2025 received the top vote for two-thirds of the panel, but the votes were all over the place to complete the top 5. It was so tight that two submissions ended up sharing the final position, leaving two others out of the final list by only one point. And the silver medalist somehow forced us to break our own rules this year!
1. Costello Van Steenis def. Johnny Eblen (PFL Africa 1)
There were plenty of flashy, incredible, and nasty submissions in 2025, but no one did it better than Costello Van Steenis.
“The Spaniard” rebounded from a loss to ex-Bellator champion Douglas Lima with back-to-back finishes in 2024, and with that, he earned a shot at the PFL middleweight belt. He flew to Africa to headline PFL’s first-ever show on the continent against the reigning, defending, undefeated 185-pound titleholder Johnny Eblen. And he made history.
Things were not looking good for the challenger at first. Down on the scorecards heading to championship rounds, Van Steenis needed to do something. He started stuffing the takedowns in the fourth, but had to be more emphatic. With just two minutes left in the final round, Eblen shot for a takedown against the cage and was comfortable in that position. 120 seconds, and he’s walking away with the victory.
The referee wasn’t happy as the crowd began to boo with the lack of action, so Eblen began to work. He finally put Van Steenis down on the ground, and the challenger seemed hopeless.
That all changed at the 4:13 mark, with Van Steenis rolling to his right and immediately taking Eblen’s back. Both fighters looked exhausted, but Van Steenis knew that was his final chance. With both hooks in and time running out, the Spanish middleweight managed to put his right forearm under the chin and choke Eblen as hard as he could. Van Steenis had 24 seconds to get the tap, or he would leave with no belt, but there was no way Eblen could survive that long.
Out cold.
Submission of the year. Comeback of the year. “The Spaniard” is the new PFL middleweight champion.
DOUBT. HIM. NOW.
COSTELLO VAN STEENIS REAR NAKED CHOKE WITH 10 SECONDS LEFT!!#AndNew PFL Middleweight World Champion!#PFLCapeTown 🇿🇦 | TODAY | Grand Arena, GrandWest | Cape Town, South Africa | 🇺🇸 LIVE NOW on ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/eAby40lnU6
What Valter Walker did this year was so unprecedented that MMA Fighting decided to break its own rules. For the first time ever, we’re not celebrating a single submission, but the body of work of Walker in 2025.
Johnny Walker’s brother finished off 2024 with a first-round heel hook victory against Junior Tafa in enemy territory, and he decided to make that his thing.
He became the heavyweight version of Rousimar Palhares.
First, Don’Tale Mayes tapped out in under two minutes in February. Five months later, another heel hook to the books versus Kennedy Nzechukwu. Mohammed Usman was going to be next in October, but withdrew from the Rio de Janeiro card during fight week. The UFC wasted no time finding a replacement and matched Walker up two weeks later against Louie Sutherland.
Guess what? Another heel hook. Four in a row!
“I don’t think anyone does it better than me, especially at heavyweight,” Walker said of his heel hooks. “When people get too afraid of something, that’s what ends up happening.”
While the Brazilian national team seeks its sixth FIFA World Cup trophy in 2026, Walker jokes he wants six feet in a row in the UFC.
Who has a better chance of turning it into reality?
Bryce Mitchell became a topic of discussion in the MMA world for disgusting comments made online, and of course, the UFC capitalized on that by booking him against rising sensation Jean Silva. The Fighting Nerd was known for his knockout power, and the match-up was treated as one of those classic striker vs. grappler clashes.
But it was a classic matchup with new trappings. Silva brought a globe for the pre-fight press conference, and Mitchell said the Brazilian sent “legions of demons” to haunt his dreams. Absolute cinema.
They were alone inside the octagon at UFC 314 in April, and Silva dismantled Mitchell like never before. Silva pieced him up on the feet and hurt his body in round two to make Mitchell desperately go for a takedown. And that’s when Silva proved to be more than just a striker, securing a ninja choke that put Mitchell to sleep.
WOWWWW JEAN SILVA QUI KNOCK DOWN MITCHELL ET LE LAISSE SE RELEVER ENSUITE 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/nkb3cMJOqo
Three of Sean Brady’s seven UFC wins have come via decision, but Leon Edwards was a former champion who had never been submitted before in 26 pro fights going into their UFC London showdown. Brady was a man on a mission, though, and he made history in London.
Headlining a Fight Night event in enemy territory against a former titleholder was the coming-out party for Brady, who cemented his position as a force to be reckoned with in the 170-pound division.
Brady destroyed Edwards for three rounds, landing nearly 60 significant strikes, and put an end to Edwards’ misery in the fourth. Brady scored his fifth takedown early and worked from side control before attacking the neck, forcing “Rocky” to tap out with a nasty guillotine from the mount.
T5. Kayla Harrison def. Julianna Peña (UFC 316), Jake Pilla def. Shawn Johnson (Combat FC 9)
Tied in fifth were two incredible submissions from two different stages of the game.
On one side, two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison finally realized her UFC dream by making Julianna Peña quit with a brutal kimura with seconds left in the clock in the second round of their UFC 316 bout in June.
The other finish came from the regional scene, where featherweight Jake Pilla improved to 6-2 as a professional with a rare kneebar variation from the back of Shawn Johnson. When you need a replay to really understand what the heck just happened, you know you’re witnessing something special.
Beautiful reverse lockdown kneebar by Jake "The Gorilla" Pilla at Combat FC. Keep an eye on the legs. You don't see them from that position, so slick #CombatFC9pic.twitter.com/NflzqX48cN
Motoskijöring Is the Perfect Winter MotorsportRed Bull Content Pool
There's no shortage of motorsport options in this world, covering practically every vehicle type and surface. Still, while I thought I'd seen it all, you can color me shocked when I recently discovered the wintery motorsport known as motoskijöring.
Derived from the Scandinavian sport of skijöring, motoskijöring takes the historic winter sport and turns it up a few notches. While the basic skijöring setup is a person on skis being pulled by a horse or dog, motoskijöring puts a dual-sport motorcycle in place of mammal power. This isn't some kind of outlaw hooligan sport, either; there are sanctioned events throughout Nordic countries and Eastern Europe.
In fact, Red Bull has sponsored one of the most notable events for years now, which is officially known as the Red Bull Twitch'N'Ride. The first Red Bull event was held in 2015 in Latvia, and has been run sporadically since then. In another variation, Austrian motorsport collective FAT hosts its own annual ice ring race where pristine ice-racing Porsches pull skiers around an oval track.
The object of the motorsport depends on the event at hand, but it is primarily hosted as a traditional race. Red Bull's Twitch'N'Ride event crowns the victor as the first person to survive the minefield of a race and cross the finish line, as shown by Czech content creator Adam Kappel, who posted his experience at the latest iteration of this alternative motorsport. Holding on while your lead motorcycle rider pins the throttle sounds easy enough on paper, but the difficulty of the motorsport comes from a series of jumps, bumps, and tight turns that both parties must stay upright for.
But these modern-day events are far from the beginning of this snow-centric sport. It's hard to pinpoint exactly when the first motorcycles began pulling eager skiers, but the practice dates back to the 1920s, consistently gaining popularity throughout Europe in the following four decades. Despite its decidedly European beginnings, motoskijöring has spread to the United States, too. Wallace, Idaho—a town of around 1000 people situated between Spokane, Washington, and Missoula, Montana—has hosted a version of the practice using ATVs and 4x4s that it calls Extreme Ski Jor for four years now. No matter what type of vehicle you use, however, this kind of motorsport seems the perfect way to stay fueled up on adrenaline through the cold winter.
A good story that has woven throughout 2025 is the fact that the Smith Center is aging and that officials are in the process of replacing it. Throughout the year, and undercurrent sweeping through that story was that while they were officially considering keeping the original building and renovating, the momentum seemed to be building toward moving the basketball team off campus.
Apparently, this momentum was so strong that it came as a surprise to a pretty influential group of people: the former players and coaches of the Tar Heels.
Last week, Inside Carolina was the first to report that UNC officials held a call with a big group of former players and coaches, and the insinuation was that the call didn’t exactly go like the officials thought it would. This week, Shelby Swanson from the News & Observer followed up on that with some excellent reporting where she was able to get more details out to the public. She even quoted Joel Berry II who was on the call, and noted that it appears that officials had already basically decided on going off-campus for the building:
“I honestly think they thought the call was going to go one way, and it went another way, opposite of what I’m sure they wanted,” Berry told The N&O. “I’m happy it did, if it did catch them by surprise. Because, you know what? Y’all didn’t bring us in. And it’s sad that we’re all sitting on here — legends sitting on that call — and this is the first time that anyone is hearing about this.”
This meeting follows a letter, also reported by Swanson and Inside Carolina, signed by multiple former players and influential alumni noting that they feel like they have been shut out of the process.
It’s not surprising that the officials had mostly settled on going off-campus. Between Bubba Cunningham’s new appointment after this year in helping with the Carolina North setup and the idea that a building out there would be part of a large development, it’s easy to see how officials just kind of assumed “the basketball program will get a palace that’ll bring in way more money than we can get now, surely everyone will be on board.”
The problem, of course, is that the legends on this call seemingly explained that Carolina Basketball is more than just the money that’s brought in. While the Smith Center is aging, it carries the names of two of the most legendary coaches in college basketball, was the home of four national championship teams, and has become the heartbeat of the program as a whole. You can replace a building but it’s really tough to replace a soul.
Part of that soul is who comes into the building to enjoy games, and something that’s off-campus takes away the magic of students walking from their dorms all around main campus and streaming to the building as the anticipation of a huge game builds. That magic was on display against Kansas, and it’s something that is going to have to be addressed in some form for the new building. Rich alumni may pay for suites and club seats, but the way you get rich alumni is letting your students experience the magic of going to a game.
The meeting with the players was enough to where officials are now extending the timeline on a decision. In the posts above, officials had noted they wanted a decision by the end of the year. Now as we are in the last week of 2025, officials have a more nebulous timeline. It’s clear that they are going to have to do a much better job of selling a Carolina North building to the folks who matter. That’s important as the money to build the place has to come from somewhere, and if there’s enough resistance they may be forced to reexamine their plans.
Whichever course this goes, it’ll be one that will seemingly last throughout much of 2026.
The Syracuse Orange men’s soccer program continues to send players into the professional ranks. Goalie Tomas Hut became the most recent Orange to be drafted in the MLS SuperDraft.
