The Seattle Seahawks have inked former Florida Gators edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr. to a one-year contract with a max value of $5 million. The Super Bowl LX champions add the 2015 third overall draft pick to an elite defensive unit that was a driving force in their title run last season.

The Seahawks opted to address this need in free agency rather than expending any of their 2026 NFL Draft selections on a pass rusher. Defensive coordinator Aden Durde and Seattle viewed Fowler as a priority target to fill this void, hosting the 6-foot-3-inch, 261-pound Lakewood, Florida native for a pre-draft visit. Durde coaches Fowler in both Atlanta and Dallas and called the 31-year-old a "top option."

Over his 10 seasons in the NFL, Fowler has recorded 58.5 sacks and 15 forced fumbles — his 11.5 sacks in 2019 were a career-high. A three-year starter at Florida, Fowler totaled 140 tackles and 14.5 sacks; his breakout season came in 2013, when he led the Gators' defensive line in tackles, earned All-SEC Second Team honors and tallied 10.5 tackles for loss.

For the defending champions, Fowler offers a veteran presence on the edge with a proven track record of production. His ability to set the edge against the run, disrupt plays early in the backfield and generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks makes him a potentially valuable piece to go alongside Leonard Williams and Bryon Murphy II.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Former Gator Dante Fowler Jr. signs with Super Bowl Champion Seahawks

2026 will mark the sixth football season for Tennessee under head coach Josh Heupel. The season will also be the third with 16 SEC teams after Oklahoma and Texas became league members in 2024.

The Vols will kick off their 2026 football season Sept. 5 versus Furman at Neyland Stadium.

The Vols will also host Kennesaw State (Salute To Service), Texas, Auburn (champions weekend), Alabama, Kentucky and LSU, while playing at Georgia Tech, Arkansas, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt during the 2026 campaign.

Beginning in 2026, Tennessee will play Alabama, Kentucky and Vanderbilt as permanent opponents. Each SEC school will have three permanent opponents and six rotating opponents for the next four years.

Tennessee's Checker Neyland game will be against Texas. The SEC contest is slated for Sept. 26 at Neyland Stadium.

Nov. 7 will also mark homecoming for the Vols against Kentucky.

More: Josh Heupel details if a starting quarterback will be named in spring

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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: 2026 Tennessee football: Checker Neyland, homecoming games announced

The hockey world may get a good glimpse at what is coming next for Penn State star freshman Gavin McKenna on Tuesday evening. The NHL will hold its draft lottery to determine the draft order for teams that did not make the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff, and the team drawing the first pick will be first in line to bring McKenna to their organization.

McKenna has been viewed as the NHL's top draft prospect since his arrival in Happy Valley, and that remains the case as the draft lottery is set to play out. ESPN's updated ranking of draft prospects has McKenna ranked as the top prospect in the draft pool, as he is the player with the most certainty of being an NHL player. But will he be the top pick?

"There is no consensus on any player except Gavin McKenna, and even he has scouts questioning whether he should be the first player off the board," Rachel Kryshak of ESPN says. "If your team needs a high-end defenseman, this is the year. There are a handful of prospects projected to become foundational pieces on the top pair."

So if the team with the top pick has a need to bolster its defense, McKenna could potentially have to wait to hear his name. But regardless, McKenna will not be waiting long before getting his call to the NHL.

McKenna played in 35 games with 15 goals and 36 assists during his freshman season at Penn State, giving him the Big Ten scoring championship and earning conference honors as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, All-Big Ten Second Team, and All-Big Ten Freshman Team. McKenna also earned AHCA West Second Team All-American accolades.

In addition to being a star forward for Penn State in the 2025-26 season, McKenna was part of gold medal teams for Canada in the 2024 world U18 championships and Hilinka Gretzky Cup. He is coming off a bronze medal performance for Canada in the World Junior Championships.

Kevin McGuire is the lead writer for Nittany Lions Wire, part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on BlueSky, Threads or any of these other platforms.

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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Where Penn State's Gavin McKenna ranks entering NHL draft lottery

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Parkland baseball is poised for the postseason after a 35-win regular season.

The Cobras are led by a group of close-knit players who, by the nature of junior college, have spent at most two years together but have developed the chemistry of a four-year team.

“I love every single one of these guys, and I know that, like, we’re one of the tightest groups and that’s why I think it’s our biggest strength as a team that we can all pull for each other,” said infielder Jayden Patel.

Parkland has gone 19-4 since the calendar flipped to April, hitting its stride just in time for the Region 24 Championship.

“Everybody is promised two more baseball games together,” said head coach Zack Pych, a Parkland Baseball alumnus. “They love each other, so go out there and compete and see what happens.”

Play begins in the region tournament on Friday, May 8, as Parkland takes on Vincennes University at 9 a.m.

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

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

As the 2026 college baseball regular season winds down, players nationwide are preparing to hear their names called in the MLB draft. That list includes Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins. The Pennsylvania native joined Texas out of the transfer portal and has been a spark plug for one of the best teams in the nation. 

Through 181 at-bats in the bunt orange, Robbins has posted a .365 batting average and driven in 51 runs. He has also shown some power with 18 home runs and eight doubles. Regardless of who has been on the mound, the talented centerfielder has found a way to make hard contact and get on base. 

Mr. 200 🤘#HookEm | @AidenRobbins43pic.twitter.com/wrf4nW13S4

— Texas Baseball (@TexasBaseball) May 4, 2026

Although Robbins has called Texas home for less than a year, his success comes as no surprise. He began his college career at Seton Hall, where he posted a .422 batting average in his sophomore season. Due to Robbins' ability to hit in any conference, his draft stock has been on the rise. 

Currently, the Longhorns star is projected to be a first-round pick. That is due to his ability to hit for power and get on base at a high rate. He currently owns a .367 batting average in 547 college at-bats. He has also been a threat on the bases with 41 stolen bases.

For anyone that wants to donate towards @AidenRobbins43’s fundraiser, here is the link: https://t.co/GsEavADzGQhttps://t.co/7zv9SZtwcx

— anne-parker coleman (@anneparkercole1) May 4, 2026

While transitioning to a new school is full of challenges, Robbins has made it look easy. He leads the team in home runs, RBI, and total bases. That is not bad for a player who is experiencing his first year of SEC play on a team loaded with talent.

While Robbins' focus is on helping the Longhorns make history, he has done everything he can to show MLB teams why he should be part of their future. Over the last few months that has paid with career-highs across the board and his name in the national spotlight. 

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Texas slugger Aiden Robbins raising draft stock with stellar 2026

As we wrote about last week, USC baseball has struggled mightily on the road this season. As bad as the Trojans have been in away games, however, they have been just as good at Dedeaux Field.

Over the weekend, USC picked up gets another home sweep, taking all three games from Rutgers. The Trojans won 5-1 on Friday, 11-1 in a seven-inning mercy rule victory on Saturday, and 12-2 in eight innings on Sunday.

After taking all three games of the series, USC is now a remarkable 28-1 at Dedeaux Field on the year. The Trojans also finish the regular season a perfect 15-0 in Big Ten home games. By contrast, however, Andy Stankiewicz’s team is just 9-11 in roa contests this season.

This week, USC will look to close out its home schedule on a high note as the Trojans play their final four regular season games at Dedeaux Field. They will host Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday night, followed by a three-game series with Nevada Thursday through Saturday. The following week, USC will wrap up its regular season Big Ten slate with three games on the road in Eugene against Oregon.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC baseball continues home dominance with sweep of Rutgers

An in-state defensive back target for the Spartans has reportedly set his commitment date.

Corey Robinson of 247Sports reported on Monday that Darryl Flemister of Detroit has locked in his commitment date for this upcoming summer. According to Robinson, Flemister will make his college decision announcement on July 4.

Flemister is listed as a three-star safety, with a recruiting rating of 86 in 247Sports' system. He is ranked as the No. 104 safety and No. 18 player from Michigan in the 2027 class, according to 247Sports.

Michigan State extended an offer to Flemister in October of 2023, and remains "firmly in the mix" according to Robinson. He also holds notable offers from Wisconsin, Auburn, Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Purdue, Oregon, Ole Miss, Pitt, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

At this time, 247Sports only shows Wisconsin to have an official visit lined up with Flemister. I would anticipate that to change, though, before he makes his commitment in early July.

Click on the post below to read the full recruiting update and where the Spartans stand in Flemister's recruitment:

Detroit King DB Darryl Flemister is nearing a decision with Michigan State firmly in the mix.

“It’s a good place in my heart and where my family feel like I can always go.”

Decision set for July 4.(VIP)https://t.co/xQnH1xD2nZpic.twitter.com/3hW9EHXVHB

— Corey Robinson (@C_Robinson247) May 4, 2026

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.

This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: MSU football target, in-state 3-star DB Darryl Flemister sets commitment date

A former Michigan State men's basketball forward has been invited to the NBA G-League Elite Camp.

Spartans Sports Coverage posted on social media on Monday that former Spartans forward Jaxon Kohler has received an invitation to the NBA G-League Elite Camp. The event will be held in Chicago this upcoming weekend.

Kohler wrapped up his four-years Spartans career this March, finishing his senior season averaging 12.5 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. He started all but three games in each of the last two seasons, and will go down as a fan favorite for the Spartans faithful.

Kohler didn't receive an invitation to the NBA Combine, but this isn't a bad alternative as he'll be given the chance to play his way into at least a spot on a G-League team next season. I would anticipate Kohler getting that opportunity next year assuming he performs well at events like he'll be participating in this upcoming weekend.

Michigan State’s Jaxon Kohler has been invited to the G-League Elite camp in Chicago this weekend pic.twitter.com/PkAbYCGxtq

— Spartans Sports Coverage (@michstsquad) May 4, 2026

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.

This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Former MSU basketball star forward Jaxon Kohler invited to NBA G-League Elite Camp

As true freshmen made an impact all over the field for the Washington Huskies during spring practice, one early enrollee who was hard to miss was outside linebacker Ramzak Fruean.

The 6-foot-4, 235-pound four-star product of Bethel High School, who announced his pledge to Washington in early December after backing off on his pledge to UCLA following the firing of DeShaun Foster, didn't take long to make an impact on the defense. His rare athleticism was on display several times a day during practice, as he ducked and weaved his way around offensive tackles before using his impressive closing speed to touch down quarterbacks for "sacks" or bring down running backs from behind for a tackle for loss.

While defensive coordinator Ryan Walters sorts through a crowded room at outside linebacker with the goal of developing a stronger pass rush, after the Huskies finished No. 12 in the Big Ten in his first year calling plays with just 24 sacks.

"Ramzak has probably been like the most splash play guy this spring," Walters said after the spring game with a smirk on his face. "You watch his high school tape, you play a lot of, you know, outside SAM backer and tight end, and you knew he was athletic with the way you see him move around. But he's 235, getting close to 240, so we decided we'd try it on the edge, and he has taken that stride and has made tremendous improvements."

"He's got the athleticism of a nickelback with the size of an edge rusher. So anytime you can get closer to the line of scrimmage or keep that athleticism, you're gonna be productive, and so we're looking forward to him gaining some more weight this offseason, and this summer's going to be huge for him and his physical growth. But I love the way that the guy plays, love the way he comes to work every day, and he doesn't turn 18 till November, so he's still a kid, and sometimes that shows, but definitely blessed to have him here, and then looking forward to what he can do to add to our pass rush this fall."

