Despite coming off a four-win season and changing head coaches a year ago, the New England Patriots are back in the Super Bowl.

Led by Mike Vrabel and MVP-caliber quarterback Drake Maye, they finished the regular season with a 14-3 record and as the second seed in the AFC playoff picture. As such, they went on to beat the Chargers, Texans and Broncos to punch their ticket to Super Bowl LX.

There, the NFC’s top seed awaits. The Seattle Seahawks reached the Super Bowl by going 14-3 themselves, and by subsequently beating two division rivals — the 49ers and Rams — in the playoffs.

Now, the two teams meet in Santa Clara with the Vince Lombardi Trophy at play.

Here are our updates live from Levi’s Stadium.

Live score: Patriots 0 : 3 Seahawks

Sunday, Feb. 8, 6:30 p.m. ET | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA | Broadcast information | Inactives | Game day roster

First Quarter

The Patriots won the coin toss and deferred, putting the defense on the field first to start Super Bowl 60. After a first down run by Kenneth Walker to move the chains, Sam Darnold found a pair of downfield completions to move inside the red zone. New England’s defense then held strong from there to force a field goal. [Patriots 0 : 3 Seahawks]

New England’s first drive of the day started with three straight touches for Rhamondre Stevenson, including a third-down conversion through the air. After a 12-yard scramble by Maye then set up a 3rd-and-9 after a sack, a blitz off the blindside resulted in a throwaway and punt.

Seattle’s next drive started back up at their own 10-yard line. Immediately facing a 3rd-and-6, Darnold escaped a blitzing Jaylinn Hawkins but missed a wide open Jaxon Smith-Njigba downfield forcing a punt.

NEED TO KNOW

• Drake Maye shared a quick kiss with his wife, Ann Michael Maye, ahead of the 2026 Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 8
• The Patriots quarterback married his high school sweetheart in June 2025
• Drake is making his Super Bowl debut playing against the Seattle Seahawks

Drake Maye has tons of support on the sidelines for the 2026 Super Bowl!

The New England Patriots quarterback, 23, shared a kiss with his wife, 22-year-old Ann Michael Maye, on the field at Levi's Stadium, Calif. The Sunday, Feb. 8 game between the Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks will mark the NFL star's Super Bowl debut.

In a snap from the sidelines, Drake embraced Ann Michael — clad in a navy, fur-lined jacket bearing the Patriots' logo and polka-dotted pants — across a barrier as the pair shared a kiss. Both appeared giddy for the big game as she sent Drake on his way.

On newsstands now, PEOPLE's latest special edition issue covers his groundbreaking career, from his earliest days to headlining the Super Bowl LX halftime show and making history at the Grammys. The 96-page issue is now on Amazon. A print edition in Spanish is available exclusively here.

Drake and Ann Michael, who were high school sweethearts, tied the knot on June 21, 2025 at the Grandfather Golf and Country Club in North Carolina, per The News & Observer.

The pair attended William A. Hough High School together, before the quarterback transfered to Myers Park High School. They again attended the same institution again for their college years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Drake made his relationship with Ann Michael official in 2020, with a wholesome hard-launch post on New Year's Day. "Bringing in '20 with a 10🤤," Drake captioned the post, which featured a smiley snap of the couple.

After his years as a quarterback for the UNC Tar Heels, Maye was selected by the Patriots in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

"Drake, words cannot describe how proud I am of you. What an incredible blessing it has been to be by your side through all of this," Ann Michael wrote on Instagram following the 2024 NFL draft. "I love you and can’t wait for this next chapter! GO PATS!!"

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.  

A good luck kiss for Drake Maye and Ann Michael Maye before gametime ❤️

Super Bowl LX – 6:30pm ET on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/cpVVkn6Hi6

— NFL (@NFL) February 8, 2026

Ever since, Ann Michael's support for her partner's career has reached a national audience. Days ahead of the Super Bowl, Ann Michael showed off progress on a needlepoint project that paid homage to the Patriots: a partial design of a Massachusetts license plate that reads "Go Pats." "I foresee this being framed in our house," she added in a TikTok.

See PEOPLE's coverage of the 2026 Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, airing live on NBC on Sun., Feb. 8, from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

Read the original article on People

We already discussed one part of the return for Merrill Kelly in this series, when we covered Kohl Drake. Bratt was also received from Texas for their short-term loan of Kelly. While he is three years younger than Drake, having turned 22 in July, and is less likely to reach the majors this year, Mitch is still seen as among our better pitching prospects. Fangraphs had him in their top 10 arms, while Prospects 1500 were even more bullish, ranking Bratt as Arizona’s fifth-best pitcher (and it was perilously close there: Bratt was #13 overall, with the pitchers ahead of him occupying spots #9-12).

Mitch’s best talent is his control. He just doesn’t walk many batters: last year at Double-A, he issued only 21 free passes across 122.1 innings of work. His K:BB for the year was better than seven, and he actually improved on that after the trade. Small sample size warning, but in Amarillo, he had a K:BB ratio of 42:5 across 31.2 innings for the Sod Poodles. That 8.4 ratio was easily the best of any Arizona prospect in 2025 – nobody else, regardless of innings pitched, was able even to reach 7.0. Purely on walk rate alone, Bratt was tied for the lowest figure of anyone with 10+ IP in the D-backs’ system.

That’s the good news. The bad news is, his strike-throwing comes with a cost: a lot of hard contact. All told, Mitch allowed almost as many home-runs (18) as walks (21) last year. His fastball typically sits around 91 mph, and none of his pitches appear to be particularly outstanding at this point. Fangraphs rates them all 45-50, with the latter grade seen as the ceiling across the board. It seems that Bratt is going to need to learn how to pitch, in order to be successful, because he won’t be blowing the ball past batters based on stuff alone. That mean mixing up his offerings and locations, in order to keep hitters off balance, while continuing to show the good control he has done thus far.

While the fact he is a left-handed pitcher certainly raises his profile, the addition to the 40-man roster in November was likely more to do with Mitch being Rule 5 eligible, rather than immediate plans for him in the big leagues. Despite his young age, Bratt has already completed five years in the minors, having been drafted out of high school. He was picked by Texas in the fifth round of the 2021 draft, out of Georgia Premier Academy. I think he may start the year in Double-A again, mostly because the Reno Aces rotation appears full: Cristian Mena, Kohl Drake, Dylan Ray, Spencer Giesting and Yu-Min Lin are probably ahead of Mitch on our current depth chart.

As mentioned in our World Baseball Classic articles, Bratt is Canadian, though his appearance in the 2023 WBC did not go well. If he reaches the majors here, he won’t quite be a pioneers, but it’s close. The D-backs have only had one pitcher born in Canada across their history. It was Adam Loewen, who made eight appearances in relief, as part of the 2016 squad. It didn’t go well – a 15.00 ERA. So Bratt definitely has a shot at becoming our most successful pitcher from North of the border. [Since you ask, there have been three such position players. Most recently, of course, was Josh Naylor: but before him, Arizona was home to Jamie Romak and Danny Klassen]

Barcelona were without Frenkie de Jong and Raphinha against Real Mallorca on Saturday, with the duo forced to watch from the sidelines along with other injured stars including Pedri and Gavi.

Hansi Flick confirmed that De Jong missed out as he “wasn’t 100%,” while Raphinha wasn’t even in the squad due to an overload that’s ensured he’s missed Barcelona’s last two games.

According to AS, De Jong has a very minor groin strain that isn’t serious and should mean he’s available to start next time out against Atletico in the Copa del Rey semi-finals.

As for Raphinha, he did not take part in Sunday’s recovery session with the team but was once again following his own training program.

The expectation is that he will be back in training early next week and should also be available to Flick for the game against Diego Simeone’s side.

Pedri, meanwhile, will take a little longer. The current thinking is that he won’t be ready for Atletico or Girona but could return against Levante on February 22nd.

NEED TO KNOW

• Stefon Diggs welcomed his oldest child, daughter Nova, in 2016
• The New England Patriots wide receiver and Cardi B welcomed their first child together, a son, in November 2025
• That same month, PEOPLE confirmed that Diggs fathered a daughter, Charliee Harper Diggs-Lopera, with model Aileen Lopera

As Stefon Diggs competes in the 2026 Super Bowl with the New England Patriots, he'll also have his kids rooting for him.

The NFL athlete first became a parent just one year after being drafted, when he welcomed his daughter Nova in October 2016.

The wide receiver expanded his family several years later when Cardi Bwelcomed their first child together, a baby boy, in November 2025. That same month, PEOPLE confirmed that paternity test results show Diggs was the father of model Aileen Lopera's daughter, Charliee Harper Diggs-Lopera, who was born in April 2025.

In December 2025, Diggs was arrested and charged with felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery following an alleged disagreement with his chef about money. Diggs "categorically denies the allegations," his attorney David Meier told PEOPLE at the time. The football player is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 13, 2026.

Here's everything to know about Stefon Diggs' kids.

Diggs became a father in 2016 when he welcomed daughter Nova

On Oct. 14, 2016, Diggs welcomed his first child, daughter Nova. Over the years, he has shared glimpses into his relationship with her and spoken about Nova's personality.

The professional football player told Sports Illustrated in 2022 that Nova reminds him of his younger brother, Trevon De'Sean Diggs, who is also an NFL athlete.

"When I look at her, I’m like, ‘Whoa, you act just like Tre,’ ” he told the publication.

While Diggs has brought Nova to several of his football games over the years, his older daughter might be most known for stealing the show at his 2022 Buffalo Bills contract extension meeting (he played with the team from 2020 to 2023). At the time, Diggs put Nova on his lap while she told the Bills' general manager, "Show me the money!" referring to the famous line from the 1996 film Jerry Maguire.

Later that same year, the Bills posted a sweet TikTok video of Diggs hoisting Nova from the stands and taking her to run on the field and sprint toward the locker room. At one point, her carried her and told her to yell, "Go Bills!"

Nova has followed in her father and uncle's footsteps by getting involved in her own physical activities, including martial arts. Her grandmother, Stephanie Diggs, frequently posts pictures with Nova and shared about her receiving a yellow belt in karate.

Nova and Stephanie have a close relationship, as the grandmother has also posted photos from major milestones in Nova's life — including starting kindergarten, celebrating her birthday and supporting her dad at football games.

He shares daughter Charliee Harper with model Aileen Lopera

Diggs became a father of two when his daughter, Charliee Harper, was born in April 2025. When her mother, Aileen, was pregnant, she filed documents claiming Diggs was the father of the child in December 2024.

At the time of the initial filing, Lopera requested legal and physical custody of their baby, while allowing Diggs visitation rights. The NFL star later responded to the suit and contested that the baby was his and requested genetic testing. However, he also clarified that if the testing showed he was the father, he would request joint legal and physical custody.

In November 2025, Lopera's lawyer, Tamar G. Arminak, confirmed to PEOPLE that Diggs is the father of Charliee.

"We can confirm that Mr. Diggs is the father," Arminak told PEOPLE in a statement. "And, we are hopeful he that he will meaningfully contribute to the child’s life and coparent with our client who has had to do everything on her own thus far."

He welcomed his first child with Cardi B in November 2025

That same month, Diggs welcomed his third child, his first with Cardi. On Nov. 13, 2025, the rapper's rep confirmed to PEOPLE that she gave birth to a baby boy.

"Cardi is healthy and happy," the rep said.

The Grammy-winning artist also shared the exciting news on Instagram by posting a video of her lip-synching "Hello" from her album, Am I the Drama?.

"My life has always been a combination of different chapters and different seasons," Cardi wrote on Nov. 13. "I brought new music and a new album to the world! A new baby into my world, and one more reason to be the best version of me, one more reason to love me more than anything else or anyone else so I can continue giving my babies the love and life they deserve."

Cardi is already the mother of three children — Kulture, Wave and Blossom — who she shares with her estranged husband, rapper Offset. The former couple married in 2017, but she filed for divorce in July 2024.

Diggs has shared some of the things he’s excited to do with his son

Before Diggs and Cardi welcomed their first child together, Diggs revealed to PEOPLE that they were expecting a boy and that he was already excited for what's to come.

"It’s a boy. That’s enough for me," he shared at the 2025 CFDA Fashion Awards. "I can’t wait to make him do push-ups and sit-ups and run around."

Meanwhile, Cardi, who announced her pregnancy in a September 2025 interview with CBS Mornings, told the outlet that she was "excited" for their future.

"I'm happy," she said at the time. "I feel like I'm in a good space. I feel very strong, very powerful that I'm doing all this work — but I'm doing all this work while I'm creating a baby."

Read the original article on People

Muin Gafurov suffered a memorable loss at UFC Vegas 113, one he’ll likely regret for some time.

According to Gafurov’s teammate, former bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, he only tapped out at the very last second of his fight with Jakub Wiklacz because he thought the fight had already ended. Gafurov and Dvalishvili gave their side of the story in a clip released to social media.

Merab’s friend Muin Gafurov says he tapped because he thought the bell rang at UFC Apex😳

Via: @MerabDvalishvilpic.twitter.com/B30Ll4CyNk

— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) February 7, 2026

“I heard a bell,” Gafurov said. “I was thinking, ‘Why you not open? What the f*ck? Open!’ But it was ringing.”

Gafurov appears to suggest that he was confused as to why Wiklacz did not immediately release a tight guillotine choke as soon as the bell sounded to end Round 3, so he tapped in protest. However, replays showed Gafurov tapping out a full second before the bell could clearly be heard.

Dvalishvili attempted to clarify the situation with his interpretation of Gafurov’s explanation.

“How he’s saying, how I understand, he’s saying first he said, ‘Good,’ and then when he heard the bell, he tapped,” Dvalishvili said. “That’s unfortunate. Congratulations to Jakub. I don’t have nothing against him, he’s a good fighter, but that’s my brother Muin telling me.

“He’s never tapped to a choke, but it’s unfortunate. I just want to show you guys what happened. I hope you guys enjoyed this fight and my brother he’s going to come back.”

If there’s anyone who knows what it means to bounce back from a controversial submission, it’s Dvalishvili.

Back in April 2018, Dvalishvili made his second UFC appearance against fellow up-and-coming bantamweight Ricky Simon. Dvalishvili was winning the fight until he ended up in, coincidentally enough, a mounted guillotine in the third round. As time ticked away on the fight, Dvalishvili looked to be in trouble and may have even passed out, but the bell rang before referee Liam Kerrigan had stepped in to stop the fight.

It was only afterward that it was ruled that Dvalishvili had lost consciousness and the bout was ruled a technical submission in Simon’s favor.

Watch the incident below.

Dvalishvili and his team later attempted to appeal the result, but Kerrigan’s decision was upheld.

That would be the last loss for Dvalishvili for some team as he went on a 14-fight win streak that included four straight bantamweight championship fight victories, a streak that only recently came to an end with Dvalishvili dropping his title to Petr Yan at UFC 323.

Time will tell if Gafurov—who also missed weight for Saturday’s fight by five pounds—can enjoy a similar reversal of fortunes.

Chris Gotterup won the PGA Tour Phoenix Open on Sunday, topping Hideki Matsuyama with a birdie at the first playoff hole as the Japanese major-winner found the water just moments after surrendering the outright lead at the 72nd hole.

Gotterup, who started the day four shots behind third-round leader Matsuyama, fired nine birdies in a seven-under par 64 at TPC Scottsdale, picking up five shots in the last six holes to post a 16-under total of 268.

Matsuyama, meanwhile, endured a nervy round in which he hit just three of 14 fairways but arrived at the 72nd hole in the lead at 17-under.

His waywardness finally caught up with him, as he was in the church pews bunker left the fairway on the way to his first bogey of the day.

That saw him close with a three-under par 68 and join Gotterup on 268, and when they returned to 18 for the playoff Matsuyama was left again and in the water.

Gotterup drilled a long birdie to seal his first PGA Tour playoff win and his second title of 2026 after a triumph at the Sony Open in Hawaii last month.

Gotterup had put himself in position to strike with a late surge that included birdies at 13, 14 and 15 and another pair at 17 and 18 -- where his shot out of the right rough left him a three-foot birdie putt.

"I knew I needed to make birdie on 18 but you never know," Gotterup said. "Hideki was playing great, 17 is birdieable but there's also some danger out there.

"I just figured I would stay loose. I didn't think this would happen, especially after Friday and Saturday but here we are," added Gotterup, who launched his week with an impressive 63 but lost ground with a second-round 71 and third-round 70.

Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters Champion and a two-time winner in Phoenix, had four birdies and had fended off multiple challenges before his final swoon.

"It's disappointing, a shock," Matsuyama admitted, adding he'd "just get back up on the horse next week.

"(I) was grinding all weekend," he said. "Didn't have my best stuff but hung in there."

- Scheffler solid -

World number one Scottie Scheffler came up short in his bid for another epic Phoenix Open comeback and American Michael Thorbjornsen was unable to hang on after briefly taking the lead with an eagle at 15, bogeying the next two.

Scheffler and Thorbjornsen were part of a five-way tie for third on 15-under 269, where they were joined by Akshay Bhatia, Kim Si-woo, and Nicolai Hojgaard.

Scheffler, who won the 2022 Phoenix Open after trailing by nine after 36 holes, started the day five off the pace but managed to put some pressure on with his bogey-free seven-under par 64.

"It was good," said the four-time major winner, who had worked his way into contention after a disappointing first-round 73.

"I put myself in a tough position after the first round, but three really solid days," added Scheffler, who was chasing a second win of 2026 after a victory at La Quinta in his first start of the year.

bb/js

Super Bowl Sunday has never been a fun day for the state of Georgia. The Atlanta Falcons have only made the big game twice in their 60-year history, losing both times. The second time featured a blown lead so agonizing that simply mentioning “28-3” could be punishable by death stares from Falcons fans.

This time around, however, the Peach State picked up a victory on Super Bowl Sunday, even though it wasn’t on the gridiron. Georgia women’s basketball tallied a dominant 85-66 road win over Mizzou, ending MU’s winning streak at three games.

“Georgia’s a really good team,” head coach Kellie Harper said after the game. “To be quite honest with you, I don’t know why they’re not ranked right now.”

After scoring over 80 points in three straight games, Mizzou’s offense was dragged much closer to Earth on Sunday. Grace Slaughter endured the heaviest struggles, missing 10 of her first 11 field goal attempts and finishing just 4-of-15 from the field (26.7%), scoring just 10 points. That tied for the third-lowest single-game shooting percentage of her career on at least 10 shot attempts.

“They were just really aggressive defensively, being physical around the rim,” Slaughter said.

The following sequence encapsulated her day at the office: With 3.3 seconds left in the third quarter, Slaughter drew a charge. On the ensuing baseline inbounds pass, she dribbled the ball off her foot, and it bounced right to Savannah Anderson. She whipped her body 180 degrees and sank a buzzer-beating jumpshot from the right elbow to put UGA up 12.

“That was a momentum play,” Harper said. “I thought they had several momentum plays today.”

Georgia didn’t go on the kind of scoring blitz that New England did nine years ago, but the Bulldogs were powered by a 20-7 run to end the first half after the game was tied at 21 with 8:20 left in the second quarter. Mizzou couldn’t get itself out of that hole from then on, as both teams traded baskets for most of the second half. Georgia’s lead never dipped below double-digits.

Mizzou was also without starting big Jordana Reisma, who missed her second straight game with what Harper described as a “lower leg injury”. Combined with Hannah Linthacum remaining on the mend, the Tigers lacked the proper size to compete with the Dawgs down low. Georgia won the rebound battle 44-31, and Mizzou only grabbed five offensive rebounds the entire game.

“We don’t have size, and we don’t have depth, and we’re missing one of our starting post players,” an exasperated Harper said.

“For our kids to go out and just battle, I’m proud of that. I am. Now, can we do better? Yes, we can do better. We’re going to always push them to be better. Are we satisfied with a ‘play hard, yay!’? No, we’re not. We want to be better than that. But man, we have faced some tough challenges this year, and they just keep right on coming back.”

Shannon Dowell led MU in scoring with 16 points. Lisa Thompson was the only other Tiger in double-digits besides Dowell and Slaughter, scoring a season-high 14 points, all of which came in the second half.

For UGA, Rylie Theuerkauf scored a season-high 22 points, while leading scorer Dani Carnegie and starting big Mia Woolfolk had 16 points apiece. Her, Trinity Turner and Miyah Verse combined for 25 rebounds.

“There’s not much we can do there. We don’t have anybody right now that can insert and do those things. We have nobody else that could come in and get that size. Our small team got smaller when she got hurt, but we just have to be creative defensively.”

So far, that creativity hasn’t worked very well against bigger teams.

Sunday was a missed opportunity for a quality win, which Mizzou has in low quantity at the moment. The Tigers only have one win over a team that’s projected to make the NCAA Tournament (Mississippi State). Even so, the Bulldogs are hanging around the bubble and are far from a guarantee to go dancing.

Luckily for Kellie Harper’s crew, they won’t have to wait long for another shot at a high-quality opponent, as the Tigers will visit Harper’s previous employer (No. 19 Tennessee) for their next game. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. It’ll be Harper’s first game against the Volunteers since she took the head coaching position at Mizzou. Harper was fired on April 1, 2024, after five seasons in Knoxville.

Like MU, Tennessee is also looking to rebound from a blowout defeat, as the Volunteers lost by 43 points to No. 3 South Carolina on Sunday.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Chris Gotterup shot 7-under 64 and won the Phoenix Open with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff Sunday after Hideki Matsuyama pulled his tee shot into the water.

The leader by one heading into the final round, Matsuyama had converted all of his previous five 54-hole leads into wins, but limped to the finish at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course.

The two-time Phoenix Open champion nearly hit his tee shot in the water left of the reachable par-4 17th and pulled his drive on 18 left into the church pew bunkers — his 11th missed fairway of the day. Matsuyama hit his second shot into the face of the bunker and couldn’t get up-and-down from 43 yards to send the tournament to a playoff. He shot 68 to match Gotterup at 16-under 268.

Gotterup, winner of the season-opening Sony Open, closed with five birdies on his final six holes and stayed loose by hitting balls off the first tee before uncorking a massive drive on 18 in the playoff.

Matsuyama yanked his tee shot even further left than he did in regulation, caroming it off the bank of the lake into the water. The Japanese star hit his third shot to onto the green after a drop, but Gotterup left no doubt by sinking his birdie putt for his fourth career PGA Tour win.

Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler went from being in danger of the missing the cut with a shaky first round to turning heads as his name moved toward the top of the leaderboard. He closed with a 64 to tie for third at 15 under.

European tour

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Patrick Reed capped off his remarkable month in the Middle East by winning the Qatar Masters on Sunday, his second European tour victory in three weeks that all but assures the former Masters champion will have a full PGA Tour card in 2027.

Reed closed with a 2-under 70, turning back an early threat from Jacob Skov Olesen and a late charge by Calum Hill for a two-shot victory at Doha Golf Club.

In the last three weeks, Reed has won the Dubai Desert Classic, lost in a playoff in Bahrain and won in Qatar. No one has posted a lower 72-hole score in three straight European tour events. He will move into the top 20 in the world ranking for the first time since 2021.

The 35-year-old American chose to leave LIV Golf after his win in Dubai. He is virtually assured of being among the top 10 players in the Race to Dubai who get full PGA Tour cards in 2027. Reed leads the Race to Dubai and already has more points than the player who got the 10th card a year ago and still has four majors and four Rolex Series events to play.

Korn Ferry Tour

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — James Nicholas won the Astra Golf Championship on Sunday for his first Korn Ferry Tour title, making a 13-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th for a 5-under 66 and a two-stroke victory.

Nicholas played 29 holes Sunday in the weather-delayed event, also shooting 66 in the third round. The 28-year-old former Yale player won in his 69th start on the tour, finishing at 19-under 265 at Country Club de Bogota.

Norman Xiong was second. He also closed with a 66. Carson Young was third at 16 under after a 65.

Ian Holt, coming off consecutive victories in the Bahamas and Panama, tied for 49th at 5 under. He had a 71 on Sunday.

LIV Golf League

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Elvis Smylie won LIV Golf Riyadh on Saturday night in his tour debut, closing with an 8-under 64 under the lights to hold off Jon Rahm by a stroke.

The 23-year-old Australian also led Ripper GC to the team title.

Smylie, who won the Australian PGA Championship in 2024, finished at 24-under 264 under.

Rahm closed with a bogey-free 63. He won the points title on LIV Golf last year without ever winning an individual tournament.

Other tours

Will Enefer closed with a 3-under 69 and made birdie on the first playoff hole to win the Cape Town Open for his first Challenge Tour title. Enefer defeated Hennie Otto in the playoff at Royal Cape Golf Club. The tournament was co-sanctioned with the Sunshine Tour. ... Wooyoung Cho closed with a 5-under 67 to win the Philippine Golf Championship by four shots over Pavit Tangkamolprasert on the Asian Tour. ... Declan O’Donovan closed with a 5-under 67 for a five-shot victory over Brady Watt to capture his first professional title in the Webex Players Series-Sydney on the PGA Tour of Australasia. ... Jack Buchanan closed with a 5-under 67 for a six-shot victory in the Africa Amateur Championship, earning him a spot in the British Open at Royal Birkdale this summer.

___

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

Lakers predicted to pursue $5M pure scorer to help Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic, waive first-rounder originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Lakers are starting to find a groove in their play, and it may be due in large part to Austin Reaves returning. The team has been solid this season, but there is still plenty of room for growth. LA recently signed Kobe Bufkin, seemingly solidifying their roster, though they could still waive a player to make room for a buyout candidate.

“The final technical path would be waiving a two-way contract. Players like Chris Manon or Nick Smith Jr. could be released to reopen a roster slot. This is the only realistic mechanism left that does not involve long-term financial pain, but it also limits the Lakers to minimum contract options,” Fadeaway World’s Vishwesha Kumar wrote.

One name to watch if space is cleared is former Brooklyn Nets young star Cam Thomas.

“Arguably the most intriguing name available, Cam Thomas is an absolute bucket getter who thrives as a spark plug scorer off the bench. He averages 15.2 points per game for his career and there is no doubt what he brings to the table. The concern with Thomas comes with the rest of his game as he has never shown himself to be a consistent playmaker or defender, nor has he ever put up that level of numbers on a contending team. But with the Lakers having one of the worst scoring benches in the NBA, adding Thomas would give the team a major boost in that department,” Lakers Nation’s Corey Hansford wrote.

Thomas was recently released by the Nets.

“The apparently contentious relationship between Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas and the franchise came to an end with the team releasing Thomas, allowing him to enter free agency, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania. Thomas is averaging 15.6 points in 24 games this season (eight starts) after missing 20 games because of a left hamstring strain,” ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill wrote.

The Lakers are eager to improve in any way they can to make a deep playoff run. Adding Thomas would provide significant scoring off the bench and make the roster even deeper.

However, making this move won’t be simple. The front office will face challenges, but Thomas would be a strong pickup, and with him available, it’s hard to imagine the Lakers letting another team claim him.

Is TreVeyon Henderson playing tonight? Why Patriots RB is off to slow start in Super Bowl originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

TreVeyon Hendertson established himself as a long-term piece of the future for the New England Patriots in 2025.

The rookie running back tallied over 1,000 scrimmage yards during the regular season and has been an impactful player for the Patriots out of the backfield.

However, Henderson is off to a slow start in the Super Bowl versus the Seattle Seahawks.

Is TreVeyon Henderson playing tonight?

Yes, Henderson is active and playing.

However, he didn't receive a touch during New England's opening drive, with Rhamondre Steveson getting most of the action.

Henderson will get his touches soon, so let's see what the rookie can do in the Super Bowl.

More NFL news

• Cardinals trade rumor could lead to deal with Steelers, Vikings or Browns
• Aaron Rodgers career update is great news for Pittsburgh Steelers
• 49ers trade rumor is crushing blow to possible deal with Vikings, Falcons
• Maxx Crosby isn't ruling out interesting career change down the line
• Travis Kelce rumor offers update on Chiefs superstar's future plans
• Maxx Crosby trade rumor is good news for Pats, Eagles, Cowboys

Is Stefon Diggs playing tonight? Why Patriots WR is off to slow start in Super Bowl originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Stefon Diggs has had a phenomenal debut campaign with the New England Patriots in 2025.

Diggs started all 17 games this season, tallying over 1,000 receiving yards and stepping up as Drake Maye's No. 1 receiver.

It's been a productive year for Diggs, but he's off to a slow start in the Super Bowl versus the Seattle Seahawks.

Is Stefon Diggs playing tonight?

Yes, Diggs is active and playing tonight. However, he didn't snag a reception during New England's opening drive.

Diggs didn't even garner a single target on the Patriots first series, which resulted in a punt.

Diggs should get it going soon. He's been too valuable to New England's passing attack to go catchless for much longer.

More NFL news

• Cardinals trade rumor could lead to deal with Steelers, Vikings or Browns
• Aaron Rodgers career update is great news for Pittsburgh Steelers
• 49ers trade rumor is crushing blow to possible deal with Vikings, Falcons
• Maxx Crosby isn't ruling out interesting career change down the line
• Travis Kelce rumor offers update on Chiefs superstar's future plans
• Maxx Crosby trade rumor is good news for Pats, Eagles, Cowboys

This summer’s transfer window is a vitally important one for Barcelona, especially if they secure their anticipated return to La Liga’s 1:1 rule. There are plans to address multiple positions, with the most pressing ones being centre-back and striker.

Defence is an area that has caused a lot of concern this season, although the recent upturn in form has resulted in more clean sheets. Pau Cubarsi and Eric Garcia have established a strong connection, and with Ronald Araujo, Gerard Martin and Andreas Christensen as depth options, Barcelona are not as hard-pressed to go all-out for a statement signing in this area as they once  were.

That’s confirmed by Sport, who say that Barcelona are prioritising the signing of a new star striker, given it’s taken for granted that Robert Lewandowski will leave the Spotify Camp Nou when his contract expires in June.

Image via David Ramos/Getty Images

Barcelona believe it is more essential for a striker with goalscoring pedigree to be brought in over another central defender. Ferran Torres has impressed this season as a number nine, but in the event of Lewandowski’s exit, there would be no other option that Hansi Flick can turn to for goals.

Who could Barcelona sign?

In recent months, Barcelona have been linked with a number of strikers. Julian Alvarez is the player that Joan Laporta likes most, while there has also been interest shown in Harry Kane and Serhou Guirassy. However, whether the Catalans are back in the 1:1 will determine whether they can splash out, or if a low cost option is required.

Once the Barcelona presidential election is complete, it will become clearer who Barcelona are going to pursue during the summer transfer window. Until then, it is anyone’s guess as to who will end up making the move to the Spotify Camp Nou between the months of July and September.

NEED TO KNOW

• On average, the Super Bowl lasts between three and four hours
• Though rare, some championship games have crossed over the four-hour mark
• Super Bowls are typically longer than regular NFL games, but only by half an hour on average

The Super Bowl is a marathon, not a sprint. But for fans with early alarms set for the next day, it helps to plan ahead.

As with most sporting events, the exact length of the NFL championship cannot be forecast, though many will place bets with their best guess. This big unknown is thanks to variables like overtime, instant replay reviews and, of course, those beloved, extra-lengthy, celebrity-packed Super Bowl commercials.

However, there is a general time range viewers can expect. According to Sports Illustrated, the Super Bowl lasts, on average, between three and four hours. And though that may feel like a long time for those who don't watch football on the regular, it's actually not that much longer than a normal NFL game.

So, how long is the Super Bowl? Here's everything to know about the average runtime — and what makes it longer than a typical match-up.

How long does the Super Bowl last?

The Super Bowl typically runs three hours and 38 minutes on average, per Sports Illustrated.

While all the pomp and circumstance may make it feel longer, it’s actually not that far off from a typical NFL game, which is three hours and 12 minutes on average, according to Pro Football Network.

Like a regular match-up, the championship is broken up into four 15-minute quarters. So most of what makes the event so long is commercial breaks and stoppages in between plays, not actual gameplay. In fact, there's only an average of 18 minutes of actual football happening in most NFL games, per Pro Football Network.

There's also the matter of overtime, which could make the Super Bowl even longer. However, that's only happened twice in NFL history.

How long is the Super Bowl halftime show?

During the regular season, halftime is limited to around 15 minutes. But when fans are treated to performances by major artists like Beyoncé, The Rolling Stones and Bad Bunny, that break is closer to a half-hour to account for stage setup and breakdown, according to Sports Illustrated.

The artists, however, are limited to a performance lasting between 12 and 14 minutes. Most networks also fit in an analysis of the first half of the game and predictions for the second during halftime.

What was the longest Super Bowl?

Rarely will the Super Bowl go past four hours. But fans should prepare themselves for the possibility of the long haul, because it definitely has in the past. 

When the Baltimore Ravens played the San Francisco 49ers in 2013, the game ran for four hours and 14 minutes, making it the longest NFL championship game ever. But play stoppages and overtime were not to blame in Super Bowl XLVII.

According to Sports Illustrated, a power outage inside the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans turned the NFL's biggest game into a blackout. Half of the arena was in total darkness for approximately 22 minutes.

When the lights came back on, the players had to warm back up, which delayed the game by another 13 minutes.

In the past 20 years, only two other Super Bowl games have gone over four hours: 2024's match between the Kansas City Chiefs and the 49ers and 2004's match between the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers.

Though rare, that unexpected delay should serve as a reminder that anything can happen on the NFL’s biggest stage.

Read the original article on People

NEED TO KNOW

• Marshawn Lynch was spotted at the 2026 Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks
• Lynch, also known as “Beast Mode," was on the sidelines with his camera equipment
• The former running back played in the NFL for 12 seasons, mostly with the Seattle Seahawks

Marshawn Lynch is at the Super Bowl!

The former Seahawks player, 39, was spotted at the 2026 Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks on Sun., Feb. 8, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. 

But this time Lynch — also known as “Beast Mode" — won't be playing on the field. Instead, he is on the sidelines with his camera equipment. 

Photos show Lynch standing around the field in a navy blue sweatsuit, a blue cap and white sneakers. The former football player wore a white vest and a black face cover. He carried a large camera in his hands and wore a black backpack. 

Lynch played in the NFL for 12 seasons, mostly with the Seahawks. He played in the Super Bowl in 2013 and 2014, winning the latter. 

The former running back retired in 2019. Since then, he has taken on various acting projects, including 2023’s Bottoms and 2025’s The Pickup. He has also had stints on Amazon Prime's Thursday Night Footballbroadcast. 

Lynch was on the sidelines with his camera in hand during Seahawks’ preseason in August 2025, per Seattle new outlet KIRO 7. 

The following month, the NFL shared a montage video of the former football player with his camera during a football game in São Paulo. 

Lynch isn’t the only football legend at this year’s Super Bowl. Tom Brady, who formerly played for the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, spoke with PEOPLE at EA Sports Presents Madden Bowl on Feb. 6.

He revealed who's in his squad of celebrity pals for his party-filled weekend, saying, "Oh, I got all my friends!"

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"They're all down here. We got Julian [Edelman] with me right here. He's usually pretty fun to hang out with," Brady joked of his longtime Patriots teammate.

See PEOPLE's coverage of the 2026 Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, airing live on NBC on Sun., Feb. 8, from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

Read the original article on People

Super Bowl coin toss result isn't great news for Patriots originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New England Patriots are Super Bowl underdogs against the Seattle Seahawks in Santa Clara, but now they've got history against them as well.

If you believe such things.

As the coin toss was being performed, the Patriots won and deferred, giving the Seahawks the ball first, as expected.

But it is here where Patriots fans won't like it.

According to Trey Wingo, a well-respected voice in NFL media, things are going to go downhill if what he posted on X is correct (we have no reason to doubt it).

"The Patriots won the coin toss. They won the coin toss in all 3 of their Super Bowl losses…and lost the coin toss in all 6 of their Super Bowl wins," Wingo posted. 

More:Insider drops incredible Jake Bobo Seahawks story ahead of Super Bowl

Does coin toss result really matter?