Hut was the 21st overall pick and became the 12th Orange player to be taken in the 1st round of the MLS Draft. After spending two seasons at Army, and his first in Syracuse as a reserve, Hut seized the #1 goalie spot last season and delivered an outstanding 2025 season. He was named to the All-ACC Third Team, the All-ACC Tournament Team and was selected to the United Soccer Coaches All-South Region Second Team.
His top performance came in the ACC Tournament when he made a career-high 9 saves over eventual National Runner-Up NC State. It was a game that secured Syracuse’s NCAA Tournament selection and certainly made an impression the Red Bulls front office.
For the year, Hut started 20 games compiling a 9-8-3 record with 76 saves and all 9 wins coming via shutour. He completed his career landing in the top 10 on several Syracuse career lists: seventh place in goals against average (1.30) and shutouts (12), and 10th place spot for most wins (16).
The Orioles have showed an aggressive, win-now mentality this offseason. But they’ve always got an eye on the future, too. And they’re pulling out all the stops to try to garner an extra 2027 draft pick through the Prospect Promotion Incentive system.
As a refresher, PPI, created in 2022, was designed to encourage teams to call up their best prospects earlier rather than bury them in the minors to manipulate their service time. This PPI FAQ covers all the ins and outs, but very basically, a team earns a draft pick if a highly-rated rookie stays on the roster all season and then wins the Rookie of the Year Award. (It also applies if that player finishes in the top 3 of the MVP or Cy Young voting within his first three years, but for the purposes of this article, we’ll just focus on the ROY thing.)
For a player to be PPI eligible, he has to have rookie status and must be ranked as a top-100 prospect on at least two of the three main prospect lists — MLB Pipeline, Baseball America, and ESPN — before the season. The Orioles have reaped the benefits of PPI before, earning a 2024 draft pick when Gunnar Henderson won AL Rookie of the Year in 2023. The O’s used that extra pick, #32 overall, to draft infielder Griff O’Ferrall.
Next year, the Orioles will be trying to hit PPI paydirt again. And to make it possible, they kept two top prospects in the minors until mid-August this year, preserving their rookie status for 2026, even as O’s fans were clamoring for their arrival long before then. Now the Birds are hoping their slow-playing of Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers will pay off.
The more heavily touted of the duo, of course, is Basallo, who currently ranks as the Orioles’ best prospect and #7 in baseball, per MLB Pipeline. The 2021 amateur signing from the Dominican was a steady force throughout his ascent up the Orioles’ organizational ladder, showing elite power and plate discipline at all levels. The O’s are betting big on Basallo, having already signed him to an eight-year extension. He’s rightly considered a front-runner to win AL Rookie of the Year.
Then there’s the Beavers, the dark-horse candidate. A year ago at this time, coming off an unremarkable 2024 campaign at Double-A, few would have expected Beavers to one day be a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate. He wasn’t a bust, exactly, but the former first round pick wasn’t particularly making a name for himself (other than already having the delightful name of Beavers). But Beavers looked like a whole new player in ’25, boosting his OPS by more than 180 points, fueled by a fantastic .420 OBP in 94 games for Norfolk.
As Basallo and Beavers tore up Triple-A this year, the hype continued to grow. By the end of July, Beavers was hitting .304 with a .916 OPS for the Tides. Basallo was rocking a .273/.385/.599 line. Orioles fans, fatigued by the Birds’ woeful performance, were desperate for the infusion of energy and excitement that the two prospects would bring. Many wanted Basallo and Beavers called up as soon as possible. But the Orioles had other plans.
Even when the Orioles cycled through six catchers in the first four months, they didn’t call up Basallo. Even after the trade deadline, when the O’s jettisoned outfielders Cedric Mullins and Ramón Laureano, plus occasional outfielder Ryan O’Hearn, they didn’t call up Beavers.
Though they never directly stated it, the O’s clearly didn’t want to promote Basallo or Beavers early enough for their rookie eligibility to expire in 2025. A player loses rookie eligibility if he spends 45 or more days on a big league roster. And — what do you know? — on Aug. 16, when only 44 days were left in the season, the O’s called up Beavers. The next day, they promoted Basallo.
Both prospects played nearly every day for the Orioles for the rest of the season. Beavers had 137 plate appearances and Basallo 118. So they both got some valuable major league experience. But the question remains, should the Birds have called them up weeks earlier, nullifying their rookie status but giving them even more experience heading into a 2026 season in which the club hopes to be competitive? Or was it worth it for the O’s to keep Basallo and Beavers in the minors as long as they did, rolling the dice that one of them might win Rookie of the Year and garner the O’s a draft pick?
For Basallo, waiting until Aug. 17 was easy to justify. He was just 20 years old for most of the season — he didn’t turn 21 until four days before his debut — and he clearly had things he still needed to learn at Triple-A, particularly his spotty defense behind the plate. So it made sense for the Orioles to slow-play his promotion and let him keep his rookie status for 2026.
For Beavers, it was a riskier gamble. The now-24-year-old had nothing left to prove in the minors and could have been called up weeks earlier to fill a glaring hole in the Orioles’ outfield. Consider that in one mid-August game, the Orioles rolled out a starting outfield of Greg Allen, Jordyn Adams, and Jeremiah Jackson. Two games later, it was Dylan Carlson, Daniel Johnson, and Ryan Noda. That’s five players who had no business being in the majors, plus Jackson, a converted infielder who was miscast as an outfielder. Yet these were the kinds of lineups the O’s were regularly rolling out as they steadfastly refused to call up Beavers.
Adding to the frustration of Beavers’ non-promotion was that he wasn’t even a top-100 ranked prospect at the time, meaning he wouldn’t be PPI-eligible in 2026 even if he retained his rookie status. If the O’s were angling for an extra draft pick, Beavers didn’t seem to be the rookie to do it with. But the Orioles were banking on the hope that Beavers’ breakout 2025 would get him added to the top-100 rankings.
By golly, they were right. When the three prospect sources updated their rankings at the end of the 2025 season, all of them had added Beavers to their list. He currently ranks #80 on Baseball America, #83 on MLB Pipeline, and #94 on ESPN. Assuming he doesn’t fall out of the top 100 when those sites release their 2026 preseason rankings, Beavers will be PPI-eligible after all.
So the Orioles have two PPI-eligible rookies heading in 2026. Now for the hard part: to earn the O’s an extra pick, one of them will actually need to win AL Rookie of the Year.
It’s going to be a tall order. Basallo is the better candidate of the two, but he’ll need to improve greatly on his 2025 MLB performance, in which he batted just .165 with a .559 OPS. He’ll also be bouncing between different positions, backing up Adley Rutschman behind the plate while also making starts at DH and 1B.
Beavers, meanwhile, isn’t as highly regarded a prospect as some other young AL stars who could debut in 2026, despite his solid big league performance in 2025. As of now it’s not even clear if he’ll have everyday playing time. Taylor Ward figures to start most days in left and Colton Cowser in center. That leaves right field, where Tyler O’Neill is making $16.5 million this year and will get playing time accordingly, if healthy (which for Tyler is a big if). Beavers will probably ride the bench at least against lefties and maybe more often than that.
In the end, whether Beavers or Basallo wins Rookie of the Year or not, their careers probably won’t be ruined by the Orioles’ choice to keep them in the minors a few extra weeks. But for O’s fans who had to suffer through those Greg Allen, Daniel Johnson, and Ryan Noda outfields for a while, it sure felt like an eternity.
Egor Demin entered the season looking like a rookie still learning the rhythms of the NBA game. The timing, the pace, the physicality and nonstop reads that come at you faster than the film ever suggests.
Months later, the Nets see a point guard who’s begun to stitch those pieces together. The confidence is louder. The decisions are quicker. And the moments where he tilts the floor in his team’s favor are happening more often and with more intention.
Head coach Jordi Fernández has seen that shift from the very beginning.
“I think he’s more comfortable,” Fernández said. “I think he always played like he belongs, and that’s been great. I remember since that preseason game in Toronto. He played and showed right away why we were so high on him and how he handled himself. It’s not just about the shot making but also seeing the floor and his ability to get deflections and rebounds and all those things. We’ve seen how much better he’s gotten from Day 1… We still want to see more and better. And that goes not just for him, but everybody else on the roster.”
That preseason game in Toronto on Oct. 17 mattered because it offered the first real look at a teenager who didn’t appear rattled by NBA physicality or the moment. His handle stayed tight under pressure, though he did have two turnovers. His decision-making looked poised. He consistently put the ball where it needed to be. And he finished with 14 points on 2-for-3 shooting from deep, added five rebounds and left no doubt that the stage wasn’t too big for him.
The foundation was there. What’s followed since has been steady, visible growth.
Demin’s assist-to-turnover ratio hovering around 2-to-1 is the clearest indicator. For a rookie guard, it’s often the line between simply staying afloat and actually running an offense. Fernández believes Demin’s not only meeting that bar but capable of clearing a higher one.
“I think he’s doing a great job,” Fernández said. “You said it, 2-to-1 is very good. The next step is can he get to 3-to-1. And I think he can because he’s one of the best at finding the 3-point line in the NBA. The numbers say so, but now he has to mix it in with when he touches the paint, when teams are in drop, when he creates a 2-on-1, how he throws the lob.”
Right now, Demin’s reads lean toward the perimeter, where his height and vision let him deliver passes over the top of defenders. Brooklyn loves that part of his game, but the staff wants him to broaden what he sees. That means locating cutters, dropping in lobs, manipulating defenders with his eyes and recognizing when to keep his dribble alive instead of settling for the first available kick-out.
They’ve seen progress. Early in the third quarter of Brooklyn’s 113-103 win over the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 3, Demin found Noah Clowney for two left-corner 3s on consecutive trips, both arriving perfectly in rhythm.
“Those were simple passes, but those passes were right in the pocket, and for guys like Noah, those are layups,” Fernández said
For the Nets, this is exactly the growth curve they hoped to see. And Fernández plans to keep pushing him. In his mind, Demin’s already shown he can handle whatever comes next.
