NEW YORK (AP) — Iron Horse won the $300,000 Gotham by a length Saturday to earn Kentucky Derby qualifying points.
Ridden by Manny Franco, Iron Horse ran a mile in 1:37.94 and paid $3.88 to win as the 4-5 favorite in the field of eight.
Iron Horse earned 50 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby on May 2.
“He fought hard,” Franco said. “The other horse, I’ve got to give a little credit to, but I knew that my horse had enough to get it done.”
Crown the Buckeye was second and earned 25 qualifying points. Right to Party was another 6 1/2 lengths back in third and earned 15 points. Exhibition Only was fourth and earned 10 points, while Balboa got five points for finishing fifth.
Trainer Chad Brown said Iron Horse would remain in New York and be pointed toward the $750,000 Wood Memorial on April 4. The colt improved to 2-0 in his career. He is a son of 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist.
“Race by race, he’s still learning,” Franco said. "This was just his second start and I’m just happy to be on him.”
The 74th edition of the Gotham marked its final running at Aqueduct before it moves to the newly redesigned Belmont Park next year.
For as long as Stephen Curry is an active member of the Golden State Warriors' roster, winning another championship will continue to be the aim. Mike Dunleavy Jr. made a move to acquire Kristaps Porzingis at the Feb. 5 trade deadline, in the hope of boosting the team's chances of postseason success.
Unfortunately for Golden State, a lengthy injury report has derailed its chances of building some momentum fresh off the All-Star break. However, there's still enough time for the roster to get back on track once some of the veteran talent is cleared to get back on the court.
In a recent podcast for the NBA's YouTube channel, ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Anthony Slater took stock of the Warriors' current roster, touching on some of the biggest storylines surrounding the franchise. From Jonathan Kuminga's exit to Curry's knee issues, the duo tried to cover every major question hanging over the team.
You can watch the full discussion by clicking on the embedded video above.
NEW YORK — Kevin Hammer was installed as the 68th president in USGA history Saturday at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in Manhattan, and he opened his tenure with a simple but direct plea about the state of a game that stands on the precipice of the greatest growth curve in its history.
“The game is strongest when it is unified.”
After being introduced by outgoing president Fred Perpall as a man whose upbringing in golf seemingly made him “born to be president of the USGA,” Hammer thanked his parents who raised him just off the first tee at Delray Dunes in Florida, where his father Laurie was the head pro and mother Marlene ran the merchandising of the golf shop.
“I am humbled by this, and just thankful that the game has been a really driving force in my life,” said the former AJGA All-American, No. 1-ranked junior, college golfer at Florida and participant in multiple USGA championships. “I was raised in a house that felt like it was nestled at the center of the game of golf. … It is fitting that the USGA headquarters has traditionally been called Golf House, but before I knew that place existed, I thought Golf House was the house that I grew up in.”
Hammer, who has served five years on the 15-member USGA Executive Committee and is a past president of the Florida State Golf Association, committed to continuing the USGA’s expansive collection of programs, including a host of new initiatives that represent more than $300 million in spending in 2025. Hammer has led the Championship Committee and has been instrumental in the early growth of the U.S. National Development Program, which has provided funding for more than a thousand players in its first two years. He stressed that the organization responsible for everything from championships to growing the grass that makes up the playing surfaces for those tournaments, as well as your member-guest, will be “more personal, more transparent, more human, more connected, more fun.”
“We will continue to lead, we will show up, and we will listen,” he said. “We will collaborate with all stakeholders, the R&A, the PGA of America, the Masters, the LPGA Tour, PGA Tour, all of our allied golf associations, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, Golf Managers Association, the AJGA. The game is strongest when it is unified, and unity is a choice that we make every day. But the game is bigger than all of our organizations.”
Hammer, an investement advisor with Merrill Lynch for more than 25 years and currently the managing director of the firm’s Rubin, Hammer, Eaton & Conrad Wealth Management Group, is joined by two new members on the USGA executive committee, Brenda Corrie Kuehn of North Carolina and former PGA of America president Suzy Whaley, who are each beginning a three-year term.
He now leads an organization that is at the forefront of record-setting participation numbers. More than 82 million scores were posted on the USGA’s GHIN system in 2025—more than a million more than the year before from a record-setting 3.68 million golfers with a handicap index. According to its annual report, the USGA invested some $347 million in the game last year. Hammer promised to aggressively act on golf’s current moment, from simulated golf to the U.S. Adaptive Open.
“We can and we should embrace the new while protecting and coveting the traditional,” he said. “There is room for all. We love this game and we love all forms of it. In short, we believe the world is in a better place when more people are experiencing the game. That lesson is that how we play this game is a lot more important than how well we play this game. In a world of so much division, so many screens, phones, computers, too much isolation, golf is such a welcome space to breathe, to walk. To excel, to fail. To look at each other in the eye and come together.”
Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s coverage of "AEW Collision" on February 28 2026, coming to you from the Mission Ballroom in Denver, Colorado!
Thunder Rosa made her in-ring return last week when she beat Julia Hart. Following the match, Kris Statlander made the save when Skye Blue was going to attack Rosa while she was distracted by Thekla. Tonight, Rosa and Stat will team up to take on Sisters of Sin. We'll hear from the Women's Champion.
"Timeless" Toni Storm will have her first single match since early January when she faces SkyFlight's Zayda Steel for the first time. One of AEW's newest tag teams, The Brawling Birds will also be in action.
In his first match since losing the TNT Championship, Tommaso Ciampa looks to get back on track when he takes on former ROH foe, Jay Lethal.
Current TNT Champion, Kyle Fletcher will team with fellow Don Callis Family member and International Champion, Kazuchika Okada. They're going one-on-one with Top Flight. More DCF members will be in action when Rocky Romero, Trent Beretta, Josh Alexander, and Lance Archer face PAC, Wheeler Yuta, Daniel Garcia, and Claudio Castagnoli. DCF's Andrade will take on ISHII. Both men had title matches at NJPW New Beginnings on Friday night.
In a rarity on "Collision", we'll also hear from Men's World Champion, MJF following the announcement that his match against Hangman Page will be a Texas Death Match.
The 2026 IHSAA boys swimming season concluded Saturday with state finals! Central Indiana swimmers secured state titles in six out of the eight individual events. Carmel won its 12th straight team title. The Greyhounds won the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays. Here are the reactions from Indy-area winners, all results and highlights from Saturday’s races.
Team Results: Carmel, 408; Penn, 247; Homestead, 201; Center Grove, 189; Fishers, 166; Oak Hill, 111; Bloomington South, 85; FW Carroll 71
Central Indiana champions
Yi Zheng, Carmel, 200 individual medley
As soon as Zheng jumped off the blocks, the race was over. The Carmel junior and Stanford commit cruised to the finish line in the 200 individual medley, winning with a time of 1:43.92, nearly four seconds faster than runner-up, Oldenburg Academy junior Nash King (1:47.23). Zheng finished runner-up in the event last year and said adjusting to Carmel in his second season at the school helped him win. Zheng also led Carmel to victory in the 200 medley relay.
“Last year, when I first moved to Carmel, I was really trying to balance school with a new environment, swimming, and a higher training load,” Zheng said. “This year I feel like I’ve adjusted to that, and it definitely helped get to where I am now.”
Alex Koo, Fishers, 100 butterfly
The Fishers junior was behind after the first 50 yards, but eventually caught up to Center Grove’s Henry Lyness and narrowly beat the senior to capture the state title in the 100 butterfly. Koo, the fifth-ranked recruit in the Indiana class of 2027, finished with a time of 48.15. Lyness finished in second with a time of 48.59.
“I worked a lot harder this season than I did last season, so it’s more rewarding to win,” Koo said. “I was more focused, and with a lot of our seniors gone, I stepped up.”
Trent Allen, Carmel, 200 and 500 freestyle
Allen became a back-to-back state champion in the 200 and 500 freestyle Saturday, further establishing him as the Carmel junior as the best freestyle specialist in the state. The Florida commit finished the 200 with a time of 1:35.08, more than three seconds faster than his teammate, runner-up Lewis Zheng. Allen followed with a time of 4:20.02 in the 500 freestyle. Allen has his sights set on a three-peat.
”It almost feels crazy to think I can win three in a row,” Allen said. “I’ve seen the people who’ve done it. They’re all great — Olympic champions and NCAA record holders. It feels like a great way for my career to be heading.”
Lucas Ackermann, Franklin, 100 breaststroke
Ackermann was victorious in the 100 breaststroke final, finishing with a time of 53.23. In a meet dominated by Carmel, Penn and Homestead, the senior represented Franklin well. The Texas A&M commit edged out Zheng in a thrilling final and proved why he’s the top recruit in the Indiana class of 2026.
Carter Hadley, Carmel, 100 backstroke
Hadley earned his first state title when he finished with a winning time of 48.41 Saturday in the 100 backstroke final. The Carmel senior capped his career as a Greyhound on a high note. Hadley, who is committed to Southern Methodist, said he set a goal to have “fun” at his final state meet. Hadley broke his ankle in November and said the injury motivated him to persist through the season.
”I had a chip on my shoulder to persevere, and it’s taken me to where I am today,” Hadley said.
Other champions
50 freestyle: Peter Kovacs, Bloomington South, So.
100 freestyle: Kovacs
All championship final results
200 medley relay: Carmel, 1:29.24; Penn, 1:30.08; Center Grove, 1:30.44; Oak Hill, 1:33.42; Fishers, 1:33.50; FW Carroll, 1:33.52; Floyd Central, 1:34.90; Noblesville, 1:34.97
200 freestyle: Trent Allen, Carmel, Jr., 1:35.08; Lewis Zhang, Carmel, Sr., 1:38.32; Sawyer Wells, Penn, So., 1:39.27; William Lathrop, Carmel, Sr., 1:39.74; Cooper McQuiston, Oak Hill, Fr., 1:40.32; Mason Bridges, Center Grove, Jr., 1:41.19; Zach Welch, Westfield, Jr., 1:41.47; Moses Weaver, Center Grove, Jr., 1:44.14
Follow Josh Heron on twitter at @HeronReports for more high school swimming coverage. Get IndyStar's high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter.
Rodney Washington, Brandon Smith and Davien Pouncil represented McAlester boys basketball on the All-District lists.
Washington was named to the first team, Smith was on the second team and Pouncil was placed to the third team. McAlester tied for second most players represented on the teams with East Central, having three players each.
Washington averaged 21.8 points per game on 44% field goal shooting, 34% from 3-point range and 71% from the free throw line. Washington also averaged 5.1 rebounds per game and 1.5 steals per game.
The sophomore guard is racking up the accomplishments in his young career. Now on the All-District first team, Washington also amassed his 1,000th career point late in the regular season.
With so much of his high school career ahead of him, coach Lou Dawkins believes Washington will see many more awards coming his way over the years.
“One thing I do know about Rodney is that he’s mentally strong, he’s able to handle it,” Dawkins said. “You do have a lot of people who receive accolades at a very young age and can’t handle it, but Rodney is very a strong minded young man and he will continue to receive those accolades because he’s a hard worker.”
Smith has been a consistent leader on and off the court for the Buffaloes.
The junior also hit 1,000 career points this season and was named MVP of the Fort Gibson Tournament this year. One of his most notable attributes on the court is his defense, particularly his knack for nabbing steals.
In 24 games this season Smith stole the ball 88 times for an average of 3.6 per game. He even grabbed 10 in a single game at one point this year.
Dawkins wishes Smith would have been named defensive player of the year.
“I was a little disappointed – I’m not going to use the word ‘little’ – I was a lot disappointed he was not the defensive player of the year in the conference,” Dawkins said. “For a young man to be on the verge of being the all time steal leader in McAlester, I put him on the opposing team’s best player, and for a young man to get 10 steals in a game, that’s hard to do.
“Brandon is the ultimate leader on and off the basketball court and it’s rolling over into the basketball game.”
Pouncil’s presence is felt night in and out.
The junior has been a beast on the boards for McAlester, averaging 7.2 per game. He’s also been consistent on offense, averaging 11.2 points per game and hitting 50% of his shots.
“Davien is one of the hardest working young men I’ve ever coached in my life, in high school or college,” Dawkins said. “He’s a prime example of a leader who shows what leadership means by showing it out on the basketball court and in drills in practice.”
The NFL Combine’s Indianapolis crowd is still not over the exchange or lack thereof between University of Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza and Miami quarterback Carson Beck. Mendoza was met with cheers despite not throwing at the combine, while boos rained down when Beck took the field to receive throwing reps.
Mendoza and Beck’s only matchup came in Indiana’s 27-21 win over Miami. After the game, Beck received criticism for heading straight to the locker room following the loss. Beck threw for 232 yards, one touchdown, and an interception. Mendoza threw for 186 yards and capped off an undefeated season, giving the program its first national title in history.
Mendoza also won the Heisman Trophy, despite Beck being one of the early favorites for the award. Mendoza seamlessly stepped into Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti’s system after spending his first two seasons at the University of California. The 22-year-old quarterback threw for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
Beck threw for 3,813 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in his first year with Miami. He previously spent four seasons at the University of Georgia, where he sat behind Stetson Bennett and won back-to-back national championships in his first two seasons. The 23-year-old had up-and-down performances in his final two years at Georgia and transferred after undergoing season-ending UCL surgery.
Mendoza is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, while Beck is hoping an improved final season and strong testing results will be enough to help him rise up draft boards in a quarterback class where the depth has been questioned.
The Dallas Cowboys have the rare honor of picking twice in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft. For their first pick they have a shortlist of worthy candidates to consider. This year’s draft looks abnormally devoid of top tier prospects making it a bad time to be picking early and volatile to anyone trying to predict who to target down the road.
Looking at 20 we can see even a greater degree of unknown facing the Cowboys. With needs on defense and the strength of the draft being defensive end, it’s not crazy to see three defensive ends on the Cowboys’ probability list.
Cashius Howell (10.1%), Keldric Faulk (10.7%) and Akheem Mesidor (8%) are the most likely individuals to be the pick, but their odds pale in comparison to the field which has a 73.5% of being the pick. That means it’s more likely to be someone else entirely.
Bull rushing pass rusher T.J. Parker from Clemson has a 41% shot at being there at 20. Safety Emmanuel McNeil Warren a 32% chance. 32% chance for Georgia linebacker C.J. Allen. And cornerback Avieon Terrell a 29% chance.
Player specific odds the three favorites will be there at 20 are decent but they grow, obviously, if Dallas decides to target them earlier. Cashius Howell has just a 35% chance of being there at 20 but a 62% chance of being there at 12. Would the Cowboys reach early to secure their guy? Faulk has a 32% chance of being there at 20 but a 55% chance at 12. Mesidor has a 38% chance of being there at 20 but a 66% chance at 12.
All of these odds are sure to change as big boards change across the league, but this is an excellent starting point to anyone hoping to find some degree of certainty in a very uncertain environment such as the draft.
AMES, Iowa — Donovan Atwell scored 18 points to lead No. 16 Texas Tech to an 82-73 victory over No. 4 Iowa State on Saturday that sent the Cyclones to their first home loss of the season.
Iowa State (24-5, 11-5 Big 12) was 15-0 at Hilton Coliseum before the Red Raiders (22-7, 12-4) came in and ended the streak, building a 20-point first-half run and fighting off a second-half surge by the Cyclones.
Texas Tech, playing the rest of the season without JT Toppin, the reigning Big 12 player of the year, stayed in a second-place tie with Houston, two games behind leader Arizona, heading into the final week of the regular season. Iowa State dropped into a tie for fourth with Kansas.
Atwell, who ranks second nationally in 3-pointers per game and third in 3-pointers made, was 6 of 10 from behind the arc.
Atwell was one of six Red Raiders who scored in double figures. Christian Anderson had 14 points, Luke Bamgboye had 13 points, Jaylen Petty had 12 and Tyeree Bryan and Josiah Moseley each had 10.
Joshua Jefferson led the Cyclones with 22 points. Milan Momcilovic had 20 points and Tamin Lipsey added 13.
Iowa State rallied to get within 65-59 with 7:08 to play. But Texas Tech went on a 10-0 run, capped by a layup by Bryan with 3:20 left.
The Cyclones made one final run, an 11-0 spurt in the final two minutes to get within 79-73, before the Red Raiders closed it out.
Texas Tech led 45-29 at halftime, a lead built by a 20-2 run midway through the half in which the Red Raiders made 9 of 10 field goals.
The Cyclones have one game remaining in what has been a six-game stretch that included matchups against five ranked teams. They are 3-2 in the stretch heading into Monday’s game at No. 2 Arizona.
The NFL knows how to maximize viewership on every day of the football calendar. As such, it's no surprise that it saved the quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers for Saturday's NFL Scouting Combine festivities.
Fernando Mendoza, Jeremiyah Love, and a stacked class of wide receivers will headline the event, but it's the depth behind them that makes this crop so exciting. There's an open race for RB2, plenty of room for movement under center, and dozens of receivers vying for draft capital.
Their performance, both during athletic testing and position drills, will matter to NFL evaluators, giving us a glimpse into how stocks can change in an instant.
We'll keep track of the best and worst performances from Day 3 of Combine drills as we race our way to the 2026 NFL Draft.
Live winners and losers from the NFL Combine
Winner: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
That didn't take long. Love's run was highly anticipated, particularly regarding the 4.40 threshold. He cleared it with relative ease, posting a 4.36 40-yard dash. There was little debate about Love's ability to hit the home run, but confirming that he has Jahmyr Gibbs-level explosiveness is helping make the case that he's more than just RB1.
He's firmly in the discussion to be a better prospect than last year's No. 6 pick, Ashton Jeanty, and comparable to Saquon Barkley and Bijan Robinson from recent years. This is a special prospect, and while his 40-yard dash couldn't do much to improve his stock, it was an exciting moment of confirmation bias.
Loser: Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska
Johnson's game is built around explosiveness within structure and an ability to match his footwork and vision to win between the tackles. That left the door open for some minor concerns about his ability to hit home runs at the next level.
He didn't help himself out during the 40-yard dash.
Johnson's 4.56-second 40-yard dash wasn't disastrous by any means. But it was the slowest of the group (partly a selection bias issue), and certainly wasn't ideal when matched with a 202-pound frame. It's reminiscent of Kaleb Johnson from last year, whose disappointing Combine performance reignited concerns about his big-play proclivity.
Winner: Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas
Nobody helped their stock more during the 40-yard dash portion of the RB workout than Washington, who let the tears flow after a potentially life-changing run.
At 6'1", 223 pounds, Washington was the fourth-biggest back at the Combine. He was also the fastest. His 4.33-second 40-yard dash was elite, and adjusting for size makes it one of the most impressive marks of the weekend. That alone is enough to be a draft pick, and there's no doubt he's moving up boards as we speak. It was the definition of a "call the family" moment, and he took full advantage.
Winner: Seth McGowan, RB, Kentucky
As much attention as the 40-yard dash gets, it's not the end-all, be-all. In fact, there's an argument to be made that explosiveness proxies are even more important.
That takes us to the vertical and broad jumps, meant to showcase how springy athletes can be and how much power their lower halves provide. McGowan led the pack of running backs in both jumps, posting a 42.5-inch vertical and 10'11" broad jump. Likewise, both of his jumps were at least three inches better than the next-best back, generating 98th- and 97th-percentile marks, respectively.
For teams that value short-area burst over long speed, McGowan's Combine will make a difference.
Winner: Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas
The Combine is an underwhelming event under center. Many quarterbacks don't throw, and even more don't care to run, skewing numbers and making for a shorter circuit.
Green, who had legitimate room to move up boards, took full advantage.
Taylen Green continues his impressive combine with a 4.37u 😮💨🔥
He set the Combine record for quarterback vertical jumps with an incredible 43.5-inch leap. On the fast track, his 4.37 40-yard dash would be an elite number for any position. It left every other quarterback in the dust on Saturday. Mobility has always been a big part of his game, but proving it's truly 80-grade should only help his stock.
Loser: Jalon Daniels, QB, Kansas
Daniels, as a Day 3 hopeful with promising athletic tools, had a similar challenge to Green. Where the Arkansas quarterback showed out, the Kansas passer was overshadowed.
Daniels' 4.66-second 40-yard dash would be an 80th-percentile mark, rather than the elite number he was looking for. As a less proven passer than Green, Daniels' athleticism is paramount to his stock. If he's not running at the next level, there's little path to success. Daniels didn't jump, either, leaving some questions for his pro day later this spring.
Loser: Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
While his teammate blazed his way to a strong Combine day, Fields was far less impressive. He was never going to challenge Love for the fastest member of the Fighting Irish, but posting the slowest time for the first batch of receivers (4.61 seconds) remained underwhelming.
Fields' 6'4" frame made him a catch-point specialist who doesn't need elite speed to win at the next level. But the reason his stock blossomed late in the cycle was due to optimism about his athletic upside and well-rounded game. That didn't come to fruition on Saturday, and his jumps suggested merely pedestrian burst.
Winner: Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
Branch, at 5085 and 177 pounds, is tiny. That's not new information. But with an insanely heavy dosage of screens, there are both physical and production questions in his profile.
Branch needed a sub-4.40 time to stay in the top-100 conversation. Guys of his size don't work without elite speed, especially in roles that demand more than just gadget usage. At 4.36 seconds, Branch checked that box, suggesting that he has enough juice to succeed in an ancillary role and perhaps a little more upside to unlock. It wasn't the kind of run that dramatically changed his trajectory, but staying afloat in a crowded class of receivers is a victory in itself.
He also looked smooth during the gauntlet drill, giving some positive signals to his hands and coordination.
Winner: Jeff Caldwell, WR, Cincinnati
Every so often, a receiver comes around with the height/weight/speed combination that makes deities jealous. This year, it's Cincinnati receiver Jeff Caldwell.
At 6'5", 216 pounds, Caldwell is well-positioned to make noise in Indianapolis. When it came time to test, he met the moment. His 4.31-second 40-yard dash was second among receivers in the early going. His 10-yard split led the group. He jumped out of the building, too, posting the second-best vertical jump (42 inches) and best broad jump (11'2") at the position.
It's a recipe for a 10.0 RAS score and upward momentum heading into pro day season.
Winner: Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State
It's always nice to see small-school and lower-level prospects showing up to the Combine and matching, if not surpassing, their Power 4 peers. Payton stood out as an athlete at the FCS level and continued to look the part in Indianapolis.
His vertical (40 inches) and broad (10'10") jumps were both second among quarterbacks, trailing only the aforementioned Green.
Payton then ran a 4.56-second 40-yard dash, a 92nd-percentile mark that cements him as one of the more athletic passing prospects in recent memory. There are questions to answer regarding his level of competition, and as a lefty their may be additional hesitancy. Payton may have made himself money before the throwing portion of his evening.
Loser: Emmanuel Henderson Jr., WR, Kansas
Henderson ran earlier in the day and posted a good time (4.48 seconds). However, the 185-pound receiver struggled through the rest of the circuit.
He posted an average (35-inch) vertical jump and underwhelmed on the broad jump (10'), posting the third-worst mark of the group. During position drills, Henderson struggled, particularly on the gauntlet drill, where he struggled to stay on the line and wasn't great at the catch point.
Winner: Ja'Kobi Lane, WR, USC
Lane is a fairly polarizing prospect because of his big-bodies archetype. Winning at the catch point is cool, but if he's turning lucrative opportunities into contested catches, it's because he can't separate.
Running a fast 40 was a good way to put those concerns to rest, and a 4.47-second 40-yard dash was better than I anticipated. He's another prospect who may not have raised his stock, but he certainly didn't hurt it, either. That's half the battle, and getting under the 4.50 threshold was promising.
It's worth noting that he also looked great during the gauntlet drill.
Winner: Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State
Thompson didn't break the 40-yard dash record as many had hoped, but when you post the fastest time of the weekend (sorry, offensive linemen), it goes down as a good day.
Thompson needs every bit of that speed to make an impact at 5'9" and 164 pounds. That kind of burst allows him to be a multi-level threat, taking designed touches to the house and taking the top off of defenses.
Loser: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Tate came into Indianapolis as a headliner. Nothing went horribly wrong for Tate; his only athletic testing was the 40-yard dash. However, at 4.53 seconds, Tate slightly underperformed.
Carnell Tate at 4.54 is surprisingly slower than expected. When weight adjusted: bottom 11th percentile.
My pre-combine comp was George Pickens: 4.47 vs. 4.54 6'3"/195 vs. 6'2"/192
While coming in a tick or two shorter than anticipated, not breaking the 4.50 threshold is mildly concerning. His stock won't take much of a hit -- he may still be WR1 come April. But a better performance would have helped make the case for him as a truly elite receiver prospect. Perhaps that leaves some work for him to do at Ohio State's pro day.
Nate Ament, Tennessee basketball's standout freshman forward, left the No. 22 Vols' game against No. 18 Alabama on Feb. 28 with an apparent lower body injury.
The team said he was being evaluated for a right leg injury.
Ament dove for a loose ball with 7:42 remaining in the first half of the game at Food City Center. The 6-foot-10 forward bent backward and his leg was caught under other players while fighting for possession on the floor. He stood up and walked to the locker room under his own power.
Ament had not scored and was 0-of-4 from the floor. He had three offensive rebounds in eight minutes of play.
Feb 24, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson talks to referee Suyash Mehta (82) during the second half against the New York Knicks at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
At the same time, they were on the wrong end of several critical calls that ended up costing them the game, according to the league’s Last Two Minute Report.
The league admitted that there were four incorrect calls in the last two minutes of regulation and the last two minutes of overtime. Three of the missed calls benefited Detroit and played a large role in them coming away with the win. Let’s review each of these missed calls.
First, Jaylon Tyson’s turnover with just under two minutes left that helped spur Detroit’s comeback shouldn’t have happened. A review of the play indicates that Jalen Duran fouled Jarrett Allen when he attempted to make the pass.
Here is the league’s comment for the missed call: “Duren’s (DET) hand slides off the ball and initiates contact with Allen’s (CLE) wrist, affecting his ability to make his intended pass. The illegal contact causes the errant pass.”
The Cavs were firmly in control of the game at this time, and Cade Cunningham had just fouled out. If this is called on Duran, as it should’ve been, then the game probably ends in a much more anticlimactic way.
The second missed call forced Allen to miss the rest of the fourth quarter and overtime. Allen was whistled for a shooting foul against Duran, which led to free throws with 48 seconds remaining.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can buy the Jarrett Allen Fro shirt HERE. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE.
The report states: “Allen (CLE) makes contact with the ball and legally blocks Duren’s (DET) shot attempt at the basket.”
This missed call cost the Cavs the most. It meant that they had to play the rest of the game without their best player that evening, and the Pistons received two points in what should’ve been an empty possession. This call was the one that the Cavs’ locker room most vocally disagreed with afterward, even though Allen took the high road.
“You know, everybody’s biased, I don’t think so,” Allen said when asked afterward if he felt the block on Duren was a foul. “But obviously the refs have different angles, so I’m not going to complain about it.”
The Cavs weren’t able to challenge this missed call since they had already won two challenges earlier in the game. However, if this play had been reviewed, the officials would’ve likely overturned the call on the floor. It was pretty clear that Allen didn’t foul Duren.
The third missed call was the only one that benefited the Cavs.
Cleveland shouldn’t have been awarded the ball when Marcus Sasser knocked the ball out of Tyson’s hand shortly after he came down with an offensive rebound off of Craig Porter Jr.’s missed free throw with under 10 seconds left in regulation.
The report states: “Sasser (DET) cleanly dislodges the ball from Tyson (CLE) and Tyson is the last player to touch the ball before it goes out of bounds. Possession should be awarded to the Pistons.”
This missed call gave Evan Mobley a chance to win the game at the line. If he made both, it would’ve been a two-possession game, but he split them, giving Detroit a chance to tie the game on their final possession.
The last errant call happened at the end of overtime. Sam Merrill should’ve been awarded three free throws after Sasser closed out too hard while trying to contest a potential game-tying three with 18 seconds in overtime.
The report states: Sasser (DET) contests Merrill’s (CLE) jump shot attempt and initiates illegal lower-body contact following the release of the shot attempt.
This was the most egregious missed call of the four. I’m not sure how this wasn’t called a shooting foul at the time. Sasser wrongly went under the screen and closed out way too hard. This is a foul at every level of basketball.
It’s worth noting that the league agreed with the call on the floor that Daniss Jenkins was attempting a half-court shot when Tyson fouled him with the Cavs up three with less than five seconds remaining. The report says that Jenkins was in the upward shooting motion when Tyson contacted him.
The Cavs had chances to win this road game, and still should’ve even though these calls went against them. However, if any of the three missed calls that went against the Cavs were called correctly on the floor, the outcome of this game would’ve been different.
Tonight, WWE returns to the ESPN app for its latest premium live event, Elimination Chamber. The 2026 edition of the event kicks off at 7 PM ET, and we will bring you live results and highlights throughout the evening.
The card inside Chicago’s United Center will, of course, feature this year’s men’s and women’s Elimination Chamber matches to set up the opponents for WWE Champion Drew McIntyre and Women’s WWE Champion Jade Cargill at WrestleMania 42.
However, Becky Lynch will also put her Intercontinental belt on the line versus bitter rival AJ Lee, and CM Punk will defend the World Heavyweight title against Finn Balor. With all of that in mind, you can find all the results, top highlights, and match grades for Saturday’s Elimination Chamber card.
WWE Elimination Chamber results & highlights
Women’s Elimination Chamber match – Rhea Ripley vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Asuka vs. Kiana James vs. Raquel Rodriguez
Winner:
Grade:
World Heavyweight Championship – CM Punk vs. Finn Balor
Winner:
Grade:
Women’s Intercontinental Championship – Becky Lynch vs. AJ Lee
Winner:
Grade:
Men’s Elimination Chamber match – Randy Orton vs. LA Knight vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Trick Williams vs. Logan Paul
Real American Freestyle (RAF) returns TONIGHT (Sat., Feb. 28, 2026) with its sixth event, streaming live from Mullett Arena at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.
In the RAF 06 main event, former Olympic gold medalist and former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo laces up his wrestling shoes once again to battle former three-time UFC title challenger and UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber in a highly anticipated freestyle showdown.
The co-main event features top UFC Lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan, who takes on Georgio Poullas. And in another compelling crossover matchup, former UFC champions Aljamain Sterling and Benson Henderson collide on short notice in what should be a fan-friendly scrap.
RAF 06 kicks off at 9 p.m. ET and airs exclusively on FOX Nation.
Below, you’ll find live results, highlights, and discussion throughout the evening.
Liam Rosenior would be looking for weakness in the Arsenal team tomorrow
Liam Rosenior has expressed admiration for the quality within the Arsenal squad, suggesting the team possesses very few weaknesses. His comments come ahead of the Gunners’ highly anticipated clash with Chelsea, a fixture of major significance for both sides.
Chelsea is aware of the importance of avoiding defeat, particularly as they continue their push for a top-four finish. Although they have largely met expectations this season, inconsistency has prevented them from fully cementing their position among the league’s elite.
Title Pressure Intensifies
Arsenal, meanwhile, are targeting the Premier League crown and believe they have the quality required to secure it. However, they have dropped several points in recent weeks and must now establish a sustained winning run if they are to withstand the pressure from Manchester City.
Chelsea are equally motivated, as they remain locked in competition with Liverpool and Manchester United for a Champions League place. Securing a positive result at the Emirates would therefore serve their ambitions while simultaneously complicating Arsenal’s title pursuit.
(Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Rosenior on Arsenal’s Strengths
Rosenior has faced Arsenal twice in 2026 and understands the challenge his team must overcome. Speaking as reported by Arsenal Media, he acknowledged the strength and structure of Arteta’s squad.
“Whether [Arsenal] compress really high, they have compact shape in the low blocks, they are fantastic defensively, obviously set-plays, they are well-coached and they play very good football as well. They are a very good team and that is why they are in the situation they are in at the moment. It is my job and the players’ job to try to find that weakness and try to enjoy what is going to be a really, really big game on Sunday.”
His remarks underline the scale of the task facing Chelsea, as both teams prepare for a pivotal encounter.
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BARCELONA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 28: Hansi Flick, head coach of FC Barcelona, greets Marcelino, head coach of Villarreal CF, during the Spanish league, LaLiga EA Sports, football match played between FC Barcelona and Villarreal CF at Spotify Camp Nou stadium on February 28, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo By Javier Borrego/Europa Press via Getty Images) | Europa Press via Getty Images
It’s a good win for the Catalan giants, although tempers did flare on the touchline in the second half between Flick and Villarreal boss Marcelino.
Flick picked up a booking for his troubles and was grilled on the incident afterwards.
“We talked about it afterwards outside. In the end, fair play is when a player is on the ground and you kick the ball out of play,” he told reporters.
“We did it once, maybe twice, and at that moment Lamine was lying on the ground, I expected that from the opponent, and that’s what I told him.
“But emotions run high, it happens. He’s doing a great job with this team and I respect him a lot. After the game, it’s forgotten; it’s just the moment. I got the yellow card for that, and I deserved it.”
Flick also took time out to praise his team for a good display against the Yellow Submarine.
“It was important for us to play at this level; we needed the confidence,” he added.
“In the first half, we could have scored one or two more goals. I’m very happy with the result and the performance; everyone gave their best and I enjoyed watching it.”
Barcelona now switch focus to Atletico in the Copa del Rey, with Flick admitting: “Everyone knows that scoring four goals against Atlético is not easy, but we will fight, we will not give up and we will see what happens on Tuesday.”
Brandon Moreno celebrates winning UFC Flyweight title - Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s coverage of UFC Fight Night 268, headlined by Brandon Moreno against Lone'er Kavanagh in flyweight action and emanating from the Arena CDMX in Mexico City.
Tonight will mark the promotion's eighth visit to Mexico City, with the last event seeing Moreno beat Steve Erceg via unanimous decision in the main event. Moreno will be looking to return to winning ways, having lost his last bout in August last year, against stand-in Kavanagh, who was himself undefeated in nine before losing in August last year.
Moreno had initially been planned to fight Asu Almabayev, but he withdrew due to a hand injury. Kavanagh had to pull out of his scheduled bout against Bruno Gustavo da Silva in March to fight tonight. Moreno is a former two-time UFC Flyweight Champion, having last held the title in 2023.
Moreno will be joined by five other Mexican nationals representing the crowd tonight; Santiago Luna will face Angel Pacheco at bantamweight, Imanol Rodriguez faces Kevin Borjas and Edgar Chairez faces Felipe Bunes at flyweight, followed by Daniel Zellhuber against King Green at lightweight, and finally David Martinez faces Marlon Vera at bantamweight.
The main card featuring the aforementioned fights will follow up the preliminary fights and is slated to begin at 8 PM ET. It will be available to watch on Paramount+ for those in the US or UFC Fight Pass internationally.
Gregor Kobel (on Sky): “Today, they (Bayern, ed.) showed extreme quality in front of goal. We showed great fight. I think we gave it our all. We tried to get the fans behind us, to be physical, to make it difficult for them. We managed to do that for a long time, but in the end they are just very, very good in front of goal – that’s frustrating and incredibly painful.” (br)
Further reactions will follow in the course of the evening.
Jim Nantz. Credit: Chris Condon/PGA TOUR via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
On Feb. 25, 2026, CBS’ Jim Nantz made an appearance on the Vanity Index podcast hosted by Chad Mumm and Wells Adams
During the episode, the 66-year-old sports commentator discussed the emotional origins of his iconic tagline
After 24 years of saying ‘Hello, Friends’ on television, Nantz revealed that it has something to do with his late father
For decades, Jim Nantz's voice has been synonymous with the biggest moments in sports. From the Masters to the Super Bowl, his steady cadence has welcomed viewers into living rooms across America. And nearly every broadcast begins the same way: “Hello, friends.”
The line has become one of the most recognizable greetings in television history, warm and familiar, like an old companion settling in beside you. But as Nantz recently revealed, the phrase carries a deeply personal meaning that traces back to his father’s long battle with Alzheimer’s.
“I'm by his bedside [in 2002], and I mentioned to him that, hey, I'm in Minnesota this weekend for the PGH Championship. And when I come on the air, I'm gonna look into that camera, and I'm gonna say, ‘Hello, friends,’ and that's for you, Dad, 'cause you have nothing but friends,” Nantz said on a recent episode of the Vanity Index podcast.
Jim Nantz. Credit: Carmen Mandato/Getty
While sharing the full story with hosts Chad Mumm, creator of Netflix’s Full Swing, and Wells Adams, a former contestant on The Bachelorette, the 66-year-old said that at the time, the phrase was supposed to be a private signal between him and his father, Jim Nantz Jr.
When the sportscaster delivered the words on air from Hazeltine in 2002, he imagined his dad watching back home in Houston, catching that fleeting connection. “I thought it was a one-and-done, to be honest,” he admitted. But a colleague at CBS encouraged him to keep it.
As a result, he repeated the tagline the next day and what began as a quiet message became a signature heard across golf tournaments, Final Fours, and football’s biggest stage.
“And some people, I think, think it's some sort of attempt, lame attempt to try to have a signature phrase or line – had nothing to do with that,” Nantz emphasized. “It all had to do with trying to communicate with my father.”
Jim Nantz alongside Travis Kelce. Credit: Rob Carr/Getty
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Nantz Jr. died in 2008 after a 13-year fight with Alzheimer’s. Yet every time Nantz looks into the camera and says those familiar words, he says he still feels that connection again.
“I say hello, friends, and I think of my dad watching down on me, and it relaxes me, and I fall into the flow of the show,” he said on the podcast. “So that's the story.”
MIAMI – This time the Miami Heat got closing time right.
After blown fourth-quarter leads in the previous two games, road losses to the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers, Erik Spoelstra’s team this time held its ground in a 115-105 victory Saturday over the Houston Rockets at Kaseya Center.
Unable to score at the close in Milwaukee and Philadelphia, the Heat got solid closing play from Pelle Larsson to record one of their more impressive victories of the season.
The game was the first of at least four for the Heat without All-Star guard Norman Powell, who on Friday was diagnosed with a strained right groin that has him listed as week-to-week.
In addition, the Heat lost forward Andrew Wiggins for an extended span in the second half for eight stitches inside his mouth, after taking an elbow to the face during an offensive foul by Rockets center Alperen Şengün. Wiggins returned with 9:28 to play.
The Heat got 24 points and 11 rebounds from Bam Adebayo, 13 points and 15 rebounds from Kel’el Ware, 20 points from Larsson and 18 from Tyler Herro. Kevin Durant led the Rockets with 32 points.
Five degrees of heat from Saturday’s game:
— Game flow: The Heat led 32-28 after the end of the first period, after overcoming an early 10-point Rockets lead.
The Heat then went up 13 in the second period before Houston closed the half with a 52-51 lead.
In the third, there then was an early eight-point Heat lead, but the advantage was reduced to 85-83 entering the fourth.
The Heat again went up eight, taking a 100-92 lead with 6:10 to play on a Larsson 3-pointer. But with the Rockets then closing within three, Wiggins gave the Heat some wiggle room with a 3-point play with 2:24 to play for an eight-point advantage.
— Herro from start: With Powell sidelined, Herro made his first start since Jan. 15 and his 12th of his abbreviated season, in an opening lineup rounded out by Adebayo, Wiggins, Davion Mitchell and Larsson.
That lineup entered 0-2.
“Tyler, for sure is a guy who’s already starting to get in that rhythm,” Spoelstra said pregame, “we need it.”
The game was the fifth back for Herro after missing the previous 15 with a rib injury. He closed 8 of 12 from the field.
— As for Norm: Powell’s groin strain has him listed as week to week, with Spoelstra essentially confirming pregame that Powell also will miss at least the next three games.
“I feel for Norm because he wants to be out there for all the games, especially these moments, you know, right now,” Spoelstra said, “But we’ll treat him and we’ll see where he is after the week.”
Spoelstra did not hide from the sobering reality.
“Well, we know what we miss with Norm,” he said of his All-Star guard, “I mean, he’s proven this year that he’s an explosive scorer in our system. But we have other guys who can step up.”
4. Adebayo/Ware: Largely reluctant lately to play big men Adebayo and Ware together, Spoelstra did just that from the end of the first period into the second, even after Adebayo picked up his second foul.
The initial pairing ended when Adebayo checked out with 8:33 left in the second period, with the Heat up 41-28, the Heat outscoring the Rockets by 16 during that stint. But as soon as Adebayo checked out, the Rockets went on a 7-0 run.
The two again were on the court late in the third period, but that time only for 90 seconds, with the Heat outscored by three. But when Adebayo returned in the fourth, it again was alongside Ware for closing time.
Adebayo and Ware had played just 40 seconds together in Thursday night’s road loss to the 76ers and two minutes together in Tuesday night’s road loss to the Bucks.
— The Bam boost: For his part, Adebayo for a third consecutive game converted multiple 3-pointers, largely having his way against the defense of the Rockets’ Şengun.
Adebayo was coming off a 29-point, 14-rebound performance in Thursday night’s loss to the 76ers.
Adebayo reached his 24th double-double of the season with 4:40 left in the third period.
He closed 9 of 17 from the field, including 3 of 5 on 3-pointers.
BVB fight to the end, but Bayern celebrate 3-2 win in headline match
Personnel matters There were five changes to the BVB line-up compared to the match against Atalanta during the week: Nico Schlotterbeck, Yan Couto, Marcel Sabitzer, Karim Adeyemi and Fabio Silva started in place of Ramy Bensebaini, Julian Ryerson, Jobe Bellingham, Julian Brandt and Serhou Guirassy. In addition to top scorer Ryerson (11 assists), who was suspended after receiving one too many yellow cards, Carney Chukwuemeka (muscle problems), Niklas Süle and Filippo Mane were also missing.
The matchThe Black & Yellows got off to a nervy start and spent the first 10 to 15 minutes on the back foot against dominant visitors who were practically playing in a 2-4-4 formation with extremely high full-backs. Even after the initial flurry, BVB were largely forced to defend. Frustratingly, any hard-won possession was quickly squandered by simple mistakes.
The shot count was 0-5 after 25 minutes – then Borussia took the lead with their first shot on goal! And as so often – in the eighth game in a row – a set piece helped: Nico Schlotterbeck headed Daniel Svensson's free kick into the net (26). Captain Emre Can had to receive lengthy treatment after a push from Konrad Laimer (40), but was able to continue until shortly before the half-time whistle. Ramy Bensebaini was already ready to come on as a substitute at the interval, but ended up coming on before the break and played on the right of the back three for the first time.
The second half was a thrilling affair. Felix Nmecha played in Svensson (50) and Maximilian Beier (53) with some fine passes, but neither of them could capitalise on the opportunities. Instead of Dortmund scoring a second, Harry Kane made it 1-1: Joshua Kimmich intercepted a short clearance, chipped the ball to Serge Gnabry on the left side of the box, who squared it to the Munich striker with his head, who then only had to tap it in (54).
The visitors from Munich continued to have more possession, but the Black & Yellows kept pushing forward, creating further good chances for Maximilian Beier (56) and Yan Couto (65). The ratio of shots was 4-4 in the second half at that point. Then Michael Olise sent Josip Stanisic into the penalty area on the right, who cut inside Schlotterbeck and took advantage of his outstretched leg to sell the ‘contact’ and go to ground. Penalty, Kane against Gregor Kobel, who got a hand to it but couldn't prevent the ball from going in (70).
Niko Kovac responded with a triple substitution: Samuele Inacio made his Bundesliga debut, while Brandt and Bellingham came on for Beier, Nmecha and Adeyemi (75). And BVB fought back. Couto pushed forward, Sabitzer crossed, Guirassy couldn't get to the ball in the centre, but Svensson did, scoring a spectacular goal to make it 2-2 (83). Shortly afterwards, Brandt teed up Guirassy, who narrowly missed the target. Instead of 3-2 for Dortmund, however, it was 3-2 for Munich. Bellingham's header from Olise's cross didn't clear far enough, and Kimmich was on hand to volley home (87).
OutlookNext Saturday, also at 18:30 CET, Borussia Dortmund will face 1. FC Köln (live on Sky).
VILLANOVA, PA - FEBRUARY 25: Villanova Wildcats guard Tyler Perkins (4) celebrates a score during the men's college basketball game between the Butler Bulldogs and Villanova Wildcats on February 25, 2026, at Finneran Pavilion in Villanova, PA. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Villanova Wildcats 22-6 (13-4) at #15 St. John’s 22-6 (15-2)
Where: Madison Square Garden (New York, NY)
When: Saturday, February 28 at 8:00 PM
Betting Line: Villanova +7.5 (subject to change)
How to Watch: FOX
How to Listen: Villanova Sports Radio Network
Net Rankings: Villanova 30, St. John’s 24 (Quad 1)
HOUSTON — The Texas baseball team will have to go through an old Big 12 opponent if the Longhorns want to score their 10th consecutive victory to open the season.
The Longhorns are set to play Baylor Saturday night at Daikin Park as part of the Bruce Bolt College Classic. Both teams won their first games of the tournament. Texas (9-0) thumped No. 9 Coastal Carolina, 8-1, while the Bears (6-3) took down another previously unbeaten SEC team, topping No. 11 Ole Miss, 6-5, in 10 innings.
Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) puts his “horns up” after hitting a home run in the first inning as the Longhorns play the UTRGV Vaqueros at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Feb. 24, 2026. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)
It'll be the 376th all-time meeting between the two programs. The Longhorns have won 257 of those games.
Texas Longhorns pitcher Luke Harrison (53) pitches during the second inning as the Texas Longhorns take on the Florida Gators, May 10, 2025. (Sara Diggins/American-Statesman)
If they're going to make it 258, they'll likely need a good start from Luke Harrison, who has pitched to a 3.86 ERA this season over two starts. Baylor will be giving the ball to its own lefthander, Ethan Calder. An Austin native and product of Lake Travis High School, Calder has not yet allowed a run this season in 8⅔ innings of work.
Sebastian Kehl (in the mixed zone): “It was a top game for everyone involved. Both teams contributed to that. I think it’s great how the team reacted after Wednesday’s game. It shows that we’ve processed it well. In the end, this game probably didn’t deserve a winner. It’s a shame we didn’t get a point here because we put in a really good performance overall.”
Nico Schlotterbeck (on Sky): “It was an all-in game for us. You can’t accuse us of not doing enough. We tried everything, but unfortunately we didn’t manage to get it done. In the end, Bayern scored one more goal. It was very, very slight contact (for the penalty, ed.). Of course, we would have liked to have had a penalty too. It’s just annoying to lose here. It looks like we’ve lost our captain as well. It just didn’t work out today.”
(in the mixed zone): “It was a close game, an exciting game. It’s disappointing to lose. Small differences decided the game. Of course, they scored one more goal than us, but overall I think the game was evenly matched, it was exciting. I got a good ball from Sabi and then just tried to strike it in (about his goal to make it 2-2, ed.). It was a good goal. But ultimately, the only thing that counts is that we get points for the team, and today we didn’t get any.”
Gregor Kobel (on Sky): “It was the little things that made the difference. In the end, we were centimetres away (from the penalty with Harry Kane, ed.). Today, they (Bayern) showed extreme quality in front of goal. We put up a great fight. We gave everything. We tried to get the fans behind us, to be physical, to make it difficult for them. We managed to do that for a long time, but in the end they are just very, very good in front of goal – that’s frustrating and incredibly painful.”
The Charlotte Hornets continue to be one of the most impressive teams in the league over the past few months. They sit in the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 30-31 record and they have a four-game winning streak.
They were impressive before the trade deadline in February, but they made even more improvements by trading with the Chicago Bulls for Coby White. Now, he looks like a natural fit with the current rotation.
White has found it easy to play with the Hornets
Before the trade, the Hornets had Collin Sexton, who was quite good for the team. However, getting White is the better option because he is a more natural fit with the Hornets' system under head coach Charles Lee.
White is a bigger player, but he still has upside with his scoring, playmaking, and defense. At the same time, White is a hometown player, as he was born, raised, and played college basketball in North Carolina.
Lee is glad that everyone is loving how the Hornets are playing these days. That is boosted even more by how White has been such a seamless addition to the Hornets roster after the trade.
"Between the competitive spirit and wanting to have togetherness on and off the court, he embodies that. I think that we see his competitiveness on both ends of the floor," Lee said after beating the Blazers on Saturday.
"When he's on the bench, he's engaged, being a vocal leader, he's been through a lot of experiences. Our guys respect him as a player, but also as a professional."
The Hornets nearly have a .500 record, and they are on pace to get past that. They have been excellent in 2026, and they have found their stride with their core trio of Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, and LaMelo Ball.
Adding White to that core is the cherry on top, as they have a high-octane offense that will only get better with the abundance of talent they have on the roster.
At Circuit of the Americas in NASCAR O'Reilly Series Auto Parts, all eyes were on teammates Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch. They shared the front row, and were the clear favorites for the win.
While SVG drove off with the race win, Zilisch limped home to a 21st place finish. That followed a race where he struggled with brake issues, spent an extended period in the pits, and then got wrecked in the final laps of the race.
Zilisch had driven from the very back of the field to run fourth in the final five laps of the race. He was battling Hendrick Motorsports rookie Corey Day for position as they exited Turn 2 with Zilisch on the outside. Day appeared to try and slide up behind him, but made contact and sent Zilisch spinning wildly off the track.
In frustration, Zilisch radioed that Day was a 'hack' as he rejoined the field, losing over 15 positions and sustaining nose damage.
Day went on to finish fifth, scoring back-to-back top fives at the start of his rookie campaign. In isolation, that looks very impressive, but he was at the epicenter of some controversy at both Atlanta and now COTA.
"Yeah, I mean, I think everybody saw what happened," said Zilisch after climbing from the car. "You know, I don't need to explain myself, but really unfortunate. Our Chevrolet was really fast. We had to change the left rear brake and the entire caliper. I hate that it ended like that for us. We were gonna finish top five there and the same guy that does this every week, does this. Hopefully he can figure it out but yeah, unfortunate. I
"It was a lot of fun, we made up a lot of ground and we were one of the fastest cars all day long. All I want is an apology, but the guy just stands over there and stares at me, and just makes it worse, but he'll figure it out and you know, we'll go on tomorrow. I'm trying to have a better day tomorrow.
"All I want is an apology but the guy just stands over there and stares at me and that just makes it worse."
Day then gave his side of the story, noting that issues with his car may have been a factor in the incident.
"They (the team) haven't really got a great diagnosis on it yet, but we had some part of the pan over the front end come loose or something and, I lost just a lot of my platform and my front turn there and it was really difficult there in any high speed corner. Just really nose up, splitter's not close to the ground, so I was struggling for turn.
"Yeah, he [Zilisch] got right in front of me there and as soon as he did and crossed over my nose, I lost a little bit of what I had left, and he got in front of me where I was going to be. So yeah, I'm going to get no sympathy for that I guess, (based) off my track record, but it wasn't intentional. I didn't want to wreck him or have that happen."
As for Zilisch's request for apology an apology, Day didn't sound opposed to it. "I got no problem going over there and talking to him," said Day. "It was my mistake, whether I had a broken race car or not, so, you know, I'll own up to it. I will apologize, no problem."
The Los Angeles Lakers will try to stop a three-game losing streak and get back on track when they visit the Golden State Warriors on Saturday. They hold a 34-24 record, and another loss would put them dangerously close to falling into seventh place in the Western Conference.
While the Warriors won't have Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler or newcomer Kristaps Porziņģis, they still have to be considered a dangerous team. Meanwhile, while the Lakers will have all three of their stars available, one of their key rotation players won't play in this game.
Forward Rui Hachimura, who was previously listed as doubtful, will miss his second straight game due to an illness.
Rui Hachimura (illness) has been downgraded to out for tonight’s game at Golden State, per the Lakers.
Los Angeles will miss Hachimura's 3-point shooting and overall scoring ability off the bench. He's averaging 11.7 points in 29.5 minutes a game while shooting 50.6% from the field and 44% from 3-point range this season.
L.A. is tied for the fewest bench points in the NBA, along with the Houston Rockets, at 28.9 per game.
The UFC chose well by matching this Mexico City card the way it did
in one regard, in that there are only two bouts on the 13-fight
billing taking place above 155 pounds. Bettors and prognosticators
may disagree with some matchmaking choices, given that favored
fighters today will close with an average line a little beneath
-450. This curtain jerker is one of the two larger matches and one
of five where the favorite does not eclipse -250, as debuting
middleweights from DWCS crash into one another with hopes of
separating wheat from chaff. Repping both Aruba and Suriname while
likely the butt of jokes much of his life, Pinas (8-1, 0-0 UFC)
will be squaring off against brother longhair Schultz (8-2, 0-0
UFC). Referee Horacio Lopez Villanueva takes charge of the fight,
and the two 185ers bump fists.
Pinas moves right to the center of the cage, letting loose a low
kick to stop Schultz from jabbing. Schultz tries to fire back with
a left hook, but all he can land is a leg kick of his own. Pinas
hits him back far harder in the lead leg, turning his hips into
those strikes and forcing a level change on the third land. Pinas
shuts down the double-leg takedown attempt and rails Schultz with a
fierce right hand at the end of a one-two, putting “Party Time”
down. Pinas looks to finish the job, but Schultz somehow weathers
the storm and powers his way back to his feet, where he looks for a
takedown. Wrapping his arms around Pinas’ waist, he drags them both
down to the floor, but this is not a good strategy. Pinas is pulled
on top of his foe, where he unleashes elbows that punish Schultz
for the ground effort. Pinas hunts for an anaconda choke, and when
he hits the gator roll, he is too loose and they separate and stand
back up.
Pinas drills his man in the chin with an uppercut, and Schultz
crumbles and tries for an ankle pick. “Baba Yaga” shuts it down,
forces Schultz to stand up and thrusts through the guard with a
piston-like one-two. Schultz collapses to the floor, and this time,
he is not getting back up. Villanueva sees that Schultz’ goose
is cooked, and he waves the fight off right around the midpoint of
the round. There are far worse ways to make your promotional debut,
with Pinas calmly walking off after putting in work.
The Official Result
Damian Pinas def. Wesley Schultz R1 2:30 via TKO (Punches)
With three hours to plug through seven prelims, the promotion
wastes no time in moving to the next matchup. This one comes at 145
pounds between a pair of gents that could sorely use a victory.
Silva (9-3, 0-2 UFC) is winless after two walks to the Octagon,
appearing roughly every other year and not building any momentum in
the overstuffed division. He meets Marshall (8-3, 2-3 UFC), who was
on the wrong end of some of the worst scorecards offered last year.
Referee Fernando Salas Navarro receives the assignment, standing
back as the athletes touch ‘em up.
Silva says hello with a spinning wheel kick, and Marshall barely
gets his guard up in time so as to not get leveled. Marshall has to
back off, and Silva spins with a back kick that connects to the
body. Marshall pushes off when trying to engage, and his finger
jams into Silva’s eye socket. Salas calls time when he recognizes
the foul, and he goes to Marshall to tell him to be careful. The
Venezuelan takes less than 30 seconds to clear his vision before
restarting. Marshall attacks him with looping hooks, using them to
close the distance and drop down for a slick double-leg takedown.
Silva stands up by wrapping his arm around Marshall’s neck with a
guillotine choke, and Marshall mat returns him and even briefly
threatens with a Von Preux shoulder choke. Silva turns to his side
to try to buck off, but Marshall in half guard keeps him stuck.
Marshall settles for smacking Silva around with a few strikes
before lowering himself down to pursue an arm-triangle choke, and
Silva’s bucking and wriggling keeps him safe for the time being.
Marshall is able to pass to mount, and when Silva turns his back,
Marshall immediately snatches up a rear-naked choke. Switching his
grip to one of a more brute-force variety, “Fire” Marshall does not
even go palm-to-palm as he crushes Silva’s larynx and carotid
artery. Silva posts off his left arm and does not fight the grip,
instead just biding time before he inevitably taps out. This
speedy finish justifies the massive odds in Marshall’s favor, with
this leg in most of your parlays hitting with style points.
The Official Result
Francis Marshall def. Erik Silva R1 2:29 via Submission (Rear-Naked
Choke)
Due to the short-notice nature of the match, late replacement and
well-named “Kill Bill” Tarin (7-0, 0-0 UFC) puts her 0 on the line
on just a few days’ notice. She steps up against heavy-handed
Lithuanian Kareckaite (6-1-1, 1-1 UFC), who just so happens to call
herself “Heavy-Handed.” Bit on the nose, just like what she wants
her punches to be. The referee for this 130-pound catchweight
contest will be Raul Porrata. The ladies clap hands together, with
fans clearly picking a side.
That side is Tarin, who springs from side to side and walks
directly into a Kareckaite left hand. Kareckaite throws heavy
punches at her, swinging with wide-arcing lobs and mixing in a knee
when Tarin closes in. Tarin pushes out a front kick, and Kareckaite
catches it and swats it away. Tarin hammers the front leg with a
kick, and she sits in the pocket to bang it out with Kareckaite.
Tarin’s offense wobbles Kareckaite’s legs, and these women are
trading viciously with no regard to defense. They have both cracked
one another, and Kareckaite’s nose is turning red 90 seconds in.
Tarin tries for a low-to-high kick combo, and Kareckaite grabs it
and pushes her back, drilling Tarin with a subsequent right hand.
Tarin clips Kareckaite with another right, and Kareckaite has to
shake it off and gets right back to trading leather. Both women
connect in an exchange, and Kareckaite ends her own combination
with a pair of chopping kicks.
Tarin threatens with kicks that open up her hands, but she cannot
back off the advancing Lithuanian for long. Kareckaite walks
through a body kick to score an overhand right, and she connects
with a second that is met with a fierce counter. Flurries from both
sides go flying, and Kareckaite smacks Tarin upside the head with a
hard right. Kareckaite leans forward to clinch up, and Tarin thanks
her for this by slashing at her with standing elbows until they
separate. Kareckaite puts a one-two down the pipe, and she chases
after a strafing Tarin with a looping right. Fans start booing the
moment the two clinch up, and then stop when the women return to
kickboxing range. Tarin stays on the outside popping her jab, and
she leans back to avoid a swinging right hand. Kareckaite goes to
the lead leg and body with kicks, and she uses her kicks to close
in and mash Tarin against the cage wall. The horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Tarin
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Tarin
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Tarin
Round 2
Kareckaite takes right to the center of the cage, slowly advancing
as Tarin circles to her left. Kareckaite allows her to do this so
she can rip a body kick, prompting Tarin to bullrush her with big
swings. Kareckaite keeps her foe on her back foot, and Tarin
peppers her with kicks to any target she can find. Kareckaite has a
right hand score on the end of it, and Tarin backpedals in a hurry.
Kareckaite mixes in a takedown attempt, and the Mexican woman
stonewalls her and pushes her to the fence, where she delivers a
stern knee to the body. Kareckaite jacks her in the jaw with an
elbow to break apart, and she chases after the younger woman with
long swings. Tarin stays busy on the outside, keeping just out of
range of the worst Kareckaite throws at her while offering up kicks
to the body and lead leg. They crash together and unload short
combinations, and their accuracy is fairly high because their
guards are not very attentive.
Their sheer momentum results in clinching, and Kareckaite is
leaking from a bloody nose and goes after a single-leg takedown
attempt. Tarin frames off with knees to the side, breaking them
apart, and she scores several more when Kareckaite tries to walk
her down. The Mexican woman takes advantage of the clinch with
knees to the body, and she shoves her foe back. Kareckaite answers
with a crisp body kick and follows with a right hook. Tarin meets
her with a one-two and head kick, and she dances away from what
Kareckaite tosses back at her. Kareckaite takes a push kick to load
up with a right hand, and she hurls the punch again and again.
Tarin watches Kareckaite dart at her for a single, and when
Kareckaite transitions to a double, she manages to get the local
woman down as the round ends.
Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Tarin
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Tarin
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Tarin
Round 3
It does not take long for the two women to engage in fisticuffs as
the last round begins, nailing one another with big swings back and
forth. Tarin offers up short but effective combinations, putting
two hands on the face and kicking the front leg, etc. When
Kareckaite hurls back, Tarin ducks under and grabs her from behind,
where she sweeps the leg and briefly drags the Lithuanian to the
floor. Kareckaite fights her way back to her feet but Tarin is
still clutching her from the side, until Kareckaite muscles her way
around to push Tarin to the cage wall. Porrata immediately calls
for them to work, leading to them separating and duking it out some
more. The exchanges are fairly even in terms of numbers, and
Kareckaite appears to be swinging harder. Tarin uses more kicks,
digging them to the body and getting Kareckaite’s attention with
her fast hands.
Tarin turns on the jets, cracking Kareckaite with a lengthy flurry
of fists until Kareckaite has no choice but to tie her up. Tarin
pushes her to the wall and knees her in the guts, and Kareckaite
frames off and does the same before they split up. Tarin has
inflicted additional damage on Kareckaite’s right eye, and no one
registers it as they proceed to lay into one another recklessly and
ferociously. Tarin’s face begins to swell around her eyes, and
Kareckaite targets those areas with her heavy hurls. Kareckaite
tries to slow her down with a trip effort, and Tarin slips away and
lashes out with uppercuts and knees up close. The 10-second clapper
leads to an even more ridiculous brawl, and the two women smash and
bash one another in the face repeatedly until time expires. What a
scrap, one that ends in the hands of the judges in close rounds
where a 30-27 on one end and 29-28 the other would not be out of
line.
Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Tarin (30-27
Tarin)
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Tarin (30-27 Tarin)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Tarin (30-27 Tarin)
The Official Result
Regina Tarin def. Ernesta Kareckaite via Unanimous Decision (30-27,
30-27, 29-28)
A longtime talent at the loaded bantamweight division relocates to
145 pounds as Silva de Andrade (29-6, 1 NC; 7-6 UFC) eclipses the
age of 40, on the roster since 2014 but this just his 14th fight.
He meets well-traveled newcomer Reyes (22-5, 0-0 UFC), who may have
already won the battle for “Entrance of the Year” by dancing his
way to the cage with his team to “YMCA.” It was majestic. Referee
Herb Dean will stoically serve as the third man in the Octagon, who
receives loud cheers from the crowd himself. The two touch do not
gloves before throwing down.
The shorter Silva de Andrade stands in the center of the cage like
a snake coiled to strike, and Reyes fires off strikes from the
outer edge. The Brazilian kicks him from a safe distance, and
allows Silva de Andrade to fly past him with a big swing. Reyes
leaves his chin up and hands down, and Silva de Andrade just misses
with a huge right hook. Reyes calms himself and fires back a left
that stuns Silva de Andrade, but he stands in the pocket too long
and gets dropped with a bomb of a right hand. Reyes climbs back up,
and Silva de Andrade does not recklessly chase him down and instead
sets up another bomb. He clips an advancing Reyes with a cheeky
left hook, and he marches down the hurt fighter with a barrage.
Reyes puts his back to the wall and gets nailed a few more times,
and he tries for a spin but misses. Silva de Andrade whiffs with a
haymaker so fierce, the wind nearly blows Marc Ratner’s cap off in
the first row.
In hopes of turning his fortunes around, Quinonez (18-5, 1-2 UFC)
will be matched with expectations that he should blow away his
opponent and hype up the partisan crowd. With his back against the
wall again, Moutinho (14-7, 0-3 UFC) needs to get his hand raised
lest he possibly see his walking papers for the second time. The
Octagon ranger for this bantamweight contest is referee Marc
Goddard, who observes a sporting glove touch between the men.
Quinonez stays calm as he asserts himself in the center of the
cage, allowing Moutinho to find his range with a few kicks before
unleashing the fury of a couple huge right hands. Moutinho bounces
off the wall and recovers, but Quinonez is cocking his right hand
back and preparing to hurl it any opportunity he can. Moutinho
peppers him from afar, and Quinonez jabs him back much harder.
Moutinho scores a glancing right hand as Quinonez circles to the
side, and a collision results in a scramble where Quinonez slams
Moutinho hard on the mat. Moutinho climbs back upright, only to be
mat returned with Quinonez on his back. Moutinho twists in hopes of
escaping the controlling position at his back, and Quinonez finds
himself in a disadvantageous posture and jumps off.
The two return to their feet, and Quinonez potshots him with
distance strikes before being warned for open fists. He slings his
heavy right hand, one that bangs into the guard but still has an
impact. Moutinho signals to Goddard that he was poked in the eye,
and Goddard grumpily calls time and tells Quinonez that there will
be no more warnings. Moutinho is good to go in seconds, and
Quinonez circles around him in hopes of setting up that right.
Moutinho walks him down but takes an elbow on the bridge of his
nose that slashes it open, and his counters his nothing but air.
Moutinho checks on his hand after landing a heavy blow, and he
switches to southpaw. Quinonez is light on his feet springing
around, further marking up the damaged beak of his adversary.
Quinonez jabs the body with a pair of front kicks to wrap up the
round.
Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Quinonez
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Quinonez
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Quinonez
Round 2
The fighters are so amped up to start trading, Goddard has to back
them off. Moutinho comes out of his corner hot, cracking Quinonez
with a speedy barrage. Quinonez does not falter from his approach,
strafing to the side, countering and shooting in for a takedown.
Moutinho hits his seat from the clean double, and he remains there
for a spell until working his way up. Quinonez drags him down from
behind, and Moutinho hooks his fingers in the fence to stop it.
Goddard tells him to knock it off, and Quinonez wrenches his man to
the mat. The third time is the charm for Quinonez, who briefly
assumes mount and moves to side control and even north-south for a
moment. Moutinho turns to his stomach, and Quinonez smacks him with
undercuts—that is, uppercuts beneath the armpit. Moutinho grabs the
fence again to pull himself to his feet and keep himself upright,
and does so again when Quinonez is wrangling him for a takedown.
Goddard, who seemed stern beforehand, just warns Moutinho for
grabbing the cage wall four or five times.
The fouls do not discourage Quinonez, who manages to yank Moutinho
to the floor and secured back control with a body triangle.
Quinonez starts fishing for a rear-naked choke, placing his grip
atop the jaw and crushing it down. He changes his submission effort
to that of a neck crank, and Moutinho keeps himself safe by pinning
his chin to his chest as best he can. Quinonez goes palm-to-palm
with his face and neck crank, and Moutinho survives the attempts
but finds himself briefly mounted. Moutinho kicks off frantically
to get Quinonez off his chest, and the ensuing scramble allows
Moutinho to counter with a single-leg attempt. Quinonez lets him
back up so that he can peck at the bloody face of his foe, and he
lobs two big right hands before the bell.
Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Quinonez
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Quinonez
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Quinonez
Round 3
Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:
Christian Stein scores the round:
Tyler Treese scores the round:
Seton Hall was on the brink of the biggest win of its season and maybe the biggest of Shaheen Hollway’s tenure as coach of his alma mater.
But the Pirates got a tough whistle late and could not hold onto an eight-point lead late in the game and fell at No. 6 UConn, 71-67, to miss a chance to boost their NCAA Tournament résumé in a game they desperately needed.
“This is a tough one,” Holloway, who wore a mask during the game because he’s battling the flu, said in his post-game radio interview. “I thought we did everything to win this game. We had a great game plan and just came up short.”
Asked if his team was getting enough respect as a possible NCAA Tournament team, Holloway said, “Absolutely, I think we did enough this year for people to respect us.”
Still, he added, “Unbelievable opportunity we let slip by.”
With The Hall trailing 68-65, Budd Clark missed a 3-pointer on which Silas Demary Jr. appeared to grab Clark around the waist, but no foul was called and UConn regained possession.
“I thought that last play was a foul,” Holloway said. “[Clark] thought he got fouled.”
Solo Ball hit three free throws down the stretch to make it 71-67.
The Pirates this season lost two games to UConn, a Final Four contender, by a combined 9 points.
Alex Karaban killed the Pirates with 23 points on the day he was inducted into UConn’s Ring of Honor.
AJ Staton McCray led The Hall with 20 points, but the Pirates were unable to win at UConn for the first time since Feb. 26, 2021. They have dropped 15 of their last 16 games at UConn.
Elijah Fisher scored 12 points and Najai Hines went for 11 points and 11 rebounds for The Hall, which fell to 19-10, 9-9 in the Big East after going 7-25, 2-18 a year ago.
UConn shot 20-of-29 from the line, while The Hall went 8-of-9.
The Huskies, coming off a 32-point blowout of No. 15 St. John’s on Wednesday, improved to 27-3, 17-2.
Ball hit two free throws with 53.7 remaining to put UConn up 66-65
Clark missed a tough off-balance mid-range shot over the taller Demary Jr. Clark struggled in this one, shooting 2-of-10 for 4 points with 8 assists.
Karaban then hit two free throws to make it 68-65.
The Hall shot 9-of-18 from deep after going 0-of-18 in last week’s win over Georgetown.
The Hall now visits Xavier on Tuesday before hosting Rick Pitino and No. 15 St. John’s on Friday.
Once again, Holloway called out the Big East for scheduling three games between Saturday and Friday.
“What kind of schedule [is this]?” he asked. “What are we doing. This is totally ridiculous.”
Entering the 2026 scouting combine, one of the biggest focuses was whether anyone could break Xavier Worthy’s 40-yard dash record.
Of all the wide receivers participating, Mississippi State’s Brenen Thompson had perhaps the best chance. The 5-foot-9 receiver had trained specifically for the drill, to the point that his trainer said he could challenge Worthy.
Brenen Thompson 40 time coming up. Here's his trainer from EXOS, Nic Hill. Thompson's 10 yard splits have beaten Xavier Worthy's. pic.twitter.com/M8Xy2QFt5o
In the end, Thompson didn't break Worthy's record, but he did put up an impressive showing in Indianapolis. Here's a look at Thompson 40-yard dash time.
Mississippi State wide receiver Brenen Thompson ran the fastest 40-yard dash among wide receivers at the 2026 scouting combine. Thompson produced a time of 4.26 on his first try, which is tied for the fourth-best 40-yard dash in combine history.
Thompson and LSU's Zavion Thomas were the only two receivers to run under 4.30 in the drill.
Rank
Player
School
Time
1
Brenan Thompson
Mississippi State
4.26s
2
Zavion Thomas
LSU
4.28s
3
Deion Burks
Oklahoma
4.30s
4
Jeff Caldwell
Cincinnati
4.31s
5
Zachariah Branch
Georgia
4.35s
T-6
Chris Brazzell II
Tennessee
4.37s
T-6
Malik Benson
Oregon
4.37s
7
Barion Brown
Kentucky
4.41s
T-8
Skyler Bell
UConn
4.42s
T-8
Jalen Walthall
Incarnate Word
4.42s
T-10
Bryce Lance
North Dakota State
4.44s
T-10
Ted Hurst
Georgia State
4.44s
Fastest WR 40-times in NFL history
Here's a look at the fastest 40-times in NFL history.
Rank
Player
School
Year
Time
1.
Xavier Worthy
Texas
2024
4.21s
2.
John Ross
Washington
2017
4.22s
3.
Rondel Menendez
Eastern Kentucky
1999
4.24s
T-4.
Jerome Mathis
Hampton
2005
4.26s
T-4.
Brennan Thompson
Mississippi State
2026
4.26s
T-5.
Henry Ruggs III
Alabama
2020
4.27s
T-5.
Marquise Goodwin
Texas
2013
4.27s
T-5.
Tyrone Calico
Middle Tennessee
2003
4.27s
T-8.
Tyquan Thornton
Baylor
2022
4.28s
T-8.
J.J. Nelson
UAB
2015
4.28s
T-8.
Jacoby Ford
Clemson
2010
4.28s
Brenen Thompson track and field
Thompson ran track in high school, along with a few other sports, so speed became a part of his game when he focused on NFL full time. His track career included winning a state championship for track in Texas
"I've never seen a person with my own eyes that fast on the football field," Mississippi State wide receivers coach Chad Bumphis said, via the Clarion Ledger. "Like, Mario Craver was fast, but this guy is like Olympic fast. He’s a different speed."
Brenen Thompson draft projection
Thompson is projected to be drafted late in day three, as TSN's Vinnie Iyer doesn't have the wide receiver in his top 140 big board.
As Thompson is only 5-foot-9, he is likely to be used as a gadget player at the next level. The wide receiver will probably spend much of his time in the slot, along with potential roles on special teams to take advantage of his speed.
The No. 3 Michigan Wolverines have been one of the most dominant teams in college basketball this season, and they showed it once again on Friday night, defeating the No. 10 Illinois Fighting Illini on the road, 84–70.
Michigan has leveraged its depth all season, often rolling nine players deep in every game. That strategy, however, will be tested after head coach Dusty May announced on Saturday that guard L.J. Cason tore his ACL against Illinois and will miss the remainder of the season, just weeks before the NCAA Tournament begins.
“First and foremost, our hearts hurt for L.J.,” May said in a press release. “You never want to see a young man who has poured so much into this program have something like this happen. However, if there’s anyone equipped to handle this and the rehab process, it’s L.J. He’s resilient, he’s disciplined, and he has an incredible support system around him.”
Cason has been a key piece off the bench, recording nine points and two assists on 3-of-5 shooting in 13 minutes Friday night. He has scored in double figures 11 times this season, with his most notable performance coming against Northwestern on Feb. 11, when he tallied 18 points. Earlier this week against Minnesota, he put up 14 points and five rebounds in just 19 minutes.
His efficiency in a limited role has been crucial to the Wolverines’ success. He is averaging 8.4 points, 2.4 assists, and 1.9 rebounds per game while shooting 50.3% from the field and 40.2% from beyond the arc.
Cason also released a statement, making it clear that he is committed to attacking his rehab and staying fully engaged in supporting his teammates’ pursuit of a national championship.
“This isn’t how I wanted my season to end, but I trust God’s plan, and I’ll attack rehab the same way I approach everything — with focus and determination,” Cason said. “We’ve got many goals as a team, and I’ll be locked in supporting my brothers every step of the way.”
EVANSVILLE — The Indiana high school boys swimming and diving season is complete.
The state tournament concluded on Saturday, Feb. 28 with the IHSAA state championship at the Indiana University Natatorium in downtown Indianapolis. Carmel High School extended its title streak to 12 years as the Greyhounds totaled 408 team points to out-distance Penn (247) and Homestead (201).
Southwestern Indiana was represented with a handful of individuals and relay teams.
Mount Vernon's Ozzy Jankowski had the best performance in Indianapolis. The senior finished third in the 100 butterfly (48.69 seconds) and fourth in the 100 backstroke (49.74). Memorial senior Caden Zeidler also reached the podium in the 100 freestyle and 50 freestyle, an impressive combo considering he didn't start swimming competitively until his freshman year. Zeidler took fifth in the 100 (45.59) and seventh in the 50 (20.84).
Here is the full list of finishes from Evansville-area athletes at the state championship.
1-meter diving: Tyler Thomas (Central) 18th, 251.15.
Kyle Sokeland is a sports reporter for the Courier & Press. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @kylesokeland or email at kyle.sokeland@courierpress.com.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Tramon Mark had 23 points and Dailyn Swain added a double-double in Texas' 76-70 win over Texas A&M on Saturday afternoon.
Swain finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds in posting his seventh double-double this season for the Longhorns (18-11, 9-7 Southeastern Conference). Jordan Pope scored 16 and Matas Vokietaitis added 14.
The Aggies (19-10, 9-7) were led by Rashun Agee with 22 points and eight rebounds. Marcus Hill totaled 17 points and eight rebounds, while Pop Isaacs scored 14.
Texas shot 44% (27 of 62) from the field and 94% (15 of 16) from the free-throw line. Texas A&M shot 38% (23 of 60) from the field.
The Longhorns led early in the first half, but the Aggies responded with an 11-0 run to take their first lead of the game, 24-20 with 5:43 to play in the half, and went into the break up 30-29. Texas regained the lead off its first bucket in the second half and continued to push ahead.
A quick start by the Brewers with a 4-1 lead after three innings fizzled out not long thereafter and Milwaukee fell to Cincinnati, 9-7, on Saturday afternoon at American Family Fields of Phoenix.
The Brewers chased Reds starter Hunter Greene before he could even record an out, racking up five straight hits against the right-hander. Milwaukee went on to score four times in the first inning, with Greene returning to pitch the second and complete his day.
Andrew Vaughn led the Brewers (4-5) with a 3-for-3 day at the plate.
"We had some good at-bats early," said manager Pat Murphy. "Did some good things, but always room for improvement."
Coleman Crow made his second spring appearance and first start, allowing a home run to Matt McLain two batters in but otherwise throwing two innings of uneventful ball over 28 pitches.
"He was good," Murphy said. "I like the kid a lot."
It was a rough day for Milwaukee relievers, as Jared Koenig allowed four runs on three hits and a walk in just ⅓ inning and Sammy Peralta gave up three runs on three hits in one inning of work.
"I love this kid. I think this is the quantum leap," he said. "He's got so much ability and he's got experience. He might be a utility player, but I think he can be really good for us. I think he can take his offensive game to a whole other level.
"There's so much in there offensively. We've got to get it out of there."
– Brandon Woodruff is scheduled to throw a "three-up" simulated game on March 1, which should take him out to roughly 40 pitches.
Quinn Priester, meanwhile, will throw a simulated game of his own early in the week. The Brewers backed off of the right-hander a bit earlier in camp.
With Chad Patrick and Jacob Misiorowski scheduled to start the next two games, that leaves Woodruff, Priester and Kyle Harrison as starters who are awaiting their first chance and Trevor Megill out of the bullpen.
"There were red lights flashing," Murphy said. "The type of year he had (workload-wise). The wrist, the fatigue. After the first bullpen it was, 'Let's hold on here. Let's slow him down.'
"My biggest thing with the guys pitching was we played 19 more days than anybody else (with the playoffs) and that's going to take a toll – especially on young guys. The rate of injuries in the pitching world right now in spring training is ridiculous.
"So, we're not coming in here taking any chances and it's reflected in how many (minor leaguers) have pitched in the games."
Quotable
"I call him 'Mike.' What else do you want me to tell you?" – Murphy, when asked how he settled on nicknaming Coleman Crow 'Mike.'
Prospect watch
Andrew Fischer's first Cactus League hit was a memorable one, a 397-foot blast to right field to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning that left his bat 110.3 mph.
"Really happy for him," said Murphy of Milwaukee's top 2025 draft pick who will depart minor-league camp on Sunday and join Team Italy to prepare for the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
"It feels good. You feel more part of it when you do something like that. That's a great experience for him but he's a young player that doesn't know what he doesn't know.
"There's nothing negative about that. It's going to take time."
Murphy called Fischer onto the field after making his comments and had the New Jersey native show reporters elaborate tattoos he has of Bruce Springsteen and Frank Sinatra on his left shoulder.
Pat Murphy shouted out Andrew Fischer’s homer, then had the New Jersey native come over and show off his Bruce Springsteen and Frank Sinatra tattoos. pic.twitter.com/VP2kuziRM8
A quick start by the Brewers with a 4-1 lead after three innings fizzled out not long thereafter and Milwaukee fell to Cincinnati, 9-7, on Saturday afternoon at American Family Fields of Phoenix.
The Brewers chased Reds starter Hunter Greene before he could even record an out, racking up five straight hits against the right-hander. Milwaukee went on to score four times in the first inning, with Greene returning to pitch the second and complete his day.
Andrew Vaughn led the Brewers (4-5) with a 3-for-3 day at the plate.
"We had some good at-bats early," said manager Pat Murphy. "Did some good things, but always room for improvement."
Coleman Crow made his second spring appearance and first start, allowing a home run to Matt McLain two batters in but otherwise throwing two innings of uneventful ball over 28 pitches.
"He was good," Murphy said. "I like the kid a lot."
It was a rough day for Milwaukee relievers, as Jared Koenig allowed four runs on three hits and a walk in just ⅓ inning and Sammy Peralta gave up three runs on three hits in one inning of work.
"I love this kid. I think this is the quantum leap," he said. "He's got so much ability and he's got experience. He might be a utility player, but I think he can be really good for us. I think he can take his offensive game to a whole other level.
"There's so much in there offensively. We've got to get it out of there."
– Brandon Woodruff is scheduled to throw a "three-up" simulated game on March 1, which should take him out to roughly 40 pitches.
Quinn Priester, meanwhile, will throw a simulated game of his own early in the week. The Brewers backed off of the right-hander a bit earlier in camp.
With Chad Patrick and Jacob Misiorowski scheduled to start the next two games, that leaves Woodruff, Priester and Kyle Harrison as starters who are awaiting their first chance and Trevor Megill out of the bullpen.
"There were red lights flashing," Murphy said. "The type of year he had (workload-wise). The wrist, the fatigue. After the first bullpen it was, 'Let's hold on here. Let's slow him down.'
"My biggest thing with the guys pitching was we played 19 more days than anybody else (with the playoffs) and that's going to take a toll – especially on young guys. The rate of injuries in the pitching world right now in spring training is ridiculous.
"So, we're not coming in here taking any chances and it's reflected in how many (minor leaguers) have pitched in the games."
Quotable
"I call him 'Mike.' What else do you want me to tell you?" – Murphy, when asked how he settled on nicknaming Coleman Crow 'Mike.'
Prospect watch
Andrew Fischer's first Cactus League hit was a memorable one, a 397-foot blast to right field to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning that left his bat 110.3 mph.
"Really happy for him," said Murphy of Milwaukee's top 2025 draft pick who will depart minor-league camp on Sunday and join Team Italy to prepare for the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
"It feels good. You feel more part of it when you do something like that. That's a great experience for him but he's a young player that doesn't know what he doesn't know.
"There's nothing negative about that. It's going to take time."
Murphy called Fischer onto the field after making his comments and had the New Jersey native show reporters elaborate tattoos he has of Bruce Springsteen and Frank Sinatra on his left shoulder.
Pat Murphy shouted out Andrew Fischer’s homer, then had the New Jersey native come over and show off his Bruce Springsteen and Frank Sinatra tattoos. pic.twitter.com/VP2kuziRM8
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Kelvin Yeboah's rebound goal and Drake Callender's four saves gave Minnesota United FC a 1-0 win over Cincinnati FC on Saturday.
Callender made a host of key saves for Minnesota (1-1-0, 4 points), including a leaping save on a shot from Obinna Nwobodo in the 71st minute.
Roman Celentano also saved four shots for Cincinnati (1-0-1, 3 points), including two in the span of three minutes early in the second half.
Cincinnati had five corners in the first 25 minutes.
There were 11 added minutes after a lengthy head injury evaluation of Cincinnati captain Michael Boxall, who exited in the 77th minute for Devin Padelford.
The 2025 MLS MVP Evander, who exited the opener against Atlanta with a hamstring injury, did not play after entering Saturday as questionable.
Minnesota's star acquisition, Columbia international James Rodríguez, is yet to debut.
The 20-degree temperature at kickoff was the coldest in FC Cincinnati's MLS history.
Up next
Cincinnati: Will host Toronto FC next Sunday.
Minnesota: Travels to face Nashville SC on Saturday.
One could argue that when Dakorien Moore went down with an injury and was out for the rest of the season, it was Malik Benson who stepped up and became Oregon's WR1 for the rest of the way, and he was great in the role.
Benson led the team with 719 receiving yards on 43 catches and six touchdowns. Although it was a blow to have Moore go down, it gave Benson a chance to shine and ultimately show what he could do on the next level. He showed that not only could he be a deep threat, but his speed makes him dangerous in the short game, where he can break a tackle and be off to the races.
According to NFL.com writer Lance Zierlein, going to Oregon might have been the best thing for Benson after two so-so seasons at Alabama and Florida State.
"Benson, formerly the No. 1 JUCO prospect, made his mark with Oregon in 2025 after less productive stints at Alabama (2023) and Florida State (2024). He combines electric, track-caliber speed with above-average ball skills to create a real deep threat on every snap," Zierlein said. "He needs to diversify his releases and his route-running won’t impress, but his speed forces open easy hitches/slants underneath. He has a plus catch radius and rare toughness for a speed demon. He’s unflinching working into the middle. Benson can turn slants and over routes into long scores against certain looks but isn’t a natural on manufactured touches."
Measurables
Height: 6-feet
Weight: 189 pounds
Hand Size: 8 5/8"
Arm Length: 31 7/8"
40-Yard Dash
.@oregonfootball WR Malik Benson taking the lead in the WR clubhouse with a 4.38u
Speed kills, and Benson has plenty of it. He was one of the better deep threats in the Big Ten Conference, especially after Moore went down with an injury. Oregon needed that speed on the outside and Benson delivered over and over again.
10-Yard Split
Official Split Time: 1.55 seconds
Rank at Position: Tied for 7th of 16 players
Benson's 10-yard split was average among the 16 receivers who did the drill, but his time is still plenty good enough for an NFL receiver.
Vertical Jump
Official Measurement: 32.50"
Rank at Position: 13th of 16 Players
So Benson isn't a big leaper. So what? With his speed and ability to get open, jumping out of the building isn't high on the list of must-need abilities for Benson to succeed on the next level.
Broad Jump
Official Measurement: 10' 2"
Rank at Position: 10th of 13 Players
With his slightly better-than-average vertical leaping ability, it's no surprise Benson didn't turn any heads in the broad jump. But considering Benson's past with track and field, it's a little bit of a surprise his broad jump numbers weren't better. He'll have a chance to improve on that with Oregon's Pro Day next month, assuming Benson participates.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
Thompson clocked an official 4.26 seconds at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Feb. 28. It tied for the fifth-best 40-yard dash in combine history.
Thompson transferred to MSU from Oklahoma before the 2025 season and broke the program's single-season record for receiving yards with 1,054. He added six touchdowns.
Before the combine, CBS had the highest ranking for Thompson at No. 48. The Athletic had Thompson at No. 74, followed by ESPN at No. 100 and Pro Football Focus at No. 126.
Brenen Thompson stats at Mississippi State
Thompson broke the Mississippi State single-season receiving yards record with 1,054 in 2025. He also had six receiving touchdowns on 57 receptions.
Brenen Thompson highlights
Brenen Thompson height, weight
The NFL lists Thompson at 5-foot-9, 164 pounds.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
On Friday night (27), the Brazilian National Team defeated Costa Rica 5-2 in their first game of the year. After the friendly match held at the Alejandro Morera Soto Stadium in Alajuela, Costa Rica, coach Arthur Elias analyzed Brazil's performance.
"We played well in the first half and the first five minutes of the second half as well, when we had three clear chances. After that, we had almost half an hour where we weren't consistent, we didn't play as we had planned," he stated.
Regarding the match, the coach broke down the game plan and revealed his main idea for securing the victory.
Arthur Elias and Kerolin celebrate Brazil's first goal in the friendly against Costa RicaCredits: Lívia Villas Boas/Staff Images/CBF
"The idea was to adopt a different distribution system to have an advantage over Costa Rica's tactical system. Previously, we played with three defenders, along with two wing-backs and three forwards," he said.
"This time we switched: we faced Costa Rica's back four with five forwards, but with Kerolin and Bia often playing the role of number 10, as midfielders. So, it worked very well for much of the game," he added.
The Brazilian National Team will have two more challenges next week, against Venezuela and Mexico. Arthur highlighted the similarity of this sequence of matches to a group stage and its importance for preparation for the 2027 World Cup, which will be held in Brazil.
Brazilian National Team before the friendly against Costa RicaCredits: Lívia Villas Boas/Staff Images/CBF
Starting this year, FIFA has changed the schedule for national team meetings. Instead of six meetings a year, teams will gather five times. Thus, the first two FIFA Dates of the year will be longer, allowing for up to three matches.
The Brazilian National Team will resume training on Sunday (1) at the Mexican Federation Training Center in Toluca, where they will face Venezuela on Wednesday (4).
Official: Amir Abdou is the new head coach of Burkina Faso
After Mauritania and Comoros, the 53-year-old coach takes charge of the Stallions.
Official: Amir Abdou is the new head coach of Burkina Faso
The Burkina Faso Football Federation has ended the suspense. Amir Abdou was appointed head coach of the Stallions on February 28."After opening applications and conducting a thorough review of all the candidates, Comorian coach Amir Abdou has been officially selected to lead the Burkina Faso national team," the federation announced.
He succeeds Brahima Traoré, who was dismissed following the team's early exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The French-Comorian coach led the Comoros to their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 in 2021, then made history with Mauritania by defeating Algeria in 2023. Abdou also won the Mauritanian league title twice with FC Nouadhibou. Now, at 53 years old, he leaves Hassania Agadir in the Moroccan league to take on a major challenge at the helm of an ambitious team.
The new coach will make his debut with the Stallions in March 2026. The Burkina Faso Football Federation has yet to announce the team’s opponents for the upcoming FIFA window.
Javier Reyes danced on the way to the cage and on the way out of it Saturday at UFC Fight Night 268 in Mexico City.
Following a walkout dance party, Reyes (23-5 MMA, 1-0 UFC) survived some adversity-filled moments to finish seasoned veteran Douglas Silva de Andrade (29-7 MMA, 7-7 UFC) by TKO with one second left in Round 1 a CDMX Arena.
Reyes was hurt badly in the opening minute by de Andrade, who increased his aggression but ultimately paid the price. De Andrade was dropped minutes later. Reyes got his back and pounded away.
Referee Herb Dean was undeterred by the clock's minuscule distance to expiration. He warned de Andrade to get out of the bad spot, but the Brazilian was unable to and Dean waved the fight off.
‼️Javier Reyes, coach Javier Torres and the rest of their team is doing a full-on choreographed dance to Village People's "YMCA" as they walk out #UFCMexico pic.twitter.com/9oh7rvwETQ
DORTMUND, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 28: Luis Diaz of FC Bayern Munich is challenged by Emre Can of Borussia Dortmund during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern München at Signal Iduna Park on February 28, 2026 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The title race was over, and now it’s even more over. As has been the case far too often over the last decade+, Borussia Dortmund could not overcome their challengers from Bavaria, despite coming out of the first half with a 1-0 lead and tying the game again with less than 10 minutes to play. A late goal from Joshua Kimmich proved the decisive blow, both in the match and in the Bundesliga. Another season without a trophy.
It was a close game, and BVB put up a good fight. Nico Schlotterbeck struck the net off a set piece cross by Svensson in the first half, but erased that goodwill later in the game by conceding a penalty by committing a foul on Josip Stanisic. Daniel Svensson would equalize late in the game with a brilliant volley off a Marcel Sabitzer cross, but Kimmich’s finish off a rebound in the 87th put Bayern up for good.
Here are my man of the match candidates:
Daniel Svensson
Had a goal and an assist, and defended very well all game against Michael Olise. He thankfully did not tear a ligament (as far as we know) during his backflip celebration.
Emre Can
Can defended very well during the first half before he needed to come off with an injury. In his 44 minutes he won 4/4 of his ground duels, had two tackles, three clearances, and two interceptions.
Fabio Silva
Silva could have had an assist when, in the 34th minute, he pounced on a loose misplayed ball from Dayot Upamecano. He played a centering pass right to Maxi Beier, who unfortunately couldn’t get the ball out of his feet. He again almost picked out Beier in the 56th minute with a near-post cross that Beier sent just wide.
Marcel Sabitzer
Sabitzer assisted Daniel Svensson’s goal and had several really good long-balls throughout the match. He also finished second on the team in defensive contributions.
EVANSTON, IL - JANUARY 17: Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Jamarques Lawrence (10) celebrates during a college basketball game between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Northwestern Wildcats on January 17, 2026, at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
FIRST HALF ANALYSIS:
There was a phenomenal pace to this contest, as the first media timeout didn’t happen until 7 minutes in. Pryce Sandfort would have 6 points for Nebraska in the early stages, while Kam Woods and Chad Baker-Mazara each had 5 for USC. The Trojans would commit a handful of turnovers over the next few minutes, which led to 6 Husker points. Sam Hoiberg committed his second foul with 11:40 to go in the half, and that turned the tide in USC’s favor.
The Huskers would look stagnant offensively, committing 7 turnovers after Hoiberg went to the bench, while the USC offensive looked way better. Sandfort would eventually reach double figures for the Huskers, while Baker-Mazara was doing damage from inside and out. USC would take a 36-31 lead into the locker room.
FIRST HALF STATS:
Nebraska shot 12-34 for 35% from the floor. They went 5-12 for 42% from deep and 2-2 from the free-throw line. The Huskers collected 19 rebounds, 9 of which were offensive. Nebraska would only convert those 9 offensive boards into 8 points. They had 8 assists to 7 turnovers.
The Huskers were led by Pryce Sandfort, who had 12 points. Rienk Mast had 7 points and 5 rebounds. Braden Frager also had 5 rebounds to help pace Nebraska. 3 different Huskers had 2 assists.
USC shot 13-25 for 52% from the floor. They went 4-12 for 33% from deep and a perfect 6-6 from the free-throw line. The Trojans collected 15 rebounds, 2 of which were offensive. USC had 8 turnovers and 8 assists with 12 bench points.
The Trojans were led by Chad Baker-Mazara, who had 14 points. Terrence Williams II led the way with 4 rebounds. Kam Woods had 4 assists.
SECOND HALF ANALYSIS:
Nebraska got off to the start it needed, opening the half on a 12-2 run. The Huskers took the lead on a Pryce Sandfort 4-point play. The Huskers never lost the lead after that. USC committed 3 turnovers in the opening 4 minutes, while Nebraska had 4 offensive rebounds. Sandfort would reach the 20-point mark by the under 12 timeout. The Huskers were getting a ton of open looks inside the paint, and was shooting free-throws after every USC foul because of it.
USC went cold in the second half, shooting just 29% with 5 minutes left in the half. Meanwhile, Nebraska was shooting at a very warm 55%. Nebraska used a 15-0 run in a 4:42 timespan that blew the door open, taking the lead up to 18 points. Sandfort would hit a 3 in the final minute to give him his 3rd 30-point game of the season. The Huskers were never troubled in the last 10 minutes of the game.
FINAL STATS AND THOUGHTS:
Nebraska shot 30-68 for 44% from the floor. They went 8-23 for 35% from deep and 14-15 for 93% from the free-throw line. The Huskers collected 41 rebounds, with a very solid 18 of them coming offensively. Nebraska had 20 assists to 12 turnovers. They had 42 points in the paint.
The Huskers were led by Pryce Sandfort, who had 32 points and 6 rebounds. Braden Frager had 17 points and 8 rebounds off the bench. Rienk Mast had 11 points and 6 rebounds. Jamarques Lawrence led the way with 7 assists.
USC shot 23-51 for 45% from the floor. They went 4-21 for 19% from deep and 17-18 for 94% from the free-throw line. The Trojans collected 25 rebounds, 5 of which were offensive. USC had 17 assists to 14 turnovers. They had 30 bench points.
The Trojans were led by Alijah Arenas and Chad Baker-Mazara, who had 14 points each. Baker-Mazara missed most of the second half due to a leg injury. Jaden Brownell led the way with 5 rebounds. Kam Woods and Arenas each had 4 assists.
This game turned on its head in the second half for two reasons, Sam Hoiberg’s return to the lineup after picking up his second foul in the first half, and Baker-Mazara getting hurt early in the second half. With Hoiberg’s return, the Husker offense was moving way more efficiently, and a patience seemed to come over them. Add the fact that the defensive intensity went up about 2-3 levels with Sam’s return helped the Huskers open up a lead it would never relenquinsh.
The injury to Baker-Mazara seemed to stunt the USC offense something awful. Arenas wasn’t 100% healthy, and USC just didn’t have the Trojan Horses to compete with Nebraska in the end. The Huskers have been a second half team all season, and that showed up again. Nebraska looked a step slow in the first half but kept within touching distance to make its run when needed.
The Huskers will stay in Los Angeles for the next couple of days, as their next opponent is UCLA. The game is on Tuesday, March 3rd. Tip-off from Pauley Pavillion in LA is set for 10:00 pm central and can be seen on FS1.
It wasn’t too long ago that sanctioned girls’ wrestling in Pennsylvania was just a dream.
Despite being perhaps the top state nationally for high school wrestling, it wasn’t until 2020, 82 years after boys’ wrestling was an official PIAA-sanctioned sport, that a girls’ team was formed.
The first high school to do so was J.P. McCaskey High School in Lancaster. Less than a decade later, the sport is officially sanctioned by the PIAA, and 265 total high schools in the state have girls’ wrestling teams.
The sport is not only one of the fastest-growing sports in Pennsylvania, but also nationally.
At the forefront of the girls’ wrestling explosion in Pennsylvania is Panther Valley’s Brenda Banks.
Banks enters next week’s state championships in Hershey with a career record of 106-2. She’s also a three-time district champion, a four-time regional champion, and a three-time state champion.
Next week, she will be chasing history at the 2026 PIAA Individual Wrestling Championships at the Giant Center in Hershey.
She’ll look to become just the 15th wrestler in Pennsylvania’s rich 88-years of wrestling history to be a four-time state champion. If successful, Banks would not only be immortal in Pennsylvania wrestling history — she would be a pioneer as the first girls’ wrestler to accomplish the feat.
A mature decision at a young age
While one would think that a wrestler boasting a career record of 106-2 and three-state championships would have extended experience in the sport, that’s far from the case for Banks.
This season is just her fourth, making her accomplishments thus far all the more remarkable.
“I started first, not even knowing that it was an actual sport,” Banks said, recalling her decision to join the wrestling team. “Because I feel like WWE is really popular. I didn’t realize that wrestling was actually a sport that was participated in in high school.”
So that year, Banks joined the wrestling team alongside her friend, Anelia Bennick.
From the jump, it was clear to Panther Valley coach Kris Nalesnik that Banks was gifted, but how good she could be was still a question.
“I knew she was pretty naturally athletically gifted. I wasn’t sure just how good she was going to be, but I knew she was going to be talented,” Nalesnik said. “That first year, we didn’t have a separate girls’ team. So, when we had wrestle-offs for the boys team, she actually won the wrestle-off to be my 215-pounder for the season.”
But despite winning the wrestle-off, it still wasn’t a clear-cut decision that Banks would be the Panthers’ 215-pound starter that season.
Following the wrestle-off, Nalesnik approached Banks and told the then-freshman that she had two options. Either wrestle at 215 pounds on the boys team, or wrestle on the junior high team — where freshmen are eligible — to learn and gain valuable experience. Banks slept on the decision and came back the next day with an answer.
She wanted to gain experience at the junior high level.
“She said, ‘I really was thinking about it, and while I would love to wrestle for the rest of the team, I think the best thing for me to do to learn this sport is to start with the junior high program and build from there,’” Nalesnik recalled.
It was a decision that many freshmen in her shoes may not have made.
“It was a very mature decision,” Nalesnik said. “That showed me that she wasn’t looking for that immediate success; she was looking for the long-term career success.”
Immediate success
It’s safe to say that the decision paid off for Banks both in the immediate and long-term. That freshman season, Banks wrestled in just three matches at the high school level before March, all coming at the Coal Cracker Girls Tournament in Jim Thorpe. After winning her first two matches of the day, she suffered her first career defeat in the finals.
“She didn’t know enough to not choose top,” Nalesnik said about the loss. “She’s a brand new wrestler, and she couldn’t see without her glasses, so when we were trying to tell her to choose bottom, she thought we were telling her to pick top, and so she did.”
She ultimately fell 2-1 to Cumberland Valley’s Aja’nai Jumper.
But after that loss, it was only success for Banks. She finished first at the East Regionals that year at Parkland High School, and one week later, won all four matches, including a rematch against Jumper, to win her first career state championship.
“When she went out there that freshman year and won the state tournament, it was mostly based on physical talent and not as much technique at that point,” Nalesnik said. “Because she’s still kind of a new wrestler, so she relied on her physical gifts that first year.”
But even with a state championship in her first season, Banks didn’t fully recognize her talents on the mat until her second season.
“It hadn’t really sunk in that I was performing pretty well, probably until my second season,” she said, remembering how she didn’t fully grasp the magnitude of her accomplishment of winning states as a freshman.
“A lot of my first season was just getting through the matches to be fit,” she said. “I was used to playing sports, but not something so physically demanding. So I felt like most of the time my head was kind of adding up when I’d be competing.”
After her first state championship, Banks competed in the 2023 US Marine Corps Junior National Wrestling Championships in Fargo, North Dakota. Among the best wrestlers in the country, Banks finished fourth in her 225-pound weight class.
“When I participated in Fargo for the first time, I placed fourth; it didn’t really register in my head what it meant to wrestle for one year —not even the high school season — to start freestyle for the first time and then place fourth at Fargo,” she explained. “It didn’t mean much to me because I didn’t really understand the weight of what I had done.”
“Following into my second year, when I started getting more attention for my wrestling, I think that’s when it really hit me that I had excelled beyond what was considered normal for my time,” she said.
The drive to stay on top
During her sophomore season, Banks not only began to realize the magnitude of her talents, but also fully came into her own on the mat.
“Between that first year and her second year, you really started to see her mature as far as wrestling IQ,” Nalesnik recalled about her development as a sophomore. “She really learned the different intricacies of the sport itself, and from that point on, so her sophomore year all the way through now, there’s very little that I’ve done for her from that point on. I’ll take credit for that first year, but after that, I mean, she’s just driven to be great herself.”
Since the start of her sophomore season, the dominance has only continued for Banks. She’s won 98 matches over the three seasons with just one loss, an injury default. While Banks likely would laugh now about the matter, it was not a loss that she took kindly to at the time.
“What’s funny about that match is, I made the call to pull her out of that match,” Nalesnik said. “She wanted to keep wrestling, even though she couldn’t stand, and that speaks to her determination, but after I pulled her off the match, she wouldn’t talk to me for almost a week, because she was mad at me for not letting her continue to wrestle.”
“She wasn’t mad about the loss; she was mad about how the loss happened,” he noted. “How I made it so that she had no choice but to step off the mat. And I think once she realizes, I’m just protecting her career, and for the end of the tournament, that tournament in mid-December doesn’t mean nearly as much as your state tournament in the end.”
Since that injury default loss, Banks has not only continued to stack up wins, but she’s been untouchable, collecting 61 consecutive victories, including her third state championship along the way.
Despite the few days of anger towards her coach regarding his decision, Banks has always been a professional, Nalesnik noted.
“She is a consummate professional. Win, lose, or draw, it doesn’t matter; she’s going to be a professional about it. That’s just how she is.”
The last two seasons have also been unique for Banks in that she went from survival and hunting for the state championship to being the hunted. Every wrestler she takes on is looking for the slightest point of weakness that could catapult them to an upset victory. It’s a challenge that she has enjoyed.
“I think that the motivation that other wrestlers have to beat me is what fuels my drive,” she said. “Knowing that people want to be there. I understand that to keep my spot, I have to keep working. The grind truly never stops.”
No one has figured Banks out yet, and time is now running out.
A chance at history
While Banks is continuously working to stay on top of her game and at the top of the totem pole, she admittedly hasn’t thought much about the potential history that awaits her.
“I’m the type of wrestler to always think in the present,” she said. “I definitely don’t dwell on my past matches because if you dwell on the past, you can’t change it.What you have is the present and the future, but I like to do what I can about the situation I’m in right now.”
“When I’m wrestling in districts, it’s about winning districts. So when I won districts, then it’s okay, now we’re training for regionals. Now that I won regionals, states are on my mind. Now I have to put in the extra work to be able to win states.”
That ability to say within the present, not basking in prior accomplishments or daydreaming of potential glory to come, has been pivotal in her journey.
For Nalesnik, it’s a special honor to be her coach and the one who has helped guide her throughout this journey.
“Just with the rise of girls wrestling in general, we’ve seen so many talented girls come and go, and to have that opportunity to be a four-time state champion, a lot of other girls may have had that opportunity if it was given to them, but she’s one of the first that actually truly gets it, so to me, that’s very special,” he said.
“Going for that fourth title, I don’t think she puts too much credence into it. I know I put a lot more into it than she does,” he added. “I’m ecstatic to have someone like her to coach. She’s a once-in-a-lifetime talent.”
As discussing Banks’ journey, he couldn’t help but think how far girls’ wrestling has come over the last few years.
“I love seeing how girls’ wrestling has just improved; the numbers have skyrocketed,” he said. “Just in our district alone, we had about 300 girls total in the district, and it’s just an unbelievable feat when you think about where we are now.”
In the past two seasons, Banks has not been the only Panther who has made it to the state tournament. Teammate Alisa Williams, a standout in the 170-pound weight class, finished fourth in regionals last week and will now compete in the state tournament for the second time. Both wrestlers have made a huge impact, not just on the Panther Valley program, but on the community as a whole, an impact that they likely don’t fully understand currently, either.
“They don’t understand how pivotal they’ve been in bringing girls wrestling to this area and making it so prevalent,” Nalesnik said. “You know, they’re not just wrestlers at this point. They are local celebrities, and it really is a beautiful thing to see. They don’t realize how much they’ve actually done.”
Fans interested in attending next week’s state championships can buy tickets online through the PIAA website and Ticketmaster. Tickets for the preliminaries and first round matchups, as well as the quarterfinals, are $12 per session. The third, fourth, and fifth place matches, as well as the semifinals and finals, are $14 each. There are also purchasing options to buy for all five sessions across March 5-7 for $56 each, plus a $2 fee per ticket.
Rising USWNT Talents Gain Tournament Experience at 2026 SheBelieves Cup
The U.S. Women’s National Team begins its first tournament of 2026, the SheBelieves Cup, presented by Visa, on Sunday, March 1 against Argentina at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tenn.
It will be the first appearance of the year for many veterans who were not a part of the USWNT’s January training camp and matches, including captain Lindsey Heaps and 2021 Visa SheBelieves Cup MVP and 2025 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year Rose Lavelle. Head coach Emma Hayes also brought back a few younger talents who impressed in the first two matches of the year.
Eight players were named to their first SheBelieves Cup roster, five of whom competed in the January matches. Midfielder Riley Jackson, who earned her first cap last month in the 5-0 win against Chile, emphasized the value in learning from the older players ahead of her first senior team tournament.
“Everyone on the team has been so great and so supportive, especially since I'm new here,” Jackson said. “I have looked up to Lindsey and Rose for a really long time, so it's been really cool to be in camp with them and really see how they train and how they carry themselves day in and day out.”
Jackson might also be sharing the midfield with Sam Coffey, who enters this camp with 42 international caps. The 27-year-old noted how much the younger players bring to this squad, especially those of which have made their debuts under Hayes.
“We have so much young talent, and I think they're showing up in this environment and trusting themselves and contributing in a really special way,” said Coffey. “That's really hard as a young player, but I think that is what this program and specifically, what Emma and her staff have done really well in terms of investing in them.”
The U.S. will face three top-30 ranked opponents in the 2026 SheBelieves Cup in Argentina (30), Colombia (20) and Canada (10), which will also compete with the U.S. in the Concacaf W Championship for World Cup qualifying at the end of the year.
The week-long SheBelieves Cup, which recently announced a rule change where matches will head straight to penalties if tied after regulation, is an opportunity for the less-experienced players to compete in a group-stage style competition ahead of larger-scale tournaments like the 2027 World Cup and 2028 Olympics.
“Nothing feels like how a tournament feels,” Coffey said. “The turnaround, the (potential) penalties, competing to win a trophy. You can't manufacture those circumstances. The more we can be in environments where we experience that, especially before qualifying and all that's to come, I think those opportunities are really invaluable, especially for our younger girls.”
POTTSVILLE — Williams Valley secured its second consecutive trip to the PIAA state playoffs Friday, pulling away for a 51-29 victory over Marian Catholic in the District 11 Class 2A final at Martz Hall.
The Vikings (18-6) utilized an up-tempo second-half surge to steamroll the Fillies, while Executive Education (17-6) relied on a stout defensive performance to edge Schuylkill Haven, 39-33, in the District 11 Class 3A championship.
“We had the same feeling from last year and we wanted to win it again,” Williams Valley coach Shane Zellers said. “The girls showed up, scored enough points late, and just kept adding on.”
The win marks the Vikings’ second straight district title over Marian, continuing a dominant post-season run that has become a program staple.
“This was my goal from the beginning of the season,” said Ireland Kasper, who wanted the win for more than just the trophy. “I wanted to get my little brother a medal. He’s our manager and he means everything to me. I just knew coming into this we had to win; nobody else does this back-to-back.”
Williams Valley 51, Marian 29
Kasper hit four three-pointers to power Williams Valley into the PIAA state playoffs.
The Vikings picked up the pace after the first quarter and outscored Marian by 11 points across the second and third quarters. Kasper pumped in three three-pointers for the 40-26 lead at the end of the third.
“Shane (Zellers) called plays that required me to shoot the ball so I had to get open and shoot the ball,” Kasper said. “We had been practicing our offense all week and we knew what we had to do.”
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Schuylkill Haven’s Ava Terefencko (13) goes to the basket during the game against Executive Education at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo
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Schuylkill Haven’s Braelynn Strenkoski (50) comes down with the rebound during the game against Executive Education at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo
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Schuylkill Haven’s Mckenna Runkle (10) shoots for three during the game against Executive Education at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo
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Schuylkill Haven’s Kylie Siket (3) goes up for two during the game against Executive Education at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo
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Schuylkill Haven’s Audrey Hutchinson (2) during the game against Executive Education at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo
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Williams Valley’s Ireland Kasper (42) encounters Marian’s Haley Minzola (11) during the game at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo
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Marian’s Addy Marek (41) during the game against Williams Valley at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo
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Marian’s DeAnna Pugh (5) tries to intercept a pass by Williams Valley’s Ella Kobularik (10) during the game at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo
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Marian’s Addy Marek (41) reaches for a loose ball during the game against Williams Valley at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo
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Williams Valley’s Presley Shomper (2) gets by Marian’s Gia DeCosmo (33) during the game at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo
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Williams Valley’s Ireland Kasper (42) shoots for three over Marian’s Katie Knock (22) during the game at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo
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Williams Valley’s Ella Kobularik (10) goes to the basket during the game against Marian at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo
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Williams Valley’s Ireland Kasper (42) encounters Marian’s Haley Minzola (11) during the game at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo
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Marian’s Addy Marek (41) during the game against Williams Valley at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo
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Marian’s DeAnna Pugh (5) tries to intercept a pass by Williams Valley’s Ella Kobularik (10) during the game at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo
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Marian’s Addy Marek (41) reaches for a loose ball during the game against Williams Valley at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo
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Schuylkill Haven’s Ava Terefencko (13) goes to the basket during the game against Executive Education at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo
Williams Valley forced 13 turnovers including eight steals by Ella Kobularik. The Vikings held Marian to three points in the final quarter to seal the win.
“It started on the defensive end. We got stops and were able to run the floor and get some open looks out of that,” Zellers said. “They executed, stepped up, stuck to the gameplan and were aggressive and tough.”
Kasper led Williams Valley with 17 points while Miller scored 12 and Smeltz and Kobularik eight each. Miller also collected a team-high eight rebounds.
Mallory Miller and Kasper opened the game with three-pointers. Marian’s Katie Knock hit a three to bring the Fillies within a point with three minutes left in the first quarter.
Miller converted a pair of free throws to give Williams Valley an 11-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.
“We were prepared and the girls wanted it,” Zellers said. “It’s what we’ve been looking forward to. We had a chance to do it and I’m so proud of them.”
Marian’s Brooke Hannis-Miskar hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 15-12 before Kasper knocked down a pair of threes for a 22-14 lead.
“It feels great knowing people who were better than us couldn’t make it this far,” Kasper said. “She’s (Kobularik) a beast and I wouldn’t be as open as I am without her.”
Quin Smeltz opened the second half for Williams Valley with a steal and full-court layup for the 28-19 lead. Marian’s Addy Marek hit a three to bring the Fillies back within a 28-24 deficit a minute later.
Miller converted a pair of free throws for the 32-24 lead before Kasper hit another three for the 36-26 lead with two minutes left in the third quarter.
Presley Shomper banked in a layup to push Williams Valley’s lead to 40-26 entering the fourth quarter.
Led by a pair of Smeltz layups, the Vikings went an 11-2 scoring run in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.
Executive Education fended off a Schuylkill Haven second-half comeback and walked away with a six-point district championship win.
“This was the goal all season long. We had a blank slate in our gym that said ‘girls basketball’ and there was nothing underneath it,” said first-year Executive Education coach Jose Medina, who previously won a number of district championship titles at Bethlehem Catholic. “Now, forever, there will be something underneath there.”
Schuylkill Haven’s Audrey Hutchinson’s layup knotted the score at 26 at the end of the third quarter before McKenna Runkle hit a three-pointer and a field goal to bring the deficit within 35-33 with a minute remaining in the game.
Nia Bush and Savanna Henry converted three free throws to seal the six-point win.
“The ‘iron five’ did a wonderful job so I’m super proud of them,” Medina said. “They bought in all season long, credit to them. I couldn’t be more proud.”
Mariah Hargrove led the Raptors with 15 points while Bush had 10 points and Henry scored eight. Hargrove and Bush each brought in 10 rebounds to lead the way on the boards.
Henry and Bush got to the basket fast to start the game for the 7-1 lead before Runkle posted a layup for the 7-4 deficit at the end of the first quarter.
Executive Education took a 13-8 lead after Bush’s second layup of the quarter. Siket hit a three to bring Schuylkill Haven within a 13-11 deficit before Hutchinson posted a layup for the 13-13 knotted score.
Bush hit a three and scored five points for the 18-13 lead before Ava Terefencko had a steal and went the length of the floor for the 18-17 deficit with a minute left in the first half.
“I can’t speak highly enough of these girls and everyone collectively I’m super proud of the team effort tonight,” Medina said. “Our girls just fought and they wanted it more.”
Executive Education led Schuylkill Haven 20-17 at halftime.
Terefencko rolled in a pair of layups and Hutchinson found the bucket to knot the score at 26-26 at the end of the third quarter.
Executive Education’s defense was the game-decider when they allowed just seven points to the Hurricanes in the fourth quarter. Kamila Rios got involved with a three and scored six points while Bush added three points for the 39-33 win.
Runkle led the Hurricanes with 12 points. Hutchinson scored 11 points and had 15 rebounds.
Backed by 32 points, including nine made 3-pointers, from transfer guard Braeden Carrington, the Badgers built a 36-21 edge by intermission and didn't look back. UW led by as many as 28 points on the evening and only turned the ball over five times.
In addition to Carrington's scoring barrage, guard Nick Boyd dropped 22 points on 11 made field goals. The San Diego State transfer added nine boards, five dimes and a pair of steals in the effort in 32 total minutes.
Boyd, who has led UW in scoring throughout the season, ignited the Badgers' offensive attack with eight of Wisconsin's first 14 tallies. With some help from Carrington and veteran center Nolan Winter, Boyd's would go on to score 14 of his 22 in the first half to propel the Badgers to a 15-point advantage at the half.
From there, Carrington put on a show. He scored 23 of his 32 in the second half to steady Wisconsin's scoring output throughout the final 20 minutes of action. Despite shooting the same clip from the field, Wisconsin made 11 more 3's than the Huskies and accounted for five more assists.
Wisconsin's final games come against Maryland (March 4) and No. 8 Purdue (March 7) ahead of the 2026 Big Ten Tournament in Chicago.
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The Miami Heat are way more talented than their record suggests. They currently sit in the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 32-29 record.
They are still two games away from the automatic Playoffs spot, which is currently held by the Philadelphia 76ers. Miami wants to maintain good form, so they can qualify without having to go through the gruelling Play-In.
Wiggins wants the Heat to avoid the Play-In Tournament
With the 76ers struggling with injuries and a big suspension, teh Heat could catch them. The Orlando Magic also sit in between them, but they have been quite disappointing. They are also struggling with Franz Wagner's injury.
The Heat have the talent to become one of the teams that can qualify for the Playoffs. However, they will need to go on a winning streak because the Heat have the players. With three All-Star-level players leading the way, they can surprise people.
As one of the veterans on the Heat roster, Wiggins is experienced with making the Playoffs. He even has a championship, similar to first-time All-Star Norman Powell.
To succeed in the postseason, the Heat need to be as comfortable as possible. They can do that by reaching the postseason early on without having to go through the Play-In.
Wiggins brings up a great point there because the Heat have all the numbers in their favor. They only need to secure the wins because they have been letting some results slip by. It will be challenging, but the Heat have enough talent.
The New England Patriots have been one of the most talked-about teams in the NFL this offseason when it comes to trade rumors, and no name has generated more buzz than star wide receiver A.J. Brown. With New England looking to upgrade its roster around young quarterback Drake Maye, the Patriots explored the possibility of acquiring one of the league’s premier pass-catchers from the Philadelphia Eagles. But according to multiple league reports, those talks have stalled — largely because the asking price from Philadelphia has been deemed too high by New England’s front office.
Dec 28, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) during a timeout in the third quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
Brown, a perennial 1,000-yard receiver and a three-time Pro Bowler, would be a dream addition for many contenders. Philadelphia’s reluctance to part with a player of his caliber — especially one who still ranks among the NFL’s most productive wide receivers — has given the Eagles leverage in any potential deal. Sources in New England clearly feel that Philadelphia’s demands go beyond what the Patriots are willing to give up.
At the center of the impasse is the compensation Philadelphia reportedly wants: a first-round pick along with at least a second-round selection, and perhaps even more in return. That price tag has been described by insiders as “unserious,” effectively pricing New England out of a straight swap unless they are willing to surrender significant draft capital.
Patriots POV:
Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel leaves the field at halftime against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
For the Patriots — fresh off a Super Bowl run — the calculus is complicated. New England is in a position to chase a championship now, and Brown would instantly elevate a receiving corps that, despite veteran Stefon Diggs’ strong performance last season, needs a bona fide No. 1 option to complement Maye’s development. Yet parting with a first-round pick — particularly with New England selecting near the end of the round — is a steep price, especially for a player set to earn over $28 million per season under his current contract.
The timing also colors the negotiations: trading Brown before June 1 would saddle Philadelphia with roughly $44 million in dead cap charges, whereas waiting until after that date would reduce the financial penalty. That dynamic gives the Eagles even more leverage at a moment when New England is feeling pressure to balance roster improvement with prudent financial planning.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel — who coached Brown during their time together with the Tennessee Titans — hasn’t outright dismissed the possibility of a deal, but his public comments have been measured and circumspect, typical of a club attempting to stay within the NFL’s strict tampering rules. Meanwhile, league sources say New England’s interest remains, but only if Philadelphia is willing to lower its demands.
Eagles POV:
Jan 11, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni looks on after an NFC Wild Card Round game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
On the Eagles’ side, the message seems clear: Brown is a top-tier talent, and if a team wants to acquire him, it’s going to cost draft capital in line with his elite status. With general manager Howie Roseman and head coach Nick Sirianni both publicly expressing a desire to retain their stars, Philadelphia appears content to wait for an offer that reflects Brown’s value — or keep him altogether.
As the NFL offseason progresses, the A.J. Brown trade saga remains one of the league’s most intriguing stories. Whether the Patriots eventually bridge the gap in draft compensation or turn to other avenues to bolster their offense, the current stalemate highlights the complex negotiations that define modern NFL roster building.
Moreno is looking to rebound from a (controversial?!?!?) stoppage loss to current title challenger Tatsuro Taira . Kavanagh is looking to rebound, too, after being finished by Charles Johnson for his first career loss (see that again here).
The co-main event for this one is former Bantamweight title challenger Marlon Vera vs. David Martinez. “Mexico vs. World” is the name of the game for the rest of the main card, too, with Daniel Zellhuber vs. King Green, Edgar Chairez vs. Felipe Bunes, Imanol Rodriguez vs. Kevin Borjas and Santiago Luna vs. Angel Pachecho.
The pick of the “Prelims” card is probably Ailin Perez vs. Macy Chiasson, with Perez riding a long win streak. The Paramount+-streamed undercard also has Damian Pinas vs. Wes Schultz and Douglas Silva de Andrade vs. Javier Reyes.
The “Prelims” begin at 5 p.m. ET and the main card starts at 8 p.m. ET. I’m loving these earlier times and the pacing on the last event was fantastic. More of the same, please!
The live results will start popping up here as soon as the fights kick off at 5 p.m. ET. Please join our live discussion thread below in the comments.
UFC Mexico City Quick Results
Main card
125 lbs.: Brandon Moreno vs. Lone’er Kavanagh
135 lbs.: Marlon Vera vs. David Martinez
155 lbs.: Daniel Zellhuber vs. King Green
125 lbs.: Edgar Chairez vs. Felipe Bunes
125 lbs.: Imanol Rodriguez vs. Kevin Borjas
135 lbs.: Santiago Luna vs. Angel Pacheco
‘Prelims’
185 lbs.: Ryan Gandra vs. Jose Medina
135 lbs.: Ailin Perez vs. Macy Chiasson
135 lbs.: Cristian Quinonez vs. Kris Moutinho
145 lbs.: Douglas Silva de Andrade vs. Javier Reyes
125 lbs.: Ernesta Kareckaite vs. Regina Tarin
145 lbs.: Francis Marshall def. Erik Silva by submission (rear naked choke), round 1 (2:29)
185 lbs.: Damien Pinas def. Wes Schultz by TKO (punches), round 1 (2:30)
UFC Mexico City Play-By-Play Updates
‘Prelims’
Erik Silva vs. Franchis Marshall: Silva came out and landed a spinning wheel kick off the jump. Marshall weathered that, though, and then established his wrestling game. After getting Silva down he was able to threaten with submissions and it didn’t take long for him to get the back and the rear naked choke.
Official decision: Francis Marshall def. Erik Silva by submission (rear naked choke), round 1 (2:29)
Damian Pinas vs. Wes Schultz: Pinas has scary power. Every time he connected on Schultz, Schultz’s entire world turned upside down. Schultz did well to get up a few times, but he couldn’t keep doing that. He went down for good half way through the first. Keep an eye on Pinas folks.
DOMINANT IN HIS DEBUT 🤯
Damian Pinas earns the RD1 TKO to open up #UFCMexico!
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive tackle Zane Durant (28) celebrates after tackling Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Cincinnati Bengals have one massive theme this offseason, and it is bolstering the defensive unit for the 2026 season in any way possible.
The Bengals front office staff is keeping busy in Indianapolis this week during the NFL Combine and has completed multiple meetings with defensive prospects in this year’s draft class.
Adding to that list, Cincinnati has recently met with Penn State defensive tackle Zane Durant, according to Malik Wright
Durant has performed well at the NFL Combine so far, running the 40-yard dash in 4.75 seconds, finishing just ahead of Southeastern Louisiana’s Kaleb Proctor by 0.04 seconds.
Durant also registered a 33.5″ vertical jump and a 9’4″ broad jump on Thursday this week, boosting his draft stock with these athletic numbers.
The Florida native and now former Nittany Lion posted 89 total tackles and 10 sacks for Penn State in 54 games over four seasons.
Durant is undersized for his position, only weighing 290 pounds, but he packs quite a bit of athleticism into his frame and has plenty of upside. NFL Mock Draft Database has him projected as a fourth-round pick this year, so this could be someone to watch for on Day 3, though his stock may have just gotten a bump with his good combine showing.
Zane Durant met with the Bengals and called it a productive visit — adding that he models his game after Bengals great Geno Atkins.
DORTMUND, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 28: Harry Kane of FC Bayern Munich celebrates scoring his team's second goal from the penalty spot during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern München at Signal Iduna Park on February 28, 2026 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Bayern Munich fought a grueling (and winning) 3-2 battle against Borussia Dortmund away from home in Der Klassiker. There were several obstacles to the flow of the game was disruptive to build a good rhythm. However, the Bavarians did splendidly to find their winning goal and keep their lead secure under immense pressure. Midfielder Joshua Kimmich summarized how they managed to beat a desperate and determined Dortmund side.
The unrelenting mentality
Bayern arrived in Dortmund with an opportunity to build a big lead in the Bundesliga race. With Dortmund in second place, this fixture was vital in determining who would lift the Meisterchale this season. Understandably both teams brought their full might to the pitch and gave it their all.
After the game, Kimmich opened up about the lead up to this game and what victory meant (FCBayern.com). “It’s up to us, and we’re not going to give it up. To be honest, with what I believe is an eleven-point lead, we’re not going to let it slip away. No one’s ever squandered that, and it’s going to stay that way. Today, mentality was the deciding factor in the end.”
A difficult game to build an advantage
The zealous and physical nature of the game saw constant break in the flow of the game, stopping momentum from building up effectively. Despite the ref being lenient, the rigor of the duels between the players and the pressure led to loss in possession, direction changes and fouls.
“We struggled for a long time. It was a very physical game, especially in the first half, very disjointed, with lots of stoppages, set pieces, and fouls. We couldn’t find a real rhythm,” said Kimmich. With 40 tackles and 30 interceptions in the game, neither team was letting the other have a moment’s time to breathe.
Patience and endurance
Bayern Munich often deals with teams that go all out and try to catch the Bavarians off guard. However, the record champions have had the right strategy to deal with annoying teams that take early leads and sit back. Managing a better pacing of the game than their opponents, the Bavarians have implemented a strategy that exhausts the opponents before pouncing upon openings in the final phases of the game.
Commenting on the change in flow in the second half, Kimmich said, “Things flowed a bit better in the second half. We also knew at halftime that it would be difficult for Dortmund to maintain that tempo for 90 minutes. They’d had a tough few weeks with a lot of games, we hadn’t. So we knew: the longer the game went on, the bigger our advantage would become. Luckily, we managed to capitalize on that advantage very late in the game.”
After multiple turns, the Bavarians preserved their lead and deservedly so. With greater accuracy of shots taken, Bayern edged past Dortmund who failed to crush Bayern at home.
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…
New Michigan State Spartans coach Pat Fitzgerald didn't hold back when discussing some of the key adjustments needed to bring the football program back to national relevance.
Whether it's a two-year turnaround similar to Indiana Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti's eventual undefeated national championship season that was capped off last month, or a five-year plan, the foundation of a stable recruiting base is a key priority before looking too far ahead, as Fitzgerald put it.
“We have to get back to that fundamental edge, that mental and emotional edge, and then just that era of physicality,” Fitzgerald told reporters.. “You have to practice hard to play hard, and that’s what we’re going to start going on. Everybody’s going to do it their way, but we’re going to do it the Spartan way. Our guys are embracing it, and that’s all I could ask right now.”