Well, going by Wingo's stats, it definitely does, and it might be a bad day at the office for New England as a result.

Of course, there will be others who think the coin toss result doesn't matter at all, but you have to admit, that it is rather interesting that in all of their Super Bowl wins, they've lost the coin toss.

It will be interesting to revisit this post-game if the Patriots manage to beat Seattle.

More NFL news:

• Super Bowl prediction spells doom for Seahawks
• 49ers' Kyle Shanahan offers incredible take on facing Seahawks
• Bengals' offseason plans offer harsh Joe Burrow reality
• Falcons reportedly preparing for big Kirk Cousins decision
• Tua Tagovailoa gets worrying Dolphins future update 
• Ravens expected to address huge offseason issue under Jesse Minter
• Mike Evans' agent drops huge Buccaneers future update

Fans know Kenny Omega for two things: his spectacular professional wrestling career, and his love of video games. While Omega is an active member of AEW's roster, he is also deeply involved with the video game industry, as is shown by his upcoming appearance at Tokyo's Capcom Cup 12 event. The only problem: his obligations may impact his schedule leading up to AEW's next big pay-per-view event, Revolution.

"Wrestling Observer Newsletter" speculated about Omega's upcoming schedule, which will see him attempt to balance a program with former AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland with his Capcom obligations. Omega's current feud with Strickland is reportedly building towards a match at Revolution, scheduled for March 16 in Los Angeles. However, Omega has already been advertised for Capcom Cup 12, which runs from March 11 to 15 in Tokyo's Sumo Hall. Omega is playing no small part in Tokyo either: he is specifically listed as a meet-and-greet guest from March 11 to 13. While Omega could theoretically leave Tokyo on March 14 to arrive in Los Angeles with "plenty of time to spare" ahead of Revolution, it is unclear if Omega would be able to cut his Capcom Cup 12 appearance short by a day in order to travel to the United States. As of writing, it appears that Omega and AEW are actively working to fix the scheduling conflict.

These obligations were not made overnight. Reports claim that Omega agreed to appear at Capcom Cup 12 back in 2024 — long before Revolution 2026 plans were secured. Omega most likely committed himself to the event following his work on Street Fighter 6: the title central to Capcom Cup 12. While Omega will not join the 48 players scheduled to compete for the event's $1 million grand prize, his presence at Capcom Cup 12, as a contributor to Street Fighter 6's development, is meaningful nonetheless. 

Read more: Kenny Omega's Biggest Heat With Wrestling Personalities

Don't miss any of the major wrestling headlines. Sign up to our free newsletter for the biggest stories, sent straight to your inbox. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google.

Read the original article on Wrestling Inc.

Who is Robert Kraft’s wife? Everything to know about Dana Blumberg and the couples 33-year age gap originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots,  holds the record for most Super Bowl wins for an NFL team owner in league history.

Kraft was married early in his life to his first wife Myra. The couple were together from 1963 to 2011, when she passed away from ovarian cancer. Despite Kraft saying he never thought that he would marry again, he began dating in the 2010s, and eventually it was revealed that he had actually become engaged in 2022. He married ophthalmologist Dana Blumberg later that year. 

Here is more on Blumberg, Kraft's second wife. 

SUPER BOWL 60 HQ: Live score | Full TV guide | Halftime show updates

Who is Robert Kraft's wife?

Kraft was married to Myra Kraft from 1963 to 2011, when she passed away from ovarian cancer at the age of 68. The Patriots' owner said he never imagined remarrying, but he began dating actress Ricki Noel Lander in 2012, and they broke up in 2018.

Kraft began dating Blumberg in 2017, despite that overlapping with the time he was dating Lander. He and Blumberg's engagement was announced by Tommy Hilfiger at the inaugural amfAR Gala Palm Beach event in early 2022, and they married in October 2022. 

Blumberg is an ophthalmologist based in New York. Her relationship with Kraft was largely kept private until the engagement announcement. They were first seen together publicly in 2019, attending the French Open together, per People magazine. 

According to Medical News Today, "Dr. Blumberg is board certified in Ophthalmology and graduated from Saint Louis University School of Medicine in 2000. Dr. Blumberg completed a residency at University Hospitals of Cleveland." 

Along with being a medical doctor, Blumberg is big into charity and helped to found "Pawtriots," which is a dog-rescue organization in 2025, per the Boston Herald. 

The couple married at the Hall des Lumieres in lower Manhattan. Those in attendance included Tom Brady, Roger Goodell, Adam Silver, Randy Moss, Vince Wilfork and Jon Bon Jovi. Elton John, Ed Sheeran and Meek Mill all performed. 

MORE: How Patriots built Super Bowl 60 roster

What is an ophthalmologist?

An ophthalmologist is an eye doctor. The role differs from that of an optometrist because an ophthalmologist specializes in comprehensive eye care, including surgery. An optometrist generally focuses on primary eye care and vision correction. 

What is the age difference between Robert Kraft and his wife?

Robert Kraft is 84 years old. Blumberg is 52 years old, and is 32 years younger than her husband. 

MORE: Youngest QBs to win a Super Bowl

How many wives has Robert Kraft had?

Kraft has had two wives. He married Myra Kraft in 1963 and the couple was together until 2011 when she passed away from ovarian cancer. Kraft then married Blumberg in October 2022 after the couple had been together for roughly five years. 

MORE: What does 'T-Strong' mean?

Do Robert Kraft and Dana Blumberg have children?

Kraft and Blumberg do not have any children together. Kraft has four children, but all of them were from his first marriage. 

MORE: How did Robert Kraft make his money?

Robert Kraft children

Robert and Myra Kraft had four children together, all sons. 

Jonathan Kraft

Jonathan Kraft was born in March 4, 1964 and is 61 years old. He is a businessman, and the current president of The Kraft Group, which is a holding company for the Kraft family's business. Jonathan is also the current president of the Patriots. He and his wife Patricia have three kids together. 

Daniel Kraft

Daniel Kraft is also a businessman, participating in The Kraft Group. He graduated from Tufts University in 1987 where he played college lacrosse. Daniel and his wife Wendy have three children. 

Joshua Kraft

Joshua "Josh" Kraft went to Williams College where he earned his bachelor's degree and then went to Harvard for his master's degree in education. His specialization has been more philanthropic. Josh founded the Boys & Girls Club of Chelsea in 1993 and was its executive director for 15 years, per People. 

Josh was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018 and declared in 2023 that he was cancer free, per the Boston Herald. He is divorced, but has two daughters with his ex-wife Michelle Perez Vichot. 

David Kraft

Not much is known about David Kraft as he is not aligned with the family business. He left in 2012 and actually sued his father over "his access to the Kraft family trust." 

MORE: Ranking the greatest Patriots of all time

When Sam Darnold took the field on the first drive of Super Bowl 60 against the New England Patriots, the former USC football quarterback had already made history.

The Seattle Seahawks' first-year quarterback became the first Trojans quarterback to play in the NFL's biggest game of the year.

REQUIRED READING: Super Bowl 2026 live updates: Score, how to watch Patriots vs Seahawks

The California native now looks to end his night at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California by making some additional history: becoming the first quarterback to lead the Seahawks to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy since Russell Wilson did so over a decade ago.

Here's what to know on what Darnold's college career:

What college did Sam Darnold go to?

Darnold attended USC for college, where he played three years for the Trojans.

A four-star recruit in the 2015 recruiting class, Darnold was in the same recruiting class as Cincinnati Bengals' QB Joe Burrow (LSU), Arizona Cardinals' QB Kyler Murray (Oklahoma) and Baltimore Ravens' QB Lamar Jackson (Louisville).

He redshirted his true freshman year with the Trojans, who had a quarterback room that featured Cody Kessler and Max Browne. He took over the reins full-time of the USC offense four games into his sophomore career and never lost it.

He was drafted with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the New York Jets has reached the Super Bowl

Sam Darnold stats at USC

Here's a year-by-year breakdown of Darnold's stats at USC:

• 2016: 246-of-366 passing (67.2%) for 3,086 yards with 31 touchdowns and nine interceptions; 62 carries for 250 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns
• 2017: 303-of-480 passing (63.1%) for 4,143 yards with 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions; 75 carries for 82 rushing yards with five rushing touchdowns

Sam Darnold 247 rating

• Star: 4
• National ranking: No. 148
• Positional ranking: No. 5 (Dual QB)
• State ranking: No. 21

Sam Darnold committed to USC in the 2015 class. According to 247Sports' Composite rankings, he was a 4-star dual-threat quarterback ranked as the No. 148 player in the class, including its No. 5 dual-threat QB and the No. 21 player from the state of California.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What college did Sam Darnold go to? Seahawks QB's USC career, revisited

MILAN — Amber Glenn said she "couldn't believe the outlandish backlash" she received for speaking out about LGBTQ issues in the United States.

The first-time Olympian figure skater revealed her feelings about the response to her comments after Team USA won team event gold on Sunday, Feb. 8.

"I couldn't believe the outlandish backlash I received for just supporting people," she said. "Of course, I have people supporting me, and I'm not online right now because of it, but I'm gonna keep speaking my truth. I'm gonna keep representing what I believe in and what I think all Americans believe in, which is freedom and being able to love and do what you want. So, I just I hope we can keep going forward and be positive."

After her performance in the free skate, Glenn said she has "never had so many people wish me harm before."

“That was really disappointing, and I do think it kind of lowered that excitement for this," she added.

Glenn, who is part of the LGBTQ community, is an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ rights and mental health awareness. Given her advocacy, she was asked by reporters ahead of the Games on Wednesday, Feb. 4 about President Donald Trump’s approach to the LGBTQ community. Her response was that “it's been a hard time for the community overall.”

“It isn't the first time that we've had to come together as a community and try and fight for our human rights,” she said. “Now especially, it's not just affecting the queer community, but many other communities, and I think that we are able to support each other in a way that we didn't have to before, and because of that, it's made us a lot stronger."

She added she wanted to use her platform during the Winter Olympics to encourage people "to stay strong in these hard times.”

“I know that a lot of people say you're just an athlete, like, stick to your job, shut up about politics, but politics affect us all,” Glenn said. “It is something that I will not just be quiet about, because it is something that affects us in our everyday lives. So, of course, there are things that I disagree with, but as a community, we are strong and we support each other, and brighter days are ahead.”

Glenn posted a response on her Instagram story on Saturday, Feb. 7 regarding the reception to what she said.

“When I chose to utilize one of the amazing things about the United States of America (Freedom of speech) to convey how I feel as an athlete competing for Team USA in a troubling time for many Americans I am now receiving a scary amount of hate/threats for simply using my voice WHEN ASKED about how I feel. I did anticipate this but I am disappointed by it. I will be limiting my time on social media for my own wellbeing for now but I will never stop using my voice for what I truly believe in,” she wrote.

Glenn isn’t the only U.S. Olympian to speak on representing Team USA and the political climate in the country; Alysa Liu, hockey star Hilary Knight, freestyle halfpipe skier Hunter Hess and aerials freestyle skier Chris Lillis all have.

Trump specifically called out Hess in a social media post, labeling him as a "real loser.” Vice President JD Vance has attended events in Milano Cortina, including the opening ceremony, where he was booed.

Glenn had what she called a “lackluster” performance in the free skate, with some early troubles leading to a third place finish in the standings, resulting in a tie between the U.S. and Japan before the men finished the event.

Despite the unsatisfactory showing, Glenn said she didn’t think the comments had anything to do with her performance.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Amber Glenn shocked by 'outlandish backlash' to LGBTQ comments

WASHINGTON (AP) — Barry Wilburn, who led the NFL in interceptions in 1987 and won a Super Bowl with Washington that same season, has died. He was 62.

The Commanders announced his death Sunday. Action News 5 in Memphis, Tennessee, citing Wilburn's family, reported that he was the victim of a house fire early Friday.

Born Dec. 9, 1963, Wilburn played in college at Mississippi before being drafted by Washington in 1985. He had nine of his 20 career regular-season interceptions in 1987, playing in the same defensive backfield as Hall of Famer Darrell Green.

When Washington beat Denver 42-10 in that season's Super Bowl, Wilburn intercepted two passes in that game. After five seasons with Washington, he played for the Cleveland Browns in 1992 and later was with the Philadelphia Eagles for a couple of seasons.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

The pregame festivities brought out game MVPs such as Tom Brady, Joe Montana, and Peyton Manning. There were big-name music acts such as Green Day, Coco Jones, Brandi Carlile, and Charlie Puth who performed. Also on hand were Travis Scott, Jon Bon Jovi, Chris Pratt, and Jay-Z among other celebs. Super Bowl 60 was a a big show before the big game.

Super Bowl 60 pregame

Super Bowl 60 pregame

Super Bowl 60 pregame

Super Bowl 60 pregame

Super Bowl 60 pregame

Super Bowl 60 pregame

Super Bowl 60 pregame

Super Bowl 60 pregame

Super Bowl 60 pregame

Super Bowl 60 pregame

Super Bowl 60 pregame

Super Bowl 60 pregame

Super Bowl 60 pregame

Super Bowl 60 pregame

Super Bowl 60 pregame

Super Bowl 60 pregame

Super Bowl 60 pregame

Super Bowl 60 pregame

Super Bowl 60 pregame

Super Bowl 60 pregame

This article originally appeared on The List Wire: Super Bowl 60 pregame festivities

Mark Smith won't be seen as the third man in the cage or octagon anytime in the foreseeable future.

Smith, who has been the referee for the most UFC fights in two of the past three calendar years, will see his schedule significantly reduced in 2026 as he heals from a serious injury that happened while he was in the cage for the UFC 324 matchup between Ateba Gautier and Andrey Pulyaev on Jan. 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Fans noticed something had gone wrong when Smith was helped out of the octagon and backstage following the contest. UFC CEO Dana White discussed the "crazy" situation at the post-fight press conference, and falsely claimed Smith had sustained a torn ACL in his knee.

That turned out to be incorrect, because Smith has since confirmed to MMA Junkie that he tore his Achilles, and has already completed a successful operation.

"I am happy to share that my surgery was successful and completed without complications," Smith told MMA Junkie in a statement. "I am currently in the recovery phase, resting comfortably under the care of the hospital staff. The hard part is over, and the healing process now begins.

"I appreciate all your love, prayers, and support. I will provide updates on my recovery milestones as they happen."

Smith did not reveal a timeline for his recovery or when he could return to officiating fights. According to most medical websites, Achilles tendon rupture surgery can require a recovery window between six and nine months depending on the rehabilitation process.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC referee Mark Smith undergoes successful surgery for torn Achilles

Along with all of the results from UEFA'S 'Top 5' leagues, Playmaker is here to provide you with a rundown of the top performers.

From the slickest passers enroute to the most tenacious tacklers via the busiest goalkeepers, we have the headline stats you need to know.

Off we trot...!

---

Top performers

Most shots on target: 6 - Harry Kane (Bayern München)

Most tackles won: 7 - Moisés Caicedo (Chelsea) / Diego Moreira (Strasbourg) / Cristian Cásseres Jr (Toulouse)

Most aerials won: 11 - Victor Nelsson (Hellas Verona)

Most passes completed: 120 - Koke (Atlético de Madrid)

Most key passes: 7 - Luis Milla (Getafe)

Most saves: 8 - Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham) / Oliver Baumann (TSG Hoffenheim)

Most interceptions: 7 - James Sands (FC St. Pauli)

Most successful dribbles: 8 - Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig)

Most big chances created: 3 - Federico Dimarco (Internazionale) / James Justin (Leeds United) / Nuno Mendes (PSG)

Player of the Day

Player of the Day

Luis Díaz

Midfielder - Bayern München

10

Final Scores

Premier League 2025/26

Serie A 2025/26

LaLiga EA Sports 2025/26

Ligue 1 McDonald´s 2025/26

1. Bundesliga 2025/26

NEED TO KNOW

• Travis Kelce was a spectator at Super Bowl LX after playing in the game for the last three consecutive years
• The Chiefs tight end was on hand for the presentation of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, as a past nominee
• Kelce also pulled out of this year's Pro Bowl after making the team for the 11th time in his 13-year career, adding fuel to speculation about his possible retirement
  

Travis Kelce was in attendance at Super Bowl LX, but — in a rarity for recent years — not as a player.

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end, 36, was on hand at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 8, for the presentation of the Walter Payton Man of the Year award. Travis was nominated for the award in 2020.

The award, which recognizes a player for "excellence on and off the field," went to Washington Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner this year. Travis stood alongside Jarrett Payton, a former running back and the son of the award's namesake, as Wagner accepted his honor.

Travis also pulled out of this year's Pro Bowl after making the team for the 11th time in his 13-year career, adding fuel to speculation about his possible retirement.

On newsstands now, PEOPLE's latest special edition issue covers his groundbreaking career, from his earliest days to headlining the Super Bowl LX halftime show and making history at the Grammys. The 96-page issue is now on Amazon. A print edition in Spanish is available exclusively here.

This is the first time since 2023 that Travis isn't playing in the Super Bowl game. He and the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVII and LVIII, before losing last year to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. Kelce also won Super Bowl LIV with the Chiefs in 2019.

His brother, former Eagles center Jason Kelce, recently told PEOPLE, "It is weird, not having Trav in the Super Bowl or playing in it myself. It hasn't happened in a while."

Jason, 38, and his wife, Kylie Kelce, both said they were looking forward to a less-stressful Super Bowl this year.

"There's no stress this year. I've got no skin in the game. I am carefree. I love it," Kylie, 33, tells PEOPLE in an exclusive interview. "I'll be watching at home, and I love watching at home because the snacks are really close by. It's my favorite."

Kylie, who is featured in multiple Super Bowl commercials this year, added that, while her husband and brother would be in attendance at the big game, she was looking forward to relaxing at home.

"I'm also going to be watching the commercials. I'm going to be in all my glory," she said.

See PEOPLE's coverage of the 2026 Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, airing live on NBC on Sun., Feb. 8, from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

Read the original article on People

Ty Outlaw, who coached Bloomfield football to four state titles and seven state championship game appearances in 15 years, is leaving to coach at his alma mater, East Hartford High.

Bloomfield won Class S titles in 2015, 2018, 2019 and 2023 and went to six straight state finals from 2018-2024. The Warhawks (7-4) lost to top-seeded Woodland in the Class S quarterfinals, 42-14, last fall.

Outlaw’s record was 137-39.

“I’m going home, going home where it all started,” Outlaw said Sunday. “That’s where I played, where I grew up. Over 15 years in Bloomfield, I think it’s time for a new challenge.

“People have been talking about me taking over that program (East Hartford). After they saw what I was doing in Bloomfield, they’re like, ‘Why you not home?’ I was getting that a lot for a while.”

Outlaw graduated from East Hartford in 1992. Last season, the Hornets went 2-8.

Bloomfield was Outlaw’s first head coaching job and he said he will miss it.

“Absolutely – I love Bloomfield,” he said. “Leaving was hard. We’ve been on a little run, doing pretty well. To leave and go to a team that is struggling is hard.”

Is Rashid Shaheed playing tonight? Why Seahawks WR is off to quiet start in Super Bowl originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

With the Seattle Seahawks needing more help at wide receiver during the 2025 season, the team pulled off a trade for Rashid Shaheed.

Seattle pulled off the deadline deal with the New Orleans Saints, and the trade has no doubt paid dividends. Shaheed has made a sizeable contribution as a wide receiver in multiple games, and he has scored a pair of kick return touchdowns, including one in the playoffs.

However, Shaheed is off to a quiet start in the Super Bowl LX showdown against the New England Patriots on Sunday night.

Here's a closer look at what's going on.

Is Rashid Shaheed playing tonight?

Yes, Shaheed is active and healthy, and he did receive a target on the opening series but the pass wasn't on the mark.

Shaheed's production has been inconsistent production has been inconsistent during his stint with the Seahawks with Cooper Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba operating in front of him, so we wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't do much on Sunday night.

More NFL news

• Cardinals trade rumor could lead to deal with Steelers, Vikings or Browns
• Aaron Rodgers career update is great news for Pittsburgh Steelers
• 49ers trade rumor is crushing blow to possible deal with Vikings, Falcons
• Maxx Crosby isn't ruling out interesting career change down the line
• Travis Kelce rumor offers update on Chiefs superstar's future plans
• Maxx Crosby trade rumor is good news for Pats, Eagles, Cowboys

Is Jaxon Smith-Njigba playing tonight? Why Seahawks WR is off to slow start in Super Bowl originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Seattle Seahawks have a surefire superstar talent in wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who more than proved himself during the 2025 campaign.

JSN has gotten better in each season of his NFL career, but the former first-round pick cemented himself as an elite wide receiver in 2025, when he led the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards.

Smith-Njigba has continued his impressive run in the postseason, with the third-year wideout ripping off 153 yards and a touchdown on 10 catches in the NFC Championship Game a few weeks back.

However, JSN is off to a slow start in the Super Bowl LX showdown against the New England Patriots on Sunday night. Here's a closer look at what's happening.

Is Jaxon Smith-Njigba playing tonight?

Yes, Smith-Njigba is active and healthy, he just hasn't been targeted in the passing game yet.

We would not expect that to last long, though, as the Seahawks desperately need a big game out of JSN.

More NFL news

• Cardinals trade rumor could lead to deal with Steelers, Vikings or Browns
• Aaron Rodgers career update is great news for Pittsburgh Steelers
• 49ers trade rumor is crushing blow to possible deal with Vikings, Falcons
• Maxx Crosby isn't ruling out interesting career change down the line
• Travis Kelce rumor offers update on Chiefs superstar's future plans
• Maxx Crosby trade rumor is good news for Pats, Eagles, Cowboys

Free agent Cam Thomas has agreed to a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The terms for the deal were not initially disclosed.

Thomas averaged 21.4 points per game over the past three seasons with the Brooklyn Nets.

The 24-year-old guard was waived by the Nets on Thursday, Feb. 5, after the trade deadline.

He had signed a one-year, $5.9 million qualifying offer in September and was set to become a free agent after the season.

Thomas is expected to help bolster a Milwaukee roster that still features Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Antetokounmpo was a popular name in trade rumors leading up to the deadline but was not traded by the Bucks.

Cam Thomas 2026 stats

Cam Thomas averaged 15.6  points, 3.1 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 24 games played for the Nets this season.

When was Cam Thomas drafted?

Thomas was drafted by the Nets in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft with the 27th overall pick.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cam Thomas signs with Milwaukee Bucks as free agent

Opening Day is still over two months away, but meaningful, competitive, and entertaining baseball will be here before we know it with the 2026 World Baseball Classic just around the corner. The 2023 competition was a resounding success, which has only built up even more hype for the upcoming tournament.

The Classic showcases baseball’s top players from around the world, and there are several members of the Cleveland Guardians organization who will be participating in this year’s contest.

Here are the players from Cleveland’s organization who will be playing, along with the country they will be competing for. 

• LHP Logan Allen (Panama)
• INF Travis Bazzana (Australia)
• RHP Dylan DeLucia (Italy)
• OF Stuart Fairchild (Chinese Taipei)
• RHP Matt Festa (Italy)
• INF Dayan Frias (Colombia)
• C Bo Naylor (Canada)
• LHP Ryan Prager (Israel)
• LHP Matt Wilkinson (Canada)

As it pertains to the current big-league roster, the Guardians will only be missing three players for a portion of spring training for the tournament: Allen, Naylor, and Festa. Bazzana and Fairchild received non-roster invites to Major League camp, but are not on Cleveland’s 40-man roster. 

Obviously, Naylor, Cleveland's catcher, being absent for part of training could be an issue, but it will actually give David Fry time to get comfortable behind the plate again.

The most notable name missing from this group is Jose Ramirez, who did not play for the Dominican Republic during the 2023 WBC either. 

Ramirez was actually asked about his status for the WBC shortly after signing a seven-year contract extension, keeping him in Cleveland until 2032, but the third baseman wasn’t interested in talking about the Classic at that time.

“At the moment, I don’t want to talk about any other thing. We’re just focusing on my contract here in Cleveland,” said Ramirez through his interpreter, Auggie Rivero. 

However, there’s still a possibility that Ramirez could join the team later on in the tournament, per Francys Romero.

Still, there will be plenty of Guardians to keep an eye on once the 2026 World Baseball Classic officially get sunderway on March 5, with the championship taking place in Miami on March 17. 

Guardians Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Guardians. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.

NEED TO KNOW

• Kenneth Walker III was born to mom Shauntesia Brown and dad Kenneth Walker Jr. in Memphis
• His parents have supported his football ambitions since childhood
• He will make his first Super Bowl appearance with the Seattle Seahawks on Feb. 8

Kenneth Walker III is headed to 2026 Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks — and no one is prouder of him than his parents, Shauntesia Brown and Kenneth Walker Jr.

The Feb. 8 matchup will be Walker III’s first championship appearance since being drafted by the Seahawks in 2022. The star running back (and 2021 Heisman Trophy candidate) from Michigan State University always dreamed of playing in the NFL as a child — and now, he’ll be competing in its biggest game.

“As a kid, he would always say, ‘You think I can go to the NFL?’ ” his mother, Brown, recalled in a Michigan State Spartans Athletics video. “And, you know, his dad said, ‘Hey, you can do it.’ ”

Walker III’s father didn’t just believe in his son; he pushed him to succeed. “I’m very proud but I ain’t surprised,” Walker Jr. said to the Big Ten Network. “I watch everybody work out. I know they didn't do what he done. That's the key. If you're doing everything somebody else is doing, you just average.”

Win or lose, Walker III knows that his parents remain his biggest fans.

“My parents are real proud of me,” he told the Big Ten Network. “That means a lot, because if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have been here.”

Ahead of the 2026 Super Bowl, here is everything to know about Kenneth Walker III’s parents, Shauntesia Brown and Kenneth Walker Jr.

Walker Jr. and Brown have seven children together

Walker III grew up in a big family: His parents, Walker Jr. and Brown, have six other children besides him.

“We're all super close,” Walker III told the Big Ten Network about his family. “I got both my parents. I got three older sisters, an older brother and two younger brothers.”

Walker III shared how both his parents sacrificed a lot for him and his siblings. “Those sacrifices made it much easier for me to do what I do,” he said.

Walker Jr. moved the family out of Memphis for a “better life”

Walker III and his family lived in Memphis, Tenn. until he was 2 years old, when his father decided to move them all to the nearby suburb of Bartlett.

“His dad came home one day and he was like, ‘Hey, this is not where I want to raise the kids,’ ” Brown told the Big Ten Network. “So we ended up here in Bartlett, Tennessee and that was the best decision he ever made.”

She added, “He always had said he wanted to give his kids a better life.”

From Bartlett, the family moved to another Memphis suburb called Arlington, Tenn. There, Walker III attended Arlington High School, where he played football.

Walker Jr. has been working out with his son since he was 4

From the time Walker III was a young boy, his father would push him in workouts in their home gym. Walker Jr. would work nights, his son recalled to the Big Ten Network, and then spend his days exercising. He had Walker III start joining him in his workouts from the time he was just 4 years old.

“I worked out with my dad 24/7,” Walker III told Fox Sports. “There would be times when I didn’t want to work out, and he would make me. And I’m over here crying, I had tears in my eyes while we were working out.”

“Grown men didn’t want to do the workouts I was putting him through,” Walker Jr. echoed to The Detroit News.

While Walker III might not have always loved his workouts with his dad, it was a different story for Walker Jr. He told Big Ten Sports that he “enjoyed every day” he spent pushing his son in the gym.

“I think having me, and then Kenny being Kenny, I think it was a perfect match,” Walker Jr. said. “It was just me and him. Nobody seeing the workout. I didn’t want nobody to see the workout.”

Walker III has grown to appreciate all of the effort his father put into working out with him, however.

“It brought me to this point in my life, and I thank him for it,” Walker III told Fox Sports. “As a kid, I didn’t see it that way. But as I got older, I know now what he was doing for me. So yeah, that means a lot to me.”

His mom got him started in football

While Walker Jr. challenged his son with workouts, it was Walker III’s mom, Brown, who first introduced him to football. Initially, she took Walker III to the park where he would watch his uncle play football, he revealed on his YouTube channel.

“Then one day my mom signed me up for football,” he said. “That’s how I really got into it.”

Even though Walker III wasn’t the biggest kid, he was fast and strong. He excelled in football from a young age, winning his first All-Star award playing bantam football for his local team, the Ellendale Bears, according to The Detroit News. And while he played multiple sports as a child — including basketball, baseball and even wrestling — football was always his favorite.

“I’ve played a lot of different other sports, but there was always something about football,” Walker III said in a Michigan State Spartans All Access video. “That was, like, my favorite thing ever.”

His parents stopped him from quitting football in high school

Despite his talents, Walker III almost walked away from football entirely when he was in high school, but it was his parents who kept him in the game. When he was a junior at Arlington High School, Walker III got into an argument with one of his coaches. The dispute made him want to quit the team, he shared on his YouTube channel.

“That was, like, really a time I wanted to put up the cleats and quit football,” Walker III said.

But his parents, Walker Jr. and Brown, talked him out of making a rash decision.

“They just told me not to make a decision based on emotion,” Walker III told Fox Sports. “And I carry that with me to this day.”

Brown saved her son’s football career after a health scare in high school

The summer before Walker III’s senior year of high school, he had a health scare that almost permanently ended his football career.

“I was feeling kind of odd,” Walker III recalled in a Michigan State Athletics video. “I woke up and I couldn’t even move because I was in so much pain.”

After telling his mother that he was having difficulty breathing, she rushed him to the emergency room. There, a doctor delivered devastating news to Walker III and his mother.

“The doctor came in and asked if he played sports, and I said, 'Yes sir, he plays football,’ ” Brown recalled. “He responded, 'Not anymore.' "

Brown refused to accept that fate, however. She took Walker III to get a second opinion at St. Jude’s Children's Hospital, where he was diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs. Doctors told him he would need to take blood thinners and was not allowed to play football for the next nine months.

But Walker III was permitted to work out, which he did with his father throughout the entire summer before his senior year, while also injecting himself twice daily with the blood-thinning medication. By the start of football season, Walker III was in prime shape and was also cleared to play his first game months ahead of schedule. He would go on to rush for more than 1,400 yards and 27 touchdowns in his senior year, according to the Seattle Seahawks website.

His parents were by his side when he was drafted in 2022

When Walker III entered the NFL draft in 2022, he opted not to attend it in person in Las Vegas. Instead, he wanted to be at home in Tennessee with his two biggest supporters by his side: his parents.

“I didn’t want to go to Vegas and be around different crowds,” Walker III said in a Michigan State Spartans Athletics video. “I just wanted to be here with my family because my family’s been here since day one, since a kid, since I first started sports. That’s how I wanted it to be.”

And when Walker III received the phone call from the Seattle Seahawks organization, which selected him as the 41st pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, he was surrounded by his loved ones. Sitting on the couch, Walker III had his mother and father on either side of him to celebrate the news.

“I used to dream about this moment a lot,” Walker III said about getting drafted. “Growing up, this was a dream of mine. To make it to the league.”

Both Brown and Walker Jr. call Walker III their “blessing”

While making it to the NFL was Walker III’s dream, it has also been gratifying for his parents. Both Brown and Walker Jr. have expressed their extreme pride in their son for excelling in football at the highest level.

“Him making his dream come true, going to the NFL, is the highest blessing,” Brown said in a Michigan State Athletics video. “It was everything just to see his face, you know, light up.”

Walker Jr. added, "I'm so proud of him, man. I can't tell him enough how proud of him I am. He’s just a blessing.”

Read the original article on People

NFL GameDay had an emotional sign-off before Super Bowl 60 as the network faces uncertainty ahead of its merger with ESPN.

Gerald McCoy, who spent the last two seasons as an analyst on NFL GameDay, got choked up while discussing his time on the show.

More specifically, McCoy credited Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, Kurt Warner and the entire crew for welcoming him to the show with open arms after he was brought in to help replace Michael Irvin.

"You taught me how to be myself on this set," McCoy said. "I know it wasn't easy. I know it was not easy, and that's a family. But y'all accepted me in as family. So, regardless of what happens, you are my family. We are not coworkers. We are family. I love everybody at NFL Network."

When the camera panned to Silva moments before the full-time whistle, his face told the story of another sorry afternoon for the home side.

The Fulham manager was in a state of shock as his side - not for the first time this season - proved to be masters of their own downfall.

For much of the afternoon, it seemed as though Everton had no answer for Silva's side and the slick transitions they produced as Chukwueze, Smith Rowe and Jimenez came close to adding a second.

But in the end it was a familiar sinking feeling for the club's fans as six days on from a gut-wrenching defeat at Old Trafford, they conceded a late winner once more.

For all of the talent that has arrived at Craven Cottage in recent seasons - namely Smith Rowe, Iwobi, Kevin and, of course, Chukwueze - it is Fulham's weakness in defence that continues to prove costly.

Having gone seven Premier League matches without a clean sheet, with the last coming against West Ham on 27 December, Silva will know exactly where his side need to improve if they are to kick-start their push for European qualification.

NEED TO KNOW

• Drake Maye and his wife, Ann Michael Maye, have arrived at the 2026 Super Bowl
• The couple were photogprahed before the official start of the game on Feb. 8 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
• Ann Michael came out in support of her quarterback husband, whose team will compete against the Seattle Seahawks for the Vince Lombardi Trophy

The Mayes have touched down at the 2026 Super Bowl.

Football's biggest event of the year is underway and the wives and girlfriend of the competing teams (that would the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks) are stepping out in style.

Included in the crew of supportive partners is Ann Michael Maye, who blinged out her game-day outfit to cheer on Patriots quarterback husband, Drake Maye.

On Feb. 8, Ann Michael was photographed at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., rocking a cropped navy Patriots jacket featuring the team's logo, custom-made by fellow WAG Kristin Juszczyk (who is married to San Francisco 49ers star Kyle Juszczyk), as well as studded white jeans, which will no doubt dazzle from the stands. She wore her hair in a slicked-back bun and accessorized with sunglasses and gold earrings.

Kristin shared a video on Instagram of the creation process of the jacket. She wrote in the caption, "Ann Michael Maye for the Super Bowl!! 🏈🏈 I hope you have the best time and soak in every second of it," and Ann Michael replied, "THE BEST❤️❤️❤️" in the comments.

The look continued her streak of the Patriots-coded fashion fans have been seeing her in all season, whether that be her cool merch or her "I ❤️ Drake Maye hoodie."

Before the game, the Mayes were snapped sharing a kiss.

Drake and Ann Michael, 23 and 22 respectively, tied the knot in June 2025. The young couple began their love story during their middle school days in North Carolina and started dating when they were seventh graders.

Throughout Drake's high school and college football careers, Ann Michael has cheered him on from the sidelines.

View this post on Instagram

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

And while he may be one of the best quarterbacks from the University of North Carolina and now at the Super Bowl, he calls marrying his love "one of the best decisions" he's ever made.

"Good things happen when you get married, and I think that's the case so far in my life," he gushed on Feb. 2 while speaking with reporters during Super Bowl LX Opening Night on Feb. 2.

"What a blessing it's been to have Ann Michael, and to come home to someone who cares about my day. [I'm] able to hear something outside football. I listen to what she's done today, and just knowing that there's a constant in my life, and that's my wife," he said. "Every day, I come home to somebody who's herself and cares about me outside of who I am on the field."

"I don't take for granted how special she is to my career and my life," he added.

See PEOPLE's coverage of the 2026 Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, airing live on NBC on Sun., Feb. 8, from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

Read the original article on People

Travis Kelce's NFL future is still unclear, but it's starting to bend toward a return to the Kansas City Chiefs.

The All-Pro tight end is in touch with the Chiefs about a potential return and the team wants him back, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The two parties reportedly plan to meet after Super Bowl LX to finalize a plan.

Kelce had previously hinted at a return after reacting with enthusiasm to the Chiefs' rehire of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy on his "New Heights" podcast:

"I can't wait to see him back in the building, man. He's one of my favorite coaches of all time, one of my favorite people of all time. I've had so many unbelievable growing moments under him as a player, as a person. I just love the guy. It's gonna be awesome to see him back in the building and see him back wearing the Chiefs' logo, baby."