Cleveland’s playoff drought will now run to two seasons, with 14 teams having a longer drought. Five of those teams are set to or likely to break their droughts this year, with their last playoff appearance in parentheses:
New England Patriots (2021)
Jacksonville Jaguars (2022)
Chicago Bears (2020)
Carolina Panthers (2017)
Seattle Seahawks (2022)
The other nine teams with longer playoff droughts than the Browns, all of them to extend another year:
New York Jets (2010)
Cincinnati Bengals (2022)
Tennessee Titans (2021)
Indianapolis Colts (2020)
Las Vegas Raiders (2021)
New York Giants (2022)
New Orleans Saints (2020)
Atlanta Falcons (2017)
Arizona Cardinals (2021)
Two other teams will join Cleveland with their second straight missed playoff season:
Miami Dolphins
Dallas Cowboys
Browns fans have plenty of reasons to be disappointed with their team, but they are far from alone in the NFL with too many bad teams staying bad for a long time. In particular, the Jets and Falcons, having not made the playoffs in the 2020s, stand out as problematic franchises.
Are you surprised at how many teams have a longer playoff drought than the Browns?What do you make of the above lists?
In 1997, Judy Bell became the first female president of the USGA in its then 102-year history. The standout amateur turned golf trailblazer was asked the morning after her election how it felt to be a woman leading one of the most influential associations in sports, to which she responded, “I don’t know yet how it feels to be president because I’ve only been one for a few hours, but I know how it feels to be a woman because I’ve been one for 59 years.”
In her two one-year terms, Bell helped bring the sport to juniors, players with disabilities and other underrepresented groups, contributing more than $65 million to a wide array of programs, changing the scope of golf forever. It was all part of a mindset dedicated to giving back and bettering a game she loved, something the golf world was reminded of once more with the news of Bell's passing at age 89 in November.
There are others golf lost in 2025 who, like Bell, had an impact on the sport that will live on for years to come. We hope the following tributes to this group—talented legends, prolific writers and teachers of all shapes and sizes—can, in a small way, pay homage to their lives and highlight how golf connects us all. Those mentioned below cared about the game and tried to improve it through hard work, stellar play and thoughtful analysis.
A pioneer in golf television as well as a former LPGA pro and college coach at Louisville. Worked more than 300 national broadcasts for CBS, NBC, ABC, Golf Channel, ESPN and the PGA Tour Radio Network among others as a commentator. She is credited as the first woman to broadcast a men's major PGA Tour event when she called the PGA Championship at Riviera in 1995. Was also one of three golfers on the U.S.O. Tour of South Vietnam in 1972. (Dec. 31, 2024, age 78)
Taiwanese pro golfer described as the "Ben Hogan of Asia" by Gene Sarazen. Had a T-15 finish at the Masters in 1963 and won the Yomiuri International on the Asia Golf Circuit. Represented Taiwan at 11 straight Canada Cup tournaments from 1956 through 1966. (Jan. 14, age 93)
Mother of 82-time PGA Tour winner Tiger Woods. Worked as a civilian secretary doing clerical work for the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War when she met Earl Woods in 1966; they eventually moved to Brooklyn, N.Y., and then Cypress, Calif. “My Mom doesn't get enough credit,” Tiger said at the Bob Jones Award ceremony in June 2024. “They all thought that it was me and Dad on the road, which it was, but Mom was at home. If you don’t know, Mom has been there my entire life, she's always been there through thick and thin.” (Feb. 4, age 80)
Father of PGA Tour veteran Matt Kuchar whose enthusiasm for golf (and his son) was on display while caddieing for the then reigning U.S. Amateur champion at the 1998 Masters and U.S. Open. When he wasn't watching Matt play PGA Tour events, worked as a life insurance salesman and was a nationally ranked tennis player. (Feb. 4, age 74)
English club professional with 41 tournament wins, including two victories on the European Tour. Played on the European Ryder Cup team at PGA National in 1983; was the last working PGA Club pro to do so. Was a two-time winner on the European PGA Tour. (March 8, age 85)
Former NBA player who went on to serve on the PGA of America board and was an owner in Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. Became a successful businessman post-basketball career as a fast-food restaurant magnate, owning many Wendy's and Chili’s locations, and purchasing Ebony and Jet magazines. Bought a 10-percent stake in the Milwaukee Bucks in 2024. (March 11, age 71)
Long-time sports reporter for the Washington Post, The Sporting News and a contributing writer for Golf Digest. Perhaps best-known for Season on the Brink, the book chronicling Indiana University's 1985–86 basketball season under controversial coach Bobby Knight. A prolific writer who wrote more than 40 books, including several golf titles, from Tiger Woods deep dives to Q School tales and Ryder Cup chronicles. Was a visiting professor of sports journalism at Duke University, his alma mater, and was inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame. (March 16, age 69)
A beloved American golf coach known for his writing on the art of the short game. Pelz's Short Game Bible was a New York Times best-seller in 1999, and 11 of his pro students won a combined 21 majors. Hosted "The Dave Pelz Scoring Game Show" on the Golf Channel from 1995 to 2005 and was named by Golf Digest as one of the 25 most influential instructors of the 20th century. “I have so many things to say about this incredible man,” Phil Mickelson posted. “I owe so much of my success to the many things he taught me, and he lives on as I share those same insights to numerous other golfers. (March 23, age 85)
One of Britain's best amateur golfers, claiming the British Amateur title in 1977 and 1979 and earning low amateur honors at the Open Championship in 1978 and 1979. Went on to become the first British amateur to make the cut at the Masters. After his playing career, was a Walker Cup captain and became instrumental in helping Great Britain & Ireland win three-straight cups from 1999-2003 after winning just four times in the previous 36 matches. Also was a popular golf course designer, including Fota Island Golf Course, which hosted the 2001 Irish Open. In 2002, was named Chairman of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews Selection Committee. In 2003, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for “services to golf.” (April 6, age 72)
One of the top American amateur golfers in the 1970s and 1980s, when he won five USGA titles (two U.S. Amateurs and three U.S. Mid-Amateurs). Pennsylvania native earned low amateur in the 1980 Open Championship, the 1984 U.S. Open, and the Masters in 1980 (above), 1981 and 1988, while developing his own insurance business. Competed on nine Walker Cup teams and became the only golfer to win the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur in the same year (1983). Eventually turned pro after his 50th birthday and went on to become an eight-time PGA Tour Champions winner. (April 19, age 81)
An eight-time PGA Tour winner, four-time PGA Tour Champions winner and runner-up finisher at both the Masters and U.S. Open. Nephew of Hall of Fame golfer Sam Snead, took up the game when his own father worked at The Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Va. Played pro baseball in the Washington Senators farm system before dedicating himself to golf. Beat Jack Nicklaus in a playoff at the 1995 Ford Senior Players Championship, a senior major. (April 25, age 84)
A native of Augusta, Ga., who caddied at Augusta National as a teenager before eventually going on to a combined 40-year PGA Tour-PGA Tour Champions career. Won 12 times on the senior tour and also won the first two World Long Drive Championships in the mid-1970s. A member of the African-American Golfers Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Caddie Hall of Fame in 2022. (May 2, age 85)
A two-time U.S. Women's Amateur champion who was a regular member of the American Curtis Cup teams in the 1960s. Remained in golf after her playing career ended, becoming chairperson of the USGA Women's Committee. Was awarded the USGA's highest honor, the Bob Jones Award, in 2000 for distinguished sportsmanship. (May 6, age 90)
Famed Japanese golf clubmaker who began his career in the 1950s. Started Miura Golf in 1977, using his sense of technique and distinct innovations that allowed his forged irons to gain attention for the sometimes mystical performance characteristic of feel. Described as having "hands of God" by Japanese golf media, with two Masters champions and a U.S. Open winner credited with using his irons during their victories. (May 14, age 82)
An LPGA pioneer and six-time winner on the LPGA Tour, known for clutch putting and her feistiness on the course. Grew up in Roebuck, Ala., winning the state amateur championship in 1954, and was eventually inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Opened The Golf Shop, along with fellow former pro Beth Stone, which was a full instruction and merchandise facility. (May 18, age 92)
Legendary University of Michigan golf coach whose program won eight team titles and 17 individual titles over his 24 years (1978-82 as an assistant; 1983-2002 as head coach). Guided famous Wolverines such as Michael Harris, Dan Roberts, Kyle Dobbs and Andy Matthews. Known for his mentorship and focus on the classroom, along with the course. (June 21, age 92)
Long-time PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions pro, nicknamed "The Grip," who grew up sneaking through a barbed wire fence to a nearby nine-hole course to practice. Played golf at college powerhouse Houston before turning pro in 1977. Had a T-6 finish at the 1980 Masters, as well as a T-9 finish at the 1989 PGA Championship. At age 40, chased down Tiger Woods in the final round to win the 1996 Quad Cities Classic in the eventual great’s third pro start on tour; it was the last of Fiori’s PGA Tour victories. (July 6, age 72)
An American real estate developer who helped shape Atlanta sports. Bought the St. Louis Hawks NBA team and moved them to Georgia, and eventually purchased East Lake Golf Club. He helped revive Bobby Jones' old home course, with the help of designer Rees Jones, and turned it into the Tour Championship host we know it as today. Founded the East Lake Foundation, which revitalizes neighborhoods across the city of Atlanta. Received the USGA’s Bob Jones Award in 2001. (July 29, age 93)
A three-time PGA Tour winner and 18-time PGA Tour Champions victor. Was a good friend of Lee Trevino (pictured above), and the duo went on to win the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf five times. Before joining the PGA Tour, was in the Air Force, drove a beer manufacturer’s truck for five years, worked at a tire shop and was a head pro at a country club. Named Senior PGA Tour Player of the Year in 1991. (Aug. 4, age 86)
PGA Tour Golf Course Advisory Board member, as well as a well-known fundraiser and philanthropist. Spearheaded a PGA Tour record for most money raised in a single day, with $15.1 million all going to the Mountain Mission School (MMS) for at-risk children. (Aug. 6, age 85)
Remains the last 25-and-older golfer to win the U.S. Amateur title when claiming the Havemeyer Trophy in 1993. Turned pro in the 1970s after playing golf (and hockey) at the University of Minnesota before getting his amateur status back in 1983. Was a 10-time Minnesota Player of the Year and inductee into the Minnesota Golf Hall of Fame. Turned pro again to play on the PGA Tour Champions after turning 50, winning once. Shot an even-par 72 at Edina Country Club a week before his death. (Sept. 17, age 73)
Barstool Sports influencer, beloved “Fore Play” podcaster and the media company’s first “Head Golf Professional.” Known for his generosity and positivity. Before Barstool Sports, worked as a pro at Desert Willow Golf Resort in California and Thornberry Creek in Wisconsin. (Oct. 25, age 31)
A trailblazer in the game of golf. The first female president of the USGA and a two-time Curtis Cup player. Given the Bob Jones Award in 2016 and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2001 in the Lifetime Achievement category. Among the first women to receive an honorary lifetime membership at the historic Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. A big supporter of golf programs for juniors, players with disabilities and other underrepresented groups. “Judy Bell was more than a leader,” said USGA CEO Mike Whan. “She was a force of nature whose vision and compassion shaped the very soul of the game.” (Nov. 3, age 89)
A two-time major champ (1979 Masters, 1984 U.S. Open) known for his laid-back disposition and gregarious nature. Was the first player to win the green jacket in his tournament debut since Gene Sarazen in 1935; no player has won in his debut since. A 10-time PGA Tour winner, as well as a two-time PGA Tour Champions winner. Voted the 1985 winner of the USGA's Bob Jones Award and competed in three Ryder Cups. (Nov. 27, age 74)
An English professional golfer who won three times on the European Senior Tour. Tied for eighth place at the Open Championship in 1983 and finished runner‑up on the Order of Merit in both 2001 and 2002. At the 1983 Open, Durnian shot a front-nine score of 28 at Royal Birkdale on Friday, which is still the lowest nine-hole total recorded in The Open. (Dec. 1, age 75)
A former professional baseball player as a teen who turned to golf and went on to become one of two males from Japan to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Won 114 titles worldwide including a record 94 on the Japan Golf Tour. Competed in 19 Masters (highlighted by a T-8 in 1973) and 13 U.S. Opens (his best finish a T-6 in 1989). Played on the 1996 Presidents Cup International team the same year he ascended to his highest career rank (fifth) in the OWGR. (Dec. 23, age 78)
Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy says any new signings must be the right type of person as well as having the requisite quality.