Fitzgerald said doing so requires a level of trust and an edge that may take a bit of a collective effort, but it needs to start from within on the recruiting trail.
"Frankly, I think it’s just maybe a little bit more, just building relationships with the coaches in the state," Fitzgerald said. "I would obviously come to the state of Michigan when I was at my previous institution, it might be for a day, you know, I think I spent four or five days here, you know, through that two-week period, give or take, maybe not a full day, but wrapping up some things."
SVG Wins O'Reilly Race at COTAJames Gilbert - Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen is finally a winner at the Circuit of the Americas, known as the road course ace in both the NASCAR Cup Series and O'Reilly's Auto Parts Series, the New Zealand driver took the checkered flag ahead of Austin Hill Saturday evening.
In each stage of the Focused Health 250 at the COTA, Shane van Gisbergen put on a clinic in NASCAR's second-tier.
Following the restart for the final stage, van Gisbergen, who started fourth, masterfully slid on the inside of turn 16th past the leaders to take the lead with 20 laps remaining, all while throwing a peace sign at the competition.
SVG's biggest threat for a win in Saturday's race was his Trackhouse teammate in Cup and JRM teammate in O'Reilly, Connor Zilisch. Fans of road-course battles were robbed of seeing the two race after damage to the Cup Series rookie in the opening stage. Zilisch wheel-hopped early, braking a brake rotor in the rear and fading from the lead.
Zilisch's car was repaired, and the young phenom started his march through the field, up into the top ten with ten laps remaining. A hail mary caution for the No. 1 car came when Sage Karam ended up stopped and marooned near the racing surface.
Nick Sanchez and Justin Allgaier stayed out to take the front row, van Gisbergen restarted in sixth, and Zilisch in 11th.
SVG made the same move on the restart with five laps to go and plowed through from sixth to the lead. On the next lap, van Gisbergen ran the fastest lap of the race.
"I kinda sucked the No. 41 in, and he sorta took everyone out for me, so that was cool," van Gisbergen told The CW Sports following his race-winning move on the lap 61 restart.
Harrison Burton and Rajah Caruth got tangled in turn 6A, collecting several of the front-runners, but the race stayed green with all cars involved getting going and maintaining minimal speed.
On the next lap, after just breaking back into the top-five, Zilisch spins in the S's and crashes after a nudge by Corey Day. Zilisch also continues on but fades to 22nd for his first finish outside the top five on a road course in NASCAR's second tier.
In five laps, van Gisbengen ran from sixth to a 1.8-second advantage on Austin Hill in second; Hill shortened the difference to 0.780 at the checkered flag. Sammy Smith and Jesse Love followed. Day completed the top five after his contact with Zilisch, and 17-year-old Brent Crews finished sixth in his series debut.
It was a “walk the walk, talk the talk” type win that first-year coach Josh Elander had been pushing his team toward after an up-and-down start to the season.
UT starter Landon Mack (2-1) was the spearhead of that swagger. He celebrated on the mound and exchanged words with Arizona State players after working out of jams in back-to-back innings.
In the third, Mack struck out two straight batters to strand runners on second and third base. He pumped his fist and appeared to say something that caught the umpire's ear. The umpire issued a warning, but the sequence ignited the UT dugout.
“That was the first time that I got a warning. We were fired up. It got emotional,” said Mack, a Rutgers transfer who allowed two runs in five innings.
“It’s all authentic. I like to bring the energy. It’s really just a side effect of me having fun. (The win) was big for our morale. We have confidence, it was just about going out and playing freely. That’s what the boys did today.”
Will Tennessee momentum extend to Virginia Tech game?
Tennessee plays Virginia Tech (7-2) on March 1 (11:30 a.m. ET, FloCollege streaming) to wrap up the series. Lefthander Evan Blanco (1-1) will get the start for the Vols.
Virginia Tech lost 10-0 by run rule to Texas A&M in Game 1 of the series, and it plays Mississippi State on Feb. 28.
The Vols have a chance to leave Arlington with a 2-1 record in a premier series. More importantly, they hope to have found their mojo in this bounce-back win over Arizona State following a 12-5 loss to No. 2 UCLA in Game 1 on Feb. 27.
“The dugout probably had the most energy it’s had all year,” freshman lefthander Cam Appenzeller, who picked up the save with two scoreless innings. “This helped us get back on the right track.”
How Chris Newstrom beat his family's alma mater
A sneak peek of Tennessee’s swagger may have shown up one day earlier.
After the Vols lost to UCLA, second baseman Chris Newstrom said UT would "throw the first punch" offensively against Arizona State. That happened when the Vols scored four runs in the second inning, sparked by Newstrom’s two-run double.
“Maybe Newstrom can see the future,” Elander said.
Newstrom’s family is full of former Arizona State athletes. His father was a star baseball player there. His mother played volleyball there. And his sister was an elite gymnast and ASU cheerleader.
“I’m glad he was wearing our uniform today,” Elander added.
Newstrom is on a hot streak in Arlington. In two games, he is 4-for-8 with a single, double, triple, home run, three RBIs and two runs. He had a .167 batting average this season before that.
Tennessee's Henry Ford rebounds from 2-error game
Another notable turnaround was at third base. Henry Ford committed two errors against UCLA, but he played lockdown defense in the Arizona State game.
“I feel comfortable there. I feel like the more reps, obviously the better I get,” said Ford, a Virginia transfer who’s playing third base as a new position. “It’s baseball. Stuff happens. You’ve got to stay even keeled, move on to the next pitch and the next game.”
Ford had two hits against Arizona State and was among seven UT batters who recorded at least one hit. He liked his approach from the plate and his improvement on defense.
But Ford was more eager to talk about Mack’s emotional impact on the team.
“It shows how competitive he is and how much he wants to win. That’s contagious,” Ford said. “That’s how everyone on this team is, whether they show it or not. We’re starting to come together.”
“Thank you so much” – Pep Guardiola issues sarcastic message to Football Association over Newcastle scheduling
Pep Guardiola has issued his latest sarcastic message of gratitude concerning Manchester City’s upcoming fixture scheduling.
The City manager has rarely hidden frustration when it comes to the demands placed on his squad, and fresh comments after Saturday’s narrow win in Yorkshire suggested that irritation remains simmering beneath the surface.
With Manchester City competing across multiple fronts and entering a pivotal stretch of the ongoing campaign, recovery time has become a recurring theme in Pep Guardiola’s recent media briefings.
City’s latest assignment saw them grind out a hard-fought 0-1 victory over Leeds at Elland Road, as Antoine Semenyo’s first-half strike proved decisive in closing the gap on Arsenal at the Premier League summit despite being without injured forward Erling Haaland.
Speaking to reporters after City’s latest claiming of a significant three points, Pep Guardiola took opportunity to issue a sarcastic message surrounding the scheduling of the club’s FA Cup fifth round encounter.
“We have an FA Cup [match against Newcastle at St James’ Park]. Thank you so much for letting us play at 8PM instead of 3PM because we have less recovery to go to Madrid. So again, thank you so much,” said Guardiola.
Against Leeds, Manchester City were made to work for every inch after the hosts began brightly and created early openings, but Semenyo’s composed finish right before the interval ultimately separated the sides.
From there, Pep Guardiola’s men had to manage the game intelligently to secure three valuable points in the title race, showcasing a mixture of control in possession and somewhat rare second-half defensive resilience.
For Guardiola, the ongoing challenge is not simply tactical but physical, ensuring his squad can recover adequately between high-intensity encounters, and his latest message once again underlined a growing concern about scheduling pressures.
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Alina Muller and Hannah Brandt scored in a shootout and the Boston Fleet beat the Ottawa Charge 3-2 on Saturday to break a tie for the PWHL lead.
Muller and Abby Newhook scored in regulation, and Aerin Frankel stopped 23 shots to help Boston improve to 8-3-2-2. Muller tied it at 2 on a power play with 6:34 left in regulation on a deflection off the skate of Ottawa’s Kathryn Reilly.
Rebecca Leslie scored twice for Ottawa, and Gwyneth Phillips made 21 saves. The Charge are 4-5-1-7. Leslie has 10 goals for a share of the league lead.
A victory over Indiana on Sunday afternoon would go a long way for the Spartans' chances at landing a high seed in the Big Ten Tournament.
Michigan State picked up a monster road upset win over top 10 Purdue earlier this week, and now is in a good spot to land a triple-bye in the Big Ten Tournament... as long as they can beat Indiana on Sunday. According to Paul Fanson (a.k.a. Dr. Green and White) of Spartans Illustrated, the Spartans would be a near lock to receive the No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the Big Ten Tournament if they beat the Hoosiers on Sunday afternoon.
According to Fanson's algorithm for Big Ten Tournament seeding projections, if the Spartans beat Indiana on Sunday, they'll have a 46 percent chance at getting the No. 2 seed and a 53 percent chance at getting the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament. This, of course, would be impacted by the other results in the league, most notably how Nebraska finishes out the regular season.
Here is what's at stake in tomorrow's MSU at Indiana game. If MSU wins, the No. 2 or No. 3 seed (depending on what Nebraska does) in the BTT is a virtual lock (99.5%).
If MSU loses, there is still a 60% chance at the triple bye, but the No. 4 or No. 5 seed is most likely (73%) pic.twitter.com/KjnWAPRAK2
The Spartans are currently 23-5 overall and 13-4 in Big Ten play with three games remaining. Michigan State's remaining games are against Indiana (road), Rutgers (home) and Michigan (road). So a win over the Hoosiers on Sunday would project Michigan State to finish 15-5 in conference play, with an expected win over Rutgers and loss at Michigan.
If Michigan State were to lose to Indiana on Sunday, then things get more complicated and the Spartans appear more destined for the No. 4 or No. 5 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, according to Fanson. A loss to the Hoosiers would result in the Spartans having a 60 percent chance at still getting a triple-bye in the Big Ten Tournament.
Landing as the No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the Big Ten Tournament certainly provides a better chance at making a deep run than if they are in the No. 4 or No. 5 seed range. The obvious reason for that, would be avoiding the clear top team in the league -- rival Michigan -- until the championship game if both teams were to make it there.
Tipoff for the Spartans' game at Indiana is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. ET on Sunday. The game will be televised nationally on CBS.
Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page onFacebookto follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
📋 Corinthians field a mixed side in bid to reach Paulista final
Corinthians returns to the field this Saturday (28), when they visit Novorizontino at the Jorge Ismael de Biasi Stadium, at 8:30 PM (Brasília time), for the semifinal of the Paulistão 2026.
The winner will face Palmeiras or São Paulo, who play against each other this Sunday (1), at Arena Barueri.
Unlike the semi, the finals will be played in a home-and-away format.
The team with the most titles in the tournament, with 31 championships, five more than their biggest rival, Timão seeks to lift the trophy again, as they did in 2025.
As has been happening since the start of the season, coach Dorival Júnior has been rotating the alvinegro squad.
Thus, compared to the last game (1-1 with Cruzeiro, in the Brasileirão), only goalkeeper Hugo Souza and midfielders Raniele and Breno Bidon were kept among the starters.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - FEBRUARY 28: (R-L) Damian Pinas of Suriname punches Wes Schultz in a middleweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Arena CDMX on February 28, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Damian Pinas entered UFC Mexico with the reputation of a fierce knockout artist and he didn’t disappoint.
In his first fight since being signed off of Dana White’s Contender Series, Pinas continued his finishing ways with a brutal first-round TKO of Wes Schultz in Saturday’s opening middleweight bout in Mexico City.
Watch Pinas’ fast punch-out below.
DOMINANT IN HIS DEBUT 🤯
Damian Pinas earns the RD1 TKO to open up #UFCMexico!
From the start, Pinas was all over Schultz, drilling him with rapid 1-2 combinations that had Schultz tumbling all around the octagon. Pinas followed with ground-and-pound every time, but Schultz kept finding ways to defend himself. The resistance didn’t discourage Pinas, who stuck with his boxing and eventually clipped Schultz with right on the button that dropped Schultz once more and prompted referee Horacio Lopez Villanueva to step in for the save.
The official time of the stoppage was 2:30 of Round 1.
Pinas improved to 9-1 with the win and has now won five straight fights, while Schultz, also a recent Contender Series signing, falls to 8-3 as a pro.
Bradley Barcola (R) scored the only goal of the game as Paris Saint-Germain beat Le Havre 1-0 in Ligue 1 on Saturday (JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER)
Bradley Barcola scored and Desire Doue had a penalty saved as Paris Saint-Germain held on for a 1-0 win away to Le Havre on Saturday to extend their lead at the top of the Ligue 1 table to four points.
PSG were looking to take advantage of another slip-up by title rivals Lens, who were held to a 1-1 draw away at Strasbourg on Friday to go two games without a win.
Luis Enrique's side duly got the job done with Barcola heading in from a Lee Kang-in cross on 37 minutes for his ninth goal of the season.
It was not a full-strength PSG, with Ousmane Dembele again out injured along with Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves, while skipper Marquinhos was among the players rested.
Doue came off the bench in the second half and won a penalty with just over 10 minutes remaining, but his kick was kept out by Le Havre goalkeeper Mory Diaw diving to his right.
Diaw also produced a fine reaction save from Nuno Mendes while PSG goalkeeper Matfei Safonov made a key stop to deny Issa Soumare at the other end.
The reigning European champions are gearing up for a Champions League last-16 tie against Chelsea and have now won nine out of 10 Ligue 1 games played since the start of December.
Elsewhere in France on Saturday, Rennes made it two wins out of two under new coach Franck Haise as they beat Toulouse 1-0 in Brittany thanks to Arnaud Nordin's first-half goal.
Monaco got back on track after losing to PSG in their Champions League play-off tie as USA star Folarin Balogun and Simon Adingra scored in a 2-0 win over Angers.
Marseille in fourth play host to third-placed Lyon Sunday in a key game in the fight for Champions League qualification.
Ed Cooley arrived at Georgetown in March 2023 with one of the richest contracts in the Big East and a mandate to restore one of college basketball’s proudest brands.
Before leaving Providence, Cooley was already the highest-paid coach in the Big East Conference. According to Form 990 documents and state data reviewed by Providence Business News, Cooley earned $4.9 million in total compensation from Providence in the 2023 fiscal year, which ended June 30, 2023. That figure topped all coaches paid by the league’s 11 member institutions during the 2022-23 season.
Georgetown reportedly offered Cooley a multi-year deal worth in the neighborhood of $6 million annually to lure him to Washington. Beyond the financial commitment, the opportunity to follow Hall of Famer John Thompson and revive the Hoyas brand played a key role in his decision.
Now in his third season, Cooley’s tenure has drawn criticism. Georgetown is 13-16 overall and 5-12 in Big East play as of late February, tied for last in the conference. The Hoyas are on track to miss the NCAA Tournament again, and Cooley owns a 40-55 record across his first two-plus seasons after taking over a program that dismissed Patrick Ewing in 2023. With two games left in the season, this will likely be another year Georgetown is outside of tournament contention.
Ed Cooley's buyout terms
Specific buyout details tied to Cooley’s contract have not been publicly disclosed. However, given the length and annual value of the agreement, any potential separation would likely require a significant financial settlement. Ewing received a reported $11.4 million buyout upon his departure.
For now, Georgetown remains financially committed to Cooley as it searches for a long-awaited turnaround.
Punting has been a big problem for the New Orleans Saints since Thomas Morstead left as a free agent after the 2020 season. Rookie Kai Kroeger, signed last offseason, was the latest to try and replace Morstead. In 2021 and 2022, that responsibility fell on Blake Gillikin. Lou Hedley wasn't up to the task in 2023, nor was Matthew Hayball in 2024. With each punter brought in by the Saints, the results seemed to worsen. Even with Morstead again available as a free agent last offseason, New Orleans instead went with another rookie. Here were the results.
Kai Kroeger Year in Review
Position: Punter
Age: 23
Height: 6-feet, 3 inches
Weight: 213 pounds
NFL experience: 1st year
2025 season: 17 games
Over four seasons with the South Carolina Gamecocks, Kroeger averaged 44.6 yards per punt. His 47.8 yard average in 2024 was second in the SEC. Kroeger was considered one of the top punters available in this year's rookie class. His 11,823 career punting yards are the second most in SEC history.
Originally signed by the New York Jets after going undrafted, Kroeger was released at the beginning of training camp. He was immediately signed by the Saints. Kroeger went on to win the punter job in preseason. He would be the fourth punter for the Saints in the five years since Morstead's departure.
Unfortunately for New Orleans, the results were the same. Kroeger had an overall average of 44.8, but his net average was a putrid 37.3 yards. He had 18 of his attempts inside the opposing 20-yard line, a lowly percentage of just 32.1. Kroeger also had 2 punts blocked, most in the NFL.
Kroeger's 44.8 gross average was 30th in the league. His 37.3 net average ranked 31st. Only two regular punters had fewer kicks downed inside the opponent's 20. For whatever it's worth, Morstead had similar struggles. However, Kai Kroeger was simply one of the NFL's worst punters
Expect New Orleans to have yet another punter in 2026 in the attempt to replace Morstead, a fan favorite. It would be a surprise if Kroeger even made it as far as the opening training camp roster. He epitomized the awful special teams of the New Orleans Saints last season and will almost certainly be one of many changes made.
Michigan State's head coach Tom Izzo reacts after Jordan Scott scores during the second half against Michigan on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. | Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Indiana men’s basketball is set to take on Michigan State on Sunday looking to prove itself a better team than it was in this past week’s loss to Northwestern.
The Hoosiers were teetering on entering the wrong side of the bubble conversation with blowout losses to Illinois and Purdue on the road before throwing themselves into that side with the loss to the Wildcats. There’s three opportunities ahead against a team battling for a top seed, a team out of the conversation with an early season win over Indiana and a fellow bubble team.
That first team is Michigan State, which is coming off of a road win at Purdue, the same team and venue that vexed this Indiana team. Here’s five things to know about the Spartans:
This is very much a Tom Izzo team, believe it or not. The Spartans play high-level defense, own the glass and perform well enough on offense to win games. Michigan State was able to beat Indiana down at home this season and will look to do the same in Assembly Hall.
Jeremy Fears Jr. is the tip of the spear for Michigan State with the Spartans’ offense hinging on his playmaking ability. His 9.1 assists per game lead the nation and Michigan State is at its best when he combines that with finding his own looks. Indiana won’t be able to stop his passing but will need to let Conor Enright and Tayton Conerway play their respective brands of defense on him to give him a bit more to think about throughout the game.
The Spartans have won three consecutive games with two victories over bubble teams in UCLA and Ohio State and the third over a fellow top seed in Purdue. They blew out the Bruins, staved off the Buckeyes and kept Purdue in check. Those wins over the bubble teams, like the prior win over Indiana, came at home. Michigan State has lost when it gets into foul trouble or lets a high-tempo opponent control the game, neither of which Indiana has proven capable of doing this season.
Michigan State’s offensive rebounding numbers bode ill for Indiana. The Spartans rank 8th nationally in oreb% and 1st nationally in oreb% allowed. They get them and don’t let the other team do the same. Indiana hasn’t been able to compete on the glass enough in Big Ten play and Michigan State is gonna end up more shots as a result. Indiana has to be efficient to compete with that.
The Spartans’ defense lets up a fair amount of 3s but not many of those shots find their mark. About 46.2% of opposing field goals come from beyond the 3-point line, of which 31.6% have gone in. Over half of Indiana’s shots have come from 3-point range, of which 34.9% have gone in. Again, with the rebounding disadvantage, Indiana’s going to need to hit the shots it gets it it wants a chance here.
is dog | Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Let’s keep this simple, shall we?
The Big East did us all a huge favor on Friday by advising us exactly what’s been settled for the conference tournament seeding heading into the final day of the 2025-26 regular season. UConn is already locked at #1, Villanova is locked at #2, and Providence — which happens to be Marquette’s opponent for the regular season finale — is locked at #7. In addition to that, the league confirmed that Seton Hall and Marquette have clinched finishing somewhere between #3 and #5 and thus locking in a bye to the quarterfinals. I believe that Marquette’s clinching detail is that they have a season split with Villanova. That gives them an advantage over Creighton, who they also split with, if both teams end up at 11-9, as the Bluejays lost both contests with the Wildcats this year.
In any case, Marquette can render that point null with a win on Sunday. I believe that the best that MU can actually do in the standings is the #4 seed, as if they land in a tie for third place with Seton Hall at 12-8, the Pirates get the #3 by way of their season sweep of the Golden Eagles. That would effectively mean that Marquette is going to be in the 4/5 game in the Big East Quarterfinals no matter what happens on Sunday, but isn’t it a much better idea to end up as the #4 seed by way of a win than losing and letting God sort things out?
On top of that, if Marquette would like to be in the WBIT for a second straight year, it’s probably a very smart idea to win this game. Nothing against Providence or anything, but they’re a sub-150 NET team right now. Marquette is only at #67 as of Friday morning, their second lowest ranking since losing at home to St. John’s back in December, so I really think it’s in MU’s best interest to not put a spot in the 32 team WBIT field at risk with a ridiculous loss here.
I’m not going to go crazy in detail with the previewing of Providence here because Marquette led the Friars by 24 midway through the third quarter in the home game of the season series. The Friars did whittle that lead down to just 10 points with three minute and change to go before Marquette eventually won by 17. If “First 25 minutes Marquette” shows up for 40 minutes in Rhode Island on Sunday, we’re all going to feel better about things heading into the conference tournament, to say the least.
Big East Game #20: at Providence Friars (14-16, 7-12 Big East)
Date: Sunday, March 1, 2026 Time: 4:30pm Central Location: Alumni Hall, Providence, Rhode Island Streaming: Peacock Live Stats:Stat Broadcast Bluesky Updates:@AnonymousEagle, maybe at the end since I’ll be at Fiserv until at least halftime.
“He can do,” Arteta said when asked if he can finish the season strongly.
“Now he’s got many more months and games and an understanding of what is required for him to make a difference.
“I hope that’s the case and now he just smashes it from here to the end of the season.”
Arteta says it is not an issue of motivating Eze, but how the England attacker manages the challenges of adapting to a new club.
“Motivation has never been an issue,” he said.
“I believe that if you have to motivate a player, we have a big problem.
“Motivation is just talk. Someone that inspires you for a minute or an hour, how much does it last?
“I think the biggest motivation he has is the reason why he came to this club. Because you really feel attached and belonging here.
“The rest is moments that you have to have through your career when you move to a different club. Navigate that and make sure you use everything that you possibly can to make it work.”
Could Barcelona have Gavi back vs Atlético Madrid?
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has spoken out on the possibility of Gavi being called up for the club’s next outing.
This comes as the youngster continues to ramp up his efforts to return to the pitch.
Gavi has of course been sidelined since all the way back in September, after being forced back under the knife to solve an ongoing knee issue.
Recent weeks have seen the Spanish international take significant strides forward in his comeback endeavours, linking back up with the rest of Barcelona’s squad in first-team training.
Such developments had given rise to suggestions that Gavi could even be called up for the Blaugrana’s Copa del Rey semi-final 2nd-leg showdown with Atlético Madrid this coming week.
Speaking to the media in the aftermath of his side’s La Liga victory over Villarreal on Saturday, the subject of his midfield starlet’s status was therefore put to Hansi Flick.
The German tactician, however, moved to play down the situation, in assuring:
“It’s a little too early for Gavi. He will not come back against Atlético.”
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 26: Jazz Chisholm Jr. #13 of the New York Yankees smiles before a spring training game against the Atlanta Braves at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 26, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good afternoon everyone, it’s time to dive back into the mailbag and answer some of your questions. Remember to send in your questions for our weekly call by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.
Gary_Lambert asks:Is Jazz under or overrated?
Jazz Chisholm Jr. certainly made his mark last season, putting up a 30/30 campaign with a 126 wRC+ and 4.4 fWAR. That’s a very strong season, and it looks even better when you consider that he started out the year playing out of position at third base still while the Yankees tried to accommodate the last gasp of DJ LeMahieu’s tenure with the team. Once he made the shift back to second base, it was like flipping a switch on his defensive value: whether you’re looking at his OAA (-3 as a third baseman, 8 at second) or DRS (-4 at third, 2 at second) there was a major improvement.
Put all of that together, and the full package is a top five second baseman in the league, which is exactly where Chisholm ranked by fWAR. And just like Nico Hoerner and Ketel Marte, two of the few names that placed above him last year, he was subject to trade rumors for a portion of the offseason as the Yankees considered how to retool the offense. Those talks ultimately went nowhere, and we have no idea if the Yankees even seriously pursued any calls that came for their star infielder, but there were enough folks on the outside who seemed willing to hear out trading away Jazz ahead of his walk year.
I think a lot of Chisholm’s perception right now is tied to the additional discussion revolving around his future free agency. There’s a lot to speculate on with regards to how he’ll perform on a big-money deal and just how much he should get, whether teams will weigh his improvement in New York enough against his earlier days as a Marlin, and so on. But that’s all parts of a debate on how much to pay Chisholm into his 30s, not where he stands entering this season here and now. And with that in mind, I think Chisholm is a tad underrated compared to the skills he’s showcasing right now. It’s not a massive slight — I don’t think there’s anyone who would try and say Jazz isn’t in the top 10 or so — but there’s a real possibility that he ends up the best second baseman in baseball this year, and a strong one that he could finish in the top three. Only Hoerner showcased a balanced skillset like Chisholm did, flashing the glove as well as swinging an above-average bat, so if you had to bet on candidates to stick near the top those two stand out.
IndyAnaJones asks:What happened to the daily PSA thread ending with two questions for the fan base?
It’s not common that we get a question more directed at the site rather than about the team, but this one has an easy answer. We changed the format slightly, taking one question and giving a little bit of our own thoughts on it before posing the question towards you all — all while including the old gameday tune-in information and look ahead to what was on the site that day. You can find them at the start of the day just like the old Today on Pinstripe Alleys led off our daily coverage (here’s today’s edition for example). By all means, give us feedback on whether you like the adaptation!
After consecutive wins against the Wizards, Bulls and Pacers, the Hornets were looking to make four in a row.
Seen sitting courtside was legendary coach and iconic North Carolina figure Roy Williams.
Although Williams has been seen at Hornets games in the past, he usually attends to support some of his former UNC players.
Saturday, that player was Coby White as Williams came to see his home debut in Charlotte, sitting courtside.
Williams played well with his former coach in attendance and addressed his presence during a halftime interview. "It's a blessing, him being at my first home game."
White came off the bench and was Charlotte's second leading scorer behind Brandon Miller (26 points). He finished with 20 points in 21 minutes of play, adding three rebounds and an assist as well.
Charlotte saved their best quarter for last, as the team posted a game-high 35 points in the fourth and cruised to a 16-point victory against Portland who were without All-Star Deni Avdija.
As a result, the Hornets moved back into ninth place in the Eastern Conference, tied with the Atlanta Hawks, but owning the head-to-head tie-breaker.
Charlotte trails the Miami Heat by one and a half games for the eight seed, but that could change with Miami facing the Houston Rockets this afternoon.
Next, the Hornets will turn their attention to the Dallas Mavericks and then the Boston Celtics on the second night of a back-to-back.
Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green just put the NFL on notice that he may be the most athletically gifted quarterback in the current draft class.
Green has been projected as a Day 3 selection in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, with some mock drafts predicting him as high as a fourth-round selection, but most slotting him as a Round 6-Round 7 pick. But scouts will likely be giving the rising quarterback prospect some extra attention after he showed off his athletic prowess on Saturday.
Green tested at the NFL Combine on Saturday, and immediately shattered two different event records for quarterbacks in his first two tests. Green posted jaw-dropping marks of 11 feet, 2 inches in the broad jump and 43.5 inches in the vertical jump on Saturday, both of which broke the previous records in those tests for quarterbacks, which were set by current Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson at the 2023 NFL Combine.
☑️ QB record in the vertical jump ☑️ QB record in the broad jump
The 6-foot-6, 230-pound prospect spent three seasons with the Boise State Broncos and two seasons with the Arkansas Razorbacks, earning Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year honors in 2022 and Liberty Bowl MVP honors in 2024. Green passed for 9,662 yards, 59 touchdowns, and 35 interceptions during his collegiate career, while adding 2,405 yards and 35 touchdowns on the ground.
Chivas and Toluca open Saturday’s schedule with a match that could change the fate of the standings. The Rojiblancos will defend the top spot with 18 points, while the Diablos, in fourth place with 15 points, will look for the three points that could push them higher up the table.
Feb 18, 2026; Peoria, AZ, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Walker Buehler (10) during spring training photo day. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The Frair Faithful have spoken and are willing to let bygones be bygones.
The overwhelming majority of respondents to this week’s Padres Reacts Survey on Gaslamp Ball stated they are rooting for Walker Buehler, the former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher, to make the roster and rotation in San Diego.
Manny Machado said recently when the Padres added Nick Castellanos to the roster that the team was getting a $20 million player for the league minimum. The same could be said for Buehler although he will make a bit more than the league minimum if he makes the San Diego roster.
Buehler signed a one-year free agent deal with the Boston Red Sox prior to the 2025 season that paid him $21.05 million for the season. He did not make it through 162 games with Boston and was released on Aug. 29. He was then signed for the league minimum by the Philadelphia Phillies on Aug. 31 and finished the season in Philly.
The right-hander agreed to a minor league deal with San Diego that did not guarantee him a roster spot. However, if Buehler can secure a rotation role and break camp with the Padres, he would make $1.5 million in 2026 and could receive $2.5 million in performance bonuses. Those contract numbers are not bad for a two-time World Series champion and a two-time All-Star.
If Buehler can return to that kind of pitcher, he should have no problem breaking into the San Diego rotation and quickly receiving adoration from the Friar Faithful.
Walker Buehler tossed three innings today in Peoria against the KBO’s NC Dinos.
After the outing, Buehler said it was “all in all, a good day” and that he thinks “the velocity was a little bit above kind of where we thought it would be.” pic.twitter.com/FORwCsZjLo
Lamine Yamal scored a sensational hat-trick as Barcelona downed Villarreal at Camp Nou to extend their La Liga lead on Real Madrid (MANAURE QUINTERO)
Barcelona's teenage star Lamine Yamal scored the first hat-trick of his career in a 4-1 win over Villarreal on Saturday that took the Catalan giants four points clear at the top of La Liga.
The Spain international struck twice in the first half and, after Pape Gueye pulled one back for the visitors at Camp Nou, stroked in a third for Hansi Flick's side.
Robert Lewandowski rounded off Barca's triumph with a late tap-in as they extend their lead on Real Madrid, who host Getafe on Monday, and fourth-place Villarreal who now trail the champions by 13 points.
Atletico Madrid moved third, level on points with Villarreal, after Julian Alvarez snatched them a 1-0 win at bottom side Real Oviedo.
Barca star Yamal, who seems to have fully recovered from a groin issue which bothered him for several weeks earlier in the campaign as he struggled to hit top form, was at his effervescent best.
"It was a mix of everything. I wasn't feeling good about myself, plus the (groin issue) as well, I wasn't playing happy, and I think it showed," Yamal told Movistar.
"For about a week or so now I've been feeling much better. It was that desire to smile while I was playing that I hadn't felt for a long time, and now I'm happy. I'm happy playing and really content."
The winger became the youngest player to score a hat-trick in La Liga in the 21st century at 18 years and 230 days old.
Yamal has now equalled his tally of 18 goals last season across all competitions, becoming the team's top goalscorer and raising the one area of his game which called for improvement.
"I think that (I've improved over time), what happens is that people want me at 16 years old to score 100 goals and I'd like that too, but it's very hard," continued Yamal, with the match ball tucked under his arm.
"So (I'm improving) bit by bit, but I'm very happy, when it's a goal, or two goals, to help the team."
Flick said Yamal had lacked some confidence earlier in the season.
"The opposition (have been) playing two or three players against him. You could feel he didn't have the confidence or the dynamic for these one-on-one situations," Flick told reporters.
"When he enjoys playing football it's perfect for him and also for us."
- The Yamal show -
Barca took the lead when Fermin Lopez won the ball high up the pitch and fed Yamal, who curled home after 28 minutes.
Yamal's second followed nine minutes later, a stunning individual goal after he drove in from the right.
The teenager left Sergi Cardona and Alberto Moleiro for dead and then whipped a strike into the far top corner.
Gueye turned home from close range after a corner and Ayoze Perez almost pulled Villarreal level before Yamal completed his hat-trick.
Substitute Pedri played the teenager in with an inch-perfect pass and he produced a clinical finish.
"It's hard to stop such a brilliant player," said Villarreal coach Marcelino Garcia Toral of Yamal.
"The third goal was very bad defending from us... We gave him a motorway (to run into) and if you give a motorway to Lamine it's normal he scores against you."
Lewandowski netted Barca's fourth after good work from Pedri and Jules Kounde, who had one of his best games of the season.
Scoring four goals -- at least -- is what Barca need to do as they host Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg, aiming to overcome a 4-0 deficit.
"Against Atletico it's not easy, these four goals, but we will fight (to progress) and never give up," said Flick.
"Lamine (being) on this level is fantastic for us and we need him on this level on Tuesday."
The Rojiblancos had that cup game in mind as they struggled at Oviedo, before Alvarez ended nearly a four-month league goal drought by slotting home in the 94th minute to snatch victory for Diego Simeone's side.
Atletico needed some good saves from Jan Oblak to keep them level before improving in the final half-hour and eventually claiming victory.
"We went from less to more in our game, we played well in the second half and in the end came Julian's goal, which was good for him and the team," Simeone told Movistar.
The Cincinnati Bengals aren’t about to shy away from Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at 10th overall in the 2026 NFL draft.
If Downs makes it that far, of course.
The above is the general vibe coming out of the NFL combine this week. The Bengals, like plenty of other teams, met with Downs. They, like anyone else who saw it, came away impressed from Downs’ press conference, too.
And Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com writes that Downs only being 6’0” “doesn't bother the Bengals” and they “view him as an elite processor.”
David Fulcher, a former Bengals safety and franchise legend, even told Hobson his comp for Downs: Troy Polamalu.
Here’s Fulcher:
"Troy (5-10, 207) probably was about the same size. It's about having instincts. I was one of those guys who had the instincts. I knew where the football was going. Can Downs be that kind of guy? Yeah. Look at the conference he played in. Look at where he comes from. He's a guy that impacts games."
Maybe Duke Tobin’s scouting staff agrees, maybe not. But the tape is plain as day: Downs has a shot to be a star and is more than worthy of a top 10 pick, especially in the current pass-happy NFL.
It’s been a long road for the Bengals since Jessie Bates left. They’re not going to let one measurement stop them from getting a guy who, if there, has his name alongside Polamalu, a guy who terrorized them for more than a decade.
Joel Embiid has been an intermittent presence for the Philadelphia 76ers this season. He's about to have another multi-game absence.
An MRI revealed a right oblique strain for the former MVP and he will be out for at least the next three games, the team announced Saturday via PHLY's Derek Bodner. He will be reevaluated following their game against the Utah Jazz next Wednesday.
This article will be updated with more information.
Former Maryland forward Julian Reese signed a two-way contract with the Washington Wizards, the team announced on Saturday.
Reese was a three-time All-Big Ten Honorable Mention with the Terrapins, averaging 11.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and one assist in 134 games across four seasons. He is one of two players in program history to record at least 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career.
The 22-year-old played with the Los Angeles Lakers in summer league after going undrafted last year, logging four appearances. He signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Toronto Raptors on Oct. 16 and began the season with the Raptors 905 in the G League.
Reese, the brother of Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese, has made 38 appearances with the 905, averaging 7.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists while shooting 62.8% from the field. He has registered four double-doubles, including a 24-point, 13-rebound performance on Feb. 12.
The Maryland native will now play the remainder of the season with the Wizards. He joins Leaky Black and Sharife Cooper as players signed to two-way contracts on the team.
Inter Milan 2-0 Genoa – Italy Star & Nerazzurri POTM Plays Down Impressive Stats: ‘Meaningless Without The Scudetto’
Federico Dimarco scored a lovely opener and picked up the Panini Player of the Match award as Inter Milan beat Genoa 2-0 at San Siro, but the Italy wing-back was in no mood to celebrate individually, insisting his impressive personal numbers count for nothing without silverware at the end of the season.
Dimarco spoke to both Sky Sport and DAZN after the final whistle, with his message consistent across both interviews, the team comes first.
Speaking to Sky, he was asked about what has been a remarkable individual campaign, but quickly steered the conversation back to collective goals.
“It is a good season, but if these numbers don’t lead to team trophies they matter less,” he said.
“Hard work always pays off, if the goals lead to a title, great. If they are an end in themselves, they count for little.”
Inter 2-0 Genoa – Dimarco: ‘From Here, Every Win Matters More’
MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 04: Federico Dimarco of FC Internazionale reactsduring the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Bologna FC 1909 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“It is never easy to bounce back after a defeat, but every time Inter have lost a game they have shown unity and come back stronger,” he said on Sky.
“We saw that today, we had some difficult moments because the tiredness from Bodo was felt. But we move forward because we are close now.”
On DAZN he added: “From here to the end every win will be heavy. This team after defeats has always reacted like a great side. It was important to win and maintain the gap.”
With the Coppa Italia semi-final and the derby both approaching, Dimarco kept his focus firmly on the next task.
“Few messages to send, first there is the Coppa Italia. Then we will think about the derby.”
The New England Patriots might be looking to shake things up in the wide receiver room this offseason, but they shouldn't consider adding Christian Kirk to the mix.
Kirk has been in the NFL since 2018, playing for teams such as the Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars, and, most recently, the Houston Texans.
In his latest season, he recorded 28 receptions for 239 yards and scored one touchdown. However, he didn’t perform well overall, with Pro Football Focus ranking him 75th out of 81 wide receivers and assigning him a reception grade of 75.
Kirk is nearing the end of his career and is set to turn 30 in November. A few seasons ago, adding Kirk to the wide receiver room would have been a fantastic move, but that’s no longer the case.
Spotrac also listed Kirk's market value at $5.4 million per season, which is not the price tag New England should be willing to pay.
The Patriots have various directions they can take at wide receiver this offseason, and bringing in Kirk shouldn't be one of them.
Manchester City have often been accused of being too reliant on Erling Haaland this season. There are signs that could be changing.
January signing Antoine Semenyo scored the only goal in a tense 1-0 win against Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday as City, without the injured Haaland, moved to within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Since signing from Bournemouth for £62.5m, Semenyo has scored six goals in 11 appearances, making him the club's top scorer this year and easing the goalscoring burden on Haaland.
Semenyo's arrival has coincided with an impressive run of form for Pep Guardiola's side as four league wins in a row - and one loss in seven games - have helped them pile the pressure on long-time leaders Arsenal.
The Gunners host Chelsea on Sunday but, with Arsenal and City due to meet in April, they will feel their presence close behind.
"It means everything," said 26-year-old Semenyo. "We just want to win with our games on our side and, whatever Arsenal do, we just have to wait and see.
"We just need to control what we can control, win our games, and we will see what happens."
Guardiola strode on to the pitch after the match and blew kisses in the direction of his family in the stands.
That will also have contained a large dose of smugness towards the Leeds fans, who had been throwing insults towards him during the game, according to the Spaniard.
'We are building these players'
Semenyo's winner silenced a raucous and rowdy crowd with a real poacher's finish, reacting quickest to latch on to Rayan Ait-Nouri's cross and converting with aplomb.
"We made a lot of passes that we needed to do to survive without much intention to attack," said Guardiola.
"The reaction was amazing - unbelievable with the goal we scored. A complete game in a tough, tough place, and 10 games left in the Premier League. Time to be decisive.
"Now we are building these players and they have a long, long time here. It is important for the future for the club."
Semenyo is taking the goalscoring burden off Haaland's shoulders - only his team-mate with 29 and Brentford's Igor Thiago (19) have been involved in more Premier League goals than Semenyo's 18.
Since signing for City, Semenyo has scored four league goals and provided one assist, a goal contributions record which is bettered only by Chelsea pair Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro, who have six apiece.
In late November Haaland had scored 58% of City's goals, taken 30% of their shots and had 57% of their expected goals (xG).
He had scored 19 goals in all competitions. Burnley's Maxime Esteve was City's second highest scorer in the league thanks to his two own goals in the game at Etihad Stadium.
Now, while Haaland's impressive haul of 29 goals for the campaign still leads the way, Semenyo - and others - are silencing those who feared City were too reliant on the Norwegian's goals.
'It's not a big issue'
Guardiola did not reveal the extent of Haaland's injury and could not say if he will be fit for the game against Nottingham Forest at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
His omission came as a surprise as there was no hint beforehand of Haaland missing out on the trip to Leeds.
"We don't have spies in the training centre to deliver the info to our media," said Guardiola. "I think it is not a big issue. We will see."
It was the first Premier League match Haaland has not been involved in this season.
A surprising statistic, though, shows that since the start of the 2022-23 season City have won 14 of their 18 league games without Haaland, averaging 2.4 points per game in his absence compared to 2.1 when he features.
Victory over Leeds means City have lost only one of their past 15 games when playing a day before Arsenal.
The first direct blow between the sides will be struck next month in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.
The Boston Celtics have listed Baylor Scheierman as questionable for their game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, March 1. He is suffering from a fracture to his left thumb. Jayson Tatum remains out as he continues to recover from his Achilles injury.
Scheierman has been thriving for Boston since moving into the starting lineup following Boston's moves at the Feb. 5 trade deadline. In his last seven games, he's averaging 8.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists per night, shooting 73.3% from two-point range and 32.4% from deep. Furthermore, his defensive versatility has been a huge bonus for the Celtics, with Joe Mazzulla trusting him to guard some of the best players in the league for stretches.
Boston's game against the Sixers was recently moved into a prime-time slot by the NBA. The game will now tip off at 8 PM Eastern, and will take place at the TD Garden, marking Boston's second straight home game following their recent four-game West Coast road trip.
Injury Report for tomorrow vs. PHI:
Baylor Scheierman - Left Thumb Fracture - QUESTIONABLE Jayson Tatum - Right Achilles Repair - OUT
Kylian Mbappe may have finished the 2024/25 season without a collective trophy at Real Madrid, but his first season in white can be considered an individual success as he ran away with the La Liga top goal scorer award.
It certainly looks like he could defend the prize given his impressive goal-scoring performances in 2025/26, which have come despite Madrid's wider dysfunction. Indeed, Barcelona's chasing pack are being left firmly in his wake.
The Sporting News will be tracking the Golden Boot race in La Liga from the season's opening kickoff right until the final matchday.
Celta Vigo, Real Madrid, Deportivo La Coruna, Granada
2
1947/48, 1951/52
Amancio
Deportivo La Coruna, Real Madrid
2
1968/69, 1969/70
Mario Kempes
Valencia
2
1976/77, 1977/78
Raul
Real Madrid
2
1998/99, 2000/01
Ronaldo
Barcelona, Real Madrid
2
1996/97, 2003/04
Diego Forlan
Villarreal, Atletico Madrid
2
2004/05, 200809
Who won the La Liga Golden Boot in 2024/25?
After securing a long-awaited move to Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappe won the 2024/25 Pichichi award by scoring six goals more than anyone else across the season.
While Mbappe's debut campaign in the Spanish capital was triumphant in this manner, he still garnered significant criticism that his presence hampered the team collectively despite the individual success. Real Madrid finished trophy-less while Mbappe's teammates struggled to adapt to his presence, leaving the individual award with a bitter aftertaste.
Rank
Player
Club
Goals (PKs)
Assists
Matches
Mins
1.
Kylian Mbappe
Real Madrid
31 (7)
3
34
2915
2.
Robert Lewandowski
Barcelona
27 (3)
2
34
2681
3.
Ante Budimir
Osasuna
21 (8)
4
38
2966
4.
Alexander Sorloth
Atletico Madrid
20 (1)
2
35
1560
5.
Ayoze Perez
Villarreal
19 (0)
2
30
1977
6.
Raphinha
Barcelona
18 (2)
9
36
2844
7.
Julian Alvarez
Atletico Madrid
17 (4)
4
37
2518
8.
Oihan Sancet
Athletic Club
15 (3)
1
28
1598
9.
Kike Garcia
Alaves
13 (3)
0
35
2550
10.
Cristhian Stuani
Girona
11 (3)
2
32
1059
Who won the La Liga Golden Boot in 2023/24?
Artem Dovbyk won the Pichichi prize as the top goalscorer in La Liga for 2023/24. Following the campaign, his enormous success earned him a move to AS Roma, garnering Girona a healthy transfer fee in the process.
Rank
Player
Club
Goals (PKs)
Assists
Matches
Mins
1.
Artem Dovbyk
Girona
24 (7)
8
36
2605
2.
Alexander Sorloth
Villarreal
23 (0)
6
34
2491
3.
Robert Lewandowski
Barcelona
19 (4)
8
35
2758
4.
Jude Bellingham
Real Madrid
19 (1)
6
28
2323
5.
Ante Budimir
Osasuna
17 (3)
2
33
2448
6.
Antoine Griezmann
Atletico Madrid
16 (4)
6
33
2654
=
Youssef En-Nesyri
Sevilla
16 (1)
2
33
2573
8.
Vinicius Junior
Real Madrid
15 (1)
5
26
1872
=
Alvaro Morata
Atletico Madrid
15 (0)
3
32
1909
=
Borja Mayoral
Getafe
15 (4)
1
27
2161
11.
Gorka Guruzeta
Athletic Club
14 (0)
5
32
2240
Who won the La Liga Golden Boot in 2022/23?
Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski won the Golden Boot in 2022/23 with 23 goals in 34 La Liga games as the Catalans won the title.
He finished four goals clear of Real Madrid's Karim Benzema in the Pichichi standings.
DORTMUND, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 28: Niko Kovac, Head Coach of Borussia Dortmund, talks to Felix Nmecha of Borussia Dortmund during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern München at Signal Iduna Park on February 28, 2026 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Der Klassiker delivered once again, as Bayern Munich edged Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in a breathless, back-and-forth battle. From an early Borussia Dortmund breakthrough to Bayern Munich’s relentless response, the match had everything: intensity, quality, and late drama. In the aftermath, one quote summed up the emotions from the losing side.
“It’s frustrating to lose a game like that. Bayern controlled a lot of it, but we gave it our all. I’m proud of our team. There’s nothing more to say. It was a really great game. And of course, it’s all the more bitter when you’re so close to at least taking a point. When you’re leading 1-0, you naturally want to defend the game and win. Unfortunately, we didn’t manage that. But as I said: I’m proud of the attitude we showed,” said Felix Nmecha (as captured by FCBayern.com).
That reflection perfectly captures the drama of Bayern Munich’s victory. Borussia Dortmund struck first and tried to dig in, but Bayern Munich’s growing control over possession and tempo eventually turned the tide. Even after the equalizer and go-ahead goal, the contest remained razor-thin, with both sides trading blows.
In the end, Bayern Munich’s composure and cutting edge in decisive moments proved the difference. Borussia Dortmund’s attitude was evident — but against Bayern Munich, control and clinical finishing sealed all three points in another unforgettable edition of Der Klassiker.
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…
Texas A&M's 2025 season ended at 11-2 and 7-1 in SEC play, while the Aggies earned their first trip to the College Football Playoff, only to fall in the first round 10-3 to eventual national runner-up Miami. Still, coach Mike Elko and his veteran roster should be proud of what they accomplished, especially transfer wide receivers Mario Craver and KC Concepcion.
With Mario Craver returning for a final season after re-signing with the Aggies in early December, Texas A&M's wide receiver room will look somewhat different in 2026, as KC Concepcion is headed to the NFL after two seasons at NC State and one year in College Station. Similar to his 2025 teammate, offensive lineman Trey Zuhn III, Concepcion is extremely versatile, providing instant production as a standout punt returner.
Last season, Concepcion reeled in a career high 919 yards and nine touchdowns, paried with two punt return touchdowns, including one of the more memorable returns during Texas A&M's blowout 49-25 road win over LSU.
Serving as starting quarterback Marcel Reed's most reliable pass catcher, Concepcion is widely viewed as a first-round draft pick and is already looking the part during Saturday's combine workout. During Friday's media availability, Concepcion highlighted his ability as a slot receiver at the next level.
"As soon as I get the ball in my hands, it's electric," Concepcion stated. "It doesn't matter if it's a screen, if it's a slant or a fade route or any route really, I'm going to catch the ball and it's going to be amazing."
On Saturday, Concepcion did not run or jump at the NFL combine but did take part in several on-field workouts, including the always-entertaining hands drill, where every participant has to catch throws in a straight line from right to left without dropping a ball. Concepcion was perfect, as we expected.
Concepcion also showed off his deep speed, needing to out run defenders along the boundary given his lack of height, while running past linebackers or safeties in the slot provides a significant advantage during his route. Concepcion's ability to quickly separate against coverage will go a long way towards improving his draft status.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
Tiger Woods and Bobby Jones are considered to have forged the greatest amateur careers of all-time, and the USGA is recognizing Woods’ dominance in a fitting way. Starting this year, the U.S. Amateur medal and U.S. Junior Amateur trophy will carry Woods’ name, the USGA announced on Saturday at its annual meetings that are being held in New York.
Woods and Jones hold the record for most USGA championships with nine each, and Woods went on a tear in which he captured three straight U.S. Juniors from 1991-93 and then won three consecutive U.S. Ams from 1994-96. He is the only golfer to pull off that six-win streak.
“Tiger Woods redefined what was possible in amateur golf,” Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA, said in a press release. “His achievements as a junior and amateur didn’t just set records—they set a new standard of excellence. Naming our U.S. Amateur medal and U.S. Junior Amateur trophy in his honor ensures that every future champion is forever connected to a legacy that helped shape the modern game.”
The first Woods medal will be presented at the U.S. Amateur at Merion Golf Club, outside of Philadelphia, and the first trophy will be won at the U.S. Junior at Saucon Valley Country Club, near Allentown, Pa. Both awards will be redesigned in Woods’ honor.
“The USGA and its championships have played an enormous role in my life,” Woods, 50, said in the release. “The U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Amateur were defining moments in my development, both as a golfer and as a person. To be recognized in this way is incredibly humbling, and I hope it inspires young players to chase their dreams and appreciate the history and values of the game.”
Folowing his amaeur career, Woods won three U.S. Open titles that count among his 15 major wins.
There are three other golfers who have USGA competitive awards named for them: the U.S. Open medal named for Jack Nicklaus; the U.S. Women’s Open medal named for Mickey Wright; and the U.S. Women’s Amateur medal named for JoAnne Carner. The Bob Jones Award is the USGA's highest honor, bestowed on those who "demonstrate the spirit, personal character and respect for the game."
FSU baseball pitcher Wes Mendes throws against The Citadel | FSU Sports Information
The Florida State Seminoles clinched the series against The Citadel with a doubleheader sweep on Saturday. It was a sluggish offensive day for both teams, but the Seminole pitching was outstanding. In total, FSU arms posted a combined line of 19 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 17 K, 3 BB.
Game 1
After a sloppy bullpen game Wednesday, Wes Mendes and John Abraham didn’t mess around on the mound in the opener of the weekend series.
The top starter and reliever combined to allow two runs (one earned) on three hits in the win. Mendes (3-0 had his season-opening shutout streak snapped at 14 1/3 innings, but still managed to battle through his third straight third start.
He became the first FSU starter to throw six innings this season, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits. Three of nine leadoff batters got on against him but The Citadel was 0-for-6 with two outs, 1-for-6 with runners on and 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position to largely restrict the Bulldogs’ scoring.
Abraham recorded a three-inning save — his first of the season — setting down all nine batters he faced on 29 pitches, including three strikeouts.
It turned out that was badly needed as the offense got off to a slow start, trailing 2-0 in the top of the fifth before finally awakening.
After the Bulldogs jumped ahead on an error by Noah Sheffield in right and an RBI single from Matthew Lively, the Seminoles cut that deficit in half with an RBI groundout from Eli Putnam in the bottom of the fifth.
Florida State then exploded for four runs in the sixth after loading the bases with no outs. Kelvyn Paulino Jr. tied the game on a sacrifice fly, Gabe Fraser put the Seminoles ahead for the first time with a two-run single and Putnam capped off the inning with an RBI single.
In the Davidson transfer’s first start at FSU, Putnam had his first two RBIs and first two hits as a Seminole. Freshman outfielder John Stuetzer also was thrown into the lineup over Chase Williams, delivering an insurance run on an RBI single in the eighth.
Putnam was the only Seminole with multiple hits. The offense struck out nine times but also worked six walks, finally getting to Citadel starter Will Holmes (1-2), who threw 5 2/3 innings and was tagged for five unearned runs.
Game 2
Florida State and The Citadel exchanged runs early before locking into a pitching duel in game two of Saturday’s doubleheader. The bats struggled but the pitching was excellent as the Seminoles were able to pull off the walk-off extra inning win to take the series.
After starting the season with a stomach bug, FSU’s Trey Beard was able to make his first start of the season (Beard pitched 2.1 innings in relief last week against Nebraska). His strong performance in his starting debut for Florida State was a necessity for the Seminoles as the offense was shut down by The Citadel. Beard struck out six over five innings, while allowing just one unearned run. On the other side of the diamond, The Citadel’s Bryce Coulter tossed eight innings, allowing just one unearned run, fanning four Seminoles.
FSU and The Citadel exchanged runs early in similar fashions. Gabe Fraser opened the second inning with a single before eventually reaching home on a two-out Nathan Cmeyla infield single. The roller fielded by Coulter was thrown away and Fraser was able to give FSU the early 1-0 lead.
The Seminoles returned the favor to The Citadel next inning with a one-out walk and errant throw on a sacrifice bunt. The throw by Beard allowed the runner to come all the way home from first base. FSU was able to prevent any further damage and keep the game knotted at one. From there, FSU and the Citadel exchanged zeroes for the next six innings. The Seminole bullpen was near perfect as Cade O’Leary and Kevin Mebil combined for five scoreless innings, allowing just one hit.
Florida State’s offense finally started to wake up after The Citadel turned to their pen to start the ninth. The Seminoles put two on in that frame but were unable to score but the tenth was a different story. Nathan Cmeyla started the inning with a single. He was replaced by Chase Williams who stole second. John Stuetzer fanned before Brayden Dowd walked. Noah Sheffield loaded the bases on a comebacker to the pitcher that was booted. With the bases loaded and one out, Myles Bailey stepped to the plate.
The hero of FSU continued his lore, this time with a screaming grounder to second. The Citadel’s second baseman made a great dive to field the play, but his throw home was short and could not be handled by the catcher. Williams slid in home to give FSU the 2-1 victory and the series win over the Citadel.
The Seminoles will look for the series sweep tomorrow at 1 PM.
The time to welcome the NFL's next generation of talent has arrived.
The NFL Combine, always the first major event of the league's offseason, will allow some of the premiere collegiate players across the country from the 2025 season to showcase why they should become a draft selection come April. Part of that process is performing well in the combine drills and exercises — but sometimes, a player's measurements are just as critical.
Quarterbacks usually have the closest eyes on their heights, hand size, etc., but there will be other measurements worth watching as well. How will No. 1 pick favorite Fernando Mendoza measure up against former top selections? Just how big are top defenders Arvell Reese, David Bailey and Reuben Bain Jr.?
De Rossi: ‘Inter are stronger than Genoa, but we have hope’
Daniele De Rossi admits Genoa ‘have to accept Inter are better than us’ after a 2-0 defeat, but he has ‘hope’ they can escape relegation.
The Grifone were coming off a morale-boosting 3-0 victory over Torino, but knew that it would be a tougher task at San Siro against the runaway Serie A leaders.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 28: Federico Dimarco of FC Internazionale scores their team’s first goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Genoa CFC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Nonetheless, it took an extraordinary piece of skill to break the deadlock, when Federico Dimarco met Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s dinked pass for a sensational volley.
Hakan Calhanoglu doubled the lead from the spot after Alex Amorim’s handling offence in the second half, sealing the 2-0 result.
De Rossi expected more from Genoa
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 28: Genoa CFC coach Daniele De Rossi reacts during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Genoa CFC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“I am not satisfied with our performance. We know Inter are the strongest team in Serie A, but we still didn’t do all that we could’ve done to cause them problems.
“I knew we’d need a perfect performance to bring home a result, we didn’t come here to lose, but we have to accept they are better than us.”
Genoa have managed to clamber out of the relegation zone with some positive results, but even strong performances were not enough to avoid defeats to Lazio, Napoli and now Inter.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 28: Vitinha of Genoa CFC is pressured by Luis Henriqueof FC Internazionale during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Genoa CFC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“Our position in the table is still not good, but there is a long way to go,” added the coach.
“I think we are on the right track and have the quality it takes to get out of this situation, just look at how we played against Lazio and Napoli.”
Since taking the job on November 6 from Patrick Vieira, De Rossi has overseen five wins, six draws and six defeats in Serie A.
“There is a team in mind that I want to build, but the fact remains we don’t have much time to work on that, and the transfer window is closed too, so we have to work with what we’ve got.
“We’re on the right track, these lads are giving me hope,” concluded De Rossi.
Hendrickson guard Tristan Thomas (5) pushes past East View shooting guard Isaiah Villegas (5) during the game at Hendrickson High School on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026 in Pflugerville, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
Westwood 70, S.A. Reagan 43: Luke Carpenter poured in 25 points, John McNair finished with 13 points and the Warriors dominated defensively to reach the third round of the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Westwood has now won 28 games in a row.
Class 6A Division II
Westlake 66, S.A. Harlan 46: Bo Ogden scored 25 of his game-high 29 points in the second half as the Chaps pulled away for the win. Blake Cannatti tallied 16 points and Mack Martin added 12 points to join Ogden in double figures for Westlake.
Vandegrift 61, S.A. O’Connor 40: Matching their deepest postseason run since 2020 with the victory, the Vipers had three players in double figures as they won their second straight playoff game by at least 20 points. Preston Kuykendoll paced Vandegrift with 15 points, while Trey Block scored 13 points and Henry Defoore had 11 points. The win also marked Vandegrift coach Jaime Sierra's 100th with the program.
Class 5A Division I
Glenn 54, S.A. Highlands 53 OT: The Grizzlies rallied from an eight-point deficit in the third quarter and are in the regional semifinals for the second straight year. Orden Roberts scored 21 points and Hudson Roberts finished with 18 points to lead Glenn, which has the most wins in program history with 28.
Hendrickson 79, F.B. Kempner 53: The Hawks rolled to their 22nd win in a row as Tristan Thomas recorded a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds and Ryan Longoria (17 points), Legend Samuel (16) and DJ Hardge (14) all reached double figures in scoring.
Class 5A Division II
Weiss 75, Houston Madison 57: Zion Purefoy scored 18 points, Adonis Wright tallied a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, Miles Hardeman finished with 17 points and Landon Collins had eight points, eight rebounds and four blocks as the Wolves reached the regional semifinals for the second straight year.
Class 4A Division I
LBJ 74, Somerset 68 2OT: Marquis Murry II poured in 25 points, Tre Riley scored 15 points and Christian Hawthorne added 11 points as the Jaguars won a wild game to advance to the regional semifinals. LBJ rallied from a six-point deficit with less than 10 seconds in regulation to force overtime, with Riley drilling a 3-pointer in the final seconds to tie the game. Then in the first extra session, Hawthorne’s late 3-pointer tied the game at 64-64 to push the game to a second overtime. The Jaguars have won 17 straight.
Class 4A Division II
Manor New Tech 75, Devine 74: Isaiah Kinard’s free throw with 30 seconds left lifted the Titans to the win as Manor New Tech also made two defensive stops in the game’s final moments. Kinard finished with an eye-popping 32 points, eight rebounds and eight blocks, while Kingston Colter recorded an impressive double-double of 24 points and 10 rebounds.
Wimberley 82, Pleasanton 56: The Texans jumped out to a 22-9 first-quarter lead as they won their second straight playoff game by at least 25 points. Paul Gumbert-Mendoza poured in 33 points and Reece Wortham (18 points), Nathan Baker (11) and Holden Crawford (10) all joined him in double figures to lead Wimberley.
Feb 25, 2026; North Port, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter Marcell Ozuna (24) prepares to take batting practice before the start of the game against the Atlanta Braves during spring training at CoolToday Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
The 2026 MLB season is right around the corner for the Pittsburgh Pirates, with opening day being March 26 against the New York Mets. There are a lot of things to be excited about going into the season as a Pirates fan, so here are my top three things that I am excited to see going into the new season. Konnor Griffin and Paul Skenes are two very obvious answers, and I am certainly excited to see both hit the field this season, but they will not be answers for this, let’s get started.
Seeing the new veteran free agents play
Pittsburgh has never been the most aggressive team throughout the years in free agency. They are a team that is notorious for not wanting to spend money and go out and get the big names in the market. Now it’s not like these guys are huge names that they got but, they have players who I think will help out struggling offense and that’s why I am excited.
In December, the Bucs traded for Brandon Lowe out of Tampa Bay. Last season, he hit 31 home runs and had 83 RBIs for the Rays. Pirates also acquired Ryan O’hearn who is a former All-Star, solid fielder and has the power. Their last big move was signing Marcell Ozuna to a one-year deal.
Those three guys will immediately be put into the starting lineup and could make a serious impact because of their power. Ozuna is coming off a down year for his standards, hitting for just 21 home runs, but we saw him hit 39 and 40 home runs the two seasons before that. The offense was one of the biggest flaws for this team last season, and I think adding three veteran bats who are all capable of hitting 30 or more home runs was really important and makes me really excited to watch this offense.
The starting pitching rotation
One thing everyone in Pittsburgh can agree on going into this season is that the starting pitching is going to be a bright spot for this team. Now yes, there is Paul Skenes, but this is a very deep pitching rotation outside of the reigning NL CY Young champion. In my opinion, Pittsburgh is going into the season with a top 10 starting pitching rotation and that is something to be excited about.
The rotation also consists of Mitch Keller, Bubba Chandler, Braxton Ashcraft, and Jose Urquidy. Jared Jones will also be a huge piece of the rotation when he comes back from his injury. This is such a young pitching group with a lot of potential, and having those guys mixed in with Skenes will be scary for opposing offenses this season.
Seeing a full crowd at PNC Park
The first two points play into this third one, because if the offense produces and the pitching does their thing, the Pirates will win games. The more games they win, the busier PNC Park will be. There is nothing better than a packed PNC Park. I mean, it is the prettiest stadium in the entire league after all.
The Pirates have some of the most loyal and passionate fans in the league, and if they get off to a great start and win games, PNC park will finally be packed again and there will be some crazy atmosphere. There hasn’t been a Buctober since 2015, and that was really the last time the atmosphere was truly wild. I think the Bucs this year have the team that can change that and get fans’ excitement levels back up.
Sophomore guard Miles Byrd (21) gets fouled hard going up for a dunk during a conference matchup against New Mexico, Tuesday, February 25, 2025, in San Diego, CA. Byrd scored 17 points in SDSU's loss on February 28, 2026 at The Pit in Albuquerque, NM.
A game removed from clawing back their way back atop the Mountain West, the San Diego State Aztecs are now faced that the top spot may slip out of their hands after an 81-76 loss to New Mexico on Saturday afternoon at The Pit.
With the game played on a knife’s edge in the second half, where neither side were able to build more than a two possession lead, the Aztecs (19-9, 13-5 Mountain West) inability to limit the Lobos (22-7, 13-5) on the offensive glass played a key role. UNM turned a 14-7 edge in offensive boards into a 16-7 second chance scoring edge.
Miles Byrd scored 11 of his SDSU-high 17 points in the second half, one of four players in double figures. But Tomislav Buljan scored 14 of his 24 points and grabbed 10 of his 18 rebounds (nine total on offense) in the second half, as New Mexico made 25 of 36 at the free throw line to SDSU’s 13 of 22 for the game.
A critical moment came with 30 seconds remaining, after Tae Simmons made a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to 1 point. Simmons and Elzie Harrington trapped Uriah Tennette in the left corner back court and the ball went out of bounds, seemingly off the New Mexico guard’s right hand.
Head coach Brian Dutcher called for a review, but after several minutes the call on the court was determined to stand by the officiating crew.
From there the Lobos would score the final five points of the game, all on the free-throw line.
So now, SDSU and New Mexico await the result of the Grand Canyon at Utah State game later Saturday night to find out whether it will be a three-way tie atop the Mountain West, or if the Aggies will go back ahead by a game with two remaining.
The Aztecs had a shot to take the lead after Byrd trimmed the deficit to one with just under four minutes remaining after the Lobos had taken their largest lead of the second half at 6 points on a Buljan score, But Reese Dixon-Waters missed a reverse layup, slashing from the right wing across the lane and on the ensuing runout Tennette was left alone in the left corner for a key 3-pointer.
SDSU had led for just over half the game and for much of the first five minutes of the second stanza, as there were three lead changes and six ties in the final 20.
A Pharaoh Compton transition dunk with 14:13 remaining was the last time the Scarlet and Black led, and Byrd’s 3 with a minute remaining was the last time the teams were tied, as the Lobos responded with a Luke Haupt triple.
Downtown shooting played a big part in the Aztecs first half success.
Sean Newman Jr. knocked down a triple just after five minutes played that kicked off the first run of the afternoon for the Scarlet and Black. The 10-0 burst included a pair of Magoon Gawth scores, with one being a jam, as well as the first of multiple 3-pointers off the bench by BJ Davis.
Davis, who saw his shooting percentage dip nearly 6% below his season average over the seven games he started at point guard with Harrington injured, was efficient off the bench in the opening half.
He finished with three from beyond the arc in the opening half, as well as leaking ahead of an uncontested layup off a free throw miss near the midway mark. Both Davis, and then Reese Dixon-Waters hit depth charges on possessions sandwiching a Harrington jumper that gave SDSU their biggest lead of the half at 11 points.
Davis scored all 11 of his points in the first half.
But New Mexico dashed off a 7-0 run, with three free throws from Tennette, and then back-to-back paint buckets by Buljan. On the first, he appeared to get away with a travel that went uncalled, then SDSU turned the ball over on a travel on the ensuing possession to set up his second score.
With The Pit crowd roaring, Byrd knocked down a deep left wing three and then Davis made another from beyond with 1:44 remaining. But the Lobos got 3’s from Antonio Chol and Haupt for their final two scores of the half to make it 37-36 SDSU at the break.
Gwath finished with 11 points, three rebounds and two blocks in 22 minutes, while Harrington added 10 points.
San Diego State’s final regular season road game is at Extra Mile Arena in Boise, facing a Boise State team battling for conference tournament seeding in the middle of the bracket. The two sides played a memorable triple-overtime game earlier this season at Viejas Arena that SDSU won 110-107.
Tip off is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3 and will be televised on CBS Sports Network, with a local radio broadcast available on 760 AM.
Texas Longhorns guard Tramon Mark (12) brings down a rebound in the first half as the Texas Longhorns play the Texas A&M Aggies at Reed Arena in College Station, Feb. 28, 2026. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)
Inter Milan 2-0 Genoa – Switzerland Star Heaps Praise On Nerazzurri Teammates: ‘A Pleasure To Play With This Defence’
Yann Sommer was full of praise for his Inter Milan teammates after the Nerazzurri kept another clean sheet in a 2-0 victory over Genoa at San Siro, with the Switzerland goalkeeper highlighting the collective defensive effort at the club.
Speaking to Sky Sport after the match, with quotes via FCInterNews, Sommer was quick to place the result in its wider context.
Coming just days after the Champions League elimination to Bodo/Glimt, the win represented exactly the kind of response Cristian Chivu had demanded from his squad.
And, indeed, the goalkeeper acknowledged its importance.
“This victory is very important for us after going out of the Champions League,” he said.
“Bodo were very strong, but it was important to react and look forward, and we did that very well.”
Inter 2-0 Genoa – Sommer Proud Of His Defenders
BERGAMO, ITALY – DECEMBER 28: Yann Sommer of FC Internazionale in action during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and FC Internazionale at New Balance Arena on December 28, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
On Inter’s remarkable clean sheet record, Sommer was characteristically team-focused.
“A great team must be strong even after a defeat like the one in the Champions League,” he said.
“Last year we had done well, a shame. You always have to move forward together.”
He then offered a touching tribute to the defenders in front of him.
“For a goalkeeper, it is a pleasure to play behind a defence like this. In many games we defend very well.”
Sommer also identified the key ingredients behind Inter’s defensive strength.
“We want to have control of the game and collective compactness,” he said.
“We are hard in duels and we keep our shape well.”
It is a formula that has served Inter brilliantly across the season.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 28: Jadarian Price of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
1. Get ready for the Bears to draft another running back.
Like four other positional groups before them, the running backs set the record for fastest average 40 time ever at a blazing 4.4 seconds—albeit in a small sample size.
They followed that up by being just as impressive and consistent in on-field drills, with not too many throws hitting the ground. (Random fact: ex-second-round pick Kyle Trask was the designated Combine arm this year.)
As a team that could move on from D’Andre Swift for salary cap purposes and has expressed some interest in upgrading at the position, the Bears couldn’t have left the field feeling better about the prospect of taking another back in this year’s draft. They won’t have a chance at Jeremiyah Love, who would’ve been a top-10 pick before running a 4.36 and killing the on-field portion of his workout. But they’ll have a wide range of access to a strong second tier, which includes guys like Jadarian Price, Emmett Johnson, and Mike Washington, who torched the field with a 4.33.
As I’ve said before, Price should be in the conversation for the No. 25 overall pick. He’s easily RB2 in the class and did nothing to dispel that notion today. He’s a strong combination of smooth and explosive, and he has plenty of upside to explore as a pass-catcher. A lot of holes have to be plugged before that’s a realistic pick, but he’ll be in that cloud. Unless the Bears bring in a high-powered veteran, this RB feels like one that needs juice sooner rather than later.
One way or another, it’s hard to see the guy who drafted Jahmyr Gibbs not going for a running back at some point in a class this fast.
2. Could the Bears take a late-round QB to replace Tyson Bagent?
As of right now, Bagent remains a Bear, though they’ve received interest from teams who want to poach him. Chicago will likely listen to calls for now but not make a move until they know more about the quarterback class.
If they want to get a little experimental with it, there are some interesting developmental options that Ben Johnson and company could have some fun with. In particular, why not take a flyer on Taylen Green from Oklahoma or Jalon Daniels from Kansas the way the Patriots did a few years ago with Joe Milton?
Green, in particular, put together an insane Combine, running a 4.37 and destroying Anthony Richardson’s vertical jump record for quarterbacks with a 43.5-inch leap. You can develop him as a passer and play around with getting him the ball. Daniels, meanwhile, has a rocket for an arm.
If you make either one of those guys look good, you can flip them for picks just as New England did with Milton. I’d rather take a chance on that kind of dynamism (assuming Bagent is gone) than grabbing Cade Klubnik or something. Anyway, don’t mind me: I’ll just be imagining Green running the ball back on kick returns.
3. A strong receiver class is good for the Bears—no matter what.
Chicago doesn’t need another receiver—not even if they traded DJ Moore. Plus, they might prefer to see what Jahdae Walker can do in an extended role as well as bringing in a more reliable WR3 than Olamide Zaccheaus was. If Moore’s traded, a Day 3 option would make sense as a possible WR4, as long as you bring in a veteran, too.
No matter what happens, though, this speedy bunch of receivers can help the Bears acquire said veteran pass-catcher by forcing some of these WR3 or 4 types onto the open market with teams looking for younger, cheaper options.
For example: what about a cheap flyer on someone like Skyy Moore, who has return experience and wouldn’t have to be a focal point in the offense? The same goes for a Braxton Berrios.
Even though the top of the receiver depth chart is basically set, pending what happens with Moore, you still have to fill out the special teams and find someone reliable enough to step up when needed. That either has to come from the draft or the free-agent pile. Fortunately, it looks like they might have some strong Day 3 options to get into.
In case you missed it, Khari also had a couple of hits on our 2nd City Gridiron channels, breaking down yesterday’s Combine performances.
If you could wave a magic wand and get any NFL player on the New Orleans Saints, who would you pick? Failing that, if you could look at the pool of free agents expected to change teams in March, who do you want the most? Bleacher Report's Alex Ballentine highlighted a perfect free agent pickup for all 32 teams, including the Saints. And he chose a new tag-team partner for Chris Olave as an ideal fit in the Saints receiving corps: Green Bay Packers wideout Romeo Doubs.
Romeo Doubs should be looking for a place where he can play a bigger role in free agency. The Saints should be looking for a reliable No. 2 who can play alongside Chris Olave. It's a hand-in-glove fit.
Doubs isn't the most electric receiver, but he's a dependable downfield target who wins more contested catches than his frame would tell you. He's the kind of receiver who could give Tyler Shough another dependable weapon in an offense that needs them.
Doubs was thrown to 320 times in 59 games over four years with Green Bay; that's an average of 5.4 targets per game. There's a lot of qualifiers here so stay with us. In eight games with Tyler Shough starting and Olave available (he missed the season finale due to a blood clot scare), non-Olave wide receivers totaled just 60 targets. That comes up to 7.5 targets per game. Doubs wouldn't get all of those passes but he would carve out enough of them to make the move worthwhile.
But is a wide receiver really the perfect move for the Saints? The talent pool for receivers is deeper than left guards, and if New Orleans can't get the offensive line cleaned up to protect Shough, they won't be hosting a playoff game. Full stop. And getting a finished product in free agency would be their easiest path towards that goal. Doubs would be a big upgrade over many of the games already in their receiving corps. That doesn't mean signing a receiver is the perfect move the Saints can make.
Former New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte finally found a home as spring training got underway, as Marte agreed to a one-year deal with the Kansas City Royals, according to a report from Jared Greenspan of MLB.com. Marie was effective offensively in a part-time role for the Mets last year, as the 37-year old veteran had his best season since 2022.
Marte appeared in 98 games for the Mets in 2025 as he posted a slash line of .270/.335/.410 with a .745 OPS. He’s not the same player he was back in 2022 when he was an All-Star and got MVP votes, but Marte was surprisingly effective given that he entered the season with an undefined role. Marte was especially effective from June 1 through the end of the season, according to Greenspan, when his average rose to .289 with a .766 OPS.
The Mets explored the idea of trading him when they signed Marte along with star outfielder Juan Soto, and they even informed Soto of his signing and situation. But after the season the Mets showed little interest in bringing back the 14-year veteran, largely due to his age, injury history and GM David Stearn’s announcement after the season that the team would focus on run prevention.
For the Royals, maximizing whatever Marte has left in the tank will be all about keeping him healthy. He's undergone double groin surgery, battled a lingering bone bruise in his right knee, dealt with migraines and suffered a neck strain, according to Greenspan, and he hasn’t played more than 100 games in any of the last three seasons.
With the Mets, though, he was on the active roster for all but two weeks of the 2025 season, which plays into the role the Royals probably have in mind for him. He’s changed his pregame routine considerably, and he credited Mets trainers for helping to keep him on the field.
Marte profiles mostly as a DH at this point in his career. Even though he’s a former Gold Glove winner, he played just 12 games in the outfield in New York. He’s also a gifted base stealer, but that part of his offensive arsenal has diminished considerably, as he stole just seven bases last year.
The Royals' newest acquisition is also valued as a clubhouse presence, Greenspan added, as he helped Soto adjust to the Mets organization and assisting him in dealing with the expectations that come with a $765 million contract.
The Philadelphia 76ers will hit the road on Sunday for a quick 1-game trip to take on the rival Boston Celtics. These two teams haven't seen each other since Nov. 11 as they faced off three times in the season's first 11 games for Philadelphia. The Sixers took two of those three matchups.
As far as the injury report is concerned, the Sixers will continue to be without Paul George as he continues to serve his 25-game suspension for violating the league's anti-drug policy.
Joel Embiid (right oblique strain) is listed as out. He missed Saturday's practice before the team left for Boston as he reported some soreness in his right side. The Sixers say he will miss the team’s next 3 games against the Celtics, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Utah Jazz. He will be re-evaluated after the matchup against the Jazz.
An MRI revealed that Joel Embiid has suffered a right oblique strain in Thursday’s win over the Heat. He will miss the next 3 games and then be re-evaluated following the team’s upcoming back-to-back. #Sixers
A message went up on the big screen informing supporters inside Elland Road what the stoppage was for [Getty Images]
Loud boos could be heard during a brief break in play to allow players observing Ramadan to break their fast during Saturday's Premier League game between Leeds United and Manchester City.
The 17:30 GMT kick-off at Elland Road was paused in the 13th minute as both sets of players came to the side of the pitch to take on fluids.
A message was displayed on the big screen inside the stadium stating: "As tonight's match takes place inside the holy month of Ramadan, play has been paused briefly to allow players to break their fast."
City had three Muslim players - Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush - in their starting line-up, with Abdukodir Khusanov on the bench.
BBC Sport has contacted Leeds United for comment.
Asked about the booing, Leeds assistant manager Edmund Riemer told Sky Sports: "I'm focused on the game so I don't really hear it, but disappointed with some supporters that that happened."
Riemer added in the post-match media conference "we try to learn out of it" and "need to do better next time".
Ramadan - during which Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn until sunset - began on the evening of 17 February and lasts for a month.
With sunset in the UK ranging from about 17:00 to 19:00 during this period, the only games that could feature a break in play are Saturday's 17:30 kick-off and Sunday's 16:30 kick-off between Arsenal and Chelsea.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said: "We took on a little bit of vitamins because [Rayan] Cherki, [Rayan] Ait-Nouri did not eat today.
"It is a modern world, right? [You see] what is happening in the world today. Respect religion, diversity, that is the point.
"The Premier League says you can have one or two minutes, you can have for the [fasting] players to do it [break their fast]. It is what it is, unfortunately."
Anti-discrimination group Kick It Out said the booing was "massively disappointing".
"Pausing the game to allow Muslim players to break their fast during Ramadan has been an agreed protocol for several years now," it said.
"It's an important and visible part of making the game welcoming for Muslim players and communities.
"But as tonight's reaction shows, football still has a long way to go in terms of education and acceptance."
Club captains and match officials find a natural pause in the game to allow Muslim players or match officials to break their fast.
In 2021, an agreement was put in place to allow Muslim players to break their fast during a Premier League match.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson said on BBC Radio 5 Live: "I think it's very good for the players. We talk about the athletes and how fine-tuned they are at the moment.
"To go that long without food and drink, it is vitally important that they have that break."
The Eagles have an Alabama-to-Philadelphia pipeline, and Kadyn Proctor could be the next Crimson Tide star to join a Super Bowl hopeful. Ahead of Sunday's workouts, themassive offensive tackle says the Eagles are showing "a lot" of interest in him. At 6-7 and 350-plus pounds, Proctor is more than just his physical size, offering enough athleticism to run pass routes. Daniel Jeremiah's No. 29 prospect in the draft, Proctor, confirmed on Saturday from Indianapolis that the Eagles are paying close attention.
"It was good," Proctor said of his meeting with the reigning NFC East champions. "I think they have shown a lot of interest in me. I really liked the vibe with them, too."
Proctor could be the perfect pick to eventually replace six-time Pro Bowl right tackle Lane Johnson, who will turn 36 in May. The Iowa native was a three-year starter for the Crimson Tide, going back to his freshman year in 2023. Proctor earned consensus All-America honors in 2025. Proctor was a stalwart on the left side, allowing 37 total pressures in 2024 and 2025 combined and five sacks.
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 28: Cameron Boozer #12 of the Duke Blue Devils controls the ball against Thijs De Ridder #28 and Johann Grünloh #17 of the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We thought Virginia was better than that.
Whatever else we might have thought, we never thought that Duke would have a 28-point lead on a good Virginia team. And winning 77-51?
Not what we expected – not at all.
But that’s what happened as Duke wrapped up the #1 seed for the ACC Tournament. And what’s really impressive is that Duke did that despite Virginia doing a first-rate job defending Cameron Boozer.
Boozer’s stats were pretty typical for him: 18 points, 99 rebounds, 4 assists, a steal and a block.
But Virginia held him to just 3-9 from the floor, two inside and one three-pointer.
Being Boozer, he adapted. He couldn’t get easy shots inside against Johanne Grunloh, Thijs DeRidder and Ugonna Onyenso, so he got his points at the line.
Boozer hit 11-12 from the line.
The focus on Boozer left options for the others, and Isaiah Evans took full advantage, hitting three threes early.
Duke never looked back. And the big difference was the defense.
We’ve noticed this several times lately, but especially in the last three games against Syracuse, Michigan, and Notre Dame, there are times when the opponent can’t really get into a decent offensive flow and just has to chunk the ball up as the shot clock expires.
It’s not exactly Bennett Ball, because for one, Duke tends to score more. It’s kind of wild to watch, though. There was one point in the first half where the interior really seemed wide open, but for whatever reason, Virginia just couldn’t exploit it. They passed around the perimeter for 33-34 seconds and then shot a bad three.
Duke kept the pressure up, and Virginia just never adjusted.
They actually played better in the second half, but Duke’s lead kept growing wider. One interesting aspect, to us anyway, was that various disruptive situations came up for individuals, but it didn’t particularly affect the group.
Boozer got poked in the eye and had to leave the game. Duke kept rolling. Nik Khamenia picked up two quick fouls in three minutes in the first half.
Didn’t really matter.
Dame Sarr got two quick fouls right into the second half and just like that, Duke’s pressure man was in a potentially sticky spot.
Didn’t really matter.
In the end, nothing really mattered. This team is coming together beautifully. The defense is as tough as anyone’s, and the offense has matured.
Boozer is a freshman, but he’s smart enough to adjust to pretty much anything anyone throws at him. Evans has gone from being a three-point ace to being a guy who can drive and dunk or dish.
Sarr has gone from a spotty presence to a dominant defender.
And all of them, along with everyone else, are gelling at exactly the right time.
Duke plays State next and Raleigh is never an easy trip. Over the last decade or so, Duke has taken some real beatings over there. With State losing to Notre Dame Saturday, the Pack will be feisty, and we’re sure Will Wade will point out to them that a win over the #1 team in the country will be a massive resumé boost. So everybody should be ready for that.
Notes – DeRidder is a lot like Cameron Boozer…he’s thick too and agile and fundamentally sound…speaking of Boozer, he was that kid who was told the right way to do things and actually practiced his basketball fundamentals…he’s a basketball nerd…it’s hard to explain just what Duke did to Virginia on defense, how thoroughly they dominated them…the ‘Hoos just couldn’t get anything to work…you can see why Odom wanted Chance Mallory…he’s definitely on the small side, but he’s quick and smart…he’s going to be a force there before he’s through…just before tip-off, DeRidder tapped Sarr on the back in a way that made us think those guys must know each other from playing in Europe…a bit of personal respect…
Adamu, Cvancara and Iheanacho could have roles to play at Ibrox
Adamu or Cvancara, or maybe even Iheanacho, why not two of the three? We need all the firepower we can muster…
Maximilian Mittelstaedt of VfB Stuttgart challenges Junior Adamu of Celtic during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between VfB Stuttgart and Celtic FC at Stuttgart Arena on February 26, 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images)
Whilst we face something of a shortage of options at the back for tomorrow’s vital clash at Ibrox, we have numerous choices at our disposal an attacking sense, mainly in the centre forward position.
Tomas Cvancara in action at Tynecastle. Hearts v Celtic, 25 January 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou.
Tomas Cvancara is clearly the likely candidate to start, due to his physique and all round ability to play through the middle, and more importantly Martin seems to regard him highly. Something that’s not surprising as the veteran Irishman likes to utilise a big target man in his sides, something he’s done throughout his managerial career.
26.02.2026, UEFA Europa League, VfB Stuttgart Celtic Glasgow v l Maximilian Mittelstädt VFB Stuttgart, 7 expects Kelechi Iheanacho Celtic FC, photo IMAGO.
But we also have the likes of Junior Adamu and Kelechi Iheanacho raring to go, players who would complement the ability of Czech international Cvancara, so Martin O’Neill is rather spoilt for choice in that department.
Daizen Maeda can of course also operate through the middle, but the Japanese is a cert to start on the wing given the work rate and experience he provides in this fixture.
Viljami Sinisalo and Daizen Maeda of Celtic FC reacts during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between VfB Stuttgart and Celtic FC at Stuttgart Arena on February 26, 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images)
Both Adamu and Iheanacho can operate anywhere across the frontline, and are no strangers to putting the ball in the net, so utilising one or the other up front with big Tam, would give us a more than potent goal threat against theRangers defence who are far from watertight.
Creating opportunities has not been our problem of late, it’s finishing them that’s been the issue. We will create chances at Ibrox, that’s not in doubt, we just need to be clinical with any that come our way, and having players on the park who can put the ball in the net, will give us a fighting chance of getting the three points out of the game.
Tommy Gemmell statue unveiling at the Lisbon Lion’s hometown of Craigneuk. 28 February 2026. Photographs by Vagelis Georgariou
Will Martin O’Neill decide to go with one of his other more recognised front men? I suppose we’ll find out when the teams are announced tomorrow morning at around 10.45am.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr. Click on image to order
After a week that demanded focus and professionalism, Liverpool delivered neither perfection nor control — but they did deliver goals. Five of them. It was a performance that never truly convinced, yet it overwhelmed a fragile West Ham side and, in the context of the top-five race, may prove invaluable.
With Aston Villa slipping to defeat against Wolves on Friday, the door creaked open. Liverpool barged straight through it.
⸻
The Starting Eleven
Liverpool XI
• GK – Alisson Becker
• RB – Joe Gomez
• CB – Ibrahima Konaté
• CB – Virgil van Dijk (c)
• LB – Milos Kerkez
• CM – Alexis Mac Allister
• CM – Ryan Gravenberch
• RW – Mohamed Salah
• AM – Dominik Szoboszlai
• LW – Cody Gakpo
• CF – Hugo Ekitike
Substitutes Used
Jeremie Frimpong → Florian Wirtz (76’)
Rio Ngumoha → Joe Gomez (76’)
Trey Nyoni → Ryan Gravenberch (86’)
⸻
Goals
Liverpool 1–0 West Ham – Hugo Ekitike (Ryan Gravenberch) – 5’
Liverpool 2–0 West Ham – Virgil van Dijk (Dominik Szoboszlai) – 26’
Liverpool 3–0 West Ham – Alexis Mac Allister (Hugo Ekitike) – 43’
Liverpool 3–1 West Ham – Tomáš Souček (Malick Diouf) – 49’
Liverpool 4–1 West Ham – Cody Gakpo (Hugo Ekitike) – 70’
Liverpool 4–2 West Ham – Valentín Castellanos (Jarrod Bowen) – 75’
Liverpool 5–2 West Ham – Jeremie Frimpong (Cody Gakpo) – 83’
Photo: IMAGO
⸻
Match Statistics
• Possession – Liverpool 49% | West Ham 51%
• xG – Liverpool 1.75 | West Ham 1.84
• Total Shots – Liverpool 18 | West Ham 11
• Shots on Target – Liverpool 7 | West Ham 4
• Fouls – Liverpool 12 | West Ham 11
• Corners – Liverpool 10 | West Ham 5
First Half
The opening half was ruthless without being dominant. Liverpool did not suffocate West Ham with possession — in fact, they ceded more of the ball overall — but they were devastating from dead-ball situations.
Three first-half goals, all stemming from corners, mark a remarkable turnaround for a side that looked utterly blunt from set pieces in the opening months of the season. The delivery was aggressive, the movement coordinated, and the intent clear. Ekitike’s early strike settled nerves, Van Dijk powered home with captain’s authority, and Mac Allister’s clinical finish just before the break effectively ended the contest.
There were still moments of looseness in open play. West Ham found pockets, tested transitions, and were not overwhelmed territorially. But Liverpool’s efficiency was the difference. When chances presented themselves, they struck.
Photo: IMAGO
⸻
Second Half
The second half brought a familiar issue — complacency. Souček’s goal four minutes after the restart shifted momentum briefly, and the visitors sensed vulnerability. Castellanos’ strike later only reinforced that Liverpool’s defensive concentration dipped more than it should have.
Yet every time West Ham threatened to make it uncomfortable, Liverpool found another gear in the final third. Gakpo’s composed finish restored control, and Frimpong’s late goal, bursting forward from the bench, sealed matters emphatically.
The game felt chaotic at times. The xG suggests a contest closer than the scoreline. But Liverpool’s cutting edge was superior, even if their overall control was not.
⸻
Final Thoughts
This was a performance where efficiency masked imperfection. Liverpool weren’t great — but they were prolific. Seven shots on target produced five goals. Ten corners yielded relentless pressure and three decisive moments before half-time.
Defensively, there remains work to do. In midfield, the balance wavered. But in attack, there is growing cohesion and confidence.
With Villa stumbling, the top-five race tightens considerably. The Reds should now feel momentum shifting. If they can pair this ruthless finishing with greater control, the chase becomes very real.
DORTMUND, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 28: Joshua Kimmich of FC Bayern Munich celebrates scoring his team's third goal with teammates Josip Stanisic and Michael Olise during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern München at Signal Iduna Park on February 28, 2026 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As Bayern Munich fought hard to come out of the Signal Iduna Park against a game Borussia Dortmund side with a late goal by captain Joshua Kimmich, you might have notice that although having the visiting side role, the Bayern fans section was quieter than usual. For this reason, Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala was seen approaching the Bayern fans section to ask them why they were not actively supporting the club (FCBinside via @iMiaSanMia).
Apparently the reason was that the Ultras had had a clash with the Dortmund police before the game with pepper spray and batons involved, causing some 500 Bayern fans to watch the game in the stadium’s concourse through the TVs, rather than supporting from their seats (Bild via @iMiaSanMia). On their behalf, Dortmund police announced that 29 Bayern supporters had tried to enter the game with fake tickets.
It appears that at least some fans returned to their seats during the final moments of the match, as Bayern players were seen celebrating with traveling group of fans, this time receiving the deserved support after a decisive victory.
There was a confrontation between police and some Bayern fans around 5 pm. Police used batons and pepper spray against some of the fans. As a result, 500 fans decided to watch the game in the stadium concourse and stop their support. Dortmund police said a group of 29 Bayern fans… https://t.co/EePxgFFKup
There was a confrontation between police and some Bayern fans around 5 pm. Police used batons and pepper spray against some of the fans. As a result, 500 fans decided to watch the game in the stadium concourse and stop their support. Dortmund police said a group of 29 Bayern fans attempted to gain entry to the away section using counterfeit or unauthorized tickets.
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…
Running back Emanuel Wilson will reportedly hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent next month.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that the Packers have decided not to tender Wilson a contract as a restricted free agent. Any tender offers must be extended ahead of the start of the 2026 league year on March 11.
Wilson has appeared in 41 regular season games and four playoff games for Green Bay over the last three seasons. He has 242 carries for 1,083 yards and seven touchdowns in the regular season and 16 carries for 45 yards in the postseason.
Josh Jacobs and MarShawn Lloyd are set to return at running back for the Packers.
Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson (RB10) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The running backs group kicked off the third day of the NFL Combine, and like most position groups, only about half of the eligible prospects participated in measured testing or on-field drills. But some of the top prospects did take the field, and there were a handful of standout running backs that showed very well.
The Notre Dame duo of Jeremiyah Price (4.36-second 40-yard-dash) and Jadarian Price (4.5) stole the show, but because they are expected to be the first two backs selected in the draft, they likely won’t be in the Detroit Lions’ range for value and need.
Of the five prospects whom we declared “winners”, three were featured in our running backs Combine preview article, along with two other backs who weren’t in our preview for entirely opposite reasons. Here’s the top running backs the Lions were hoping paying close attention too.
Mike Washington, Arkansas (6-foot-1, 223)
Washington has been a favorite of POD this offseason, checking in as the top back to watch at the Senior Bowl, and was at the top of the list in our Combine preview. A big and powerful back, Washington would answer a lot of long-term questions the Lions have—including being a safe guard against the David Montgomery situation falling the wrong way. The buzz surrounding him of late has been that of a rising prospect, and then he ran a 4.33 40-yard-dash, jumped 39 inches vertically, and landed a 10-foot-8 broad jump, all at 233 pounds (!), which should very likely end up pushing him even higher up draft boards.
Emmett Johnson (5-foot-10, 202)
Johnson wasn’t on our Combine preview list simply because he’s been slotted as RB3 this offseason, but the rise of Washington and a few others has loosened things up a bit. Despite his 4.56 40-yard dash being the slowest in the group, that’s not a bad time for Johnson and his playing style, and his 35.5-inch vertical jump and 10-foot broad jump point to his explosive nature.
In on-field drills, Johnson exploded at the snap of every drill, jumping out of his stance, and attacked the drills with a downhill mentality. While he was a tick unbalanced when making his cuts at top speed, he was powerful in his movements, showed strong hands, and once he secured the catch, he turned and got upfield in a hurry. His playing style would be a nice match with the Lions’ scheme and playstyle, but I’m not sure he makes it to Day 3.
Desmond Claiborne, Wake Forest (5-foot-10, 188)
Claiborne has been featured in our East-West Shrine Bowl preview and Combine previews due to his speed, which he showed off in the 40-yard-dash, running in an impressive 4.37 seconds. That speed translated onto the field during drills, as he showed great recognition-and-reaction skills, exploded laterally, and maintained his speed throughout the day. Claiborne showed he is willing to press the line and trust his speed, did a nice job of selling cut routes, was crisp during cuts, and was clean out of his breaks. He confirmed his tape and is likely in contention to be a top-five back in this class.
J’Mari Taylor, Virginia (5-foot-10, 199)
Taylor is a compact and explosive runner who didn’t participate in measured testing but was skilled in on-field drills. Taylor attacked downhill, showing power in his feet and the ability to stay square and balanced when setting up his cuts. He only has average lateral agility, and he didn’t look overly comfortable in deep routes, but his underneath routes were clean, and he showed the ability to get low and power out.
Jam Miller, Alabama (5-foot-10, 209)
When scouting this draft class running backs group, Miller flashed at times, but he ended up just missing the cut. He’d immediately make me regret leaving him off my watchlist, as he showed the athleticism behind those flash plays is there. Everything Miller did was solid and repeatable, pointing to a foundation that is developable, making him a sleeper Day 3 pick with high-value upside.
Miller ran a 4.42 40-yard-dash in measured testing and attacked the on-field drills. He showed quick feet, explosive movement in his jump cuts, lateral quickness, and the ability to get low in cuts and explode out into his routes. His open-field cuts were executed at speed and without throttling down (as most backs do), then closed out with solid hands. I’d like him to sell his Texas route more before the cut—because he has the chops for it—but he was smooth in his option-angle route, effortlessly cut inside (similarly to Texas), and secured the catch at full speed.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Brandon Miller had 26 points and eight rebounds, and the Charlotte Hornets beat the Portland Trail Blazers 109-93 on Saturday for their fourth consecutive victory.
Miller made six 3-pointers and the Hornets finished 16 for 42 behind the arc after totaling 72 in the previous three victories, equaling the NBA record for most in a three-game span.
Coby White added 20 points off the bench and LaMelo Ball had 15 points and eight assists. Moussa Diabate finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds and five assists as Charlotte pulled within a game of .500 at 30-31.
Jrue Holiday scored 25 points and Jerami Grant had 21 for the Trail Blazers, who played without All-Star Deni Avdija for a third straight game because of a back injury.
Portland missed all 10 3-point attempts in the first quarter and Charlotte took a 29-17 lead. Miller made four 3-pointers and scored 12 points in the second as the Hornets took a 51-43 lead to the half.
The Blazers cut it to 74-67 after three but went cold again in the fourth, missing 10 of their 12 3-point attempts. Portland finished 11 for 47 (23.4%) on 3s for the game.
ST. LOUIS, MO - DECEMBER 17: Robert Thomas #18 of the St. Louis Blues in action as Paul Cotter #47 and Jack Hughes #86 of the New Jersey Devils pressure on December 17, 2024 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Scott Rovak/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Matchup: New Jersey Devils (28-29-2) @ St. Louis Blues (21-28-9)
The Rules: If you have been a reader here, you already know the rules. But for the rest, a reminder: please do not swear in the comment section, and keep comments relevant to the hockey game going on. Beyond that, do not attack any other commenters, and do not ask for or pass along illegal streams on this board.
Unlikely Inter star continues to prove he's one of Serie A's best 👏
We're putting some respect on defenders today in Italy.
Inter look to extend their lead at the top of Serie A to 13 points, and it's so far so good thanks to the efforts of one Federico Dimarco.
With names like Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram and Nicolo Barella, you don't often think of the defender as a difference maker.
But he's done it again for Cristian Chivu's side on Saturday against Genoa!
Dimarco volleyed home from a tight angle at the half-hour mark to put the hosts in front inside a rocking San Siro. He now has 20 goal involvements this season.
To make the moment event better, he impressively also leads Serie A in goal involvements this season, ahead of Lautaro, Como starlet Nico Paz and Juventus' Kenan Yildiz.
Bleacher Report's Alex Ballentine went around the league and named the "perfect" free agency fit for each team. For edge rusher Odafe Oweh, he connected him to the Buccaneers.
"The Bucs have been looking for a young edge-rusher to lead the pass rush for a while. Odafe Oweh is a popular pick to re-sign with the Chargers after they traded for him during the 2025 season or follow Jesse Minter back to Baltimore. He had 7.5 sacks in 12 games while playing for Minter this season," Ballentine writes.
"However, Todd Bowles' ability to scheme pass-rushers into one-on-one situations shouldn't be taken lightly. It would be a huge get for the Bucs to convince the 27-year-old to head to Tampa.
"He would be a great fit in Bowles' aggressive defensive system and he'd fill a need they just haven't figured out."
Oweh is one of the most promising players available at his position, and thus, he should gain interest from several teams around the league. He is projected to land a three-year, $57.9 million contract, according to Spotrac.
The Chargers acquired Oweh in October via trade with the Ravens. The team sent safety Alohi Gilman and a fifth-round pick in exchange for the edge rusher. The 27-year-old had a slow start to the season, but turned a corner once he arrived in Los Angeles.
Oweh posted an 81.6 PFF pass-rush grade with 39 pressures and 7.5 sacks across 13 regular-season games with the Chargers. His performance of the season came against the Patriots in the playoffs, where he posted three sacks and a 90.1 PFF pass-rushing grade.
If the Bolts hope to bring Oweh back to LA, it will be costly, but he is a premier player at his position.
In a victory on Senior night, Notre Dame fans got a glimpse of what its future could look like.
A strong second half led by the underclassmen for the Irish got its fourth conference win of the season. First half story was all about NC State as they made 7 of 12 3 pointers and shot over 60% from the field. Despite shooting over 50% from the field, the Irish could never close the gap in the first half and found themselves down 44-38. Then the young stars Cole Certa and Jalen Haralson took over in the second half.
Carson Towt had a chance to tie the game with just over a minute left, but the 33% free throw shooter missed both free throws, however a strong defensive effort led to an Irish rebound and Haralson’s two made free throws tied the game up with 20 seconds left. NC State’s Darrion Williams missed a wide open three to send it to overtime.
Overtime was the Cole Certa show as he started the extra session making two three pointers, the first giving Notre Dame it’s first lead of the game and the latter from well beyond NBA range. The sophomore guard had twelve of the Notre Dame 15 points in overtime and NC State went cold shooting which ultimately led the Fighting Irish to be able to pull away with the 96-90 victory.
Haralson, in his first game back since February 10th, was aggressive in the second half realizing that NC State simply had no answers when he committed to driving to the rim. After scoring just two points in the first half, had 23 in the second half and overtime finishing with 25 for the game. The highest rated recruit in Notre Dame history was a beacon of positivity for a basketball team that has had a disastrous season thus far.
The Irish are now 4-12 in conference play and 13-16 for the season. They will play Stanford on Wednesday evening and then close out the regular season with a matchup at Boston College on Saturday.
Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.
The last time Liverpool had scored five goals in a Premier League game, the sun was out as they clinched the title with a 5-1 win over Tottenham in April 2025.
The conditions were similar on Saturday when they put five past West Ham and, after a largely turbulent season so far, the reality is that the Reds are heading into March with a spring in their step.
Arne Slot's side were far from wholly convincing against a relegation-battling West Ham, but the raw numbers show a team heading in the right direction as they now sit fifth in the Premier League, just three points off third.
"I could feel the nervousness inside the stadium," Slot said, after a strange game where Liverpool were clinical if not always in control.
But they have won four of five Premier League games in a short space of time now, which is as many wins as they managed in their previous 13 (D6 L3). Things are certainly improving for a side trying to salvage their season.
Already, Slot has admitted that it would not be an acceptable season if the reigning champions did not qualify for the Champions League, and in recent weeks Liverpool have made it their business to at least move towards that minimum objective.
Earlier this campaign, failure to get there was looking a distinct possibility after a string of poor results, a falling-out with talisman Mohamed Salah and an injury to record signing Alexander Isak.
Liverpool have now restored their know-how when it comes to winning football matches - be that through late winners, gutsy displays on the road or simply improving their output from set-pieces.
Deadly at dead balls as Liverpool 'go back to normal'
Since the turn of the year, Liverpool have scored more goals from set-pieces (excluding penalties) than any other side in the league.
Seven of Liverpool's most recent nine Premier League goals have come from set-pieces (5 x corner, 1 x direct free-kick, 1 x throw-in), one more than in their first 38 goals of the season. All three of Liverpool's goals in the first half against West Ham came from corners.
"It's very pleasing because firstly that is the reason we have won," said Slot.
"Second of all, people said well played, and in my opinion we have been better when we lost and better when we conceded from set-pieces.
"The first half of the season, almost every set-piece we conceded went in. Now we start scoring from set-pieces and things start looking brighter and better than when you don't."
At the end of 2025, former set-piece coach Aaron Briggs left the club. The existing coaching staff at Anfield have absorbed his duties.
When asked what had changed about his team, Slot said: "Things went back to normal.
"We have created quite a lot of chances in the first half of the season that too many times did not go in. Maybe one or two small details have changed defensively and offensively.
"Our set-up is slightly different, but the biggest reason is that things go back to normal. There was a time when we were 23 goals behind Arsenal, including penalties, and we have closed the gap a bit."
'Step by step, we are getting better'
There is a school of thought among some fans that a good season is one where your team still has plenty to play for come April.
Liverpool will not be winning back-to-back Premier League titles, but they will head into March still in the FA Cup and the Champions League and now in a strong position to finish in the top five, which would effectively confirm Champions League football next season.
At the end of a week in which the club confirmed record revenues of over £700m for the last accounting year, with a profit after tax of £8m, the importance of that European spot cannot be underestimated.
Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, who scored Liverpool's third goal, told Match of the Day: "The last four or five months is when teams show what they can do.
"That's what we want. We know how important it is to qualify for the Champions League for the club and us as a team. The goal is there and we are going to do everything to qualify and be closer to the teams on top."
Team-mate Cody Gakpo took a similar view, telling Sky Sports: "It was a good afternoon. Step by step, we're getting [to be] a better team.
"We had a difficult moment during the season, but hopefully these last few games are the start of something beautiful."
With consecutive games against Wolves in the league and FA Cup next week, before a trip to Galatasaray in the Champions League, the next 10 days or so will go a long way to shaping how their season ultimately is remembered.
Get through that unscathed and, whisper it quietly, Liverpool fans may well start to genuinely believe that they can do something beautiful indeed.
Franchitti, who raced for Tricon Garage, spent most of the race in the top 10 after starting sixth. During the final stage, Franchitti's No. 1 Toyota Tacoma had a steering issue, causing him to pit and fall a lap behind. Layne Riggs won the race.
Friday, Franchitti said his experience racing on this street course in IndyCar's Grand Prix of St. Petersburg could help him in the race. This is the first time NASCAR's trucks have raced here, as NASCAR and IndyCar have two joint weekends to begin the IndyCar season.
"I understand the surfaces and the details of the circuit," Franchitti said. "It's going to feel a lot different in the truck, certainly, than it did in the IndyCar. It was so long ago. My last IndyCar start here was 2013. There will be a lot of drivers out there learning, me included."
In January, Franchitti raced in the Dubai 24 Hour race of the 24H Series Middle East. He drove Parker Racing's No. 31 touring car alongside three other drivers for the day-long race. That car placed 31st in the GT3 class.
Franchitti hasn't raced professionally individually since IndyCar's Grand Prix of Houston in 2013, when a final-lap crash gave him a concussion, two spinal fractures and a fractured ankle. He was forced to medically retire following the crash.
Franchitti began working as an advisor for Chip Ganassi Racing, which he drove for from 2008 to 2013. Due to his NASCAR obligations, he has the weekend off from his normal position with CGR.
In 2019, Franchitti was medically cleared to drive in amateur classic car races, which he's done in the UK since then.
"When I retired, I was quite happy being retired for a good amount of time," he said. "I was driving cars and demonstrations and stuff like that. Thought I'd like to see what it felt like again to do it. That's just sort of escalated from there, I'd say."
Saturday was just the second truck race the 52-year-old Franchitti has driven in. Franchitti finished 33rd in the Kroger 200 (now the Slim Jim 200) in 2007. He does not currently plan to enter another race this year.
"This is not a comeback," Franchitti said. "This is just getting to experience something fun, being fortunate enough to have great friends that help me to do that."
Franchitti, who raced for Tricon Garage, spent most of the race in the top 10 after starting sixth. During the final stage, Franchitti's No. 1 Toyota Tacoma had a steering issue, causing him to pit and fall a lap behind. Layne Riggs won the race.
Friday, Franchitti said his experience racing on this street course in IndyCar's Grand Prix of St. Petersburg could help him in the race. This is the first time NASCAR's trucks have raced here, as NASCAR and IndyCar have two joint weekends to begin the IndyCar season.
"I understand the surfaces and the details of the circuit," Franchitti said. "It's going to feel a lot different in the truck, certainly, than it did in the IndyCar. It was so long ago. My last IndyCar start here was 2013. There will be a lot of drivers out there learning, me included."
In January, Franchitti raced in the Dubai 24 Hour race of the 24H Series Middle East. He drove Parker Racing's No. 31 touring car alongside three other drivers for the day-long race. That car placed 31st in the GT3 class.
Franchitti hasn't raced professionally individually since IndyCar's Grand Prix of Houston in 2013, when a final-lap crash gave him a concussion, two spinal fractures and a fractured ankle. He was forced to medically retire following the crash.
Franchitti began working as an advisor for Chip Ganassi Racing, which he drove for from 2008 to 2013. Due to his NASCAR obligations, he has the weekend off from his normal position with CGR.
In 2019, Franchitti was medically cleared to drive in amateur classic car races, which he's done in the UK since then.
"When I retired, I was quite happy being retired for a good amount of time," he said. "I was driving cars and demonstrations and stuff like that. Thought I'd like to see what it felt like again to do it. That's just sort of escalated from there, I'd say."
Saturday was just the second truck race the 52-year-old Franchitti has driven in. Franchitti finished 33rd in the Kroger 200 (now the Slim Jim 200) in 2007. He does not currently plan to enter another race this year.
"This is not a comeback," Franchitti said. "This is just getting to experience something fun, being fortunate enough to have great friends that help me to do that."
The Knicks had to have Friday’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. It was the team’s last opportunity to pick up an easy win for two weeks.
The Knicks defeated the Bucks without Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) in a resounding 127-98 victory to finish their three-game road trip with a 2-1 record. They now move on to a five-game slate of contenders from both conferences, beginning with a matinee meeting with Victor Wembanyama and the Western Conference’s No. 2-seeded San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.
The Knicks will face the Spurs (43-16), travel to Toronto to visit the Raptors (34-25), then return to Madison Square Garden to host the NBA’s No. 1-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder (46-15). They will then kickoff a five-game road trip with stops in Denver (37-23), Los Angeles against both the Lakers (34-24) and Clippers (27-31), Utah (18-41) and Indiana (15-45) before hosting the Golden State Warriors back home on March 15.
After the Spurs game, six of the Knicks’ following seven games will be on the road. The stretch also includes two sets of back-to-backs, first in Toronto on Tuesday before hosting OKC on Wednesday, and next, in Los Angeles, seeing Luka Doncic and Kawhi Leonard on consecutive nights.
Head coach Mike Brown insists he doesn’t look beyond the next game on the schedule.
“You know the schedule better than me. I know we’re going to Toronto some time soon,” he told reporters in Milwaukee after Friday’s win. “That’s too many games for me to think about. I just take them one game at a time. I know we’ve got San Antonio at [1 p.m.] on Sunday and just trying to figure out how we’re gonna prepare for them.”
The first five of those opponents could be the Knicks’ toughest test of the season.
The Spurs, Raptors, Thunder, Nuggets and Lakers combine for a 194-103 record, and the Knicks are 2-5 on the season against teams with a .653 winning percentage or better. They are 5-2 against teams with a record above .600 but lower than .653, and are 3-0 against the only top-five seed from either conference with a lower winning percentage than .600: the Raptors.
In the East, the Knicks went 0-3 against the Detroit Pistons, own a 2-1 record over the Boston Celtics and are 2-1 against the Cavaliers. In a season riddled with championship expectations, inconsistency has plagued a team that has gone stretches without playing competitive basketball, only to remind teams why they are title contenders via 77-point halves like the one they hung on the Bucks on Friday.
The Knicks lost to the Cavaliers by 15 before their bounce-back win in Milwaukee.
“It’s important to battle through adversity. In a playoff setting, you may lose one, you’ve got to bounce back and get the next one, and we’ve done a good job of showing we can bounce back quick,” said Karl-Anthony Towns. “It’s a good sign for us but consistency is everything. As long as we can keep building off this momentum and keep building off this mindset, we can be the best team we can be come April.”
ROOKIE RUNS WILD
Brown suggested fourth-year forward Jeremy Sochan could get a longer look at minutes over rookie Mohamed Diawara given Sochan’s experience, size and strength on a Knicks team competing for a title. But on Friday, the Knicks coach let his rookie run wild, and Diawara rewarded the confidence with 10 points on 2-of-3 shooting from 3-point range in 23 minutes off the bench.
“Those guys are the ninth and 10th guys [in the rotation], and I’ll make the call as I go along,” said Brown, “but everybody has to make sure they keep themselves ready.”
Sochan logged six minutes on Friday.
THE SCREEN GAME
Jalen Brunson scored 27 points but 22 of them came in an electrifying opening quarter. Brown said Friday was the best screen-setting game he’s seen from his team this season.
“Jalen did a great job, our whole team did, and Jalen is one of those guys — but the floor has to be spaced the right way,” he said. “Our physicality offensively was there because we set screens the right way, and then we played fast.
“So it takes all of us to do that, and when you do it–and when you have one of those guys–he’s gonna be able to break loose and that was good to see tonight.”
CAMDEN, N.J. -- The Philadelphia 76ers welcomed Cam Payne back to the roster over the All-Star break as they were looking to add more depth at the guard position. Payne was playing overseas in Serbia playing for Partizan and the Sixers brought him back to the NBA on a deal.
It has been a slow start for Payne as he's shooting only 4-for-20 from deep over his first five games, but he has been steady on the floor as a ball-handler and has been able to get everybody organized. He has given coach Nick Nurse an option to turn to and feel comfortable as a backup point guard running everything on offense.
"I think, fine," Nurse said at practice on Saturday. "I mean, I think it took him a minute here. I really like him. I really believe in what he brings. He brings some pace. He gets off the ball. He seems to create his own 3s quite a bit, and he just wasn't making any, right? It gets painful. I'm glad he hit one."
With that being said, Payne will eventually find his rhythm again. He is a player who focuses so much on the vibes being good and his ability to produce in stretches. He had to move back across the world and readjust to the Eastern standard time zone and all of the travel and such. Once hie fully adjusts, he'll be fine.
"I don't ever like I'll never get that worried about that," Nurse added. "I think it's reasonable for a guy to come into the league and need a few games to kind of settle back into the speed and size and what's going on. There's a lot coming at you. We obviously changed a lot of stuff from when he was here last. We had to kind of learn a whole bunch of new stuff on top of just getting your body right and getting the rhythm right and all that stuff."
As long as Payne is able to continue running offense and making sure everybody is on the same page and the team finds a groove with him leading the way, then the Sixers will be OK with it. The shooting will eventually come.
"I think he's ready to go," Nurse added. "I think he'll probably—he hit some big shots to keep us clicking the other night, and we'll probably get here pretty soon, one of his big games where he really gets it going."
No. 19 Tennessee (7-3) defeated Arizona State, 5-3, on Saturday in Day 2 of the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas
The Vols led, 4-0, after the second inning after Chris Newstrom hit a two-run double. Henry Ford and Blaine Brown each hit RBI singles in the inning.
The Sun Devils pulled to within, 4-2, in the fourth inning. Arizona Stare also scored one run in the seventh inning.
Tennessee led, 5-3, after the eighth inning after Levi Clark recorded a RBI on a sacrifice fly.
Brown went 2-for-4. He hit one double, recorded one RBI and scored one run, while Ford went 2-for-5 and totaled one RBI.
Newstrom went 1-for-4. He hit one double and recorded two RBIs, while Clark went 1-for-3. He totaled one double and one RBI.
Landon Mack (2-1) started and pitched five innings for the Vols. He allowed two runs, seven hits and one walk. Mack recorded five strikeouts and totaled 93 pitches, including 63 strikes.
Brady Frederick pitched two innings in relief for Tennessee. He allowed one unearned run, one hit and one walk. Frederick recorded one strikeout and totaled 33 pitches, including 19 strikes.
Cam Appenzeller earned his first save of the season after pitching two innings. He allowed one hit and recorded three strikeouts. Appenzeller totaled 29 pitches, including 19 strikes.
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Semenyo Goal Secures 1-0 Victory for Man City at Leeds
Leeds United 0-1 Man City: Title Nerve Holds Firm at Elland Road
Manchester City edged past Leeds United 1-0 in a tense Premier League encounter at Elland Road, a result that tightened the title race and cut Arsenal’s lead at the summit to two points. In a contest defined by resilience and nerve, City found a way, even without their injured talisman Erling Haaland.
For long stretches, Leeds United were the sharper side. Energy surged from the stands and into Daniel Farke’s players, who pressed high and attacked with purpose. Yet when the decisive moment arrived, it belonged to City.
Semenyo Strikes Before Interval
The breakthrough came just before half time. Rayan Ait Nouri fizzed a low delivery into the penalty area and Antoine Semenyo reacted first, stretching to guide the ball home. It was his sixth Premier League goal since arriving from Bournemouth in January, and it carried immense weight.
City had laboured in the early exchanges. Dominic Calvert Lewin spurned a golden opportunity inside four minutes, poking wide from eight yards after connecting with Brenden Aaronson’s cross. The former Everton forward later dragged another effort wide from a difficult angle, unable to add to his tally of ten league goals this season.
Those missed chances lingered. At this level, against a side of City’s pedigree, wastefulness is rarely forgiven.
Photo: IMAGO
Leeds United Pressure Without Reward
Leeds United played with courage and urgency. Aaronson went close again, prodding wide during a frantic first half spell, while James Justin saw an effort smothered by Gianluigi Donnarumma. The crowd sensed vulnerability in City’s ranks, particularly in the absence of Haaland, who missed out through injury.
Nico O’Reilly nearly doubled City’s advantage when he rose to meet a Matheus Nunes cross, only for Karl Darlow to produce a sharp reflex save. Moments later, play paused briefly to allow players observing Ramadan to break their fast, a stoppage met with audible frustration from sections of the home support.
Leeds continued to probe after the interval. Substitute Jaka Bijol headed wide late on as the hosts searched desperately for parity. Effort was abundant, composure less so.
Title Implications in Premier League Race
Victories of this nature often shape Premier League campaigns. Manchester City were second best for periods, yet they departed West Yorkshire with three points. Pep Guardiola’s side remain firmly in contention with ten games remaining, applying fresh pressure on Arsenal ahead of their clash with Chelsea.
The absence of Haaland posed questions, particularly with Nottingham Forest next on the horizon. Guardiola has suggested the Norwegian is not fully fit, leaving uncertainty over his immediate return. In his stead, Semenyo delivered a poacher’s finish that justified City’s investment and highlighted their squad depth.
For Leeds United, frustration mingles with pride. They have now lost six consecutive Premier League matches against Man City, a run that underlines the gulf in ruthlessness. Still, they remain six points clear of the relegation zone, a buffer that may prove decisive in the weeks ahead.
At Elland Road, Leeds United showed heart. Manchester City showed steel. In a title race decided by fine margins, the 1-0 scoreline may carry significance long after the final whistle.
Pep Guardiola says City’s tense 1-0 win away to Leeds United was ‘huge’.
Antoine Semenyo’s first-half goal was enough to give the Blues three points having withstood intense early pressure from the hosts.
And Guardiola believe the victory was massive given Leeds’ resurgence over the past three months.
“A huge victory for us,” said the boss.
“Erling is a massively important player for us, but we behaved really well.
“My idea of the game is that they started well, but we expect it here.
“Leeds are so intense. After that we did what we are good at for the last decade, a thousand million passes, and make the vibe of the crowd a little bit calmer.
“We missed a little bit more intention up front with the movements, but when they got fatigued the last 15 or 20 minutes we had more intention and to pass the ball to try to score a goal - and we found it at the end of the first half.
“We dropped in second half normally, but that didn’t happen today: we were incredibly focused.
“We didn’t create much but we didn’t concede anything.
“It was long balls where we struggled with the second balls.
“It was a little bit more uncomfortable, but we defended really well.”
Jeremiyah Love came into the Scouting Combine as the top running back on most lists of prospects and his 40-yard dash did not do anything to hurt that standing.
Love was clocked at 4.36 seconds in Indianapolis, which was good for the second-fastest among all running backs in Indianapolis. Love ran 199 times for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns at Notre Dame during the regular season.
Mike Washington Jr. of Arkansas posted the fastest time at 4.33 seconds. Wake Forest's Demond Claiborne, Alabama's Jam Miller, and Navy's Eli Heidenreich rounded out the top five. All five backs were part of what was the fastest running back group in Combine history.
Ashton Jeanty was the first back off the board at No. 6 in 2025. We'll find out how high Love's speed helps him rise in April.
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 18: Paul Blackburn #58 of the New York Yankees works out during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 18, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There was sort of a “last day of school” feeling to today’s spring training game against the Blue Jays. The Jays sent the B-team, with split squad action facing the Yankees and Phillies, while a number of Yanks are set to leave the team and join their World Baseball Classic sides as that tournament kicks off late next week. That, plus good outings from our starters made for a brisk Grapefruit League showdown, with the Yankees winning 5-1.
Paul Blackburn is auditioning for one of the swingy bullpen roles, and his stock certainly improved today. It wasn’t exactly the Opening Day lineup for the Blue Jays, but it took Blackburn just 40 pitches to work through four scoreless innings. He leaned heavily on his sinker for five groundouts, although I think Statcast was a little clunky today and pitch movement data is hard to interpret. Still, it’s only spring but today was quite a good showing for a guy that really needs to impress after 2025.
We flew through the first half of the game, with Blackburn’s strong start bettered by José Berríos spinning four no-hit innings. It wouldn’t be until Ryan Jennings took over in the fifth that the Yankees finally broke through:
Like many on the field today, it’s likely José Caballero’s last appearance before traveling to join Panama for the World Baseball Classic, but a solid RBI double was a good way for the presumptive Opening Day starter was a good way to wrap up this phase of camp. Cabby would come around to score on a throwing error a couple batters later, making the score 2-0.
Fernando Cruz nearly gave it all back in the sixth though, allowing a double and pair of walks to load the bases. I’m sure this outing wasn’t quite what the brain trust of the WBC was hoping for, as Cruz will suit up for Puerto Rico starting this week. At least he got a double play to work his way out of danger.
After getting out of trouble, the Yankees continued to club the pitching depth of the Blue Jay system:
Austin Wells will suit up for the Dominican Republic after today, but perhaps more important is getting his offensive game more in line with his 2024 self than 2025. Lots of Yankees have gotten their A-swings off in Grapefruit League play this spring, but few lengthen the lineup as much as Wells can, so good stuff to see.
Speaking of A-swings, someone named Kenedy Corona did this in the seventh:
The Yankees were 2-for-3 on ABS challenges by my count, with the only loss being a frankly obvious ball that Cruz requested a review on. I tend to think that Cruz was simply testing the system out for himself before the games count for real, but if it was an honest challenge, maybe we don’t let him request reviews in the regular season.
The Blue Jays managed a run in the ninth on a play neither I nor play-by-play man Justin Shackil quite understood. Nicholas Torres, playing right field for New York, seemed to lose the ball in the Florida sun and missed a catch he should have made, and good hustle from Jays’ baserunner Carlos Mendoza — no, the other one — meant his club was not going to be shut out.
The Yankees hit the road tomorrow, a quick jaunt to Clearwater to take on the Phillies. Will Warren, who’s shown some flashes of a step forward so far this spring, will get the ball with a 1:05pm Eastern first pitch.
Feb 28, 2026; South Bend, Indiana, USA; NC State Wolfpack forward Ven-Allen Lubin (22) dunks against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first half at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images | Michael Caterina-Imagn Images
Thoughts:
Maybe Coach Wade is too candid to the media about this team? Are they getting discouraged?
Monday night against Duke could get really ugly
THANK GOODNESS WE BEAT UNC
Game Summary:
The first half started well with NC State taking an 11—2 lead, and then Notre Dame’s Cole Certa hit 3 consecutive 3PT shots to cut the score to 13-11. At that point the score stayed close, Notre Dame tied it at 25. NC State shot only 50% (3-6) from the free throw line and was out rebounded 9-15. Quadir Copeland had 6 assists in the half, Ven Lubin led all scoring with 12. The Wolfpack had 7 steals and only 2 turnovers. Sagnia appeared to have injured his leg and was taken to the locker room.
Notre Dame asserted themselves on the boards in the second half while simultaneously NC State went 2-14 from 3PT. The combination kept the Irish close. At the 2:34 mark ND cut it to 81-76 and Coach Wade called a timeout. The Wolfpack then proceeded to miss 3 3PT shots and a 2PT shot. With the score tied at 81, and 12 seconds left, Coach Wade called another timeout. Darrion Williams missed a 3PT shot at the buzzer.
NC State struggled during overtime, shooting 2-11 (18%) and only 1-8 (13%) from 3PT. Notre Dame’s Cole Certa hit 3 3PT shots and the Irish outscored the Wolfpack 15-9.
Teams
eFG%
TO%
OR%
FTR
Wolfpack
53.7%
8.6%
30.8%
32.8%
Notre Dame
62.7%
17.3%
39.4%
47.5%
Overall Takeaways:
NC State is collapsing in the second half of the season, losing 4 of 5.
This is the first game where the combination of Quadir getting 7 or more assists and the team scoring at least 79 was not a winning formula.
The Pack defense let them down, ND shot 53% / 48% / 79%. They could not get a stop when needed.
The Wolfpack had 10 steals and only 6 turnovers
Coach Wade Post Game Comments
NC State head coach Will Wade on the OT loss to Notre Dame:
"We've lost four out of the last five. We've given away, really, two of the last four losses. We were pretty much in control of the game and just gave it away."
NC State head coach Will Wade after Notre Dame loss:
"This is a pretty big indictment on me for not having our guys ready. … They played more desperately than we did. We're fighting for the NCAA Tournament. They're fighting for the ACC tournament. Really disappointing."
That Jeremiyah Love ran a 40-yard dash at all at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis came as a pleasant surprise to many.
The Notre Dame running back had little incentive to do so, given that he is widely expected to be a top-10 pick in April's NFL draft. And he hardly would have been alone in abstaining, with just 10 of the 21 ball carriers who attended the combine participating in the drill.
So when Love reeled off a 4.36-second time on Saturday that ranked second among all running backs, trailing only Arkansas' Mike Washington Jr., almost no one could have called it a letdown – except Love himself.
"A little bit disappointing," Love said in an interview with NFL Network's Stacey Dales when asked about his mark. "I wanted to run like a 4.2. Didn't get there, but 4.3 is good. I'm OK with it. Wanted better, but 4.3 is just fine with me."
.@NDFootball RB Jeremiyah Love followed it up with a 4.36u on his second run.@MoveTheSticks' second overall prospect is showing off out there.
Perhaps the only other person on hand not enthusiastic about how Love's run went: the running back's dad, Jason. Cameras caught him in the crowd shaking his head after Love's first attempt of 4.37 seconds, though he was more enthusiastic after the follow-up.
"He's never satisfied, just like me," Love said with a laugh. "He knows my potential."
Added Love: "I honestly believe I could have run a 4.2, but I'm like 214 (pounds) right now. I gotta drop a little bit in weight."
Love, however, won't chase that mark at Notre Dame's pro day on March 27. The ball carrier won't participate in any testing or drills in South Bend, Indiana, though he does plan to be on hand to support his fellow teammates in the draft, including backfield mate Jadarian Price.
PALM BEACH GARDENS – Shane Lowry knows nobody is owed anything in golf. The luck of the Irish is an idiom, not a promise.
Still, if anyone deserves to win the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches, it’s the once-burly Irishman. He has had three top-five finishes at PGA National in the last four years, including a heartbreaking runner-up finish to Sepp Straka in 2022 when a thunderstorm struck while Lowry was playing the 18th hole.
Lowry gave himself another opportunity to win – or come close – in the Cognizant with an 8-under 63 Saturday in benign conditions on the Champion course to share the third-round lead with Austin Smotherman (69) at 13-under 200.
“You don’t get everything you deserve in this game,” Lowry said. “I’ve had plenty of chances to win this tournament, and (Sunday) will be another one. I feel like I’m going to win this tournament at least once by the end of my career.”
PGA Tour officials made the astute decision to move tee times to the morning because of a bad forecast, and it was as accurate as Lowry’s putter. Nine minutes after play ended at 2:25 p.m. with Smotherman making birdie at 18 to tie Lowry, play would have been stopped because of an approaching storm.
The early play came with almost no wind, and the players pounced. There were 11 scores of 66 or lower and the field scoring average of 68.84 was almost three shots lower than the first two rounds.
Even the Bear Trap lost its teeth. The three-hole stretch from the 15th to 17th holes actually played collectively under par as what little wind was there was helping the players.