Jedd Fisch echoed that sentiment.

"I think Ramzak Fruean's going to be an elite player," Fisch said on Friday night. "I would expect him to be a huge contributor early and often."

While he was billed as versatile enough to move between inside and outside linebacker after signing, Fruean has taken his reps almost exclusively on the edge during his first few months on campus, but he has the potential to continue growing and become a chess piece that Walters can move all over the formation.

"Physical, crazy," sophomore linebacker Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, who also played at Bethel High School, said when asked for a scouting report on Fruean. "He’s going to get after the ball, energy type of guy...I think Zak could play all three levels. I think he can play safety, linebacker, and edge if he wanted to. He’s one of those ones.”

This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Ramzak Fruean can be an elite piece for Washington Huskies defense

Joel Klatt has often tended to like Michigan football even when others were in doubt. Now that the Wolverines have one of his favorite head coaches in the sport, Kyle Whittingham, while he may not be all-in in terms of huge success in 2026, he's quite optimistic about how things will go in Ann Arbor.

On Monday, Klatt revealed his personal top 25, and Michigan football came in ranked No. 12. He shared more on his podcast about what he sees in the maize and blue going into the new year.

"Michigan's going to be at 12," Klatt said. "It's an offseason of change. We know that. And it's not just like going from Jim Harbaugh to his assistant. This is like a massive change for Michigan. They need to change the culture. They need to move away from whatever it was that was going on last year and in years prior. And Kyle Whittingham comes in along with a ton of assistant coaches from Utah, as well as defense coordinator, Jay Hill, who I just told you previously worked with Kyle at Utah as a defensive coach.

"All eyes are, though, going to be on this element, the combination of Bryce Underwood in his sophomore year and offensive coordinator Jason Beck. Now, Jason Beck, in the last few years, has been outstanding as an offensive coordinator, and he has gotten the most out of guys like Devon Dampier at New Mexico. And then at Utah, we'll see if he can do the same for Bryce Underwood.

"The schedule is not easy. They've got four playoff teams on the schedule. They've got games against Oklahoma. That's Week 2 of the season. And Indiana. They've got road games late in the year at Oregon, really tough place to play. And of course, the big one at Ohio State. I think Michigan could have a pretty good football team. I think the schedule is a little bit daunting for me. And again, it's that combination of Jason Beck and Bryce Underwood. If that meshes well, this could be a really good football team.

"And, listen, you guys know how I feel about Kyle Whittingham. This is one of the best coaches in America. He really is. And Michigan is in good hands now. Could they win the Big Ten? Ah, I don't know. There's some loaded teams at the top, and they're going to be at the very top of these rankings right here, but this could be a good football team. And again, it comes down to those, I think, the most important games, the home games, Oklahoma and Indiana. And then obviously that big one at the Ohio State."

Klatt isn't wrong -- the schedule is a bear. With Oklahoma, Iowa, Penn State, and Indiana coming to Ann Arbor, and road games against Oregon and Ohio State, that's a lot for any college football team to endure, no matter the coach or the firepower on the field. Even still, last year, the Wolverines had a daunting schedule, at least in terms of nonconference and home-and-away, and still managed to win nine games. Perhaps that would take a minor miracle in 2026, despite having eight home games and four to start out the season. But if Bryce Underwood can show that he's developed over the course of the newly minted Kyle Whittingham era, then the sky is the limit.

Of the teams that the Wolverines face in 2026, Oregon is No. 1, Ohio State is No. 3, Indiana is No. 4, Oklahoma is No. 11, Penn State is No. 15, and Iowa is No. 21. Michigan avoids No. 10 USC and No. 19 Washington this season.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Joel Klatt ranks Michigan football No. 12

A former Spartan has been cut by his new NFL team before he has even suited up for them.

Former Michigan State long snapper Taybor Pepper has been cut by the Miami Dolphins, the team announced on Monday. Pepper signed with the Dolphins in mid-March but is again back on the NFL free agent market in search of a new team.

Pepper has played seven seasons in the NFL, dating back to his first year in 2018 with the Green Bay Packers. He has appeared in 100 games between three teams: Green Bay, Miami and San Francisco. He, however, wasn't in the league this past season, with his last appearance coming in 2024 with the 49ers.

Pepper played at Michigan State from 2012 to 2015, and is originally from Saline, Mich.

Roster Moves | We have released long snapper Taybor Pepper and waived cornerback Isaiah Johnson, tight end Zack Kuntz, cornerback Jason Maitre, edge Derrick McLendon, inside linebacker K.C. Ossai and punter Seth Vernon. pic.twitter.com/NeXjRegkDV

— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) May 4, 2026

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.

This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Former MSU long snapper Taybor Pepper cut by Miami Dolphins

Michigan State football has extended an offer to an intriguing linebacker prospect from the Lone Star State.

Rome Ewell of Springtown, Texas announced on Monday that he's received an offer from the Spartans. Ewell took to social media platform X to announce his offer from Michigan State, citing linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator Max Bullough was the Spartans staffer that issued him the offer.

Ewell is listed as a three-star linebacker, with a recruiting rating of 86 in 247Sports' system. He is also ranked as the No. 88 linebacker and No. 1,039 overall prospect in the 2027 class.

Michigan State joins a long list of schools to express interest in Ewell. According to 247Sports, he also holds notable offers from Louisville, Houston, Boston College, Iowa State, Arizona State, Kansas State, Memphis, Texas State, North Texas, Tulsa and a few other group of six schools.

Michigan State will now look to get an official visit locked into place with Ewell. According to 247Sports, he has official visits with Houston, Louisville, Iowa State and Boston College for May and June.

After a great conversation with @Bullough40 I am blessed to revive an 🅾️ffer from Michigan State University @CoachJ_O@CoachC_Osunde@adamgorney@MikeRoach247@samspiegs@gabrieldbrooks@DemetricDWarren@JClarkHFB247pic.twitter.com/W7B8FSp5c2

— Rome Ewell (@Rome_Ewell) May 4, 2026

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.

This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: MSU football offers 3-star LB Rome Ewell of Springtown, Texas

The monetary costs of today’s college athletics system has sent universities searching for every dollar they can pool to gain an advantage. Including, for Michigan State, phone plans.

Michigan State athletics announced the launch of Spartans Mobile on Monday, a partnership with its multimedia rights holder PlayFly and Collegiate Mobile, a phone carrier on the T-Mobile network. Spartans Mobile customers can kick as much as 7% of their phone bills toward Michigan State’s FOR SPARTA fundraising initiative or the Varsity S Club. Contract details between the partners are unknown.

Spartans Mobile advertises that it can save customers $550 per year on phone bills compared to national carriers, in addition to granting access to seat upgrades, pregame tailgates and various giveaways.

“The tectonic shift in economics for collegiate athletics means athletic departments need to get creative to remain competitive, and Spartans Mobile is a new way to support the team on and off the field,” Collegiate Mobile CEO Joe Phillips said in a statement shared by Michigan State athletics.

The partnership is one of many Collegiate Mobile has struck with NCAA universities. In March, it launched Michigan Mobile with the University of Michigan. In April, Bearcats Mobile launched with the University of Cincinnati. Boise State launched Broncos Mobile on Monday, the same day as Michigan State’s launch.

The big deal for Michigan State is that this adds another revenue stream to a department that wants to strengthen its coffers. It was only a year ago that Michigan State made the switch from former athletic director Alan Haller to current AD J Batt, who took over last June with his skills in fundraising and revenue generation serving as key factors in his selection. The move came early in the tenure of President Kevin Guskiewicz, who took over in March 2024 and also introduced a new provost in Laura Lee McIntyre at the same time MSU hired Batt. 

Batt inherited an athletic department with a budget problem. A debt report obtained by The Detroit News showed Michigan State’s athletic department to be $124 million in debt as of May 31, 2025. Approximately $28.7 million of that came in the form of bonds, $20 million stood as commercial paper and $75.3 million fell under internal loans.

That debt report did not include recent expenses including a buyout for Haller, nor that of former football coach Jonathan Smith, who was axed at the end of the 2025 season and replaced by Pat Fitzgerald on a minimum five-year, $30 million contract. That budget report did not include a $12 million internal loan to help fund revenue share with student athletes in the 2025-26 seasons, which came as part of a $192 million budget approved by Michigan State’s Board of Trustees last June.

More: Amid budget crunch, Michigan State pays up for athletic director J Batt

A year in, Batt has made a few splashes to strengthen Michigan State’s wallet, procuring a $401 million commitment from donors Greg and Dawn Williams — of Acrisure wealth — in December that seeded both the FOR SPARTA fundraising initiative and set aside $100 million for the establishment of Spartan Ventures, a third-party affiliate created to open up more revenue streams that weren’t accessible under a more rigid structure of a public university department. Spartan Ventures is planned to launch July 1, the start of the next fiscal year.

Add phone plans to the list of revenue tools Michigan State is adding to its toolbelt.

cearegood@detroitnews.com

@ConnorEaregood

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Spartans Mobile phone network could kick 7% of bills to MSU athletics

Florida State baseball swept the Pittsburgh Panthers in a three-game series over the weekend. With an overall record of 33-14 and on a four-game win streak, the Seminoles have bounced back from their disasterous serious against Stanford. The regular season is almost done, and their final ranking will go a long way to determine where they'll end up in the postseason.

Baseball America's top 25 rankings seemed to appreciate their perfect week, as in their rankings, FSU moved up to No. 15 in the country, a two-spot increase.

Last week, Florida State was ranked No. 17 nationally. Now, they are sandwiched between No. 14 Arkansas (32-17, 13-11 SEC) and No. 16 Oklahoma (30-16, 12-12 SEC). The ACC now has just four ranked teams in the updated poll, with Florida State being the third-best ACC team behind the No. 2 North Carolina Tar Heels and No. 4 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The No. 21 Boston College Eagles also make an appearance in the top 25.

FSU's upcoming schedule is one final out-of-conference match against Jacksonville, followed by an away stint for a series against Clemson, then a three-game series at home versus Miami. The Seminoles are 24-3 when they are at home. But they are just 8-8 when they are on the road. Fans can catch the Jacksonville game on Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET on the ACC Network Extra.

NEW NCAA TOP 25 RANKINGS 🚨🚨https://t.co/4zBKndZXk2pic.twitter.com/nmveCIscKI

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) May 4, 2026

Contact/Follow us @FSUWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of FSU news, notes, and opinions. Jacob Smith is a contributor for FSU Wire, part of the USA TODAY Network. You can also follow Jacob on X at @jsmith_sports.

This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: FSU Baseball: Baseball America has Seminoles at No. 15 in country

The Oklahoma Sooners are SEC softball champions after going 20-4 in conference play. The Sooners held off a strong Alabama Crimson Tide team that went 19-5 in SEC play. Oklahoma will be the top seed in the SEC Tournament. Oklahoma won the SEC thanks to earning a pair of wins over the Texas A&M Aggies after dropping the opening game of the series to the Aggies.

Oklahoma, Alabama, Texas and Florida are the SEC's top-four seeds in the SEC Tournament. All four teams will all have two byes to start the SEC Tournament and have automatic berths into the quarterfinals. Tennessee, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Georgia and LSU are the other top-nine seeds and all have first-round byes.