At 36 years old, Kelce is at the stage of his career where he'll be addressing questions about his retirement after every season. That was the case after the Chiefs' season finale, when he told reporters he was undecided at the moment.

Whenever he does retire, Kelce is Hall of Fame-bound. It's a tenuous time in Kansas City, though, after the team missed the playoffs for the first time of the Patrick Mahomes era and finished below .500 for the first time of Kelce's career. The Chiefs have made clear they think Kelce can still be an asset even if his production is down from his prime. 

Every year, brands scramble to secure an ad spot for the NFL’s biggest game of the season. But those Super Bowl commercial costs are no joke! We’ll get into exactly how much Super Bowl commercials cost below, but first, here’s a little background on this year’s Super Bowl ads.

Since its creation, the Super Bowl is among the most-watched single sporting events on American television, and it is second only to the UEFA Champions League final as the most-watched sporting event worldwide. The seven most-watched broadcasts in American television history are Super Bowls.

But, let’s be real. While millions of NFL fans tune into the Super Bowl each year, many viewers watch just for the Super Bowl Halftime Show or they’re there to see what happens during commercial breaks. In 2021, Super Bowl ads took a hit due to the ongoing health crisis, as many big advertisers like Coke, Pepsi, and Budweiser pulled out from their regular ad spots. As a result, CBS reportedly took longer than usual to secure advertisers for this year’s game.

Still, that doesn’t mean that other brands didn’t sign up for their minute of airplay—they just had to pay a pretty penny! Keep on reading to find out just how much Super Bowl commercials cost for advertisers.

How much do Super Bowl commercials cost?

If you’re wondering how much a Super Bowl commercial costs, here’s what you need to know. In 2026, USA Today reported that the current cost of a Super Bowl ad is $8 million for 30 seconds, with some companies paying over $10 million for a coveted slot. But it wasn’t always this expensive.

In 2021, the cost of a Super Bowl commercial started at $5.5 million, according to AdWeek. CBS originally opened the bidding at $5.6 million, but it took two months longer than usual for their ad slots to sell out—so it appears that some companies, like Scotts Miracle-Gro, may have secured a deal to save around $100,000. This about mirrored how much Super Bowl commercials cost in 2020. At the time, ads cost brands upwards of $5.6 million—but this was a jump from costs in 2019, when Super Bowl ads cost anywhere between $5.1 to $5.3 million.

As for 2023, Statista reported that Super Bowl commercials cost advertisers $7 million for 30-second spots during the Super Bowl LVII broadcast. The site also cited a 2020 survey that found that 79 percent of Super Bowl viewers see the commercials as entertainment of their own right, while 71 percent reported that they enjoyed watching the commercials. Statista also reported that, during the 2019 Super Bowl, viewers spent 641 thousand hours watching Super Bowl commercials on YouTube, which was a 58 percent increase from the previous year.

Tim Calkins, a marketing professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, told CNN Business that the total commercials for 2022 amounted almost $500 million in ad revenue. “You’re likely looking at about 70 ads, so you’re getting pretty close to $500 million in ad revenue from the game for NBC,” he said. “And that, by the way, is just during the game. That doesn’t count before the game, after the game and all of the other opportunities there are to run additional advertising.” He continued, “$500 million is a lot of money for anyone, but in the world of media, Super Bowl spots are in a whole other level. That is why the NFL is such a valuable sports franchise, because there’s this ability to charge advertisers this much to be on these events.”

Calkins added that there are also “two big benefits” for networks like NBC, FOX and CBS to being in business with the NFL and broadcast the Super Bowl. The main benefit is the commercial revenue, which “NBC will use this opportunity to support the rest of their lineup” in promotions during and after the Super Bowl. “For NBC, the Super Bowl is an event that they can use to jump-start the rest of their lineup as they go into the spring and the rest of the year,” he said. “A number of years ago, people said, ‘the Super Bowl is going to fade away. It’s getting unsustainable.’ It’s completely the reverse. The Super Bowl is more and more important because it’s a shared experience. And what’s interesting is a lot of people watching the Super Bowl don’t even really care about the game. They’re watching the ads.”

Paul Mirshak, who is a professor sports marketing at Champlain College in Saint-Lambert, Quebec, told CBC in 2022 about why sports events like the Super Bowl is so valuable. “Sports is one of the few things on television where people actually watch live,” he said. He added that, while viewers now often stream their favorite television shows and don’t see traditional commercials, “the Super Bowl is an exception.” Peter Widdis, a professor in marketing and innovation at George Brown College in Toronto, Ontario, agreed. “You know that you’re going to reach an audience of 100 million people that are likely not going to click and change [the channel],” Widdis told CBC. Mirshak also added of the value of investing in a Super Bowl commercial “Yes, it costs $6 million for 30 seconds of your time. But when you factor in the large audience of about 100 million people watching this game, and when you do the calculation … it’s actually pretty good value,” he said.

He cited the 1984 Super Bowl, when Apple introduced the Macintosh (now known as the Mac) computer. “After the Super Bowl aired, they couldn’t keep computers on store shelves,” Mirshak said.

Sign up for Stylecaster's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Where did Drake Maye go to high school? Patriots QB pulls audible for Super Bowl 60 NBC intro originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

During Super Bowl 50, Drake Maye was a fan of the Carolina Panthers at Levi's Stadium, where the Charlotte native saw his team lose to the Denver Broncos.

A decade later, Maye is now the starting quarterback of the New England Patriots about to play the game of his life, facing the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 60 at the same venue. During his pregame introduction, he made sure to give the city of Charlotte, specifically his high school, a shoutout.

Here's more on Maye's NBC introduction and high school.

SUPER BOWL 60 HQ: Live score | Full TV guide | Halftime show updates

Drake Maye Super Bowl NBC intro

When the New England Patriots took the field for Super Bowl 60, Maye delivered his intro with a nod to his roots, saying "Drake Maye, Myers Park High School," choosing to represent his Charlotte, North Carolina, upbringing on the world's biggest stage rather than the traditional UNC shout-out.

Drake Maye must hate @UNCFootball. On the biggest stage of all of sports… He does not mention UNC, but his high school instead. Only @Patriots player to do so. #SuperBowlpic.twitter.com/DPZ58Olhgz

— Troy D. (@TroyDreyfus) February 8, 2026

It shocked some fans that he did not mention the Tar Heels. By highlighting the Mustangs of Myers Park, Maye joined the ranks of elite players who use the Super Bowl spotlight to pay homage to the coaches and communities that built them before they ever stepped onto a collegiate field.

MORE: Inside Drake Maye's high school basketball career

Where did Drake Maye go to high school?

Maye attended Myers Park High School in Charlotte, North Carolina.

According to his recruitment history and career highlights, Maye transferred to Myers Park ahead of his sophomore season in 2018 after spending his freshman year at William A. Hough High School in Cornelius, North Carolina.

At Myers Park, he became a standout two-sport athlete in both football and basketball, famously setting a school record with 3,512 passing yards and 50 touchdowns during his junior season. His impact was so significant that the school's booster club reportedly sold out of season parking passes within 20 minutes by the time he was a junior.

Now, he takes the biggest stage in sports with the whole Charlotte area backing him.

MORE SUPER BOWL 2015:

• DeCourcy's 9 dumbest Super Bowl decisions of all time
• The alternate ending to Super Bowl 49 if Pete Carroll ran the ball
• 7 things you didn't know about the Seahawks' losing decision

Chris Gotterup birdied five of the six last holes on Sunday and added one more for good measure in a sudden-death playoff to win the WM Phoenix Open over Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama. 

Gotterup, 26, closed in 7-under 64, making nine birdies on the day at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course to win for the second time in the first four tournaments. Just a few weeks ago, he won the Sony Open in Hawaii.

Gotterup opened with 63 but entered the final round four strokes behind Matsuyama, who fought his driver in the final round, failing to hit a fairway on the front nine. Asked earlier in the week why he loved the TPC Scottsdale course, he said, "I like this course because even if I miss a fairway, I can still find my ball. Unless it's in the cactuses."

He scraped it around and birdied 15 to reach 17 under and held a one-stroke lead on the 18^th tee. Matsuyama’s erratic driver finally cost him at 18 when he pulled his tee shot into one of the church pew bunkers. His second shot, a gap wedge from 123 yards, failed to clear the mound and his ball ended up 43 yards short. He pitched from the left intermediate rough to 24 feet and missed for his lone bogey of the day and his first dropped shot on the back nine for the entire week. He and Gotterup tied with a 72-hole total of 16-under 268 and returned to the 18^th tee for sudden death.

After Gotterup blasted his tee shot into the fairway, Matsuyama stopped his swing when he was disturbed by an unruly fan. He re-set and then snap-hooked his tee shot into the water. Gotterup flipped a lob wedge from 90 yards to 15 feet and poured in the putt to seal the deal.

"HE HAS GAME!"

Chris Gotterup wins the @WMPhoenixOpen in a playoff. pic.twitter.com/FeuwCu6eWc

— Golf on CBS ⛳ (@GolfonCBS) February 8, 2026

Gotterup collected his fourth career Tour title and was left in tears during his winner's interview.

"You always make me do this," he said to CBS's Amanda Balionis.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Chris Gotterup wins 2026 WM Phoenix Open in playoff for fourth PGA Tour win

NEED TO KNOW

• New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel met his wife, Jen Vrabel, when they were student-athletes at Ohio State University
• Mike and Jen married in 1999
• The former NFL player and his wife share two sons

When Mike Vrabel coaches the New England Patriots at the 2026 Super Bowl on Feb. 8, his wife, Jen Vrabel, will be cheering him on.

The couple met at Ohio State University, where Jen noticed Mike in class and got his number through their professor, according to The Tennessean. After connecting, the student-athletes dated, and Jen was still in school when the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Mike in the 1997 draft.

The following year, Jen graduated with a bachelor's degree in dental hygiene, and by 1999, she and Mike were married. Since then, the pair have experienced several milestones together, including welcoming two children.

On the field, Mike's professional football career spanned over a decade, earning accolades with three different teams, until he retired in 2011. Afterward, the Super Bowl-winning player went on to coach at his alma mater. Mike credited his wife for challenging him “to get into the NFL after spending some time at Ohio State.”

In a press conference introducing him as the Tennessee Titans’ head coach in 2018, Mike spoke about Jen, thanking her for her support. “I love her to death,” he said. “She's been through a lot, and she understands this league.”

The former linebacker expressed his gratitude again in 2025 when he returned to his old team, the Patriots, as head coach. “I want to thank Jen, who's been along for this ride for quite a while," he shared.

So who is Mike Vrabel's wife? Here’s everything to know about Jen Vrabel and her relationship with the NFL star.

She was a student-athlete at the Ohio State University

Both Mike and Jen attended Ohio State University, although they didn't earn their diplomas at the same time.

She graduated from the Big Ten School in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene, according to an Ohio State Buckeyes press release. Meanwhile, he returned to the college in 2004 to earn his bachelor’s degree in exercise science.

"Ohio State has had a great impact on the lives of my wife and me," the NFL coach said in 2006.

Like her husband, Jen was a college athlete. While Mike played football, she was on the school's volleyball team from 1993 to 1996.

According to the Ohio State Buckeyes website, she was a two-time AVCA All-District selection, in addition to a two-time All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten honoree.

She made the first move after seeing Mike in class

Jen first noticed Mike in their freshman lecture class on time management, according to a 2018 interview with The Tennessean.

She told the outlet that he sat at the front of the classroom and always talked. Eventually, she “found him funny enough to ask the professor for his phone number,” and they “quickly became inseparable.”

Mike was drafted to the NFL the year before Jen graduated from Ohio State. The Steelers selected the football player in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft.

They have been married for over 25 years

While Mike and Jen haven't revealed many details about their relationship, they wed in 1999.

The pair celebrated 25 years of marriage in 2024 with a 10-day trip to Italy, which The New York Times described as the coach’s “first true vacation ... maybe ever.”

She and Mike share two sons

Mike and Jen welcomed their first son Tyler on June 24, 2000.

Speaking to the Atlanta Falcons in 2023, Tyler recalled celebrating with his dad and the rest of the Patriots team when they won the 2004 Super Bowl against the Carolina Panthers. The father and son were photographed together on the field, signaling No. 1 with their hands.

Mike and Jen grew their family again with the birth of their son Carter on Nov. 20, 2001. Years later, the NFL star revealed that he missed the special moment.

“I'm not proud to say this, but I'm just going to tell you about my wife. She gave birth to Carter, I missed it, I was at practice, she was in Ohio,” Mike said at a 2018 press conference. “He came early, he flipped, they had to take her. I showed up four hours late because I was playing football and she was having a baby.”

Naturally, the boys grew up surrounded by football. "They've been around the NFL locker room since they've been born," he added at the event.

Since then, the couple's kids have followed in their athletic footsteps. In 2017, Tyler committed to Boston College, where he was an offensive tackle. Five years later, he was added to the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad, per an announcement. Today, Tyler is an assistant coach for Boston College's football team.

Meanwhile, Carter committed to play baseball at Wabash Valley College and later played at Volunteer State Community College and Tennessee Tech.

She and Mike "cherish" their downtime together

Mike and Jen “cherish” their Friday evenings together. In 2019, Jen revealed to ESPN that “Fridays are always” their nights because they had a teenage son who, at the time, did not want to “hang out with Mom and Dad.”

“It's fun. He's usually home earlier, and we grab dinner,” she said. “When he coached in college, he really didn't have a night like that, so we cherish that night. It was the same when he played."

Jen continued, "Fridays were always the best. It became like a date night or family night."

Read the original article on People

The Super Bowl coin toss is one of the most famous prop bets, and one that always receives a ton of action from the betting public. Head or tails? It's a 50-50 proposition and one of the first bets to cash every year.

It also attracts some wagers from bettors with money burning a hole in their pocket.

A bettor at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas dropped $253,000 on the coin toss to be heads at -103 odds — the largest reported wager on the coin toss, and one of the bigger reported six-figure wagers on the game at sportsbooks.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp called tails, San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame QB Joe Montana flipped the coin and it landed on heads — making this bettor more than $245,000 richer.

Earlier in the week, a bettor at Caesars in Iowa wagered $100,000 on tails.

The Seahawks closed as 4.5-point favorites against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60.

FARGO, N.D. (WKBN) – North Dakota State football will join the Mountain West Conference in football only starting in 2026, according to ESPN College Football Senior Writer Pete Thamel.

According to Thamel, the move is expected to be announced on Monday, after the school will spend nearly $20 million total to make the move to the conference and FBS level.

The Bison, who compete in the Missouri Valley Football Conference alongside Youngstown State, have won 10 of the past 15 national championships at the FCS level.

That run also includes winning 12 of the past 15 MVFC titles since 2011.

They would join Northern Illinois, UTEP, Air Force, Hawai’i, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV and Wyoming in the Mountain West.

NDSU has won 12 straight games against YSU, who holds a 4-14 all-time record against the Bison. The last Penguins’ victory came in Fargo with a 27-24 win in 2011.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.

Editor's note: Follow live Super Bowl score updates, results and highlights with our game blog.

Could someone's Super Bowl 60 luck have changed with the flip of a coin?

Sometimes a coin flip can determine the momentum for a game, as has been evidenced in NFL playoff matchups in years past. Today, one of either the New England Patriots or the Seattle Seahawks will put that to the test.

With the Patriots winning the coin flip and opting to defer, they are hoping to set the tone for the rest of the matchup, and maybe all the way to a Lombardi Trophy victory.

Here's what to know about this year's coin toss:

Who won the Super Bowl 60 coin flip?

The Patriots won the 2026 Super Bowl coin flip after the Seahawks called tails and the coin landed on heads. New England opted to defer, meaning they will get the ball to start the second half.

Super Bowl coin flip history

Of 59 Super Bowls, the coin toss winner has gone on to win the game 26 times.

Here's the complete history of the coin toss winner, and how it relates to the Super Bowl winner:

(Super Bowl matchup and winner | Coin toss winner | Coin toss call)

• Super Bowl 1, Green Bay Packers 35, Kansas City Chiefs 10 | Packers | Heads
• Super Bowl2, Green Bay Packers 33, Oakland Raiders 14 | Raiders | Tails
• Super Bowl3, New York Jets 16, Baltimore Colts 7 | Jets | Heads
• Super Bowl4, Kansas City Chiefs 23, Minnesota Vikings 7 | Vikings | Tails
• Super Bowl5, Baltimore Colts 16, Dallas Cowboys 13 | Cowboys | Tails
• Super Bowl6, Dallas Cowboys 24, Miami Dolphins 3 | Dolphins | Heads
• Super Bowl 7, Miami Dolphins 14, Washington 7 | Dolphins | Heads
• Super Bowl8, Miami Dolphins 24, Minnesota Vikings 7 | Dolphins | Heads
• Super Bowl9, Pittsburgh Steelers 16, Minnesota Vikings 6 | Steelers | Tails
• Super Bowl10, Pittsburgh Steelers 21, Dallas Cowboys 17 | Cowboys | Heads
• Super Bowl11, Oakland Raiders 32, Minnesota Vikings 14 | Raiders | Tails
• Super Bowl12, Dallas Cowboys 27, Denver Broncos 10 | Cowboys | Heads
• Super Bowl13, Pittsburgh Steelers 35, Dallas Cowboys 31 | Cowboys | Heads
• Super Bowl14, Pittsburgh Steelers 31, Los Angeles Rams 19 | Rams | Heads
• Super Bowl15, Oakland Raiders 27, Philadelphia Eagles 10 | Eagles | Tails
• Super Bowl16, San Francisco 49ers 26, Cincinnati Bengals 21 | 49ers | Tails
• Super Bowl17, Washington 27, Miami 17 | Dolphins | Tails
• Super Bowl18, Los Angeles Raiders 38, Washington 9 | Raiders | Heads
• Super Bowl19, San Francisco 49ers 38, Miami Dolphins 16 | 49ers | Tails
• Super Bowl20, Chicago Bears 46, New England Patriots 10 | Bears | Tails
• Super Bowl21, New York Giants 39, Denver Broncos 20 | Broncos | Tails
• Super Bowl22, Washington 42, Denver Broncos 10 | Washington | Heads
• Super Bowl23, San Francisco 49ers 20, Cincinnati Bengals 16 | 49ers | Tails
• Super Bowl24, San Francisco 49ers 55, Denver Broncos 10 | Broncos | Heads
• Super Bowl25, New York Giants 20, Buffalo Bills 19 | Bills | Heads
• Super Bowl26, Washington 37, Buffalo Bills 24 | Washington | Heads
• Super Bowl27, Dallas Cowboys 52, Buffalo Bills 17 | Bills | Heads
• Super Bowl28, Dallas Cowboys 30, Buffalo 13 | Cowboys | Tails
• Super Bowl29 San Francisco 49ers 49, San Diego Chargers 26 | 49ers | Heads
• Super Bowl30 Dallas Cowboys 27, Pittsburgh Steelers 17 | Cowboys | Tails
• Super Bowl31, Green Bay Packers 35, New England Patriots 21 | Patriots | Heads
• Super Bowl32, Denver Broncos 31, Green Bay Packers 24 | Packers | Tails
• Super Bowl33, Denver Broncos 34, Atlanta Falcons 19 | Falcons | Tails
• Super Bowl34, St. Louis Rams 23, Tennessee Titans 16 | Rams | Tails
• Super Bowl35, Baltimore Ravens 34, New York Giants 7 | Giants | Tails
• Super Bowl36, New England Patriots 20, St. Louis Rams 17 | Rams | Heads
• Super Bowl37, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48, Oakland Raiders 21 | Buccaneers | Tails
• Super Bowl38, New England Patriots 32, Carolina Panthers 29 | Panthers | Tails
• Super Bowl39, New England Patriots 24, Philadelphia Eagles 21 | Eagles | Tails
• Super Bowl40, Pittsburgh Steelers 21, Seattle Seahawks 10 | Seahawks | Tails
• Super Bowl41, Indianapolis Colts 29, Chicago Bears 17 | Bears | Heads
• Super Bowl42, New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14 | Giants | Tails
• Super Bowl43, Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Arizona Cardinals 23 | Cardinals | Heads
• Super Bowl44, New Orleans Saints 31, Indianapolis Colts | Saints | Heads
• Super Bowl45, Green Bay Packers 31, Pittsburgh Steelers 25 | Packers | Heads
• Super Bowl46, New York Giants 21, New England Patriots 17 | Patriots | Heads
• Super Bowl47, Baltimore Ravens 34, San Francisco 49ers 31 | Ravens | Heads
• Super Bowl48, Seattle Seahawks 48, Denver Broncos 8 | Seahawks | Tails
• Super Bowl 49, New England Patriots 28, Seattle Seahawks 24 | Seahawks | Tails
• Super Bowl 50, Denver Broncos 24, Carolina Panthers 10 | Panthers | Tails
• Super Bowl 51, New England Patriots 34, Atlanta Falcons 28 | Falcons | Tails
• Super Bowl 52, Philadelphia Eagles 41, New England Patriots 33 | Patriots | Heads
• Super Bowl 53, New England Patriots 13, Los Angeles Rams 3 | Rams | Tails
• Super Bowl 54, Kansas City Chiefs 31, San Francisco 49ers 20 | 49ers | Tails
• Super Bowl 55, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31, Kansas City Chiefs 9 | Chiefs | Heads
• Super Bowl 56, Los Angeles Rams 23, Cincinnati Bengals 20 | Bengals | Heads
• Super Bowl 57, Kansas City Chiefs 38, Philadelphia Eagles 35 | Chiefs | Tails
• Super Bowl 58, Kansas City Chiefs 25, San Francisco 49ers 22 | Chiefs | Heads
• Super Bowl 59, Philadelphia Eagles 40, Kansas City Chiefs 22 | Chiefs | Tails

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who won the Super Bowl 60 coin toss?

Ravens fans have extremely fond memories of Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald. Many hoped that he would succeed John Harbaugh as Baltimore’s head coach before he was poached by Seattle.

Those same fans have less fond memories of the Patriots’ playoff dominance in the Brady/Belichick years. So it’s no surprise that Ravens fans overwhelmingly picked the Seahawks to beat the Patriots in Super Bowl LX:

There’s plenty of reason to believe in Macdonald and his team, who are currently 4.5-point favorites, per FanDuel. Their defense has been dominant all year and Sam Darnold has been excellent in back-to-back games.

The Patriots, meanwhile, barely snuck by the Bo Nix-less Broncos in the AFC Championship Game. Neither team could produce much offense through the weather, but it’s easy to imagine a Denver win if Nix was healthy. New England’s defense has still been among the league’s best, but Drake Maye will face a tough test against an elite defense.

Ravens fans also voiced their approval of the team’s new coordinators, Declan Doyle and Anthony Weaver:

91% of fans gave Baltimore’s coordinators a B or better. Doyle is a young, exciting offensive mind who has since surrounded himself with veteran assistants, while Weaver brings experience and familiarity with the Ravens Way to help the team transition to their new coaching staff.

TORONTO (AP) — Scottie Barnes had 25 points and 14 rebounds to help the Toronto Raptors beat the Indiana Pacers 122-104 on Sunday.

Barnes was 12 of 20 from the field and had six assists, four blocks and two steals in 33 minutes. Toronto won its second straight to move 10 games above .500 at 32-22.

RJ Barrett had 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists, and Sandro Mamukelashvili added 17 points.

Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 18 points, Jay Huff had 15 and Jarace Walker 13. Last in the Eastern Conference, the injury-ravaged Pacers have lost four straight to fall to 13-40.

Up next

Pacers: At New York on Tuesday night.

Raptors: Host Detroit on Wednesday night.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Avery Howell had a career-high 34 points and 14 rebounds — the 6-foot sophomore’s sixth double-double this season — and Sayvia Sellers scored 23 points to help No. 24 Washington beat Wisconsin 91-86 in overtime on Sunday.

Howell scored eight points in OT, including two of her career-high tying six 3-pointers. Elle Ladine finished with 16 points for Washington (18-6, 8-5 Big Ten). The Huskies had lost back-to-back games for just the second time this season.

Destiny Howell hit five 3-pointers and finished with 28 points for the Badgers. Gift Uchenna had 24 points, 12 rebounds, three steals and three blocks. Laci Steele added 10 points and Ronnie Porter tied her season high with 10 assists to go with eight points and six steals.

Destiny Howell made a 3-pointer and, after Brynn McGaughy hit two free throws on the other end, was fouled as she hit another and the and-1 free throw gave the Badgers a one-point lead with 1:09 to play. Avery Howell answered with a putback off a miss by McGaughy that made it 87-86 with 43 seconds left.

Wisconsin (13-11, 5-8), which has lost four straight, went 0 for 3 from the field — all 3-point shots by Destiny Howell — from there.

The Badgers closed the third quarter with an 11-0 run and scored eight — all by Uchenna — of the first 11 in the fourth to take a six-point lead with 6:09 left in regulation. The Huskies scored nine — five by Sellers and four by Howell — of the next 12 to make it 71-all with 3:40 remaining.

Up next

Washington: Plays Wednesday at No. 10 Iowa.

Wisconsin: Visits Illinois on Wednesday.

___

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

Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn crashes seconds into race

Extended Interview: Don Henley

50 years later, the Eagles' greatest hits still soar

The Seattle Seahawks take the field against the New England Patriots for Super Bowl LX on Sunday night, more than a decade after their 2015 Super Bowl loss to the same team. 

It will be the fourth time the Seahawks have played in the big game, and it comes 20 years after their first appearance, which ended in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Here's the full list of the Seattle Seahawks' Super Bowl appearances and details on their sole win so far. 

How many Super Bowls have the Seahawks won?

The Seahawks have won the Super Bowl once. That was in 2014, when they defeated the Denver Broncos 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII. 

How many Super Bowl appearances do the Seahawks have?

The Seahawks have three previous Super Bowl appearances. Sunday's game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, will be their fourth. 

The details on the Seahawks' last Super Bowl win

The Seahawks decisively defeated the Broncos, 43-8, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 2014. 

The Seahawks were underdogs going into the game. The Broncos had Peyton Manning as their quarterback and were known for a high-scoring offense, but the Seahawks scored their first points just 12 seconds after kickoff. By halftime, the Seahawks were up 22-0. The team relied on a strong defense that kept Manning and the rest of the Broncos' offense from getting a foothold. 

"This game was the Seahawks smacking the Broncos in the mouth and Denver standing around just taking it and bleeding all over the field," CBS Sports reporter Will Brinson wrote at the time. 

The Seahawks' domination continued after halftime, with wide receiver Percy Harvin running the second-half kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown to make the score 29-0. Denver did manage to score one touchdown in the second half but the game was never close.

The Seahawks also set a Super Bowl record for most playing time with the lead: Seattle had led Denver for 59 minutes and 48 seconds, or over 99% of the 60-minute game time. 

The details on the Seahawks' last Super Bowl appearance

Sunday's game will be a rematch for the Seahawks and the Patriots. When the teams played for the title in 2015, the Patriots won 28-24 in an exciting game that CBS Sports ranked as the 4th-best Super Bowl ever. 

The teams were tied at halftime after a breakdown in the Patriots' defense allowed the Seahawks to score a second touchdown moments before the break. By the end of the third quarter, the Seahawks were up by 10 points. 

Tom Brady was able to engineer two scoring drives and the Patriots took the lead 28-24 near the end of the fourth quarter. But New England appeared doomed in the final seconds of the game: The Seahawks were in possession of the ball on the Patriots' 1-yard line and seemed about to score a touchdown that would potentially make them champions again. That's when Patriots rookie Malcolm Butler intercepted a short pass near the goal line, snatching the victory from Seattle. 

"I jumped up off that chair and I couldn't believe it. I almost knocked my TV over," Patriots fan Henry Fernandez told CBS Boston as he recalled the moment. "It was the greatest thing. It was a greatest thing." 

The play is still considered one of the best in Super Bowl history and is immortalized in the Patriots Hall of Fame.  

Full list of Seahawks Super Bowl wins2014: Seattle Seahawks def. Denver Broncos 43-8Full list of Seahawks Super Bowl appearances2006: Pittsburgh Steelers def. Seattle Seahawks 21-102014: Seattle Seahawks def. Denver Broncos 43-82015: New England Patriots def. Seattle Seahawks 28-242026: Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots

Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn crashes seconds into race

Extended Interview: Don Henley

50 years later, the Eagles' greatest hits still soar

The old saying, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” provides a clue as to what The Peoples Person expects from Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick when he names his starting XI to face West Ham United at the London Stadium on Tuesday.

Carrick has made only one change to the four line-ups he has selected since taking over in the United hot seat, and that was an enforced one when Patrick Dorgu pulled a hamstring against Arsenal after scoring a superb goal and was replaced by Matheus Cunha.

With maximum points from those four games, and despite a talented bench that includes the likes of Ben Sesko, Josh Zirkzee, Leny Yoro and Noussair Mazraoui, there is no obvious reason why the Wallsend man would tinker now. Matthijs de Ligt and Dorgu are still injured, while Mason Mount may also not be quite ready for action.

There have been rumours circulating that Bryan Mbeumo has been seen limping, but these have been quashed by United insider Sully in a Twitter post.

Defence

The excellent Senne Lammens will be in goal, with Diogo Dalot at right-back, Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez as the centre-backs, and Luke Shaw at left-back. The gifted young talents, Yoro and Ayden Heaven, will have to bide their time for a chance to show Carrick what they can do.

Midfield and Attack

Casemiro has been rolling back the years under Carrick, while Kobbie Mainoo has been playing as if he has the experience of his midfield partner. They are nailed-on starters if fit.

Captain Bruno Fernandes is also in good form and will sit ahead of them in the number ten position.

Up front, Amad and Cunha will once again offer support to Bryan Mbeumo, who is improving in the centre-forward role with every game.

Should United manage to grab all three points, they will move above Aston Villa into third place in the table, with the Villans not playing until Wednesday.

Final Thoughts

• De Ligt and Dorgu out, with Mount very doubtful
• Carrick to name unchanged side yet again
• Reports of Mbeumo injury appear to be unfounded

Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images

online polls

---

The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

The cheapest seat to this Sunday's Super Bowl matchup between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will cost you roughly four times what the typical U.S. worker earns in a week.

In recent years, lower-priced tickets to the big game have averaged between $4,000 and $6,000, according to Ticketmaster, the official ticketing partner of the NFL. Add the cost of flights and lodging and the price tag to attend the Super Bowl in person can balloon into the five digits.

Lower-priced face value tickets exist, but they are exceedingly hard to come by. That's because that tranche of tickets, starting at $950, is reserved for the National Football League, which distributes the tickets to all 32 teams, according to CBS Sports. Those tickets then go to players, team front-office officials and, on occasion, season-ticket holders. The Seahawks and Patriots will each get 12,450 tickets.

To get a ticket, most fans will have to turn to secondary ticket marketplaces like Ticketmaster, Stubhub and SeatGeek. Just be sure that the site you're purchasing from is legitimate, as fraudsters often pose as authentic ticket sellers.

How much do the cheapest Super Bowl tickets cost for 2026?

As of Feb. 5, the lowest price for a single seat was $4,447 on StubHub, $4,840 on Ticketmaster, $4,757 on SeatGeek and $4,288 on TickPick. The cheapest ticket was $4,169 on Vivid Seats.

TickPick, an online platform where fans can buy and sell tickets, said prices tend to fall as game day approaches, but warned that's not a guarantee, as some buyers will wait until the last minute to snatch a seat. 

How much are the most expensive Super Bowl tickets for 2026?

As of Wednesday, the most expensive seat for the SuperBowl was $30,751 per ticket on StubHub, according to CBS Sports. Those seats were behind Seattle's bench in prime viewing territory. (CBS Sports' John Breech recently made his way to Levi's Stadium to give fans a sense of the view from the seats with the luxury price tag.)

Prices for prime seats on StubHub were even higher on Thursday, with the top ticket — also behind the Seahawks bench — selling for $40,530.

How does the cost of a 2026 Super Bowl ticket compare to previous years?

Ground-level seats were also the most in demand in last year's matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. Seats near the Chiefs' bench hit as high as $22,663 on StubHub last year. The cheapest seats cost about $3,000.

Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn crashes seconds into race

Extended Interview: Don Henley

50 years later, the Eagles' greatest hits still soar

Mack Hollins clearly has Jody/Jodie on the mind.

Ahead of Super Bowl 60, the New England Patriots' wide receiver prepared for his face-off against the Seattle Seahawks (and co-owner Jody Allen) by getting dressed up like he's ready to go head-to-head with Jodie Foster.

A few hours before the scheduled kickoff, Hollins arrived at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California dressed like Hannibal Lecter – the villain Anthony Hopkins portrayed in the 1991 film "The Silence of the Lambs" opposite Jodie Foster's Clarice Starling.

The bare-footed Hollins walked into the stadium in an all-red outfit that looked like a prison jumpsuit. His wrists were handcuffed, and his ankles were chained together. He also wore a plastic white mask that covered the lower half of his face, providing the most striking allusion to Lecter, the cannibalistic serial killer often depicted in a mask of a similar style.

Team USA defended its Olympic figure skating team event gold medal on Sunday after Ilia "Quad God" Malinin ushered the team to victory at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, attempting a total of five quad jumps.

The U.S. and Japan were tied at 59 points before the men's free skate, the final event of the team competition. It came down to Malinin's performance to decide the podium placement, and the 21-year-old two-time World champion didn't disappoint. He earned a score of 200.03, topping Japan's Shun Sato (194.86) who substituted for Yuma Kagiyama who outperformed Malinin on Saturday in the short program.

Sato, who skated after Malinin, performed a routine of a lifetime that left fans fearing it would be enough to push Japan ahead.

In the end, Malinin's technical prowess edged out the competition and Japan will head into the individual competitions on Monday with a silver medal. Host country Italy took home the bronze medal.

The Olympic figure skating team event on Sunday consisted of four separate events: free ice dance, free pair skating, women's single free skate and men's single free skate.

Amber Glenn debuts on Olympic ice

North Texas native Amber Glenn placed third in the women's free skate event, which took place before the men's on Sunday.

When the 26-year-old took the ice, the first-time Olympian became the oldest U.S. women's singles skater to compete in an Olympics in 98 years, according to U.S. Figure Skating. She was also the first out LGBTQ woman to skate at an Olympic Games.

Following her free skate, in which she shakily landed her hallmark triple axel, Glenn told NBC that she felt "disappointed" but she was "very proud of the fight." She was the only woman to attempt the triple axel in the single free skate.

"I just felt really not my best today and I'm just really disappointed in that," she said. Her performance earned the team eight points.

Japan's Kaori Sakamoto, who is retiring after this season, had a flawless routine and helped bring her team into a tie.

Pair skaters Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea take 4th

Team USA pair skating duo Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea place fourth on Sunday in the second team event, after Japan, Georgia and Italy.

In Sunday's competition, the pair skated to "Sweet Dreams," "Eleanor Rigby," and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," the same medley of songs they performed to at the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis last month. Their performance in the second section of the team event earned the U.S. seven points.

The figure skating duo based in Colorado Springs first teamed up in 2022.

Both began skating at 4 years old. Kam previously skated with Ian Meyh, and O'Shea previously skated with Chelsea Liu, as well as Tarah Kayne, with whom he was the 2016 U.S. champion and 2018 Four Continents champion, CBS Colorado reported.

Madison Chock and Evan Bates dominate in ice dance

Madison Chock and Evan Bates followed their rhythm dance triumph on Saturday with a winning free dance on Sunday.

The duo dominated the ice dance programs in what is their fourth consecutive Winter Olympic Games together.

"We definitely skated great and we're very happy, as you saw when we finished. I think we both felt the excitement of just getting these Olympics underway," said Bates.

The three-time world champions, Chock and Bates are the favorites to win individual Olympic gold later in the Winter Games.

The duo are the only holdovers from the gold medalists at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Team USA technically won a silver medal in the Olympic figure skating team event four years ago, but the team was awarded the gold two years later after Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva received a four-year ban for taking a banned substance and disqualified her and her team from the gold.

Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn crashes seconds into race

Extended Interview: Don Henley

50 years later, the Eagles' greatest hits still soar

The big game is finally here. In what many would argue is the biggest sporting event on the 2026 calendar, the New England Patriots are set to take on the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, today in Super Bowl 60. 

Both teams enter the game with similar records, with the Patriots coming in at 17-3 and the Seahawks entering at 16-3 in what is an evenly matched contest between two of the NFL's superstar teams.

Do you have your snacks and drinks ready and just need to know where, exactly, to tune in (and at what time)? Below, we'll break down all of the information you need to know in order to watch today's big event and all of the entertainment before and after.

Catch the game on Peacock and watch it anywhere you want.

Where to watch the 2026 Super Bowl

There's no shortage of options to watch the 60th Super Bowl today. Viewers can catch the action on NBC on broadcast television, Telemundo or stream it from anywhere they wish via the Peacock app. Game day coverage will begin at 12:00 p.m. ET on NBC, the network says, with commentary, analysis and pre-game predictions interspersed throughout before the game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET on all of the same viewing options.

Catch all of the Super Bowl action on Peacock.

What channel will the Super Bowl air on?

All of the Super Bowl action will air on NBC, though the specific numbered channel will depend on your location, so check local listings if you're unsure. That said, you can stream it on Peacock or watch on Telemundo, too, so you'll have a variety of ways to catch the big game, the pre- and post-game analysis, and an exciting half-time show, too.

Can you watch the 2026 Super Bowl for free?

If you have a television that has NBC or Telemundo, then technically you can watch the Super Bowl for free, as has been the case for all of the previous Super Bowls. That said, the Peacock app will come with a minor subscription cost, but it could be worth paying for the flexibility it offers and the vast library of alternative entertainment options you'd be gaining access to in addition to the Super Bowl coverage.

Learn more about your Peacock subscription options here.

Can you stream the 2026 Super Bowl without cable?

You don't need a cable subscription to stream Peacock and, thus, watch the 2026 Super Bowl. While some cable providers may offer the service anyway, you can technically stream it without cable through a Roku, Fire TV Stick, smart TV or your preferred streaming device.

What time does the Super Bowl start airing?

The big game starts at 6:30 p.m. ET, though that can change by a few minutes either way. But with game day coverage beginning at 12:00 p.m. ET, there will be ample time to get ready without missing a minute of real-time action.

All the ways to watch the Super Bowl 2026

There's no shortage of ways to catch the action, analysis and entertainment today. Here's a recap of all the ways to watch the Super Bowl 2026:

Broadcast: Your local NBC channel will have coverage for most of the day and can be an easy way to tune in and out without having to switch services. Telemundo is also offering coverage for Spanish-speaking viewers.Streaming: Peacock is your go-to app for all of the Super Bowl coverage and action, and if you get bored with the pre-game analysis, you can always pivot out and watch one of the other programs in their vast library before kick-off.

Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn crashes seconds into race

Extended Interview: Don Henley

50 years later, the Eagles' greatest hits still soar

Longtime college football voice Paul Finebaum made a prediction on Alabama football's scheduled home-and-home series against the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2026-27.

Finebaum doesn't believe it will happen.

The ESPN personality and SEC Network host made that prediction in an appearance on WBNS-FM 97.1 The Fan in Columbus, Ohio, on Friday.

Finebaum said:

"I sincerely doubt the Alabama game is going to happen based on what I've heard from Alabama's AD. He's got a shaky situation there anyway with a coach who is in trouble. Georgia might do it because they're a little more in-tune and aligned, but I really don't think we're going to go too far and see those games. And I know what (Ohio State AD) Ross Bjork has said, and I know what (Texas AD Chris) Del Conte has said and other ADs have said, but the reality is that the ninth SEC game is going to be very costly for a lot of programs."

"I sincerely doubt the Alabama game is going to happen based on what I've heard from Alabama's AD. . . Georgia might do it because they're a little more in-tune."@finebaum thinks it is unlikely Ohio State will play a home-and-home against Alabama. pic.twitter.com/uzlFQOMuCF

— 97.1 The Fan (@971thefan) February 6, 2026

The SEC's move to nine conference games beginning in 2026 puts it on pace with the Big Ten and Big 12. The ACC is also adding a ninth conference game for 12 of its teams this season, with all 17 teams moving to nine games in 2027.

When the Alabama-Ohio State series was first announced in June 2020, the Crimson Tide were scheduled to visit Columbus in September 2027 with the Buckeyes to visit Tuscaloosa in September 2028.

A lot has happened since then, and no one should be surprised by FInebaum's comments. In December, former Crimson Tide running back Mark Ingram questioned why Alabama should keep its series with Ohio State.

Ingram's comments came after Texas missed the 12-team College Football Playoff in part because it scheduled the Buckeyes instead of a weaker opponent from the Group of Six or FCS ranks.

Alabama previously canceled two opponents that had been on its 2026 schedule. The Crimson Tide had been scheduled to face West Virginia in Morgantown in 2026 with the Mountaineers making the trip to Tuscaloosa in 2027. Alabama and West Virginia mutually agreed to cancel the series in August, shortly after the SEC announced its move to nine conference games.

In December, Alabama and South Florida mutually agreed to move a scheduled 2026 game back to 2032.

Alabama will face East Carolina in its season opener on Sept. 5 at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Crimson Tide's marquee nonconference game will be on Sept. 19 when Florida State visits Tuscaloosa on the back end of that home-and-home series.

Alabama football schedule 2026

Here's a game by game look at the 2026 schedule for coach Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide.

• Sept. 5: vs. East Carolina
• Sept. 12: at Kentucky
• Sept. 19: vs. Florida State
• Sept. 26: vs. South Carolina
• Oct. 3: at Mississippi State
• Oct. 10: vs. Georgia
• Oct. 17: at Tennessee
• Oct. 24: vs. Texas A&M
• Nov. 7: at LSU
• Nov. 14: at Vanderbilt
• Nov. 21: vs. Chattanooga
• Nov. 28: vs. Auburn

Follow us at @RollTideWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook, for ongoing coverage of Alabama Crimson Tide news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama football series vs Ohio State not likely, Finebaum says

Rangers will host Old Firm rivals Celtic and holders Aberdeen face a potential trip to Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals.

The draw, conducted following Falkirk's extra-time win at Stenhousemuir, means the Pittodrie club take on Neil Lennon's Scottish Championship side if they can see off Motherwell.

Elsewhere, St Mirren, shooting for a cup double, will host Partick Thistle while Dundee United or Spartans will visit Falkirk.

The ties will be played on the weekend of Saturday 7 March.

Dundee United's meeting on Tayside with Spartans was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, with the tie taking place on Tuesday 17 February (19:45 GMT).

Motherwell's trip to take on Aberdeen, who beat Celtic in last year's final, is the following day (19:45).

Celtic needed extra-time to eventually get by Dundee on Saturday, while Partick Thistle beat Elgin City and Dunfermline overcame Kelty.

Earlier on Sunday, Rangers hammered Queen's Park 8-0 to continue Danny Rohl's impressive domestic run of results.

Scottish Cup: Quarter-final draw

The first derby of the year is about to begin.

Soon, starting at 8:30 PM (Brasília time), Corinthians and Palmeiras will face each other.

The match will be held at Neo Química Arena.

It counts for the seventh round of the 2026 Paulistão. 

Record, Cazé TV, and HBO Max will broadcast the game. 

---

Corinthians 🦅

Timão comes in on a high after winning the Supercopa Rei against Flamengo.

And with fresh legs, since Dorival Júnior managed to rest players during the victory over Capivariano.

They have 11 points and will secure early qualification for the knockout stage with a win.

José Martínez is back, but is undergoing physical reconditioning.

And Kaio César is recovering from a right hamstring injury.

Garro starts on the bench.

---

Palmeiras 🐷

Verdão crushed Vitória in the Brasileirão, but had previously suffered a defeat to Botafogo in the Paulistão.

They have 12 points and are in a good position to confirm their qualification.

The goal is to end the bad streak against their rival.

Abel had the chance to repeat the lineup that started the midweek match.

Only Paulinho and Felipe Anderson are out. 

---

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

Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Legendary skier Lindsey Vonn on Sunday was airlifted off a mountain in Italy for the second time since she arrived for the Olympics after she broke her leg during a downhill race.

Vonn, who tore the ACL in her left knee a week-and-a-half ago during a qualifying run for the 2026 Winter Olympics, crashed and broke her leg Sunday, ending her attempt at a comeback to cap her storied career.

The 41-year-old three-time Olympic medalist had retired in 2019 but after undergoing partial knee replacement in April 2024 decided later that year to come out of retirement after testing the knee on the slopes.

"Lindsey Vonn sustained an injury, but is in stable condition and in good hands with a team of American and Italian physicians," the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team posted on X after her injury.

Ahead of the race, Vonn, who has had replacements in both knees over the course of her career, said that she was wearing a brace on the left knee and was able to ski despite the torn ACL.

Her coach also noted ahead of Sunday's race that, during practice runs to test the knee, Vonn was not favoring it and appeared to be ready to go.

Sunday's crash was not caused by the torn ACL, but instead happened when she hooked a gate on the course with her arm, spinning off balance and shifting her weight, which caused her to fall and then tumble into the snow, USA Today reported.

After the crash and tumble down the slope, a helicopter could be heard coming to get her, The New York Times reported, as the race paused for about 20 minutes.

"That definitely was the last thing we wanted to see," Karin Kildow, Vonn's sister, said in an interview on NBC. "It happened quick. When that happens, you're just immediately hoping she's OK."

It's Sunday (8) of the Carioca Championship for Fluminense. 

And a match that decides the Taça Guanabara title. 

Later today, starting at 8:30 PM (Brasília time), the Tricolor faces Maricá at Maracanã.

SporTV, Premiere, and GE TV will broadcast.

---

Fluminense 🇭🇺

The Tricolor only needs a draw to mathematically secure the best campaign in the Taça Guanabara, winning the title.

They have 12 points, with the leadership of Group A already confirmed. 

They might even take the field with the trophy already secured if Botafogo (nine points in Group B) does not defeat Vasco earlier (6 PM).

This duel will determine Flu's opponent in the quarterfinals. Vasco is currently fourth in the Tricolor's group, with eight points.

They will reach 11 if they triumph at São Januário, taking Bangu's position (10). They could even surpass the runner-up Volta Redonda (11) on goal difference. 

Zubeldía did what was expected of him: he preserved starters thinking about the rest of the season. 

Martinelli plays his 300th game for the Tricolor. Hércules and Soteldo are options for the first time this season. 

---

Maricá 🔵🔴⚪

The Metropolitan Tsunami is already mathematically guaranteed in the relegation playoff.

They have the worst campaign among the 12 teams, with three points in five games.

Coach Marcus Alexandre has not lost any players.

Midfielder Wellington, who played for Fluminense between 2021 and 2022, is one of the team's key players.

The lineup has not been announced. 

---

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

It’s finally here: The 2025-26 NFL season finale.

The NFC No. 1 seed Seahawks will be taking on the AFC No. 2 seed Patriots in the 60th Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

With a win, New England will break its tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most franchise Super Bowls in NFL history, gaining a seventh Lombardi Trophy. It would also be the Patriots’ first Super Bowl win without Tom Brady.

Seattle, meanwhile, is fighting for the franchise’s second-ever victory in the NFL’s biggest game.

Who will you be rooting for? What are you snacking on? Let us know, and enjoy the game along with the rest of BTSC. And if you want to be doing something Steelers-related, here’s a short list of some of the top upcoming free agents worth scouting who are in the game:

Seahawks

• WR Rasheed Shaheed
• RB Kenneth Walker III
• CB Josh Jobe
• S Cobe Bryant
• CB Tariq Woolen
• EDGE Boye Mafe

Patriots

• EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson
• DL Khyiris Tonga
• S Jaylinn Hawkins
• TE Austin Hooper
• LB Jack Gibbens

Five-star offensive lineman Maxwell Hiller is officially down to four schools, per On3’s Hayes Fawcett.

Hiller is widely regarded as one of the top interior offensive linemen in the 2027 class. The rising star has emerged as a highly-coveted recruit, as Hiller would more than likely be a potential instant impact player with the Crimson Tide as a freshman, should he choose to sign with Alabama.

Hiller’s top four schools currently include Ohio State, Florida, Tennessee and Alabama, as the talented lineman would more than likely be a difference maker at any program.

Hiller is ranked as the No. 1 interior offensive lineman and the No. 10 overall player from the 2027 class, per the 247Sports Composite rankings. A Pennsylvania native, the talented lineman has been nothing short of elite throughout his time at Coatsville Area High School, and finds himself ranked as one of the top linemen from his class as a result.

Hiller currently has three visits set for later this year, per Fawcett, as the big man will be at Alabama on May 29-31, followed by visits to Tennessee and Florida on June 12-14 and the 19-21, respectively.

Alabama continues to add a number of playmakers from the 2027 class, as Hiller could potentially be the next.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.

This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: 2027 lineman Maxwell Hiller names Alabama football in finalists

Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa spoke after the 2-0 win over Valencia to praise his side, and, in particular, Kylian Mbappé, as he said, “we’re very lucky to have him. He’s the best player in the world right now. It’s something that, as I said, Cristiano seemed to be out of this world and Kylian has a long way to go, but he has what it takes to follow in his footsteps. Why not surpass him? If anyone can, it’s Kylian.”

Arbeloa on the win

“Yes, we knew what we were coming into. They had three wins in 11 years and I was lucky enough to come to Mestalla a lot as a player. I know how difficult it is. It’s important for them to play against Madrid. And with the five-man defence they played with, we knew we had to be patient. We had to play a very serious game and we are deserved winners.”

Arbeloa on right-back options

“It doesn’t matter where you put Valverde, he always performs spectacularly. I know he’s happier in midfield and that’s where we’re going to get the most out of him. David’s performance was hugely commendable. It’s great news that the lads from the academy can play matches at this level. I’m very proud. As for Trent, after a long time out, we’ll be cautious. We want him to find his rhythm little by little. That’s how it will be with Trent.”

Arbeloa on Dani Carvajal

“Dani is looking better and better. He’s taking it slowly. I won’t take any risks. He worked on his day off. There’s nothing to say in the dressing room. He’s always listened to. He’s important to the players. He’ll find his best form with the patience we’re showing.”

Arbeloa on another clean sheet

“It’s one aspect. I’m sure we can raise our level of play in terms of brilliance. We have a lot of room for improvement. But a team is built on solidity and commitment. Courtois didn’t make any saves. Dedication, commitment, sacrifice. Madrid demonstrated those values again today.”

Arbeloa on the value of the win

“Playing at Mestalla is always like going to the dentist. We knew it would be a difficult match, that they would be very demanding. It was a very serious and committed game. I’m happy, we’ll keep improving.”

Arbeloa on the difficulty of the game

“Mestalla is always difficult because of the atmosphere and the desire they always show against Real Madrid. But we managed to overcome it, we controlled the game well, Courtois didn’t have to make any saves. The players worked very hard and showed great commitment.”

Arbeloa on goals from Carreras and Mbappé

“Álvaro’s goal shows that he has a lot of talent going forward. He also scored a great goal against Valencia in the first leg. There are no adjectives left to describe Kylian. We thought we weren’t going to see anything like Cristiano, but this one is on his way.”

Kickoffs in the NFL look very different these days.

In the spring of 2024, league owners approved a rule change that massively changed the kick that starts every game and follows every scoring play. This reform, which roared through a one-year pilot program, added several new wrinkles to free kicks, allowing for greater returns while rewarding kickers for accuracy. The plan also, in theory, would reduce injuries related to one of the most dangerous phases of the game.

Those theories bore fruit. While not solely related to kickoffs, injuries -- specifically, concussions -- fell by a significant margin in 2024.

So how does it all work?

Well, the ball is still placed at the kicking team’s 35-yard line. However, everyone but the kicker lines up 25 yards upfield at the receiving team’s 40. Five yards away from them is the first line of blocking defense ahead of a maximum of two returners — a line that can’t go deeper than the 30-yard line.

There’s more than just a funky formation that leaves less room for defenders to build up momentum before crashing into returners. The space from the receiving team’s 20-yard line to the goal line is the landing zone. No one from the kicking team can cross the 40 until the ball either lands or is fielded there.

There are no fair catches. If the ball fails to make it to the landing zone, the receiving team takes over at its own 40-yard line. If the ball flies into the end zone, the receiving team takes over at the 30 -- a five-yard increase from the previous touchback spot. If the ball hits the landing zone on the fly, then rolls into the end zone and is downed, the receiving team takes over at its 20.

But wait, there’s more! If the wind knocks the ball off the tee twice, a kicker can opt to hold it in place with a kicking stick — the tripod kickers use in practice — rather than making a teammate hold the ball on the tee. Onside kicks are still allowed, but have to be declared before the kickoff. From there, normal onside kick rules would apply.

There you have it.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: NFL kickoff rules in 2026 for the Super Bowl: Landing zone explained

The coin toss seems like it should be the most simple part of a football game, right?

Every NFL game starts with one of these, no matter what. A team calls heads or tails, and that will decide who gets to receive the football on the opening kickoff of each half of the game. Sounds easy enough.

But there's a lot more that goes into it. It's an essential part of how any game plays out. One wrong move from a team captain, and that squad could start slow or go into the half without the ball down a few scores. If an official mishears a player? It could throw everything off.

It's happened before, as you may know. Back in 2019, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott told referee Walt Anderson that the team would defer to the second half after winning the toss. But Anderson misheard him and said the Los Angeles Rams would get the ball in the first and second halves. It was eventually corrected and Prescott made sure to say “DEFER” loud and clear a week later. But still, mistakes were made.

So just to make sure we're clear now, here are the rules for the coin toss for Super Bowl LIX, per the NFL's rulebook:

There you have it!

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Super Bowl 2026 coin toss rules: Why teams defer to second half

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Bennett Stirtz scored a career-high 36 points and Iowa upped its winning streak to six games by handing Northwestern a seventh straight loss with a 76-70 victory over the Wildcats on Sunday.

Stirtz made made 12 of 20 shots and all eight of his free throws for the Hawkeyes (18-5, 8-4 Big Ten Conference). The senior guard hit 4 of 6 from 3-point range. Tavion Banks added 13 points and seven rebounds.

Nick Martinelli scored 21 on 6-for-19 shooting for the Wildcats (10-14, 2-11). Jake West sank four 3-pointers and scored 18. Tre Singleton had 10 points before fouling out.

West buried a 3-pointer to give Northwestern an 18-13 lead with 8:31 remaining in the first half. The Wildcats played with the lead until a three-point play by Stirtz tied it 30-all with 2:13 left. Stirtz added two free throw, Kael Combs hit a jumper and Banks scored the final five points in a 12-5 run to give Iowa a 39-35 advantage at halftime.

Combs had the first basket of the second half and Stirtz followed with a 3-pointer to push the lead to nine. Stirtz added another 3-pointer and the Hawkeyes took their first double-digit lead at 54-40 with 13 minutes left.

West answered with a 3-pointer to spark a 13-2 run and Northwestern pulled within 56-53 four minutes later. Stirtz hit a 3-pointer to keep Iowa in front and the Hawkeyes maintained a two-possession lead until West hit another 3 to cut it to 70-67 with two minutes left. Stirtz drove for a layup and Banks added two free throws to wrap it up.

Up next

Iowa: At Maryland on Wednesday.

Northwestern: Hosts No. 2 Michigan on Wednesday.

___

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

NEED TO KNOW

• The Harlem Globetrotters are celebrating 100 years
• This team, which was founded in 1926, has been through many iterations, and Keith Dawkins, the Harlem Globetrotters President, talks with PEOPLE about the past, present and future of the team
• Over the last 100 years, the Globetrotters have played in front of over 148 million people in 123 countries and territories

Keith Dawkins knows the Harlem Globetrotters still have more tricks up their sleeves. 

Dawkins, the Harlem Globetrotters & Herschend Entertainment Studios President, sees the team's 100th anniversary as a way to educate fans on its history while bringing them into the future.

The 53-year-old acknowledges that this is a precious time for the brand, as “there's only a handful of brands across industries that make it to a hundred years.”

So much has changed since the team was first founded in 1926 by Abe Saperstein. The team played its first game in 1927, and in 1940, the Globetrotters won their first World Basketball Championship, defeating the Chicago Bruins.

Looking at the current landscape, Dawkins shares that sports have become a blend of entertainment and athletics, and much of that began with the Globetrotters, from their athletic skills to their presence on and off the court. 

“I don't think it's overstated to say the Globetrotters are the founders of a lot of that stuff. The first real professional sports team to be traveling the globe, bringing basketball — bringing a sport — to areas of the planet Earth that had never heard of the sport," Dawkins shares. "Bringing American culture and Black athletes all over the globe."

In 1951, the Globetrotters played in front of over 75,000 people at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium. Following this trip, the U.S. State Department wrote a letter about the team, naming them “ambassadors of extraordinary goodwill.” 

Since 1926, the team has played in front of over 148 million people in 123 countries and territories.

“When I think about their history, their impact on the sporting cultures we know today, it's really just unimaginable, but it happened," Dawkins says. "Here we are a hundred years later, still celebrating all those things with this global fan base.” 

In 1985, Olympic gold medalist Lynette Woodard joined the Globetrotters, becoming the first woman to ever play on a men’s pro basketball team. 

“We currently have the most women in our roster between Globetrotters and Generals that we've ever had. We make great recruiting efforts around that because we can, right? Because of the great talent that's out there. But we are also able to honor our kind of legacy by doing that storytelling on the court in that way," he says.

Despite the team's groundbreaking gender equality efforts, Dawkins notes that the brand's history isn't widely known.

“If you ask someone who was on the first team to sign a woman player on a male team? And when was that seismic moment? That was the Harlem Globetrotters," he says.

He also points to how the elaborate play style that originated with the Globetrotters has seeped into sports today.

"I see Steph Curry or Caitlin Clark, or Luka Dončić shooting from deep, but that was never done before. Yes, it was, it was the Harlem Globetrotters," he says. "The ball handling that was never done. Yes, it was, it was Marques Haynes.” 

Dawkins notes that, during a time when Black athletes weren't allowed to play in the NBA, they would play with the Globetrotters — including Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain, who played with the Globetrotters from 1958 to 1959.

Honoring the history of the team and how the fans engage with it is an important part of understanding the past, present and future, Dawkins says.

“That history is a direct gateway and through line to what they're watching, what they're experiencing and where their fandom resides today," he tells PEOPLE. "The uniform means something, and the name means something. All of those things to tie that back to the Globetrotters. History gets forgotten by folks until you remind them or educate them the first time.” 

To this day, Dawkins notes that they still find talent around the world.

“We had a player called up to the Dallas Mavericks G League affiliate last year. We've signed players who were on the Women's National Championship team as the second-round pick for the WNBA. We just got our first Japanese player onto the team, who is an unbelievable ball handler who is all about trick shots and wizardry," he says.

"We're a global brand, meaning collegiate and or professional talent. You see that athleticism, and that type of skill, but you get a level of engagement, you really don't get anywhere else,” Dawkins shares. 

The Globetrotters are currently on their 100-year anniversary tour, and will have tour dates across the United States, Canada, South America, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Africa and India.

“What sport shows up everywhere and also doesn't have people rooting for or against, or booing or throwing stuff, that just brings everyone together?” he asks. "That's what people expect from a Globetrotters game.” 

As for the future of the team, he shares that “we can't rest on the laurels of all that great stuff we did in the past.” 

“We are the brand that brings people together, the brand that brings joy and hope and laughter and possibilities," he says. "Now we have to be strategic and thoughtful about how we are articulating that message for all of its unique, 8- to 80-year-old audiences. If we do that, then I think we're here for another hundred years."

Read the original article on People

In just a few hours, the Eagles will no longer be the reigning Super Bowl Champions and either the Seattle Seahawks or New England Patriots will be able to claim the title. The game also marks the official end of the 2025 NFL season, and the start of free agency, draft season, and more coaching staff changes.

The Seahawks lead the all-time regular season series between these teams, 11-8, and have won their last four meetings. They last faced off back in 2024, when Seattle won in overtime, on the road, 23-20. The Patriots, however, do hold a 1-0 lead over the Seahawks when they’ve faced off in the postseason — back in 2014 when Tom Brady led the team to victory in Super Bowl XLIX, 28-24.

Here’s everything you need to know about the game:

---

Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots

Game time: 6:30 PM EST
Channel: NBC
Online Streaming: FuboTV | Peacock
Location: Levi’s Stadium | Santa Clara, CA
Announcers: Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Kaylee Hartung (field reporter), Melissa Stark (field reporter)

Odds via FanDuel

Seattle Seahawks: -4.5 (-245)
New England Patriots: +4.5 (+200)
Over/under: 45.5 points

SB Nation Blogs

Seahawks: www.FieldGulls.com
Patriots: www.PatsPulpit.com

Open thread: Discuss Sunday’s Super Bowl game in the comments below.

Super Bowl LX this evening will feature two 14-3 teams in the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. This game will feature the Patriots for the first time since 2019 and will mark their NFL-record 12^th appearance in the game, breaking their tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers and Patriots are also currently tied for the most Super Bowl wins all time at 6 apiece.

This evening’s game will mark Seattle’s fourth overall appearance in the Super Bowl, with its last coming in Super Bowl XLIX. In that game, the Patriots denied the Seahawks back-to-back NFL Championships, with Seattle’s sole Super Bowl victory coming the prior year (2014). In their sole Super Bowl victory, the Seahawks blew out the Denver Broncos 43-8.

Please use this thread to follow this evening’s Super Bowl and, as always, to discuss your Miami Dolphins. Please follow all site rules in the live threads and other posts on The Phinsider. Please note that SBNation strictly prohibits sharing illegal game streams. Sharing, discussing, or requesting illegal game streams may result in a temporary suspension from the site.

We have everything you need to know to watch today’s game right here:

Seattle Seahawks (14-3) NFC West Vs NE Patriots (14-3) AFC East

• Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. EST, Sunday, February 8th
• Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California (San Francisco 49ers home stadium)
• TV Broadcast: NBC
• Broadcast Team: Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Melissa Stark, Kaylee Hartung
• Streaming: Peacock; NFL+;  fuboTV; YouTube.TV (with NFL Sunday Ticket subscription)
• National Radio Broadcast: Westwood One
• National Radio Broadcast Team:  Kevin Harlan, Kurt Warner
• Sirius XM — National: Channel 88 | Patriots: Channel 225 | Seahawks: Channel 226 | Spanish Radio: Channel 832
• Referees: Shawn Smith (Referee); Roy Ellison (Umpire); Dana McKenzie (Down Judge); Julian Mapp (Line Judge); Jason Ledet (Field Judge); Eugene Hall (Side Judge); Greg Steed (Back Judge); Andrew Lambert (Replay Official); Julie Johnson (Replay Assistant) Alternatives:Shawn Jochuli (Referee); Terry Kilens (Umpire); Davis Oliver (Down Judge); Anthony Jeffries (Line Judge); Tom Eaton (Field Judge); Jabir Walker (Side Judge); Brad Freeman (Back Judge); Chad Adams (Replay Official)
• Weather: 58 degrees, areas of fog
• FANDUEL Sportsbook betting Odds: Spread: Seahawks -4.5; Point total: 45.5; Moneyline: Patriots +205| Seahawks -250
• Head-to-Head (Regular Season): Seattle Seahawks won 11-8
• Last Meeting: Seattle Seahawks won 23-20 (OT), 2024 Week 2 (Sep. 15, 2024)
• Last Playoff/Super Bowl Meeting: New England Patriots won 28-24, Super Bowl XLIX
• Seattle SeahawksSB Nation Team Site: Field Gulls
• Field GullsX: @FieldGulls
• New England Patriots SB Nation Team Site: Pats Pulpit
• Pats Pulpit X: @PatsPulpit
• Seahawks Practice Squad Elevations: Cam Akers, running back; Velus Jones, Jr., running back
• Patriots Practice Squad Elevations: D’Ernest Johnson, running back; Leonard Taylor III, defensive lineman

Sunday evening’s Bundesliga match between league leaders Bayern Munich and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim found itself decided relatively early thanks in part due to an early red card issued by match official Tobias Stieler. The 44-year-old German referee has answered for his decision to send TSG defender Kevin Akpoguma off on a straight red in the 17th-minute. 

The controversial nature of the decision

Akpguma was clearly tugging on Bayern attacker Luis Diaz’s jersey, but replays confirmed that Diaz also had his hands on his marker. The fact that both players fell onto the deck seemed a result of mutual jostling. Some understood Stieler’s decision to award a penalty, but thought the red card harsh. TSG head coach Christian Ilzer told DAZN afterwards that he didn’t feel Akpoguma had fouled Diaz at all. 

Tobias Stieler’s words on the decision

“At the beginning of the duel, there was a completely normal scramble for position and nothing worthy of a penalty,” Stieler told DAZN. “Then Luis Diaz was faster, in a better position, able to shoot at goal, able to play across, and he fell due to a holding foul by the Hoffenheim player.

“This was consequently a penalty kick,” Stieler continued. “Why would Diaz fall deliberately when he had a chance to either shoot or play across to a wide open Harry Kane? I had no alternative but to issue a red card for a holding foul [on a double clear goal scoring opportunity].

“He [Akpoguma] did not question the nature of the foul,” Stieler concluded. “This was not a case for the video assistant. Such decisions are made on the pitch. I made the decision and I believe it was understandable.“

GGFN | Peter Weis

Katie Boulter has achieved WTA Tour glory once again, winning her fourth WTA Tour title at the Osttrava Open.

The British number four dropped just two sets on her way to the title and will now rise 36 places to world number 84.

Boulter defeated Tamara Korpatsch on her way to the final, securing her first title since winning the 2025 WTA 125 Trophée Clarins in Paris.

Alex de Minaur, the ATP number eight and Boulter’s fiance, posted a rather humorous comment on social media following the British star’s victory in the Czech city.

Alex de Minaur’s comment after Katie Boulter’s title win

Following her title win in Ostrava, Boulter posted a photo of herself with the trophy on her Instagram account.

Boulter added a caption to the post, celebrating her title win in Czechia. The caption read: Make that title numero four.”

In a reply to the post, Alex de Minaur jokingly said: “Some more ornaments for the house.”

Boulter has added a fourth ‘ornament’ to the three she had already won on the WTA Tour.

The British star won her first title at the 2023 Nottingham Open, defeating compatriot Jodie Burrage in the final.

In March 2024, Boulter doubled her title total, winning the biggest title of her career to date at the San Diego Open: a WTA 500 event.

Three months later, Boulter won her second Nottingham Open title, defeating Karolina Pliskova in the final.

Later that year, Boulter suffered her first loss in a WTA Tour final – to Diana Shnaider at the Hong Kong Open.

Fans react to Katie Boulter winning her fourth WTA Tour title

On X, fans were ecstatic about Boulter’s recent triumph.

One tennis fan said: “And you absolutely belted your way to it. Can’t wait to see what the rest of this year brings for you. Atta girl.”

Another fan set Boulter an ambitious goal to achieve by the end of the year, saying: “Well done, pleasure to watch. Now keep up that consistency and positivity and you’ll get top 20 by this time next year.”

Another added: “Well played Katie! You looked annoyed early in 2nd set, then just went up another level. Great power and precision.”

The 2025 NFL season comes to a lose this evening with a Super Bowl matchup few could have seen coming last September — or perhaps as late as January. Tonight, a pair of NFL franchises no strangers to the big game in the 21st century face off again for the Lombardi Trophy, this time in Santa Clara, CA.

The New England Patriots haven’t won a lot of favor with those outside their circle — and in fact almost no one is willing to say they have a chance of defeating the Seattle Seahawks. But, no one imagined a scenario where quarterback Drake Maye would play in a Super Bowl before quarterback Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.

Yet tonight? It’s Maye “versus” Sam Darnold.

While there are plenty of reasons to point toward New England’s appearance in Super Bowl LX, the root of it comes down to coaching. The Patriots boast a talented defense that feasted on turnovers during the playoffs, and the offense played efficient enough football to keep them ahead on the scoreboard.

Meanwhile, the Seahawks have an altogether impressive team, with a lights-out defense and an offense led by quarterback Sam Darnold that’s capable of outscoring any team in the football. Do the Patriots have a real shot? Well, they certainly have a better chance than 30 other teams watching from after tonight.

Fans of those teams certainly aren’t going to rush toward an opportunity to see Patriots owner Robert Kraft hoist an eighth Lombardi, thus cementing New England as the winningest franchise in Super Bowl history. Like them or not (Bills fans do not), that would put the Patriots very close to having claimed a win on the biggest stage once every three years this century.

It’s fair to say that Bills Mafia is rallying around the Seahawks this evening. One thing to keep in mind is that underdogs are 11-2 in the last 13 Super Bowls — of which the Patriots are tonight. You don’t have to like tonight’s matchup, but you’re certainly going to watch it unfold.

With that, here’s your open thread for Super Bowl LX. As always, be kind to one another — and in all things… Go Bills!

This is it. The 285th and final game of the 2025 NFL season is here, and it’s for the Lombardi Trophy. Sixty minutes (minimum) stands between a second Super Bowl for the Seattle Seahawks or a seventh for the New England Patriots. One of those Super Bowls for New England came at Seattle’s expense, so how about evening the score and winning it all at the home of the San Francisco 49ers?

The Seahawks are favorites and most observers are picking them to win. Do not overlook this Patriots team just because of their soft schedule; they’ve earned their right to be in Santa Clara and this may end up being a tougher matchup than expected.

Unfortunately, Field Gulls’ Super Bowl week credential did not mean an actual game credential, as was the case for many others of the 6,500+ who had their media week applications approved. On the plus side, I’m still in the San Francisco Bay Area and may film some live reactions to some of the key plays from fans at a watch party of my choosing.

Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Kaylee Hartung, and Melissa Stark are there for NBC/Peacock. Kickoff time is roughly 3:30 pm PT. Chat away in the comments section and have a great time! This has been a truly magnificent season regardless of tonight’s outcome.

For a final time…

SEA!!!

Head to the comments section to join the conversation! Don’t be shy! We have a very active community on Field Gulls, whether here or on The FEED. You can sign up for a commenting account below and we have full-time moderators and Alaric10000 to enforce the Community Guidelines.

It is finally here.

The Arizona Cardinals and 29 other NFL teams are sitting at home as we all prepare for the final game of the season.

This is where you can discuss the game, banter about how lucky some teams are, or how far away the Arizona Cardinals are.

Hopefully it will be a good one, but the way the money is coming in, it seems far-fetched.

Looking forward to hopefully not being in the best division in the NFL next season.

Here is everything you need to know about the game.

Super Bowl LX: Seattle Seahawks (14-3) vs New England Patriots (14-3)

Date: Sunday, February 8, 2026
Time: 4:30 p.m. AT
Location: Levi’s Stadium | Santa Clara, CA
National TV: NBC (Channel 12 locally)
National online streaming: NFL+, Peacock
TV announcers: Mike Tirico (play-by-play) Cris Collinsworth (analyst) Kaylee Hartung and Melissa Stark (sideline)
National Radio: Westwood One – Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) Kurt Warner (analyst) Laura Okmin (sideline)
Betting line: Seahawks -4.5 per FanDuel Sportsbook

It is nearly time for the Super Bowl, so we’ve set up a small game thread for anyone who wants to cut it up with their fellow PSA-ers while watching in hopes of the Patriots going down in flames. I assume that this is the general sentiment around these parts — not out of any particular affinity for the Seahawks, of course. I’m sure somewhere in the world there are patches of Yankees/Patriots fans but boy, would that be quite the thing.

Anyway, what kind of snacks do you have set up for the game? Are you in any grid pools? What’s your final score prediction? For me, the answers are, in order:

1) Chips, so much salsa, and so much pico de gallo (plus some Dogfish Head beer)
2) Not this year
3) 32-15 Seahawks, because I’m also rooting for Scorigami above all else

---

How to Watch Super Bowl LX:

Seattle Seahawks (16-3) vs. New England Patriots (17-3)

Location: Levi’s Stadium — Santa Clara, CA

First Pitch: 6:30 p.m. EDT

TV broadcast: NBC

It’s last call for the 2025 NFL season.