After a difficult start to his tenure at Parkhead, Nancy has the opportunity to bolster his squad when the January transfer window opens.
The former Columbus Crew head coach believes signing players who can handle the pressure of playing for Celtic will be "key" to the club's recruitment.
"We have a lot of ability in terms of the way we play," said Nancy ahead of Saturday's trip to face William Hill Premiership bottom club Livingston.
"It is important that when you sign players, they need to have personality. This is a big club. To play here is not always easy. It is so, so important to have players who can play here at a club like this."
Nancy pointed to Scotland defender Kieran Tierney and captain Callum McGregor as examples of the type of player he wants to build around.
"Everybody knows Kieran," he said. "I knew him before I came here. He's an important player for us. There are different kinds of personalities. Kieran is not a vocal leader but shows on the pitch.
"Callum also shows on the pitch but he's a vocal leader too. We have other players like this.
"When I talk about personalities, it's not only to be vocal, it's to have the right attitude when it is difficult.
"This means when we attack, can we keep showing ourselves for each other, can we still press, or can we defend like crazy in the moment? It's more about the attitude for me. This is what I am looking for."
Watch the moment the Ashes crowd tips their caps in tribute to the late Shane Warne on Friday (26 December).
During the first Ashes test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) since his death in 2022, spectators donned Warne’s signature floppy hat and tipped it at 3.50pm, in tribute of his cap number being 350.
This will be repeated at 3.50pm on each day of the game. Health stations will also be dotted around the MCG for fans to check their heart health.
Warne died in March 2022 after suffering cardiac arrest while on holiday in Thailand. His sudden death resulted in his family and business team creating charity Shane Warne Legacy.
According to the same source, Kylian Mbappé is planning to make the trip especially to support Algeria, accompanied by his brother Ethan and their mother Fayza Lamari, who is of Algerian descent. The report also mentions the possibility of a brief visit by the Real Madrid star to the team’s base camp, and that he might also attend the Morocco vs Mali match to cheer on his friend Achraf Hakimi.
Beyond the image, this connection takes on a symbolic meaning: it comes within the context of growing interest in Ethan Mbappé, whom the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) hopes to one day convince to join the Greens. If Algeria is now attracting legends, it might also be drawing in its future.
The Vikings defense carried the team to a 23-10 win over the Lions on Thursday and the longest-tenured member of the unit had a big hand in the performance.
Safety Harrison Smith had a sack on the opening possession of the game and then set up a field goal by intercepting Lions quarterback Jared Goff in the third quarter. After the pick, it looked like Smith was going to throw the ball into the stands but he told reporters in the locker room that "I kind of want to keep the ball" while noting that he'll be turning 37 early next year.
That birthday will come after Smith finishes his 14th season and the prospect of the safety's future came up after the game. He was visibly emotional about what the support of fans has meant to him during a Netflix interview on the field and he was asked in the locker room if he thinks this season will be it for him.
"I can’t speak on that right now," Smith said. "I’m a very much in the moment type of guy. I’m going to enjoy this with the guys I’ve gone to work with and enjoy my family and the holidays. That’ll handle itself when it does."
If Smith does decide to call it a career, the Christmas performance will ensure that he goes out on a high note.
Sean McVay shared an update on Lake’s return, telling reporters that he’ll most likely be designated to return next week with the expectation that he’ll be back for the playoff run, at the latest. That’s McVay’s way of saying he could return as early as Week 18 against the Cardinals.
“Yeah, that's the plan,” McVay said of whether Lake will return for the first playoff game. “What's most likely is, we'll start his clock next week with the expectations of him being ready worst case in the playoffs. Then we'll see what that looks like for whoever we play in the last game. He's making great progress. He's ready to go.”
The Rams could give Lake an extra week to heal and rehab if they’re somehow able to steal back the No. 1 seed in the NFC, securing a first-round bye. But they just about gave away that opportunity when they blew a 16-point fourth-quarter lead to the Seahawks in Week 16. The good news is it sounds like he’ll be able to play in the wild-card round if the Rams don’t get a bye, which will be a big lift to the secondary.
As good a job as Josh Wallace has done in the slot, Lake is a tough player to replace and the Rams have certainly felt his absence on defense lately.
Roma’s winter transfer window hasn’t opened yet, but Frederic Massara’s moves are already in full swing.
With their attacking priorities clearly defined, the Giallorossi are keeping an eye on the need to shore up their defence, seeking a player who can integrate into Gian Piero Gasperini’s system.
Alex Disasi initially seemed the favorite, but Chelsea’s inflexibility—only willing to part with the Frenchman permanently—has pushed Roma to look elsewhere.
The name rising in popularity at Trigoria is Radu Dragusin. The Tottenham defender, familiar with the Italian league after his time at Genoa, represents a strong profile thanks to his physicality and tactical understanding.
Unlike the Disasi deal, the deal for the Romanian has an advantage: according to Fabrizio Romano, Spurs could approve a loan move.
This solution would allow Roma to strengthen their defense without an immediate and costly outlay, preserving their budget for major strikers.
However, Tottenham have not yet given the final green light for the transfer, maintaining a wait-and-see position that could continue for a few more weeks.
David Gray's Hibernian lost 1-0 to Derek McInnes' high-flying Hearts in October [Getty Images]
No Edinburgh derby is ever a tame affair, but Saturday's clash between Hibs and Hearts at Easter Road carries more weight than most, with the visitors from Gorgie flying high at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Christmas Day 1875 was the first meeting of the sides, as a 1-0 win for Hearts at the Meadows sparked a rivalry that has stood the test of time.
Now, 150 years on, Hearts are six points clear of second-place Celtic, having played a game more than the defending champions, and Derek McInnes' side lead Hibs in fifth by 16 points.
A second derby victory of the campaign for the boys in maroon would take them into 2026 with real momentum, having already beaten both Celtic and Rangers this month.
And yet, nothing would please Hibernian players and fans more than putting a dent in Hearts' title tilt.
Forward Martin Boyle is a veteran of 22 Edinburgh derbies and while he acknowledged Hearts' impressive form, he fully believes Hibs have what it takes to inflict just a second league defeat of the season on McInnes' men.
"They're playing really well, so hats off to them, but it's up to us to focus on ourselves," Boyle said. "And obviously we'll be looking to upset them and get the win.
"Consistency is key in this league, so they're obviously maintaining that. When it's a derby, [there's] the famous old saying 'form goes out the window', so hopefully we can play our best and get the result."
McInnes expects a similarly charged affair and for it to be decided by fine margins.
"For Hearts and Hibs, it's always the main deal," McInnes said. "It's always a big occasion.
"In the context of our season, we just want to win three points and keep the whole thing going.
"Hibs are a good side and going to Easter Road is always a tricky game. I expect it will be similar to the game at Tynecastle - there was nothing in it really and we scored in the dying embers of the game, which caused huge elation."
Boyle was on the other end of those emotions at Tynecastle and is determined to put things right in front of a packed Easter Road crowd.
"Yeah, obviously it hurts, it's never nice losing a derby," he said. "The celebrations in our faces at the end of the game, it's obviously things that you remember.
"The chances that we missed, I thought we didn't deserve to lose the game. Probably a draw would have been a fair result, we didn't defend our box as best as we could and we got punished."
Hibs have been plagued by inconsistency this season, but are only five points behind Motherwell in third.
"We can definitely relight the season," Boyle added. "It's a tough game, it doesn't come any tougher and obviously the way they're playing at the moment, but it comes down to us on the day.
"We need to be at it, we need to take our chances and we need to defend the box and we need to fight for our lives.
"We know it'll be a tough game. It's an exciting fixture at this time of year. It's always special and it's always a nice one to win."
Team news
Chris Cadden and Warren O'Hora are in contention to return to the Hibs squad after missing the draw against Dundee United. Rudi Molotnikov has returned to training following a two-month spell on the sidelines.
For Hearts, Claudio Braga suffered a knock against Rangers but should be fine for the weekend while Craig Halkett - who signed a new deal this week - is back training and should also be fit for the trip to Easter Road.
Pick of the stats
Hibs won their last home Edinburgh derby against Hearts in the Scottish Premiership 2-1 in March, but haven't won successive home matches against their rivals in the top flight since March 2018 under Neil Lennon.
After their 1-0 win in October, Hearts are looking to win back-to-back Premiership matches against Hibs for the first time since April 2014. Indeed, Derek McInnes could be the first Hearts boss to win both of his first two top-flight Edinburgh derbies in charge of the club since Paulo Sergio in 2011-12 (first three).