The SEC Tournament is set to take place from May 5-9 in Lexington, Kentucky. All teams with tied conference records are ordered by the seeds they will be in the SEC Tournament.

Final SEC softball standings after regular season

1. Oklahoma Sooners (48-7, 20-4 SEC)
2. Alabama Crimson Tide (47-6, 19-5)
3. Florida Gators (47-9, 17-7)
4. Texas Longhorns (39-10, 16-8)
5. Tennessee Volunteers (44-9, 16-8)
6. Texas A&M Aggies (36-16, 16-8)
7. Arkansas Razorbacks (41-10, 15-9)
8. LSU Tigers (37-16, 13-11)
9. Georgia Bulldogs (36-17, 12-12)
10. Mississippi State Bulldogs (37-17, 9-15)
11. Missouri Tigers (28-28, 9-15)
12. South Carolina Gamecocks (30-25, 7-17)
13. Ole Miss Rebels (32-23, 6-18)
14. Auburn Tigers (25-27, 4-20)
15. Kentucky Wildcats (26-28, 1-23)

SEC Tournament bracket

🥎 The Bracket

🗓️ May 5 - 9
📍 Lexington, Ky.
🔗 https://t.co/vk08s48Pj9#SECSB x #SECTourneypic.twitter.com/GHxBfJGUcW

— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) May 3, 2026

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This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Final SEC softball standings have familiar team on top

Uncertainty was expelled by hope last night when Duke lacrosse was selected as one of the final two teams to qualify for the 2026 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championships.

The Blue Devils will face off against 4-seed Richmond in the first round and, with a win, would meet either No. 5 Virginia or Georgetown.

Duke is making its 28th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and enters the bracket unseeded for just the fifth time in program history. They are 1-4 all-time in NCAA Tournament games as an unseeded squad.

The Blue Devils head into postseason play boasting a 9-4 overall record, with losses to No. 7 Syracuse, No. 16 Virginia, No. 7 Cornell, and No. 1 Notre Dame, all of whom are currently ranked no lower than No. 7 in RPI (rating percentage index).

What kept Duke’s resume afloat was key victories over No. 18 Saint Joseph’s, No. 14 Denver, and No. 3 North Carolina.

Many in the lacrosse community consider the team’s upset road win over UNC in the final game of the regular season to be the primary reason the Blue Devils were able to sneak into the field of 18.

The first round meeting with Richmond will not be the first time the two programs have met on the big stage. The Blue Devils downed the Spiders 12-11 in the 2019 NCAA Tournament en route to a Final Four appearance.

Duke is 44-24 all-time in NCAA Tournament play and has advanced to the Championship Weekend 14 times, bringing home three NCAA titles. All of those titles came over a five-year span that saw the program reach no worse than a Final Four appearance from 2010 to 2014.

The program’s pursuit of a fourth title will begin Saturday with a trip to the ‘River City’ for a first-round road matchup with the 4-seed Richmond Spiders. The game is set to start at 7:30 p.m. ET and can be streamed on ESPNU.

This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Duke men's lacrosse sneaks into NCAA Tournament unseeded

It was a massive weekend in Aggieland, with several marquee events happening at once, but for the Texas A&M baseball team, the momentum didn’t carry over. The Aggies dropped their first SEC series since March and closed the week with a 2–2 record.

Texas A&M opened the week with a hard‑fought win over a strong Tarleton State squad, a Texans team that owns victories over Texas and Baylor and currently sits atop the WAC standings. Head coach Michael Earley knew the midweek matchup wouldn’t be easy, but the Aggies handled business and shifted their focus to a talented Auburn Tigers team coming to town.

Weather has been a recurring issue at Blue Bell Park this season, and once again, Friday’s opener was pushed to Saturday, creating a doubleheader. A&M had been solid in doubleheaders recently, but that trend ended abruptly. Auburn ran away with Game 1 and edged out a nail‑biter in Game 2 to clinch the series. The Aggies avoided the sweep with a strong response in Game 3.

The schedule won’t get any easier from here, but Texas A&M remains a clear postseason team. The real question now is whether they can stay in the NCAA Tournament hosting picture as they close out the regular season.

Below is the updated USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll Top 25.

Rank	Team	Record	PTS	1st	Prev	Chg	Hi/Lo
1	UCLA Bruins	43-4	750	30	1	-	1/2
2	North Carolina Tar Heels	37-9	704	0	2	-	2/14
3	Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets	39-8	690	0	3	-	2/5
4	Texas Longhorns	35-10	661	0	4	-	2/4
5	Georgia Bulldogs	38-11	631	0	5	-	4/13
6	Auburn Tigers	32-14	569	0	8	2	4/12
7	Texas A&M Aggies	35-10	516	0	7	-	7/NR
8	Oregon State Beavers	36-11	512	0	6	2	6/18
9	Kansas Jayhawks	37-11	504	0	11	2	9/NR
10	Coastal Carolina Chanticleers	33-14	477	0	10	-	7/25
11	Mississippi State Bulldogs	36-12	468	0	9	2	3/16
12	Florida State Seminoles	33-14	398	0	12	-	6/17
13	Southern Miss Golden Eagles	34-14	375	0	13	-	7/20
14	Oregon Ducks	35-12	354	0	14	-	10/NR
15	West Virginia Mountaineers	31-12	283	0	20	5	12/NR
16	USC Trojans	37-12	282	0	17	1	8/NR
17	Arizona State Sun Devils	33-15	230	0	21	4	17/NR
18	Arkansas Razorbacks	32-17	219	0	22	4	5/24
19	Alabama Crimson Tide	32-16	214	0	23	4	9/NR
20	Florida Gators	31-17	166	0	25	5	8/25
21	Oklahoma Sooners	30-16	143	0	14	7	8/NR
22	Boston College Eagles	35-16	141	0	19	3	19/25
23	Ole Miss Rebels	32-17	132	0	18	5	18/NR
24	Nebraska Cornhuskers	34-14	104	0	16	8	16/NR
25	Virginia Cavaliers	32-16	100	0	24	1	11/NR

Others Receiving Votes

Jacksonville State 58; Cincinnati 19; Oklahoma State 14; Miami (FL) 12; UTSA 6; California Baptist 6; Wake Forest 3; UC Santa Barbara 3; Kent State 3; Michigan 2; Liberty 1;

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 Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M stays at No. 7 in the USA TODAY poll after series loss

The FSU Seminoles had a bounce-back week, going 4-0 to put last week's sweep behind them. They started it by beating South Florida before getting a crucial sweep of Pitt at home.

Despite the perfect week, they are still the No. 12 team in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches poll with a 33-14 overall record and a 15-9 ACC record. They are now 24-3 at home this season and have lost just two ACC home games.

FSU cruised to a 9-1 win over USF on Wednesday before the series against Pitt. They were forced to play a doubleheader on Saturday due to the weather on Friday, but it was no problem for FSU. Wes Mendes threw a complete game in the first leg as they won 10-1. While the next two games were tougher, FSU was able to complete the sweep.

The Seminoles are still the third-highest-ranked ACC team, behind the No. 2 North Carolina Tar Heels and No. 3 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. No. 22 Boston College and No. 24 Virginia give the ACC five teams in the top 25. Miami and Wake Forest both received votes.

FSU will return to action on Tuesday when they host the Jacksonville Dolphins. They will then hit the road for a weekend series against the Clemson Tigers. Tuesday's game will start at 6 p.m. ET and be streamed on ESPN+.

Contact/Follow us @FSUWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of FSU news, notes, and opinions.

This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: FSU Baseball: Seminoles ranked 12th in USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

Make no mistake, the Oregon Ducks are expected to return to the College Football Playoff in 2026 after lasting until the semifinals last season. Throughout the season, the Ducks battled a narrative of playing an easy schedule with few ranked foes, outside of their October loss to Indiana. This season, that is not likely to be the case again.

CBS Sports' Brad Crawford ranked the toughest schedules for CFP contenders around the country, and the Ducks are among those facing a gauntlet on the schedule in the Big Ten. Oregon placed 11th on Crawford's list, trailing Ohio State (3), Michigan (4) and USC (8) within the conference. Texas and Oklahoma took the top two spots, respectively.

"The opener against Boise State and trips to Oklahoma State and USC in September should show us everything we need to know about the Ducks," Crawford wrote. "Then there's the reality of facing Ohio State, Michigan and Washington over the final four weeks -- teams that don't just beat you, they expose you if you're not complete. These are roster-check games where physicality at the line of scrimmage and depth in the fourth quarter will decide the winner. Oregon won't be able to out-talent everyone the way it might against lesser competition; execution becomes non-negotiable for Dan Lanning's group in November."

The Ducks will be well-traveled, playing games from out west in Eugene and Los Angeles all the way out to Illinois and Ohio. Oregon also won't have as forgiving a non-conference schedule this time around. They'll host soon-to-be Pac-12 representative Boise State at Autzen Stadium to open the season before traveling to Stillwater to take on a new and very much improved Oklahoma State team.

An early bye after a Week 4 trip to USC isn't ideal, as the Ducks will finish the season in November with a trip to Ohio State, home for Michigan, at Michigan State and back home for Washington, all in consecutive weeks. That could be three ranked games in four weeks for the Ducks.

Oregon would be wise not to look past an improved UCLA team off a bye in Week 6, now led by former James Madison coach Bob Chesney, whom the Ducks saw in Eugene for the first round of the CFP last season. It will certainly be a harder road for Dan Lanning, but the Ducks could build a resume worthy of the top overall seed if everything goes right.

On the flip side, losses later in the season are more likely to hurt the Ducks' playoff chances than an early loss while teams are still sorting through issues. That makes the November slate a bit daunting. If the Ducks were to drop multiple games in the month, they could be holding their breath on Selection Sunday.

Oregon's defense stood tall in the spring game, and the weapons out wide on offense made big plays that spark optimism that the Ducks could take another step forward in the postseason with one of the most talented rosters in program history, which is expected to produce multiple first-round picks.

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.

This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks football facing top 15 toughest schedule in 2026

There’s a moment in every high-level recruitment where the conversation shifts from who wants you to who fits you. Irvine (Calif.) Crean Lutheran four-star wide receiver Ty Johnson has officially entered that phase—and the board has tightened to three: Arizona Wildcats, Kentucky Wildcats, and UCLA Bruins.

This isn’t a wide-open race anymore. This is targeted. Intentional. Built on evaluation and vision.

At 6-foot-2.5 and 200 pounds, Johnson carries a prototype frame for the modern perimeter receiver—long-striding with build-up speed but sturdy enough to work through contact. His junior production (25 catches, 436 yards, nine touchdowns in just seven games) tells part of the story. The other part? Efficiency and role compression. Johnson isn’t volume-dependent — he’s impact-dependent. Touches turn into points.

And when you turn on the tape, the evaluation sharpens quickly.

