There is no question Jeremiah Smith is one of the best receivers in college football, but when it comes to the Biletnikoff Award, voters didn't think an 11-touchdown Ohio State sophomore season was enough to give him the award, and instead it went to USC Trojans star Makai Lemon.
Fox Sports' RJ Young, who has released weekly 24-team hypothetical College Football Playoff brackets to go alongside his team-specific power rankings, took issue with the decision.
"Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith has been robbed off of the Biletnikoff Award twice in two years," Young wrote on 'X.'
"So let me get this straight…Jeremiah Smith is the best wide receiver in the Big Ten, but Makai Lemon (also in the Big Ten) is the best wide receiver in the country? Make that make sense lol," Means tweeted.
It's a question that people are still trying to figure it out, but at the end of the day, Smith and Ohio State have a chance to prove the voters wrong if they can in fact when a national title again and do so with Smith playing at his best in the biggest games.
In a matter of a couple weeks, a lot of hard data will be available to either refute or prove the voters were justified in not giving Smith the award.
As the 30-year-old quarterback attempted to secure a touchdown and a win for the Chiefs in the final two minutes of their game on Sunday, Dec. 14, Mahomes was tackled after throwing an incomplete pass and fell to the field grabbing his left knee in apparent pain.
The NFL star stayed on the ground as the Chiefs' medical staff ran out to check on him, and as his teammates took a knee, waiting to see how he was doing. Mahomes was then helped off the field.
His backup quarterback, Gardner Minshew, replaced Mahomes and soon after threw an interception, ending the game and the Chiefs' playoff hopes. With the loss, they are officially eliminated from postseason contention, and won't get a chance to avenge their loss in the 2025 Super Bowl.
Jamie Squire/Getty
Patrick Mahomes
This will mark the first time the Chiefs will miss the playoffs in 10 years, and the first time Mahomes has missed the playoffs in his career.
Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid said after the game that Mahomes will undergo an MRI to determine the extent of his injury, with Reid adding that "it didn't look good," according to ESPN reporter Adam Schefter.
The loss also marked possibly the last meaningful game of Mahomes' close friend and prolific teammate Travis Kelce, who may retire at the end of this season.
Jamie Squire/Getty
Patrick Mahomes
Mahomes recently told reporters the possibility of Kelce's retirement has been on his mind this season. "Every season I've had with him these last few years, I try to cherish because you never know [if this will be Kelce’s last season]," Mahomes said after their loss on Dec. 7.
The high school football season around the country is wrapping up and with that comes honors for coaches and players from the 2025 season. One state that that always produces some of the best talent and teams from around the country is Florida high school football.
The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) state finals just ended last night and we decided to get right to it when it comes to end of the year honors.
We continue into the Sunshine State of Florida as Rivals looked through the season and selected award nominees from this past season. Who were the best players for the 2025 season, though?
Rivals give you the Florida high school football honorees for the 2025 season.
We might’ve overlooked Grubbs, the future Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback, when it came to Gatorade Player of the Candidates but after Saturday night’s performance in the FHSAA Class 7A state championship game, who else could honestly take home this pick? the Lake Mary senior quarterback led his team back from a 27-11 deficit in the third quarter of the state title game and finished with 333 yards and three touchdowns. For the season, Grubbs finished completing 233 of 401 passes for 3,235 yards and 40 touchdowns. Reason going with Grubbs is how the season had its ups and downs, but the senior was the glue in keeping the Rams competitive throughout. The Player of the Year personifies the one athlete a team can’t do without and at Lake Mary, without Grubbs, the Rams would have a tough time making a deep playoff run.
Edwards had himself a breakout season playing for the FHSAA Class 2A state semifinalists. The sophomore sensation averaged a ridiculous 9.9 yards per carry and rushed for 2,629 and scored 44 times on the ground. Add in his 17 catches for 211 yards and Edwards finishes just shy of 3,000 all-purpose yards for the season. Edwards had his biggest game in a 73-49 victory over Baldwin during the regular season that put him into the Florida high school football record books. The sophomore rushed for 522 yards on 39 carries and set a state record with eight rushing touchdowns. There’s plenty of great players on the offensive side of the ball, but to do it from the backfield the way Edwards did stood out among them all. The scary part about Edwards winning this award is he’s got two more seasons ahead of him at Bolles.
There was a lot of players to shift through, but we kept coming back to the Miami signee as the state’s top defensive player of this past season when it was all said and done. Charles played on a much improved Venice defense from a year ago, that saw its point per game totals they gave up go from to 25.4 (through 15 games) to 20.6 (through 13 games). The Indians played against some of the best teams in the state, which included eventual 7A champions Lake Mary, nationally ranked IMG Academy, The First Academy and Port Charlotte, which reached the Class 4A state semifinals. The senior EDGE finished the season totaling 129 total tackles, 28 going for a loss, 13.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, recovered fumble and blocked a field goal. When it comes to difference makers coming off the edge, Charles playing for the 7A state semifinalists was an easy pivot to go to.
Mike Smith gave coaches around not only the state of Florida, but the country a little 101 lesson on how challenging yourself during the season leads to the ultimate result: a state championship. Having to start the season off with losing quarterback Dia Bell after just one game was a tough break for the Patriots as Smith and his staff had to figure things out week-by-week. Coming within a touchdown, 24-17, of Louisiana state champion and nationally ranked Edna Karr, 24-17, was arguably the program’s most impressive performance in a losing effort. After a 5-5 regular season, Smith guided American Heritage on a five-game winning streak, avenging a loss to Archbishop McCarthy and beating Choctawhatchee on the road, over nine hours away. The Patriots capped the season off by beating Orlando Jones for the Class 4A title. With all of the adversity the team had to overcome, Smith kept the team together and led them to an improbably state title run.
How to Follow Florida High School Football
For Florida high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Sunshine State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across the state of Florida.
A season ago, McSorley was the assistant QB coach. His new role hasn't been announced.
McSorley, of course, was a fan favorite quarterback for the Nittany Lions. He's a smart guy to keep around. He knows how things are done at Penn State, and he has solid name value, too.
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia expressed his frustration with the Heisman Trophy voting shortly after Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza was named the 2025 winner Saturday night in New York.
In an Instagram story posted following the ceremony, Pavia wrote, “F-all the voters,” alongside a reposted image from comedian Theo Von. The post came after Pavia finished second in the Heisman balloting behind Mendoza.
The Commodores quarterback was on stage at the Lincoln Center alongside Mendoza, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin during the ceremony.
Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia with some choice words after finishing second in Heisman Trophy voting 😳
Mendoza received 643 first-place votes and 2,362 total points to win the award. Pavia finished second with 1,435 points and 189 first-place votes, followed by Love (719 points) and Sayin (432).
Despite the runner-up finish, Pavia delivered one of the most productive seasons in Vanderbilt history. The dual-threat quarterback threw for 3,192 yards and 27 touchdowns while rushing for 826 yards and nine scores. His 4,018 total yards of offense and 36 combined touchdowns both led the Southeastern Conference.