Excluding when they were relegated in 2020, Hearts haven't lost their final Premiership game of a calendar year since 2016 (1-0 v Aberdeen), going unbeaten in seven since (W3 D4), a run which includes a 1-0 win at Easter Road in 2018.
Hibs have only lost two of their past 20 home matches in the Premiership (W12 D6), with those two defeats both being by a single goal, against Rangers (1-0 in October) and Celtic (2-1 in November).
Since Hibs were promoted in 2017, Hearts' Lawrence Shankland is the top scoring player in league derbies between the two sides with five goals. However, Shankland hasn't scored in any of the past four league contests between Hibs and Hearts, last netting in this fixture in February 2024.
Left fielder Tyler Soderstrom and the Athletics have agreed to an $86 million, seven-year contract, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations.
The deal includes a club option for an eighth season, the person told The Associated Press on Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the agreement has not been finalized.
Soderstrom’s agreement, which is subject to a successful physical, contains bonus provisions that could raise its value to $131 million, the person said.
Soderstrom started 145 of the 158 games he played this year — 100 of those starts in left field — his first full major league season after making his debut in 2023 and playing 45 games before 61 last year. He batted .276 with 25 home runs and 93 RBIs with 141 strikeouts and 55 walks this past season.
Drafted 26th overall by the A’s in 2020, the 24-year-old Soderstrom has locked in a long-term contract to stay close to where he grew up in Turlock, California. He was on track to become eligible for arbitration after the 2026 season and for free agency after the 2029 season.
Planning to move to Las Vegas for 2028, the A’s last offseason agreed to a $60 million, five-year contract with designated hitter/outfielder Brent Rooker and a $65.5 million, seven-year deal with outfielder Lawrence Butler. The team is entering the second of three planned seasons at a Triple-A ballpark in West Sacramento.
The Green Bay Packersclinched a playoff spot on Christmas Day thanks to the Minnesota Vikings, who took down the Detroit Lions 23-10 at U.S. Bank Stadium and eliminated the Lions from playoff contention. With two games still to go, the Packers have locked up a wildcard spot at the very least. But playoff positioning is still up for grabs in Week 17.
Justis Mosqueda of Acme Packing Co. did a terrific job of running through the various playoff seeding scenarios for the Packers here. Long story short, the Packers still have a chance to be the No. 2 seed, No. 3 seed, No. 5 seed, No. 6 seed or No. 7 seed -- although ending up as the No. 7 seed looks like the most likely outcome.
At this point, the biggest prize to be won is the NFC North title and the No. 2 seed in the playoff field. Both are still attainable for the Packers, but just about everything has to go the Packers' way the rest of the way -- starting Saturday night against the Baltimore Ravens.
Assuming the No. 2 seed is the goal, here is the Packers rooting guide for the rest of Week 17 (probabilities from The Athletic playoff simulator):
1. Packers over Ravens: The path to the No. 2 seed has to start on Saturday night. The Packers are at home and will likely be facing a Ravens team without quarterback Lamar Jackson. Winning keeps the pressure on the Bears to win on Sunday night. With a loss, the Packers would be locked into the No. 7 seed.
Packers No. 2 seed probability if Packers win: 12 percent
Packers No. 2 seed probability if Ravens win: 0 percent
2. Bills over Eagles: The Eagles are 10-5 and have a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Packers, ensuring Philadelphia has to lose at least one more game for the Packers to have a chance at the No. 2 seed. While the Eagles have clinched the NFC East, the Bills are still competing for the AFC East title. This game is in Buffalo. The Eagles finish the season against the Commanders, so this might be the final chance for a Philadelphia loss.
Packers No. 2 seed probability if Packers/Bills win: 19 percent
Packers No. 2 seed probability if Packers/Eagles win: 2 percent
3. 49ers over Bears: With a Packers win and a 49ers win, the Packers' chances of winning the NFC North rise to over 30 percent. Remember, the Packers need four results to win the division title: Packers win out, Bears lose out. This would provide half the results. The 49ers are still in the hunt to win the NFC West and secure the No. 1 seed, so this will be a high stakes primetime game in Santa Clara. Can Kyle Shanahan, Robert Salah and Brock Purdy help out the Packers?
Packers No. 2 seed probability if Packers/Bills/49ers win: 32 percent
Packers No. 2 seed probability if Packers/Bills/Bears win: 0 percent
4. Falcons over Rams: Even in the event the Packers don't get the No. 2 seed, Green Bay still has a chance to improve its wildcard positioning. The path to the No. 5 seed -- and playing the NFC South winner in the wildcard round -- must include a Packers win, a Bears win and a Falcons win. It's still a longshot, but this would keep open the possibility.
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham has emerged as the primary focus of Michigan’s coaching search, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel and Dan Wetzel. The veteran coach could be a force for a program in transition.
Whittingham’s candidacy is expected to be presented to top Michigan officials Friday, with sources indicating a deal could come together quickly if approved.
Whittingham, 66, stepped down earlier this month from Utah after 21 full seasons as head coach. He spent 11 season as an assistant in Salt Lake City as well. But he made it clear he was not retiring, joking publicly that he was entering “the transfer portal.”
Many wondered what that meant and the wording of his departure fueled speculation if he was open to another head coaching opportunity immediately.
Whittingham leaves Utah with a 177-88 career record, including a perfect 13-0 season in 2008 and a 66.8% winning percentage, with a clear path toward the College Football Hall of Fame. The 10-2 Utes will play in the Las Vegas Bowl on New Year’s Eve against Nebraska.
Michigan fired Sherrone Moore on Dec. 10 after the university cited credible evidence of an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. Moore was later arrested and charged with a third-degree felony for home invasion and two misdemeanors.
The Wolverines went 16-8 under Moore and are seeking a return to the same level of success that marked the end of the Jim Harbaugh era. The program had an undefeated national championship run in 2023.
Whittingham is known for producing physical, disciplined teams. He would fit in perfectly with the style of play for the Big Ten.
With the transfer portal opening Jan. 2, Michigan views the potential hiring as a way to keep the roster from going south. Interim coach Biff Poggi warned could lose as many as 25 players. A hire like Whittingham would prevent a mass exodus.
Chelsea vs Aston Villa: Match Preview, Latest Team News and Score Prediction
Match Preview: Chelsea vs Aston Villa
Chelsea host Aston Villa in a fixture that carries genuine Premier League weight, with third facing fourth and Champions League ambitions firmly in focus. Stamford Bridge stages a meeting between two sides who have taken different routes to contention but now find themselves converging at a critical point of the season.
Chelsea arrive on the back of a 2-2 draw away at Newcastle, a result that told two stories. A sluggish first half was followed by a far more assertive second, enough to secure a point at St James’ Park and restore a sense of momentum. Under Enzo Maresca, now well into his second season in charge, progress has rarely been linear, but the broader direction remains encouraging.
Chelsea form and Maresca’s evolving project
That draw came after a brief wobble following a statement 3-0 Champions League win over Barcelona, a performance that hinted at Chelsea’s ceiling. Since then, consistency has proved elusive, allowing rivals to stretch a lead at the top. Villa, seven points clear, have capitalised more effectively on their opportunities.
Maresca’s approach remains rooted in control and positional discipline, though recent matches have demanded adaptability. The response at Newcastle suggested a side learning how to manage adversity, an essential skill in the Premier League run in. Cole Palmer’s return to scoring form in the win over Everton has also eased pressure, particularly amid external chatter linking Chelsea with Villa’s Morgan Rogers.
Photo IMAGO
When asked whether he would rather have Rogers than Palmer, Maresca laughed off the question and made clear his preference for his own No10, a reminder that Chelsea’s rebuild is as much about backing existing talent as it is about future recruitment.
Aston Villa strength and Unai Emery influence
Aston Villa travel south buoyed by a 2-1 victory over Manchester United, though the performance itself was uneven. Morgan Rogers stole the headlines with two outstanding goals, masking periods where Villa struggled to impose themselves. That said, Unai Emery’s side have shown a knack for winning matches even when not at their best, a hallmark of teams comfortable near the top of the table.
Villa’s Premier League campaign has been built on tactical clarity and resilience, traits that often travel well. Emery will expect a sharper display than the one seen against United, particularly in midfield, where control against Chelsea’s rotations will be vital.
Injuries remain a concern. Ross Barkley is sidelined until February, while Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings are both unavailable. There is, however, optimism around the availability of Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott, which would add pace and creativity in transition.
Prediction and match outlook
Chelsea will welcome back two summer signings after minor injuries, while longer term absentees such as Levi Colwill and Romeo Lavia continue rehabilitation. The hosts know that intensity from the outset is non negotiable. Villa are too efficient to allow a slow start.
This shapes up as a tactically absorbing contest, with Chelsea likely to dominate possession and Villa looking to exploit moments of disorganisation. Both sides carry attacking threat, but also questions defensively.
Given recent evidence, a high scoring draw feels plausible.
Arne Slot has ‘moved on’ after Mohamed Salah’s outburst
Liverpool managing noise around Mohamed Salah
Liverpool’s season under Arne Slot has been defined by authority and calm, even when the volume around the club has threatened to rise. The Premier League title in 2024/25 established Slot’s credentials quickly, but it has been the handling of senior figures like Mohamed Salah that has underlined his control of the dressing room.
Earlier this month, Liverpool drew 3-3 with Leeds United in a game that became a flashpoint for discussion far beyond the pitch. Salah, frustrated after being benched for three consecutive matches against West Ham, Sunderland and Leeds, spoke openly about feeling marginalised. The language was striking, suggesting that the club had “thrown him under the bus” and that his relationship with Slot was “broken”.
For a manager still in his first season in English football, the situation could have lingered. Instead, Liverpool moved decisively.
Arne Slot’s response to controversy
Slot’s public response was measured and deliberate, reflecting a manager keen to remove emotion from the conversation. After Salah returned to the squad against Brighton, Slot made it clear that actions mattered more than words.
“When I used him in the squad against Brighton, that was a sign that we had moved on.”
The message was simple. Liverpool would not be defined by interviews or reactionary headlines. Salah came on during the 2-0 win over Brighton and delivered an assist, contributing in a way that felt both timely and symbolic.
Slot was equally clear about drawing a line under the issue once Salah departed for international duty.