SCOUTING BREAKDOWN: TWO-WAY DNA, SUNDAY TRAITS

Final junior season stats - week 5-10
⭐️25 rec
⭐️436 Yrds
⭐️10 Tds
⭐️1 INT@GregBiggins@BrandonHuffman@ChadSimmons_@adamgorney@Zack_Poff_MP@TheUCReport@BlairAngulo@CoachCeeDaGr8@CoachTroop3@RespectxSportspic.twitter.com/wm2RgcHRh2

— 4⭐️ Ty Johnson (@TyJohnson_2027) November 14, 2025

Johnson’s game is layered, starting with positional versatility. He’s not just a receiver — he’s a two-phase athlete who also lines up at corner. That matters. It shows up in his route pacing, his ability to track the football, and most importantly, his comfort in contested situations.

Play Style:Long-framed outside receiver with boundary flexibility. Operates best vertically or on deep-intermediate concepts (posts, overes, and fades), where he can leverage stride length and body control. Shows flashes of being a red-zone mismatch piece.

Strengths:

• Catch Radius: Expands the strike zone for quarterbacks; high-point ability stands out immediately
• Ball Tracking: Locates the football early and adjusts mid-flight—a carryover from defensive reps
• Body Control: Wins at the catch point with balance and timing, not just size
• Two-Way Instincts: Defensive background sharpens reaction time and competitiveness

Areas to Develop:

• Route Tree Detail: Can continue refining separation mechanics in short/intermediate windows
• Top-End Burst: More build-up speed than sudden accelerator—adding that next gear elevates his ceiling

Football DNA:Competitive. Assignment-sound. Comfortable playing through contact. Projects as a player who embraces physical matchups rather than avoiding them.

THE FINALISTS: THREE SCHEMES, THREE VISIONS

Each of the three programs in Johnson’s final group presents a different developmental pathway — and that’s where this recruitment sharpens into a true fit conversation.

At UCLA , the hometown angle is real, but it’s not the only factor driving momentum. UCLA has been consistent and early in its approach, building familiarity that matters at this stage. More importantly, their offensive structure offers a clear runway for integration, where Johnson’s size and ball skills can translate quickly within a system that values spacing and timing.

With Kentucky , the pitch leans into physical development and long-term projection. This is an SEC-minded evaluation centered on what Johnson can become. His frame fits the league, and Kentucky is selling a transformation arc — taking a high-upside perimeter target and molding him into a pro-ready weapon. His June 12 official visit becomes a critical checkpoint in that vision.

Meanwhile, Arizona has remained one of the most consistent presences throughout the process. Their offensive identity emphasizes playmakers in space, and Johnson profiles cleanly as a vertical stressor who can stretch the field and create explosive moments. The fit here is about utilization — putting him in positions to maximize his downfield impact.

Johnson enters this phase ranked No. 39 wide receiver nationally and No. 28 in California per the 247 Sports Ranking—but those numbers read more like a baseline than a ceiling.

This is a traits-based evaluation, and those are the prospects that tend to rise over time. Johnson isn’t a finished product, and that’s exactly why these programs are pushing. The frame, the catch radius, the two-way instincts — those are foundational traits you build around, not search for.

What comes next is about alignment. Development. Deployment. Maximizing what’s already there while sharpening the details that separate good from difference-makers.

Three programs. Three distinct blueprints.

Now it comes down to which staff sees Ty Johnson not just as a wide receiver but as a system piece capable of shifting matchups and changing Saturdays.

This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Kentucky football makes final three for 2027 WR Ty Johnson

In just a week from now, the Road to the Women's College World Series will be officially underway with the unveiling of the NCAA Softball Tournament bracket.

Until that moment though, conference tournaments must be played out, with automatic bids to the postseason being handed out to the 31 different winners.

Oklahoma heads into conference tournament week fresh off securing the No. 1 seed in the SEC Softball Tournament by taking two of three against Texas A&M over the weekend. Sooners freshman catcher Kendall Wells still sits at home run No. 36 on the season, one away from tying the NCAA single-season record.

REQUIRED READING: Softball star NiJaree Canady throws first perfect game for Texas Tech

Texas Tech heads into the Big 12 tournament at Devon Park in Oklahoma City hot, as the Red Raiders have won 15 of their last 18 games, including an 8-0 run-rule win over Baylor on the final day of the regular season where Nijaree Canady tossed a perfect game.

Other notable series outcomes from the final weekend of the regular season include Georgia taking two of three against No. 9 Florida and Ole Miss sweeping No. 16 Mississippi State.

Here's an updated look at the latest college softball rankings and polls:

Conference Tournament schedules: SEC | Big 12 | ACC | Big Ten

Updated college softball rankings

Softball America

This section will be updated once the latest Softball America Top 25 Rankings are released

College Softball RPI rankings

Through May 2 games

1. Arkansas
2. Alabama
3. Texas
4. Nebraska
5. Florida
6. Oklahoma
7. UCLA
8. Tennessee
9. Oregon
10. LSU
11. Duke
12. Texas Tech
13. Florida State
14. Georgia
15. Oklahoma State
16. Texas A&M
17. Stanford
18. Mississippi State
19. Arizona
20. Virginia Tech
21. UCF
22. Ole Miss
23. Clemson
24. Arizona State
25. South Carolina

USA Softball Top 25 Rankings

This section will be updated once the latest USA Softball Top 25 Rankings are released

D1Softball Top 25 Rankings

This section will be updated once the latest D1Softball Top 25 Rankings are released

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

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College softball rankings, top 25 polls: Oklahoma stays at No. 1

Duke fans were surprised to see Cooper Flagg on TV Sunday, catching the Dallas Mavericks star on a NASCAR broadcast as the pace car driver.

In addition to driving the pace car, Flagg took a lap with Connor Zilisch, driver of the No. 88 car for Trackhouse racing. Flagg and Zilisch are some of the youngest athletes in their respective sports, both 19 years old.

Following the festivities, Flagg spoke about his experience and his connection with Zilisch.

"I think just being able to connect on the fact that we're both young in our respective sports, that was really cool, and to be able to talk to someone that's going through a lot of similar things at a time in your life," Flagg said.

However, Flagg wasn't too proud to admit the ride scared him a little bit, saying, "We got going pretty fast, and I think half the ride I was more scared of what was going on."

Just like Flagg did for the Mavericks, Zilisch will hope to take home Rookie of the Year honors in 2026.

This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Duke alum Cooper Flagg speaks on 'really cool' NASCAR experience

The Stanley Cup playoffs are always electric, and this year is no different.

Coming into the playoffs, six former Wisconsin Badgers men's hockey alumni were participating. Now that the first round is complete, only one-third of that field remains.

A pair of former Badgers faced off in an electric seven-game series, one that saw Cole Caufield's Montreal Canadians prevail. In the process, he sent home 36-year-old Ryan McDonagh and his Tampa Bay Lightning.

Elsewhere, the Los Angeles Kings were embarrassed by the Colorado Avalanche. The Kings, who are the team 25-year-old Alex Turcotte plays for, were swept by this year's winner of the President's Trophy.

The other eliminated former Badgers include Edmonton Oilers' rent Frederic and Ty Emberson. Even with arguably the best player in the league on their roster, Edmonton fell to the Anaheim Ducks in six games.

Knowing all of that, Badgers fans still have a pair of players to root for. Caufield's Canadians are set to do battle with the Buffalo Sabers while K'Andre Miller represents the Carolina Hurricanes, a team that already enjoys a 1-0 lead on the Philadelphia Flyers.

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

This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Cole Caufield and K'Andre Miller represent Wisconsin in NHL playoffs

In a symbolic statement, sophomore cornerback Dylan Robinson proved he’s ready for the moment Friday night in UW’s annual Dawgs After Dark spring game.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound former four-star recruit from California was in the perfect position to be the benefactor of a tipped pass from Demond Williams Jr. to Rashid Williams for his first turnover early in the first quarter.

Not long after, Robinson took advantage of a freshman moment by wide receiver Mason James, who muffed a punt return that led to the ball spinning into the end zone for the long cornerback to put his hands on and add the first touchdown of the night for Team Gold.

“Really, with Dylan, he’s such a physical presence and his athleticism is off the charts,” defensive coordinator Ryan Walters said after Friday night's spring camp finale.

Dylan Robinson has been Johnny on the spot early with an interception and now a botched catch on a punt return led to an easy scoop and score

Golf 7, Purple 0 3:35 1Q

— Lars Hanson (@LarsHanson) May 2, 2026

“So really it was about confidence and being assertive in his gameplay. I think he’s made strides in that department.”

Ranked as the No. 8 athlete in the 2025 class by 247Sports, Robinson made an early impression as a freshman behind a pair of starters, Ephesians Prysock and Tacario Davis, both of which just went in the 2026 NFL draft to the San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals respectively.

The ex-Bonita High School standout started five games in his first season at UW and appeared in every game, although his defensive snaps were limited between Week 7 and Week 12, which laid the foundation for Robinson to end spring in a strong position to be one of secondary coach John Richardson’s two starring cornerbacks in 2026.

”You watch him work out, you watch him run around. There’s clips at practice where you’re like, ‘Man, this kid is going to be really special,” Walters added. “We just have to get that from him all the time on a consistent basis.”

This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington Huskies CB Dylan Robinson Stars At Dawgs After Dark

ESPN has named Georgia Bulldogs tight end Ethan Barbour as an under the radar player for the 2026 campaign. At 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, Barbour will look to bounce back this season following a brutal ankle injury just three games into his freshman year. 

Barbour is an athletic tight end that could play a big role on the Dawgs’ offense next year. Georgia lost a plethora of playmakers to both the NFL draft and transfer portal this offseason, as Barbour now finds himself in prime position for an increased workload in 2026. The tight end flashed his potential on numerous occasions in his freshman campaign in 2025, but Barbour suffered a broken ankle just three games into the season causing him to miss the rest of the year. Barbour is a good blocker and actually earned a start before getting injured.

Barbour was ranked as the No. 9 tight end and the No. 169 recruit from the class of 2025, per the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He was ranked as the No. 21 player in Georgia.

Barbour is expected enter 2026 fully healthy and has the talent to shine in Athens next season. Barbour is an elite blocker in addition to his pass catching abilities, and the former four-star recruit will look to make a name for himself this season following an unfortunate start in 2025. 

Barbour did return for Georgia's Sugar Bowl last season and has been healthy this spring. He saw a lot of targets in the spring game, but will have to compete with a stacked tight end group for playing time.

Georgia will enter the 2026 campaign with one of the deepest tight end rooms in college football. The Dawgs currently have Lawson Luckie, Jaden Reddell and Elyiss Williams at the position in addition to Barbour, as each player could dominate in the Bulldogs’ offense next year. 

This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: ESPN names tight end as overlooked Georgia football player

Let’s go back 30 years.

The WNBA’s first season had no salary cap and players received as little as $15,000 to play. The best players topped out around $50,000, even as stars in 1997 became household names — Cynthia Cooper, Lisa Leslie, Rebecca Lobo, Sheryl Swoopes.

Excitement was there, but skepticism abounded. How long would the league exist? Would people watch? Was this a novelty? Would interest eventually wear off? How could it sustain itself financially?

Even a few years ago, naysayers were still asking these questions. Now, those doubts seem antiquated. Women’s basketball — and women’s sports as a whole — is an undeniable booming business.

Especially as the WNBA’s exponential growth in recent years spiked again with an unprecedented collective bargaining agreement this offseason. Players’ salaries are topping $1 million for the first time, and the average salary will be nearly $600,000. Let this sink in: Top individual player salaries this season are worth more than the entire salary cap for individual teams before 2023.