Vanderbilt, under coach Clark Lea, reached the 10-win mark in the regular season and remained in the College Football Playoff conversation late into the year, which is a significant step forward for a program long absent from the national spotlight.
With his college eligibility exhausted, Pavia is preparing for the next phase of his football career. However, he said Saturday he plans to play one final game for Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Iowa on New Year’s Eve.
Indiana enters the College Football Playoff at 13-0 behind Mendoza, the program’s first Heisman winner, after capturing its first outright conference title since 1945.
Thomas Frank said there is no "quick fix" to Tottenham's problems after a sobering 3-0 Premier League defeat at Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
A costly mistake playing out from the back was punished by Callum Hudson-Odoi, who then scored with an overhit cross as goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was caught out of position.
Ibrahim Sangare scored a wonder goal to deepen the visiting side's pain.
Spurs had appeared to be on the right track after a draw at Newcastle and wins over Brentford and Slavia Prague.
But the club have now won just once in their past seven Premier League matches and are mired in mid-table.
Former Brentford manager Frank is in his first season at the club after taking over from the sacked Ange Postecoglou, whose side finished 17th last season.
Asked after Sunday's game if he would be given time to implement his ideas, Frank said: "I can't see why not. I think it's pretty evident that if no one gets the time, no one can turn this around. This is not a quick fix."
He added that, while he may appear cool, he is hiding a "hurricane" inside him.
"I do everything to control my emotions, which is a hurricane inside me, because, of course, it's deeply frustrating that we are not doing better today after three good performances," he said.
The Dane was honest about his side's display at the City Ground, calling it a "very bad performance".
"But I also know that to change this will take some time," he said. "No one will want to hear about that. It's just reality.
"I think the ones who have followed the club and the team, I think it's fair to say there's been a few not too consistent performances and that's the thing. We are working very hard."
Davide Bartesaghi (R) scored two goals for AC Milan against Sassuolo at the San Siro Stadium (Piero CRUCIATTI)
AC Milan were held to a 2-2 draw by Sassuolo on Sunday to put their lead in Serie A under threat.
French forward Armand Lauriente secured the 77th minute leveller for Sassuolo who had taken an early lead via Ismael Kone.
Milan fought back with Davide Bartesaghi equalising after the half hour. Having opened his Serie A scoring account the 19-year-old defender added a second after the break, striking from a tight angle only for Lauriente to seal the away team a share of the points.
"We played a good match," Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri said.
"People might think we dropped two points, I think we gained a point that could be important,” he told DAZN.
"We still need to improve, because we're conceding too many goals. But we're in the top four, that was our objective at the start of the season."
Milan, who had two efforts ruled out, moved one point clear but can be overtaken by Napoli, who are in action at Udinese later, and Inter Milan.
Milan had gone into Sunday's match top on goal difference from Napoli, while Inter, in third, can also overtake them depending on the outcome of their game at Genoa.
Former Liverpool football legend Ian Rush is recovering in hospital after two days in the intensive care unit for a bad case of flu.
The 64-year-old was taken to Countess of Chester hospital last week after suffering breathing difficulties but is now on the mend.
A Liverpool spokesperson thanked staff at the hospital for "providing the best care possible" and said "everyone at Liverpool wishes him a speedy recovery".
Following a highly successful playing career with the Reds, Rush currently works as an ambassador for Liverpool and regularly attends matches at Anfield.
He is Liverpool’s all-time leading goalscorer, and during two spells at the club in the 1980s scored 346 goals in 660 appearances, winning five First Division titles and two European Cups.
Born in Wales, Rush also earned 73 caps for his national team and was their leading goalscorer until 2018, with 28 goals, until Gareth Bale broke his record.
After hanging up his boots in 2000, Rush moved into management and had an eight-month spell in charge of Chester.
NHS England have warned that Flu cases are soaring across the UK with an average of 2,660 patients per day admitted to hospital with flu in England last week.
That is the highest for this time of year since records began in 2021, and is up 55% on the week before.
Dr Vicky Price, president of the Society of Acute Medicine, told The Independent: “It is truly shocking, it is the worst I’ve ever seen it… There are huge numbers of patients lodged in emergency departments, stuck in corridors, in waiting rooms and in inappropriate areas – all very unwell patients, and we’ve got high numbers of staff off sick with flu.
“We were in crisis anyway with the cold weather, and we noticed a real surge in flu.”
Crystal Palace face Manchester City at Selhurst Park this afternoon, with the visitors hoping to maintain pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal after the Gunners’ dramatic late win against Wolves yesterday.
City have impressed lately after a mixed start to the season, with Pep Guardiola’s side starting the weekend just two points behind Arsenal, and the visitors come into the match off the back of a great performance in their 2-1 win over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu during the week.
However, Palace have produced their own solid start to the new season, with Oliver Glasner‘s side sitting fifth in the table and in with a chance of jumping back into the top four if they win this afternoon.
Both sides have shown flashes of brilliance at points this term but the visitors will travel to the capital as favourites in what is the first meeting between these two sides since Palace stunned City in the 2025 FA Cup final – the question is, have Guardiola and City learned their lesson from Wembley?
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.
When is Crystal Palace vs Man City?
The match is scheduled to take place on Sunday, 14 December at Selhurst Park, with kick-off set for 2pm GMT.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the UK can watch the match live on Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage starting at 12.30pm. Subscribers can also stream the action online via NOWTV.
Glasner continues to navigate a minor injury crisis, with at least five players likely to be absent for this weekend. Daniel Munoz is the most recent addition to the list, with the defender requiring surgery on a knee injury, while Cheick Doucoure and Chadi Riad continue their recovery from ACL injuries. Caleb Kporha and Rio Cardines are still sidelined, with no concrete timelines for their returns.
Palace could be boosted by the return of Ismaila Sarr after he suffered an ankle issue, while Jaydee Canvot could return from illness, though Jean-Philippe Mateta faces a late fitness test after coming off against Fulham due to a minor knee injury.
City appear to have emerged from the Bernabeu win unscathed, with no new injury concerns for Pep Guardiola. However, this match will come too soon for Rodri, who is expected back later this month, while John Stones and Mateo Kovacic remain sidelined.
Regis Le Bris’ side have the edge, just five points off the top four, after a stunning start to life in the top flight. Despite a 3-0 loss to Manchester City last time out the newly-promoted side have acquitted themselves well, and could consider themselves unlucky to drop points against reigning champions Liverpool the game before.
Newcastle meanwhile endured the sucker-punch of a late Bayer Leverkusen equaliser in their Champions League fixture this week, and will look to bounce back against their fiercest rivals. Should they win today, not only would they take the plaudits in the battle of the North East but they would also jump above Sunderland in the table as only one point separates the two teams.
Here’s everything you need to know.
When is Sunderland v Newcastle?
Sunderland host rivals Newcastle at the Stadium of Light on Sunday 14 December, with kickoff at 2pm.