By the end of the night, the latest Super Bowl champion will be crowned: the Seattle Seahawks or New England Patriots. For some, it’s an exciting rematch of Super Bowl 49—AKA the “greatest defensive call in history” championship game (don’t click this). For others, it’s an annoying matchup between two teams who have seen so much success in the 21st century that it’s hard to really get excited about either franchise.

Regardless, you’re probably going to watch the game. But maybe because of the Detroit Lions’ disappointing season, you’re not really in the mood to go to a Super Bowl party. Or maybe no one at your party is paying attention to the football, and you want to chat with some Lions fans who are actually invested in the game and know ball.

Well, then you’ve come to the right place.

This post will serve as our live chat for Super Bowl 60. Share your thoughts on the game, the free agents that you think may interest the Lions, and sure, if you want to talk commercials and halftime shows, that’s totally okay, too. Just remember to be respectful to one another, and follow all of our other community guidelines.

And just in case you somehow don’t know how to catch the biggest television event of the year, here’s how to watch the Seahawks and Patriots in Super Bowl 60.

Kickoff time: 6:30 p.m. ET
TV channel: NBC
Online streaming: NFL+, Peacock
Announcers: Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Kaylee Hartung, Melissa Stark
National radio: Westwood One
Radio announcers: Kevin Harlan, Kurt Warner, Laura Okmin
Super Bowl odds: Seahawks by 4.5, per FanDuel Sportsbook

China? Hard pass.

Mario Bautista scored a big win at UFC Vegas 113 last night (Sat., Feb. 7, 2026), submitting surging Brazilian prospect Vinicius Oliveira in the second round to earn his first-ever UFC main event victory inside the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada (watch highlights).

With the spotlight on him, Bautista already had his next move in mind — and it wasn’t traveling overseas.

During his in-cage post-fight interview, Bautista made it clear he wants a rematch with Cory Sandhagen, the man who handed him a loss in his UFC debut back in 2019.

Just minutes later, however, fellow Bantamweight contender Song Yadong took to social media to shoot his shot, publicly challenging Bautista to headline UFC Macau on May 30.

“@Bautista_mma congratulations. Enjoy the victory tonight,” Song wrote. “How about some kungpao chicken in Macau next?”

@Bautista_mma congratulation. Enjoy the victory tonight. How about some kungpao chicken in Macau 🇲🇴 next🤔? @ufc@seanshelby

— Song Yadong (@SongYadongLFG) February 8, 2026

Bautista wasn’t interested.

“Song Yadong? Nah, I want to fight Sandhagen,” Bautista said at the UFC Vegas 113 post-fight press conference. “Song Yadong can sit on that loss for a little bit.”

The loss Bautista referenced was Song’s recent defeat to Sean O’Malleyat UFC 324 last month.

While Bautista’s desire to run things back with Sandhagen is understandable, the matchup may not materialize anytime soon. Sandhagen is eyeing a fight with either O’Malley or Aiemann Zahabi, leaving Bautista with limited options near the top of the division.

From a rankings perspective, Song would make the most sense. He currently sits at No. 6, and a win over him would propel Bautista further up the Bantamweight ladder.

Nevertheless, Bautista has momentum again after rebounding from his loss to Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 321. Prior to that setback, he rattled off eight straight wins, including victories over Patchy Mix, Jose Aldo, and Ricky Simon.

So, should Bautista take a trip to China for his next fight?

---

For complete UFC Vegas 113 results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.

Florida moved up one spot to No. 6 on the ESPN College Basketball Power Index after a third-straight win in SEC play, this time against the Texas A&M Aggies by 19 points.

The Gators now have a BPI of 21.5, up 0.5 from the last update. Further broken down, the Gators have a 10.4 offensive BPI, which ranks 12th in the country, up 0.3 points. Defensively, Florida's BPI also improved, from 10.8 (10th) to 11.1 (8th).

“The College Basketball Power Index (BPI) is a measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of performance going forward,” ESPN explains. “BPI represents how many points above or below average a team is. Strength of Record (SOR) is a measure of team accomplishment based on how difficult a team’s W-L record is to achieve. Game predictions account for opponent strength, pace of play, site, travel distance, day’s rest and altitude, and are used to simulate the season 10,000 times to produce season projections.”

ESPN projects Florida to finish the season with a 23.2-7.8 overall record and a 14.2-3.8 conference record, a 0.5-game increase from the last projection. Beating Texas A&M gave Florida sole possession of the top spot in the conference standings, which provides some rationale for a fairly significant record projection update.

Florida remains the team to beat in the SEC. The Gators now have 88.3% odds to win the conference, up from 69.1% before the win over TAMU. Previously, the Aggies had the second-best chance to win the SEC, with odds above 25%, but Saturday's outcome changed things up. Now, the Kentucky Wildcats are the only team with above 10% odds to win the conference. Florida and Kentucky meet twice over the final eight games of the regular season.

Florida's remaining strength of schedule is ranked 30th in the country. The Gators have an 8-5 record against quality opponents and the fifth-strongest schedule in the country. The non-conference strength of schedule checks in at No. 20.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida Gators ESPN Basketball Power Index update after Texas A&M win

Super Bowl 2026 viewing guide: Full TV schedule, channels, streams to watch pregame, halftime show, commercials and more originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Super Bowl 60 battle between the Patriots and Seahawks is just one part of a busy weekend schedule.

Before the big game, the Super Bowl Soulful Celebration and Super Bowl 60 Flag Football Game will air on Saturday night. The Puppy Bowl and Kitten Bowl will be played on Sunday afternoon, and Teddy Swims will be on stage for the Super Bowl 60 Tailgate Concert.

Bad Bunny will be the headliner for Sunday's halftime show, which is expected to draw millions of viewers. Thrilling plays, exciting performances and silly commercials — yes, it's Super Bowl weekend.

Here is everything you need to know about the Super Bowl TV schedule, including how to watch events throughout the weekend.

SUPER BOWL 60 HQ: Live score | Halftime show updates | Printable squares

How to watch Super Bowl 2026

• Date: Sunday, Feb. 8
• Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
• TV channel: NBC
• Live stream: Peacock

Super Bowl 60 will air on NBC. The Patriots vs. Seahawks game can also be streamed on Peacock.

The NBC-owned streaming service's sports programming features live coverage of NFL Sunday Night Football, the NBA, the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Premier League soccer, Big Ten football and basketball, Notre Dame football, Big East and Big 12 basketball, PGA Tour golf and more.

How to watch Super Bowl Soulful Celebration 2026

• Date: Saturday, Feb. 7
• Time: 8 p.m. ET
• TV channel: Fox
• Live stream: Fubo

Hosted by Cam Newton, the 27th annual Super Bowl Soulful Celebration will air on Fox. The event can also be streamed on Fubo.

This year's Super Bowl Soulful Celebration will feature performances from Pastor Mike Jr., Lalah Hathaway, Jamal Roberts and the NFL Players Choir.

How to watch Super Bowl 60 Flag Football Game

• Date: Saturday, Feb. 7
• Time: 10 p.m. ET
• TV channel: N/A
• Live stream: YouTube

The Super Bowl 60 Flag Football Game between Team Druski and Team J Balvin will be available to stream exclusively on YouTube. Druski and J Balvin will lead two teams that feature some of the world's biggest YouTube creators.

How to watch Super Bowl 2026 pregame shows

• Date: Sunday, Feb. 8
• Time: 9 a.m. ET (NFL Network) | 10 a.m. ET (ESPN) | 1 p.m. ET (NBC)
• TV channel: ESPN | NBC | NFL Network
• Live stream: Fubo | Peacock

Three networks will offer pregame programming ahead of Super Bowl 60: ESPN, NBC and NFL Network. Pregame shows can be streamed on Fubo and Peacock.

Show	Time (ET)	TV/Live stream
NFL GameDay Morning	9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.	NFL Network, Fubo
Postseason NFL Countdown	10 a.m. - 2 p.m.	ESPN, Fubo
NBC Super Bowl 60 Pregame	1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.	NBC, Peacock

How to watch Kitten Bowl 2026

• Date: Sunday, Feb. 8
• Time: Noon ET
• TV channel: Great American Family
• Live stream:Fubo

The Kitten Bowl, now officially known as the Great American Rescue Bowl, will air on Great American Family. The two-hour event can also be streamed on Fubo.

How to watch Puppy Bowl 2026

• Date: Sunday, Feb. 8
• Time: 2 p.m. ET
• TV channel: Animal Planet | Discovery | TBS | truTV
• Live stream:DIRECTV

The Puppy Bowl will air on four networks: Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS and truTV. The three-hour event will feature more than 100 puppies playing for Team Ruff and Team Fluff.

Cord-cutters can stream the action on DIRECTV.

How to watch Teddy Swims Super Bowl Tailgate Concert

• Date: Sunday, Feb. 8
• Time: 3:50 p.m. ET
• TV channel: N/A
• Live stream: Peacock

Teddy Swims will be the headline performer at the Super Bowl 60 Tailgate Concert, which will be available to stream exclusively on Peacock. The show is expected to start at 3:50 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Super Bowl commercials 2026

As usual, plenty of viewers will be focused on the commercial breaks just as much as the Super Bowl itself. A few commercials and teasers have already been released ahead of Super Bowl 60, including ads featuring comedian Shane Gillis, actor Chris Hemsworth and singer Sabrina Carpenter.

You can get an early look at 2026 Super Bowl commercials right here.

How to watch Green Day Super Bowl performance

• Date: Sunday, Feb. 8
• Time: 6 p.m. ET
• TV channel: NBC
• Live stream: Peacock

Rock icons Green Day, natives of the Bay Area, are set for a special pregame performance at Levi's Stadium honoring 60 years of the Super Bowl. The "opening ceremony" will be broadcast on NBC and can be streamed on Peacock. The ceremony is expected to start at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday.

How to watch Super Bowl national anthem 2026

• Date: Sunday, Feb. 8
• Time: 6:15 p.m. ET (approximate time)
• TV channel: NBC
• Live stream:Peacock

Charlie Puth will sing the national anthem at Super Bowl 60. Brandi Carlile will perform "America the Beautiful," and Coco Jones will perform "Lift Every Voice and Sing."

Those songs are expected to be performed shortly before the official kickoff time of 6:30 p.m. ET.

How to watch Super Bowl halftime show 2026

• Date: Sunday, Feb. 8
• Time: 8 p.m. ET (approximate time)
• TV channel: NBC
• Live stream:Peacock

Grammy Award-winning artist Bad Bunny will be the halftime performer at Super Bowl 60. Bad Bunny is expected to hit the stage around 8 p.m. ET, though his performance could be moved up or pushed back depending on the flow of the game.

How to watch Super Bowl trophy presentation 2026

• Date: Sunday, Feb. 8
• Time: 10 p.m. ET (approximate time)
• TV channel: NBC
• Live stream:Peacock

The Super Bowl trophy presentation will be part of NBC's postgame show, which is expected to begin at approximately 10 p.m. ET. Just like the game, the ceremony can also be streamed on Peacock.

Everybody accounted for, and all hands on deck. The New England Patriots are heading into the final game of the 2025 season in the best shape possibe.

While two of their team captains were deemed as questionable for Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks, but were made active. This means that, with Robert Spillane and Harold Landry getting the green light, the Patriots will be at full strength on Sunday night.

Of course, full strength is always relative especially this late in the season. Nonetheless, Spillane and Landry getting cleared and no other surprise inactives being announced means that Mike Vrabel’s coaching staff will have a full complement of players to choose from.

The Patriots’ full game day roster for the Super Bowl looks like this.

Patriots game day roster: Super Bowl 60 vs. Seahawks

Quarterback (2): Drake Maye (10), Joshua Dobbs (11)

Running back (3): Rhamondre Stevenson (38), TreVeyon Henderson (32), Jack Westover (37 | FB/TE), D’Ernest Johnson (34 | KR | PS elevation)

Wide receiver (5): Kayshon Boutte (9), Stefon Diggs (8), Mack Hollins (13), Kyle Williams (18 | KR), DeMario Douglas (3)

Tight end (2): Hunter Henry (85), Austin Hooper (81)

Offensive tackle (4): Will Campbell (66 | LT), Morgan Moses (76 | RT), Thayer Munford Jr. (74), Vederian Lowe (59)

Interior offensive line (4): Jared Wilson (58 | LG), Garrett Bradbury (65 | C), Mike Onwenu (71 | RG), Ben Brown (77)

Interior defensive line (4): Milton Williams (97), Christian Barmore (90), Khyiris Tonga (95 | FB), Cory Durden (94), Leonard Taylor III (93 | PS elevation)

Defensive edge (4): Harold Landry III (2), K’Lavon Chaisson (44), Anfernee Jennings (33), Elijah Ponder (91)

Linebacker (6): Robert Spillane (14), Christian Elliss (53), Jack Gibbens (51), Jahlani Tavai (48), Marte Mapu (15), Chad Muma (49)

Cornerback (5): Christian Gonzalez (0), Carlton Davis III (7), Marcus Jones (25 | PR), Charles Woods (22), Alex Austin (28)

Safety (4): Jaylinn Hawkins (21), Craig Woodson (31), Dell Pettus (24), Brenden Schooler (41)

Specialists (3): Andy Borregales (36 | K), Bryce Baringer (17 | P/H), Julian Ashby (47 | LS)

The Patriots may have every player available for Sunday’s game, but they still decided to elevate a pair of depth options from the practice squad. Both are unlikely to play major roles, but are expected to get involved in some shape: running back D’Ernest Johnson served as a kickoff return option so far this year, while defensive tackle Leonard Taylor is a rotational piece along the interior defensive line who also registered a crucial field goal block in the AFC Championship Game against the Denver Broncos.

Patriots reserves

Inactives (7): QB3 Tommy DeVito (16), WR Efton Chism III (86), TE C.J. Dippre (82), OT Marcus Bryant (52), OL Caedan Wallace (70), ED Bradyn Swinson (43), CB Kobee Minor (19)

Practice squad (14): WR John Jiles (83), WR Jeremiah Webb (29), WR Trent Sherfield Sr. (80), TE Marshall Lang (84), OL Brenden Jaimes (61), OL Andrew Rupcich (67), OL Mehki Butler (63), DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (98), LB Amari Gainer (99), LB Otis Reese (54), LB Patrick Johnson (45), CB Miles Battle (35), S Richie Grant (39), S John Saunders Jr. (23)

Practice squad/exempt (1): OT Lorenz Metz (72 | IPPP)

Practice squad/injured (3): RB Craig Reynolds (49), LB Darius Harris (42), TE Thomas Odukoya (88 | IPPP)

Reserve/injured (11): FB Brock Lampe, OT Yasir Durant, CB Marcellas Dial Jr., DT Jaquelin Roy, RB Lan Larison, RB Deneric Prince, DT Isaiah Iton, RB Antonio Gibson, RB Terrell Jennings, DT Joshua Farmer, DT Eric Gregory

Reserve/retired (1): OL Wes Schweitzer

With the activation clocks for both running back Terrell Jennings and defensive tackle Joshua Farmer winding down, the Patriots had two roster decisions to make entering the week. However, they decided against returning either to their active roster, which meant that they would end the season on injured reserve.

Super Bowl LX between the. Patriots and Seahawks will be kicked off at 6:30 p.m. ET at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

The Auburn Tigers basketball fell to Alabama at home Saturday, Feb. 7, 96-92. This marks the Tigers' fifth loss in conference play; they now sit at 5-5 in the SEC and overall 14-9.

Auburn let one slip away late in the game to the Tide. The Tigers held the lead for 60% of the game and led by as much as 10. Sophomore guard Tahaad Pettiford led the team with 25 points, shooting 3-of-8 from the three-point line.

Late in the contest, fouls became a factor. The Tigers allowed the Tide to get to the free-throw line, and they shot an efficient 87%. Auburn just couldn't get back in the last two minutes.

The Tigers are set to host another home game this upcoming Wednesday, Feb. 10. So, where does the Tigers rank in the latest KenPom rankings? Here is a look at Auburn according to every major statistical in KenPom.

Overall No. 30

Auburn fell three spots from its previous rank of No. 27 to No. 30. The Tigers have an overall efficiency score of +21.97.

Offensive efficiency: No. 12

KenPom rated the Tigers' offensive efficiency score a 125.4, ranking Auburn No. 12 in their offensive efficiency rankings.

Defensive efficiency: No. 70

The Tigers have sat around the top-70 in the KenPom defensive efficiency ranking all season long. Auburn comes in at No. 70 with a score of 103.4.

Adjusted tempo: No. 172

The Tigers rank No. 172 in KenPom's adjusted tempo with an average of 67.4 possessions per game.

Strength of schedule: No. 2

Auburn shown to have one of the toughest schedules in college basketball, again in the top-5 of KenPom strength of schedule.

Vanderbilt overview

Wednesday, Feb. 10, the No. 15 Vanderbilt Commodores are coming to take on the Auburn Tigers in Neville Arena. Where does the Commodores rank in KenPom statistics? Here is a look at Vanderbilt in KenPom's statistical rankings.

• Overall: No. 14
• Adjusted offensive efficiency: No. 14 (124.2)
• Adjusted defensive efficiency: No. 18 (97.3)
• Adjusted tempo: No. 38 (70.2)
• Strength of schedule: No. 33 (+9.55)
• Projected winner of the game: Auburn (51%)
• Implied score: Auburn 82, Vanderbilt 81

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

This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Where Auburn basketball ranks in KenPom after loss to Alabama

Super Bowl burger details: What to know about monstrous $180 bone-in beef shank going viral originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

With Super Bowl 60 between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks set for Levi's Stadium, the menu for the marquee event will feature Bay Area-specific items.

Those who got tickets to the game are not in the clear, as some of these foods cost well over $100.

Fans in search of a unique burger could try the "LX Hammer Burger", which is priced at a pretty price.

The Sporting Breaks down the details of this monstrous $180 bone-in beef shank going viral.

MORE: Super Bowl 2026 live score: Patriots vs. Seahawks updates, results, highlights from Santa Clara

What is the Super Bowl LX Burger?

This impressive dish is described as an "elevated, colossal, and shareable" delight, crafted with tender bone-in beef shank, rich roasted mirepoix demi-glace, and creamy Point Reyes bleu cheese fondue, all served on a freshly baked brioche bun.

The most expensive concession item at Super Bowl LX is a $180 beef shank burger that feeds 4 people 🍔 pic.twitter.com/CM2lJmoMDS

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) February 8, 2026

Instead of a traditional ground beef patty, it features a slow-braised, bone-in beef shank that falls off the bone when cooked perfectly. The actual bone from the shank sticks out through a hole in the top of the bun, adding to its charm.

Topped with indulgent Point Reyes bleu cheese fondue and flavorful roasted mirepoix demi-glace, this delicious creation is presented on a warm, house-baked, salt-dusted brioche bun.

Weighing in at 3.5 pounds, this hefty dish is intended for four people to share a memorable meal.

How much does the Super Bowl LX burger cost?

This doesn't sound cheap, and it certainly is not. Anyone who wants to try this burger will have to pay a whopping $180.

If four fans split the cost, it comes out to $45 per person, which isn't as outrageous for a burger at the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl 60 concession items

The menu is packed with unique items and drinks, including a special concession menu for Super Bowl 60 at Levi's Stadium. It features a delightful mix of over-the-top specialty treats and Bay Area-inspired dishes.

• Gilroy Garlic Steak Frites
• Dungeness Crab Potatoes
• Silicon Valley Grande Nachos
• "Super Shucker" Hog Island Oyster Sampler
• Chinatown Dog
• Impossible Rooftop Cheesesteak
• The LX Hammer Burger
• Doritos Loaded Triangles
• San Francisco Sticky Roll

Some exciting concessions for Super Bowl 60 at Levi's Stadium include a variety of specialty options, delicious desserts, refreshing beverages, and classic stadium snacks. There's, of course, a bountiful drink menu loaded with expensive options.

Who’s buying the next round? pic.twitter.com/1aajFDhX63

— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) February 8, 2026

MORE: Super Bowl 2026 halftime show, explained

Insider reveals loyalty test looming for Raiders' Maxx Crosby originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It might be Super Bowl week, but Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby has been the subject of many headlines over the past 72 hours.

With rumors swirling that Crosby wants out of Las Vegas, although nothing has been confirmed, the race for his signature is heating up, with a host of teams in need of a player like him.

But one thing we know about Maxx is that he's loyal to the Raiders.

However, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, that could be tested in the coming weeks.

"What has been made clear to me: Crosby wants to be a part of a winner," Fowler said. "That's the priority. Whether and how that's conveyed is still unclear. He has been fiercely loyal to Las Vegas. That loyalty will be tested more than ever in the coming weeks. The reality is the Raiders are still far away from significant winning, and the trade interest in Crosby is incredibly robust.”

More: Falcons reportedly preparing for big Kirk Cousins decision

Could Crosby leave Raiders?

Of course, he could. The question is, what will the Raiders want in return?

A quick glance across social media, and we can see that the asking price is going to be steep. 

At least a first-round pick, maybe two, and a player thrown in as well, is where conversations will likely start. But who can offer that? Or better yet, who will want to offer that?

Either way, Crosby's future is going to be in the headlines until something definitive happens one way or the other.

And right now, the odds of Maxx staying are the same as his odds of leaving.

More NFL news:

• Christian McCaffery hints at 49ers reunion with All-Pro WR
• Hall of Famer has incredible Shedeur Sanders message for Browns
• Bengals' offseason plans offer harsh Joe Burrow reality
• Falcons reportedly preparing for big Kirk Cousins decision
• Tua Tagovailoa gets worrying Dolphins future update 
• Ravens expected to address huge offseason issue under Jesse Minter
• Mike Evans' agent drops huge Buccaneers future update

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Lauren Betts had 16 points, 16 rebounds, five assists and three blocks to help No. 2 UCLA hold off No. 8 Michigan for a 69-66 win on Sunday.

The Wolverines trailed by 11 points with less than two minutes left and with a chance to tie the game, Syla Swords shot an airball on a 3-pointer with 2.2 seconds left.

UCLA (23-1, 13-0 Big Ten) took a two-game lead over Michigan (20-4, 11-2) in the conference with its 17th straight victory since losing to No. 4 Texas in November.

The Bruins outscored Michigan by 14 over the second and third quarters, leading by as much as 13 points, and finished with their NCAA -high ninth win over an AP Top 25 team.

The Wolverines' school-record, nine-game winning streak in Big Ten games was snapped by a big and experienced team that plays stifling defense and is led by a 6-foot-7 preseason All-America center that does it all.

Betts was 8 of 17 from the field, grabbed rebounds at both ends of the court, set up teammates for shots after drawing double teams and used her size to block or alter shots.

Her surrounding cast is talented, too.

UCLA's Kiki Rice scored 20, Gabriela Jaquez had 13 and Gianna Kneepkens scored 12.

Michigan's Olivia Olson had 20 points, Mila Holloway had 15 and Te’Yala Delfosse added 10. Swords was limited to eight points, missing 10 of 13 shots.

The highly anticipated matchup drew a season-high 6,108 crowd to Crisler Center a few hours before the Super Bowl.

Up next

UCLA: At No. 12 Michigan State on Wednesday.

Michigan: At Northwestern on Thursday.

___

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

An oft-overlooked member of the defensive ranks at La Liga giants Real Madrid secured the Man of the Match award for his performance in the club’s latest outing.

The player in question? Álvaro Carreras.

Full-back Carreras was for his part in from the off on Sunday, as Real Madrid made the trip to Valencia for a La Liga clash.

When all was said and done, Los Blancos emerged on the right side of a 2-0 result.

And Spaniard Carreras played nothing short of a pivotal role in as much…

Midway through the 2nd-half, the matchup remained firmly in the balance, as Real Madrid struggled to carve out clear-cut goalscoring opportunities.

Carreras, in turn, took the game by the scruff of the neck, surging into the Valencia penalty area before slotting home a right-footed finish.

Added to his solid efforts on the defensive side of the ball, these endeavours proved enough for the former Benfica man to lift the Man of the Match prize at Mestalla.

Conor Laird – GSFN

Why Mack Hollins showed up to Super Bowl in handcuffs holding Mike Vrabel high school jersey originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Alcatraz Island sits roughly 45 miles north of Levi’s Stadium, its jagged cliffs a far cry from the high-tech heart of Santa Clara, yet the distance did little to deter a theatrical beginning to Super Bowl 60.

As the New England Patriots prepared for their championship clash against the Seattle Seahawks, wide receiver Mack Hollins delivered another unique entrance — a spectacle he has become so accustomed to — further solidifying his reputation as the NFL’s undisputed king of the pregame arrivals.

For the big game, the barefoot veteran once again proved that for him, the walk to the locker room is a stage all its own. Hollins entered the game in shackles and a mask, dressed in a prisoner's outfit with a jersey in his hand. 

Looking for his first Super Bowl ring, Hollins brought out his most theatrical entrance yet. 

MORE SUPER BOWL 60 NEWS:

• Who will win Super Bowl 60 between Patriots and Seahawks?
• Seahawks open as favorites over Patriots for Super Bowl 60
• Where is Super Bowl 60 located?
• What to know about Super Bowl 60 halftime show performance
• When is Super Bowl 60?
• Inside Super Bowl 60 broadcast team on NBC

Mack Hollins Super Bowl entrance

Hollins entered Levi's Stadium dressed in a prisoner's outfit with shackles around his legs.

Mack Hollins has arrived pic.twitter.com/3lvAr0LBKB

— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) February 8, 2026

The immediate thoughts go to Alcatraz, one of the United States' most famous prisons right in the middle of the San Francisco Bay. The mask the wide receiver is wearing has fans comparing him to Hannibal Lecter.

Mike Vrabel high school

In his hands, Hollins was holding a jersey with "Warriors" on the front, which was later found out to be Mike Vrabel's high school jersey. Vrabel was a 3-sport athlete at Walsh Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. 

Patriots WR Mack Hollins is wearing Mike Vrabel’s high school jersey for the pregame of Super Bowl LX.

📷 @Patriotspic.twitter.com/DVDCzj2Rw7

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 8, 2026

Mack Hollins unique entrances

This comes after his AFC championship game entrance where he played homage to "The Warriors" movie, which the Patriots have bought into fully.

Mack Hollins: “WARRIORS, COME OUT TO PLAY” pic.twitter.com/yppfN33uRM

— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) January 25, 2026

New England brought it out in the Super Bowl sendoff as well.

Mack Hollins is a national treasure.

“Warriors! Come out to playyy! Come on! Don’t tell me about the weather! Take your dogs out!” 😭

(🎥 @Patriots) pic.twitter.com/yqIdtIJJM4

— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) February 1, 2026

MORE: What Super Bowl 60 coaches' matchup means for 'defense wins championships' narrative

Manchester City kept the Premier League title race alive with a dramatic late turnaround for a rare win away to Liverpool on Sunday and to keep leaders Arsenal within six points.

Defeat was another damaging blow to Liverpool's chances of Champions League football as they lost more ground on a Manchester United side revitalised under Michael Carrick.

Newcastle's hopes of a top-five finish now appear gone, though, as a 3-2 home defeat to Brentford compounded a damaging week for Eddie Howe's men.

AFP Sport looks at three talking points from the Premier League weekend:

City end Anfield hoodoo

City captain Bernardo Silva said even they believed the title race would be over had they lost at Anfield.

Starring down the barrel of another away defeat at Liverpool six minutes from time, Silva sparked a chaotic finale that will keep Arsenal fans concerned.

Silva's equaliser was quickly followed by Erling Haaland's stoppage-time penalty as City won in front of a crowd at Anfield for the first time since 2003.

"We won finally at Anfield," said Pep Guardiola, whose only previous victory there came during the closed doors era of coronavirus restrictions.

"All we can do is be brave. Be in the neck of Arsenal and if they slip up, use it."

The Gunners, who beat Sunderland 3-0 on Saturday, remain very much favourites for a first title in 22 years.

But City could now ramp up the pressure on the leaders by cutting the gap to three points at home to Fulham on Wednesday, 24 hours before Arsenal visit in-form Brentford.

Carrick's case hard to ignore

United have been here before with a former great instantly transforming the club's fortunes just weeks into an interim spell.

The Red Devils are keen to learn the lessons from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's appointment in 2019, but Carrick's case is hard to ignore.

United have won four consecutive matches since the former Middlesbrough boss took charge last month -- a feat Ruben Amorim did not manage during his ill-fated 14-month reign.

Tottenham were brushed aside 2-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday, losing for the first time in nine games against United.

"Carrick came in with the right ideas, giving the players the responsibility and freedom on the pitch," said captain Bruno Fernandes.

"He knows what it means for this club to win. It adds something special to the team."

Newcastle's 'harsh reality' for Howe

Howe admitted he has got to arrest an alarming slide that has left Newcastle mired in the bottom half of the table.

A run of one win in eight games has seen the Magpies' defence of the League Cup comprehensively ended by City, Newcastle miss out on direct qualification to the last 16 of the Champions League and drop to 12th in the table.

"There's a harsh reality for me," said Howe. "I think I've got to work better, I've got to do more.

"I've got to take full responsibility for everything you see on the pitch and I've got to work out solutions."

The 48-year-old has plenty to ponder on whether he has hit a glass ceiling on Tyneside.

Despite being back by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, Newcastle have been hampered by financial sustainability rules that have consistently left Howe frustrated at not being able to bolster his squad in the transfer market.

He has twice delivered Champions League football and won the club's first domestic trophy for 70 years since taking charge just over four years ago.

But he has been tipped to potentially replace Thomas Tuchel as England boss after the World Cup and will not want his reputation sullied by a poor end to the season.

kca/mw

Even with kickoff still hours away, the traffic on the way to the Super Bowl is forcing some people to abandon their rideshares and walk on the freeway to get to Levi's Stadium.

In a video shared by the San Francisco Chronicle, 10 people in three different groups are seen walking along the side of Highway 237, the freeway closest to the Santa Clara stadium. (The Chronicle and SFGATE are both owned by Hearst but have separate newsrooms.) The Chronicle said the fans were walking in around 11:30 a.m., a full four hours before the game between the Patriots and Seahawks is set to begin.

Fans jump out of cars on Highway 237 near the Great American Parkway exit as traffic is already getting backed up at 11:30 am. pic.twitter.com/UwaTc5Ptjc

- San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) February 8, 2026

A big reason for the lengthy delays is that many of the roads closest to Levi's Stadium are shut down, with only police escorts for the teams and approved buses allowed in. For any people trying to drive to the game, the NFL also took over most of the main parking lots at Levi's Stadium, forcing people to find parking elsewhere.

It's also led to some astronomical price points, too. Multiple social media posts show a parking lot on Patrick Henry Drive that's roughly three-quarters of a mile west of the stadium charging $400 to park there. If you drove an oversized vehicle, that'll be an extra $20 on top of that.

Parking for the Super Bowl is NOT cheap 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/Ah1Eyeuw1u

- Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 8, 2026

Santa Clara County also tried to get in on the parking action, even if their county parking lot is a little over a mile away. The county posted on X that it was selling parking spaces at their site for $125, offering people three routes to reach Levi's Stadium from there.

Others may find some good money off of the far-flung parkers, too. A reporter for the California Post spotted a person with a pedicab who said he was charging $100 per person to get a ride closer to the stadium. Some folks who live near the stadium told SFGATE they were considering selling their parking garage spot for the game.

It's all fitting for one of the most expensive tickets in all of sports. The cheapest tickets available on resale markets dipped down earlier in the weekend, with SFGATE seeing tickets below $3,200 on Friday evening. But as of 1 p.m. on Sunday, those tickets seem to be getting snapped up, with the cheapest available now costing $3,632.

More Super Bowl 2026

- Santa Clara is one of the most militarized places in America right now
- Experts explain earthquake risk for Levi's Stadium amid nearby swarms
- Dave Chappelle can't shy away from controversy at SF Super Bowl bash
- 'Lifetime of misery': The sad story of a half-burned sign next to Levi's Stadium

Sign up for daily SFGATE breaking news alerts here.

This article originally published at Super Bowl fans spotted walking on highway to escape traffic nightmare.

Falcons trade rumor involving $180 million quarterback is bad news for Vikings, Steelers, Jets originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Atlanta Falconsare widely expected to release quarterback Kirk Cousins, but there's still a chance he finds his way on the team's roster in 2026.

According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the Falcons are set to have conversations with Cousins on a potential return after they release him, as the franchise was impressed with his play at the end of the 2025 campaign.

"Do not rule out Atlanta [for Cousins]. I expect there to be conversations about a potential return there," Garafolo said.

Bringing back Cousins on a cheaper contract would be a masterful move from the Falcons. The 37-year-old played efficient football in eight starts in 2025 and led Atlanta to a 5-3 record.

Young quarterback Michael Penix Jr.'s status for the 2026 season is unknown, as he underwent ACL surgery in November.

Cousins returning to Atlanta would be a horrific development for the Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New York Jets.

All three teams could pursue Cousins in free agency, as Minnesota needs to find veteran competition for J.J. McCarthy, and the Steelers could be back in the quarterback market searching for an Aaron Rodgers replacement.

The Jets are also going to be looking for a new starter after the Justin Fields' experiment failed. Signing Cousins to be the bridge starter and possible mentor for a rookie signal-caller would be an ideal situation for New Yorl\k.

We'll see where Cousins ends up playing in 2026, but if he hits the market, as expected, anything can happen.

More NFL news

• Cardinals trade rumor could lead to deal with Steelers, Vikings or Browns
• Aaron Rodgers career update is great news for Pittsburgh Steelers
• 49ers trade rumor is crushing blow to possible deal with Vikings, Falcons
• Maxx Crosby isn't ruling out interesting career change down the line
• Travis Kelce rumor offers update on Chiefs superstar's future plans
• Maxx Crosby trade rumor is good news for Pats, Eagles, Cowboys

Florida basketball (17-6, 8-2) moved into the top 10 on the NET rankings following a 19-point win over the Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday night, the Gators' third-straight blowout win against an SEC team.

Florida moved ahead of Michigan State, Nebraska and Purdue since the last update, marking the Orange and Blue's first appearance in the top 10 of the 2025-26 season. While several teams have a better overall record — UF is the only team in the top 16 with six losses — Florida's resume features the third-most Quadrant 1 and Quadrant 2 games in college basketball (17).

While Washington also has 17 Q1/Q2 matchups on record, the Huskies are just 5-12 in such games. The Gators sit at an impressive 11-6 against quality opponents, with three losses coming against programs in the top seven. Although the NET rankings are directly correlated to NCAA Tournament seeding, the committee does use them as a resource when making the bracket each March.

Florida has several chances to make the case for a No. 2 seed, or better, with four more Q1 opportunities coming up. The Gators travel to No. 35 Georgia on Wednesday and then head back home for a matchup with No. 28 Kentucky, both of which are Quadrant1 games as of the current rankings.

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

Quadrant 1 Games

Florida is 6-4 in Quadrant 1 games.

Non-conference losses came against No. 1 Arizona, No. 3 Duke and No. 7 UConn. All three are considered very good losses, but they do give Florida a narrow path to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Gators' lone non-conference Q1 win came against No. 38 Miami at a neutral site (Jacksonville). The Hurricanes are firmly in Quadrant 1.

Several of Florida's SEC games were against Q1 opponents. The Missouri (No. 63) loss on the road remains in Quadrant 1, which is good for the Gators, but Auburn recently fell out of the top 30, making it a Quadrant 2 loss. The wins came against No. 14 Vanderbilt, No. 21 Tennessee, and No. 23 Alabama, No. 40 Texas A&M and No. 75 Oklahoma. The Sooners are on the borderline between Q1 and Q2, which could affect Florida's resume moving forward.