Lowry birdied six of his first 10 holes and closed with birdies on 17 and 18 to cap off his 63. Lowry will be trying to win his first PGA Tour title since the 2019 British Open (he paired with Rory McIlroy to win a team event in New Orleans in 2024).
“I needed to get off to a good start,” said Lowry, who started the day six shots behind Smotherman. “Then I started hitting the ball really well and giving myself lots of chances and converted a few. It was just a really nice, solid round of golf. Birdieing the last two was kind of the icing on the cake.”
It won’t be a Sunday stroll for Lowry. Four players are within a shot of the lead.
Smotherman may have three less PGA Tour titles and a major than Lowry, but the 31-year-old has shown grit with consecutive 69s after an opening 62. Smotherman also birdied the last two holes to get into the final pairing.
“Most excited for tomorrow,” said Smotherman, who’s playing in his 82nd PGA Tour event. “Hitting golf shots in front of all these fans and hearing people yelling your name and refocusing and trying to do it again the next shot, I think it's a fun challenge. I feel like I am ready.”
Nico Echavarria (66) and Taylor Moore (67) are tied for third, a shot behind the leaders. Both players have won on the PGA Tour and will be playing in the group in front of the leaders.
“Being one back, if you would tell me this on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, I would take it,” Echavarria said.
Jimmy Stanger (65) is alone in fifth at 11-under, a shot ahead of Ricky Castillo (64) and A.J. Ewart (68). There are 11 players within five shots of the lead.
A major factor in the final round will be the wind coming from an opposite direction (the north) than Saturday. That will make the Bear Trap much tougher to navigate.
“They were playing downwind today, so you know it's an 8-iron on 15, it's 3-iron, 9-iron on 16; and it's a pitching wedge on 17,” Lowry said. “If the wind turns around and all of a sudden you're hitting 6-iron, 6-iron and 6-iron on those three holes, it becomes automatically two or three shots harder.”
Brooks Koepka, a five-time major champion, had a 2-under 69 to move to 4-under, tied for 32nd. He ranked 15th in Strokes Gained: Putting, a good sign as he continues his return from LIV Golf.
“Today was by far the worst I hit it,” the West Palm Beach resident said. “The putter is starting to feel better. I’m excited about the way things are trending and I’m happy to be playing more golf.”
PALM BEACH GARDENS – Shane Lowry knows nobody is owed anything in golf. The luck of the Irish is an idiom, not a promise.
Still, if anyone deserves to win the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches, it’s the once-burly Irishman. He has had three top-five finishes at PGA National in the last four years, including a heartbreaking runner-up finish to Sepp Straka in 2022 when a thunderstorm struck while Lowry was playing the 18th hole.
Lowry gave himself another opportunity to win – or come close – in the Cognizant with an 8-under 63 Saturday in benign conditions on the Champion course to share the third-round lead with Austin Smotherman (69) at 13-under 200.
“You don’t get everything you deserve in this game,” Lowry said. “I’ve had plenty of chances to win this tournament, and (Sunday) will be another one. I feel like I’m going to win this tournament at least once by the end of my career.”
PGA Tour officials made the astute decision to move tee times to the morning because of a bad forecast, and it was as accurate as Lowry’s putter. Nine minutes after play ended at 2:25 p.m. with Smotherman making birdie at 18 to tie Lowry, play would have been stopped because of an approaching storm.
The early play came with almost no wind, and the players pounced. There were 11 scores of 66 or lower and the field scoring average of 68.84 was almost three shots lower than the first two rounds.
Even the Bear Trap lost its teeth. The three-hole stretch from the 15th to 17th holes actually played collectively under par as what little wind was there was helping the players.
Lowry birdied six of his first 10 holes and closed with birdies on 17 and 18 to cap off his 63. Lowry will be trying to win his first PGA Tour title since the 2019 British Open (he paired with Rory McIlroy to win a team event in New Orleans in 2024).
“I needed to get off to a good start,” said Lowry, who started the day six shots behind Smotherman. “Then I started hitting the ball really well and giving myself lots of chances and converted a few. It was just a really nice, solid round of golf. Birdieing the last two was kind of the icing on the cake.”
It won’t be a Sunday stroll for Lowry. Four players are within a shot of the lead.
Smotherman may have three less PGA Tour titles and a major than Lowry, but the 31-year-old has shown grit with consecutive 69s after an opening 62. Smotherman also birdied the last two holes to get into the final pairing.
“Most excited for tomorrow,” said Smotherman, who’s playing in his 82nd PGA Tour event. “Hitting golf shots in front of all these fans and hearing people yelling your name and refocusing and trying to do it again the next shot, I think it's a fun challenge. I feel like I am ready.”
Nico Echavarria (66) and Taylor Moore (67) are tied for third, a shot behind the leaders. Both players have won on the PGA Tour and will be playing in the group in front of the leaders.
“Being one back, if you would tell me this on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, I would take it,” Echavarria said.
Jimmy Stanger (65) is alone in fifth at 11-under, a shot ahead of Ricky Castillo (64) and A.J. Ewart (68). There are 11 players within five shots of the lead.
A major factor in the final round will be the wind coming from an opposite direction (the north) than Saturday. That will make the Bear Trap much tougher to navigate.
“They were playing downwind today, so you know it's an 8-iron on 15, it's 3-iron, 9-iron on 16; and it's a pitching wedge on 17,” Lowry said. “If the wind turns around and all of a sudden you're hitting 6-iron, 6-iron and 6-iron on those three holes, it becomes automatically two or three shots harder.”
Brooks Koepka, a five-time major champion, had a 2-under 69 to move to 4-under, tied for 32nd. He ranked 15th in Strokes Gained: Putting, a good sign as he continues his return from LIV Golf.
“Today was by far the worst I hit it,” the West Palm Beach resident said. “The putter is starting to feel better. I’m excited about the way things are trending and I’m happy to be playing more golf.”
No. 1 Duke clinched a share of the ACC men's basketball regular season title with a dominant 77-51 win over Virginia on Saturday.
The victory also likely clinches a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament for the 27-2 Blue Devils, who finish the regular season with matchups at NC State and No. 18 North Carolina at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Duke could conceivably share the ACC regular season title with Virginia if it lost those final two games.
However, star freshman Cameron Boozer indicated that his team is not interested in a split championship, saying after the win, "We don't like to share."
A win in either of Duke's final two games will clinch the outright championship. The Blue Devils will be the No. 1 seed in the ACC men's basketball tournament, which begins March 10.
Isaiah Evans led Duke with 19 points, shooting 5-of-9 on 3-point attempts. Boozer followed with 18 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists as the Blue Devils won their sixth consecutive game and 16th in their past 17 contests.
Thijs De Ridder was the only Virginia player to score in double figures with 16 points. Chance Mallory added nine points off the bench for the Cavaliers, who fell to 13-3 in the ACC (and 25-4) with the defeat. A tough Duke defense held Virginia to just 16-for-55 shooting.
The Cavaliers end their first regular season under head coach Ryan Odom with home games versus Wake Forest (5-10 ACC) and Virginia Tech (7-8).
Duke moved up to No. 1 in this week's AP Top 25 poll after a 68-63 win over previously top-ranked Michigan last Saturday on a neutral court in Washington, D.C. Prior to defeating the Wolverines, the Blue Devils were the No. 2 team among the top 16 released by the NCAA tournament selection committee.
Joining Duke and Michigan (27-2) in the top four of those rankings were Arizona (26-2) and Iowa State (24-4). Houston (24-5) is also in position to seize a No. 1 NCAA tournament seed, though it came in at No. 6 in the committee's rankings.
Former Florida edge defender George Gumbs Jr. was one of the surprise invites to the NFL combine this year, but he put on a show that many NFL teams will remember when picking in the late rounds of the draft in April.
Gumbs' 6.14 grade ranks 20th at his position, but his measurables weren't anything to scoff at. His 41-inch vertical jump is the second-best among defensive ends and edge defenders all time, coming half an inch shy of Nolan Smith's 2023 record.
While a 4.66-second 40-yard dash isn't anything too special, he was one of only two participants in the 3-cone drill at his position. His 7-second time showed off his short-burst ability.
NFL NextGen Stats gave Gumbs a production score of 58, which ranks 32nd among defensive ends and edge defenders, but his athleticism score of 75 ranks eighth. Combining the two, his total score of 63 ranks 26th.
Although he entered the combine as a projected undrafted free agent, Gumbs may have shown enough to warrant a Day 3 pick. His ceiling is high, and he's coachable as an edge rusher. Remember, Gumbs started his college career as a walk-on wideout at Northern Illinois, so there's still plenty to learn for him to reach his full potential.
George Gumbs Jr. Combine Results
40-yard dash: 4.66 seconds (9th among DEs)
10-yard split: 1.67 seconds (T-15th)
Vertical jump: 41 inches (1st; T-2nd all-time among DEs)
Broad jump: 10 feet 1 inches (8th)
3-cone drill: 7 seconds (2nd; only two DEs participated)
Gumbs did not participate in the 20-yard shuttle or bench press.
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Dortmund, Germany - February 28: Nico Schlotterbeck of Borussia Dortmund and Josip Stanisic of Bayern Muenchen battle for the ball during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern München at Signal Iduna Park on February 28, 2026 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images) | DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Bayern Munich won an exhilarating fixture against Borussia Dortmund in a 3-2 win. The game was full to the brim with intensity with players not pulling any punches. Dortmund’s defender Nico Schlotterbeck fouled Bayern’s Stanišić in a sliding tackle, rattling the right back. Despite the ref adjudging the foul to be worthy of only a yellow card, the offender himself believes he could have been sent off.
Speaking post another high voltage Der Klassiker match, Dortmund’s Schlotterbeck admitted the severity of his foul on Bayern’s Josip Stanišić . “I think you could give a red card for that. I got a bit lucky,” he said (via Sky Germany as captured by @iMiaSanMia).
Very physical game
This game was charged from start to finish. Every player was sparing no opportunity to miss even a half chances. The runs and challenges were committed resulting in a very physical duel between the two sides.
Coming in the 18th minute, Schlotti did not hold back and went all in with a sliding challenge. Schlotterbeck’s foot was quite high going into the challenge as his heel made contact with the ball before his foot crashed into Stanišić‘s shin. While the defender did manage to contact the ball before crashing into Stanišić’s shin, the force of the challenge and the potential damage were important factors that would determine the nature of the foul.
Reluctant ref
The referee Sven Jablonksi was reluctant to book any player allowing the intensity to remain high for most of the game. However, both sides were vigorous into the challenges and this instance was one where it crossed the line. Luckily, Stanišić walked away with no major damage relieving Bayern from further distress due to injuries.
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…
Report: Liverpool sell winger to clear path for sensational wonderkid
Liverpool have cleared the path of a sensational wonderkid by selling a winger.
Liverpool sanctioned the surprise exit of Trent Kone-Doherty this week. He’s joined Molde in Norway in a permanent deal - something that really has come out of nowhere.
The Irishman was rumoured to be signing a new contract before heading out on loan. Kone-Doherty simply didn’t look like someone that Liverpool were ready to give up on, in all truth.
While his chances of making it to Liverpool’s first-team were slim, they weren’t zero. At the very least, a loan move felt like the most-likely option as something that could dramatically increase his value before a sale.
Instead, Kone-Doherty has left in what could end up being a fantastic move for him. And one that should have positive effects at Liverpool, too.
Josh Abe is the future
The Liverpool Echo reports that one of the principal reasons for Kone-Doherty's sale was the clear a path for Josh Abe. Abe is the latest kid coming through the academy with an enormous amount of hype.
Liverpool certainly feel as though he's got all the potential to become a first-team star. Of course, that only happens if he has the chance to move up through the system and get games where he needs it.
Thus moving on someone like Kone-Doherty allows for Abe to get those games. The overall hope here is that everyone benefits - Kone-Doherty gets first-team football at a great level with Molde, whole Liverpool can focus their development on Abe.
It’s fair to say the Ghana international has enjoyed life at City, slotting in like a perfect piece to the puzzle in Pep Guardiola’s attack.
The crucial win over Leeds United saw his latest goal added to an impressive tally (15 in 41 appearances) and he says the psyche at City is at another level.
“Yeah I’ve definitely seen [a difference in mentality],” Semenyo said.
“It starts in training every day. Little habits - passing drills, possession.
“It’s the attention to detail, everyone’s focused. It’s not lacking. When you do that in training it follows into games and everyone just wants to win.
“Everyone’s just major focused, and that shift in mentality is so crazy. Little things and making sure you’re in tip-top shape.”
After scoring the only goal of the game, Semenyo pulled out an interesting celebration as he performed the air guitar and explained the reason why he chose it.
“A few friends said I should do something funny, so it’s the first thing that came up in my head,” he added.
“Nice guitar, good performance, crowd loved it and that’s it.”
The vital three points saw us close in on league leaders Arsenal, reducing the gap to two points before the Gunners face Chelsea on Sunday.
The Blues sit on 59 points with a game in hand over the Gunners. We are also now eight points clear of third placed Aston Villa.
“It means everything [to close the gap]. We just want to win all our games on our side and whatever Arsenal do we’ll have to wait and see.
Some 500 Bayern Munich fans boycott Bundesliga match against Borussia Dortmund in protest of police treatment
Both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund fans engaged in joint protests during Saturday evening’s Bundesliga “Top-Spiel” after what they claim was excessive force applied by police officers outside the stadium. Support in the Bayern visitors block was noticeably thin during the match. Broadcast cameras confirmed that the section was not full. Moreover, vocal support for the visiting team was noticeably lacking.
The reasons for the lack of Bayern attendees
Sky Germany reports that approximately 500 Bayern fans declined to enter the stadium in protest of police actions outside the BVB venue. Sport Bild and the Münchener Abendzeitung have received reports from FCB ultras that Dortmund police used batons and pepper spray against Bayern supporters.
Kicker and other German media sources have been told by the police that action was taken against 30 Bayern fans attempting to enter the grounds with suspicious tickets that appeared to be forged. Dortmund police told the Deutsche Presse-Agentur that no violent action was taken against the fans.
Dortmund and Bayern Ultras show solidarity
Bayern fans in the visitors block unveiled a banner reading “Freedom for all football fans” at one point in the match. This earned a round of applause from the BVB Kurve. Dortmund Ultras then unveiled their own “Freedom for all visiting fans in Dortmund”, which in turn elicited applause from the FCB block.
Could Iran’s World Cup 2026 place be at risk? FIFA respond
Governing body addresses growing security concerns
Could Iran’s World Cup 2026 place be at risk? FIFA respond
FIFA said Iran’s World Cup 2026 status is under review as security concerns grow while the focus remains on safe tournament for all teams.
FIFA responds to Iran concerns
The FIFA confirmed that the situation surrounding Iran will remain under close monitoring ahead of FIFA World Cup.
Uncertainty has increased following the ongoing conflict involving Iran raising questions about the team’s participation in the tournament which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico in the summer of 2026.
FIFA: “Everyone will be Safe”
Speaking during FIFA’s annual general assembly in Wales, FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom addressed the issue.
In comments reported by ESPN, Grafstrom said FIFA is aware of the latest developments but stressed that it is too early to make detailed statements.
He confirmed that meetings have already taken place and that FIFA is following global events closely.
Grafstrom added that the World Cup draw was held in Washington with all qualified teams included and that FIFA’s main priority is to deliver safe World Cup with all teams present.
He also said FIFA will continue its regular communication with the three host governments to ensure security for everyone involved.
No decision yet, but alternatives possible
So far, there has been no official announcement about Iran withdrawing or being excluded from the tournament. However with the World Cup set to begin in around three months, FIFA is expected to prepare contingency plans in case the situation changes.
According to FIFA regulations, if a team withdraws before the start of the World Cup, it can be replaced.
The replacement is usually chosen based on qualification rankings and in most cases, FIFA looks first to teams from the same confederation although the final decision rests with FIFA.
Group and match schedule
Iran were drawn in Group G, alongside Egypt, Belgium and New Zealand.
Under the current schedule, Iran are set to open their campaign against New Zealand, then face Belgium before closing the group stage against Egypt in second half of June 2026.
Two of Iran’s matches are planned to be played in Los Angeles while the game against Egypt is scheduled for 26 June in Seattle.
DORTMUND, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 28: Joshua Kimmich of Bayern Munchen celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern Munchen at Signal Iduna Park on February 28, 2026 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Bayern Munich travelled to the Signal Iduna Park to play Borussia Dortmund and didn’t expect the home side to actually give them a game. A fierce battle followed which was won by Bayern with a 3-2 win thanks to two goals from Harry Kane and a late winner from Joshua Kimmich.
Speaking after the game, Kimmich confirms the 11-point gap to Dortmund and declares that the Bavarians will not give it up anymore (Sky Sports as captured by X account @iMiaSanMia). The Rekordmeister has a relatively safe run of league fixtures until the end of the season so wrapping up the title should be more doable.
The Bundesliga isn’t the only thing Bayern wants this season. The club is still in the DFB-Pokal (against Bayer Leverkusen, which is basically the German version of Real Madrid-Manchester City) and got drawn against Atalanta (who knocked out Dortmund in the playoff rounds for the Champions League round of 16).
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…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Mark Mitchell scored 17 points and Shawn Phillips Jr. scored 16 points and Missouri walloped Mississippi State 88-64 on Saturday.
Reserve Anthony Robinson II scored 13 points, Trent Pierce scored 10 and Jayden Stone grabbed 10 rebounds for the Tigers (20-9, 10-6 SEC).
Missouri led 54-23 at halftime on the strength of 61.3% (19 for 31) shooting. The Tigers finished shooting 51% (30 for 59).
Josh Hubbard scored 16 points and Quincy Ballard scored 12 points for Mississippi State (13-16, 5-11).
Missouri started with a 9-0 lead and never looked back. Trent Burns' 3-pointer with 13:49 remaining before halftime and they led by double digits for the remainder.
Mitchell's layup with 9:14 before the break made it 30-10. T.O Barrett made two foul shots with 2:07 left in the half and the lead was 50-19.
Missouri has won three of its last four which included wins over then 19th-ranked Vanderbilt and 22nd-ranked Tennessee.
Up Next
Missouri: Will try to end its three-game losing streak at Oklahoma on Tuesday.
Mississippi State: Travels to face seventh-ranked Florida on Tuesday.
Given his importance to this City side, it was obviously a burning issue as to why one of their best players was not ready to return having initially recovered from the more serious knee problem.
Rodri (left) is back to his best for Manchester City (REUTERS)
Depending on his mood, Guardiola would either give a brief response of “not yet” when asked when the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner was ready. On occasion, he would open up on the necessity to ensure he was fully ready for the intensity of Premier League football on a weekly basis with European action in between.
There was a sense that the City manager wanted to make sure Rodri was primed for this part of the season in particular. This is the time when the title race really starts and the knockout stages of the Champions League come around.
So while there was surprise at the omission of Erling Haaland for City for this trip to Leeds and Elland Road where the City striker’s father once played, it was also an evening to remind us that the Norwegian front man is far from the only key figure in this team.
Obviously given it was a victory by the narrowest of margins, City won’t want the league top scorer’s “knock in training” to be anything serious.
However, the fact it was his replacement in Rayan Cherki who played the pass which unpicked the lock on the resolute Leeds defence in the lead up to January signing Antoine Semenyo’s match-winning goal shows Guardiola his attacking players can step up in different ways to fill the void.
Antoine Semenyo scored the winner for Manchester City (Getty Images)
Can anyone really replace Rodri? This was another performance from the defensive midfielder which suggests it would be more difficult to step in his shoes than Haaland’s.
At the final whistle here, Rodri dropped to the floor in exhaustion after his efforts against an energetic Leeds team battling to avoid relegation. He turned onto his back, looked up the sky and gave a small celebration.
There was chaos all around him at that point. Guardiola had offered the Leeds fans a sarcastic wave as he walked onto the pitch after enduring an evening of being called – in his words - a “w****er" during the game while Bernardo Silva and Jayden Bogle clashed as tempers threatened to boil over. Leeds manager Daniel Farke was also shown a red card for his anger at the officials at the end.
Daniel Farke was shown a red card by referee Peter Bankes (REUTERS)
It was fitting Rodri was not really involved in all the kerfuffle as he had been the calming influence throughout the 90 minutes which proceeded it.
He was superb on the ball with only 10 of his 119 passes were misplaced. More than half of them were in the opposition half as he tried to help break through the white wall of Leeds players. Guardiola said the passing was crucial to moving the home side around and helping to tire them.
“What a player Rodri is,” said Guardiola. “We missed him a lot. Step by step he’s coming back.”
When City came under pressure, and there were too many times for Guardiola and the travelling support to be comfortable with, it was often an interception from Rodri or a pass out from the Spain international which relieved the visitors.
Pep Guardiola attempted to defuse tensions at full time (Getty Images)
In stoppage time, it was his sneakiness which saw him deflate Leeds’ hope of a late equaliser. He stepped in front of Gabriel Gudmundsson in his own area and drew the foul. Soft? You bet it was but it is such shrewdness of a serial trophy winner which is crucial in tight games like these when chasing big honours.
City have lost just one league game since Rodri’s full return at the turn of the year. That was a dismal display against rivals United at Old Trafford but they’ve now won five of their last six without defeat.
That has helped move them two points behind leaders Arsenal and Rodri is a big reason for such form as he continues to get back up to the pace.
Obviously spending a healthy sum - £62.5m - on Semenyo last month also helped. The former Bournemouth attacker got his fourth goal in seven league appearances for his new club.
Antoine Semenyo has proved an excellent January igning (PA Wire)
It came in the second minute of first-half stoppage time when Rayan Ait-Nouri crossed, but it was all about Cherki’s clever pass which put the City full-back in space inside the Leeds area.
Of course, if Dominic Calvert-Lewin had taken an early chance or if Jaka Bijol’s late header did not just creep wide, it could have been a different outcome.
But City came through a tough evening amid a hostile atmosphere created by the Leeds fans, some of whom disgraced themselves by booing and jeering in the first half when the game was momentarily stopped for Muslim players to break their Ramadan fast.
“It’s the modern world, right?” added Guardiola. “You know what happened in the world again today? Respect religion, respect diversity. That is the point. The Premier League said you can have one or two minutes. It is what it is, unfortunately.”
Guardiola’s words hit the right tone at a time of turbulence in the world. Rodri’s performance - in the less important sporting sphere - was also spot on.
DORTMUND, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 28: Jonathan Tah of FC Bayern Muenchen celebrates in front of the fans following the team's victory in the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern München at Signal Iduna Park on February 28, 2026 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by S. Mellar/FC Bayern via Getty Images) | FC Bayern via Getty Images
The importance of Der Klassiker cannot be understated. The Clash of the Titans, if you may, of German football happens to be the face-off between the two most decorated teams of the Bundesliga. Every year the title race is decided by whether Bayern Munich manage to win against Borussia Dortmund and the game becomes even more special if it is away at the Signal Iduna Park. Away games at Dortmund are always difficult and every win there hence becomes a well-deserved one.
No one understands this better than Jonathan Tah, who strongly emphasizes that the win was deserved. In an interview following Bayern’s 3-2 win, Tah praised the game’s intensity. “We obviously knew it was a very important game. It was an intense match, with both teams giving their all on the pitch,” the former Leverkusen man said, per @iMiaSanMia.
“In the end, it all came down to mentality and team spirit. We showed that team spirit on the pitch today, and we kept pushing until the end,” he added, citing the role team spirit played against Dortmund. It is particularly noteworthy that both Tah and his companion Dayot Upamecano had a very solid game and held the defense together for the most part. It is perhaps fitting that he spoke on team spirit — for he exemplified it.
“I think it (the win) was deserved,” he declared.
What do you think of Tah’s performance from tonight? Let us know in the comments!
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…
DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Harry Kane is targeting Robert Lewandowski’s Bundesliga record of 41 goals in a season after notching another two in Bayern Munich’s 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.
It was the fourth straight game he scored two goals or more and it took his league tally to 30 from 24 rounds so far.
“For sure,” the England star replied when asked if he was going for Lewandowski’s record from 2020-21. “I’ve got to keep doing what I’m doing.”
Kane scored another penalty on Saturday to make it 10 successful spot kicks in the league. Across all competitions this season, the 32-year-old Kane has 45 goals in 37 appearances for Bayern.
“There’s still a lot of games to play,” Kane said of attacking the record in the remaining 10 rounds. “I need to try and be consistent over that period. We’ll see from late April, start of May, if it’s possible. But of course, right now it’s just there and I just got to do what I do.”
Kane recently celebrated 500 goals for club and country.
Lewandowski, who was also playing for Bayern, broke Gerd Müller's record from the 1971-72 season by scoring in the last minute of the last game in May 2021.
Kane said he didn’t think the Bundesliga title race was over with Bayern 11 points clear of Dortmund at the top.
“We had an 11-point lead a few weeks ago and we saw how quickly it can change within two results," he said. "So we have to stay focused."
In 2025, the ACC Jacobs Blocking Trophy went to Francis Mauigoa, the University of Miami's Consensus All-American, who also claimed a First-Team All-ACC mention after being named to the 2024 All-ACC Second Team. The Ravens have a massive need at the offensive guard position, and the team prefers to retool in the NFL draft, bypassing free agency unless a big swing occurs. Baltimore has needs at the edge rusher, wide receiver, and offensive guard spots, and one of the best players in the draft could fall into Eric DeCosta's lap.
"They have all talked to me about, like, how do I feel if I move to guard? And it's the same thing (each meeting)," Mauigoa said.
"Like I told the guys, there are five positions. I'll make sure I take one of them," he said. "I mean, I play right tackle. It would be cool if I stay at tackle, but if guard is the way I get into the game, I'm gonna give it my all."
Mauigoa started 42 games at offensive tackle for the Hurricanes, but any questions about his athletic ability could allow one of the best players in America to fill a huge void for Baltimore head coach Jesse Minter. Looking to put his best foot forward last spring, Mauigoa asked Miami offensive line coach Alex Mirabal to give him some reps at guard in practice last season as a way to prepare for a potential move at the next level.
The top tier of the 2026 NFL Draft quarterbacks is already largely known. Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson are largely expected to be the top passers off the board in April, with Mendoza as the likely No. 1 overall pick and Simpson as a late-first or early-second rounder.
However, beyond those two, there has been some potential room for a quarterback to move up draft boards. Garrett Nussmeier, Carson Beck, Cade Klubnik and Drew Allar are expected to be mid-round options — but with his performance at the NFL Combine, Taylen Green could also be building a case to be selected above his initial late-round projection.
Green, coming out of Arkansas, set two new quarterback records at the combine with his massive jumps, then put up a blazing-fast 40 time for a passer. He showcased some elite athleticism while already being considered one of the better dual-threat options in the class.
Here's a look at Green's historic combine performance.
The former Razorbacks quarterback had an outstanding performance in the 40-yard dash, one of the fastest times ever recorded by a player at his position at the NFL Combine.
Green posted an unofficial 4.37 on his first run — which would be the third-fastest combine time ever by a quarterback.
Green didn't quite make quarterback history at the combine, but he came pretty close. Counting only quarterbacks who ran the 40 at the NFL Combine and not a pro day — which removes Lamar Jackson's 4.34 at his Louisville Pro Day, among others — Green's time was the third-fastest ever recorded by a passer.
Vick had a 4.33 at the combine coming out of Virginia Tech in 2001, while Reggie Neal posted a 4.35 in 2006. Vick's 4.33 isn't included in the NFL's official combine record book, which is only fully reliable going back to 2005, so the league now has Green as the second-fastest quarterback time ever behind Neal.
Here's a look at the NFL Combine's fastest quarterback 40-yard dashes:
Before he ran in the 40, Green was already making a name for himself. In the broad jump, he set a new NFL Combine quarterback record with a 11'2'', which surpassed Anthony Richardson's mark of 10'9'' in 2023.
Green's unreal performance for a quarterback left NFL Network without many physical comps among former passers — so it resorted to one of the largest wide receivers ever in the league, the Pittsburgh Steelers' D.K. Metcalf.
Green is a bit taller and lighter than Metcalf was at the combine, and Metcalf was slightly faster, but the two had fairly comparable numbers.
Green was officially recorded at 6-foot-6 and 227 pounds at the 2026 NFL Combine.
The average NFL quarterback is typically around 6-foot-2, so Green is already trending to become one of the larger passers in the league.
Taylen Green NFL Draft projection
One thing's for sure — Green participating in the combine will only help his draft stock.
NFL Mock Draft Database, which complies average rankings from media outlets everywhere, has Green currently as the No. 193 overall player and No. 8 quarterback in the draft, which puts him in range to be a sixth-round pick.
In his NFL.com prospect profile, Green was given a grade of 6.15, which is in the "good backup with the potential to develop into starter" range. It's unlikely he skyrockets into the first or second round due to his combine performance, but it is certainly possible a team takes a shot on Green in one of the middle rounds, aiming to develop him into a strong dual-threat passer.
NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein wrote that Green is a "long, rangy, dual-threat quarterback with upside" but "his ceiling will only track with his growth as a passer." While his size and athleticism are considered rare at quarterback, it's Green's pocket-passing, processing and other key quarterback areas that likely need improvement to become an NFL starter.
Regardless, Green had a historic combine — the kind that hasn't been seen by a quarterback since Richardson in 2023.
Taylen Green has broken TWO quarterback records at the NFL Combine 🤯
DORTMUND, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 28: Harry Kane of FC Bayern Munich celebrates victory after the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern München at Signal Iduna Park on February 28, 2026 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In what was an extremely scrappy but thrilling fixture, Bayern Munich barely edged past an in-form Borussia Dortmund to win 3-2 in Signal Iduna Park. The game was set to be a thriller from the very start, with Bayern pouncing on balls, threatening Gregor Kobel and keeping Dortmund on their toes.
However, in the instances that their visitors faltered, Dortmund were lethal and sure to remind the opposition of their capacity and their home strength. The two goals from Dortmund, though fantastic, were not enough to hold off Bayern and their talisman Harry Kane, who scored a brace to bring Bayern closer to the win. A final goal from Joshua Kimmich sealed the deal for Bayern and they now hold a 11-point margin over Dortmund in the title race.
Following the victory, Kane spoke on the importance of this win and expressed his delight in the game.
“It’s a huge win for us in this title race,” the striker said, per @iMiaSanMia.
“We managed to come back from behind, we played our game and knew they would be tired after playing midweek,” he said, referring to Dortmund’s midweek game against Atalanta.
“We never gave up. It’s really special to come and win here. We can be proud of this win,” he declared.
The game truly was a testament of Bayern’s resilience and even if not one of their more picturesque wins, is certainly one to remember. This was not only crucial for the title race, but also to cement the team’s confidence, especially in the midst of an injury crisis.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
The left wing-back has been on exceptional form so far this season, with a series of goals and assists, but this was still a highlight.
Dimarco delights San Siro with perfect volley
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 28: Federico Dimarco of FC Internazionale scores their team’s first goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Genoa CFC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
He started the move down the left, and ran into the area ready to meet the Henrikh Mkhitaryan dinked return pass.
Despite the angle being so tight, the Italian still managed to thread his left-foot volley through the eye of a needle between Justin Bijlow and the far post.
This means the 28-year-old currently has seven goals and 15 assists in 35 competitive appearances for Inter this term.
“He doesn’t score ugly goals” 😂
Federico Dimarco with an absolute stunner to FIRE Inter in front 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Y30Umefciu
Nolito admits ‘huge egos’ divided Pep Guardiola’s early Manchester City squad
Former Manchester City and Spain winger Nolito has claimed that there were “huge egos” in the Premier League side’s dressing room and that his spell at the club was a time to forget.
Nolito, 39, was one of the first signings Pep Guardiola made when he joined the club in 2016. A tally of six goals and five assists made for a semi-successful time in the north-west before he departed the following summer.
His time at the Etihad Stadium can be described as one of two halves and although he enjoyed a remarkable start on the wing for the Premier League side, it was not enough to keep him under Guardiola’s wing given he struggled to adapt to life in England.
Following his departure, he joined La Liga side Sevilla before spells at Celta Vigo and UD Ibiza preceded his retirement in 2023. From the end of his playing days, the former forward has been open about his time in Manchester and admitted that there were many problems inside the dressing room.
Speaking on the El After de Post United podcast, Nolito said: “Some players had huge egos. We’d all take a shower and then everyone would leave immediately. It wasn’t a very close-knit locker room,” as relayed by Sport Witness.
“But anyway, I was always with the Spanish guys, with (David) Silva or (Jesus) Navas – and we shared a lot in the locker room.
“There were so many good players that I noticed there were a lot of egos. I saw a lot of things but I prefer not to say anything. I think ego is a societal problem today.”
Nolito failed to win a trophy under Guardiola and earned 16 caps for Spain during the entirety of his career, which spanned over 500 games across nine clubs – but the opportunity was there for him to experience at least some of the success that the club have achieved over the past decade.
High-level competition meant that playing time was hard to come by for Nolito, especially because Guardiola has always held extremely high standards since he joined the club in 2016.
The winger’s bid for minutes slipped further from his grip when Gabriel Jesus joined the club at the end of 2016 and impressed instantly to become one of the most prolific wonderkids in Premier League history.
“At the beginning, I played a lot, then less,” Nolito added. “Ultimately, these are top-level teams and the competition was tough. I didn’t adapt well because I don’t play. Perhaps the Premier League is a bit faster, you get more playing time, there are fewer fouls. But I still prefer La Liga, without a doubt.”
City’s hunger for success has only increased since the day Guardiola’s joined the club and although ego can be viewed as arrogance and conceit, perhaps that is why the club’s stature has become that of one of the best teams of the modern era.
The LSU Tigers have become the talk of college football and other athletics with their notable alumni, but Livvy Dunne continues to dominate even after she graduated from the Baton Rouge powerhouse.
The former gymnastics star may be off on her own now as a social media icon, but she’s still finding ways to come back to LSU and keep the athletic program in the spotlight. That includes a recent viral video with LSU football head coach Lane Kiffin.
Livvy Dunne and Kiffin were spotted at a recent LSU gymnastics meet together. However, then came a popular TikTok video that featured both prominent Tigers figures as Kiffin gears up for his first season coaching the SEC team.
Kiffin has certainly been a contentious figure in SEC circles since abruptly leaving Ole Miss to take the LSU job. However, one easy way to amplify his image in Louisiana is surely to be seen hanging around Dunne.
The 23 year old has become a fan favorite for her own sporting accolades, as well as her relationship with MLB star Paul Skenes. The Pittsburgh Pirates ace also went to LSU, where the dynamic duo ended up meeting.
MLB pitcher Paul Skenes and social media influencer Livvy Dunne pose before the 2025 MLB All Star Game. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Kiffin has been spotted at many LSU sporting events since being hired as the next football coach. However, he’ll need to succeed on the field in order to win over Tigers fans after a brutal 2025 season that saw Brian Kelly get fired.
ELLAND ROAD, LEEDS — Manchester City battled to a dogged 1-0 win against Leeds United thanks to Antoine Semenyo's goal deep into first-half stoppage time.
The win moves City to within two points of Arsenal at the Premier League summit with 10 games to play. Mikel Arteta's side host Chelsea on Sunday.
Rayan Cherki and Rayan Ait-Nouri combined beautifully down the left channel in the game's decisive moment, and the latter crossed for Semenyo to net his sixth goal in 11 appearances since joining City from Bournemouth in January. It was the 26-year-old's 14th Premier League goal of the season.
The goal came during a stoppage time period that was, in part, contributed to by play being stopped for practising Muslims Cherki, Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush to break their Ramadan fast. Regrettably, this was booed by a significant section of the Leeds supporters, although the booing seemed to lessen when a message appeared on the stadium screen to explain the stoppage.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin spurned a glorious opportunity in the fourth minute, although he would have had to come through a VAR review for a push on Marc Guehi if he'd scored. Guehi then made a vital last-ditch challenge on Brenden Aaronson before the United States international was denied in a one-on-one by the ever-imposing Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The second half was one of few chances, with Guehi coming close for City before dropping back into a fine defensive effort, although unmarked substitute Kaka Bijol should have equalised with his first touch two minutes from time.
Frustrations boiled over at the final whistle, with Leeds manager Daniel Farke sent off after he approached the match officials, while Guardiola and City captain Bernardo Silva were the subject of local ire. We're getting towards the "any means necessary" stage of the title race and this City victory certainly fell into that category.
Location: Elland Road (Leeds, UK) Referee: Peter Bankes
Keep track of every game and every goal via SN's live Premier League scoreboard.
Starting lineups:
Leeds (5-4-1 right to left): 26. Karl Darlow — 2. Jayden Bogle (7. Daniel James), 24. James Justin, 6. Joe Rodon (15. Kaka Bijol), 5. Pascal Struijk, 3. Gabriel Gudmundsson; 18. Anton Stach, 4. Ethan Ampadu, 44. Ilia Gruev (29. Wilfried Gnonto), 11. Brenden Aaronson (14. Lukas Nmecha) — 9. Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Man City (4-2-2-2 right to left): 25. Gianluigi Donnarumma — 27. Matheus Nunes, 3. Ruben Dias, 15. Marc Guehi, 21. Rayan Ait-Nouri — 20. Bernardo Silva, 16. Rodri — 10. Rayan Cherki (6. Nathan Ake), 33. Nico O'Reilly (4. Tijjani Reijnders) — 42. Antoine Semenyo, 7. Omar Marmoush (26. Savinho)
Leeds vs Man City stats
Leeds
Stat
Man City
14
Shots
12
2
Shots on target
4
1.47
Expected goals
1.77
30%
Possession
70%
301
Passes
606
5
Corners
3
10
Fouls
8
0
Yellow cards
3
1
Offsides
4
Leeds vs. Man City talking points, analysis
Semenyo makes up for the Haaland shortfall
When news broke that Erling Haaland would not be playing in the City of his birth, it was easy to forget that the visitors have two of the top three goalscorers in the Premier League this season on their books.
Yes, 10 of Antoine Semenyo's goals in England's top flight in 2025/26 came before his £62.5m move from Bournemouth in January. Indeed, they were a big reason for it. But he has four in seven top-flight appearances for his new employers now and he was a vital point of difference in a game shy in terms of natural goalscorers.
Aside from the resurgent Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Leeds do not really have anyone who thinks "goal first" and, for all the creative talents at his disposal, Guardiola would previously have been without such a character in Haaland's absence without this astute piece of mid-season business from sporting director Hugo Viana.
Semenyo still has some rough edges to smooth off as he adapts to Guardiola's demands, but he is keeping his confidence and numbers high while doing so, which is not always a given for new attackers at City.
As Leeds made the first half an hour a torrid one for City, it was Semenyo who ripped the away side's first attempt high and wide. Not his best, but a much-needed show of intent that felt like a team coming up for air. For the breakthrough goal, he managed his movement in a way Haaland would have been proud to call his own.
The Ghana international also took on Haaland's new detail of getting his head on opposition corners and long throws when required. His hold-up play could have been better, but it's very hard to imagine how City might have dragged themselves to this win without Semenyo.
Bernardo Silva is Man City's everywhere man
There was a point as City's campaign collapsed during the middle of last season, when it looked like Bernardo Silva might end up being among the collateral. His old treble comrades Kyle Walker, Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne have all left the stage, but Silva – Pep Guardiola's favourite, his brain on the field – remains.
The Portugal midfielder is into the final four months of his contract in Manchester. A fond farewell this summer had been anticipated but, right now, it's impossible to imagine this City team in a state of exciting flux and transition without its beating heart.
Silva was everywhere at Elland Road, dropping into the six-yard box with Rodri to take short goal kicks from Gianluigi Donnarumma and beat the Leeds press, backing up his own attackers as they harried the opposition and occasionally dropping into pockets on the right to supply teasing balls into the box.
The muck and nettles stuff of English football is something this Lisbon playmaker who came to prominence in Monaco also loves, hoofing a few clearances towards the sky and cupping his ear at the heart of the post-match nonsense. Guardiola has asked Silva to go to the well for him countless times; City would be nowhere this season without him doing it on a week-by-week basis.
Leeds vs. Man City key moments
88 mins: Almost a Leeds equaliser! Jaka Bijol, who has just come on for this right-wing corner. gets up highest as Donnarumma stays at home but heads wide of the far post.
72 mins: Excellent save from Darlow! Rodri helps on a left-wing corner and Guehi nods towards the far post. That would have nestled in the side netting but Darlow claws it ways.
49 mins: Calvert-Lewin pulls away to the far post but Nunes gets over to make a vital block tackle.
45+4 mins: SEMENYO GIVES CITY THE LEAD IN FIRST-HALF STOPPAGE TIME!!!
City save their best move of the half until right at the end. Leeds have just started to look a little leggy in the past few minutes. Cherki and Ait-Nouri pick them apart down the left and the latter's cross gives Semenyo a simple close-range finish.
Available in the UK
Manchester City draw first blood on the stroke of half-time thanks to Antoine Semenyo! 💥 pic.twitter.com/8j1O3zRcCK
MASSIVE moment for Man City. In the final seconds of the first half, Antoine Semenyo slides in to put the Citizens on top against Leeds! pic.twitter.com/a4BcHeR13X
40 mins: Nico O'Reilly with City's best chance of the game! Bernardo digs out a lovely cross on the right and O'Reilly arrives to meet it with header. Darlow saves superbly but shouldn't really have had a chance.
4 mins: Glorious chance for Calvert-Lewin! Leeds are all over City in these opening exchanges and really should be ahead. Their top scorer was unmarked - largely because of a shove on Guehi which would have been looked at by VAR - at the far post but slid wide. You were waiting for the net to bulge.
Max
Holloway’s pointing down at the ground in the final 10 seconds
of his fights started with one of his former opponents taunting
him.
Holloway inviting his opponents to a slugfest in the final 10
seconds of the fight has gained a cult following in MMA now.
“Blessed” recently revealed that his iconic move originated in his
fight against Ricardo
Lamas in 2016.
Holloway felt that he was comfortably winning the fight and planned
to remain defensively sound in the last round. However, Lamas threw
his hands up in the air in the final seconds, hinting that Holloway
was coasting. Holloway initially couldn’t understand why Lamas was
taunting him when he was winning. However, when Lamas did it a
third time, Holloway threw caution to the wind and invited him to a
brutal brawl. Holloway respects Lamas for honoring the invitation
and letting his hands go.
‘He Threw Down’
“It all started because I fought Ricardo
Lamas… I felt like I was handling that fight really good,”
Holloway said on Freestylebender. “And in the last 30 seconds, I
was moving away, just circling away. He kind of stuck his hand up
to me like, ‘Yo, what the hell?’ I was thinking, ‘No way bro,’ I
was tripping seeing him go like this (hands up in the air). And
then I slipped something and he went like that again. He was saying
nothing but in my mind I was like, ‘What is going on? I’m winning.
Why is he acting like that?’ And then the last time he did it, I
was like, ‘You know what? Whatever. Ten seconds bro, if you want to
be about it, let’s see if you are about it.’ He threw down though,
respect to him.’”
Holloway (27-8) will look to defend his BMF title in a rematch
against Charles
Oliveira (36-11) at
UFC 326 on March 7 in Las Vegas. “Do Bronx” claims he won’t
miss any chance to get into a slugfest against Holloway.
Strong Start for Penske as IndyCar Season BeginsGavin Baker
Scott McLaughlin, in the No. 3 DEX Chevrolet, gave Team Penske an encouraging first day of its 60th-anniversary season Friday on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, with a best lap of 106.052 mph as the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series calendar got under way with opening practice.
But teammate Josef Newgarden was one of three to make contact with the walls in separate incidents as 25 drivers geared up for Sunday’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. No one was injured, but each of the crashes brought out the red flag.
Scott Dixon said earlier in the day that it’s hard to gauge how his quest for a seventh series might go: “Ultimately you don’t really know until you hit the first practice, especially here in St. Pete. You get a real good understanding the first five races in.”
The driver of Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 9 PNC Honda got a rude welcome back to his 26th year of competition less than an hour into Day 1 with the hardest hit of the day. His car slid across Turn 9 and made head-first contact with the concrete barrier, causing significant damage to the front end.
“Kind of a frustrating one,” Dixon said. “I got loose on entry and tried to save it and then kind of got into an overcorrection. Luckily it slid off a lot of the speed before it hit the wall. Sometimes you can tub a car and destroy them. Hopefully this isn’t too bad.”
Louis Foster, the most recent rookie of the year, also literally had some hard luck in the No. 45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing entry Friday. He was hoping to turn around his fortunes at St. Petersburg in this second visit to the Gulf Coast city after being swept up in an accident on the first lap here last year.
Felix Rosenqvist with his tribute livery honoring the late Florida-native Tom Petty.Gavin Baker - Getty Images
Meanwhile, 2025 event winner McLaughlin, knowing the schedule is a marathon and not a sprint, wasn’t making too much of his leading performance in the lone Chevy among the top seven.
“Decent first day. Obviously, being P1 is a great start. The DEX Chevy was straightaway fast, and felt good and comfortable,” he said. “It’s good for us. It’s the start of a long season, and it was nice to have a smooth session to start. We’ll keep pressing on and see how we go.”
Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist, rocking a tribute livery honoring the late Gainesville, Florida, native Tom Petty during the 50th anniversary of his legendary band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, was second-fastest Friday at 105.941 mph in the No. 60 Sirius XM Honda.
Andretti Global had two top-five racers Friday. Kyle Kirkwood, of Jupiter, was third at in the No. 27 JM Bullion/Gold.com Honda, and Marcus Ericsson was fifth in the No. 28 Delaware Life Honda. Kyffin Simpson put his No. 8 Sunoco Chip Ganassi Racing Honda in fourth place in the order.
Saturday’s activity will begin with practice at 9:30 a.m. ET, with NTT P1 Award qualifying following at 4:30 p.m. Practice will be televised on FS1, with qualifying on FS2. FOX One, the FOX Sports app, and INDYCAR Radio will air both sessions live. The Warmup Show with Final Practice will air at 9 a.m. ET Sunday on FS1.
The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is the first of three consecutive races to start the season, with a record four events taking place in March.
The end of the NFL's 2025 league year is bustling with activity. The 2026 NFL Combine is in full swing. The franchise tag deadline is just three days away. Free agency is set to start in less than two weeks, which marks the start of the 2026 league year. The legal tampering period begins two days prior, on March 9. Trade activity can be finalized with the start of free agency on March 11.
The Tennessee Titans and New York Jets already marked the first trade of the year when they sent T'Vondre Sweat to the New York Jets in return for Jermaine Johnson. Head coach Robert Saleh originally drafted Johnson in 2022 when he was head coach of the Jets, and Sweat's nose-tackle position is nonexistent in Saleh's defensive scheme, so the trade made sense for both teams.
Still, the Titans didn't have much of a presence on the edge in 2025. Arden Key and Jihad Ward are both free agents, so it's not overly surprising that ESPN's Aaron Schatz would suggest the Titans target linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson during free agency.
Tennessee would have been the perfect landing spot for George Pickens, as it desperately needs a No. 1 option for quarterback Cam Ward. But since Pickens is expected to be franchise-tagged by the Cowboys, let's further strengthen the Titans' pass rush with Chaisson.
Tennessee was ranked a surprising 15th in pass rush win rate (37.3%) last season, but Arden Key and Jihad Ward are both free agents. Chaisson blossomed over the past two seasons with the Raiders and then the Patriots. In 2025, he had 7.5 sacks, 32 pressures and an above-average pass rush win rate of 12.9%. The Titans could put him on the strong side across from Oluwafemi Oladejo.
Chaisson is a has six years of NFL experience under his belt, and he's coming off of his best season yet. Last year, he recorded 31 tackles (18 solo), 7.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, two pass deflections, and six stuffs. But it's his 32 pressures and above-average pass rush win rate that are more intriguing.
With Saleh running the show in Nashville now, the Titans' defense is about to look a whole lot different. The scheme he uses is different than what Dennard Wilson was doing, and that means there will be plenty of player movement this offseason.
Serie A | Verona 1-2 Napoli: Last gasp Lukaku rescues Conte
Romelu Lukaku scored with the last kick of the game to give Napoli a dramatic 2-1 victory away to rock bottom Hellas Verona, after Rasmus Hojlund netted at both ends.
The Partenopei were sliding down the standings after a 2-2 draw with Roma and controversial defeat to Atalanta. Scott McTominay, Frank Anguissa, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Amir Rrahmani, David Neres and Kevin De Bruyne were still out of action, so Alisson Santos completed the attack, with Giovane on the bench against his former club. Hellas were rock bottom alongside Pisa, so while Gift Orban and Moatasem Al-Musrati were suspended, Rafik Belghali, Pol Lirola, Antoine Bernede, Sandi Lovric and Suat Serdar missed out.
VERONA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 28: Paolo Sammarco head coach of Hellas Verona embraces Antonio Conte head coach of SSC Napoli during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on February 28, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
It was a perfect start for Antonio Conte’s men, who took the lead within 100 seconds. Matteo Politano’s cross from the right was flicked on by Andrias Edmundsson, but turned into an accidental assist for the Hojlund looping header, which he steered into the far top corner from 12 yards, off the inside of the post.
VERONA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 28: Rasmus Hojlund of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on February 28, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Leonardo Spinazzola curled just over the bar, while Lorenzo Montipò palmed an Eljif Elmas scorcher out of the bottom corner.
Edmundsson got back for almost a goal-line clearance after Hojlund had dinked a finish past the on-rushing Montipò, and Antonio Vergara blasted just over from an Alisson Santos assist.
Verona equalised amid more controversy, as Napoli felt there was a foul before the corner, but that set play was then flicked on by Hojlund, who was also in the way to deflect the Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro half-volley past Alex Meret.
VERONA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 28: Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro of Hellas Verona scores the 1-1 goal during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on February 28, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Hellas threatened to score another on the counter-attack moments later, but Daniel Mosquera’s first touch let him down when about to go clear.
Tomas Suslov was booked for a sliding tackle on Miguel Gutierrez, as although contact was high, he pulled out at the last second.
Eljif Elmas stung Montipò’s gloves after a well-worked move between substitutes Billy Gilmour and Romelu Lukaku.
VERONA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 28: Stanislav Lobotka of SSC Napoli during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on February 28, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Verona nearly won it in stoppages when Kieron Bowie couldn’t keep the volley on target after Meret flapped aimlessly at a cross.
Just as it seemed to be over, Napoli took a short corner and Giovane’s cross from the left went past an acrobatic Juan Jesus attempt, but Lukaku was ready to sweep in first-time from six yards. It was his first goal of the season and the last kick of the game after so many months out with a serious tendon injury.
Chelsea Urged to Sign Darwin as Desailly Makes Bergkamp Comparison
Chelsea have been encouraged to consider a move for Darwin, with a familiar voice from Stamford Bridge insisting the forward could flourish in the right surroundings. Marcel Desailly believes the former Liverpool striker has the qualities to thrive in the Premier League once again, drawing a pointed comparison with Dennis Bergkamp’s early struggles before his transformation at Arsenal.
Darwin’s journey has rarely been straightforward. A Premier League title winner with Liverpool in 2024-25, he later moved to Al Hilal after scoring 40 goals in 143 appearances for the Reds. For all the silverware and flashes of brilliance, consistency often eluded him. Now, talk of a return to European football has placed Chelsea firmly in the conversation.
Darwin’s Liverpool Record and Fresh Start
At Liverpool, Darwin’s raw numbers told part of the story. The £64 million arrival from Benfica offered pace, unpredictability and an instinct for space. Yet confidence proved fragile. When chances were missed, scrutiny intensified. When rhythm deserted him, the mood shifted.
Desailly believes that narrative masked the underlying talent. He told FootItalia: “I would actually recommend Nunez for Chelsea. He’s a very good player, a smart player – he just needs the right environment to perform. When Liverpool identified his potential they knew what they had statistically.
Photo: IMAGO
“But when you start on a bad note, the confidence disappears and the consideration from those around you follows. It’s like Dennis Bergkamp going to Inter Milan – things went completely wrong. Or Roberto Carlos in his early days, shooting the ball into the stands. The confidence wasn’t there. That’s what happened to Nunez at Liverpool. But the quality is still there. He’s at Al-Hilal now and has scored around six goals in 16 matches – not bad at all.”
For Chelsea, the attraction would lie in harnessing that untapped consistency, in turning moments into momentum.
Role of Cole Palmer in Chelsea Attack
A reunion with the Premier League could also mean service from creative players capable of acting on instinct. Desailly emphasised the importance of timing and trust.
“I’m pleased to see him wanting to come back to European football – it shows money isn’t everything. A club like Chelsea, or the new Manchester United, would be best for him. He needs to be surrounded by established, confident players who know they’re going to play every weekend and who will give him the ball on the first intention. That’s the small detail – when he makes a run, he needs to get the ball immediately. Otherwise he loses confidence quickly.
“We had something similar with Frank Lampard – magnificent player, but sometimes he would look for another option instead of playing the ball first-time to the striker. You could see the strikers losing their rhythm. Nunez needs that immediate ball. But he’s a quality player and he’s still young enough.”
Cole Palmer could be central to that dynamic, though his own future has prompted debate. Desailly added: “Chelsea will qualify for the Champions League. But even if not – fans are educated differently now. It’s about the club, not any one player. Chelsea have the potential to perform without Palmer. He has a long contract, so if he were to leave, significant money would come in that you could reinvest in players who fit the manager’s philosophy.
“I’m sure he’s giving his best to get Chelsea into the top four. But if his heart is telling him to go – well, I had to choose between Monaco and Marseille once, and I followed my heart. I went to Marseille because I was a fan. Players come and go in modern football, but the club is the priority in the hearts of supporters.”
For Chelsea, the message is clear. Darwin remains a striker of promise. In the right environment, confidence restored, his story could yet take on a different hue.
Arsenal target makes history in Portugal to show why they want him
Arsenal were among the clubs interested in signing Oskar Pietuszewski from Jagiellonia Białystok after the youngster broke into the first team. His emergence quickly attracted attention from across Europe, with several leading sides monitoring his development closely.
However, he ultimately chose to join FC Porto, believing that a move to Portugal would provide him with consistent playing time, a crucial factor in his long term progression. Regular minutes at a competitive level were seen as essential for refining his talent and accelerating his growth.
Development Paying Dividends in Portugal
Like many top European clubs, Arsenal have maintained an interest in his progress and remains attentive to his performances. They will be encouraged by how effectively he has adapted to life at Porto, where he is gaining valuable experience in a demanding environment.
The decision to move to Portugal appears to have been the correct one. Pietuszewski is receiving meaningful opportunities and could finish the season as a league champion at just 17. The manager has demonstrated faith in him by allocating minutes at a higher and more competitive level, which will only strengthen his credentials should a future move materialise.
His rapid rise has led to comparisons with Lamine Yamal, underlining the excitement surrounding his potential. Such praise reflects both his technical ability and his composure in high-pressure situations.
Record-Breaking Moment Highlights Talent
According to Talk Sport, it took the teenager just 14 seconds to score in Porto’s most recent match, making him the fastest player to find the net at the Estádio do Dragão in the stadium’s history during the 3-1 victory over Arouca.
Moments like this reinforce why he is regarded as one of the most promising young players in Europe. Performances of such impact will inevitably sustain interest from clubs like Arsenal, who could decide to accelerate their pursuit if his upward trajectory continues.
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Lazio Attacker Ruled Out of Torino Match With Ankle Problem
Lazio forward Daniel Maldini has joined the list of absentees for the trip to Torino after picking up an ankle knock.
Daniel Maldini Will Miss Torino vs Lazio Clash
The 24-year-old has been a regular starter for Maurizio Sarri, who has been fielding him in an unusual role as a centre-forward since joining the club in January on loan from Atalanta. The versatile attacker has yet to open his account for the Biancocelesti, but the manager has been impressed with his work rate and technical skills, albeit he’s been urging him to make more runs to the box.
Daniel Maldini (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)
However, Maldini won’t take part in the action on Sunday. Lazio released the squad that travelled to Turin on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s Serie A contest, and the Atalanta loanee wasn’t on the list. The club’s other absentees are Samuel Gigot, Mario Gila, Elseid Hysaj, Toma Basic, as well as Nicolo Rovella, who underwent surgery on Monday. The good news is that Manuel Lazzarri is available again.
Maldini Picked up an Ankle Injury
According to La Lazio Siamo Noi, Maldini sustained a slight ankle problem, so the technical staff opted to leave him behind at Formello, but they hope to recover the player’s services for Wednesday’s all-important clash against Atalanta in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final. The same goes for Basic and Gila, who trained separately this week.
With Maldini ruled out of action, Petar Ratkov is now the favorite to lead the line against Torino, supported by Mattia Zaccagni and Gustav Isaksen.
This was the sort of scoreline Liverpool might have envisaged posting rather more often when they spent nine-figure sums on the attacking talents of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz. Except that, as they scored five times in a league game for the first time since clinching the title by demolishing Tottenham, the two £100m men were absent, both injured.
They didn’t need the German’s creativity to be prolific, or the Swede’s speed. Rather, they may have underlined one of Arne Slot’s mantras. During their autumnal slump, the Liverpool head coach said that unlocking a defence often involved a moment of magic or a set-piece. Well as Hugo Ekitike and Dominik Szoboszlai played, Liverpool were not magical. But the team who were statistically the worst in the division at set-pieces in the first half of the season may now be officially the best. Directly or indirectly, they scored from three before the break.
(Getty Images)
A bad afternoon for Nuno Espirito Santo was perhaps a worse one for Aaron Briggs. When Liverpool fired their set-piece coach at the end of December, it was a response to a regular shortcoming. Now Slot need not bemoan their “set-piece balance”, to borrow his phrase, with such regularity. “There was a time when we were 23 goals behind Arsenal, including penalties, and we have closed the gap a bit,” smiled Slot.
He could savour the set-pieces that beat West Ham United. “It is very pleasing,” he added. “The first half of the season, almost every set piece we conceded went in. We start scoring from set pieces and things start looking brighter and better than when you don’t.”
Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo were on the scoresheet at Anfield (AFP via Getty Images)
They have turned a corner when it comes to corners. Perhaps in a way that leaves Briggs – who was not hired as a set-piece specialist anyway – looking luckless, given that the first and third goals stemmed from second-phase situations. Maybe the luck is evening itself out over the season for Liverpool, who also benefited from an own goal; just not for Briggs. “Things went back to normal,” reflected Slot. “Maybe one or two small details have changed defensively and offensively.” Not much, he argued, though there is a difference in the personnel in the dugout.
Liverpool’s set-piece record is not perfect without Briggs; they conceded to a West Ham corner, headed in by the unmarked Taty Castellanos. Yet as Liverpool went fifth, returning to the probable Champions League spots for the first time in a month, they now top another table: for most set-piece goals in 2026, with nine. They became just the second team in Premier League history to score three goals from corners in a first half.
Their second may have come straight from the training ground, if not from the most intricate of routines. Szoboszlai simply aimed his corner at Virgil van Dijk, who headed it in. West Ham had their chances to clear the corners for the first and third. The deadlock was broken when, after a bout of head tennis, Ryan Gravenberch picked out Ekitike, who hooked in a low half-volley, though it took a deflection.
(AFP/Getty)
The Frenchman ended with two assists to accompany his goal and teed up Alexis Mac Allister to volley in their third and his second in a week. There should have been a fourth set-piece goal, Cody Gakpo slicing a shot horribly wide after West Ham contrived to miss Joe Gomez’s long throw. Instead, the Dutchman ended his goal drought via a touch off Aaron Wan-Bissaka, getting his first in eight games. Slot has resisted the clamour to start Rio Ngumoha and was rewarded by Gakpo’s return to the scoresheet.
Their fifth goal came five minutes into Jeremie Frimpong’s comeback after a month out. His low cross was turned into his own net by Axel Disasi. It may have been a familiar feeling for West Ham, who have conceded five goals in three games against Liverpool in Slot’s relatively brief reign, who have only won once at Anfield since 1963 and who may not return here next season.
They, too, can testify to the significance of corners. “We really made mistakes from set-pieces,” said Nuno. “It is frustrating as a coaching staff. It is something we have been putting a lot of effort and time to put it right.” Instead, they got it wrong. No side has conceded from more this season, and it threatens to be their undoing.
None have fewer clean sheets and they were behind inside five minutes. Thereafter, Liverpool lacked control, but scorelines shape impressions. Slot had received congratulations for Liverpool’s display against West Ham but said: “In my opinion we have played have better when we lost and better when we conceded from set pieces.”
(Getty Images)
And Nuno recognised how his argument looked illogical. “Maybe it is absurd to say it is a good performance when you lose 5-2,” said the West Ham manager. “But there were a lot of positives.” His side had an attacking threat. Liverpool conceded for the first time in four games, Tomas Soucek sliding in to convert the low cross El-Hadji Diouf drilled. Alisson saved well from Crysencio Summerville and Castellanos headed in Jarrod Bowen’s resulting corner. West Ham finished with the higher expected goals score. In the set-piece league, it mattered little.
Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love is widely viewed as far and away the best running back in the 2026 NFL draft, and what he did today at the Scouting Combine only solidified that.
Love ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash, the second-fastest of any running back at this year's Combine. (Arkansas' Mike Washington ran 4.33.)
The six-foot, 214-pound Love had 199 carries for 1,372 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns last year at Notre Dame. He has the productivity on the field to match his raw athleticism.
Love has a chance to be the first running back to be a Top 5 pick since Saquon Barkley went No. 2 overall in 2018.
Will Drew Allar resurface in the NFL Combine? (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Day 3 of the NFL Combine brings out the pretty boys, quarterbacks, wide receivers, and running backs. The Los Angeles Rams have some needs in those first two categories, so it’s a good chance for fans to see the prospects up close without pads. The overall speed shown at the Combine so far, have been exciting, now the playmakers get their turns.
Here are a few of my favorites, tell TST who you’re looking out for.
Wide receiver
With eight receivers under contract, the Rams won’t need many bodies to be fully stocked for camp, but the unit feels bottom heavy with unproven players. Puka Nacua and Davante Adams return to lead, but after that things get a bit iffy. Jordan Whittington enters Year 3 averaging 20 catches, while Konata Mumpfield had 10 as a rookie. At the depths of the unit, only Tyler Scott has NFL play time and catches as a pro. Harold Presley, Mario Williams, and Tru Edwards are likely camp bodies. What the Rams do need is a WR#2, to allow Adams plenty of plays off without dropping off too steeply. Will L.A. go receiver at #13? If not, here a some prospects at #29.
Chris Brazzell -Tennessee
Three-star prospect turns 23 in September. Began his career with two seasons (1 redshirt) at Tulane. Named an Honorable Mention Freshman All-American. Transferred to Tennessee and started 21 0f 25 games over two years. He totaled 136 catches for 2072 yards, an average of 15.2 per, and tallied 16 touchdowns.
At 6’5”, Brazzell is not the typical Rams receiver prospect. Two things really standout watching his film, one is that his wingspan and body control create an amazing catch radius and two, Tennessee used him a lot on short, quick passes. One would think, seeing his long frame and high yards per catch numbers that he was constantly stretching vertical, but the Vols used a lot screens and short passes to quickly get the ball in his hands. Actually has nifty feet for big man, decent open-field running skills, and although not a power player, he was hard to bring down without falling forward. His long strides do favor deep routes, and he shows nice deceleration on digs. Good hands and snatches the ball away from his body. Good transition from catch to run.
Solid high floor/high ceiling prospect that has a polished toolbox full moves to release and keep corners off. Versatility to play outside or in the slot. Would fit right into Rams play-action offense. I grade him late in Round 2, but if he tests well, he’s going higher.
I’m ready to speak my truth: #Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell II is my WR1 in the 2026 #NFLDraft.
It’s close between him and Tyson, but I give him the nod.
In a class with a bunch of reliable, high-floor WRs, Brazzell brings insane potential of explosiveness.
Initially signed with the Washington Huskies, but flipped to Michigan State. Went back to Washington after one season before finally settling down in Alabama for his last two years. The four-star recruit recently turned 22. Over 53 games with 35 starts, Bernard charted 155 receptions for 2103 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also had 36 rushes for 184 yards and five more scores. That’s not all, he went 3 of 3 passing, returned 16 kickoffs for 352 yards and three punts for 43 yards.
Toughness and reliability are the keys to his game. Precise route runner with strong hands, willing to work over the middle and holds on through contact, Only four drops in his career. Sneakily athletic runner in the open-field, not a jitterbug, but shows good contact balance, toughness and moves his feet well. Competitive blocker. Good football IQ, reads and diagnoses defense, understanding and attacking soft areas.
Bernard’s versatility and route-running prowess makes him a fit for the Sean McVay offense. The Rams put a premium on positional flexibility and he lined everywhere at ‘Bama, outside, slot, wing, and in the backfield. In college, he did it all on offense, receiving, rushing, returning kicks and even completed three passes. I grade him as an early Round 3 prospect. His floor is high because of solid technique and football IQ, he needs to show off his athleticism to earn a professional high ceiling label.
Quarterback
The Rams could have re-signed Jimmy Garappolo already to lock up QB#2, but haven’t. Could be that both sides want to look around and see what’s out there. If JimmyG is gone, does that make Stetson Bennett the backup? If so, the Rams may be interested in a developmental prospect in the draft.
Drew Allar – Penn State
Four-star recruit, turns 22 in week. Took over starting job as a true sophomore and had 35 straight starts before an ankle injury cut his final year short. Allar threw for 7402 yards and 61 touchdowns at a 65% completion clip.
Has the frame and arm for the NFL. Nice tight throwing motion and the ball jumps easily out his hand. Makes the long outs from the far hash look easy. Doesn’t fire every throw, understands how to take a little off. Where he has ran into problems is game-to-game consistency. It’s not every single drop back, but e does have some technical issues, getting his feet, hips and shoulders aligned. His base is not solid and he can’t rotate through and the ball can go awry. These seem like repairable problems with some proper coaching and repetition. Navigates the pocket and can make off-platform throws. Appears to work through full field reads/progressions.
There are a lot of pluses to Drew Allar’s game. Size, relative athleticism, strong arm, ball security, and a pro style offense with full-field reads. There is the footwork inconsistency to deal with, but we’re not talking about a Top 10 investment (although eighty months ago there was). I grade Allar to Round 3, a Top 100 player and there he becomes a low risk/high reward prospect. I might very well give him a positive bump if, at the Combine, he shows progress on his footwork.
Joe Fagnano – Connecticut
Older prospect at 24 with seven college seasons. Walked on at Maine and was offered a scholarship after camp. Dealt with a redshirt, the COVID19 season, and year-ending shoulder injury during his college career. In 50 games, Fagnano threw for 10,000+ yards with 91 touchdowns and added another 700+ on the ground.
An under-the-radar prospect, Fagnano has the traits for the NFL in his toolbox. Good size at 6’3” 225 lb. above average arm talent, he took command of two different college offenses putting wins on the board, solid footwork with quick, tight release, and he can make throws on the move. Not an elite runner, but navigates the pocket and is not afraid to break the pocket and run. Not afraid of tight windows and shows good accuracy, with good ball security. Like’s his first read, bur appears to go through progressions and reads the full field.
If you’re willing to overlook the age and lower-level of competition, Joe Fagnano has not only the basic skillset for an NFL quarterback, but many of the extra’s that improve a basic model. The Rams have proven that age is not a big determinant in their draft review/process. I like Fagnano more than most, if not all pundits, and grade him as a late Round 3/early Round 4 prospect. Needless to say, his Combine performance will have a lot to say about his future.
– Thorough variety of play fakes (good pitch fake here) – Good two-step decel and shoulder reduction through pressure – Finishes with stiff arm – Finds open target in flat pic.twitter.com/2JaaOysEq3
Stocked full for 2026 with Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Jarquez Hunter, and Jordan Waters. Williams and Corum have proven to be a strong one-two punch. Hunter has potential and should get the ball in his hands more often in Year 2. Waters played well in preseason last year, but is a long shot. So what’s left for this unit? With Ronnie Rivers gone, at least for now, that leaves the RB#4 role. It consists of a lot of special teams work and occasional work on offense. The kind of jack-of-all-trade job late round or undrafted players can vie for.
Jam Miller – Alabama
Four-star recruit turns 22 next month. Originally committed to Texas, but flipped to “Bama. Always part of a deep rotation and nagged by minor injuries for most of 2025. Nonetheless, over four seasons he had 349 carries for 1596 yards and 13 touchdowns. Through air, 40 grabs for 336 yards.
At 5’10” 221 lb., he’s has a blocky build with thick, powerful legs. Runs behind low pads and shows good contact balance. When running between the tackles, Miller presses the line with patience and picks his gap. He’s explosive through the gaps, gets north/south and up to speed quickly. Has loose hips and ankles which allow for sharp cuts, let’s him break runs outside, and turn sharp corners. Not really a big piece of the passing game, primarily check downs, but it looks like more could be there. He tracks the ball well on the few wheels routes on film and freely catches the ball. Reports are that he had drops, but in the film I watched, his hands looked reliable.
While Jam Miller never broke through at Alabama, he has the traits to be a pro. His ticket will be his physicality, motor, and willingness on special teams. He could also offer some short yardage power and some fullback work. Testing well would force pundits re-examine his game. I grade him late in Round 6. Good testing would enhance his stock, but he could easily fall through the cracks and go undrafted.
Rough rep by Formby, but that’s not the point in showing this. Really good rep from Jam Miller in pass pro. Sticks his nose in there. pic.twitter.com/NSW1C7wgRr
Grew up attending Clemson youth football camps and signed with the Tigers as a four-star wide receiver recruit. Played wide receiver for three years, tansitiing to running back before his final season. Tore an ACL in 2022 spring drills. He started 20 of 50 games at Clemson with 172 rushing attempts for 858 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also chipped in 84 catches for 787 yards and five score in the pass game.
Nice package of size and athleticism.Turns his linear speed to power and is fairly patient behind blocks. A bit stiff and needs a bit of a runway to get going, but he plows through arm tackles and half-hearted tackle attempts. Can’t be called shifty, but his speed can lead to big plays. North/south runner that gets behind his pads. Obviously a pretty solid receiver who understands how to find space, but still has drop problems, the bane that moved him to running back. Overall. A small sample of running back reps to try and project his future.
Interesting prospect that can wear a lot of hats. Has special teams experience, including some kick returns. Reportedly ran 10.94 in 100m. I make him as a priority free agent, but do find him very versatile developmental project with marketable skills.
Finding Rams
There are a number of solid candidates for wide receiver at #29, or at #61, for that matter. Chris Brazzell has a playmaker ceiling while Germie Bernard seems a “Rams type” of prospect. I believe that Sean McVay probably wants an experienced QB#2 and I’m not sure Stetson Bennett is that guy. The last thing anybody wants is a repeat of 2022, when Matthew Stafford went down and cupboard was bare. I liked Drew Allar as a pro prospect before his rough 2025, so I’m not coming off that. Joe Fagnano is a sleeper, not much of a ceiling, but could be a solid backup with a little grooming. L.A. doesn’t need much in the running back room and while I would prefer a a slippery fast guy, both Jam Miller and Adam Randall fit the special teams hammer role.
On Saturday, the Arkansas running back set the bar for his position group at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis by running an official 4.33-second 40-yard dash. That tied for the sixth-best time among all ball carriers at the annual event since 2003.
Not bad for a back who measured in at 6-1 and 223 pounds.
After the run, cameras showed Washington in tears. He again became emotional when talking to NFL Network's Stacey Dales, telling her, "I'm so emotional, man. I've worked my whole life for this."
.@RazorbackFB RB Mike Washington Jr. got emotional after running an incredible 4.33u. 🥲
These guys work so hard for this moment. @StaceyDales
Washington took a somewhat circuitous route to the combine, playing three years at Buffalo and one at New Mexico State before transferring to Arkansas for the 2025 season. He rushed for 1,070 yards per carry and eight touchdowns for the Razorbacks, earning second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors.
The Utica, New York, native also fared well in other testing at the combine, finishing second among all backs with a 10-8 broad jump and 39-inch vertical leap.
No secret that there's zero love lost between the two sides. They had arguably the most consequential playoff series last year as OKC bested Denver in seven games. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic once again headline the MVP race in the third part of their epic trilogy.
From the jump, Jokic had beef with the Thunder. First, he butted heads with Gilgeous-Alexander. Then Aaron Wiggins. Eventually, he worked his way around the roster until things culminated with Lu Dort.
In the fourth quarter of a close game, Dort kicked his leg out from behind to trip Jokic on a mundane inbound pass. That enraged the three-time MVP winner. He immediately confronted him with red anger in his eyes. Jaylin Williams stepped up to the plate to defend his teammate.
Soon, both teams circled each other. After the confrontation cooled off, Dort was ejected with a flagrant foul two. Jokic and Williams received a double technical foul. The heated moment took over social media.
Here's what the Thunder had to say about what happened:
Mark Daigneault
"If you were watching the game, I think you could see very clearly that it was a chippy game. These are two teams that played each other in a seven-game series. We're in the same division. We play each other 100 times. They know our playbook. We know their playbook. It's just what it is. It's going to be an imperfect game. Things, they escalate like that sometimes. I know Lu, I know Jokic, I know J-Will. I don't think anybody's trying to hurt anybody. They're just great competitors. That's what I thought. They just boiled over. I think it was nothing more than that. I will say this — if J-Will is running up the floor and gets tripped, we expect a flagrant two from this point forward. That's the precedent. If that becomes a malicious play, and flagrant two is the line in the sand on that, we would expect that."
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
"It was great. The physicality. Two teams wanting to win really badly. And were going at it. They're obviously a high-level team. We're a high-level team. Seen each other a lot in the past couple of years. So might be a little bit more into the game since we know the opponent. But it was fun. It was good out there. End-of-season basketball is like that. It's that chippy and physical. It was good to get that in the regular season. As far as the scrimmage, that's how it usually goes. Something happens, team roars and the other team roars. Lu got thrown out. Lu's not that type of guy. He's trying to go out there and win."
Chet Holmgren
"I'd say anytime two good teams clash. Two teams that really want to win. Two teams that have seen each other in the regular season, in the postseason, it's going to be physical. It's going to be a battle. I'm not a ref, so I can't sit here and say, 'This is how I would've called it.' And this and that. The one thing I'd say is that's a tough game to ref. It's a physical game. A lot is going on. I just credit our guys for not letting that become a distraction."
Jared McCain
"I've never been in a playoff game, but that seemed like it was a playoff game. Just the physicality and how the game was going. But I love it. It was really fun to be part of. As a kid, it's all you want to be a part of. Those big moments, big games and a dream of taking that last shot and taking big shots like there in the second half. I was prepared for it, but definitely didn't know the level that it was going to be. But it was super fun."
The good news? For now, at least, there’s no reason to panic about the situation.
Appearing on “The Growler,” The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. said that he thinks the Bengals and Risner are simply going through a normal negotiating process.
“It’s going to go up to the wire,” Dehner said. “If it crosses into the open of free agency, maybe then you start to get a little more nervous in terms of getting Risner back. But I do think it seems to be in a decent place.”
Risner is an obvious must-have re-signing for the Bengals. He joined up late in the process before last season and, when healthy, stabilized the best line of the Joe Burrow era to date.
But as Dehner and standard free-agent negotiations tell onlookers, it takes two.
For all outsiders know, the Bengals are offering a very good deal. Risner might not be in a rush to sign. He’s 31 and looking at his likely last chance at a multi-year deal. Testing the open market, just in case, might be on the table pretty much no matter what the Bengals do.
Still, the knee-jerk reaction for fans is to wonder why this sort of thing needs to run up to a deadline like this. And given the performance of the front office in Cincinnati in the past, it’s a pretty reasonable one.
For better or worse, though, all Bengals fans can do is wait and see how it plays out.
With the Los Angeles Lakers on a three-game losing streak, the atmosphere surrounding the team is starting to darken a bit. While virtually everyone knew coming into this season that the Lakers weren't a championship-caliber team, the negativity and criticisms are starting to get heavier.
Many people have pointed out the team's lack of defense, both on the perimeter and near the rim, lack of speed and athleticism, inability to consistently hit 3-pointers and lack of a stellar supporting cast around Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James. There is also an increasing feeling that the three-star setup of Doncic, Reaves and James simply won't work.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe, who is a huge fan of James, said on his "Nightcap" podcast that the Lakers are simply "a bad basketball team," and that it doesn't matter whether James, who is in the final year of his contract, is on the team or not.
“They’re a BAD basketball team. … They’re not a championship-contending team with LeBron. They're not. They're not gonna be a championship-contending team without LeBron.”
There is an increasing amount of criticism being directed at Luka Doncic for the flaws he has displayed. Sharpe joined that growing chorus by pointing out the superstar's lackluster defense and tendency to argue with referees.
“… A lot of times Luka's numbers doesn’t correlate to winning. When a guy has 41-8-8…but he just can't play defense. He just can't…that's who he is…He said, 'Well i need to stop arguing with officials,' you can't that's who you are.”
Doncic put up those 41 points, eight rebounds and eight assists Sharpe referenced in Thursday's game against the Phoenix Suns. But while Los Angeles built a 13-point lead in the third quarter, they fell behind by 12 points in the fourth period, and its late Doncic-led rally fell short.
L.A. ended up losing by three points when, on the Suns' last possession, it broke down defensively and gave up an open 3-pointer by Royce O'Neale. Reaves missed what would've been the game-tying trey just before the final horn, and the Lakers lost, 113-110.
Kevin Borjas and Imanol Rodriguez meet on the UFC Fight Night 268 main card Saturday at Arena CDMX in Mexico City. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.
Last event's results: 2-4
UFC main cards, 2026: 13-9
Kevin Borjas vs. Imanol Rodriguez UFC Fight Night 268 preview
Borjas (10-4 MMA, 1-3 UFC) will look to build some momentum after a tough start to his UFC tenure. The 28-year-old Peruvian is 1-3 in the promotion, and coming off a unanimous decision loss to Su Mudaerji last August. Prior to that was his only victory under the UFC banner, a unanimous nod over Ronaldo Rodriguez last March.
Rodriguez (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has his UFC debut set after earning a contract with the promotion on Dana White's Contender Series in October. A contestant on Season 33 of "The Ultimate Fighter" as well, Rodriguez made his way to the show by knocking out Roque Conceicao in the first round of his DWCS appearance.
Kevin Borjas vs. Imanol Rodriguez UFC Fight Night 268 expert pick, prediction
Filling out the main card is an intriguing flyweight affair between Imanol Rodriguez and Kevin Borjas.
A hot prospect coming out of both The Ultimate Fighter and Dana White's Contender Series, Rodriguez has proven to be a rookie worth watching.
Despite coming from a judo and sambo background, Rodriguez appears to have a penchant for firefights on the feet and flurries off the breaks, which is in a very similar spirit to how Chepe Mariscal fights.
Rodriguez, who trains under the wing of Daniel Cormier, looks to have some solid grappling chops that could come in handy for this fight. That said, Borjas is an incredibly scrappy fighter in all phases and shouldn't be slept on in this spot.
The Peruvian isn't exactly finish-proof, but Borjas is an incredibly durable fighter whose Thai boxing regularly stuns foes in both victory and defeat. Should Rodriguez chase and follow too hard, his propensity to keep his head on the centerline could cost him dearly in the form of counter crosses and hooks.
It's an absolute dog or pass spot from a betting perspective, but I'll officially pick the prospect I've had my eye on in Rodriguez to edge out a competitive decision win on the scorecards.
Kevin Borjas vs. Imanol Rodriguez UFC Fight Night 268 odds
The oddsmakers and the public heavily favor the undefeated fighter, listing Rodriguez -470 and Borjas +340 via FanDuel.
Kevin Borjas vs. Imanol Rodriguez UFC Fight Night 268 start time, how to watch
Borjas and Rodriguez are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 8:40 p.m. ET. The fight streams live on Paramount+.
We are in the home stretch now, and the Deacs are already playing their penultimate home game of the 2025-26 season. Wake Forest and Syracuse are very similar teams in that they are pretty evenly matched and both underperformed this season. With the Orange just 1 win ahead of Wake in the conference standings, this game could have some important seeding implications for the ACC Tournament. Despite that, a 5:45 game on the CW between two bottom tier ACC teams with 2 potentially lame duck coaches is probably not going to generate a ton of excitement.
No. 14 Maryland women’s basketball wraps up its regular season in Ann Arbor taking on No. 8 Michigan, in a game with potentially major Big Ten and NCAA Tournament seeding ramifications. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET.
This is your space for thoughts, observations or whatever you would like to share, but please be respectful.
SOUTH BEND, IN - NOVEMBER 22: Jeremiyah Love #4 of the University of Notre Dame runs with the ball during a game between Syracuse University and University of Notre Dame at Notre Dame Stadium on November 22, 2025 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Miller/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) | ISI Photos via Getty Images
Jeremiyah Love, RB
School: Notre Dame | Conference: Independent
College Experience: Junior | Age: 20.7 (DOB: 05/31/2005
Jeremiyah Love entered Notre Dame as a high-pedigree four-star recruit and a state-champion two-sport athlete (track) from St. Louis. After flashing elite speed as a rotational piece behind Audric Estimé in 2023, Love took over the backfield in South Bend, quickly becoming a national sensation. His 2024 season was highlighted by a school-record 13-game rushing touchdown streak and a legendary 98-yard TD run against Indiana in the College Football Playoff.
As a junior in 2025, Love ascended to the top of the college landscape. He swept the major awards at his position, winning the Doak Walker (Nation’s top RB) and was named a Heisman finalist and a Unanimous All-American. His combination of sprinter speed (10.54s 100m), vision, and elite contact balance has established him as the consensus RB1 for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Beyond the raw stats, Love’s impact within the Irish offense was transformative due to his ability to serve as a strategic chess piece for HC Marcus Freeman. Coaches have praised his high football IQ, noting that his transition from a track-focused athlete to a refined technical runner happened much faster than scouts anticipated. His presence in the backfield forced opposing defensive coordinators to choose between stacking the box to stop his explosive ability as a no nonsense North-South runner or playing nickel coverage to account for his prowess flexed out in space.
Even in high-pressure situations, such as late-game drives against ranked opponents (see USC, Miami, and Texas A&M tape), Love remained the focal point of the offense, showcasing a level of durability that silenced early-career critics. His leadership within the locker room and his composure during Notre Dame’s deepest postseason runs have solidified his reputation as a ‘culture-setter’, according to a source, making him a highly coveted prospect for NFL franchises looking for a potential franchise-altering addition at the RB spot.
Strengths
Home-Run Speed: Legitimate track speed that allows him to outrun DBs once he reaches the second level.
Three-Down Versatility: Has flashed hands in space — can also line up in the slot and run wide-receiver quality routes; a mismatch against LBs.
Elite Contact Balance: Frequently spins, hurdles, or bounces off tacklers while maintaining forward momentum. One of the few ball-carriers in recent years that can go through, around, and over defenders if need be.
Vision & Patience: Displays advanced maturity in pressing the hole and allowing his blocks to develop before exploding through the alley.
Ball Security: Incredible discipline with only one fumble across 433 career carries.
Weaknesses
Leaping Tendency: Has a habit of hurdling defenders unnecessarily, which puts him at risk of significant hits in the open field.
Pass Pro: While physically capable of blocking, he can be inconsistent in identifying delayed blitzers or stunts. Trait that will improve as more reps are earned.
Power Limitations: More of a finesse and speed runner than a pile-pusher; rarely wins through pure brute force in short-yardage situations.
Let’s See His Work
How He Fits on the Commanders
Love would arrive in Washington as a transformative weapon for new OC David Blough. Blough is expected to blend the systems of Ben Johnson and Kevin O’Connell — schemes that prioritize explosive versatility and spacing, and for Love, a dynamic threat with the ball in his hands, well, he fits the vision.
In Blough’s projected offense, Love would serve as Washington’s bonafide RB1 with Bill Croskey-Merritt as a secondary piece. Love’s background as a state champion sprinter allows him to erase pursuit angles on the outside zone runs that are staples of the O’Connell tree. Furthermore, Love’s receiving profile — highlighted by 27 catches this fall — and his ability to align in the slot, complements the Air Raid elements Blough retained from the previous staff. By pairing Love with Jayden Daniels, Washington’s backfield would be as dynamic as any in football, similar to the Ravens, using Love’s skillset inside-outside the tackles to relieve the pressure through the air, and unnecessary shots Daniels has taken in two seasons.
Key Tactical Advantages:
Dual-Threat: Love’s 6.9 yards per carry average and reliable hands provide the high-floor, high-ceiling reliability needed to stabilize a new-look offense.
Scheme Independent: Love has proven efficient in both zone (8.1 YPC on outside zone) and gap schemes, allowing Blough to be collaborative and exotic with his play-calling.
Pass Protection Readiness: It’s all about effort for RBs in pass pro, and Love has no issue sticking his face in the mud to keep his QB clean if he’s not working in space.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 16: Jiri Prochazka of the Czech Republic is seen on stage during the UFC 311 press conference at Intuit Dome on January 16, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC)
Jiri Prochazka will be fighting for another UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 327 this coming April when he squares off with streaking contender Carlos Ulberg for the vacant 205-pound strap.
UFC CEO Dana White revealed the news Friday night, which confirms current UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has vacated his title after winning it back last October at UFC 320.
Prochazka, who won the UFC light heavyweight title back in 2022, has only lost to Pereira since joining the UFC roster nearly six years ago. “BJP” would have liked the chance to face Pereira in a trilogy fight, but at least he’ll get another opportunity to hoist UFC gold. After all, Prochazka does deserve another title shot after coming off back-to-back knockout wins over Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr.
On Saturday, Prochazka took to Instagram to send a message to fight fans after UFC 327’s main event title fight was made official. As always, Prochazka looks completely dialed in and ready to go to war against Ulberg in less than two months.
“Here we are. The moment I’ve been praying for, fighting for,” said Prochazka. “More than ever. Let’s go for it. For the whole Czech Republic, let’s go for it. Thank you for your support.
“Let’s go for the title. Let’s go for the hunt. Let’s go hunt Ulberg.”
Stick with Mania for more UFC 327 fight card news and coverage.
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 24: Ismaila Sarr of Crystal Palace celebrates with Jean-Philippe Mateta after scoring opening goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest at Selhurst Park on August 24, 2025 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Newcastle United are expected to prioritize offensive reinforcements this summer as the club evaluates its forward options following an inconsistent stretch in front of goal, even after bringing two such player to Tyneside less than a year ago.
With uncertainty surrounding Nick Woltemade’s long-term role and an Yoane Wissa’s subpar form, attention has shifted toward potential alternatives with Premier League experience, as is Eddie Howe’s known preference.
According to Football Insider, Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has emerged as a player of interest. Newcastle are reportedly keeping tabs on the France international’s availability ahead of the transfer window.
Mateta, 28, scored 10 goals in 34 appearances for Palace this season despite a recent knee issue that has sidelined him. He was oh-so-close to a move to AC Milan during the winter window but failed a medical, leaving him at Selhurst Park and clearly showing both his and Palace’s willingness to move on.
Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Mateta fits Newcastle’s recruitment profile, and that the saga is one worth keeping an eye on.
“Mateta is definitely on their radar at Newcastle,” Brown said. “It looks like he’s going to be available, Palace are willing to let him go, and there are a lot of clubs who are going to be sitting up and taking notice.
“He’s shown at Palace for a couple of years now that he can perform and score goals in the Premier League, his track record proves how good he’s been.
“He’s a France international as well, so where are they going to go to get a striker of that ilk? Especially one who is available and knows the league.
“That’s always something Newcastle look at, Eddie Howe likes to sign players who are proven in the Premier League to reduce the time it takes for them to adapt.
“Newcastle want to sign a new striker, a goalscorer, because the options they’ve got at the moment haven’t been consistent enough and have struggled.
“I don’t think Mateta is a perfect forward, there are a few concerns I have around him, but the scouting team at Newcastle will weigh up the pros and cons.”
For now, Mateta remains part of manager Oliver Glasner’s plans at Crystal Palace and has been included in their Conference League squad for the second half of the season.
YPSILANTI, MI - NOVEMBER 08: The Eastern Michigan Eagles celebrate their victory following the Eastern Michigan Eagles versus the Bowling Green Falcons game on Saturday November 8, 2025 on Crosby Field at Rynearson Stadium in Ypsilanti, MI. (Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Editor’s note: Alex Alvarado is a former contributor and editor-in-chief at Hustle Belt. It was sent to our email and lightly edited for formatting clarity.
He can be followed on Bluesky @aralvarado13.bsky.social.
I believe that sports should exist to make you feel hopeful.
I wish I could say that the leaders of our favorite sports want the same, but alas. Media leaders want money, and they want to prove just how much of it they can squeeze out of people who fell in love with their teams.
Which is really counter-intuitive to the whole experience! Because let’s say the other easy thing: falling in love with your team should be free! The cost of admission should be you! Just you! You want to feel inspired! You want to be moved!
We’ve gotta live long enough to see the moments that we’ve never seen before! Do you have a favorite sports memory? What’s the craziest play you’ve ever seen? What’s the best game you’ve ever watched?
Who’s your favorite player? Who’s the most underrated?
What the hell does any of that have to do with anybody getting filthy rich?
Friends, let me say something else to you: Me and you: we are college sports.
Obviously, the players, the coaches, the athletic directors, the hot dog vendors, the security guards, the media, the NCAA, the Supreme Court, Disney, Fox, CBS, and of course, private equity firms are all big parts of what make college sports today.
But there are a lot of characters that make up college sports. We, the Hustle Belt dot com, founded by Matt Sussman in August of 2010, have always been a legitimate member of college sports.
Always.
These games need participation from everybody, that means everybody from the field or court (or wherever) to the ones on the sidelines.
And that means you, too.
Have you ever played these games yourself? Don’t care, doesn’t matter. Because you still showed up. Never left your house? Also doesn’t matter, because we probably saw each other in the comments section or on Twitter. Or maybe you were reading one of the hundreds of other fantastic and beautiful team blogs across SB Nation and our niche focus stopped you in your tracks for a second to make you think to yourself.
Really, a whole-ass blog about the MAC?
Or better yet: REALLY!!? THEY GOT A WHOLE-ASS BLOG ABOUT THE MAC!?!?!!!
After sneaking-in some MAC football and basketball references into his blog posts across the internet in the 2000’s, Sussman launched Hustle Belt with this mission in mind:
“It’s always been a scattershot attempt on my part to cover the conference, but in the spirit of the hustle-based Great Lakes region economy, we’ll churn out some of the finest homemade MAC blogging known to hominids.”
None of this exists without you. All of this ever happened because of you.
I hope we remember what matters most when we choose what the future of these games should look and feel like, because they’re really important to us.
Staff writer Max Ellingsen dons a full Mariners uniform for school picture day || | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Today’s Cactus League game features the Mariners facing off against their Peoria sister squad Padres for the second time this Spring. The headline is that Kade Anderson, the third overall pick of the 2025 Draft, starts for Seattle. These will be his first pitches in game action since joining the organization. Anderson throws from the left side and features a delightfuly traditional fastball-slider-curveball-changeup arsenal. He was sitting 94-95 for LSU last year during their championship run, and the Mariners have reportedly focused on bulking him up, so I’ll be watching the velo especially closely today. Anderson will be followed by Emerson Hancock, Randy Dobnak, Jhonathan Díaz, and Blas Castaño.
In the lineup, while some guys have taken off for the WBC already, we’ll see Cal Raleigh and birthday boy Randy Arozarena in what’ll probably be their last games with the Mariners for a few weeks. Colt Emerson also gets another start.
San Diego’s lineup features another entry on the Nick Castellanos Redemption Tour and will start JP Sears, who I’ll always think of as what the Mariners gave up for Nick Rumbelow in one of the most baffling trades of the Dipoto Era. He’ll be followed by Jeremiah Estrada, Alek Jacob, Bradgley Rodriguez, old friend Ty Adcock, Kyle Hart, and—don’t tune out as the minor league subs come in—Mason Miller.
Stoke City head coach Mark Robins spoke to BBC Radio Stoke following their 2-1 defeat at Championship leaders Coventry City.
"We didn't deserve anything because we were really poor," he said.
"We didn't get going in the first half, I thought we didn't get close enough to them, we didn't get any real contact on them and we gave them the freedom of the park to be fair.
"Tommy made some really good saves in the first half that kept us in it.
"We got a goal back and got back into the game. In the second half we were much better. And when it gets to the stage that it did, you just have to see the game out.
"Tommy has to learn to come out and clear the whole lot out. If he does that, we draw the game potentially, but also you have to have the help, support and communication around you."
As the Unrivaled playoffs begin Saturday at Sephora Arena in Miami, the women's 3-on-3 professional basketball league announced its postseason awards.
Breeze BC guard Paige Bueckers, Rose BC guard Chelsea Gray and Phantom BC guard Kelsey Plum were named to first-team All-Unrivaled. Phantom BC forward Aliyah Boston, Mist BC guard Allisha Gray and Laces BC wing Brittney Sykes were named second team. Phantom BC's Roneeka Hodges was named Coach of the Year.
Bueckers averaged 22.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists while shooting 51.5% from the field and 38% from 3-point range in her rookie season. She led Breeze BC to the No. 5 seed in the playoffs.
Chelsea Gray led Unrivaled in total points (339), assists (85), 3-point field goals (49) and assists per game (6.1). She became the first player in league history to surpass 600 career points, 200 career field goals, and 100 career assists. Her Rose team opens the postseason against Breeze on Saturday (9:45 p.m. ET, truTV).
Kelsey Plum, who led Phantom BC to the No. 1 seed, averaged 22.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists. The Phantom have a bye for the first round of the playoffs and will face the lowest-seeded team to advance in the semifinals Monday at the Barclays Center in New York. The Unrivaled championship for Season 2 will take place on Wednesday in Miami.
All players and head coaches received a postseason award vote along with 21 media members. The voting was weighed as such: 35% to players, 35% to coaches and 30% to media.
Bo Naylor's 2025 season resembled that of many hit TV shows — it ended with some positive momentum, a cliff-hanger and several months of a break before anyone will see if it actually all paid off.
For the Guardians catcher, most of last year was a struggle at the plate, like a "Game of Thrones" season that spends several episodes slowly setting up a few battles. The season finale, though — in Naylor's case, the final 20-ish games in September — were worth the wait for the Guardians, who needed his bat to help capture a division crown and a playoff spot down the stretch.
Naylor posted a 75 wRC+ in the first half of last season, meaning he was 25 percent below average as a hitter. And considering his rough start to the year, it looked like he'd be lucky to even get to that figure.
In the second half, though, he posted a 98 wRC+. It still wasn't where he wants to be, but he was certainly a more productive member of the lineup. In September, Naylor finally caught fire with a 136 wRC+ and an .872 OPS over his last 19 games as the Guardians caught and passed the Detroit Tigers in the standings.
Bo Naylor stats
He had a hard-hit percentage of 25.7 in the first half of the year. That rose to 36.4 percent in the second half, and it rose further to 38.5 percent specifically in September.
"I think the best way to know yourself is to go through a major league season and face major league pitching for a full six months, and that'll tell you more about yourself than anything else," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. "In Bo's case, him getting more simple [with his swing] was absolutely something that needed to happen.
"I mean, we don't get to the playoffs without Bo Naylor at the plate last year."
The attribution for his character arc at the plate throughout 2025 was the adjustment from a leg kick to a toe tap, which acts as a timing mechanism with his swing. The larger leg kick was also adding unwanted movement. Once the toe tap really took hold, everything else fell into place.
"[It got rid of] any wasted movements, anything that isn't going to serve my swing," Naylor said. "[It was] making sure everything is quiet and only going to help serve the purpose. .. Mentality-wise, everything was solid, it was just a matter of having what my body was trying to do be on the same page."
Bo Naylor 2026 outlook
With the Guardians hoping that positive momentum can survive the winter and make it to Opening Day, Naylor represents a potentially major piece as the 2026 lineups searches for more production. Cleveland's 2025 lineup finished 28th in runs. Teams don't often finish last in their own league in scoring and win their division.
Naylor is one of three Guardians catchers on the roster, along with David Fry and Austin Hedges. Fry will often be in the lineup against left-handed pitchers, either at catcher or at first base, though the recent signing of Rhys Hoskins could drastically cut into all of that. Barring another slow stretch from Naylor and/or Fry, Hedges could also see his at-bats sliced significantly, potentially pushing him even more into a late-inning defensive option.
It had been years since Cleveland catchers have held their own at the plate, though that all changed once the calendar turned to September. It leaves Naylor as one of the most notable Guardians players to watch in 2026 after the team's quiet offseason left much of the needed improvement to internal options.
Naylor spent the winter further cleaning up his swing, simplifying his bat path through the strike zone. Once Opening Day rolls around, the Guardians will see if the September gains bloom in the spring.
"I think Bo's just scratching the surface of the hitter he can be," Vogt said. "Everybody develops at a different clip. … Now that he's simplified both his lower and upper half, I think he's putting himself in a position to have a breakout year."
First Academy (Florida) cornerback Kamauri Whitfield is strongly considering the University of Florida after decommitting from the Tennessee Volunteers earlier this month, according to Swamp247.
The Gators hosted him on its Jan. 10 Junior Day, and Whitfield backed off his pledge to the Volunteers a little over a month later on Feb. 13. The decision came after changes to Tennessee's coaching staff and a strong junior season that raised his profile, resulting in increased interest among Power Four programs. Mississippi State, Oregon, Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech are among the schools that offered him, and Florida reaffirmed its offer extended in January.
With the Orange and Blue making him a priority target, Whitfield has grown fond of the program. Gainesville will be his first stop of the summer when he takes an official visit from May 28-30. Trips to Oregon, Nebraska and Virginia Tech are to follow. Whitefield says one of those three programs is likely alongside Florida in his top two, right now.
"Florida, they stand pretty high in my recruitment right now," Whitfield said to Swamp247. "They'll be, like, top two right now, like top one, top two."
The Ducks and Hokies are expected to host him in spring, as are the national champion Indiana Hoosiers. Florida is working to get him on campus during the spring, too.
Florida nickelbacks coach Dae'one Wilkins is leading the charge in this recruitment. The Gators plan to use Whitfield at multiple positions, but his primary spot would be at the nickel. Wilkins is young and relates well to Whitfield. Being an in-state option is also a plus for the Gators.
Kamauri Whitfield's Recruiting Summary
Whitfield is a consensus three-star recruit across all three major recruiting services — 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals. 247Sports has him ranked No. 559 nationally and No. 52 among cornerbacks on its class of 2027 composite list, while Rivals has him a bit lower at Nos. 563 and 55, respectively.
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With a free throw to end the third quarter of her team’s NCHSAA 4A West third-round playoff matchup against Foard, the Stuart Cramer girls basketball standout set a new state all-time scoring mark.
She surpassed Clinton’s Danyel Parker, who has held the mark since the late 1980s. Parker, who later played for the late Kay Yow at NC State, finished with 3,225 points.
The only Gaston County girls basketball player in 5-on-5 competition with 3,000 career points, the Wake Forest women’s basketball signee is a 50% career shooter. She averages 27 poiints per game, along with 8.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 6.2 steals.
Holland was named to the Carolinas All-Star Classic on Monday, Feb. 23. The all-star game pitting high school basketball standouts from North and South Carolina is set for March 21 at Dorman High School in Spartanburg.
There remains one more hurdle for the Stuart Cramer standout to accomplish, however — a state championship. With more than 100 career wins on her resume, Holland and the Storm need three more to earn the program’s first NCHSAA crown.
The 2025 season was meant to be a significant one for Jake Burger. He was coming off back-to-back seasons with a .250 batting average and at least 29 home runs. He had just been traded from a Marlins team that lost 100 games to a Rangers team that had won the World Series in 2023 and had designs to get back to that level again.
Yet, once the season began, seemingly nothing went right.
Burger hit .186/.229/.330 with a 30.5% strikeout rate and three home runs in 29 games to begin the season and was surprisingly demoted to Triple-A. He spent just two weeks in the minors before being recalled, but was only with the Rangers for another month before an oblique strain landed him on the injured list. Two weeks later, he was back in the Rangers' lineup, but this time only for 10 days before a quad injury sidelined him again. Almost a month later, he was back with the Rangers, but, again, 10 days later, he found himself on the injured list with a wrist sprain.
By the time the season ended, Burger had somehow managed to play 103 MLB games despite all the stops and starts, but hit .236/.269/.419 with 16 home runs in 376 plate appearances. While the struggle to stay healthy was certainly frustrating, overcoming that was nothing new for Burger.
After the White Sox drafted him 11th overall in 2017, Burger was immediately the 8th-ranked prospect in a farm system that also included Eloy Jimenez, Luis Robert Jr., Dylan Cease, Dane Dunning, and Michael Kopech. From there, things went south. Burger ruptured his left Achilles tendon in February of 2018 and then re-tore the same tendon in May of the same year. While he was rehabbing in 2019, he injured his heel, and then COVID took away the entire 2020 minor league season. He was finally healthy again in 2021 and able to hit his way into big league opportunities in both 2021 and 2022.
For a player to overcome all of that and establish himself as a productive MLB player with three years of service time, being sent down to the minors, even for a short stint, could have been crushing. For Burger, it was more illuminating than anything.
"That short stint down there, obviously, you don't want that to happen, but everything happens for a reason," he reflected. "I went down there and had a lot of fun and found joy playing the game again, you know, not like grinding every single at bat. I think that's probably the biggest takeaway from anything like that is that this is a child's game, have fun. Go out there and just compete."
Which is exactly what Burger tried to do last season, in between all the injuries, but the desire to produce for his new organization and teammates was equally as strong: "I was just trying to do too much. You know, trying to make up for lost time, where it's like, damn, I was just on the IL for an oblique, then it's a quad. I really wanted to at least try and contribute 20 home runs, so maybe it's trying to do too much where it kind of puts you in a worse position."
That worse position led to mechanical changes to his swing that Burger thinks impacted his power production a bit.
"I felt like I was really low to [the pull] side, and that's where kind of the bread and butter is," he explained. "Mechanically, it just felt like I was cutting myself off a little bit. Obviously, not being able to get in a groove with injuries and whatnot adds to that, but I feel like I was cutting myself off a little bit and not able to catch stuff out in front. I felt like I've made some good adjustments for that."
A quick look at Statcast's Swing Path Leaderboard confirms Burger's assumption. In 2025, Burger's intercept point, which measures how far out in front of the plate the bat and ball make contact, was much farther back than in the previous two seasons. Not getting the ball out in front of the plate as much also meant that his attack direction, the angle at which the sweet spot of his bat is traveling to the ball, was less than the last two seasons. All of which is to say that Burger was not getting the ball out in front and, therefore, not contacting the ball to the pull side at the right angles and not pulling the ball with as much authority.
Statcast
As a result, Burger pulled the ball in the air just 13.5% of the time in 2025, which ranked 290th out of 348 hitters who had at least 200 plate appearances. In 2024, his Pull Air Rate was 19.8%, which ranked 91st out of 251 qualified hitters.
Getting back to his preferred contact point could be crucial for Burger since his batted ball quality was strong in 2025. "I had a conversation with [Rangers hitting coach] Justin Viele in the offseason, and it was about how most of my metrics are the exact same as they were in '23 and '24," Burger explained. He still registered a 114.7 mph max exit velocity. His average exit velocity of 90.4 mph was within striking distance of his career norms, his 13.9% barrel rate was well above league average, and his 48.5% hard-hit rate was the second-highest mark of his MLB career.
So, is the solution for a productive 2026 season simply improved health?
To a certain extent, it is. That's why, coming into spring training, the 29-year-old Burger was determined to make sure that he was on the field and available to his team far more often: "I did a lot of Pilates. I did that three times a week," he said before a spring training game in Arizona. "For me, it's protecting my obliques and protecting the soft tissue. It felt like Pilates would help protect those small muscles that are around the big muscles that keep them functioning every day."
However, the other change for Burger was altering how he prepared for this season from a mental standpoint.
"The last two years, I feel like I've gotten a little bit away from just going out there and competing," he admitted. "I think as hitters, we always want to look at our mechanics and try to take a magic pill, like, 'Hey, if I'm just holding my hands in this position, I'm going to be great.' But that's not really applicable when you get onto the field. So, for me, this spring training has been relentlessly process-oriented and making sure I'm getting those feels every single day in the cage...I'm looking for this feel with my hands, this feel with my lower half, this feel with my torso, and just kind of like nitpicking those each in their separate bucket, and then putting it together at the end of that session. Then once I'm done with that, mechanics are out of sight, out of mind."
The goal with this approach for Burger is to make a more conscious change in separating the mechanical preparation of hitting from the mental preparation. Once Burger is done with his work in the cage, he's no longer focused on the minutia of his swing. Instead, he's solely concerned with his mental approach at the plate and just going out there and playing.
"What I have that day is what I have. I'm gonna go in there, work on my approach, whatever that may be against the pitcher that I'm facing that day, and then take that out to the field. I feel like us, as hitters, sometimes, when you're struggling and trying to do too much, you jumble up the mechanics with the approach. Those mechanics thoughts might come to you in the middle of an at- bat, and you've lost at that point. So I'm trying to separate those two."
So far, the 29-year-old thinks "it's going pretty well," and the results would seem to support that. In his five spring games, he's gone 3-for-11 with a home run, and his average exit velocity is right up there with the highest marks he's had in a full MLB season. He's pulling the ball more, making solid contact, and feels good about where he's attacking the ball.
His Rangers career may not have started as planned, but last year's struggles might have helped him find the joy he needed to succeed moving forward. It certainly seemed that way as he sat, beaming at his locker following two straight ping pong wins over Wyatt Langford.
"I think it's just understanding who I am and not trying to be somebody I'm not. That's always a good constant reminder of, hey, just go out there and have fun. Act like you're playing whiffle ball in the backyard with your buddies."
That new approach, plus a season of good health, could push both Burger and the Rangers back to their old heights.
Legendary former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is the Lions' coach [Getty Images]
The England Lions squad are "following official advice" in the United Arab Emirates after Iran launched attacks throughout the Middle East in response to American and Israeli strikes across its territory.
English cricket's governing body said in a statement it was in contact with "security experts and the government" and that the safety and security of its teams was the "top priority".
The Lions - England's development team, led by Andrew Flintoff - are in the UAE for matches against Pakistan Shaheens.
They were due to play the second of those matches in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, but that has now been cancelled.
The touring party - including 25 players and coaches - travelled to Abu Dhabi but are now unable to leave as the UAE's airspace is closed, with a number of airlines cancelling flights in the region.
The UK Foreign Office has urged British nationals in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE to immediately shelter in place following reports of explosions.
England women were scheduled to fly to Abu Dhabi for a training camp on Wednesday but that trip has been postponed.
The England men's T20 World Cup team will fly from Sri Lanka to Mumbai on Sunday as planned.
After the US and Israel launched their large-scale attack on Saturday, Iran began retaliatory strikes targeting Israel and other sites in the Middle East.
A spokesperson for the England and Wales Cricket Board said: "The safety and security of our teams and staff is our top priority.
"We are in contact with security experts and the government in relation to current events in the Middle East, and are following official advice.
"We will continue to monitor and assess the situation and official advice in relation to the future of these trips."
The International Cricket Council said earlier on Saturday it had "activated contingency plans" to "safeguard the travel, logistics and well-being of all stakeholders" at the T20 World Cup.
The tournament is being held in India and Sri Lanka but teams, including England, are scheduled to fly through the Middle East at the end of the competition.
West Indies are scheduled to fly through Dubai's airport on Monday, should they be eliminated on Sunday.
Elsewhere, football's world governing body said it would "monitor developments" in the Middle East.
The US are co-hosts of this summer's World Cup, which Iran have qualified for.
"We had a meeting today and it is premature to comment in detail, but we will monitor developments around all issues around the world," said Fifa secretary general Mattias Grafstrom on Saturday.
Formula 1 also said it was "closely monitoring" the situation, with races scheduled in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in April.
The 2026 season begins next weekend in Melbourne, with Bahrain and Saudi Arabia scheduled to host the fourth and fifth rounds of the new campaign on 12 April and 19 April respectively.
The family of the late Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau said it was "overwhelmed" that the USA men's hockey team celebrated those players after winning the gold medal.
Players carried Johnny Gaudreau's jersey on the ice and brought out his children, Noa and Johnny, for a team photo. Gaudreau, a seven-time NHL All-Star, frequently suited up for the USA in international tournaments before he and his brother died on Aug. 29, 2024, when hit by a driver while they were bicycling in New Jersey.
The Gaudreau family members said in a statement on Saturday, Feb. 28, that they initially turned down an invitation to go to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan because it would have been hard on them.
"But we kept thinking about what John and Matty would say if they knew we turned it down. We knew the answer," the family said. "John loved representing his country. From the time he was little, he dreamed of competing at the Olympics. In that final summer, he was working harder than ever, pushing himself with everything he had to earn a spot on that roster. He was going to be there."
The family members - parents Guy and Jane, plus Johnny's widow Meredith, went to Milan - said they were comforted by the fact that so many people cared about the brothers.
"Every person we encountered took the time to ask about the boys — who they were, what they meant to us, the kind of people they were away from the ice," the family said. "What struck us most was realizing that John and Matty's impact reaches so much further than we sometimes see in our own grief. They are carried by so many people — in locker rooms, in conversations, in quiet moments we will never even know about. That means everything to us."
“When we were first invited to Milan for the Olympics, we said no. It felt like more than we could handle. But we kept thinking about what John and Matty would say if they knew we turned it down. We knew the answer.⁰⁰John loved representing his country. From the time he was… pic.twitter.com/tIAuww5Qnm
"When Zach (Werenski), Auston (Matthews) and Matthew (Tkachuk) carried John's jersey around that ice, we were overwhelmed — they made sure he was there," the family said. "And then to see Noa and Johnny — on Johnny's second birthday — carried out onto the ice to be part of that gold medal photo — there are no words for what that felt like.
"John and Matty should have been there, and in that moment, they were. Thank you to every member of that team for loving John & Matty - and for making sure they were part of something historic. And thank you to everyone at @NBCOlympics and @usahockey for your kindness, your generosity, and for bringing our family to Milan to witness it. You gave us a gift we didn't know we needed."
Inter Milan Vs Genoa – Official Starting Lineups As Thuram & Bonny Lead Line Without Lautaro
Cristian Chivu has named his Inter Milan side to face Genoa at San Siro tonight, with Marcus Thuram and Ange-Yoan Bonny leading the attack as the Nerazzurri look to extend their Serie A lead to thirteen points without the injured Lautaro Martinez.
The official starting lineups between Inter Milan vs Genoa has been made official. Tonight’s game is due to kick off at 20:45 local time.
Inter look to bounce back from their Champions League elimination at the hands of Bodo/Glimt last night.
Inter Milan Vs Genoa – Carlos Augusto Starts In Back Three
MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 03: Carlos Augusto of FC Internazionale in action during the Coppa Italia match between FC Internazionale and Venezia FC at San Siro Stadium on December 03, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
With Alessandro Bastoni serving a one-match suspension, Carlos Augusto steps into the back three alongside De Vrij and Akanji.
The Brazilian provides reliable cover on the left side of defence, slotting seamlessly into Chivu’s system.
Francesco Acerbi and Bisseck sit on the bench today, as Chivu rotates his squad.
Inter Milan Vs Genoa – Zielinski Starts As Calhanoglu Returns To Bench
BERGAMO, ITALY – DECEMBER 28: Piotr Zielinski of FC Internazionale in action during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and FC Internazionale at New Balance Arena on December 28, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
The welcome news is Hakan Calhanoglu‘s return to the squad after injury.
However, the Turkish international starts on the bench. With Piotr Zielinski continuing in the deep-lying playmaker role he has made his own in recent weeks.
Nicolo Barella and Henrikh Mkhitaryan complete the midfield three, with Sucic, Frattesi and Diouf among the options from the bench.
Inter Milan Vs Genoa – Official Starting Lineups – Bonny & Thuram Start
MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 03: Ange-Yoan Bonny of FC Internazionale Milano celebrates scoring his team’s fifth goal during the Coppa Italia match between FC Internazionale and Venezia FC at San Siro Stadium on December 03, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
INTER (3-5-2): 1 Sommer; 25 Akanji, 6 De Vrij, 30 Carlos Augusto; 11 Luis Henrique, 23 Barella, 7 Zielinski, 22 Mkhitaryan, 32 Dimarco; 9 Thuram, 14 Bonny.Bench: 12 Di Gennaro, 13 J. Martinez, 2 Dumfries, 8 Sucic, 15 Acerbi, 16 Frattesi, 17 Diouf, 20 Calhanoglu, 31 Bisseck, 36 Darmian, 53 Lavelli, 94 Esposito.Coach: Chivu.Suspended: Bastoni.Unavailable: Lautaro.
Arbeloa running out of options at centre-back ahead of Real Madrid vs Getafe
On Monday night, Real Madrid take on Getafe at the Santiago Bernabeu, hoping to stay in touch with league leaders FC Barcelona.
However, leading up to the game against Jose Bordalas’ side, manager Alvaro Arbeloa has some fitness issues to deal with, especially in the centre-back department.
Five defenders unavailable
Indeed, as reported by MARCA, Real Madrid have five defenders unavailable, three from the first team and two from Castilla. It has left the head coach stretching resources to the limit in a bid to regain top spot in La Liga.
Eder Militao has been out for two months, Dean Huijsen is dealing with calf discomfort that has lasted longer than expected, and Raul Asencio joined the list this week after an accidental collision with Eduardo Camavinga against Benfica left him with a cervical sprain.
The only fit centre-backs for Real Madrid. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)
If the first team are depleted, the academy does not offer the expected safety net. Two of the most natural options from Castilla to cover the position are also sidelined.
Victor Valdepeas, who has already made his La Liga debut, is suffering from a grade two knee sprain that will keep him out for around five weeks, while Joan Martinez has a small psoas tear with an estimated absence of three weeks.
What remains are Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba. On paper, it is a partnership with pedigree, but in practice they have not started together since 1 March last year, when Real Madrid lost to Real Betis.
The most reliable alternative at this stage will be deploying Aurelien Tchouameni at centre-back, although his performances in midfield have been crucial in recent weeks.
If Arbeloa moves the Frenchman into central defence, a gap opens in midfield that could be filled by Thiago Pitarch, one of the academy players who has impressed in his limited opportunities with the first team, and is pushing for a start.
Coventry City head coach Frank Lampard spoke to BBC CWR following their 94th-minute victory over Stoke City.
"Not every day is like this and you have to enjoy the moment when it comes," he said.
"I enjoyed it today because I loved our performance – it was so, so good throughout the game that if we hadn't have got what we deserved it would have been a travesty.
"From minute one and how we played the first half, we should been two or three goals up. There was real quality in our play, good pressure from us off the ball and we gave them nothing, other than the goal. Apart from that, throughout the game they didn't have another shot on target or any real threat.
"So when you have that feeling of 'oh, it's going to be one of those days', but it flips because of the character of the boys, it makes it a special day."
Given that Hearts are proving so impossibly stubborn at the top of the Scottish Premiership, refusing, it seems, to do what is expected of them by the old order and kindly going away, the pressure returns to Rangers and Celtic in Sunday's must-win to end all must-wins.
Martin O'Neill turns 74 on the day. What better way to spend it than in the furnace of the Old Firm. Candles on the cake won't concern him. Points on the board will be the only thing on his mind. A draw is of little use to either club now.
This game demands a winner and if there is a winner there has to be a loser. Heaven help them. The wrath will descend, especially if it's Celtic, you suspect. It's not like Rangers folk will shrug in defeat - it's not exactly their style - but Celtic fans are an angrier and more frustrated crew right now.
They have more targets to aim at than Rangers have - and more fury. Andrew Cavenagh, the Rangers owner, got rid of a manager, a chief executive and a sporting director, as the fans hoped he would, and then spent tens of millions on players in the January window on top of the millions he spent in the summer.
They have a popular manager in Danny Rohl and what looks like ambition in the boardroom. In the grand scheme of things, Rangers fans don't have a huge amount to complain about.
Their Celtic counterparts are in a different place. Most are apoplectic with their board and split on the way to voice that anger.
In the underworld of social media they are now arguing among themselves. Accusatory language is flying. Toxicity is pervasive; draining and self-defeating, but almost unavoidable. With emotion can come suspicion, bitterness and rancour. The Celtic Way is all of those things at the moment.
Both of these clubs have been soap operas all season. Rangers have an awful lot of work to do, but they are at least pointing in the right direction. With a manager to find and with the same unpopular people who appointed Nancy in charge of finding him, Celtic look directionless.
What plan can they have in the badly-needed rebuilding of a team when there is no manager there to rebuild it?
Old Firm playing catch up while being hounded by Motherwell
These clubs have experienced existential crises and that, on its own, is compelling to witness. Rangers had a "£20m net spend" in the summer and went again in January in a major way. They're still behind Derek McInnes' Hearts.
When the Old Firm look over their shoulder they can also see the coming force that is Motherwell; winning and entertaining and almost incapable of conceding a goal in the league under the brilliant management of Jens Berthel Askou.
In the past decade in Europe Celtic have made an estimated £195m in prize money and television rights. They have sold three different players for £25m apiece, another five for between £10-£20m and a bunch of others in the £5m-£10m bracket. Significant profit has been made. They have £67m in cash reserves.
Rangers have made close to £100m from European football in those 10 years. Hearts have earned about a tenth of that and Motherwell have made about a tenth of what Hearts have made. And yet the way of things at the top is under massive threat - and it's intoxicating.
[BBC]
It's always tense when the Glasgow giants meet, but this one will have a slightly different vibe. There's jeopardy for both of them, not just from each other but from Hearts and Motherwell, too. The Old Firm are playing catch-up while being hounded from below. It's unique in the lifetime of many, many people who are watching.
And there's been some verbal jousting in the preamble to Sunday. Luke McCowan, buoyed by a goal and a win against Stuttgart on Thursday night, gave it the big one about Celtic being the best team in the country, despite significant evidence suggesting they are not.
"We know that if we're at it, no team in the league touches us," said McCowan the other night. He backs his team. Fair enough, but…
Celtic, as if anybody doesn't already know, are currently sitting third in the Premiership. If it wasn't for their ability to score late winners - 87th and 90th minute in two games against St Mirren, 90th minute and 90th minute in two against Kilmarnock, 90th minute against Motherwell - then their title hopes would have already turned to dust.
Credit to them for having the bottle to win those games, but they were all desperate grinds. As were others they scraped home in. O'Neill has dragged them forward by the scruff of the neck, but it has all looked very tired, very stressful, very on the edge of blowing up.
He is still without some mainstays in defence - Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston. Auston Trusty is suspended.
They've dropped points in 10 of their 27 games. The majority can be pinned on the ludicrously ill-judged appointment of Wilfried Nancy, but under Brendan Rodgers they lost to Dundee and Hearts and under O'Neill lost to Hibs and drew with Hearts. A controversial red card in both of those games, of course, but the performances were still a mile off what Celtic used to be.
Compared to this point last season they've won five fewer games in the league and have lost five more games, they're -28 on goals scored and +9 on goals conceded.
They're 15 points worse off. A year ago they were sitting pretty at the top, 13 points clear. They'd just taken Bayern Munich to the wire in the Champions League. Life was good.
Rohl's words set the tone for derby like no other
Rangers are down three in terms of points and wins, but have lost three fewer games, have nine more goals with one more conceded this season than at this stage last season. With such a hideous start to the campaign, getting back in the hunt must feel like the second chance they thought they'd never have.
McCowan's words sparked something - and it was good knockabout stuff. Rohl reminded people on Friday that Celtic have lost seven games to Rangers' two.
He also riffed on why Celtic didn't push for more goals against Stuttgart on Thursday and speculated on who O'Neill might pick in goal on Sunday - Viljami Sinisalo, who did well in Germany, or the increasingly error-prone veteran, Kasper Schmeichel.
When talking about another manager's players, Rohl knew what he was doing - and O'Neill didn't like it.
"It's quite extraordinary, an extraordinary comment to make, really," said O'Neill of Rohl's view on Celtic supposedly not going for it against Stuttgart."
He also called Rohl "a very young man" which was tantamount to telling him to "sit down, you know nothing of this fixture".
He said Rohl was behaving like a fan. "I'm glad he's really interested in the make-up of my team, you know. He hasn't been in Glasgow that long, has he?"
Long enough to know what's at stake. And, possibly, long enough to know how to get under the skin of an old master.
Talk is cheap, though. Talk wins you nothing. And how both of these clubs need a win at Ibrox. It's an Old Firm derby, but not as we've known it for an awfully long time.
Burnley manager Scott Parker to BBC Match of the Day: "I don't think I can remotely even contemplate speaking about the negatives really. The positives in terms of our reaction, three goals down, the fight, the spirit to get back into the game, two goals disallowed by the finest of margins were defining for us.
"I'm probably more sad than disappointed. I'm sad for the group. It takes a certain type to be in that arena at half-time, at times your own supporters being hugely critical of you, and to come out and show the spirit and stand up to the challenge we faced today, not just from Brentford but from the whole atmosphere, I'm hugely proud of this team."
On the atmosphere at half-time: "There was a mixed tone really, there were some harsh words. In the first half we played soft. We gave ourselves a mountain to climb. We changed things tactically and it worked very well in the second half. At that moment the balance of the atmosphere from a young squad that were probably hurting at that moment from the general reaction, which of course we understand. Our reaction was superb really.
"It was [hard to go through]. I think I've been around since VAR came in and I've had strong views about VAR. In the modern day we want perfection. Of course there's elements of it is what it is. I've not seen it back but offside is offside and if it's handball it's handball.
"It was heartbreaking for us really because we deserved that. Second half we were incredible. To score five goals in 60 minutes it's full credit to us really.
"VAR and the fine margins of technology to the inch of a sleeve calling something offside is the game of football we live in now. So we accept that. That's the way it is."
Did you know?
Burnley lost a Premier League game having scored three or more goals for just the second time, also doing so in November 2009 with a 5-3 defeat by West Ham.
Charles
Oliveira wants to better his own record by adding another
finish to it.
Oliveira is scheduled to challenge Max
Holloway for the BMF title at
UFC 326 on March 7 in Las Vegas. “Do Bronx” predicts that
Holloway won’t be able to go the distance against him. Oliveira has
only four decision wins in 32 career victories and doesn’t plan to
add another decision.
“I don’t think he is gonna make it five rounds,” Oliveira told
ESPN. “I’m a guy who’s always looking to finish
the fight, who’s always looking to end it. I have four decisions in
my career, I’m not looking to add a fifth one. I really think that
I’m going to be able to finish the fight before the fifth
round.”
Oliveira (36-11) currently holds the record for the most finishes
in
UFC history with 21. The former lightweight champ has finished
22 career wins via submission and 10 via knockout. Meanwhile,
Holloway (27-8) has finished 14 of his 27 career wins so far. Known
for his volume punching, “Blessed” often brutally beats up his
opponents even if he doesn’t knock them out cold.
BLOOMINGTON, IN - FEBRUARY 22: The Indiana Hoosiers Logo on display on a Adidas basketball during a women's college basketball game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Indiana Hoosiers on February 22, 2024 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, IN. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Indiana women’s basketball is set to host a high profile prospect for today’s matchup against Penn State at Assembly Hall, the regular season finale.
Khloe Nicholson, a small forward in the class of 2028, will be in attendance for the Hoosiers’ matchup against the Nittany Lions, per Dushawn London of 247Sports. Indiana previously hosted Nicholson last summer and extended a scholarship offer at the time of said visit.
Nicholson attends Quincy High School in Quincy, Illinois, and is a priority recruiting target for Big Ten rivals Iowa and in-state Illinois. She ranks in as the second highest-rated small forward and 10th highest rated prospect overall in On3’s Rivals Industry Rankings.
Indiana has surged in recruiting as of late with a top class on the way in 2026. That surge has coincided with the hiring of Colsten Thompson as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator last offseason as the program looks to build back after a down 2025-26 season.
INDIANAPOLIS — Defense has been a calling card for the Borden girls basketball team these past four seasons.
Saturday afternoon, it secured them another Class A state championship.
The Braves dominated Fremont, limiting them to 30% shooting and matching the Class A state final record for fewest points allowed, in a dominating 51-31 victory.
The two-time defending champions led by seven at halftime despite two of its top players, AJ Mallad and Ava Wheeler, both encountering early foul trouble.
Mallad returned for the start of the second half and quickly set to tightening the screws on Fremont, drilling a 3-pointer on Borden’s first possession, then converting an Emma Hart steal into another triple.
The now two-time defending champs maintained their double-digit margin the rest of the way, pushing it to 20 at the end of the third quarter and 22 late in the fourth on an Emma Hart layup off a turnover.
Hart, a senior, finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds, while Rarick logged 10 points and a state record-tying eight assists. Hart was named the Mental Attitude Award winner for Class A.
Borden shot 45% and committed 14 turnovers — it had only two between the second and third quarters — against a Fremont defense whose ability to turn teams over fueled February run.
The Braves were significantly longer than the Eagles, and they took full advantage of that discrepancy, winning the rebound battle, 30-20, and holding Grace Scharlach and Mya Turner — their opponent’s top-two scorers — to a combined 18 points on 7-of-25 shooting (0-for-7 from 3).
Mallad finished with 13 points for Borden, while Wheeler clocked seven points, two blocks and four rebounds.
Saylor Schleicher was critical off the bench when Mallad ran into foul trouble, logging four points, three rebounds, a block and a steal while also locking down Scharlach. Paityn Fisk checked in for Wheeler late in the second quarter, and promptly delivered a layup to push Borden’s lead back to five.
IndyStar will have a behind-the-scenes story with Borden on Sunday.
And Howe admits their Champions League run has taken a toll on his players when it comes to the Premier League.
“Certainly in relation to the Premier League, our form for a while has not been strong enough,” he said.
“It’s not been good enough. We know that. We take responsibility for that. It’s been really frustrating for us and that is the perils of Europe, I’m afraid, where we’ve tried to be laser-focused on every game and give attention to every game with the same importance.