This windfall comes as the WNBA is broadcasting all its games this season, and NCAA women’s basketball continues to set viewership records.

As women’s basketball fandom continues to expand, The Athletic is also staying ahead of the curve. We know fans have a deep appetite for the sport, and we are dedicated to delivering with our incomparable, comprehensive coverage.

Women’s basketball has never been dull, but now, the news cycle churns year-round. Front-office moves, free-agency chaos, eye-catching trades and league expansion in the pros; NIL deals, transfer moves and the coaching carousel in colleges. We’re on it.

There’s no offseason for players, and there’s no offseason for our women’s basketball team at The Athletic.

We’re also bringing big additions. Joining our national writers Chantel Jennings and Sabreena Merchant, Annie Costabile is the newest member of our reporting group. Based in New York, Costabile is known for breaking news and for her sharp analysis of the sport.

That trio, along with hosts Zena Keita and Layshia Clarendon, will offer their takes on our podcast, No Offseason, which drops on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. You can also hang out with them on YouTube and social media.

Want more? We’ve got you. Starting this week, our free No Offseason newsletter will appear directly in your inbox every Tuesday, as Merchant and Costabile keep you up to speed.

We aren’t just bringing you news and results. We’re creating a No Offseason community — and we want you to be part of it. Who knows what the next 30 years will bring?

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

WNBA, Sports Business, Women's College Basketball

2026 The Athletic Media Company

No. 7 Texas A&M (35-11, 15-6 SEC) avoided what would have been the Aggies' first sweep of the season after defeating No. 8 Auburn 4-3 on Sunday afternoon, salvaging a Game 3 victory that was absolutely vital to keeping pace in the SEC standings. However, the Georgia Bulldogs continue to look like the best team in the conference after sweeping last-place Missouri this weekend.

While losing both games in Saturday's doubleheader certainly wasn't the plan for coach Mike Earley and his veteran roster, who nearly pulled off a win in Game 2 if Chris Hacopian's hit to left field had stayed fair, ending in a groundout that secured the series for the visitors.

Still, after a solid start against Florida last weekend, junior Weston Moss took the mound with confidence and produced his best outing of the season, lasting six innings with six strikeouts and just one hit and one earned run allowed.

This performance should result in coach Mike Earley and pitching coach Jason Kelley making changes to the starting lineup, potentially making Aiden Sims the Friday starter, moving Moss to Saturday, and optioning struggling Shane Sdao for Sundays.

Texas A&M's offense has continued to produce when needed, and thanks to Chris Hacopian's three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth, providing just enough of a cushion to allow steady closer Clayton Freshcorn room to struggle early before forcing a groundout double play to ice the game in the ninth.

With the win, Texas A&M remains in second place in the updated SEC standings, but is now 2.5 games back from first behind Georgia, who are now a near lock to take home the regular season title.

Updated SEC Standings

1. Georgia (38-11, 18-6 SEC)
2. Texas A&M (35-10, 15-6 SEC)
3. Texas (35-10, 15-6 SEC)
4. Auburn (32-14, 14-10 SEC)
5. Mississippi State (36-12, 14-10 SEC)
6. Alabama (32-16, 13-11 SEC)
7. Florida (31-17, 13-11 SEC)
8. Arkansas (32-17, 13-11 SEC)
9. Ole Miss (32-17, 12-12 SEC)
10. Oklahoma (30-16, 12-12 SEC)
11. Kentucky (29-15, 11-13 SEC)
12. Tennessee (30-17, 10-13 SEC)
13. Vanderbilt (27-22, 10-14 SEC)
14. LSU (28-21, 9-15 SEC)
15. South Carolina (22-27, 7-17 SEC)
16. Missouri (21-26, 4-20 SEC)

Texas A&M will host Prairie View A&M on Tuesday, May 5, at 6:00 p.m.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M stays in the race for first in updated SEC standings

Texas A&M's spring season ended after the annual Maroon & White Game on April 18, providing third-year head coach Mike Elko and his staff another opportunity to evaluate the 2026 roster, which now includes 17 transfer portal additions and 26 signees from the 2026 signing class.

However, after a record ten players were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, new offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins will have his hands full as a first-time playcaller, but will be working with starting quarterback Marcel Reed, who is entering his third season and second as the program's full-time starter.

After throwing for a career-high 3,169 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions last season, Reed's offseason focus has shifted to improving his decision-making in the pocket, ball placement, and utilizing his playmakers in the middle of the field instead of forcing deep throws in tight coverage.

Still, after adding 6'4" Alabama transfer wide receiver Isaiah Horton to the roster, 50/50 balls should see a higher success rate this fall. On defense, the loss of senior linebacker Daymion Sanford, who suffered a lower-body injury during the spring game, will affect the units' depth, but sophomore LB Noah Mikhail and transfer Ray Coney look ready to step up in his absence.

Overall, facing one of the toughest schedules in the SEC could result in taking a step back next season after finishing 11-2, including the program's first appearance in the College Football Playoff, and while the national media still views the Aggies as a Top 10 team heading into the 2026 season, CBS Sports analyst Brad Crawford is a little less enthusiastic.

Releasing his personal post-spring Top 25 rankings, Texas A&M comes in at No. 13 compared to CBS Sports ranking the Aggies' 8th in Brandon Marcello's rankings late last month.

1. Miami
2. Texas
3. Oregon
4. Ohio State
5. Notre Dame
6. Indiana
7. Georgia
8. LSU
9. Ole Miss
10. Texas Tech
11. Alabama
12. USC
13. Texas A&M
14. Michigan
15. BYU
16. Oklahoma
17. SMU
18. Washington
19. Louisville
20. Utah
21. Houston
22. Florida
23. Iowa
24. Virginia Tech
25. UNLV

Being ranked below Alabama and Tech Tech, given both program's quarterback issues, especially prized transfer addition Brendan Sorsby likely being ineligible for the entire 2026 season, is certainly questionable, but it's understandable to be in "wait and see" mode when analyzing a relatively new Aggie roster.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M ranked 13th in Brad Crawford's post-spring rankings

While Wisconsin Badgers fans may not like their ranking, USA TODAY placed Luke Fickell's squad at No. 76 after spring practice.

It's going to take a lot more than a strong spring showing from someone like Old Dominion transfer quarterback Colton Joseph to turn things around.

Fresh off back-to-back losing seasons, something that's basically unheard of with this program, Fickell has his work cut out for him. He's been putting together a stellar class of 2027, though those recruits are still a year out.

Wisconsin, like always, has a difficult schedule ahead. Playing in the Big Ten is never easy, especially when looking at Paul Myerberg's list and seeing that three of the top six teams are all in the Badgers conference.

Sure, Fickell doesn't have to worry about the No. 1-ranked team, Ohio State, but Wisconsin opens its season at Lambeau Field against a Notre Dame squad Myerberg has sitting at No. 2.

There are a ton of winnable games on the Badgers' schedule, but the national media has every right to question just how good they're going to be after a pair of disastrous seasons.

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

This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football earns No. 76 ranking USA TODAY post-spring ball

Penn State football will have a completely overhauled roster to get to know in 2026 under new head coach Matt Campbell. Following one of the most active offseasons in recent memory for Penn State with a flurry of activity in the transfer portal, fans will have a lot of catching up to do in getting to know this year's Penn State roster. Fortunately, not every face will be brand new to fans. Regardless, we will be here to give you a fresh overview of every player on the roster for the 2026 season with a series of player profiles.

From all of the returning players, a long list of new faces from the transfer portal, and incoming recruits from the Class of 2026, we will have you covered with this year's player profiles for the Penn State roster. Here is a quick look at cornerback Jahmir Joseph for the 2026 season.

Preseason Player Profile

• Hometown: Nyack, New York
• Height: 6-0
• Weight: 190 lbs
• Class in 2026: Redshirt Freshman

Recruiting Rankings

Class of 2025: Consensus 4-star, No. 27 ranked cornerback, per 247Sports

A number of other big schools, like Ohio State and Oregon, were in play for Jahmir Joseph. Thankfully, Penn State seemed to be the only school he ever really considered, and he committed without ever giving those schools a visit.

Career Stats

The four-star cornerback didn’t get to play much in his freshman season, but he was unleashed in the Pinstripe Bowl. Finishing the year with seven tackles, one interception, and one pass breakup, Joseph had five tackles and his only pass breakup in the Bowl game.

Depth Chart Overview

Considered one of the best defensive backs in his class, the Nittany Lions have high hopes for Joseph. He won’t just be handed a big role in the secondary, but he has more than enough talent to emerge as a high-level starter, or a mainstay of the cornerback rotation at the very least.

Random Fact

Joseph played basketball in high school, earning First-Team All-League honors.

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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: 2026 Penn State football: Jahmir Joseph player profile

With the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament bracket only consisting of 18 teams — 10 of which go to conference tournament champions — the opportunities for teams on the bubble are scarce.

Maryland found that out the hard way following the fully revealed bracket for the 2026 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament.

The Terrapins were left out of the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament on Sunday by the NCAA Tournament selection committee after going 7-6 in the regular season and losing in their second round of the Big Ten Tournament to Penn State.

NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament bracket: Highlights from Selection Sunday show

The omission of the Terrapins is a significant one in men's lacrosse, as they are one of the sport's true powerhouses: Maryland has been in every NCAA tournament since 2003, and has made it to Memorial Day weekend to compete for the national championship in three of the last four seasons.

But that isn't the only notable reason of the Terrapins being left out. John Tillman's squad was the No. 1-ranked team in the Inside Lacrosse, USILA Coaches and USA Lacrosse preseason polls.

Here's what to know following the Terrapins' omission from the 2026 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament:

Did Maryland men's lacrosse make NCAA Tournament?

No. Maryland was left out of the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament after entering Sunday's bracket reveal show on the bubble with a 7-6 overall record and a No. 15 RPI ranking. Both Duke and Yale were selected off the bubble and included in the bracket over the Terrapins.

It's the first time since 2002 that Maryland will not compete in the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament, and just the program's eighth time being left out of the bracket since the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament started in 1971.

MORE: NCAA men's lacrosse tournament bracket winners and losers include Princeton, ACC

Maryland men's lacrosse 2026 schedule

Maryland finished 7-6 overall and 2-6 against ranked opponents this season. Here's a look at Maryland's schedule from this season:

• Saturday, Feb. 7: Maryland 19, Loyola Maryland 10
• Friday, Feb. 13: No. 2 Syracuse 9, Maryland 9
• Saturday, Feb. 21: No. 12 Princeton 13, Maryland 12
• Saturday, Feb. 28: No. 1 Notre Dame 11, Maryland 8
• Friday, March 6: Maryland 13, Delaware 8
• Saturday, March 14: Maryland 13, Virginia 12 (3OT)
• Saturday, March 21: No. 9 Penn State 10, Maryland 6
• Saturday, March 28: Maryland 14, Michigan 8
• Saturday, April 4: Maryland 8, No. 9 Ohio State 7 (OT)
• Saturday, April 11: Maryland 12, No. 19 Rutgers 2
• Saturday, April 18: No. 12 Johns Hopkins 9, Maryland 8
• Saturday, April 25: Maryland 13, Rutgers 10 (Big Ten Tournament)
• Thursday, April 30: Penn State 8, Maryland 8 (Big Ten Tournament)

NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament Bracket

Click here to view the full NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament bracket and analysis, including who earned the eight national seeds and matchup dates and times.