Quadrant 2 Games

In Quadrant 2 games, Florida is 5-2, with wins over No. 35 Georgia, No. 58 LSU — both at home — and at No. 113 South Carolina during conference play. The other two Q2 wins came during the non-conference schedule against No. 78 Providence and No. 92 George Washington, both at a neutral site.

Florida's two Quadrant 2 losses came against No. 53 TCU, at a neutral site, and No. 31 Auburn. The Tigers are one spot away from reentering Quadrant 1 territory, however.

Quadrant 3 and 4 games

The only Quadrant 3 game Florida has played in so far was a home game against No. 95 Florida State. The Seminoles have trended down most of the season but recently climbed more than 40 spots in the NET. The Seminoles still need to get to No. 75 to reach Q2.

Florida went 5-0 against Q4 teams, beating No. 196 Colgate, No. 197 Merrimack, No. 232 Dartmouth, No. 338 North Florida and No. 352 Saint Francis by an average of 33.6 points.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida basketball's NET rankings after beating Texas A&M

If there's anything that people from the Bay Area enjoy, it's watching out-of-towners suddenly realize that California isn't the hellhole that's been portrayed in the national media. 

As tourists from all over the U.S. descended on San Francisco for Super Bowl 60 this week, some found themselves discovering the city's beauty for the very first time. And although problems persist, especially in the city's Civic Center and 6th Street corridors, visitors largely found the city bustling, clean and picturesque in the sunny February weather. 

Locals took particular glee in seeing the group of podcasters and sports personalities dubbed "the rightwing sports bro" by the Guardian have their minds blown by San Francisco. Although not always explicitly political, wildly popular personalities like ESPN's Pat McAfee and ex-NFL players Will Compton and Taylor Lewan of the show Bussin' With the Boys have a reputation for controversial takes, casual sexism and generally aligning with the right - a group that tends to look upon San Francisco pretty unfavorably.

McAfee, who spent the week broadcasting his ESPN show from the Bay Area, was effusive about how "beautiful" the city was. "We were so surprised by what we had been told and expected versus when we walk through the streets," he said Wednesday. 

"I don't know how people are going to change their opinions about what's going on, but it's a beautiful place," he later added.

That was the impression left on many of the scions of the sports bro podcast world as well. Barstool Sports, the controversial media company founded by Dave Portnoy, brought its polarizing brand of humor to San Francisco, where they were left in awe of the food scene. After a trip to the Deli Board on Folsom, podcaster Eddie Farrer posted he had eaten a "life changing sandwich": the 49er, a $24 behemoth of brisket, corned beef and pastrami. A fellow Barstool producer also touted their trip to the Tonga Room, the famous tiki-style bar inside the Fairmont, calling it the "best bar I've ever been to in my life."

The Tonga Room in San Francisco is the best bar I've ever been to in my life

- TJ (@TJHitchings) February 6, 2026

People have asked/didn't see the reply

It's called the 49er from @deliboard

Corned beef, pastrami, brisket, white american cheese, cherry peppers, cole slaw, 1000 island, board sauce on a french roll

Outstanding https://t.co/JFHGI0xsD5pic.twitter.com/c93d9ZCPVf

- Eddie (@EddieBarstool) February 5, 2026

Others, like the hosts of Bussin' With the Boys, were blown away by the famous burritos at La Taqueria. And, on the whole, almost no one complained about the city's reputation for trash, lawlessness and liberal politics so common on outlets like Fox News. 

La Taqueria might have the best burrito in the country pic.twitter.com/lro5KTHUX7

- Bussin' With The Boys (@BussinWTB) February 6, 2026

During a Friday interview with 49ers tight end George Kittle, McAfee talked about the reputation San Francisco had in their imaginations as young men growing up in other parts of the country. "We've been told this place is a s-thole," McAfee said, adding that he's found the city "gorgeous" and "incredible."

"San Francisco is a beautiful city with awesome vibes..

It's an unbelievable place to be" ~ @gkittle46#PMSLivepic.twitter.com/ZRcrkXhYlA

- Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 6, 2026

"San Francisco, it's always the butt end of a joke for all these people that want to talk s-t about it," Kittle said. "Then you get here and like, ‘Oh, it's actually a beautiful city with awesome food, great scenery.' The weather's fantastic. Like, awesome vibes, plenty to do. It's actually a really fun place to be."

More Super Bowl 2026

- Santa Clara is one of the most militarized places in America right now
- Experts explain earthquake risk for Levi's Stadium amid nearby swarms
- Dave Chappelle can't shy away from controversy at SF Super Bowl bash
- 'Lifetime of misery': The sad story of a half-burned sign next to Levi's Stadium

Sign up for daily SFGATE breaking news alerts here.

This article originally published at Famed sports bros in town for Super Bowl shocked to find SF is amazing.

Washington Wizards: Kyshawn George (left ankle sprain) is now out for the remainder of tonight's game.

Twitter

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Kyshawn George (left ankle sprain) is now out for the …

Sometimes the video assistant referee just cannot win, stuck in a hole between what feels right in the spirit of the game and what is correct in law.

Manchester City thought they had scored a third goal at Liverpool which would have capped off one of the most dramatic ends to a Premier League game this season.

But it was stripped away by a VAR review for a foul committed just before the ball rolled over the line.

Fans will hate it, pundits won't like it, and football will turn its nose up too. Yet there really was no way the VAR, John Brooks, could not intervene.

A foul was committed that facilitated a goal being scored which might have otherwise been prevented. It is really as simple as that.

It was a unique set of circumstances right at the end of a dramatic game which gave City a 2-1 win at Anfield.

Here's what happened and why...

• Man City fight back for dramatic late win at Liverpool

Impossible for the goal to stand?

With Alisson marooned upfield for a set-piece as Liverpool searched for a late equaliser, Rayan Cherki kicked the ball towards an empty net.

Haaland gave chase and was clearly going to outpace Dominik Szoboszlai.

The City striker had overtaken Szoboszlai 25 yards from goal and looked certain to win the race – but he was pulled back.

It was a clear foul which referee Craig Pawson identified, but he played an advantage.

As the ball rolled towards the goal with the same two players still jostling to reach it, Liverpool's Hungary international was about to slide in and clear it off the line.

Before Szoboszlai could do so, however, Haaland pulled him back, and that stopped the home player from keeping the ball out of the net.

The first pull on Haaland muddies the waters. After all, it seemed Haaland was definitely going to score.

But they are two distinct situations. You have to separate the first foul by Szoboszlai and the subsequent offence from Haaland.

Would Szoboszlai have prevented the goal had he not been fouled? There is a high chance.

On that basis it is impossible for the goal to stand.

Remember that Pawson played advantage. Had Szoboszlai been allowed to successfully keep the ball out, the play would have been brought back and he would have been sent off.

The end result would be the same as the outcome of the VAR intervention: no goal and Szoboszlai sent off for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

If you take out the first pull on Haaland, it is hard to see how anyone could have a problem with the goal being disallowed.

This is not the first time, or the last, that the VAR has correctly disallowed a goal and people really struggle to stomach it.

Yes, the goal could be important for Manchester City at the end of the season. But the goal conceded could also turn out to be vital for Liverpool.

'Come on referee, give the goal and go home'

While the video assistant referee's intervention was ultimately correct, leading to Pawson to announce the decision to both teams and the fans, it certainly split the crowd.

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville, who was covering the game for Sky Sports, said it "feels so unjust".

He added: "I know there's rules but there is the smell of the game. Talk about killjoy. Just let the goal be.

"You have just killed one of the great moments of the season.

"You live to watch games like this. I am a fan of VAR, but it has just killed the joy.

"The reason fans watch football matches is for entertainment and for moments like that."

But ex-Manchester United captain Roy Keane said, if anything, the moment "just added to the drama" and described it as "great".

Liverpool boss Arne Slot would not be drawn on the incident, but City forward Haaland said he actually felt sorry for Szoboszlai.

"The referee has to follow the rules," Haaland told Sky Sports. "I feel bad for him. Just give the goal and not the red card, simple as that.

"But that's the rules and that's how it is."

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola simply told BBC Match of the Day: "Come on referee, give the goal and go home."

• Follow your club with BBC Sport
• Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast
• Get football news sent straight to your phone

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Nyla Brooks scored 21 points, Nyla Harris added 19 and No. 25 North Carolina rolled past Wake Forest 84-56 on Sunday.

North Carolina (20-5, 9-3 ACC) has won seven straight and reached 20 wins for the 34th time in program history.

Wake Forest led 9-6 through the first five minutes before North Carolina hit four 3-pointers — two each from Brooks and Lanie Grant — in a 16-0 run. The Tar Heels led 22-11 heading to the second quarter. Two more 3s from Brooks helped push the lead to 14 points before the Tar Heels settled for a 39-29 advantage at halftime.

Harris scored 11 points in the third quarter and the Tar Heels extended their lead to 65-42 entering the fourth. Carolina's lead first reached 30 points at 78-48 on a short jumper by Blanca Thomas with about 3 1/2 minutes to go.

Milan Brown scored 13 points for Wake Forest (13-12, 3-10).

Indya Nivar had nine points, eight rebounds and seven assists for North Carolina. Brooks buried five of the Tar Heels' 11 3-pointers.

Up next

North Carolina: SMU visits on Thursday.

Wake Forest: at Louisville on Thursday.

___

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

Ravens expected to address huge offseason issue under Jesse Minter originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

When Jesse Minter was announced as the Baltimore Ravens' head coach, his first port of call wasn't anything to do with the defense.

It was Lamar Jackson and his contract.

Setting it to count a whopping $74.5 million against the cap in 2026 isn't workable, and the Ravens have to come to an agreement with Jackson and bring that number down. Way down.

According to NFL Network insiders, the Ravens are "expected" to enter contract talks with Lamar, and they also say Jackson was "instrumental" in Minter's hiring, which means a trade of the two-time MVP is off the table.

More:Will Aaron Rodgers play for Steelers in 2026? Insider drops massive 4-word update

Lamar was never leaving

Yes, Lamar's cap number is astronomical, but let's be clear, the Ravens were never really going to trade their two-time MVP winner, right?

One could only imagine the pushback the franchise would have faced had they made that move, and it would have almost certainly seen Baltimore wave the white flag for the 2026 season.

So, we knew the Ravens were always going to enter contract talks with Jackson, and going by The Insiders, that is exactly what they're going to do.

The new league year begins in just over a month, so the clock is ticking.

More NFL news:

• Christian McCaffery hints at 49ers reunion with All-Pro WR
• Hall of Famer has incredible Shedeur Sanders message for Browns
• Steelers tipped to run-it-back with Aaron Rodgers in win-win scenario
• 1 key decision could drastically impact Chiefs' 2026 season
• Analyst reveals Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa brutal NFL reality in 2026
• 1 key decision could drastically impact Chiefs' 2026 season
• Mike Evans' agent drops huge Buccaneers future update

Ireland captain Paul Stirling says his side lacked a cutting edge in vital periods of the game as they lost by 20 runs to co-hosts Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup Group B opener.

Ireland dropped five catches and leaked late runs in Colombo as Sri Lanka made 163-6, and they were going well at 105-2 before collapsing to 143 all out.

"We thought they got 15-20 [runs] too many. At the start of the day we'd be happy chasing 160," said Stirling.

"When the match was on the line we weren't as clinical as we wanted to be. A little bit sloppy in the field which is disappointing.

"Experience told. The Sri Lanka team at the end of both innings, that was the difference really.

"Those 20 runs - they defended well at the back end. We had plenty of wickets in hand, thought we were in good positions the whole way through and they really upped the ante and put the squeeze on.

"You can sit back and reflect and pick those 20 runs out of anywhere. They were 20 runs better than us throughout the whole match."

Australia are Ireland's next opponents on Wednesday as they chase a top-two finish to secure a place in the Super 8s.

Spin dominated in Sunday's encounter at the R Premadasa Stadium and Stirling believes that could continue in the tournament.

"I think spin is going to be a challenge in this competition.

"Certainly, it wasn't coming onto the bat as much as it could have been. Spin is going to be dominating phases of this game."

Manchester City's Rayan Cherki thought he had scored one of the goals of the season with virtually the last kick of the match when firing home from the halfway line in Manchester City's dramatic 2-1 win against Liverpool on Sunday.

It sparked wild scenes as City's players and fans celebrated the icing on the cake in a win that kept alive its Premier League title hopes.

But those celebrations were cut short at Anfield as confusion spread around the stadium and referee Craig Pawson not only disallowed the goal - but then sent off Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai.

What happened?

With Liverpool chasing an equalizer deep into added time, goalkeeper Alisson went up the field for a corner.

City broke away and Cherki's shot from the halfway line was rolling toward Liverpool's empty net.

Szoboszlai and City striker Erling Haaland chased it down and tussled with each other on the way.

Szoboszlai grabbed hold of Haaland's jersey outside of the box, but the pair continued to run toward goal.

As they neared it, Haaland then grabbed Szoboszlai's shirt to prevent him from making a last-ditch clearance and the ball rolled over the line.

Celebrations cut short

Amid City's celebrations, Pawson was informed by the VAR to review the sideline monitor.

After watching the replay, the official then issued a red card to Szoboszlai for the initial foul, which was adjudged to have denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

“After review, there is a careless foul by Erling Haaland, that pulls the shirt of Dominic Szoboszlai. Prior to that, Szoboszlai commits a holding offense that denies an obvious goal scoring opportunity. The final decision is a direct free kick to Manchester City and a red card,” Pawson said.

Guardiola's reaction

City manager Pep Guardiola insisted afterward the goal should have stood.

“Come on referee, you give the goal,” he told Sky Sports, “common sense sometimes, right?”

He wasn't too annoyed, though.

“But anyway, like we won," Guardiola said, "so everything is fine.”

___

James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

___

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

Why Rams released Cooper Kupp, paving way for Seahawks to sign veteran WR originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

One of the bigger storylines from the 2025 offseason was the situation between the Los Angeles Rams and wide receiver Cooper Kupp.

After eight years and one Super Bowl win with the Rams, Kupp was released by Los Angeles, which sent him to free agency for the first time in his career.

Kupp then latched on with the Seattle Seahawks, giving the wideout an opportunity to return to his home state of Washington, where he was born and attended college at Eastern Washington.

Why Rams released Cooper Kupp

According to The Athletic's Michael Silver, the Rams encouraged Kupp to retire from the NFL before eventually releasing him, which clearly shows they didn't think he had much left in the tank.

"After the 2024 season, rather than trying to negotiate a salary reduction with the former All-Pro, the Rams had unceremoniously cut ties, urging him to retire," Silver reported.

Silver's report also notes that Kupp believed the Rams poisoned the well with some free-agent suitors by telling teams that "an accumulation of injuries had provoked a steep decline."

Injuries were no doubt an issue for Kupp in recent years, as he missed a combined 18 games over the previous three seasons.

But Kupp was still productive when on the field. He averaged 59.1 receiving yards per contest in 2024, which would have been good enough for a 1,000-yard season over a full 17 games.

Kupp went on to sign a three-year, $45 million deal with the Seahawks in free agency and while he didn't recapture his old form, he was a solid No. 2 option while playing behind an elite wide receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Kupp also managed to stay healthy, playing in 16 of 17 games.

Through one season in Seattle, Kupp has gotten the last laugh. Not only is his team playing in the Super Bowl while the Rams are at home, Kupp also beat his former team on the way there in the NFC Championship Game.

More NFL news

• Cardinals trade rumor could lead to deal with Steelers, Vikings or Browns
• Aaron Rodgers career update is great news for Pittsburgh Steelers
• 49ers trade rumor is crushing blow to possible deal with Vikings, Falcons
• Maxx Crosby isn't ruling out interesting career change down the line
• Travis Kelce rumor offers update on Chiefs superstar's future plans
• Maxx Crosby trade rumor is good news for Pats, Eagles, Cowboys

Jurgen Klopp's heroes set to leave

Of that outstanding title-winning group, around five remain. Mo Salah is arguably the headliner - but his future is firmly up in the air right now.

His form this season has been troubling and the Mirror now reports that he's to receive a monster £1.2m-per-week offer from the Saudi Pro League to essentially be the face of that league. That's an offer that will tempt everyone involved.

Andy Robertson is another who may not stick around. In fact, it feels as though he's very unlikely to be a part of Liverpool's squad next season.

The Scot's contract expires this summer and he very nearly joined Tottenham Hotspur in January. All that stopped that deal from happening was the lack of a replacement.

This weekend, Joan Laporta will officially cede the Barcelona presidency ahead of the elections taking place next month. He’s hoping to return to office, but before then, he has given one final interview before giving up his position.

Speaking to the club’s official media channels (via Diario AS), Laporta started by addressing the decision to hold the elections on the same day as their proposed La Liga fixture against Sevilla, which has caused controversy.

“We chose the date with Deco and Flick. We have also communicated to La Liga that we want the match against Sevilla to be played on March 15. The only problem would be the Champions League match, because if they turn us around on March 18, we prioritise sporting interests. I’m sure the members would understand because what they want is for the team to win. In any case, there will be other electoral venues, apart from the Camp Nou, to promote the elections.”

Image via FC Barcelona

Laporta reveals objectives for next presidency term

Laporta is confident of being re-elected by the Barcelona members, as he also opened up on the work he intends to do if he is allowed to return for another term.

“I face it with strength of spirit and a lot of desire to explain our project. We want to finish everything we have done. It’s exciting. Work has been done to reinstall the illusion in Barça. We are the only multi-sport club with 48 European Cups. We are living a very sweet moment thanks to the decisions we have made.

“We have had to refinance the debt and look for income as the levers. We are now in a process of economic recovery, as shown by the fact that we have had ordinary profits for two years in a row, which must be consolidated. The change from provisional stadium to Montjuïc was another great challenge. And we have done so with some red lines that we were not willing to cross: the ownership model and not lowering the quality of the squads. What I also want to make very clear is that the hardest part is over.”

Laporta: Superleague project couldn’t be implemented

Earlier in the weekend, Barcelona announced their exit from the infamous European Superleague project. Laporta has confirmed that the club took this approach in part due to their diminishing institutional relationship with arch rivals Real Madrid.

“It is a project that could not be implemented. It was only expenses and more expenses, there was no benefit. We didn’t feel comfortable with Real Madrid because the relationship with them is not good.”

Manchester United travel to the London Stadium to face West Ham United on Tuesday in a pivotal Premier League clash, with kick-off set for 8:15pm – and both sides have plenty on the line.

United head into the contest on a four-match league winning run since Michael Carrick took over, most recently beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 at Old Trafford.

Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes scored as the away side played most of the match with 10 men. This run has pushed Carrick’s side into fourth place with 44 points from 25 matches.

West Ham, however, are fighting at the other end and start the week in the relegation zone. The London club are 18th on 23 points after a 2-0 win away at Burnley on Saturday.

Tactical themes

The first question is how ambitious West Ham will be in possession. Nuno Espirito Santo’s teams are often comfortable defending in a compact shape before breaking quickly.

This approach can make the opening phase look rigid. The hosts will try to force play wide and protect the middle, especially if United attempt to build with Lisandro Martinez’s short passes from the back.

United’s recent improvement has come from Kobbie Mainoo controlling central zones for longer spells before accelerating once the first line is beaten. The Tottenham win featured patient circulation and a clear plan to attack the box quickly once space opened up.

For West Ham, the priority will be turning any United turnovers into immediate forward runs. Jarrod Bowen remains a key outlet, while Crysencio Summerville and Callum Wilson have also contributed goals this season.

Set pieces are another likely swing factor at the London Stadium. United have the delivery to create repeat pressure, while West Ham will value dead-ball relief when defending deep.

Match-ups to watch

Wide duels should be decisive. The Hammers will want Bowen and Summerville receiving early to isolate full-backs, while United will look for overlaps from Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot to pin them back and stop counters at source.

The midfield battle is equally important. If United keep their spacing tight around the ball with Casemiro, West Ham’s counter-attacking lanes narrow and the hosts are pushed into longer clearances rather than controlled exits.

At the other end, east London side will aim to make United defend their own box for spells. That threat grows if the home side win second balls and keep attacks alive after the first cross.

Selection calls

Mbeumo’s nine league goals and Fernandes’ creativity give Carrick a reliable spine for away games. Matheus Cunha also has six goals and offers a direct running threat between the lines.

West Ham will hope their weekend win becomes a platform rather than a one-off. The home crowd should respond if Nuno’s side start sharply and keep the scoreline tight into half-time.

For United, Tuesday’s trip is a chance to back up recent momentum away from Old Trafford. The tactical challenge will be staying patient if West Ham sink into a low block and try to turn the match into a cagey affair.

Summary – Key takeaways

• United’s central control against West Ham’s compact block will decide the rhythm. If Carrick’s side keep the ball moving through midfield without forcing it, the openings should come later on.
• Defensive transitions are the biggest away-game test for United. West Ham will look to spring Bowen and the wide runners the moment United lose possession.
• Wide duels are likely to shape the chances. Both sides want the ball delivered early into the channels, either to isolate full-backs or to create crossing angles.
• Second balls and territory will matter if West Ham go direct. Whoever wins the scraps after clearances and crosses will control where the game is played.
• Set pieces could swing it in a tight match at the London Stadium. That is especially true if West Ham spend long spells defending and need dead-ball relief, or if United turn sustained pressure into corners and free-kicks.

Featured image Justin Setterfield via Getty Images

online polls

---

The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

BORMIO, Italy (AP) — The Swiss are breaking up their gold-medal ski combination from worlds as the team event makes its Olympic debut on Monday at the Milan Cortina Games.

Four-time overall World Cup champion Marco Odermatt will unite with technical specialist Loic Meillard in an event where one racer competes in a downhill run and another in a slalom. Their two times are added up to determine the final results. It's one of several new events at these Olympics.

At the world championships last February, Franjo von Allmen, the Olympic downhill winner on Saturday, was paired with Meillard to take first place as part of a Swiss podium sweep. This time, von Allmen will be with Tanguy Nef. The other teams representing Switzerland feature Alexis Monney with Daniel Yule, and Stefan Rogentin with Matthias Iten.

Odermatt skipped the team combined at worlds. He's in search of his first medal at the Milan Cortina Games after taking fourth in the downhill. He won gold in the giant slalom at the 2022 Beijing Games.

Italy has a strong contingent, too. Giovanni Franzoni, the silver medalist in the downhill, will join with Alex Vinatzer, while bronze medalist Dominik Paris is with Tommaso Sala.

The Americans have one team: Kyle Negomir and River Radamus.

The women will compete in the team event Tuesday. It's almost certain that downhill winner Breezy Johnson will be paired with Mikaela Shiffrin. The duo won the event at the world championship. They finished ahead of the Swiss combination of Wendy Holdener and Lara Gut-Behrami, who's out with a knee injury.

___

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor has not had many tougher weeks in her managerial career.

Having fallen 12 points adrift of Women's Super League (WSL) leaders Manchester City, suffering back-to-back defeats in the process, pressure was at its highest.

She faced backlash from her own supporters, questions over her position at the club, and anything other than victory at Tottenham would have been a disaster.

The club rallied around the Frenchwoman, who led Chelsea to an unbeaten domestic treble in her debut season, by announcing she had signed a four-year contract extension 48 hours before their crucial game at Spurs.

That was the backing she needed and Bompastor could breathe a sigh of relief - and even celebrate animatedly - as her side got over the line with a 2-0 win.

"Even if we all know we can't control anything of that, we probably felt it was unfair to receive that amount of criticism," said Bompastor.

"I know who I am, I don't need people outside my environment to tell me who I am. I will always make sure I give my best. I know I have the competence, I know I have the knowledge, I know the women's game and I do my best for Chelsea.

"I'm not saying I'm the best one, I'm not saying I'm arrogant, but I know who I am. I always make sure I support my players in the best way possible.

"My job is to make sure they go on the pitch with clarity on what they need to achieve. No-one is going to disturb me on my confidence."

'We need to celebrate'

With the WSL title seemingly out of their grasp, Chelsea's priority is to ensure they clinch a top-three spot and qualification for next season's Champions League.

Rivals Arsenal and Manchester United did their part earlier in the weekend - so Chelsea had to respond.

Tottenham, who started the game a point behind Chelsea, came out of the blocks firing and could have taken the lead when Olivia Holdt hit the crossbar.

Nervy Chelsea were in a battle until Keira Walsh's goal just before half-time rocked Spurs and put the Blues in the driving seat. It was the "game-changer" they needed.

"When you want to perform at your best, you need to have the four elements of the performance align at the highest level - the tactical, mental, physical and technical aspects," said Bompastor.

"If one of them, or some of them, are not as high as possible, it affects the performance. We were a different team in the second half. That's who we want to be."

Bompastor's actions were deliberate on Sunday. After the warm-up, she walked out on to the pitch and high-fived every member of her squad.

She celebrated with assistant coach Meline Gerard, who lifted her up and spun her around in the dugout, when Walsh's goal put Chelsea 1-0 up - something she rarely does, but said afterwards she should do more.

Even Madonna's presence at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which was greeted with a rendition of her Vogue hit at half-time, did not distract Bompastor until the job was done and she was unaware the USA singer was there until told afterwards.

In normal circumstances, a victory at Tottenham would be seen as par for the course. But this was three points which gave Chelsea a significant boost.

"I will enjoy it. I'm not going to lie, it's been a difficult time. It's been tough so we need to celebrate with players and staff," said Bompastor.

"We know when we are at Chelsea we need to win every game and we want, as much as possible, to be in control. To do that, we need to get points to win.

"We still have a lot to play for. We know what we can improve."

'You need luck to get out of a hole'

Chelsea's performance still left much to be desired but Bompastor said she was "really proud" of how her players dealt with the unfamiliar criticism.

The Blues have won six successive domestic titles so most in the squad have never experienced a season without silverware.

They have already booked their place in the Women's League Cup final, have a fifth-round FA Cup tie to play and are in the Champions League quarter-finals.

If they win a European crown - the one trophy that has eluded them - their WSL blip will be quickly forgotten.

But experienced midfielder Erin Cuthbert said the overall feeling was "relief" after the Spurs victory - and this was unknown territory for the serial winners.

"It's been a tough couple of weeks, an experience that some of us haven't been used to. Over the 10 years I've been here, we've had moments like this," Cuthbert told BBC Two.

"The league's getting better and we've played against two top teams who probably beat us quite convincingly. It was back to the drawing board this week.

"We didn't want to be a Chelsea team who bow down game after game. That's not what we're about, that's not what we're built upon.

"It was a difficult first 20 minutes. We got quite lucky to be honest. But you're going to need a bit of luck to get out of a hole."

Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie are back for another season of the Women's Football Weekly podcast. New episodes drop every Tuesday on BBC Sounds, plus find interviews and extra content from the Women's Super League and beyond on the Women's Football Weekly feed

• Get the latest WSL news on our dedicated page

Snowboarding sensation Mia Brookes - one of Great Britain's most exciting medal prospects at the Winter Olympics - shrugged off an early hiccup to seal her spot in the big air final.

Despite overcooking the landing on her opening run, Brookes cut her usual relaxed figure as she scored a combined 167 points from her two attempts, to qualify in third place.

Although only 19 years old, an Olympic medal is the only accolade missing from Brookes' collection, having already won World Championship and double X Games gold - both in her preferred slopestyle.

Should Brookes win a medal of any colour in Monday's final (18:30 GMT), she would become Britain's youngest Winter Olympic medallist for 78 years.

"I got it down, but it was a pretty scary one," she told BBC Sport.

"Second run, I was like 'I've got to land this one or else, four years until the next one'."

Asked how it felt to reach her first Olympic final, she said: "I think I'm more relieved that I landed the tricks. It's pretty sick.

"I definitely have got more to give, but I don't know if this is the jump for it."

Brookes was too young to compete at the last Winter Olympics, four years ago, but she has hit her sport's greatest heights since.

In 2023, aged just 16, she became snowboarding's youngest world champion with her slopestyle gold in Georgia, a victory sealed by landing the first Cab 1440 double grab in a women's event.

Last month she won her second title at the X Games, the invitation-only holy grail of action sports.

"They see her as a legit one of the best to ever do it," said BBC Sport commentator Tim Warwood before the Games. "She's a purist's dream.

"When she's strapped into a snowboard, you can tell that's what she was put on this planet to do."

Brookes' team-mate Maisie Hill, also making her Olympic debut, placed 29th to miss out on the final.

But while Hill's big air campaign may be over, she and Brookes will return for the slopestyle from 16 February.

Just becoming an Olympian marks an incredible achievement for 24-year-old Hill, after she nearly died in a training crash three years ago.

She broke multiple bones, including her spine and pelvis, and suffered a grade three laceration in her liver that caused heavy blood loss after the crash into a wall of ice during a training session in Switzerland in January 2023.

GB's curlers beat hosts Italy to top standings

Bruce Mouat had hoped to create "some drama in the stands", and he and Jen Dodds did just that by beating hosts and defending mixed doubles curling Olympic champions Italy 9-6 to silence the Cortina Curling Stadium.

A 7-6 defeat by Switzerland earlier on Sunday was Team GB's first loss after a stellar start to the competition, with seven successive wins, sealed their own progress to the last four with two games to spare, and the Scottish pair were keen to right that wrong.

They also wanted to further stamp their authority on the competition by topping the round-robin table to ensure they have the advantage of the hammer - the last stone - in Monday's semi-final, which will be against either the Italians or Sweden.

That will be live on the BBC at 18:05 GMT, with the British pair's opponents being confirmed after the final round-robin matches earlier on Monday.

"We are absolutely where we want to be and now we rest and recover before the semi-final," Dodds told BBC Sport.

• Winter Olympics: GB in curling action, plus mixed biathlon medals - watch
• Day-by-day guide to the Winter Olympics
• Full schedule including times of medal events

The Italians were not short of motivation either for the tussle with the GB pair, with their qualification not yet secure, and they started strongly with two in the first end.

However, a scrappy second by Amos Mosaner and Stefania Constantini - on the ice where she learned the game as a child - allowed Dodds to take three and quieten the boisterous crowd.

The Italians were in good shape in the third, but only took one, and it was a similar situation for GB in the fourth, to give them the lead at the interval.

However, Mosaner botched his final throw in the fifth in what proved a decisive moment. Constantini could only partially retrieve the situation, limiting GB to one, but that steal allowed Mouat and Dodds to open a 5-3 lead.

Italy were not done, causing the noise to come rolling down the wooden bleachers of the quirky venue by compiling a superb sixth end to take three and go back in front.

But Mouat and Dodds kept their shape, taking three in the seventh and then stealing another in the final end to close out victory.

The Italians were crestfallen but, within moments, their own place in the last four was confirmed by results on the other sheets.

"The crowd was amazing. We knew it would almost be like a third player for them and to come out with a win was extra special," Dodds added.

Italy play the United States on Monday and if they win, the two teams will meet again in the semi-final, with Sweden facing Mouat and Dodds. If the Italians lose, they then take on the British pair with Sweden playing the US.

Klaebo wins first of potential six golds

Norway's Johannes Hosflot Klaebo clinched the first of a potential six gold medals at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in the 10km+10km skiathlon.

It takes the 29-year-old's career Olympic gold tally to six, just two behind the all-time winter record.

That is held by the Norwegian trio of biathlete Ole Einar Bjorndalen and cross country skiers Bjorn Daehlie and Marit Bjorgen, who are all retired.

Team GB's Andrew Musgrave was 10th in his fifth Games - just short of his best Olympic finish of seventh in 2018 - with fellow Briton Joe Davis 16th.

"I'm not going to lie, I'm a bit disappointed," Musgrave told BBC Sport after the race.

"I felt like it was so fast on the first section and straight away I was struggling - it was hot and I was overheating.

"My chances of a good finish were over after the first lap."

Mathis Desloges took silver after being spared punishment for cutting a corner on the course, earning France their first medal, with Norway's Martin Lowstrom Nyenget third.

What Ilia Malinin needs to do in men's free skate to win figure skating team gold medal for U.S. originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

United States figure skating superstar Ilia Malinin gets his first real pressure-packed moment on Sunday at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

It's the team competition, and the U.S. and Japan enter the final round tied at 59 points. Malinin and Japan's Shun Sato will compete to break the tie.

Here's how that will work.

MORE: Amber Glenn has the most surprising interest at the Olympics

What does Ilia Malinin need to do?

Malinin needs to outscore Japan's Shun Sato to claim the team gold medal for the United States.

No other team is close enough in points to gain team points that would move back up the standings.

Points are awarded in the team standings based on individual finishes, and through all the other portions of the team competition, the U.S. and Japan are tied.

That means it really is just about Malinin and Sato's scores.

USA-Japan figure skating going down to the wire straight into the Super Bowl is an incredible Sports Day

— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) February 8, 2026

MORE: Breezy Johnson won a gold medal for the U.S., and then she broke it

Malinin will go second-to-last in the order. He'll put up a total that Sato will know he has to beat.

The 21-year old Malinin actually finished second on Saturday in the short program portion of this competition, but that was to a different Japanese competitor. This will be his first time facing off with Sato at these Games.

Whoever gets the better of the other will earn a gold medal.

More Olympics news:

• Why Eileen Gu competes for China, not U.S.
• NBC's drone cameras have everyone's attention
• The Winter Olympics mascots are adorable
• The Olympics reason Ilia Malinin doesn't have a girlfriend
• This is what Russia's Olympic hockey roster would've looked like
• How Laila Edwards is making U.S. women's hockey history

Man City vs. Liverpool history, head to head: Records, recent results of a heated Premier League rivalry originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Manchester City and Liverpool have been the dominant clubs in the Premier League over the past 10 years. 

Under managers Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, both sides achieved success and lifted a number of titles, and Arne Slot's early work on Merseyside suggests this modern rivalry could well continue for at least a few more years.

The two clubs have been facing off for over a century, but it's a fixture that's become even more significant in recent seasons. 

Arsenal had a healthy lead in the Premier League title race ahead of the latest instalment at Anfield, where reigning champions Liverpool could effectively have ended City's interest in the crown they won four times in succession between 2020/21 and 2023/24.

As it turned out, what looked like being a significant win for Liverpool turned into a famous victory for City, complete with one of the stranger VAR red-card incidents you're likely to see.

But which team enjoys a better record against the other? The Sporting News takes a deeper look.

MORE: Premier League schedule for 2024/25 | Latest Premier League top scorer rankings

Man City vs. Liverpool history, head to head

Liverpool boast a much better head-to-head record than Manchester City. 

The Reds have enjoyed long patches of dominance in this fixture and won more games than City in every competition in which they've faced off, except for the FA Community Shield. 

Competition	Games	Man City wins	Liverpool wins	Draws
Premier League	58	14	23	21
First Division	118	34	59	25
FA Cup	8	2	4	2
EFL Cup	8	2	3	3
Champions League	2	0	2	0
FA Community Shield	2	0	1	1
Second Division	4	0	3	1
TOTAL	200	52	95	53

Man City vs. Liverpool recent results

The games have been much more tightly contested during the modern era, despite Klopp enjoying a better record in head-to-head contests against Guardiola than any other elite coach.

In December 2022, City beat Liverpool 3-2 in the Carabao Cup, then thrashed them 4-1 in a Premier League meeting in April. There was nothing to choose between the sides in 2024/25 as they shared a pair of 1-1 draws before City again claimed glory in the title race.

Both matches in the 2024/25 league season ended in 2-0 wins for Liverpool. City romped to a 3-0 victory over the Reds in the first meeting of 2025/26, marking Guardiola's 1,000th game as a manager in style. Their 2-1 win at Anfield on February 8 was their first in front of a crowd at Liverpool's home since 2003.

Last 10 matches between Man City & Liverpool

Competition	Date	Result
Premier League	Feb. 8, 2026	Liverpool 1-2 Man City
Premier League	Nov. 9, 2025	Man City 3-0 Liverpool
Premier League	Feb. 23, 2025	Man City 0-2 Liverpool
Premier League	Dec. 1, 2024	Liverpool2-0 Man City
Premier League	Mar. 10, 2024	Liverpool 1-1 Man City
Premier League	Nov. 25, 2023	Man City 1-1 Liverpool
Premier League	Apr. 1, 2023	Man City4-1 Liverpool
EFL Cup	Dec. 22, 2022	Man City3-2 Liverpool
Premier League	Oct. 16, 2022	Liverpool1-0 Man City
FA Community Shield	Jul. 30, 2022	Liverpool3-1 Man City

Do Man City and Liverpool have a rivalry?