“But we have moved on and he is now away at AFCON so it is fair to him and Egypt if we don’t talk about this.”
Rather than prolonging the debate, Slot redirected focus back to the squad at his disposal.
“Instead we should be talking about Liverpool and the players I have here, that is fair.”
Mohamed Salah’s impact beyond Anfield
Salah’s departure for AFCON with Egypt has added another layer to the narrative. Any lingering questions about confidence or form were answered quickly when he scored the winning goal in Egypt’s opening group match. For Liverpool supporters, it served as a reminder of Salah’s enduring quality and competitive edge.
Salah remains one of the most influential players in the Liverpool squad. His relationship with Arne Slot will continue to be scrutinised, but the manager’s insistence on letting selection decisions speak for themselves has reduced the scope for ongoing tension.
“It is in the best interests of us and him that we have already shown in actions that we have moved on.”
Liverpool focus remains collective
Liverpool’s strength this season has been collective discipline rather than individual prominence. Slot has consistently framed success around the group, a philosophy that carried the club to the Premier League title and continues to shape decision making.
With Salah away at AFCON, Liverpool have an opportunity to reinforce that message. When he returns, the expectation is not a reset, but a continuation. The episode has already been absorbed into the wider rhythm of a campaign built on control, clarity and results.
All Dakota Ditcheva wanted for Christmas was an early start to her 2026, which she was scheduled to get at PFL Road to Dubai on February 7th. Unfortunately, the standout female fighter won’t be competing on that card anymore, and now we know why.
“I’m truly heartbroken. I won’t be fighting on PFL Dubai anymore,” Ditcheva wrote on Instagram. “I cried two days straight when I injured myself. Then cried again yesterday when it officially got announced. Dramatic I know, but I wanted nothing more than to fight on that card and have an early start to 2026.”
“Only fighting once last year was a nightmare for me and I really wanted to make up for lost time. I live a great life but nothing makes me happier than being in that cage. However, that being said, I know it just WASN’T MEANT TO BE.”
While Ditcheva and PFL haven’t commented on the injury that took her off the card, a follow-up post from the PFL flyweight champion showed her with a cast on her right hand — the same hand she broke in her sole 2025 fight against Sumiko Inaba. Repeat hand injuries are never good, especially for a striking phenom like Dakota.
Ditcheva is a perfect 15-0 in MMA and 10-0 in the PFL, and was poised to become one of the promotion’s standout stars in 2025. That didn’t happen due to scheduling issues and injury, and now 2026 is starting off with an injury as well.
If there’s one silver lining here, it’s that the delay may put her on one of the PFL’s North American cards which could help grow her popularity in America.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has spoken to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Brighton at Emirates Stadium (kick-off 15:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
On team news after the Carabao Cup win over Crystal Palace: "[Gabriel] Martinelli is more a knock, and he wasn't comfortable to carry on after the second half. With Piero [Hincapie], something different because he picked up an injury against Everton."
Arteta said centre-back Gabriel has "not trained yet" and is still "doing his rehab", but hopes to have him back for selection "as quick as possible because we know the situation".
On managing Gabriel Jesus' workload: "He's very fit - we've been gradually increasing his minutes. [Against Palace], as long as he was OK, everybody was happy to let him go. Before we started to take risks and get him into fatigue mode, we took him off but very happy."
On Arsenal's chances of winning the quadruple: "I just think about going home, having some rest, enjoying one day and starting to talk about Brighton. So that's what we have to do. It's great [to have that winning mentality] and we are here."
Arteta said he "remembers very well" last season's meeting with Brighton at Emirates Stadium where Declan Rice was sent off and Arsenal were forced to settle for a draw.
He expressed his frustration at the incident where Rice received a second yellow card for delaying a Brighton free-kick: "I think the rules are different now. We played a big price with that rule."
On Brighton: "It's a club that I admire a lot, and what they've done over the last 10 years is incredible. They have had different managers over five years, who came in and brought some very different ideas. A lot of energy, a really, really committed team, and they look very, very together. A lot of quality, they can play in different ways and they have versatile players and so it's going to be a tough match."
Report – Juventus Evaluating Potential Deal Formulas For Wantaway Inter Milan Star
Inter Milan flop Davide Frattesi remains a concrete target for Juventus ahead of the January transfer window.
According to Sky Sport via FCInter1908, the Turin giants are weighing up several possible deal structures to bring the midfielder to Turin.
Frattesi’s exit has become a near-certainty after Cristian Chivu deemed him surplus to requirements at San Siro.
Indeed, after making just four competitive starts this season, the 26-year-old is ready to pack his bags in January.
Meanwhile, the Nerazzurri have slapped a €35 million asking price on his shoulders.
Juventus Evaluating Deal Structures to Sign Inter Milan Castaway Davide Frattesi
ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – MARCH 05: Davide Frattesi of FC Internazionale during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 first leg match between Feyenoord and FC Internazionale Milano at De Kuip on March 05, 2025 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Despite Luciano Spalletti’s hopes of reuniting with Frattesi, Juventus have no intention of matching Inter’s demands.
Furthermore, they’ve already rebuffed Inter’s attempt to include Khephren Thuram as a counterpart in a swap deal.
Instead, the Bianconeri would ideally sign Frattesi on loan with an option to buy.
However, Inter are unlikely to agree to such terms.
Therefore, Juventus are reportedly considering including another player in the deal to lower the overall cash outlay.
RANKED: All of Liverpool's 2025/26 transfers after £450m spending spree
Liverpool conducted a record-breaking transfer campaign last summer.
In an effort to improve the 2024/25 Premier League title-winning squad, sporting director Richard Hughes was prepared to part with £450m on new players.
In came Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz on British record deals - and several other players were added to the ranks too. It’s fair to say the transfer spending spree so far looks hit and miss - with many of the new players struggling either for form or fitness.
Here we assess the impact of the new signings from last summer’s transfer assault.
10 Armin Pecsi - £1.5m from Puskás Akadémia
One of THREE goalkeepers signed by Liverpool last summer, Hungarian shot-stopper Pecsi looks like one for the future. The 20-year-old has managed two appearances on the bench for the first team but his minutes have come in Premier League 2.
However his form there hasn’t been the greatest and he will likely require a loan spell away from base at some stage.
9 Will Wright - £200k from Salford City
Liverpool won the race for the highly-prized 17-year-old ahead of Arsenal. The former Salford forward went straight into Liverpool’s Premier League 2 squad - and is regarded as one of the coming talents in English football.
We will have to wait in order to truly assess his impact however as injury has hampered his time at the club thus far.
8 Freddie Woodman - free from Preston North End
The 28-year-old goalkeeper was a useful free transfer pickup from Preston over the summer. So far he’s been restricted to one first-team appearance - which was a disastrous 3-0 loss to Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup.
Still he is a solid third choice behind Alisson Becker and Giorgi Mamardashvili.
7 Giovanni Leoni - £26m from Parma
It’s harsh on Leoni that he is so far down the list - but we can all be encouraged that he will be a firm first-team favourite in the years ahead. The 18-year-old came to Anfield as one of the highest-rated young centre-backs in the world.
He cost £26m but an ACL tear on debut has scuppered his chances of success in his maiden season. He will require patience and in time he should develop nicely.
6 Alexander Isak - £125m from Newcastle
So much more was expected of Isak following his £125m arrival from Newcastle. He hasn’t looked quite fit during his time on the field for Liverpool and is being outshone in front of goal by Hugo Ekitike.
He really needs to improve his output and sharpen up - otherwise he risks being written off as a very expensive flop. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen and he can soon find his best form.
5 Milos Kerkez - £40m from Bournemouth
This is another transfer that initially looked like a slam dunk but hasn’t quite worked out so far.
Kerkez, 22, has been preferred to Andy Robertson for the most part but has not yet provided a clear improvement on the Scotsman.
The £40m arrival from Bournemouth is supposed to be Liverpool’s starting left-back for the next decade but the jury remains out on a player who doesn’t look like the Bournemouth version right now.
4 Jeremie Frimpong - £29.5m from Bayer Leverkusen
Frimpong was an attractive target owing to his low price of £29.5m - and his versatility. Capable of playing right-back, right midfield and right wing, the Dutchman can be a real problem solver for Arne Slot.
No doubt the 25-year-old will end being a very smart acquisition by Richard Hughes in time but he’s been unlucky in an injury sense up to now.
He started well with a goal in the Community Shield but we are still waiting to see the former Leverkusen star at his marauding best.
3 Giorgi Mamardashvili - £25m from Valencia
The goalkeeper is going to be primed as a long-term alternative to Alisson Becker and has already had a run in the first team owing to the Brazilian’s injury.
It would be generous to say the Georgian has fared anything other than “ok” to this point however. The 25-year-old has only been on the winning side once in five Premier League outings and hasn’t won over all the fans as yet. He is another with a lot of work to do to match the standards set by his predecessor.
2 Florian Wirtz - £100m (rising to £116m) from Bayer Leverkusen
That £116m price tag is weighing heavily on Florian Wirtz - whose goal and assist record should really be better by now. In his defence he has walked into a Liverpool team in transition and has been unable as yet to carve out a distinct identity for himself.
Arne Slot has used him in many different positions - and the German has been unable to nail down any kind of consistency in that No10 position.
There have been flashes of brilliance from the former Leverkusen standout - but for that kind of money we shouldn’t be looking for hints of his talent - it should be self-evident at this stage.
The £69m striker is STREETS ahead of any of the other new arrivals. He carried the fight up front earlier in the season when Isak was unfit and has stepped up again in recent weeks during the Mo Salah furore.
Liverpool’s insistence on having the Frenchman on board last summer now appears to be a rare transfer win. Ekitike has forced himself ahead of Isak in the pecking order - and is the only new signing out-performing those who left in the last transfer period.
He is going to be France’s No1 striker very soon - and £69m will look like a bargain.
Lazio in Four-Horse Race for Out-Of-Contract Ligue 1 Winger
A French report claims that Lazio are one of four clubs interested in FC Metz winger Giorgi Tsitaishvili, who will become a free agent in the summer.
The Background
The Georgian international is a youth product of Dynamo Kyiv, who remains on the Ukrainian club’s books. However, the 25-year-old spent the last six seasons on loan. This includes temporary experiences in Poland with Wisla Kraków and Lech Poznan. He also played in Spain with Granada last season, before joining FC Metz in the summer.