“But with the deluge of games, your focus can be swayed. Our Premier League return in recent weeks has been nowhere near the level it has been historically. Our home form has been so reliable for us but it’s tailed off.
“We’ve got to try and grab that back as quickly as possible. We love playing here. We want this to be our place where we pick up the most points, where the players feel free to play and through our own performances, that hasn’t been the case.”
Newcastle twice found a way back into the game, equalising to make it 1-1 before conceding moments later to go behind, and did so again after making it 2-2 via Jacob Murphy, with Thierno Barry winning it late on.
“I don’t see the players not trying,” Howe insisted. “I see sometimes maybe the other way, where players are over-trying.
“I felt attacking-wise, we could still do loads better today. But we had enough ball around their box. We had enough crossing opportunities. half-chances, Sandro’s hit his volley at the end.
“It could have been a very different result again. But we’re just making too many individual errors. It’s costing us goals at the other end. We can’t do that at this level.
“If you put a list of our goals, watched a lot of our goals we’re conceding, in the Premier League especially, and put them together, it’s not good showing for us. So we need to focus on that.”
Kylian Mbappé to miss Champions League round of 16 first leg against Manchester City
Kylian Mbappé (27) is expected to miss the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 between Real Madrid and Manchester City, according to information from Cadena Ser.
The French forward, who suffered a knee injury, is likely to be sidelined for the next three weeks. Already absent from the second leg of the play-off against SL Benfica (2-1 win), Mbappé will probably not feature in the clash against the Cityzens. A forced rest that should also prevent him from playing in the La Liga matches scheduled against Getafe, Celta Vigo and Elche.
If everything goes according to plan, Real Madrid’s number 10 could make his return in the second leg against Manchester City.
A key player for Real Madrid since his arrival at the club a year and a half ago, Mbappé has already scored 38 goals and provided six assists in 33 appearances in all competitions this season.
The FC Barcelona presidential race is taking a political turn. Xavi Hernández, a legendary figure at the club, has thrown his support behind Víctor Font, the main challenger to the current president.
Joan Laporta, who has been in charge for nearly five years, is seeking another term. His tenure, marked by sporting and financial revival, makes him the election favorite. But Xavi’s public endorsement of Font could sway a portion of the socios. The former midfielder, who played 767 matches for Barça and won 25 trophies, still commands immense respect among supporters.
Former club coach from 2021 to 2024, Xavi led the team for 143 matches and claimed two trophies. His involvement in the campaign shows that this election goes beyond mere administration: it also represents competing visions for Barça’s future. The battle between Laporta and Font promises to be intense in the coming weeks.
“Bold” predictions in sports media are designed to be outlandish, dreaming big and shooting for the stars, and often not grounded in total realism. Consider the following prognostications precisely those for Minnesota Vikings free agency.
Minnesota won’t have endless cash, so the predictions lean on cap gymnastics, value, and one big bet.
The club doesn’t have much money to spend in 2026, especially compared to 2025, but let’s get some juicy stuff on record.
Five Bold Purple Predictions for Free Agency
The gaudy theories about one week out.
Feb 17, 2022; Eagan, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings executive Rob Brzezinski speaks with Vikings.com’s Gabe Henderson during a sit-down interview discussing organizational philosophy and roster-building strategy. Brzezinski outlined Minnesota’s leadership structure while addressing long-term planning and the hiring of head coach Kevin O’Connell during the in-depth digital segment. Mandatory Credit: YouTube
1. Fans Leave the Free Agent Process Thinking “Boring”
In 2025, the Vikings had about $70 million spent in free agency, using that cash on high-profile veterans like guard Will Fries, defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, and defensive tackle Javon Hagrave, among others. This time isn’t like that — not by a long shot.
Minnesota still has to clear cap space, needing to overcome a $43 million cap hurdle to sign any players.
Therefore, if you’re expecting Minnesota to hunt big fish like Tyler Linderbaum and George Pickens, you’re probably mistaken. The Vikings will announce their quarterback verdict, which may cause shock waves, but generally speaking, fans will wrap up a few waves of free agency and say, “That’s it?”
2. The Vikings Sign DT Christian Wilkins
Wilkins didn’t play in 2025 after the Las Vegas Raiders dropped him. The reasons for his release were speculated wildly, but after a year off, the 30-year-old Wilkins needs another shot.
When everything is humming for Wilkins — without controversy — he’s a fantastic defensive tackle. In fact, the Vikings allegedly poked around his free agency in 2023, even when his was ultra-expensive.
The Raiders said last summer when releasing Wilkins: “We have decided that it is in the best interests of the organization to move on from Christian Wilkins and he has been informed of his release from the team. This franchise has a commitment of excellence on and off the field.”
“With no clear path or plan for future return to play from Christian, this transaction is necessary for the entire organization to move forward and prepare for a new season.”
Minnesota will sign Wilkins to a one-year prove-it deal. Why? Well, Wilkins was Brian Flores’s very first draft pick in Miami seven years ago. There’s a connection. There’s no better team to give Wilkins a shot at career redemption than Flores’s Vikings.
3. It’s Noah Igbinoghene at CB3 or CB4
Remember the Jeff Okudah signing last year? The one where most fans groaned but by midsummer had warmed up to the idea that he’d somehow have a breakout season with the Vikings?
This year’s version of that will be Igbinoghene, another alumnus from Flores’s days in Miami. Folks shouldn’t expect Igbinoghene to arrive in Minneapolis and ball out, but as a CB3 or CB4, he could latch on for a season or two.
We’ll just say it: Igbinoghene isn’t very good. Yet, he’s produced a passer-rating-against between 85.0 and 90.0 in the last two seasons with the Washington Commanders. As a CB3 or CB4, that’s servicable.
4. Minnesota Adds LB Devin Bush
It’s unclear if Ivan Pace Jr. will re-sign in Minnesota — probably not — while most expect the club to re-up with Eric Wilson, who was phenomenal in 2025.
Oct 9, 2022; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Devin Bush (55) warms up before a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Bush prepared with pregame drills while working back into defensive responsibilities for Pittsburgh, bringing range and speed to the linebacker unit entering the AFC matchup. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Still, if Flores opts for Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson as his primary inside linebackers in 2026, he’ll embark on a campaign with two defenders over the age of 30, and with Cashman, he usually misses at least four games per year.
Insert Devin Bush.
Flores crossed paths with Bush in 2022 when Flores coached the Pittsburgh Steelers’ linebackers. Coming full circle, Minnesota will sign Bush to a two-year, $18 million contract. Bush is 27, making him two years younger than Cashman and four years younger than Wilson.
He tabulated 125 tackles and 3 interceptions for the Cleveland Browns last season.
5. It’s Kyler Murray at QB
Signing Kirk Cousins for cheap is the safe play as a prediction, but this article isn’t about safe plays. The bold prediction is this: the Cardinals, with the NFL’s worst-ranked ownership, per the recent NFLPA survey, will release Murray, setting off a sprint to his agent’s phone. It’s not every day that a quarterback with first-overall draft stock, who has better career efficiency than Trevor Lawrence and Baker Mayfield, gets dropped into the open market.
Oct 28, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) drops back during action against the Green Bay Packers at State Farm Stadium. Murray directed Arizona’s offense while navigating pressure, using mobility and arm strength to attack the Packers’ defense in a nationally watched primetime matchup between NFC contenders. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Murray grew up as a Vikings fan, and recognizing that Minnesota has the defensive coordinator, WR weaponry, and quarterback-whispering head coach, he signs a one- or two-year deal with the Vikings.
Given his recent injury history, Minnesota keeps McCarthy close as the QB2.
The Murray Era in Minnesota begins and could end up wonderfully if Kevin O’Connell tailors his offense to Murray’s strengths.
Mainz 05 confirm loss of talisman Nadiem Amiri for several weeks, commend struggling Paul Nebel for stepping up
Relegation-threatened Bundesliga outfit Mainz 05 got rocked with unfortunate injury news this week when leading goalscorer and talisman Nadiem Amiri had to break off training due to a heel injury. Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone following Saturday afternoon’s 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen, Mainz sporting director Niko Bungert confirmed that Amiri is set to miss several weeks. There is still some good news to report with respect to Mainz attacker Paul Nebel
Nadiem Amiri’s injury comes at a critical time for Mainz
Despite a marked revival under head coach Urs Fischer, Mainz are far from safe. The Rheinhessen occupy 14th place in the Bundesliga table on 23 points. The total places them only one solitary point above the promotion-relegation playoff place. Over the course of the next ten matchdays, Fischer’s team must still find a way of picking up 12 points in order to officially clinch safety.
Amiri – the squad’s main penalty taker and set-piece wizard – has scored a team-high 10 league goals this season. Amiri was also a very important factor in Mainz’s Conference League campaign, netting four goals in six UECL appearances. In addition to his goals, Amiri’s intangible leadership qualities will be sorely missed. No other Mainz professional has contributed more than two league goals this season.
Paul Nebel ready to pick up some of the slack?
The once celebrated Germany U21 international has had a highly disappointing season in which – prior to today – he only managed to get his name on the scoresheet once in 20 Bundesliga appearances. That changed against Leverkusen when the 23-year-old supplied a fine assist on Sheraldo Becker’s goal. Overall, Nebel turned in a very strong performance and earned GGFN Man-of-the-Match honors.
“Paul has struggled in recent weeks, but he’s dealt with it superbly,” Bungert told reporters. “We conceded very little today against a team with very strong individual players and defended superbly. I’m very proud of that and think we’re on the right track.“
Once upon a time, in the 2021 NFL Draft, to be exact, the Philadelphia Eagles used fifth-round draft capital to select Kenneth Gainwell. He was mentioned as a possible steal, and all things considered, the decision worked out pretty well for the Birds. He's moved on now, but with the emergence of Memphis Tigers tackle Travis Burke, one has to ask how good Gainwell would have been had this young man been blocking for him.
Burke started 11 games for the Tigers in 2025 at right tackle. He also has experience starting on the left side. He has informed the media present in Indianapolis for the NFL Combine that he has met with the Philadelphia Eagles.
#Memphis OT Travis Burke says he met informally with the #Eagles and says he talked with new OL coach Chris Kuper during the meeting.
He’s 6-9 and plays through the whistle, drives defenders through the ground, and his arm length/size makes it difficult to get past in pass pro. pic.twitter.com/Cs4ybT7A8o
He isn't quite who we'd consider to be a sufficient Lane Johnson succession plan, but at this stage of their careers, who is?
That's why teams employ position coaches. This would give new Eagles O-line coach Chris Kuper some insurance, though, and a possible legitimate replacement for current backup Fred Johnson if he were to move on during the free agency frenzy.
NEW DELHI: Pakistan have made a big call for their must-win Super 8 clash against Sri Lanka in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 as Babar Azam has been left out of the playing XI.
At the toss, skipper Salman Agha confirmed three changes to the side.
“Massive opportunity. We need to bat well, bowl well and field well and everything will be fine. We need to put up a good total and try and restrict them. Sometimes it can be tough and sometimes it can be easy, it's a mixed feeling knowing what we need to do. We got three changes. Babar, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza are not playing,” said Salman at the toss.
Babar’s exclusion appears to be form-related. In six matches so far, he has scored just 91 runs at an average of 22.75 and a strike rate of 112.34, numbers well below expectations for a player of his stature.
Pakistan’s qualification scenario is now simple but challenging.
After England defeated New Zealand in Colombo, the Group 2 table shifted dramatically.
England finished unbeaten with six points from three games and have sealed the top spot. New Zealand are second with three points and a strong net run rate of +1.390.
Pakistan sit third with one point from two matches and a net run rate of -0.461. To qualify, they must beat Sri Lanka by 64 runs to boost their net run rate enough to overtake New Zealand.
With their World Cup hopes on the line, Pakistan have taken a bold step by dropping their star batter in a do-or-die encounter.
"Big" Bronson Reed looks out into the crowd while Jey Uso awaits for him in the ring. - WWE
Nothing stings more than when a WWE star is injured ahead of "The Super Bowl of Professional Wrestling," WrestleMania 42. Sadly, this past Monday, that was "Big" Bronson Reed's fate, after he tore his bicep during the final Men's Elimination Chamber Qualifying match. Originally chosen to win the three-way match against "Main Event" Jey Uso and the Original El Grande Americano, you could read and see the devastation on his face when he had to be escorted to the back by the medical staff.
Days later, it was confirmed that Reed headed down to Birmingham, Alabama to get immediate surgery. Following this fast transition, Reed underwent successful surgery, promising that his journey back to the ring starts now. In his Instagram message, which was posted this past Friday, the former NXT Men's North American Champion wrote, "Surgery done. Tomorrow is DAY ONE. The road back. #BRONSONREED."
While most saw The Vision's peripherals diminishing beyond repair, luck struck the trio, as Uso, who won the three-way contest this past Monday, was taken by ambulance during the opener of this week's "WWE SmackDown," allowing Logan Paul to replace Uso in tonight's Elimination Chamber PLE in Chicago. This makes it the "Maverick's" third consecutive appearance in the Men's Elimination Chamber match. He now joins future Hall of Famer Randy Orton, LA Knight, Cody Rhodes, Je'Von Evans, and Trick Williams, who will all fight for their spot facing Drew McIntyre for his Undisputed WWE Championship on either April 18 or 19 in Las Vegas.
Reed is the second member of the Vision to be out of WrestleMania contention, as his partner Bron Breakker is currently recovering from hernia surgery. If that's not bad enough, both of these men's injuries have created heavy rewrites for "The Showcase of the Immortals." As of this report, veteran journalist Dave Meltzer predicts that Reed could be out of action for six to seven months.
Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter made the media rounds at the NFL Combine, including an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. McAfee asked about owner Steve Bisciotti, what the interview process was like, and why Bisciotti ultimately chose Minter to lead the franchise and quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Minter didn't hesitate when asked about Bisciotti's role in the process, offering strong praise for the Ravens' owner and the culture he has built in Baltimore.
"Yeah, I mean, number one, I think he's the best owner in sports. Um, he creates an environment where you're always going to be, you know, doing what's needed to be successful. So there's there's not any amount of money he's not willing to spend. Any type of thing you need that you think might help you be better, uh he's providing. So, um, and then through the interview process, I think there was a little bit of, you know, this guy understands the foundation that's been built here, but he's also now been out on his own and has some different ideas of how to um, you know, bring bring a few new things while also understanding and respecting the history, how it's been built, why it's been built a certain way. Uh, and so we certainly want to lean into that. We want to lean into what's been really good there. But I also think u just having a younger, newer, fresher thing sometimes, you know, people embrace change."
McAfee then shifted the conversation to Jackson, pointing out how rare it is to take over a team that already has a franchise quarterback in place. Minter's tone made it clear he understands exactly what that means.
“It's pretty amazing to be the head coach of a team with Lamar Jackson.”
When asked how coaching Jackson motivates and inspires him, Minter expanded on what having a player of that caliber demands from the entire organization.
"I would say it's certainly motivating um to number one build a team that allows him to to have success at the level that he's chasing. He there's nothing more that he would rather do than to bring a championship to Baltimore. Um, and so when you know that he's your quarterback, you always have a chance. Motivating to build a great defense, motivating to hire a great offensive staff, motivating to build a great special teams, uh, so that the team around him is is, you know, up to his level."
"It's pretty amazing to be the head coach of a team with Lamar Jackson..
Minter's message was clear: the foundation in Baltimore isn't changing, but the energy around it is. With Steve Bisciotti's backing and Lamar Jackson under center, the expectations remain championship-level. For Minter, it's about respecting what's been built while pushing it forward. And if his words at the Combine were any indication, he understands exactly what the job demands — and the opportunity in front of him.
📸 Still up for the title race, BVB fans put on a stunning classic display
The whistle has just blown for the 139th classic match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern Munich. Many Bundesliga observers consider today's already prestigious game as the last chance to keep the title race exciting - for that, Dortmund needs a victory. With the three points, the Black and Yellows would close the gap to the league leaders from Munich to five points.
Before kickoff at their home Signal Iduna Park, the Borussia Dortmund supporters showed that they indeed have both faith and hope that their team can surpass themselves on the green pitch today and defeat the overpowering Bayern.
📸 INA FASSBENDER - AFP or licensors
The corresponding choreography stretched in yellow and black across the entire south stand, with "Heja BVB" written in yellow on the black, and yellow pyro elements accentuated the colorful and lively attempt to cheer on their team.
The fans have done their part, now the Kovac team needs to follow up on the field. After a few minutes, the score is still 0:0.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot will have liked plenty of what he saw going forward from his side in their 5-2 win against West Ham on Saturday, but there was still plenty to dislike at the other end of the pitch.
The Reds have now won four of their last five in the Premier League and three in a row as they've given their hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League next season a huge boost.
Here's the latest Arne Slot reaction from Anfield.
Arne Slot reaction
On if there is a lot to take from that: "Yeah, but the main thing to take is that we scored three goals from set pieces and maybe you could even argue a fourth because the one from Cody was a bit later on when we had a set piece," Slot told Sky Sports. "So, that can make a big difference in a game. Because I don't think 3-0 at half time was a fair reflection to the run of play. So many times we have been on the opposite that, we've deserved so, so, so much more but didn't get it because of a set piece conceded and today I don't think we deserved to be 3-0 up at half time if you look at open play. But that we were up was maybe okay but three was nice."
On being asked about the slow starts for Liverpool before the game and how they scored quickly today: "That is true. In all the other games we played we had a lot of set pieces but we struggled for a long time to score from it. But we did have chances. But we always knew things would go back to normality again. That is what is happening now. Now we still generate the chances but now they go in. And all of a sudden things looked much nicer. From open play I don't think it was our best game of the season. Was a good game but not our best. Set pieces can make a massive difference."
On not being comfortable in the second half despite being 3-0 up: "When they score the 3-1 that has a lot to do with it that it doesn't feel completely comfortable. Players, fans, manager, have some experience this season in giving away a lead. That then usually doesn't help to be calm. But I don't think after they scored the 3-1 they had a lot of big chances. We were closer to scoring the 4-1 with Cody Gakpo but we missed that one from a long throw from Joe Gomez. In the end I think we were never really under a big threat. But you never know because we've experienced this season a lot of times that even if we are in control, we can still concede a goal. That didn't happen today, in the big moments, so being 4-1 up, conceding the 4-2 is not nice, but it's less a problem than at 1-0 or a two-goal difference."
On getting the job done and getting over the line in recent games: "I never like to concede a goal but if you do concede a goal, and in one goal I think we had almost 11 players around our 18-yard box, which is normal because it's from a set piece, and the other goal I think 10 of our players were in and around the 18-yard box. That is what you want and sometimes a ball can fall in their favor but if you do this constantly then usually you don't concede a lot of goals and I think that is a big improvement for the team and that we've made. We know that we have the quality that we can always score a goal, either from open play and at the moment even from set pieces."
Let's pretend for a second that you had minimal knowledge of the Philadelphia Eagles' roster needs. Let's say you had no previous knowledge of Kadyn Proctor. If that were the case, even if you saw the young man walk into a room, you'd probably say something like the following.
The Eagles could certainly use that guy on the offensive line.
There are several reasons for that. One, he stands at six-foot-seven. Second, he tips the scales at a massive 360 pounds. He, in short, looks like what you'd expect an NFL lineman to look like.
Fortunately, for him and his financial future, the former Alabama Crimson Tide standout also plays like an NFL O-lineman.
The Eagles host Kadyn Proctor at the NFL Combine.
The 'big uglies' have taken center stage at the NFL Combine, and Proctor is one of the stars of the show. Some view him as the draft's best prospect at offensive tackle. Others give the nod to Utah Utes star Spencer Fano.
You can't go wrong with either guy. The Eagles have reportedly met with Proctor in Indianapolis. He's a 2025 First-Team All-SEC member. He earned the SEC Jacobs Blocking Trophy. He was also named a Consensus All-American after a phenomenal final season in the NCAA.
#Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor says he’s met with with the #Eagles and that they “have expressed a lot of interest in me.”
Says he’s told teams his ideal playing weight has been 355 or less and wants to play tackle but is open to moving inside if teams need him to. pic.twitter.com/nwGlL6K5qu
There are only two questions. First, there's no way he's going to be available for the Eagles unless they trade up, right? Second, with his size and physique, would it make more sense to move him from tackle to guard?
Imagine this guy taking over at right guard (sorry, Tyler Steen). Can you imagine slotting him between Lane Johnson and Cam Jurgens?
That's enough to make the mouth water. Having an O-line with that level of talent and a healthy Jordan Mailata and Landon Dickerson on the other side would mean the excuses are already over for new Eagles O-line coach Chris Kuper. He would have to be successful immediately.
After having to leave the game against Philadelphia after 10 minutes, Miami Heat All-Star wing Norman Powell has been diagnosed with a groin strain and is considered week to week, the team announced.
INJURY UPDATE: MRI results for Norman Powell returned as a Grade 1 right groin strain. He will be week to week.
Nikola Jovic (lower back injury management) has been ruled out of tomorrow's game vs the Rockets.
Powell was a first-time All-Star this year, averaging a career-high 22.5 points per game and shooting 39% from 3-point range. Powell has been playing through a number of nagging injuries, according to reports, which will give him a chance to heal.
Powell will be an unrestricted free agent after the season.
Not that there is ever a good time for an injury, but this is less than ideal for the Heat, who sit eighth in the East at 31-29 and are fighting to hold on to their No. 8 seed and an easier path through the play-in to the playoffs.
Newcastle suffer devastating home defeat to Everton to leave Eddie Howe’s side in bottom half
Substitute Thierno Barry broke Geordie hearts as Newcastle conceded yet another late goal at St. James’ Park to lose at home and miss a chance to climb into the top half of the table.
Newcastle’s Champions League success was quickly forgotten with their return to the Premier League an all too different story.
With an opening period devoid of quality in the final third, the deadlock being broken in the 19th minute was nothing short of a surprise.
The breakthrough arrived as a result of a set-piece situation. James Garner’s corner delivery was met by the arriving Jarrad Branthwaite who, marked by the smaller Tonali, sent a glancing header goalward to make good on his side’s strong start and give Everton the lead.
But it took just 15 minutes for the Newcastle faithful to the be cheering the England defender, albeit ironically. Newcastle’s equaliser may go down in the books courtesy of Jacob Ramsey, but not without the help of the Everton number 32.
As he received the ball in midfield, Ramsey seemed to have no other idea on his mind than to fire one goalwards. Though the 24-year-old’s strike may not have originally been destined for the back of the net, Branthwaite’s welcome deflection saw Ramsey’s effort loop over Pickford, who had no choice but to stand and watch as the ball nestled in his goal to restore parity.
Rarely can such jubilation from an equaliser turn sour so soon, though Nick Pope’s blunder two minutes after Newcastle’s goal ensured such a moment occurred at St. James’ Park.
Following an impressive stop from McNeil’s outside the box strike, Pope’s ensuing spill proved fatal; with Beto the quickest off the mark to meet the rebound and restore Everton’s lead with the luxury of a tap-in.
Three personnel changes within the opening ten minutes of the second half signalled Eddie Howe’s desire for the energy levels on the pitch to match the level of that in the stands. Although the changes struggled to make the instant impact Howe would have wanted, Jacob Murphy finally made good on the hosts’ second half dominance with less than ten minutes to play.
Everton had, understandably, been content to sit back and soak up the pressure in the hopes of holding on to the three points and leaving Tyneside with all the spoils. But Murphy’s swerving volley in the 82nd minute, which worked its way through an array of blue shirts and past Pickford, restored parity once more and sent St. James’ Park into raptures.
But Newcastle’s earlier failure to build on their equaliser repeated itself again. As Dewsbury-Hall worked his way into the Newcastle penalty area and fired a ball across goal, the collective Geordie heartbeat skipped a beat.
To concede yet another late goal at home to sacrifice all the spoils would have been the final thing Howe wanted. But Dewsbury-Hall’s cross made its way through the black-and-white shirts and to Thierno Barry, as the substitute bundled the ball into Pope’s net to win the game and deliver a devastating blow to Newcastle’s league hopes.
Feb 23, 2026; Bradenton, Florida, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Paul Blackburn (58) throws a pitch during the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at LECOM Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
We’re in spring training proper now, with less than a week to go before the World Baseball Classic opens, and players on both of the teams squaring off today will represent their countries. Both the Yankees and the Blue Jays will send multiple participants to the WBC, but in the meantime the two AL East hopefuls will face off at Steinbrenner Field.
Paul Blackburn gets the ball in his second spring appearance, hoping to prove himself in a bullpen role with the MLB club. He didn’t have a great, albeit brief, stint with the club last year after coming over from Queens, but Matt Blake has worked some success with sinker-cutter combos before, and that’s Blackburn’s primary offering.
Meanwhile, José Berríos has had a rocky few months. He was on the IL for the Blue Jays’ World Series run and actually abandoned the club, returning home to Puerto Rico. This caused much discourse about the veteran’s commitment to the team, and in the midst of his apologies, Berríos was informed he was one of several Puerto Rican players who wasn’t able to be insured for the WBC, and he’ll miss the tournament. As he’s still rehabbing his right bicep, the time in camp might end up the best for him personally, but Puerto Rico is a proud baseball machine and missing what is likely his last Classic must be weighing on Berríos.
We get a pretty representative lineup today, with only Spencer Jones, who’s batting ninth, expected to not be on the Opening Day roster. Trent Grisham, Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. form a very powerful top three. Note that utilityman Amed Rosario was originally in the starting nine at third base but was scratched about an hour before first pitch, with NRI Jonathan Ornelas taking his place. This reportedly would’ve been Rosario’s last start before heading off to join Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, so an injury could be in play.
Clinical Liverpool Hit Five Past West Ham at Anfield
Liverpool 5-2 West Ham: Clinical Edge Defines Premier League Contest
Liverpool produced a ruthless 5-2 victory over West Ham in the Premier League, surging level on points with fourth placed Manchester United and strengthening their push for European qualification. It was not a flawless display, yet it was one marked by efficiency, authority from set pieces and a growing sense of belief under Arne Slot.
By half time, Anfield had witnessed three decisive blows. Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister all struck before the interval, placing Liverpool firmly in control and leaving West Ham chasing the game.
Set Piece Authority Shapes First Half
Liverpool’s opening goal arrived inside five minutes. Ryan Gravenberch slipped a precise pass into Ekitike, who finished confidently at the near post beyond Mads Hermansen for his 16th goal of the season. It was sharp, purposeful football, and it set the tone.
West Ham attempted to respond and created moments of pressure, yet Liverpool doubled their lead against the run of play. Dominik Szoboszlai delivered a corner with pace and Van Dijk rose highest to head home with conviction. The captain’s presence in both penalty areas remains invaluable.
Just before the break, Mac Allister struck a superb volley that took a deflection and nestled in the net. That was the cue for sections of the travelling support to head for the exits. All three first half goals came from set plays, and in 2026 Liverpool now lead the Premier League for goals from set pieces, excluding penalties. That statistic alone speaks to coaching detail and execution.
Photo: IMAGO
West Ham Rally Tests Control
Liverpool should have closed the contest comfortably, yet the second half brought a different rhythm. Tomas Soucek capitalised early after the restart, meeting a fine delivery from El Hadji Malick Diouf to give West Ham hope.
Careless possession and brief lapses allowed West Ham to grow in confidence. Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jarrod Bowen and Soucek had earlier squandered opportunities when the scoreline was tighter, and those missed chances loomed large.
Cody Gakpo restored order in the 70th minute. Having earlier missed a clear chance, he cut inside and saw his effort deflect beyond Hermansen, easing nerves around Anfield. Taty Castellanos responded with a second for West Ham, yet Liverpool had the final word. Jeremie Frimpong’s cross was diverted into his own net by Axel Disasi, sealing Liverpool’s first five goal league haul of the season.
Clinical Progress Under Slot
Liverpool were far from dominant throughout, yet they were clinical. For the first time this season, they scored three first half goals in a Premier League match. Before this fixture, supporters had to look back to mid December for the last early league goal at Anfield.
Four of the five goals carried deflections, though they count all the same. What matters is momentum. Liverpool climb above Chelsea into fifth place, while West Ham remain 18th, two points behind Nottingham Forest.
Slot will draw encouragement from Joe Gomez’s start at right back and Frimpong’s return from injury. Set piece productivity has transformed since the turn of the year, with eight such goals in 2026 after a barren opening half of the campaign. Improvement is tangible.
There remain areas to sharpen. Mohamed Salah is without a league goal in his last ten matches, a rare dry spell for a forward of his calibre. Yet the collective output against West Ham demonstrated resilience and depth.
In a Premier League season shaped by narrow margins, Liverpool’s 5-2 victory over West Ham could prove significant. Clinical finishing, set piece authority and timely responses ensured the points stayed at Anfield.
CBF attends event with Brazilian business leaders in the US
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), represented by Bruno Costa, head of the organization’s international office, was present at the first edition of “Kick Off! Brasil em Miami 2026.” The event, which brought together important leaders from the Brazilian community, aimed to foster extensive networking among business, sports, and cultural leaders and organizations.
Bruno Costa spoke about the importance of such gatherings in a World Cup year in the United States.
“A fundamental meeting, as it connects the CBF. We want to be closer and show that we are open to new ideas, new opportunities. This is the approach of the organization’s new management. Communication with the business sector has been helping to create market opportunities, which is why it’s important for us to be part of these events,” he said.
Also present at the event, organized by WDNA radio’s General Director, Gene de Souza, were leaders Ericson dos Reis, from the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce of Florida, Inc. (BACCF), Valeria Sorrentino, from the Centro Cultural Brasil USA da Flórida (CCBU), and Carolina Lara and Conrado Navarro from BR Nation.
It was a 9-point spread the last time Hartland wrestled against Brighton.
The schools produced the same result in the Division 1 state semifinals with Hartland posting a 39-30 victory at Wings Events Center on Saturday, Feb. 28.
“They flipped on match and we flipped one,” Hartland coach Kyle Summerfield said. “Brighton is really good.”
Hartland heavyweight William Tobin flipped the script from the earlier match and Brighton’s Xander Courneya avenged an earlier loss at 150.
Otherwise everything stayed the same.
“We bumped up some of our bigger guys and they did a really good job,” Brighton coach Matt Wisniewski said.
Brighton got off to a flying start with pins by Mason Gardner (190) and Dominic Nauss (215) in the first two matches of the morning.
That 12-0 lead evaporated quickly with three straight Hartland victories – a 3-0 win by Tobin, a technical fall by Brodie Dunbar (106) and a pin by Jace Sensor (113).
Brighton went back on top on a pin by Bronson Shinkkonis (120), Hartland got a technical fall from Michale Abbey (126), then Brighton’s Ethan Smith (132) needed just 28 seconds to record a fall.
Hartland won the next two matches on a first-period pin by Bohdan Abby and an 8-1 win by Braydon Tougas.
Then, Brighton took consecutive decisions by Courneya and Kaden Tindall (157).
Hartland closed out the win with a technical fall by Joseph Cappellano (165) and a pin by Dallas Korponic (175).
Brighton finishes with a 25-3 record, with two of the losses coming against Hartland.
“We’re a hot bed of wrestling,” he said of Livingston County. “Howell is really good, too. I am proud to be part of it.”
Summerfield said the teams make each other better.
“Our guys wrestle together most of the summer,” he said. “Matt is doing an awesome job.”
Hartland (26-1) advances to the finals at 3:45 p.m. Saturday to face Detroit Catholic Central (18-5).
Head Coach Teri Moren and the Indiana Hoosiers before the Indiana versus Lipscomb women's basketball game at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. | Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Indiana women’s basketball (16-13, 5-12 Big Ten) is set to take on Penn State (11-17, 4-13 Big Ten) at home on Sunday for the regular season finale.
The Hoosiers are coming off of two consecutive Big Ten wins, beating Oregon at home and Rutgers on the road. Shay Ciezki has remained as fantastic as ever while the rest of the Hoosiers seem to have come together as the season has gone on.
The Nittany Lions are riding a three game winning streak into Assembly Hall, having beaten Northwestern and Rutgers before pulling off the upset at home over USC. Indiana’s going to need to be up for the challenge against another Big Ten team gaining some late season momentum.
Here’s what to know about the game:
Penn State Nittany Lions at Indiana Hoosiers
Game Time/Date: 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 28
Game Location: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana
Cornerback feels like one of those positions you can't afford to "hope" your way through. If anyone knows that, it has to be the Philadelphia Eagles after the roller-coaster ride that they endured last season.
The Birds have invested heavily in youth and athleticism on the back end (Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell), but the margin for error in today's NFL is razor-thin. Teams face competent-to-elite quarterbacks weekly. If you don't have length, speed, and recovery ability on the boundary, your team gets exposed, and quickly.
That's why outside projections tying Philadelphia to a long, proven cover man carry some weight. The Eagles could stand to add another long-term answer opposite Mitchell on the other side of Vic Fangio's defensive formation.
A recent free-agency projection pairs the Eagles with Riq Woolen.
That pairs the Eagles with a former Pro Bowler and member of the 2022 Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team. D'Andrea lists cornerback, offensive tackle, edge rusher, defensive line, and tight end as Philadelphia's primary needs. That's why the logic behind Woolen's mention makes a ton of sense.
He brings elite length and verified speed, both of which are traits the Eagles have long coveted. Adoree' Jackson may have offered a short-term patch. Woolen represents something more substantial, a long-term boundary solution.
The numbers back the idea up. Woolen did not allow a passer rating above 80.0 over a full season in four years with Seattle. That's consistency. That's reliability, and at his age (he turns 27 on May 2), that's upside still intact.
Of course, projections are just that. They're projections. One can never tell, but it's possible that Woolen won't come cheap. The Eagles must weigh cost against other roster priorities, but stylistically, the fit is clean. He aligns with the organization's preference for long, athletic defensive backs who can press, run, and challenge vertically.
If Philadelphia is serious about fortifying its secondary with proven talent rather than patchwork depth, this is a nice place to start. This is the type of swing that makes sense. One nest to another. This could solve one major problem in the Eagles' roster construction dilemma.
Burnley 3 Brentford 4: Damsgaard’s late strike seals dramatic victory at Turf Moor
Mikkel Damsgaard scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Brentford defeated Burnley 4-3 in a seven-goal Premier League thriller at Turf Moor.
Damsgaard, Kevin Schade and Igor Thiago had given the Bees a three-goal lead in a contest packed with momentum swings and VAR drama. The Clarets fought back to level at 3-3, but the Dane had the final say, converting Rico Henry’s cross to earn the west Londoners a sixth away victory of the season.
Head coach Keith Andrews made five changes to the side beaten 2-0 by Brighton and Hove Albion the previous weekend.
Michael Kayode replaced Aaron Hickey at right-back, while goalkeeper Hákon Valdimarsson came in for the absent Caoimhín Kelleher.
Further changes saw Damsgaard, Yehor Yarmoliuk and Schade replace Jordan Henderson, Vitaly Janelt and Keane Lewis-Potter.
Burnley registered the first effort inside seven seconds. Zian Flemming seized possession following Thiago’s kick off, strode forward and dragged wide from distance.
On nine minutes, Mathias Jensen’s corner was punched away by Martin Dúbravka. The ball dropped kindly for Dango Ouattara, and the forward’s first-time effort was blocked by Josh Laurent.
Brentford took the lead from the resulting corner. Unmarked at the back post, Damsgaard met Ouattara’s in-swinging delivery with a thumping header that nestled into the bottom corner of the net.
Andrews’ side then went in search of a second. Thiago got the better of Joe Worrall and attempted to squeeze the ball past Dúbravka at his near post, but the keeper got down quickly to deny him.
Jaidon Anthony had two efforts at the other end: the first, a curling strike from the edge of the box, cleared the crossbar; the second, a powerful attempt, was gathered by Valdimarsson.
Brentford had a big chance to double their lead midway through the half. Thiago released Ouattara down the right and the winger’s low cross was turned wide by Schade.
In total control of the contest, the Bees were not to be denied a second goal at Turf Moor.
Yarmoliuk won a 50-50 in midfield and unloaded the ball to Damsgaard, who split Burnley’s backline with a perfectly weighted through ball. Thiago did the rest, racing on to the Dane’s pass and rolling into the far corner with his left foot.
The west Londoners extended their advantage less than 10 minutes later.
Kayode hurled the ball in from the touchline and Sepp van den Berg made first contact at the front post. Lucas Pires cleared the defender’s header off the line but only as far as Schade, who lashed home from close range.
In stoppage time, Thiago outmuscled Pires inside the box and got a shot away, which was blocked by Worrall.
Burnley pulled a goal back in the final seconds before the break. Anthony, a bright spark for the home side, shot hard and low across the face of goal and Kayode inadvertently turned the ball into his own net at full stretch.
The hosts struck again within two minutes of the restart.
Moments after firing over the crossbar, Hannibal darted down the right flank and delivered the ball into the box. His cross bounced through to Anthony, who finished first time beyond Valdimarsson via Kayode’s outstretched leg.
With momentum now firmly on their side, Burnley completed the turnaround on the hour mark.
Having drifted across to the left, Hannibal arrowed a cross to the back post. Flemming ghosted in and headed down into the bottom corner to make it 3-3.
Fed by Pires, Lesley Ugochukwu directed an attempt towards goal, but Yarmoliuk made a crucial intervention and the ball struck the side netting.
Burnley had the ball in the back of the net for a fourth time on 78 minutes.
Anthony’s driven cross from the left was flicked up by Kristoffer Ajer and then bundled in by Flemming, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR check as Anthony's shoulder was ahead of the last defender.
There was to be late, late drama at Turf Moor. In the third minute of stoppage time, Henry burst down the left and delivered into a dangerous area. Damsgaard brought the cross down before guiding the ball into the far corner to give Brentford the lead in Lancashire.
Five minutes later, substitute Barnes thought he had snatched a point for the Clarets. Worrall headed a cross down and the striker thumped the ball into the far corner, but a lengthy VAR check overturned the goal for handball and Brentford's three points remained intact.
For fans of the Boston Celtics who enjoyed the play of now-Brooklyn Nets forward Josh Minott, and missed his frenetic energy on the court, seeing the Florida native playing well for the Nets in Boston's 148-111 demolition of Brooklyn was bittersweet. Looking like himself again after a long injury that likely played a factor in his eventual trade to the Nets, the visual reminder of the Lawnmower's motor was evident.
Minott spoke to the media about his ankle and trade to Brooklyn after the game, saying his ankle sprain was "getting better in every aspect," and that he was "just putting the finishing touches on my ankle."
"Getting better defensively, just getting back into rhythm, and it’s really just getting one percent better every day," he added.
"I’d say it was probably like my first real taste of adversity since I got drafted," related Minott of the serious ankle sprain. "Thank God I’ve been healthy for the majority of my career. That was definitely a mental test for sure."
"Boston staff really helped with my recovery process. Brooklyn has as well, since I’ve been here it’s more fine tuning now, but it’s different when one day you’re doing crazy dunks, the next day, you can’t walk, you know?"
MUNICH, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 21: Harry Kane of FC Bayern Munich celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and Eintracht Frankfurt at Allianz Arena on February 21, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images) | Getty Images
67’ — Fabio Silva comes off for Serhou Guirassy.
61’ — Jamal Musiala replaces Serge Gnabry.
56’ — Ramy Bensebaini blindly passes the ball to Michael Olise, whose shot goes well wide.
54’ — TOR! Harry Kane finally scores to draw Bayern level!
52’ — The ball is laid on a silver platter for Dayot Upamecano but he misses the ball completely. Story of Bayern’s match.
45’ — One more half to set things right.
Halftime Observations
Bayern looked so uninspiring in that first half. The team that threw away a last 16 berth is playing better than you? Well by playing better, I mean completely flopping all over the pitch fishing for lousy fouls. Bottom line is Bayern is nowhere near the level they should be at.
The referee needs to restore order before someone gets stretchered off. Giving out the wrong cards and not giving them when they should be given is such an amazing skill (not).
What else is there to say? Forty-five minutes to get something from this match.
45+8’ — Halftime in one of the most scrappiest games ever from a Bayern perspective.
45+4’ — Dortmund fakes one more injury before making a sub. Cool.
45’ — Six minutes added on.
34’ — This referee can’t tell a legitimate foul from a dive. Not only that, he’s letting Dortmund get away with disgusting fouls.
27’ — The ref calls a nothing foul and the home side score, and it’s the guy who should’ve been sent off.
24’ — Joshua Kimmich shoots from distance but it’s saved by Gregor Kobel.
18-20’ — Nico Schlotterbeck slides in for the ball but catches Josip Stanisic’s leg, and only gets a yellow for that? Sure.
17’ — Bayern mostly in control so far. Some shots here and there but it’s still 0-0.
13’ — Bayern with some sloppy defending but Dortmund can’t finish the move off.
10’ — Both teams still feeling their way into the match.
Kickoff! — LET’S GOOOOOOOOOO
Lineups are here! Vincent Kompany has unsurprisingly gone for a no-nonsense lineup for this huge match.
Bayern Munich is looking good for the business end of the season, getting enough rest whilst keeping title “challengers” Borussia Dortmund at bay. Die Schwarzgelben ended their Champions League campaign in horrific fashion by squandering a first leg lead to go out on aggregate against Atalanta, coincidentally Bayern’s round of 16 opponents.
While Dortmund appears to be formidable in the league, cracks are starting to show in the team and the fact that Dortmund coach Niko Kovać played most of his starters is a telling sign. His players are bound to be gassed by this fixture, so the odds aren’t in their favor.
The Bavarians are somewhat banged up, but it still has a mostly healthy squad. Fitness is paramount at this point in the season.
Match Info
Location: Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Date: Saturday, 28 February 2026
Time: 6:30 PM Local time | 12:30 PM EST | 9:30 AM PST
Bayern wins 3-0 with goals from Harry Kane, Michael Olise, and Jonathan Tah.
It’s Bayern time
While waiting for the match, do consider listening to the latest episode of Bavarian Podcast Works (more on that below) or you may read the selected reads below:
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CAMDEN, N.J. -- The Philadelphia 76ers convened for practice on Saturday afternoon to prepare for a matchup with the Boston Celtics on the road on Sunday. The Sixers will be looking to build off Thursday's win over the Miami Heat, but they may have to do it without Joel Embiid.
The big fella reported some soreness in his right side after the win over the Heat and did not participate in practice on Saturday. The Sixers did say that an update on his status for the contest against the Celtics will be given later when the injury report is released for the game.
Joel Embiid reported some soreness in his right side after Thursday’s game. He didn’t participate in practice today. He’s meeting with the medical staff and his status for tomorrow will be updated later today. #Sixers
Embiid did make a big shot late to seal the win over the Heat despite clearly grabbing at his right side the entire game. Rookie VJ Edgecombe had a message for those who criticize Embiid after the win as he praised him for battling through the issues.
The Sixers and the Celtics will tip off at 8 p.m. EST from the TD Garden on Sunday.
Sandro Munari, the driver synonymous with Lancia’s rise to prominence in world rallying, has died aged 85.
The Italian driver will be remembered as one of the most iconic and successful drivers of his generation, lighting up the rally stages during the 1970s. Munari lifted the FIA Cup for Rally Drivers, the forerunner to today’s FIA World Rally Championship drivers’ title, in 1977.
Born in Cavarzere, Italy, in 1940, Munari was simply known as “Il Drago” [The Dragon] but became a hugely instrumental figure in putting Lancia on the map in world rallying, behind the wheel of the iconic Fulvia and Stratos machines.
Munari began his rally career 1965, lifting Italian Rally Championship crowns in 1967 and 1969.
But he is perhaps best known for his contribution to the birth of the Lancia legend. After two seasons driving a Lancia Fulvia, Munari guided the car to a famous victory at the 1972 Monte Carlo Rally, with the car and driver partnership combining to win the 1973 European Rally Championship.
Munari made a lasting impact on the Monte Carlo Rally, with the impressive Italian and Lancia appearing unbeatable on the notoriously challenging Alpine asphalt rounds over a three-year period. He drove the famed Stratos to victory every year from 1975-1977.
Prior to those Monte Carlo triumphs, Munari also piloted the Stratos to Lancia’s maiden WRC win at Rally Sanremo in 1974, helping the Italian brand to its first manufacturer crown.
Sandro Munari, Silvio Maiga Lancia Stratos
Sandro Munari, Silvio Maiga Lancia Stratos
This was a feat that former Lancia boss Cesare Fiorio recalled in an interview with Autosport in 2024.
“I remember at the RAC I had only one car that was competitive with Sandro Munari," said Fiorio. "He could have won that event, but all the time I was saying you must go slowly because if you finish within the first three, we shall be in a position to win the championship. I said don’t try to win as he had the possibility of winning also. He finished third because I slowed him down all the time.”
With Munari's help, Lancia went on to retain the crown in 1975 and claim the championship again in 1976 as it asserted its dominance in top level rallying.
Munari made his final WRC outing at the 1984 Safari Rally, but over an illustrious career he claimed seven rally wins – his last arriving in 1977 in Monte Carlo. All of his WRC triumphs came behind the wheel of the Stratos.
Outside of mainstream rallying, Enzo Ferrari once called on him to race the 1972 Targa Florio with the 312 PB, which he won alongside co-driver Arturo Merzario.
"He was very good," Merzario recalls, "because he wasn't used to the power of a sports car. We spent a month in Sicily driving a Dino after a series of tests at Fiorano. And he had given me the car at the driver changeover, and it was perfect..."
In Italy, Munari became rallying’s first mainstream star, elevating the sport’s profile during a golden era of manufacturer competition. Following his retirement from top-level competition, Munari remained closely connected to the sport, regularly appearing at historic rallies and anniversary celebrations – particularly those honouring the Stratos.
Motorsport.com extends its condolences to the Munari family.
Sahibzada Farhan made a superb century as Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by five runs in the T20 World Cup Super 8s but missed out on a semi-final spot on net run-rate.
Farhan's 100 off 60 balls featured nine fours and five sixes as Pakistan posted 212-8 - their highest-ever total at a T20 World Cup.
Pakistan needed to restrict Sri Lanka to 147 runs or fewer in their reply to ensure their net run-rate was better than New Zealand's in Group 2.
However, Sri Lanka managed to scrape past the figure in 15.5 overs for the loss of five wickets which saw the Black Caps progress to the knockout phase.
It ensured New Zealand finished with a net run-rate of +1.390 as they claimed second spot ahead of Pakistan (-0.123).
Sri Lanka came up just short of pulling off the second-highest chase in World Cup history after some late big hitting from captain Dasun Shanaka as Pakistan's players went through the motions.
With 28 needed off the final over Shanaka, who made an unbeaten 76 off 31 balls, crashed a four and three sixes.
But with six required for a Sri Lanka victory, Shaheen Afridi switched back on and bowled two dots with wide yorkers.
Earlier, a 176-run stand between Farhan and Fakhar Zaman had given Pakistan hope of pulling off what had seemed a big ask on paper.
Fakhar, restored to open after batting in the middle order against England, played his part with some crisp ball striking en route to 84 off 42 balls.
In what was just his second innings at this World Cup, Fakhar clubbed nine fours and four sixes as Sri Lanka's bowlers were flayed to all parts.
But after his dismissal Pakistan struggled to maintain the momentum - as Dilshan Madushanka claimed 3-33 - with 14 runs off the final two overs not quite enough.
Farhan fantastic as Pakistan fall short
In what has largely been a trying World Cup for Pakistan, Farhan has stood as a beacon of hope at the top of the order.
The 29-year-old produced a stellar knock at the Pallekele Cricket Stadium to take his tally at the tournament to 383 runs in six innings at an average of 76.60.
Nobody has scored more runs at a T20 World Cup as he eclipsed Virat Kohli's total of 319 at the 2014 event.
Farhan also now tops the six-hitting charts with 18 - one more than West Indies' Shimron Hetmyer.
This innings combined the best of his aggression and elegant strokeplay as he became the first batter to make two centuries at a World Cup following his unbeaten 100 off 58 balls against Namibia.
The only blot on Farhan's copybook - and it may feel hypercritical to highlight it - was an apparent lack of match awareness when he reached three figures off 59 balls.
Off the first ball of 19th over - and with a new batter at the non-striker's end - he bunted Shanaka down the ground for a single to bring up his century.
From the non-striker's end he watched two wickets, failed to get on strike, then drilled the first ball of Madushanka's final over into the hands of cover.
Had Farhan turned down the single, kept the strike, and looked to hit more boundaries off the final 11 balls then Pakistan potentially could have got some valuable extra runs that might have made a difference.
Ifs, buts and maybes. A neat precis of Pakistan's World Cup campaign, overall.
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - JANUARY 27: Tucker Devries #12 of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates after defeating the Purdue Boilermakers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on January 27, 2026 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ladies and gentlemen of TOC Nation, March is nearly upon us. As the calendar flips to the month of madness, Michigan State basketball will continue their two-game campaign on the road in the Hoosier State. Just this past Thursday night, Tom Izzo’s Spartans picked up a monumental road win against Purdue, good for MSU’s first win at Mackey Arena since 2014. With this newfound momentum, our Spartans will head about two hours south, from West Lafayette to Bloomington, where a hungry Indiana (17-11) team will await them. The Sunday showdown will take place at 3:45pm on CBS.
The Hoosiers, coached by first year head man Darian DeVries, will head into this March 1st matchup with an 8-9 conference record, and are in the midst of a three-game losing streak. This Tuesday, Indiana suffered one of its most toughest losses of the season, falling 72-68 at home to a sub-par Northwestern team. Despite a 14-point first-half performance from Lamar Wilkerson (more on him later) that helped IU to a big lead at the break, the Hoosiers crumbled in the second half, which has been a theme for DeVries’ team in recent games. Offensive stagnation outside of Wilkerson, and several defensive lapses allowed the Wildcats to secure their sixth (!!!) straight win over IU. With this loss coming on the heels of a blowout 93-64 loss at Purdue and a 71-51 rout at Illinois, Indiana’s tournament hopes are hanging in the balance. Now at 17-11 overall, Indiana is on the chopping block, and would love nothing more than a signature win over MSU to stop the bleeding and cement their position on the right side of the bubble.
The two teams did meet on January 13 in East Lansing, where Michigan State rolled to an 81-60 victory on the backs of a late 19-0 run to shut the door on the Hoosiers. Thinking back to the first matchup, the past showdown between the two squads was a tale of two halves. While the first period featured some back-and-forth play, MSU got it rolling in the last twenty minutes of play. Jeremy Fears Jr. scored 19 of his 23 points in the 2H, and totaled ten assists on the night. State also got big time contributions from their bench, with Jordan Scott and Kur Teng each chipping in 11 points, along with Cam Ward putting up five and three boards in only 14 minutes of run. Jaxon Kohler added a double-double to the effort, and Carson Cooper had seven and seven.
Now, more than a month later, the Spartans will look to get similar performances out of guards Teng and Scott, both of whom stepped up across the stat sheet against Purdue, but have yet to show the consistency that MSU will need heading into March.
On the Indiana side of things, it was the Lamar Wilkerson show. The graduate student and transfer from Sam Houston State accounted for 19 points on five three pointers, and essentially kept IU afloat and fighting until the 11-minute mark of the second half where MSU would finally put their foot on the gas.
Hoosier Rotation
IU’s transfer-laden lineup has changed a bit since the last matchup, mostly due to a nagging ankle injury to guard Tayton Conerway.
These five Hoosiers have made up the starting lineup as of late, with Nick Dorn sliding into that top five. Conerway has fought through the lingering injury and played rather well as of late, scoring 12 points against Purdue in 25 minutes of play, and 14 against Northwestern on 6-6 shooting. The rest of the rotation is made up of a couple of bigs who will play key minutes off the bench for Coach DeVries.
Just like Mike brought up in the last Indiana preview, the Hoosiers are not a particularly big team, and there should be opportunities aplenty inside for Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper, the latter of which has been playing the best basketball of his career. Coop has scored a whopping 47 points across his last three games, along with 24 rebounds to boot. The size advantage also should be favorable for the Kohler Bear, a player who has fallen on a bit of a rough patch, at least in terms of offensive production. Tom Izzo and the rest of the Spartan coaching staff would love nothing more than a return to early-season form for Jax as we head down the stretch of this 2025-26 campaign.
In the backcourt, Lamar Wilkerson has continued to be the lifeblood of this Hoosier team and their tournament hopes. The sharpshooter is averaging 25 over his last five outings, headlined by a 41-point explosion against Oregon in IU’s last win back on February 9th. The question at hand for Indiana remains- who can step up to give Wilkerson help offensively? Coach’s son Tucker DeVries has seen his production fall off a cliff, possibly due to extended usage. The forward has played upwards of 37 minutes in five of the last seven games, and has been performing like you would expect a fatigued shooter to, putting all the more pressure on Lamar Wilkerson to be perfect.
Can DeVries return to early season, or better yet, last season at Drake form? Or will it be Conerway continuing his upward trajectory and feeling healthy enough to be Wilkerson’s running mate? It will likely have to be one of these two pieces for Indiana if they want to pick up the huge home win.
Keys to the Game
Stay composed. Much like Mackey Arena, Assembly Hall is no easy place to play. The Hoosier faithful will be out in full force Sunday afternoon, in dire need of a signature win to assert their place on the right side of the bubble. For MSU, coming off of a season-defining road win at Purdue, it will be paramount to remain focused on the game at hand and not get caught looking forward to tournament play, or the season finale vs u-m. State needs to play with composure, take care of the basketball, and take the IU crowd out of the game as soon as possible.
Get out and run. As we discussed, Indiana’s rotation is only about eight-deep, and many of their key pieces have played extended minutes throughout the month of February. Getting off to a hot start would be helped drastically by getting out in transition early, and hopefully generating a similar performance to last game against IU, where the Spartans led 25-12 in terms of fast break points.
Let the big dogs eat. The red hot Carson Cooper should be licking his lips coming into this one, and not just to continue his tear of double digit scoring. Rebounding is a major concern for IU, as they rank 299th in the nation with only 32.9 boards per game. If Michigan State is able to continue being a strong offensive rebounding team and generate a plethora of second chance points, this will be an incredibly tough game for Indiana to keep within reach. Look for Jaxon Kohler and Cam Ward to get into the mix on the offensive glass as well.
Shut down Wilkerson. Between Jeremy Fears and Jordan Scott, the Spartan backcourt has done a phenomenal job as of late defending some of the best guards in the conference. From Keaton Wagler of Illinois to Braden Smith of Purdue, State has shown the ability to lock up some serious star power at the guard position. However, we have also seen players like Bruce Thornton of Ohio State explode for 32 points against the Spartan defense. Wilkerson has that same explosive ability, and cutting him off with tight defense will be key for MSU to limit IU’s offensive attack in its entirety.
For college basketball fans, the best time of the year is nearly upon us. The Spartans, feeling high and mighty after a win versus Purdue, will head to another storied venue for a late season matchup with the Hoosiers. Can MSU stay locked in throughout this late season stretch and set themselves up with the best possible seeding come NCAA Tournament time? Will State secure a top-four spot and triple bye in the B1G Tournament? These questions will begin to be answered Sunday in Assembly Hall.
What other questions remain for this Spartan team? What would you like to see in this one? Leave a score prediction in the comments below, and Go Green!!!
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 26: Nasim Nuñez #26 of the Washington Nationals advances to third base during the first inning of a spring training game against the Philadelphia Philliesat BayCare Ballpark on February 26, 2026 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Mark Taylor/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a tie with the Astros last night, the Nats are back in action this afternoon against the Mets. They are headed to Fort St. Lucie to face a stacked Mets lineup. It will be a good test for this young Nats team who has shown some sloppiness in the last couple games this spring.
The Nats who did not play last night will be in action this afternoon. That means we will see the likes of James Wood, Daylen Lile, Brady House and Harry Ford, among others. Wood and Lile have had slow starts to the spring, so it would be nice to see them make a statement. Jake Irvin will be on the mound, facing a very strong Mets lineup.
As we have mentioned a couple times now, the Mets are rolling out a lineup that should be pretty similar to their Opening Day lineup. New additions Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette are in the lineup. Juan Soto will be hitting between them in the two hole. Long time Mets like Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty and Mark Vientos will also be in the lineup. Tobias Myers was part of the Freddie Peralta trade, and he will be on the mound for the Mets.
This should be a good test for the Nats. Jake Irvin will have to work his way through a big league lineup and Tobias Myers is no scrub on the mound either. There have been some slow starters for the Nats this spring, so hopefully they can wake up. Follow along down below and let’s go Nats!
Man of the Match: Hugo Ekitike Shines as Liverpool’s Five-Star Display Buries West Ham
Liverpool 5 – 2 West Ham PL Man of the Match
Hugo Ekitike
Liverpool FC
Relentless Growth, Ruthless Edge
Liverpool’s 5–2 victory over West Ham carried plenty of standout moments, but the clearest thread running through the performance was the continued rise of Hugo Ekitike. In a game that demanded authority and attacking precision, the French forward delivered both — scoring once and assisting twice in a display that underlined why his trajectory mirrors the elite ambitions of Liverpool Football Club.
His opening contribution set the tone. The finish was clinical, struck with conviction and clarity of thought, the kind of effort that separates promising forwards from reliable scorers. But it was the completeness of his game that truly stood out. His assist for the third goal was weighted to perfection, a subtle yet intelligent pass that demonstrated awareness beyond his years. Later, he added another assist, again combining timing and vision to devastating effect.
Movement, pace, power and creativity are now blending into one cohesive package. Ekitike is no longer simply a forward who thrives on space — he is becoming a centre forward capable of dictating it. His off-ball runs disrupted West Ham’s defensive line all afternoon, creating channels for others to exploit. When dropping deeper, he linked play intelligently, showing composure under pressure and maturity in decision-making.
There is a growing sense that Liverpool is watching a prodigy evolve into something far more complete. The raw potential is being refined into efficiency. In a Premier League packed with high-calibre strikers, Ekitike’s all-round game is beginning to place him firmly in the conversation as one of the most well-rounded centre forwards in the division.
Strong Foundations Behind the Firepower
While Ekitike rightfully claims the Man of the Match honours, the collective platform around him deserves recognition. Virgil van Dijk was commanding in defence, leading with authority and composure. His presence ensured Liverpool controlled long stretches of the match, and his goal from a set piece added further emphasis to his influence.
In midfield, Alexis Mac Allister delivered one of his most controlled performances of the season. The Argentine dictated tempo with intelligence, screened the back line effectively, and capped his display with a stunning first-half strike that effectively broke West Ham’s resistance. His calm authority allowed Liverpool’s attackers to flourish, and his balance between discipline and ambition was key to maintaining momentum.
Steven Smith predicted a 2–0 win before kick-off. Liverpool instead struck five. The clean sheet may have eluded them, but the statement remained emphatic — and at the centre of it stood Hugo Ekitike, evolving in real time into the forward Liverpool need him to become.
Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Britt Prince #23
November 8, 2025
Women’s Basketball vs Samford | Nebraska Athletic Department
Women’s Basketball vs Rutgers (Senior Day) – 1:00 CST
Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, 1 p.m. (CT) Lincoln, Nebraska (Pinnacle Bank Arena) Live Video: B1G+ (subscription only) Live Radio: Huskers Radio Network (12:30 p.m.) Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst) Lincoln (107.3 FM), Omaha (1490 AM/97.3 FM/97.7 HD3), Huskers.com, Huskers App Live Stats: Huskers.com (statbroadcast – public)
Jill’s thoughts and prediction: The last time I looked at the women’s bracketology Nebraska (17-11; 6-11) was the last team in. Eeek. The ladies need a big win today and to make some noise in the Big Ten Tournament if they want to dance. Rutgers (9-19; 1-16) is not a good team. They have struggled, averaging just 58.3 points per game, and allowed 68.6 points, including 76.5 in league contests. The Scarlet Knights are hitting 27.9 percent of their threes and 35.6 percent of its overall field goal attempts. They are outrebounded 40-32 in league play and carry a minus-3.1 turnover margin.
Prediction: Nebraska 78 Rutgers 64
Softball vs Oklahoma State – 2:00 CST
After the heartbreaker Friday, the softball team looks for some redemption against the Cowgirls. First pitch is at 2:00 pm (central) and you can watch on ESPN+
Baseball vs Auburn – 2:00 CST
If you didn’t watch last night’s extra-innings nailbiter, you missed out! What looked like an insurmountable Nebraska lead in the 10th inning came down to a one-run victory in which Auburn had the tying run on third base and winning run on second. Methinks the Tigers will be spitting nails and ready to reset the tone at their home park today.
You can watch on SECN+. I found the game last night by searching for Nebraska Auburn on Youtube. It was annoying that the intrusive ads popped up every few minutes during game action, but I kept my remote nearby and was good at the ‘skip’ button by the end of the four hour marathon.
Men’s Basketball vs USC – 3:10 CST
Date: Saturday, February 28th, 2026 Tipoff: 3:10 p.m. (central) Location: Galen Center (Los Angeles, California)
TV/Online:
Saturday’s game will be broadcast on BTN with Guy Haberman and Don MacLean on the call. It will also be available online on the FOX Sports and FOX Sports 1 apps.
Radio:
Saturday’s game will be carried on the Huskers Radio Network with Kent Pavelka and Jeff Smith on the call, including KLIN (1400 AM) in Lincoln, KCRO (660 AM) and KIBM (1490 AM) in Omaha and KRVN (880 AM) in Lexington. The pregame show begins an hour before tipoff and will also be available on Huskers.com and the Huskers app.
Jarek’s Pre-tipoff thoughts:
The Huskers have certainly come out sluggish the past few games. Multiple bad 1st halves in a row have certainly put extra pressure on them. What has ultimately spared them is strong defensive performances. The other part is the second half usually means the offense wakes up and they share the ball way better. I feel like they play a little too isolated in the first half.
The Huskers last three games are all Quad 1 opportunities, so if they take care of business, they can possibly fight for a 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The smaller, yet more urgent fight is for a top 4 seed in the B1G Tournament. The Huskers currently sit as the 2 seed there and will guarantee themselves that if they win out. So, take care of what you can control, and it will be all right. Score Prediction: Nebraska 74 USC 70
Speaking with "GQ" alongside his wife and WWE star Becky Lynch, Rollins claimed that he's always been fond of the day that all three Shield members held the WWE Championship in one night at Money In The Bank 2016.
"I don't know if I have a favorite match that I've ever won. I have a favorite match that I've lost. The night [Dean] Ambrose cashed in his Money In The Bank to win the title on me at Money In The Bank. And the title went from Roman [Reigns] to me, to Jon, all in the span of like 10 minutes. Very nice to give someone you love a moment like that."
Rollins also stated that his loss to Cesaro, also known as AEW's Claudio Castagnoli, at WrestleMania 37 is one of his favorites, and despite the match eventually leading the Swiss star to challenge Roman Reigns for the Universal Title, his singles push ended shortly afterwards. Although "The Visionary" views his title win at WrestleMania 31 as his greatest career achievement, most of his favorites are matches where he didn't emerge victorious.
If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit "GQ" with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
Feb 10, 2026; North Port, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider (99) works out during spring training workouts. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
It’s another road game but this time, the lineup for our Atlanta Braves figures to be a little better than the last one that they sent out for a road game against the Yankees in Tampa. That’s probably because it’s a quicker trip from North Port to Sarasota instead of Tampa but either way, this’ll probably be less of the Braves serving as live practice partners for the Orioles like they did over at Steinbrenner Field earlier this week.
It also helps that the Braves are going to be sending one of their expected starting pitchers to the mound today as well. Spencer Strider is getting the ball and I’d say that there’s plenty of anticipation for his spring training debut. There’s been a lot of speculation about Strider’s velocity early on here in spring training so we’ll see exactly what he’s got in the tank with what he can deliver against a pretty solid Orioles lineup today.
If you live in the Orioles TV market then you can catch this game on MASN. That’s the only way you’ll be able to catch the game on TV, as the Braves will only be broadcasting this game via the radio on 680 The Fan/93.7 FM. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET.
Northwestern's Jake West (3) and the Wildcats huddle up during the Indiana versus Northwestern men's basketball game at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. | Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Northwestern basketball hasn’t been very enthralling this season. While there are impressive individual seasons for both men’s and women’s teams, those seasons are courtesy of seniors who will almost certainly be gone next season. Despite this, the men’s team still has the Big Ten Conference Tournament, and there is always the lens of looking to the future. With that being said, here are some reasons to be optimistic about Northwestern basketball.
Men’s Basketball
The men’s team has been on a roll as of late. After a five-game losing streak, the ‘Cats have won consecutive Big Ten games for the first time all season. With just three games to go in the regular season, followed by the Big Ten Tournament, Northwestern is playing its best basketball of the season. This is in part due to Nick Martinelli playing better as of late, but also credit should be given elsewhere.
Northwestern has found its point guard
Jake West has been a revelation for the ‘Cats as of late. The first-year went from playing the first 16 games of the season off the bench, cracking 20 or more minutes just three times, to now starting the last 12 games and logging over 30 minutes in his last five, which includes two double-digit scoring performances. Coach Chris Collins gave him his shot to show what he can do with a larger sample size, and he’s made the most of that.
“I want [West] to get a sample size of what this entails in this league,” Collins said about him meeting with West during the season. “I’ve noticed a big growth in him over the last month.”
West has become a leader on this Northwestern squad as well. His minutes increase is no mistake; he’s been playing like a Big Ten point guard. West isn’t just someone who can score a few buckets either: he’s a good and willing passer and has been strong defensively. He was averaging 2.5 assists per game and 0.4 steals per game in his first 23 games. In the last five, he’s at 4.2 assists per game and 1.8 steals per game. West’s whole game is improving — he has been key to Northwestern’s success lately and seemingly will be a huge factor in the future.
The best basketball of the season
As I said earlier, Northwestern is playing at its best right now. Rattling off back-to-back Big Ten wins for the first time this season is a sign of hope, especially considering how strong the Big Ten is in basketball. While it may seem bleak, there is the off chance that the Wildcats flat-out win the Big Ten if everything goes well at the Big Ten Tournament. While still a long shot, the product Northwestern has been putting out on the floor is at its best quality all season, regardless. With Oregon also on a hot streak with recent wins over USC and Wisconsin, Saturday’s matchup against the Ducks is going to be a battle of momentum.
“They’re on a roll right now, and they’re definitely playing their best basketball,” Martinelli said of the Ducks. “I feel like we’re playing our best basketball, so I think tomorrow is going to be a great game.”
Martinelli is back to his normal self after a tough stretch, notching back-to-back 20-plus point performances on over 50% shooting after five consecutive games of shooting below that clip. West has been evolving into the second option that the Wildcats have been lacking all season. March is the right time to get hot for any team, and that’s the case for Northwestern right now.
Women’s Basketball
Northwestern is set to miss the Big Ten Tournament for the second consecutive season. With that comes obvious questions about the team’s future and what it will look like next season. With key players like Caroline Lau and Grace Sullivan set to graduate, the ‘Cats lose some surefire veteran leadership. In addition, Joe McKeown is retiring at the end of this season, so the team could look very different in the 2026-27 season. That leads me to my first point of optimism for Northwestern women’s basketball.
New Coach
Under coach McKeown, Northwestern has had four-straight losing seasons, including this year, recording fewer than 10 wins in all those seasons. Also in these four seasons, Northwestern has won a total of 10 conference games (would be 11 if the ‘Cats beat Purdue on Sunday, March 1). As great as McKeown has been for the Wildcats program overall, it’s time to turn to someone new.
Whether it’s hiring within the organization or from somewhere else, having a fresh mind in the lab working with the roster the ‘Cats put together for 2026-27 is something all fans should be open-minded about. Players are extremely important, but coaching can be just as vital. Take the Indiana Hoosiers in football. They’d almost certainly be bottom feeders still if not for Curt Cignetti. The right hire can completely change a team. While the impact of a new coaching hire may never reach the same levels as Indiana hiring Cignetti for the next century, it can still make a team better. That’s the hope for Northwestern here.
The emergence of the sophomore class
The group that saw the biggest jump this season for NU women’s basketball was the sophomore class. Since she played almost the entire second half against USC, Kat Righeimer has logged double-digit minutes off the bench in every game since. She has provided a spark for Northwestern in various situations across these last six games, including a 22-point shooting clinic against Penn State and bringing down six rebounds against USC. Righeimer has proven that she can play in the Big Ten, and with a little more polishing of her game, can be a key rotational piece (and even primary option) for the ‘Cats going forward.
Sophomores Tayla Thomas and Xamiya Walton also had breakout seasons for the Wildcats as first-year starters and will surely be key players on future teams. Thomas ranks third on the team in scoring with 9.9 points per game, while her 7.3 rebounds per game are top 10 in the conference. Meanwhile, Walton leads the team in three-point percentage (39.6) and has provided sparks from beyond the arc. Her younger sister, Xyanna, is a four-star guard recruit coming to Evanston next season and another player that Cats fans can look forward to watching.
Kansas vs Arizona best bet: Ivan Kharchenkov Over 5.5 rebounds (-135)
Plenty of freshmen have been balling out across the country, which has allowed Arizona Wildcats forward Ivan Kharchenkov (10.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg) to fly under the radar.
He may not score at the same clip as some of the other freshman stars, but the 6-foot-7 forward is a strong defender, rebounder, and passer. Kharchenkov has hauled in 6+ boards in five of his last six games — including the previous matchup with the Kansas Jayhawks.
Kansas has struggled on the glass, ranking 248th nationally in offensive rebounding rate and sitting outside the Top 150 in defensive rebounding rate.
Kansas vs Arizona same-game parlay
Koa Peat returns to Arizona’s lineup for the first time since suffering an injury on February 14. Before going down, Peat had dished out at least two assists in 11 of his previous 13 contests.
Meanwhile, freshman guard Brayden Burries is averaging 17.3 points per game over his last 20 contests, including a 25-point effort on 9-of-18 shooting in Arizona’s loss at the Phog on February 9.
That defeat in Lawrence sets up a revenge spot for Arizona, while this could also be a letdown situation for Kansas after its upset win over Houston.
I’m hesitant to lay 10 points with the Wildcats, but I’ll confidently back them in the first half and on the full-game moneyline.
Kansas vs Arizona SGP
Ivan Kharchenkov Over 5.5 rebounds
Koa Peat Over 1.5 assists
Brayden Burries Over 16.5 points
Arizona 1H moneyline
Arizona moneyline
Our beyond the arc SGP: Freshmen Feast
Kharchenkov, Peat, and Burries aren't even the best freshman in this game with Kansas led by projected first pick overall Darryn Peterson. The high-scoring guard averages 19.5 points in just 27.4 minutes per game.
Peterson was heavily criticized for missing the previous clash against Arizona due to an illness and he'll be eager to make an impact after logging 30+ minutes in his last two contests.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida: Pierce Brown would have been content with a solid run last week in Arlington, Texas. In fact, he was happy simply to be racing.
In 2024, Brown scored one top-five in the Pro Motocross, which starts 40 riders per moto. In the Supercross series, he started 2024 with six consecutive top-fives, so that would have provided a solid benchmark. A podium finish would have undoubtedly met the criteria.
Brown had a little good luck and a lot of speed at AT&T Stadium. He benefitted from surviving a massive Turn 1 crash to give him track position and he challenged the leader, Jo Shimoda, in the early laps. Confusion over a red light contributed to Brown's pass on Lap 6 of 20, but after taking the lead, he refused to hand it back.
Pierce Brown was the first rider to the checkers, but Honda HRC is contesting the victory because of a red cross flag violation.
Dan Beaver
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"It's been a while since I've raced a supercross a full year," Brown said last week after the victory. "So it took me a little bit to get those nerves out of the way.
"I started off really good in qualifying and then Q2, I was struggling with the whoops, and it kind of compounded, I couldn't really get a clean track and then struggled. I think I ended up sixth. And then heat race, terrible start, restart, another bad start and then I was kind of just like playing it safe."
But Brown saved his top form for the feature.
"There was chaos everywhere," Brown continued. "I just wanted to make it through the first couple laps and then make my passes, pick my points. But I was struggling with the, whoops. It was really like it came down to that all night long. Once I figured out the whoops in the main, I think I was able to put the rest of the track together."
Brown scored his first career Supercross victory and with it, has the distinction of being the first rider with a three-digit number to hold the red plate in the 250 class since Christophe Pourcel in 2010. That was the second year the American Motorcycle Association began awarding the red plate to the current points leader instead of the defending champion.
Pierce Brown scored his first Supercross victory in the 250 East opener at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Feld Entertainment / Align Media
Pierce Brown scored his first Supercross victory in the 250 East opener at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Feld Entertainment / Align Media
"Having a red plate with three digits, it's cool," Brown told NBC Sports. "We're just surprising ourselves day by day."
Brown does not want the three-digit red plate to be a one-race anomaly. His streak of top-fives shows, he is strong in the opening rounds, but equally important, the two riders who joined him on the podium in Arlington were not expected to run as well as they did. Shimoda was returning from a major off-season injury and Daxton Bennick has only two podiums in the past two seasons, (both of which came in opening rounds).
"I feel like I'm back and I've been back for a couple months now," Brown said. "It's just good to finally let everyone see it. For so long, I didn't know if I was doing the right things, training and riding wise, I hadn't raced for any of it to show. So to get this win, it's a big monkey off the back. And for the season, it's put me in a really good spot to look at the championship. That's the goal right now, week by week, doing our thing."
A podium and perhaps even simply a top-five finish in Daytona should allow Brown to retain the red plate depending on how the other favorites finish. The bigger goal is for him to challenge for the win.
"It's going to take another weekend, like last weekend for sure, but it's doable," Brown said. "I'm not saying it's not going to be tough. This class is stacked right now, so yeah, we're going to have to be on our Ps and Qs, but it's nothing we can't do."
Cornish Pirates have moved up to occupy the final play-off place with seven league games to play [Brian Tempest]
Cornish Pirates kept up their Champ play-off hopes after a 49-21 win at winless bottom side Cambridge.
The victory was Pirates' fourth successive win and a fifth in six games as they moved up to sixth place in the second tier.
"Cambridge are a proud team and they've shown that," joint-head coach Gavin Cattle told BBC Radio Cornwall.
"I know the league position would suggest otherwise, but they're a spirited, nuggety sort of side, so we knew we had to be on it today emotionally.
"It was ugly at times but there was some really good stuff within it as well, so really pleased, five points which keeps us in touch with that top six."
Dan Eckersley gave Cambridge a fifth-minute lead, but it was cancelled out three minutes later when Alex Everett crossed for Pirates.
The forward got a second five minutes later while tries for Arthur Relton and Chester Ribbons ensured a bonus point before the interval as Pirates led 28-14 at half time.
The result was made safe with three tries in a 13-minute spell as first Angus Mawson scored in the 53rd minute before Tomi Agbongbon and Morgan Nelson completed the win either side of a Jasper Sorrell try for the hosts.
"I'm really pleased with some of the execution, I think we left a few out there as well which is always good that you're creating," added Cattle.
"We got lucky once or twice as well, but I think we were the dominant team today and the pleasing thing for us is that we stuck the task, got the emotion right and came away with the points."
In their first season with Unrivaled, Paige Bueckers and Kelsey Plum were named to the 3-on-3 league's first team, announced on Saturday.
Chelsea Gray is the other member of the first team, earning the honor for the second consecutive season. Playing for Rose, Gray was Unrivaled's second-leading scorer, averaging 24.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game. She also led the league shooting 48% on 3-pointers. Last season, Gray was named Finals MVP, leading Rose to the Unrivaled championship.
Plum had the third-highest scoring average at 22.6 points per game, adding 4.9 rebounds and 5 assists per game while shooting 40% on 3s for Phantom. This was her first season in Unrivaled after opting out of last year's inaugural campaign, and she helped Phantom to the best record in the league.
Also playing her first season in Unrivaled was Bueckers, the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year and No. 1 overall draft pick. Prior to the WNBA Draft, the UConn star signed a three-year contract with Unrivaled reportedly paying her more than her WNBA deal. Bueckers averaged 22.1 points per game for Breeze, the fourth-highest in the league, with 6.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists.
The All-Unrivaled second team featured Laces' Brittney Sykes, Phantom's Aliyah Boston and Mist's Allisha Gray. Boston was the league's fourth-leading rebounder, averaging 9.7 per game and 18.9 points. Sykes scored 20.3 points per game, shooting 40% on 3s, while Gray averaged 21.8 points.
Marina Mabrey, who led Unrivaled in scoring at 25.3 points per game for Lunar Owls, was not named to the first or second teams. Nor was Mist's Breanna Stewart, who averaged 21.4 points and 9.1 rebounds.
All six of the players making up the first and second teams are on clubs that made the Unrivaled playoffs, which begin on Saturday in Miami. Six of the league's eight teams qualify for the postseason.
Last season, Napheesa Collier, Chelsea Gray and Kayla McBride made up the All-Unrivaled first team. Collier also won the league MVP award playing for Lunar Owls. McBride played for Laces, but did not play in Unrivaled this season, opting instead to play for Fenerbahçe S.K. in the Turkish women's basketball league.
Collier also didn't play in Unrivaled this season after undergoing surgery on both of her ankles. That could sideline her for the beginning of the 2026 WNBA season as well, unless that tip-off is delayed by a work stoppage as a new collective bargaining agreement is negotiated.
Unrivaled's first and second teams were voted upon by players, coaches and media. Player balloting constituted 40% of the vote, followed by coaches at 35% and media making up 25%.
The Unrivaled playoffs begin Saturday with first-round games in Miami. Vinyl will match up versus Laces at 8:30 p.m. ET, while Breeze faces Rose at 9:45 p.m. ET. Phantom and Mist get first-round byes as the top two regular-season seeds.
Semifinal matchups will be played in Brooklyn on Monday, followed by the championship game in Miami on Wednesday.
Philadelphia has its conundrum, balancing present-day needs with thoughts of saving a few coins for the future. It will soon be time to pay all of that young talent on defense, and rest assured. Guys are going to cash in when their number comes up.
Then, there's the Jeff McLane angle. When he makes statements like 'Nakobe Dean is as good as gone,' it's usually rooted in more than casual speculation. He understands the cap math. He understands the depth chart. He understands the way the front office prioritizes certain positions.
One can never tell, but the signs seem to point toward Dean's exit. That's disappointing, but also manageable. On the surface, it's understandable. Philadelphia has invested in youth. They have options waiting in the wings: Jihaad Campbell, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., and Smael Mondon. Plus, the linebacker position hasn't traditionally been one where the Eagles overspend to retain talent.
What isn't as easy to stomach is where Nakobe Dean might land if he were allowed to seek other opportunities. According to Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News, there's a scenario where Dean could wind up with the Dallas Cowboys. Yes... — the Dallas Cowboys. Keep something in mind. Former Eagles defensive backs coach Christian Parker is now Dallas's defensive coordinator.
Let that settle in for a second.
That's potentially nightmare fuel. We'd be discussing more than simple roster turnover. We're talking about a division rival potentially adding a motivated, scheme-versatile linebacker who knows the Eagles' system, culture, and personnel inside and out.
Admittedly, that isn't a theory we had thought of. Losing Dean is one thing. Watching him suit up twice a year for a division rival is something else entirely.
Rivalry games in the NFC East are already emotional coin flips. Adding a motivated former starter who knows your terminology, your personnel, and your tendencies? That's how small advantages swing tight games. Imagine Dean lining up twice a year against Philadelphia, eager to prove the Eagles miscalculated.
From Dallas's perspective, it makes sense. They've had up-and-down play at linebacker, and Dean's instincts, leadership background, and SEC pedigree fit the culture they tend to admire defensively.
If he's healthy, he's a tone-setter. If he's motivated, he's dangerous. This is the kind of move that doesn't feel catastrophic in March but feels brutal in November. This is the type of roster move that stops feeling like a routine decision and becomes a potential nightmare.
The Dallas Cowboys are set to have another busy offseason, with 21 free agents coming out of the 2025 season. While their most notable free agents are wide receiver George Pickens and kicker Brandon Aubrey, there are other key players who the Cowboys would like to keep.
The second-round tender gives the Cowboys options with Bass. Dallas can keep him for a cost of $5.8 million for the 2026 season, match any offer Bass gets from another team, or they can trade him away for as much as a second-round pick if they choose not to match a contract agreed to with another franchise. The team can also work out an extension with Bass, if they prefer.
It might seem like a hefty cost for a backup offensive lineman, but Bass has started 10 games for the Cowboys over the last three years and has experience at both guard spots, as well as center. The undrafted free agent has played well when called upon, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see another team try to poach Bass from the Cowboys.
It’s a good problem for Dallas. They have a valuable player, who isn’t starter at a place where the NFL constantly needs talent. They aren’t enough quality offensive linemen in the league, and the Cowboys have a surplus, which is good if any injury should arise.
#Cowboys TJ Bass has allowed 4 total pressures this season, T-4th lowest among all offensive linemen for 2025, per PFF (min 20% of pass blocking snaps).
Bass isn't a starter with the Cowboys, but he is a starting caliber player. If he did leave, the Cowboys would then have Brock Hoffman as their most valuable interior offensive lineman. Hoffman is a restricted free agent as well, but the Cowboys are expected to keep him.
However, the Cowboys also don’t have any Day 2 draft picks, so if they do get an offer for Bass, they would have to seriously consider trading him. The team needs to improve on defense and dealing Bass could get them a valuable second-round selection to help the rebuilding process.
It’s a smart move for the Cowboys to tender Bass, and if another team does come sniffing, the organization will have to make a difficult decision. Either way, Bass is paying dividends for the Cowboys.
Pickens and Aubrey have gotten most of the attention thus far this offseason, but T.J. Bass will play a big part in the Cowboys' 2026 season as well.
Former Inter Milan Forward Slams ‘Unwatchable’ Italy Midfielder In Defeat To Bodo/Glimt: ‘He Has Been Doing Poorly For 2 Years’
Antonio Cassano has unleashed a scathing attack on Nicolo Barella following Inter Milan’s Champions League elimination at the hands of Bodo/Glimt, claiming the Italy midfielder has been in poor form for two years and was simply unwatchable in the defeat to the Norwegian side.
The former Inter and Milan forward made his comments during a special Champions League edition of ‘Viva El Futbol’, pulling no punches in his assessment of a player he has long been critical of.
Cassano argued that even Barella‘s previous saving grace, his work rate, has deserted him in recent times.
Cassano Claims Inter Star Barella Was ‘Unwatchable’ In Defeat To Bodo/Glimt
MILAN, ITALY – OCTOBER 29: Nicolo’ Barella of FC Internazionale in action during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and ACF Fiorentina at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on October 29, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“But he has been doing poorly for two years. At least before he used to run, he used to work hard. He was unwatchable against Bodo, he misplaced three or four set deliveries. An unacceptable performance.”
Cassano then widened his critique to Inter’s squad as a whole, arguing that the club needs a significant refresh this summer.
“Fresh air is needed, the cycle of the 3-5-2 is over,” he said.
“Some players are out of contract. You have to sell them and bring in serious people.”
It is a controversial take, but one that reflects a growing debate among Inter supporters about whether some of the club’s long-serving stalwarts are still performing at the required level.
Lamine Yamal nets first career hat-trick as Barcelona extend La Liga advantage with Villarreal victory
Barcelona 4-1 Villarreal
Barcelona have followed up back-to-back defeats with back-to-back wins, as they defeated Villarreal in their La Liga clash at the Spotify Camp Nou.
It was a frustrating opening half hour for the Catalans, who have had a couple of big chances to score. Ferran Torres and Jules Kounde could not take advantage, but fortunately for the vast majority of supporters inside the Spotify Camp Nou, Lamine Yamal took his opportunity on 28 minutes. A mistake from Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye presented the ball to Fermin Lopez, who slipped in the 18-year-old to score his first of the afternoon.
10 minutes, Lamine Yamal got his and Barcelona’s second of the afternoon in spectacular fashion. After receiving the ball on the right touchline, he drove towards the penalty area, skipped away from two challenges before curling the ball into the far corner, leaving Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Junior with no chance.
Image via Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Villarreal were a touch unfortunate to get 2-0 down at the interval, but four minutes into the second half, they gave themselves a way back into the match. A corner was not cleared by Barcelona, and that allowed Pape Gueye to score from inside the six-yard box and reduce the arrears.
Fortunately for Barcelona, they restored their two-goal lead soon after, and it was a third of the afternoon for Lamine Yamal. Pedri slipped him in behind, and with only Junior to beat, he made no mistake to score his first career hat-trick. It got even better for the Catalans in stoppage time as Robert Lewandowski tapped home Jules Kounde’s cutback for goal number four of the afternoon.
Barcelona put the pressure on Real Madrid with another win
That result takes Barcelona four points clear of Real Madrid, who are not in action until Monday. Hansi Flick’s side need to score at least four goals on Tuesday when they host Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final tie, and this has been solid preparation for that task.
Ekitike Gets 9, Van Dijk With 8 | Liverpool Players Rated In Impressive Win Vs West Ham United
Liverpool welcomed West Ham United at Anfield earlier tonight as they looked to secure a good result at home in the Premier League. The Reds made a bright start to the game and got their noses ahead in the fifth minute thanks to Hugo Ekitike’s effort. Virgil Van Dijk doubled his team’s advantage in the 24th minute with a good header. Alexis Mac Allister put daylight between the two sides in the 43rd minute as Arne Slot’s men went into the half-time break 3-0 up on the scoreline.
Tomas Soucek got a goal back for West Ham in the 49th minute before Cody Gakpo made it 4-1 to Liverpool in the 70th minute. Valentin Castellanos got another goal back for the Hammers just five minutes later, but Liverpool scored their fifth thanks to an unfortunate own goal from Axel Disasi in the 82nd minute. The match ended with the Merseyside giants securing an impressive 5-2 win at Anfield.
Let’s take a look at how each Liverpool player fared during the clash against the Hammers.
The Brazilian goalie made a few solid saves at the back but conceded two goals this evening.
RB: Joe Gomez – 6.5/10
He performed his defensive duties well and made one key chance going forward.
CB: Ibrahima Konate – 7/10
Konate put his foot through the ball when he could and was tidy with his ball distribution.
CB: Virgil Van Dijk – 8/10
The Dutch talent cleared his lines when he could and was good on the ball. He managed to score in the 24th minute.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 28: Jeremie Frimpong of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team’s fifth goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield on February 28, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
LB: Milos Kerkez – 6.5/10
He performed his defensive duties well but lacked quality in the final third.
CM: Ryan Gravenberch – 7.5/10
Gravenberch anchored the midfield well and caught the eye at times inside the West Ham half. He has got an assist to show for his efforts.
CM: Alexis Mac Allister – 8/10
He came back to defend when he could and managed to score just before the half-time break.
RW: Mohamed Salah – 6.5/10
Salah was a threat at times but failed to get his name on the scoresheet.
CAM: Dominik Szoboszlai – 7/10
He engineered a few inviting chances for others around him and ended the game with an assist to his name.
LW: Cody Gakpo – 7.5/10
Gakpo managed to cause some headaches for his marker and managed to find the back of the net in the 70th minute.
ST: Hugo Ekitike – 9/10
Ekitike managed to shine in the final third and has got a goal and a couple of assists to his name.
U.S. men's national team defender Noahkai Banks has given a clear indication he is still very much open to representing Germany.
Banks has emerged as one of the USMNT's best defensive prospects in years, becoming an automatic starter for Augsburg in the Bundesliga this season despite only recently turning 19.
The defender was born in Hawaii to an American father and German-Spanish mother. After moving to Washington, D.C., Banks relocated to Germany when he was a young child.
Banks has only represented the U.S. at the youth international level and has received one senior call-up.
But speaking after he provided a key assist in Augsburg's 2-0 win over FC Köln on Friday, Feb. 27, Banks admitted that he was "torn" over whether to move forward with the U.S. or switch to Germany.
“It’s a difficult decision regarding my nationality. I’m very torn,” he said. “I’m in contact with both the USA and Germany and both national coaches,” Banks said.
“I hopefully have a long career ahead of me, so I want to think carefully and speak with my family. I don’t want to make it dependent on a World Cup. I’m just happy to be in this position and to be able to make this decision. We’ll see what happens.”
Banks' comments were markedly different from only weeks ago when he said that "there's not a thought of switching" to Germany.
The teenager was called in for the USMNT's September camp, but didn't see the field in friendlies against South Korea and Japan. He was not called in for matches in October and November.
The USMNT will face Belgium and Portugal in March friendlies, the team's final two matches before Mauricio Pochettino names his World Cup roster.
Earlier this month, USMNT legend Landon Donovan predicted that Banks wouldn't just make the World Cup squad, but would be starting in the tournament on home soil.
In his quest to become the first driver in NASCAR history to win the first three races of a new season, Tyler Reddick will start from pole position at the Circuit of the Americas. The 23XI Racing star will be joined on the front row by a Trackhouse driver, but not the one we all expected...
Ross Chastain will start second, while his teammate Shane van Gisbergen will start 13th in his effort to win six consecutive road/street course races.
“I maybe should have called my shot earlier, but some pressure comes with that,” said Reddick. “I love going fast and road courses are a lot of fun in qualifying. Just proud of everyone's effort here…I don't know where Shane is starting, but I just need to get as much of a head start on him as I can and try to stay ahead of him all day."
Chastain, who earned his first Cup win at COTA in 2022, was surprised by the result: "I didn't know what was happening. I followed Shane out, and his Safety Culture colors were actually getting closer. It was something I've never experienced on a road course. He's helped me so much, so to go execute for our #1 team with (crew chief) Brandon McSwain, I feel like the car performed how we wanted it to there."
Rookie Connor Zilisch will start 25th, and is another driver everyone will be watching on Sunday.
Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet; Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet; Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Group A
Gibbs rocketed to the top of the charts by the halfway point of the 20-minute session with a 1:38.25s, but McDowell (who led practice) soon knocked him down with a fast lap of 1:38.14s. Gibbs' JGR teammate Bell had a strong run at the pole, but he ended up 0.057s shy of McDowell's lap.
Busch ran wide at the end of his first flying lap, taking a trip through the gravel. All eyes were on Zilisch, and the rookie enters COTA last in points among full-time drivers. He made a slight mistake in his first flying lap, which cost him a few tenths, but went out again and improved to tenth out of 19. Ricky Stenhouse Jr also nearly spun out through the esses, but managed to collect his sideways #47 Chevrolet.
Group B
The second group featured all of the big guns, including SVG. Brad Keselowski was the first driver on track, but most of the drivers chose to wait until the second half of the 20-minute session.
Joey Logano was the first to break into the top ten, but it was AJ Allmendinger who first challenged the fastest drivers from Group A. The experienced road racer missed it by just 0.005s, reaching second for the moment.
But suddenly, several drivers jumped to the top of the charts with Elliott taking P1, only for Reddick to best him moments later with a 1:37.76s. He was the first driver to crack the 1:37s, followed by Briscoe, who was still almost two tenths behind the #45 Toyota.
Chastain was challenging Reddick, and likely could have had pole if not for a lock-up near the end of his lap. He ended up second, just over a tenth behind Reddick. Surprisingly, SVG did not have the pace to go for pole, reaching 19th on his first lap and then 13th on his second lap.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 18: Isaac Paredes #15 of the Houston Astros bats during the game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on July 18, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners won 6-1. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
3B Isaac Paredes will make his 2026 Grapefruit League debut today.
The Houston Astros (1-4-2) welcome the Pittsburgh Pirates (6-2) to West Palm Beach.
RHP Mike Burrows will make his second start and appearance of the Spring as he takes on Buccos RHP Braxton Ashcraft.
RHP Mike Burrows takes on his former club with today’s start vs. the Pirates. Burrows made 23 appearances (19 starts) for PIT in 2025 before being acquired by HOU on Dec. 19 as part of a three-team, six-player deal. Burrows was selected PIT in the 11th round of the 2018 MLB Amateur Draft.
Today is the second start of the Spring for RHP Mike Burrows. He hurled 2.0 scoreless innings in his first start on Feb. 22 vs. STL (1 BB, 2 SO). In 2025, Burrows was 2-4 in 23 appearances (19 starts) for the Pirates with a 3.94 ERA (42ER/96IP) and 97 strikeouts in 96.0 IP. Burrows was solid in the second half of the season, posting a 3.27 ERA ERA (20ER/55IP) in 13 appearances (10 starts), allowing one or fewer runs in seven of his last eight appearances (2.22 ERA in that span). He earned his first win as a starter on June 4 vs. HOU (5.1 scoreless inn.).
TODAY’S POTENTIAL RELIEVERS: RHP Logan VanWey, RHP Jayden Murray, RHP Roddery Muñoz, LHP Tom Cosgrove, RHP Michael Knorr, RHP Alex Santos.
WALK THIS WAY: The Astros have drawn a combined 54 walks in seven games (7.7 per game).
Today is the first of two scheduled meetings between the Astros and Pirates this Spring. The two clubs will also play in Bradenton on St. Patrick’s Day (3/17). In the regular season, the Pirates will visit HOU for a three-game set, June 2-4.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Saturday, February 28, 12:05 p.m. CST
Location: CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches, Palm Beach, FL
Jake Cooper and Declan Howe scored as Altrincham beat Brackley 2-0 at St James Park despite missing a penalty.
The visitors took the lead just before half-time when Cooper found the back of the net with a close-range finish from a corner.
The Robins had a chance to cushion their lead when they won a penalty with seven minutes remaining in the second half, but Jonny Maxted guessed correctly and saved Howe's spot-kick.
Howe would not be denied again, and scored in second-half stoppage time after a Brackley defender slipped.
Lamine Yamal scored a sensational hat-trick as Barcelona downed Villarreal at Camp Nou to extend their La Liga lead on Real Madrid (MANAURE QUINTERO)
Barcelona's teenage star Lamine Yamal scored the first hat-trick of his career in a 4-1 win over Villarreal on Saturday that took the Catalan giants four points clear at the top of La Liga.
The Spain international struck twice in the first half and, after Pape Gueye pulled one back for the visitors at Camp Nou, stroked in a third for Hansi Flick's side.
Robert Lewandowski rounded off Barca's triumph with a late tap-in as they extend their lead on Real Madrid, who host Getafe on Monday, and third-place Villarreal who now trail the champions by 13 points.
Yamal, who seems to have fully recovered from a groin issue which bothered him for several weeks earlier in the campaign, was at his effervescent best.
The winger became the youngest player to score a hat-trick in La Liga in the 21st century at 18 years and 230 days old.
Yamal has now equalled his tally of 18 goals last season across all competitions, becoming the team's top goalscorer and raising the one area of his game which called for improvement.
Barcelona might have taken the lead through Jules Kounde early on but the French defender screwed a shot across the face of goal when well placed.
Yamal tested Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Junior from distance, offering a brief glimpse of what was soon to follow.
Barca took the lead when Fermin Lopez won the ball high up the pitch and fed Yamal, who curled home after 28 minutes.
Yamal's second followed nine minutes later, a stunning individual goal after he drove in from the right.
The teenager left Sergi Cardona and Alberto Moleiro for dead and then whipped a strike into the far top corner.
Luiz Junior saved Raphinha's free-kick as Barca sought a third before the interval. Kounde flicked home but was offside and Yamal might have completed his hat-trick but fired over.
Dani Olmo wasted a good chance early in the second half and soon paid the price as Villarreal pulled one back.
Gueye turned home from close range after a scramble in the box as Barca failed to clear a corner.
The Yellow Submarine nearly had a second when Joan Garcia came flying out of his goal to try and beat Ayoze Perez to a ball in behind Barca's defence.
The goalkeeper did not win it cleanly and after Perez recovered possession the Canary Islander fired just wide with Garcia stranded in no man's land.
Yamal bent another shot agonisingly wide from the edge of the box as he chased his first ever treble, which eventually came after substitute Pedri played him in with an inch-perfect pass.
The teenager beat Luiz Junior with a clinical finish and was given an ovation when Flick brought him off shortly afterwards.
Lewandowski netted Barca's fourth after good work from Pedri and Kounde, who had one of his best games of the season.
Scoring four goals -- at least -- is what Barca need to do on Wednesday, as they host Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg, aiming to overcome a 4-0 deficit.
Oct 30, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Baltimore Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar (88) reacts after catching a pass for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The Denver Broncos head into 2026 free agency needing a lot of help at the tight end position. Evan Engram is still under contract and theoretically a pass-catching threat, but with Adam Trautman leaving for free agency, there is a need at the position for someone who can actually block in the run game. Charlie Kolar, a backup tight end for the Baltimore Ravens, stands out as an affordable option with the size and physicality to fill a role Denver desperately needs.
Tight End | Charlie Kolar | Baltimore Ravens Height: 6’6” Weight: 265 pounds Age: 27 years old Experience: 4 NFL seasons
Stats: 30 receptions, 409 yards, 4 touchdowns. In 2025, he played in all 17 games (7 starts), catching 10 passes for 142 yards and 2 scores on 15 targets.
Should the Broncos sign tight end Charlie Kolar?
Tight end blocking was absolutely atrocious throughout most of the season. That negatively affected the run game, but is also a big reason why the screen game was so frustrated. It wasn’t just all on the tight end though as the wide receiver blocking was also pretty bad in those situations.
That is the main reason why I’d love to see Denver sign a guy like Charlie Kolar. He’s not going to fill the role that Evan Engram was supposed to fill, but he’d be an absolute monster when asked to fill the role of run blocker. He’s also a sneaky option in the red zone given his height advantage over most any defender.
Adam Trautman was a blocking TE for the Broncos in 2025, but he was not a very good one. He had a high blown block % and a high stuff%. Only Otton and Goedert got stuffed more among TEs with >200 run blocks. pic.twitter.com/zYCzlGGV1H
Why the Broncos will not sign Charlie Kolar in free agency
The short answer is that he won’t solve the tight end problem. The Broncos will still need to attack the position even if they did get Kolar in the building.
The reason being is that Kolar’s receiving production is modest with minimal separation skills. He lacks the athleticism to create consistent mismatches or become a featured option. Denver would need to target a more dynamic tight end through the draft or higher-profile free agency to upgrade the position long-term. Or, if they believe in Engram, they could continue to roll with him at 1a and a guy like Kolar as 1b.
Final Thoughts
I initially felt like I picked up a boring free agent candidate when we were all signing up for guys to cover ahead of free agency. However, the more closely I looked at Kolar the more I like the idea of bringing him to Denver. A solid run blocking tight end was a serious hole last season. It gets overlooked because its not as flashy as a ‘joker’ tight end not being as explosive as we all hoped he would be.
This signing would afford the Broncos to go after a play-making tight end without worrying so much about their blocking ability as much as worrying about their play-making ability. I say go after this kid.
How do you feel about Charlie Kolar and his fit with the Denver Broncos?
If there was ever a game to burn the tape and move on, St. John’s played it earlier this week.
The Red Storm managed just 40 points in a 32-point loss at UConn, missing their final 24 shots over the last 17:42.
But the Villanova Wildcats aren’t UConn, and St. John’s should bounce back to looking like the team that carried a 13-game winning streak into that matchup.
My Villanova vs. St. John's predictions and college basketball picks call for the Johnnies to get a cover at home on Saturday, February 28.
Villanova vs St. John's prediction
Villanova vs St. John's best bet: St. John's -7.5 (-116)
The Villanova Wildcats' defense isn't on UConn's level. The Huskies are top-10 against 2-point shots and top 20 against the three. Nova ranks No. 150 in the nation against both, and their last five opponents shot .567 from two.
It's important to note that the St. John's Red Storm got good shots against UConn. Nine of the 24 straight misses were within 10 feet. At home, against a softer foe, those shots will fall.
St. John’s has been playing with its food lately, failing to cover in two of its last three games as a 7.5-point favorite or larger. The UConn debacle will be a wake-up call.
Villanova vs St. John's same-game parlay
Villanova plays at the No. 327 pace in the country, but the Wildcats have sped things up, making the Over a solid play.
Zuby Ejiofor leads St. John’s in scoring, averaging 15.6 points per game, and he’ll be the reason the Johnnies cover the number tonight.
Villanova vs St. John's SGP
St. John's -7.5
Over 146.5 points
Zuby Ejiofor Over 15.5 points
Our beyond the arc SGP: Tough Night!
Acaden Lewis scored just three points and shot 1-for-7 in the first game against St. John's. Against Quad 1 foes this season, he's averaging 8.1 points and hitting just .300 from the field, compared to 14.5 and .526 against everyone else.
Bryce Lindsay has made one 3-pointer or fewer in four of the last six games. The odds seem out of line here, and we'll take advantage.
Villanova vs St. John's SGP
St. John's -7.5
Zuby Ejiofor Over 15.5 points
Acaden Lewis Under 12.5 points
Bryce Lindsay Under 1.5 threes
Villanova vs St. John's odds
Spread: Villanova +7.5 (-110) | St. John's -7.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Villanova +245 | St. John's -300
Over/Under: Over 145 (-110) | Under 145 (-110)
Villanova vs St. John's betting trend to know
Villanova has hit the game total Over in 12 of its last 15 games. Find more college basketball betting trends for Villanova vs. St. John's.
How to watch Villanova vs St. John's
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
FOX
Villanova vs St. John's key injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect from a Liverpool perspective was the fact they virtually put this game to bed in the first half. That has been a rarity this season.
Though they did make it hard from themselves, losing the ball carelessly on a number of occasions, there can be few complaints when you score five in a game.
Liverpool were far from brilliant - but Arne Slot's men were clinical and, for the first time this season, they scored three goals in the first half of a league game.
Before this game, you had to go back to 13 December for the last time Liverpool scored a goal before the 41st minute in a league game at Anfield.
But they were 2-0 up after 24 minutes on Saturday - and ended up scoring five in a Premier League match for the first time since they beat Tottenham in April to clinch the title last season.
Four of the five goals involved some kind of deflection, but they all count the same.
In terms of goals from set-pieces (excluding penalties), Liverpool were joint-bottom between the start of the season and 31 December.
But in 2026 they are leading the league - with eight set-piece goals so far this year.
Slot will also have been encouraged to see Joe Gomez start at right-back and the return of Jeremie Frimpong from injury, but Mohamed Salah remains without a league goal in his past 10 games.
The New Orleans Saints have solved the two biggest question marks already. They have a head coach in Kellen Moore, and more importantly, they have a quarterback in Tyler Shough.
With Shough in place, the goal this offseason is very clear: the Saints must improve the offense around him. While running back and interior offensive lineman could be nice, the Saints need another wide receiver to pair with Chris Olave.
Saints 'perfect' free agent signing would be Romeo Doubs
"Romeo Doubs should be looking for a place where he can play a bigger role in free agency," Ballentine writes. "The Saints should be looking for a reliable No. 2 who can play alongside Chris Olave. It's a hand-in-glove fit."
Doubs would be a fantastic addition next to Olave. While Doubs doesn't have the downfield explosiveness that a receiver like Alec Pierce has, he's a very consistent receiving threat.
This past season, Doubs had 724 yards and six touchdowns on 55 receptions. The year prior, he had 601 yards and four touchdowns on 46 receptions. In 2023, he put up 674 yards and eight touchdowns on 59 receptions. In his rookie year, he had 425 yards and three touchdowns on 42 catches.
Across his four-year NFL career, all with the Packers, Doubs has 2,424 receiving yards, 21 touchdowns, and 202 receptions on 320 targets.
While those aren't eye-catching numbers, the more important issue for the Saints isn't finding a superstar wide receiver. It's finding a solid option to play alongside Olave in the Saints offense.
Spending high draft capital on a top receiver wouldn't be a bad idea, but the Saints could instead elect to spend some money on Doubs in free agency and build a very stable offense around Shough.
And signing Doubs wouldn't take them out of the draft market for a receiver. Devaughn Vele is a nice receiver, but he's better suited as a third or fourth option.
If the Saints could create a WR room of Olave, Doubs, Vele, and a top rookie receiver in Round 1 or 2, then the Saints offense around Shough would be in a fantastic spot for his sophomore season.
Doubs would be a great addition for the Saints, and Ballentine calling him the "perfect" free agent signing for the Saints makes a ton of sense.
Blackburn boss Michael O'Neill claims they must become more durable after they lost their second successive game despite taking the lead.
Rovers faded badly in the second half at Derby after leading at the interval to lose 3-1, although they still remain four points and a place above the Championship drop zone.
O'Neill, who has won two and lost two of his first four games, told BBC Radio Lancashire: "We played very well in the first half, I thought.
"We dealt with the long balls, picked up a lot of second balls and we played some really good football in the first half. We went in one-nil ahead and I think we were deserving of that.
"Second half, the squad isn't strong, we don't have depth on our squad. And the team that finishes the game is not as strong as the team that starts the game. That's with the injuries we have, the players that we have missing.
"We have players coming in, who haven't played for a while, and we have to manage them through the game, so that's a challenge.
"But we need to develop durability, both individually and collectively. I think as a team, we need to be more durable and we weren't able to do that in the second half."
Danhausen, with a microphone in hand, is prepared to say something before one of his scheduled matches on AEW - AEW
Danhausen is gone-hausen. Following reports from this past Friday, the former AEW and ROH showman made multiple posts on social media that indicated his departure and now free agency. And to confirm this, AEW has officially removed the "Very Nice, Very Evil" star from its roster page.
Last appearing on-screen as part of a cameo at ROH Final Battle in December 2024, Danhausen's contract status was swirling rapidly with mentions that due to months of inactivity, his contract was extended, preventing him from leaving at the end of last summer. Because of the lack of television time, he returned to the independent scene in hopes that AEW creative would call and bring him back to do any work for either company. However, that didn't happen.
In a couple of hours, WWE will broadcast its annual Elimination Chamber PLE live from Chicago. For several weeks, a huge crate has been hot potatoed backstage between "WWE Raw" and "WWE SmackDown," with instructions that read on the outside of the crate "Do Not Open Until 2-28-2026." Many are speculating that Danhausen is the man inside the crate. If that's the case, Danhausen could receive the spotlight he's been craving since the end of 2024. In past reports, it was mentioned that Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is a big fan of Danhausen's work, and believes he would be a great fit for the company (along with other WWE officials). Only time will tell-hausen.
Virgil van Dijk struck in Liverpool's fourth consecutive win (Paul ELLIS)
Manchester City shrugged off the absence of Erling Haaland to close to within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal with a 1-0 win at Leeds on Saturday, while Liverpool beat West Ham 5-2 to climb into fifth.
Haaland was absent for the trip to the city of his birth due to a minor injury that Pep Guardiola described as "not a big problem".
Without the Norwegian, City were far from their best but ground out a vital three points against a Leeds side that had lost just twice in their previous 16 games.
Leeds were left to rue not making the most of their early dominance as Dominic Calvert-Lewin skewed wide a glorious chance just three minutes in.
Antoine Semenyo instead proved to be the match-winner with his sixth goal in 11 games since joining City last month.
"It was a huge victory to still be there (in the race)," said Guardiola, whose side and Arsenal are still involved in four competitions.
"One game at a time. Recover now and start the real season when there are many, many games and everyone's tired."
Tempers flared at full-time as Leeds boss Daniel Farke was shown a red card for confronting referee Peter Bankes, while Guardiola was also furious at the officials.
The pressure is now on Arsenal to respond when they host Chelsea in the pick of Sunday's action.
- Liverpool's set-piece turnaround -
Liverpool's new-found strength from set-pieces masked another unconvincing performance against struggling West Ham.
All three first-half goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister came from corners, putting Arne Slot's men in a commanding position.
Liverpool have gone from the worst Premier League performers in terms of set-pieces at the end of 2025 to the best since January 1.
"In my opinion we have played better when we lost," said Slot. "We start scoring from set-pieces and things start looking brighter and better than when you don't."
Cody Gakpo added another goal after the break before an Axel Disasi own goal capped off the win for Liverpool.
Defeat deals another blow to the Hammers' hopes of survival as they remain two points adrift of safety.
But they hit back twice in the second half through Tomas Soucek and Valentin Castellanos and could have scored more at Anfield.
A place in the top five is almost certain to secure Champions League football next season thanks to the strong results of English sides in European competition this season.
Liverpool move three points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea.
- Brentford edge Burnley in thriller -
Burnley's slim chances of survival took another body blow in an agonising 4-3 defeat at home to Brentford.
The Bees were cruising to victory and within two points of Chelsea when goals from Mikkel Damsgaard, Igor Thiago and Kevin Schade put them 3-0 up inside 34 minutes at Turf Moor.
Michael Kayode's own goal gave the Clarets hope before half-time and they levelled through Jaidon Anthony and Zian Flemming.
Flemming thought he had completed a remarkable comeback only for a VAR review to rule the goal out for offside.
Instead, it was Brentford who snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when Damsgaard netted his second goal in stoppage time.
There was still time for another VAR review to deny Burnley a point when Ashley Barnes was adjudged to have handled before scoring a 98th-minute equaliser.
Everton notched another excellent away win to maintain their hope of European football next season with a 3-2 victory at Newcastle.
Three times the Toffees led at St James' Park through Jarrad Branthwaite, Beto and Thierno Barry.
Everton have struggled to adapt to their new home at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, but only Arsenal have won more points on the road, with David Moyes' men climbing into eighth.
Bournemouth stretched their unbeaten league run to eight games after coming from behind to rescue a 1-1 draw at home to Sunderland in the lunchtime kick-off.
That’s how Jerry Jones described his vision for the flow with George Pickens, now that the Dallas Cowboys have ensured that the All-Pro wide receiver won’t hit the market on March 11 as a free agent. On Friday, the Cowboys officially placed a franchise player tag on Pickens that comes with a $27.298 million payday for 2026 yet also marks the intent for the team to strike a deal for a long-term contract.
“Very clearly, the Cowboys want George Pickens to be a part of our future,” the Cowboys owner said, speaking to a small group of media that included USA TODAY Sports, aboard his luxury bus on Friday night after watching a workout session at the NFL scouting combine. “That says that so clearly. And it has a lot of muscle behind it when it says it.”
Sounds inviting enough. Yet these are the Dallas Cowboys we’re talking about.
History suggests that when it comes to negotiating a fat contract for a star player, there’s bound to be some Texas-sized drama. In recent years, that involved long, drawn-out contract talks with Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, DeMarcus Lawrence and of course, last year, a major saga with Micah Parsons that seemed to turn way-too-personal and didn’t end until the All-Pro edge rusher was traded to the Green Bay Packers a week before the start of the regular season.
What’s to say this will play out without becoming a big distraction that hovers above the Cowboys as they ramp up for next season? Jones tap-danced when asked whether he received assurance from Pickens during a Thursday phone conversation that the receiver would fully participate in the team’s offseason program.
“What I did get is how much it meant to George that he’s working with Dak,” Jones said.
More solid, though, was Jones’ contention about his approach to working with Pickens’ agent, David Mulugheta. Early in his hour-long media session – dubbed as a “state of the Cowboys address” – Jones made an undeniable statement that added a substantial layer to the tone set during the phone call with Pickens.
“Regarding his representation, I can clearly work with his agent,” Jones said. “I have no issues.”
After his dismissive remarks about Mulugheta last spring, Jones knew this component of the negotiations would come up during his media session. Rather than wait for a question about it, though, Jones was proactive. He brought it up himself.
Last year, with Mulugheta – arguably the NFL’s most prominent agent – handling Parsons, Jones contended that he didn’t even know his name and didn’t need the agent to strike a contract with his defensive centerpiece. Intended or not, it came across as downright disrespectful, on top of violating the NFL’s labor pact that ensures player representation as Jones considered a one-on-one meeting in his office with Parsons as the basis for a deal.
Well, that was last year. Jones undoubtedly had a key talking point about Mulugheta (incidentally, a Dallas native who grew up rooting for the Cowboys) that he wanted to express on Friday.
“We haven’t met,” Jones said of Mulugheta, “but to the end that we can have discussions about (Pickens) and other players that he represents, we understand the angst that’s there, how he’s representing, and his goals of maximizing the dollars. And he clearly has accomplished enough to know the alternative to that is our job of managing the club and the salary cap and getting as much mileage out of the cap as we can.”
The NFL’s salary cap, by the way, will top $300 million for the first time in 2026, with the record $301.2 million figure representing an increase of $22 million from last year’s amount. It stands to reason that a long-term deal for Pickens would average at least $30 million per year. Cincinnati Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase has the highest average among receivers at $40.25 million, while Lamb ranks third at $34 million.
For a team that again needs to create cap room – according to Spotrac.com, the Cowboys are currently an NFL-worst $58.454 million over the cap – it would behoove the team to reach an agreement with Pickens sooner rather than later.
The same can be said for star kicker Brandon Aubrey, whom Jones confirmed has been offered a contract that would make him the NFL’s highest-paid kicker. Currently, Harrison Butker of the Kansas City Chiefs is the highest-paid kicker, averaging $6.4 million.
“We feel good that what we’re talking about is appreciative of what he can do for us,” Jones said of Aubrey, the only player in NFL history with six field goals of at least 60 yards on his resume. “I’m not trying to negotiate with anything I say here, but we’ve got a good offer on the table for him.”
Still, more drama is always just around the corner for the Cowboys. While Aubrey’s case is interesting enough, the Pickens matter seemingly provides more potential to generate headlines.
Pickens ranked third in the NFL with 1,429 receiving yards on 93 catches. In earning second-team All-Pro honors, he also largely discarded the reputation as a malcontent that was connected to Pittsburgh’s willingness to trade him away.
Jones undoubtedly took a step to reduce drama by calling Pickens on Thursday, a day before the team owner flew here for the combine, to explain the team’s rationale for using a franchise tag – the restrictive move despised by many star players across the league over the years.
“I was rewarded that he expressed himself in the way that he did about how comfortable he was here, how much he liked working with Dak and his teammates and how he was looking forward to his future with the Cowboys,” Jones said of his talk with Pickens.
As for the drama, Jones tried his best to distance himself from the perception that the Cowboys drag these matters out more than most. Two years ago, Lamb’s 4-year, $136 million extension wasn’t done until after he missed all of training camp. And while Prescott became the NFL’s highest-paid player on a 4-year, $260 million contract that averages $60 million, the matter was a constant topic of discussion all offseason and during camp.
“I don’t know what comes first: The substance, the significance of the player’s situation, or the drama of a negotiation,” Jones said. "Usually, those happen when you have a more substantive player that is…a difference-maker. I really don’t know how to do it and not have the drama.”
In other words, stay tuned. Even if Jones promises smooth sailing this time around.
“I want our George Pickens relationship to be all honey,” Jones said.
It's not clear what team Stauffer was suggesting might be making this offer, but it's intriguing whether it's Edmonton or another club.
The Oilers have been linked to Ekman-Larsson already. NHL insider Elliotte Friemdan, on his podcast, has suggested that the Oilers could line up a trade for the 34-year old defenseman.
Ekman-Larsson would give the Oilers a player who beat them in the Stanley Cup in 2023-24 with the Florida Panthers before joining the Leafs for these last two seasons.
It sounds like the veteran defenseman would much prefer to stay put, but that might be tough to carry out. Leafs reporter Nick Alberga posted this on X:
"We'll see what happens, but he doesn't want to go anywhere. He loves Toronto. He wants to stay in Toronto. He wants to win in Toronto."
This season, Ekman-Larsson has eight goals and 27 assists (35 points) in 59 games.
At the end of the day, the Maple Leafs need to replenish their future outlook, and getting a first-round pick would help do that.
Ekman-Larsson, at this point, doesn't seem like he'll still be at his peak ability for the Leafs' turnaround, as his decline has likely already started at 34 years of age.
Toronto would be wise not to overthink it and take the best offer they can get for OEL.
For NFL Draft fans, there is nothing quite like the NFL combine. The testing is not much in terms of action, but regardless, it gets you on the edge of your seat for the first time since the Super Bowl.
On Friday, we get to see two position groups on the field with actual testing in the tight ends and defensive backs. Both are positions that the Bucs could use some help at this draft cycle, so we wanted to give you some players to watch today when testing begins at 1:00 p.m. EST on NFL Network.
In this piece, we will focus specifically on running backs. The Bucs need to replace Rachaad White, who they expect to lose in free agency. If the team wants a replacement, the draft is going to be the best place to do so. With that in mind, here are five players we are looking forward to seeing test at the NFL combine.
Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
Jeremiyah Love is the next player up who seems destined to break the combine with what he is capable of. He has already cemented himself as a top player in this class, but with a strong combine, he could become the best player in this class. If anything, he can complicate choices for the teams at the top as they decide against best player available and drafting a need.
Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
Jadarian Price is looking to cement himself as the RB2 in the class with a strong combine. He didn't have a lot of on-field reps being behind Love at Notre Dame, but that isn't stopping anyone from being excited about him. Price will have every chance to cement himself as a top choice in the class with what many expect to be a good showing in terms of testing on Saturday.
Desmond Reid, Pittsburgh
There are not many more players in the draft who play with more heart and determination than Desmond Reid. The Pittsburgh running back is undersized for the position, but you wouldn't know it watching his film. Reid should test wel given his size and athleticism, but also because Pittsburgh has been putting out quite the athletes in recent drafts.
Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas
Mike Washington has caught fire this draft cycle after acing his Senior Bowl week. He now comes into the combine with some potential to become maybe the RB3 or even the RB2 in this class. Washington has the power in his running style, but showcasing some finesse and speed would go a long way with evaluators.
Jonah Coleman, Washington
Jonah Coleman is in contention for RB2 in this class alongside Jadarian Price and Mike Washington. The former Husky has shown a strong work ethic, adding to his frame these past two seasons in Washington. Now, as a draft prospect, evaluators will have to see how his preparation has gone ahead of his testing day.
The Union sports ministry has asked the Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI) to stop using the words "India" or "Indian" in its name and activities, stating that the body is not recognised as a National Sports Federation (NSF).
In a communication to DCCI secretary Ravi Kant Chauhan, the ministry said that only government-recognised federations are allowed to use those terms. Similar notices were sent to the Women's Football Federation of India and the Indian Body Builders' Federation, among others.
"...It has come to the notice of this Department that the expression "India" is being used by your Federation, namely, Differently-Abled Cricket Council of India, despite the fact that the said Federation is not recognised as National Sports Federation by this Ministry," the letter stated, as cited by news agency PTI.
"...it is hereby directed to desist from using the expression "India" or "Indian" in the name and/or any activities of your Federation. Unauthorized use of the said expressions are liable for appropriate action under the extant rules and applicable laws," it warned.
The DCCI does not have official recognition from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), although it has the board’s backing. The BCCI itself is not a recognised NSF.
Chauhan confirmed that he had received the ministry’s letter and requested that DCCI be granted NSF status.
"...it is not just us but multiple sports bodies have been notified that they can't use the word India since they are not Registered NSF. My plea to ministry would be to accord us NSF status as we have been running the Differently Abled Cricket in the country."
"We have organised World Cups, Asia Cups, national tournaments as well bilateral series. Our national team has played in England, Sri Lanka. The BCCI also recognises us," Chauhan, the secretary of DCCI, told PTI.
He also sought similar action against other organisations involved in differently-abled cricket.
"There is CABI (Cricket Association for Blind), the Wheelchair Association, Association for speech and hearing impaired players. I believe everyone should get this notification from Ministry," he said.
A ministry source said that with the National Sports Governance Act now in force, all sports bodies must seek recognition from the National Sports Board, which is yet to be set up, to receive approval from the ministry.
Taekwondo decision
In a separate move, the ministry has withdrawn recognition of the Taekwondo Federation of India. It also said that India Taekwondo would not be granted recognition as the governing body for the sport.
The decision followed directions from the Delhi High Court, which had asked both factions to justify their claims.
"...upon further examination, it has been observed that the Constitution/Memorandum of Association (MoA)/Bye-laws of Taekwondo Federation of India and India Taekwondo are not fully in conformity with the Sports Code...it is observed that, as on date, both the parties' viz., Taekwondo Federation of India and India Taekwondo do not fully meet the conditions prescribed in the guidelines for recognition of NSFs as contained in the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011."
"...at present, neither of the above said two Federations qualifies for grant of government recognition...in compliance of the directions of the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi dated 06.01.2026, it has been decided that, as neither Taekwondo Federation of India nor India Taekwondo fully meet the criteria prescribed in the Sports Code for grant of recognition."
The Miami Dolphins have already made a few big changes this offseason, including overturning their coaching staff and moving on from some of the most talented players on their roster.
Among those players that Miami is parting ways with is linebacker Bradley Chubb, whose release as a post-June 1 cut will open up $20.23 million in cap space for the 2026 season.
There are a lot of teams that could use a strong pass rusher this offseason, and ESPN's Aaron Schatz projected that the Colts will sign Chubb for at least this year.
"The Colts ranked just 30th in pass rush win rate (29.1%) last season, and three of their top four pass rushers are hitting free agency. So, this is a good time to bring in a veteran," Schatz wrote. "The Dolphinscut Chubb to clear money off their salary cap, but he is still just 30 years old. He had 8.5 sacks last season with 36 pressures."
It's tough to expect Chubb to make up for the production of Kwity Paye, Tyquan Lewis and Samson Ebukam next year, but he can certainly help make things easier if all three depart in the coming weeks.
As for Miami, they won't be looking to bring Chubb back, and right now, the only true edge rusher they have right now is 2024 first-round pick Chop Robinson. They'll need to invest in the position at some point in the offseason because, as of now, their defensive front is set to be significantly weaker, which will only make the thin cornerback room look even thinner.
MUMBAI: Former Mumbai wicketkeeper Sulakshan Kulkarni has been appointed as the head coach of the Oman men’s cricket team.
Kulkarni, who was Oman's deputy head coach in the 2026 T20 World Cup, has replaced former Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter Duleep Mendis, who has now been moved to the role of the 'Chief Development Officer' at Oman Cricket.
Announcing Kulkarni's appointment on Saturday, Oman Cricket posted on social media: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Sulakshan Kulkarni as Head Coach of the Oman Men’s National Team. Bringing vast experience and a winning mindset, he is set to lead the #TeamOman into an exciting new era.
"Duleep Mendis transitions to Chief Development Officer at Oman Cricket after 14 remarkable years at the helm leaving behind a stellar legacy of historic milestones and taking Oman cricket to unprecedented heights. His impact on the national team and the game’s growth in the country is truly immeasurable."
"It's a big shoe to fill in. Mendis sir has played a very huge role in shaping Oman cricket. I thank Oman cricket for the opportunity to serve as a head coach," Kulkarni told TOI from Oman.
Kulkarni's main task from here will be to help Oman qualify for the 50-over World Cup in South Africa next year. Oman will play a couple of ICC CWC League 2 Tri-nation series in Nepal and Namibia next month.
Oman failed to impress in the T20 World Cup; they lost all their four matches, suffering heavy defeats to Australia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and Ireland.
Kulkarni was the head coach of the Maharashtra Ranji team in the 2024-25 season. He has also been the head coach of Mumbai, Tamil Nadu, Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh in the past.
The former Mumbai wicketkeeper-batter, who played 65 First-Class matches and 13 List A games, had guided Mumbai to its 40th Ranji Trophy title in 2012-13 as the team’s head coach.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 24: A general view of St James' Park, home of Newcastle United during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Newcastle United FC and Qarabag FK at St James' Park on February 24, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Lee Parker - CameraSport via Getty Images) | CameraSport via Getty Images
Live Blog
37’ – Elanga drives down the left this time, his cross is hooked away by Tarky. Another cross from the right, and Branthwaite gives away a corner. Toon pushing but the Blues hold firm.
34’ – And just like that Everton lead again!! McNeil with a nifty ball control move makes space for himself, and he fires a shot goalwards. Pope saves well, but makes a hash of collecting the rebound and Beto reacts quickest for a tap-in!! 2-1 to the Blues.
33’ – Newcastle are growing into the game, and there’s their equalizer. Tonali’s great pass to Ramsey in the middle, he fires a shot that comes off a sliding Branthwaite’s knee, and loops over Pickford, 1-1 now.
30’ – Myko blocks Elanga, corner on the Everton left. Taken short, eventually into the box, Elanga heads towards the six yard box and Joelinton gets his head to it, saved easily by Pickford.
26’ – Everton intercept Gordon again and the Blues set off on a counter, Beto to Ndiaye and once again the Senegal international’s square ball is poor, Gordon does well to recover and put the ball out.
24’ – More howls of derision as Ramsey with another foul. Pickford boots the ball long into the Newcastle half.
22’ – Ramsey catches Gana with a poor tackle, the hosts do look rattled here. Magpies attack and a poor cross from Gordon is cleared by McNeil. We know that all too well.
19’ – Tarky clearance to Beto, and Everton progress up the left through Ndiaye, corner. Garner inswinger, GOAL!! Branthwaite beats Tonali and his glancing header goes in off the far post! Everton lead 1-0, and it’s just reward for their control of the game so far!!
15’ – Ndiaye with a brilliant run from his own half, shrugging off the close attentions of Tonali for about forty yards, but then he tries to play KDH in and completely muffs his pass. Ooof.
13’ – Woltemade and Gordon set up Joelinton on the Everton right, and now he sails his shot over. Must be the air today here at St. James Park.
11’ – Thiaw with a bizarre turnover straight to Beto, ball comes to Gana and he goes back before the ball ends up with Ndiaye on the left. Rolls the ball to McNeil for a central, first time shot and he gets right under it and balloons it up into space.
9’ – Ndiaye comes in centrally and lets fly from over twenty yards out, ball sails over but you can see what he was trying.
7’ – Beto rushes Pope into a clearance and clatters into the goalie on his follow-through. Ref Stuart Attwell happy with that.
4’ – McNeil nicks the ball off Joelinton, who then returns the favour. Beto’s first touches have not been his lead-footed regular so far, impressive.
2’ – Loud chorus of boos for Pickford’s first touch. Newcastle just love former Sunderland players, lol.
1’ – Kick off at St. James’ Park, Garner gets us started. McNeil is on the right, Ndiaye on the left. Toffees win a pair of throws deep on the right, both of O’Brien’s long throws are cleared.
Starting Lineups
Everton – Moyes does ring the changes. O’Brien and Mykolenko are back at fullback, Branthwaite returns to centre half. McNeil starts on the wing, and Beto will start up top.
Everton travel to the northeast to take on Newcastle, and the Blues get to play away from Hill Dickinson Stadium where they’ve looked a much more compact and better side.