While not traditional rivals like Manchester United and Liverpool, this fixture has grown in significance over the past decade. 

Man City's rise as title contenders has seen their games with the Reds in the Premier League take on extra importance. 

In 2018/19, Man City edged Liverpool to the Premier League title by a single point, with the Reds going on to become league champions the following season as the two teams swapped positions on the table. 

The 2021/22 season was another close one between these clubs as City once again claimed the title after accruing one more point than Liverpool.

In 2023/24, after their draw in November, the two were separated by just a point at the top of the Premier League standings. After the 1-1 scoreline was repeated at Anfield on March 10, the one-point gap remained, albeit with Arsenal top of the table above Liverpool on goal difference and City poised in third. Liverpool faded from the running over the closing weeks and it was the Gunners' turn to be pipped on the final day as Guardiola's men won a record-breaking fourth consecutive league title.

Liverpool's victory on December 1 put them 11 points ahead of the champions in the standings, just as their 2-0 win at the Etihad Stadium did in February. By that stage, their second title in the Premier League era looked a foregone conclusion.

When the teams met again in November 2025, Slot's team looked a shadow of their best. City, meanwhile, showed they would likely be Arsenal's biggest contenders once more. The second meeting was better contested, but Liverpool came up short once more.

Wizards GM Will Dawkins said team officials have been in contact with D'Angelo Russell’s representation and that Russell will not report to Washington “as we try to figure out what’s best for him and us and our future.” Russell has a player option for next season worth $6 million, but Dawkins’ comment appeared to indicate that the Wizards and Russell could reach a buyout agreement.

New York Times

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: D'Angelo Russell won't report to Wizards

Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone held himself responsible for the 1-0 home defeat to Real Betis in La Liga on Sunday as he addressed the media post-match.

“The team is suffering from this situation,” Simeone analysed, as he pinned the defeat on the team’s struggles against low blocks. “It has happened to us not only today, but in many games when we face opponents who sit deep.

“We lack clarity for the team, it is our fault as the coaching staff that we cannot improve this,” he continued. “But we will work to give the team the tools so that the players can solve it individually.”

Simeone on the defeat

“The opposition played better than us, defended very well, and didn’t allow us to create many chances except for those by Julián and Lookman in the first half. They defended well, counterattacked, worked as a team and took advantage of the spaces. We congratulate the opposition.”

Simeone on the disallowed goal

“I’m not interested in that situation. The match wasn’t good, and I don’t think (the VAR intervention) was decisive. If we had drawn, we would be talking about the match in the same way. Today it went against us, maybe tomorrow it will go in our favour.”

🗣️ "El campo no está bien. Se nos exige que juguemos a un gran nivel y necesitamos un césped de nivel".

Koke, tras la derrota frente al Betis.

🎙️ @Rsierraplus#LALIGAEASPORTS#LaCasaDelFútbolpic.twitter.com/AT0wj0tDAm

— Movistar Plus+ Deportes (@MPlusDeportes) February 8, 2026

Simeone on players complaining about the pitch

“I’m not a footballer. They’re the ones playing and they’re probably the ones who can best interpret this. All my life I’ve played on good, normal, average pitches… We don’t stop winning because of the state of the pitch.”

Simeone on Julián Alvarez

“I don’t think it’s appropriate to continue commenting on Julián. We trust him, he’s very important, the best we have. Let’s hope he gives us more in the important moments ahead.”

Simeone on being 13 points behind the leaders

“They’re better than us.”

Simeone on the fans, who he asked for more from pre-game

“Extraordinary. The best thing about today’s match was our fans.”

Simeone on what was missing

“We couldn’t break down a very organised, disciplined defence. They worked very well defensively.”

Simeone on what could have been better

“I don’t think it was a lack of will, work or running. We lacked clarity in finding a way to break down a defence like Betis’, who worked very well.”

Simeone on the attack

“We didn’t have any scoring opportunities, plain and simple. The opponent defended very well, counterattacked, and we didn’t create any opportunities or play clearly in the final stretch. Congratulations to the opponent, and we’ll keep working.”

Dawkins was also asked how he envisions Trae Young and Anthony Davis meshing with each other. “Trae probably has never played with a player to the level of Anthony Davis, while also leading the league in assists and assist percentage,” Dawkins said. “ … So you add a player like (Davis) at the rim, in pick-and-roll and (in a) two-man game, that opens it up. But again, (having) Anthony Davis (and) surrounding him with the level of shooters that we have … I think the floor is going to be spread. We’re going to have a lot of people who can make decisions, and that’s how we want to play basketball. So it won’t be one person dominating the ball, and that’s not what we want. So again, adding these guys positionally made a lot of sense.”

New York Times

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Dawkins was also asked how he envisions Trae Young and …

James L. Edwards III: Mike Brown said going into the game he planned on playing Jose Alvarado 22-23 minutes. He played 25. “He gives us a different look because he’s so quick with the ball.”

bsky.app

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Mike Brown said going into the game he planned on …

Anthony Chiang: Norman Powell (lower back tightness) will not return to tonight's game. Heat also plays tomorrow vs. Jazz in Miami.

Twitter

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: All-Star Norman Powell exits game against Wizards

Scott Agness: Raptors starting forward Collin Murray-Boyles has been ruled out for the game with a left thumb sprain. Meanwhile, Trayce Jackson-Davis has made his Raptors debut

Twitter

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Collin Murray-Boyles has been ruled out for the game …

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — The U.S. may have only one sled in an Olympic two-man bobsled competition for the first time in the nearly century-long history of the event, after the sport's governing body denied an appeal to give American driver Kris Horn a spot in that event at the Milan Cortina Games.

Horn finished only four two-man races this season, and International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation rules required five finishes for Olympic eligibility. Horn and USA Bobsled appealed on several points, including how the World Cup schedule had one fewer race this year than many other Olympic seasons and how his training schedule before a race weekend in Latvia this season was limited compared to other pilots.

But the IBSF's appeals tribunal ruled last week that the five-race minimum cannot be ignored even though USA Bobsled earned two spots in the two-man Olympic field. Those spots are given to nations, not individual drivers. And that meant Horn can't qualify.

“The rules are clear,” the appeals tribunal said in the ruling, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press.

Horn will compete in the four-man event at the Olympics, as will USA-1 pilot Frank Del Duca — one of the U.S. flag bearers for the opening ceremony of these Milan Cortina Games. But Del Duca, for now, appears to be the only American pilot in the two-man race.

The U.S. has won seven Olympic medals in the two-man event: gold and bronze in 1932, gold and bronze again in 1936, bronze in 1948, silver in 1952 and, most recently, a silver by Steven Holcomb and Steven Langton at the Sochi Games in 2014.

The Americans have been part of all 21 previous Olympic two-man races, with two sleds in those fields on 17 occasions and three sleds four other times.

Horn earned some notoriety last month when he and his team had issues loading into their four-man sled for a run at St. Moritz, Switzerland. Horn's three push athletes unsuccessfully tried to get in, leaving him to drive down the track himself and then needing to scurry backward after crossing the finish to pull the brakes and avoid what could have been a tragic crash.

___

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Olympic figure skater Amber Glenn leaves social media following 'threats' originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Team USA figure skater Amber Glenn has stepped away from social media after receiving what she described as a “scary amount” of hate and threats tied to comments she made about the current political climate.

According to People, Glenn, 26, addressed the situation over the weekend in a message shared on her Instagram Stories, explaining that the reaction followed remarks she gave during a recent media availability ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. During that press conference on Feb. 4, Glenn was asked directly about President Donald Trump and how his policies have affected the LGBTQ community.

MORE: Tom Brady re-ignites Alix Earle dating rumors with Super Bowl appearance

The Olympic skater did not shy away from the question, telling reporters it has been “a hard time” for LGBTQ individuals in the United States. She added that she felt a responsibility to speak honestly when asked, especially given the platform that comes with representing Team USA on the world stage.

Days later, Glenn said the online response went far beyond mere disagreement.

“When I chose to utilize one of the amazing things about the United States of America (freedom of speech) to convey how I feel as an athlete competing for Team USA in a troubling time for many Americans, I am now receiving a scary amount of hate/threats for simply using my voice,” Glenn wrote.

While she acknowledged expecting some backlash, Glenn said the volume and intensity of the messages were still disappointing. With major competitions approaching, she decided to temporarily limit her online presence for her own well-being.

“I will be limiting my time on social media for now,” she wrote, adding that stepping back does not mean backing down. “I will never stop using my voice for what I believe in.”

Glenn also addressed critics who argue that athletes should avoid political conversations altogether.

MORE: You can now adopt a dog during the Puppy Bowl—here's how

“I know a lot of people will say, ‘You’re just an athlete, stick to your job and shut up about politics,’” she said during the press conference. “But politics affects us all. It affects our everyday lives, and that’s something I won’t just be quiet about.”

Oregon played their fifth game of the weekend today against Southeastern Louisiana. SLU was an NCAA tournament participant in last season’s tournament and was eliminated in the LSU regional.

The Ducks were looking for a get-right game before heading to Stanford next weekend. Elise Sokolsky started in the circle, and threw for three innings, giving up no runs on two hits with 2 BB and 2 Ks.

Kaylynn Jones drives in a pair with an RBI single!

E1 | Ducks 2, Lions 0#GoDucks | #Version♾️ pic.twitter.com/eux054ZPO2

— Oregon Softball (@OregonSB) February 8, 2026

Oregon got on the board in the bottom of the first inning, with Kaylynn Jones driving in two runs with a single to left center, and the Ducks were up 2-0. Oregon’s bats then dried up for the rest of the game; they did not get a single hit in the last three innings against three different SLU pitchers.

Taylour Spencer came in the game in the fourth inning and allowed one hit and no runs. After walking her first batter in the fifth inning, Oregon brought in Lyndsey Grein to hold on to the lead and save the game.

It did not go well.

Grein’s outing was a complete disaster. She gave up a single, and then the two base runners advanced on a wild pitch. The next SLU batter hit in a run off a single and then stole second base, putting runners on second and third. The runners came home when Grein gave up a triple, and SLU was up 3-2.

Grein struck out the next batter, but then a wild pitch scored another Lion. That was it for Grein’s day, and Maddie Milhorn took the circle. Milhorn pitched very well over 2.1 innings, allowed no runs off one hit with one BB, and struck out the last three hitters she faced. She set the Ducks up to get some hits and get back into the game.

The hits never came, and Oregon went down 4-2 in the upset.

A disappointing loss completed what was ultimately a disappointing opening weekend for Oregon softball. Defense fumbled on Friday. The Ducks could not generate runs against Tennessee on Saturday. Then today, Oregon suffered a pitching breakdown.

We did learn something about the pitching room this weekend, and for the most part it’s positive, in spite of the losses. Taylour Spencer seems to have healed from last year’s health problems; and while it is early, she is throwing well.

Maddie Milhorn strikes out the side in the top of the seventh.

M7 | Lions 4, Ducks 2#GoDucks | #Version♾️ pic.twitter.com/taz1ASTWTg

— Oregon Softball (@OregonSB) February 8, 2026

Middle Milhorn had an opportunity to show her stuff, and looked good every time she was in the circle. It’s still too early to make definitive declarations, but she is not looking like a weak link on the pitching roster.

There are concerns about Oregon’s batting. It’s not so much about the batting itself, because the Ducks have the bats. What appears to be painfully obvious is that a lot of Oregon’s offense last year received a jump start, game after game, from Kai Luschar – specifically, Luschar’s ability to get on base and then immediately get in scoring position with steals. The Ducks don’t have that this season, and it’s already beginning to show.

The sky is not falling (yet), and it’s too early in the season to adopt a gloom-and-doom attitude about Version 8. This is a very different team from last season, and they have some bugs to work out, and some time to work out those bugs. That will be Oregon softball’s task this coming weekend, ahead of this weekend’s Cardinal Classic in Palo Alto.

The Cincinnati Bengals won’t have many representatives via former players and coaches when the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots collide in Super Bowl LX. 

Former Bengals players have been all over the news leading up to the big game this year. Germaine Pratt reunited with Lou Anarumo. DJ Reader is a notable free agent. So is Mike Hilton. Logan Wilson landed with the Cowboys and had an odd time. It goes on and on. 

But Sunday’s Super Bowl? Just a few former Bengals of note: 

• Patriots OL Ben Brown
• Seahawks LB coach Josh Bynes
• Patriots DL Eric Gregory

RELATED: Bengals sound ready to leave comfort zone, do contract extension early

Brown was one of those hyped undrafted free agents for fans back in 2022 who appeared to have a possible future as a key depth piece, if not starter. An untimely injury ruined that, but he’s had a few starts in New England since. 

Bynes briefly joined the Bengals back in 2020 via free agency, logging a career-high 99 tackles over 16 games before moving on to Carolina. 

Gregory, a Bengals undrafted free agent this year out of Arkansas, initially made the Bengals’ 53-man roster before getting waived on August 28 in general roster shuffling. A day later, the Patriots claimed him on waivers.

RELATED: Bengals cap space outlook changes with NFL salary cap update

This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals in the Super Bowl: A few former names to know in Super Bowl LX

The New England Patriots held a team meeting on the morning of Super Bowl LX, and head coach Mike Vrabel left his players with a simple three-word message.

Belief. Identity. Rage.

According to a report by Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Vrabel drew a reference to the Patriots’ first Super Bowl win that capped off the 2001 season. Playing the U2 song Beautiful Day, which was performed during that year’s halftime show, he reminded his players that nobody gave New England a shot against the high-flying “Greatest Show on Turf” Rams that day.

Of course, the Patriots ended up winning 20-17 in one of the biggest upsets in NFL history. It was the franchise’s first championship, and Vrabel was part of it.

Twenty-four years, five more Super Bowl wins and a full-on rebuild later, the Vrabel-led Patriots are on the doorstep of adding to the team’s trophy case. To do so, however, it will have to overcome a Seattle Seahawks team that is entering the Super Bowl as 4.5-point favorties.

While not the same as the Rams being favored by two touchdowns, Vrabel’s reference still works. The 2001 team had to overcome long odds to secure a championship, and his 2025 team will have to do the same.

“I’ve always tried to use everything that I’ve been presented with through my career from the time that I started playing football,” Vrabel said earlier this week when asked about parallels between those two particular teams.

“We always talk about how you have to continue to improve as the season goes along to give yourself a chance to make the tournament, be in the playoffs and ultimately get to where we are today. But I don’t really draw too many parallels. I don’t know what happened in 2000. I wasn’t there. I don’t know what happened in 2024. I wasn’t here. So, I just try to focus on where I’m at, being present and doing what I feel like is best for the football team, whether that was as a player or now as a coach.”

Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

No. 1 SPIRE Academy, No. 3 Brewster Academy bounce back from Friday losses with key wins on Saturday originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The No. 1 SPIRE Academy National [Geneva, OH] and No. 3 Brewster Academy National [Wolfeboro, NH] Bobcats both bounced back from losses against Top 25 opponents on Friday with wins on Saturday against unranked foes.

For Brewster Academy, it was another close call with the Bobcats surviving a 66-63 scrap at the LuHi Invitational against the host Long Island Lutheran [Brookville, NY] Crusaders. Three of the last six games for Brewster Academy have ended in single-basket margins, and while the Bobcats have won all of those games, they've all come against unranked opponents. One of those six games also resulted in a 62-51 loss on Friday to the No. 11 Wasatch Academy [Mt. Pleasant, UT] Tigers.

SPIRE Academy, meanwhile, returned to action following their surprisingly lopsided 66-52 loss to the No. 14 Montverde [FL] Academy Eagles on Friday. They cruised in a 64-45 win over The St. James Performance Academy [Springfield, VA] Strivers.

The only surprise on Saturday involving teams currently ranked in The Sporting News High School Boys Basketball Top 25 was the Northview [Grand Rapids, MI] Wildcats' 63-46 romp past the previously undefeated No. 21 East Lansing [MI] Trojans. That will knock the Trojans from the Top 25 when the latest rankings are released here on Tuesday.

The complete schedule and results for the nation's Top 25 teams from the current week are listed below.

THIS WEEK'S TOP HIGH SCHOOL EVENTS

• Check out the official LuHi Invitational website for more information
• Check out the official Compass Classic website for more information
• Check out the official Grind Session DC website for more information

STREAMING INFO

• Stream High School Boys Basketball games on the NFHS Network
• Stream EYBL Boys Basketball games on YouTube's League Ready channel

Top 25 schedule for the week of February 3-9

Saturday, February 7

Schedule

• No. 4 Link Academy [Branson, MO] Lions (19-2) vs. Life Prep [Park City, KS] Fire (23-6)

Results

• No. 1 SPIRE Academy National [Geneva, OH] 64 (14-1), The St. James Performance Academy [Springfield, VA] Strivers 45 (11-9)
• No. 3 Brewster Academy National [Wolfeboro, NH] 66 (24-3) vs. Long Island Lutheran [Brookville, NY] Crusaders 63 (8-10)
• No. 6 Calvary Christian Academy [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Eagles 80 (19-1), Saint Andrew's [Boca Raton, FL] Scots 66 (22-4)
• No. 7 Prolific Prep [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Crew 58 (26-3), IMG Academy [Bradenton, FL] Ascenders 56 (17-10)
• No. 8 Paul VI [Chantilly, VA] Panthers 79 (22-2), Bishop McNamara [Forestville, MD] Mustangs 58 (9-16)
• No. 11 Wasatch Academy [Mt. Pleasant, UT] Tigers 58 (19-4), Christ School [Arden, NC] Greenies 43 (19-6)
• No. 13 CIA-Bella Vista [Phoenix, AZ] Bears 73 (15-3), Layton [UT Christian Academy Eagles 36 (19-4)
• No. 14 Montverde [FL] Academy Eagles 84 (16-5) vs. Boyd-Buchanan [Chattanooga, TN] Buccaneers 55 (17-11)
• No. 16 Archbishop Stepinac [White Plains, NY] Crusaders 78 (19-4) vs. Mt. St. Michael Academy [Bronx, NY] Mountaineers 62 (9-12)
• No. 17 Bartlett [TN] Panthers 72 (21-4), Bolingbrook [IL] Raiders 42 (19-7)
• No. 18 Seven Lakes [Katy, TX] Spartans 89 (31-0), Mayde Creek [Houston, TX] Rams 58 (7-24)
• Northview [Grand Rapids, MI] Wildcats 63 (13-4), No. 21 East Lansing [MI] Trojans 46 (17-1)

Sunday, February 8

• No. 2 AZ Compass Prep [Chandler, AZ] Dragons (16-1) vs. Layton [UT] Christian Academy Eagles (19-4)
• No. 23 St. Frances Academy [Baltimore, MD] Panthers (26-6) 77, Our Lady of Mount Carmel [Baltimore, MD] Cougars 67 (20-9)

Monday, February 9

• No. 8 Paul VI [Chantilly, VA] Panthers (21-2) vs. Our Lady of Good Counsel [Olney, MD] Falcons (14-7)

Previous results

Friday, February 6

• No. 2 AZ Compass Prep [Chandler, AZ] Dragons 64 (16-1), ABC Prep 33
• No. 10 Principia [St. Louis, MO] Panthers 95 (19-2) vs. Whitfield [St. Louis, MO] Warriors 58 (8-7)
• No. 11 Wasatch Academy [Mt. Pleasant, UT] Tigers 62 (18-4), No. 3 Brewster Academy National [Wolfeboro, NH] Bobcats 51 (23-3)
• No. 14 Montverde [FL] Academy Eagles 66 (15-5), No. 1 SPIRE Academy National [Geneva, OH] 52 (13-1)
• No. 15 Sunnyslope [Phoenix, AZ] Vikings 67 (22-1), Brophy College Prep [Phoenix, AZ] Broncos 54 (17-6)
• No. 16 Archbishop Stepinac [White Plains, NY] Crusaders 76 (18-4), Iona Prep [New Rochelle, NY] Gaels 49 (14-8)
• No. 17 Bartlett [TN] Panthers 73 (20-4), Arlington [TN] Tigers 50 (17-8)
• No. 19 Webb [Knoxville, TN] Spartans 71 (26-2), Knoxville [TN] Catholic Fighting Irish 55 (18-5)
• No. 21 East Lansing [MI] Trojans 81 (17-0), Waverly [Lansing, MI] Warriors 64 (12-4)
• No. 22 Wisconsin Lutheran [Milwaukee, WI] Vikings 74 (19-0), Waukesha [WI] South Blackshirts 53 (5-11)
• No. 25 Benet Academy [Lisle, IL] Redwings 59 (26-1), Niles [IL] Notre Dame Dons 36 (13-11)

Thursday, February 5

• No. 4 Link Academy [Branson, MO] Lions 84 (19-2), South Central Prep 48
• No. 6 Calvary Christian Academy [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Eagles 69 (18-1), Coral Springs [FL] Charter Panthers 20 (9-14)
• No. 11 Wasatch Academy [Mt. Pleasant, UT] Tigers 64 (17-4), Long Island Lutheran [Brookville, NY] Crusaders 52 (7-9)
• Layton [UT Christian Academy Eagles 63 (19-3), No. 12 Dream City Christian National [Glendale, AZ] Eagles 46 (7-3)
• No. 20 Fishers [IN] Tigers 74 (19-0), Westfield [IN] Shamrocks 72 (9-7)

Wednesday, February 4

• No. 10 Principia [St. Louis, MO] Panthers 75 (17-2), Lutheran North [St. Louis, MO] Crusaders 43 (9-7)
• No. 18 Seven Lakes [Katy, TX] Spartans 86 (30-0) vs. Tompkins [Katy, TX] Falcons 49 (20-8)

Tuesday, February 3

• No. 3 Brewster Academy National [Wolfeboro, NH] 76 (23-2), Vermont Academy [Saxtons River, VT] Wildcats 74 (3-4)
• No. 8 Paul VI [Chantilly, VA] Panthers 67 (21-2), DeMatha [Hyattsville, MD] Stags 50 (17-6)
• No. 10 Principia [St. Louis, MO] Panthers 82 (16-2), Hickman [Columbia, MO] Kewpies 49 (8-9)
• No. 15 Sunnyslope [Phoenix, AZ] Vikings 88 (21-1), Corona del Sol [Tempe, AZ] Aztecs 32 (7-16)
• No. 16 Archbishop Stepinac [White Plains, NY] Crusaders 65 (17-4), St. Raymond Boys [Bronx, NY] Ravens 53 (7-12)
• No. 19 Webb [Knoxville, TN] Spartans 63 (25-2), Baylor [Chattanooga, TN] Red Raiders 41 (13-8)
• No. 22 Wisconsin Lutheran [Milwaukee, WI] Vikings 95 (18-0), Homestead [Mequon, WI] Highlanders 68 (10-8)

MORE HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

• The latest SN High School Girls Basketball Top 25
• Florida's FHSAA playoffs are under way
• McDonald's All-American game rosters are revealed
• Top 25 High School Boys Basketball results for the week ending February 2

Much to the surprise of the WWE Universe, Paul Heyman, and Bron Breakker himself, a masked figure attacked Breakker as he headed to the ring as the second entrant for the 2026 Men's Royal Rumble match. Even more shocking was the quick elimination that followed, with former NXT Champion Oba Femi dumping Breakker to the floor in a mere 10 seconds.

In the eyes of WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray, one of Breakker's own allies may be involved in his Royal Rumble demise. "Bron comes to the ring. He gets jumped by the masked man. He gets laid out and then he gets eliminated by Oba," Ray said on "Busted Open Radio". "Who were the four last guys in the ring? [Roman Reigns, GUNTHER, Randy Orton, and Logan Paul]. Logan Paul made it to the end. Does Logan Paul seem like the kind of personality, despite what we've seen from him so far, that wants to share the spotlight with anybody else? I think Logan Paul has something to do with the screwing over of Bron Breakker, thus getting him to the final four."

Ahead of the January 31 premium live event, "WWE Raw" General Manager Adam Pearce revealed that all four wrestlers in The Vision — Breakker, Logan Paul, Bronson Reed, and Austin Theory — would compete in the Men's Royal Rumble. Recognizing the numbers advantage they would have in the match, Paul then suggested they work together as a unit to ensure that one of them, specifically Breakker, emerged as the winner.

With Breakker being eliminated early, the other three members still attempted to unite their efforts in the Royal Rumble, though Reed and Theory's eliminations at the hands of LA Knight cut that short. Meanwhile, as Ray pointed out, "The Maverick" survived for several more minutes until Reigns eliminated him when the match reached its last four names.

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

Read more: These Wrestlers Ruined Their Career In A Matter Of Seconds

Don't miss any of the major wrestling headlines. Sign up to our free newsletter for the biggest stories, sent straight to your inbox. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google.

Read the original article on Wrestling Inc.

Jordon Hudson’s ‘Orchids of Asia’ tee shades Robert Kraft in Bill Belichick saga before Super Bowl 60 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Jordon Hudson is making headlines again.

This time with a fashion choice that appeared to take a massive shot at Robert Kraft before Super Bowl 60.

The 24-year-old girlfriend of Bill Belichick, was photographed Saturday in Chapel Hill before the UNC-Duke basketball game wearing a T-shirt from Orchids of Asia Day Spa, the Jupiter, Florida massage parlor connected to Robert Kraft. 

The incident remains one of the most embarrassing public moments of the billionaire owner’s tenure. The infamous strip mall spa has permanently closed since Kraft's visit. 

Hudson stood alongside Belichick during the outing, which marked the couple’s first public appearance since Belichick was passed over for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on his first year of eligibility. 

The six-time Super Bowl–winning coach did not receive the 40 of 50 votes required for enshrinement, a decision that sparked widespread criticism across the NFL. Kraft was also up for the Hall, and like Belichick, he will wait to be enshrined in Canton after not receiving enough votes as first-ballot nominee. 

More: Top 20 Super Bowl Halftime Shows of all time

The T-shirt drew immediate attention given Belichick’s long and increasingly tense relationship with Kraft following his departure from the New England Patriots after the 2023 season. Since their split, both men have exchanged public remarks about their time together, including Kraft saying he “took a big risk” hiring Belichick, and Belichick later pushing back against what he characterized as ownership interference.

Hudson has gained a reputation for using fashion and social media to send messages. This week has been no exception. She shared a screenshot of an email from the Hall of Fame stating that her order for three Hall of Fame patches had been canceled due to “unforeseen circumstances,” a post that many viewed as another subtle jab following Belichick’s snub.

More: Former UNC player admits to punching Duke player: 'Thats free licks’

Belichick, 73, is now preparing for his second season as head coach North Carolina. After a 4-8 season, the move has drawn national attention and criticism. He did not comment publicly during Saturday’s appearance and was just there for support. 

Hudson’s T-shirt ensured that Belichick’s complicated past with Kraft and his Hall of Fame omission remained part of the Super Bowl 60 conversation.

More college football news: 

• Oregon's Dan Lanning rips College Football Playoff, calls for major changes
• Deion Sanders buyout, contract details as Colorado Buffaloes coach
• Top 2026 NFL Draft prospect suffers broken rib in CFP quarterfinal loss
• Dabo Swinney fires Clemson coaches immediately after loss to Penn State
• Ohio State's Ryan Day faces backlash after Cotton Bowl

The 106th NFL season concludes tonight with Super Bowl LX, with the New England Patriots facing the Seattle Seahawks, and this will be your place to discuss the game all night.

In case you missed it, the Seahawks elevated running back and former Chicago Bears draft pick, Velus Jones Jr., from their practice squad, so alter your rooting interests for the game accordingly.

Here’s the schedule for Super Bowl Sunday; all times Central.

If you need some pregame coverage, NBC, Peacock, and Telemundo have been going since 11:00 a.m., and they’ll take you right up to kickoff.

Super Bowl LX is scheduled to kick off at about 5:30 p.m. from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on NBC and Telemundo, with streaming on Peacock.

Mike Tirico will be on play-by-play with Cris Collinsworth as the color analyst. The rules analyst will be Terry McAulay, and sideline reporters will be Melissa Stark and Kaylee Hartung.

You have some time before kickoff, so feel free to talk about anything you want, and as always, all our open threads are rated WCG-MA.

Pep Guardiola is recognised as one of the greatest ever managers in the professional game, making the search for his successor at the Etihad Stadium a stern challenge.

And his era in Manchester could soon be coming to an end, with his contract set to expire at the end of the next campaign, but recent reports indicating the real possibility of a break between the two parties this summer.

Guardiola’s impact on English football cannot be understated, having won a remarkable six Premier Leagues, four Carabao Cups, three Community Shields, and two FA cups – all at the time of writing – in nine seasons as Manchester City manager.

But, who could follow in the great Catalan tactician’s footsteps, and live up to the expectations of one of the greatest coaches the professional game has ever witnessed?

Enzo Maresca, out of work

A graduate of Pep Guardiola’s successful ‘coaching academy’, featuring as Under 21’s manager at Manchester City as well as acting as the Catalan’s assistant during the Treble-winning 2022/23 campaign.

The Italian adopts a similar style of football to the legendary Manchester City head coach, despite having rather different player profiles to utilise – and significantly different during his time at Chelsea.

The 45-year-old has accumulated vast experience in English football, managing Leicester City and most recently at Stamford Bridge, where he picked up the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup.

Whilst being instrumental in Manchester City’s illustrious 2022/23 season, the Italian may not have a vast amount of continental experience at the top level, although does hold recognised Premier League experience.

Enzo Maresca also has experience with City directly, understanding the club’s inner working culture, the players, and Pep Guardiola’s tactical style. As such, this could all make his appointment seamless, ensuring that results and expectations remain at a high level.

Vincent Kompany, Bayern Munich

Another successful manager who has worked with Pep Guardiola as a player, a former and legendary Manchester City captain, Vincent Kompany initially developed his trade in coaching whilst at the Etihad Stadium, earning his coaching badges.

Kompany departed Manchester City for a stint in his native Belgium, transferring to RSC Anderlecht for a season before becoming the club’s new manager, to then depart for Burnley in the Championship, and on to Bayern Munich.

Despite signing a new four-year deal as boss at the Bundesliga giants in October 2025, Manchester City’s project could comfortably lure the Belgian away, offering him reigns to a club he adores, having played for the Citizens for over a decade.

The 39-year-old also works in a similar style to Guardiola, opting for a possession-based style to control games, and create openings for chance creation. Kompany also places a heavy emphasis on rotation around the pitch, creating overloads to retain the ball, but also move forward into attacking phases.

Vincent Kompany’s tactical style could comfortably match to Manchester City’s and the Premier League’s current challenges, with intensity being matched alongside technical brilliance.

Despite being young and fairly inexperienced in the top tier of management, Vincent Kompany offers Manchester City a long-term project coach, backed up by his 11-year stay in Manchester as a player.

Luis Enrique, Paris Saint-Germain

A Spaniard, who has conquered both Spanish and French football, Luis Enrique has a vast amount of continental experience, and also understands how to control a footballing giant with experience of managing Barcelona – like Guardiola – as well as Paris Saint-Germain.

Enrique – like Vincent Kompany – strongly favours rotations and fluidity in his sides, particularly evident during the last campaign with the likes of Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes flying forward from full-back positions, as well as Ballon d’or winner Ousmane Dembele thriving in central, wider, and deeper areas.

Luis Enrique can also adapt to different styles of football, having managed in Spain and France, tweaking his tactical mind to optimise player and team performance.

Alongside his esteemed CV, Enrique has also backed his job roles with success, achieving the treble with Barcelona in 2015 and PSG in the previous campaign – a feat Pep Guardiola and the Citizens achieved in 2023.

Ensuring a manager has success will be essential for following in Pep Guardiola’s footsteps at the Etihad Stadium, and building on an exceptional legacy from the now-55 year-old’s reign.

Whilst his record, experience and trophies present him as the most successful option to take over from Pep Guardiola, the knowledge of the English game could be a potential issue for his appointment.

Whilst each of the aforementioned managerial choices offer a different proposition, it is essential that Manchester City replace Pep Guardiola with the right character to fit into the current hierarchical set-up at the club.

A figure will be required who can not only foster a positive culture and create their own legacy alongside the likes of Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Ferran Soriano, and Hugo Viana, but most importantly continue the success that Pep Guardiola has brought to Manchester.

Even though we like to put pro wrestling and its wrestlers up on pedestals we know we'll never sit atop of, they are ordinary people. Just like you and me. Overcoming flaws and trying to strive to become the very best versions of themselves inside the ring and out, no one has seen what the bottom of the barrel looks like and how to crawl out from under it better than Mike Santana. Faced with the work that comes with addiction, recovery, and its temptations every day, "The Realest" describes how those moral issues helped hone in the character work that fans see every Thursday on "TNA Impact."

"While I was out with injury, I was also dealing with my addiction issues. And thankfully, I put myself through rehab, that whole experience, right. But I think the beauty of it was that I was able to use all that to get me to this moment," the current two-time TNA World Champion told Peter Rosenberg on his "Cheap Heat" podcast. "It's like once you change your mindset, everything changes. Like, before, I used to use a lot of my struggles and a lot of the things that I went through as excuses...for the spiral...And now, I use it as a source of energy, a source of positivity, and something to put towards getting me to where I want to get to."

Santana noted that the first time he won the World Championship against Trick Williams at Bound for Glory last October, in that moment it wasn't about him; rather, it was a giant thank you to his daughter, who he mentions saved his life, and to the fans who believed in him even in times where he didn't believe in himself. Despite an abrupt end to his first world title reign, he managed to retrieve it back from Frankie Kazarian on the "Impact" premiere on AMC last month. Now, "The Real Deal" has to dig through the trenches and prevail over his newest lineup of targets, including former world champions like Eddie Edwards and Steve Maclin, who recently betrayed Santana's friendship and trust.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit "Cheap Heat with Peter Rosenberg" with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Read more: Five Wrestlers Worse Off After Joining TNA

Don't miss any of the major wrestling headlines. Sign up to our free newsletter for the biggest stories, sent straight to your inbox. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google.

Read the original article on Wrestling Inc.

Mike Vrabel is chasing football history. If the New England Patriots can knock off the Seattle Seahawks, he'd become the fifth in NFL history to win a Super Bowl as both a player and a coach.

This stage is far from new for Vrabel, as he won three Super Bowls during his playing days in New England. So, as he prepares his team for battle in Santa Clara, Vrabel reportedly left the players with three words to close their Super Bowl morning meeting: belief, identity and rage.

It's a powerful message that speaks to the style the Patriots have played all season. This is a team that finished dead last in the AFC East last season at 4-13. Yes, that's worse than the New York Jets.

Now, the Patriots are suddenly the class of the division again, and if they can upset the Seahawks, the class of the NFL. It's a remarkable turnaround.

New England will put its belief, identity and rage to the test when the Super Bowl kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET at Levi's Stadium.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Mike Vrabel has 3 lasting words for Patriots before 2026 Super Bowl

Japan have taken the lead in the figure skating team event ahead of the decisive men's free skating later on Sunday at the Milano/Cortina Winter Olympics.

The United States initially retained their lead after the pairs free skating, but the Japanese team now top the standings after Kaori Sakamoto's sparkling performance in the women's free skating.

Both nations are the top favourites to become champions. They are tied on 59 placement points, but Japan lead on the tiebreaker. The US won gold at Beijing 2022.

Sakamoto topped the women's singles with 148.62 ahead of Anastasiia Gubanova of Georgia, while the US were third with Amber Glenn.

The team event combines the four Olympic figure skating disciplines (men's singles, women's singles, pairs and ice dance) into a single event.

Skaters earn points based on their placement in each discipline, and the gold medals are awarded to the team that earns the most placement points.

Competition started on Friday and medals will be handed after the men's free skating later on Sunday.