How can I watch?
Viewers in the UK can watch the game on Sky Sports Main Event, as well as on streaming service Sky Go. If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.
Team news
Fifa has allowed clubs to retain their Afcon-bound players until 15 December, giving Sunderland the welcome boost of having a full-strength squad for this tie.
Habib Diarra will miss out however as he continues his recovery from groin surgery, with Aji Alese, who has a shoulder injury, and the suspended Luke O’Nien joining him on the sidelines. Reinildo has a minor groin injury but may be fit in time.
Newcastle are sweating on the fitness of Emil Kraft, Sven Botman and Will Osula, with Eddie Howe admitting the injured trio are more likely to miss out than not, while Kieran Trippier and Nick Pope are also confirmed absentees.
But Yoane Wissa, who made his debut in their last Premier League game - a 2-1 win over Burnley - is likely to be brought on as a substitute as he builds back to full fitness after several months out.
The Bengals have won back-to-back Central Section championships under head coach Kyle Biggs and 5 in the last 8 years. ""It was a great game and i'm just really proud of the way we battled and came through," Biggs told Spectrum Sports after the game. "I'm proud of my guys." Biggs improves his coaching record to 107-21 in his 10th season at Central East.
Leading Pacifica 35-28 with 4:12 to play, Biggs decided to go for it on fourth and 3 at his own 48. Junior quarterback Jelani Dippel lofted a deep ball to EJ Morgan and the Cal signee came down with a remarkable over the shoulder catch to move the chains.
The play that might have won a state title for Central East. EJ Morgan hauls it in on 4th and 3 (!). What a gutsy call from Kyle Biggs and an incredible catch for the Cal signee EJ Morgan. @ABC30https://t.co/G2JpbJJEyu
Shortly after, Arizona signee Brandon Smith ran in his 3rd touchdown of the game to extend the Bengal lead.
Bayon Harris, a junior who holds the program record for receiving yards, came down with 11 catches for 174 yards and a touchdown. He also had a 90-yard touchdown called back for holding. Dippel finished the night throwing for 371 yards and 2 touchdowns and also ran in a touchdown.
The Bengals finish the season with a record of 14-1.
Lake Mary scored a thrilling Hail Mary touchdown on the game’s final play and beat Vero Beach 28-27 to capture their first state football championship in school history.
Notre Dame signee Noah Grubbs connected with FIU signee Barrett Schulz inside the five-yard line and when he almost got tackled, Tavarius Brundidge Jr. took the ball and scored with no time remaining.
Lake Mary trailed 21-3 at halftime at Pitbull Stadium in Miami and scored nine points in the final fifteen seconds of the game to complete the thrilling comeback.
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NBA legend Charles Barkley has not been shy about his thoughts on NIL and the transfer portal. During Saturday’s Kentucky vs. Indiana broadcast, he candidly discussed the landscape again.
Barkley called the game on ESPN alongside Dick Vitale, the first of two games they will work together. Vitale called for “stability” in college basketball – and college sports as a whole – because of the amount of player movement via the portal. He used Indiana as an example since new coach Darian DeVries virtually built the program from scratch.
While Barkley acknowledged he’s in favor of athletes making money through NIL, he also called out players staying more than their four years of eligibility. In addition, he disagreed with the idea of athletes being allowed to seek better offers after every season.
“No. 1, I’m not opposed to players getting paid,” Barkley said on the broadcast. “I always want my players to get treated fairly. But I can’t remember the last time I heard the word, COVID. Some of these guys have been in college for six or seven years. If you’re in college for six or seven years, your name better be, ‘Dr. Somebody.’ You should not still be playing college basketball after six or seven years.
“But you should not have the ability to get a better offer every year. That’s not fair to any school that you are affiliated with because I can’t even do that. None of us can do that, take a better – Amazon, anybody or FOX Sports can come and say, ‘Well, we’ll give you more money and you can leave after every year.’ That’s not fair. … We’ve got to put some guardrails on these sports.”
One of the other new parts of the college basketball landscape is G-League players seeking eligibility. The NCAA has changed its approach regarding players who played in the G-League, arguing they were not professional athletes in a way the old rule said. Instead, if those players are within five years of their high school graduation, they could become eligible unless they went through the NBA Draft process or signed an NBA contract.
To Charles Barkley, that’s another area that needs fixing. He does not think former G-League players should be able to play college basketball.
“We’ve got guys playing in the G-League coming back to college sports now,” he said. “I don’t think that’s fair.”
NBA legend Charles Barkley has not been shy about his thoughts on NIL and the transfer portal. During Saturday’s Kentucky vs. Indiana broadcast, he candidly discussed the landscape again.
Barkley called the game on ESPN alongside Dick Vitale, the first of two games they will work together. Vitale called for “stability” in college basketball – and college sports as a whole – because of the amount of player movement via the portal. He used Indiana as an example since new coach Darian DeVries virtually built the program from scratch.
While Barkley acknowledged he’s in favor of athletes making money through NIL, he also called out players staying more than their four years of eligibility. In addition, he disagreed with the idea of athletes being allowed to seek better offers after every season.
“No. 1, I’m not opposed to players getting paid,” Barkley said on the broadcast. “I always want my players to get treated fairly. But I can’t remember the last time I heard the word, COVID. Some of these guys have been in college for six or seven years. If you’re in college for six or seven years, your name better be, ‘Dr. Somebody.’ You should not still be playing college basketball after six or seven years.
“But you should not have the ability to get a better offer every year. That’s not fair to any school that you are affiliated with because I can’t even do that. None of us can do that, take a better – Amazon, anybody or FOX Sports can come and say, ‘Well, we’ll give you more money and you can leave after every year.’ That’s not fair. … We’ve got to put some guardrails on these sports.”
One of the other new parts of the college basketball landscape is G-League players seeking eligibility. The NCAA has changed its approach regarding players who played in the G-League, arguing they were not professional athletes in a way the old rule said. Instead, if those players are within five years of their high school graduation, they could become eligible unless they went through the NBA Draft process or signed an NBA contract.
To Charles Barkley, that’s another area that needs fixing. He does not think former G-League players should be able to play college basketball.
“We’ve got guys playing in the G-League coming back to college sports now,” he said. “I don’t think that’s fair.”
Jeff Monken paused more than once Saturday night, searching for language that could match the weight of what had just happened.
Army had fought Navy for four quarters. It had led late. It had chances. And yet, when the clock hit zero, the Black Knights walked off the field with a 17–16 loss that will linger far beyond December.
“It’s a little difficult to put into words, the pain of that loss,” Monken said during his postgame press conference. “I felt terrible for our team, our players, our seniors. Such a hard-fought game by both teams.”
Army moved the ball effectively in the first half, but settled for a critical short field goal inside the five yard line. Monken said afterward the missed opportunity loomed large.
“In this game, we talked about it, about the importance of getting seven points and not settling for three. Just disappointing.”