Monday night’s defeat against Manchester United at home was particularly galling because the Blues were actually pretty good, but just didn’t create enough proper chances to get the game won.
Hosts Newcastle are going through a rough phase, with four defeats in their last five games and actually sit two spots and one point behind the Blues in the league table.
Carlos Alcaraz is the only other player out aside from Jack Grealish who underwent surgery and will miss the rest of the season. For the Magpies, Emil Krafth, Bruno Guimaraes, Fabian Schar, Tino Livramento and Lewis Miley are all out, with Jacob Ramsey facing a late fitness test for a hamstring ailment.
Match Details
Competition: Premier League Matchweek 28
Date and start time: Saturday, February 28th at 7:00 a.m. PT / 10:00 a.m ET / 3:00 p.m. BST
Stadium: St. James Park, Newcastle, England, United Kingdom
Capacity: 52,000
Weather: 45°F/7°C, cloudy, 10% chance of precipitation, 1 mph winds
How to Watch/Listen
TV: NBCSN – United States; N/A – United Kingdom; Fubo– Canada, SuperSport Blitz ROA, SuperSport MaXimo 1, Star Sports Select 2
Radio: evertontv
Live stream: Fubo, Peacock, ESPN Play Sur, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, DStv Now, RUSH, Jio Hotstar
Gamethread: There will be a live blog for this game, with our coverage continuing after the final whistle with the match recap and reaction.
*Royal Blue Mersey has affiliate partnerships and may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links provided.
The Magpies had preyed on the Blues’ home woes to win 4-1 in the first leg of this tie late in November. The Toffees last visit to St. James’ Park was a 1-0 win on the last day of the previous season, Charly Alcaraz’ winner looked like it had knocked the stunned hosts out of the Champions League before Aston Villa lost the plot elsewhere.
WATCH: Lamine Yamal strikes opener as Barcelona lead Villarreal
Barcelona will go four points clear at the top of La Liga with victory over Villarreal, and they are on course to do so after taking the lead at the Spotify Camp Nou.
It has been a frustrating opening half hour for the Catalans, who have had a couple of big chances to score. Ferran Torres and Jules Kounde could not take advantage, but fortunately for the vast majority of supporters inside the Spotify Camp Nou, Lamine Yamal has taken his opportunity on 28 minutes.
After a mistake in the Villarreal midfield, Fermin Lopez took the ball before slipping in Lamine Yamal, who finishes low beyond Luiz Junior.
After three matches without a goal, Lamine Yamal will be relieved to find himself back on the scoresheet for Barcelona. He has been lively in the opening stages, and after being denied by Junior earlier in the half, he made no mistake when presented with a clearer opportunity. They may be without key midfielder Frenkie de Jong for this one, but so far, his absence has not had a major effect.
Allegri plays down Milan exit rumours, makes Pulisic prediction
Massimiliano Allegri plays down Milan exit rumours, saying that there’s ‘total harmony’ with club directors and predicts Christian Pulisic ‘will get back to scoring.’
Milan coach Allegri previewed Sunday’s Serie A match between the Rossoneri and Cremonese.
It’s an away fixture for Milan, who ended their 25-game league unbeaten run last week, losing 1-0 at San Siro against Parma.
Cremonese vs. Milan – Allegri’s pre-match press conference
CAGLIARI, ITALY – JANUARY 02: Manager Massimiliano Allegri of Milan looks on during the Serie A match between Cagliari Calcio and AC Milan at Stadio Sant’Elia on January 02, 2026 in Cagliari, Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)
“After six months without losing, weall felt the blow. On Tuesday, we were all a bit dazed, while on Wednesday, we had a good training session,” Allegri said at a pre-match press conference on Saturday, via Milannews.
“Sooner or later, we were bound to slip up; we hoped not, but it happened. Now we have to start running again. In the last two matches in Cremona, Milan haven’t scored; two 0-0 draws and one defeat. The last win dates back to 1993-94; the year before, under Capello, it finished 1-1.”
Three Milan players are unavailable: Matteo Gabbia, Santiago Gimenez and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
“Gabbia is out; he still has this inflammation problem. We hope he’ll be back as soon as possible,” Allegri confirmed.
“Loftus-Cheek has had all his teeth fixed. Gimenez has completed all his pre-conditioning work. He’s in good shape. It’s possible that he’ll start training with the team this week. That’s a good sign, a positive recovery.”
“There’s total harmony with the club regarding the rumours that came out this week,” Allegri replied.
MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 08: Referee Maurizio Mariani speaks to Christian Pulisic of AC Milan during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Genoa CFC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 08, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“Of course, in any discussion, there can be different points of view. It’s important that everyone works for the good of Milan. I’m very happy to have returned to Milan after 15 years and to have started working with a wonderful group of players. The club is planning and structuring Milan’s future. To do that, we need to achieve the most important result. In March, we’re in a fairly good position. Now we have to see if we’re good enough to stay there or take the final step. There’s harmony between the club and me.”
“I don’t know who will start tomorrow. In the last half hour, we’ll need whoever is on the bench,” Allegri said.
“Pulisic has grown physically and mentally: he’ll get back to scoring. The important thing is that they’re all doing well.
“Pulisic is close to a very good level. He has grown physically, he’s much calmer and has much more confidence in himself. He could get back to scoring.”
PISA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 13: Adrien Rabiot of AC Milan reacts during the Serie A match between Pisa SC and AC Milan at Arena Garibaldi on February 13, 2026 in Pisa, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Ardon Jashari started against Parma to replace the suspended Adrien Rabiot. The Frenchman, however, is still on a yellow card and will be suspended for the derby if he’s booked tomorrow. The same goes for Alexis Saelemaekers.
“Jashari is improving a lot. He played well, even when he came on against Parma,” Allegri said.
“It’s normal that he makes fewer forward runs than Rabiot, as he has different characteristics, but he’s been an excellent signing.
“The most important match is tomorrow,” concluded Allegri.
“Once it’s over, whoever is fit will play the derby. Anyone suspended will be in the stands.”
That would be a blow! Will Mbappé miss out against Man City too?
Since the draw yesterday, it is clear that Real Madrid will face Manchester City in the Champions League round of 16 in mid-March. However, before the two decisive matches, there was bad news for Los Blancos.
Kylian Mbappé could miss the first leg due to injury. This was reported by the radio station 'Cadena SER'. Jude Bellingham could also be sidelined with an injury.
The French superstar has been struggling with knee problems for weeks. Before the match against Benfica, he finally had to take a break. When Álvaro Arbeloa was asked about the situation after the match, he remained cautious and said: "It is not my place to say how long he will be out."
He could be missing for up to three weeks, so he would be fit again for the second leg of the Champions League round of 16.
To that end, the club’s famous lemon pepper wings — both the ones named after three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams and the “regular” version — will be on sale, along with a special version of the Hawks’ Peachtree City Edition hoodies. A live episode of the team’s “Hawks AF” podcast (Hawks And Friends, Proctor made sure to note), with the elder Barney and three-time Grammy Award-winning rapper T.I., will be broadcast pregame. T.I. will perform at halftime. The club’s dancers will not take part in any aspect of the evening, Proctor said, but employees of the club will have access to a suite at the arena to watch the game. “This wasn’t a cakewalk, easy decision,” Proctor said. “We had to make sure we positioned the experience in a way that made sense for our business. That was 100 percent of how we landed where we did. So, dancers, no, but they talked extensively in the documentary about the music being a big part of the experience and culture.”
KC Concepcion would check a lot of the boxes the Buffalo Bills need at the wide receiver position.
Beyond that, though, the Texas A&M star and potential 2026 first-round NFL Draft pick has some awesome connections to Western New York, both Buffalo and Rochester.
Concepcion's dad, Kevin, was born in Rochester and played a season of college football for the University of Buffalo in 2002. Kevin was a cornerback and picked off two passes in 12 games.
KC was also born in Rochester, he told reporters Friday at the NFL Combine after having already met with the Bills in Indianapolis.
“I was actually born in New York, 585," Concepcion said, referencing Rochester's area code. “I moved out to Charlotte when I was about 5. The Bills are actually my dad’s favorite team. So I’ve been watching them since I was young. I’ve been seeing Josh Allen, he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the league. I would be grateful (to get drafted by the Bills).”
Concepcion, a 5-foot-11 wide receiver, played two seasons at North Carolina State before coming to Texas A&M for 2025. He had 61 catches for 919 yards and nine touchdowns in the most recent campaign.
Before college, Concepcion had grown into a star in Charlotte at Chambers High School, where they won back-to-back state championships and he developed into a four-star recruit.
Now, Concepcion wouldn't mind heading back to his WNY roots. He'd certainly be exactly what the Bills need.
Feb. 28—Illinois' offensive success this season — its rise to the most efficient offense ever recorded in the KenPom era — is in no small part predicated on the way the Illini exploit matchups. Versatile personnel and good decision making help fuel that style of play.
Michigan made that difficult for Illinois on Friday night at State Farm Center. A pair of post-ups on smaller guards by Zvonimir Ivisic and David Mirkovic led to a pair of easy buckets in the second half. Add in a Keaton Wagler three-pointer, and the Illini saw their deficit shrink to five with just more than 13 minutes to play.
But those were matchups Illinois couldn't consistently exploit. Because of the Wolverines.
"Credit to their personnel," Illini coach Brad Underwood said. "We got some mismatches based on some of their substitutions, but for the most part probably as many challenges as we've had exploiting mismatches."
Yaxel Lendeborg was at the heart of Illinois' struggles running effective offense. The 6-foot-9 forward spent the majority of Friday's game guarding Illini freshman Keaton Wagler for the full 94 feet. Lendeborg's size, skill and athleticism kept Wagler off kilter enough. The Illinois freshman did score a game-high 23 points, but it came on 7 of 17 shooting.
"He was picking me up 94 feet the whole game being physical, getting through ball screens," Wagler said of Lendeborg. "Just pressure on me the whole time making it hard. He's a really great player. He did a good job. ... I let his physicality kind of bother me."
Exactly the way Michigan drew it up.
"Yax was up to the challenge," Wolverines coach Dusty May said. "He loves guarding point guards, and then when he switches you have a big body. You have a guy that played the 5 in the American conference and played it pretty well switching on to big men.
"It's not as easy to get to the matchup advantages they're hunting against us because we can change our matchups. We can change what we do. They're really, really good at punishing a matchup. Because of our lineup versatility I don't think they did it as well as they typically do, and Yaxel was a big part of that."
Feb. 28—LAS VEGAS — Before competing in this week's Southern Highland Collegiate, the Illinois men's golf team planned a Friday practice round in the Las Vegas area.
Then, a watch party.
The round should have wrapped up in time for the team to make its way to a nearby restaurant, preferably one with TVs tuned in to the Fox broadcast for the Big Ten men's basketball showdown featuring No. 10 Illinois and No. 3 Michigan back at State Farm Center in Champaign.
The connection between the golfers and other teams on campus is a strong one, encouraged by coach Mike Small, the son of former Illinois basketball standout Bill.
"That's healthy for all the student-athletes," Small said. "The sports have become so independent, so important, and the time spent at each program is more than it was when I played. This is a 110 percent, you're all in."
The athletic department in general and athletic director Josh Whitman in particular have advocated a mixture of the teams in their campus housing, at study halls and in the weight room.
"I do know when it comes to football, and men's basketball, women's basketball, wrestling, baseball ... we're following the scores," Small said, "We're talking about it on the road together and pulling for everybody."
Illinois senior Ryan Voois, fresh off individual and team titles at the Hal Williams Collegiate in Mobile, Ala., attends men's basketball games whenever his schedule allows.
"Our athletic program is a big family," Voois said. "We know some of the guys on the basketball team, football. The basketball team was out there supporting us at (NCAA) regionals. The football team was out there supporting us. I love getting to go to football games and socializing with other athletes, too."
Voois has played golf with basketball player AJ Redd.
"He could use some work on his golf swing," Voois said. "They all want to get involved with golf."
Making a mark
Starting Sunday, the Illini try to continue their momentum from the win earlier this month in Alabama against a strong field in Las Vegas.
Illinois is a regular at the event, hosted by UNLV, winning in comeback fashion in 2023. Small likes to test his team.
"This is a strong field," he said. "A lot of Top 10 teams. Warm-weather schools, very few schools from where we're located. A lot of schools don't venture out to this stuff this time of year. This is a total win for us. We get to see where we're at. We're playing a hard golf course that requires a lot of discipline. It requires course management. You've got to control their ball flight."
The weather will certainly be more golf-friendly. Temperatures are forecast in the high 70s to low 80s during the tournament.
"The wind can get rough," Small said. "If you miss some greens, it will put pressure on you."
Small's team enters every tournament — and every season — with lofty goals. Competing at the highest level is the expectation for a program striving for its first national championship.
"It's hard. I think it's a good thing though," said Dane Huddleson, a junior transfer from Utah Valley. "It's good for your mental toughness."
His teammate agrees.
"I think when the expectation is high, the standard is high," Voois said. "We have so much support here and we're given so much."
First look
Huddleston will play in the Las Vegas event with his new team for the first time. Small likes what he has seen from Huddleston so far since he joined his new team.
"He's really become a part of the program very easily, very smoothly," Small said. "I think he really enjoys it. He had a good team at Utah Valley, but not a lot of depth."
Huddleston went to the NCAA tournament as an individual in 2025 and just missed advancing out of the regional.
"I'm excited for him," Small said. "He's got a year and a half left with us now. You can tell he's excited about it."
Huddleston had multiple options when he decided to leave Utah Valley. But Illinois stood out.
"I had three visits lined up," Huddleston said. "I came here first and I just loved everything about it and I loved Coach Small so I just decided to commit on the spot. I didn't go to those two other places. I just had a feeling."
Team success topped his list of priorities.
"My dream is to win a national championship as a team," Huddleston said, "and I believe we can do that here."
As his 30-year quest for another Super Bowl continues, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says he plans to "spend more money in free agency than we have" in order to win another title.
Speaking to reporters at the NFL scouting combine this week in Indianapolis, the 83-year-old Jones said he feels he's let Cowboys fans down by not constructing a roster worthy of another championship.
How desperate is Jones to be back on top? He said he would "hitchhike back to Dallas to win a Super Bowl."
The Cowboys missed the playoffs for the second straight season in 2025 with a 7-9-1 record. The franchise has won five playoff games since winning Super Bowl XXX in the 1995 season, which is also the last time they advanced out of the second round.
After the NFL announced this week the 2026 salary cap will be $301.2 million, that left the Cowboys $56.1 million over the ceiling, per OverTheCap.com. According to ESPN's Todd Archer, the contracts of quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and guard Tyler Smith will be restructured in order to make $66 million of cap room.
Even at 83 years old, Jerry Jones is still hungry for another trophy for the Cowboys 🤤 pic.twitter.com/4VcuLmi3A5
Kenny Clark, Quinnen Williams and Osa Odighizuwa will also see their contracts adjusted, Jones said, as the three defensive tackles combine for $63 million against the salary cap.
"I look at where we are with Dak and I look at where he is in his career. And I look at some of the pluses that we have on our front and what we think we can do there. And what we can do with [George] Pickens and Lamb and what we can do with our running back that we just signed [Javonte Williams]," Jones said. "And so all of those things I want to do everything we possibly can to stop somebody and to basically win some third downs more than we did last year. And so I think that would be the area that you would see me bust the budget. Where you would see me do that is what we're doing defensively.
"And I would expect anybody that's a Cowboy fan or a critic of the Cowboys to say, 'Duh, that's not hard to see, Jerry, to do.' But I guess what I'm doing is saying, yes, I intend to do that if given the opportunity."
The Cowboys will have money to spend in free agency as Jones wants, and they'll also have two first-round pick in April's NFL Draft to help continue to build toward the owner's only goal.
"It's every bit the prize of anything I have, with the exception of family and your love for family," Jones said. "I guess what I would say is make no mistake about it, I don't have a higher priority than to go and win a Super Bowl."
This weekend, the eyes of American racing fans will fall upon places like Ozone Park, Hallandale Beach, and Hot Springs.
The Kentucky Derby 152 preps happening at all those places will be contested over the tracks’ respective dirt courses. Santa Anita, a major part of the road to the Derby, will hold its subsequent Derby Prep, the San Felipe, next weekend.
This weekend belongs to California’s strongest set of horses: its turf horses. With a pair of tracks with terrific turf courses in Santa Anita and Del Mar - and year-round great racing weather - it’s no surprise the grass would play well out west.
The Grade 2 Buena Vista is a mile race for older female horses. For some - including the favored Thought Process - it’s a first try against older horses. For others, this is another try for a graded stakes. I think you could make the case for at least 4 of the starters in here. Let’s meet them, and put together our weekly wager. If you’re wagering on Santa Anita, check out AmWager! They’ve got a 100% deposit match up to $150!
1. Thought Process. 9/5. Jockey: Hector Berrios. Trainer: Phil D’Amato.
Thought Process kicks off her 4-year-old campaign here, and it’s not an easy spot. Her resume speaks for itself: she’s the clear class of the race, as the only multiple graded stakes winner. Both of those stakes wins were at this mile distance, including the Surfer Girl at Santa Anita. The only question mark for her: she’s been off since August. No matter for trainer Phil D’Amato, who wins at 20% off these types of layoffs.
Comment: must include.
2. Grand Slam Smile. 3/1. Jockey: Kazushi Kimura. Trainer: Sean McCarthy.
Grand Slam Smile is the kind of horse we adore in Southern California: a Cal-bred who wins whichever kind of race you place her in. In the last 10 months, she’s won a pair of races on the dirt - one a stakes - 2 turf sprints, and a turf route race. All but one of those was in Cal-bred stakes company. This is a step up, for sure, but all of her numbers are legitimate.
Comment: must include.
3. Watchtower. 9/2. Jockey: Antonio Fresu. Trainer: Richard Baltas.
Watchtower is the other graded stakes winner in the field, having won the Grade 3 Autumn Miss in October of 2024. That was also at a mile over the Santa Anita turf course, where she has two lifetime wins. Her best recent effort was last month, in the 9 furlong Frankel, where she just missed on the wire. I have questions about her early speed these days, and with a number of front-running types who can rate well in this field, I think she’s up against it.
Peruvian-bred Princesa Moche enters off a win in the Grade 3 Megahertz, run under the same conditions as today’s Buena Vista. She nosed out Vibez, who will break from the outside. She has a stalking style, and is more than capable of sitting in the pocket of this group as well. Jockey Mirco Demuro got her over the top in 3 of his 4 trips with her - I expect them to do it again today.
Comment: most likely winner.
5. Hannah Buckle. 30/1. Jockey: Armando Ayuso. Trainer: Leonard Powell.
Trainer Leonard Powell had kept Hannah Buckle at the mile distance for 6 races, before trying the 1 ⅛ mile Frankel last out. She showed some good late kick in that one, finishing a respectable 4th. I think she’s a bit outclassed here, but if jockey Armando Ayuso can keep her closer to the pace, she’s a candidate to hit the board.
Comment: outclassed.
6. My Perfect Wave. 20/1. Jockey: Florent Geroux. Trainer: Tim Yakteen.
Making only her 6th career start, this will be My Perfect Wave’s 2nd try at graded company, the most recent in the Megahertz where she finished 3 lengths off the winner. Trainer Tim Yakteen has booked Florent Geroux, making me think she’ll be much closer to the pace than she has been previously. Look for her to hit the board today.
Comment: Longshot who hits the board.
7. Vibez. 7/2. Jockey: Juan Hernandez. Trainer: Peter Eurton.
Vibez was a nose from a win in the Megahertz, and given the line here, folks expect the tables to get turned in this one. It’s on the table, of course, as she has won half of her lifetime starts at the distance. I think her inconsistency race to race rears its head, and she finishes out of the money today.
No. 22 Tennessee (20-8, 10-5 SEC) will face No. 18 Alabama (21-7, 11-4 SEC) for a second time during the 2025-26 basketball season. The Vols will host Alabama on Saturday at Food City Center.
Tipoff between the Vols and Crimson Tide is slated for 6 p.m. EST. ESPN will televise the matchup with Karl Ravech (play-by-play) and Jimmy Dykes (analyst) on the call.
Ahead of Saturday's game, Tennessee has a 66.8 percent chance to defeat the Crimson Tide, according to ESPN's Matchup Predictor. Nolan Analytics projects the Vols to defeat Alabama, 80-78.
An initial SEC student-athlete availability report was released before the Tennessee-Alabama game. Five players are listed as out: Cade Phillips (Tennessee), Clarence Massamba (Tennessee), Davion Hannah (Alabama), Keitenn Bristow (Alabama) and Collins Onyejiaka (Alabama).
Tennessee defeated the Crimson Tide, 79-73, on Jan. 26 at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
(Video) What Ryan Gravenberch did just before Hugo Ekitike goal was impeccable game intelligence
Ryan Gravenberch showed some top-tier game intelligence in providing the assist for Hugo Ekitike’s early goal against West Ham this afternoon.
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For only the second time since the Merseyside derby in September, Liverpool scored inside the opening 40 minutes of a Premier League match. In fact, they needed just five to hit the front against the Irons today.
The away side won the first header when defending a corner kick in front of the Kop and looked primed to launch a counterattack before a crucial intervention by the Reds midfielder.
Gravenberch tees up Ekitike with smart assist
With two West Ham players swiftly converging on him, Gravenberch read the situation perfectly and played a first-time pass into Ekitike, who held his run in order to remain onside.
The Liverpool striker then took one touch to set himself before arrowing a low shot beyond Mads Hermansen in the Irons goal to fire the home side into a very early lead.
(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Excellent reading of the play from Gravenberch
Much like his team in general, the 23-year-old’s performances this season have fluctuated between the sublime and the subdued, but when the Dutchman is at his best, he is unquestionably one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
As the ball dropped to him from the second West Ham headed clearance, he could easily have taken a touch to try and get the ball under control – as many players might well have done in that situation – but he know that doing so would risk him being dispossessed and the Irons breaking upfield swiftly.
Instead, he read that danger and played an inch-perfect pass into Ekitike, who showed the requisite composure to bag his 16th goal of the season for Liverpool and settle any early nerves there may have been at Anfield.
Hermansen will be disappointed to have been beaten on his near post, but from a Reds perspective, it was a well-worked goal between two intelligent footballers, and it was refreshing to see Arne Slot’s side score in the opening minutes rather than waiting until the second half, as has often been the case this term!
You can view Ekitike’s goal against West Ham below, taken from Premier Sports’ match coverage and shared via @livegoals001 on X:
The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine is underway in Indianapolis, Indiana at Lucas Oil Stadium. Yesterday marked day five as teams, more prospects, and media trickled into the city for live coverage of the scouting spectacle.
This week, prospects will have the opportunity to meet with teams, undergo medical exams, and perform live for NFL scouts. This even is considered the biggest “job interview” of these 319 invitee’s football careers.
Live coverage of the NFL Scouting Combine’s day six can be streamed on Fubo, NFL Network, and NFL+. There will be a multitude of analysis, sound bites, and side interviews throughout the day.
Feb 27, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson (QB17) speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images
Day Six (Feb. 28th)Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, Indiana:
Live broadcasted, on-field workouts at 1PM EST with RB, QB, and WO for the day. This group will also perform official measurable charting.
DB and TE will perform bench press and check-out for NFL combine departure.
Well, if you're an NFL team that still wants one, this is the year to be looking. The free agent market has two relative superstars at the FB position from the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills.
Patrick Ricard is available.
So too is Reggie Gilliam.
No one is talking about this FA class of fullbacks but there are a couple of juggernauts at the top pic.twitter.com/1qiLcSu9lK
Ricard is as good as they come, a fascinating player who measures at 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds and has made six Pro Bowls.
Gilliam is less heralded and not as big, just 6-feet tall and 244 pounds.
Both are capable of doing exactly what their teams have called upon them to do in recent years.
Ricard even has a background of also playing defensive tackle, so that's how versatile he is.
Gilliam has played all six of his NFL seasons for Buffalo, and Josh Allen seems to appreciate him, so maybe he signs back with the Bills.
But there will likely be at least a few other suitors for both of these guys. Some offenses still appreciate these types of players, with the Chargers coming to mind.
They won't grab headlines, but they help win games, so don't forget about Ricard and Gilliam.
The Cleveland Browns need help at wide receiver and a pending free agent from the Seattle Seahawks could be someone they target.
The Browns have a great deal of uncertainty at receiver going into the offseason. Jerry Jeudy is the true definition of inconsistent, Cedric Tillman has struggled to stay healthy and the jury is still out on Isaiah Bond.
This situation is especially troubling when you consider the Browns may be starting a young signal-caller in Shedeur Sanders, who needs all the help he can get.
With that in mind, ESPN's Aaron Schatz predicts the Browns will sign Seahawks wide receiver and pending free agent, Rashid Shaheed, who Spotrac projects will receive a three-year, $42 million deal in free agency.
Here's Schatz's thoughts:
There's more to the return game than just having a fast return man. The blocking matters. Still, the addition of Shaheed would be a big step forward for a Browns special teams unit that I had ranked 32nd on punt return value and 28th on kick return value through my special teams DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) in 2025.
Shaheed would also be a strong downfield receiver for a unit that desperately needs improvement. Last season, starting for the Saints and then the reigning Super Bowl champions, he had seven games (including playoffs) with at least 50 receiving yards. No Browns receiver eclipsed Shaheed's 687 receiving yards in 2025.
Shaheed, who was traded to the Seahawks at last year's deadline, is one of the most explosive players in the NFL, both as a pass-catcher and returner.
He has tallied over 17 yards per reception in two separate seasons and has scored four regular season return touchdowns during his career, including three off punts. Shaheed also took a kick return to the house in the 2025 playoffs.
Not only would Shaheed give the Browns more depth at wide receiver and a much-needed explosive element in the passing game, he would also offer an elite return man.
That said, we suspect the Seahawks are going to have interest in bringing him back, and Seattle has a ton of cap space to make that happen.
Meanwhile, the Browns have less than $1 million in cap space currently and that will make it very difficult to compete with the Seahawks and other suitors.
The focus on set pieces in the Premier League has never been greater.
Teams place greater importance on causing chaos from free-kick and corner situations, and the long-throw has also made a roaring comeback in 2025/26.
One side has certainly made the most of their set-piece situations since the turn of the new year.
Since New Year's Day, no team has scored more goals from set-pieces than Arne Slot's Liverpool after Virgil van Dijk headered in from Dominik Szoboszlai's corner against West Ham on Saturday.
Liverpool continued to live up to their reputation as set-piece specialists as Hugo Ekitiké teed up Alexis Mac Allister, who volleyed into the net.
General Manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn both shared the same philosophy when they took over their respective roles with the Washington Commanders in 2024.
“It’s not a rebuild, it’s a recalibration and we are trying to win right now”.
Commanders GM Adam Peters
In fairness, no fan wants to hear that their team is entering a large rebuild. Every person tied to the organization wants to win and wants to do so NOW. However, in reality, a rebuild was exactly what the team was entering.
Prior to Adam Peters’ arrival, Washington had not had a winning season since 2016 under then head coach Jay Gruden and pseudo general manager Bruce Allen. Ron Rivera did make one playoff appearance in the first season of his four-year tenure as head coach/general manager, but that 7-9 record was more on the weak NFC East than a good Washington Team.
Rivera would go on to have a 26-40-1 overall record in Washington, and his tenure will be remembered for his horrible draft choices that would ultimately end up leaving the cupboards bare for Peters and Quinn.
When Peters was hired, he was tasked with finding a new head coach. He had two young risers on his radar – Mike Macdonald (Ravens defensive coordinator) and Ben Johnson (Lions offensive coordinator). Peters offered Macdonald the job, but he chose to take the head role in Seattle over coming down the beltway to D.C. Johnson flirted with the idea of becoming the team’s new head coach but ultimately decided on remaining with Detroit in his current role. I don’t know if either coach was ready to take on the “recalibration” that was in front of them.
Adam ultimately landed on former Falcons head coach and Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. The hire did not move the needle for many Washington fans, but Peters was adamant that he had gotten “his guy”.
The “recalibration” was officially under way.
Thanks to the 4-13 season than ended Ron Rivera’s time with the Commanders, Peters and Quinn held the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. It was the perfect time to hold this high pick, as Washington desperately needed a quarterback and face-of-the-franchise and the draft had four very good options in Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and Bo Nix. After Caleb Williams was selected first overall by the Bears, Peters settled on the Heisman winning passer from LSU – Jayden Daniels.
Washington held two picks in round two but acquired another via a trade with the Eagles. Peters picks in that round included Jer’Jhan Newton, Mike Sainristil and Ben Sinnott. Adam walked away with nine total players from that 2024 draft, none more important than quarterback Jayden Daniels.
But it was not just the 2024 draft that caused excitement within the fanbase. Prior to the draft, the Commanders had a strategic free agency where they added some much-needed talent to their roster.
Marcus Mariota
Austin Ekeler
Zach Ertz
Nick Allegretti
Tyler Biadasz
Dorance Armstrong
Dante Fowler
Clelin Ferrell
Bobby Wagner
Frankie Luvu
Anthony Pittman
Michael Davis
Noah Igbinoghene
Jeremy Chinn
Although some of these players were older veterans, the idea was to build through the draft and have some of these more mature players mentor the younger ones.
Despite these new additions most national media had the Commanders finishing anywhere between 5-7 wins and picking high again in the 2025 draft. Much to the delight of the fanbase, Quinn and his new-look Commanders, led by their rookie phenom quarterback, shocked the league and finished the season 12-5 with a second-place finish in the NFC East. An unprecedented playoff run saw them fall just one game short of a Super Bowl appearance.
This is where miscalculations began…
Everything bounced the Commanders way during that magical 2024 season, including staying relatively healthy, and a few prayers from up above. Daniels looked every bit the part of a future NFL MVP and Peters and Quinn felt it was time to go all-in on a Super Bowl run in 2025.
And who could blame them? In the NFL you need to strike while the iron is hot, and it was scorching to the touch.
What took place in the 2025 offseason could be labeled as malpractice by most.
Instead of focusing on adding young, ascending talent and continuing to approach this “recalibration” with cautious optimism, Peters took the aging veteran approach to a new level, and decided to run it back with many of the same players he signed the pervious offseason.
Washington re-signed key veterans Marcus Mariota, Bobby Wagner, Zach Ertz and Noah Igbinoghene, all who played well the prior season. Instead of re-signing the young, productive Jeremy Chinn, Peters let him walk and inked Will Harris two a two-year deal. Washington chose not to look at younger edge rushers and instead brough in Deatrich Wise and Jacob Martin on a one-year deals. Peters would later add the 36-year-old Von Miller to the team. Veteran corner Michael Davis was replaced by an even older Jonathan Jones. Eddie Goldman was added in an attempt to bolster the middle of the defensive line.
The only younger signing that was of any significance was Javon Kinlaw. That was considered the Commanders “splash” for the 2025 offseason.
Peters did make two nice acquisitions via trade, landing Laremy Tunsil from the Texans and Deebo Samuel from the 49ers. Tunsil did not come cheap, as very good offensive tackles rarely do, seeing Washington send 2025 third and seventh round picks, and 2026 second and fourth round picks in exchange for Tunsil and a 2025 fourth rounder. Samuel came a bit cheaper, requiring just a 2025 fifth round pick for the 29-year-old veteran. Just before the trade deadline in 2024, Adam also acquired veteran corner Marshon Lattimore and a 2025 fifth round pick from the Saints in exchange for 2025 third, fourth and six round picks.
In less than one year, Adam Peters traded away the following picks for three veteran players, just one of whom panned out:
2025 3rd
2025 3rd
2025 4th
2025 5th
2025 6th
2025 7th
2026 2nd
2026 4th
In the grand scheme of draft picks, first and second rounders are seen as immediate contributors. Third, fourth and fifth rounders are your developmental guys, while sixth and seventh rounders are bottom-of-the-roster/special teams contributors.
While Laremy Tunsil has certainly lived up to, and exceeded, expectations, Latimore and Samuel are both likely on their way out of Washington. These last two were calculated risks taken by Peters that really didn’t work out; however, these are moves that are usually made when your roster is missing just a few pieces, not for a team under a “recalibration”.
As for the other 2025 free agents…
Deatrich Wise suffered a quad injury and was placed on season-ending IR after just two games. Will Harris broke a bone in his leg and missed eight games. Jonathan Jones missed five-and-a-half games with injury and was ineffective in the games he did play in. Bobby Wagner showed even more signs of aging and was picked on by opposing offensive coordinators in coverage and on outside runs. Zach Ertz showed he was not effective after the catch, before getting his season ended on a brutal hit to his knee. Eddie Goldman played in 13 games and recorded just 10 solo tackles and no sacks. Lattimore played poorly in nine games before tearing his ACL and missed the remainder of the season.
2024 free agent signing Austin Ekeler (30) tore his Achillies two games into the season, and fellow 2024 free agent and second team All-Pro Frankie Luvu took a MASSIVE step backwards in 2025. Finally, after a torrid start to the season, Dorance Armstrong missed the team’s final 10 games of the year with a knee injury suffered against his former team.
Three free agent acquisitions who did well in 2025 were defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw (career best 43 total tackles with five for a loss), Von Miller who led the team with nine sacks and Jacob Martin, who appeared in all 17 games notching five-and-a-half sacks.
Adam Peters severely miscalculated the “recalibration”. Instead of spending the money to add young, ascending free agents coming off their rookie deals, he chose cheap, one-year ageing veteran contracts, mistakenly thinking this team was close and his desire to try to run it back in 2025 may have set this team back a few years.
The Commanders are now at a pivotal point in the Adam Peters-Dan Quinn tenure where a hard reset is in order. Washington currently has the fifth most cap space in the NFL at just under $70 million and can easily make more with some cuts and restructures.
An infusion of youth is desperately needed for the oldest roster in the NFL and if Adam does want to see a Super Bowl title in the Jayden Daniels era, he’ll need to do a much better job of acquiring younger, difference-making talent.
On a team who could be entering year three of a responsible rebuild, Washington has taken a significant step backwards and needs to ‘recalibrate” yet again – this time with a head coach on the hot season and two brand new first-time play calling coordinators.
A turn-around is possible, but it needs to be done the right way, and it needs to be sustainable.
Liverpool Keep Interest In Inter Milan Defender As Expectation Rises After Injury Comeback
Liverpool are maintaining their interest in Inter Milan and Denzel Dumfries, with the Dutch wing-back’s return from injury doing nothing to cool the Reds’ enthusiasm for a summer move according to journalist Niccolò Ceccarini.
Writing in his column for TuttoMercatoWeb, Ceccarini highlighted Dumfries as one of the key transfer situations to monitor.
The wing-back made his long-awaited comeback against Bodo/Glimt.
Finally, he returned after three and a half months on the sidelines, and Liverpool have been watching closely.
Their interest dates back to January, when a winter move failed to materialise.
Inter Uncertain On Dumfries Future As Liverpool Await Release Clause
MILAN, ITALY – AUGUST 31: Denzel Dumfries of Internazionale looks on prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Udinese Calcio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on August 31, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
The concern for Inter is straightforward.
Dumfries‘ €25 million release clause becomes active again in July and can be exercised throughout the month.
At that price, Ceccarini notes, Inter have very little protection.
Indeed, it is an accessible figure for a club of Liverpool’s resources.
And, one that could be triggered without much negotiation required.
Officers responded to an altercation at 8:28 p.m. Friday at Edison High School, where a fight in the stands spilled out onto the court and outside of the school. An unknown suspect fired gunshots and struck a teenage male, according to police.
The teenager was privately transported to the hospital, where he is in stable condition, according to police. The investigation is ongoing and the department is asking anyone with information to reach out to the 7th precinct.
The fight began in the crowd with a little over two minutes left in UPrep's 66-57 win over Edison in the Michigan high school boys basketball state tournament Division 2 district final. Fans in the stands on the opposite side of the gym convened in a large crowd, stopping action on the court in the middle of the play.
The brawl began at 8:22 p.m.
It spilled out from the stands into the middle of the basketball court. School officials, security, parents and members of both teams' coaching staffs rushed in to try and stop the fight and eventually ushered most involved outside of the school.
Cops and Edison school officials on-site declined to comment because it was an ongoing investigation.
Security and police continued to clear out the gym for the next 20 minutes. The game eventually resumed in front of a much smaller crowd mainly featuring parents of players. Cops were blocking off part of the sidewalk outside the school as fans who remained until the end of the game exited.
UPrep closed out the win, led by a 24-point performance by Mo Jackson. The Panthers face Harper Woods Chandler Park in next Tuesday's regional semifinals.
After a very productive career as a Texas Longhorn, Michael Taaffe is turning his attention to the NFL. At the NFL combine, he has been a popular player and has already reportedly met with the Eagles and 49ers. The Austin native could be in high demand when the NFL Draft rolls around for teams looking to improve their secondary.
For those who have watched Taaffe play, the heavy interest comes as no surprise. He recorded 221 total tackles and seven interceptions as a Longhorn. He also had 14 pass deflections and was a key part of the secondary. That is not bad for a player who began his career as a walk-on.
While the Taaffe will have to wait a few more months to know where he will begin his pro career, he does have a unique connection to the Eagles and 49ers. Their rosters include two of his former teammates in Andrew Mukuba and Alfred Collins. Mukuba and Taaffe are still very close and would be a formidable duo for the Eagles.
Whoever drafts Taaffe will not only be getting an elite player but also someone who gives back to the community. He won the 2025 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, which is college football's premier award for community service. The Westlake High Alumni's off-the-field work included spreading awareness about fentanyl poisoning.
Texas safety, Michael Taaffe just got off the phone with Eagles safety, Andrew Mukuba. They remain very close, in addition to Jahdae Barron.
Taaffe went from walk-on to becoming a star and team leader at Texas.
Although Taaffe is not expected to hear his name called during the first round, his stock has been on the rise. That is partly due to a 40-yard dash during the combine that was better than some scouts expected. He also showed great hands during drills, which has generated excitement about his future.
Over the next few months, Taaffe's focus will be on continuing to improve his draft position as he looks to turn his dream of playing in the NFL into a reality.
The back-to-back SEC champion #2 LSU gymnastics team roared to another win with a 197.975-197.600 win over #3 Alabama. A crowd of 13,292, the eighth-largest crowd in program history, saw a spirited late-night fight between two fantastic teams. This was also alumni night, and there were more alumni than I’ve ever seen before. With the win, LSU moves to 7-2-1 and 4-2 in the SEC.
Rotation 1: LSU 49.450-Alabama 49.375
Alabama had a solid start on bars highlighted by Chloe LaCoursiere’s 9.950. LSU had a decent vault rotation.
Lexi Zeiss led things off with a 9.875 after hopping forward on her Yurchenko 1.5. Konnor McClain drilled her Yurchenko Full for a near-perfect 9.900. Victoria Roberts fell on her front pike half and scored a 9.350 (9.50/9.20, meaning judge 1 only took for the fall). Kaliya Lincoln hit her Y1.5 for a 9.875. Amari Drayton flew forward on her Y1.5 and scored a 9.825. Kailin Chio stuck her Y1.5 again and got a 9.975.
Rotation 2: LSU 98.850-Alabama 98.675
Alabama scored a 49.300 on vault after struggling to be clean on their vaults as well. LSU put up a solid 49.400.
Lexi led things off with a 9.825. Ashley Cowan was back in her bag and scored a 9.925 on a great routine. Madison Ulrich hit her routine and earned a 9.900. Kailin had an okay routine and scored a 9.850. Courtney Blackson got a 9.825 on her routine. Konnor drilled her routine for a 9.900 (9.95/9.85) to finish things off.
Rotation 3: LSU 148.375-Alabama 148.175
Alabama went 49.500 on floor with a series of solid routines. They also decided to be obnoxious during LSU’s beam for some reason. That didn’t stop LSU from putting up a 49.525, and it didn’t contribute to any issues.
Lexi led things off with a 9.800. Emily Innes followed with a good 9.875. Amari fell on her routine and got a 9.175. Kaliya Lincoln followed with a 9.875 before the two hammers smashed things. Konnor did a completely reworked beam routine that only kept the dismount and destroyed it for a 9.975. Kailin went out there and did a better routine to force the judges to throw a 10. She now has six 10s in her career, tied with Sarah Finnegan for eighth in LSU history, and has scored three 10s on beam this season, more than any LSU gymnast ever scored in their career. It’s insane.
Rotation 4: LSU 197.975-Alabama 197.600
Alabama wrapped things up with a 49.425 on beam to finish a 24/24 meet. The most consistent Alabama team in a long time kept that going. Unfortunately, LSU had themselves a floor party and went 49.600.
Emily Innes, Nina Ballou and Kylie Coen started by getting 9.900s. Emily’s routine, a 9.85/9.95 judge split, was fine except for the bad leaps, and Nina’s routine had a low chest on the double layout. Kylie’s score is weird because her routine was better than the 9.925 routines she’s done this year. Amari bounced back from her beam routine and scored a 9.925 on her floor routine. Kailin capped off another great night with a 9.975 to finish with a 39.800 in the all-around. Lexi finished her first all-around performance with a 9.900 to finish with a 39.400.
Final thoughts/wrap-up
The two falls were the worst part of this meet. The way this team fought back from those falls and showed mental toughness was the best part of this meet. LSU proved that one bad routine isn’t going to throw them off. Beam could’ve gone better and vault could’ve been more consistent. This wasn’t as good as LSU can be, but it’s more than enough for now.
The individual titles portion of this recap is all about Kailin Chio because she won four of the five titles. Chloe LaCoursiere won the individual bars title, but Kailin won the rest of them. She now has six floor titles, 11 beam titles, 13 vault titles and 13 all-around titles for a career total of 49. She is now tied with Lisa Rennie for 10th in LSU history in career beam titles. She also sits alone in 12th place all-time in career titles having passed Angie Topham and Kiya Johnson. She needs three more to tie Myia Hambrick for 11th all-time. Kailin is also in striking distance on some single-season records. She’s won eight beam titles this year, tied with 2015 Jessie Jordan and 1977 Jeanie Beadle for 3rd in a season. The program record is 11 by Sarah Finnegan in 2019. Kailin ties that record if she sweeps the rest of the regular season beam titles.
The next meet is Sunday afternoon for the good ole Purple & Gold Podium Challenge. I’ll be there to watch it and recap it.
Will Power’s morning is off to a rough start after crashing shortly after the start of second practice for the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
The Aussie, who is in his first race weekend with Andretti Global, was rolling around the 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary street circuit when he locked up in Turn 10 and clobbered the outside wall, causing significant damage to the right-front of his No. 26 Honda. The incident brought out the red flag just under three minutes after the session began.
“I just feel bad for the team,” Power said. “Just have to try and get it together before qualifying.
“We have actually a lot of time, but to miss this session was a big hit for us considering the session we had yesterday. Yeah, not an ideal start. Yeah, had a lot of issues yesterday that we hopefully resolved, but now we're not going to know until I get to run.”
Power, a two-time winner at St. Petersburg, was dealing with lock-up issues during the first practice session on Friday. Although Saturday morning saw humid conditions leave the track with a narrow dry line to start, the 44-year-old Aussie conceded it was a lock-up.
“Yeah, it was just a lock-up," Power said. "You start it and then you've locked that wheel and you've got to get off to unlock it. It was just poor.
“If it had happened a little earlier, I would have been able to just go straight. But it actually happened, so it was such a light brake pressure too. But like I said, there were tires that were locked a lot yesterday. So, yeah, not ideal."
With qualifying happening at 4:30pm ET later today, following the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, Power is unsure if a backup car will be required.
“I looked at it, yeah, that's a tough one to get done,” said Power, a two-time IndyCar Series champion and 2018 Indianapolis 500 winner.
“For qualifying, yeah, no problem. But it'd be awesome if we got out. That'd be a big deal for us again just at the end of the session, but I doubt it.
“It's a lot of damage, the floor, all that. So I think you've got to fix that stuff quickly. Yeah, we'll see.”
The other significant crash in the session involved the No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet of Christian Rasmussen. With just over eight minutes remaining before the split group portion of the session, he did a quarter spin in Turn 1 and hit the wall before coming to a stop in Turn 2. The impact was enough to damage the nosecone and leave him climbing out of the car.
The Calgary Flames have played in a lot of low-scoring affairs of late, with only two of their past 10 going Over the total.
My Flames vs. Kings predictions see another Under in the cards against a Los Angeles team struggling mightily to create offense.
Let’s take a closer look at my NHL picks for Saturday, February 28.
Flames vs Kings prediction
Flames vs Kings best bet: Under 5.5 (-105)
The Los Angeles Kingshave scored just 17 times over their past eight games, more than only the Devils.
They traded for Artemi Panarin to spark the offense but lost star winger Kevin Fiala for the season before Panarin even debuted, leaving them in a tough spot.
Goals should be hard to find again tonight. The Calgary Flames limit chances well at 5-on-5, and they’re tied for sixth in PK%, giving opponents no easy offense.
Only two of Calgary’s last 10 games have gone Over the number. They’re happy to play a structured, low-event brand of hockey.
Flames vs Kings same-game parlay
The Kings have scored more than two regulation goals just twice over their past eight games. They’re really struggling to find the net, making it difficult for them to create any sort of separation on their opponent.
Yegor Sharangovich has averaged 2.7 shots on 6.0 attempts over his last 10 games, going Over eight times. A lot of his volume comes from the slot, and the Kings sit 27th in slot shots allowed spanning the past 10.
Flames vs Kings SGP
Under 5.5
Flames +1.5
Yegor Sharangovich Over 1.5 shots on goal
Flames vs Kings odds
Moneyline: Calgary +135 | Los Angeles -155
Puck line: Calgary +1.5 (-190) | Los Angeles -1.5 (+160)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-115) | Under 5.5 (-105)
Flames vs Kings trend
The Flames have hit the Under in 10 of their last 15 games (+6.65 Units / 40% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Flames vs. Kings.
How to watch Flames vs Kings
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
NHL Network, SNW
Flames vs Kings latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Photo by Ciancaphoto Studio/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Denzel Dumfries is reportedly pushing for a move to the Premier League, which could put him back on Liverpool’s radar this summer.
During January, injuries to Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong left Arne Slot short of options at right-back, and it was reported that Liverpool had made an enquiry about Dumfries.
Inter were quick to dismiss any notion of a deal at the time. However, with Dumfries now fit again after a three-month layoff, Friday’s report from Corriere dello Sport suggests that his new agent has been instructed to find him a move to England before the start of next season.
Dumfries still in the frame for Liverpool
Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images
According to reports from earlier this year, Liverpool’s initial approach for Dumfries was a loan deal, aimed at filling in while Bradley was out injured.
The 30-year-old has only just made his return for Inter, so it may have been more about exploring him as a longer-term option.
Bradley’s fitness issues remain a concern, and with Frimpong often playing higher up the pitch, adding another right-back could make sense.
Dumfries fits that profile well. Even though he’s over 30 now, his reported £22m price tag isn’t unreasonable for someone with his experience.
Corriere dello Sport report that Dumfries is keen on a move to England and with an affordable release clause in place, this could be the window where he makes it happen.
Liverpool might have bigger issues to address this summer than right-back depth. But given how stretched they’ve been at times this season, it wouldn’t be surprising if they revisited their interest in Dumfries later in the year.
Move to Premier League looks increasingly likely for Dumfries
After spending four years at Inter, it appears a move to England is on the horizon for Dumfries this summer.
If it isn’t Liverpool, there’s a good chance he ends up at one of the Premier League’s other Champions League sides.
There’s also a scenario where he stays put. He still has two years left on his deal at San Siro. But with his release clause and stated desire to leave, a move feels pretty much inevitable.
If Liverpool do decide they need more depth on the right side of defence, moving for Dumfries would make sense. The club has shown interest before, and the situation might be aligning for another approach.
Williams was widely regarded as one of the top defensive lineman available in the transfer portal this offseason. Faulk and Williams were teammates at Auburn, as each player was elite in their roles on the Tigers’ defense in 2025. Williams recorded 14 total tackles and 2 sacks last season, as the newest member of the Dawgs’ defensive line will more than likely begin to shine with an increased role in Athens.
Williams was ranked as the No. 4 edge rusher and the No. 36 overall player in the transfer portal, per 247Sports Transfer rankings. Faulk spoke very highly of Williams, as the former Auburn star mentioned Williams’ elite athleticism and true NFL potential. At 6-foot-2, 260 pounds, Williams is an extremely promising playmaker that could quickly begin to make a major impact throughout his first season on the Dawgs’ defense.
“Amaris (Williams) is probably one of the most freakish athletic players I’ve ever seen in my life.” Faulk stated. “He is athletically gifted, and once he puts it all together he’s going to be one of the guys you are talking to next (at the NFL combine).”
Georgia added a multitude of playmakers from the transfer portal in addition to Williams, but none may prove to have a larger impact than the former Auburn Tiger in 2026. Williams has an excellent get off at the snap and his quickness will be disruptive for opposing offenses.
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The Boston Celtics bounced back from a disappointing loss to the Denver Nuggets with a blowout 148-111 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night. While pretty much everybody who took the floor for the C's turned in a solid outing, it was clear that this was the best game of Nikola Vucevic's young career with the Celtics.
Coming off the bench, Vucevic tied Jaylen Brown with a game-high 28 points while also hauling in 11 rebounds and dishing out four assists. Add in the fact that he shot 9/13 from the field, and it makes Vucevic's outing even more impressive. In fact, these numbers helped Vucevic join a club that features a pair of Sixth Man of the Year winners, Payton Pritchard and Kevin McHale.
Last three Celtics to record 25+ PTS, 10+ REB and 85+ TS% off the bench:
Vucevic is adapting to a new role with the Celtics, as this is the first time he's been used exclusively off the bench since the early days of his career. So far, though, Vucevic has proven he can be a sparkplug scorer for the team when needed, as he's averaging 12.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 48.1% from the field so far for Boston.
Considering how he started 48 games for the Chicago Bulls earlier this season, Vucevic isn't going to be winning the Sixth Man of the Year Award anytime soon, but this does show how he could fill a crucial role for the team moving forward, especially with Jayson Tatum closing in on his return from injury. Boston will look to continue its winning ways on Sunday night when it squares off against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Max Allegri has addressed the growing speculation surrounding his future at Milan, moving to squash rumors of a potential summer departure and a breakdown in his relationship with the club.
The Rossoneri manager’s position had come under scrutiny following reports from SportItalia, which suggested that a rift had developed between the coach and the management, leading to a likely exit at the end of the campaign. However, speaking to the media, Allegri clarified his stance and his commitment to the ongoing project at the San Siro.
According to Calciomercato, Allegri was firm when asked about his intentions and his bond with the Rossoneri.
“Regarding these rumors that have been circulating this week, we are in complete agreement with the club. As is normal in discussions, there can be differing points of view. It’s important that everyone works for the good of AC Milan. I’m very happy to have returned to AC Milan after 15 years and to have started working with a wonderful group of guys.”
He further emphasized his dedication to the club’s colors, insisting that he remains fully focused on the technical challenges ahead rather than off-field rumors.
“The club is planning and structuring AC Milan’s future. To do this, we need to achieve the most important result. So far, we’re doing quite well in March. Now we need to see if we’re good enough to stay there or take the last step. There’s a connection between me and the club.”
By directly addressing the claims of a fallout, Allegri has attempted to restore calm to the Milan environment as the season enters its most critical phase.
RICHMOND, VA - JUNE 25: Griff McGarry #48 of the Reading Fightin Phils pitching during the game between the Reading Fightin Phils and the Richmond Flying Squirrels at The Diamond on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Matthew Mitrani/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
When the Nats selected Griff McGarry in the Rule 5 Draft, I was cautiously optimistic. He possesses some of the best stuff in the minor leagues, but has had trouble throwing strikes over the years. Last year, we saw a similar story with Evan Reifert. He had a nasty slider but was nowhere near the zone in Spring Training.
That meant the Nats returned Reifert to the Rays before he ever played a regular season game. There is a chance the same thing could happen with McGarry. However, McGarry had a dominant first outing of Spring Training where he pounded the zone and struck out two batters in a 1-2-3 inning.
In a wide open bullpen, McGarry probably has the best pure stuff. However, he walked almost 14% of hitters in AA last year as a starter. The crazy thing is that was a big improvement from 2024, when he walked an insane 24% of hitters. With not much to lose, the Nats took a shot on McGarry because his pure stuff grades out as some of the best in the minors.
Last night, we saw what happens when McGarry is throwing strikes. He has an upper 90’s fastball, but that served as a table setter for his insane breaking balls. McGarry has a natural feel for spin and he showed that last night.
He threw two separate breaking balls, a slider and a sweeper. Out of his 10 pitches, 8 of them were breaking balls. The sweeper has a ton of spin, averaging over 3,000 RPM’s last night. However, he threw his harder slider half the time and it got excellent results. McGarry was able to land the pitch in the zone and get whiffs.
Nasty first outing from Griff McGarry who struck out two. Breaking ball heavy attack from the Rule 5 pick
It is worth noting that McGarry faced non big leaguers, but if he is around the zone, he can get anyone out. McGarry’s biggest nemesis is his own control rather than the hitters at the plate. Out of all pitchers that threw last night, McGarry had the third highest Stuff+ rating. Stuff+ measures the velocity and movement of a pitch and puts a grade on it, with 100 being average.
Again, McGarry is still a high variance arm. I would not be surprised if he finds his way into a high leverage role, but I also would not be surprised if he was returned to the Phillies pretty quickly. It is all about finding the zone for McGarry.
Last year McGarry found the zone enough to have success. In 21 starts, he posted a 3.44 ERA despite shaky control. McGarry is similar to Clayton Beeter, with both only needing fringy control to have success.
When McGarry goes on heaters, he is totally unhittable. There was a time last season when he struck out 23 batters in two starts. Crucially, he only walked one batter in 11 innings in those two starts. It is so tantalizing to see what McGarry can do when he is throwing strikes.
One thing I have a minor question about is how he will transition to the bullpen. The Phillies moved him to the bullpen in 2024, and he had his worst year as a pro, with his walks getting out of control. When he went back to starting last year, the results got better. Was that due to mechanical tweaks or is McGarry more comfortable starting?
If he is more comfortable starting, that could be problematic. He profiles much better as a reliever due to his strike-throwing issues and breaking ball heavy approach. The Nats are going to have to help him learn to prepare as a reliever because that is the role he will be filling this year.
McGarry seemed comfortable in the bullpen last night, but this will be something worth monitoring. He turns 27 in June, so now is the time for Griff McGarry to be unleashed. As a Rule 5 pick, he is going to have to stick in the big leagues for the entire season if the Nats want to hold on to him. Given the Nats are not going to be a contender, there will be room for growing pains here.
In Boston, Paul Toboni actually had a lot of success finding value in the Rule-5 Draft. Justin Slaten and Garrett Whitlock were both Rule 5 picks and are now key pieces to the Red Sox bullpen. Hopefully, McGarry can do the same thing in DC. He certainly has the raw stuff to be a big leaguer, which we saw last night. For McGarry, it will be all about finding the zone.
Feb. 28—SIOUX FALLS — The entire South Dakota wrestling season has built to this point.
A record total of 42 individual champions will be crowned on Saturday afternoon in the South Dakota state high school wrestling championships at the Premier Center in Sioux Falls, starting at 1 p.m.
That lineup includes 18 defending state champions from 2025, including eight from the girls ranks, plus 16 undefeated wrestlers still with perfect seasons alive.
With that in mind, here's six matches to watch closely on Saturday.
It's hard to envision a two-time state champion as an underdog but that's exactly where McCook Central/Montrose's Alexis Bryant found herself coming into the state tournament. Bryant (49-6) had six losses during the season and was seeded No. 3 in her bracket but won decisively in the semifinals over Brooklynn Randall, of Watertown, avenging a pair of losses during the season. Bryant, who plans to wrestle at Iowa Lakes Community College, has been rock solid in a Fighting Cougar uniform and in her final high school match, there's no question she will be a tough out.
Meanwhile, Custer's Savannah Bell has found herself in a prime position to earn her first state championship, with a 39-3 record and a very solid performance so far, with a technical fall and two decisions. She moved to Custer from California prior to the season and a state championship on Saturday would be a rightful welcome to the state. Bell won the only meeting between the two wrestlers on Jan. 10 in Presho by 7-1 decision.
All eyes will be on Harrisburg senior standout Regina Stoeser at the end of Saturday's championship matches. She is a huge favorite to claim her fifth state championship on Saturday at 130 pounds, looking to become only the second five-time champion in South Dakota's short history with a full girls tournament. It was picked as the featured match after Friday night's semifinals. Stoeser, who is headed for Fort Hays State in Kansas to wrestle collegiately, has a 19-0 record after missing some of the season with an injury, and Stoeser and Yellow Hawk have not met this season.
Her opponent, Sully Buttes' Cateri Yellow Hawk is a formidable foe who can take advantage if Stoeser gives her any room for an upset, coming in with a 33-2 record. Yellow Hawk, who is committed to wrestle at Dakota Wesleyan, was the runner-up at 126 pounds last season and she was third in 2024 at 126 pounds. She'd love nothing more than to see her career build toward a shining victory on Saturday.
As two wrestlers hailing from the same region, it's no surprise that Winner's Roukyn Robbins and Bon Homme/Avon's Ryvr Larson have faced off a lot. Saturday's 126-pound Class B championship will be the fifth time this season and Robbins takes a 3-1 record into this showdown.
Larson got his lone win on Jan. 17 at the Tri-Valley meet, a 5-3 decision. Otherwise, Robbins has a major decision and two decisions this season, including a 6-0 score on Feb. 21 in Robbins' home gym at the Region 3B meet. Can Larson shake loose another victory from this frequent matchup this season.
It's one of only two Class B title matches involving wrestlers from the same region, the other being the Jacksen Carter-DeVonne Sessler showdown at 138 pounds representing Wessington Springs/Woonsocket/Wolsey-Wessington and Bon Homme/Avon.
Parkston's Wyatt Anderson has a 50-0 record going into the 175-pound championship, looking to avenge a title round loss in 2025 in Rapid City. He will face Tri-Valley's Landyn Reiser, who is 48-4 on the season, and Anderson is responsible for all four losses this season.
Anderson won via injury time in their first meeting in December in Howard and then has won twice since then by 4-1 decisions and once in an ultimate tiebreaker format.
Anderson has been on the mat for less than 8 minutes so far in the state meet, scoring three pins. Can he score another win over an opponent he knows well to close out the championship season?
This is the only boys matchup on Saturday involving a past state champion vs. an undefeated wrestler. West Central's Kaden Haakinson won the 106-pound championship as a freshman and has marched to a 31-2 record. In the state tournament, Haakinson has three wins so far for the Trojans, all via technical fall in a total time of 10 minutes and 10 seconds.
He runs into undefeated Pierce Hurd in the championship, with Hurd at 46-0 on the year. Hurd has two technical falls and a pin in his two matches and he's been on the mat for less than seven minutes so far.
Sturgis' Tyler Baldwin carries a 46-0 record into the championship round for the Scoopers, one of six Sturgis wrestlers in the title matches. And like teammate Kelson Dirk, he's also defending his 113-pound title from last season. The Scooper standout has already faced his opponent, Brandon Valley's Brendon Oehme, one time this season and Baldwin scored a 4-2 win on Jan. 24 in a dual against the Lynx. Oehme, who is 43-2 as a junior, was here last season in the 126-pound title match and lost, and now he drops down a class to face Baldwin and attempt to deny the perfect season.
Baldwin and Oehme entered the state meet both ranking in the top-10 in Class A in takedowns on the season. Richter allowed only one takedown during the regular season and Oehme allowed four. It might only take one takedown but who will crack the other's strong defense in this match and score?
The Boston Bruins are expected to be aggressive ahead of the March 6 NHL trade deadline.
Boston is holding onto a playoff spot, and the Bruins could look to improve their blue line and add some more scoring. Ahead of the deadline, Boston has been linked to multiple players, but now, it appears the team could be looking at a blockbuster deal with one team.
NHL insider Anthony Di Marco of DailyFaceoff reported on Friday that Boston is interested in multiple players on the St. Louis Blues, which could lead to a bigger deal.
“The St. Louis Blues are another team the Bruins have had discussions with,” Di Marco wrote. “The Blues have several notable players on the trade block. The Blues had assistant GM Tim Taylor and vice-president of hockey operations Peter Chiarelli in attendance for the Bruins’ game last night, which doesn’t seem like a coincidence.”
Di Marco reports that the Bruins are interested in defenseman Colton Parayko and Justin Faulk, as both can be shutdown defenders to bolster the team’s blue line.
Along with the defenseman, Di Marco adds that the Bruins are also interested in 26-year-old star counterman Robert Thomas, as well as Blues captain Brayden Schenn.
“Thomas, 26, carries an $8.125-million AAV until 2031 and would fit the exact mold the Bruins are looking for. The price for Thomas is astronomical – GM Doug Armstrong has set heavy prices on all his assets, as he is leveraging the lack of sellers on the market and drawing a hard line in negotiations, according to several sources across the league – as the lack of top-end available centers continues to be a problem for the entire league.”
Whether or not the Bruins and Blues end up making a trade is to be seen. But Di Marco believes Boston is looking to be aggressive to bolster their lineup for a playoff push.
The Bruins are 33-20-5 and holding onto the final Wild Card spot.
After the failures of his four predecessors — Will Muschamp, Jim McElwain, Dan Mullen and Billy Napier — I’ve learned my lesson.
Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me four times, shame on me.
I will not predict that Jon Sumrall will be the man who restores Florida Gators football to championship glory.
Not yet.
Hope in Gainesville has been a dangerous drug for more than a decade now. Each new hire has arrived with credentials, confidence and conviction. Each one, for different reasons, failed to meet the relentless standard of Florida football.
But while I won’t predict that Sumrall will be the one who turns it all around, I will predict this:
He won’t hide from where the program stands.
He won’t sugarcoat it.
He won’t, like Napier, drone in monotone about the “process” while the product deteriorates.
Jon Sumrall is definitive. He is frank. He is charismatic. He is decisive. And he has already shown that he refuses to gloss over the team he inherited.
In an interview on our radio show Friday, Sumrall said when he walked into the building after replacing Napier, he didn’t see a program on the brink of greatness. He saw a program in the grip of complacency.
The Gators had gotten comfortable in their underachievement and irrelevance.
Too comfortable.
“I can’t speak to what went on last year,” Sumrall said. “I just feel that what I first experienced around this team (when he arrived) was way too casual for me, too nonchalant. I didn’t feel the urgency and intent initially.”
That word “casual” hits differently in a place like Florida. Casual doesn’t win championships. Casual doesn’t beat Georgia. Casual doesn’t survive in the SEC. Casual doesn’t restore a brand that once struck fear across the country.
And Sumrall made it clear that the temperature inside the building had to change immediately. You can feel it in the way he speaks. He talks with urgency. He talks like a former linebacker who still sees the game in collisions and leverage. He talks with conviction that borders on confrontation — but not in a reckless way; in a purposeful way.
There’s a difference between being negative and being honest. Sumrall leans hard into honesty.
The most symbolic example of that honesty may also be the most controversial: the logo.
Shortly after taking over, Sumrall stripped the iconic Gator-head logo from team-issued apparel.
Gone.
Because in his words, the logo isn’t a participation trophy. It’s a symbol of sacrifice.
“Gotta earn it. Gotta earn the logo,” Sumrall said. “We ain’t earned it yet. We haven’t earned a damn thing.”
It’s a bold move. Some will call it gimmicky. Others will call it overdue. But what it unquestionably does is send a message: Nothing about this program is entitled to anything right now.
In an era defined by player empowerment and NIL deals, Sumrall is also refreshingly blunt about the realities of compensation. College football is professionalized now. The money is real. The business is real. If players are getting paid millions, then he believes more should be demanded of them — not less. They should not be pampered more; they should be pushed more.
When asked in a recent interview on a Sirius XM college football show about players who hesitate when things get difficult, Sumrall didn’t hesitate with his answer.
“If a guy wants to act a certain way about doing something tough, I’m like, ‘You make money, shut up bro,’ ” Sumrall said. ” ‘You’re getting paid, dawg, put the work in.’ ”
That line — “You make money, shut up bro” — isn’t polished. It isn’t coach-speak. It’s not crafted for a booster banquet.
It’s real.
And it reflects something Florida fans have been craving: standards without apology.
For too long, Gator football has felt reactive; responding to criticism, responding to setbacks, responding to noise in the system. Sumrall projects something different. He feels proactive. Confrontational with complacency. Comfortable challenging both players and perception.
It also helps that he looks the part. A former linebacker at Kentucky, Sumrall still carries himself like a guy bracing for contact. He’s in shape. He lifts weights with his players at 6 a.m.. Not for show. Not for social media. Because that’s who he is.
There’s something powerful about that dynamic. When players see a head coach under the bar, grinding through reps, it eliminates excuses. It builds shared hardship. It narrows the distance between authority and accountability.
Sumrall isn’t trying to be one of the guys. But he is trying to remove the separation between what’s demanded and what’s demonstrated.
And perhaps most importantly for Gator Nation, he isn’t preaching patience. That might be the most significant departure of all.
In modern college football, coaches often ask for time. Time to recruit. Time to develop. Time to implement. Time to rebuild.
Sumrall understands reality. But he also understands urgency. During our interview, he referenced his old Sun Belt rival and friend, Curt Cignetti, who just led the perennially pathetic Indiana Hoosiers to the national championship, as someone who has shifted expectations about how quickly things can change.
“I think Cig maybe gives you a blueprint and hope that, man, you can flip things quickly,” Sumrall said. “I’m not real patient. My wife will tell you that if I can’t get into a restaurant when we first walk in, I’m just not going to that restaurant. I don’t like wasting time. I came here to win at the University of Florida, and I want to win fast. You know, I’m not going to act like it’s going to be easy. We play in a tough league, and we’ve got nine SEC games next year.
“Do I have an idea of what long-term success looks like, and how do we build a sustainable program here? Hell yeah, I do. But I also want to see how fast we can get competitive and relevant again.”
Don’t kid yourself, that sort of perspective matters in Gainesville.
Florida doesn’t hang banners for moral victories. The fan base doesn’t celebrate competitive losses. The Swamp doesn’t roar for incremental improvement. This is a place that measures itself against Georgia, Alabama and LSU. This is a place that remembers national titles and Heisman trophies.
And while Sumrall hasn’t coached a single game in orange and blue, he’s already turned up the program’s internal thermostat.
He’s demanding edge.
He’s demanding passion.
He’s demanding ownership.
Will it work? That’s the question history forces us to ask.
Muschamp had fire. McElwain had early wins. Mullen had offensive brilliance. Napier had organizational vision.
All of them failed.
So, no, I won’t predict that Jon Sumrall will be the savior of Florida football.
But I will predict this:
At Florida, casual, complacent and comfortable are out.
Intensity, urgency and accountability are in.
Email me at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com. Hit me up on social media @BianchiWrites and listen to my new radio show “Game On” every weekday from 3 to 6 p.m. on FM 96.9, AM 740 and 969TheGame.com/listen
The Oregon Ducks left the friendly confines of Eugene Oregon PK Park for their first road trip of the season to the Live Like Lou Las Vegas College Baseball Classic where they would be taking on their first real competition of the year. First up was old PAC-12 rival Arizona on Friday Night.
Coach Waz gave the start on the mound to Will Sanford in 11 IP over the first two weekends Sanford did not surrender a run to either George Mason or Youngstown State, but Arizona would offer a different level of competition than Oregon’s first two opponents. Waz’s full lineup was the following:
After Arizona was able to get runners on the corner in the opening frame Sanford was able to keep the Wildcats off the board thanks to a pair of strikeouts including this one to end the inning.
T1 | @Will_Seiji leaves runners on the corners. 2 Ks including an inning-ender. #GoDucks
It didn’t take long for the Ducks to add to their lead as in the next inning Drew Smith was able to hit a triple into the gap which was followed by a Burke-Lee Mabeus RBI single and it was 2-0 Ducks. That was followed up by a Ryan Cooney 2 run home run and the Ducks were in early control of this one.
While the Ducks offence was humming early Will Sanford continued to cruise as he was able to hold Arizona off the board through 3 innings with 6 strikeouts allowing 1 hit and 1 walk.
T3 | 2 more Ks for Sanford. 6 on the game. #GoDucks
In the 4th inning though Sanford would run into some trouble. With runners on 1st and 2nd and two outs Arizona hit a routine pop-up into the infield that was dropped and chaos ensued. Both Arizona runners were able to score unearned and the Wildcats had cut the Duck lead in half. Despite the runners scoring unearned coach Waz decided to make a pitching change to get out of the inning and end the Arizona rally. He turned things over to sophomore right hander Tanner Bradley who was able to get a strikeout to end the inning.
In the bottom half of the 4th the Ducks had the opportunity to restore their 4 run lead as they were able to load the bases for Gabe Miranda. Miranda put decent contact on the ball but just missed his spot slightly and he would fly out to Center field to end the inning.
Tanner Bradley picked up where he left off in the 4th inning striking out two more Arizona batters in the top of the 5th
Oregon’s offence in the 3rd would threaten again thanks to a Maddox Molony lead off single followed by a Burke Lee Mabeus double to right center and the Ducks had runners on 2nd and 3rd with only one out to set things up for Angel Laya who crushed a ball out to right field for a massive hit to give the Ducks a 5 run lead and make it 7-2.
That would be more then enough on this evening as Tanner Bradley kept on dealing holding Arizona off the board in the 6th, 7th, and 8th. Bradley’s final line was 4.1 IP 0 ER 3 hits allowed 1 Walk and 9Ks and he appears to be another arm out of the Bullpen coach Waz can rely on to get outs. Ryan Featherstone came into the game in the 9th and struck out the side to cap of the Ducks best win of the season.
— Live Like Lou Las Vegas College Baseball Classic⚾️ (@LLL_LasVegasCBC) February 28, 2026
With the Victory the Ducks move to 9-0 on the season and they will look to stay undefeated with games against UC Irvine and then Vanderbilt to finish out the weekend.
We are set to see a complete overhaul of next year's NFL playoffs due to the parity that existed in this year's postseason. With three teams going from worst to first, and division winners having five or fewer wins the previous season, we could see yet another changing of the guard. I'll take the Chiefs to be back atop the AFC West again for one hundred please...Just as an example. Let's look at the prime candidates for regression in 2026.
Even with 14 wins on the season, the Broncos had 12 wins in which they had to play from behind, an NFL record. That kind of momentum is very hard to withstand, and this is why they could be in for a regression season. Bo Nix set himself up for unrealistic expectations because of the outstanding year he had. Nix would be the biggest concern on the regression train for 2026. The defense should remain largely dominant.
The Bears' 7 wins when trailing in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter, including the playoffs, is an NFL record. Obviously, that kind of magic is hard to sustain, but the team will need to recapture what it is like to grab a lead and hold onto it. Making moves to fill holes will not be easy, as they have the fewest cap space in the NFL (9th). Last season may have been the Bears' best shot at a playoff run, especially with relocation looming.
Pittsburgh Steelers
First off, Aaron Rodgers will turn 43 this offseason, and whether the enigma will return or not remains to be seen. The loss of Mike Tomlin stings as well, whether he overstayed his welcome or not. The Steelers did, however, win the AFC North for the first time since 2020. Unless they get another weapon to play opposite DK Metcalf, that passing game is going to be non-existent, especially if Rodgers isn't under center.
The NFL announced on Friday that the salary cap would be increased by $22 million this year, to $301.2 million per team.
NFL clubs were informed today that the salary cap for the ’26 season will jump $22 million per club to $301.2 million. Add in another $77.6m in benefits & that’s $378.8m per club in player spending. Tremendous growth pic.twitter.com/cQ5Zf3aGVW
What does that mean for the New York Giants? Not much, as they anticipated the increase in their transactions over the past few years.
Per Over The Cap, the Giants have just $2.78 million in available cap space this morning. They will undoubtedly have to do some major cost-cutting in the next few weeks if they are to be serious players in the free agency market come March 11.
There are several possible "cap casualties" that would free up significant space, but they may not be enough. They will also have to rework some existing contracts to claw back some further cap space.
The initiative under new head coach John Harbaugh is to mold the roster to fit his vision. That can't be done cheaply and may not happen overnight.
Seems like a guy you wouldn't mind keeping around, but the Packers have chosen to move on.
Josh Jacobs remains the RB1 in Green Bay when healthy.
The Packers really are putting their hopes on 2024 third-round pick MarShawn Lloyd, who has battled injuries but is still believed to have a bright future.
The availability of Wilson is also intriguing, too. Another team will likely land a solid RB when they bring him aboard.
One of the Boston Bruins' top objectives leading up to the 2026 NHL trade deadline should be to add another skilled winger to their top six. Now, they are being linked to an interesting forward because of it.
"One name the Bruins have checked in on several times this season is winger Owen Tippett, who is under contract for six seasons beyond this one at an AAV of $6.2 million. The Flyers aren’t looking to move the 27-year-old winger by any means but are open to discussions, though the price to get him out of Philadelphia would have to be significant," Di Marco wrote.
The Bruins having interest in Tippett is not difficult to understand in the slightest. It is no secret that they need another impactful winger if they hope to be a more legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference, and acquiring Tippett would provide them with just that.
Tippett also just looks the perfect kind of target for the Bruins, as he would not only help them this season but multiple other years, as he is signed until the end of the 2031-32 season, he is exactly the kind of player that the Black and Gold should be pursuing.
If the Bruins landed Tippett, he could slot nicely on their second line with Pavel Zacha and Casey Mittelstadt or Viktor Arvidsson. Furthermore, he would give the Bruins another obvious option for their power play because of his offensive skill.
In 58 games this season with the Flyers, Tippett has recorded 19 goals, 17 assists, and 36 points. He has also hit the 20-goal and 40-point marks in each of his previous seasons, including when he had 28 goals and 53 points in 78 games for Philly back in 2023-24. With numbers like these, he would be a strong addition to Boston's roster if acquired.
Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Stefon Diggs may need to make one key financial sacrifice if he wants to share the field with AJ Brown in New England.
The Patriots have been linked with Brown as they look to strengthen their receiving corps.
However, any blockbuster pairing would hinge on how Diggs’ current deal fits within the team’s broader salary structure. Cap flexibility appears central to the conversation.
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Stefon Diggs’ contract restructure could unlock AJ Brown pairing
According to MassLive, “There’s a scenario where the Patriots could have both receivers on the roster. In the event Diggs is willing to restructure his contract, the team sees an avenue to pair him with Brown.”
The report outlines a pathway in which Diggs adjusts his financial terms, creating the room necessary to accommodate Brown.
Without that flexibility, executing such a move would prove significantly more complicated.
New England Patriots weighing options around Stefon Diggs’ future
The same report adds: “Veteran Mike Evans doesn’t seem to be a Patriots target at this moment due to health concerns.”
“For the Patriots, the biggest issue with potentially releasing Diggs is how they would replace his production.
“Brown would do that – but there’s interest from the Patriots even if Diggs remains in New England,” the report concluded.
The situation leaves New England with multiple strategic considerations. Diggs’ output remains valuable, but Brown’s profile presents an opportunity to reshape the offense if financial logistics align.
Ultimately, the sacrifice required is contractual rather than on-field. Whether Diggs is willing to make that adjustment could determine whether the Patriots assemble one of the league’s most formidable receiving duos.
We are now a bit over a week into Spring Training games and at last, Friday’s game featured just about everyone who will be in the Opening Day lineup March 26 (except Seiya Suzuki, who’s already back in Japan for the start of the World Baseball Classic).
There aren’t many question marks about the Cubs this spring, but here are a few things yet unsettled.
Matt Shaw as an outfielder
Shaw hasn’t actually made very many plays in his few games in the outfield so far this spring. He did make a misplay the other day at Sloan Park. So I can’t really tell you how he’s looked; there just isn’t enough of a sample size.
I will note that Shaw has played only right field so far — no left field, and I suspect he won’t be tried in center. Mostly, I would expect him to play second base and third base to give Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson a break. The team could also use him as a right-handed hitting DH from time to time.
Porter Hodge, yikes
Hodge was injured much of 2025 after having a strong 2024 and finishing that year as the Cubs closer.
So many were willing to give Hodge a mulligan for last year due to the injuries, and hoped that his natural talent would get him a middle-inning or setup spot behind Daniel Palencia, who’s already been named the closer to start the 2026 season.
Hodge has not pitched well. Again, we are talking about a very small sample size, just three games and two total innings. But he has faced 17 batters and walked seven and allowed four hits, which… is not good. He’s thrown 70 total pitches to those 17 batters, and only 33 of those 70 were strikes.
I suspect Hodge will get another outing or two, but if this keeps up he’ll be starting the season at Triple-A Iowa.
Gavin Hollowell looks good
Hodge was a likely member of the Opening Day roster, but now that’s almost certainly changed.
Hollowell has stepped up and could take that place. Once again, the sample size is only three games, but in three innings Hollowell has allowed one run and struck out eight of the 11 batters he’s faced.
As we all know, relievers are fungible and Jed Hoyer’s front office has done a pretty good job of identifying guys from the scrap heap that have become useful. Hollowell could be one of those guys. He’s 28, so maybe the Cubs could get a couple of decent years out of him.
Dylan Carlson appears to have taken the lead in the fourth-outfielder mix
Carlson went 1-for-2 with a walk in Friday’s win over the Guardians and overall is 5-for-10 this spring with a double and four walks. The usual small sample size caveats are in place here, but it’s notable to me that Carlson was given the DH nod Friday instead of Chas McCormick, who is 4-for-14 so far this spring.
Michael Conforto, who was just signed, should get some playing time soon.
With Tyler Austin now out for “months” (as noted by Craig Counsell) after knee surgery, it appears to me that of the trio of Carlson, McCormick and Conforto, two of them will make the Opening Day roster.
The Carson Kelly/Miguel Amaya tandem continues to hit
Cubs catchers batted .250/.307/.442 with 29 home runs in 2025 in 641 PA. Of those PA, 501 belonged to Kelly and Amaya (with the rest to Reese McGuire).
Kelly and Amaya have combined to go 6-for-17 (.353) this spring with a double and a home run. Spring numbers, yes, small sample size, but I think these two can hit as well as they did last year. Perhaps a bit of a dip from Kelly, who had a career year in 2025, but Amaya looks like he can finally put everything together, as long as he stays healthy.
Those are a few of the things I’ve seen so far this spring. What have you noticed?
TNT Sports’ live streaming coverage in the UK will transition to HBO Max beginning March 26.
The update changes the digital platform through which fans watch Premier League and Champions League matches. It represents a notable adjustment in the network’s streaming distribution.
Starting March 26, TNT Sports content will no longer be available via Discovery+. Subscribers will instead stream matches and related programming through HBO Max across the UK and Ireland.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
What the move to HBO Max means for subscribers
TNT Sports has stated that current subscribers can migrate to HBO Max using their existing login credentials.
The TNT Sports add-on will continue to cost £30.99 per month, maintaining the same price previously charged on Discovery+.
The change is designed to ensure uninterrupted access to live Premier League fixtures, UEFA Champions League games, and additional sports coverage.
While the platform is shifting, the underlying broadcast rights remain the same for these major tournaments in the UK.
Football coverage continues under TNT Sports banner
The move does not alter TNT Sports’ portfolio of domestic and European football rights. Viewers will still find Premier League and Champions League coverage presented under the TNT Sports brand.
For consumers, the transition primarily affects where content is streamed rather than what is shown. Fans will still have access to domestic English and European football on the new service.
The switch aligns with a broader effort to consolidate sports and entertainment offerings within the HBO Max ecosystem, streamlining their media portfolio.
Some fans may have hoped for a reduction in price for the TNT Sports add-on, but as things stand, HBO Max is set to charge the same amount.
Although producers, commentators and ring announcers are usually made aware of the results for each match ahead of any professional wrestling show, sometimes the conclusion for the biggest contests are kept a secret, leaving staff to be prepared for any outcome, which was the case for TNA's Tom Hannifan in 2019.
Before he became TNA's weekly play-by-play commentator, Hannifan worked as one of WWE's lead announcers on the main roster, and during a recent interview with "The Wrestling Classic," he revealed that he was unaware of the winner for one of the biggest WrestleMania matches he ever called.
"Kofi Kingston winning the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. I went into the show, they didn't tell us the conclusion of the matchup. I had a feeling I knew which way it was going to go and I had two different calls kind of planned out if Daniel Bryan won or if Kofi Kingston won. So, you have a plan no matter where you're going. But, that was very much organic and in the moment. And I didn't believe it until the referee's hand actually hit the mat because of the story that had been told for so long. But I was like, man, I wasn't quite sure ... that goes down as maybe my all-time favorite moment in my career in pro wrestling."
NEW DELHI: The iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata is all set to host a blockbuster clash on Sunday as India take on the West Indies in what has become a virtual quarterfinal of the T20 World Cup 2026. The stakes couldn’t be higher: win this match, and you’re through to the semifinals. Lose, and your campaign ends here.
India earned their place in this do-or-die clash with a convincing 72-run win over Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. With South Africa having already secured a spot in the knockouts, all eyes now turn to Kolkata, where the winner between India and the West Indies will move on to face England in the semifinals.
India vs West Indies T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8s: NET RUN RATE COULD DECIDE FATE
While India’s victory over Zimbabwe keeps them alive, their net run rate (NRR) is currently a concern. India’s NRR stands at -0.100, whereas West Indies, boosted by a massive 101-run win over Zimbabwe earlier in the Super 8s, have a strong +1.791.
This means that in the unlikely event of rain washing out the match, both teams would get one point each, leaving them tied on points at 3 each after three Super 8 matches. However, the West Indies would advance to the semifinals thanks to their superior net run rate, while India would be eliminated despite their earlier win.
India vs West Indies T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8s: WEATHER FORECAST IN KOLKATA
For now, the forecast is encouraging for cricket fans. Kolkata is expected to see sunny and clear conditions on Sunday. Daytime temperatures will hover around 34°C, cooling to 25–26°C by evening when the match is set to begin.
The match is scheduled to start at 7 PM, with the toss taking place at 6:30 PM. Currently, there is no chance of rain, meaning fans can expect a full match at the iconic Eden Gardens.
India vs West Indies T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8s: WHAT IF IT RAINS?
Both India and West Indies have one win from two matches in the Super 8s, making this encounter effectively a knockout. But if rain intervenes:
Both teams earn one point each.
Points tally: 3 points for India and West Indies.
West Indies advance to the semifinals due to a higher NRR of +1.791, while India’s -0.100 NRR would leave them eliminated.
This makes Sunday’s clash must-win for India, as there is no margin for error, and even weather interruptions could prove costly.
The Cleveland Browns should be huge buyers in the upcoming free agency period that begins March 9. GM Andrew Berry can’t sit around and hope that he gets the players he wants in April’s NFL draft. So, strike now and get guys to fill holes.
However, just because Cleveland has holes in groups such as the offensive line and receiver room doesn’t mean Berry should overpay for talent. Think: Juan Thornhill or Dalvin Tomlinson.
Many free agents will have a single season that produces huge-money numbers, but later the team finds out it is a one-hit wonder, and those great paydays become a huge waste of capital needed to address other areas of need.
Berry must choose wisely this year. No more Cornelius Lucas clones or Andrew Sendejo types.
Here are three free agents available in this year’s market for the Browns to investigate a little bit longer because of their risk factors.
RT Braden Smith (6’-6”, 312 pounds)
Indianapolis Colts
Age: 29
2025 PFF: 65.3
The Browns are certainly in the market for at least one starting offensive tackle and one quality backup who has starting experience. And it just so happens that the right tackle spot appears vacant at the moment.
Smith is a crafty player who has 105 NFL starts. He has only played for one team and has been very durable, although he missed games last year with a neck injury. But in 2024, he was diagnosed with OCD called religious scrupulosity. This disorder centers around his excessive worrying about violating religious or moral doctrines.
On the field, Smith is a gym rat with a bulky frame and is very strong. Has an adequate punch and absorbs contact. He is a mauler in the run game and has lots of power upon attack. Good body control and an exceptional pass blocker, as witnessed by his 71.9 PFF grade. Allowed only one sack in 2025, but had six penalties.
He would be a welcome addition, but Berry shouldn’t sign him to too many years long-term and the smallest amount of guaranteed money the better. He remains a solid player, but in 2024, he considered retirement because of his condition. Smith is a legitimate, proven starter who has anchored the right side of the Colts’ offensive line for eight consecutive seasons. Keep it short and simple.
Projection: Two years, $32 million
OG Alijah Vera-Tucker (6’-5”, 308 pounds)
New York Jets
Age: 26
2024 PFF: 77.7
Vera-Tucker is a very talented offensive guard who offers versatility. He possesses a high IQ and excels with quick lateral agility.
The Browns will most likely have both guard spots open now that Wyatt Teller has said his goodbyes to the fanbase, Joel Bitonio will most likely retire, and Teven Jenkins is listed on the team’s free agent list.
An excellent technician, Vera-Tucker is a plug-and-play guy from Week 1. He can play four spots on the offensive line and is a solid guy who is nimble and quick.
The issue with Vera-Tucker is why the Browns are allowing RT Jack Conklin seek other employment opportunities. He cannot remain healthy. Which isn’t his fault, but the Browns already have one of these guys. Two if you include Dawand Jones.
Vera-Tucker played all 16 games as a rookie and was selected to the NFL All-Rookie Team. In his second year, he played both tackle spots before a torn triceps in Week 7 ended his season, and he found IR his new home after playing in just seven games.
In 2023, he returned as the Jets’ starting right guard and then moved to right tackle after some injuries along the line. In Week 5, he went down with an Achilles injury and was placed on IR. New York picked up his fifth-year option, and he played 15 games in 2024.
During the following training camp, Vera-Tucker tore a triceps tendon in a practice session and was lost for the season. Sounds like a Conklin rerun. He is a very talented offensive guard who offers versatility. He is still a young man, possesses a high IQ, and excels in quick lateral agility. When healthy, he is a very capable prospect.
Berry should be very cautious about signing Vera-Tucker, and if he decides to take a chance based solely on talent, the contract should be short and without guarantees.
Projection: One-year, $7 million
CB Nahshon Wright (6’-4”, 199 pounds)
Chicago Bears
Age: 27
2025 PFF: 65.1
This is a guy who was just happy being on an NFL roster when he signed a one-year deal with the Bears this past year. Then, he exploded with five interceptions, 80 tackles, 11 batted passes, and allowed just six touchdowns. Plus, being named to his first Pro Bowl.
Which could mean that Wright is a player on the rise, or had a really good season in the precise system that placed him around the ball quite a bit. Now with a Pro Bowl year and only on a one-year prove-it deal, he wants bank for his next contract.
Berry should be cautious with this. And the Browns need another solid cornerback. With M.J. Emerson on the free agent list, Cleveland does have great players on the outside corners with Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell. They need a dependable slot guy, and Wright could man that or be sent outside. He is very tall for a cornerback (6’-4”) with great reach and length.
Wright has a knack for disrupting throwing lanes and is capable in man or zone. He is an iffy tackler and missed 10 this past season. He spent all of 2024 on the practice squad, then inked his one-year deal with Chicago before busting out.
Could this become the start of an outstanding career going forward? He is just 27-years old and has been in the NFL for five years. Apparently, it took several seasons for Wright to fully develop into a consistent producer. Berry just could find another exceptional producer for the defensive back room, or he may have just been in the right system at the right time, and that was that. Wright will have to prove to Berry that 2025 was the launch and not a one-off.
The trade deadline is March 6, so it's less than a week until Seattle fans know the scoop for sure.
"The Kraken are seemingly searching for a splashy add to their top-six forward group and potentially willing to sacrifice Wright to do so, Pagnotta reported on The DFO Rundown last month," writes Matt Larkin of Daily Faceoff. "Wright would be a fascinating buy; he still has another year left at his entry-level AAV after this one, and he has proven to be an efficient scorer in his (extremely) limited opportunities, averaging 19 goals per 82 games for his career despite playing only 13:42 per night."
Larkin, in that write-up, lists Wright in his tier one of players. In this case, that means he views him among the group most likely to be traded before the deadline.
A team acquiring Wright wouldn't necessarily have to be a contender. It could be someone retooling for next season and hoping to get a little younger.
Wright is unlike most other players who are available in trade rumors. That could make him a fascinating case study in the next handful of days.
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Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures / Apple Original Films
For Formula 1 fans in the U.S., there was some great news when it was announced that Apple TV would be teaming up with IMAX to present five races on the 2026 schedule in the premium format. As a big fan of the sport, I couldn’t be more excited for the chance to take in all the pageantry and excitement of an F1 race on the biggest screen in town. My only slight disappointment came with the choice of one of the five races, though I understand why it was done.
Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures / Apple Original Films
Big Changes Coming To F1 For American Fans In 2026
For the last decade or so, F1 races (and all the practice rounds and qualifying) have been broadcast on ESPN. That’s changing with the 2026 season as Apple TV has taken over as the league’s broadcast partner in the United States, and anyone with an Apple TV subscription will be able to catch all the racing excitement. That was only the first bit of big news, however. Last week, Apple TV and IMAX announced they would be teaming up to bring five races on the schedule to the big screen.
The five races make sense. Of course, they have to include the premier race of every season, the Grand Prix of Monaco (June 7th). The British Grand Prix at Silverstone (July 5th) is another classic race deserving of a spot on the schedule. The Italian Grand Prix (September 6th) is at one of the most iconic tracks in the world, Monza, and is always an exciting race, and the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin (October 25) makes sense for a multitude of reasons, not the least of which is that it’ll be in there afternoon, rather than early morning, in North America.
Credit: Apple / Warner Bros.
There Is One Bummer, Though
The only dud on the five-race schedule is the first that is scheduled to appear on the big screen: The Miami Grand Prix on May 3rd. I mean, I totally understand why this race would be included. It’s early in the season, it’s in the U.S (the primary market for this), and, like the race in Austin, it’ll air in the afternoon Stateside. It makes perfect sense why they would choose this one. Still, for Formula One, a sport that races in some of the most interesting and exotic places in the world, the race in Miami is…well… just blah.
Other amazing circuits in the 2026 season would look incredible in IMAX. I’m talking about tracks like Spa in Belgium, Suzuka in Japan, and Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain. These are famous, iconic tracks that would be inspired choices. Even another race in the U.S., the Las Vegas Grand Prix on the streets of Sin City, would have been a better choice. Imagine watching the cars race down The Strip on a giant IMAX screen! Heck, they could’ve waited just a couple of weeks and have the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal as the first race, which is another afternoon race in North America.
The “track” in Miami is barely a track. It’s pretty much just a circuit around the parking lot of the Dolphins stadium in North Miami. It doesn’t hold a candle to the look or the racing excitement of other circuits on the schedule. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be there, first in line at my local IMAX theater to watch, but I just wish it would be for a different race.
Inter Milan Vs Genoa – Cristian Chivu Could Give Minutes To Untested Strike Partnership With Argentina Megastar Injured
Cristian Chivu faces a tricky balancing act tonight as Inter Milan and Genoa meet at San Siro, with the Nerazzurri boss potentially handing Bonny and Pio Esposito a rare start together, with Lautaro Martinez sidelined through injury.
The list of question marks is considerable.
Lautaro is unavailable through injury.
Calhanoglu and Dumfries have returned to training but lack match sharpness.
Meanwhile, Bastoni is suspended after reaching an automatic ban through accumulation of yellow cards.
Nicolo Barella produced one of his worst Inter performances in the Champions League second leg.
Thuram, too, was well below his best and could drop to the bench to allow the untested Bonny-Esposito combination a chance from the start.
Inter Vs Genoa – Lots At Stake For Chivu As Bonny & Esposito Called Upon In Lautaro’s Absence
GENOA, ITALY – DECEMBER 14: Cristian Chivu, head coach of Inter, reacts during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and FC Internazionale at Luigi Ferraris Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
Repubblica also note that Federico Dimarco, Inter’s most reliable performer, may not even start.
Indeed, a remarkable indication of just how carefully Chivu must manage his resources.
Especially with the Coppa Italia semi-final at Como and the derby on the horizon.
The stakes are high in both directions.
Victory could push Inter to thirteen points clear and effectively seal the title race.
A slip, however, would hand AC Milan renewed hope and reopen what has looked like a one-horse race.
“These are the doubts Inter carry onto the pitch tonight,” Repubblica conclude, a night that could bring the Scudetto closer, or bring the rest of the pack back into view.
UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED - JANUARY 25: (EDITOR'S NOTE: Image has been retouched.) WWE Superstars Hulk Hogan, Scot Hall, and Kevin Nash (New World Order; NWO) pose for photos on January 25, 2002. (Photo by WWE/WWE via Getty Images) | WWE via Getty Images
Happy Friday all!
We’ve got UFC action this evening , live from Mexico, or MEXICO! as Bjorn Rebney would say.
This is your off-topic thread for the day, so feel free to jump in and chat about whatever you want (including some of the stuff I have collected below).
Or you can talk about one of these things below:
MMA ADJACENT
Just in case you weren’t able to turn in on Friday morning.
I’m really out the loop when it comes to wrestling, but I enjoy Chelsea Green whenever I see clips of her.
Liverpool Confirmed XI vs West Ham as Gomez Returns
Anfield readies itself once more, expectation hanging in the air as Liverpool continue their Premier League campaign against West Ham. Arne Slot, now firmly established after delivering the 2024 to 2025 title, has made a single alteration to his side. The news from the confirmed XI is clear, Joe Gomez returns.
Momentum matters at this stage of a season. Liverpool arrive on a run of three consecutive wins and the rhythm of a settled side is beginning to show. Confidence builds not through noise, but through repetition, discipline and trust in structure.
Slot’s selection speaks to that trust.
Photo IMAGO
Defensive Platform at Anfield
Alisson starts, chasing a fourth clean sheet in succession. His presence offers calm authority, the type that spreads through a defensive unit. Ahead of him, the back four reads with balance and clarity, Gomez at right back, Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk centrally, Milos Kerkez on the left.
Van Dijk’s leadership remains foundational, Konate’s athleticism complements him, and Kerkez continues to add thrust from deeper areas. Gomez’s return suggests Slot values defensive assurance against a West Ham side capable of springing forward with pace.
Control in these fixtures is rarely accidental. It is shaped by positioning, communication and anticipation.
Midfield Shape Without Wirtz
With Florian Wirtz unavailable, Dominik Szoboszlai is tasked with operating in the more advanced midfield role. Behind him sit Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister, a pairing that blends craft and industry.
Mac Allister’s intelligence between lines offers tempo, Gravenberch’s stride carries Liverpool through transitions. Szoboszlai, encouraged to influence closer to the forwards, has an opportunity to stamp authority on the contest.
Slot’s system remains fluid, yet disciplined. The spacing between midfield and attack will be crucial in breaking down West Ham’s defensive block.
Photo: IMAGO
Attacking Consistency and Bench Impact
Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike retain their places in attack. Continuity in the front line reinforces understanding. Salah’s movement inside channels, Gakpo’s adaptability and Ekitike’s willingness to stretch defences provide variation within a familiar framework.
There were calls to introduce Rio Ngumoha from the outset, but Slot has resisted. The youngster remains among the substitutes, ready to inject energy if required. Alongside him sit Federico Chiesa, Curtis Jones and the fit again Jeremie Frimpong, options capable of altering tempo or shape as the match unfolds.
The confirmed XI underlines a manager confident in his core. Rotation is measured, not reactive.
Liverpool Confirmed XI
Liverpool: Alisson, Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Ekitike
For West Ham, the challenge is significant. Anfield under lights has often been decisive, and Liverpool’s recent defensive solidity adds to that sense of control. Four consecutive clean sheets would signal more than form, it would signal authority.
Slot’s Liverpool continue to show hallmarks of champions, patience in possession, clarity in pressing, and trust in personnel. Against West Ham, execution will determine whether momentum strengthens further.
Official: Barcelona starting lineup against Villarreal | La Liga MD 26
FC Barcelona will be in action at the Spotify Camp Nou in a little over an hour as they take on Villarreal in Matchday 26 of the 2025/26 La Liga.
A victory will take the Blaugrana four points clear at the top of the table, and ahead of kickoff, manager Hansi Flick has announced the starting lineup that will take the field against the Yellow Submarine.
The big news is that Alejandro Balde is back in the starting XI after being left out by Flick in the last two matches. He takes his usual spot on the left side of the defence, replacing Joao Cancelo.
Meanwhile, Jules Kounde continues at right-back, while Pau Cubarsi returns to partner Eric Garcia at centre-back, taking the place of the suspended Gerard Martin. Joan Garcia mans the Barça goal as usual.
Up ahead in midfield, Flick has opted not to risk Pedri from the start despite Frenkie de Jong’s absence through injury.
Instead, the Barcelona manager has opted for a midfield trident of Marc Bernal, Dani Olmo, and Fermin Lopez against Villarreal.
Up top, Ferran Torres, celebrating his 26th birthday, replaces Robert Lewandowski as the striker, where he will be flanked by Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.
Gareth Southgate has suggested that Liam Rosenior was put into a difficult position from the very start, with his appointment at Stamford Bridge leaving him with plenty to prove early on.
Liam Rosenior has come under fire this season despite a solid record, with eight wins, two draws and just two losses as Chelsea manager.
Enzo Maresca’s popularity hasn’t helped either. It’s always tough to follow someone who was well-liked by the fans, and Maresca had built up plenty of goodwill during his time in charge.
But Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has called for fans to get behind Rosenior, pointing out that it’s hard enough for any new manager – especially one promoted from within the club – without carrying extra doubts from day one.
Even Gareth Southgate has picked up on the added pressure surrounding Rosenior’s role. It’s clear he hasn’t had an easy start, but not everyone sees it that way.
Southgate on the challenges of Chelsea’s hiring approach
Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images
Southgate was speaking on The Football Boardroom YouTube channel when the topic turned to Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior.
He didn’t hold back, suggesting Rosenior finds himself in a very challenging situation right from the start.
“You know, I think if you go in as a manager on the back foot, that’s hard from the off. I think that’s a very difficult position to be in.
“And I think to a degree that’s part of the battle Liam’s got at Chelsea, you know, because he’s an internal Strasbourg appointment. So, as if it’s not hard enough for him, he’s having to deal with that. And how can he overcome all of that?”
Despite all that pressure and expectation around him at Stamford Bridge, Rosenior has handled it quite well so far. He’s already matched Thomas Tuchel’s run of eight wins in 11 games during his early days at Chelsea.
Debate over Liam Rosenior’s appointment at Chelsea
Liam Rosenior hasn’t had the easiest path into the Chelsea job. The so-called “BlueCo Bridge,” a term coined by fans, refers to the ownership’s connection with Strasbourg. His internal promotion has been seen by some as more of a cost-saving move than a football decision.
Because of this, even small missteps are amplified. Recent home draws against Burnley and Leeds have led to chants against BlueCo and accusations that he’s just following orders from above.
But beyond results, Rosenior has another challenge: proving he is the right fit for a club of Chelsea’s stature.
How to watch Leeds United vs Man City: TV and streaming details
Leeds United vs Man City: How to Watch, Team News and Premier League Stakes
As the Premier League title race tightens, Leeds United vs Man City arrives with consequences at both ends of the table. Manchester City head to Elland Road intent on trimming Arsenal’s advantage at the summit, while Leeds United continue their push to steer clear of trouble.
With ten games remaining, Arsenal sit five points clear. Pep Guardiola’s side, however, have a game in hand on Mikel Arteta’s leaders. That detail matters. In a campaign shaped by fine margins, arithmetic can weigh as heavily as form.
Premier League Context and Recent Form
Manchester City’s trajectory since January has been emphatic. Their only blemish in the league during that period came in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham. Every other Premier League fixture since the derby defeat to Manchester United has ended in victory. The rhythm is familiar, possession, control, then the squeeze.
Leeds United, under Daniel Farke, have found stability at a critical juncture. Once peering anxiously at the relegation zone, they now sit six points clear of the bottom three. Results have steadied nerves. A 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest injected belief, followed by a spirited 2-2 draw at Chelsea that suggested resilience as much as quality.
Photo IMAGO
Their only setback in recent weeks was the 4-0 home defeat by Arsenal. Since then, Leeds have gone unbeaten this month, a sequence that has shifted the narrative around Elland Road from anxiety to guarded optimism.
For Man City, the equation is simple, win and apply pressure. For Leeds United, even a point would reinforce the sense that survival is edging closer.
How to Watch Leeds United vs Man City Live
For supporters searching how to watch Leeds United vs Man City, the details are straightforward.
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports. Coverage begins at 5pm GMT on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match live via the Sky Go app, allowing viewers to follow the action on mobile devices, tablets, and laptops.
Given the stakes in both the title race and the relegation battle, this is one of the weekend’s standout fixtures.
Key Talking Points Before Kick Off
Much of the spotlight will fall on Manchester City’s ability to manage expectation. Chasing rather than leading alters the psychology. The champions have often thrived when setting the pace, but pursuing Arsenal demands precision and composure.
Leeds United, meanwhile, must balance ambition with pragmatism. Elland Road can be combustible on evenings like this, the crowd urging every tackle and transition. Farke’s challenge lies in harnessing that energy without allowing the game to become stretched.
City’s depth remains formidable, yet Leeds’ recent performances suggest they will not be passive. The 2-2 draw at Chelsea demonstrated a capacity to respond under pressure, while the win against Nottingham Forest showed they can capitalise when momentum shifts.
In short, Leeds United vs Man City offers more than a routine league fixture. It carries implications for the title, for survival, and for the psychological edge that often defines the closing weeks of a Premier League season.
The Charlotte Hornets seek a fourth straight win as they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday afternoon.
Charlotte is the hottest team in the Association over the last two months, and my Trail Blazers vs. Hornets predictions expect a comfortable victory for the home team.
Here are my best free NBA picks for this cross-conference showdown on Saturday, February 28.
Trail Blazers vs Hornets prediction
Trail Blazers vs Hornets best bet: Hornets -8 (-110)
After a slow start, the Charlotte Hornets have done a complete 180, and they’ll have no problem covering a modest spread at home.
Over the last 20 games, Charlotte’s 15-5 ATS record is best in the Association, and its 9.5-point differential per game is second-best. The Hornets have covered in six straight overall and six of their last seven at home.
The Portland Trail Blazers have covered in three straight on the road, but that mark is fool’s gold, as the matchups were against the tanking Utah Jazz, the shorthanded Phoenix Suns, and the spiraling Chicago Bulls.
Trail Blazers vs Hornets same-game parlay
The Hornets are 1-6 to the Under across their last seven home games, while the Trail Blazers are 2-5 to the Under across their last seven on the road. Charlotte's defense will be able to put the clamps on a Portland offense missing its top scorer in Deni Avdija.
Miles Bridges is averaging 17.9 points per game this season, and bettors can take advantage of a mispriced line that has dropped due to a six-point showing in his last game out. Bridges has scored 14+ in 41 of 55 games this season, and he'll have no problem bouncing back with a solid scoring effort at home.
Trail Blazers vs Hornets SGP
Hornets -8
Under 229.5
Miles Bridges Over 13.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Knueppel keeps going
Kon Knueppel broke Keegan Murray’s single-season rookie 3-point record as he converted eight triples in his last game out. Across his last eight games, he’s splashed 5.1 triples, and he’s hit at least four treys six times in that span.
Trail Blazers vs Hornets SGP
Hornets -8
Under 229.5
Miles Bridges Over 13.5 points
Kon Knueppel Over 3.5 3-pointers
Trail Blazers vs Hornets odds
Spread: Portland +8 (-110) | Charlotte -8 (-110)
Moneyline: Portland -320 | Charlotte +260
Over/Under: Over 229.5 (-110) | Under 229.5 (-110)
Trail Blazers vs Hornets betting trend to know
The Trail Blazers have hit the Under in 15 of their last 20 away games (+9.50 Units / 43% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Trail Blazers vs. Hornets.
How to watch Trail Blazers vs Hornets
Location
Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
Date
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Tip-off
1:00 p.m. ET
TV
BlazerVision, FDSN SE Charlotte
Trail Blazers vs Hornets latest injuries
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Feb. 28—Helena High raced to a fast start and never looked back, defeating Glacier 64-32 in Western AA girls basketball on Friday evening. Lauryn Lieberg led the Bengals (10-9 overall, 8-6 in Western AA games) with 17 points, Cassidy Smith added 16 and Dakota Lieberg chipped in 11. For Glacier (1-17, 0-13), Karley Allen scored nine, Cassidy Daniels added two triples to score eight total, and Olivia Warriner contributed seven in the third period. The Wolfpack hit four 3-pointers but struggled to keep pace with Helena's balanced attack. L. Lieberg and Smith combined for 23 first half points to give Helena High an 38-16 advantage at halftime. The Glacier girls finish their season on Saturday against Helena Capital at 2 p.m. Helena 18 20 18 8 — 64 Glacier 9 7 9 7 — 32 HELENA HIGH — Lauryn Lieberg 5 6-8 17, Dakota Lieberg 3 4-6 11, Alexa Lundstrom 1 0-0 2, McKenna Pipinich 4 0-0 9, Kortney McKay 1 0-0 2, Izzy Lundstrom 0 0-0 0, Emmie Beringham 0 1-2 1, Cassidy Smith 7 0-1 16, Greata Petersen 2 2-4 4, Jessie Leland 0 2-2 2. Totals 27 12-20 64. GLACIER — Nika Wangerin 1 2-6 4, Addison Brisendine 1 0-0 2, Lucy Holloway 0 0-4 0, Karley Allen 3 2-2 9, Olivia Warriner 2 2-2 7, Cassidy Daniels 3 0-0 8, Cadence Daniels 0 0-0 0, Remi Osler 0 1-2 1, Clara Ahner 0 0-0 0, Alauna Hagen 0 1-4 1, Ava Grady 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 7-17 32. 3-point goals — Helena 9 (Smith 2, Bermingham 2, McCullough 2, L. Lieberg, D. Lieberg, Pipinich), Glacier 4 (Cassidy Daniels 2, Warriner, Allen). Fouls — Helena 13, Glacier 15. Fouled out — none.
Feb. 28—Flathead held the Bruins to under 10 points in each quarter and Brynn Kossmann scored 17 points to best Capital 47-24 in Western AA girls basketball Friday evening. Grace Gall swished one triple and went 3-4 from the free-throw line to add 12 points for Flathead (4-14, 3-10 in Western AA games) and Caitlyn Converse chipped in seven. Madi Emmert led Capital (9-8, 8-5) with 11 points. Kossman scored six points early and the Bravettes defense held the Bruins to just one point in the first period. Emmert scored 8 points in the second period for Capital, cutting the Bravettes lead to 18 at the half, 28-10. Flathead maintained control in the second half, outscoring Capital 19-14 in the final two quarters. Kossman scored nine points in the fourth quarter to give the Bravettes their third conference win of the season. Flathead 15 13 6 13 — 47 Capital 1 9 8 6 — 24 FLATHEAD — Reese Rosenberg 1 0-0 3, Gracie Mae Kilmer 1 0-0 2, Taylor Greene 0 1-2 1, Caitlin Converse 3 0-0 7, Grace Gall 4 3-4 12, Lexi Herion 2 1-2 5, Brynn Kossman 7 0-3 17. Totals 18 5-11 47. HELENA CAPITAL — Brynn Lawler 0 1-2 1, Chloe LaFramboise 0 0-0 0, A Miller 1 1-2 4, Madi Emmert 4 3-5 11, Avery Mergenthaler 1 3-4 5, Tatum Campbell 0 0-0 0, Calin Mohar 1 0-2 3. Totals 7 8-15 24. 3-point goals — Flathead 3 (Converse, Kossman, Gall) Capital 2 (Miller, Mohar) Fouls — Capital 13, Flathead 12. Fouled out — none.
Feb. 28—EUREKA — Brody Chapman scored 19 points and Eureka overcame a halftime deficit to defeat Mission 66-62 in Class B high school boys basketball. Logan Cuffee contributed 15 for Eureka (10-6, 7-0 in conference). Rowan Burow swished two triples and shot 5-6 from the stripe to finish with 14. Lex LaFrombois scored 32 points to lead Mission (7-11, 5-3) and Vinny Shepard added 23. LaFrombois made four triples to score 26 points in the first half, giving Mission an early six-point advantage. Van Orden made two 3-pointers for the Lions to tighten the game at the half, 38-34. Chapman scored nine and Cuffe added eight in the second half to continue the Lions undefeated conference season. Eureka 13 21 18 14 — 66 Mission 19 19 11 13 — 62 EUREKA — Tyce Van Orden 12, Brody Chapman 19, Rowan Burow 14, Logan Cuffe 15, Ben Byers 2, Lief Burow 4. MISSION — Lex LaFrombois 32, Jason Leishman 2, Leelyn Shepard 5, Vinny Shepard 23.
Feb. 28—HELENA — Landon Levang and Brett Buehler combined for 38 of the Bruins 60 points as Capital defeated Flathead 60-42 in Western AA boys' basketball on Friday evening. Eli Coopman led Flathead (1-17 overall, 0-13 in Western AA games) with two triples to score 12 points. Ben Reichner and Boston Case added seven apiece, each knocking down a 3-pointer. Capital (10-8, 7-6) led after the first quarter and extended the margin in the second after Levang swished two triples. Kobe Gamradt added another, outscoring Flathead 19-4 to take a 31-14 halftime lead. Boston Case and Kyler Kossman accelerated the Braves in the third period with nine combined points, cutting the deficit to 11, 44-33. Capital closed the game with three baskets from Brett Buehler and held Flathead to eight points in the final frame. The Braves conclude their season on the road Saturday against Helena High at 2 p.m. Capital 12 19 13 16 — 60 Flathead 10 4 20 8 — 42 HELENA CAPITAL — Kobe Gamradt 2 0-0 6, Joey Merganthaler 1 0-0 2, Kyle Bachmeier 0 0-1 1, Carson Toivonen 1 0-0 2, Landon Levang 6 5-8 20, Drew Almquist 1 0-0 2, Brett Buehler 8 3-4 19, Will Spotorno 4 0-1 8. Totals 22 9-15 60. FLATHEAD — Sam McConnell 1 0-0 3, Benny Forman 0 0-0 0, Leum Saisbury 0 0-0 0, Eli Coopman 4 2-2 12, Ben Reichner 3 0-0 7, Lance Schneller 0 0-0 0, Karson Johnston 0 0-0 0, Hunter Fann 2 0-0 4, Liam Rech 0 0-0 0, Reece Brotherton 1 0-0 3, Boston Case 2 2-2 7 Max Shostak 0 0-0 0, Kyler Kossman 3 0-0 6. Totals 16 4-4 42. 3-point goals — Capital 3 (Levang 2, Bachmeier), Flathead 4 (Coopman 2, McConnell, Reichner, Case). Fouls — Capital 9, Flathead 14. Fouled out — none.
Thursday, Feb. 26 – Magoffin County 77, East Ridge 61; Betsy Layne 68, Prestonsburg 53
Saturday, March 28 (at various sites) – Phelps (15-13) at Shelby Valley (18-14), 2:30; Magoffin County (9-22) at Pike County Central (19-11), 6; Betsy Layne (8-20) at Martin County (20-9), 8; Paintsville (14-14) at Lawrence County (18-11), 6
Wednesday, March 4 – Phelps-Shelby Valley winner vs. Johnson Central (25-5), 6:30; Magoffin County-Pike County Central winner vs. Floyd Central (24-5), 8:15
Thursday, March 5 – Betsy Layne-Martin County winner vs. Belfry (21-10), 6:30; Paintsville-Lawrence County winner vs. Pikeville (20-4), 8:15
Saturday, March 7 – Semifinals, 7:15 and 8:45
Monday, March 9 – Final, 7
16th Region
At Morehead State
Draw TBA
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Follow on X @kyhighs.
Cornerbacks are a tough choice in free agency because they are so inconsistent from season to season. Stokes was one of the worst cornerbacks in the league in 2024, but he transformed into one of the league's best in 2025 with 53 total tackles and five passes defensed.
It's safe to say that we don't know what version of Stokes we'll see in 2026. But this is a clear position of need for the Giants, who ranked 17th in yards allowed per completion last season (10.9). They can take a chance that Stokes is closer to his 2025 play.
Stokes, 26, was the 29th overall selection in the 2021 NFL draft out of Georgia by the Green Bay Packers. He had an up-and-down four years with them, and they declined his fifth-year option, leading him to sign a one-year deal with the Raiders last March. He made a splash in Las Vegas in 2025.
— Pro Football Hall of Fame Ambassador (@PFHOFAmbassador) January 28, 2026
Pro Football Focus ranked Stokes 18th out of 114 eligible cornerbacks last year with a 73.6 grade. The Giants have to decide what they are going to do with Cor'Dale Flott, who is also headed for free agency, first, before they begin to consider outside help.
North Carolina will seek its third consecutive victory when it faces Virginia Tech at 8:30 p.m. ET.
The Tar Heels are coming off another win against a top-25 team, a 77-74 victory over No. 21 Louisville. Seth Trimble scored a career-high 30 points and was the decisive factor in a critical game as March quickly approaches. North Carolina improved its record against top-25 opponents to 4-1.
The Hokies have been inconsistent in conference play, posting a 7-8 record in the ACC and 18-10 overall. They currently sit 11th in the league standings and are projected in the “next four out” category in most NCAA Tournament forecasts. With limited opportunities remaining to strengthen their resume, Virginia Tech’s heightened urgency presents a potentially challenging matchup for North Carolina.
Several key Virginia Tech players will command North Carolina’s attention throughout the contest.
PF Amani Hansberry (6-8, 240)
Hansberry is Tech’s leading scorer, averaging 14.7 points on 48.5% shooting from the field and 34.5% from 3-point range, along with 7.7 rebounds per game. His 3-point percentage has improved in ACC play, where he is shooting 39.6% from beyond the arc.
G Ben Hammond (5-11, 170)
While he is not the biggest player on the court, his impact is significant. Hammond is averaging 12.6 points on 44.1% shooting from the field and 43.0% from 3-point range, along with 3.2 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game.
His production has increased in ACC play since he became a full-time starter. He leads the team in scoring with 14.7 points per game on 47.6% shooting from the field and 50% from 3-point range, and he is also averaging two steals per game in conference play.
G Jailen Bedford (6-4, 181)
Bedford has had a solid season, averaging 11.4 points per game on 41.3% shooting from the field and 36.8% from 3-point range. He has improved in ACC play, averaging nearly 14 points per game on 40.8% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
On Saturday night, the Alabama Crimson Tide will travel to Knoxville searching to do something they have not done in the last five head-to-head meetings against the Tennessee Volunteers, win.
Yes, the Crimson Tide will enter Saturday night's contest in Knoxville having lost five-straight to Tennessee dating back to the 2022-23 season, which includes a 79-73 home loss to the Volunteers earlier this season on Jan. 24.
As for this latest matchup, Alabama will come to Knoxville as winners of their last seven consecutive games, while Tennessee has won four of their last five. This game will also have key seeding implications for the upcoming SEC Tournament, as both teams currently own double byes, should it start today.
Following are three keys for the Crimson Tide to snap that losing streak to Tennessee on Saturday night.
Defense vs. Nate Ament
The performance of Tennessee freshman Nate Ament was one of the biggest storylines from the previous contest, as the star forward finished with a game-high 29 points and seven rebounds on 10-of-20 shooting from the field. Alabama will certainly have to come play better defensively against Ament in the rematch, as they cannot afford to let the freshman takeover the game similar to last time.
The play of Aiden Sherrell
Aiden Sherrell is a player for Alabama who has started to take the next step in recent games, recording two double-doubles over his last three contests. Sherrell did not have much of an impact in the prior matchup, fouling out with only six points and four rebounds in 22 minutes, and the play of the Alabama center will be key on the road against the very talented Tennessee frontcourt.
Welcome back Aden Holloway, Amari Allen
One of the biggest storylines from Alabama's loss to Tennessee in Tuscaloosa was the absence of two Crimson Tide starters due to injury, Aden Holloway and Amari Allen. Both will be welcome additions to Alabama's lineup Saturday night, and are sure to be needed for a Crimson Tide team whose prior 73-point total offensively against Tennessee was their lowest of the season.
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Feb. 28—HELENA — Asher Knopik made a layup with 15 seconds remaining to give the Wolfpack a two-point lead and Carter Knopik made clutch free-throws to defeat Helena High 39-35 in Western AA boys basketball. Asher Knopik led Glacier (6-13, 3-11 in Western AA games) with 14 points. Talis Pitts added eight and Carter Knopik tallied seven free throws. Seth Lieberg scored 12 points for Helena High (9-9, 6-7). Tyse Todorovich chipped in 10 but fouled out late in the fourth quarter. Todorovich swished an early triple and scored 7 points in the first half to help Helena High open strong, outscoring Glacier 20-14 at the break. The Wolfpack rallied in the second half behind seven points from Cooper Pelc in third quarter. Glacier led 28-27 going into the fourth period. After a back-and-fourth battle, Asher Knopik found the rim to take a 37-35 lead in the final minute. Pelc blocked the next Bengals 3-point attempt out-of-bounds, and Carter Knopik stole the final inbounds pass to secure the Wolfpack victory at the charity stripe. Glacier 8 6 14 11 — 39 Helena 10 10 7 8 — 35 GLACIER — Cooper Pelc 3 0-0 7, Ethan Kastelitz 0 0-4 0, Tate Kahler 1 0-0 3, Hudson Kastelitz 0 0-0 0, Talis Pitts 3 1-1 8, Blake Pittman 0 0-0 0, Dylan Banzet 0 0-0 0, Asher Knopik 6 2-2 14, Carter Knopik 0 7-10 7. Totals 13 10-13 39. HELENA HIGH — Pacer Lybbert 1 0-0 2, Cayden 0 3-6 3, Reece Silvonen 0 1-3 1, Seth Lieberg 5 1-4 12, Gracen Silvonen 0 1-2 1, Tyse Todorovich 4 1-4 10, Jonathan Laboy 2 0-0 4, Chase Foster 1 0-2 2. Totals 13 7-21 35. 3-point goals — Glacier 3 (Pelc, Kahler, Pitts). Helena 2 (Lieberg, Todorovich) Fouls — Glacier 21, Helena 17. Fouled out — Todorovich.
In his latest 2026 NFL mock draft for the league's official website, Gennaro Filice has the Denver Broncos beefing up their interior defensive line late in the first round.
Filice projects Denver picking Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods with the 30th overall pick.
"With 14.5 sacks over the past two seasons in Denver, John Franklin-Myers has been an underrated stud on Vance Joseph’s face-melting front," Filice wrote for NFL.com. "The pending free agent is poised to cash in on the open market, though, putting IDL among the Broncos’ bigger needs.
"At this time one year ago, Woods appeared destined for the top 10. But like the Clemson team as a whole, the ballyhooed big man suffered a down season. With his draft stock in flux, Woods could land with a contender and ultimately prove to be a steal."
Woods (6-2, 298 pounds) recorded 30 tackles, two sacks and one pass breakup in 12 games with the Tigers last fall. He totaled 84 tackles, five sacks, two forced fumbles and one PBU in three seasons (35 games) at Clemson.
The 2026 NFL draft will be held in Pittsburgh from April 23-25. After receiving two compensatory picks, the Broncos will hold nine selections this spring.
Tyrrell Hatton was among several LIV players who accepted a deal with the DP World Tour to first settle outstanding fines, drop legal appeals and agree to one or two more stipulations. As a result, the affable Englishman will be available for next year’s European Ryder Cup team.
But Jon Rahm, who has forged a potent, profitable partnership with Hatton in the biennial tussle, has dug the heels in.
The Spaniard, a two-time major winner, had refused to agree to the DP World Tour’s terms and conditions, which also include a demand to play in more events on the circuit than the usual bare minimum of four while participating in associated media activity and promotion.
Rahm is the only eligible LIV player to turn down the peace offering from the DP World Tour's high command.
The mechanics of this legal wrangling can be a bit complicated to follow and whatever transpires, this seemingly belligerent approach from Rahm doesn’t look great. So much for European harmony.
Just a few weeks ago, Rory McIlroy made a very public plea to Rahm and Hatton to stump up the cash.
“We went really hard on the Americans about being paid to play the Ryder Cup and we also said that we would pay to play in Ryder Cups,” he said. “Well, there’s two guys that can prove it.”
In 2023, a UK arbitration panel ruled that the DP World Tour was within its rights to impose sanctions upon members who violated its conflicting events rules.
Both Rahm and Hatton were only allowed to play in last September’s Ryder Cup because, somewhat conveniently, their appeals against the DP World Tour sanctions meted out to them had been pushed back.
That kicked the contentious can down the road, but they’ve reached said can again and it seems that Rahm has given it another boot.
One presumes Rahm believes he will be granted some kind of special exemption and a compromise will be met. Leeway, as was proven by the appeals process in the first place, clearly exists, but to a casual observer, Rahm’s current stance reeks of entitlement.
And there’s been more than enough of that during the civil war in men’s professional golf over the past few years.
Back in February 2022, when LIV was still in its infancy, Rahm emphatically nailed his colors to the mast. “This is the one and only time I’ll talk about this, I am officially declaring my fealty to the PGA Tour,” he said at the time
The fact the word ‘fealty’ hadn’t been heard since the Norman Conquest gave Rahm’s proclamation added majesty.
In December 2023, though, Rahm performed a screeching, handbrake-yanking U-turn and joined the LIV rebellion in a deal reportedly worth $500 million.
It was a mighty coup for LIV. In many ways, we thought it would be a watershed moment for the men’s game; a tipping point that would bring an end to all the poaching and the defections, help restore some order and accelerate the move towards a united front in the splintered upper echelons.
Rahm possibly thought that, too. Here in 2026, however, the idea of reunification is as remote as some of the ancient tribes of Sarawak as each establishment ploughs on with its own furrow.
The Ryder Cup, meanwhile, is a separate entity and shouldn’t be collateral damage in another organization’s fight. It could be, though, should the Rahm saga continue in its current state of impasse.
It’ll take more than a few Sanskrit chants to sort this one out.
(Nick Rodger is a longtime golf contributor to the Scotland Herald, part of USA Today Co.)
The Kansas City Chiefs' decision to re-hire offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy continues to garner praise from around the league. The latest comes from his former team, the Chicago Bears, and their head coach, Ben Johnson, while speaking with reporters recently at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
"We'll miss a ton. The guy's a phenomenal football coach," said Johnson, "You know, the coaching staff a year ago and really similar to this year, is that there are a lot of guys outside of my circle that I didn't know very well, so he was really (hired) through reputation. We had a lot of productive conversations before he decided to join on board."
Bieniemy was a vital member of the Bears' coaching staff last season as their running backs coach, helping the team win the NFC North and advance to the divisional round of the playoffs.
"I was just blown away from the impact he had not only in that position room, which, you know, (D'Andre) Swift had probably the best year of his career, and then seventh rounder, (Kyle) Monangai, had a hell of a year himself, not just that room, but the entire offense, he brings a demanding presence. The standard is the standard with Eric Bieniemy, and those are big shoes to fill."
Bieniemy spent nine years as an assistant coach and coordinator with Kansas City before pursuing other opportunities ahead of the 2023 season.
Fabio Di Giannantonio believes stricter stewarding is needed to improve safety at MotoGP race starts after his opening-lap incident with Alex Marquez in the Thailand Grand Prix sprint.
Di Giannantonio and Marquez were battling for fourth position heading into the opening turn at Buriram, with the Gresini rider diving to the inside following a strong launch from seventh on the grid.
Running very close to Raul Fernandez’s Trackhouse Aprilia that was running in third, Marquez almost sat up and ran off the track, taking di Giannantonio with him.
Both riders were shuffled outside the top 10 as their rivals accelerated out of the hairpin, wrecking any chance of a podium finish. Di Giannantonio recovered to finish eighth, but Marquez failed to even break inside the points.
Speaking after the race, the VR46 rider warned that the situation could have escalated into a big crash, as he called for harsher penalties for incidents in the opening laps.
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
“I think that the first two corners, the first hard braking after the start, is the most dangerous situation that we experience every time,” he said. “I believe every rider on track, they are scared of that moment. If one rider says that it's not like this, they are lying 100%. So, we experience a lot of unfortunate crashes and mistakes through the years.
“[Marco] Bezzzechi Barcelona, [Takaaki] Nakagami Barcelona, Jorge Martin Japan. Many mistakes. Then it's not just this. A lot of mistakes in the first corner. If we don't respect each other enough, the race direction should help us with much, much stronger penalties on the first two corners, to help us to be more in control and more cautious.
“Today I think we've been lucky. Because we avoided a potential huge crash between me, Alex and Raul. If it was happening in a chicane, that maybe we were joining the track crashing.
“I went to race control already. I explained my point of view to improve the safety of all the riders, to give much bigger penalties. They agree with me that this can be a solution for the near future and the future.
“So, I want to be safe in the first corners. I want to be confident that the rider in front of me is respecting me. And in case it's not, we need to learn from us, we need to learn, we need to teach the young classes also.
“It's been a pity on my side [for that incident] to have ruined the race, but then it's much more important that we improve this for the really near future.”
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Last year’s runner-up Marquez defended his actions at the start, given the positioning of Fernandez ahead and di Giannantonio alongside him.
“It was a really good start and was quite able to be in a good position, in parallel with Diggia. Then we started to brake at a pretty similar point, but Raul was in front and Diggia started to go in, just not watching me.
“Then I have a moment that I had, with Diggia closing the line and Raul in front. Then I say ‘ok, if I go more on the brakes, I will lock the front and I will crash all three’ Or if, I release I will go wide a little bit and then come back.
“So, nothing more to do, nothing more my option, I think trying to defend a position from the outside is not the most interesting thing in the first corner.”
When Marquez’s explanation was put to him, di Giannantonio responded with a light-hearted analogy.
“I want to make a joke, but it's important that if you write, you put this as a joke,” he said. “If you arrive at a traffic light with a car, and you have a car in front of you, you brake If not, you bang the car.