US superstar Ilia Malinin will compete in the men's free skating after a below-par performance on Saturday, which saw him finish second.

He previously said he wasn't sure whether he would compete on the final day.

A politically charged dispute between the Olympic delegations of Azerbaijan and Armenia over figure skating music has been resolved after skating and IOC authorities reviewed the matter and the official program listing was amended.

The International Skating Union (ISU) said in a statement to the Guardian on Sunday that it had examined the matter with relevant stakeholders. “The situation has been reviewed with all parties involved,” the ISU said. “The official names of the tracks that will be used are listed on the ISU website.”

The change follows a complaint from Azerbaijan’s National Olympic Committee, which said it had raised concerns with the IOC over the Armenian pair of Karina Akopova and Nikita Rakhmanin’s planned short program to Artsakh, a composition by musician Ara Gevorgyan, who was born Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.

Artsakh is the Armenian name for the long-disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region and was also used by the self-declared ethnic Armenian administration that controlled it for decades. Azerbaijani officials reject the term, saying it implies territorial claims over land internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but contested over decades of conflict between the two countries.

Interactive

The committee said in a statement the use of the song would introduce political messaging into Olympic competition and risk violating Olympic Charter principles requiring political neutrality at the Games.

“The Olympic Games are a symbol of peace, friendship and mutual respect between peoples,” the committee said. “It is unacceptable to use this platform for political and separatist propaganda purposes.”

The listing on the ISU website for the pair skating short program now identifies the music as “Music by Ara Gevorgyan”, rather than naming the composition itself, according to the federation’s published music registry for the 2025-26 season.

Music selections in Olympic figure skating are typically submitted and approved through technical and governance processes overseen by the ISU, though disputes involving political symbolism can extend beyond sport governance structures.

Late changes to Olympic programs can carry significant competitive consequences. Last week, Spain’s Tomàs-Llorenç Guarino Sabaté narrowly avoided having to redesign his Olympic short program after resolving a copyright dispute that had threatened his ability to use music from the Minions franchise. Coaches and athletes say changing music late in the Olympic cycle can force skaters to rework choreography refined over months, in a sport where musical timing and muscle memory are inseparable.

People familiar with the discussions said the complaint was initially directed to the IOC rather than through sport governance channels and that the issue was subsequently addressed through discussions involving the relevant Olympic authorities.

The IOC did not respond to requests for comment.

Akopova and Rakhmanin are scheduled to compete in the Olympic pair skating short program on 15 February, with the free skate set for 16 February.

Azerbaijan will be represented in Olympic figure skating by a single male skater competing in a separate discipline, meaning athletes from the two countries will not face each other directly in competition.

The episode comes three months after Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a US-brokered peace agreement designed to normalize relations after decades of conflict, though disputes tied to Nagorno-Karabakh remain sensitive. It also underscores how geopolitical tensions continue to surface around the Olympic movement despite longstanding rules intended to keep political disputes out of competition.

Will Aaron Rodgers play for Steelers in 2026? Insider drops massive 4-word update originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

When the Pittsburgh Steelers were eliminated from the playoffs, many thought that would be the last time we saw Aaron Rodgers on a football field.

Having done everything there is to do in the game, the thought was that Rodgers would walk off into the sunset and retire as one of the game's greats.

But then Pittsburgh hired Mike McCarthy as head coach. Now, the tables have turned, and the prospect of Rodgers returning, while still fleeting, is at least a thought.

Well, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, it might be more than just a thought.

"My understanding is, the odds are increasing," Pelissero said on NFL GameDay Morning via NFL.com.

More:Mike Evans' agent drops huge Buccaneers future update

Rodgers returning for a 22nd season?

While it is great that Pelissero stated the odds are increasing, that doesn't mean Rodgers will come back.

After all, it will be essentially the same team as last year, and the Steelers barely made it into the playoffs. Will things be different under McCarthy? Maybe, but even having Rodgers reunite with his former head coach, for some, will only delay the inevitable -- the Steelers need a change.

Will Howard is on the roster, and some fans might want to see the young QB in action so the franchise can see what it has in him.

Are the Steelers going to the Super Bowl with Rodgers? Not likely. So why not give Howard, or another younger quarterback, the keys to the offense and see what you have?

More NFL news:

• Christian McCaffery hints at 49ers reunion with All-Pro WR
• Hall of Famer has incredible Shedeur Sanders message for Browns
• Steelers tipped to run-it-back with Aaron Rodgers in win-win scenario
• 1 key decision could drastically impact Chiefs' 2026 season
• Analyst reveals Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa brutal NFL reality in 2026
• 1 key decision could drastically impact Chiefs' 2026 season
• How 1 Tom Brady sentence ignited Patriots Super Bowl resentment

Betting on the Super Bowl game itself is a noble pursuit. It is rooted in statistical analysis, injury reports, DVOA rankings, and the chaotic variance of an oblong ball bouncing on grass. It is a contest of sport.

Betting on the Halftime Show, however, is not noble. It is a murky, beautiful exercise in information arbitrage and social media stalking.

Many sportsbooks across the USA don’t allow betting on scripted events like the Super Bowl 60 halftime show, but did you know that you can bet on the Super Bowl Halftime Show legally in the US with Kalshi? Use promo code COVERS at sign up for a free $10 trading bonus.

How to bet on the Super Bowl halftime show

Key Takeaways

• It’s a Market, Not a Casino: The halftime show is a scripted event. Prices move on information, not luck. If you are guessing, you are doing it wrong.

• Legal Access: Kalshi is the only way to bet this legally in all 50 states.

• Liquidity is King: Trading on a prediction market platform like Kalshi enables you to exit your position early to lock in profit before a note is sung.

• The $10 Bonus: We’ve made it easy to get skin in the game. Use code COVERS to start trading with a bonus.

While the outcome of the Seahawks vs. Patriots game is genuinely unknown, a quantum fluctuation of athletic probability, the outcome of the Super Bowl Halftime Show is not. It is scripted. It has been rehearsed. It is saved as a PDF on a production coordinator's iPad right now.

Your goal isn't to "handicap" Bad Bunny’s artistic integrity. Your goal is to find out what is on that iPad before the rest of the market does.

If you are looking for our specific predictions on whether Ricky Martin or Lady Gaga will show up, check live Halftime odds here. But if you want to learn how to trade a scripted market without getting banned by your sportsbook — and why you should be doing it on an exchange like Kalshi — read on.

The "novelty" trap: Why sportsbooks don’t like these bets

If you have ever tried to bet a significant amount of money on the color of the Gatorade or the first song of the halftime show at a traditional sportsbook, you have likely run into two problems.

1. The "Limit" problem: sportsbooks aren't stupid. They know that a stagehand at Levi's Stadium knows the setlist. As a result, they often cap these bets at $50 or $100. They treat them as "novelty" props — a fun little side dish that they don't want to get burned on.

2. The "Location" problem: even in states with legal sports betting, regulators often ban wagers on "non-sporting events." If you are in Ohio or Virginia, you might find the Halftime markets are grayed out or non-existent.

The Solution: Enter Kalshi.

Kalshi is a federally regulated prediction market (overseen by the CFTC), it doesn't operate under the same restrictive sports betting laws. It is legal in all 50 states.

More importantly, it is a peer-to-peer exchange. You aren't betting against a nervous bookmaker who limits your action; you are trading against other users. If you want to buy 5,000 contracts on Bad Bunny opening with a reggaeton track, and someone else is willing to sell them, the trade happens.

Strategy 1: The "rehearsal leak" system

If you are waiting for Sunday night to make your trades, you may already be too late. The smart money moves 48 to 72 hours before kickoff.

Why? The Dress Rehearsal.

The full production, including lights, audio, and guest appearances, is run through at Levi's Stadium days before the game. Sound carries. In the age of social media, secrets do not exist.

Where to Look:

• TikTok & Instagram: Search for geotags around Santa Clara and Levi's Stadium. Residents living within earshot of the venue often post clips of "loud music" late at night. If you hear the opening chords of Tití Me Preguntó, you have your answer.

• Flight Trackers: This is where the obsession pays off. If rumors are swirling about a Lady Gaga cameo, do not look at her press release. Look at her private jet tail number. If it touches down at San Jose International (SJC) on Saturday morning, the probability of her appearance skyrockets.

• The "Deleted Tweet": Backup dancers are human. They get excited. They post a photo of their backstage pass or a costume fitting, realize they signed an NDA, and delete it 30 seconds later. But the internet is forever. Screenshots of these deleted posts are often the "smoking gun" that moves the market.

Strategy 2: Analyzing the "First Song" prop

If you can't find a leak, you fall back on game theory.

The "First Song" market is one of the most contested entertainment prop trading circles. The mistake casual bettors make is choosing the artist's biggest song.

The Formula: Artists rarely open with their biggest hit (they save that for the finale), and they never open with a slow ballad. The Super Bowl Halftime Show is a terrifyingly high-pressure environment. They need to capture the attention of 100 million drunk people instantly.

They need a "Banger."

Look for tracks with an explosive, high-energy intro. For Bad Bunny, a track like Monaco or Tití Me Preguntó fits the sonic profile perfectly. A slow burn like Vete? Unlikely.

The Medley Rule: Be very careful with the fine print. How does the market define "First Song"?

• Sportsbooks: Often have vague rules. If he hums five seconds of one song and then transitions to another, you might be at the mercy of a house ruling.

• Kalshi: Contracts usually specify "must be performed for at least 10 seconds." This clarity is crucial. If Bad Bunny does a five-second tease of a track before the beat drops on the actual opener, you need to know which one pays.

Guest appearances: Follow the PR trail

Guest appearances are rarely random acts of friendship. They are calculated business decisions.

The "New Album" Theory: Artists do not fly to the Super Bowl for free (they aren't paid for the performance) unless they have something to sell. Is Ricky Martin announcing a world tour? Is Rosalia dropping a new single next Friday?

If an artist has a "dead" calendar — no tour, no album, no press — they are statistically less likely to show up. If they have a project launching in March, their agent is likely begging for that cameo spot.

The Cultural Connection: Bad Bunny is bringing Puerto Rico to the world stage. The narrative isn't just "music," it's "culture."

• The Likely Suspects: Collaborators who fit the narrative. Ricky Martin, Daddy Yankee, J Balvin.

• The Unlikely: Random pop stars with no connection to the genre.

• See our Bad Bunny predictions for the full breakdown of who fits this profile best.

Trading vs. betting: The exit strategy

This is the single biggest advantage of using a prediction market for the Halftime Show.

The Scenario: You buy "Yes - Lady Gaga Appearance" contracts on Kalshi at 40 cents ($0.40). You risked $40 to win $100.

On Sunday morning, a blurry photo surfaces on Twitter of a woman who looks like Gaga entering a hotel in San Francisco. The market reacts. The "Yes" contract shoots up to 80 cents ($0.80).

The Move:

• On a Sportsbook: You have to hold your ticket and sweat. Maybe she is in town, but just to watch the game. Maybe she’s in a suite and never touches the stage. If she doesn't perform, you lose everything.

• On Kalshi: You sell. You sell your contracts at 80 cents immediately. You double your money before the game even kicks off. You have "traded the rumor."

You don't need to be right about the performance; you just need to be right about the buzz.

That is the difference between gambling and trading. One relies on a pop star's whim; the other relies on your ability to spot a trend.

If you are ready to stop guessing and start trading the script, grab your $10 bonus with Kalshi promo code COVERS and check the live Halftime odds.

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

Breezy Johnson won a skiing gold medal for U.S. — and then she broke the medal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Breezy Johnson had quite the morning.

The United States skiing standout was 6th-out-of-36 in the order in the women's downhill competition on Sunday, and she put down the time that was at the top of the leaderboard.

Seven competitors later, Lindsey Vonn crashed and had to be airlifted away, taking the energy out of all those watching.

But by the end of the competition, she still had the fastest time.

Johnson won the gold medal, the second American woman to claim this event, after Vonn.

It's been quite the comeback for her, missing the 2022 Olympics with a knee injury and then being banned during 2024 for missing drug tests.

She's back now, and she's a gold medalist.

MORE: Amber Glenn has the most surprising interest at the Olympics

That medal isn't totally intact now, though.

Breezy explained to USA Today that the piece that joins the medal to the neck ribbon came undone.

She had to carry the medal around in her pocket for the time being.

"It's definitely heavy. Heavier than I expected," Johnson told USA Today. "I think that's maybe why it broke... I assume somebody will fix it."

At least the golden part of the medal doesn't appear to have broken. 

Besides, Johnson won't ever forget this day no matter what the medal looks like. No one can take this triumph away from her.

More Olympics news:

• Why Eileen Gu competes for China, not U.S.
• NBC's drone cameras have everyone's attention
• The Winter Olympics mascots are adorable
• The Olympics reason Ilia Malinin doesn't have a girlfriend
• This is what Russia's Olympic hockey roster would've looked like
• How Laila Edwards is making U.S. women's hockey history

Super Bowl LX kicks off tonight with the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots facing off for the Lombardi Trophy.

If you ask most Broncos fans, and even players, they would admit that the Broncos should be in this game. Quarterback Bo Nix broke his ankle in the final plays of their comeback win vs. the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round. That meant backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham would get the start in the AFC Championship Game against the Patriots. Unfortunately, the Broncos would lose 10-7, bringing their magical season to an end.

The “what ifs” still linger, and most Broncos fans are not fond of the Patriots or their fan base. Meanwhile, the Seahawks are not a team many Broncos fans like either. They are a former divisional rival who beat them in the Super Bowl, the whole Russell Wilson trade, and just natural hate on both sides.

However, the hate for the Patriots runs deep, and that is why 93% of the Broncos fans are rooting for the Seahawks to defeat the Patriots tonight.

According to FanDuel, the Seahawks are 4.5-point favorites over the Patriots in Super Bowl 60.

It’s not just Broncos fans who think the Seahawks will win; the Seahawks are 4.5-point favorites to win the Super Bowl. This makes sense as the Seahawks have looked like the best team in the NFL this season while dominating their competition throughout the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Patriots had a soft schedule and faced a favorable postseason that featured playoff Justin Herbert, CJ Stroud having a meltdown, and the Broncos playing their backup quarterback.

82% of fans believe the Seahawks will win Super Bowl 60 tonight, and I am part of that group. They are simply the better team that has a deeper roster, an explosive offense, and a dominant defense. Unlike the Patriots’ previous games, the Seahawks are not a favorable matchup, and I think they will dominate tonight’s game

Now, I ask you, Broncos Country? Who do you have winning Super Bowl 60? Sam Darnold and the dominant Seahawks defense, or MVP runner-up Drake Maye and the overlooked New England Patriots?

Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner had a surprising MVP pick for Super Bowl LX.

The Seattle Seahawks are set to take on the New England Patriots on Sunday. Heading into the game, Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold is the favorite to win the award, as Seattle is favored to win the game.

Yet, Warner actually believes receiver Cooper Kupp could win his second Super Bowl MVP award on Sunday.

“How about unlikely being, someone who would win their second Super Bowl MVP and not be a quarterback,” Warner said on NFL Network on Sunday. “Something that has never ever happened in the history of the Super Bowl. How about Cooper Kupp going and being Super Bowl MVP? Everything has been about ‘JSN’ (Jaxon-Smith Njigba) and rightfully so, he’s been incredible this year.

“But, Cooper Kupp has stepped up big in the playoffs, made a bunch of big plays. Including a touchdown in the Championship Game. How about Cooper Kupp, coming back to the Super Bowl and winning it again?”

Kupp winning Super Bowl MVP would be a massive surprise, as he has the 10th-best odds of winning the award at +8000.

However, if the Patriots focus on shutting down Smth-Njigba, perhaps Kupp does become the focal point for Seattle’s offense.

In the playoffs, Kupp has recorded nine receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown. He was named Super Bowl LVI MVP when he was with the Los Angeles Rams, as he had eight catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns.

Kick-off of Super Bowl LX is set for 6:30 p.m. ET.

San Diego State used a hot offense and a stifling defense to overwhelm an overmatched Air Force squad. 

The Aztecs took to the stratosphere in Colorado Springs as they grounded Air Force on a special Space Force night. After spotting the Falcons the first five points, the Aztecs lifted off into orbit with a dominating performance against the Academy. Sometimes it is difficult to play at elevation as was evidenced last year when the Aztecs needed an overtime buzzer beater to take down a struggling Falcons team. This year would be much different as the Aztecs (17-6, 11-2 MWC) took the game both outside and inside in dismantling the Falcons (3-20, 0-12 MWC). Midway through the first half the Aztecs had a 23-2 run, crushing any attempts at Air Force establishing any kind of positive momentum. Falcons Coach Jon Jordan used all but one of his timeouts in the first fourteen minutes to try and slow down the Aztecs. The Falcons were futile from both shooting as well as mistakes as they turned the ball over 12 times in the first half. 

“The veterans know, they know how hard it was in here last year,” coach Brian Dutcher said. “Also, I’ve tried to tell them we need a greater sense of urgency in February. I’m trying to pick up their urgency in everything we do. If we can stay urgent and play more consecutive possessions, we’ll have a better chance to win.”

That urgency was on full display, showing their depth and talent. On a slow night for Miles Byrd, who finished with only four points, fellow guard BJ Davis had 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting. Miles Heidi had a season high 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting. Reese Dixon-Waters contributed 12 points, including six free throws. Pharoah Compton had 11 points and four steals. Jeremiah Oden had 11 points and Taj DeGourville contributed eight points, five assists and two steals. Dominance was on full display as the Aztecs scored 52 of their 88 points from within the paint. They also converted 22 Falcon turnovers into 32 points. Game, set, match. 

Air Force interim coach Jordan, said,” First of all, they’re a very good basketball team. That’s a fact. It’s not an excuse, that’s not a rationalization, that’s a fact. They’re very good. They’re long; they really get after us in a unique way. If you’re not careful, if you’re not aware of how important that basketball is, you’ll end up with 22 turnovers.”

The Falcons were led in scoring by Ethan Greenberg with 11 points and Kam Sanders also with 11 points and five rebounds.  The Aztecs were still without center Magoon Gwath who will be re-evaluated before next Saturday’s game at home against Nevada. In his place, 7-foot redshirt freshman Thokbor Majak added minutes and five rebounds, but he did commit four fouls in just under seven minutes of play. An announced crowd of 1,741 seemed thin, but there has not been much for beleaguered Falcon fans to cheer about in recent years. They have lost 36 of their last 37 conference games.

The win allows  the Aztecs to keep pace with Utah State in a tie for first place in the conference. The Aggies held on for a nail-biting 85-83 win over Wyoming in Laramie. Boise State took New Mexico to the wire and held on for a 91-90 win. UNLV also held on to beat Grand Canyon 80-78 in a thriller in Vegas. Nevada beat Fresno State 69-59 and Colorado State handled San Jose State 65-57 in Fort Collins. Wednesday sees an intriguing matchup as Grand Canyon hosts New Mexico and on Friday UNLV travels to Boise. The Lobos and Nevada Wolfpack are both tied two games behind the leaders with Grand Canyon 2.5 games behind. Boise State is warming up and looks like they might have a say in the conversation. Over the long season, we are seeing the cream rise to the top. The MWC is a strong conference 1-5, but shows some questions below that. They also have two of the worst teams in the country with San Jose State and Air Force solidly locked into basement and doormat. There’s still some ball left to play and the rarified air will continue to see elevated games. Unfortunately, last night, the only thing that worked out for Air Force were free t-shirts dropped from the rafters by parachutes. I’d like one of those Space Force shirts please. 

Bleeding Green Nation’s Super Bowl LX picks are in!

BGN staff members are here to predict the winners of every game on the schedule. We’ll tally the results along the way and see who comes out on top at the end of the season. Feel free to post your own predictions or discuss the writer predictions in the comments.

You, the reader, can also join in on the fun by voting for who you think will win the games (scroll down for polls). I’ll tally those results in a “BGN Community” section under our picks table generated by Tallysight.

With only one game left to go, the BGN Community has already clinched the top overall record for the second year in a row. Congrats on the repeat! (Someone had to after the Philadelphia Eagles themselves couldn’t.) Jonny Page and Dave Mangels are both making the same Super Bowl pick, which means they’ve clinched tying for the top record in the playoff only standings.

The BGN staff is unanimously taking the Seattle Seahawks to beat the New England Patriots in the big game. The Seahawks are 4.5-point favorites (per FanDuel Sportsbook) and I think they’ll fail to cover but they will win a close one.

SUPER BOWL LX PICKS

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

Jonny: 2-0
Dave: 2-0
Community: 2-0
Stolnis: 2-0
Drew: 2-0
BLG: 1-1
Natan: 0-2

PLAYOFF STANDINGS

Dave: 9-3
Jonny: 9-3
Stolnis: 8-4
Community: 8-4
BLG: 6-6
Drew: 6-6
Natan: 3-9

OVERALL STANDINGS

Community: 191-92-1
Jonny: 189-94-1
Stolnis: 184-99-1
Dave: 183-100-1
Natan: 180-103-1
BLG: 178-105-1
Drew: 176–107-1

MAKE YOUR PICKS

Vote for your picks below.

The Big 12 Conference announced it was fining Oklahoma State $50,000 for inappropriate chants from fans during a men's basketball game on Wednesday, Feb. 4.

The conference announced the fine against the Cowboys on Sunday, Feb. 8, citing its “Principles and Standards of Sportsmanship."

REQUIRED READING: March Madness bracketology projection NCAA tournament sees Kansas on rise

"In accordance with the Big 12 Conference Principles and Standards of Sportsmanship, the conference issued Oklahoma State University a $50,000 fine following its investigation into inappropriate chants that occurred during Wednesday's men's basketball game," the statement read. "The Big 12 will not tolerate any behavior that targets or demeans others."

OSU said in a statement that said the school “respects the Big 12’s decision and will not appeal the fine.”

“The university conducted an immediate investigation into the allegation that a group of students used an inappropriate chant during last Wednesday’s men’s basketball game between OSU and BYU,” the statement said. “It was determined that a derogatory chant followed a disputed call and referenced the Mormon faith in relation to game officials. The reference to religion did not meet our standards and expectations. Oklahoma State respects the Big 12’s decision and will not appeal the fine.

“The Cowboy Code calls us to treat others with respect and dignity. Oklahoma State University values the relationship we have with BYU and deeply respects its community and faith. We will continue to work to ensure that the atmosphere at our events reflects the values of the Cowboy family.”

Statement from Oklahoma State University pic.twitter.com/QZcY0Zpxzw

— Oklahoma State Athletics (@OSUAthletics) February 8, 2026

Following the 99-92 win for Oklahoma State over No. 14 BYU, Cougars coach Kevin Young shared his disappointment about anti-Mormon chants coming from the student section.

"There were some 'F The Mormons' chants tonight by the student section that I heard," Young said in his postgame news conference on Wednesday. "It was a great win for Oklahoma State University. I think their fans should be proud, but it would be great if some class was warranted.

"I got four small kids at home, I'm a Mormon, and when I go home, they're going to ask me about it, the same way they asked me about it last year at Arizona."

This is at least the fourth incident in the past year with derogatory chants aimed at Mormons during BYU football or basketball games. Last season, Arizona apologized for the chant that happened during a BYU loss in Tucson.

Similar chants were also heard during BYU football games against Colorado and Cincinnati. The Buffaloes were fined by the Big 12 for $50,000 and issued a public reprimand.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Oklahoma State fined $50,000 by Big 12 for anti-Mormon chants vs BYU

Super Bowl Sunday did not get off to a great start for Boston sports fans.

The Boston Celtics had their five-game winning streak snapped by the New York Knicks on Sunday afternoon, enduring one of their worst losses of the season. The Knicks throttled the Celtics 111-89 at TD Garden, sending Celtics fans home in a foul mood before their New England Patriots take on the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX tonight.

For the second time in as many games, Boston got off to a terrible start, trailing by 11 points at the end of the first quarter. Unlike on Friday against the Miami Heat, however, the Celtics were unable to mount a comeback.

Boston cut the deficit to seven points at halftime but fell apart in the second half, scoring just 36 points after halftime. The 89 points were a season low for the Celtics, who shot just 37.0% from the field and went an abysmal 7-for-41 (17.1%) from beyond the arc. New York made 7 more 3-pointers than Boston, and that was the difference.

Final pic.twitter.com/rVS10qIJFt

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 8, 2026

Jaylen Brown played well for the Celtics with 26 points and 4 assists. Derrick White scored 19 points, while Baylor Scheierman led the team with 13 rebounds and chipped in 10 points.

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 31 points and 8 assists, while Josh Hart scored 19 points and Karl-Anthony Towns notched a double-double.

Both teams are now tied for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference at 34-19, five games behind the Detroit Pistons. New York owns the tiebreaker, though, by virtue of leading the season series 2-1

The 22-point loss was Boston’s second-biggest defeat of the season, behind only its 27-point loss to the Houston Rockets on Nov. 1. Surprisingly, both of those blowouts happened at home.

The Celtics will look to bounce back and end their homestand on a high note against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. It will be Nikola Vucevic’s first game against his former team since being traded to Boston last Tuesday, while the Celtics will welcome back Anfernee Simons to TD Garden.

Mets to sign former Royals 52 home run outfielder to $1.5 million contract originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Mets have completely overhauled their entire lineup this offseason. Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil, and Brandon Nimmo are all gone, while their additions have been huge.

Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien, Bo Bichette, and Luis Robert Jr. have all been added this offseason. But the Mets aren't done adding to their lineup.

According to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, the Mets are in agreement on a $1.5 million contract with former Kansas City Royals outfielder MJ Melendez.

Mets agree to $1.5M contract with ex-Royal MJ Melendez

"Mets agree to deal with MJ Melendez," Heyman reports. "MLB deal. $1.5 million plus $500K incentives."

This one-year deal for the former Royals outfielder is an interesting depth signing for the Mets. He's no longer a catcher like he was when his career began, but his outfield ability is still worth investing in.

The 27-year-old has struggled in his big league career, posting -1.4 bWAR in four seasons with the Royals. This past season, in just 23 games, Melendez managed to put up -0.6 bWAR.

More: Mets trade rumor on Brett Baty, Mark Vientos is unexpected update from Pirates

He hit just .083 with a .321 OPS in 65 plate appearances. His -10 OPS+ was by far the worst of his career, as every other year he was, at worst, an 83 OPS+ hitter.

But his massive struggles in 2025 led him to be left off the MLB roster for most of the year, and the Royals did not re-sign him despite the outfielder having a few more years of club control.

While he's not a negative defensively, his major offensive struggles have led Melendez to hit free agency. The Mets are now taking a chance on him, agreeing to terms on a $1.5 million deal that can rise to as much as $2 million if Melendez hits his incentives.

More MLB news:

• Red Sox sign $6 million free agent formerly of Yankees, Blue Jays
• MLB Hot Stove tracker: Live updates on news, rumors, signings and trades for 2025 free agency
• Former Yankees, Reds, A's outfielder agrees to $4M deal with Padres
• Tigers' contract details for Framber Valdez make for absurd record-breaking deal
• MLB analyst makes the case for the Phillies to sign 2x All-Star arm
• Pirates to sign former Padres, White Sox 3.55 ERA veteran righty on one-year deal
• Yankees to claim 23-year-old power-hitter off waivers from Rockies

It’s no secret that Kim Min-jae is on the outside looking in with Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich side. The former Napoli man had a difficult start to the season; battling recurring issues with an Achilles injury, the 29-year-old now finds himself behind Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah in the pecking order.

And it gets worse.

Min-jae, who has been a regular fixture off the bench when fit, did not make Kompany’s match day squad to face TSG Hoffenheim. Naturally, rumors circulated around the center-back’s fitness, however, Kompany confirmed the omission had nothing to do with fitness issues.

“There will be a rotation when everyone’s fit,” explained the 39-year-old manager (as captured by @iMiaSanMia) “It’s not that someone did something wrong. We need healthy competition.”

Kompany went on the soften what seemed like a hammer blow to the South Korean.

“The first thing I said to the team in January was that we have seven games in 20 days, so everyone will play and feel they’re a part of it. Min-jae started the last game. But because we did well in the Champions League, we’ll have fewer games in February, so we’ll have to make less changes. Then in March in full gas again. Now this month, it’s about being professional and winning our games,” Kompany said. “Next month everyone will feel included again. Leaving someone out means nothing, it’s just a decision you have to make — there will be another one and then another. Today, was Min-jae. Wednesday you’ll ask me about someone else.

“Saturday you won’t have to because Michael is suspended. But it’s a good situation because everyone is fit. Last year against Inter we had nine players out. I’ll take this situation every day of the week.”

A fit squad is a rarity at Munich. It’s also a reminder that Bayern’s squad, when fully fit, is deeper than one thinks—a happy problem indeed. But, it doesn’t change the fact that the most important players will be included in the squad come match day. Today, Kim didn’t make the squad in what was a crucial game for Bayern. That tells you all you need to know.

It remains to be seen who will be the next victim of Kompany’s squad omission merry-go-round, but all will be revealed when Bayern Munich take on RB Leipzig on Wednesday, February 11, in the DFB-Pokal quarterfinal.

---

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…

Join the conversation!

Sign up for a user account and get:

• New, improved notifications system!
• Fewer ads
• Create community posts
• Comment on articles, community posts
• Rec comments, community posts

Simply unstoppable!!

In a match full of remarkable, late drama, Dominik Szoboszlai might have still produced the highlight of the evening after his free-kick stunner gave Liverpool the lead against Manchester City.

After a frenetic but scoreless first 70 minutes, Szoboszlai stepped up and fired a dipping free-kick in off of the right-post, leaving Gianluigi Donnarumma motionless and stunned.

The Hungary international has made a habit of scoring from set-pieces for Liverpool this season. Most notably, Szoboszlai scored a similarly masterful free-kick to decide the Reds' 1-0 win against Arsenal.

Against Man City, however, his free-kick heroics were cancelled out by one of the most dramatic endings to a Premier League match we've ever seen. Amid all of the chaos, Szoboszlai was sent off in stoppage-time following a retroactive VAR review.

In spite of the result, you have to wonder where Szoboszlai's wonder strike ranks among best PL free-kick goals of all time... Let us know in the comments!

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Wizards general manager Will Dawkins said Sunday he expects Anthony Davis to return to the court this season, but that the timeline will become clearer during the All-Star break.

Dawkins' remarks came a day after The Athletic reported that the Wizards were likely to shut down the injured 10-time All-Star forward for the remainder of the season, citing a league source it did not name.

Washington acquired Davis — who has been recovering from a sprained finger on his non-shooting hand since Jan. 8 — ahead of Thursday's trade deadline as the centerpiece of an eight-player deal with Dallas. His initial expected return timeline was six weeks.

“The plan for AD right now is to go back to Dallas and finish his rehab,” Dawkins said. “During All-Star break, he takes another visit for a doctor. And that's a big appointment for us to kind of see where his progress is at.”

The Wizards (14-37) entered Sunday's game against Miami in second-to-last place in the Eastern Conference but with potentially a much more competitive roster looking toward next season.

Washington also acquired four-time All-Star Trae Young from Atlanta in January. And despite both deals, they retained most of a young core that includes second-year forward Alex Sarr and rookie guard Tre Johnson.

Young has been out with a sprained knee and also will be reassessed during the break, Dawkins said.

“He's still working on the court,” Dawkins said. “He started doing 1-on-0, he started doing a little bit of more 2-on-2 type actions. ... He's trending in a positive direction.”

___

AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA

Donald Trump responded to Hunter Hess on Truth Social on Sunday, calling the Olympian a “real loser” and criticizing comments the US freestyle skier made in a press conference days earlier.

Hess was asked in a press conference on Wednesday what it was like to represent the US in the Olympics given the current situation in the country, which has included ICE raids in Minnesota and a number of geopolitical crises. Hess said representing the US at the 2026 Winter Olympics brought up “mixed emotions” and that it was “a little hard.”

Related: The world heard JD Vance being booed at the Olympics. Except for viewers in the US | Bryan Armen Graham

“There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t,” he said. “I think for me it’s more I’m representing my friends and family back home, the people that represented it before me, all the things that I believe are good about the US … Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the US.”

Trump made his ire clear on Sunday, characterizing Hess’s comments as saying: “he doesn’t represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics. If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have tried out for the team, and it’s too bad he’s on it. Very hard to root for someone like this. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Trump’s critique follows that of Tennessee Republican representative Tim Burchett, who said in a post on X that Hess should “shut up and go play in the snow.”

Hess is one of a handful of Team USA Olympians who have expressed discomfort with representing their country in its current state, and who have then been the recipient of criticism afterward.

US figure skating national champion Amber Glenn said she’d be taking a break from all social media after being inundated with what she called “a scary amount of hate/threats.”

Glenn, who came out publicly in 2019, was asked how it feels to be part of the LGBTQ community under the Trump administration.

“It’s been a hard time for the community overall and this administration,” Glenn said. “It isn’t the first time that we’ve had to come together as a community and try and fight for our human rights.”

While not specifically mentioning Trump’s policies, two-time Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin read a quote from Nelson Mandela expressing hope that “we can all flourish regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, class, caste or any other social markers of difference” when asked about representing the US in the current political climate. She then added her own words: “For me, as this related to the Olympics, I really hope to show up and represent my own values. Of diversity, and kindness, and sharing. Tenacity, work ethic, showing up with my team every single day.

Alijah Arenas scored seven key points down the stretch, including the game-winning layup with 0.7 seconds left, to send Penn State to its second straight loss.

It was a cold start for Penn State from the outside, but threes from Ivan Juric and Justin Houser gave the Lions a 16-14 lead. The first half was mostly played tightly, with neither team holding a lead larger than six.

After a Penn State timeout with USC holding a four-point edge, the Lions closed the half on a 12-4 run capped by back to back layups from Josh Reed to enter halftime with a 40-36 lead.

Penn State quickly swelled the lead to 12 early in the second half by forcing turnovers. Freddie Dilione and Dominick Stewart each scored four on the run to help the Lions open up the game.

The Trojans pushed back and cut the deficit to just two at the under-12 timeout. Penn State’s offense struggled to maintain the lead with turnovers and sloppy play. Kam Woods gave USC the lead back with a free throw at 56-55 midway through the half.

A layup by Josh Reed gave Penn State a 65-64 lead with four minutes left, but Alijah Arenas immediately answered with a three to put the Trojans up by two. Arenas made a second three that bounced in the net to put USC up 72-68 with just over a minute left.

Josh Reed made a three to cut the lead to one, and Freddie Dilione tied the game on a layup with 12 seconds left. Unfortunately, the defense could not get a stop to force OT, and Arenas’ layup provided the winning points for USC and a 77-75 road win for the Trojans.

Player of the Game

Freddie Dilione- 23 points, 10-18 FG, 4 rebounds, 4 assits

Dilione shot well from the floor and scored the tying basket to give PSU a fighting chance to force overtime.

Random Observations

• Free Throws- Penn State missed six free throws in the second half. Any points there could have put the Lions in a position to win late in the game.
• Penn State Bakery- The Nittany Lions committed 17 turnovers, which dulled all of the team’s momentum after starting the second half strong.
• Pain- This is certainly not the first close loss this team has had against quality Big Ten teams. So many missed opportunities this season.

What’s Next

Penn State will hit the road to take on Washington on Wednesday. Tipoff is at 10:30pm on Big Ten Network.

French football comes to a halt this Sunday (20:45 local time) for a new edition of Le Classique. PSG, second with 48 points, hosts a Marseille team looking to close the gap from fourth place. After six consecutive league victories, Luis Enrique's team needs a win to take the lead from Lens, who are just one point behind.

The Spanish coach welcomes back Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, a vital boost considering the significant suspension of Achraf Hakimi. On the visiting side, Roberto De Zerbi has an almost complete squad —with Aguerd in doubt— and boasts the division's highest-scoring attack (46 goals), led by the veteran Aubameyang and the winter signings.

With Willy Delajod officiating, Paris will witness a strategic duel between Luis Enrique's possession style and the intensity of a Marseille team that already won the first leg (1-0).

Confirmed Lineups

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