The second half told a different story. Army’s offense stalled, struggling to sustain blocks and generate rhythm. A critical interception turned into Navy’s final touchdown, a sequence Monken said changed everything.
“He (Cale Hellums) really needed to just step up in the pocket and throw it to Brady (Anderson),” Monken said. “He was open. And he just, for whatever reason, got antsy.”
Despite the offensive struggles, Army’s defense delivered one of its strongest performances of the season, holding Navy to 17 points and creating pressure throughout the night.
“I felt like they played well, played hard, gave us a chance to win,” Monken said.
The loss cut deeper because of what the game represents.
“It’s a 365-day-a-year rivalry, and it all culminates on one day,” Monken said. “You just give it everything you’ve got.”
Army did. It just did not make enough plays.
And that, Monken admitted quietly, is the part that hurts the most.
The Heisman Trophy presentation brings together the best of college football with the backdrop of lower Manhattan in the heart of New York City. There is a special feeling that comes with covering the events of the weekend.
As a Heisman voter over the past eleven years, there hasn't been a dull moment. I was asked this week by Texas Tech alum Stacy Gibson, "What exactly is the criteria for voting?"
Great question, and the answer is simple: A player who exemplifies the best of college football both on and off the field—one who is a game-changer and has the ability to lift a team up when needed. They are also a steward of the game, and the winner moves on to be part of the sport’s highest fraternity.
Here's how I voted for this year's finalists.
My third-place vote went to Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia. The gunslinger helped guide the Commodores to a record-setting 10-2 record this season and put on a show in the process. As a dual-threat, there's no shortage of highlights to be had from the New Mexico State transfer.
What Pavia did against top opponents was a major reason he was in my top three. The SEC is best-on-best every single week, and there's no doubt Pavia is featured in that category. To account for over 4,000 yards and 36 touchdowns is not an easy feat.
My second-place vote went to Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin. To take over an offensive unit that won a national championship and lead them to a 12-0 undefeated regular season without skipping a beat was phenomenal. To do that while completing nearly 80 percent of all passes is absurd.
Sayin earned his spot for continuing to shine when top receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate were out. His 3,323 yards and 31 touchdowns, along with having single-digit incompletions in every game, is unheard of in the modern era. He averaged 5.9 incompletions per game this season. That's pretty consistent for a quarterback.
My top Heisman pick for this year was Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Every time the Hoosiers needed a spark, the Cal transfer was the one to make it happen. He'll be remembered for his touchdown pass in the back of the end zone to Omar Cooper Jr. against Penn State. But there were other highlights along the way, such as the Big Ten Championship game and making history.
There was definitely a case for all four finalists and even Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez. Every player in the top ten of voting was special, but Mendoza leading Indiana to history was unforgettable.
This year's College Football Playoff will be great to watch with another champion getting put in the books under the 12-team format.
The road to the 2025 Heisman Trophy was a winding one, with preseason favorites struggling and new contenders exiting the race as quickly as they entered, but one player refused to waver.
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza placed himself in the upper echelon of Heisman contenders in the opening weeks of the season and never moved, as the Hoosiers knocked off every team in their path on the way to a surprise Big Ten championship.
Early on, it looked as though Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore might compete for college football’s prestigious award. Then came Alabama’s Ty Simpson. After Simpson slipped up, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin asserted himself and briefly became the favorite in some eyes. By Saturday’s ceremony, Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia was seen as Mendoza’s top challenger.
Ultimately, the award went to the Cal Berkeley transfer who helped turn Indiana from a feel-good story into a legitimate national championship contender.
Here's a closer look at why Mendoza won the 2025 Heisman Trophy.
It's no secret there were not many truly dominant players in college football this season. Sometimes, that's just the way it shakes out. Mendoza may not have gaudy stats that rival some of the great Heisman Trophy seasons in recent memory, but he checked every box, between the numbers, consistency, winning, eye test and clutch moments.
The numbers checked out. Mendoza was not a high-volume passer, finishing with fewer passing yards than Sayin and Pavia, but that was more the result of Indiana's gameplan and tendency to jump out to sizable leads. Mendoza's 9.4 yards per attempt led all Power Four starting quarterbacks, and his 33 touchdown passes led all FBS quarterbacks, all while tossing only six interceptions and completing more than 71 percent of pass attempts. Mendoza also had six rushing touchdowns that Sayin didn't.
Voters can't just blindly follow the numbers. Did Mendoza pass the eye test? How much was he a product of his situation? By all estimations, Mendoza passed the eye test. He flashed remarkable accuracy all season long, showed a willingness to throw downfield and do it well and consistently delivered in the biggest moments.
Mendoza's win-sealing pass to Charlie Becker in the Big Ten championship was labeled as his "Heisman moment," but the real moment likely came against Penn State, when he hit Omar Cooper Jr. for an unbelievable go-ahead touchdown in the final minute to keep the Hoosiers' unbeaten season alive. While Sayin's stats rivaled Mendoza's, you would be hard-pressed to find a moment like that, even if Ohio State's dominance was partly the reason.
The Heisman Trophy shouldn't automatically go to the best player on the best team. In recent years, it hasn't — Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Travis Hunter all won the award after losing multiple games. Pavia had a chance, too, but quiet performances against Missouri, Alabama and LSU were tough to overcome without a College Football Playoff appearance to his name.
Mendoza didn't win the Heisman because he and Indiana beat Ohio State, but outdueling Sayin head-to-head confirmed for many voters that Mendoza had checked every box needed to be checked to claim the most prestigious honor in college football.
Here is a look at how Mendoza's stats compared to Pavia and Sayin this season. Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love was also a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
Mendoza made history as the first player in Indiana history to win the Heisman Trophy, adding another layer onto the best season the program has ever had.
The regular season is over. Now, it's time for college football teams to go bowling.
There are 36 standalone bowl games and 11 College Football Playoff games on the 2025-26 schedule, giving fans plenty of entertainment over the next month.
Bowl season will begin with the Celebration Bowl and LA Bowl on Dec. 13. The CFP will once again follow the 12-team format, starting with first-round games on Dec. 19 and 20 and concluding with the national championship game on Jan. 19.
Here is everything you need to know about the 2025-26 college football bowl schedule, including TV and streaming options for each game.
College football bowl games will be spread across multiple networks, including ABC, CBS, ESPN and Fox. Cord-cutters can stream nearly all of this season's bowl games on Fubo.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and 100-plus top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
Nebraska Cornhuskers coach Matt Rhule just lets his opinion fly when it comes to most aspects of college football.
The same can be said for the College Football Playoff, a highly-debated system that can be tweaked as it continues to evolve.
Rhule appears to be one of those supporters.
"Obviously, when I was at Temple, I would have argued the other way,” Rhule said, per KETV. “Now that I’m in the Big Ten, though. It’s not even the games you win and lose in the Big Ten. It’s the toll it takes on your team to play in the SEC and Big Ten. We play nine conference Big Ten games and travel all across the country. As a result, we only have three teams in."