Giorgi Tsitaishvili Will Finally Leave Dynamo Kyiv
Interestingly, Tsitaishvili’s contract with Dynamo Kyiv will expire in June, so he will be free to sign for a new club following his Ligue 1 experience. The winger has thus far contributed with two goals and one assist in 17 appearances across all competitions.
Lazio, Lyon, Lille & Villarreal Linked with Tsitaishvili
According to Foot Mercato, Tsitaishvili’s situation has attracted at least four suitors, including Lazio, who have already enquired about his availability. Moreover, Olympique Lyonnais and LOSC Lille will be looking to keep him in France, while his international teammate Georges Mikautadze is trying to convince him to join Villarreal, having already played an integral role in his transfer to Metz.
Do Lazio Need Tsitaishvili?
With Lazio operating on limited resources, a free agent like Tsitaishvili could represent an enticing prospect for Claudio Lotito and Angelo Fabiani. However, the Biancocelesti already have two left-footed wingers vying for a spot on the right flank. So, unless either Gustav Isaksen or Matteo Cancellieri ends up leaving the club, the management will likely focus on bolstering other playing roles next summer.
Arsenal mentality shift revealed by Saliba remarks
William Saliba has made it clear that Arsenal’s squad now believe they can win every competition they enter.
Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Arsenal sit at the top of both the Premier League and the Champions League and have already booked a place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, where they will face Chelsea after edging past Crystal Palace on penalties at the Emirates Stadium just before Christmas.
With the club still involved in all four competitions, Saliba said the idea of an historic haul of trophies is not being dismissed inside the dressing room.
“Yes, of course, because we know that in every competition we play, we know we can win it,” Saliba said.
“We have been close in the Premier League in the past three seasons, and last season we were in the semi-finals of the Champions League and the Carabao Cup, so we know that we can win every competition.
“But we have to show that on the pitch and we have to start winning trophies now.”
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Saliba also acknowledged that near-misses are not enough.
“We are in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, so there are three games left for us, and we have to do the job in January against Chelsea,” he said.
“It will be a big game, a big derby, so we have to keep going. We know that we are close and we have to learn the lessons from last season.
“At the end of your career, we count our trophies, and the Carabao Cup is one of them, and now we are in the semi-final and of course we want to win this competition, like every competition that we play.
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
“The mood is good but we know that we are still in December and things can happen quickly in football,” he added.
“We have to stay focused and keep believing in ourselves and keep working because what matters is at the end when we are holding the trophies and not before.
“If we have a lot of games, it means we are doing a good job so we have to keep going and hopefully the players that are injured will be back in January to help us.”
Serie A | Milan vs Verona – Can Rossoneri find shooting boots?
Serie A returns to San Siro on Sunday lunchtime as second-placed Milan welcome Verona, with kick-off scheduled for 11:30 GMT (12:30 local time).
The two sides come into the fixture with very different objectives. Milan are firmly in the title picture and will be looking to maintain pressure at the top of the table, while Verona arrive in Lombardy hovering just above the relegation zone and searching for a way to arrest a difficult run of results.
Recent meetings favour Milan
History offers little encouragement for Verona. Milan have won each of the last three league meetings between the sides at San Siro, and overall the Rossoneri have claimed victory in 12 of the last 17 encounters. Verona have rarely found success in this fixture, particularly away from home, and recent trends suggest another stern test awaits.
ITALY – DECEMBER 14: Massimiliano Allegri reacts during the Serie A match between AC Milan and US Sassuolo Calcio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Milan approach the game in respectable form. From their last six league matches they have collected three wins, one draw and two defeats, scoring and conceding at a similar rate during that spell. At home, however, their numbers improve markedly.
The Rossoneri are unbeaten in their last three league matches at San Siro, conceding fewer than a goal per game and generating a high volume of chances. Across the season, Milan have lost just once in 15 Serie A fixtures, conceding only 13 goals, and their long-term home record underlines their reliability in front of their own supporters.
VERONA, ITALY – DECEMBER 06: Giovane of Hellas Verona celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammates during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and Atalanta BC at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on December 06, 2025 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Verona struggling for consistency
Verona arrive with ongoing concerns, particularly away from home. They have managed only two wins from their last six league matches and continue to struggle for control in games, averaging low possession and limited attacking output.
Their overall campaign has been shaped by those issues: just two wins from 15 matches, 13 goals scored, and a negative goal difference. Away from home, results have been especially scarce, with Verona failing to win the vast majority of their recent road fixtures.
Milan vs Verona – Probable line-ups
Milan: Mike Maignan; Fikayo Tomori, Strahinja Pavlović, Koni De Winter; Alexis Saelemaekers, Luka Modrić, Adrien Rabiot, Youssouf Fofana, Davide Bartesaghi; Christopher Nkunku, Rafael Leão
Unavailable: Matteo Gabbia, Santiago Gimenez
Verona: Lorenzo Montipò; Unai Núñez, Victor Nelsson, Armel Bella-Kotchap; Antoine Bernede, Cheikh Niasse, Mutassim Al-Musrati, Roberto Gagliardini; Amin Sarr, Daniel Mosquera
Unavailable: Tomas Suslov, Rafik Belghali, Domagoj Bradarić, Martin Frese
It's been a long time since the Washington Commanders had a running back who could race past defenders and take it to the house from any spot on the field. Earlier this season, Jeremy McNichols had a 60-yard touchdown run against the Las Vegas Raiders. But McNichols is not typically viewed as a home-run back.
On Thursday, rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt had the longest play from scrimmage for the Commanders this season, taking a Josh Johnson handoff and racing 72 yards past the Dallas Cowboys for a touchdown. It was his second touchdown of the day.
Croskey-Merritt has had several double-digit runs this season, with his longest before Thursday coming against the New York Giants (42 yards) in Week 1. Against the Cowboys, the rookie runner, also known as Bill, proved he could be a home-run back.
According to Next Gen Stats, Croskey-Merritt was recorded at 21.62 MPH on his touchdown run.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt reached a top speed of 21.62 mph on this 72-yard TD, the fastest speed on a play in his career, per @NextGenStats 💨
That's flying. Last week's fastest recorded time came courtesy of Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore, on his game-winning touchdown catch. Moore was recorded at 21.3 MPH. When Croskey-Merritt was preparing for the 2025 NFL draft, he was recorded at 4.45 seconds for his 40-yard dash.
Bill now has 776 rushing yards and eight touchdowns in a part-time role this season. Not bad for a rookie seventh-round pick.
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spoke with reporters during his postgame press conference after the Week 17 loss to the Denver Broncos, praising rookie running back Brashard Smith’s Christmas night performance, including his first-half touchdown reception.
“That was kind of a neat deal I guess there. I hadn’t thought about that, but yeah, that was great. I thought (Brashard) Smith did a nice job of breaking the tackle there,” said Reid, “That wasn’t an easy play to make, but he made the most of it. You could see the guys were happy for him. He’s a good kid.”
The Chiefs’ 2025 seventh-round draft pick had his best performance as a professional in Week 17. Reid identified specific areas in which Smith can continue to grow and develop in the future.
“He (Brashard Smith) hasn’t played a ton of running back. So, all of this stuff is good for him (and) we’re moving him all over the place. He can handle it mentally first of all, and that’s a plus, the way we’re using him. The second thing is that he can catch the football as well as run the football. That helps you out down the road,” said Reid, “He’s been – I won’t say a pleasant surprise, but he’s done a nice job, and then he’ll get stronger as he goes here – physically stronger. These guys – they always put on a little bit of weight and strength after their first year and that will help his game going forward there. Then, the returnability, you got a chance to see that.”
During Thursday’s loss, Smith had a touchdown reception and three catches, along with three kick returns for 75 yards and two punt returns for 55 yards.
The Denver Broncos did something they haven't done since 2015: win at Arrowhead against the Kansas City Chiefs. The 20-13 win gets Denver to 13 wins.
The Broncos just got a step closer to the AFC West crown and the AFC's No. 1 seed. It ain't a sure thing yet; the biggest way to do both of those things will be to win in Week 18.
There will be time to break all that down later; For now, let's focus on the win on Christmas Day!
Stud: Fourth quarter Bo Nix!
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix came up huge again in the fourth quarter, leading the game-sealing touchdown drive; a 14-play, 65 yard drive which chewed up 6:18 seconds of clock. His touchdown pass to RJ Harvey was his only passing score of the game, and it couldn't have come at a bigger time.
For context, that’s only the fourth time the Broncos have EVER won at Arrowhead in December.
Bo Nix joins John Elway, Peyton Manning and Kyle Orton as the only QBs to ever lead the Broncos to a win here in December.
The Broncos' bad tackling reared its ugly head again. This time, it happened on the Chiefs' first scoring drive, On the final play of the Chiefs' drive which ended in a touchdown, several Broncos missed a tackle on Chiefs running back Brashard Smith, allowing him to waltz into the end zone for a score which would continue past halftime.
Stud: RJ Harvey
Harvey continues to show why he is No. 1 back material. Harvey bounced off tackles in the rushing attack, and proved to be invaluable once again in the passing game. Harvey had 76 all-purpose yards (43 rushing, 33 receiving) and his rookie-leading 12th touchdown of the year. Harvey has been a great addition to the Broncos on the field this year.
Dud: Turnovers (or lack thereof)
Quarterback Bo Nix had a bad interception in the first quarter, which put the Broncos behind the 8 ball. On the other side of the line of scrimmage, the Denver defense failed to create any turnovers. For as good as the Broncos have been on defense, they have not been able to generate meaningful turnovers. If the Broncos are going to succeed in the playoffs, their defense will need to generate turnovers on some the NFL's top offenses.
Stud: Leading the division
For all the grief Denver will surely receive this week for beating the Chiefs with a third-string quarterback and only putting up 20 points on offense, the Broncos lead the division, with one game left to play. Denver also is leading the AFC's No. 1 seed race, and are in position to give themselves a chance going into the final week of the season. And, it makes up for the Broncos' last Christmas game! Nobody is getting fired this year!
Notre Dame football lost punter James Rendell due to running out of eligibility, which left a hole in the roster.
On Christmas Day, the Irish got a present with the commitment of Australian punter Jasper Scaife. While he hasn’t played American football for long, formerly trying to make it professionally as an Australia Rules Football player.