“So, not talking about today, but if you see a rider in front of you, you should brake earlier to not smash into the rider in front. Generally, not talking about today.”
The stewarding was in the spotlight on Saturday after Ducati’s Marc Marquez was ordered to drop a place for pushing Pedro Acosta off the track during his battle for the lead.
When asked if there should be more communication between riders and stewards, di Giannantonio said:
“I just think that we should have a stronger way of judging, because, it's completely normal that if I do a mistake, I will try to defend my position so that I don't ruin my championship for next races.
“So, I don't think it would be necessary to talk with the stewards. The stewards are there to judge. It's like the referee in football. They are there to judge and they must judge in a proper way that we can't make dangerous moves.”
NFL San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk
The first day of the NFL league year is March 11, and Adam Schefter thinks the 49ers won’t waste any time moving on from wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
“He’ll be released on the first day of the league year, I think,” Schefter said, without any delay on the answer during his appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast.
This falls in line with John Lynch’s comments earlier this week on the 49ers’ plans for Aiyuk. Well, it’s a bit more specific than Lynch’s answer.
“I think nothing will happen until the new league year starts,” Lynch said when asked about the contract during his press conference at the 2026 NFL Combine. “And then when it happens, kind of semantics, but that’s when something could happen there.”
There was some speculation that Aiyuk could still be traded, but there wasn’t much to suggest league interest in Aiyuk or his contract. The bigger issue of an Aiyuk trade, as the 49ers have learned, is that when the 49ers last tried to trade their wide receiver, Aiyuk refused to go to any of the teams making offers to the 49ers.
We live in a different world now. Since those trade proposals and the eventual extension, Aiyuk suffered a devastating knee injury in 2024 and did not see the field in the 2025 season.
“They had so many trade conversations with so many teams,” Schefter said. “And I think they’ve probably gone back to those teams. But I think the math is different. The situation is different. The way he behaved this year with some of the social stuff is different. Everything is different.”
Aiyuk tore his ACL, MCL, and meniscus. The final two years of his deal, 2027 and 2028, are slated for base salaries of an estimated $27 million and $29 million, respectively (Note: this does not account for voided guarantees). That alone, combined with the injury, makes the trade a very risky option for a team. Aiyuk’s social media usage doesn’t help either.
“I think teams are curious,” Schefter continued. “And before they would do anything, they want to have to check out his knee.”
That won’t happen in a week. It’s widely believed that Aiyuk is gone from the 49ers. We’ve known the 49ers and Aiyuk were headed for a divorce once the guarantees got voided during the season. The way they’ll end this is now more and more apparent: a release the moment the 49ers can.
There are fewer than two weeks for this chapter to close.
F1 Opener May Be Nightmare for Aston Martin, HondaMark Sutton - Formula 1 - Getty Images
Amid all the excitement over the upcoming start of the new Formula 1 season in Melbourne, the closest thing to a certainty is that it is going to be a painful weekend for Aston Martin and Honda. The team is anticipating reliability problems that will restrict practice mileage, and likely put them at the back of the grid. The chances of even seeing the checkered flag are slim. For Fernando Alonso, who had hopes of having a winning car in what he’s hinted could be his final season, it’s a nightmare scenario—and not the way he wanted to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his grand prix debut.
To say that Aston’s winter testing didn’t go well would be an understatement. Already having missed most of the first test in Barcelona, the team completed a third of the laps of some of its rivals in Bahrain. That’s significant, as Aston is the only Honda runner—whereas Mercedes was capturing valuable data with four cars, Ferrari with three, and Red Bull Ford with two. The only other team with one car was Audi, a company brand new to F1... and its testing season went much more smoothly.
Not only did Aston do low mileage, but a lot of those laps were with restricted power, and not representative. Even when running properly, the car was simply slow. The team hasn’t been able to do much of the routine homework and box ticking that you would do with any new car.
NurPhoto - Getty Images
All of this has to be considered in the contest of the earlier buzz around the Aston Martin and Honda relationship, which seemed to be a marriage made in heaven: The power unit supplier that had won the last four World Championships allied to the team with most modern facilities, and with Adrian Newey not just spearheading the technical side, but running the whole show.
The bottom line is that Honda appears to have dropped the ball. There is an overall lack of power, but the key issue is a high level of vibration that is causing battery failures. That vibration was seen to some degree on the regular dyno in Japan, and again in virtual test track running, a dyno with the power unit attached to a chassis. It became critical when the complete car was running on track.
You may recall that Honda had a dire time when it returned to the sport in 2015 with its first hybrid V-6 engine, which could barely string a lap together when it first ran. McLaren struggled through three difficult seasons with it before the deal imploded. Honda then went to Scuderia Toro Rosso and on to Red Bull, and by 2019 it was winning races. On that occasion, the slow start was justified by the fact that Honda had been out of F1 for many years, and not only had to create a power unit from scratch but also a new facility. So why is it struggling a decade on, having just won four titles?
In 2020 the company announced that it was leaving F1 in order to redistribute resources – human and otherwise – to wider electrification projects. Red Bull persuaded Honda to stay on as a customer supplier. Given that development was frozen under the regulations, it became a production and servicing exercise, and the design team broke up. Last month Road & Track asked Honda Racing Corporation boss Koji Watanabe about that process.
“Honda Motor Corporation has made this decision to make this great shift towards electrification and going with carbon neutrality,” he said. “This led to many of these F1 engineers to be dispersed to the production areas of Honda. Starting in 2022 all automobile racing activity, support or related activities were consolidated or transferred to HRC. So at that time HRC functioned as a provider of technical support for Red Bull,”
Tthat meant Honda had only a skeleton staff on the racing project. “And so for F1, we had the necessary number of people to provide that support. It's not like we had zero people there anymore related to F1, but there was a huge reduction of engineers and mechanics at Sakura.”
When in spring 2023 Honda announced it would compete under the new F1 regulations in 2026, it wasn’t a case of getting the band back together, as most of the original guys were busy elsewhere; Honda has always justified its F1 involvement as a training ground for folk who then go off and work in all areas of the company. Thus, it was largely a new group of people who were brought in.
“After that announcement, we started gathering the needed engineers,” said Watanabe. “From 2022 to April ‘23 is a period where we had a very limited number of people related to this field. So in comparison to our competitors, perhaps you can say that we were behind maybe.”
Mark Sutton - Formula 1 - Getty Images
The timing is also key. Consider that the 2026 power unit rules were signed off in October 2022, and manufacturers knew most of the key parameters long before then. Mercedes, Ferrari, Audi and Red Bull were already flat-out on their projects. While Honda would have done at least some preliminary work before April 2023, by the time it fully committed, it already lagged behind rivals.
Honda is now working flat out to resolve the issues seen in testing and to bring some form of fix. The problem is that these things can’t be done in a matter of a few weeks. And in addition. PU manufacturers now have to operate within their own cost caps, and any firefighting exercise will eat into their spending. There is also a pressing deadline this weekend: Honda has to submit a homologation dossier to the FIA with the full technical spec of its power unit “before March 1.”
Honda is now relying to a large extent on a system introduced for this year called Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities, or ADUO. It was designed to allow a struggling manufacturer a chance to bring extra upgrades based on a performance discrepancy with rivals, with assessments coming after round six (Miami), 12 (Spa) and 18 (Singapore). Meanwhile, the lack of running means that the team knows little about its new AMR26, a complex and advanced car with which Newey has pushed all the limits—and it’s fair to say potentially made Honda’s life even harder with his packaging requirements. He clearly has the weight of the world on his shoulders right now, but there’s no one better at analyzing issues and marshaling the necessary forces to address them.
As for Alonso, the Spaniard lived through three difficult years at McLaren in 2015–17 with what he famously called “a GP2 engine”—and then watched Max Verstappen win four titles with it. Having made a few mistimed career calls with some justification, he thought that things would finally fall his way in 2026. Instead, he must feel a little like Charlie Brown after Lucy snatched the ball away from him one more time.
There are two versions of what I’d call the traditional path to becoming a fan of a college team: you got a degree from the school, or one or both of your parents did.
My mom got her bachelor’s at Meredith (the women’s college in Raleigh) and her master’s at Carolina, and those two years were all she needed to become a ride or die Tar Heels fan. She made sure I grew up the same way; a plush Rameses was among my first stuffed animals, and I knew the words to Hark the Sound long before The Star-Spangled Banner.
I didn’t end up attending Carolina–I got in, but I was offered a scholarship elsewhere that I would have been stupid to pass up. Still, my love for the Tar Heels never wavered. Even as I became immersed in the landscape of the Big 12, Carolina (and the ACC) always felt more like home. That’s a big reason I joined the staff here at Tar Heel Blog.
For today’s discussion, tell us how you became a UNC fan. Are you a first-, second-, or even third-generation Tar Heel? Was your path to donning Carolina blue different from either of the traditional ones?
Real Madrid target €50 million deal for Manchester City midfielder
Manchester City appear to be set for a major battle to retain the services of Rodri this summer, with the player firmly a target for Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Speculation surrounding the 29-year-old’s future has intensified in recent months, particularly as his current Manchester City contract edges closer towards its final 18 months, with no sign of extension talks at present.
While City will no doubt remain determined to tie down one of their most influential performers to fresh terms, the absence of a confirmed renewal has inevitably opened the door to interest from abroad.
Rodri’s importance to Guardiola’s system cannot be overstated, and even following a serious knee injury that sidelined him for much of the previous campaign, the Spain international has returned to reassert himself as the controlling presence at the base of midfield.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner’s composure, positional intelligence and leadership have made him indispensable at the Etihad Stadium – qualities that have understandably attracted attention from Europe’s elite, and clubs in his native Spain.
According to the information of Spanish journalist Ramón Álvarez de Mon, Real Madrid have highlighted Rodri as the midfielder they want to sign during the upcoming summer transfer window.
It is claimed that the side from the Spanish capital will assess the Manchester City midfielder’s fitness leading up to this summer’s FIFA World Cup, whilst also estimating that the player could cost around €50 million to bring to the Bernabeu.
The reported valuation is likely to raise eyebrows in Manchester, particularly given Rodri’s pedigree. As a central pillar of City’s domestic and European success, any proposal in that region would be expected to fall well short of the club’s internal assessment of his worth.
Interest from Real Madrid is far from surprising, given their long-standing admiration. The prospect of returning to his homeland, coupled with the allure of the Bernabéu, ensures the story could gather momentum as the summer transfer window approaches.
However, Manchester City are unlikely to entertain the idea of losing a player so central to Pep Guardiola’s plans without a firm fight, with the manager having previously underlined Rodri’s unique profile and importance to his long-term project.
With a major international tournament on the horizon and negotiations over a potential new deal yet to reach a public conclusion, Rodri’s situation is shaping up to be one of the defining transfer sagas of the summer.
Whether Real Madrid’s reported €50 million ambition materialises into a formal bid remains to be seen, but Manchester City supporters will hope their midfield anchor remains at the heart of the club’s ambitions for years to come.
Dec 21, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; An Atlanta Falcons fan shows their pride during the first half of a game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images | Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
We don’t want or need your address or any personal details — sharing just the state is fine, or city and state if you’d like to be more specific. Same thing if you live abroad – if you’d like to just share the country, that’s cool, and if you want to share more details like the city or region, that’s totally up to you.
MIAMI — Even though he was not able to experience most of the moment live, there was ample respect from Heat coach Erik Spoelstra last Sunday when the United States men’s hockey team delivered Olympic gold.
Amid the drama of that overtime victory against Canada in Italy, Spoelstra was tethered to his day job, first running his annual basketball clinic for those with special needs at Kaseya Center, then litigating with the NBA league office over what turned into a $35,000 fine for Heat guard Myron Gardner for the dust-up a night earlier against the Memphis Grizzlies.
But Spoelstra was well aware of the Olympic stakes at those same hours, the same stakes he is now charged to face as the next Olympic coach for Team USA at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Having dealt with similar pressure as an assistant to Steve Kerr during USA Basketball’s run to gold at the 2024 Paris Games, there was deep appreciation for last Sunday’s victory on ice.
“It really was inspiring and incredibly moving,” Spoelstra said, after his time delay in watching the drama unfold and then the ensuing celebration.
As he got caught up, Spoelstra reflected back to the movie Miracle, which celebrated what stands etched as the miracle-on-ice victory of the United States over the then-USSR and eventual gold at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.
While basketball gold for Team USA has become practically de rigueur since NBA players entered Olympic play in 1992, the in-and-out approach of the NHL allowing its players to participate in the games, as well as Canadian dominance, had left the U.S. men without Olympic gold since those 1980 Games.
“I didn’t realize that we haven’t won a gold since then,” Spoelstra said. “And so the lead-up to all of this was awesome.”
With Spoelstra appreciative of the emotional drain of the experience, as well as the eventual exhilaration.
“And then you just saw like the emotions. That is real,” he said, having shared in his own such moment alongside Heat center Bam Adebayo at the 2024 Paris Games, with Adebayo expected back on the 2028 roster. “And that’s what the Olympic spirit is all about as a team, coming together for an incredible challenge and then doing it together, and then just having those raw emotions of victory.”
For Spoelstra, some of the most special moments of his association with USA Basketball have been the time spent with family, which again likely will be his approach at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
That’s what had him particularly emotional about the Olympic celebration last week in Milan, when the U.S. team made a point of bringing to the ice the young children of late U.S. hockey star Johnny Gaudreau, who was struck and killed by a drunk driver while bicycling near his New Jersey hometown in August 2024. Gaudreau, who died at 31, was a virtual lock to have been selected to the 2026 U.S. roster, with his jersey on display in the Olympic locker room and then skated on the ice after last Sunday’s victory by Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk, among others.
“If you don’t get choked up by the children out there,” Spoelstra said, “you’re not human.”
And with that, with the U.S. players returning to their day jobs, Spoelstra returned to his, amid far less glamour and glory, as he attempts to guide the Heat above the play-in bracket for the first time in four seasons, currently in the midst of a three-game homestand.
But the work at the day job comes also knowing there will be gold to chase soon enough as coach of USA Basketball men’s senior national team, first in the 2027 World Cup in Qatar and then those 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The Olympic bar for basketball already has been at the highest level, with the U.S. team of NHL stars offering a reminder of how ultimate unity can provide an ultimate payoff, the next time with the Heat’s coach in charge.
“What just an amazing accomplishment,” Spoelstra said of last Sunday in Italy. “They made everybody in this country so proud.”
IN THE LANE
THE BONUS PLAN: An argument could be made that Heat forward Keshad Johnson was ahead of his time when it came to his victory in the dunk contest during All-Star Weekend two weeks ago. With the All-Star Game moving on to Phoenix next year, Suns owner Mat Ishbia has suggested a $1 million prize to the winner as well as $1 million to the charity of the winner’s choice. By contrast, Johnson earned $105,000 for his championship, a prize that would have been a mere $55,000 had he placed second. One problem, though, with Ishbia’s proposal: The NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement spells out the prize money for the skills contests for All-Star Weekend, as part of the players’ percentage cut from overall league revenue. So it would take more than Ishbia’s wealth, but rather a re-opening of that aspect of the CBA. What will be interesting to see is if the NBA gets Ishbia’s goal of the better-known talent in the event whether Johnson will receive a 2027 invitation as defending champion, as typically is the case. (Matt McClung elected to bypass defending his titles this year.)
SOBERING REALITIES: So how significant was the Philadelphia 76ers’ dip back into the lottery waters last year, the type of dip the Heat refuse to take? Ask no less than 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey, who was all praise when it came to Thursday night’s performance by backcourt partner VJ Edgecombe, the guard out of Baylor that Philadelphia got with the No. 3 pick in last June’s draft. “Our season was very, very, very, very bad last year,” Maxey said following Thursday night’s victory over the Heat. “We were blessed with VJ Edgecombe. And I think as a Sixers organization, as a fan base, we should be very happy, very pleased, and very thankful. I know I am. I’m extremely thankful for him.” Edgecombe closed with 19 points, eight rebounds and four assists in that victory. Then there is Maxey, who the Heat bypassed at No. 20 in 2020 in favor of Precious Achiuwa, with Maxey going to the 76ers at No. 21. Maxey not only closed the victory over the Heat with 28 points and 11 assists, but along the way in that game passed Allen Iverson for most career 3-pointers by a 76er. But, hey, at least Achiuwa was scoring a career-high 29 points that night for the Sacramento Kings, so there’s that.
RIDDLE SOLVED?: For years, Erik Spoelstra and the Heat have been praised for the efficiency and uniqueness of their zone defense. Then came Thursday night’s loss in Philadelphia, when the 76ers took the Heat’s zone to task during the decisive stages. “It was like a 1-3-1 kind of. Just seeing how they were rotating and just attacking once that first guy gets beat, now they’re kind of at our mercy,” Edgecombe said. “So I was trying to make the right reads, and the middle was open. At the end of the day just drive the zone. I feel like every team preaches that, especially a team that’s in zone, just drive the zone.” So Maxey joined in, as well. “Yeah, they play like a little funky zone,” Maxey said. “It’s not like a normal 2-3 zone. They do, like, a tandem. They do different things out of it. But we did a good job, honestly. VJ did a good job of just driving the zone, making plays out of it. Like, ‘OK, you know what? I’m gonna get behind it. Just drive it and make a play.'”
HIGH PRAISE: Signed by the Suns after being waived by the Brooklyn Nets at the NBA trade deadline, former Heat forward Haywood Highsmith continues to work his way back from the offseason knee surgery he underwent while still with the Heat. Highsmith, who has not played since the Heat’s April 28 playoff elimination last season, said his work with the Heat has put him in position to again get his body right. “When I first got into the NBA with (the 76ers) and G League and all that, my body wasn’t fully how it should be,” Highsmith told the Arizona Republic. “The Heat got me in great shape, gave me the tools as far as the schemes and going a lot of reps in games, playoffs.. That got me more comfortable as well. The Heat really pushed it out of me and from there, I just kind of took over it, owned it.”
NUMBER
100. Number of career 3-pointers entering the weekend by second-year center Kel’el Ware. The only 7-footer in the Heat’s 38 seasons with more total 3-pointers was Kelly Olynyk, who had 391 in his 265 Heat games. Only 12 7-footers have converted at least one 3-pointer in franchise history.
Matchup: New Mexico Lobos vs. San Diego State Aztecs Date: Saturday, February 28, 2026 Time: 8:00 p.m. PT (9:00 p.m. MT / 11:00 p.m. ET) Location: The PIT, Albuquerque, New Mexico TV: CBS National Broadcast Radio: Lobo Sports Radio — Rob Portnoy, play-by-play; Hunter Greene, analyst San Diego Sports 760 (local)
Game Overview
The Pit will be rocking Saturday night when the New Mexico Lobos host the San Diego State Aztecs in one of the most meaningful Mountain West games of the season, as so much is at stake.
The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the national spotlight will shine bright with CBS carrying the showdown in prime time as the Lobos and Aztecs go to battle on the court at the PIT.
Expect electricity from the opening tip. A packed house. A loud, relentless crowd. This is Mountain West basketball at its best as these two team colide at the iconic PIT on CBS in what promises to be a great college basketball game.
San Diego State arrives in Albuquerque fresh off a statement win over first-place Utah State, bringing momentum and its trademark suffocating defense. The Aztecs know how to win big games, and they won’t be rattled easily.
For the Lobos, this is about more than just adding another victory to the column. It’s about defending The Pit, holding ground in the conference race, and strengthening their NCAA Tournament résumé.
This rivalry has always delivered drama, and while it may not be the absolute final meeting, it’s one of the last before San Diego State departs the Mountain West for the Pac-12. That reality adds another layer of emotion to an already intense matchup.
The history between these programs runs deep — decades of close finishes, tournament implications, and unforgettable performances. For longtime fans, it’s a reminder of how far the rivalry has come.
There was a time, back in the ’90s, when SDSU crowds were far quieter. Students sometimes studied in the stands, and games lacked the urgency they carry today. That era is long gone. Now, when these two teams meet — especially in The Pit — it feels like a pressure cooker, ready to explode.
AP Photo/Steve Marcus)
Things have changed. Now, the Pit is a battlefield. The altitude, noise, and passionate fans make every possession count, every rebound fiercely contested, and every defensive stop crucial.
The Aztecs (19-8, 13-4 MW) haven’t exactly thrived in The Pit over the years, posting a 13-32 record in Albuquerque, including a 4-5 mark in their last nine trips.
However, when they have won there recently, they’ve done so convincingly — with three of those four victories coming by double digits.
The Aztecs already beat the Lobos this season, winning the first game in January 83-79 with Miles Byrd scoring 21 points to lead his team to victory over the Lobos in San Diego.
This team clearly plays better on its home court but are looking to rebound after the recent loss to Steve Alfords Nevada Wolfpack in Reno 67-60
The Lobos are playing for the opportunity to play in the big Dance, and a win against the Aztecs would be just what the doctor ordered for them, proving they are part of the elite teams in the Mountain West Conference.
Team Outlooks
What to Watch For
1. Expect a physical battle
This game feels like a genuine Mountain West showdown. Both teams are battling for conference seeding and NCAA Tournament spots, and that urgency should be clear from the opening tip.
2. Elite defense vs. efficient offense
San Diego State has one of the league’s most disciplined defensive units, able to disrupt rhythm and force tough shots late in the shot clock. The challenge for New Mexico will be to maintain offensive efficiency while avoiding a grind-it-out pace.
3. The battle on the glass
The game could be decided in the paint. Both teams have strong rebounders, and controlling the boards — especially limiting second-chance points — might influence the final outcome. This game will most likely be decided by who can rebound effectively on both defense and offense.
4. The Pit advantage
Playing in Albuquerque is always challenging. The Pit provides one of the strongest home-court advantages in the Mountain West, and that energy could be a crucial factor in a close game, its just hard to win for opposing teams.
San Diego State Aztecs
SDSU offers experience, discipline, and one of the top defenses in the country. The Aztecs excel at steals, blocks, and forcing contested shots, while on offense, they combine patient execution with high-volume scoring.
Their depth, especially on the bench, gives them a dangerous edge in late-game situations.
The Aztecs aim to control the pace, protect the rim, and play precisely. If they succeed, they can turn this into a half-court battle that slows down UNM’s quickness and home-court energy.
San Diego State recently had an impressive 89-72 win over Utah State, shooting 54.5% from the field and 66.7% from the free-throw line.
The Aztecs dished out 18 assists, forced 12 turnovers, and controlled the glass with 36 rebounds.
For the season, SDSU is 19-8, averaging 79.3 points per game while shooting 47.6% from the field and 35.8% from three.
The Aztecs blend effective offense with disciplined defense, forcing turnovers while keeping solid rebounding and balanced scoring.
New Mexico Lobos
New Mexico is coming off a frustrating 67-60 loss to Nevada, and the stats show the problem: 38.2% shooting from the field, 28.6% from three, being outrebounded 41-31, and only 57.1% from the free-throw line. That can’t happen again, especially with so much on the line.
This is the moment when Tomislav Buljan and JT Rock need to put on their “mean socks” and take charge in the paint.
San Diego State is athletic, physical, and relentless on the glass. If the Lobos don’t match that intensity from the opening tip, they’ll be playing from behind all night.
Bulijan is a very emotional player who plays with a lot of passion, which is good, but he must stay focused and stop questioning calls because opponents take advantage of his emotions.
He needs to control his emotions, stay focused on the goal, and remember that winning matters more than any single play.
Antonio Chol and the wings need to be aggressive and confident. At 6’9″, they should shoot with conviction and stretch the floor. Forcing the defense to guard you is key. Hesitation will hurt in a game like this.
The Lobos thrive on speed, athleticism, and the energy of a packed Pit. Altitude matters. The crowd affects the game. Momentum is crucial. But none of it counts without urgency.
This is about March. It’s about positioning and protecting a 21-7 season built over months of hard work. There’s no coasting now and no waiting for someone else to make the play.
Yes, UNM averages 80.6 points per game. Yes, they rank among the top 70 nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 69.4 per contest while holding teams to 41.1% shooting and 29.3% from three. The talent is there. The numbers prove it.
Now it’s about having the edge.
It’s about toughness on the glass.
It’s about finishing at the line.
It’s about bringing that eye-of-the-tiger mentality to The Pit because if the Lobos want to keep dancing in March, this is the kind of game they have to win.
Prediction
Expect a tough, intense game between two teams that know each other well. If New Mexico controls the pace, dominates the boards, and energizes the crowd at home, the Lobos have the advantage.
This is what Mountain West basketball should feel like.
A packed Pit. A national spotlight. Two programs with history, edge, and something real to play for.
For San Diego State, it’s another chance to showcase its dominance before moving to a new conference. For New Mexico, it’s an opportunity to defend home court, maintain their position in the standings, and remind everyone that The Pit remains one of the most intimidating venues in college basketball.
With a full Pit under national scrutiny, this game promises to be a classic Mountain West battle. New Mexico is at home and ready for a big team win in front of a national audience, giving the Lobos the edge.
Final Score Prediction: New Mexico 74, San Diego State 69
The NFL Scouting Combine is already beginning to wind down. After a week of prospects meeting with teams and working out, they’ve had the opportunity to boost their stock.
On Saturday, the football world will especially tune in. A deep wide receiver class takes the field to show their skills.
With them, a group of quarterbacks with polarizing talent will also look to get a much-needed stock boost. In fact, for some, this is their only one.
Feb 27, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Penn State quarterback Drew Allar (QB02) speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images
Here are three quarterbacks to watch at the NFL Scouting Combine drills on Saturday. You can watch them live on the NFL Network streaming on Fubo.
Drew Allar
By far the most polarizing quarterback of this NFL Scouting Combine. At one point, Allar was thought of as a top-10 caliber pick. A rough senior season sunk his stock.
Allar, however, might be the combine’s most arm-talented quarterback. His accuracy is shaky due to poor mechanics, but he can make every throw in the book.
He will be throwing in front of scouts for the first time since November. Can a good outing get him back into early draft conversations?
Feb 27, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson (QB17) speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images
Ty Simpson
Unlike Drew Allar, Ty Simpson’s trajectory went from undrafted to now being in the first-round pick conversations. His rise was one of the most noteworthy ones last season.
Simpson elected to throw at the NFL Scouting Combine. If there’s one way to win over unsure fans, it’s to show off to them in this kind of setting.
Ty Simpson didn’t have all the advantages his predecessor, Alabama’s signal callers, had. His run game was non-existent, shaky performing—but talented—receivers and o-line, and a less than elite defense. Can he solidify his first-round ticket?
Feb 27, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (QB13) speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images
Garrett Nussmeier
Like Drew Allar, Garrett Nussmeier had high expectations going into this season. An injury-plagued and underwhelming season tanked his stock.
However, Nussmeier dealt with a season-long core injury. It stood out on tape with his inability to go through mechanics cleanly. At the Senior Bowl, he looked much more comfortable.
Step one for Nussmeier was the Senior Bowl. He is back in the day-two pick conversation. Could he boost himself into the early day-two—or even late day-one—pick conversation?
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 26: A general view of signage during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In our first offseason poll, we asked which player you are most looking forward to seeing at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine:
⚜️WEEKLY POLL QUESTION⚜️
Which player are you most interested in watching at the NFL scouting combine? (If other comment below)
With 65.5% of the votes, we had a clear winner in Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. The New Orleans Saints have a big need at running back, with Alvin Kamara turning 31 in July and suffering injuries each of the last two years, and none of the other Saints running backs have shown much in relief of Kamara the last two years. Love has been one of the best running backs in college football over the last two years, rushing for a total of 2,497 yards and 35 touchdowns since 2024. He is just 20 years old and has carried the ball 433 times in his three years at Notre Dame (for comparison Mark Ingram had 572 carries in college, Saquon Barkley had 671, and Bijan Robinson had 539).
Love would be a huge boost to the offense and a big help to quarterback Tyler Shough as he enters his second season. The Saints ranked 28th in the NFL in rushing last year, so if Love can produce like Robinson or Barkley the Saints may find themselves with an above average offense next year to go with their defense which ranked 9th in the NFL last year.
All eyes will be on Love when he does his on-field workouts at the combine as he is by far the most highly touted running back prospect. If the Saints were to draft him at #8 they could be set up to make a run at the playoffs in a weak NFC South.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Troy Melton throws at live batting practice during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
From the start of Detroit Tigers described Dillon Dingler as close to returning to full action after an arthroscopic procedure to clean up his right elbow. Still, the status of their starting catcher remaining uncertain was a little bit disconcerting, though Dingler was notably present catching bullpens on the backfields over the past two weeks. As it turned out, the Tigers estimates on his return were accurate, as the 27-year-old catcher made his first start of the spring in Friday’s drubbing of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Dingler’s arm wasn’t really tested, but since he’s back on the field healthy after a throwing program to build his arm strength up, we’ll assume that isn’t an issue. More to the point was getting him going in time to get enough plate appearances to be ready for Opening Day. That got off to a good start as Dingler struck out in his first at-bat but then smoked a double to plate Spencer Torkelson with the Tigers first run of the game. After that they were off to the races, winning 16-8.
That was the positive injury news on Friday. The unfortunate news was that right-hander Troy Melton has been shut down with inflammation in his right elbow, making his eventual status for Opening Day pretty questionable. Melton hadn’t appeared in a game yet, but neither have Framber Valdez or Justin Verlander as of yet. The latter two have no reported issues and have the experience not to be any rush in February. Presumably we’ll see them take the mound this weekend or next week at the latest.
Troy Melton gets shutdown
While Troy Melton was currently on the outside of the starting rotation looking in, he was a big factor in picking up a crumbling pitching staff last summer, and went on to pitch well in his first postseason. As starting depth, and probably headed to the bullpen to begin the year, Melton is still a weapon for the club in either role, with the added benefit of having some comfort factor doing either job. This isn’t really much of a setback for the team yet, unless they really need rotation help a month from now as the season begins.
It’s easy to leap to worst case scenario conclusions, but inflammation in the elbow is pretty common, particularly as pitchers are ramping up to a full workload early in camp. The inflammation itself should resolve fairly soon. The issue of course is that inflammation in the tight, narrow passage through the joint where the humerus and ulna bones connect, makes it very difficult to get clear imaging of structures inside and around the elbow. So, for now there’s nothing to do but let it subside until they can properly examine him via MRI.
The irritation and inflammation could be minor and fairly routine, allowing him to start throwing again, or it could be caused by bone chips, spurs, or a rough spot in the passage through the joint that the UCL stretches against. Those would require comparetively minor procedures that might only set Melton back a month or so, depending on when they get an answer. It could also be a tear in the UCL, or even a tendon issue, that would potentially cost him the season.
Right now, Melton has a case of Schrodinger’s elbow. When the inflammation subsides and they can get the imaging done properly, the Tigers might have a relatively healthy pitcher who doesn’t even need a procedure, or they might have a Tommy John case. We’ll just have to wait and see.
First cuts from spring camp
The Tigers also announced their first round of cuts from spring camp. All four are pitchers rehabbing from minor injuries, so it’s no surprise they were transferred to minor league camp. Relievers Phil Bickford, Dugan Darnell, and Tyler Owens, along with veteran minor league starter Troy Watson, were all reassigned. Watson is returning from right elbow arthroscopy, while Bickford is rehabbing a right triceps strain. Darnell and Owens are both rehabbing after hip procedures.
None of the group was ever likely to break camp with the major league club.
The Tigers today assigned the following four players to minor league camp: right-handed pitchers Phil Bickford, Dugan Darnell, Tyler Owens and Troy Watson.
Detroit’s major league camp roster now stands at 63 players.
We continue our 2026 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy.
Jermod McCoy
CB Tennessee Junior 3-star recruit 6’0” 193 lbs
History
As a true freshman at Oregon State in 2023, McCoy played all 12 games and started five, finishing with 31 tackles and two interceptions with seven pass breakups. He finished the year as the Beavers’ team leader in passes defended, and his first start against Cal he had a season-high six tackles and registered his first pick.
In 2024, McCoy transferred to Tennessee and he immediately became a full-time starter. He started all 13 games, led the Vols with nine passes defended and four interceptions, and finished with 44 tackles. He also returned punts with six returns for 59 yards. He allowed only one touchdown during the regular season on 640 snaps, and two of his interceptions were in the end zone and prevented touchdowns, plus his Alabama game included eight tackles and a one-handed end-zone interception that swung momentum.
His issues in the 2025 season were all injury-driven. He sustained a nasty and complex ACL injury while training in January, with Tennessee then carefully managing the rehab process. There was some periodic late-season optimism about a possible return, but he ultimately never got back on the field.
Medicals are the headline concern here. The ACL tear that wiped out his 2025 season creates a major question mark. How was the recovery quality, what will his testing look like, and what’s the confidence in long-term durability?
Tackling angles can be over-aggressive and he doesn’t always wrap up cleanly in space.
Can be too grabby or over-physical downfield when stressed vertically. Eight penalties in 2024.
Press patience can be an issue where he allows too much inside access to quick releases.
Has moments where he doesn’t pass off routes cleanly, so pattern-match discipline needs tightening.
Gambling tendencies can leave him vulnerable to double moves if the rush doesn’t get home.
Limited proof of play relative to the other top corners in his tier.
McCoy fits best as an outside corner in a defense that majors in man-match and pattern-match zone, and is comfortable letting him play with vision and drive on routes, because his best trait is ball production from reading stems and exploding on the throw. Teams can maximize him by keeping him on the boundary, mixing press-bail and off-man so he can stay square and trigger as he returns to full form post-knee injury. He’s a CB2 with CB1 splash-play upside in a scheme that values instincts, turnovers, and route anticipation more than asking him to live in pure press-man every snap.
SUMMARY
Jermod McCoy profiles as an outside corner whose game is built on athleticism, route recognition, and finishing on the football. His best tape shows easy movement skills, smooth hips, quick feet, and the acceleration to drive underneath throws, plus strong ball production and timing at the catch point. He’s most comfortable when he can play with vision and use his instincts to jump routes.
The main hinge point here is the medical and availability questions after the knee injury that wiped out his 2025 season, plus the normal refinement areas for an aggressive ball-hawk. Staying disciplined with eyes in conflict, tightening his technique at the line and at the top of routes versus polished separators, and continuing to build functional strength for tackling and holding his leverage in the run game are major areas to work on. If he checks out medically, he projects as an early starter-level CB2 with CB1 upside in a scheme that prioritizes takeaways and lets him play fast. For most evaluators, he’s the second cornerback in this class, but to side with caution he’s the fourth-best in the rankings here with the potential to rise as news on his medicals get reported post-combine.
PRO COMPARISON
Darius Slay
BTB OVERALL RANKING
26th
CONSENSUS OVERALL RANKING
14th (Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services, including BTB)
“Aaron has” – Gary O’Neil shares worrying update on Chelsea loanee Anselmino
Strasbourg boss Gary O’Neil has revealed Aaron Anselmino is suffering with an issue in the same hamstring that caused him problems at Borussia Dortmund.
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The Blues signed Anselmino from Boca Juniors in the summer of 2024, and he made his debut at the Club World Cup.
The decision was then taken to send him on loan to Borussia Dortmund, where he put in some impressive performances.
Gary O’Neil provides update on Aaron Anselmino
Anselmino had issues with his hamstring in Germany, which limited him to just just ten appearances over the first half of the campaign.
Things haven’t really gone to plan for Anselmino in France, and he’s made just two appearances, with O’Neil providing a concerning but familiar update.
“Aaron has an ‘awareness’ in the same hamstring that caused him problems during his loan at Borussia Dortmund,” he told reporters as quoted on X.com.
Chelsea in the market for a centre back this summer
Despite recalling Sarr, the Blues are believed to be in the market for a centre back this summer, having missed out on Jeremy Jacquet to Liverpool.
The Blues have been linked with Nottingham Forest star Murillo, but it remains to be seen if they will make a move for the Brazilian.
There’s expected to be plenty of movement at centre back over the summer, with Tosin Adarabioyo and Benoit Badiashile likely to leave, whilst there are also question marks over the future of Trevoh Chalobah.
Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:
SOUTH BEND, IN - FEBRUARY 26: Syracuse Orange forward Keira Scott (1) shoots the ball against Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Cassandre Prosper (8) during the game between the Syracuse Orange and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on February 26, 2026 at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Syracuse Orange women’s basketball dropped its second game in a row for the first time all season on Thursday, following up a loss at N.C. State with a 72-62 loss to Notre Dame in South Bend. The loss drops Syracuse to 21-7 and 11-6 in the ACC, in a five-way tie for 5th with one game to play before the ACC Tournament.
The Orange turned it over 22 times, including seven steals by Hannah Hidalgo, the NCAA’s steals leader. While Syracuse made multiple runs to keep this game close throughout, it was far too easy for the Fighting Irish to respond with a run of their own, whether it was a Hidalgo steal or a different kind of turnover opening the floodgates for transition baskets.
At the end of the first quarter, Hidalgo completed an Irish fury, with two steals turning into two layups, turning the Syracuse three-point lead into a one-point deficit. The second layup was an and-one, and Notre Dame grabbed the offensive rebound off the missed free throw and scored to go ahead by three heading into the second quarter.
A series of free throws and stops in the third quarter helped the Orange turn a 10-point deficit into a one-point lead, but another final possession bucket for Notre Dame gave them the lead right back heading into the fourth.
With the game still in the balance in the fourth quarter, the Irish scored five quick points within a minute and change, and the margin was never back to one possession. Notre Dame pulled away as SU shot 5 for 18 from the field in the fourth.
Laila Phelia scored a team-high 23 points, but shot just one for seven from beyond the arc, and Sophie Burrows didn’t add a ton from three either, shooting one of four. SU rebounded 17 of their misses, creating extra opportunities, but couldn’t turn those offensive boards into enough baskets.
Syracuse got another double-double from Uche Izoje, but she was scoreless in the fourth quarter.
Against the eight other teams in the ACC with double-digit conference wins, Syracuse is now just 2-6, with the wins coming at Virginia and against Clemson. Each loss aside from North Carolina has been by double digits as well.
SU is likely to get either the five or six seed in the ACC Tournament if it defeats Boston College on Sunday in the final game of the regular season.
Indiana University wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. speaks with the media at the 2026 NFL Combine. | Clark Wade/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Quarterbacks, wide receivers, and and running backs will be doing drills at the NFL Scouting Combine today. The Washington Commanders will be very interested in today’s workouts.
Saturday, February 28th: Quarterbacks, wide receivers, and running backs do on-field workouts — offensive linemen meet with the media.
Photo by Richard Bord/Getty Images for NBC Universal
Bam Adebayo confronted Brian Windhorst after the analyst suggested Jayson Tatum should receive his minutes at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The incident occurred while Team USA was competing in France. It followed public commentary regarding potential lineup adjustments.
The conversation focused on how Tatum could be integrated into the rotation. Windhorst had indicated that additional minutes for Tatum would likely come at another player’s expense.
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Windhorst reveals Adebayo confronted him in Paris
Brian Windhorst explained on the Hoop Collective podcast that he floated Bam Adebayo’s name as a possible candidate to see reduced playing time in place of Jayson Tatum.
Windhorst was one of the many analysts who felt that Tatum, having come off an NBA championship win, deserved minutes. The following day, Adebayo addressed the comment face-to-face.
“Tatum is obviously not playing. I was explaining on TV, ‘I don’t see how Tatum is going to play unless somebody else doesn’t play.’ And I was like, ‘Maybe Bam Adebayo [shouldn’t play].’”
“So I said that on American TV. And the next day, we were in Lille, France, and Bam was like, ‘Really? I’m not gonna play? I defend 1 through 5, bro.’”
Windhorst conceded that Adebayo had a valid argument regarding his value. Tatum did not gain additional minutes, while Adebayo continued in his role.
Team USA balanced roles during title run
The situation unfolded as the United States evaluated combinations of scoring and defensive coverage. Adebayo, a five-time All-Defensive Team selection, offered versatility across multiple positions.
Jayson Tatum barely featured for Team USA, despite playing a pivotal part in the Boston Celtics winning the NBA championship just months before.
However, Tatum wasn’t the only player to not get many looks in. Tyrese Haliburton didn’t feature much for Team USA at Paris either.
Team USA ultimately secured the gold medal with a 98-87 victory over France in the final. The episode highlighted how closely players monitor media commentary during major tournaments.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 11: Tyler Allgeier #25 of the Atlanta Falcons reacts during the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on December 11, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Buccaneers don’t have a ton of big needs on the offensive side of the ball this offseason, but there are a few things they could look to shore up and free agency could present a few different opportunities to add some talent and depth at key areas.
Running Back Tyler Allgeier
With Rachaad White set to hit free agency, Tampa Bay could be in the market for a back to pair with Bucky Irving. Sean Tucker is a restricted free agent, and the team does like him, but I also don’t think that will stop them from adding someone if it makes sense. Allgeier could very well be the guy that makes the most sense. He has had a lot of success in Atlanta and has experience being in a complimentary role with Bijan Robinson being the main guy for the Falcons. Still though, Allgeier found success and had over 500 yards rushing along with eight rushing touchdowns this past season. The 25 year old running back also played the last two seasons with Zac Robinson as his offensive coordinator.
Allgeier’s market value according to spotrac is around 5.7 million dollars on a three year deal. That may be just out of the Bucs price range but if his asking price were to fall a bit, Allgeier could make a lot of sense. With Zac Robinson now being in Tampa Bay and familiar with Allgeier’s game as well as the team having a potential need at RB2, the pieces could be lining up for Allgeier to be a real option for the Bucs.
Tight End Tyler Higbee
Like Rachaad White, the Bucs have another pending free agent at a position on the offensive side of the ball in Cade Otton. Should Otton become too expensive or the team decide to simply move on, Higbee could be an option. The veteran tight end has dealt with injuries as of late and is 33 years old, but he has had a productive career and shouldn’t break the bank. Like Allgeier, there is also a Zac Robinson connection here as Robinson and Higbee worked together in Los Angeles on the Rams for five seasons so there is a lot of familiarity there. Higbee could be a cheap, solid stop gap veteran tight end for Tampa Bay if they choose to switch things up. I also wonder if Higbee sits on the market for a bit, could the Bucs look to sign him even if they bring Cade Otton back? Could always use familiar depth.
Offensive Lineman Elijiah Wilkinson
In terms of starting five, the Bucs offensive line is pretty set. Cody Mauch is set to return from injury this season and everyone is under contract for 2026, but the depth is something that needs to be addressed. Tampa Bay’s offensive line was ravaged by injuries last season and the depth was simply not good enough. Enter Elijiah Wilkinson who can slot in at either guard or tackle and played well for Atlanta last season. He was a Falcon so yes, there is a Zac Robinson connection. Wilkinson may end up getting a solid deal for himself in free agency so perhaps he is out of the Bucs price range for a backup role but if his price is reasonable, he’s someone the Bucs should be interested in to bring some quality depth to an offensive line that needs it.
Do you have any free agents on the offensive side of the ball you’d like to see the Bucs target? Sound off in the comments below!
Trick Williams stands in the ring, microphone in hand, to cut a promo before a match on "WWE SmackDown." - WWE
Trick Williams has made quite the splash on "WWE SmackDown" since he was officially called up from the "WWE NXT" roster at the end of 2025. He's rubbed shoulders with some of the best the blue brand has to offer, including Sami Zayn and Undisputed WWE Champion Drew McIntyre. During his debut, Williams' character had the gall to interrupt Randy Orton, who was cutting his own promo in the ring. During a chat with 107.7 The Bone, Williams spoke about his debut and going toe-to-toe with "The Viper."
"Standing across from Randy Orton, one of literally the greatest performers of all time in our business. No doubt about it. But, as far as for myself, I recognized the moment for what it was," Williams explained. "I've been through a lot of things in life that's prepared me for that moment to stand in front of Randy Orton... I fear no man. I'll stand in front of anybody and say what I need to say. So, when I saw the opportunity to call out The Viper, the Randy Orton. I get an opportunity to show the world what I'm all about. I live for these moments. This is what makes me, me."
Since stepping up to Orton, Williams has only continued to prove himself. He competed in a fatal four-way match against Orton, Zayn, and Damian Priest at Saturday Night's Main Event and went on to have an impressive showing in the Royal Rumble. The former TNA and NXT Champion will also be part of the Elimination Chamber match in Chicago, where he'll face five other men for his shot at a title opportunity at WrestleMania.
If you use any quotes from this article, please credit 107.7 The Bone and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
Alex Pereira shows no signs of slowing down in his pursuit of greatness. Less than 5 years into his UFC career, Pereira has the chance to become the first three-division world champion in company history after the reveal of his light heavyweight title vacation.
In his absence from the 205 lbs division, 'Poatan' will witness a new champion be crowned. Following the announcement of his move away from the weight class, Jiri Prochazka vs. Carlos Ulberg was confirmed to take center stage at UFC 327 for the vacant strap.
Prochazka and Ulberg are the most deserving and would undoubtedly put on a striking spectacle for fans to sink their teeth into. The Czech is riding a two-fight win streak heading into the bout, with his only losses in over a decade coming against former champion Alex Pereira.
His opponent, Carlos Ulberg, has been a problem in the UFC after a shaky start to his career inside the octagon. Winning nine straight, with six of those victories ending in stoppage, 'Black Jag' has announced himself as a true threat in the division. The pair will collide in the main event of UFC 327, live from the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, on April 11.
Breaking: Alex Pereira will vacate his light heavyweight title, Dana White announced on Friday.
Jiri Prochazka will take on Carlos Ulberg in the main event at UFC 327 for the vacant title. pic.twitter.com/u2MaaE09Vw
However, despite fans being treated to one of the most fun light heavyweight fights possible, all eyes are on Alex Pereira's move away from the weight class. If the persistent rumors are to be believed, Pereira could be in for a shot at heavyweight gold, with some suggesting a spot on the coveted UFC White House card a real possibility.
Heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall remains sidelined following the incident at UFC 321 and subsequent eye surgery. In his stead, one of Jon Jones or Ciryl Gane is considered the South American's most likely opponent should all go to plan.
‘Momentum is so important’ Ray Parlour on why Eze will keep his place against Chelsea
Eberechi Eze has impressed in recent weeks for Arsenal, yet he could make way for Martin Odegaard when the Gunners face Chelsea this weekend.
Odegaard is available for selection and remains Arsenal’s captain, providing leadership both on and off the pitch whenever fit. The Norway international has endured fitness challenges this season, prompting some discussion about his long-term future. Nevertheless, he continues to be highly regarded by Mikel Arteta, who has consistently relied upon him when available.
Selection dilemma for Arteta
Arteta frequently turns to Odegaard in important fixtures, which makes it uncertain whether Eze will retain his place in the starting lineup. The upcoming match carries significant weight in the title race, with Arsenal requiring victory to maintain momentum, while Chelsea is equally desperate to avoid defeat.
Eze, however, has been in strong form and has contributed meaningfully in recent matches. His recent performances have strengthened his claim to a continued starting role, particularly at a stage of the season when rhythm and confidence can prove decisive.
(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Parlour backs Eze to continue
According to Metro Sport, Ray Parlour believes Eze should remain in the team in order to preserve that momentum. He stated, ‘I think Eze will probably start. But Arteta will have been assessing things in training this week. And you can’t rest players when you are going for the title, you need your best team.
‘But momentum is so important when you are winning. He will assess that but I think Eze might keep his place.’
Parlour’s comments highlight the delicate balance between selecting the most experienced leaders and maintaining the form of players currently performing at a high level. Arteta’s decision could prove pivotal in determining the outcome of a crucial encounter.
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Finn Balor stands behind World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk and holds back Judgment Day stablemates JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio during an episode of "WWE Raw." - WWE
WWE will hold the 2026 Elimination Chamber premium live event live from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday, and in addition to the men's and women's Chamber matches, there are two titles matches, one being CM Punk's World Heavyweight Championship, on the card.
In the other title bout, Punk's wife, AJ Lee, will challenge Women's Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch for her gold. The women have been feuding since Lee came back to WWE after a decade of absence in September. Lee has tapped out Lynch to her Black Widow submission twice, once in their mixed tag team match at Wrestlepalooza and again to win WarGames. Lee challenged Lynch to the match at the beginning of February, citing those submission victories.
The men's chamber match will be contested to see who will face Undisputed WWE Champion Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania. Cody Rhodes, who is locked in a feud with McIntyre since losing the belt to him in a Three Stages of Hell Match, will face Randy Orton, Trick Williams, Je'Von Evans, LA Knight, and Jey Uso.
As women's Rumble winner Liv Morgan chose Women's World Champion Stephanie Vaquer as her 'Mania opponent on "WWE Raw," the women will battle to see who will face WWE Champion Jade Cargill. Alexa Bliss, Asuka, Raquel Rodriguez, Kiana James, Tiffany Stratton, and Rhea Ripley will face off in the structure.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 06: Brandon Moreno of Mexico enters the Octagon in a flyweight fight during the UFC 323 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 06, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Mexico’s first UFC champion is heading home with a risky challenge ahead of him.
Brandon Moreno headlines UFC Mexico on Saturday and while there was never any question the two-time champion could carry the main event, he was originally lined up against a ranked flyweight in Asu Almabayev. An injury forced Almabayev out, so in steps 26-year-old Lone’er Kavanagh, who recently suffered his first loss in just his third UFC appearance.
For comparison’s sake, Moreno is about to make his 20th walk to the octagon, a record for the 125-pound division.
Skill gap, experience gap, quality of opposition gap, however you want to slice it, Moreno vs. Kavanagh doesn’t make a ton of sense on paper and “The Assassin Baby” should presumably be a big favorite. However, that’s not the case, as Moreno was recently finished for the first time by Tatsuro Taira, so it’s possible the 15-year pro is ripe for the picking.
Kavanagh has everything to gain and nothing to lose by taking on Moreno, who not only faces the pressure of performing in his home country, but the possibility that a loss to an unheralded prospect could remove him from the title picture permanently.
What: UFC Houston
Where: Toyota Center in Houston
When: Saturday, Feb. 28. The seven-fight early preliminary card begins at 5 p.m. ET, followed by a six-fight main card at 8 p.m. ET. The entire event streams live on Paramount+.
I admit, it’s somewhat of a shame to see a top-tier talent like Lone’er Kavanagh being thrown to the wolves here. That said, fortune favors the bold, and it doesn’t get much bolder than aiming to rebound off of your first-ever loss by taking on one of the five best flyweights ever.
The last time Brandon Moreno faced an unranked flyweight in the UFC was… never? I’m pretty sure even Ryan Benoit had a number next to his name when Moreno fought him in 2016, so Kavanagh is technically the least-decorated opponent Moreno has shared the cage with. I wouldn’t evaluate Kavanagh’s skills lower than some of those past names, but the optics are daunting.
On paper, Kavanagh has all the tools to be a title contender someday. He’s athletic and well-rounded, the definition of a modern MMA fighter. But this is too far a leap up in competition. You can’t compare him to Tatsuro Taira, because Taira had a win over Alex Perez and a hard-fought splitty against Brandon Royval on his résumé before squaring off with Moreno. That’s quality in-cage experience that can’t be manufactured. Kavanagh’s toughest opponent was Charles Johnson, who just knocked him flat.
What I’m saying is this will be Kavanagh’s Royval fight. He’ll come in confident, push Moreno to be at his best, and fight hard before falling short on the cards. There’s no shame in it and the hope is we’ll look back at Kavanagh’s first main event as his first step towards true greatness.
Pick: Moreno
Marlon Vera (11) vs. David Martinez (12)
David Martinez is just a nightmare matchup for Marlon Vera at this stage of his career.
I’m just not entirely sure what the game plan is for “Chito” these days. He could once be relied upon to start slow and pick up late, usually with positive results. Unsurprisingly, time has taken its toll on Vera and he seems more and more reluctant to pull the trigger these days, whether it’s the opening seconds of Round 1 or with time ticking away in the fight. He told our own Mike Heck that he plans to, ahem, “F*ck it, just go” on Saturday, and I really want to believe him.
Even if he does, it might not matter. Martinez is quick, agile, and hits hard. There’s a lot of lateral movement in his game that Vera isn’t equipped to deal with anymore. It’s just going to be Martinez pot-shotting him for 15 minutes and sneaking in a few power shots for good measure.
I don’t see Martinez having enough juice to finish Vera (who does?), but his rise to the top should continue with little trouble.
Pick: Martinez
Daniel Zellhuber vs. King Green
We all want Daniel Zellhuber to be a star.
“Golden Boy” has all the makings of a fighter who should stick around the UFC’s lightweight division for years and maybe even contend for a title someday. To put it nicely, he’s lacked consistency. To put it less nicely, his performance against Michael Johnson was extraordinarily discouraging and if it made you doubt his chances of taking his talent to the next level, I don’t blame you.
This is a weird re-do of sorts, with King Green taking Johnson’s place as the MMA lifer putting Zellhuber to the test. Johnson is more high volume than Green, so it’s not an apples to apples comparison, but he does present similar challenges in the striking department. Green’s funky rhythm could afflict Zellhuber with offensive paralysis again, a dreadful thought.
At the very least, Zellhuber needs to show the gusto he had in his losing effort to Esteban Ribovics, because at 26, he’s too young to be constantly second-guessing himself. I’m making my most optimistic pick here and assuming (gulp) Zellhuber learned a lot from the Johnson debacle and never fights that way again.
Pick: Zellhuber
Edgar Chairez vs. Felipe Bunes
It has to be asked: Is Edgar Chairez good?
Chairez’s two UFC losses are to Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira, who just so happen to be meeting in a flyweight championship bout at UFC 327. His two wins? First-round submissions of C.J. Vergara and Daniel Lacerda, two of the worst 125ers to step into the octagon in recent years. Confusing.
When Chairez is on, he cuts the cage off well and can lull his opponents into making mistakes. He has a long jab, which is a great asset to have at 125 pounds, and Bunes’ first job will be to figure out how to get past it. Easier said than done and I expect Chairez to control much of the action with his range striking. That puts the onus on Bunes to create clashes, which again, easier said than done unless he’s willing to take more than one to land one.
So to answer my own question, yeah, Chairez is pretty good. I have him submitting Bunes in the second.
Pick: Chairez
Imanol Rodriguez vs. Kevin Borjas
I like Imanol Rodriguez a lot in this matchup, but Kevin Borjas might have the exact style needed to pull off an upset here.
From the start, Rodriguez will look to make a statement by pressuring Borjas, which plays well into Borjas’ technical, counter-heavy style. We’ll find out fast how much Rodriguez has learned and developed under the tutelage of Daniel Cormier’s team. He’s highly athletic and has already shown signs that he can leverage those gifts into wins.
Look for Rodriguez to start on the feet and mix in a healthy dose of wrestling to force Borjas to engage. There will be a few scary, coin-flip exchanges for sure, but in the end Rodriguez should get the better of Borjas and win a decision.
Pick: Rodriguez
Santiago Luna vs. Angel Pacheco
The matchmakers are cooking with this one, especially if the plan is to showcase Santiago Luna.
Just 21, it’s too early to tell what we have with Luna as far as him being a future contender, but one thing is for sure: He’s going to put on a ton of fun fights while he’s around. And wouldn’t you know it, the same could be said of Angel Pacheco.
Luna is all gas, no brakes, as you’d expect him to be at this stage of his career. He’s an aggressive wrestler who can also throw hands. Technique and defense still a work in progress, naturally. Fortunately for Luna, he doesn’t have to be Anderson Silva to find Pacheco’s chin, which is often right there for the whacking.
Despite his reckless style, Pacheco has managed to avoid being finished through his first 10 fights, a testament to his toughness and… really, just his toughness. Watching his previous fights, one gets the impression it’s only a matter of time until he runs into an opponent who can not only hurt him, but finish the job.
(L to R) Bayern Munich's CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen, Bayern Munich's President Herbert Hainer and New Sport director Max Eberl attend a press conference to present Eberl as sport director of the German first division Bundesliga football club FC Bayern Munich in Munich on February 27, 2024. (Photo by ALEXANDRA BEIER / AFP) (Photo by ALEXANDRA BEIER/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
While Bayern’s approach to finances is certainly effective, it is just one of a multitude of differing financial strategies deployed by football clubs across Europe. So, then where exactly do Bayern and their tight-purse approach rank in revenue among Europe’s elite?
According to data collected by Transfermarkt (via @iMiaSanMia) in UEFA’s latest report, The European Club Finance and Investment Landscape, Bayern were among the top earners on the continent in 2025.
Real Madrid and, in specific, Barcelona’s high-stakes debt incurring approach land them on the top of the Europe’s highest earners. Bayern Munich rounds out the top three, followed closely by Premier League giants, Manchester City and Liverpool. Borussia Dortmund, in 12th, are the next highest earners from the Bundesliga, pocketing about half Real Madrid’s revenue for 2025. Bayer Leverkusen find themselves at the bottom of the ranking in 18th.
UEFA’s report didn’t just include Europe’s highest earners, but also included club’s with the highest salary costs—Players, coaches and club employees included.
Manchester City now shoot up to number one spot, followed by Barcelona — surprise surprise — and Paris Saint Germain. Bayern drop down to seventh, while Dortmund find themselves in 14th. Surprisingly, RB Leipzig, who didn’t feature among the highest earners list, join the fray, narrowly edging out Bayer Leverkusen in 17th.
While Bayern don’t top, or bottom, either list, what is encouraging is the percentage growth in revenue in comparison to the percentage growth in salaries. Bayern’s revenue grew by 12% while their salaries only grew by three percent, yielding a net growth of nine percent. A steady increase—without the aid of any “levers”.
Jan-Christian Dreesen will be happy considering the increase in revenue, Max Eberl will be pleased by keeping salary growth to a minimum, and Vincent Kompany can be satisfied with the teams performance on the pitch. Bayern Munich may be in the healthiest place it’s been in years.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 23: The ABS screen on the scoreboard shows a call being overturned during a spring training game between the Seattle Mariners and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch on February 23, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’re had a week with the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System. I think we’ve been waiting for this for at least five years. I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say that you like it. The only question here ishow happy are you to have ABS?
I’ve gotta say that I’m really really happy with it. It’s been around in the minor leagues since 2022. So we knew what we were getting. But to see it in action in (kinda sorta actual) MLB games is really fun.
I’m really gonna like this. Everyone involved is going to profit from this. The umpires will get real-time feedback on their calls. The hitters will get real-time feedback on their judgement. Actually, minor leaguer hitters have been improving from this anyway. Catchers figure out what hey can and can’t get away with. Does it help pitchers? Can they develop millimeter-fine pinpoint control with ABS? I don’t know, but there’s only one way to find out.
Oh yeah, and the whole thing takes less than 10 seconds to check and get all of the calls correct. So there’s that too.
The New York Black Yankees baseball team belonged to the Negro National League, one of several Negro leagues which were established during the era of racial segregation in the United States. Button with metal pin back. The front of the button has a white background with a blue line drawing of a baseball with shading at the bottom and two crossed baseball bats at the top. There is blue text at the center that reads "N.Y. BLACK YANKEES." Artist Unknown. (Photo by Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images) | Heritage Images via Getty Images
Throughout our “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series, we’ve taken the opportunity to celebrate and remember scores of Yankees from throughout the generations, from Hall of Famers to journeymen, from those born in the 1800s through to members of the team’s last championship squad. Today, we’ll be taking a slight detour to shed some light on a New York baseball icon who never got the chance to don the pinstripes due to the color of his skin.
Elvis William “Bill” Holland Born: February 28, 1901 (Alexandria, IN) Died: December 3, 1973 (New York, NY) New York Black Yankees Tenure: 1932-1941
Bill Holland began his pro career in 1918 at the age of 17, pitching for the Richmond Giants in Indiana. Little is known about the right-hander’s performance in these early days before the founding of the first Black Major League, but he was already gaining a reputation as a durable fireballer, reportedly once pitching 20 innings in less than 24 hours. When the Negro National League formed in 1920, Holland took his talents from Warner Jewell’s ABCs of Indianapolis to Detroit and immediately established himself as one of the league’s top pitchers on the Stars.
Although Negro League statistics are famously difficult to track in a standardized way due to the number of exhibitions and games against not-quite-pro-caliber operations, Holland posted a 3.08 ERA between 1920-22 in confirmed Negro National League games (a stretch that also included a brief stint with Negro League founder Rube Foster’s Chicago American Giants). The man nicknamed “Devil” punched out 351 in 578.1 innings — a mark that put him among the top of the league. His 1.077 WHIP in 1922 led the majors.
It was after a successful 1922 season that the 22-year-old made his way out east to New York, where he’d make his baseball home for the next two decades. On July 5, 1930, Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert loaned Yankee Stadium for the day to the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and its president, A. Philip Randolph, a union leader and civil rights activist who organized a doubleheader between the New York Lincoln Giants and the Baltimore Black Sox as a fundraiser for the Brotherhood. In Game 1, New York’s manager — future Hall of Famer John Henry “Pop” Lloyd — gave the ball to a 29-year-old Bill Holland, reportedly making him the first Black pitcher to ever take the mound at the House that Ruth Built. Holland threw a complete game in a 13-4 victory.
The following year, the veteran signed on with the Harlem Stars, who played some of their home games at the Stadium. They rebranded for the 1932 season as the New York Black Yankees, tying themselves in name to what had quickly become the American League’s premier franchise. The club continued to play in the Bronx and also later across the river at Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, NJ (recently restored).
Holland would remain with the Black Yankees for the rest of his career, continuing to pitch until the age of 40 in 1941 and being named a starter of the second 1939 East-West All-Star Game, which was held at Yankee Stadium. The official record has him as second in club history in most major pitching counting stats, including starts, wins, innings pitched, and strikeouts. When my colleague Matt looked back at the best players in Black Yankees history in 2021, he had Holland ranked second, behind only teammate and two-way threat Barney Brown.
But these statistics cannot tell Bill Holland’s story. The legendary Cool Papa Bell ranked him alongside Hall of famers Satchel Paige, Smokey Joe Williams, and Bullet Joe Rogan as among the four best pitchers to play in the Negro Leagues. A 1952 poll organized by the Pittsburgh Courier, an African-American newspaper, named Holland to its All-Time Third Team of Black ballplayers, also among the ranks of Hall of Famers.
Perhaps due to a lack of a narrative around his success, or perhaps due to the fact that the Black Yankees were mostly among the worst teams in the league during his time there, Holland has not received the same momentum towards enshrinement as some of his peers. He reportedly died on December 3, 1973, though there is no obituary on file with major New York periodicals for this man who had been an icon among Black New Yorkers for nearly 20 years.
Here at Pinstripe Alley, on what would be Bill Holland’s 125th birthday, we remember a man who left a quiet, proud legacy as a pioneer of Black baseball in New York.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - 2023/07/26: Deputy Executive Director at Major League Baseball Players Association Bruce Meyer speaks as striking members of Writers Guild of America picketing in front of CBS Broadcast Center on theme Sport Writers Picket. Executives from NHL Players Association, NFL Players Association, MLB Players Association joined and spoke during picket. (Photo by Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
We all know that the owners are going to be pushing for a salary cap during the upcoming negotiations. However, thanks to some owner leaking things to the outside, now we can start to see some numbers.
Early projections suggest a proposed salary cap will be around $260-$280 million, along with a floor of $140-$160 million, per @JonHeymanpic.twitter.com/Zx7hioETsw
This is interesting because it talks about not just a cap, but also a floor, something that would have to go hand in hand with each other should they even be remotely discussed during the negotiations.
What do you think about these figures? There are a lot of people that are in favor of a salary cap for baseball while others are vehemently against it, including the most important group, the players.
Aston Villa are fortunate others have stumbled sooner and for longer this season - ensuring they have maintained a decent grip on third place until now.
Chelsea have dropped 17 points from winning positions at Stamford Bridge and 19 points overall in the Premier League this season.
They go to Arsenal on Sunday hoping to capitalise on Villa's latest slip - before travelling to Villa Park on Wednesday for a game which could define both teams' seasons.
Lille, in the Europa League on 12 March, and then a trip to Old Trafford on 15 March, will loom large for Villa.
Individual form has also plummeted, with Ollie Watkins scoring just once in 11 games - reminiscent of the spell where he scored only one goal in the opening 19 matches - while Morgan Rogers is on a similar streak.
The slump was sparked by injuries to Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn and Youri Tielemans last month as Villa's lack of depth was exposed.
Players argued between themselves as Ezri Konsa - who also had a flashpoint with fans at the end - and Amadou Onana urged Emi Buendia to leave the pitch quicker as he was substituted.
The cracks are showing and even the players are admitting to feeling the pressure.
"It does weigh on us but it shouldn't," said Rogers. "We deserve to be here and we should not forget that.
"Our run lately has not been as good as usual but that is the battle of the Premier League. We are going to get back to our good run of wins.
"We set our standards high and we have the ability to win every game. Obviously that is not realistic but we are playing good football as a whole and there is nothing to worry about.
"[The next fixtures] are the games you want to play and, with so much on the line, we need to show why we deserve to be where we are."
Eduardo Nunez will fight Emanuel Navarette this Saturday, here's how to watch. (Melina Pizano/Getty Images)
Melina Pizano via Getty Images
Eduardo "Sugar" Nunez will defend his IBF super featherweight title and make a play for the WBO super featherweight title when he battles Emanuel Navarette in the boxing ring this Saturday. The men will meet at the Desert Diamond Arena in Arizona for the clash that also features fights between Tahmir Smalls and Abel Ramos and Emiliano Vargas (welterweight) vs. Agustin Quintana (super lightweight).
The fight takes place on Saturday, Feb. 28. Coverage begins at 9 p.m. with main ringwalks set for approximately 11:47 p.m., and it all streams exclusively on DAZN with a regular monthly subscription, no PPV fees required. Here's everything you need to know about the Navarette vs. Nunez fight and the entire fight card.
How to watch the Emanuel Navarette vs. Eduardo Nunez fight:
Date: Saturday, February 28
Start time: Coverage begins around 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT
Main Ringwalks: 11:47 p.m. ET / 8:47 p.m. PT
Location: Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, AZ
TV channel/streaming: DAZN
When is the Navarette vs. Nunez fight?
The Navarette vs. Nunez fight is this Saturday, Feb. 28. The broadcast begins at 9 p.m. ET with main ringwalks at 11:47 p.m. ET.
What channel is the Emanuel Navarette vs. Eduardo Nunez fight on?
The Navarette vs. Nunez fight, including the complete fight card, will be available on DAZN with a regular monthly subscription. To watch, you'll need to subscribe to either an Annual Super Saver Subscription for $20.99/month with a 12-month commitment (or you can pay $224.99 upfront to save $15), or grab a single-month subscription for $30.99 with no additional commitments.
Where to watch Navarette vs. Nunez:
Emanuel Navarette vs. Eduardo Nunez fight card
Emanuel Navarette vs. Eduardo Nunez; For the IBF and WBO super featherweight titles
Tahmir Smalls vs. Abel Ramos; Welterweight
Emiliano Vargas vs. Agustin Quintana; Super lightweight
Arturo Cardenas vs. Jordan Martinez; Super bantamweight
Feb 26, 2025; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Clemson basketball fans try to distract a Notre Dame free throw shooter during the second half at Littlejohn Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-Imagn Images | Ken Ruinard-Imagn Images
In Saturday’s ACC Action, NC State visits Notre Dame, Florida State heads up to Atlanta to take on Georgia Tech, Louisville cruises over to Clemson, BC heads down to Miami, Pitt drops in on Cal on the West Coast swing, Syracuse checks in with Wake Forest, SMU gets Stanford, and Virginia Tech visits UNC.
Here’s what seems interesting to us.
Both State and Notre Dame have been erratic, but the Irish just got epically embarrassed by Duke. Will they respond to that? Will Jalen Haralson play?
Georgia Tech hasn’t won since January 17th. Our instinct is to pick the Yellow Jackets, but FSU has really improved dramatically. We’ll stick with the ‘Noles here, largely because Luke Loucks seems like a real rising star.
Louisville and Clemson is really, really interesting. Littlejohn is a nightmare place to visit, but lately, it’s seemed like the Land of the Misfit Toys, with the Tigers dropping four straight. Still, that team is capable of turning things around.
We just can’t see BC beating Miami on the road. The only chance they have of pulling that off is to keep the score extremely low and win in a slugfest. Just can’t see it.
It’s hard to see Pitt winning at Cal, either. Maybe if Cam Corhen goes nuts and Roman Siulepa erupts, but Cal is a solid, well-coached team. Seems a stretch for Pitt.
Wake Forest’s problem all year has been a lack of size inside. Syracuse has that and decent guard play. Wake could win this, especially if Juke Harris goes off, but we like the Orange here.
SMU and Stanford means an interesting point guard matchup as Boopie Miller and Ebuka Okorie square off. SMU has more overall talent, though. This one just seems like a toss-up. Okorie could put up 30-40 points on anyone.
Finally, Virginia Tech in Chapel Hill. The Hokies have talent, but are they ready for the Heels? They won’t have to deal with Caleb Wilson, but UNC is playing pretty well without him. It’s an interesting game, but we’ll take the Heels here.
Premier League: Date, time, channels and lineups for the Arsenal – Chelsea clash
Date, time, channels and lineups for the Arsenal – Chelsea clash
Arsenal – Chelsea/@Arsenal
The blockbuster fixture of Premier League matchday 28 will see Arsenal take on Chelsea this Sunday. It’s a highly anticipated London derby that has fans on the edge of their seats.
The Gunners sit atop the table with 61 points, holding a five-point lead over Manchester City, who have a game in hand—leaving little room for error in the title race. Victory is absolutely crucial if Arsenal are to stay in the hunt for a title that has eluded them since 2004.
The Blues are fifth with 45 points and are desperate for a win to boost their chances of claiming a Champions League spot for the 2026-27 season. They trail fourth-placed Manchester United by three points.
Date and time of the London derby
This thrilling encounter is slated for Sunday, March 1, 2026, with kick-off at 16:30 GMT.
On Friday of the NFL combine, the tight ends were one of the position groups to go through the on-field testing portion of the event. Will we see the Indianapolis Colts add to the tight end position in this year's NFL draft?
The Colts are positioned well here with Tyler Warren, but adding a blocking presence to pair with him could be on Chris Ballard's radar. Mo Alie-Cox and/or Drew Ogltree could be brought back to fill that role again, or the Colts could look for a younger, higher upside prospect.
Below are the top performers at tight ends from each NFL combine event.
GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany (AP) — Marco Odermatt has taken a giant step towards retaining his World Cup downhill title this season, leading a Swiss sweep Saturday in the first men’s race since the Milan Cortina Olympics.
More good news for Odermatt was that his closest challenger, teammate and Olympic gold medalist Franjo van Allmen, was not part of the Swiss trio on the podium.
Odermatt just barely edged out Alexis Monney by 0.04 seconds, with Stefan Rogentin coming 0.98 seconds behind in third. Austria’s Vincent Kriechmayr and Italy’s Giovanni Franzoni shared fourth.
Von Allmen had costly mistakes halfway through his run down the Kandahar course and finished 1.47 second behind in sixth.
The result means Odermatt increased his lead over von Allmen to 175 points in the season standings with two races remaining. A race win is worth 100 points.
It felt like redemption for Odermatt, who arrived at the Olympics as a gold-medal favourite in the downhill but finished fourth.
“It was certainly a bit of a revenge today, too,” said Odermatt, who won the World Cup downhill title the past two seasons and is also a strong favourite to win his fifth straight overall Crystal Globe this year.
The fascinating duel between close friends Odermatt and von Allmen has dominated the downhill season.
Odermatt started his campaign with back-to-back wins and later added a victory at the classic Wengen event, but von Allmen hit back with two wins, including the last race before the Olympics a month ago in Crans-Montana, where Odermatt failed to make the podium.
On Saturday, though, von Allmen could not keep up with his rival.
“I was a little bit too direct, also not central with my body, sat down in the back, and was pretty tired. In the end, too direct and not smooth enough,” said von Allmen, who was one of Alpine skiing's stars of the Olympics with three golds from the downhill, super-G and team combined.
Odermatt's 54th career win put him level with Austrian great Hermann Maier in third position on the men’s World Cup winners list. Only Ingemar Stenmark (86 wins) and Marcel Hirscher (67) won more races. The overall record is held by American standout Mikaela Shiffrin with 108 World Cup wins.
“My idol always was Didier Cuche when I was a kid,” Odermatt said. “But it’s incredible to get level with Hermann.”
Several skiers sat out the race a day after they crashed in the final training session Friday, most notably France's Nils Alphand and Finland’s Elian Lehto.
The French ski federation said Alphand sustained a right shoulder and rib injury and would be out for at least three weeks. Lehto suffered “injuries to the chest area and lower limb that require hospital monitoring” but “are not life-threatening,” the Finnish ski federation said on Instagram.
A super-G on the same hill is scheduled for Sunday.
The NFL Scouting Combine is where running backs get to test their game speed against the stopwatch and see if they're elite or merely very, very fast.
Each year, a crop of bellwether tailbacks descend on Indianapolis to prove they have the strength, agility and acceleration to thrive on Sundays. Jonathan Taylor proved he was more than just a Wisconsin workhorse by dusting off a 4.39-second 40 back in 2020. Chris Johnson made himself a first round pick out of East Carolina by showing off his 4.2-second 40 time.
There's more to a player's combine performance than just the 40. They'll have to prove they have the lateral agility to thrive against linebackers, the strength to hold up in pass protection and, in interviews with coaches and executives, the awareness to understand the playbook and how to adjust on the fly.
Who stands to boost their stock the most when the running backs step into the spotlight February 28?
6 running backs to watch at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine
1 and 2. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
Love got his flowers, but Price could have been an All-American if he weren't sharing time with college football's top tailback. As a result, Notre Dame could produce the first *and* second running backs off the board this April.
Love averaged nearly seven yards per carry the last two seasons, placing third in the Heisman vote after the 2025 season after scoring 21 touchdowns in a dozen games. He's explosive and patient, combining elite vision with track star speed and lightning-quick jump cuts.
Price isn't as elusive but is a powerful finisher through contact, shucking off arm tackles and getting upfield for tough yards. While Love's place in the pecking order is set, Price can win over scouts by proving he's got 4.4-second 40 speed and the frame to take over as a lead back after playing RB1b the last two seasons in South Bend.
3 and 4. Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton, Penn State
The Nittany Lion platoon combined for more than 1,800 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2025. In 2024? 2,200-plus yards and 20 touchdowns, albeit in three more games thanks to the College Football Playoff. Singleton was the more explosive back in 2024, but that script flipped in 2025. Each has proven he can handle double-digit touches on a weekly basis; they've only missed a single game between them over the last three seasons.
Singleton is bigger and faster, pairing what could be 4.3-second 40 speed with a 225-pound frame. Allen is more fundamentally sound as a runner, avoiding the inconsistency that could sap Singleton's powers thanks to heightened patience and vision behind the line. That means Singleton is more likely to be a workout star, but Allen could still find his way to a high-profile Day 2 pick -- and potentially be the second back selected at this year's draft.
5. Emmett Johnson, Nebraska
Johnson has a compact frame and elite agility that led to more than 120 rushing yards per game as a senior. That should stand out when it comes to on-field drills, but he's more than just a dynamic runner. 2025 saw him thrive in the passing game, hauling in 46 catches to emerge as a yard-churning safety valve and creator of third-and-manageable situations down the line. Questions remain about his breakaway speed, which means his 40 time could significantly influence his draft stock.
6. Eli Heidenreich, Navy
Heidenreich will take the field with the running backs, but his pro future may be as a hybrid wideout who can also line up in the backfield. While he won't be a high profile pick, a big showing at the combine could be the difference between being drafted and signing as a priority undrafted free agent. A lack of explosiveness and top-line speed raises questions about his ability to separate from coverage on Sundays. If he can dust off above-average agility and run in the 4.4-second range in the 40, he'll push his way up teams' wish lists.
Which running backs were invited to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine?
Who else will have the chance to showcase these skills in 2026? Here are the running backs expected to take part in drills February 28, in alphabetical order.
Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson was one of the 319 players invited to the 2026 NFL Combine. He played one season at Colorado before transferring to Arizona, where he was named first-team All-Big 12 in 2024 and 2025.
While at the combine, Tyson has met with various NFL teams and participated in workouts to show off his skills. He is also answering questions from the media and mingling with other draft prospects and NFL executives. Josina Anderson caught him on Friday for a quick interview.
Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson says that his interview with the #Commanders stood out the most 👀
“The format they had, the way they did it, kudos to them to be honest with you … they had us pulling up pictures, what it means to you …”
Anderson asks Tyson if any of the teams he met with stood out to him.
"I don't know if I'm supposed to say this, but, to be honest, the Commanders. The format they had, the way they did it, kudos to them to be honest with you. The way they formatted it and the way they did it," Tyson said.
"Like in what way?" Anderson asks.
"They were just pulling up pictures and what have you, and what it means to you and stuff like that. And then the receiver coach had another picture and walk through it with us and stuff like that. So, just the format of it, so kudos to them."
Tyson is the No. 2 wide receiver in this draft class, so if the Commanders want to draft a receiver with their No. 7 overall pick and Carnell Tate is gone, Tyson could be their next best option. What they do during free agency will give us a better idea of what they might do in the first round. Without a second-round pick, their first selection in 2026 has major implications for this team.
Over his collegiate career, Tyson recorded 158 receptions for 2,282 yards and 22 touchdowns. He's a multi-faceted athlete who can rush, throw, and return. He had a total of 2,498 all-purpose yards through three seasons, including a 37-yard pass completion. He has the ability to make an impact wherever he gets drafted.
The NFL is a hard life, but life after the NFL can be even harder. While some players have prospered after their playing days ended, others have fallen on hard times, often related to injuries.
One example is former Denver Broncos defensive tackle Louis Leonard. The former lineman's wife, Lacy Leonard, detailed his post-playing struggles in an Instagram reel last month.
“My husband survived the NFL, but now he’s surviving everything it left behind,” she said, via Us Weekly. “People see the glory, the lights, the crowds, but they don’t see this — the aftermath, the pain, the stiffness, the tremors, the battle his body fights every single day."
In the video, Lacy shows her husband navigating a hospital in a wheelchair.
“This is our reality,” she said. “Physical therapy at the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center, a warrior learning to move again, step-by-step and punch-by-punch.”
Leonhard spent time with six NFL teams from 2007-2010, ending his career in Denver. He totaled 33 tackles and one sack in 25 career games. Although he only played four seasons in the league, Leonhard left with lasting consqences.
“Don’t romanticize this life,” Lacy said. “The real work happens after the game is long over.”
Leonard is blessed to have a wife who is willing to be there every step of the way. The NFL is a beautiful yet violent game, and it has taken a toll on many players. May Leonard have the opportunity to recover as much as possible.
“It’s my job…” – Liam Rosenior on finding Arsenal’s “weakness”, picks out Gunners’ strengths
Liam Rosenior has already taken on Mikel Arteta twice in his two months at Chelsea, and their third meeting comes tomorrow.
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Tomorrow is a huge game for both Chelsea and Arsenal. Both sides desperately need three points to stay on track for their respective targets.
Interestingly, it’s a fixture that Liam Rosenior is already familiar with, having faced the Gunners twice in his first six weeks in charge in the EFL Cup semi finals. The third iteration is tomorrow, and the Chelsea boss was asked what he expected from his opposite number, Mikel Arteta:
“I have been impressed with him. The support he has received [from the club] is because, probably day in, day out, they see the great work that he does and they support the process with which he has worked.”
Rosenior there admits he has to earn the support and patience of fans and the ownership. In terms of the way Arsenal play, he also had some input.
Arsenal’s weaknesses and strengths according to Chelsea boss
Liam Rosenior takes his press conference. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
“They are an incredibly well-coached team in every aspect of the game. Whether they press really high, they have compact shape in the low blocks, they are fantastic defensively, obviously set plays, they are well-coached and they play very good football as well.
“They are a very good team and that is why they are in the situation they are in at the moment. It is my job and the players’ job to try and find that weakness and try to enjoy what is going to be a really, really big game on Sunday.”
In other news…
Pedro Neto said in his interview today that Chelsea need to do better every year – they’re at real risk of taking a step back right now.
Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:
Sean Strickland expressed gratitude to Dana White for not releasing him following a turbulent UFC Houston press conference.
The former middleweight champion earned a third-round stoppage victory over Anthony Hernandez before drawing attention for events outside the cage.
The finish marked his first stoppage win since 2023 and preserved his No. 3 ranking in the middleweight division.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Strickland addresses White backstage after mic incident
When speaking to the press after his win, Sean Strickland began making incredibly controversial comments. His microphone was cut midway through the post-fight media session.
After the press conference concluded, footage emerged of Strickland encountering Dana White and UFC executive Hunter Campbell backstage. The exchange appeared cordial despite the earlier disruption.
“Mr. White, thanks for not firing me, that’s really nice. Every time I do a press conference, I’m like here we go….”
“Hunter never calls me like, ‘Hey Sean, how’s your day?’ He’s always like, ‘Hey Sean, you need to s—the f— up!’”
Strickland reiterated that his outspoken approach contributes to fan interest. He indicated that strong reactions, positive or negative, help sustain attention around his fights.
Strickland’s controversial persona fuels fight promotion
In the buildup to many of his bouts, Strickland has made politically charged remarks and engaged in heated exchanges that draw significant media coverage.
Those moments frequently become focal points during fight week. His press conferences are often unpredictable, reinforcing a persona built on confrontation and unfiltered commentary.
While the UFC has typically afforded fighters broad freedom of expression, the mic cutoff in Houston hinted at evolving limits under the promotion’s current structure.
Despite the surrounding controversy, Strickland’s victory over Hernandez strengthened his standing in the middleweight title race.
Brooks Koepka bounced back from a poor opening round at the Cognizant Classic emphatically.
After starting the tournament three over par with an opening round 74, he battled back to make the cut with a score of 66 on Friday.
Koepka refound his form on the greens after enduring long-term struggles with his putting, which forced him to change his putter for the first time in over a decade. He couldn’t hole anything on Thursday, but was the third-best putter in the field during his second round.
He looked like a different player on Friday, and part of that can be credit to an equipment change he made that flew under the radar.
Photo by Raj Mehta/Getty Images
Brooks Koepka changed golf balls at the Cognizant Classic
Koepka started the Cognizant Classic using a Srixon Z Star Diamond, a golf ball he has used since 2021. But on Friday, he switched to a Titleist Pro V1x, widely regarded as the best ball in golf.
Clearly, the change worked, as he went five under par on his first nine holes, immediately connecting with the new ball. His scorecard was stained only by a bogey on the penultimate hole of his round.
This isn’t the first time he has made this change. Koepka made the same move at the 2022 US Open at Winged Foot, but it didn’t produce the same result. He finished T55 at that U.S. Open, finishing +12 for the week despite using the ball for all four rounds.
But after his showing on Friday using the Pro V1X, expect him to keep it in his bag for the remainder of this event.
What Brooks Koepka did to fix his putting stroke at the Cognizant Classic
Koepka’s putting struggles are well-documented at this point, but he appeared to have corrected his putting stroke during his second round. Afterwards, he explained the changes that he has made.
The five-time major winner said, “We changed my mechanics so I’m going with the feel of what feels good. Like I said, I was just cheating it yesterday, so at setup my hands were too far back, so that was the only thing.
“Once I got them forward, I felt like I really saw the line a lot better and could see where, visually, it’s got to take off on the right line. They weren’t matching yesterday.
He continued, “You can always change something in the round and try to do something. It just wasn’t – it’s very hard to see from the naked eye.
“You’d have to really get up — that’s why when I got done here I ran over to the putting green and sent some video and we kind of talked it out and noticed that, but that was really the only thing, but the stroke was fine.”
We’ll see if Koepka really is back on the right track on the greens during the rest of this tournament, but signs are good so far.
PREVIEW: Bournemouth host Sunderland looking to go eight unbeaten
Europe-chasing Bournemouth looking to extend their unbeaten streak to eight as they host out-of-form Sunderland.
Bournemouth’s season so far has been defined by unbeaten and winless streaks. Starting with an 8-game unbeaten run followed by an 11-game winless streak and on Saturday they look to replicate their earlier run and move to eight premier league matches without loss.
Sunderland however, have seen a drop of form as of late failing to win any of their last 3 premier league matches. Most notably a home loss to Fulham in their last time out.
Sunderland find themselves 12th in the table 2 points behind Bournemouth with a win propelling them to 8th where Bournemouth currently reside.
Bournemouth will be hoping for a win to boost their European football hopes, a goal they have never reached in their 127-year history. A win moves the Cherries into the potential European spots. A goal Andoni Iraola played down in his pre-match press conference; claiming the squad were ‘not talking about these things [European football]’.
Iraola touched on the ‘magic number’ of 40 points and hoped Bournemouth could surpass this total at the weekend in order to ‘forget about anything related to a relegation fight’. This number often being deemed as the line of safety. However, it is highly unlikely that Bournemouth will have to look over their shoulders this season as they currently sit 13 points clear of the drop zone.
Sunderland will hope to put an end their poor run of form with the return of captain Granit Xhaka who has been central to the success of Sunderland this season. Xhaka is back in contention to start following an ankle injury and a 20-minute cameo in their last match.
Xhaka has led Sunderland into a position where they can finish in the top half of the topflight. The last time they achieved this was in the 2010/11 season. Furthermore, they will hope to have the bragging rights over local rivals Newcastle Utd who currently sit level on points with the Black Cats. Only above them on goal difference.
Regis Le Bris acknowledged Sunderland’s recent form in his pre-match press conference. He believes that even ‘when we have negative results, it does not mean we are not progressing’. Le Bris urged fans to remember ‘how difficult this league is and how young our squad is’, only emphasising further the impact of experienced Xhaka’s return.
Bournemouth will be without experienced man Lewis Cook who has suffered a hamstring injury as confirmed by Iraola. Other than this there are no new injury concerns for the Cherries and they will hope Antoine Semenyo replacement Rayan can keep up his brilliant start to life at Bournemouth, scoring two and assisting one in his first 4 games.
Sunderland will have to go without their top goalscorer this season Brian Brobbey who is out with a groin injury after being substituted in their last match. Brobbey has five goals this season one of which being the winner in the reverse fixture. The Black Cats will also go without Nordi Mukiele, the right-back has played 25 of Sunderland’s Premier League fixtures this season but was substituted off against Fulham after just 12 minutes with a calf injury.
Sunderland came out winners in a thrilling reverse fixture – 3-2. They came back from 2-0 down in that game which saw Tyler Adams score a sensational near halfway line goal for Bournemouth.
The game will take place on Saturday 28th February at 12:30pm GMT.
La Liga giants target Omar Marmoush for summer transfer – Representatives have already opened talks
Manchester City face a battle to keep hold of Omar Marmoush beyond the upcoming summer transfer window, new reports have indicated.
The Egyptian has endured a campaign of fluctuating fortunes at the Etihad Stadium, having first burst onto the English scene in spectacular fashion following his big-money switch from Eintracht Frankfurt in January 2025.
A remarkable hat-trick against Newcastle inside his opening weeks of his City career instantly endeared him to supporters, while a stunning long-range effort against Bournemouth later secured the Premier League’s Goal of the Season accolade.
That whirlwind introduction set lofty expectations, but the 2025/26 season has presented new challenges, including increased competition for attacking roles through the arrival of Antoine Semenyo and tactical prominence of Rayan Cherki.
A brief dip in form and Egypt’s disappointing Africa Cup of Nations campaign added to speculation over Marmoush’s long-term future, though he has recently responded with eye-catching performances – notably two assists in the Carabao Cup semi-final triumph over Newcastle to book a final showdown with Arsenal.
But according to the information of WinWin’s Ismael Mahmoud, Omar Marmoush’s name was brought up during a discussion between the player’s representatives and Barcelona officials in January.
It is claimed that Marmoush is ‘highly regarded’ by the Catalan club’s management in terms of both his technical ability and from a marketing perspective, while there is a belief within Camp Nou that the player would welcome the idea of a move should negotiations open.
However, any interest from Barcelona would not be a clear run at the player, with the report pointing out that La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid have highlighted him as their potential first-choice target should Julian Alvarez leave in the summer.
Marmoush, still only 27-years-old and entering what should be the prime years of his career, remains under contract at the Etihad Stadium until 2029 and is viewed internally as a versatile attacking option capable of playing across the frontline.
Yet the promise of a more guaranteed starting role in Spain could test his resolve if formal bids materialise. For City, much may depend on their own summer transfer strategy currently being plotted out by sporting director Hugo Viana.
Should Pep Guardiola sanction attacking departures or opt for a tactical reshuffle, Omar Marmoush could yet play a central role in next season’s plans. But with elite clubs circling and representatives seemingly holding exploratory talks, the coming months are shaping up to be pivotal in determining whether his Etihad story continues or takes a new turn abroad.
FC Barcelona have reportedly reached a decisive stage regarding Marcus Rashford’s long-term future at the club.
The England international’s situation has been closely monitored since his arrival, with financial considerations playing a central role in any permanent move.
Now, clarity is beginning to emerge over what must happen for the deal to be finalised. The key factor lies beyond the pitch.
Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images
FC Barcelona agree structure for Marcus Rashford’s deal
According to Mundo Deportivo, “For his rights to become the property of Barca, the Catalan club only needs to exercise the purchase option valued at 30 million euros.
“The payment method has even been agreed with the Old Trafford side, with three annual installments of 10 million euros.”
The reporter further revealed: “From there, for the final approval from Barca’s sporting management, the economic impact of Rashford’s signing must be considered, taking into account the length of his contract (three or a maximum of four years, given he’s two years shy of thirty) and his salary.”
The structure of the agreement appears settled, with installments spread over three seasons. The remaining hurdle revolves around ensuring the full financial package aligns with internal budgeting and regulatory constraints.
Financial Fair Play to decide Marcus Rashford’s future
The report adds: “If everything can be adapted to LaLiga’s Financial Fair Play regulations, Barca will give the green light to the deal. Rashford is happy at the Camp Nou, where he believes he still has room to grow and recover the exceptional level he reached as a Manchester United player.”
“There will be no need to negotiate with his representatives because everything has already been agreed upon with the England international since the loan was finalized last July,” the report concluded.
LaLiga’s Financial Fair Play framework remains the decisive factor. Should Barcelona successfully balance the numbers, Rashford’s permanent transfer is expected to proceed without further contractual complications.
For now, the agreement is in place. The final decision rests on regulatory approval.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels is congratulated by Zach Neto #9 after hitting a solo home run, his 404th career home run, during the first inning against starting pitcher Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. #43 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 28, 2025 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last week, Angels owner Arte Moreno made a bit of a scene by saying that the team’s fans aren’t “overly concerned with winning.” His claim, based on fan surveys, said that visitors to “the Big A” are more concerned about things like affordability at the ballpark. While there’s something to not wanting to spend an arm and a leg just to go to one baseball game, I feel like Angels fans would also like to win, but that’s just me.
That being said, in recent years the team has had Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani — and still employs one of them — but hasn’t really had much to show for it, as one famous tweet points out.
every time I see an Angels highlight it's like "Mike Trout hit three homes runs and raised his average to .528 while Shohei Ohtani did something that hasn't been done since 'Tungsten Arm' O'Doyle of the 1921 Akron Groomsmen, as the Tigers defeated the Angels 8-3"
— ℳatt (matttomic.bsky.social) (@matttomic) May 18, 2021
Their 11-year absence from the playoffs is the longest in baseball and they last finished over .500 a decade ago. Despite all that, there are still people attending Angels games. If Moreno means what he says on the affordability front, this year would be a good one to prove that he cares about that, since I don’t think the winning thing will be changing in 2026.
Los Angeles Angels
2025 record: 72-90 (5th, AL West) 2026 FanGraphs projection: 74-88 (5th, AL West)
As mentioned, the Angels still do have half of their once all-world combination in Mike Trout. While he did appear in 130 games in 2025 having missed a lot of time due to injury in previous seasons, he’s definitely not the Mike Trout you remember. He was still a pretty good hitter, posting a 120 wRC+, that’s a far cry from where he was in his prime, not even factoring in that his defensive ratings have taken a dive. He put up only 1.8 fWAR last year, when the previous season he appeared in over 100 games — 2022 — he put up 6.0. Projections still expect him to be a decent hitter, but he had a hard enough time trying to drag the Angels to the playoffs at his peak, never mind now.
The issue with the Angels’ lineup in general is that, Trout included, they just don’t have a ton of guys you can project to be middle order stalwarts. FanGraphs projects seven Angels regulars to put up a wRC+ over 100 in 2026, which sounds decent. It’s just that the highest of those projections is Trout at 117. That’s lower than what Ben Rice is projected to do for the Yankees, and Rice is not the projected best hitter for the Bombers.
That being said, the Angels do have some possible solid contributors. The likes of shortstop Zach Neto and first baseman Nolan Schanuel have the makings of solid contributors and are both younger than 26. There’s just not much going on in their lineup that makes you really take notice.
Their situation on the pitching front is somewhat similar: they have some guys that could put up solid numbers but no one who looks like a capital-A “Ace.” They did acquire Grayson Rodriguez from the Orioles and Alek Manoah, formerly of the Blue Jays. Both those guys have been top prospects in the not so distant past, so maybe they could mine some gold out of one of them.
Besides Rodriguez and Manoah, the Angels acquired a bunch of “oh hey, it’s that guy(s)” this offseason. Other additions for them in 2026 include Josh Lowe, Drew Pomeranz, Kirby Yates, and Jordan Romano.
One person you will not be seeing for the Angels this year is Anthony Rendon. If you look up the Angels’ roster, you’ll still find Rendon listed — probably with the injured list distinction — but he and the Angels came to an agreement to rework his contract, effectively ending his time with the team, and probably concluding his MLB career.
In order to actually be a good team, the Angels would need to have guessed correctly on a bunch of coinflips. It’s technically possible, just hard to do. That being said, they’ll still probably take two of three over the Yankees in Anaheim in some stupid fashion.
More Pinstripe Alley MLB team season previews can be found here.
MUNICH, GERMANY - JULY 31: Manuel Neuer of FC Bayern Muenchen and Jonas Urbig of FC Bayern Muenchen during a training session at Saebener Strasse on July 31, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by S. Mellar/FC Bayern via Getty Images) | FC Bayern via Getty Images
Bayern Munich may have sent every signal it could to show faith in deputy keeper Jonas Urbig as Manuel Neuer’s eventual successor, but there has always been an element of doubt among the fan base. Could the Bavarians really turn the keys over to the young and unproven Urbig? After all, there will be veteran options on the market to chase — and even still-on-the-books Alexander Nübel, currently on his fifth straight season on loan away from the club.
But no, the Bavarians are all in — even if Neuer hangs ‘em up after this season, according to a report from Sport Bild journalists Christian Flak and Heiko Niedderer. As captured by @iMiaSanMia:
Should Manuel Neuer decide to retire at the end of the season, Bayern have no plans to sign a competitor for Jonas Urbig for the #1 spot. The clear tendency is to rely on Urbig as Neuer’s successor and get a new #2, depending on what happens with Peretz and Nübel [@cfbayern, @itstheicebird]
This makes a lot of sense, and not just in the wallet department. Signing a new No. 1 would cost — and then where would Urbig go? If it’s the start of a loan journey, then Bayern would need a new No. 2 as well.
Let’s hope the Bavarians’ faith in Urbig is well-placed. So far, it looks promising.
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…
Official: Barcelona sign teenage Spanish attacking prospect
FC Barcelona have officially announced the signing of winger Alex Gonzalez from CF Damm, with the teenager set to become a part of the club’s Juvenil A setup.
“Agreement for the incorporation of the player Alex Gonzalez to the Juvenil A team of Barça from CF Damm,” the statement from the club read on social media, along with images of the youngster signing his contract.
The whole process was completed earlier today in the presence of Jose Ramon Alexanco, the director of youth football for Barcelona.
While there is no mention of it in the statement, reports suggest that Barcelona will pay only a symbolic fee related to training compensation for the 19-year-old starlet’s signing.
In 22 appearances this season, Gonzalez has scored 12 goals, which is a solid return for a wide player.
Gonzalez is seen as a speedy, direct and fearless left winger. His explosiveness over the first few metres makes him difficult to contain, especially in 1v1 situations.
The signing of Gonzalez continues Barcelona’s recent trend of identifying and recruiting youth talents with potential – such as Juwensley Onstein, Ajay Tavares, and Patricio Pacifico, among others.
He now joins La Masia hoping to develop into the next player to break into the Barcelona first-team setup in the coming years.
Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin insists the derby meeting with Celtic at Ibrox on Sunday is not "do or die" in the race for the Scottish Premiership title but admits it would be a "massive push" for the victor.
Danny Rohl's side lie two points clear of Celtic having played one game more and four adrift of leaders Hearts going into the weekend fixtures.
Rangers are unbeaten in their last four meetings with Celtic at Ibrox, albeit it three have been draws, with their last defeat coming in September 2023
"It's a massive game for the club," Raskin said.
"It's just an exciting fixture. It's a fixture you look ahead to when the calendar comes out. But again, it's three points, like the next one and the next one. So, it's just making sure we get the win and then we look forward to the next one."
"Obviously, if you win the game, you get a boost of confidence. I think the one that's going to win [the title] is the one that's going to be the more calm, whether it's in the squad or whether it's in the building because there are still 10 games to be played. Loads of things can happen.
"It's not going to be do or die tomorrow or Sunday. But obviously it's going to be a massive push for the one that wins."
Raskin, who was left out of the squad by former head coach Russell Martin the last time the teams met at Ibrox, admits it has been quite a transformation since the start of the campaign to now be in contention for the Scottish Premiership title.
"It was a big turnaround," he said. "I think the manager is a big part of this. He brought us freshness, calmness, stability and some confidence.
"It's really good to see where we came from to now but we need to make sure we keep going because there's no point in doing all this to just lose everything now.
"So, that's why we're now focused on the last ten games and we need to make sure we make it."
Raskin was keen to avoid adding additional pressure when asked to respond to comments made by Celtic midfielder Luke McCowan that no team in Scotland could touch the champions when they are on form.
"I don't need to respond to that," he said. "I just don't care. I can't lie. We just focus on ourselves..
"We go to the game, we know what we want to do. There's no need to put pressure on us saying we are the best.
"It's just about who's going to show it on the pitch and who's going to win that game. That's it.
"I think the last couple of games against them in the league shows that we've been quite consistent in those games.
"Obviously the momentum now is different than we had last season. So, we are quite confident to go into that game and we know what to do."
Arizona's top boys and girls soccer teams for the 2025-26 winter season are set to be crowned across a two-week span in Mesa.
The Class 2A and 3A champions have been crowned and the larger schools take center stage this week with titles on the line in Mesa.
The girls' Open Division bracket will see the state's foremost dynasty, Xavier, look to extend its record of 15 state championships by winning a sixth in a row in a rematch of last year's final against Casteel. Salpointe's girls aren't far behind in 4A, winning titles four of the last five years to give them 11 all-time.
There will be a new boys' champion in 4A after Salpointe, winner of the last five trophies there, moved to the Open Division and fell in the quarterfinals. Last year's 5A champion, Sunrise Mountain, is also in the Open bracket this year and its hopes of taking home a trophy for a second consecutive year are still alive.
It's shaping up to be a great couple weeks of soccer championships in Arizona. Here's when and where to watch it all.
Where to watch Arizona high school soccer playoffs
The Arizona high school soccer championships will not be available to watch on a traditional TV channel, but fans can stream games on the NFHS Network.
The NFHS Network offers two basic plans: an Annual Pass ($6.67 per month) or a Monthly Pass ($13.99 per month). These plans give subscribers the ability to watch live sporting events and create clips of their favorite moments from games.
Arizona high school soccer championships schedule 2026
Here's a look at the remaining tournament schedule for each classification, with the 2A and 3A semis and finals set for this week and the 4A, 5A, 6A and Open final fours coming next week. Games will be played at the higher seed through the semifinals, and all championship games will be held at Mesa High School.
Open Division
All games can be streamed live on the NFHS Network
Date
Matchup
Time (MT)
Feb. 24
Girls semifinal: Xavier 2, Hamilton 1
—
Girls semifinal: Casteel 3, Chaparral 0
—
Feb. 25
Boys semifinal: Sunrise Mountain 2, Brophy 0
—
Boys semifinal: Mica Mountain 1, Catalina Foothills
—
March 2
Girls championship: Casteel vs. Xavier
4 p.m.
Boys championship: Mica Mountain vs. Sunrise Mountain
7 p.m.
Class 6A
All games can be streamed live on the NFHS Network
Date
Matchup
Time (MT)
Feb. 24
Girls semifinal: Pinnacle 1, Liberty 0
—
Girls semifinal: Perry 4, Sandra Day O'Connor 0
—
Feb. 25
Boys semifinal: Liberty 5, Highland 3
—
Boys semifinal: San Luis 2, Pinnacle 0
—
Feb. 28
Girls championship: Pinnacle vs. Perry
4 p.m.
Boys championship: Liberty vs. San Luis
7 p.m.
Class 5A
All games can be streamed live on the NFHS Network
Date
Matchup
Time (MT)
Feb. 24
Girls semifinal: Notre Dame Prep 1, Campo Verde 0
—
Girls semifinal: AZ College Prep 3, Sunrise Mountain 2
—
Feb. 25
Boys semifinal: AZ College Prep 2, Paradise Valley 0
—
Boys semifinal: Fairfax 2, Cienega 1
—
Feb. 28
Girls championship: AZ College Prep vs. Notre Dame Prep
10 a.m.
Boys championship: AZ College Prep vs. Fairfax
1 p.m.
Class 4A
All games can be streamed live on the NFHS Network
The Dallas Cowboys have been moving fast this offseason. Running back Javonte Williams is in. Wide receiver George Pickens got the franchise tag. But one piece of business still has not wrapped up, and it involves their record-setting kicker.
Brandon Aubrey remains without a new contract, even though he’s been one of the best stories in Dallas over the past two seasons. The 30-year-old owns the NFL record with six made field goals from 60 yards or beyond, and he is looking to reset the market at his position.
Last NFL season alone, Aubrey connected on 36 of 42 field goal attempts across 17 games while missing just one extra point out of 47 tries. Those numbers put him in rare company, and now he wants to get paid like it.
Dallas Cowboys place kicker Brandon Aubrey (17) kicks a field goal during the first half against the Minnesota Vikings. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Negotiations have been dragging on, and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones finally addressed the situation during the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Jones invited local reporters onto his luxury bus Friday for what turned into more than an hour of conversation, and he did not dodge the Aubrey question.
“I think he’s outstanding,” Jones said. “Love his story, love the fact that the story is with the Cowboys. We feel good that what we are talking about is an appreciation of what he can do for us. That’s a way of, not trying to negotiate with anything I might say here, but we’ve got a good offer on the table for him.”
Dallas Cowboys Owner, President and general manager Jerry Jones stands on the field prior to a game. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
The Aubrey situation has been the talk of the week. Reports surfaced earlier claiming the kicker was asking for around $10 million annually, a figure that raised plenty of eyebrows around the league.
Aubrey and his wife quickly shot down those reports, calling them inaccurate. The denial cooled things down temporarily, but questions remain about where the two sides actually stand. Jones making it clear that Dallas values Aubrey and believes they have presented a fair offer adds some clarity, but this thing is not done yet.
AFC Champions League – Al-Duhail vs Al-Ahli: Boulbina challenges Mahrez in the round of 16
Boulbina/@duhail
One of the marquee matchups in the AFC Elite Champions League round of 16 features Al-Duhail facing off against Al-Ahli. This Qatar vs Saudi Arabia showdown is set to be highlighted by a head-to-head clash between Adil Boulbina and Riyad Mahrez.
Two of Algeria’s top performers this season will meet on Monday, March 2, 2026, from 18:15 GMT at Al-Duhail Stadium. This first leg will be crucial for either side to take an early advantage in the tie.
Al-Duhail finished the group stage in seventh place with 8 points (2 wins, 2 draws, 4 losses), while Al-Ahli Saudi secured second place behind Al-Hilal with 17 points (5 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss).
Despite his team’s struggles, Adil Boulbina has managed to stand out by netting 6 goals and providing 1 assist in 7 Asian Champions League matches this season. He currently shares the top scorer title with fellow Algerian Houssam Aouar of Al-Ittihad.
Riyad Mahrez (3 goals, 2 assists in 7 matches) is determined to lift this trophy once again, having won it last season. To do so, a strong result in Qatar is essential to approach the return leg with an advantage.
💰 Check out the top 10 clubs earning the most from shirt sales in Europe
Barcelona secured the top spot on the list of clubs that profited the most from shirt sales and merchandising items in Europe during the 2024/25 season.
According to a financial report released by UEFA, the Catalan club raised 277 million euros (about R$ 1.6 billion) from this segment alone.
This amount sets a new historical record for Barça, representing 28% of all the club’s revenue for the season.
The jump was significant compared to the previous year (2023/24), with an increase of more than 100 million euros.
This boost is directly linked to the recent renewal of the sponsorship contract with Nike, the team’s sportswear supplier, which extended the partnership until 2038.
With this performance, Barcelona surpassed their rival Real Madrid, who finished in second place in the uniform sales ranking.
Below, check out the top 10 clubs that earned the most from shirts and merchandising*.
Barcelona - 277 million euros (R$ 1.6 billion)
Real Madrid - 231 million euros (R$ 1.4 billion)
Bayern Munich - 189 million euros (R$ 1.1 billion)
Manchester United - 172 million euros (R$ 1 billion)
Arsenal - 151 million euros (R$ 914.8 million)
Liverpool - 148 million euros (R$ 896.6 million)
Tottenham - 102 million euros (R$ 617.9 million)
Galatasaray - 99 million euros (R$ 599.7 million)
Chelsea - 95 million euros (R$ 575.5 million)
PSG and Manchester City - 88 million euros (R$ 533.1 million)
*UEFA data does not specify the exact number of items sold
Real remains at the top of overall revenue
Despite losing the lead in shirt sales to their rival, Real Madrid maintained the position of the club with the highest total revenue in Europe during the last season.
The Merengue club recorded a global revenue of 1.184 billion euros (about R$ 7.1 billion), opening a comfortable lead over Barcelona itself (989 million euros) and Bayern Munich (861 million euros), who completed the podium.
The Madrid Spaniards also dominated exclusively commercial earnings (568 million euros/R$ 3.4 billion) and revenues from matchday (game days and club members), which brought 222 million euros to the club’s coffers.
Miami and Florida are two of college baseball's most decorated programs, and they will renew their decades-long rivalry with a matchup of top-20 teams this weekend in Coral Gables.
The 17th-ranked Hurricanes (10-0) play host to the in-state series this year and have mostly obliterated their opponents to date. Miami is averaging 15.5 runs per game, best in the nation, and outscored Lafayette 73-12 in a four-game series last weekend. Fifth-year senior outfielder Derek Williams is batting .563 with four home runs and 15 RBIs so far, while top-100 MLB Draft prospect Daniel Cuvet leads the team with six homers.
The 10th-ranked Gators dropped their season opener against UAB but have been on a roll since then, entering the weekend at 9-1 and averaging more than 10 runs per game themselves. Sophomore Brendan Lawson is among the nation's leaders with 19 RBIs after driving in six against FIU earlier this week.
This three-game series between the Sunshine State teams is poised to tilt the balance of power in the rivalry's history. Entering Friday, the 273 games the teams have played against each other dating to 1940 have resulted in 136 victories each for the Hurricanes and Gators, plus one tie in 1952.
Who will be able to claim all-time bragging rights (until next season, at least) at the end of the weekend? Here's how to watch all the action.
Friday's series opener will be broadcast by ACC Network, with the Saturday and Sunday games set to air on ACCNX. Fans can stream all three games via the ESPN app with a subscription. See the full series schedule below.
Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, college sports, plus SportsCenter, First Take, and all your favorite ESPN shows—anytime, anywhere—only in the new ESPN app.
Miami vs. Florida baseball series schedule
This weekend's games will be played at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field in Coral Gables, Florida.
The Steelers, Broncos and Commanders are all in a similar boat with a need for a No. 2 wide receiver and more depth. As for the 49ers, not only do they need depth, but San Francisco could also use a true No. 1 target.
However, Essentially Sports' Tony Pauline reports that it would take a Godfather-style offer to wrangle Wilson away from New York, which is bad news for the Steelers, Commanders, Broncos and 49ers, all of whom likely would be interest in Wilson.
"There is speculation the Jets could trade Garrett Wilson, but I’m told that’s unlikely to happen unless a massive offer the team can’t refuse is placed in front of Gang Green," Pauline reported.
"The Jets, led by general manager Darren Mougey, extended Wilson’s contract prior to last season, as they did with Gardner. But those close to the situation tell me the Jets don’t want to trade Wilson and 'they love him,' which was an exact quote," Pauline added.
While the Jets could get a nice haul for Wilson, it does make sense to keep him, as he's still just 25 years old and trading him would leave the wide receiver cupboard extremely bare for a team that needs to see a significant improvement on offense following a campaign in which New York sported one of the worst in the NFL.
When it comes to those four teams we mentioned, the Steelers are best equipped to make the kind of offer it would take to land Wilson, as Pittsburgh is armed with 12 picks in the 2026 NFL draft.
The Broncos have nine selections, while the 49ers have seven and the Commanders have six.
The value of the next contract for quarterback Malik Willis remains to be seen. It will be driven ultimately by the number of suitors.
And the involvement, or not, of two potential franchises should say plenty about the broader market for Willis. Whether and to what extent the Dolphins and Cardinals pursue Willis will be a key litmus test as to his perceived potential as a full-time starter.
In Miami, two former Packers now run the show. And, as coach Jeff Hafley explained this week on PFT Live, he and G.M. Jon-Eric Sullivan are in close alignment. If they believe in Willis after two years of having full access to him, they'll pursue him. If they don't pursue him, they don't believe.
Obviously, they need a quarterback. Willis would be a perfect fit particularly over the next two years, if a reasonable but fair contract can be negotiated during the cap wreckage of the Tua Tagovailoa deal. It all comes down to whether two men who were able to watch him, to study him, to get to know him for two entire football seasons believe he's equipped to be a high-level, week-in, week-out starting quarterback.
Ditto for the Cardinals, indirectly. They need a quarterback. New coach Mike LaFleur's brother, Matt, coached Willis for two years. Assuming Matt will share his views with Mike about Malik, Mike will act accordingly. Especially since Mike needs a quarterback, too.
That said, it's possible Mike LaFleur will be overruled by G.M. Monti Ossenfort and/or owner Michael Bidwill (he’s the team president, after all) regarding Willis. It would be foolish to do so, but some teams do foolish things.
It would be potentially foolish for a team that doesn't know Willis to pursue him if the Dolphins or Cardinals aren't. Those are the two teams in the best position to know whether Willis is "the guy." If they don't believe it, it's buyer beware for the other quarterback-needy teams.
Recently acquired infielder Brendan Rodgers might miss an extended period, according to the latest report from MassLive's Chris Cotillo.
"The Red Sox are still sifting through MRI results on non-roster infielder Brendan Rodgers, who suffered a shoulder injury during Wednesday's game diving for a ball at second base," Cotillo wrote. "There’s no word yet if there’s structural damage but Rodgers, more than 48 hours after suffering the injury, remains sore, according to a source."
"At this point, a source said Friday, the club is looking at next steps when it comes to Rodgers’ recovery but knows it’s likely going to take some time for him to return," Cotillo continued. "A dark horse candidate for at-bats at second base with Romy Gonzalez out of the Opening Day picture, Rodgers appears likely to begin the regular season on the injured list."
The Red Sox signed Rodgers to a minor league contract on February 5.
Rodgers' 2025 MLB season proved challenging and limited. After signing a one-year deal with the Houston Astros following his non-tender by the Colorado Rockies, the infielder appeared in just 43 games. He batted .191 with 2 home runs, 11 RBIs, 12 runs scored, and an OPS of .544 across 115 at-bats.
Injuries, including a concussion, oblique strain, and broken nose, sidelined him for significant stretches, contributing to a high strikeout rate and reduced playing time. Defensively, he remained capable.
Rodgers' career spans seven MLB seasons. He owns a lifetime .261 batting average, 47 home runs, 208 RBIs, and a .714 OPS in 495 games.
A standout year came in 2022 when he earned a Gold Glove at second base for elite fielding. Drafted third overall by Colorado in 2015, Rodgers established himself as a reliable infielder known for solid glove work, even as injuries and inconsistencies have impacted his bat.
On Friday of the NFL combine, the tight ends were one of the position groups to go through the on-field testing portion of the event. This position could be an under-the-radar need for the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason.
While Brenton Strange is still leading the way here, Quintin Morris, who emerged as TE2 last season, is a free agent. In addition to that, Johnny Mundt and Hunter Long are both in the final year of their deals. The ability for Liam Coen to use two tight end sets is an important aspect of his offense.
Below are the top performers at tight end from each NFL combine event.
Alan Shearer predicts Liverpool’s clash with West Ham United
Liverpool Backed by Alan Shearer to See Off West Ham United at Anfield
As Liverpool prepare to host West Ham United, the mood around Anfield feels cautiously optimistic. Arne Slot, now firmly established after delivering the Premier League title in 2024-25, faces another selection puzzle, yet the expectation from prominent voices remains clear. Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton both believe Liverpool will get the job done.
Slot’s side arrive on the back of three consecutive wins in all competitions, a sequence that has steadied nerves and sharpened belief. Yet the absence of Florian Wirtz forces a rethink, particularly given his growing influence in the final third.
Wirtz Absence and Tactical Questions
Florian Wirtz has been central to Liverpool’s attacking cohesion this season. His understanding with Hugo Ekitike has given the Reds a different dimension, blending movement with incision between the lines. Without the German, there is a sense that Ekitike can become isolated, a concern echoed by supporters who have seen how heavily Liverpool lean on that partnership.
The debate now centres on who fills the creative void. Alexis Mac Allister offers guile and invention, while Dominik Szoboszlai brings energy and steel from deeper areas. It is a classic selection dilemma, artistry versus drive, and Slot must strike the right balance against a West Ham United side scrapping near the foot of the table.
Photo: IMAGO
Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton Deliver Verdict
Writing in his Metro column, Alan Shearer was unequivocal in his backing of Liverpool. He said: “West Ham are definitely on the up form-wise whether that’s going to be enough I’m not quite sure, they’re going up against Liverpool, who had a good result last time out, away to Nottingham Forest. It has to be a Liverpool home win.
“If you offered West Ham a point now, they’d snap your hands off, but I’m not sure they’ll get one.”
Speaking to the BBC, Chris Sutton predicted a 2-1 Liverpool win and said: “Liverpool were very unconvincing at Forest, but they did nick the win. Some of their fans are still whinging about Arne Slot and he is always being compared to Jurgen Klopp, but they are actually on a decent run of results and showing a bit of spirit too.
“They are right in the mix for the top four but now they need to keep winning – I expect them to do that on Saturday.”
There is an acceptance in both assessments that Liverpool have not always dazzled, yet results matter at this stage of the campaign. Grinding out wins can define seasons.
Liverpool Record Against West Ham United
History offers further encouragement for Liverpool. The Reds have dominated this fixture across decades, winning 87 of their meetings with West Ham United, compared to 29 victories for the London club.
The last defeat came on November 7, 2021, when West Ham secured a memorable victory thanks to an Alisson own goal and strikes from Pablo Fornals and Kurt Zouma. Since then, Liverpool have largely held the upper hand, asserting control in league and cup encounters alike.
West Ham United may be 18th in the Premier League table, yet they have lost just one of their last five league matches. That uptick in form suggests resilience, but Anfield presents a different challenge. With Jeremie Frimpong back available and confidence quietly building, Liverpool will view this as an opportunity to strengthen their push for a top four finish.
Expect intensity, expect scrutiny, and if Shearer and Sutton are correct, expect a Liverpool victory to make it four wins on the spin.
Inter Milan Season Can Have Happy Ending As Club Turns Focus To Scudetto After Embarrassing Champions League Exit
Inter Milan are determined to ensure this season ends differently to the last, with the Scudetto now the undisputed priority after their Champions League exit at the playoff stage left a bitter taste across the club.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, the arrival of Cristian Chivu in place of Simone Inzaghi changed everything.
Especially in terms of how Inter approach domestic competition.
The league title was placed front and centre from day one.
And, with Inter depending only on themselves in Serie A, unlike the unpredictable nature of European football, the path ahead is clearer than it has been for some time.
Inter Milan Aim Not To Go Trophy-Less
MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 06: Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of FC Internazionale Milano, looks on prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Como 1907 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on December 06, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
The ghost haunting the club is last season’s “zero tituli,” a trophy-less campaign that poisoned the summer.
The memory of gifting the Scudetto to Antonio Conte at the decisive moment is still fresh.
Jessica Pegula has established herself as a consistent presence near the top of the WTA rankings, with much of that success coming later in her career.
Her recent Dubai title lifted her to world number five, making her the highest-ranked player yet to claim a Grand Slam title.
Pegula is the daughter of billionaires Terry and Kim Pegula. Qinwen Zheng once questioned why she stays committed to tennis when she doesn’t need to play for financial reasons.
Pegula says tennis is her passion, not a financial pursuit
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images
Pegula spoke with The Second Serve about what drives her tennis career, saying it’s all about a genuine love for the sport.
“It’s something I’ve loved to do since I was a kid, since before I had anything about my family or money or the teams or stuff like that,” she said.
Pegula has been open about how important reaching world number one and winning Grand Slams have always been to her. Those goals are what keep her focused on moving up the rankings and achieving more in her career.
“I wanted to be No. 1 in the world when I was, like, 6 years old. It’s been my dream for as long as I can remember to be No. 1, to be able to play on tour, to be able to win Slams.
She continued: “I mean, it’s pretty cool that I can look back and say that I’m putting myself in contention to do that living out my dream.”
Pegula has unusual record at Indian Wells
Pegula withdrew from the ATX Open after her win in Dubai, so her next appearance will be at Indian Wells.
Despite being a strong hardcourt player, Pegula hasn’t had much success at the California event. She’s only made it to the quarter-finals once, back in 2021.
She’s also lost twice in the fourth round and three times in the second round.
Pegula has an 8-7 record at Indian Wells. It’s a surprising stat considering how well she’s played over the past two years.
England all-rounder Rehan Ahmed played down his hopes of selection for the T20 World Cup semi-finals despite his crucial role in Friday's win over New Zealand.
Making his World Cup debut, Ahmed, 21, took a wicket with his first ball and then scored a crucial 19 not out to secure victory in England's chase in partnership with Will Jacks.
As a spinner, he was brought into the XI for the turning conditions in Colombo but England's semi-final is likely to be on a truer surface in Mumbai on Thursday.
"I'm not too bothered about my place in the team," said Ahmed, who became England's youngest men's Test cricketer in 2022.
"Baz [coach Brendon McCullum] and Brooky [captain Harry Brook] will definitely put out the best team they think is going to win, as they did [against New Zealand].
"It's not a personal thing for me - it's a World Cup, it's my first World Cup to be in.
"I'll just keep enjoying the ride, if I get the nod I'll play and if not then I'll give water to the boys."
Against New Zealand, Ahmed ignited a chase that was struggling in the final overs by hitting his second ball for six.
He also struck Mitchell Santner for four with a fine reverse sweep and clubbed the left-arm spinner over long-off for another six.
It meant England were able to win with three balls to spare and progress through the Super 8s phase unbeaten.
The performance has also led to some calls for Ahmed to keep his place on Thursday - a match likely to be against co-hosts India or West Indies - but fitting the youngster into England's team would be difficult.
The returns of pace bowlers and spinners have been far more balanced at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, compared with Colombo where spin has dominated.
Without seamer Jamie Overton returning, England could be exposed with Jofra Archer and Sam Curran as their only pace options.
Ahmed's success with the bat against the Black Caps raises the possibility of him batting in the top seven - but again that is not straightforward.
A switch with out-of-form opener Jos Buttler may seem obvious but Ahmed has only batted as an opener once in his T20 career - for Leicestershire against Northamptonshire in 2023.
He has batted most regularly at number three - a position currently filled by captain Harry Brook - and after that most of his experience has been at seven or eight.
Pushing Tom Banton or Jacob Bethell up to open and slotting Ahmed into the middle order would be a huge gamble backed up by little evidence.
And while Ahmed's bowling performance was good - he took 2-28 including the wickets of Rachin Ravindra and Cole McConchie - the deeper analysis compares less favourably to fellow leg-spinner Adil Rashid.
According to data from analysts CricViz, nine of Rashid's deliveries were missed or edged compared to two of Ahmed's. Rashid also had a significantly better control of length.
That makes it unlikely England would pick Ahmed over Liam Dawson, who has offered control to Brook throughout.
Ahmed made his Test debut as an 18-year-old and has been a regular member of England white-ball squads since, but his opportunities have been limited by first-choice leg-spinner Rashid.
He has played only 13 of England's 53 T20s since his debut - but this was his best performance to date.
"I just want to make an impression whenever I do get the chance," Ahmed said.
"I know the team balance right now is great and that's why we are where we are.
"I'm very easy. I was very, very happy when I did get the chance to try and win a game for England, not for me personally, just to win a game."
PSG XI vs Le Havre – Predicted lineup and team news
PSG head north this weekend to take on Le Havre in Ligue 1.
The Parisians make the trip to Normandy sitting top of the table, having won 17 matches, drawn 3 and lost 3, with their 54 points keeping them just in front of Lens in what looks like a two-team title race.
Across their last five outings in all competitions, PSG have beaten Metz 3-0 at home, played out a dramatic Champions League tie against Monaco that they won 5-4 on aggregate, lost 3-1 away to Rennes, and then produced an emphatic 5-0 win over Marseille.
PSG team news
Luis Enrique’s side travel to the port city missing several members of the squad, with injuries continuing to cause problems during a busy part of the season.
Ousmane Dembélé is still out due to a calf injury and has been working on his own, so he will not feature here and it is still unclear whether he will be fit in time for next month’s Champions League clash with Chelsea.
Midfielders Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves are also unavailable, while youngsters Senny Mayulu and Quentin Ndjantou miss out as well, leaving Enrique with fewer choices, especially in the middle of the pitch.
Even with these absences, the PSG boss has welcomed the tension of the title battle, highlighting that “Lens are having an incredible season” but insisting his players “like this pressure” and continue to consider themselves the strongest team in Ligue 1.
Getafe coach backs Arbeloa for success ahead of Real Madrid clash – ‘Great future ahead of him’
Real Madrid will be in action on Monday night as they get set to take on Getafe in La Liga at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Having lost their previous league game against Osasuna, which led to them losing top spot in the standings to FC Barcelona, the Merengues will be eager to get things back on track in the Spanish top flight.
The spotlight will once again be on manager Alvaro Arbeloa, who has not had it easy since being handed the first-team reins over a month ago, but has done a solid job given all the challenges.
Jose Bordalas on Arbeloa and Real Madrid
And, ahead of the game on Monday, Getafe manager Jose Bordalas made sure to credit Arbeloa for the job he had done in the early days of his career at this level, while backing him for a bright future in the game.
“Arbeloa has just arrived. He’s a relatively new coach, but I have no doubt he has a great future ahead of him,” said Bordalas, as quoted by AS.
“I always wish the best for any colleague or teammate. The responsibility at Real Madrid is enormous, but I think he’s doing a good job,” he added.
Bordalas has praised Arbeloa ahead of their meeting. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
“I always want the best players on the pitch. I love this sport and my profession, so I enjoy watching great footballers. It’s a shame that players of Mbappe’s caliber can’t participate, as that makes the spectacle even better,” he said.
On whether they have a chance of getting a positive result against Real Madrid after having strengthened the squad in the winter, Bordalas replied:
“Playing at the Bernabeu is always incredibly difficult. We’re facing an opponent that has improved in both their play and results.
“There’s a huge difference when we’re talking about world-class stars, but it’s clear that the more players and depth you have in your squad, the more options you have.”
When asked if he would be happy to return with a draw against Los Blancos, the Getafe head coach responded by saying:
“We always approach matches with the intention of getting a good result. Only after the final whistle can we make a true assessment.
“We know the level of difficulty is extremely high against Real Madrid, a team capable of beating anyone despite their absences.
“We go there with enthusiasm, a sense of responsibility, and the support of our fans, to whom we are incredibly grateful for their help throughout the season.”
Inter Milan vs Genoa – Predicted lineup and team news
Inter Milan host Genoa at San Siro on Saturday night in their last Serie A game of February.
Having crashed out of the UEFA Champions League in midweek, they will be desperate to respond with a win and further strengthen their already healthy 10-point advantage at the top of the Serie A table.
Inter head into this game on the back of a 2-1 defeat to Bodo/Glimt in the second leg of the playoff tie, a result that saw them eliminated from the Champions League after losing both matches.
However, their domestic form remains excellent, with seven straight victories in Serie A. They have also recorded six consecutive clean sheets in their last six league games away from home and lead the division for shutouts this season with 14.
Inter Milan team news
Captain Lautaro Martínez remains out with a calf problem until next month, so Cristian Chivu is set to choose two strikers from Francesco Pio Esposito, Marcus Thuram and Ange-Yoan Bonny to lead the line for Inter.
In defence, Alessandro Bastoni is suspended, with Carlos Augusto likely to come into the back three as his replacement.
Inter do have some positives on the fitness front: Denzel Dumfries is back after a long injury absence, while midfield duo Nicolo Barella and Hakan Calhanoglu are available again after serving Serie A bans last weekend.
On the left flank, dead-ball expert Federico Dimarco will look to keep his fine season going, having already contributed five goals and 14 assists in league action.
MADRID, SPAIN - 2025/12/21: Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona seen in action during the La Liga EA Sports match between Villareal CF and FC Barcelona at Ceramica stadium. Final Score: Villareal FC 0-2 FC Barcelona. (Photo by Vicente Vidal Fernandez/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
WELCOME TO CAMP NOU!!! The Greatest Stadium on Earth is the site of another crucial La Liga match for Barcelona as the leaders face an excellent Villarreal side looking for three huge points to retain top spot in the table for another week. This should be all kinds of fun, and you’re welcome to join us to follow and comment all the action. Vamos!