“It’s almost like ‘Why are you going through the gauntlet of playing in the Big Ten and SEC?’ I watch the tape and I’m studying other conferences all the time," Rhule said. "The SEC and the Big Ten, in my opinion, are just harder conferences. I’d like to see more teams from those conferences, opposed to other ones."
Rhule says when you match the teams team-for-team, position-for-position and skill-for-skill that the Big Ten and SEC far outweigh some of the others.
"Expanding [the College Football Playoff] would be really cool. I think some play-in Games would be really cool," Rhule added. "Some teams benefited from not being in a conference championship game, so I think in college football, the one thing we’d like to see is uniformity. We all play the same amount of conference games and here’s how the Conference Championship Game works."
Ultimately, though, Rhule supports whatever Commissioner Tony Petittiwants to do.
"Let’s have automatic qualifiers and have No. 1 play No. 2 and have No. 3 play No. 6. No. 4 play No. 5. Play your way on it.’ You should have to win your way in, and I’d love to see it. It would be such a great step forward," Rhule said.
Whether Rhule's words are heard in the immediate future, though, remains to be seen.
Can anyone stop the North Central juggernaut in the NCAA Division III football playoffs?
The defending national champion has blown through the regular season, with only one opponent getting within 30 points of the Cardinals. After reaching the Stagg Bowl the last five years and lifting the trophy three times in that span, North Central has established itself as D3's top program.
That doesn't mean anyone will be rolling over for the Cardinals, though, and the most storied program in D3 football should be the top contender. Mount Union has 13 Division III titles, more than twice as many as any other school, and is looking to win the Stagg Bowl for the first time since 2017 after falling to North Central in the final last season.
The Purple Raiders will join a list of contenders including Johns Hopkins and Bethel hoping to find a way to solve North Central.
The Sporting News has all the details on the 2025 Division III football playoffs, including a complete schedule with live stream information.
The first round through the semifinals will stream live on ESPN+.
Catch all your favorite ESPN+ action with ESPN Select! Just download the new ESPN app, sign in with your ESPN account, tap Subscribe to ESPN Select, and you're set to stream live sports, originals, and more—all in one place.
The fantasy football playoffs, for most leagues, begin in Week 15. If they've already begun in Week 14, then managers who have Christian McCaffrey already have to go one week without their best asset.
Unfortunately, the latest update from Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, McCaffrey has been downgraded to questionable as a late addition to the injury report with a back issue. For fantasy managers, this is a terrible update.
It's crunch time in fantasy football, and managers might be without McCaffrey, their best player, in Week 15. What should fantasy managers do in case he's ruled out? Fortunately, an update from ESPN's Adam Schefter quells those rumors. But, in the fantasy playoffs, it's better to be safe than sorry.
Week 15 fantasy advice for Christian McCaffrey managers amid injury update
Schefter reports that McCaffrey is "good to go" for Week 15, but it's still a concerning report for McCaffrey. In the fantasy playoffs, it's better to be prepared in case he's ruled out.
With McCaffrey's status for Week 15, and potentially beyond, uncertain, adding backup running back Brian Robinson Jr. off waivers is a clear top priority for any manager.
Even if McCaffrey ends up playing, Robinson must be rostered. At the worst, he's insurance in case McCaffrey gets hurt in Week 15, and at the best, fantasy managers have Robinson ready to go if CMC is ruled out before Week 15.
Regardless of whether fantasy managers have McCaffrey or not, they should be clamoring to grab Robinson for a bench spot on their roster.
With a 4:25 EST start time for the 49ers and Tennessee Titans Week 15 matchup, most alternative options will have already played for fantasy managers.
Getting stuck without any solid alternatives in the fantasy playoffs would be a complete disaster. Adding Robinson, McCaffrey's direct backup, is a no-brainer.
McCaffrey managers who missed out on Robinson can keep an eye out for the Green Bay Packers' injury report, as there might be a new starting running back for Green Bay who's available this weekend.
Devin Neal of the New Orleans Saints is another potential option, though in most leagues, he's likely been picked up. But, any player playing in a 1:00 p.m. EST game won't be able to be substituted for McCaffrey if he's ruled out.
Fantasy managers with McCaffrey should be okay with the report from Schefter, but having a contingency plan is a must now that CMC was a late addition to the injury report with a back issue.
Youngsters Ibrahim Mbaye (L) and Quentin Ndjantou (R) were picked either side of Goncalo Ramos (C) in PSG's attack (Jean-Christophe VERHAEGEN)
Teenagers Quentin Ndjantou and Ibrahim Mbaye starred as Paris Saint-Germain returned to the top of Ligue 1 with a hard-fought 3-2 win at rock-bottom Metz on Saturday.
Ndjantou scored his first goal for the club while Mbaye managed two assists, with Portuguese forward Goncalo Ramos and substitute Desire Doue adding the other goals for PSG.
"Ndjantou is the surprise of the beginning of the season -- he has this quality of running from deep and making himself available for the ball," said coach Luis Enrique.
"He has the qualities of a midfielder and a forward -- we expect a lot from him."
The coach was also pleased with Mbaye's performance.
"We believe in his qualities. He showed more than normal, more freedom, more at ease, he did some excellent things with and without the ball."
Four days before PSG play the Intercontinental Cup final against Brazil's Flamengo in Qatar, Luis Enrique rested a host of players for the trip to northeast France.
Even though Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele was not deemed well enough to play after an illness, Luis Enrique left Doue, Bradley Barcola, Joao Neves, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier on the bench.
Instead, 17-year-old Mbaye and 18-year-old Ndjantou were picked either side of Ramos in attack, and they did not disappoint.
However, Luis Enrique was otherwise unimpressed with his team, although he blamed it on his much-changed line-up.
"I was afraid, very afraid. Metz, particularly in the second half, were in the match right up to the last minute," he said, adding his team had "lost control" in the second half.
- Mbaye creator -
After a quiet opening, the game burst into life in the final 15 minutes of the first half.
Ramos gave PSG the lead when he headed home a cross from Lee Kang-in on 31 minutes.
On 39 minutes Ndjantou slid home Mbaye's devilish cross into the six-yard box.
Just three minutes later, Jessy Deminguet lashed home for Metz from outside the area after a ricochet fell into his path.
Danish goalkeeper Jonathan Fischer denied Ramos with a smart save to keep Metz in the game after the break.
Habib Diallo had a chance to equalise just before the hour mark but shinned his volley from the edge of the box wide of the upright.
Doue seemed to have sealed the victory for PSG when he raced clear from his own half, released by Mbaye, as Metz were caught pushing up at a corner.
Doue ran 70 yards before calmly slotting past Fischer.
A week after scoring his first goal of the season against Rennes, Mbaye hit the woodwork on 71 minutes.
Georgian Georgi Tsitaishvili gave Metz hope nine minutes from time with a curling effort from outside the box, but PSG held on.