The 2026 DI Men’s Lacrosse Bracket 🏆🥍

➡️ https://t.co/zLkT0Ue1iJ
🎟️ https://t.co/5av2exW2hS#NCAAMLAXpic.twitter.com/kUAk6cBkad

— NCAA Lacrosse (@NCAALAX) May 4, 2026

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Did Maryland make NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament? Terrapins streak snapped

As usual, the unveiling of the NCAA men’s lacrosse tournament bracket Sunday night produced many expected results – and a few unexpected ones.

The committee was tasked not only with choosing the eight at-large teams that would join the 10 automatic qualifiers, but also with deciding the eight seeded squads that would get to play at home in the first round. As with all such matters in the world of collegiate sports, not everyone can be happy with the committee’s decisions.

Here are some of the winners and losers from a busy conference championship weekend and Selection Sunday, starting with the highest seeds.

Winners

Princeton

The Tigers completed an impressive weekend at the Ivy League tournament a close defeat of Yale in the semifinals and dominating win against Cornell in the title game. The run helped them grab the top seed. Princeton was the second seed in 2001 when the program won its most recent title, but the Tigers aren’t about to complain.

Notre Dame

The Fighting Irish handled everyone on their schedule not named Virginia all season, but they were nosed out for the top seed by Princeton with their loss in the ACC semifinals. They’ll nevertheless be among the favorites in what is an admittedly wide-open field this year.

Richmond

The Atlantic 10 champion Spiders will host a round-of-16 game for the first time. After coming up just a goal short against eventual champion Cornell in last year’s quarterfinals, Richmond, the No. 4 seed, will be looking to take the next step and earn its first trip to championship weekend.

Virginia

The Cavaliers couldn’t claim an automatic berth with the ACC not having enough teams to qualify, but they made the most of their weekend in the conference tournament. Top-five wins against Notre Dame and North Carolina vaulted them all the way to the No. 5 seed and earned them a first-round home game against Georgetown.

The ACC

The league sent all five of its lacrosse-playing members to the dance with Duke squeaking into the field with one of the final at-large spots. The Blue Devils missed the conference tournament but had a defeat of North Carolina in the regular-season finale that boosted their resume at just the right time.

Yale

The Bulldogs needed a huge comeback against Brown in their regular-season finale just to reach the Ivy League tournament, and they couldn’t offer much resistance against Princeton once they got there. But their earlier win against Cornell on the road and overall body of work was enough to give the Ivy a third representative in the field.

Jacksonville

The Dolphins are in the tournament for the first time in program history, romping past Air Force 16-7 Sunday to claim the Atlantic Sun title. They, unfortunately, will not have much time to celebrate with an opening-round game Wednesday at Robert Morris on their agenda.

Losers

Maryland

The Terrapins will miss the tournament for the first time since 2002. The preseason No. 1 team was forced to navigate one of the nation’s toughest schedules but managed just a 7-6 overall record with no top-10 victories. A loss to Penn State in the Big Ten semifinals effectively ended Maryland's run of 22 appearances in a row - the longest active run in Division I.

Harvard

The Crimson began the campaign with eight consecutive wins, including a home triumph against Syracuse. But in a remarkable turnaround, they dropped five of their last six, and a head-to-head loss to Yale might have been their undoing. Instead of making its third NCAA appearance in five years, the Crimson will be staying home.

The Big Ten

With just two teams in the field, the conference might not be represented on Memorial Day weekend. Penn State had a potentially shaky resume with three sub-top-20 losses but removed any doubt by winning the league tournament to snag the conference's automatic bid. The Nittany Lions did get a first-round home game as the No. 8 seed, but they get a tough draw against Army. Johns Hopkins earned an at-large invitation but must go on the road to meet No. 7 Cornell.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA lacrosse tournament bracket winners, losers include Princeton, ACC

NCAA women's lacrosse bracket 2026: Schedule, TV channels, live streams, scores for college championship originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The calendar flipping to May means it's NCAA lacrosse time once again. 

Every year brings something new but the usual suspects lead the way in the 2026 women's tournament. North Carolina, Northwestern, Maryland or Boston College has won every title but one since 2005 (the exception being James Madison in 2018), and the first three teams also lead the pre-tournament rankings this time. 

The Tar Heels defeated the Wildcats in last year's final, but Northwestern handed UNC its only regular-season loss this year in an overtime thriller in Chapel Hill back in March. Are those two on a collision course once again or will another team break through? 

Here's everything you need to know to watch this year's tournament. 

NCAA women's lacrosse bracket 2026

The bracket consists of 29 teams, with 15 automatic and 14 at-large selections. The top eight schools are seeded nationally and the top three receive first-round byes. 

This section will be filled in as seeds are announced. 

Where to watch NCAA women's lacrosse tournament

• TV channels: ESPNU (quarterfinals, semifinals), ESPN (championship)
• Live streams:ESPN app, fubo

The 2026 NCAA women's lacrosse tournament will air on multiple ESPN platforms, including the quarterfinals and semifinals on ESPNU and the championship game on ESPN.

All of those games will also be available to stream via fubo, which offers a free trial. Fans can also stream those games and every first- and second-round game with the ESPN app.

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 ESPN app.

NCAA women's lacrosse tournament schedule, scores 2026

Friday, May 8: First round

This section will be filled in once matchups and schedules are announced.

Sunday, May 10: Second round

This section will be filled in once matchups are announced.

Thursday, May 14: Quarterfinals

Matchup	Time (ET)	Watch
TBD vs. TBD	12 p.m.	ESPNU, ESPN app, fubo
TBD vs. TBD	2:30 p.m.	ESPNU, ESPN app, fubo
TBD vs. TBD	5 p.m.	ESPNU, ESPN app, fubo
TBD vs. TBD	7:30 p.m.	ESPNU, ESPN app, fubo

Friday, May 22: Semifinals

Semifinals and final will be played at Northwestern

Matchup	Time (ET)	Watch
TBD vs. TBD	3 p.m.	ESPNU, ESPN app, fubo
TBD vs. TBD	5:30 p.m.	ESPNU, ESPN app, fubo

Sunday, May 24: Championship

Matchup	Time (ET)	Watch
Semifinal winners	12 p.m.	ESPN, ESPN app, fubo

NCAA women's lacrosse champions list

Here are the last 10 NCAA women's lacrosse champions and runners-up. There was no tournament in 2020 due to COVID-19.

Year	Champion	Runner-up
2025	North Carolina	Northwestern
2024	Boston College	Northwestern
2023	Northwestern	Boston College
2022	North Carolina	Boston College
2021	Boston College	Syracuse
2019	Maryland	Boston College
2018	James Madison	Boston College
2017	Maryland	Boston College
2016	North Carolina	Maryland
2015	Maryland	North Carolina

NCAA men's lacrosse bracket 2026: Schedule, TV channels, live streams, scores for college championship originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The march to Memorial Day is here for the nation's top college lacrosse teams. 

A trip through a tough bracket awaits before we get to the two teams contesting the sport's annual holiday afternoon championship game, though, beginning with a pair of opening-round games just three days after Selection Sunday. 

This year's NCAA tournament appears wide open. Notre Dame has held down the top spot most of the year, but the Irish have lost a pair of games to the team hosting this year's semis and final, Virginia. Princeton is right there with Notre Dame, along with defending champion Cornell and rising power Richmond. 

While Notre Dame could well win its third national title in four years, it will have plenty of competition on the way. Here's everything you need to know to watch this year's tournament. 

NCAA men's lacrosse bracket 2026

The bracket consists of 18 teams, with 10 automatic and eight at-large selections. The top eight schools are seeded nationally, and the four lowest-ranked automatic qualifiers will play in the two opening-round games. 

This section will be filled in as seeds are announced. 

Where to watch NCAA men's lacrosse tournament

• TV channels: ESPNU (first round, quarterfinals), ESPN2 (semifinals), ESPN (championship)
• Live streams:ESPN app, fubo

The 2026 NCAA men's lacrosse tournament will air on multiple ESPN platforms, including the first round and quarterfinals on ESPNU, the semis on ESPN2 and the championship game on ESPN.

All of those games will also be available to stream via fubo. Fans can also stream those games and the two opening-round games with the ESPN app.

Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)

NCAA men's lacrosse tournament schedule, scores 2026

Wednesday, May 6: Opening round

Matchup	Time (ET)	Watch
TBD vs. TBD	12:05 p.m.	ESPN app
TBD vs. TBD	12:05 p.m.	ESPN app

Saturday, May 9: First round

Matchup	Time (ET)	Watch
TBD vs. TBD	12 p.m.	ESPNU, ESPN app, fubo
TBD vs. TBD	2:30 p.m.	ESPNU, ESPN app, fubo
TBD vs. TBD	5 p.m.	ESPNU, ESPN app, fubo
TBD vs. TBD	7:30 p.m.	ESPNU, ESPN app, fubo

Sunday, May 10: First round

Matchup	Time (ET)	Watch
TBD vs. TBD	12 p.m.	ESPNU, ESPN app, fubo
TBD vs. TBD	2:30 p.m.	ESPNU, ESPN app, fubo
TBD vs. TBD	5 p.m.	ESPNU, ESPN app, fubo
TBD vs. TBD	7:30 p.m.	ESPNU, ESPN app, fubo

Saturday, May 16: Quarterfinals

Matchup	Time (ET)	Watch
TBD vs. TBD	12 p.m.	ESPNU, ESPN app, fubo
TBD vs. TBD	2:30 p.m.	ESPNU, ESPN app, fubo

Sunday, May 17: Quarterfinals

Matchup	Time (ET)	Watch
TBD vs. TBD	12 p.m.	ESPNU, ESPN app, fubo
TBD vs. TBD	2:30 p.m.	ESPNU, ESPN app, fubo

Saturday, May 23: Semifinals

Semifinals and final will be played at Charlottesville, Virginia

Matchup	Time (ET)	Watch
TBD vs. TBD	12 p.m.	ESPN2, ESPN app, fubo
TBD vs. TBD	2:30 p.m.	ESPN2, ESPN app, fubo

Monday, May 25: Championship

Matchup	Time (ET)	Watch
Semifinal winners	1 p.m.	ESPN, ESPN app, fubo

NCAA men's lacrosse champions list

Here are the last 10 NCAA men's lacrosse champions and runners-up. There was no tournament in 2020 due to COVID-19.

Year	Champion	Runner-up
2025	Cornell	Maryland
2024	Notre Dame	Maryland
2023	Notre Dame	Duke
2022	Maryland	Cornell
2021	Virginia	Maryland
2019	Virginia	Yale
2018	Yale	Duke
2017	Maryland	Ohio State
2016	North Carolina	Maryland
2015	Denver	Maryland

Ann Arbor — The 12th-ranked Michigan women’s tennis team had to dig deep and used a gritty third-set win on the top court from Lily Jones to advance to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

Michigan (21-6), coming off Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles, defeated No. 17 Florida, 4-2, on Sunday in brisk conditions with wind gusts of nearly 25 mph at the Varsity Tennis Courts and will play in the Sweet 16 at North Carolina next weekend.