At 6-foot, 5-inches and 200-pounds, he won’t need any time in the weight room to get ready to play. Scaife will have four seasons of eligibility, so he could be with the program for a good amount of time. According to a report by 247Sports Tom Loy, he learned the game by playing Madden the video game series, but admitted that he wasn’t very good.
Scaife will have to earn the job, as it looks like Erik Schmidt could try and double-up as the punter and place kicker next season.
I am profoundly grateful and deeply humbled to announce my commitment and commence my journey as a student-athlete at the University of Notre Dame. I am full of excitement for this incredible opportunity.
thanks to everyone who played a role in making this happen.
Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.
The New York Giants will travel to face the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 17 in a matchup widely viewed as a battle for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
Both teams enter with nine-game losing streaks and identical 2-13 records, yet the Giants opened as slight road favorites earlier this week.
While much of the conversation surrounds New York's draft position, rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart and the Giants remain focused on ending their skid.
Here are three reasons for optimism heading into Sunday's game.
Giants as favorites
New York has rarely been favored in recent years, and it is difficult to argue against the Raiders being one of the Giants' most favorable matchups this season. Las Vegas ranks last in the league across numerous statistical categories, giving the Giants a strong opportunity to snap their losing streak and secure their third victory of the year.
Raiders' struggling offense
The Raiders rank 32nd in scoring, averaging just 14.5 points per game. They have scored fewer than 10 points in five contests this season and have been shut out twice. The Giants' defense has faced significant challenges this year, to say the least, but this matchup presents one of its most advantageous opportunities.
Opportunity for sacks
Geno Smith has been the most-sacked signal-caller in the NFL this season, going down 52 times across 14 games. New York's defensive front entered the year with high expectations, and while the pass rush has underperformed outside of Brian Burns, rookie Abdul Carter has emerged strongly in recent weeks. Carter and the Giants' front could be poised for a productive performance on Sunday.
If you're not ready to hear about the transfer portal daily, I suggest you get used to it. Before the portal officially opens, Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko and his staff will likely focus on four position groups: offensive line, defensive line, wide receiver, and linebacker.
With seven Texas A&M players now in the transfer portal, including defensive ends Solomon Williams and Rylan Kennedy, returning co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Elijah Robinson will have his work cut out for him. Still, he has more than proven his ability to recruit and will need to develop strong relationships and land two to three defensive linemen from the portal.
Needing two offensive tackles and at least one more wide receiver with KC Concepcion off to the NFL Draft, linebacker has become a sneaky need. While senior Scooby Williams could technically return on a medical redshirt, if granted, junior linebacker Taurean York could also depart for the NFL Draft, as both have yet to make their final decision.
With ascending sophomore Daymion Sanford and incoming sophomore Noah Mikhail set to return, Texas A&M's run defense issues stemmed from poor run fits and a lack of size at linebacker, and while Sanford and Mikhail will have an even bigger role next season, landing one or possibly two linebackers with size and run defense instincts will be key to improving in 2026.
Outside of Auburn transfer LB Robert Woodyard Jr., who will be highly coveted by every blue-blood program, former Kansas State linebacker Austin Romaine might be the perfect fit, especially if both Williams and York leave for the NFL Draft.
Over his last two seasons with the Wildcats, Romaine racked up 162 tackles, and in nine games this season, the Missouri native recorded seven tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, and an interception. Even more important, Romaine was an elite run defender, finishing with an 80.5 run defense grade, per Pro Football Focus.
Kansas State two-time All-Big 12 linebacker Austin Romaine is entering the transfer portal, a source tells @CBSSports.
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.
The Philadelphia 76ers will begin a 5-game road trip on Friday when they pay a visit to the Chicago Bulls, and if you're wondering how you can watch all the action live, you've come to the right place. The Sixers will look to start the trip off on the right foot against a tough Bulls team on the road.
The last time the Sixers were in the Windy City, they saw a 24-point lead slip away in a loss to the Bulls back on Nov. 4. One has to believe that finish is in the back of their minds heading into this contest as the Sixers look to avenge that loss and pick up a win. Philadelphia will also look to bounce back following a loss to the Brooklyn Nets at home on Tuesday, so this is a good opportunity for the Sixers to figure it out.
Here's when and where you should tune in to see the matchup:
How to watch
Date: Friday, Dec. 26
Time: 7:30 p.m. EST
Location: United Center Chicago, IL
Channel: Prime Video, NBC Sports Philadelphia
Notable injuries
Sixers: OUT: Trendon Watford (left adductor strain), Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee sprain) QUESTIONABLE: Joel Embiid (right knee injury management), VJ Edgecombe (illness), Dominick Barlow (illness), Quentin Grimes (illness)
Kings forward Adrian Kempe controls the puck during a game against the Washington Capitals at Crypto.com Arena on Dec. 2. (Harry How / Getty Images)
Untold riches awaited Adrian Kempe as one of the NHL’s top unrestricted free agents next summer.
Mitch Marner, among last summer’s top targets, got $12 million a season from Vegas in a sign-and-trade deal with Toronto hours before he would have hit the open market. With more goals than Marner over the last four full seasons, how much could Kempe — in his prime at 29 — have demanded?
We’ll never know. Because whatever amount it might have been, Kempe decided it wasn’t worth more than his happiness. So last month he signed an eight-year contract extension worth a reported $85 million with the Kings that figures to keep him with the only organization he’s ever known for the rest of his career.
“There’s probably some teams that would have given me offers. But I never really got to the part where that was something that I wanted,” he said. “I’m really happy here. Always have been. Family-wise, the same.
That’s a mind that is apparently at ease now that Kempe’s hockey future has been determined. With 13 goals and a team-high 17 assists, he leads the offensively challenged Kings with 30 points and seven of those goals have come in the 17 games since he signed his extension.
But that’s done little to lift the team, which has lost six of their last seven heading into Saturday’s game with the Ducks. The last time the Kings had a seven-game stretch this bad it cost coach Todd McLellan his job.
“I'm not happy, but I really believe in this group,” said winger Kevin Fiala, who shares the team goal-scoring lead with Kempe. “I really believe this is a great team, great players. We just have to kind of find the game. And not just for some minutes, not even for one game, 60 minutes.
“We have to go for a stretch here, get some wins in a row. Start feeling good, start playing good.”
That might be tough given how the Kings will finish 2025. After Saturday’s home game with the resurgent Ducks, the team travels to Colorado to face the Avalanche, who lead the NHL in points.
If the Kings are to turn things around, they will have to jump start an offense which is second-to-last in the NHL, averaging 2.52 goals a game, and a power play that has converted on less than 14% of its chances, also 31st in the 32-team league. And the responsibility for making that happen probably will fall to Kempe, who has scored as many goals over the past four full seasons as Sidney Crosby and has just six fewer assists than Alex Ovechkin, keeping the Swedish Olympian in heady company.
Kings forward Adrian Kempe shoots during a win over the Winnipeg Jets on Nov. 4. (Harry How / Getty Images)
“Adrian is a bit of a streaky scorer,” coach Jim Hiller said. “A lot of his recent goals are goals that we’ve seen him score before, where he’s either beating someone with speed, a nice deke.
“So to me it’s the type of goals he’s scoring right now that’s got me encouraged.”
That’s not all that’s encouraging. Kempe, a quick and physical two-way forward, is averaging a career-high 19:18 of ice time per game and is on pace to score 30 goals and top 68 points for a second straight season.
With captain Anze Kopitar retiring at the end of the season and defenseman Drew Doughty in the penultimate year of his contract, re-signing Kempe, the team’s future leader on and off the ice, was at the top of Ken Holland’s to-do list when he took over as general manager last spring. And while the length of the contract he offered Kempe never wavered, the price did.
In the end, media reports said Kempe blinked first, telling agent J.P. Berry to lower his salary demands to get a deal done, eventually accepting an average annual value of $10.625 million beginning next season. That nearly doubles the $5.5 million he’ll earn this season and makes him the fifth-best-paid Swede in the NHL, according to the Sweden Herald. But it’s less than he would have gotten on the open market.
“I think it says two things,” Hiller said of the deal. “What it says about the franchise is that the player was known, was drafted here, was developed here.”
What it says about Kempe, he continued, is that he values that loyalty more than money.
Kings forward Adrian Kempe against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Nov. 18. (Chris O'Meara / Associated Press)
“I think he probably appreciates the time and energy spent on his career, getting him to where he was,” Hiller said. “Now it’s his choice and he says, ‘You know what? I want to stay in place.'"
He’s not alone. A number of the Kings’ recent cornerstone players — among them Dustin Brown, Kopitar and Doughty — spent their entire NHL careers with the team. If he avoids serious injury and a major dropoff in play, Kempe will almost certainly rank among the top five in franchise history in games, goals and points when his contract runs out.
That’s the long-term return on investment Holland and the Kings are hoping for. For the time being, however, they’re counting on Kempe to save a season that seems in danger of spiraling.
Like Fiala, Kempe believes in the Kings.
“If I weren’t happy here, obviously I would consider not playing here,” Kempe said. “We have a good core. We have a good group of younger guys coming up. I think we’re in a good spot.
“Obviously you have to take that in consideration, too, when you sign a new deal. You want to play on a good team, you want to win cups.”
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Bleed Cubbie Blue is pleased to present a Cubs-centric look at baseball’s colorful past. Here’s a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow the various narrative paths.
“Maybe I called it wrong, but it’s official.” — Tom Connolly, HoF Umpire.
Happy birthday to Nelson Velasquez and other former Cubs.
Today in baseball history:
1906 – National League umpire and future HOF’er Hank O’Day suggests that the batter’s box be outlined with white rubber strips rather than chalk, making it impossible for hitters to erase the lines. But the rule will never be implemented. (1,2)
1974 – The Little League is officially open to girls as U.S. President Gerald Ford signs legislation amending the charter of the organization. Little League had sought changes in their charter after a series of lawsuits challenged its boys-only rule. (2)
2020 – Hall of Famer and 300-game winnerPhil Niekro passes away from cancer at age 81. He is best known for having one of the best knuckleballs of all-time, and for sharing with his brother Joe the record for most wins by a pair of brothers, with 539. (2)
Some of these items spread from site to site without being fact-checked, and that is why we ask for verifiable sources, in order to help correct the record.
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![Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten (33) catches a pass during the 10th organized team activity at Miller Electric Center Wednesday, June 4, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-florida-times-union/65db33fdc0c8d92b0a62cf16457eb2e5)
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