Lens can return to the Ligue 1 summit if they beat Nice -- who have lost eight straight games in all competitions -- on Sunday.
Earlier in the day, Rennes moved up to fifth with a 3-1 come-from-behind victory over Brest for their fifth success in their last six Ligue 1 encounters.
Accolades and awards season has arrived. Before we award the Heisman Trophy, the All-American team is one that will be debated and, in some cases, contested.
Each outlet put together a compelling roster. Of those five rosters, 13 players can hang their hat on being a consensus pick. The remaining roster spots are not necessarily contested; they just were not the consensus.
The consensus All American Team
On offense: Quarterback Fernando Mendoza (IND), running backs Jeremiyah Love (ND) and Ahmad Hardy (Mizzou), wide receivers Jeremiah Smith (OSU) and Makai Lemon (USC), tight end Eli Stowers (VANDY), offensive lineman Spencer Fano (UTAH), Emmanuel Pregnon (ORE), Logan Jones (IOWA), Olaivavega Ioane (Penn St), Carter Smith (IND)
On defense: Edge rushers David Bailey (Texas Tech) and Cashius Howell, interior defensive lineman Kayden McDonald (OSU) and A’Mauri Washington (ORE), linebackers Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech), Arvell Reese (OSU), and CJ Allen (GEORGIA), safeties Caleb Downs (OSU) and Louis Moore (ND), and cornerbacks Mansoor Delane (LSU) and Leonard Moore (ND).
In the case of Jeremiyah Love, Ahmad Hardy, Makai Lemon, Jeremiah Smith, Eli Stowers, David Bailey, Kayden McDonald, Cashius Howell, Jacob Rodriguez, Arvell Reese, CJ Allen, Leonard Moore and Mansoor Delane, all were consensus picks.
Quarterback, offensive line, the second interior defensive lineman, and safety were much less agreed upon. In some cases, these variances are understandable. In the case of quarterback, there were not five different answers. It was two answers divided five ways.
CBS and On3 had Diego Pavia as their pick at quarterback. However, USA Today, The Athletic and Pro Football Focus all had Fernando Mendoza as their pick. Considering the Heisman race, this is an important position. While the pick feels like a coin flip, Mendoza has the better Heisman odds and has his team in the No. 1 spot.
Offensive lines are always a bit of a mixed bag. Like quarterback, there really is no bad answer. At tackle it comes down to three names for two spots. Spencer Fano, Carter Smith and the odd man out, Miami’s Francis Mauigoa. At guard, there are more names, but the same scenario. Emmanuel Pregnon and Olaivavega Ioane win the starting spots, but also Beau Stevens (IOWA), Febechi Nwaiwu (OKLA), and Kade Pieper (IOWA) were considered.
Center is again a three-headed situation. Miami’s James Brockermeyer, Iowa’s Logan Jones, and Florida’s Jack Slaughter. Logan Jones was considerably more consistent, but Brockermeyer and Slaughter make significant cases for the lone center spot.
Interior defensive lineman not named Kayden McDonald was the strangest part of the evaluation. Five outlets, five different names. All five names are deserving of the accolade, but only one can hold the spot. Landon Robinson of Navy, Tyrique Tucker of Indiana, Lee Hunter of Texas Tech and AJ Holmes Jr of Texas Tech all were considered, but ultimately went to A’Mauri Washington from Oregon.
Safety, like quarterback only came down to two names. Two names that otherwise would be the consensus if not for The Athletic and PFF having one off choices. Caleb Downs and Louis Moore make up the safety roster spots for CBS, USA Today and On3. The Athletic had Downs and Dillon Thieneman (ORE), while PFF had Moore and Bishop Fitzgerald (USC).
Snubs and overlooked candidates
The term “snubs” might not apply here as the term suggests ‘didn’t make it but should have’. Obviously, many college football players with good production might wonder why they didn’t make it. That is to be expected. However, after searching for names not mentioned among the five, like Rueben Bain Jr of Miami or LJ Martin of BYU, there are reasons there are names ahead of them.
Drew Mestemaker, the North Texas quarterback has a legitimate complaint. Competition level being the prime reason against. Mestemaker was the only division 1 quarterback to put up over 4,000 yards. The next closes was 3,681 yards from Baylor’s Sawyer Robinson. You have to go all the way down to the No. 11 spot to find a Heisman hopeful or a playoff quarterback in Julian Sayin. Sayin was only a few yards ahead of the QB winner, Mendoza.
There were three running backs to outperform Jeremiyah Love in yards. Once yards and touchdowns are viewed together, Love is the clear RB1 with Ahmad Hardy being a pretty close second for the RB2 spot. However, right after that there are names that were very much in the conversation. Cam Cook of Jacksonville State led the nation in rushing with 16 touchdowns being nothing to sneeze at.
After Love, the aforementioned LJ Martin and his 1,305 yards to go with 12 touchdowns was also a factor. However, the biggest would-be snub at running back would have to be Kewan Lacy of Ole Miss. Lacy is one of only two backs to score 20 or more rushing touchdowns. His almost 1,300 yards on the ground separates him from Caleb Hawkins (N. Texas), the other back with 20+ touchdowns.
Despite having a comparatively down season (when compared to 2024) Jeremiah Smith absolutely still makes the cut. He and Makai Lemon are without a doubt WR1 and WR2. Danny Scudero (San Jose State), Skyler Bell (UConn) and Wyatt Young (N. Texas) all have more yards than Lemon or Smith, but the 13.6+ yards per reception and their 11 touchdowns separates them from the pack.
Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr was not the defensive end snub one might think with only 4.5 sacks registered in 2025. While Bain should expect to hear his name called early on day 1 of the NFL Draft, his sack numbers by season’s end were not close enough to challenge Bailey and Howell.
However, Western Michigan’s Nadame Tucker, does have a complaint to file. Despite the competition gap, Tucker led the nation in sacks, not Bailey. Tucker also leads all qualified candidates with four forced fumbles. Tucker also had more tackles than both Bailey and Howell.
At linebacker, there were two names ahead of everyone else. Jacob Rodgriguez and Arvell Reese. Along with CJ Allen, they form a consensus linebacker group. However, Colorado State’s Owen Long led the nation in tackles with 151. Which was 34 more tackles than the fan favorite Rodriguez.
Each name mentioned here is deserving of credit and accolades based on highly productive seasons. However, there are only so many spots per position. Each All-American team posted by CBS, USA Today, On3, The Athletic and PFF are good rosters and none had any player named who was not within range. The composite team takes all of those names mentioned at five different outlets and creates best fit result or as close to consensus as any outlet is bound to provide.
The thrilling 2025 college football regular season has concluded, leaving a wake of unforgettable moments, historic upsets, and dominant individual performances. Now, as the dust settles and the College Football Playoff field is set, the spotlight turns from team standings to the players who defined the year.