We don’t have a lot of rules here, but there are a few things to keep in mind when joining our matchday threads:
Even if the referee sucks or we lose the game, watch the swearing. It’s just unnecessary. Also, don’t discuss illegal streaming links. Those who do it will be warned, and those who post links will be instantly banned. Finally, be nice to each other. This is a Barcelona community and we don’t need to offend one another.
Have fun with the game! Forever and ever, no matter the competition, VISCA EL BARÇA!
PSG and Le Havre face off at the Stade Oceane on Saturday night in a Ligue 1 clash.
Le Havre are aiming to extend their impressive home run and move further clear of the relegation scrap, while PSG look to protect a narrow lead over Lens in an increasingly tense title race.
Le Havre vs PSG – Match preview and team news
Date: Saturday, 28th February
Kick-off: 8:05pm BST
Venue: Stade Oceane, Le Havre
Last meeting: PSG 3-0 Le Havre, Ligue 1, 22nd November 2025
Le Havre team news
Le Havre come into this one with a largely settled side but a few absences for Didier Digard to juggle.
Captain Arouna Sangante remains suspended, depriving Le Havre of their defensive leader at the heart of the back line.
Midfielder Abdoulaye Toure is still sidelined with a knee problem that has kept him out in recent weeks, while Loic Nego has been ruled out after picking up a minor calf issue in training this week.
Etienne Youte Kinkoue (head) and Ayumu Seko (rib) have both been managing recent issues, with earlier reports suggesting doubts over their involvement, though Digard has indicated that aside from Touré and Nego his squad is close to full strength.
PSG travel to Normandy without several important midfield and attacking options as injuries continue to bite in a congested season.
Ousmane Dembele remains sidelined by a calf problem and has been training individually, ruling him out of the trip and leaving his involvement in next month’s Champions League tie with Chelsea uncertain.
Midfielders Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves are also absent, along with young prospects Senny Mayulu and Quentin Ndjantou, thinning Luis Enrique’s options.
Despite the setbacks, PSG’s coach has embraced the pressure of a tight title race, recently stressing that “Lens are having an incredible season” but that his team “like this pressure” and still see themselves as the best side in Ligue 1.
Form
Le Havre
Le Havre sit 13th in Ligue 1 on 26 points from 23 games, nine points clear of the relegation play-off place and in a far more comfortable position than many expected at the start of the season.
Digard’s side have been far stronger at home than away, winning their last two Ligue 1 fixtures at the Stade Océane and taking points in five consecutive top-flight matches on their own patch.
Recent results underline their streaky form: Le Havre lost 2-0 at Nantes last time out but had previously beaten both Strasbourg and Toulouse 2-1, while also drawing with Monaco and narrowly losing to Lens.
PSG
PSG arrive in Normandy as league leaders with a record of 17 wins, 3 draws and 3 defeats, their 54 points putting them narrowly ahead of Lens in a genuine two-horse title race.
Their last five games in all competitions include a 3-0 home win over Metz, a thrilling 3-2 and 2-2 two-legged Champions League tie against Monaco, a 3-1 defeat away to Rennes and a statement 5-0 victory over Marseille.
Atletico Madrid XI vs Real Oviedo – Predicted lineup and team news
Atletico Madrid travel to the Municipal Carlos Tartiere on Saturday night to take on Real Oviedo in their LaLiga matchday 26 clash.
Diego Simeone’s men will be looking to claim all three points and widen the gap between themselves and fifth-placed Real Betis.
Atletico are currently fourth in LaLiga with 48 points from 25 games, sitting three points adrift of third-placed Villarreal. They have won three of their last five matches, including a 4-1 midweek victory over Club Brugge that sealed their place in the Champions League last-16, and a 4-2 league win against Espanyol on February 21.
Atletico Madrid team news
Rodrigo Mendoza is available again after completing his suspension, although there are still doubts over Nico Gonzalez and Pablo Barrios, who might be sidelined once more.
Alexander Sorloth, who scored a hat-trick in that 4-1 win over Club Brugge, is expected to lead the line again, with Julian Alvarez likely to join him in attack.
Ademola Lookman is expected to return on the flank, while Nahuel Molina could come into the XI at right-back, which may allow Marcos Llorente to move back into midfield.
Atletico Madrid predicted lineup
Possible Atletico Madrid starting XI: Oblak; Molina, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri; Simeone, Llorente, Cardoso, Lookman; Sorloth, Alvarez
When will the match kick off?
The match will kick off at 8pm BST on Saturday, 28th February.
How to watch Real Oviedo vs Atletico Madrid?
In the UK, the game will be shown on DAZN, which has exclusive broadcasting rights for La Liga.
Augsburg coach Manuel Baum gestures from the touchline during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Augsburg and 1. FC Cologne at the WWK Arena. Harry Langer/dpa
Manuel Baum is not ruling out staying on as Augsburg coach beyond the season after an original return to the helm as interim coach.
Baum, 46, took over from Sandro Wagner on a deal until the winter break which was then extended for the rest of the season.
The team has won five of their last six matches, including a surprise 2-1 at leaders Bayern Munich in January, to move 11 points clear of the danger zone.
Baum did not rule out staying beyond the summer after the latest success, 2-0 over Cologne on Friday night for the club's 150th victory in their 500th Bundesliga match.
"We had a similar situation before Christmas when we said: Those three games," he recalled.
"We will surely sit down again at the end of the season. And then it is about what the best roles in the club are," he said.
Baum coached Augsburg 2016-2019 in a first term and returned to the club last summer as head of development and football innovation, before taking the coaching role agin.
"I am simply happy to be here again, regardless in which role. I am enjoying this one a lot at the moment because we won again," he said.
Sporting director Benni Weber said: "We havent't reached our goals yet. We are not finished yet and are on our way. That's there will be talks at a given time, but certainly not know."
Germany's Emma Aicher reacts in the finish area after heat two of the women's Alpine Skiing competition at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina. Michael Kappeler/dpa
Germany's Emma Aicher was a class apart as she stormed to a comprehensive victory in a women's World Cup super-g on Saturday in Andorra to move into contention for the discipline title.
Twice Olympic silver medallist Aicher won in Soldeu .88 of a second ahead of New Zealand's Alice Robinson. Friday's downhill winner Corinne Suter of Switzerland was third, another one-tenths back.
Italy's Federica Brignone was no factor in her first race since double super-g and giant slalom Olympic gold as she trailed Aicher by more than two seconds in 15th place.
Aicher failed to finish the Olympic super-g after her downhill and team combined silvers but is now the first skier with two World Cup season wins in the discipline - for an overall season tally of three and five in her career.
"I don't think it was fully executed. During the run I thought to myself: Ski a little more consistently! But maybe it worked out quite well," Aicher told German broadcasters ARD.
Austrian skier Ricarda Haaser had a heavy fall and was taken away on a rescue sled. The Austrian team spoke of "a severe knee injury", with news reports saying she suffered a left tibial plateau fracture.
Haaser had only returned to action in December from a cruciate ligament and meniscus tear in her right knee.
Sofia Goggia of Italy placed sixth and continues to lead the super-g standings, but is now only 20 points ahead of Robinson. Aicher, who is also in the running for the downhill title, is third with a deficit of 96 points.
There are three races left in the discipline with a maximum 300 points available.
Saturday's race replaced a cancelled one in Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Austria, and another super-g is scheduled for Sunday in Soldeu.
American star Mikaela Shiffrin is not competing in Soldeu but retained the overall World Cup lead ahead of also absent Swiss Camille Rast and Aicher.
On Friday of the NFL combine, the safeties were one of the position groups to go through the on-field testing portion of the event. This is a position the Indianapolis Colts will likely have to address at somepoint this offseason.
If free agent Nick Cross ends up signing elsewhere in the coming weeks, that starting strong safety role next to Cam Bynum will be available. One of the on the roster candidates who could earn those snaps is Hunter Wohler, but adding competition would be the prudent move.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Luis Castillo #58 of the Seattle Mariners pitches during the first inning of the spring training game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Peoria Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s another latercap, brought to you by my charming inability to plan ahead and impetuous decision-making, which has led to me sitting in the parking lot of this Peoria Lowe’s using their free wi-fi to push out a recap of a 3-1 Mariners loss to the Diamondbacks that will be as stale as old coffee tomorrow, but the completist in me insists. Plus, I worry we are already reaching the stage of spring training where the games are boring, and we haven’t even seen all the WBC guys leave yet; that will happen tomorrow or the next day, and the minor leaguers will flood into camp tomorrow, and then we’ll really see from boring.
There was a point today where I was driving through Utah for the eighth or eight hundredth hour and I found myself utterly sick of being overcome by appreciation for the natural world (I believe I said, out loud, in the direction of one particularly comely rock formation, “okay, enough with the striations already, I get it!”). Look, anyone who’s looked at B-roll of Arizona spring training can tell you, it’s beautiful. But you can only look at so many breath-stealing dramatic vistas and sandcastle rock formations carved by an ancient and unintelligible force and marvel at it so many times. That’s a little what it feels like, being sick of spring training games already.
I had good intentions with the cap, I promise. I started from Twin Falls today with the intent of reaching Flagstaff, a hefty chunk of driving but one that would leave me a manageable piece for the final push to Peoria the next morning. I planned to listen to the game, type out the recap post-dinner, sleep in Flagstaff and awake very very early the next morning (Show-up time for the media in Peoria is around 7:30 or 8, always an unpleasant shock to the national writers when they drop in). I assume the Mariners also had good intentions with the game, ones that went quickly awry as Luis Castillo surrendered a three-run home run in his spring debut, and they failed to get anything going against Diamondbacks starter Ryne Nelson, also making his spring debut. A boring, bad game, but that’s what spring training is for us, too, as fans, right? Get the calibration early for the particular irritation in Rizzs’s voice when he says “the Mariners LEAVE a man.”
Castillo had a good first inning, opening with a strikeout of Jordan Lawler on a four-seamer that lit up the gun at 96.3. He sat pretty consistently in that first inning at 95-96 mph, which is a significant shift from what we’ve seen with the slower-building Castillo in previous years. Unfortunately, that clean first didn’t transfer into the second inning; James McCann got a fastball in he turned on for a single, and then Ildemaro Vargas pounced on a first-pitch fastball that came in at 94.3 and too much on the plate for a hard-hit single. Castillo did rebound by undressing top DBacks prospect Ryan Waldschmidt on three pitches, steadily climbing the ladder with 95 mph heaters, and then looked to have A.J. Vukovich – who I would have sworn up and down was an Athletics prospect – on the ropes in a 1-2 count, but Vukovich battled for seven pitches and eventually was able to get under a sinker above the zone and send it over the fence for a three-run shot.
Meanwhile, Nelson didn’t allow a hit and struck out three in just two innings: he got Rob Refsnyder looking at a perfectly spotted 97 mph pitch at the bottom of the zone that catcher James McCann challenged and won, which, okay, and he also bowled over two of the young guys, striking out Brennan Davis on a cutter and picking apart Cole Young in a three-pitch sequence that ended with him whiffing at a 97 mph fastball right on the plate. Ouch.
Davis and Young would get their revenge later off reliever Taylor Rashi; Davis opened the inning with yet another hard-hit single, punishing a poorly located slider at 108.8 mph. I’m sad to miss all the guys who will be leaving for the WBC literally right as I’m coming in to camp, but I’m very intrigued by what Davis has been doing this spring and look forward to seeing more. He was followed by another post-hype prospect who’s been having a good camp, Will Wilson—on in place of Miles Mastrobuoni, who got the start at third—with another single to put runners at the corners with no outs. Young did put the ball in play, getting the Mariners’ lone run of the day on an RBI groundout, but having also gotten a slider that looked to be well in the zone you’d like to see more than a okay-ish-hit ground ball.
And that was pretty much it for the offense in this game, as the Mariners bullpen did their jobs and hung zeroes, racking up nine strikeouts among them (although two were Castillo’s, two belonged to Gabe Speier making his final appearance before the WBC, and two to Casey Lawrence in a two-inning outing; Vargas, Ferrer, and Zulueta had the other three). But the offense didn’t hold up their part of D-ing the Z, striking out a combined 10 times. One costly mistake from Castillo, and the Mariners found themselves on the short side of the contest, a boring, unsatisfying affair that will certainly be lost to the annals of spring training history.
My own costly decision was made on the heels of a soggy, tissue-paper-crusted pizza and too much time at the table with my atlas (yes I still use a paper atlas, yes I am a dinosaur, leave me alone I like to see a map all at once in a large format). Phoenix wasn’t that far. What if I just did the drive tonight? I could do that. What was another couple hours in the car after I’d already done twelve or so. It’d be fun! Spontaneous! And most importantly, done at night so I didn’t have to see another single stupid red rock with my fully-smacked gob. We are full up on natural wonders here! All good on Earth’s majesty, thank you.
Ah, perhaps you have already spotted the flaw in my plan of not arranging lodging before driving to Phoenix, where it is a) spring training and b) the weekend and c) apparently a gathering of all the world’s bartenders and every single hotel, motel, Holiday Inn within 300 miles is sold out?
Which brings me to the Shell travel plaza in Black Canyon City, which I landed on after being out of options, driving around aimlessly and bored. Maybe I am not the first person to do a five-step Korean skincare routine at 2 AM in the bathroom/parking lot of said travel plaza; not if you judge off the demeanor of the overnight clerk, an affable older woman whose nametag read Nancy and whose wrists jingled with silver bangle bracelets and who I would follow into war. As I walked back to my vehicle, a little woe-is-me-and-my-bad-planning about the prospect of curling up in the backseat for a nap, I heard a rustling in the bushes next to the car and assumed it was a straggler from the road wandering up towards me; city instincts took over, triggering a wariness and watchfulness.
Instead, a gray donkey appeared between the scrub oaks and gazed at me with big, brown unblinking eyes. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen a donkey, a real one, not as part of a manger scene. In a petting zoo somewhere? “That is a donkey,” I said out loud and to no one.
I went inside to tell Nancy. “There is a donkey outside,” I announced, because it was important for it to be said again.
Nancy was not as surprised as I was by this information. “Oh yeah, there are packs of them around. There used to be a petting zoo on the other side of the mountain but a bad storm knocked it all over and they escaped and bred and now they kind of live all over here.” She pointed at the token bowl of fruit every gas station keeps by the front door like a totem to ward against the gastrointestinal crimes perpetuated throughout the rest of the store. “Sometimes I get to feed them,” she said, not a little smug.
What a privilege it is, to be bored, when there are donkeys everywhere for those with eyes to see them.
Though MotoGP's technical regulations say active aero is banned, Aprilia's clever workaround makes the rider a part of the aero system.
I love brilliant but simple solutions. In a world where complexity is often looked upon as being better, there's a reason why certain simple things still just work. A pocket knife, a fishing pole, an '80s Ford F-250, they're all as basic as a hammer, and they make sense. Not everything needs Bluetooth, though I'm sure I'll get comments saying otherwise.
And when racing organizations come out with something that's brilliantly simple, ah, that's just the best. Whereas most teams will spend millions building a better mousetrap, adding complexity for complexity's sake, and therefore potentially introducing new failure points, there are those flourishes of simple brilliance that just make you stop and say, "Wow, that's awesome."
That's what Aprilia's done with its latest MotoGP motorcycle: a brilliantly simple hack that has the entire paddock talking. It also has the entire paddock worried that Marco Bezzecchi may very well be on his way to his first MotoGP championship. Why? Because Aprilia figured out how to skirt the active aero rules and make the rider the actuation system.
OK, so a little primer on MotoGP active aero rules. Well, they're banned. Unlike Formula 1, which is very much embracing active aerodynamics, MotoGP doesn't let teams use the technology, and hasn't for a while now. And I get it, as it basically just creates an arms race within the teams to figure out insane mechanisms that'll only add complexity and potentially vast differences within the field.
If you add active aero in the traditional sense, you lose part of what makes MotoGP great: the rider's ability.
But race teams are race teams, and race engineers are freakin' wizards, so they're always looking for a competitive edge. And that's where Aprilia's new "active" aerodynamics system comes in, as rather than using solenoids and mechanically-driven aero flaps or wings, they use the rider's arms, and some clever carbon fiber, to open and close aero ducts.
So the solution is derived from that there's a lot of drag on the Aprilia when they're going down a straight and tucked due to the bike's want for better cornering aerodynamics. Basically, the engineers previously prioritized cornering downforce over straightline, as they thought they could make up time there. But Ducati, Aprilia's main rival, had the power and the cornering speed to wipe the floor with them. Aprilia, however, didn't want to give up on its cornering prowess, so it built an aero duct system that opens and closes using the rider's elbows when they're tucked.
The above video showcases it better, but the idea is that when the rider is going down a straight, they're tucked on the bike, their elbows as close to the bike's side fairings as possible. But on each side of the Aprilia, there's an aero duct that they can close, which diverts the air downward, thus reducing straightline drag. The clever bit goes, however, when they hit a turn, which opens up those ducts by them moving their bodies, and thereby increases downforce and the ability to maintain a higher speed throughout the apex. Formula 1 fans will recall McLaren's F-Duct design from back in the day, which worked similarly.
Best of all, because it's not technically active aero as defined by the MotoGP rules, it's not illegal. It's just clever and simple carbon molding.
Now, Aprilia was coy about the whole system until right before the first race this weekend. And based on lap times and trap speeds with Bezzecchi behind the bars, the team looks like it may have pulled off one of the greatest coups of all time. We'll have to wait and see what happens during the first race, but damn do I love this simple and brilliant solution.
Unai Emery is having nightmares at the thought of what Michael Carrick could do with this United side
At one stage, it looked inevitable that Aston Villa would secure a Premier League top-three finish, yet the mood in the West Midlands has shifted to concern.
Villa, once the most in-form side in the league, now find themselves dragged into a tense battle for the top five.
With only one win in their last five league outings, they have surrendered their grip on the title race and handed rivals fresh motivation to displace them in the table.
Stunned at Molineux
Their latest setback was a frustrating 2-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers in Friday night’s West Midlands derby.
After the match, manager Unai Emery admitted to a creeping sense of panic within his squad, acknowledging the frustration of giving competitors a chance to capitalise on their struggles.
“In September, I was worried, and the objective was to stay in the Premier League. In December, I was so happy and excited to get the top-five position and achieve the Champions League.
“One month ago, I was dreaming about maybe winning the Premier League. Now we are in the average to be in the top five.
“Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, they are trying to get to us, for them it is a priority to get into the Champions League.”
The ball is in United’s court
That anxiety may soon be justified. Should Manchester United dispatch Crystal Palace on Sunday, they would leapfrog into third place, leaving Villa with the daunting task of reclaiming the position.
But the fixture list offers little respite for the Villans: clashes against fellow Champions League hopefuls Chelsea and then a trip to Old Trafford next weekend make Emery’s quest for a top-three finish increasingly difficult.
For United, however, the opportunity is clear. Going third is not one they can afford to squander, unlike the many chances to climb the table wasted under Ruben Amorim.
Now unbeaten in ten matches, six of them under caretaker head coach Michael Carrick, United have built momentum that could even propel them into the title conversation, provided they sustain this flawless run.
Paging Mr Nemec, Mr Nemec, you have a telephone call at the front desk. They want to know why you only have 2 goals since November. | Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
The Matchup: New Jersey Devils (28-29-2) @ St. Louis Blues (21-28-9)
On Thursday night, the Devils played their 2nd game in 2 nights and did what they do best, losing 4-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. I came to the realization that the Devils actually do excel at something. They lose so often and are so good at it, that you would not be blamed for thinking that they might actually be actively trying to be this bad. Maybe they want to get Sheldon Keefe or Tom Fitzgerald fired. Maybe they just want to play golf. Maybe like all of us (or most of us), they just want this season (and winter) to finally come to an end and put us out of our collective misery.
The Devils offensive struggles continued against the Penguins. Surprise, Surprise. Paul Cotter scored his 6th goal of the season in the 2nd period, his first goal since 12/13….his first goal in 24 games. Yay…so exciting. The Penguins scored 4 goals, including 1 empty net goal, but let’s be realistic here. The only thing they needed to do, was score 1 or 2 goals at most, and the game was over. During their current 5 game losing streak, the Devils have scored 4 goals….in 5 games. Fantastic! Jack Hughes continues to rack up assists, but it would be nice if he could score goals, well you know, for the team that actually pays him to score goals. 2 goals in his last 21 games, like so many things with this team, and this franchise, just doesn’t cut it. The golden goal was great. I’m happy everyone loves him now. But for the love of god, score some (insert expletive of your choice here) goals for your NHL team. Be a leader here. Enh, who am I kidding? There are no leaders on this team, just paycheck collectors, followers, and quitters.
Last Blues Game
Also on Thursday night the Blues defeated the Seattle Kraken 5-1. To make you all feel even better, the Blues, a team with an even worse record than the Devils, scored more goals, in 1 game, than the Devils have scored in their last 5 games combined. Fitz knows it’s not acceptable though and it’s on him, so no worries everyone! In the words of Bobby McFerrin, don’t worry, be happy!
The two teams traded goals in the first period to start the 2nd period tied at 1-1. However, St. Louis would go on to score 4 straight unanswered goals, including an ENG, to win the game 5-1. I didn’t realize one team was allowed to score that many goals in a row, or in one game. Go figure. Heck, Dylan Holloway had a had trick in this game. He might be able to score more goals on his own than the entire Devils roster tonight!
Joel Hofer started in net for St. Louis on Thursday, so I would expect to see Jordan “Silver” Binnington get the start tonight.
Injuries, Roster for Tonight, Yada, Yada, Yada.
Does this section really even matter anymore? The Devils will roll out the same bums players and expect different results and then act surprised when it plays out exactly like anyone with a brain (apparently not Fitz or the coaches) expected. “We did the same things with the same players and lost again!? Inconceivable!”
The Devils “played” back to back games on Wednesday and Thursday, so I would assume they will have the day off on Friday and not have practice, but let’s be real here folks. They’ve been off now for months. Since Jacob Markstrom was the latest victim of the Devils “offense” I would expect Jake Allen to be the sacrifical lamb for tonight.
Grimace’s Prediction and 2025-2026 Record Tracker
I asked Grimace this morning if he wanted to make a prediction for the game tonight. After 5 minutes of non stop laughter, he asked “You’re serious?” When I told him that I was, he said “dude…come on…they’re going to lose, obviously.” Whatever happens tonight, at least Grimace is over .500 for the time being.
Grimace’s 2025-2026 Season Prediction record currently stands at 12-12-0.
Your Take
I posted this information in the recap comments from the Pittsburgh game, however, I feel this belongs here too, for anyone that missed it. The Devils recorded their 20th win of the season back on December 19th. Since then they have played 24 games. They have won 8 of those 24. Eight wins…..in their last 24 games. Do with that information what you will. I know what I will do with it, and it sure won’t be watching this dumpster fire. Actually scratch that, at least a dumpster fire is fun to watch. Feel free to leave your thoughts and comments below and thanks for reading!
In a shameless bit of non hockey related self promotion (approved by Chris – thanks Chris), I wanted to plug my brand new podcast on here, if any of you are interested in listening. We have a light hearted, fun discussion about any movies, music or video games mostly from the 1980s and 1990s. Please feel free to listen to us on any of the formats below and any feedback is welcome (positive and negative). Also, please follow us and subscribe, even if you think we stink. 🙂
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi believes Shadab Khan is the frontrunner to take over the national side if Mike Hesson continues as head coach. With Pakistan’s campaign at the T20 World Cup 2026 hanging in the balance, discussions have already intensified over who could replace current skipper Salman Ali Agha. Many experts in Pakistan feel Agha’s position is under threat after the team’s underwhelming showing in the tournament.
Pakistan received a timely boost when England beat New Zealand by four wickets in Colombo on Friday, keeping their semi-final hopes alive. To progress, Agha’s men must defeat Sri Lanka in Pallekele by 65 runs or chase down the target with 40 balls remaining to surpass New Zealand on net run rate.
Ahead of that crucial fixture, Afridi pointed to Shadab’s strong working relationship with Hesson, built during their time together at Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League, as a decisive factor.
“If Mike Hesson stays on as the coach, then I think Shadab Khan will be made the captain. They have a connection and go back a long way, stemming from their stint with Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League. Shadab is not a bad choice, but if his performance as a bowler was better, then it would have been great,” Afridi said on Samaa.TV.
“We need Shadab to come up with consistent performances. If that comes, we will also feel good about calling him the captain. I always used to say he was the backbone of the team. I think Shadab will be made the captain as they don't have any other choice. Make him the captain, but he should be a performer,” he added.
Interestingly, following Pakistan’s 61-run defeat to India earlier in the tournament, Afridi had urged team management to leave Shadab out due to his struggles with both bat and ball.
Shadab later responded sharply to criticism from several former players, including Afridi. After an all-round display against Namibia, he claimed his current team could defeat India in the World Cup, something he said former players could not boast of. The remarks drew significant backlash, and he faced heavy criticism from multiple quarters.
Afridi is not alone in predicting a leadership change. Earlier, Shoaib Malik also indicated that Shadab’s elevation may already be in motion.
“Shadab's name has started doing the rounds as far as captaincy is concerned,” Malik said on ARY News.
As it stands, Pakistan are yet to register a win in the Super 8 stage. Their fixture against New Zealand was washed out, while they suffered a narrow defeat to England, leaving their semi-final fate dependent on a dramatic turnaround
On Friday of the NFL combine, the safeties were one of the position groups to go through the on-field testing portion of the event. This position could be on the Jacksonville Jaguars' radar this offseason.
Andrew Wingard is a free agent, but still under contract are Eric Murray and Antonio Johnson. How urgently the Jaguars feel they have to address safety could be dependent on how they feel about Caleb Ransaw and Rayuan Lane stepping into larger roles.
In the world of football, where exploits, titles, and memorable achievements are often celebrated, there is also another side to the sport: that of teams who have made history… but for all the wrong reasons.
From national teams to amateur clubs, including entire seasons best forgotten, some squads have left an indelible mark in the game’s archives through disastrous performances, losing streaks, or humiliating defeat records.
This feature thus presents an overview of the worst teams in world football, from small outfits to fallen giants.
American Samoa at the very bottom
The biggest defeat in the history of the French national team took place in 1908, against Denmark (17-1). A heavy score, but far from the world record. That record dates back to 2001 and belongs to American Samoa, who lost 31-0 to Australia.
The laughingstock of the top five leagues
Lecce (13 points in 1993-1994), Tasmania Berlin (10 points in 1965-1966), Derby County (11 points in 2007-2008), Lens (17 points in 1988-1989), and Gijón (13 points in 1997-1998) each hold the record for the lowest points total in a season in one of the five major European leagues. We won’t be congratulating them.
A Ligue 1 season to forget for GF 38
In 2009-2010, Grenoble began its second consecutive season in the top division. The Isère team started the campaign with 11 straight defeats—a national record—and never managed to recover. They finished the season with more losses (25) than points (23).
A terrible drought for San Marino
In October 2020, the microstate ended a run of 40 consecutive defeats by drawing with Liechtenstein (0-0). The Sanmarinese hadn’t won in over 100 matches, their last victory dating back to 2004… once again against Liechtenstein, just for a change!
Ibis Sport Club, the worst club in the world?
The club gave itself this nickname, as you can read on its jersey ("Pior time do mundo"). The reason: endless losing streaks in the 1970s and 1980s, and above all a striking statistic noted in 2008. For its 70 years of existence, the club had scored… 62 goals. Less than one goal per year on average. Needless to say, Ibis features in the Guinness Book of Records. Everyone has their own pride.
Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli leads the cars of several rivals in F1 testing in Bahrain [Getty Images]
Mercedes' rivals have succeeded in securing a rule change following a pre-season technical row over engine performance.
Audi, Ferrari, Red Bull and Honda had been pushing for a change in the regulation governing compression ratios on the basis they believed Mercedes had secured an advantage through clever use of materials technology.
Formula 1's governing body the FIA said on Saturday that a change to the way the compression ratio was measured would be introduced on 1 June with a further revision for the 2027 season.
A statement said the rule change had been approved unanimously by all power-unit manufacturers.
The compression ratio is a measurement of the cylinder displacement between the two extremes of the piston stroke.
The original rule stated the ratio would be limited to 16:1 in the new engine rules introduced this year - a change from 18:1 under the previous regulations - and this was measured at ambient temperature.
Mercedes' rivals were pushing for the compression ratio to be measured at operating temperature.
The Mercedes engine has been measured by the FIA at both ambient and operating temperature and complied with the limit of 16:1 at all times, senior F1 insiders have told BBC Sport.
Compression ratios tend to decrease as an engine rises in temperature because of thermal expansion of the materials involved. The belief was Mercedes had found a more effective way to limit this loss than other manufacturers.
From 1 June 2026, the compression ratio will be measured at 130C as well as ambient temperature, and from next year only at 130C.
That means that from next year, manufacturers will be able to have engines that exceed a compression ratio of 16:1 at ambient temperature, even though this reduction from the previous limit was introduced into the 2026 regulations to make the rules more appealing to new manufacturers.
Audi and Ford both entered F1 because they were attracted by the new power-unit rules, which introduce a near 50-50 split between internal combustion and electrical power, and Honda reversed a decision to quit.
A statement from the FIA said: "A significant effort has been invested in finding a solution to the topic of compression ratio.
"The regulations introduced for 2026 represent one of the biggest changes in recent memory.
"All parties acknowledge that with the introduction of such significant regulatory changes, there are collective learnings to be taken from pre-season testing and the initial rounds of the 2026 championship.
"Further evaluation and technical checks on energy management matters are ongoing."
This last sentence is a reference to discussions over energy deployment and recovery.
SOLDEU, Andorra (AP) — Emma Aicher dominated the first women’s super-G since the Olympics to earn her fifth career World Cup win Saturday as the fight for the season discipline title got fresh impetus.
The German allrounder posted the fastest split times in the first two sections of the Aliga course and became the first skier with multiple super-G wins this season.
Aicher finished 0.88 seconds ahead of Alice Robinson of New Zealand. Robinson closed the gap to World Cup super-G leader Sofia Goggia to 20 points with three events left, including one on Sunday on the same hill.
The Italian came 1.32 seconds behind Aicher in sixth.
Robinson, who won the season-opening super-G in Switzerland last December, said she felt “really proud of myself for getting the most out of the sections I knew I could ski fast. It's really nice to be back on the podium."
Corinne Suter, who won Friday’s downhill, trailed by 0.98 in third and was the last skier to finish within a second of Aicher’s winning time.
Racing in perfect sunny conditions, Aicher had a near-flawless run and celebrated by pumping her fist after crossing the finish line with a commanding lead.
Aicher won silver medals in the downhill and the team combined but didn’t finish the super-G at the Milan Cortina Games this month.
Her win saw her overtake Lindsey Vonn into third place in the super-G standings, 96 points behind Goggia.
Vonn is out since badly injuring her left leg in a frightening crash in the Olympic downhill.
Two-time Olympic champion Federica Brignone was more than two seconds off the lead.
The Italian, who returned from a broken left leg just before the Milan Cortina Games and then won gold in super-G and giant slalom, skipped Friday’s downhill and seemed to struggle with landing the many jumps in the course.
Saturday's race was interrupted following a nasty crash from Austrian skier Ricarda Haaser, who seemed to hurt her knee and was transported off the hill on a rescue sled.
Liverpool Starting XI vs West Ham United: Confirmed Team News and Predicted Lineup
Liverpool vs West Ham United: Predicted Lineup, Team News and Injury Latest
As Liverpool prepare to host West Ham United at Anfield, the conversation centres on selection, rhythm and whether Arne Slot resists the urge to tinker. The champions elect from last season have built their campaign on control and clean sheets, yet the absence of a key creative spark has complicated matters ahead of this Premier League clash.
Kick off is at 3pm GMT on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at Anfield, with no live TV coverage in the UK.
Attacking midfield dilemma for Liverpool
Slot faces a familiar managerial puzzle, balancing continuity with invention. The headline absentee is Florian Wirtz, ruled out at short notice.
“I don’t expect Florian to be available, that is a disappointment of course,” Slot told reporters.
“Every time a player is not available it is a disappointment and also something I did not expect after last week but that is sometimes how things evolve and unfortunately this time it is not in a positive way.”
Wirtz’s absence removes guile between the lines, the ability to receive on the half turn and slide passes through compact defences. Against a disciplined West Ham United side, that nuance can matter. The temptation may be to reshuffle, but Slot has often preferred cohesion over impulse.
Curtis Jones is therefore poised to continue in the advanced midfield role. His industry and positional awareness were useful in the 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest, even if the performance lacked sparkle. Liverpool have kept three successive clean sheets, a statistic Slot will value more than aesthetic perfection.
Defensive stability shapes Predicted lineup
There is little appetite to disturb a back line that has rediscovered its authority. Alisson remains the undisputed No 1, protected by a central pairing of Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk that has blended recovery pace with leadership.
Dominik Szoboszlai is expected to continue at right back in an inverted role, stepping into midfield during possession phases, with Milos Kerkez offering balance on the left. In front of them, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister provide technical security and bite.
Jeremie Frimpong is available after a month out with a thigh injury. Yet immediate reintegration feels unlikely, particularly when defensive metrics are trending positively. Slot’s Liverpool have conceded little of late and patience may be rewarded.
Liverpool vs West Ham United Predicted lineup
With Wirtz sidelined and several squad players unavailable, continuity seems the guiding principle.
Predicted Liverpool XI:Alisson, Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Jones, Gakpo, Ekitike
Mohamed Salah’s form will draw scrutiny. He endured a quiet afternoon at the City Ground and has gone nine Premier League matches without a goal. Even so, his movement continues to distort defensive shapes, creating spaces for Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike to exploit.
Unavailable for Liverpool are Isak, Leoni, Bradley, Endo and Wirtz.
For West Ham United, organisation and counter attacking precision will be key. They are likely to concede territory and test Liverpool’s patience. The first goal, as ever at Anfield, could define the afternoon.
Girona vs. Celta: a duel that promises strong emotions
The Girona FC faces a new LaLiga matchday with their sights set on a clash that promises strong emotions for the red-and-white fans. Next Sunday, March 1st at 9 PM, Míchel's team will host Celta de Vigo at the Montilivi Stadium. The Girona team arrives at this match after a series of competitive games that have highlighted the character and resilience of the squad. In the last four LaLiga matches, Girona has achieved a 2-2 draw at Mendizorrotza; a highly commendable 2-1 victory against Barça at Montilivi. Before this triumph, the red-and-whites drew 1-1 with Sevilla in a match that showcased defensive solidity and the ability to create chances. Previously, the team experienced a narrow 0-1 defeat against Real Oviedo.
As for Celta de Vigo, the team led by Claudio Giráldez arrives in Girona with a competitive dynamic marked by matches where they have combined goals and consistency. In their last LaLiga outing, the Galicians achieved a convincing 0-2 victory against Mallorca, a result that allowed them to boost their confidence and maintain good momentum. This result came after a 2-2 draw against Espanyol in a match where Celta demonstrated offensive capability and the ability to react in key moments. Before this encounter, Celta lost 1-2 to Osasuna in an intense and hard-fought match until the end, and completed their last four league fixtures with a goalless 0-0 draw against Getafe.
This clash between Girona and Celta comes at a point in the season where both teams aim to consolidate results that will allow them to advance confidently in the standings. Girona, with the support of their fans at Montilivi, will look to continue their trajectory of hard work and collective efforts to secure three points that strengthen their aspiration for a more favorable position in the table. On the other hand, Celta arrives with the intention of showcasing offensive and organized football, leveraging the individual qualities of their players to create danger and compete with intensity.
In the standings, Girona occupies the eleventh place with thirty points, while Celta is sixth with thirty-seven points.
Capello ahead of Juve match: “Dybala and Soulé’s absences weigh heavily on Roma.”
Fabio Capello, who previously played for and then coached both Roma and Juventus, analyzed tomorrow night’s match at the Olimpico in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.
A last resort for Juve? “There are still too many games to go to call it that. But it’s certainly important. Juve played a courageous match against Galatasaray. And they must consider it a starting point. There are two possible paths: focus on the result or on the performance. The first demoralizes you, the second must motivate you.”
On Roma: “They’re a confident team, with great conviction, play, and mentality: they’re euphoric. And now even Gasperini seems happy, he’s no longer complaining; in Malen, he has the center forward he wanted. Of course, comparing him to Vialli seems excessive to me.”
“Tomorrow’s Roma-Juve match will be affected by the absences of Dybala and Soulé. But Gasperini has Svilar: that lad brings real points.”
Inter Milan Vs Genoa – France Starlet & Italy Veteran Among Rotated Names Expected To Start For Nerazzurri
Ange-Yoan Bonny and Francesco Acerbi are among the names expected to start as Inter Milan host Genoa at San Siro.
Indeed, with Cristian Chivu rotating his squad carefully ahead of the Coppa Italia semi-final against Como.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, Bonny gets the nod up front alongside Marcus Thuram.
Therefore, Pio Esposito is given a rest after his recent run of starts.
Inter Vs Genoa – Chivu Gives Chances To Acerbi & Bonny
ROME, ITALY – OCTOBER 18: Francesco Acerbi of Internazionale warms up prior to the Serie A match between AS Roma and Juventus FC at Olimpico Stadium on October 18, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
In defence, Bisseck could drop to the bench, with either Acerbi or De Vrij coming in and Akanji shifting across to cover the right side of the back three.
The right wing-back spot remains up for debate.
Luis Henrique and Darmian are competing for the berth, with no clear frontrunner as yet.
On the opposite flank, Dimarco is expected to continue despite the fixture congestion.
The most welcome news is the return of Hakan Calhanoglu to the squad.
The Turkish international is not yet ready to start but is available to make an impact from the bench, a significant boost for Chivu as he navigates a demanding week that also includes next weekend’s derby against AC Milan.
Phillipa Yarranton made her NSL debut in 2017 [Getty Images]
Goal attack Philippa Yarranton says she is "excited" about what LexisNexis Dragons have got to offer going into the new Netball Super League (NSL) season.
The Dragons begin their NSL campaign away to last year's runner- up Loughborough Lightning on Saturday.
The Welsh side finished bottom of the revamped NSL last year, winning only two of their 14 matches.
But Yarranton insists they head into the new season with a "winning mentality".
"A lot of our training is focused around winning and building resilience and looking at what it takes, what a performance mindset looks like and what we need from each other," she said.
"I would love personally to be thinking let's finish in that top six and just raise our game this year."
'If we can get through that, we can get through anything'
As well as a difficult time on the court in 2025, Dragons faced uncertainty off it.
Players were informed in the off-season that they may not have a team to play for in the 2026 season if the franchise did not secure funding.
During that period, the majority of the Dragons' board resigned, while Sara Moore left as Dragons and Wales Netball head of performance.
While the financial issue seems to have been resolved, for the short term at least, Dragons were able retain the bulk of the squad from last season, and Yarranton says the players were "protected" from off-court issues.
"I personally don't think I was aware of things that were going on behind the scenes at the time," she told BBC Sport Wales.
"So we were protected from that and I think that's the right decision because ultimately they need us to be performing."
Welsh Feather Yarranton said the uncertainty surrounding the club did not impact on the team's displays.
"I think as athletes, we need to take accountability for our performances and we can't point fingers and blame," she added.
A home away from home
LexisNexis Dragons have a new name this season, having previously been known as LexisNexis Cardiff Dragons.
There will also be a change of scenery, with Dragons to play home games at Cardiff's House of Sport as well as Liverpool's M&S Bank Arena.
Dragons are among six of the league's teams who will play home games at alternative venues, but are the only side who will host opponents in two different countries.
However, Yarranton believes the move can only be positive.
"I'm super excited," she said. "I think it's great for our north Wales fans. I know obviously we're not Wales, but we have to celebrate that we're the only Welsh team that play in the Super League, right?
"It's amazing, and I think it's somewhere we've missed for the last few years. I'm a massive Liverpool fan as well, so I'm really excited to go
Only London Pulse and Nottingham Forest Netball will host games at one venue in the 2026 NSL season [Getty Images]
'We go to win every game'
Loughborough Lightning will start the new season still reeling from last year's Grand Final defeat to London Pulse.
With the long-term aim of making the league fully professional, the level of competition is rising and Yarranton acknowledges finishing top this year will be a huge challenge.
"Hopefully we're somewhere mid-table," she said.
"Don't get me wrong, I'd love to finish at the top, but I think having to be really realistic, we want more wins than we do losses this year. That's my personal goal. It's a conversation that we're having as a team."
LexisNexis Dragons fixtures
28 February: Loughborough Lightning v LexisNexis Dragons (18:00 GMT)
6 March: LexisNexis Dragons v London Pulse (19:00 GMT)
13 March: LexisNexis Dragons v AO Manchester Thunder (19:30 GMT)
20 March: NIC Leeds Rhinos v LexisNexis Dragons (19:00 GMT)
28 March: LexisNexis Dragons v London Mavericks (16:00 GMT)
4 April: Nottingham Forest v LexisNexis Dragons (15:00 GMT)
The T20 World Cup 2026 has been a campaign to forget so far for England’s senior batter Jos Buttler. The experienced right-hander has accumulated only 62 runs across seven innings, including five consecutive single-digit scores. He began the tournament with 26 against Nepal and 21 versus the West Indies, but his returns have dipped sharply since then.
His struggles continued in the Super 8 clash against New Zealand in Colombo, where he was dismissed for a duck, caught behind off Lockie Ferguson. Across his last five outings against Scotland, Italy, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and New Zealand, Buttler has managed scores of 3, 3, 7, 2 and 0, totalling just 15 runs.
Despite the lean patch, England captain Harry Brook has thrown his full support behind his predecessor. Brook urged critics to consider Buttler’s long-standing contribution to England cricket and went as far as describing him as the finest white-ball player the game has seen.
“There's been a lot said about Jos. I said the other day that he's played 150 games for England in T20Is, and people probably need to take a little step back from that. He's probably the best white-ball player to have ever played the game. He's in a little bit of a rut now, but I think that's an exciting thing for everybody in the world to know what he could produce in the next couple of games,” Brook said at the post-match presentation.
“He's obviously got a lot of fire in the belly, and he wants to go out there and show everybody what he's made of. Look, he averages 34 striking at 145 in 150 games. He's a phenomenal player, and I have no doubts he'll go out and do well,” he added.
England have Ben Duckett available as an alternative should they opt for a change. However, Brook’s comments suggest Buttler is set to feature in the semi-final in Mumbai next week against either India or the West Indies.
The dip in form is not limited to this tournament. Across England’s internationals and the S20, Buttler has registered just one half-century in his last 24 innings. His previous fifty in an ICC event came during the 2024 T20 World Cup, when he struck an unbeaten 83 against the USA.
Unknown date & location, USA; FILE PHOTO; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard David Thompson (44) in action against the North Carolina Tar Heels. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-Imagn Images
This has been a season of hope for NC State. Will Wade’s team hasn’t been perfect, but it has certainly had its moments, notably an absolute destruction of UNC (albeit without Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar, but still, good for the Wolfpack soul).
State has wandered in the desert often since the departure of Jim Valvano in 1990. It’s not quite the biblical 40 years, but it’s getting close to it.
There was a time, though, when State was one of the most feared programs in the land. In the early 1970s, Duke was not really a factor. UNC was not what State was. Only Maryland was close, and as much as Lefty Driesell tried, he couldn’t overcome the Wuffies.
The peak of this rivalry was in the 1974 ACC Tournament, where NC State came in #1 in the nation, with the Terrapins close behind at #4.
Both teams were loaded. Maryland had Tom McMillen, Len Elmore, John Lucas, Mo Howard, Owen Brown (who would soon die tragically of a heart attack) , Tom Roy and Billy Hahn, who would later become a prominent Maryland assistant under Gary Williams.
NC State boasted the remarkable Monte Towe, a 5-5 point guard, Mo Rivers, Tim Stoddard, Phil Spence, Mark Moeller, Tom Burleson, and the transcendent talent of David Thompson.
NC State and Maryland put on one of the greatest games of all time. Thompson does a number of brilliant things here, but it’s hard not to watch roommates Towe and Burleson. Towe just makes smart play after smart play, while Burleson is astoundingly agile for someone his size. You almost can’t believe he can maneuver the way that he does.
State won, 103-100, in overtime, and this game had major ramifications: because at that time, only one team per conference went to the tournament, the #4 Terps, unquestionably a Final Four-level team, were left out.
The following year, the NCAA tournament expanded from 23 teams to 32.
By the way, you’ll notice that in this game, there is no three-point shot, no shot clock, and no dunking.
The Lions will need to be cap compliant before the start of the new league year on March 11 at 4 p.m. ET.
With some previously discussed contract restructures, the Lions can free up some cap space in a hurry to get cap compliant. Those restructures would also create an opportunity for the Lions in free agency and for Detroit to re-sign some of its young stars to long-term contract extensions.
With a record $301.2 million salary cap plus benefits, total projected player costs for the 2026 NFL season will exceed $10 billion. pic.twitter.com/H8xCPmMhqO
Starting quarterback Jared Goff is a surefire restructure candidate. By converting Goff's $55 million in base salary to prorated bonuses, the Lions can morph Goff's $69.6 million 2026 cap hit to a $29.3 million cap hit, creating $40.275 million in cap savings.
Restructures with wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and offensive tackle Penei Sewell could create an additional $21.1 million and $15.028 million, respectively.
Algeria squad list: Petkovic keeps an eye on JS Kabylie
Algeria: Vladimir Petkovic turns to a JSK player
Algeria squad list: Petkovic keeps an eye on JS Kabylie
JS Kabylie goalkeeper Gaya Merbah could find his name on Algeria’s extended squad list for the March training camp. According to reports circulating in Algeria, notably relayed by journalist Kadi Nazim, the Kabyle shot-stopper is under close observation by head coach Vladimir Petkovic.
Since reclaiming his spot as JS Kabylie’s starting goalkeeper, Merbah has delivered consistently impressive performances. His reliability and composure between the posts appear to have caught the attention of the technical staff, who are actively preparing for the upcoming international break.
During the next FIFA window, the Algeria national team will set up camp in Italy. Two friendly matches are on the agenda: an opener against Guatemala, followed by a more challenging test against Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay, a side renowned for its intensity and modern brand of football.
HUBBALLI: A century in a Ranji Trophy final is special for any cricketer, but for Karnataka opener Mayank Agarwal it proved to be bittersweet. The seasoned batter produced a fine 160, yet with Jammu and Kashmir piling up 584 in their first innings, he found little support from the rest of his team’s famed top order to keep the contest alive.
Mayank was generous in his praise for Jammu and Kashmir seamer Auqib Nabi, whose incisive spells were central to the visitors’ success. “Nabi has bowled outstandingly throughout the season. He deserves the credit, and the wickets column shows that,” Mayank said.
Elaborating on the 29-year-old pacer’s effectiveness, he added: “He has challenged the batters on both edges and maintained very tight lines, which keeps you under constant pressure.”
Despite trailing by 477 runs with Jammu and Kashmir still holding six wickets in hand, Mayank insisted that Karnataka had not given up hope. “We know we are behind. We’re going to come out in the morning, give our best and see what happens from there,” he added.
Rangers are unbeaten in their past five league meetings with rivals Celtic (W3 D2), after having lost four of their previous five (D1). They have had four different managers in those five clashes (Philippe Clement, Barry Ferguson x 2, Russell Martin, Danny Rohl).
Celtic have only won two of their past 12 away games at Rangers in all competitions (D4 L6), although the latest two have been drawn. Celtic last drew three successive trips to their Old Firm rivals in March 1996.
Rangers have won their past 10 home games in all competitions by an aggregate score of 32-4. They last won 11 successive home matches in December 2013 under Ally McCoist (11), and last did so within a single season in April 2003 under Alex McLeish (18) – the 11th of which was against Celtic (3-2 in December 2002).
Celtic have lost seven games in the Scottish Premiership this season, as many as they did in 2023-24 (three) and 2024-25 (four) combined. Celtic last suffered more defeats in a league campaign in 1999-00 (nine) – with their eighth defeat that season coming away to Rangers (4-0 in March 2000).
After his side's 3-1 victory in January, Danny Rohl could become the first manager to win his first two league Old Firm derbies in charge of Rangers.
This will be Martin O'Neill's first league Old Firm derby as Celtic boss since a 2-1 win at Ibrox in April 2005; the Northern Irishman has won eight of his past 10 league games against Rangers as Celtic boss (L2).
Rangers' Mikey Moore, who scored at Celtic park in January, has five goals in the Premiership this season; the last player to score more while aged 18 or younger in a season in the competition was Ryan Gauld in 2013-14 (six), and the last non-Scottish player to do so in the top-flight was James McCarthy in 2008-09 (six).
Despite playing 46% of his league minutes as a central midfielder, Celtic's Benjamin Nygren ranks joint top for goals (14, level with Tawanda Maswanhise), second for shots (67), second for shots on target (30), and third for expected goals (10.0).
"Legally Newport County are tied in long-term [but] it [relegation] would have an impact," Dragons chief executive David Blumberg told a meeting of Dragons supporters this week.
"They are optimistic about staying up, but should that not work out then we will have to think about what comes next.
"They won't go anywhere, they will still play here, but it would just be about how we operate their games and how it works commercially."
County owner Huw Jenkins, who took over the club in January 2024, has regularly spoken of the club's financial challenges.
The club decided in 2024 to only open the north terrace when there was enough demand in a bid to reduce matchday costs.
Dragons future 'stable'
Dragons are facing their own uncertainties given the chaos around the upheaval in regional rugby with the Welsh Rugby Union intent on cutting the number of professional teams from four to three. Those plans include one team based in east Wales.
Dragons signed a new Professional Rugby Agreement - PRA25 - with the governing body last year along with Cardiff but Ospreys and Scarlets refused.
Blumberg said: "There is a lot going on with the other teams but we're still in the background poking the bear around what the next five of 10 years looks like for the Dragons.
"It's not panic stations because we have PRA locked in with a five-year term and know our funding for the next two years. We are recruiting and retaining players on a budget we know we have got under PRA25."
There is a two-year notice period for terminating Dragons' PRA which would have to be served by the WRU on 1 June.
Blumberg added: "The Union desperately need us to be stable and involved in the future plans. We have a solid foundation and they don't want us to go off track."
Developing land alongside the rugby pitch on the Rodney Parade site has long been an ambition of the owners Buttress, David Wright and Hoyoung Huh.
Blumberg told supporters the club is in talks with Newport Council and Welsh government over plans for a full-size 4G pitch with 2,000-seater stand as well as padel courts and a new clubhouse.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 13: (SUN OUT, SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Aaron Wan-Bissaka of West Ham United controls the ball under pressure from Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and West Ham United FC at Anfield on April 13, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) | Liverpool FC via Getty Images
LIVERPOOL VS. WET HAMS
| Saturday, February 28th | Premier League | Anfield 3PM BST/10PM EST
Liverpool face off against the Wettest of Hams today, and if their form against relegation fodder continues this season, we could be in for a long one. Last time out, Liverpool desperately tried to continue doing their best Robin Hood impression, by giving points to the poor, but somehow escaped with all three points.
Television & Streaming: No Coverage (UK); USA Network (USA); Stan Sport (Australia); DAZN (Canada); Star Sports Select 1 (India); Astro Premier League (Malaysia); SuperSport Maximo 2 (Nigeria); 222 Hub Premier 2 (Singapore); SuperSport Maximo 2 (South Africa); other listings at LiveSoccerTV
Team sheets posted approximately one hour before kickoff.
WET HAMS
Team sheets posted approximately one hour before kickoff.
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Crocker won the title at Belfast's Windsor Park in September 2025 [Getty Images]
Lewis Crocker's manager Jamie Conlan says the IBF welterweight champion's hand injury is "nothing too serious" and expects the Belfast fighter's first title defence against Liam Paro to take place in May.
While no date or venue had been officially confirmed by Paro's promoter No Limit, early April was rumoured to be their preferred time for the bout to take place on Australian soil.
However, Conlan's team provided a medical notice to Paro's team and the IBF requesting extra time for the champion to recover from the injury, with May in the Queensland city of Townsville now looking likely.
"[Crocker] has a small niggle on his metacarpal, nothing too serious but it's strained and that put him back about four weeks," Conlan confirmed to BBC Sport NI.
"We just made sure we gave [medical notice to the IBF] in enough time and to give No Limit enough time to get a date that suits everybody.
"We have a tentative date we are working towards but until it's official, we won't really know."
Crocker won the title with a split decision verdict over Paddy Donovan at Belfast's Windsor Park in September and his team had hoped to stage the defence against mandatory challenger Paro back in his home city.
However, with no agreement reached between both parties, the matter was resolved by a purse bid with No Limit outbidding Crocker's promoter Matchroom by $27,000 (£20,000).
The 25,500-capacity Queensland Country Bank Stadium is understood to be a leading contender to host the fight and, despite travelling to opposition territory, Conlan says it is "a really exciting time" for his fighter.
"It will be back-to-back headliners outdoors. He won [the title] at Windsor Park and now to do it in Australia, in his opponent's back yard against the hardest fighter you'll be in the ring with creates a great legacy and that's what Lewis Crocker is out to do.
"He's become world champion and now it's about building that legacy, so he'll go out and beat Liam Paro in great fashion, then come back [to Belfast] for a massive fight at the end of summer."
Beirne impressed against England after shifting to the Ireland back row [Getty Images]
Tadhg Beirne insists Ireland must remain focused as attention shifts to Friday's Six Nations game with Wales in Dublin (20:10 GMT) following last week's record away win over England.
With the tournament's fallow week offering time for teams to regroup, the 34-year-old said Ireland's mindset is firmly fixed on improvement rather than just reflection.
"A better performance against Wales is what we'll be chasing," said the Munster forward.
"You can't just pat yourselves on the back and think it's going to happen again. You have to focus on what went well, bank it, and then also focus on what to improve on.
"There's no point saying that was a good performance, we'll just do it again next week. It doesn't work like that. You have to work incredibly hard to get those performances and it'll be no different next week.
"We don't want to just put in a good performances, we want to get better and that's the challenge."
Ireland produced one of their best performances under head coach Andy Farrell to secure a thumping 42-21 win over England.
However, Beirne says he is expecting a stern challenge from Wales, who were denied a first Six Nations win since 2023 by Scotland in a close encounter in Cardiff last week.
"Wales, much like us, are improving game on game," said the British and Irish Lion.
"A lot of the scorelines against the teams they've played against have probably not painted them in the best picture in terms of how well they played in parts of those games.
"They're chasing better 80-minute performances and they were very close to getting the win against Scotland. I think that performance will give them a lot of confidence coming in against us.
"We'll have a little bit of a focus on Wales but as I said, our focus is on us getting better each game and we'll be ready for their improving performances as well."
Welsh rugby crisis 'incredibly sad'
Beirne won a league title with Scarlets before joining Munster in 2018 [Getty Images]
Friday's fixture carries personal resonance for Beirne. A two-year spell with the Scarlets proved transformative in his career, leading to his Ireland debut and a move to Munster in 2018.
Having won the Pro12 title with the Llanelli-based region in 2017, Beirne says he is "incredibly sad" to see current plans to cut the number of Welsh professional sides from four to three.
"There's probably two or three players still there from when I was there – a big change in the guard," he said.
"I haven't really spoken to any of them about it. It's a tough time. I do remember when I was there, there were whispers of the same thing happening.
"It just seems a little bit more serious at this point. I feel incredibly sad for all those individuals who have families and everything at home and it's going to create a lot of pressure for those guys."
Beirne added: "When you're in these camps, you can use it and also you try to put it in the back of your mind at the same time because you have an opportunity to put on the jersey and represent your country.
"I think that's what those guys will be doing. They'll just be focusing on the rugby and trying to put their best performances out there and focus on the other stuff later."
KOLKATA: The West Indies will surely draw inspiration from their 2016 triumph when they take on India in the must-win Super Eights match at the Eden Gardens here on Sunday. On April 3, 2016, they beat England at this venue to win the T20 World Cup. A decade later, they may not be the same force, but they had shown glimpses of brilliance before coming up against South Africa.
The common thread that remains between the team of 2016 and this one is Darren Sammy. The current West Indies coach was the captain then. “It’s a special feeling for me,” Sammy said on his return to the Eden. He might want to relive that moment of triumph, but India this time seem to be holding all the aces.
The team of 2016 had a lot of charismatic players. Apart from Sammy himself, there were Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Marlon Samuels. This time too they have some extremely talented players, who can deliver, like Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder. However, they are nowhere near the class of 2016.
This West Indies did show their prowess in the league stage, but apart from England, their opponents were the associate nations who are yet to find a foothold in the game. Even England were well below par. The reality check came up against South Africa and there the West Indies came up short by miles.
The only advantage they have is that they have played two matches here during the tournament, whereas India are coming here for the first time. The last time India played here was the Test match against South Africa in Oct last year, and they were left second best. But then, white ball cricket is a different game and India are the masters in it.
The wicket this time has a green tinge to it, unlike the dry surface for the South Africa Test. Kolkata is as much India’s home as Mumbai or Ahmedabad. With a packed crowd behind them, Suryakumar Yadav will have more adrenaline rushing through his veins than Sammy.
Algeria: Vladimir Petkovic sends a rising star down to the U23s
Algeria: Petkovic pushes a prodigy towards the U23s
Algeria: Vladimir Petkovic sends a rising star down to the U23s
With the next World Cup on the horizon, Algeria’s head coach Vladimir Petkovic already appears to have a clear vision for the right wing pecking order in his attacking lineup. According to reports from an Algerian daily, the Swiss-Bosnian tactician is set to rely primarily on Riyad Mahrez, Ilan Kebbal, and Anis Hadj-Moussa to fill this crucial role in his offensive system.
Within this framework, Badredine Bouanani’s situation could be about to change. The Algerian federation is reportedly considering moving him to the U23 squad to bolster the team for the upcoming U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers scheduled for September. The move aims to give him more playing time and added responsibilities.
Meanwhile, the Desert Foxes are already looking ahead to the global stage. Algeria secured their ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup by finishing top of their African qualifying group with 25 points. They will compete in Group J alongside Argentina, Austria, and Jordan.
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 23: Nicolo’ Barella of FC Internazionale is challenged by Adrien Rabiot of AC Milan during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AC Milan at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
The most notable game over the next three rounds is undoubtedly the Milan derby, which will kick off on Sunday, March 8, at 20:45.
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 23: A general view of the stadium during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AC Milan at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
On the same day, Milan will visit Lazio (20:45 CET), while Inter host Atalanta on March 14 at 15:00 CET.
Round 30 sees Inter travel to Florence for an away game against Fiorentina, while Milan hosts Torino at San Siro and Juventus play at home against Sassuolo.
Below are the dates and kick-off times for Serie A Weeks 28,29 and 30 (CET time)
Premier League reschedule Arsenal game 37 days after confirming they wouldn’t
Arsenal’s Premier League match against Everton has been rescheduled, 37 days after the competition officially confirmed it would not be rescheduled.
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
On Friday afternoon, Arsenal and the Premier League confirmed that the upcoming match between the Gunners and Everton has been rescheduled from 14:00 GMT on Sunday, March 15th to a new date of Saturday, March 14th. The game will now kick off at 17:30 GMT.
The explanation given is that Arsenal are scheduled to face Bayer Leverkusen in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday, March 17th. Playing Sunday-Tuesday would be too much, so the Everton match has been moved to Saturday.
These fixture alterations are relatively common, particularly for clubs in European competition. But the issue in this case is that the Premier League had officially and publicly confirmed that this would not happen.
Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images
The Premier League confirmed on January 21st – over a month ago – that the Arsenal-Everton clash would take place on March 15th, with no asterisks or warning that this might turn out not to be the case.
The competition organisers usually add a note to any games that might need to move depending on other competitions. They did so with five other matches in that January 21st statement. But they specifically didn’t do so in this case.
As a result, many fans had already bought tickets and booked travel and accommodation based on the league’s official guarantee.
The Premier League did not apologise to those fans in their statement on Friday, despite potentially costing them hundreds of pounds with their incompetence.
Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images
This scheduling issue was known to some fans weeks ago, with many on social media questioning the decision to unreservedly guarantee the timing before the Champions League draw was known.
At the time, it was believed that the Premier League must have received some guarantees from UEFA that Arsenal would play on the following Wednesday (and thus be able to play on Sunday).
UEFA clearly never provided any such guarantee, and the Premier League’s arrogance that they would be able to push through the schedule they wanted has left matchgoing fans paying the price.
Salah is making £400k per week - ever since Richard Hughes agreed a two-year contract extension with him towards the end of the 2024/25 Premier League title-winning season.
It’s fair to say the winger’s numbers are down since then - with no top-flight goals since November and a spell out of the team due to ineffective performances.
And rather than letting his deal expire - at considerable wage cost - the Fenway Sports Group decision-makers may listen to what bidders in Saudi Arabia for example have to say.
Al-Qadsiah and above all Al-Ittihad are reported to be keen in adding the two-time African footballer of the year to their squads.
But according to the Athletic's Simon Hughes interest from MLS might ultimately be what turns Salah’s head.
Salah would prefer MLS to Saudi Arabia
San Diego FC - owned by Egyptian-British billionaire Mohamed Mansour - are thought to be keen on recruiting Salah while Designated Player gaps may also open up at other American sides.
MLS clubs don’t tend to pay big money for signings with the likes of Son Heung-min and Emmanuel Latte Lath representing the league’s biggest incoming deals at around £20m apiece.
Whether that will be enough to satisfy Liverpool is another matter - although ridding themselves of Salah’s sizeable salary could well offset the loss of a massive transfer fee.
A decent offer is far more likely to come from Saudi Arabia - and that would put the decision in Salah’s hands.
“I've always felt that Saudi Arabia is a move that Saudi Arabia might like to make, although they've scaled back their investments in football in the last 12 to 18 months,” Hughes said on the Walk On podcast.
“There's a few conversations that I've had, points elsewhere, that the US might be a more attractive option.
“I don't think you can overestimate the importance of the lifestyle that Salah has as well. I think he likes living in the UK. I can't see another offer coming from an English club.
“But the information that I had even 12, 18 months ago was that the US was a more attractive option but it's whether there's an offer there I'm not sure."
LFC won't let Salah go for nothing
From Hughes' comments it becomes apparent that Liverpool wouldn’t intend to let Salah run down his deal until 2027 and that means offloading him at the end of the current season.
“I think if he were to leave Liverpool would want money for him, I think that's the key here,” Hughes said.
“I don't think it's as easy a deal as people just think, oh yeah, Salah's gonna go. It's like, it's his last season, definitely.
“First of all, a club needs to make him an offer that suits Liverpool. Yes, he's on big money at Liverpool in terms of wages and he could get him off the wage bill.
“But, you know, they still got a year left and I think Liverpool would like some money to go back into the market for the reasons that we discussed many times.
“You can't become a club that just lets players go for nothing, particularly when they've got time to run on the contract.”
The Cincinnati Bengals might just make a trade or two this offseason to accelerate the defensive rebuild.
Normally, that sort of statement would be met with an eye roll. Fair enough: Historically, the Bengals value draft assets far too highly to pull off notable trades.
But this offseason feels a little different.
Zac Taylor and Duke Tobin have been very blunt about the roster not being good enough last season, alluding to a breakdown between the scouting department and what new defensive coordinator Al Golden needed.
Since, Taylor, Tobin and even Golden have hinted at adding veterans to the defense.
That can happen in free agency, of course. But we’d be remiss not to mention a few trade candidates who might fit the bill, too.
Bengals’ updated trade targets to consider
S Minkah Fitzpatrick
We spitballed the idea of the Bengals trading for Minkah Fitzpatrick a few weeks ago when word first broke that the Miami Dolphins might move him. He’s 29 and a top 10 safety at PFF, based on last year. A $15.6 million cap hit in 2026 isn’t exactly worrisome, either. The Bengals have been a mess since they let Jessie Bates get away. This wouldn’t be a perfect one-to-one fix, but it would be a massive upgrade.
DL A'Shawn Robinson
The Panthers have signed off on A'Shawn Robinson seeking a trade. He ranked 42nd out of 134 at his position last year and has one year left on his current deal. TJ Slaton, for comparison, ranked 116th on the same list. Slaton is a cut candidate, while BJ Hill will stick. They desperately need to get better on the rotation while younger guys develop.
DT Gervon Dexter
While far pricier than Robinson, Gervon Dexter would be a huge get for the Bengals. He’s still just 24 years old and had six sacks last year. The former second-round pick has one year left on his rookie deal and would deepen the rotation.
Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux
Kayvon Thibodeaux, a first-round pick at fifth overall in 2022, has been all over the place. He had 11.5 sacks in 2023, but that dropped to 5.5 in 2024 and just 2.5 over 10 games last year. Still, he’s going into a contract year with something to prove and former top-five picks with possible upside don’t become available often. Throwing him in a rotation with Shemar Stewart and Myles Murphy would be interesting, if nothing else.
Nikola Vucevic had his best game in a Boston Celtics jersey during the team’s 148-111 blowout of the Brooklyn Nets. The veteran big man ended the night with 28 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists on 9-of-13 shooting off the bench.
During his postgame news conference, Vucevic discussed his big night and how he’s managed to seamlessly slot into the Celtics’ offensive system. He admitted to still working through the process of learning his teammates and how to be most effective.
“I’m still getting used to, obviously, the new offense and all my teammates and learning their tendencies and things like that,” Vucevic said, via CLNS Media. “Finding my way. At times, I do feel like I overthink a bit, which makes me kind of hesitant. It takes away my aggressiveness. I felt like tonight, I was just able to put a little more together, just play off teammates when I was getting good looks.”
Those good looks gave Boston a huge boost, as he and Payton Pritchard combined for 50 points off the bench.
“Shots were falling, which obviously helps. Just have to find the right balance between playing my game, being aggressive, and using my instincts, while making it fit within what we want to run. I think the more we play together, the more I learn my teammates' tendencies, and the more they learn what I like, the more it’ll help us. But I thought tonight it came together pretty well. I think the offense was running pretty smoothly.”
Vucevic is in the final months of his three-year $60 million contract. If he can sustain the type of production we saw against Brooklyn, it’s fair to assume Brad Stevens will look to negotiate a longer-term stay for the veteran big man.
For now, though, Vucevic’s focus will undoubtedly be on helping Boston secure itself near the top of the Eastern Conference and then making a deep playoff push. From what we’ve seen so far, he’s been a key addition to Joe Mazzulla’s rotation.
Liverpool dealt major injury blow ahead of West Ham United clash
Liverpool Team News: Arne Slot Provides Florian Wirtz Injury Update Before West Ham United Clash
Liverpool head into another pivotal Premier League weekend with momentum intact, but not without concern. As Arne Slot prepares his side for the visit of West Ham United to Anfield, attention has centred on the fitness of Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong.
The Reds secured a hard fought 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest last time out, courtesy of a late Alexis Mac Allister strike. Yet the narrow scoreline only told part of the story. Liverpool laboured for rhythm and incision, particularly after losing Wirtz to injury before kick off.
Curtis Jones stepped in, performing diligently, but the absence of the German playmaker’s craft and control was evident.
Florian Wirtz Injury Update from Arne Slot
Slot addressed the situation directly in his pre match press conference, offering clarity, though not reassurance.
“I don’t expect Florian to be available, that is a disappointment of course.
“Every time a player is not available it is a disappointment and also something I did not expect after last week but that is sometimes how things evolve and unfortunately this time it is not in a positive way.”
Photo: IMAGO
For Liverpool, this matters. Wirtz has become central to how Slot’s side function between the lines. His intelligence in tight spaces and composure under pressure have added a new layer to a team that already claimed the Premier League title in 2024-25 under Slot’s leadership.
The manager admitted there is no firm timetable for the 22 year old’s return. At this stage of the campaign, with Liverpool competing on multiple fronts, uncertainty can be as troubling as the injury itself.
Jeremie Frimpong Boost Ahead of West Ham United
There was, however, more encouraging news regarding Jeremie Frimpong. The Dutch defender has recovered from the groin issue sustained in the Champions League win over Qarabag and is back in training.
“Jeremie is [available] he trained with us a few times this week, so he is available,” Slot confirmed.
Frimpong’s availability could prove significant against West Ham United, particularly given the Hammers’ tendency to attack with width and pace. His energy and direct running offer Liverpool both defensive security and an additional outlet going forward.
Anfield Test Carries Weight for Liverpool
West Ham United arrive at Anfield fighting for survival, which makes them dangerous. Liverpool, meanwhile, are navigating what Slot described as the decisive stretch of the season, balancing domestic ambition with European aspirations.
Without Wirtz, creativity must be sourced collectively. With Frimpong back, tactical flexibility increases. For Liverpool and Arne Slot, Saturday is another examination of depth, adaptability and nerve.
Three points against West Ham United would not merely maintain pace, it would reinforce the sense that this Liverpool project remains firmly on course.
Billy Horschel just had one of the most dramatic back-nine meltdowns you’ll see on the PGA Tour this season.
Heading into the 15th hole, Horschel was hanging around in contention. He entered the infamous “Bear Trap” section with a chance of threatening the top of the leaderboard with a run of good play.
He’d just made three birdies in four holes to go two-under for his round, and four-under for the tournament. But the American finished his round at his hometown course two over and one shot above the cut line.
Horschel went four-over in his final four holes with two bogeys and a double. He airmailed the green on the 15th with his attempted chip, then snapped at a heckler, which was the beginning of his downfall.
After making the cut on the line, Horschel took to social media to react to this meltdown.
Photo by Raj Mehta/Getty Images
Billy Horschel credits Jack Nicklaus for Cognizant Classic meltdown
It’s no accident that Horschel’s collapse started on the 15th hole. The stretch of holes from the 15th to the 17th at PGA National is called the “Bear Trap” because Jack Nicklaus designed them to make or break rounds.
On the 15th, a dangerous par three over water where Horschel’s troubles began, there is a sign next to a statue of a bear that reads: “You are now entering the Bear Trap. It should be won or lost right here.” The second sentence is a direct quote from Nicklaus.
Horschel wasn’t the first, and won’t be the last, to fall into the Bear Trap, and laughed it off on social media afterwards.
He posted to X: “The Bear got me today! 🤦♂️🤦♂️😂😂”.
At least he made the weekend and has a chance to get some revenge on Nicklaus in his next two rounds by righting those wrongs on the 15th hole.
The biggest Bear Trap meltdowns at PGA National
The most staggering Bear Trap meltdown belongs to Gavin Coles in 2007. Facing the par-three 15th, Coles stuck four consecutive balls in the water. By the time he finally found land, he walked away with an octuple-bogey 11, the highest single-hole score in the Trap’s history.
Even the greats aren’t immune. In 2016, Adam Scott entered the 15th hole with a three-shot lead during the third round. He proceeded to dump two balls into the lake, carding a quadruple-bogey seven.
While Scott remarkably recovered to win the tournament, his collapse remains a testament to how quickly the Trap can erase a dominant performance.
In 2024, Taylor Montgomery was sitting near the lead. He then found the water at the 15th, then hit the rocks on his drop, leading to a triple-bogey six that derailed his title hopes.
And while tied for third in 2021, McCarthy rinsed shots on both 15 and 16, tumbling from even par to four-over in a matter of twenty minutes.
Whether it’s a gust of Florida wind or the sheer sight of the blue hazards, the Bear Trap remains the ultimate mental and physical gauntlet on the PGA Tour.
Cassano backs Spalletti to succeed at Juventus if he gets a few players
Antonio Cassano believes Luciano Spalletti can achieve considerable success at Juventus, provided the Bianconeri strengthen the squad with several quality additions.
The men at the Allianz Stadium possess some of the finest players in Serie A. However, not all members of the current squad are considered capable of consistently challenging for the league title and other major honours. Juventus are presently enduring a difficult spell in the league, yet there has been a noticeable improvement in both mindset and playing style since Spalletti assumed control.
Backing the manager through adversity
Despite the recent downturn in results, the club hierarchy reportedly retains confidence in their manager and is prepared to support him for the long term. Nevertheless, questions have emerged in recent weeks as performances have fluctuated and pressure has mounted.
Cassano, however, has urged patience. According to Tuttojuve, he believes stability and targeted recruitment could transform Juventus into genuine contenders once again. He stated, “Openda is worthless, you’re out. And yesterday (Wednesday, ed.) there was a significant push from the coach that they absolutely must reconfirm and start again with him. I’m convinced that if you give him four or five players, Juve will become competitive in Italy and Europe with this coach, because yesterday the coach produced a masterpiece, but he sent a devastating message to Comolli’s genie.
“Openda never came on, he came on in the last four or five minutes. Yesterday (Wednesday, ed.) he arrived at a certain point, he put Yildiz as center forward with Boga on the left, he took off David.”
Luciano Spalletti (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Call for targeted reinforcements
Cassano’s comments underline his conviction that Spalletti’s tactical acumen is not in doubt. Instead, he suggests that a handful of carefully selected reinforcements could elevate the team’s overall quality and competitiveness.
With the season entering a decisive phase, Juventus must determine whether to persist with their current project. For Cassano, the solution is clear: maintain faith in the manager and equip him with the tools required to restore the club to domestic and European prominence.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 17: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Mighty Red, Liverpool's mascot looks on during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Burnley at Anfield on January 17, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) | Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Tottenham Hotspur don’t play until tomorrow, but you’ve still got a rooting interest in a couple of matches today. Remember — Tottenham can save themselves from relegation simply by finishing ahead of one of West Ham, Leeds, or Nottingham Forest. Two of them play today against tough opposition: West Ham are away at Liverpool, while Leeds host Manchester City. Losses by both of them today combined with an away win at Fulham by Igor Tudor’s men tomorrow and Spurs are suddenly looking a lot better in the race to the bottom.
This is your Saturday open thread. Speak softly and carry a big stick.
Saturday football schedule
AFC Bournemouth vs. Sunderland 7:30 am ET / 12:30 pm GMT TV: USA Network (USA), TNT Sports 1 (UK) Stream: nbcsports.com
Liverpool vs. West Ham 10 am ET / 3 pm GMT TV: USA Network (USA), not televised (UK) Stream: nbcsports.com
Burnley vs. Brentford 10 am ET / 3 pm GMT TV: not televised (USA/UK) Stream: Peacock
Newcastle vs. Everton 10 am ET / 3 pm GMT TV: NBCSN (USA), not televised (UK) Stream: Peacock
Leeds vs. Manchester City 12:30 pm ET / 5:30 pm GMT TV: NBC (USA), Sky Sports (UK) Stream: Peacock
Chelsea beat Arsenal in combined XI numbers, proof the Blues have a great chance
Arsenal are top of the league and some distance clear of Chelsea, but by the numbers the Blues are doing well.
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Chelsea have more players in a combined XI with Arsenal than the Gunners, according to WhoScored’s average ratings. Ahead of the game between the two sides tomorrow afternoon, it makes an interesting comparison of which individuals have had the better seasons so far.
The Blues have Robert Sanchez, Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella, Moises Caicedo, Pedro Neto and Joao Pedro in the lineup, which you can see below. It could be even more – Arsenal contribute Martin Zubimendi in midfield over Enzo Fernandez despite an equal rating, just because Zubimendi has played slightly more minutes.
Chelsea out number Arsenal in statistical combined team
Chelsea and Arsenal’s Combined XI ahead of Sunday’s massive game.
As far as we’re concerned, it’s an extremely good sign that Chelsea have more players in this team than Arsenal. We hate to admit it, but the Gunners have been the best team in the Premier League this year. They’re top for a reason.
We’re some way off their level in terms of consistency and team play, but the fact we’ve got individuals that are playing well enough to get into their team (at least in this imaginary combination) is promising.
It’s no guarantee of a result tomorrow, but we’ll take what we can get right now. Of course both Cucurella and Fofana won’t be available for the game, but there’s no denying we’ve got a chance…
In other news…
Chelsea are lacking in form attacking options right now, but Liam Rosenior tried to stay positive about the whole situation.
Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:
CHENNAI: Shortly after his valiant unbeaten 97 against India in a losing cause on Thursday, Zimbabwe’s top batter Brian Bennett had to calmly introduce himself — “I’m Brian Bennett”. It was an oversight by a journalist who failed to recognise Zimbabwe’s top batter, but he can’t be blamed completely.
The opener has largely flown under the radar despite his phenomenal debut World Cup run. Bennett has racked up 277 runs at a strike rate of 135.78, dismissed just once in five outings, and currently sits second on the tournament’s batting charts. In modern T20 cricket, where traditional anchors are increasingly rare, Bennett has quietly been playing the role for Zimbabwe with all the calm and cricketing brains it demands.
Yet the 22-year-old begs to differ with the ‘anchor’ label. “I wouldn’t say it’s too much of an anchor role. I just try to do the simple things better ... to give Zimbabwe a good start in the Power Play and then sort of just carry on that momentum throughout the middle periods with the likes of (Sikandar) Raza, the guys who can hit the big sixes. I do go out there and try to play positive cricket and play at a higher strike rate. Sri Lanka was a bit different. The pitches weren’t as good as they are here. So maybe lower strike rate came into play.”
He doesn’t have the flash and flair of a power hitter, but that doesn’t mean he is less effective. “I don’t really do much power hitting. I think for me, as more of a stroke player, I try to get into good positions ... If I’m in a strong position and I can get my hands to the ball, I get the best chance to hit those sixes,” said Bennett.
Earlier on Thursday at Chepauk, he exactly demonstrated the value of timing and positioning when he muscled the world’s leading T20 bowler, Jasprit Bumrah over long-on to celebrate his third half-century in four World Cup innings in emphatic fashion. A shot that left everyone in awe.
“I think Jasprit is always going to be a tough one to face. My thought process was just watch the ball as close as I can and just let my body do the actions. The ball was in my zone and I just hit it,” Bennett said.
Bennett also showcased an array of eyecatching strokes, including a clever scoop, against India’s decorated bowlers. “You practise those shots in the nets leading up to tournaments like this and the field normally tells you where the bowler is going to bowl. So the scoop was for pace-on yorkers. I thought that’s a good option with fine leg and third man up. Yeah, and it’s just literally keeping that clear mind,” said Bennett.
Zimbabwe’s breakthrough Super Eight will be remembered for many reasons, but above all, remember the name — Brian Bennett.
Steve Kerr has pushed back on claims that Kristaps Porzingis is dealing with a serious chronic illness.
The Golden State Warriors head coach addressed reports connecting the veteran big man to postural tachycardia syndrome, or POTS. Kerr stated that the widely circulated diagnosis was incorrect.
Porzingis had previously been linked to POTS, a condition associated with elevated heart rate, dizziness and fatigue upon standing.
Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
Kerr calls POTS reports inaccurate
During an appearance on a Bay Area radio program, Steve Kerr explained that he sought confirmation prior to finalizing the trade.
He said he contacted Atlanta general manager Onsi Saleh directly to clarify the situation surrounding Kristaps Porzingis’ health.
“When I heard about the trade, I read about his POTS diagnosis and then called Onsi Saleh, who was with us; he’s now Atlanta’s GM, and he’s a good friend of mine.”
“I called him, and I said, ‘Is this POTS story real?’ And he said it’s actually not POTS. It was not POTS. So that was some misinformation that was out there.”
Kerr also noted that whatever kept Porzingis sidelined earlier in the season was unrelated to his recent illness. He described the most recent absence as a routine sickness rather than an ongoing medical condition.
Limited availability since joining Warriors
Porzingis has appeared in just one of eight possible games since joining Golden State in a trade that included Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield.
He made his debut on February 19 against the Boston Celtics, recording 12 points in 17 minutes. But Porzingis has missed three straight contests due to illness and is currently listed as questionable.
Over 18 total appearances this season between Atlanta and Golden State, Porzingis is averaging 16.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.3 blocks while shooting 46.1% from the field and 36.3% from beyond the arc.
Kerr indicated that the Warriors received internal confirmation before completing the trade that Porzingis was not dealing with POTS.
You wonder whether Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley are willing to risk it all on Green Bay quarterback Malik Willis.
Because that’s what they’d be doing if they sign the 26-year-old Willis, who they know from their two years together in Green Bay, to a multi-year free-agent contract.
Sullivan and Hafley would be risking everything from owner Steve Ross’ money to Sullivan’s vow to “infuse competition” into the quarterback room.
They’d be risking their credibility with Dolphins fans if Willis wasn’t an instant hit. Worse, they could be risking the entire rebuild.
Frankly speaking, Sullivan and Hafley would be putting their reputations on the line by signing Willis, who has never been a full-time starter.
Willis, at a smallish 6-foot-1, 225 pounds, only has six games of starting experience in four seasons: two with Tennessee, which made him a third-round pick in 2022 and a backup behind Ryan Tannehill and Will Levis, and two in Green Bay, where he was a backup to Jordan Love.
That’s not exactly a Who’s Who list of starting quarterbacks that Willis couldn’t beat for the No. 1 job.
Against that backdrop, Willis would be installed as Miami’s starter if he signed with the Dolphins.
Common sense says if you sign a quarterback to, say, a three-year, $80 million deal, which roughly what Willis will command, he’s your starter. Period.
Further, common sense says no, there wouldn’t be training camp competition.
And to think it was only Tuesday when Sullivan remarked at the NFL scouting combine that his job is to “infuse competition” into the quarterback room.
Willis is the no-brainer starter if he signs with the Dolphins.
If Willis doesn’t start, the Dolphins could be spending close to $100 million for non-starting quarterbacks next season — Tua Tagovailoa (if they cut him and give him a post-June 1 designation) and Willis (if he’s on the bench as a backup).
It would be a bad look on a few levels.
It would be bad financially, obviously, to be spending around $92 million on two quarterbacks in 2026, and neither is your starter.
It also wouldn’t speak well for the new regime’s judgment, signing a quarterback who lost a training camp competition for the starting job to a multi-year contract.
And it would be the organization’s second consecutive questionable quarterback contract (after Tua).
Looking at the bright side of things, Sullivan and Hafley could be deemed geniuses if they sign Willis and he’s the answer.
That’s a possibility.
Sullivan and Hafley have unique insight into Willis’ skill set and mentality.
They should know better than any others whether Willis, who is impressively agile, can do the job.
And remember, Willis (105 of 155 in his career for 1,322 yards, six touchdowns, three interceptions and a 98.9 passer rating) doesn’t have to be an All Pro-level quarterback. He can simply be timely and effective, such as Seattle’s Sam Darnold, the reigning Super Bowl champ, or Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts, the Super Bowl champ from two seasons ago.
It should go without saying that if the Dolphins sign Willis you’d hope that Sullivan and Hafley would be smart enough to build around him. The Dolphins failed to do that with Tannehill and Tua. Instead, they thought their head coaches could magically turn those quarterbacks into Hall of Famers and the franchise ended up wasting the vast majority of those years.
You know my feelings on the Dolphins acquiring Willis. I think it’d be a bad idea.
However, if Sullivan and Hafley think differently, that’s fine.
I’m guessing they’re well aware that they’d be staking their reputations on Willis.
Bavarian Minister President Markus Soeder speaks at the opening of the Munich Security Conference. Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder has said he would welcome Olympic Games in Germany in 2036 because they would be an opportunity to showcase a changed country 100 years after the 1936 Games in Berlin which took place during the Nazi era.
Söder told the Bild paper he disgrees with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier who said recently that Olympics in 2036 would be historically problematic and that he would prefer a bid for 2040 or 2044.
"I have great respect for the president, but I take a different view on this matter," Söder said.
"In my opinion, 2036 Olympic Games in Munich would actually be a historic opportunity. As Games celebrating joie de vivre and togetherness, they could be a counterpart to Berlin 1936."
Söder said that sports brings people and nations together which he named "a powerful message, especially in today's world.
"Germany should not rush into limiting itself during the bidding phase. It is not at all clear what packages the 2036 to 2044 Games will be put out to tender in," he said.
The last Olympics in Germany were 1972 in Munich. The Bavarian capital is bidding again for a future Games, with Berlin, Hamburg and the Rhine-Ruhr area also in thew running.
The German Olympic Sports Confederation will decide on the candidate in September and must decide whether the bid will be for 2036, 2040 or 2044.
The next Games are 2028 in Los Angeles and 2032 in Brisbane. India and Qatar are said to be interested in 2036.
Söder fully supports the Munich bid which has also already been backed in a referendum.
"I am convinced that Munich has the best offer for the decision-makers at the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and for sports fans around the world. We need to emphasise this even more strongly," he said.
"Munich is among the top ten in the ranking of global sports cities, far ahead of all other candidates."
Hayley Ladd joined Crystal Palace in January on a two-and-a-half-year deal [Huw Evans Picture Agency]
Hayley Ladd begins World Cup qualifying with Wales on Tuesday believing her move to Crystal Palace came at "the right time".
The 32-year-old joined WSL2 side Palace in January after limited opportunities with top-flight club Everton.
Ladd, who can operate in defence or midfield, links up with Wales for their opening qualifiers against Czech Republic and Montenegro having made a bright start to life with the Eagles.
She marked her debut by coming off the bench to score the winning goal against Sheffield United, a day after signing for the London club.
Ladd has since become a regular starter and has helped her new team to four wins in five league fixtures.
Ladd has praised the influence of Palace manager, former England international Jo Potter, who convinced her to make the switch from Merseyside.
"I played against her and you could see the calibre of player and her competitiveness and desire," said Ladd.
"That's important for me as a player, to feel I have that passion and energy from a manager.
"Having conversations with her when you're trying to make a decision about which club to go to, she was really composed and clear with what she wanted and closely aligned with what I was looking for in my next challenge."
Delivering against the Blades
Ladd's debut Palace goal was a spectacular one, with the former Manchester United player's free-kick nominated for goal of the month in WSL2.
It was a dream beginning to life at a new club, as Ladd's late strike secured a 1-0 win.
"I didn't start the game and just thought I'll be happy to get on the pitch at some point," said Ladd.
"I happened to get introduced at half-time and we had a free-kick in the 86th minute.
"Nobody fancied it, I thought I'll give it a crack and fortunately it went in. I couldn't believe it. I'm really thrilled to hit the ground running with Palace."
Wales' World Cup ambitions
Head coach Rhian Wilkinson has been keen to ensure her players are getting regular game time at club level as she seeks to lead Wales to a first World Cup.
Having taken the plunge by joining Palace, Ladd feels in good shape as she prepares for a new qualifying campaign.
"Rhian always speaks to us and finding out how things are going club-wise," said 111-cap Ladd.
"She was careful not to put pressure on, but has said she wants people playing and being competitive within squads, which is totally understandable.
"I knew I had to do it for my own reasons, but off the back of that a big bonus is that I'm going into this Wales camp on a run of form and having those minutes under my belt."
Wales' bid to reach Brazil in 2027 starts with what promises to be a tough test in Czech Republic, before their second Group B1 qualifier against Montenegro in Llanelli next Saturday.
After a 12-game winless streak in 2025, Ladd says Wilkinson's team are buoyed by their December friendly victory against Switzerland and, despite the retirements of Jess Fishlock and Kayleigh Barton, competition is rife for places.
"It's the most competitive I've ever seen the squad," she said.
"It's brilliant in training, the level is getting higher and higher every time we meet up. As a squad we're champing at the bit."
Life after Fishlock
Wales were blessed with 19 years of Fishlock, but the loss of the country's all-time leading goalscorer brings a different look to their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Fishlock will be part of the coaching staff for the Czech Republic game but leaves big boots to fill on the pitch.
Ladd says it is up to Wales' other senior players to lead the way.
"Jess is a phenomenal player - she's such a trailblazer with what she's done in the game," she said.
"There's obviously me, Angharad James, Ceri Holland and Sophie Ingle with a wealth of experience. There's hopefully enough to carry the squad through and make sure we don't lose any momentum in this next campaign.
"It will feel strange, but the squad is really ready as a whole to step up and that counts for all our younger players or the in-betweeners in their mid-20s as well."
Ladd insists the youth will help the team's evolution.
"We've always been fortunate to have managers that have really trusted our younger players," she said.
"We've always had young players, a 16-year-old Carrie Jones comes to mind straight away. If you're good enough, you're ready.
"They've always been in and around the squad, so it's something that we're used to.
"Those younger players know they've got a big responsibility not just to sit there and learn and take things easy, we need them to be right at it and ready to contribute."
Formula 1 has abandoned plans to repeat its one-off Monaco Grand Prix pitstop rule in the wake of last year's controversy.
With overtaking pretty much impossible in the streets of Monte Carlo, the FIA implemented the mandatory use of three tyre sets last year to force teams onto a two-stop strategy and hopefully unlock more strategic options and jeopardy.
But the idea didn't have the intended effect at the front of the field, as teams who ran two cars closely together like Racing Bulls and Williams were able to exploit the rule with one car backing the field up to create a pitstop window for the car in front.
And while the tactics did succeed in creating more talking points around the historic race, they also produced unease over drivers being compelled to run over four seconds per lap slower for their team to gain an advantage.
However, the rule tweak was initially kept in the 2026 sporting regulations after an e-vote by the FIA World Motor Sport Council.
McLaren's Lando Norris won his maiden Monaco Grand Prix as F1's two-stop plan backfired.
McLaren's Lando Norris won his maiden Monaco Grand Prix as F1's two-stop plan backfired.
Williams' James Vowles, team boss of one of the squads involved, said he was surprised to find the one-off rule tweak was back on the cards for 2026, saying the tactic left him "the most uncomfortable I've felt. I like going out there and fighting for points on merit rather than having to game the system in order to achieve it."
FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis told Motorsport.com last year the tweak wasn't set in stone yet, however, and following further discussions the plan has now been abandoned altogether. The latest version of the 2026 sporting regulations, that was ratified by the WMSC, the one-off clauses relating to Monaco's tyre usage have all been deleted from section B.
Extra minute added to Q3
As part of the latest raft of refinements, the FIA WMSC also voted through a change to add an additional minute to Q3, with the final shootout between the 10 remaining cars now lasting 13 instead of 12 minutes.
As part of Cadillac's arrival as F1's 11th team, Q1 and Q2 will now see six cars being eliminated instead of five. However, that stipulation has always been part of the regulations in the case of there being 22 cars on the entry list, so this did not require any regulatory changes per se.
Cooling vests remain optional during heat hazards
The FIA has also walked back plans to make it mandatory for drivers to wear cooling vests in the event of a heat hazard, measures which were developed following a problematic 2023 Qatar Grand Prix during which many drivers suffered from heat exhaustion symptoms.
Last year, the FIA first issued teams with a ‘Heat Hazard’ warning ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, triggered when temperatures are forecast to hit 31C during the race weekend. That measure means all cars must carry the additional components required to operate cooling vests.
Charles Leclerc, ferrari
Charles Leclerc, ferrari
Drivers could choose not the wear the bulky vest itself, having to carry additional ballast if they opted out, but the FIA planned to make wearing the equipment mandatory for 2026. That was not a popular change, as driver opinions remained split over the effectiveness and comfort of the vests, and the FIA has now decided to keep the vests optional instead.
The rules now say: "However, any driver may elect not to wear any items of personal equipment that form part of the Driver Cooling System. In such circumstances, all other components, including any cooling medium, of the Driver Cooling System must be fitted.
"In addition, the difference in mass between the driver’s personal equipment normally used and any items of a driver’s personal equipment that form part of the system must be compensated by the fitting of 0.5kg of ballast in the cockpit, such ballast designated for this purpose will be included in sum of masses described in Article C4.6b."
The ballast increase associated with cooling equipment remains at 5kg for races and sprints, but has been reduced to just 2kg for any qualifying sessions.
Bold Celtic words, now Bhoys need to justify them at Ibrox
Bold words by Luke McCowan, now it’s up to the rest of his teammates to justify them tomorrow at Ibrox…
Luke McCowan of Celtic celebrates scoring during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between VfB Stuttgart and Celtic FC at Stuttgart Arena on February 26, 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images)
Luke McCowan has created something of a stir with his words in the post match interview in Stuttgart on Thursday night after scoring the winner in Celtic’s first ever victory on German soil in a competitive match.
The midfielder issued a rallying cry ahead of Sunday’s trip to Ibrox by claiming that no one can live with the champions on their day, and despite our current league position, it’s fair to say that it’s a fair assessment by the former Dundee player.
7th February 2026 Celtic Park, Scottish Cup, Celtic versus Dundee. Luke McCowan of Celtic shields the ball from Callum Jones of Dundee Photo David Young IMAGO
I’m not in favour of players shouting their mouths off before a big game, as we all know it has come back to bite several players in the past, but as usual his words were twisted by the Scottish mainstream media, when in truth he was just talking up his own club and teammates, as players up and down the country do on a regular basis. Besides, a little bit of self belief is exactly what we’re needing at this moment in time.
McCowan’s words also seemed to rattle theRangers boss Danny Rohl who rubbished the players claims during yesterday’s sit down with the SMSM. The rookie German boss was then shot down by rival Martin O’Neill, with the elder statesman putting the newcomer quickly in his place in fine style.
Luke McCowan of Celtic controls the ball during the Scottish Cup Fourth Round match between Auchinleck Talbot and Celtic at Rugby Park on January 18, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)
Fair play to the media fraternity who got what they wanted by twisting McCowan’s words to inject a bit more intensity into Sundays showdown, if it ever needed it in the first place.
McCowan is a one time Premiership champion. He’s part of a side which boasts several proven winners with the medals to prove their credentials, so he certainly knows what it takes to win honours, something Rohl and his players aren’t accustomed too.
Despite his goal and all round impressive performance against Stuttgart, Luke will most likely have to make do with a place on the bench come tomorrow afternoon. It’s now up to the rest of his teammates to justify his words on the pitch.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr. Click on image to order
Real Madrid forward ready to return but faces fresh challenge
As has already been reported, Real Madrid forward Rodrygo Goes is ready to return after a brief layoff and will be included in the squad for the match against Getafe.
The Brazilian has been training normally with the rest of his teammates for several days and could have featured in the return leg against SL Benfica, but he was suspended.
Therefore, it will not be until next Monday that he is available again for Alvaro Arbeloa.
New challenge for Rodrygo
However, as reported by MARCA, Rodrygo’s return comes with a problem and a new challenge: his usual position in the starting eleven no longer exists in Real Madrid’s new system of play.
Some things have changed in the team since the Brazilian international was injured on 6 February, including one that directly affects him.
Real Madrid no longer play with a front three and have removed the role of the right winger, the position where the Brazilian usually found his place, with Vinicius Jr. on the left and Kylian Mbappe through the centre.
Arbeloa has found his ideal XI with four midfielders, and it is Federico Valverde who exploits the right flank from his position. Meanwhile, the attack has been reduced to two out-and-out forwards, with Vinicius and Mbappe operating up top.
Back from injury. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
In this way, the traditional right winger role has disappeared in the lineup and it is Valverde and Trent Alexander-Arnold who take responsibility for working the flank.
Mastantuono struggling, Rodrygo could too
This situation is already affecting Franco Mastantuono, who has disappeared from the starting line-ups, after being a regular for Arbeloa, and now Rodrygo will have to face it.
The Brazilian appeared to have regained lost ground in the final stretch of Xabi Alonso’s time in charge, but now his prominence is once again uncertain. Finding a place for him in the lineup will not be a simple task now that the right winger position has disappeared.
On the one hand, he could compete as a natural replacement for Vinicius Jr in the left-side channel. On the other, he could battle for the No. 9 position with Gonzalo Garcia in the absence of Mbappe, who is injured.
All this must be considered in light of the fact that the Brazilian has barely been available during Arbeloa’s spell in charge. Rodrygo has been sidelined for 32 of the 46 days that the coach has been on the Madrid bench.
Of the 11 matches Arbeloa has overseen, the forward has featured in only three, against AS Monaco, Rayo Vallecano and Benfica. He did not start any of them and played only 48 minutes in total.
Now fit and ready to go again, Rodrygo has a challenge ahead of him.
The Las Vegas Raiders have started early conversations with former Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza as they work through their options with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Mendoza’s lone season in Bloomington turned into something most people did not see coming. His first year as the starter changed the entire trajectory of the program.
The National Champion completed 273 of 379 passes in 2025, good for a 72 percent completion rate, while throwing for 3,535 yards. He tossed 41 touchdowns against just six interceptions and added 276 rushing yards with seven more scores on the ground.
Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and D’Angelo Ponds kiss the trophy after the College Football Playoff National Championship college football game on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
The Raiders are still hunting for their long-term solution at quarterback, and plenty of people expect the 22-year-old to be the first name called when the draft begins.
Mendoza sat down with reporters on Friday and shared his early thoughts on head coach Klint Kubiak, per Brandy Flores of Raiders Nation Radio.
“They’re very football savvy, which is great to see,” Mendoza said. “They taught me a play, and they had their whole progression of how they teach quarterbacks to play. It was very similar to how my Indiana progression was. Very Type A guys, and they had all the details of each play, what to do if you get a problem with each play, what’s your drop, what’s your progression. That’s something that I really enjoy.”
I asked Fernando Mendoza what his first impression was of HC Klint Kubiak and the Raiders when he met with them at the NFL Combine.
Raiders general manager John Spytek addressed the media on Feb. 24 and brought up the quarterback position without naming Mendoza directly. He made it clear the organization is at least weighing the idea of bringing in a rookie signal-caller for next season.
Spytek spent time breaking down what it actually requires for a young quarterback to succeed in the NFL.
“I think you’ve got to support them in many different ways,” he said, via Raider Nation Radio.
Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek at press conference at Intermountain Health Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
He pointed out that drafting a quarterback, handing him the Week 1 starting job, and expecting immediate success is not fair or realistic. Spytek went a step further and said organizations often set up young quarterbacks to fail more than the players fail on their own.
Whoever takes snaps under center for Las Vegas will need full organizational support. Patience remains a critical piece of developing young talent at the position.
Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
With the PGA Tour schedule picking up pace, Jordan Spieth is among several top players who’ve chosen to sit out this week’s Cognizant Classic.
Surrounded by four major stops on the calendar, the Cognizant Classic has struggled to draw a strong field. Only one of the world’s top 30 is teeing it up at PGA National.
Spieth played both the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Genesis Invitational, even though he hasn’t qualified for next year’s signature events. A week off makes sense with such a packed stretch.
However, it does have some downside. The early portion of Spieth’s 2026 schedule has been slow, and he still hasn’t locked in a signature event spot for next year.
Spieth’s 2025 Showing at the Cognizant Classic
Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images
Spieth had one of his four top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour last year at the Cognizant Classic, entering the final round just a shot behind eventual winner Joe Highsmith.
He finished in a tie for ninth, but it still felt like progress.
This year, he’s playing better than he was 12 months ago. So he could have entered this week feeling positive about his chances of ending a winless stretch that goes back to 2022.
Picking up a win ahead of the majors would have been good timing, especially if he finds himself in contention late on at either The Players or The Masters.
The event also would have benefited from Spieth being there, given how weak the field already is this year.
Spieth may have owed the tour a start this week
There are two sides to look at when discussing if Spieth should’ve played in the Cognizant Classic.
The first is that there’s no doubting what he has done for golf over his career. But with all of the invitations and exemptions he has had since 2025 – including this season’s Genesis Invitational – perhaps the tour deserved something back from him by way of an appearance this week at PGA National.
This is even more valid given comments Spieth made last year about not wanting sponsor invites anymore. Taking part in this event could have backed up those remarks even more strongly.
Spieth does need to look out for himself too though. Golf is getting harsher and harsher by the day, so picking when to rest isn’t something players can afford to take lightly either – especially for someone with a young family like him.
That said, momentum is starting to build for him again after some tough stretches across recent years. Perhaps sticking with what had been working was worth considering before another packed stretch of important events comes around soon enough too.
Fifa considers new rule to cut down on time-wasting in football ⏰
The International Football Association Board (IFAB), the body responsible for the rules of the sport, is holding its annual meeting this Saturday (28) and will discuss a proposal presented by FIFA aimed at curbing the well-known "time-wasting" in football.
What does the proposal say?
The central idea is to make it mandatory for players who receive medical attention on the field to remain off the pitch for at least one minute before being allowed to return to the match.
The proposal, initially reported by the BBC network, is mainly focused on combating excessive stoppages, which have been increasing in recent years, including incidents involving goalkeepers.
Context and previous tests
Currently, the regulations do not stipulate a minimum amount of time a player must wait off the field after receiving medical attention.
However, this discussion is not new. In January, IFAB had already debated the creation of a fixed period, but did not reach a consensus on the ideal duration.
Some competitions around the world have already started practical tests to try to solve the problem:
The Premier League, in the 2023/24 season, implemented a requirement of at least 30 seconds off the field after medical attention.
FIFA itself tested an even longer period of two minutes during the Arab Cup.
IFAB is composed of FIFA and the football associations of Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, and Wales.
In addition to the new rule for medical attention, this weekend's meeting will also discuss the possibility of expanding the use of VAR (video assistant referee) to new situations during the game.
Oliver Glasner fires Man United warning, names “really impressive” moment from Everton win
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has issued a stern warning to his players about Manchester United, as he revealed the most impressive thing from the Red Devils’ victory over Everton on Monday evening.
Unbeaten run
United will host Palace at Old Trafford on Sunday, with the club eager to register back-to-back victories, having beaten Everton earlier this week.
Benjamin Sesko scored the only goal of the evening to secure all three points for United at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
United have are currently on an unbeaten streak of six games since Carrick was named as Ruben Amorim’s temporary replacement. United have won five games in that run, only dropping points in the 1-1 draw with West Ham at the London Stadium.
Aston Villa losing to relegation battlers Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday evening means that United have the chance to jump to third place in the Premier League table if they beat Palace.
Ahead of the fixture, Glasner spoke to reporters and warned his players about the good balance of experience and talent that United possess. Glasner also revealed that he will rely on the speed and physicality of his defenders to neutralise United’s attack.
Glasner remarks
The Austrian coach said [as quoted by United’s official website], “We need confidence at Old Trafford. I watched their game Monday night at Everton. It was a fantastic transition goal [from Sesko], and you can see the pace they have in their attack.”
“On the other side, I also have seen that Everton caused them some problems, so I’m looking forward to Old Trafford. Of course, when Man United play at home at Old Trafford against Crystal Palace, it’s the same: everybody there is expecting a win.”
“Again, they are a very good team, they have a very good balance. It’s a very experienced team. When I see Luke Shaw, when I see Harry Maguire, when I see Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo – really very, very experienced Premier League players.”
He continued, “And then I see [Amad] Diallo, I see Kobbie Mainoo – very, very young players with huge talent. It’s a good mix they have now but I think the most important thing, for them, is they are consistently playing with their team and have a clear structure in the way they are playing.”
“So this is what I could see against Everton and they have a great spirit right now, as I mentioned. For me, it was really impressive seeing Matheus Cunha celebrating winning a duel in their own box, because I think this is what Michael Carrick brought into his team.”
Glasner said that defender Maxence Lacroix is expected to be fit enough to feature against United.
Asked about Lacroix, the Palace gaffer answered, “That’s the big question. I don’t know but hopefully the goal helps a little bit! [He scored the opener on Thursday night at Selhurst Park]. He did very well. Also defending was important, having him, also Jaydee [Canvot] played a very good game today and we needed his pace because they’re quick up front.”
“They will be the same at Manchester – they’re so quick in their attack and then we need quick defenders, physically strong defenders. Right now, it looks okay but let’s see how the reaction is.”
Arne Slot admits Liverpool’s performances have ‘fallen short’ of expectations
Liverpool Seek Higher Standards Under Arne Slot Ahead of West Ham United Clash
Liverpool return to Anfield this weekend with momentum, belief and a nagging sense that more is required. Arne Slot has made that clear. The reigning Premier League champions edged past Nottingham Forest 1-0 thanks to a late Alexis Mac Allister strike, a result that followed disciplined victories over Sunderland and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Three wins, three clean sheets, nine points banked. On paper, it reads well. In reality, Slot knows Liverpool must raise their level if they are to climb from sixth and reignite their title defence. A win against West Ham United could move the Reds to within three points of Aston Villa in third place. In a season that has ebbed and flowed, that matters.
Arne Slot Demands Progress Despite Winning Run
Slot has never been one to hide behind results. Writing in the matchday programme, he reflected on recent improvements while emphasising the need for sharper performances.
“It was not so long ago that our two clubs last met. Back then we were looking to come out of a really difficult period and we were able to record an important victory against a tough opponent; a result which gave us a platform to build on,” he wrote.
“Along with Alexander Isak scoring his first league goal for us, the other thing that sticks in my mind from that day is the support that was given to the team and myself by our travelling fans.
Photo: IMAGO
“Receiving this kind of support always makes a difference but it means even more during times when form has not been the best. As I said at the time, this says a lot about the club and our supporters.”
Those words carry weight. Liverpool’s relationship with their supporters has often powered decisive moments, and Slot understands the importance of that bond, particularly during transitional phases.
Performance Levels Key for Liverpool Title Ambitions
The victory at Forest highlighted both resilience and shortcomings. Slot acknowledged as much.
“From our point of view, we are pleased to have won our last three matches, especially as each victory came with a clean sheet, but at the same time we are also aware that there are certain areas that we need to improve on again.
“This was certainly clear in our last game away to Nottingham Forest where we picked up another good win despite a first-half performance that everyone could see was not of the standard that we are looking for.
“Having this awareness is crucial if we want to keep on getting better. It is not about beating ourselves up or allowing any negatives to outweigh the clear positives of a very good result. We just need to recognise the elements of our game that have fallen short so that we can work on them and keep on making progress.”
It is a pragmatic message. Liverpool under Arne Slot won the Premier League in 2024-25 by marrying intensity with control. This season has required a different kind of resilience. Clean sheets have returned, structure looks firmer, yet consistency across ninety minutes remains a work in progress.
West Ham United Test Anfield Resolve
West Ham United arrive at Anfield seeking their own surge up the table. Slot recognises parallels between the sides.
“A lot has happened since then of course and I think it is clear that both teams have improved, although the Premier League table also shows that neither of us are where we want to be.
“In fairness to the players, this kind of culture is so well established here that it is pretty much the norm. The desire for improvement, individually and collectively, is a vital quality to have and we certainly have it in abundance here. This was something I picked up on when I first arrived and it was present last season and is still present now.
“That desire to keep pushing ourselves and one another was crucial at Forest and will continue to be a key part of what we do from now until the end of the season. This is why we have been able to respond to so many difficult moments and situations, so it would definitely make sense for us to carry on doing so.”
For Liverpool, this fixture represents more than three points. It is about standards, trajectory and the pursuit of sustained excellence under Arne Slot. West Ham United will test them, but Anfield expects a response that matches ambition with execution.
Barcelona in talks with authorities to obtain permission for 500 additional supporters to attend Atletico Madrid clash
FC Barcelona want to create a daunting atmosphere at the Spotify Camp Nou ahead of the Copa del Rey semi-final second-leg match against Atletico Madrid as they target a comeback from being 4-0 down.
For this reason, the Blaugrana are holding discussions with the Catalan police authorities to have a group of around 500 supporters in the stadium who previously formed part of the groups that made up the Grada d’Animacio (fans’ cheering section), reports Mundo Deportivo.
The intention is for this body of fans to lead the chanting and generate an atmosphere capable of overturning the 4-0 first-leg deficit.
The plan is to place these 500 supporters in the area behind where the stand known as Gol 1957 is to be located at Spotify Camp Nou, as the licence 1C, which must be granted by the City Council, will not yet be available for the match against Atletico.
Barcelona want fans from the cheering section to be present for Atletico clash. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
As the location now intended for this fixture is not the definitive one, Barcelona have submitted a special request that is pending approval from the Mossos d’Esquadra (Catalan Police).
Within the club, they are working on the expectation of a positive response from the Catalan regional police, although this should not take long, given that the match is scheduled for next Tuesday.
For weeks, the Barcelona board have been in talks with the supporters’ groups (Almogàvers, Nostra Ensenya, Front 532 and Supporters Barça) from the former Grada before its closure due to fines.
The idea is to bring them together in another area of the stadium and help generate a favourable atmosphere that spreads to the rest of the ground.
One of the top wide receivers in the 2026 draft class is 2025 Biletnikoff Award recipient Makai Lemon from USC. He is in attendance at the 2026 NFL Combine this week as a prospective draftee. He's meeting with various teams and participating in workouts to show off his skills. On top of those things, Lemon, along with every other player invited to the combine, is talking to members of the media and answering questions.
While talking to the media on Friday, he was asked which three current NFL quarterbacks he would like to catch passes from.
After thinking for a moment, Lemon says, "I would probably say Caleb Williams would be cool, my former teammate. Probably go, Aaron Rodgers would be cool, you know he's a goat and a legend. And one more ... (thinking) I'll go with Jayden Daniels, for sure."
Lemon wasn't widely used during his freshman year, catching just six passes for 88 yards, and that's the only year that he and Caleb Williams shared the field. So it's not too surprising that he would pick Williams, and Aaron Rodgers is kind of a given for any receiver. Jayden Daniels was a bit of a surprising add, but it makes you wonder if he wants to test out the comparison between Williams and Daniels that sparked so much chatter ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft.
The draft is roughly two months away, and the league year starts in less than two weeks. As teams gear up for the start of free agency, we'll get a better idea of how they plan to build their teams for the 2026 season.
EGF Senior High — Brody Knutson 16, Jezrael Jones 14, Chase Lindgren 12, Carson McDonald 12, Spencer Larsen 11, Raf Jones 4, Alex Link 4
Barnesville — Grant Quiggle 26, Brody Faulkrer 17, Adam Branden 7, Martin Dukak 10, Logan Ehlert 5, Cody Mostue 4
Halftime: HCV: 28, FWM: 22
Hillsboro/Central Valley — Alexander Dufner 13, Bryce Miller 11, Tyson Leshuk 8, Chase Haffely 5, Rylan Buchholz 5, Treyvion Johnson 4, Jaren Reed 3, Brody Rogenes 2
Four Winds/Minnewaukan — Marial Deng 20, Jonte Delorme 15, Joran Lohnes 3, Dayson Dubois 3, Dion Jackson Jr 3, Wambli Yankton 2, Tyler Black Jr 2, Sylvester Alberts 2
In Langdon
Friday's quarterfinals
Halftime: STJ: 36, WAR: 26
St. John — Tayden Longie 17, Eastin Herman 12, Peyson Houle 11, Gavin Malaterre 10, Colton Wilson 9, Madden Parisien 9, Cy Poitra 3, Colyn Longie 2
Warwick — Anthony Jr. Touche 22, Brooklyn Abraham 11, Aiden Black 5, Tj Longie 2
Halftime: NC: 22, NS: 20
Nelson County — Taven Huso 22, Rider Schimdt 16, Jaxson Joramo 12, Zane Anderson 9, Brody Rainsberry 7, Tyler Cree-Beglau 3
North Star — Kade Mitchell 27, Rylen Anderson 11, Ian Westlind 8, Hunter Hagler 7, Johan DuPreez 3, Kale Prouty 2
Halftime: NRS: 33, BC: 21
New Rockford-Sheyenne — Shaun Reimche 14, Layton Jacobson14, Thomas Allmaras 10, Easton Simon 10, Easton Benz 8, Ayden Gable 5, Jax Demester 5
Benson County — Frank Rodriguez 13, Grant Haagenson 8, Drew Haagenson 6, Sutton Larson 4, Damien Herman 4
Griggs-Midkota — Trace Spickler 14, Cale Spitzer 6, Cooper Timm 6, Lakin Ronningen 3, Dominic Ressler 2, Sawyer Larson 2, Cole Vincent 2, Hayden Schudar 2
Monday's games
Loser out — 3 p.m. and 20 minutes after previous game
Semifinals — 20 minutes after second loser out and 20 minutes after first semifinal
Tuesday's games
Region qualifiers — 4 p.m. and 20 minutes after previous game
Championship — 20 minutes after second region qualifier
Saturday's play-in game
No. 9 GF Central at No. 8 Fargo Shanley, 4 p.m.
Tuesday's quarterfinals
At high seeds, times TBA
Central/Shanley winner at No. 1 West Fargo Horace
No. 5 GF Red River at No. 4 West Fargo Sheyenne
No. 7 Fargo North at No. 2 West Fargo
No. 6 Fargo South at No. 3 Fargo Davies
N.D. Region 2B all-region
Benson County — Aubrey Kenner, Kaitlyn Maddock, Lacie Fautsch; Drayton-V-E — Elizabeth Fedje; Griggs-Midkota — Kelsey Johnson; Hatton-Northwood — Izzy Padilla, Anika Pinke, Elizabeth Pinke; Langdon Area-Munich — Hilary Haaven; New Rockford-Sheyenne — Ava Peterson; North Prairie — Ella Pederson; Park River-F-L — Lauren Bell, Lily Skibicki
Senior Athlete of the Year — Aubrey Kenner, Benson County
Coach of the Year — Tony Evenstad, Hatton-Northwood
State play-in games, Saturday
At Mayville State — Central Cass vs. Devils Lake, 1 p.m.; Carrington vs. Valley City, 3 p.m.
At Bismarck Century — Rugby vs. Dickinson Trinity, 1 p.m.;Watford City vs. Turtle Mountain, 3 p.m.
State play-in games, Saturday
At Mayville State — Edgeley-KM vs. Griggs/Midkota, 5 p.m.; Langdon Area/M vs. Linton-HMB, 7 p.m.
At Bismarck Century — Tioga vs. Flasher, 5 p.m.; Washburn vs. Kenmare-Bowbells, 7 p.m.
Saturday's quarterfinals
At high seeds 7p.m.
Hawley at No. 1 DGF
Menahga vs. Pelican Rapids winner
Wadena-DC at No. 2 Perham
Frazee vs. EGF Senior High
Semifinals, March 3
6 p.m. and 7:45 p.m., at Concordia in Moorhead
Championship, March 6
8 p.m., at Concordia in Moorhead
In TRF
Saturday's quarterfinals
Kelliher-Northome vs. Climax-Fisher, Noon, Warren-A-O vs. Bagley 1:45 p.m., EGF Sacred Heart vs. Mahnomen-Waubun, 3:30 p.m., Lake of the Woods vs. Kittson CC 5:15 p.m.
Semifinals, March 3
6 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.
Championship, March 6
7 p.m.
Saturday's play-in game
No. 9 Fargo South at No. 8 GF Central, noon
Tuesday's quarterfinals
At high seeds, times TBA
Central/South winner at No. 1 West Fargo Horace
No. 5 GF Red River at No. 4 Fargo Shanley
No. 7 West Fargo at No. 2 Fargo Davies
No. 6 Fargo North at No. 3 West Fargo Sheyenne
In Fargo
Friday's semifinals
Consolation semifinals
First period — 1. MU: Easton Bradley (Oliver Thompson) (PP) 4:33; 2. JT: Gavin Schafer (Brady Nenow, Maximus Whitman) 8:35
Second period — 3. MU: Cole Richeson (Tate Haugenoe, Oliver Thompson) (PP) 4:49; 4. JT: Gavin Schafer (Brady Nenow) 9:57; 5. JT: Brady Anderson 13:58
Cons. Round 2: Faith Grasser (GF) over Santanna Bercier (Turtle Mountain Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:54)
Cons. Round 3: Hope Sjostrom (Valley City Express Wrestling) over Faith Grasser (GF) (Fall 2:28)
Girls K-8 150 — Aulani Long (2nd, 4 pts)
Round 1: Aulani Long (GF) over Tenley Waldo (Bison Wrestling Club) (Fall 2:06)
Round 3: Adaire Gensrich (Gorilla Wrestling Club, Inc.) over Aulani Long (GF) (Maj 13-0)
GF Head Coach Litzinger: "We had a great showing today in Bismarck. The top 2 wrestlers at each weight class earned a spot on Team ND and get to wrestle down in Council Bluffs, IA at the Mid-America Center April 2-4. We had six total wrestlers qualify for the team and another three that were very close."
The NFL scouting combine opened on Thursday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. A total of 319 prospects were invited to Indianapolis, including seven former Vols.
Place-kickers, defensive linemen and linebackers took part in drills on Thursday. Tight ends and defensive backs took part in on-field drills Friday, while quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs are scheduled for Saturday. Offensive linemen will conclude drills on March 1.
Below are results from former Vols on Friday at the NFL scouting combine.
Before he transferred to Tennessee in 2024, Kitselman played at Hutchinson Community College in 2021 and Alabama from 2022-2023. In 24 games at Tennessee, he totaled 48 receptions for 554 yards and six touchdowns.
Arm length: 31.88 inches
Hand size: 9.88 inches
Wingspan: 78.25 inches
40-yard dash: 4.9 seconds
Vertical jump: 34.5 inches
Broad jump: 9 feet 8 inches
Combine score: 64
Jermod McCoy
Before he transferred to Tennessee in 2024, McCoy played at Oregon State in 2023. In 13 games at Tennessee, he recorded 44 total tackles, 0.5 tackles for a loss, 13 pass breakups and four interceptions. He did not appear in any games in 2025 due to an injury he suffered in the offseason. McCoy did not participate in drills at the 2026 NFL scouting combine.
Arm length: 31.25 inches
Hand size: Nine inches
Wingspan: 77 inches
Combine score: 75
Colton Hood
Before he transferred to Tennessee in 2025, Hood played at Auburn in 2023 and Colorado in 2024. In 12 games at Tennessee, he recorded 50 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss, nine pass breakups, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Arm length: 31.38 inches
Hand size: Nine inches
Wingspan: 74.88 inches
40-yard dash: 4.44 seconds
Vertical jump: 40.5 inches
Broad jump: 10 feet 5 inches
Combine score: 82
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Albion owner Shilen Patel attended his first match at The Hawthorns against Southampton in February 2024 [Getty Images]
It was on this day in 2024 that Bilkul WBA completed their takeover of West Bromwich Albion Football Club - but the occasion is unlikely to be celebrated.
Mainly because there's a relegation six-pointer at Oxford United to focus on, but also because there isn't much cause for a party with the team at risk of dropping down to the third tier for only the second time in their history.
That is certainly a sentence I did not expect to write two years ago and it definitely wasn't part of Shilen Patel's vision when he bought the club.
In his very first interview, Patel said the long-term goal was to bring the Baggies "home" to the Premier League.
He and his team inherited a club guided into the play-offs at the end of that season by Carlos Corberan, but the wheels have fallen off dramatically ever since his departure.
The Spaniard voiced his frustrations publicly during the summer transfer window, and that agitation resurfaced several times before he left for Valencia on Christmas Eve 2024.
While the festive timing was far from ideal, he had been consistently linked with numerous clubs. He was clearly looking for a way out, so it could be argued the club should have been better prepared for his inevitable departure.
Patel's first public comments also mentioned creating an "environment of stability".
That has been far from the case, particularly in the dugout as James Morrison has taken interim charge for the third time in less than a year.
That instability is not entirely the owner's fault, because as he said in that same first interview: "I feel that I know what my strengths are and I know what my strengths are not, and I try to build teams and organisations that complement what I can do and what I can't do."
Mark Miles (left) and Andrew Nestor (right) in March 2025 [Getty Images]
He naively put his trust in sporting director Andrew Nestor, whom he had known from Florida and then his involvement as a minority shareholder at Italian side Bologna, but had no prior experience in English football.
His data-led spell will be remembered for failed head coach appointments, some questionable player signings and gaining the lofty title of president.
The pair of 34-year-olds were the top two on Nestor's shortlist to replace the well-respected veteran Tony Mowbray.
There is off-the-field experience again in the form of Mark Miles, who successfully navigated the club through choppy financial waters and steered them towards the Port of Bilkul.
The former managing director left in September last year after more than 20 years at the club, but returned in an executive director role last month after an emergency call from Patel.
Elsewhere, 35-year-old former Liverpool analyst Dominic Price is set to be appointed technical director, while overall recruitment responsibility has fallen back at the feet of Ian Pearce - the one actual "football man" in the offices.
The former defender has largely managed to stay out of the spotlight despite being at the club for eight years.
However, with Nestor now gone, frustrated eyes will inevitably turn to him if that side of the operation does not improve.
A scrambled search in the transfer window amid behind-the-scenes chaos and a shift in playing style led them to two inexperienced Crystal Palace players, Danny Imray and Hindolo Mustapha, plus one of their own former academy products, 19-year-old Jamal Jimoh-Aloba via Aston Villa.
While the activity was limited by the club's financial restrictions, it's not the strongest sign of an upturn in that department. He was credited with finding Corberan in 2022 though, so that's maybe a crumb of comfort for the head coach search.
'Patel has spent millions'
It must be said, of course, that Bilkul have done some very good - and vital - things off the field. First and foremost, the club would have gone into administration without a takeover.
They have so far dealt with a precarious Profit and Sustainability situation by staying within the rules to avoid a points deduction and Patel has spent millions of pounds covering debts inherited from the previous regime.
It is hoped they can begin to free themselves from the shackles of those restrictions in the summer, although that will be influenced by what league they are competing in next season.
The Tampa-based businessman has also backed Albion's women's team by bringing them fully into the club and spent more than £1m improving the training ground. It's also now sponsored by one of his companies. That's a smart business move.
The Hawthorns stadium has had a fresh coat of paint, hawthorn bushes were planted to mark the 125th anniversary of Albion's move to the ground and safe-standing rails have been installed, but there's a lot more they can do to improve the matchday experience.
A recent Albion Assembly meeting attended by senior figures and supporters discussed the lack of atmosphere, including the PA system and their fanzone.
The latter is on the car park of a well-known bakery brand housed in a listed building on Halfords Lane.
It is also uncovered, so if it rains it isn't very popular. Club officials are aware it needs to improve and say they are taking steps to do so.
The most important aspect of a matchday, though, is the main product - the football - which has been nowhere near good enough.
The sight of increasingly empty seats at The Hawthorns may have contributed to Patel's decision to dismiss a third head coach in under 11 months, because, to put it in business terms, it is not favourable to your bottom line if your customers are choosing not to consume the product you are selling them.
After the euphoria of the takeover two years ago, there is a current feeling of discontent. Continuing to engage with groups such as the aforementioned Albion Assembly and the Fan Advisory Board, which meet regularly with the club, will help rebuild a connection.
There is also a newly-established Independent Supporters' Trust along with existing supporters' clubs that they must aim to keep on side.
But the only way the mood can truly begin to shift is by keeping the club in the Championship and rebuilding from there.
Life in League One would be a nightmare scenario, but for Shilen Patel's West Bromwich Albion it's closer to reality than the American's Premier League dream of 2024.
“Has to change”- Alan Shearer reveals what Rosenior do if Chelsea want Champions League football
Chelsea travel to Arsenal in a huge London derby on Sunday and Premier League legend Alan Shearer has given his prediction.
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The Blues haven’t beaten Arsenal since 2021, as they prepare to take on the Gunners for the fourth time this season.
The game at Stamford Bridge ended in a draw, whilst Mikel Arteta’s side were victorious in both legs of the Carabao Cup semi final.
Alan Shearer makes Arsenal vs Chelsea prediction
Having dropped points in their previous two games against Leeds and Burnley, the Blues need to take something on Sunday to help their chances of qualifying for Champions League football.
Chelsea currently sit fifth, level on points with Liverpool in sixth, and three points behind fourth placed Manchester United.
Chelsea are preparing to face Arsenal for the fourth time this season. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
That certainly makes the task tougher for the Blues, and Shearer has now given his verdict for the weekend’s big game.
“The belief and everything that goes with winning against Tottenham in the way they did, I think Arsenal are just going to do the same to Chelsea and overpower them,” he wrote in Metro.
“They’ll have too much for them all over the pitch. I’m still really not convinced by Chelsea at the back.
“Defensively, Rosenior keeps picking different personnel and they haven’t been great defensively, which has to change if they’re going to get into the top four.
“Prediction – Arsenal win.”
John Terry shares thoughts on London derby
Chelsea will have to be at their best if they are to stand a chance of getting anything out the game, and will need to cut out their defensive errors.
With another big game against Aston Villa on Wednesday evening, the Blues have an opportunity to gain ground in the race for Champions League football.
Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:
Pedro Acosta was not remotely angry with Marc Marquez following the penultimate-lap incident that could have cost him his breakthrough MotoGP win.
Marquez was penalised for pushing the KTM rider wide as he reclaimed the lead at Turn 12, with the stewards quickly instructing him to drop a position.
This ensured Acosta was finally able to cross the line first in a MotoGP race. But without the penalty, he would likely have had to settle for second given the gap that had opened up after the incident.
After the race, however, Acosta said he was surprised by the penalty and bore no grudge towards Marquez.
Asked if he had expected Marquez to let him through at the final turn of the race, Acosta replied: "No. I went over the finish line thinking, 'What's going on?'"
Pedro Acosta, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Pedro Acosta, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Acosta said there had been contact - "He touched me; he touched me" - but added that he would have done the same to Marquez.
"It's what makes MotoGP so exciting. You know, in the end you remember that kind of battle and these kinds of moments. It was a nice race for the fans.
"This was my best battle so far [in MotoGP]."
Speaking on television directly after the race, Acosta remarked that the late gift from Marquez had left him with an odd feeling after finally breaking his MotoGP duck.
"Maybe I don't really feel like a winner because he let me pass," he said. "We'll try to get this real victory tomorrow."
Pedro Acosta, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Pedro Acosta, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
The 21-year-old can feel optimistic for the Sunday race given that he exceeded his own expectations in the sprint, which he started in sixth place.
"I was quite surprised. [My race plan was] six laps of qualifying and then let's see what is going on.
"I was slightly more able to be with them at the beginning [than expected, and also pass Raul Fernandez] at the beginning of the race."
Acosta's only major complaint in the sprint was a lack of straightline speed – traditionally a strong area for KTM.
"It looks like we stayed at the same speed as last year and our rivals are faster, that's it."
‘So much to like’ – Reported Liverpool target put in a ‘spectacular’ performance on Friday night
One reported Liverpool transfer target was praised for his ‘spectacular’ performance as he helped his team to pull off a surprise victory on Friday night.
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The Reds are among the Premier League giants to have been linked with Wolves attacker Mateus Mane, with Mark Brus of the Daily Briefing that the reigning English champions are the frontrunners for the 18-year-old, who’s reportedly value at around £50m by his current club.