This is the third straight season the Wolverines have hosted first- and second-round matches. Last year, they reached the Final Four for the first time in program history.

The Wolverines led 1-0 after doubles and dropped the first court but won the next two in tiebreaks. They built a 2-0 lead after Reese Miller won in straight sets 6-2, 6-0 at No. 3 singles. Jessica Bernales won 6-4, 6-3 on Court 5 to give Michigan a 3-0 lead. But Michigan lost on Courts 2 and 6 as Florida (17-8) pulled within 3-2.

Jones, named the Most Outstanding Player of the Big Ten tournament, lost the first set, 6-3, and trailed 0-2 in the second set before she came back to win 6-2 and force a third set. With all the momentum, she clinched the match win for Wolverines with a 6-1 third set.

“Just fighting as hard as I can,” Jones said when asked what turned her match. “I was down a set and 2-0 (in the second) and doing it for my team and staying out there trying to turn it.”

This was Jones’ final match at home for the Wolverines.

“It was amazing,” she said of earning the clinching victory in her final home match. “That’s kind of what I wanted. I cannot lose my last one here.”

After a tough start the season when Michigan was 1-4, including four straight losses to ranked teams, it has won 20 of its last 22 matches. This is the 16th time in program history Michigan has won 20 or more games in a season.

Michigan head coach Ronni Bernstein said Jones adjusted her court positioning and moved in to reduce her opponent’s ability to take the ball early and push her around.

LJ CLINCHES IT pic.twitter.com/8wXXFX4lGt

— Michigan Women's Tennis (@UMichWTennis) May 3, 2026

“It’s cool for her as a senior,” Bernstein said of Jones’ victory. “It’s the last time she’s going to play here (and) to come through for us was big. She was a little stressed. It was hard playing today. Conditions were tough.”

Bernstein, tied for first in Big Ten women's tennis history with 13 Big Ten championships — she has a combined 20 Big Ten titles at Michigan, including seven Big Ten tournament titles since 2015 — spoke this week about how the Wolverines were at “rock bottom” after their losing streak. They dug their way back and are now headed to the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight year.

“This year is really special just because of what we’ve been through,” Bernstein said. “For us to be in the Sweet 16 again with an opportunity to go further — at the beginning of the year, it’s like, are we going to get in the (NCAA) Tournament? We compete, and that gets you far in college tennis. This was a good team we played today.”

Jones laughed and said this match mirrored in many ways Michigan’s season.

“It was definitely up and down,” Jones said. “We came through in the end, so I hope that we’ll mimic that at the end of the season.”

achengelis@detroitnews.com

@chengelis

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan women's tennis beats Florida to reach fourth straight Sweet 16

The Alabama Crimson Tide swept the Vanderbilt Commodores during a three game-series in Tuscaloosa this past weekend. 

Crimson Tide star Eric Hines played a massive role in the series victory, as the freshman was excellent at the plate throughout the month of April. Alabama improved their overall record of 32-16 (13-11 SEC) following the three-game set, and the Tide will look to stay red hot against Troy on Tuesday evening.

Here are three takeaways from Alabama’s series sweep over Vanderbilt.

Eric Hines explodes for seven RBI

Hines had one of the best series of his collegiate career against Vanderbilt this past weekend. The freshman went 3-for-8 at the plate with an impressive seven total RBI across the three games.

Hines was credited with a game tying three-run home run in the first game as well, followed by yet another moonshot on Friday evening.

John Lemm continues to shine, crushes two home runs 

Lemm has been excellent both at the plate and defensively for the Tide this season. The catcher went deep twice this weekend, headlined by a walk-off solo home run in Game 1, as Lemm continues to deliver at the plate throughout the second half of SEC play.

Lemm recorded two total RBI against the Commodores, as the talented catcher’s batting average has improved to .268 on the year. 

Matthew Heiberger dominates out of the bullpen

Heiberger played a critical role during Alabama’s victory over Vanderbilt on Thursday evening. The reliever entered the game for Tyler Fay after the starter surrendered four earned runs, as Heiberger was able to record 2.2 innings of scoreless baseball while giving up just one hit. 

Heiberger currently holds a 3.71 ERA on the year, as the reliever has been very reliable in 2026. 

Alabama will be on the road to face Troy on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. CT, as the Tide will look to stay in the win column following the series victory over Vanderbilt.

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

This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama baseball takeaways from series sweep vs. Vanderbilt Commodores

The Georgia Bulldogs are projected to have one of their transfers be a high draft pick again in the 2027 NFL draft. During the 2026 NFL draft, the Arizona Cardinals selected former Georgia quarterback Carson Beck with the No. 65 pick in the third-round. Beck played his final year of college football with the Miami Hurricanes and came painfully close to winning a national championship.

In next year's draft, Pro Football Focus projects that Georgia transfer pass rusher Damon Wilson will go even earlier than Beck. Wilson, who spent the 2025 college football season with the Missouri Tigers, transferred to Miami this offseason.

Wilson is a former elite recruit and is coming off a breakout season with Missouri. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound pass rusher posted nine sacks, 23 tackles and an interception during the 2025 season with the Tigers. Wilson is looking to be even more productive at Miami.

The Hurricanes have big plans for Wilson, who is taking over after Miami defensive linemen Akheem Mesidor and Rueben Bain Jr. went in the first-round of the 2026 NFL draft. Wilson is projected to be No. 31 pick in the 2027 draft, where he'd land with the Buffalo Bills.

PFF has some concerns about Wilson's ability as a run defender, but adds that his "pass-rushing production is undeniable" after a productive 2025 season. A lot can change in a year. Wilson and the rest of the nation's top college football players have to prove things on the field before they can cement their status as 2027 first-round picks.

Other Georgia transfers with a shot to be first-round picks in 2027 include Oregon defensive tackle Bear Alexander and Indiana cornerback AJ Harris.

What PFF said about Damon Wilson

Wilson takes over following first-round selections Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor after transferring from Missouri. He still has question marks as a run defender, but his pass-rushing production is undeniable — 54 pressures and eight sacks last season.

Follow UGA Wire on Instagram, Facebook, X, or Threads for more Georgia football coverage!

This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Georgia transfer projected to be first-round pick

USA TODAY Sports covered the record-setting distribution payments made by the Big Ten to its member schools, which highlights the strength and financial health of the conference.

While the magnitude of revenue distribution to each school is certainly notable, there were other interesting metrics disclosed in the Big Ten's revenue announcement for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

Perhaps one figure that went largely unnoticed is the $5 million the Big Ten invested in officiating technology during that period. In an age where technology is used more than ever to confirm calls on the field of play, the capital directed towards this area of sports is certainly something to keep in mind when thinking about the business of sports.

Big Ten generates astronomical $1.37 billion for schools in media revenue https://t.co/yTf9b1PbuA

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 2, 2026

For context, this expenditure would likely not include compensation for officials on the field of play. It's been estimated that college football officials earn somewhere between $3,000 to $5,000 per game, for example.

While much of the budgetary focus in college sports has shifted to NIL package offerings, it's important to remember that power conferences spend a pretty penny to ensure that games are legislated accurately.

Contact/Follow @College_Wire on X and @College_Wires on Threads. Like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of college sports news, notes, and opinions.

This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Big Ten spent $5 million on new officiating technologies

Things have changed rapidly for the UCLA Bruins under new head coach Bob Chesney. After a few pedestrian recruiting classes in a row under DeShaun Foster, the Bruinsare back in the Top-10 for this 2027 recruiting class.

Everyone has taken notice of the new-look Bruins. Chesney took James Madison to the College Football Playoffs out of the Sun Belt Conference, and now he’s in Los Angeles, and has seemingly reinvigorated UCLA’s donors to contribute to help the Bruins reach greatness on the gridiron.

UCLA has also decided to stay at the Rose Bowl for at least another season. Quieting another storm that could have arisen for the program with a forced move to SoFi Stadium. In other words, UCLA has their swagger back. Even former players are feeling the change.

Former Bruin and longtime Minnesota Viking linebacker Anthony Barr reacted to a list of the top 2027 recruiting classes that has UCLA at No. 4, behind just Oklahoma, Texas A&M and USC.

“This reminds me of something.” Barr tweeted Saturday evening.

This reminds me of something https://t.co/Gwq4fIY7an

— Anthony Barr (@AnthonyBarr) May 3, 2026

Barr was a Bruin from 2010-2013, playing in 50 games and registering 23.5 career sacks before getting drafted ninth overall by the Vikings. Barr, the Los Angeles native, was a part of a pretty stellar recruiting class himself, with his UCLA 2010 class being ranked No. 10 in the nation. 

The results weren’t immediate for Barr and the Bruins, with the team going just 4-8 in 2010 and then 6-8 in 2011. What happened next is what UCLA is looking for, with the 2012 Bruins going 9-5. Barr and the Bruins wrapped up his college career with a 10-3 season that ended with a win in the Sun Bowl.

With the amount of transfers that Chesney has brought in for the 2026 team, the expectation is that UCLA won’t have to wait two more seasons to crack .500, but Chesney’s efforts in adding talent is catching the eyes of former UCLA stars.

This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Former UCLA star Anthony Barr reacts to the Bruins recruiting success

The Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers squared off Saturday in a Game 7, with each side eager to advance further in the playoffs.

However, it was revealed before the game that former Duke star Jayson Tatum would be unable to play due to knee stiffness. Prior to the injury, Tatum had averaged 23.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 6.8 assists in the first six games of the series.

In Tatum's absence, Boston didn't fare well. The Celtics were outscored 32-19 in the first quarter and ultimately lost 109-100. Without Tatum, three of Boston's starters were held scoreless, as head coach Joe Mazzulla made questionable lineup decisions apart from the duo of Jaylen Brown and Derrick White.

Boston's loss marked just their second first-round exit in the past 10 seasons as the Celtics were unable to capitalize on a 3-1 series lead.

As for Tatum, after playing in just 16 regular season games this season, he'll have an entire offseason to prepare for what is expected to be a full workload next year.

This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Jayson Tatum's absence looms large as Celtics fall to 76ers in Game 7

Tennessee baseball signee Michael Teasley was named District 4-4A Pitcher of the Year by the district's coaches.

Teasley, a senior pitcher and third baseman at Oak Ridge High School in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, signed with the Vols on Jan. 28 after committing to Tennessee on Oct. 20, 2024. He was also named First-Team All-District.

The future Vol has led the Wildcats to consecutive appearances in the TSSAA Class 4A state tournament. Teasley was named District 3-4A Player of the Year as a junior in 2025 and earned All-State honors from the Tennessee Sports Writers Association.

Oak Ridge (29-7-1) has recorded two wins in the 2026 District 4-4A Tournament. The Wildcats defeated Bearden High School (Knoxville, Tennessee), 3-1, on May 1 at Bobby Hopkins Field in Oak Ridge.

Teasley pitched 6.2 innings and allowed one run, five hits and three walks. He recorded 10 strikeouts, while totaling 115 pitches, including 70 strikes. Offensively, Teasley went went 1-for-3. He recorded one home run, one RBI and one run.

On May 2, Oak Ridge defeated four-time defending Class 4A state champion Farragut High School, 10-5, at John Heatherly Field in Farragut, Tennessee.

Teasley went 1-for-3, recording three RBIs and one run. He hit a two-run single in the second inning when the Wildcats scored eight runs.