The release of the finalists for college football’s most prestigious annual awards officially kicks off the final leg of the season. The race for the Heisman Memorial Trophy has been one of the closest in recent memory, featuring unexpected challengers like Indiana’s transcendent quarterback Fernando Mendoza and Vanderbilt’s dynamic signal-caller Diego Pavia, alongside other elite talents like Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State QB Julian Sayin.
The receiving corps was just as electric, with a fierce battle for the Biletnikoff Award—honoring the nation’s most outstanding receiver—headlined by Ohio State’s phenomenal sophomore Jeremiah Smith and USC’s versatile playmaker Makai Lemon.
It is time to celebrate the athletes who rose above the competition, rewriting record books and delivering iconic performances for their universities.
Here are the complete lists of finalists and announced winners for each of college football’s top individual honors.
Mohamed Salah accused Liverpool of throwing him 'under the bus' after he was left on the bench for last week's 3-3 draw at Leeds (Paul ELLIS)
Arne Slot said there was "no issue to resolve" after Mohamed Salah returned for Liverpool's 2-0 win against Brighton on Saturday -- a week after he took aim at the club in a fiery interview.
Hugo Ekitike scored at Anfield after 46 seconds and Salah, brought off the substitutes' bench in the first half, set up the Frenchman's second goal after the break.
Salah, 33, last week accused the faltering Premier League champions of throwing him "under the bus" after he was left on the bench for the 3-3 draw at Leeds -- the third match in a row that he had not started.
The Egyptian also said that he had no relationship with Liverpool manager Slot when he spoke to reporters after the match at Elland Road.
He was omitted from the midweek Champions League trip to Inter Milan, which Liverpool won 1-0, and was the subject of intense scrutiny in the build-up to Saturday's home game.
Slot said at Friday's pre-match press conference that he would speak to the forward later in the day, adding: "I have no reasons (for) not wanting him to stay."
Speaking to reporters after the win against Brighton, the Dutchman said there was "no issue to resolve" with Salah, whose corner was headed home by Ekitike in the 60th minute.
"For me he's now the same as any other player," he said. "You talk to your players if you're happy or unhappy with things, but there's nothing for me to talk about after what happened against Leeds, after the game."
Slot confirmed that the winger was left out of the squad for the fixture in Italy due to his interview but defended his approach.
"The question is always, and everybody has a different opinion about that, should he be (left out) once, twice, three times, four times, four months, 12 years?
"Every manager makes different decisions in that, but he wasn't involved in the game against Milan and I spoke to him yesterday.
- Actions louder than words -
"And I think, as I usually never say anything about (what) we talk about, I'm not going to make an exception now, but I think actions speak louder than what has been said.
"He was in the squad again and when I had to make my first substitutions, I brought him in. And he performed as I think every fan, including me, would like him to perform today."
Salah now has 277 goal involvements for Liverpool in the Premier League -- 188 goals and 89 assists -- a new record by a player for a single club in the competition, overtaking Wayne Rooney's mark for Manchester United.
Salah, who signed a new two-year contract in April, now departs for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The length of his absence depends on how far Egypt go in the competition in Morocco, with the final on January 18.
The forward, who has been linked with a move to the wealthy Saudi Pro League, had invited his family to the Brighton game as speculation swirled over his future.
Slot laughed off a question about whether the match could have been Salah's last for the club.
"He wasn't the only player who walked around the pitch thanking the fans, because the fans deserved a thank you from us," he said.
He added: "Mo is going to go to the AFCON now, I hope he's going to do very well, and in the meantime we have to play here without him, with not that many players available at the moment."
Salah, third in Liverpool's all-time scoring charts with 250 goals, has won two Premier League titles and one Champions League crown during his spell on Merseyside.
He scored 29 Premier League goals to win the Premier League Golden Boot last season as Liverpool romped to a 20th English league title, but has managed just four league goals during the current campaign.
Saturday's victory for Liverpool was their first at Anfield since November 4 and lifts Slot's men to sixth in the table, easing the pressure on the beleaguered coach.
Marcus Freeman may still be coming to terms with Notre Dame’s exclusion from the College Football Playoff, but the Irish coach is already drawing attention at the professional level.
There were rumors he could end up with the Chicago Bears after the season, but there's reportedly another team with serious interest. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Freeman has emerged as a candidate for the New York Giants’ head coaching vacancy.
Russini reported that Freeman is on a short list that also includes Green Bay defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, Indianapolis defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. She also linked Texas' Steve Sarkisian to the Tennessee Titans opening earlier this year.
Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman is among the names on the candidates list for the Giants’ head coaching vacancy, I’m told.
Freeman is an attractive option for a few different reasons. He's expected to draw interest from multiple NFL teams after leading Notre Dame to the national championship game last season and compiling a 10-2 record this year. The 39-year-old coach has steadily elevated the program since taking over in 2022, establishing Notre Dame as a consistent national contender.
Whether Freeman would consider a move to the NFL remains unclear. He signed a contract extension last year that runs through the 2030 season, signaling Notre Dame’s long-term commitment to him. Freeman has frequently emphasized his belief in the program and his desire to bring a national title to South Bend.
Just like the college carousel, the NFL moves quickly, and opportunities at the professional level are rare. As recent coaching cycles have shown, contract terms often become secondary when coveted positions open, leaving Freeman with significant decisions ahead as interest builds.
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah came off the substitutes' bench against Brighton (Paul ELLIS)
Mohamed Salah set up a goal in Liverpool's 2-0 win against Brighton on Saturday as he returned to action after an explosive outburst cast doubt over his future at the Premier League champions.
The Egypt forward, the subject of intense scrutiny in the build-up to the game at Anfield, came off the substitutes' bench to huge cheers in the 26th minute, replacing injured defender Joe Gomez.
The home team, whose title defence has collapsed after a shocking run of results, were leading 1-0 at the time, with France forward Hugo Ekitike on the scoresheet after just 46 seconds.
Brighton squandered a number of opportunities to level and Ekitike scored his second with half an hour to go, heading home Salah's corner.
The Egyptian superstar now has 277 goal involvements for Liverpool in the Premier League -- 188 goals and 89 assists -- a new record by a player for a single club in the competition, overtaking Wayne Rooney's mark for Manchester United.
"Mohamed is a great, great professional," Ekitike told the BBC. "I look to him as an example. You can see how much he is involved in goals and assists.
"He is a legend here. To share the pitch is a blessing. That's the kind of player who makes us like to watch football."
Saturday marked a dramatic change of mood for Salah, who last week accused Liverpool of throwing him "under the bus" after he was left on the bench for the 3-3 draw at Leeds -- the third match in a row that he had been named among the replacements.
The 33-year-old winger also said he had no relationship with manager Arne Slot in his extraordinary outburst and was omitted from the midweek Champions League trip to Inter Milan, which Liverpool won 1-0.
Slot said at his pre-match press conference that he would hold talks with Salah and there was feverish speculation in the build-up to Saturday's match about what role the Egyptian would play.
Liverpool made a lightning start, taking the lead in the first minute when Joe Gomez set up Ekitike, who thumped the ball past Bart Verbruggen.