The teenager completed an entire top-flight match for the ninth time in a row last night as Rob Edwards’ side stunned third-placed Aston Villa 2-0 at Molineux, a result which ensured that the Old Gold will avoid the ignominy of recording the lowest-ever points tally for a Premier League season.
Liverpool-linked Mane impresses for Wolves again
Although the Liverpool-linked youngster wasn’t on the scoresheet, his overall performance against the Villans came in for plenty of praise.
Mane earned an 8/10 match rating from Talking Wolves, who lauded a ‘spectacular’ showing from the attacker as he impressed with his hold-up play and his willingness to run at the opposition and get his team up the pitch.
(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Journalist Bence Bocsak was also complimentary of the 18-year-old after the Old Gold’s victory, posting on X: ‘Mateus Mane’s footballing IQ and the way he finds himself in space is a level ahead of his peers. Still raw but so much to like.’
The underlying numbers from his performance against Villa justify such lofty praise, as seen below in data from Sofascore.
Liverpool must be wary of Mane in Molineux double header
Wolves still seem almost certain to be relegated despite their eye-catching victory last night, but the emergence of Mane has given the Molineux faithful something to consistently enjoy from this season.
It’s a common sight for teams who drop out of the Premier League to have their most valuable assets plundered by clubs with superior budgets, and it seems highly likely that the teenager will depart the Black Country over the summer, barring a miraculous finish to the campaign for Edwards’ side.
Slot will have taken note of the 18-year-old’s latest outing ahead of Liverpool’s double header at Molineux over the next week, with those two games potentially serving as the ideal audition for the forward if he has ambitions of a big-money move to Anfield.
In the here-and-now, Mane’s performance serves as a warning to the Reds’ defence that they’ll need to be very wary of the youngster when they face Wolves on Tuesday and Friday, particularly if he’s keen to impress a prospective future employer.
Even if the Old Gold make the drop to the Championship, their exciting number 36 seems likely to remain a Premier League player if he continues to shine like he did once again last night.
Led by general manager Mike Borgonzi, the Tennessee Titans have a large contingent of scouts and personnel at the NFL Scouting Combine.
While most of the media attention has focused on the edge or even the wide receiver positions when outlets have spoken with Borgonzi and head coach Robert Saleh, another player has come up and received glowing reviews: Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.
Both Borgonzi and Saleh talked about his elite skill set and compared him to some of the best backs in the league. While this could just be the typical chatter that happens at the combine, Matthew Berry of NBC Sports doubled down on those comments.
"I was at the NFL Combine last night, talking to a bunch of people, hearing a lot of rumors. Some about free agents, some about trades, some about the draft.” Berry said, ”But the craziest rumor I heard? Of all the ones, this was the most surprising. The rumor I heard last night... the Titans think Jeremiyah Love is the best player in the draft."
Heading into free agency, running back might be the most stable position on the Titans roster with Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, and Kalel Mullings in place for 2026. But there have been rumors swirling that Pollard could be a salary-cap casualty in the coming weeks.
Even if Pollard is in jeopardy, it would be counterproductive to move on from him prior to the draft, and Borgonzi appears savvy enough to keep his cards close to the vest and not give teams an insight into what they are thinking with the fourth-overall selection, especially if they do covet Love.
🇦🇹 All the excitement of the Austrian Bundesliga live on OneFootball 📲
Big news for Austrian Bundesliga fans, who will soon be able to watch the rest of the season live on OneFootball.
Starting tomorrow, Sunday, March 1st, all matches will be streamed live globally, with the exception of a few selected markets.
This includes all the games in the final phase, which promises to be thrilling, as well as all those from the 2026/27 season.
👀 It's a battle at the top!
Currently, only five points separate the top five teams in the Austrian Bundesliga: Salzburg, Sturm Graz, LASK, Austria Vienna, and Hartberg are all vying for the title.
The big favorite, as is often the case, is Salzburg, currently two points ahead of the second place, but watch out...
In fact, in the last two editions, it was Sturm Graz who triumphed, finishing ahead of their Red Bull group rivals.
📺 How to watch the Austrian Bundesliga
Provided by Sportradar Media, the matches will be available in three different formats:
Pay-per-view: €3.99 per match
Team pass: €14.99 to follow a single club for the rest of the season
League pass: €19.99 for the entire season
The matches will be available everywhere in the world, except Austria, Germany, Switzerland, the Balkans, Russia, Ukraine, Czech Republic, and Israel.
After scoring the game-winning goal for Team USA in the gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Megan Keller will return to action with her Boston Fleet teammates when they take on the Ottawa Charge.
Boston will attempt to extend a three-game winning streak that began before the Olympic break. The Fleet are tied with the Montreal Victoire atop the PWHL standings heading into a five-game road trip.
The Charge, sitting in fifth, will look to move up in the standings as PWHL play resumes. Rory Guilday and Gwyneth Philips are back in Ottawa after winning the gold medal alongside Keller.
Here is everything you need to know about Fleet vs. Charge, including TV and streaming options for Saturday's game.
How to watch Boston Fleet vs. Ottawa Charge today: TV channel, live stream
The Fleet vs. Charge game will air locally on NESN. Viewers in the local market can also stream the game on Fubo and NESN 360.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100-plus top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
Boston Fleet vs. Ottawa Charge start time
Date: Saturday, Feb. 28
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Fleet vs. Charge is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, Feb. 28. The game will be played at TD Place in Ottawa.
Paolo De Paola explains why he doesn’t trust Juventus against Roma
Juventus take on AS Roma in Serie A this weekend in what represents a must-win fixture for both clubs.
Juve and Roma are direct rivals for a place inside the top four at the end of the campaign, and the Bianconeri fully understand the significance of this encounter. Roma are equally aware of what is at stake, and neither side will want to see the other finish above them when the season concludes. The implications for qualification and momentum make this one of the most important matches of their respective domestic campaigns.
Focus shifts entirely to the league
Having been eliminated from the other competitions, Juventus can now concentrate solely on league football. In theory, that could prove beneficial. With fewer fixtures to navigate, players should benefit from additional rest, and Luciano Spalletti will have more time to work with his squad between matches, refining tactics and addressing inconsistencies.
However, that advantage may not immediately apply to the clash with Roma. After contesting 120 minutes against Galatasaray, fatigue could be a genuine concern. It would not be surprising if Juventus show signs of physical and mental weariness. Even so, they cannot rely on that as an excuse. The decisive phase of the season has arrived, and the team must respond with authority and resilience.
Weston McKennie and Wesley (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
Doubts over Juventus consistency
Against Roma, Juventus will need to be at their very best to secure all three points. Yet, as reported by Tuttojuve, Paolo De Paola has expressed doubts about their ability to rise to the occasion. He stated, “I feel like Roma will win. I’m not condemning anyone, but Juve is a ship sailing in stormy seas. Ups and downs will be the order of the day. I don’t expect consistency with Roma after the Galatasaray match. Now Roma seems more solid and focused on the objective. I still don’t see Juve’s performance as calm. I still don’t know how Juve will play; it doesn’t give you any confidence. It’s true, however, that until the end the schedule will be more comfortable for Juve.”
Serie A: Verona vs. Napoli – probable line-ups, where to watch on TV
Matteo Politano will start as a right midfielder for Napoli in an away Serie A game against strugglers Verona today.
It kicks off at 18:00 CET (17:00 GMT) at the Stadio Bentegodi.
The Partenopei still have several players out of action, including Scott McTominay and Frank Zambo Anguissa.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 18: Matteo Politano of SSC Napoli runs with the ball during the Supercoppa Italiana Semi-Final match between SSC Napoli and AC Milan at King Saud University Stadium on December 18, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
According to several sources, including Gazzetta and Sky Sport Italia, Alex Meret will start in goal for Napoli, while the three-man attack will continue to be composed of Antonio Vergara, Alisson Santos and Rasmus Hojlund.
With De Bruyne, McTominay and Anguissa still injured, Stanislav Lobotka and Eljif Elmas will start in central midfield with Politano and Leonardo Spinazzola on the flanks in a 3-4-2-1 system.
NAPLES, ITALY – JANUARY 07: Rasmus Hojlund of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring his side second goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Hellas Verona FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on January 07, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
Another Italy international, Alessandro Buongiorno, will start in central defence.
Scotland international Kieron Bowie will lead the Gialloblu attack alongside Amin, as Gift Orban is still suspended. The same is true for central midfielder Moatesen Al-Musrati, while Antoine Bernede, Rafik Belghali, Suat Serdar, Pol Lirola and Sandi Lovric are injured.
Verona vs. Napoli – where to watch on TV
The match will be broadcast live on DAZN in the UK and Ireland and Paramount+ in the USA. Football Italia will provide live updates via a live blog.
Glendale, AZ USA: Emanuel Navarrete and Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez Weigh In ahead of their IBF and WBO JR lightweight World Championship Contest tomorrow night.
27 February 2026
Picture By Cris Esqueda Matchroom Boxing | Cris Esqueda/Matchroom Boxing
Emanuel Navarrete and Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez meet tonight in a super featherweight unification fight that promises action and drama.
We’ll be here this evening with live results and updates, plus round-by-round scoring and community discussion down in the comments section. Wil Esco is on the round-by-round call, and I’ll be scoring along with him, so join us!
Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KO) is putting his WBO 130 lb title on the line, with Nunez (29-1, 27 KO) defending the IBF belt. The card will also feature prospects Emiliano Vargas, Tahmir Smalls, and Arturo Cardenas in action.
How to watch Navarrete vs Nunez
Date: Saturday, February 28, 2026
Streaming: DAZN (subscription)
Start time: 8:00 pm ET
Location: Desert Diamond Arena – Glendale, AX
Navarrete vs Nunez running order
Arturo Cardenas vs Jordan Martinez, super bantamweights, 10 rounds
Tahmir Smalls vs Abel Ramos, welterweights, 10 rounds
Emiliano Vargas vs Agustin Quintana, super lightweights, 10 rounds
Emanuel Navarrete vs Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez, super featherweights, 12 rounds, unification for Navarrete’s WBO title and Nunez’s IBF title
Khanyisa Mayo shares thoughts on Chiefs scoring woes as Soweto derby looms
Interview
Mayo speaks on Chiefs scoring issues as derby looms
Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackPagePix
Kaizer Chiefs striker Khanyisa Mayo has weighed in on the club's persistent goal-scoring woes ahead of their clash against Orlando Pirates in the Soweto derby at FNB Stadium on Saturday (15h30).
While the Glamour Boys have notably improved in defence, with goalkeeper Brandon Petersen sitting on 15 clean sheets across all competitions, they have an alarming low conversion rate at the other end of the pitch.
Mayo, who's on a season-long loan with an option to buy from Algerian giants CR Belouizdad, attributed the lack of cutting edge to pure luck, noting the amount of chances Chiefs create per game.
“I think it's just pure luck on the day because I think we create seven or eight chances per game and we manage to score one or two goals but that wouldn't give us the total tally to be up there in the goal-scoring charts,” he said.
"But for us it's to take one game at a time and be positive that we help one another as attackers to say if you get a chance to put it in the back of the net then you just have to put it in the back of the net and if it doesn't happen we will create more chances for you to keep on improving.
"As you saw with the other games, we've been creating so many chances but failing to convert, but it's for us to keep level-headed and keep on motivating each other as attackers to score for the team.
With the derby synonymous with fine margins, the former Cape Town City talisman has called for cool heads, with maximum points and bragging rights at stake.
“I don't think we have to be too overconfident about it but as players we have to manage our emotions because it's a game of emotions but for us it's to partake and to help the team get the maximum results that we can get,” Mayo added.
"But it's for us to also become level-headed because once emotions start to creep in you start losing yourself into the game. But it's a game where the mental aspect of the game [is important], we have to control our nerves, be in the right frame of mind and the right frame of performance.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - FEBRUARY 27: (L-R) Brandon Moreno of Mexico and Lone'er Kavanagh of England poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night official weigh-in at InterContinental Mexico City on February 27, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
MMA Fighting has UFC Mexico results for the Moreno vs. Kavanagh fight card, a live blog of the main event, and more from Arena CDMX in Mexico City on Saturday night.
In the main event, two-time UFC champion Brandon Moreno and Lone’er Kavanagh clash in a pivotal flyweight contest. Moreno has lost three of his past five fights, while Kavanagh is 3-1 in his four UFC fights.
Marlon Vera and David Martinez meet in a bantamweight showdown in the co-main event.
Dortmund and Leipzig keeping a close eye on his situation
Moussa Diaby heading for a return to Europe?
Moussa Diaby could be on his way out of Saudi Arabia in the coming months. The French winger, currently under contract with Al-Ittihad Club until 2029, continues to attract attention from several top European clubs.
In Germany, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are closely monitoring his situation. A move to Inter Milan was on the table this winter, but negotiations fell through. In England, Chelsea FC, Liverpool FC, Tottenham Hotspur FC, and Newcastle United FC are all reportedly interested. Over in Spain, Atlético de Madrid is also following the case.
This winter, a loan deal with a €35 million buy option was on the table, but Al-Ittihad were holding out for around €40 million. Signed for €60 million in 2024, Diaby has scored 2 goals and provided 6 assists in 22 matches this season. At 26, a return to Europe remains a real possibility. The question now is whether a club will make a move this summer.
Having won just one of their last six games across all competitions, RB Leipzig head into Sunday’s away game against Hamburger SV in desperate need of a victory.
Leipzig’s recent struggles have seen them slip out of the top four and put their goal of returning to the Champions League – following last season’s disappointing seventh-place finish – in jeopardy.
According to Bild, the work of RB Leipzig coach Ole Werner is increasingly being questioned internally. If the Saxons fail to beat Hamburger SV, there could be a debate over his future.
The management fundamentally believes Werner is capable of guiding the team back to form and achieving their seasonal objectives, but the 37-year-old must start delivering results again.
While Leipzig are capable of playing brilliant football at times, one of the big issues identified is their inability to see wins through, according to the report. Most recently, Werner’s side squandered a 2-0 lead against Borussia Dortmund, drawing 2-2.
Werner himself is acutely aware of the importance of the upcoming matches. Bild quotes him as saying:
“The final third of the season is starting – that’s when the course is set."
Chelsea will be without two key men against Arsenal
Chelsea will be without two key players when they face Arsenal in the Premier League this weekend.
The Blues are fully aware of the importance of this fixture. Victory is essential for their ambitions, while Arsenal equally cannot afford defeat, heightening the tension surrounding a contest between two direct rivals with significant objectives. Both sides have had a full week to prepare, leaving little room for fatigue to be cited as an excuse.
In the reverse fixture, Chelsea may feel they could have secured a positive result had they not been reduced to ten men. However, they have since had two further opportunities to overcome Arsenal this season and were unsuccessful on both occasions. That record will add further motivation as they seek to alter the narrative in this latest encounter.
Rosenior targeting response
Liam Rosenior continues to familiarise himself with his squad and refine his approach. Having already been beaten twice by Arsenal, he will be determined to demonstrate progress and resilience in this fixture. The manager has been backed to guide Chelsea into the top four, and securing a result in such a high-profile match could prove pivotal in keeping them in contention for that objective.
(Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
Injury concerns confirmed
Like many Premier League clubs, Chelsea has had to contend with injury setbacks. The situation has once again impacted their preparations for this match.
As reported by Chelsea’s official website, the manager confirmed the absence of two players, stating, ‘Estevao, unfortunately, will be out for a little bit longer but Jamie Gittens is progressing really well in terms of his rehab.
‘Cucu is progressing really well but he won’t be available for Sunday. Hopefully, we get him back in as soon as possible.’
Those absences could influence team selection and tactical plans, adding another layer of complexity to an already significant contest.
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India may have secured a comfortable win over Zimbabwe, but not everything went perfectly on the night. All-rounder Shivam Dube endured a tough spell with the ball, leaking 46 runs in just two overs as the sixth bowling option. While he has previously delivered handy contributions when captain Suryakumar Yadav has called upon him, this outing was far from ideal.
Dube looked short of rhythm and control, struggling to maintain a consistent line and length. He failed to hit the off-side cut strip regularly and compounded matters with four wides and a couple of no-balls. Thankfully for India, net run rate was no longer a factor in their semi-final equation. Otherwise, such an expensive spell could have created complications.
Former India opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth analysed the performance on his show ‘Cheeky Cheeka’, acknowledging that it was a batting-friendly surface but raising concerns over Dube’s accuracy.
“I don’t think bowling is a concern. It was a good batting track. My only concern is the sixth bowler. Did you see where Dube was bowling? He was bowling on the sixth stump. I have not seen bowling like that,” he said on ‘Cheeky Cheeka’.
Srikkanth suggested that India’s large total allowed them the freedom to experiment and offer Dube additional overs, with the primary objective being victory rather than boosting net run rate.
“I think they had the luxury of runs behind them so they wanted to give some bowling practice. The question of net run rate was out of the window. It was just about winning the game,” he added.
Looking ahead, the former skipper exuded confidence in India’s balance and depth, insisting that the side remains firmly on course despite the earlier defeat to South Africa.
“I said that even after losing to South Africa, India would win in Chennai and would be on the road to win the cup. It is a gun team. Arshdeep bowling well, Bumrah bowling well, Varun and Hardik are decent. You will not need to try six bowlers against the West Indies. If needed, we can look into it when the semifinal comes,” he said.
Anaheim Ducks left wing Chris Kreider (20) celebrates after a game-winning goal during an NHL match against the Winnipeg Jets on February 27, 2026 in Anaheim, California.
ANAHEIM, Calif. – Coming out of a “mini training camp” at the end of the Olympic break, the Anaheim Ducks have come out in this restart similarly to how they started the regular season: open, explosive and on fire.
The Ducks overcame a two-goal third-period deficit for the second consecutive game, and after the Winnipeg Jets leveled with the extra attacker, Beckett Sennecke dangled around a sliding Jets defender to feed Chris Kreider for the overtime-winner in a 5-4 victory at Honda Center on Friday.
Anaheim won its fourth in a row–all four games in the month of February before and after the Olympics–and seventh in a row at home in front of an 11th consecutive sellout home crowd. The Ducks are 11-2-0 in their last 13 games and second place in the Pacific Division.
“We had kind of a mini training camp there for a bit, so it's strange having almost two weeks off in the middle of the season,” Sennecke said, “but we got two wins in a row now, so we're starting on the right foot.”
The Ducks have done so with their second consecutive and league-leading ninth multi-goal comeback. Anaheim is just the sixth team in NHL history with nine or more mult-goal comeback wins in the first 58 games of a season and the first since the 2005-06 Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes.
“I think we just have that belief in ourselves that we were never out of it,” Sennecke said, “and I think that's kind of the biggest thing in these comeback wins is we never think we're out of it, and we know we can score goals.”
Sennecke racked up three primary assists to retake the rookie points lead. The 20-year-old leads all NHL rookies with 48 points, one more than Montreal’s Ivan Demidov, and 19 goals, one more than Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders.
Jacob Trouba got the Ducks on the board at the end of the second period, and goals by Leo Carlsson on the power play and Pavel Mintyukov on a rebound brought the Ducks level.
An incredible individual effort from Ryan Poehling put Anaheim ahead, but the Jets scored with the goalie pulled to force overtime, where Sennecke hit Chris Kreider for his 20th goal of the season and the win.
Lukas Dostal made 29 saves in the win, and U.S. Olympic gold medalist Connor Hellebuyck made 35 stops in the loss.
“It was a thrilling game,” Ducks coach Joel Quenneville said. “The crowd’s been great, and I'm sure there's a lot to be excited about in a game like tonight, but certainly, we find different ways, and the guys still compete, and it wasn't pretty at the start of that game.”
Anaheim (32-23-3, 67 points) jumped back over Edmonton (29-23-8, 66 points) for second place in the Pacific Division with two fewer games played than the Oilers. The Ducks are three points behind first-place Vegas (28-17-14, 70 points) with one game in hand.
There is finally a bit of distance from their divisional opponents with Seattle four points back (27-22-9, 63 points) in the second wild card and Los Angeles seven points back (23-21-14, 60 points). Utah (31-24-4, 66 points) holds the first wild card, but with the Ducks snugly in the Pacific’s top three, the Central Division Mammoth don’t factor in.
Anaheim continues this massive seven-game homestand against Calgary on Sunday. The Ducks won the first meeting of the season in Calgary in January with a thrilling overtime win on Sennecke’s first career hat trick.
Comeback Over Connor
By now, every American hockey fan is well aware of Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, whose heroics in the Olympic men’s hockey gold medal game for the United States in Milan last Sunday were enough to earn a Presidential Medal of Freedom–the highest civilian honor in this country.
Through most of the first two periods, Hellebuyck did not need to be heroic; he merely needed to be average. Anaheim was admittedly slow and could not establish any sort of traffic in front of the American goaltender, as Winnipeg outworked the Ducks for a 2-0 lead.
Late in the second period, Anaheim finally won the puck in deep and put bodies between Hellebuyck and the blue line, where Jacob Trouba wristed a shot around an Ian Moore screen for the Ducks’ first goal of the game and Trouba’s 10th of the season.
“I just thought we had to get our legs going a little more,” American gold medalist Jackson LaCombe said. “A little slow in the first and second there, but we got going at the end of the second, and the third thought we did a great job just getting pucks behind, and then like I said, using our legs and our speed.”
LaCombe watched Hellebuyck up-close as his teammate in Milan, despite not seeing any ice time for the Americans. So, the Ducks defenseman was well aware that if he can see it, he can stop it.
Even when Winnipeg reestablished a two-goal lead, the Ducks kept it simple on an ensuing power play. Sennecke sent the puck through traffic off Hellebuyck’s pad, LaCombe flipped the rebound over the sprawling netminder, and Leo Carlsson tapped in the second goal for this 20th tally of the season
Just over three minutes later, Sennecke fired another shot off Hellebuyck’s pad with bodies in front, and Pavel Mintyukov was able to swoop in for the open-net rebound to tie the game, 3-3.
“He's one of the best goalies in the world, so, you're probably not gonna beat him clean,” Senecke said. “You just kind of want to create a rebound and get bodies at the net, and that's how we scored those two goals.”
FINAL/OT: Ducks 5, Jets 4
Beckett Sennecke dangles, Chris Kreider puts home the loose puck, Ducks complete their second straight multi goal comeback win. Ducks have won 11 of 13.@SportingTrib | #FlyTogetherpic.twitter.com/EnWba68Qvx
Anaheim eventually completed the comeback with Ryan Poehling’s go-ahead goal and Chris Kreider’s overtime winner, but the necessary dramatics for the victory felt more like wide-open, early season Ducks hockey than the more tightened-down brand Anaheim established into the Olympic break.
“I think we're a little bit, the last couple of games, guilty of maybe being a little generous,” Joel Quenneville said. “Be it off the rush, or d-zone coverage has been loose. Our opponents have had some high quality opportunities.”
“I think we tightened that up from the way we started the year, and we were in a better spot coming into the break than in these two games, but we have ability to score goals and make plays, and we don't want to take that away from our team, just make that commitment of predictability in our own end and killing the rush game.”
Anaheim has played with fire plenty of times this season, and while the Ducks have found themselves on the positive end of things again, it was those lax defensive habits that kicked off the nine-game winless streak the Ducks had before this 11-2-0 run.
They’re cognizant of the highs and the lows at this point and know they have to be better in their own end to open games, after Edmonton scored 13 seconds in on Wednesday and Winnipeg scored 84 seconds into Friday’s game.
“We can score goals, and we have so many guys who can just put the puck in the net,” LaCombe said. “So it's obviously huge to have, but like I said, we just don't want to be relying on that every game. We gotta find a way to win games in different ways.”
Ducks have done it again. For the second straight game, they erase a two-goal third-period deficit, and its Pavel Mintyukov with the honors tonight. Minty follows up a rebound off a Beckett Sennecke rifle.
Anaheim went with an 11-forward, 7-defenseman line-up on Friday, as the forward corps struggles to maintain a fully healthy front.
Mikael Granlund missed his second straight game out of the Olympic break with an upper-body injury. Granlund took a hit from behind late in Finland’s bronze-medal match on Saturday in Milan. The hit sent Granlund to the locker room briefly before returning for post-game handshakes and the medal ceremony.
Granlund has yet to practice since returning to Anaheim.
“We're hoping that he can get on the ice tomorrow,” Quenneville said. “We're still not sure.”
Troy Terry joined Granlund with an upper-body injury of his own, the Ducks announced before taking on the Jets. Terry did not skate in the final five minutes against Edmonton on Wednesday and did not practice on Thursday.
Terry missed 11 games with an upper-body injury in January.
Frank Vatrano returned to Ducks practice on Thursday following personal leave to be with family after the death of his older brother. Vatrano suffered a fractured shoulder in late December, but he rejoined the team for the first Olympic break practices on Feb. 17.
Vatrano skated on the fourth line in Thursday’s practice but remained on injured reserve for Friday’s game.
“Frankie's close,” Quenneville said. “We'll probably have a better idea once he has a couple more practices with us.”
Ryan Strome was scratched for the fifth straight game, as the Ducks elected for the 11-7 line-up.
“He wasn't able to go today,” Quenneville said. “He was, we'll say, under the weather for today.”
The veteran has not played since Jan. 26 in Edmonton, when he played a season-low ice time for any Duck that was not ejected or injured (4:42).
UFC president Dana White, however, has now confirmed that “Poatan” is no longer champion at 205lbs, with Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg fighting over the vacant belt to headline UFC 327 on 11 April.
No explanation was given for why the Brazilian has relinquished his title but, barring injury, the development suggests that Pereira will leave the division and make a highly-touted move to heavyweight.
It also came as White confirmed that fights for this summer’s White House card “should” be announced “this week”, stoking speculation that Pereira could be pitted in an interim heavyweight title fight, perhaps against Ciryl Gane, at the event.
Reigning champion Tom Aspinall is currently out with a serious eye injury sustained against Frenchman Gane in October. His recovery and fighting future remain up in the air, as he has undergone multiple surgeries.
Alex Pereira obliterated Magomed Ankalaev in the first round of their rematch (Getty Images)A move to heavyweight and a fight with Ciryl Gane could await (AFP via Getty Images)
Pereira moving up a weight class also looks set to rule out a rumoured bout with middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev, which would have surely been booked as “champion versus champion” if it was to happen.
It was a mammoth announcement from White, who laid out the full UFC 327 card, which will be held at Miami’s Kaseya Centre.
In the co-main event, flyweight champion Joshua Van will get a chance to truly prove his title credentials as he defends his belt for the first time since dethroning Alexandre Pantoja, whose arm popped out just 26 seconds into their December clash to crown Van the UFC’s second youngest champion ever, behind Jon Jones.
Dana White also confirmed the next fight for flyweight champion Joshua Van (Getty Images)
The 24-year-old faces Japan’s Tatsuro Taira, who comes into the bout off the back of finishing former champion Brandon Moreno in December.
Elsewhere on the main card, Dominick Reyes fights Johnny Walker in a clash of long-time light-heavyweight contenders, while Beneil Dariush and Curtis Blaydes are also in action.
The card also boasts a stacked prelims, including names such as Paulo Costa, Kevin Holland, Kelvin Gastelum and Patricio Pitbull.
EXCLUSIVE | Mark Hateley: “Monaco have taken their eye off the ball and got complacent.”
Retired AS Monaco striker Mark Hateley once again sat down with Get French Football News to discuss his former side’s current slide down the table.
9th in the league and in danger of going out of the Champions League. Can I get your thoughts on Monaco’s season so far, and why do you think it’s gone wrong?
Inconsistency jumps to mind. I think Monaco have been there and thereabouts for as long as I can remember. They’ve always been in and around that top three. They’ve probably taken their eye off the ball and got a little bit complacent. I think that’s the problem. Once you get into that routine of thinking we’re there or thereabouts and start taking the foot off the gas with recruitment, we’ll get by with this. They’ve fallen into that sort of category.
If you want to be fighting for Championships against a team like Paris Saint-Germain and, back in the day, a phenomenal outfit in Olympique de Marseille. We know that [PSG] can build a team quickly and can get the right people in, and people want to go and play there. Monaco have to be on the ball all the time, and so I think that’s the answer [to what’s gone wrong]: complacency.
Do you think it’s a case of the players having to create their own pressure at Monaco, considering low attendance will always be a factor?
Yeah. Self-motivation is what we’re talking about here. Without a shadow of a doubt, that was a problem back in the day, even when I was playing. Summertime was good because we were bringing in the tourists, with the boats pulling in. Monaco will always rely on passing trade. That’s the catch they’re in. When you’re recruiting players, you’ve got to have a look at their background. I think for motivational-type things. Playing away from home. All that stuff that goes into buying a good player.
I’ll speak from experience, and switch it around to my time at Rangers. We had 52,000 fans come each week. And we had some great players that came in and completely died. I’m talking international players. These were players who couldn’t cope with that side of it. And so there is the other side, where you have to be self-motivating to a small crowd. You have to have that mentality, and the ability to raise your game and yourself amongst teammates, and build that camaraderie until it’s solid.
Monaco isn’t as easy as you think. You can’t just throw some money at some players and bring them in. [Mentality] is where it’s won or lost before you even get on the pitch with some players.
What were your thoughts on Monaco’s Champions League exit to PSG?
PSG have not been that relentless machine that crushes absolutely everybody. This year it’s been on and off, on and off. That’s what’s opened the door for other teams to come and have a nibble at, which I think is a good thing for Ligue 1. The excitement of having somebody else involved in a championship race attracts more attention to your league, and with that attention, it brings more income, sponsorships, and all that sort of stuff. Poor management and poor recruitment has probably helped reinject a little bit of energy into French football.
Thinking back to when you joined Monaco, can you talk us through what attracted you to the club?
It was a different type of football for me, and I was always on that journey of wanting to be a European nine and not a British nine. I always had that British nine in me of running and fighting; my dad’s background was an old-fashioned centre-forward. I wanted to be like him, but with some add-ons. Watching the 1970 World Cup in Mexico and looking at the strikers when I was a kid, was inspirational for me. I wanted to be that sort of player who could run around and hold the ball, and create chances, but also create chances for myself.
So, getting back to the question, why did I go to Monaco from Milan? I think it helped Silvio Berlusconi, who wanted me away from Italian football because of the fanbase that was supporting me, the ultras at Milan. So out of sight, out of mind. Could I have gone to another Italian club? There were three or four that wanted me, but I think once you’ve played for Milan, that’s the only team you want to play for in Italy. That door opened up for me to play in another country, another type of football, and to work with a manager, Arsene Wenger, whom I knew very little of, but was a revolutionary type of manager.
The first day I was in training in Monaco with Arsene. I said to him, ‘How do you want me to play?’ And he sort of looked at me and said, ‘I can’t teach you that. All I can do is make you fitter. All I want you to do is play as you did at Milan for the last three years.’ Boom, that was it. That was my team talk with Wenger. And the rest is history. We went on to the cup final and won the league. It was a great time that first year, and then probably overloaded with games, the World Cup, continuous playing, and then I picked up that bad injury that kept me out for a couple of years.
After a difficult time in Milan, it seems like it was quite a brave decision to step into another unfamiliar country. Was stepping into the unknown something that you liked and wanted to embrace?
Fearless [laughs]. That’s my game. That’s always been my game. Own whatever you try to do in anything, and I say that to young players now. You need to own what you’re doing, whether it’s right or wrong. Sometimes you have to break the rules of how they want you to play because you have to think for yourself. Young players have all this data, data, data, and think, ‘I’ve got to come in, I’ve got to hit this there, and hit that there.’ Instead of ‘I’m going to do this because I think this is right,’ and then if it is right, and you score a goal, from your own head or your own imagination, I think that’s a good thing for young players to be able to do. Owning and taking responsibility. That’s what makes leaders. I think the modern game is introducing a lot of followers and not enough leaders.
Mark Hateley was speaking to GFFN exclusively on behalf of British Gambler.
Report: Everton Interested in Championship Young Star
Everton Eye Kellen Fisher as Right Back Race Intensifies
Everton’s recruitment drive appears to have turned toward youth, mobility, and long term planning, with fresh reports from TEAMtalk placing Everton firmly in the hunt for Kellen Fisher.
The 21 year old has been one of the more compelling performers in the Championship this season, and according to TEAMtalk, “Kellen Fisher, the versatile Norwich City defender, is firmly on the radar of a host of Premier League clubs after a standout campaign in the Championship, with Everton among his suitors.”
It is easy to see why. Fisher has played with a maturity that belies his age, equally adept on either flank, combining athleticism with positional intelligence. In a league often defined by chaos, he has provided calm.
Championship Breakthrough Sparks Seven Club Scramble
Fisher’s rise at Norwich City has been steady rather than spectacular, but consistency has been his calling card. As TEAMtalk note, “The 21-year-old right-back who is equally comfortable on the left has enjoyed a breakthrough season at Carrow Road, impressing scouts with his consistency, athleticism, and tactical intelligence.”
That reliability has attracted attention from across the top flight. Arsenal, Manchester United, Newcastle, Brentford, Brighton, and Fulham are all reported to have monitored him closely. In a market where full backs are increasingly expected to build play, press high, and recover quickly, Fisher ticks a number of contemporary boxes.
“Fisher’s ability to operate on both flanks, combined with his composure on the ball and willingness to join the attack, has made him one of the most sought-after young defenders outside the top flight,” the report adds. It reads like a checklist for modern recruitment departments.
Patterson Future Raises Questions at Goodison Park
For Everton, the context matters. TEAMtalk reveal that “Everton considered a move for Fisher in January, when David Moyes was keen to bring in a new right-back.” That interest coincided with uncertainty around Nathan Patterson, who has started just three Premier League games this term.
“Fisher’s arrival would have seen Nathan Patterson leave the club,” the report claims, with Sevilla previously circling. Patterson’s talent has flashed intermittently, but opportunity has been scarce.
Photo IMAGO
In truth, right back has been an unsettled position for years. Jake O’Brien, a natural centre back, has often filled the role. Stability, rather than stardom, might be what Everton crave.
With Fisher under contract until 2028, Norwich are in a position of strength. Yet, as TEAMtalk suggest, sizeable offers can test any resolve. Everton, if serious, must move swiftly.
Our View – EPL Index Analysis
From an Everton perspective, this report feels both promising and familiar. Promising because Fisher fits the profile many supporters have wanted, young, adaptable, technically sound. Familiar because the club has been here before, linked with rising talents only to hesitate.
If Patterson departs, many fans would feel a tinge of frustration. He has shown glimpses of quality, and some would argue he has not been trusted consistently.
Fisher’s versatility could be invaluable across a long season. Everton have often lacked depth and flexibility, particularly in defensive areas. A player who reads the game well and presses relentlessly sounds tailor made for a side seeking structure.
Still, supporters will ask a simple question, can he handle the step up? Championship excellence does not always translate immediately. Everton’s recruitment must balance potential with readiness. If this seven club battle is real, decisiveness will define the outcome.
For now, Fisher represents possibility. Whether that possibility becomes progress depends on Everton acting with clarity rather than caution.
Barcelona defender receives surprise birthday gift from Italian legend
Barcelona’s Gerard Martin began his time in the first team as a backup left-back, but Hansi Flick quickly identified him as a valuable centre-back option after Inigo Martinez’s departure.
While he has had his ups and downs, the player has been largely decent for the team in central defence, usually alongside Pau Cubarsi or Eric Garcia, and earned the nickname ‘Gerard Maldini’ after naming Italian legend Paolo Maldini as his role model.
Turning 24 on Thursday, the player was thus greeted with a pleasant surprise, as he received a special piece of memorabilia from his icon.
A special gift
Indeed, Paulo Maldini sent him a signed and dedicated jersey of his to Gerard Martin for his 24th birthday – a gift that the player will treasure forever.
Martin took to his social media to showcase and publicly acknowledge the kind gesture by Maldini, and it has created a lot of stir on social media, given how the player himself is nicknamed Barcelona’s ‘Maldini’ by his teammates and the fanbase.
Courtesy: Instagram
“For Gerard: Happy birthday and good luck in your career. Sincerely, Paolo Maldini,” were the words written on the specially dedicated shirt given by the AC Milan legend.
While the player’s fond nickname may have initially started as light-hearted humour, Martin has stepped up his game and provided some good performances for Barcelona at centre-back to the point where he appears to be ahead of even Ronald Araujo.
He will not be available later today for Barcelona’s game against Villarreal through suspension, but will certainly have a key role to play for Hansi Flick’s side as the season progresses.
So far this season, Martin has made 15 starts and 21 appearances in La Liga for Barcelona and has overseen three clean sheets with an average of over six defensive actions per game.
£700m and Counting: What is really holding Liverpool back?
Record Profits, Familiar Problems: Liverpool’s Leadership Crossroads
Liverpool’s financial results have landed with the force of a statement.
Over £700 million in reported revenue across the 2024/2025 cycle is outstanding. Record-breaking profits under FSG. Commercial growth aligned with global expansion, with the club’s profile growing. From sponsorship portfolios to stadium development, from brand elevation to operational efficiency — this is a football institution operating at elite corporate altitude.
Under Michael Edwards’ stewardship as CEO, Fenway Sports Group have handed control to a strategist who understands both numbers and narrative. The English league title reclaimed last season was not an isolated triumph; it was the sporting validation of an infrastructure built to dominate sustainably.
Off the pitch, Liverpool look untouchable.
On it, the cracks are harder to ignore.
There is an uncomfortable paradox developing at Anfield. Commercially world-class. Administratively elite. Structurally forward-thinking. Yet performances this season have been littered with inconsistency, fragility, and a worrying lack of identity.
This is not a squad devoid of talent. Quite the opposite. It is a group that should be operating with cohesion and authority. Instead, too many matches have drifted into stuttering sequences of reactive football. Wins have arrived, yes — but rarely with the control befitting reigning champions.
I believe the decision has already been made.
Arne Slot, regardless of whether Champions League qualification is secured, feels like a transitional figure rather than the architect of the next dynasty. Qualification alone cannot mask a season defined by structural uncertainty and fluctuating standards. When evaluating leadership at this level, the metric is not simply results — it is trajectory.
And the trajectory feels uneven.
Elite Revenues Demand Elite Authority
The Champions League draw offers Galatasaray in the Round of 16. On paper, progression is expected. Across two legs, Liverpool should possess too much quality and European experience. But beyond that? The semi-finals feel like a ceiling rather than a stepping stone.
That is not ambition speaking. It is an assessment.
The performances against high-intensity sides have too often lacked fluency. Midfield control has been sporadic. Attacking structure remains overly dependent on moments rather than patterns. Remove the brilliance of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté from the equation and the picture darkens considerably.
The defenders at the back have masked deficiencies elsewhere. Van Dijk’s positional authority and Konaté’s recovery pace have preserved points that systemic control failed to secure. Without them, this team does not flirt with the top five — it drifts toward mid-table anonymity.
That reality cannot be ignored by a leadership team that has demonstrated ruthlessness and clarity in every other department.
Michael Edwards has elevated the business operation to elite status. Revenues north of £700 million are no coincidence; they are the product of strategic precision. To allow on-pitch stagnation to undermine that platform would contradict everything FSG have built.
This season has not been catastrophic. But it has been underwhelming. The pandemic of poor performances — the lethargy in key moments, the tactical hesitancy, the absence of sustained dominance — cannot become cultural.
Liverpool’s aspirations are not modest. They are continental. They are generational.
When a club operates like a global powerhouse in every measurable metric off the field, the manager must reflect that same authority on it.
I suspect that alignment will be restored this summer.
Because excellence in one department inevitably demands excellence in all.
Sarratt had 65 receptions for 830 yards (12.8 per) with 15 touchdowns in the 2025 national championship season. The second-team All-Big Ten performer had 7 catches for 75 yards and 2 touchdowns in a Peach Bowl (College Football Playoff semifinal) win over Oregon.
He also had 53 catches and 8 TDs in 2024. His 2023 season at JMU was a monster: 82 catches, 1,191 yards, 8 TDs.
Elijah Sarratt age, height, weight
Age: 22
Year: Senior
Height: 6-2
Weight: 209
Elijah Sarratt NFL Draft profile
Sarratt is widely considered a second-round pick, ranging from 8th- to the 11th-best receiver in this draft.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: "Big receiver whose competitiveness and elite catch-phase execution allow him to overcome his athletic limitations. While he’s nicknamed “Waffle House” because he’s said to be “always open,” Sarratt sees a high number of contested targets versus man coverage. He’s tight-hipped with below-average foot quickness and falls below the line as a separator. Once the throw goes up, however, he consistently beats corners with size, body control and catch-space strength to clean up. He’ll face press matchups that leave his catch column dry, but he’s built and wired for possession targets over the first two levels."
NFL Draft Buzz: "When you watch Sarratt work, you see a receiver who understands exactly what he is and maximizes every tool in his arsenal. He is never going to be the guy who takes a slant 70 yards to the house or runs past coverage down the boundary. What he will do is catch everything thrown his way, find the soft spot in zone coverage on third-and-7, and come down with contested balls in the red zone when the quarterback needs a bailout option. That last part matters more than people realize. Forty-four career receiving touchdowns leading all active FBS receivers tells you he knows how to finish drives. His 15 scores in 2025 alone, despite missing two games, shows a player who becomes even more dangerous inside the 20."
Damian Parson, Bleacher Report: "Sarratt's game combines strong hands, route-running, and an infectious desire to make impactful plays when his team needs them."
Elijah Sarratt's strengths
(according to the scouting reports cited above)
Short and intermediate route running
Body control through contact and physical coverage
Real Madrid defensive target expected to leave Bundesliga club after UCL debacle – report
Real Madrid have made the signing of a new defender a top priority for the summer transfer window, given David Alaba’s impending departure and Eder Militao’s continued fitness woes.
After all, the German international is set to enter the final year of his contract with the Black and Yellows this summer and could be availlable for a bargain price.
Schlotterbeck expected to leave Dortmund
Now, according to BILD (h/t AS), Schlotterbeck is very much likely to leave Borussia Dortmund in the summer as doubts grow over the club’s sporting project.
This comes after the Black and Yellows’ unexpected collapse in the Champions League, as they were eliminated by Atalanta in the knockout playoff stages – the Bundesliga club succumbed to a 4-1 loss in the second leg after winning the first one 2-0.
Schlotterbeck likely to be on his way out. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)
The knockout is seen as another blow to the credibility of the BVB project, with the team already eliminated from the DFB-Pokal early and fallen behind in the Bundesliga.
In this context, the situation of Schlotterbeck, who is on the radar of Real Madrid, becomes even more significant.
The German international has been offered a new contract by Dortmund which would double his salary and come with a release clause. But he has refused to commit so far as the defender seeks guarantees of winning titles beyond the money being offered.
But, considering how things are going so far for Dortmund this season, Schlotterbeck could push to leave in the summer and the Bundesliga giants might not stand in his way if an acceptable offer arrives.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid have intensified their monitoring of the left-footed central defender, whose name continues to gain strength at Vadebebas.
Given the strong relations between the two clubs, an agreement could be reached if Schlotterbeck does decide to move on at the end of the season.
Benfica play at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon [Getty Images]
Benfica say they have suspended five supporters for behaviour "of a racist nature" during the first leg of their Champions League knockout play-off against Real Madrid this month.
Play in Lisbon was suspended for 10 minutes after Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr told the referee that he had been racially abused by Benfica's Argentine winger Gianluca Prestianni, who denies the claims.
"Benfica informed that it has suspended the memberships of five members following the initiation of disciplinary proceedings that led to the application of the maximum sanction stipulated in club's statutes, which is expulsion," the Portuguese club said in a statement.
"An internal investigation initiated after the match between Benfica and Real Madrid, held on 17 February, and the adoption of inappropriate behaviour in the stands, of a racist nature, incompatible with the values and principles that govern the club.
"Benfica reaffirms that it does not tolerate any form of discrimination or racism and will continue to act firmly when behaviours undermine the values of the club."
Vinicius had put the visitors ahead in the game but was booked for an excessive celebration in front of Benfica supporters.
Television footage showed some fans appearing to make racist gestures aimed at the player.
After an exchange with Prestianni he ran over to the referee, gesturing in the direction of the Argentina player before walking off the pitch, followed by his team-mates.
When play resumed, an object was thrown from the crowd that struck Vinicius on the arm as he prepared to take a corner.
Speaking after the game, Benfica manager Jose Mourinho said Vinicius had acted disrespectfully and incited the crowd.
Those comments were criticised by former Real midfielder Clarence Seedorf among others.
Vinicius, who scored again at the Bernabeu, was booed by the away supporters.
On Thursday, Benfica issued a statement denying a claim that Prestianni had told the squad or club officials that he had uttered a racist insult to Vinicius.
Terming Jammu and Kashmir’s historic entry into the Ranji Trophy final a “very big moment”, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said the team’s remarkable run has not only brought them to the cusp of history but also strengthened the argument for some players to earn India call-ups.
"It is a very big moment for us to reach the final because this is the first time J-K has reached the final of the Ranji Trophy. Many people said that they could not go beyond this stage. But the way they performed in the first innings, we are expecting to win the trophy from here," Abdullah said on the sidelines of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 final here.
"I think it is time our players are invited or asked to play for the country. One or two of them definitely deserve to wear the Indian colours," he added.
On the field, Jammu and Kashmir tightened their grip on the summit clash against the Karnataka cricket team, finishing Day 4 with an imposing overall lead of 477 runs at the Hubli Cricket Ground in Karnataka.
Replying to J&K’s formidable first-innings total of 584, Karnataka resumed Day 4 at 220/5 and leaned heavily on skipper Mayank Agarwal. The right-hander added 30 runs to his overnight 130, crafting a fighting 160 off 266 deliveries, laced with 21 boundaries. However, disciplined bowling ensured wickets continued to fall at the other end.
— ANI (@ANI)
Sahil Lotra ended a vital 79-run stand by dismissing Kruthik Krishna for 36, while Sunil Kumar removed Vidhyadhar Patil. The turning point came when Auquib Nabi Dar trapped Agarwal in front, swinging the momentum decisively towards J-K. Nabi also sent back Shikhar Shetty, and Yudhvir Singh Charak wrapped up the innings by removing Prasidh Krishna as Karnataka were dismissed for 293 in 93.3 overs, conceding a hefty 291-run first-innings deficit.
Jammu and Kashmir’s second innings began shakily with Yawer Hassan and first-innings centurion Shubham Pundir departing early. Captain Paras Dogra was bowled by Krishna after a brief stay. Abdul Samad then contributed 32 crucial runs and shared a steadying 73-run partnership with Qamran Iqbal to rebuild the innings.
By stumps on Day 4, Iqbal remained unbeaten on 94 off 160 balls, with Sahil Lotra not out on 16, as J-K extended their lead to 477 runs and edged closer to a maiden Ranji Trophy triumph. Abdullah travelled to Karnataka on Friday to witness what he hopes will be Jammu and Kashmir lifting their first-ever Ranji Trophy title on Saturday.
Is it possible that the Washington Commanders could use the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on an offensive player? Most mock drafts have a defensive player going to Washington because it makes the most sense. Whether it's an edge rusher, off-ball linebacker, safety, or cornerback, all have been mocked to the Commanders at some point.
It makes sense. Washington's defense needs almost everything. But what if the Commanders spend heavily on defense in free agency so they aren't forced to use their first-round pick on a defensive player if the top ones are off the board?
While the occasional mock draft has projected Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate to Washington, the most popular offensive pick for the Commanders is Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. The 6-foot-0, 214-pound Love is a player some consider the best overall talent in the draft. Positional value will likely impact where Love is taken, but he's not slipping outside of the top 10.
Could the Commanders actually select Love, putting him in the offensive backfield with quarterback Jayden Daniels?
Matthew Berry is the preeminent fantasy analyst in all of fantasy sports. Berry, the founder of Fantasy Life, was in Indianapolis at the 2026 NFL combine this week and heard something interesting about the Commanders.
"Talking to some sources around the Commanders, they say they need a thumper, Jeremiyah Love would qualify," Berry said. "He qualifies at a lot of different things. But a lead running back is a need for Jayden Daniels and that offense. I could see the Commanders, and that would be a lot of fun in that offense. David Blough taking over, it's going to look a lot like the Lions' offense from the last couple of years. So, you could see Jeremiyah Love having a lot of fantasy value if he was in Washington."
It's certainly interesting that Berry mentions the Commanders as a potential landing spot for Love. It makes sense. He could take Washington's offense to another level behind a healthy Daniels and some improved offensive weapons.
What does it actually mean? For now, it means nothing, but Washington has an interest in Love, and it could come down to what happens in front of them in April.
الكاميرون: سيرج داورا، الجوهرة البالغة من العمر 19 عامًا يتوج بالكرة الذهبية 2025
Serge Daura is the new face of Cameroonian football. At just 19 years old, he has been named Cameroon’s best player of 2025. The forward claims the national Ballon d'Or after an outstanding season with Gazelle FA.
Serge Daura lifted the 2025 Ballon d'Or trophy this Friday, February 27, at a ceremony organized by the Cameroonian Football Federation, presided over by Samuel Eto'o. This triumph crowns a year of remarkable ascent for the young striker.
A benchmark season in Elite One
A key architect of Gazelle FA’s brilliant campaign, Daura led his team to a third-place finish in the Elite One championship. This podium finish was hard-earned after a commanding season, with the young sensation establishing himself as the undisputed attacking leader of his squad.
The league’s top scorer with 15 goals, he also stood out for his selfless play, racking up 11 assists. This all-around performance played a decisive role when the votes were cast.
Triumph in fierce competition
To clinch the trophy, Daura edged out Boris Mfoumou of AS Fortuna and Nsanfeu Konrad of Panthère Sportive. The winner also walked away with the titles of top scorer and Cameroonian revelation of 2025.
At just 19, his coronation may well signal the dawn of a new era.
Mamadou Sangaré reflects on his beautiful goal against Strasbourg
"I try often, today it paid off"
Mamadou Sangaré reflects on his beautiful goal against Strasbourg
In a tense match against RC Strasbourg Alsace, it was Mamadou Sangaré who saved RC Lens from defeat (1-1) in Ligue 1.
With a clean strike from the edge of the box, the Malian midfielder brought his side level. He doesn't see it as a stroke of luck:
I often try shots like that. Sometimes they don't go in, but today I was focused and it hit the target. The most important thing is that it allowed us to get back in the game.
Up against a Strasbourg side that was fierce in the duels, Lens had to dig deep. Sangaré acknowledges it was tough:
We knew it would be a physical match. They put in a lot of intensity. We managed to respond and take a point.
Already looking ahead, he's focused on the next match against Lyon. A mature message, reflecting the growing influence of a player who is becoming increasingly important in the Lens midfield.
Rangers eye attacking midfielder in England's League One, while Celtic miss the boat on Norwegian striker...
Rangers have set their sights on Huddersfield Town midfielder Cameron Ashia, with the 20-year-old out of contract in the summer. (Football Insider)
Celtic will be priced out of a summer move for Bodo/Glimt striker Kasper Hogh following his impressive Champions League exploits. (Football Insider)
On the subject of Willie Haughey's proposed Celtic Season Ticket Alliance, former striker Chris Sutton says he is "genuinely optimistic it could be a positive first step for the club". (Daily Record - subscription required)
Loan signing Dennis Geiger says he rejected potential moves to other clubs because Aberdeen sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel made him feel wanted. (Press & Journal)
Hearts teenager Keir McMeekin has been approached to switch allegiances from Scotland to England, with the 16-year-old linked with a move to Manchester City. (Daily Mail)
Rangers forward Kyle Glasgow, who has played at youth level for Portugal and Scotland, has signed his first professional contract with the club amid strong interest from England. (The Herald - subscription required)
Pedro Acosta can finally call himself a MotoGP winner after taking victory in the sprint at Buriram on Saturday.
The KTM rider went toe-to-toe with world champion Marc Marquez but emerged on top after a pulsating race that had everything.
Pole position man and favourite Marco Bezzecchi had to witness it all from the Aprilia box after falling while in the lead on lap two of the race.
With Bezzecchi out of the running, a likely battle between the Italian and Marquez turned into a scrap between Acosta and Marquez.
The Spanish youngster would not leave the elder statesman - and likely 2027 colleague at the factory Ducati squad - in peace. The race looked set to be decided at the final corner as Acosta rehearsed a block pass there multiple times - twice succeeding in crossing the finish line first before Marquez re-took the lead.
But the race was ultimately decided in very different fashion. On the penultimate lap, Acosta pounced on a slight error from Marquez in the twisty middle part of the lap, claiming the lead. But that wasn't the end of it.
Marquez produced a block pass of his own at the end of that lap - but it was anything but clean. He pushed his young challenger well wide, immediately triggering a stewards' investigation.
Working with remarkable speed, the stewards came to a decision with half a lap remaining. Marc received a dashboard message to the effect that he would have to drop one position.
The 33-year-old complied at the final corner, allowing Acosta his long-awaited first race win in MotoGP.
Raul Fernandez saved some pride for Aprilia by taking a solid third place aboard the Trackhouse entry.
His team-mate Ai Ogura was fourth after passing factory rider Jorge Martin late in the race.
Acosta's team-mate Brad Binder had a strong afternoon to take sixth, ahead of Joan Mir (Honda) and Fabio di Giannantonio (VR46 Ducati), who lost time in a first-lap incident with Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati).
With Alex also dropping places in that clash, the way was cleared for Francesco Bagnaia to salvage the final point after missing Q2 earlier in the day and qualifying 13th.
Arne Slot has launched into a defence of Liverpool’s record spending spree by declaring they bought “great” players who will be a “big, big, big success” at Anfield and insisting they did very well with their money.
Arne Slot (left) has defended summer signings like Florian Wirtz (PA Wire)
But Slot is confident the Swede and Wirtz, plus top scorer Hugo Ekitike, full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, injured centre-back Giovanni Leoni and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili represent a good use of Liverpool’s budget.
“They are great football players which will be a big, big, big success for this club,” he said. “In general I only ever see, ‘£450m spent, 450, 450, 450’. And no one looks at the circumstances, which are that the £450m is very well spent, very, very, very well spent - one more time, very well spent.”
Slot often points out that, over his time in charge, Liverpool have brought in around £300m so it is not a £450m net spend.
And because of injuries he is not able to put all that £450m on the pitch. He believes he will be without £300m of talent against West Ham on Saturday with Leoni out for the season, Isak for another few weeks and Wirtz missing with a back problem, while Mamardashvili will be on the bench, though Frimpong is able to return.
Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike were two of Liverpool's big-money summer signings (Getty Images)
But he accepts that Liverpool have not always seen the newcomers at their best, adding: “Alex has not been the Alex of Newcastle, [apart from] maybe 20 minutes at Tottenham, I don’t criticise him because we signed him for six years not six months. Giorgi, we needed him because Caoimh [Kelleher] left but we hardly played with two goalkeepers. Jeremie has been many times injured, Giovanni [is] out for the season. Tomorrow, I miss out on Florian. Him and Hugo and Milos needed time to adapt.”
Dane Murray has played himself into Celtic team for Ibrox
Dane Murray was been handed a rare opportunity in Thursday night’s clash in Stuttgart, and he grabbed it with both handsas he put in an impressive display, and in doing so boosted his chances massively of being named in Martin O’Neill’s starting XI for Sunday’s powder keg fixture at Ibrox…
Celtic FC line-up. UEFA Europa League 2025 26 Knockout Play off Second Leg match between VfB Stuttgart and Celtic FC at Stuttgart Arena on February 26, 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany Photo by Harry Langer DeFodi Images
Dane has endured some major setbacks in his short Celtic career, mainly through injury, and his confidence was shot to pieces after a woeful performance against Hearts at Tyncastle last October, a game which proved to be Brendan Rodgers last game in charge.
The 22 year old has been on the fringes of the team since that day, but has been given something of a reprieve by Martin O’Neill, albeit due to Auston Trusty’s suspension forcing his hand. It’s fair to say that Dane Murray would not exactly be a player who would be first pick in the eyes of the supporters before Thursday night in Stuttgart. That would be a fair comment to make as he hasn’t exactly filled us all with great confidence especially after his Tynecastle mishaps.
Dane Murray of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the Premier Sports League Cup match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on August 15, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
This is a huge game, our biggest of the campaign to date, that goes without saying. Some will say Dane is too raw and inexperienced, but the North Lanarkshire lad has been at the club long enough to know the importance of such a fixture. He knows fine well what’s at stake.
Martin O’Neill has a few other options going into the game, such as on loan Brentford youngster Benjamin Arthur, or even Kieran Tierney who is also comfortable playing at centre back.
But credit to young Dane has taken his chance well, and played himself into Martin’s thoughts for the vital showdown over at Hatebrox. Naturally there will be reservations over his ability to perform and cope, but to his credit he more than proved his credentials at the home of the side who currently sit fourth place in the Bundesliga.
Players of VfB Stuttgart and Celtic FC anticipate a corner kick during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between VfB Stuttgart and Celtic FC at Stuttgart Arena on February 26, 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images)
VfK Stuggart are a far better side than the outfit we’ll face tomorrow. If Celtic can cope with the hateful atmosphere we should get a result and if Dane Murray can replicate his own performance from Germany on Thursday night we’ll all be singing his praises when the dust settles on a long overdue Beautiful Sunday.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr. Click on image to order
Cunha, Casemiro and Mbeumo: United trio earn Premier League awards
Manchester United have been in impressive form for most of this season.
Awards
The Cameroonian Bryan Mbeumo was named the Premier League’s Player of the Month for October, with the highlight of the month certainly being his goal at Anfield against Liverpool in United’s 2-1 win.
Former Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim was also named Manager of the Month in October.
Michael Carrick was also named Manager of the Month in January after fine wins against Manchester City and Arsenal in his first two league games as interim head coach.
New recognition
The club’s official website also confirmed that three United players have received special awards for their achievements in the league.
The site reports, “three Reds received Premier League awards at Carrington after training on Thursday.”
It continued, “Casemiro, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo were all recognised with medallions for passing significant landmarks in the top-flight.”
Casemiro and Cunha both received awards for reaching 100 Premier League matches.
Whilst the former’s appearances have all been in a United shirt, most of Cunha’s appearances came for his former side, Wolverhampton Wanderers. He played 82 league games for the Black Country side.
Cunha’s 100th game came against Burnley in January, and Casemiro’s milestone was reached in the victory over Tottenham Hotspur in February.
The site also adds that, “Mbeumo was given his prize for scoring 50 Premier League goals – a tally which was largely achieved during his spell at Brentford.”
The attacker is United’s top scorer this season and reached the tally by scoring against Arsenal at the Emirates last month.
Bruno Fernandes is the only other player in the squad who has scored 50 Premier League goals or more, with the Portugal international bagging 68 in total.
Trent Alexander-Arnold had always looked irreplaceable. The remarkable passing range and pinpoint crossing that made him unique meant no successor would ever be a duplicate. But if Jeremie Frimpong has proved Anfield’s answer to the Real Madrid Alexander-Arnold, it has been in an unwanted respect. Frimpong’s injury-interrupted time at Liverpool mirrors Alexander-Arnold’s stop-start beginning to life at the Bernabeu.
The Netherlands international is poised to return against West Ham on Saturday. A man who barely missed a game for Bayer Leverkusen has had three hamstring injuries in England. Proof the physicality of the league can be tough to adjust to, Arne Slot has often said.
And for the first time in a month, Liverpool will be able to call upon a right-back who actually is a right-back; apart, anyway, from Calvin Ramsay, granted one start in the Carabao Cup, one minute in the FA Cup and neither in the Premier League.
Dominik Szoboszlai, Liverpool's player of the season, has been dragged into right back from midfield far more often than Arne Slot would have liked (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
This has been the season of seven right-backs for Liverpool and, of the seven, Ramsay has played least. It could have been eight, had they got their way at the end of the winter window, when they tried to sign Lutsharel Geertruida on loan. The Dutchman has something in common with Alexander-Arnold having each played right-back for Slot in a title-winning campaign; one for Feyenoord, the other for Liverpool.
Of the Liverpool septet – at times, more makeshift than magnificent seven – one is a centre-back by trade, in Joe Gomez, and three are midfielders, in Wataru Endo, Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai. It has felt Liverpool’s cursed position: Conor Bradley missed the start of the season and will miss the rest of it, after undergoing knee surgery. Endo will sit out much of the rest of it with a foot problem which he incurred playing right-back; and probably only doing so because Szoboszlai was suspended following a sending off operating there. Gomez’s appearances have been rationed for fear he would get injured again. He, too, has had three spells on the sidelines this season.
There is a case – though the evidence is limited by his bit-part role – that Gomez is Liverpool’s best defensive right-back; they have three clean sheets in the six games he has started there. Frimpong may be the best attacking one: indeed, he was initially not trusted to operate in the back four by Slot, who sometimes instead selected him as a winger, but he brought dynamism around the turn of the year.
Bradley may be the best all-round right-back. Szoboszlai, indisputably, is the best all-round footballer, with his issues perhaps occurring due to an unfamiliarity with the position. The other problem is that he can be a first-choice in multiple positions at the same time: Slot started to turn the tide after Liverpool’s awful start at Nottingham Forest on Sunday by moving Szoboszlai into midfield and swapping Jones to right-back.
It probably wasn’t a scenario Slot envisaged last summer. Replacing Alexander-Arnold has come with more difficulties than expected. “Only because of the reason you said,” replied Slot, referencing injuries. He is happy with the two specialists, the homegrown and the purchased.
Jeremie Frimpong could return from injury to face West Ham at Anfield (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
“We believe, I truly believe, in these two as quality players,” he added. “They are young and need time to develop. Jeremie is a bit older but comes from a different league so he always needed time to adapt. Conor is a young player who only played 30 games in the Premier League before the start of this season but we all saw his potential and still see his potential so if both of them would have been fit, I think we would have had and still have two great replacements for Trent.”
At Anfield, Alexander-Arnold was one of the world’s best, in his inimitable way. Slot feels the Northern Irishman and the Dutchman have the ability to be in that bracket.
“Trent ended at a level at this club – he probably didn’t start at that level - that is so high, they are not easy shoes to fill,” Slot continued. “But we believe and I still believe in the fact that these two can grow to a similar level; different qualities but to a similar level that Trent was when he left. the biggest thing is that both of them haven’t been available and that has been the biggest struggle to replace Trent.”
The struggle, in part, has been the constant instability, or the fact it keeps taking Szoboszlai out of the midfield. Liverpool lack a regular right-back but they have had some outstanding displays there: most recently Jones against Brighton in the FA Cup, perhaps most memorably Bradley’s annual tour de force against Real Madrid.
Szoboszlai was superb away at Newcastle, at home to Arsenal and, despite his eventual dismissal, against Manchester City. He may be more relieved than most to see Frimpong fit again. In November, Slot said he didn’t expect that in February or March Szoboszlai would play every game as a winger or a full-back. On the last day of the month, Liverpool finally have a right-back available again. For now, anyway.
Pep Guardiola’s side begin the round of fixtures five points behind their title rivals with a game in hand, and will close to within two with victory here with the league leaders not in action until Sunday.
The pursuit of four trophies remains on track for a Manchester City team that strengthened significantly in January, though Leeds have also been in good form of late.
A valuable point at Aston Villa last weekend was another step in the right direction as Daniel Farke and his squad look to navigate out of relegation danger.
Here’s everything you need to know.
When is Leeds vs Manchester City?
Leeds vs Manchester City is due to kick off at 5.30pm GMT on Saturday 28 February at Elland Road.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage on the channels from 5pm GMT. A live stream will be available via Sky Go and NOW.
Team news
Gabriel Gudmundsson should be fit to start for Leeds after being taken off early against Aston Villa due to illness. Noah Okafor remains absent.
Manchester City are not thought to have any fresh injury concerns, with Jeremy Doku again expected to miss out as he recovers from a calf issue.
More than five decades ago, a group of rugby players formed a team that brought a new spirit to the game and inspired generations of black players.
Reading West Indians RUFC brought flair, speed and a new kind of rugby to Berkshire, with the club becoming a home for players of African and Caribbean descent.
Set up by Redingensians Joe Bell and Kenmore Hinds in the 1970s, the club became a launchpad for national talent.
Radio Berkshire's Lorin Bozkurt returned with Bell and former player and teammate Wayne Foncette to the ground on Old Bath Road, Sonning, where it all began.
In the early 1970s, the men played local Sunday rugby while undertaking apprenticeships at Adwest in Reading, said Bell.
"The fire brigade had a side but they were getting beat all the time and they didn't have enough fast players so they decided to invite us to to play with them and that's when we decided to start our own club," he said.
But they faced "significant challenges" thanks to a lack of players.
"It was very difficult," said Bell. "We'd drive down on the Oxford Road and I always used to have about two pairs of boots in my car and some shorts, just in case I see another black person and would say: 'Have you played rugby? Would you like to? Get in the car'.
"We used to do things like that."
From this small beginning, Reading West Indians RUFC became a formal member of the Rugby Football Union by the 1975/76 season and went on a successful Caribbean tour in 1989, with a touring party of more than 60 members and matches in Trinidad and Barbados.
Foncette joined Reading West Indians RUFC in the early 1980s after crossing over from football.
"I used to, at the beginning, play football on a Saturday, football on a Sunday morning, stay in my kit and then come and play rugby in the afternoon," he said.
"That's how a lot of players joined at the beginning, they would come along, watch and then go, 'you guys are having fun'."
By the early '80s, people were "travelling from everywhere" to play with them, said Foncette.
"We were then known as players who would come from Harlequins or Saracens or Bath so we ended up playing with that calibre of players, which ultimately ended up with a lot of Nigerian boys then getting involved.
"So from out of that, in the early '90s, London Nigerians were established."
Foncette (left) and Bell revisit what was once the Reading West Indians RUFC's ground [BBC]
A standout moment for Foncette came when Reading West Indians were invited to play against London Maories in a warm-up game when New Zealand were playing Australia.
"They'd heard about our style and thought it'd be great," he said.
"There were about 2,000 or 3,000 people there at the game. We both went hell for leather because we're all big boys and we're all playing open rugby.
"They wouldn't kick it, we wouldn't kick it. I think we won the game something like 43-38.
"But most enjoyable was the fact that when the whistle blew at the end of the game - bear in mind we were the warm-up act - the crowd stood up on their feet and gave us, both teams, a standing ovation."
For Bell, what made Sunday rugby so special was the freedom to "express themselves".
"If you played on a Saturday, especially being a West Indian, we were quite restricted in what we could do on a pitch," he said.
"It was all regimented and we had talent but we couldn't express that because they wanted to put us in a category all the time.
"So when we started playing on Sunday, everyone could express themselves. They could be who they want to be. They could show off their talent with someone saying, 'you can't do this, you can't do that'."
Sunday rugby, says Bells, "is and was a great feeling".
Today’s Papers – Inter, Scudetto at all costs, new Juventus, beware of Kane
La Gazzetta dello Sport
Dea without fear, Euroderby dream
Europa League: Bologna-Roma. Conference: Fiorentina-Rakow
Scudetto at all costs
Inter and the Bodo shock to overcome
There’s Genoa at San Siro at 20:45. Chivu commands: to the derby with the maximum advantage. The plan to avoid Inzaghi’s finale. Idea Bonny-Thuram up front
A No.9 worthy of Milan
A centre-forward is needed. Guirassy favourite over Jackson and Retegui
Music masters
Gasp against Spalletti: why there’s more at stake than the fourth spot
Corriere dello Sport
Exclusive
Boniek speaks out
‘Lucio is stressed’
‘He has nobody decisive in super games.’ Gasp, here’s Dybala
‘I don’t see the Bianconeri well. Gian Piero plays better. I have the two shirts of my heart. The Avvocato? Unique style. I was in love with Viola, I hate divers, they must be punished.’
Politano, Champions card
Not only crosses and runs: the winger wants to score his first goal. Anguissa’s recovery is postponed.
Inter visit those wounded in Crans
President Marotta at the Niguarda hospital alongside Barella and Dimarco. Chivu for the +13: space for Bonny.
Tuttosport
New confirmations on the possible return of the Croat
Toro, Juric supports D’Aversa too
New Juve for Spalletti
Renewal close: meeting next week
The coach (isolated in Tuscany to recover from the European disappointment) asks for guarantees to sign until 2028, the club is ready to satisfy him: from the staff, with a goalkeeper specialist, to the players, with a big player for each department. Bernardo Silva in midfield, Vlahovic’s confirmation, joined by Kolo Muani, in attack: all the options.
Beware of Kane, but Atalanta have no fear
First time against Bayern for La Dea. Europa League: derby Bologna-Roma. Conference: Fiorentina-Rakow.
Unbeatable £87m offer is coming for Liverpool's ideal midfielder
Reds to make unbeatable offer for Camavinga
That would open up a sizeable gap in Arne Slot’s midfield - and a dream signing could be made in the shape of Eduardo Camavinga.
The 23-year-old is contracted to Real Madrid until 2029 - having first signed for the Bernabeu club in 2021. The France international has won two Champions League titles in that time - but the writing appears to be on the wall for his career at the Spanish giants.
Camavinga has only made 11 league starts this season under Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa - and could be sacrificed to make way for new faces.
Now a report in Fichajes claims that the Anfield side are readying an “unbeatable” offer for the former Rennes prodigy. Richard Hughes will bid up to £87m for the left-footer in an attempt to convince Madrid to do a deal.
“The club that has made the most decisive move is Liverpool, prepared to offer €100 million,” the report claims.
“A figure that those close to Real Madrid consider difficult to ignore, especially given the player's current form.”
He hasn’t been at his consistent best this season but is still regarded as one of the finest midfield talents in Europe.
Camavinga’s signing could unlock Ryan Gravenberch - allowing him to flourish further up the field - or else provide an alternative to Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.
MARENGO, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — Something about playing Winnebago just seems to bring out the best in the Rockford Lutheran Crusaders this season. Lutheran has played three of its best games this season against Winnebago and the Crusaders have won all three of them.
The latest one Friday night was for the 2A Marengo Regional Championship. Lutheran’s dangerous senior duo of Zach VanBlaricom (27pts.) and Mason Keller (25 points) combined to score 52 points.
Winnebago got an outstanding 26-point effort from senior point guard Myles Smith.
Lutheran now advances to the 2A Mendota Sectional next week. The Crusaders will face Big Northern Conference rival Oregon Tuesday at 7p.m. in a semifinal game.
Watch the media player above for highlights.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
With the Wolverines, McCulley had 39 catches for 588 yards (15.1 per) and 3 touchdowns.
McCulley played quarterback as an IU freshman in 2021 before converting to receiver. He had 48 receptions for 644 yards (13.4 per) with 6 touchdowns in 2023.
Donaven McCulley is projected as an undrafted free agent.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: "Big, tough wideout with modest production and average tools. McCulley has adequate foot quickness and athleticism. However, he will need to prove he can beat tight man pressure because he’s not a natural separator and rarely runs by cornerbacks on vertical routes. He works back on throws when needed and uses his frame/hand extension to help him protect the catch-point. His performance in the catch phase is a plus, but getting there won’t be easy for him against NFL cornerbacks."
Donaven McCulley's strengths
(according to the scouting reports cited above)
Can create space for himself at the top of a route
Has the size to block for running backs
Donaven McCulley's weaknesses
(according to the scouting reports cited above)
Has difficulty breaking away from speedy defenders
Can the Pittsburgh Penguins start a new winning streak when they meet the Rangers in New York for a Metropolitan Division battle on Saturday?
Pittsburgh beat New Jersey on Thursday in its return from the three-week break for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Egor Chinakhov, Connor Clifton, Blake Lizotte and Tommy Novak scored for the Pens, and Evgeni Malkin led the team with two assists.
The Rangers, meanwhile, are hoping to snap a five-game losing streak. New York fell to Philadelphia in overtime on Thursday, allowing the Flyers to score three unanswered goals after holding a 2-0 lead in the second period.
Here is everything you need to know about Penguins vs. Rangers, including TV and streaming options for Saturday's game.
Penguins vs. Rangers will air nationally on ABC. The game will also be available to stream on the ESPN app.
Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NHL, NFL, MLB, NBA and college sports, plus "SportsCenter," "First Take" and all your favorite ESPN shows — anytime, anywhere — only in the new ESPN app.
Rangers vs. Penguins start time
Date: Saturday, Feb. 28
Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
Rangers vs. Penguins is scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Feb. 28. The game will be played at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The Blaugrana reclaimed top spot in the standings after beating Levante 3-0 last weekend, with Real Madrid dropping points against Osasuna.
Hansi Flick’s side go into the game with a one-point lead, which they can extend to four with a victory, and ramp up pressure on their rivals who face Getafe on Monday night.
However, Villarreal will be a tricky opponent for the reigning champions, given that they have won three of their last four league games and are currently third in the standings.
The reverse fixture, played in December, saw Barcelona run out 2-0 winners after Villarreal had a player sent off in the first half. And Flick will be hoping for a similar outcome in what will be his 100th match in charge of the Catalan club.
Barça, though, go into the game without key midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who suffered a hamstring injury in training this week. Gavi, meanwhile, has resumed training with the group but is still some way away from returning. Andreas Christensen remains unavailable too.
Here’s how Barcelona could line up today against Villarreal, aiming to bag all three points at the Spotify Camp Nou.
Defence
Joan Garcia has been a wall in the Barcelona goal in his debut season with the club, and is a certain starter against Villarreal.
On the left side, there is likely to be a change, with Alejandro Balde in line for a return after being benched in the last two matches by Flick. The Spaniard will be replacing Joao Cancelo, who delivered a strong performance against Levante last time out.
Alejandro Balde set to return. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Pau Cubarsi, who was not a part of the starting XI against Levante, will return at the expense of Gerard Martin. He will partner up with Eric Garcia at the heart of the Barça backline. It means Ronald Araujo will once again be left on the bench.
Midfield
Just when the injury woes seemed to be easing up, Barcelona lost another vital member of the team, Frenkie de Jong, to a hamstring issue this week, and the Dutchman is set to be out for five weeks at least.
With his spot now becoming vacant, Pedri is expected to start in midfield for Barcelona for the first time since returning from his injury with a substitute appearance against Levante.
Partnering the Spanish international should be La Masia gem Marc Bernal, who is growing in stature with each passing week, and scored his second senior goal last weekend against Levante.
Fermin Lopez, meanwhile, should get the nod as Barcelona’s No. 10 against Villarreal, ahead of Dani Olmo, who will get minutes off the bench.
Attack
Up top, a change is expected as Ferran Torres appears likely to start in place of Robert Lewandowski who endured a quiet game against Levante last time out.
On the flanks, no changes are expected, with Lamine Yamal and Raphinha set to feature from the get-go on the right and left sides, respectively.
Marcus Rashford, who appears set to become Barcelona’s first signing of the summer window, will likely feature as a substitute.
Toulouse predicted XI v Rennes: Aron Donnum sanctioned and omitted
Aron Donnum missed last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Paris FC, not through suspension or injury, but through choice. Carles Martínez Novell was vague on the topic but confirmed that the Norwegian’s absence was a disciplinary matter. He will also miss Toulouse FC’s visit to face Stade Rennais on Saturday afternoon.
Martínez Novell confirmed that Donnum’s sanction was for two games, not just one. Reports suggest that it is a consequence of his behaviour in the dressing room following Toulouse’s defeat to Le Havre AC earlier this month. He will return for Le TéFéCé’s midweek Coupe de France encounter against Olympique de Marseille.
There are three other high-profile absentees in the form of Cristian Casseres (suspension), Rasmus Nicolaisen, and Frank Magri (both injury-related).
Toulouse likely line-up v Rennes
Guillaume Restes; Mark McKenzie, Charlie Cresswell, Djibril Sidibé; Dayann Methalie, Pape Demba Diop, Alexis Vossah, Warren Kamanzi; Yann Gboho, Santiago Hidalgo, Julián Vignolo. (L’Éq)
India produced a commanding display to brush aside Zimbabwe in Match 48 of the ongoing T20 World Cup at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on February 26. Asked to bat first, the Men in Blue piled up a formidable 256 in the opening innings, a total that left Zimbabwe with an uphill task from the outset.
The batting unit drew widespread applause, particularly for the way the openers set the tone. Sanju Samson, drafted into the XI in place of Rinku Singh, had plenty of attention on him ahead of the clash. Partnering Abhishek Sharma at the top, Samson struck 24 off just 15 balls, ensuring India made full use of the powerplay and seized early momentum.
Following the emphatic win, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin offered a balanced assessment of Samson’s knock on his YouTube channel.
"I will see this from two sides. One, Sanju Samson the boy I know and what he is capable of. Second is Samson for the Indian team. This team, in this World Cup, addressed the opening partnership in this game. We got a better start. If Sanju can give me 15-ball 28, 16-ball 30, from here till the final, he would have done a job for the team. Maybe he can score big also, but he has done the job," Ashwin said.
Ashwin also expressed a more personal wish for the Kerala batter, hoping he converts his starts into something substantial as the tournament progresses.
"For Samson the person, that I like, I really do want him to stick in and make a huge score. There will not be a better opportunity than this. I want him to start well and capitalize as well. If you come here after years after hardwork, in this platform, catch the flight. Even if you fall, you can say you tried at least. I would want him to finish the World Cup with a hundred, or that match-winning performance, for his confidence. He deserves it," he added.
‘I will leave…’ – Liverpool player confirms he won’t renew rapidly expiring Anfield contract
One Liverpool player has confirmed that he ‘will leave’ the Merseyside club at the end of his contract in the summer.
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Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson are just four months away from the expiry of their current deals, while fellow first-team squad members Freddie Woodman and Trey Nyoni are also on course to depart after this season as things stand.
Someone else at the club who’s approaching the conclusion of his terms is Oakley Cannonier – who shot to fame for quickly throwing the ball to Trent Alexander-Arnold before that corner kick against Barcelona in 2019 – and the now 21-year-old has signalled his intentions for a fresh start elsewhere.
Cannonier says he ‘will leave’ Liverpool in the summer
In an interview with The Athletic, the young striker indicated that he won’t be renewing his contract at Liverpool, having struggled badly for game-time due to persistent hamstring injuries and duly being overtaken by other positional peers in the underage ranks.
He spoke candidly about his situation on Merseyside, saying: “I will leave at the end of the season and am just looking for regular games. With my age, that is all I want to be doing.
“The last 18 months have been really difficult with no games to look forward to. You train all week and then there is nothing at the end of it. It’s been pretty crap.”
Image via Blood Red: Liverpool FC on YouTube
Cannonier’s career at Liverpool had stalled after injury woe
Since an extraordinary season in the Under-18 Premier League in 2021/22, when he scored 28 goals in 26 games and had gone on to sign a professional contract, Cannonier has played just 22 times as injuries badly hindered his development (Transfermarkt).
He had a trial with Leeds just over a year ago and had been in line to start for their under-21 side, but a proposed transfer fell through after the Elland Road failed to secure their desired first-team target, so the youngster duly returned to Liverpool.
He’d previously spoken about his eagerness to be remembered as much more than just the ball boy who played a key role in one of Anfield’s most memorable goals, and considering that he’s only a year younger than Florian Wirtz, it’s entirely understandable that he wants to move forward in his career.
Having been overtaken by the likes of Jayden Danns for first-team recognition in the meantime, Cannonier evidently feels that a move is necessary in order to make that hithero elusive senior breakthrough.
While it’s a shame that his potential won’t get to be fully realised at Liverpool, it’s difficult not to feel that he’s making the right decision for his career by seeking a fresh start, and hopefully he can go on to thrive away from Merseyside and become known for much more than his quick thinking on the night of 7 May 2019.
Throughout this season, one of the biggest disappointments for me has been the decline in the Celtic support. The atmosphere at home games has been atrocious, the stadium was half empty at 1-1 in the midst of a title race against Hibernian last week, and Paradise has began to feel like a soulless place, where we get outsung by visiting fans.
It lead me to question what we are fighting for at one stage. Indeed, the fans are the club. Back in 2020 when there was disgruntlement at the way things were operating within the club, the support still had its passion, its heart and soul; so it felt like there was a club there worth fighting for. Change was worthwhile. However, this term I’ve questioned, what are we even fighting for? If the soul of the club has disappeared, then will boardroom change even mean anything?
We used to have a crowd that was revered around Europe – the whole stadium getting involved on the big nights and the ground visibly shaking as 60,000 people bounced in unison to Just Can’t Get Enough and the huddle. Since 2022, that stadium wide participation has dissipated. But now we’ve got to the point where we would be glad to just to get a few hundred people mustering a Hail Hail at Parkhead.
Up step the Celtic away support.
That soul search for the identity, atmosphere, and the passion that makes us unique, and has largely been lost at home games, is well and truly at the forefront on our travels. The backing that the team received at Rugby Park was phenomenal, culminating in wild celebrations and a volcanic eruption of Celtic’s version of the Muchachos at full time.
This week, in Germany, thousands of fans turned out to give the team relentless backing in what was never going to be a fruitful second leg for us. The sound of the away section roaring ‘This is the day that we win away’ reverberated around the ground and served as a reminder of who we are and what our support has always been.
In my opinion, it is a great positive that our next few crucial games are away from home. Perversely, the atmosphere will be less toxic for the team than when playing at home. There’ll be no booing of our own players, no silence in terms of songs, no visible division among the fan base, and no heading for the exits with the game in the balance. The new players will see what it means to play for this incredibly unique club when they walk out to see the free Broomloan in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, let’s hope a reduced allocation can roar us to victory tomorrow.
Matches away from home are certainly to our benefit at this key time.
PEARL CITY, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — The Dakota Indians now have 31 wins on their resume and a regional championship. They won the 1A Pearl City Regional Friday night by defeating Scales Mound 64-46.
Senior Austin Stuckey led Dakota with 19 points. Dakota advances to the 1A Orion Sectional next week where it will face Eastland at 7pm Wednesday in a semifinal game.
Watch the media player for highlights.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New Zealand remain unsure of a semi-final berth after their four-wicket defeat to England, and skipper Mitchell Santner admitted his side missed an opportunity to seal qualification on Friday. England had already booked their place in the last four, but their victory has kept Pakistan national cricket team alive in the tournament. Pakistan now require a massive win over Sri Lanka in their final Super Eights fixture to leapfrog New Zealand on net run rate.
"That was a good match. Obviously, it would have made our lives easy if we won. But again, we played a pretty good game. There's obviously moments, both with the bat and the ball, that you can probably look back on and kind of turn the game a little bit," Santner said at the post-match presentation.
While acknowledging England’s fearless approach, Santner felt his side fell short of an ideal total.
"But again, credit to England and the way they played. We set up a good platform to target the last few overs and lost a few there. We only kind of scraped to 160. It could have easily been 170, 175. But then obviously at the end, you need 40 off the last three.
"And yeah, the way they were able to take down the offing and obviously at the end was good. Obviously, the other innings we kind of lost wickets throughout and then, weren't able to get to a score through, I guess, the last four overs. But, tonight we kind of set a platform, not to the second time out in a pretty good spot.
"And then, maybe took some tough options straight off the time out. But again, you need to kind of get runs and we were thinking at that stage 170, 175 would have been a really good score," he said.
As things stand, Pakistan’s qualification equation is steep. If they bat first, they must win by at least 65 runs. If chasing, they need to overhaul the target within 13.1 overs to surpass New Zealand’s net run rate.
England skipper Harry Brook reserved special praise for leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, who claimed 2/28 and then smashed an unbeaten 19 off seven balls to guide England home alongside Will Jacks (32* off 18).
"We've seen what Reh (Ahmed) can do in the nets and he's gone out and played beautifully, taken it away from them. Along with Jacksy (Jacks), his fourth MOM, pretty happy with that performance. We said at the start, we're going to select on conditions and we thought today was the perfect opportunity to bring him (Ahmed) in and he did an amazing job.
"New Zealand are a wery strong side, we played against them before Christmas, they do everything so well, running between wickets and then some extreme power."
Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler is yet to register a significant score in the tournament and fell for another duck, but Brook firmly backed his teammate.
"Been a lot said, he's (Buttler) played 150 games for England and people need to take a step back from that. He's in a rut now but that's an exciting thing, to know what he could produce in the next couple of games.
"He's a phenomenal player and I've got no doubts about him."
Liverpool still interested in Inter’s Denzel Dumfries
Liverpool have maintained their strong interest in Inter wing-back Denzel Dumfries, potentially revisiting a move for the Dutchman after previously attempting to signing during the January transfer window.
According to TMW, the Premier League giants remain keen on the defender, who possesses a specific contractual lever that could facilitate a summer exit. Dumfries currently has a €25m release clause in his contract—a figure that Inter does not view as prohibitive, as they do not consider the player unsellable.
A crucial detail in any potential negotiation is the timing of this clause. The €25m fee can be exercised in its entirety throughout the month of July. This window provides a significant advantage for Liverpool, allowing them a clear path to finalize the transfer without entering into a prolonged bidding war or complex negotiations with the Nerazzurri management.
As Inter prepares for their own summer maneuvers, the departure of the former PSV man appears increasingly plausible should the Reds decide to trigger the clause.
Martin O’Neill fires back on Rohl’s Celtic comments ahead of Glasgow Derby
Martin O’Neill has issued a response to Danny Rohl after the Ibrox manager made remarks in the media about how CELTIC should be playing in Europe…
Luke McCowan of Celtic celebrates scoring during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between VfB Stuttgart and Celtic FC at Stuttgart Arena on February 26, 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images)
Speaking yesterday afternoon after Celtic secured a 1-0 Europa League victory against VfB Stuttgart – with his team already knocked out of Europe – Rohl was asked about Luke McCowan’s post-match assertion that “no team in that league touches us”during his pre-match media briefing.
Rohl said as his pre-match media conference: “I think at the moment we are in the second position, they are behind us. I think they have, at the moment, seven or eight defeats. Yeah, I think in general it makes no sense to speak too much about the other side; we have to focus on ourselves.”
“We want to win this game. I see my team is ready to take points, and then we’ll see on Sunday, hopefully both teams try everything, and I’m confident that we have a big chance of winning this game.”
Bizarrely, the German added: “I was a little bit surprised after 1-0 that they’re not trying to win this game, 2-0, 3-0, to have a chance. They keep the result until the end, I think they’re just a little bit apart.”
O’Neill admitted he was taken aback by Rohl’s comments and addressed the issue when speaking to reporters at his own mainstream media conference.
Celtic Manager Martin O Neill waves to fans. Stuttgart v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Knockout Round Play Offs, Second Leg, Football, MHP Arena, Stuttgart, Germany – 26 Feb 2026Stuttgart MHP Arena Germany Photo James Marsh Shutterstock
“He said what?”O’Neill responded. “He felt we didn’t try to win the tie? “He wants to be involved in some of these games! I never saw it like that.”
“We were driven back. Stuttgart are a very good team; they’re in the top four in the Bundesliga. So yeah, I’m surprised he made a comment like that.”
Luke McCowan of Celtic reacts during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between VfB Stuttgart and Celtic FC at Stuttgart Arena on February 26, 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images)
When questioned about McCowan’s comments, O’Neill said: “Well, Luke’s entitled to his comments, believe it or not, you know? I think these games are hard. Every game I’ve been involved in since I’ve come back, I’ve found it difficult.”
“But no, what I think he probably meant was that we’re a fine side when we’re playing at our very best.”
Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr. Click on image to order
Rennes predicted XI v Toulouse: Jérémy Jacquet remains out, Breel Embolo on the bench
Stade Rennais will be without two important defenders when thet host Toulouse FC on Saturday afternoon.
Jérémy Jacquet suffered a seemingly serious shoulder injury at the start of February and he has not featured since. No return date has been provided by Franck Haise for the defender, who will join Liverpool in the summer.
There is another absence in defence in the form of Przemyslaw Frankowski. His absence could provide Mahamadou Nagida the chance to start for Rennes later today. Breel Embolo, meanwhile, is not expected to start for the Breton club, with the in-form Esteban Lepaul set to lead the line on his own.
Two January signings, Arnaud Nordin and Sebastien Szymanski, are also expected to start for Les Rennais. Valentin Rongier will captain the side.
Pakistan will need a commanding win over already-eliminated Sri Lanka and some help from England to keep their semifinal hopes alive in the T20 World Cup when they play their final Super 8 match on Saturday. Pakistan are currently third in the table.
New Zealand are in a much stronger position with three points and a superior net run rate, with three points and a vastly superior net run rate of 3.050, New Zealand are in pole position compared to Pakistan’s solitary point from two matches and a negative NRR of -0.461. Pakistan have just one point from two matches and will need a near-perfect performance to qualify.
Sahibzada Farhan has been the standout performer for Pakistan, scoring 283 runs at an average of 70.75, including a century and two fifties. Beyond him, no other batter has scored big, and star players like Babar Azam (91 runs) and Agha (44 runs) have struggled. Pakistan will look to Fakhar Zaman and bowlers Usman Tariq and Shaheen Shah Afridi to deliver in their must-win clash.
For co-hosts Sri Lanka, the focus will be on giving their fans a win in their final match. After a strong start with a big win over Australia, Sri Lanka have lost their last three matches against Zimbabwe, England, and New Zealand. Early wickets and underwhelming performances with both bat and ball have left the team struggling, and they will need to regroup quickly to finish their home tournament on a high note. Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Predicted Playing XI:
Real Madrid superstar frustrated amid worst injury season of his career
Kylian Mbappe is rightly considered one of the best players on the planet based on the merit he has accumulated over the years and his contributions in big games.
He is a difference-maker of the highest quality, and he has shown that once again for Real Madrid over and over again.
One lesser-focused area of Mbappe’s career, however, is his fitness and how he has been largely blessed with an injury-free time across his career so far. Not only does that enable him to be available for all big games but also play with his everything.
A strange situation
As confirmed in a recent report by MARCA, Mbappe is very upset at his injury record this season and is not used to spending such prolonged periods on the sidelines without helping the team on the field.
The injury he is currently nursing has forced him to take a step back five times in the last three months, and it has now reached a point where he has broken a very unfavourable record.
Injured. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)
After all, Mbappe’s record for the most days missed in a season through injury so far in his career was set at 51 days which came back in the 2019-20 season.
This season, however, the Frenchman has had a total of eight injuries and has already faced 53 days out and it is thus officially the season where he has missed the most days through setbacks.
For comparison, Mbappe missed just 24 days for Real Madrid last season and only 42 days off in his last three seasons for PSG before joining Real Madrid.
His latest injury keeps him out for Real Madrid’s next two games at least, and his participation against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 is also in doubt.
Needless to say, serious questions must be asked of how his injury has been handled by both the player and the management.
Report: Race for £56m rated Chelsea star heats up as new club show interest
Several clubs from Saudi Arabia have set their sights on Nicolas Jackson with Al-Ahli said to have shown the most interest according to reports.
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Jackson is currently on a season long loan at Bayern having joined the German champions on deadline day last summer.
There’s an obligation to buy in the deal reportedly based on making a certain number of appearances, but that’s now highly unlikely to happen.
Saudi Pro League clubs interested in Nicolas Jackson
However, things haven’t gone to plan in Germany, and Jackson has scored five goals in 22 appearances, whilst he’s played second fiddle to the likes of Harry Kane and Luis Diaz.
The reports adds Asian Champions Al-Ahli, who boast the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Ivan Toney in their ranks are the club who’ve shown concrete interest.
Emmanuel Emegha to join in the summer
Even if Jackson wanted to play for Chelsea again, it looks like the Blues have moved on with the signing of Emmanuel Emegha.
Emegha has signed a seven year contract at Stamford Bridge, and will join from Strasbourg at the end of the season.
The Dutch international scored 14 goals in Ligue 1 last season under Liam Rosenior, and is expected to go straight into the squad to compete for minutes with Liam Delap and Joao Pedro.
Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:
Pep Guardiola wants his prized asset to play where he does the most damage
Erling Haaland put in one of his best all-around performances of the season last weekend as Manchester City beat Newcastle 2-1 at the Etihad. Haaland didn’t score, but his play up front in linking Manchester City’s play and his work defensively when required were absolutely brilliant. Haaland also grabbed an assist as he set up Nico O’Reilly’s second goal of last weekend’s match with a superb right-footed cross. Pep Guardiola acknowledged last weekend that Haaland was superb in his team’s victory, but he wants his star striker doing his best work in the final third to maximize his impact.
Pep Guardiola wants his star striker to do his best work in the final third.
Speaking yesterday, ahead of Manchester City’s important Premier League fixture against Leeds United, Pep Guardiola explained that he wants to see Erling Haaland doing his best work in City’s opponents penalty area. That way, Manchester City can get maximum value out of the world’s best striker. Pep Guardiola explained yesterday: “Always I say to try and make Erling as close to the box to score goals. There’s no more tactics than that, and the team to help him score goals, it depends on the team.”
“It’s really important [that he helps in the build up] but we have to try and use him as little as possible even with man marking.”
“We have to make an alternative to long balls with Erling when he’s up against a player like [Newcastle’s Dan] Burn, otherwise every three days doing that for a striker like Erling, it’s not sustainable. We have to make an alternative so we still have a dream for him to play and play more, and with man marking that’s difficult.”
Erling Haaland’s overall game has evolved but his at his most dangerous when he can do what he does best.
As mentioned above, Erling Haaland played one of his best matches of the season against Newcastle last weekend. Haaland relished the physical battle against Newcastle United centre-back Dan Burn, and Haaland did whatever his team needed for them to pick up a massive three points. Come the final whistle at the Etihad last Saturday, Haaland fell to the turf exhausted. He gave everything for his team’s cause in a special display. But that type of performance isn’t sustainable for Haaland, and he is at his most devastating when he is wreaking havoc in the final third.
As Pep Guardiola explained, Manchester City are at their devastating best when Erling Haaland is putting away chances. That is Haaland’s specialty. While his performance last weekend was what his team required from their star striker, City will want Erling Haaland back banging in the goals. If he can do that, he could fire Manchester City to glory this season. Haaland will always do what is required for his team. He is a leader and a selfless individual. But as Pep Guardiola explained, Haaland needs to do his damage in the final third.
Pep Guardiola has explained where he wants to see his star striker wreaking havoc. That is in the final third. Hopefully today against Leeds United at Elland Road, Erling Haaland can be just as influential as he was last weekend and get himself on the scoresheet. His manager wants this from his star, and if City get that today it could be crucial to Manchester City picking up three points.
Not only Mainoo – ‘Terrific’ Man Utd star liked by Carrick destined to stay after major U-turn
While many felt that the departure of Manuel Ugarte was a foregone conclusion, several signs now point towards an extended stay at Manchester United.
The Premier League giants signed the Uruguayan from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2024 for circa £51 million, identifying him as the right long-term replacement for Casemiro in the No.6 role.
However, Ugarte has struggled to justify his hefty transfer fee, and not even an unexpected reunion with his old Sporting Club boss, Ruben Amorim, was able to trigger a revival. On the contrary, the Portuguese head coach confirmed Casemiro as his ultimate first choice, with the 25-year-old acting as his understudy.
Michael Carrick heaps praise on Manuel Ugarte
Following his appointment in January, Michael Carrick kept Amorim’s pecking order intact for the holding-midfielder role.
(Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
But while the former Man Utd head coach had privately expressed his disappointment with Ugarte, the current interim boss only had words of praise for the Uruguay international, lauding him for his positive comportment on the training ground.
“I like Manu a lot, he’s been terrific around the group with his attitude and how we go about it, his training qualities, he’s got a lot of good attributes, when the team is winning, there is a big upside to that,” said Carrick in his pre-match press conference on Friday (via the Manchester Evening News).
“For one or two boys who haven’t played as much, it makes it a little bit tougher to get in the team, but everyone is pushing each other. Many are desperate to get on the pitch a bit more. There are times when we might need to change things, and he’s a big part of that.”
Why Ugarte could be destined to stay at Man United
This season, United’s tendency to concede goals while Ugarte is on the pitch has been well-documented. While this link remains inconclusive, many would argue that the 25-year-old hasn’t been able to shield the backline as effectively as Casemiro, an opinion probably shared by Amorim and Carrick, as evidenced by their midfield hierarchy.
Therefore, Ugarte has been tipped to leave the club, with Galatasaray said to be determined to land him in the summer, having already launched an unsuccessful attempt to recruit him in January.
Nevertheless, if Carrick truly sees value in Ugarte in the locker room and on the training ground, then perhaps the latter still has a future at United.
After all, every club need back-up players, and if the former PSG man is willing to accept this role, the management should be happy to accommodate him, whether Carrick is confirmed or not.
Moreover, it should be remembered that MUFC already need to sign two new midfielders in the summer: One to replace the departing Casemiro, and another to fill in for Bruno Fernandes, who resumed his attacking-midfield duties, but left a gap in the double pivot.
Therefore, all signs suggest that next season’s midfield department will consist of Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo, and two new signings, whose identities remain undefined, with a host of players being linked to the club.
The hoop is pictured during a high school basketball game on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023.
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Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
For the last month, the Bryce Valley Mustangs have been playing their best basketball of the season, and coach Gary Syrett is relishing it since much of it has taken place in the Region 20 and state tournaments.
The Mustangs won their fifth straight game Friday evening, surprising the Wayne Badgers 45-37 to earn a berth in the 1A championship game Saturday at Salt Lake Community College.
Gerardo Lopez and Brace Syrett scored 14 points apiece, but it was Rodolfo Perez, who scored all 10 of his points in the second half, and also thrilled his Mustangs’ fans with his fancy passing, who made the difference.
The game was close throughout and the lead changed six times, but Bryce Valley controlled the fourth quarter.
“We knew what we had to do,” coach Syrett said. “They had a size advantage on us and we had to limit their looks (at the basket).”
Bryce Valley came to the Salt Lake area with a 15-9 record but finished in fifth place in Region 20 and had lost handily to teams such as Piute and Wayne earlier in the season.
The Mustangs, however, edged Piute 64-63 Thursday behind 22 points from Clay Gray, and then got revenge on the Badgers.
“It was more of a team effort,” coach Syrett said. “Our region is so tough that you have to play your best every night or you’ll get beat. That’s what makes our teams so tough at state.”
Previously, Bryce Valley had trouble with Wayne post players such as 6-foot-5 Hunter Robins and 6-foot-3 Blake Peterson. On this night, though, Robins made just 2 of 4 shots and Peterson was 3 of 14 from the field.
As a team, Wayne made just 14 of 54 shot attempts (27.8%) and was 0 for 14 from 3-point range.
“Our defense made the difference,” coach Syrett said. “When you can hold a team to that kind of shooting, it can keep you in the game.”
By comparison, Bryce Valley shot 47.5% from the field and even outrebounded the taller Badgers, 32-31.
Bryce Valley advances to play top-seeded Rich in the championship game at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
Wayne finishes the season with a 20-7 record.
Ever since this year’s 1A boys basketball state tournament pairings were revealed, the Rich Rebels had Friday night circled on the calendar.
Even though the Rebels were the top seed, coach Lex Cornia said it wouldn’t feel right until his team could get past Panguitch.
The Bobcats had won this matchup the last two seasons — both times in the championship game. This year’s contest between No. 1 Rich and the fifth-seeded Bobcats was in the semifinals, but the huge crowd at Salt Lake Community College and the emotions on both sides made it feel like a repeat of past title contests.
Only this time, Rich earned a 63-62 win.
Ridge Lundgren scored 15 points and led four players in double figures as the Rebels built a nine-point margin and then held on to advance to play Bryce Valley Saturday for a chance to take the top spot for the first time since 2015.
“We knew it would be tight,” Cornia said. “(Losing) the last two years in the championship game has been tough and I’m hoping this win tonight will be good for us and our community.”
Rich fell to Panguitch 55-48 in 2024 and 50-40 last year, when it was also the No. 1 seed. Cornia said the Rebels’ game plan Friday was mostly to try to limit Panguitch’s 6-foot-7 post, Trenton Virga, from having his way underneath.
Virga finished with 16 points and nine rebounds but also helped Panguitch’s rally by attracting a lot of attention. Finally, Tayze Barney, Camden Englestead and Taycen Ramsay came alive and got the crowd roaring.
Panguitch took a 56-54 lead when Traiger Ramsay and Taycen Ramsay hit consecutive jumpers midway through the fourth quarter, but Rich retaliated by putting the ball in Lundgren’s hands.
The Rebels’ leading scorer tied the game with three minutes left when he made two free throws, though Rich needed another hero when Panguitch answered with a pair of baskets by Tayze Barney.
Carter Scott was fouled and made both free throws, and after a turnover, Rich took a 61-60 lead with a minute remaining on a 3-pointer by Aidan Weston.
Lundgren made two more free throws with 19 seconds left and Ramsay made it 63-62 with with 12 seconds remaining but both team’s defense prevented any more scoring and Rich walked off the court feeling relieved after ending the two-year losing streak to the Bobcats.
“It feels really good to be done with it,” Cornia said. “However, you can’t be playing your best game on Friday. There’s still one more to play and we need to get these kids up and motivated.”
Brett Nolan is competing in memory of his friend Nicole Ingall [Brett Nolan]
A Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter says he is taking on his toughest challenge yet as a way of turning grief into purpose.
Brett Nolan will compete in the Machine: Mixed Martial Arts Show, dedicating the fight to his friend Nicole Ingall, 27, who died in January after an epileptic seizure.
Nolan, from Cleator Moor, Cumbria, hopes to raise awareness of unexpected death in epilepsy, a condition he says "not many people know about".
He has also been raising money for an epilepsy charity in the run-up to the competition, which takes place in Newcastle from 18:00 GMT.
"The best way I could describe Nicole is young, wild and free. She was the light in everyone's lives," he said.
"It was a massive shock. It still hasn't really sunk in and I don't think it will for a lot of people for a very long time."
'Making her proud'
Nolan was already scheduled to compete in the show when Nicole died, and says the grief he felt made him want to do something to help others with epilepsy and raise awareness of the risks.
"I thought, I can't sit back and let this happen. I decided to raise money and awareness of a condition that not many people know about."
He trains at Ox Fight Academy in Workington and describes MMA as "a mixture of boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, Jiu Jitsu... everything rolled into one."
Nolan admits the fight will be "the hardest of his life".
"The lad I'm fighting has a lot more experience, he's been training a lot longer than me. But it means more than a win or a loss."
So far, he has raised more than £4,000 for Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) Action.
"Hopefully, she would be proud, that's what I keep thinking all the time. I hope I'm making her and her family proud and giving them a little bit of happiness in such a dark time."
Jadon Sancho: Man United loanee flops again in huge loss
Manchester United had three players in loan action on Friday night.
To find out where all of Manchester United’s loanees are plying their trade this season, click here.
Andre Onana
The Cameroonian keeper played 90 minutes in Trabzonspor’s 3-1 win over Karagumruk.
Onana made three saves in the match, one of which came from a shot taken inside the box. The ball broke to the visiting attacker, but his effort was straight at the keeper.
The goal he conceded also came when the attacker broke through unmarked, but he could do little as the attacker tucked the ball into the bottom corner.
He also completed 86% of his passes and made four recoveries. The keeper did not need to make any high claims or punches on a quiet night of action.
Radek Vitek
Vitek played the 90 minutes of Bristol City’s 1-2 loss to Watford.
The Czech keeper made two saves, with one effort coming from a shot inside the box. There was little he could do about the Hornets’ opener from close range.
The young keeper was also left helpless when Jeremy Ngakia’s rocket ripped into the top corner from distance.
His best save was from a header that deflected off the post, but he managed to scramble the ball clear.
He also completed one run out and made an impressive 85% of his passes.
Vitek did lose his only aerial duel, though.
Jadon Sancho
Sancho played the first 60 minutes as Aston Villa lost valuable points in the race for Champions League football with a 0-2 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
He had one key pass and completed 82% of his attempts.
Sancho only managed to complete one dribble attempt and win one of his three ground duels.
He also did not have any shots on goal and failed to even attempt a tackle in an ineffective game. The England international also did not complete any cross attempts.
On the 50th anniversary of the 1976 League Cup final, we look back at an iconic game - and an unforgettable goal. This feature, written by Neil Leigh, was first published in February 2021.
It was a strike that sent Dennis Tueart head over heels on the Wembley turf and delivered one of the iconic moments in Manchester City’s long and illustrious history.
And 50 years ago today, City’s boys of 1976 became the toast of both Maine Road and England after overcoming Newcastle United 2-1 in what was a classic League Cup final.
It was dubbed ‘The People’s Final’, in tribute to two passionate sets of supporters, and it was a game that gave the people – at least from our perspective – all that they wanted and more!
A stunning early strike and bravura display from teenage prodigy Peter Barnes handed City the lead before a dogged fightback saw the Magpies draw level. Tueart then took centre stage as he sublimely executed a spectacular overhead kick to provide one of the most memorable Wembley winners of all time.
Age has not diluted the impact of either the goal nor the memories of that momentous day.
And the achievement of manager Tony Book’s sky Blue buccaneers subsequently became a touchstone for City fans to draw comfort from during our wait for subsequent success.
That yearning for more silverware was to stretch on for 35 long years before our incredible renaissance, ignited by our 2011 FA Cup triumph following the transformative 2008 takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group.
But the achievement of the men who triumphed that late February afternoon in 1976 still holds a special place in the hearts of legions of City supporters.
A quick glance at the roll call of City’s cast list that day inspires a warm, reassuring glow.
Legendary goalkeeper Joe Corrigan was the rock-steady presence in goal marshalled by a back four of gritty skipper Mike Doyle alongside fellow central defensive icon Dave Watson with assured Scotland star Willie Donachie and young rookie Ged Keegan guarding both flanks.
Record appearance holder Alan Oakes was the customary heart of oak in the holding midfield role with Tommy Booth and Asa Hartford alongside mixing silk and steel with customary élan.
And the formidable attacking trident of England striker Joe Royle, ably supported by flying wing wizards Tueart and 18-year-old Barnes, was a match for the very best with substitute Kenny Clements an ever-dependable figure who never, ever let the Club down.
This is the story of that famous Wembley win, told through the players’ eyes…
City’s route through to the Newcastle showpiece had been circuitous and eventful – and not without its share of ill fortune too.
Ironically, one of our hardest tasks came in overcoming the dogged challenge of Norwich City – then of the old Second Division – whom we were pitted against in a second-round tie.
After a 1-1 draw at Carrow Road with Dave Watson on target for the Blues, the sides were deadlocked again at 2-2, despite strikes from Dennis Tueart and Joe Royle, after 90 minutes and extra time in an eventful Maine Road replay.
Penalty shoot-outs and concerns about fixture congestion were an alien concept back in those days so a neutral venue – bizarrely Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge of all places – was elected to play host for the second replay.
In front of just over 6,000 hardy souls, Book’s charges finally clicked into gear, securing a decisive 6-1 victory. Tueart scored a hat-trick with efforts from Mike Doyle, Royle and an own-goal ensuring that Book’s men progressed.
Our reward was a third-round encounter at home to a Nottingham Forest side who, though struggling at the wrong end of Division Two, were showing signs of progress under the stewardship of a certain Brian Clough.
In a tough, hard-fought encounter goals from Colin Bell and Royle ultimately settled the tie 2-1 in our favour.
That set the scene for a fourth-round Maine Road showdown with Manchester United, and a derby that would have profound long-term implications for the Club.
Though City were at our majestic best in sweeping Tommy Docherty’s newly-promoted side aside 4-0 thanks to a Tueart brace and efforts from Asa Hartford and Royle, victory came at a devastating price in the form of a terrible injury to Colin Bell.
The creative and inspirational heartbeat of the City side, Colin’s career was effectively curtailed by a horrific first half incident which saw the England talisman stretchered off with a serious knee injury, casting a pall over the rest of the campaign.
A fairly routine 4-2 quarter-final success over Division Three minnows Mansfield Town followed with Hartford, Royle, Tueart and midfield yeoman Oakes all on the scoresheet.
Our prize was a two-legged semi-final assignment with Middlesbrough and though Jack Charlton’s side earned a 1-0 first leg victory at Ayresome Park, a rampant City put Boro to the collective sword in the decider.
Goals from Oakes, Barnes, Royle and 20-year-old Ged Keegan secured a memorable 4-0 win and set up a classic and eagerly-anticipated encounter with Newcastle.
But there was drama aplenty even before City set foot at Wembley.
Central defensive pillar Dave Watson – who had been signed from Sunderland the previous summer – was a major doubt having slipped a disc but, thanks to pain relief and his no-nonsense countenance, Watson was able to play his part.
For Tueart meanwhile, his moment of Wembley magic almost never happened in the wake of a suspension incurred after the England winger saw red in an FA Cup tie.
“There was a time where I didn’t think I would be eligible to play in the final because I’d been sent off against Hartlepool in the FA Cup in the January,” Dennis recalls.
“There was a lot of concern about how many games I would get. I missed the second leg of the semi-final, so I was a bit concerned.
“I couldn’t even watch the semi because at the time I knew we would play Newcastle if we got to the Final. In fact, I was so uptight I didn’t even go to the Maine Road game!
“I actually went out with my wife and friends in Altrincham on the evening of the semi-final second leg. I was popping in and out of the kitchen to get an update of the score!”
Fortunately, City’s busy schedule eventually meant that Tueart’s ban didn’t carry over to the big day itself.
For Ged Keegan, who was to excel against the Magpies, not only the Final but the experience of the days leading up to the showpiece still resonate today.
And for a young lad from sleepy south Manchester, both the build-up and Final itself were an all-out assault on the senses.
“In the week leading up to the Final, we went to stay at Champneys Health Club near London and I’d never experienced anything like it – it was out of this world,” Ged recalls.
“I remember having a bubble bath after training for about 15 minutes before we had a massage, and they did our calves, and shoulders – then we fell asleep for two hours afterwards!
“On the Thursday, we played golf. I’d just taken up the sport but Alan Oakes was a great golfer off three, (assistant coach) Ian McFarlane was a golf fanatic, and we all went out.
“Afterwards, we all had a coffee and the famous TV chat show host Michael Parkinson walked into the clubhouse.
“At the time, he was like Jerry Springer – I thought ‘WOW! It’s Michael Parkinson!’ He came across and said: ‘All the best’ and these things just stick in your mind.”Ged Keegan
From his perspective, Dennis Tueart believes the decision to base ourselves at Champneys was the perfect location to both avoid the glare of publicity and prepare the squad in earnest.
“We were there for about four days, so we enjoyed the spa treatments and relaxation, and we were out of the fanatical build-up of the fans and the press,” Dennis adds.
“It was a controlled environment. We could focus on the game at the end of the week, but we were out of the public spotlight.”
Come game day, the traditional razzmatazz and excitement surrounding a Wembley showpiece properly kicked in and left an indelible imprint on the minds of City youngsters Peter Barnes and Ged Keegan.
“It was amazing because in those days all the fans would come down in their cars with the City scarves hanging out of the windows,” Peter fondly remembers.
“Our coach journey to Wembley from our base wasn’t too far away and it was so nice to see fans in the morning coming down and beeping at the coach as we set off.
“Then you had the great journey to Wembley, pulling up outside the twin towers in those days and then big Helen 'The Bell' Turner was there with her customary bell – larger than life as ever – and then I vividly remember walking down the tunnel which was huge.
“I had never played at Wembley before. I didn’t play for England until 1977 so it was my first time at the famous stadium.
“It was amazing to see the tunnel and the changing rooms where all the kit was laid out and then to walk out onto the pitch. It was just a wonderful occasion.
“And coming out of the tunnel with the City fans packed behind us was incredible. As we walked out, we could hear the 40,000 City fans up above the tunnel which gave us great confidence.”
Ged Keegan concurs, saying the cacophony of noise and emotions had an electrifying effect.
“I said I wasn’t going to look round when I came out, but I couldn’t help it,” Ged admits. “You see and hear the singing and the noise, and you think: 'We’ve got to do it for the fans' - they were just fantastic.”
For Tommy Booth – one of the heroes of our FA Cup final win over Leicester in 1969 and subsequent League Cup success against West Brom a year later – another trip to Wembley was an occasion to savour.
All the more so given that barely six months earlier, Tommy had been left fearing whether he would ever play professional football again.
“At the start of that season, I underwent a really serious operation on my back and I had three discs removed in the end,” Tommy recalls.
“I remember coming out of hospital and I thought: ‘Never mind playing football, I’ll be lucky to even walk again.’
“It was just horrendous, and I’ve still got the zip in my back now from the operation – it’s about six inches long.
“I’d played with the problem for a while but, in the end, it got so bad I had to go and have the operation.
“I didn’t really know if I would ever get back playing again.
“But we had a fantastic physio called Freddie Griffiths who spent hour after hour with me doing specialised training, weight exercises, back exercises and what have you.
“I went in seven days a week, doing bench presses, weights on my shoulder, back manipulation… you name it, I did it and Freddie was just unbelievable.
“So much so, I was back playing within two months which was a miracle.”
Booth was also deployed away from his usual centre half berth by the time he returned with manager Tony Book turning to the big man to try and fill the enormous midfield void left by Colin Bell’s absence.
“I actually ended up coming on as a sub to replace Colin when he got that awful injury against United,” Tommy adds.
“I went into Col’s midfield slot, did OK and stayed there for the rest of that season, including the Cup Final, though I’d sooner as not have done it that way and wish that Colin had not got that terrible injury.”
Legendary City goalkeeper Joe Corrigan had shared in those magical Wembley triumphs of 1969 and 1970 alongside Booth.
Having temporarily fallen out of favour, Joe missed our 1974 League Cup final defeat to Wolves – but, typical of the steely resolve and qualities that would see him play more than 600 times for City, Corrigan knuckled down and reclaimed not only his City place but also went on to deservedly earn his first England cap later that year.
“In terms of the '76 final, I did remember how 18 months before, I went through a bad patch and then came through it,” Joe recalls.
“But I was always told by Bert Trautmann to be able to go back to basics.
“If you don’t have the basics, you will struggle like mad. I learnt that lesson and used it all through my career, even when I was a senior pro.
“You are always going to make mistakes – it’s human nature – but to be able to be professional enough to admit that you have good basics and the ability to go back to them will then bring you back to the standard.”
Recalling the events of that amazing day 47 years on, Joe also chuckles when he recalls how some high jinks from City assistant manager Ian McFarlane helped ease the tension during the pre-match warm up.
“I used to go out and warm up with Dennis Tueart. We did some agility work and some crosses. I always put my gloves in the side-netting and as I bent down at Wembley to get my glove bag, the next thing I knew, a ball had flown past me and just missed my head,” Joe reveals.
“I looked round and I saw Ian McFarlane running round the pitch celebrating like mad with a Tam O Shanter hat on.
“After the game, I walked over to Ian and said: ‘What were you playing at?’ Now Ian was a proud Scot and he said: ‘Joe, I’ve always wanted to score at Wembley, so I put the ball in the net and ran around.’ I thought: ‘He could have knocked me out!’ but was a situation I will never forget.”
McFarlane’s madcap antics also continued in the tunnel as the teams were preparing to make their way out into a cauldron of colour and maelstrom of noise.
“What was funny and made us relax was when we were in the tunnel,” Peter Barnes reveals. “With Ian McFarlane, it was like that famous scene in the film Kes where the schoolteacher runs off with the ball. Ian was just like that!
“There he was, throwing the ball up against the Wembley tunnel and heading it against the wall like he was going out to play! We all couldn’t stop laughing at Ian.
“He’s then on the pitch, playing with the ball, and we only had two or three to warm up with, so we ended up ordering Ian off!”
McFarlane’s antics helped defuse the tension and a high-octane clash full of pace, panache and drama got under way with a vibrant City taking the game to Gordon Lee’s men from the off.
With wing wizards Barnes and Tueart flanking forward spearhead Royle, City set their attacking stall out from the off and we were rewarded thanks to a sensational 11th minute opener from Barnes who, at 18, became the youngest player to score in a Wembley Final.
An exquisitely-worked set-piece saw Asa Hartford’s disguised free-kick floated into the heart of the Newcastle box, before being headed back across by skipper Mike Doyle into the path of the onrushing Barnes who executed a stunning half-volley past Newcastle ‘keeper Mike Mahoney.
“It never gets the limelight of Dennis’s goal as his was that sensational over-head kick but we worked it out,” Peter reveals.
“I went out on the right, the free-kick came in, Doyley headed the ball down and I had to get in the box, and it sat up nicely and I’m coming onto it with my left foot, so I just thought: ‘Get it on target.’
“I then hit it cleanly and, thankfully, it ended up in the back of the net.
“It was great to be able run to the City fans behind the goal, who were all screaming, and to celebrate with them. I’m a City fan and a Manchester lad so it was just meant the world to me.
“The game was only 11 minutes old and I think scoring so early on helped to settle us down.”
That said, a Newcastle side featuring Malcolm ‘Supermac’ McDonald, Tommy Cassidy and Mickey Burns – to name but a few – were always going to pose a threat.
And in a rare moment where City allowed our resolute defensive focus to falter, the Magpies drew level on 35 minutes through former Manchester United striker Alan Gowling .
That blow notwithstanding, to a man, the City players were adamant we would prevail.
“We were a very good side – there was no doubt about it,” Joe Royle remembers.
“There was always the danger of Supermac scoring a goal but, on the day, we were better than them. We finished above them in the league and we had no problems mentally going into the game.
“We respected them and knew they were a good side, but we were very confident in our own ability.”
Given Tony Book had crafted a side packed with international talent blended with youthful flair, big Joe had just cause to be optimistic.
And in a side brimming with natural talent, no-one was more determined to make his mark on the game than native Geordie Tueart.
And what followed, sixty seconds into the start of the second half, has subsequently gone down not just in City folklore but in the annals of Wembley’s long, illustrious history and still stands today as one of – if not the – most memorable goals ever seen at the famous stadium.
Already a Wembley winner after being part of the Sunderland team which famously shocked Leeds United to win the 1973 FA Cup final, Dennis had subsequently made the move to City in 1974 and became an England international the following year.
And the opportunity to try and get one over on his boyhood idols, and the Club which had rejected him as a youngster, in front of 100,000 people at Wembley was the perfect incentive.
“For me in particular, after leaving Sunderland and being a Newcastle supporter as a schoolboy (and them being a team who rejected me), to go there in a Final at a packed Wembley against your hometown team and to get the opportunity to score the winning goal isn’t bad,” Dennis recalls today.
Again, it was a set-piece that did the damage with Willie Donachie expertly arcing a cross into the box. Tommy Booth then did wonders to rise and head the ball back across goal.
In the blink of an eye, Tueart, with his back to goal, acrobatically took to the air before executing a stunning bicycle kick past Mahoney to send the City end of Wembley wild.
It’s a moment still etched not only in Dennis’s mind but the collective psyche of the supporters who marvelled at such an audacious piece of skill on the biggest of stages.
Not surprisingly, it was subsequently voted as the greatest goal in the history of the League Cup – though for Dennis, the greater satisfaction came from the collective pleasure the goal gave the City fans and his colleagues.
“That’s what you endeavour to do as a professional football player,” Dennis declares. “To try and perform on the biggest stage of them all.
“I’d had a great relationship with the City fans over the two years I’d been there, and it was very special because there were so many people gaining pleasure from it – none more so than the team and the fans.
“You want memories in your treasure box – that’s the important thing because your career lasts maybe 10 years at the top level if you are lucky and there are only a certain number of opportunities you have. That was one of them."
DENNIS TUEART
“My teammates and supporters were the most important thing that day.
“Denis Law was always one of my heroes as a schoolboy and when I first came to City, he was at the Club. I did a couple of shooting sessions with Denis and he always said: ‘When in the box, just hit the target all the time’ and I think I had that in my mind.
“When the ball came in from Willie to Tommy, I’d gone too far in, but Tommy headed it back in and the ball came behind – but no matter where you are, you try to get good contact on it.
“How did it feel when it went in? The adrenalin was about to explode! In fact, if you look at the footage, you see I kind of realise what I’ve done – don’t forget I scored at the Newcastle end – and literally I was off and running. I always said that if Asa hadn’t grabbed a hold of me, I’d have done a full lap of the stadium!”
The only drawback to the goal arriving immediately after the restart was that, as David Lacey of the Guardian so memorably described in his report at the time: “Tueart’s goal could only be faulted for its timing. Coming so soon in the second half it probably caught a number of customers participating in one of Wembley’s oldest traditions – queuing for the toilets on the hop.”
With City’s collective gander up, Royle looked to have set the seal on victory when he found the target with a quite exquisite finish midway through the half, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside. Where was VAR when it was needed!
“On a selfish note, I had scored in every round and I actually scored in the Final, but it was disallowed for offside – and I had never considered myself quick enough to be found offside!” Joe quips today.
“I was delighted with it but, nevertheless, the right result came through in the end.”
Indeed, it did – and the celebrations were long, loud and proud as our late, great captain Mike Doyle – a man who gave everything for the cause and who literally bled Blue – proudly lifted the famous trophy aloft while his colleagues and the army of ecstatic City fans drank it all in.
It was a landmark moment too for City manager Tony Book as, in overseeing the trophy, the former City skipper cemented his own notable place in Wembley history.
City’s achievement meant the man universally known as ‘Skip’ became the first figure to both captain and manage a side to League Cup glory.
Speaking in 2021, Tony, who sadly passed away in 2025, still had a proud glint in his eye in summing up what the occasion meant to him and his beloved City.
“To lead the team out at Wembley was such a proud moment for me,” Tony asserted.
“Once your own playing days are over, you never know what is going to happen to you but I was lucky enough to get the manager’s job at the Club in 1974. I always had a lot of pride in what I did and to take that forward into management was great.
“I had a superb team on the field and off it too with the backroom staff I had working with me – they were all such good people.
“It was a very good side that '76 team – they excited the fans and were a pleasure to manage.
“They were great characters on and off the field – that’s very important too. That’s where your team spirt is generated.
“Someone gave me a chance at 32 to come to City and to play through to until I was nearly 40 and then to take over as manager and help us win the League Cup meant an awful lot to me.
“It was a very special day and one I have never ever forgotten.”
Joe Corrigan adds: “Booky came in and did fantastic. He got the lads believing in themselves.
“He had that total respect from everybody, and people responded to him both as a player and a manager.”
Joy was uncontained with even legendary uber supporter Helen ‘The Bell’ Turner joining the City players on their victory lap of honour, though Ged Keegan admits that the exertions told in the dressing room afterwards.
“I remember going on the pitch after receiving our medal and that’s when you see what it meant to the fans,” Ged reminisces.
“Helen actually got onto the pitch with us and the stewards were trying to get her off, and I think it was Booky who said: ‘No, she is staying here – she is part of Manchester City.’ I’ve got a photograph of us all around and she is there with the bell.
“But after we got back to the dressing room, everyone was so drained. We didn’t say a word for about 10 minutes, it was so quiet. Then there was a just a big sense of relief.”
Ged continues: “We stayed in London, right in the centre at the Royal Kensington Hotel.
“Parents, wives, sons and daughters were all invited to the team celebration but I’d fallen asleep after a glass of champagne on the bus!
“Eventually, after all of the speeches, a band came on. I was with some of the younger lads and we said: ‘Let’s go and have a walk round London.’
“Where we eventually ended up, there were loads of Newcastle and City fans all mingling together, taking photos with us. It was a lovely end to a magical day.”
While the majority of the City squad nursed collective sore heads and returned to Manchester for a triumphant open top bus parade on the Sunday morning, a number of the players remained in London to attend the prestigious PFA awards dinner held later that evening.
Once again, Peter Barnes was to be the centre of attention – but on this occasion for a shy, softly spoken teenager, the glare of the national spotlight proved a far tougher opponent than any hard-bitten Geordie defender!
“After the game, five of us stayed down in London for the PFA awards dinner and everyone was saying that I’d won the PFA Young Player of the Year award, but I didn’t know,” Peter laughs now.
“I had a speech prepared but when my name was announced and I got up on the stage to be presented with the trophy, I just forgot all the words - live on TV!
“It’s a standing joke now but when I froze on stage, everyone was banging the TV because they thought the volume had stopped. Even my mother thought the sound broke!
“When you look out in front of 500 faces, and see all of your peers, if you’re not confident at talking, it’s tough on the nerves.
“I was fine playing in front of 100,000 fans but to be in a room with 500 players – I just froze!”
That communication breakdown notwithstanding, it was a weekend never to be forgotten for everyone associated with the Club.
Looking back now, Joe Royle is rightly full of pride, having been part of that richly talented and fondly remembered side.
But there is a twinge of sadness too as Joe – who would later become a hugely popular City manager, piloting the Club to successive promotions from Division Two back to the Premier League in the late 1990s – says that the feeling back then was that this was only the dawn of an exciting era; not a full stop that would extend for 35 long, frustrating years.
“In winning the League Cup, we all thought this was a great start and that we would go on from there,” Royle reflected.
“Of the side that played there at Wembley, seven or eight were full internationals and it’s hard to see why it didn’t go on. We all thought this was the start of something.
“The following season, we finished runners-up to Liverpool in the league by one point and we thought we were very close.
“But unfortunately, it didn’t happen that way. Players began to leave, including myself as I was sold to Bristol City, then Dennis Tueart went abroad, Asa Hartford went to Forest and all of a sudden what looked like an all-international side was coming apart, so it was hard.”
Peter Barnes concurs, adding: “I’m proud to have played for a great team and it was such a happy Club then. It’s just sad it was broken up and who’s to say where we could have gone two or three years after?”
Fittingly though, the final word goes to Dennis Tueart, the man whose individual moment of magic illuminated our national stadium with the most remarkable of goals, one which, 50 years on to the day, has never lost its impact or lustre.
“An overhead kick to win a Cup Final against your hometown club who had rejected you – it was Roy of the Rovers stuff,” Dennis admits.
“It’s for the teammates and supporters. You’ve won them a trophy; it goes into the history of the Club and is with the supporters forever.
“You want to create special memories and with all the clubs I played for – at Sunderland, I won the FA Cup; at City the League Cup and with New York Cosmos, the North America Soccer Championship – I was happy, and these memories are with you and passed on to your family.
“I was also very proud to be presented with an award a couple of years ago from the Football League after they conducted a special poll, and my goal was voted the greatest goal ever in the League Cup.
“It was such a special day and one I’ll never, ever forget.”
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