More: Michael Teasley details signing with Tennessee after coaching change

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

This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Tennessee baseball signee named Pitcher of the Year in 2026

Makai Lemon is stepping into a tense situation in Philadelphia with the Eagles, but tense does not necessarily mean bad. It's just an uncertain dynamic in which fans, players and coaches don't fully know what to expect. Amid the uncertainty, however, optimism exists. The replacement of 2025 offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo with Sean Mannion has quarterback Jalen Hurts and other Eagles excited, as Eagles Wire notes:

"The Sean Mannion era is underway in Philadelphia. The former NFL quarterback, who has been promoted to rising offensive coordinator, has earned glowing remarks from two of his most important players in the first two months on the Eagles' coaching staff. Star right tackle Lane Johnson joined Jalen Hurts in praising Mannion's offensive approach, highlighting the Shanahan/McVay factors in the offense.

"Hurts praised new Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, calling him "amazing" and saying he's excited for what's ahead, adding the two have already been in communication. During a sit-down with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Andrew Whitworth, Johnson echoed those sentiments while hinting at playing less one-on-one on the outside at offensive tackle.

"A former NFL quarterback and 2015 third-round pick, Mannion, 33, played four seasons with the Rams, three seasons with the Vikings, and one season in Seattle with the Seahawks as a backup quarterback. Mannion is widely credited with playing an instrumental role in Malik Willis's development, who went from a bust in Tennessee to a $67.5 million contract with the Dolphins."

Sean Mannion played quarterback at Oregon State and faced USC. Now he will try to help USC's award-winning first-round draft pick to thrive in the NFL.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Sean Mannion could be the key to Makai Lemon's career with Eagles

USC's Makai Lemon will try to follow in the footsteps of Philadelphia Eagles players who have won two Super Bowls in the past decade and have knocked on the door of a championship in other seasons. Eagles Wire noted that Lemon will wear Nick Foles' No. 9 with the blessing of the Super Bowl-winning quarterback. Now let's get into the meaty topic of how Makai Lemon can actually help the Eagles win another Lombardi Trophy.

One thing which stands out about Jalen Hurts' disappointing 2025 NFL season with the Eagles is his yards per attempt average. Hurts averaged just 7.1 yards per pass attempt -- not per completion, but per attempt. That's low. That's not what a modern passing attack should achieve, especially on a team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. Hurts completed a 79-yard pass last season and a few other passes over 40 yards, so the 7.1-yard average means the vast majority of his completions did not gain very many yards.

Makai Lemon will need to be a 3rd and 5 option for the Eagles' passing attack, but he will also need to work the middle third of the field and make those 12- and 15-yard intermediate catches in open pockets of the defense. Lemon makes plays anywhere on the field, and like a true big dog, he has to be able and willing to go over the middle and catch the ball before getting hit. If Lemon becomes a middle-third machine who can load up on intermediate-length pass routes, the Hurts average per attempt could climb toward 10 yards, and the Eagles will get a lot more out of their passing game in 2026.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Makai Lemon's task within Eagles' 2026 offense should be clear

Coming off the 2024-25 season, Oregon Ducks center Nate Bittle was considered a potential second round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. But after going through parts of the draft process, he decided to return to Oregon and attempt to bolster his draft stock with another season in Eugene.

While Bittle still averaged 16.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, last season was a disaster for the Ducks on all fronts. They won just 12 games and Bittle suffered a foot injury that sidelined him for several weeks, among a string of injuries across the roster.

Now having exhausted his eligibility, Bittle is leaning all the way into the draft process with hopes of hearing his name called during the 2026 NBA Draft — yet it will be an uphill battle, as he was left off the initial list of invitees to the scouting combine in Chicago from May 10-17. Instead, Bittle was invited to the G League Elite Camp, where he'll aim to excel and eventually earn a late invite to the NBA's combine.

Bittle was listed among USA TODAY's top players to not receive an invite to the 2026 NBA Scouting Combine, but rather being invited to the G League's version of the event.

Having finished the season healthy and having to fight just to make it to the scouting combine, the expectation is that Bittle will participate in everything at the G League Elite Camp, which will include agility and strength testing, on-court drills and scrimmages.

The same drills take place at the scouting combine, plus meetings with NBA teams, but it remains to be seen if the former Duck will work his way into a spot and be able to compete in Chicago.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon's Nate Bittle snubbed from 2026 NBA Scouting Combine

Texas A&M coach Mike Elko and his staff have veered their complete focus to the 2027 recruiting class, already landing 12 commitments, now including five-star offensive lineman Kennedy Brown, who announced his commitment last Sunday afternoon.

Right now, most of the news has surrounded the Aggies' recent prediction to land five-star tackle Mark Matthews, who recently visited with the A&M coaching staff this week, which was deemed "extremely successful" based on AggieYell insider Jaxson Callaway's reporting.

However, Miami is still attempting to keep Matthews in Florida, but right now, all the momentum is with the Aggies. Around the rest of the 2027 class, including four-star linebacker Kaden Henderson, who recently spoke highly about the coaching staff's ability to develop after sending a record ten players to the 2026 NFL Draft.

According to Callaway's recent update, among the eight 2027 prospects mentioned, Texas A&M is in a "strong position" to land six of the prospects named, including five-star cornerback Josh Dobson, after fellow five-star CB John Meredith received a prediction to land with the Texas Longhorns, while the Aggies are still in the running coming down his official visit next month.

Among the six prospects who Callaway believes will end up committing to Texas A&M in the coming months, running back Landen Williams-Callis is not a "lock" by any means, but after receiving an early prediction to land in College Station, the blue-chip back still looks like the Aggies' next RB commit.

Lastly, after landing four-star wide receiver Jaden Upton, the Aggies are looking to lock down incoming IMG Academy senior and five-star prospect Eric McFarland, who will take his official visit to College Station later next month, while new OC and former WR coach Holmon Wiggins has played a significant role in his recruitment.

After landing Kennedy Brown, if the Aggies can secure Mark Matthews' commitment, five-star IOL Albert Simien is another name to watch as a potential favorite to choose A&M.

NEW: Latest on a number of the Aggies’ top targets on the recruiting trail

Texas A&M trending for a five-star cornerback, a number of offensive lineman, and much more ⬇️

(On3+: https://t.co/DEv8Q7XFH5)

— Jaxson Callaway (AT) (@AggiesToday) May 2, 2026

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M is in 'strong position' to land six more 2027 prospects

Former Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Russell Wilson's days in the NFL seem to be numbered.

Even though he just visited with the New York Jets, sources told The Athletic the Badgers alumn is in line to replace Matt Ryan on The NFL Today.

The weekly pregame show, airing nationwide on CBS, has a void to fill after Ryan became the Atlanta Falcons' president of football.

CBS declined comment, but Andrew Marchand confirmed there have been "lengthy talks" on Wilson ending his playing career and transitioning to television.

Wilson is far from the first professional athlete to go from playing to a broadcasting role, and he certainly won't be the last. For reference, fellow Badger alumn J.J. Watt now calls games for the same network.

The 37-year-old was a third-round draft pick by the Seattle Seahawks back in 2012. He came to Wisconsin for his senior season, where he threw for 3,174 yards and finished with 39 total touchdowns with just four interceptions.

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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: CBS eyes former Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson as Matt Ryan's replacement

Former Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Vinny Anthony II was recently named one of On SI's favorite undrafted free agents.

Justin Melo comprised a list with three WRs that kicked off with the Atlanta Falcons newest signing. Anthony, who enjoyed a four-year career in Madison, recorded 80 receptions for 1,162 yards and five touchdowns.

"The Atlanta Falcons signed former Wisconsin wide receiver Vinny Anthony II, who also brings some special teams upside," Melo wrote. "He led the Badgers in receptions with 31, but more impressively, he ranked fifth in the FBS with 27.9 yards per kick return (16-446, TD)."

He continued, "The Falcons drafted a receiver in Zachariah Branch, which makes the pathway tougher here, but special teams upside increases his chances."

He may have only had one kick return touchdown in his career, but each year he kept getting better on special teams. In 2022 he returned just one kick for 22 yards but increased that total to 446 yards during his senior season. Most notably, he had a 95-yard kick return. Oddly enough, he returned just 16 punts in Madison.

The Falcons aren't known for having a top quarterback in the NFL, but Anthony still has a chance of making their roster. At 6-foot, 190-pounds, Badgers fans will be looking on as Anthony is one of their UDFA's with the highest probabliity of making an impact in the NFL.

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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Former Wisconsin WR Vinny Anthony named best undrafted free agent

No. 7 Texas A&M (34-10, 14-8 SEC) suffered its first SEC series loss after winning five in a row, falling to the visiting No. 8 Auburn Tigers in Saturday's doubleheader, 18-5 in Game 1, and a close 5-4 defeat in Game 2. While the offense can be blamed for not stepping up and matching the Tigers' early production, Game 1 was lost on the mound, as redshirt junior lefty Shane Sdao continues to struggle, lasting just one inning before being pulled.

Going into next week, second-year head coach Michael Earley and pitching coach Jason Kelley will need to reevaluate the starting lineup and should make Sdao the Sunday starter, switch Aiden Sims to Fridays, and Weston Moss to Saturdays. However, this late in the season, I could easily see the coaching staff stick with the lineup for another week, unless things go south against Ole Miss on the road.

After Saturday's doubleheader loss, Michael Earley stated that Weston Moss will take the mound on Sunday, which was assumed but is now confirmed. While he has looked better over his last two starts, Moss enters Game 3 with a 5.64 ERA, recording 42 strikeouts in his last ten starts, but has allowed 49 hits and 11 home runs, and is 3-2 on the year.

Either way, Moss is the second-best starting option, and could prove that further on Sunday, which could spur a change to the lineup sooner rather than later. Texas A&M will take on Auburn Sunday at 1:00 p.m. CT. and will be available to stream on SEC Network+.

Michael Earley said postgame that RHP Weston Moss will start for Texas A&M in tomorrow's series finale against Auburn.

— Alex Miller (@AlexMill20) May 3, 2026

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M will start Weston Moss on the mound vs. Auburn in Game 3

The bracket has been officially revealed for the 2026 SEC softball tournament.

Set to take place this upcoming week in Lexington, Alabama will be the No. 2 seed in the SEC Tournament, receiving a double bye into the quarterfinals where they will play Thursday, May 7. Alabama will play either No. 7 Arkansas, No. 10 Mississippi State, and No. 15 Kentucky that day at 2 p.m. ET on SEC Network.

The Crimson Tide are one-of-four top seeds receiving a double bye into the quarterfinals, joined by No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 3 Florida, and No. 4 Texas.

One of college softball's top teams, Alabama finished the regular season with a 47-6 overall record (19-5 SEC). The Crimson Tide now enter the SEC Tournament among the favorites, looking for their first conference title since 2021.

The SEC Tournament will originate from John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky. A multi-day event, every game from Tuesday, May 5-Saturday, May 9 will be broadcast live on either SEC Network or ESPN.

🥎 NO. 2 SEED

🐘 @AlabamaSB#SECSB x #SECTourneypic.twitter.com/mdPj0e2DyR

— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) May 3, 2026

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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama softball opponent, seed revealed for 2026 SEC Tournament

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