Brighton's Diego Gomez squandered a good chance and Brajan Gruda went close as the home crowd chanted Salah's name.
Liverpool doubled their lead in the 60th minute when Ekitike headed home Salah's corner.
The Egyptian himself went close in stoppage time after he was set up by Federico Chiesa but he blazed over.
He was embraced by teammates at the final whistle and was applauded by fans.
The win -- Liverpool's first at Anfield since November 4 -- lifts Slot's men to sixth in the table, easing the pressure on the beleaguered coach.
- Salah departure -
Salah, who signed a new two-year contract at Liverpool in April, will now depart for the Africa Cup of Nations.
The length of his absence depends on how far Egypt go in the competition in Morocco, with the final on January 18.
The forward, who has been linked with a move to the wealthy Saudi Pro League, had invited his family to the Brighton game as speculation swirled over his future.
"I will be in Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go to the Africa Cup," he told reporters last week. "I don't know what is going to happen when I am there."
Salah, third in Liverpool's all-time scoring charts with 250 goals, has won two Premier League titles and one Champions League crown during his spell on Merseyside.
He scored 29 Premier League goals last season as Liverpool romped to a 20th English league title, but has managed just four league goals this season.
The University Interscholastic League (UIL) football state semifinals continues today as teams from the Lone Star State are looking to book their ticket to next week’s state championship games to be held at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium. Arguably one of the biggest matchup of the dais pits the No. 9 nationally ranked Allen Eagles against the No. 23 ranked Duncanville Panthers. Both teams bring state championship pedigrees to the table and this tilt features some of the best high school football talent Texas has to offer. We preview the Saturday afternoon matchup between the two Lone Star football giants.
How to Watch Allen Eagles vs. Duncanville Panthers in Texas 6A-I state semifinals game
Date: Saturday, Dec. 13 Time: 3 p.m. CT Location: Eagle Stadium in Allen, TX TV Channel: Victory+
Allen Players to Watch
WR Caleb Smith: One half of the dynamic Allen receiving duo, Smith, a Arizona signee, has hauled in 76 passes for 865 yards and scored eight touchdowns.
WR Carter Harris: the other half of the wide receiving dup is Harris, who has put up some monster numbers this season. The pass catcher has totaled 37 catches for an eye-popping 1,124 yards and 10 touchdowns.
QBJeremiah Daoud: The Florida Atlantic quarterback signee has been playing very well behind center, throwing for 2,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and just three interceptions this season.
QB Ty Snell: We have to mention the freshman that has been sharing snaps with Daoud throughout the season Snell has thrown for 1,030 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.
Duncanville Players to Watch
QBJcoryon Rivers: The senior signal caller has taken over the bulk of the snaps after sharing time earlier in the season. Rivers has thrown for 1,126 yards and 11 touchdowns this Texas high school football season.
DLLandon Barnes: The Ole Miss signee has been a problem for opposing offensive lineman as the EDGE rusher has totaled 41 tackles, 22 for loss and 10 sacks.
DLKevin Ford: On the other side of Barnes is Ford, who has already signed with the University of Florida. Ford has accounted for 27 tackles, 16 for loss and seven sacks this season.
WRTrenton Yancey: The 2027 four-star wide receiver has been tremendous throughout the season for the Panthers, hauling in 51 passes for 750 yards and nine touchdowns.
Where to Watch the Texas Class 6A-I state semifinals on livestream:
You can watch the Duncanville Panthers take on the Allen Eagles starting at 3 p.m. CT on Victory+.
How to Follow Texas High School Football
For Texas high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Lone Star State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across the state of Texas.
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah came off the bench against Brighton (Paul ELLIS)
Mohamed Salah came off the bench in the first half of Liverpool's match against Brighton on Saturday, a week after he made explosive comments about the club and manager Arne Slot.
The Egypt forward was introduced to loud cheers in the 26th minute after defender Joe Gomez was forced off injured.
The home team were leading 1-0 at Anfield after Hugo Ekitike scored in the first minute.
Salah accused Liverpool of throwing him "under the bus" after he was left on the bench for last week's 3-3 draw at Leeds -- the third match in a row that he did not start.
He also said he had no relationship with Slot when he spoke to reporters after the match at Elland Road.
He was omitted from the midweek Champions League trip to Inter Milan, which Liverpool won 1-0.
Slot said at Friday's pre-match press conference that he would speak to the forward later in the day.
"I have no reasons not wanting him to stay," he said.
Salah, who signed a new two-year contract at Liverpool in April, is due to join the Egypt squad for the Africa Cup of Nations after the Brighton match.
The length of his absence depends on how far Egypt go in the competition in Morocco, with the final taking place on January 18.
Salah, third in Liverpool's all-time scoring charts with 250 goals, has won two Premier League titles and one Champions League crown during his spell on Merseyside.
He scored 29 Premier League goals last season as Liverpool romped to a 20th English league title but has managed just four league goals this season.
Liverpool started their match against Brighton 10th in the table after a shocking run.
South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers is finalizing a deal to remain in Columbia for the 2026 season, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
This is a move that would keep one of college football’s most talented dual-threat quarterbacks out of the NFL Draft for at least one more year.
Sellers had been widely viewed as a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and, at times, a candidate to be selected near the top of the board. Instead, he is expected to return to South Carolina and is reportedly in the final stages of an agreement to run it back with the Gamecocks.
Sources: South Carolina star quarterback LaNorris Sellers is nearing a deal to return to the school for his redshirt junior year in 2026. He’s indicated to the staff he’ll be returning. The sides are the expected to finalize a deal soon. pic.twitter.com/mIOodckfMe
Seller, who has been part of the program for three seasons, has started the past two years and emerged as one of the nation’s most dynamic quarterbacks. Over that span, he has completed 63.2% of his passes for 4,971 yards with 31 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, while adding 944 rushing yards and 12 scores on the ground.
His production dipped this past season following a breakout first year as a starter. Sellers completed 60.8% of his throws for 2,437 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions, while rushing for 270 yards and five touchdowns as the offense regressed overall.
Now entering his third season as the starter, Sellers will work under his third offensive coordinator in three years, with Kendal Briles taking over after stops at Baylor, Arkansas and Florida State.
South Carolina is banking on continuity at quarterback and another step forward as Sellers looks to refine his game and lead the Gamecocks again.
Astronomical World Cup ticket prices might have been a huge issue for English fans this week, but you wouldn’t have guessed that from the Football Association board meeting. Sources say they weren’t even discussed. The guidance in one weekly missive instead just stated: “Fifa set the prices, we aren’t involved, we don’t get to approve them, and we only received them just prior to the announcement. We are aware that many of our fans and fan groups are unhappy with the pricing, and have asked us to relay their concerns to Fifa. We will do that.”
To which an obvious response is, what about the FA’s own concerns? What about its anger about this? What about the fact it had ample warning about these prices for months? Where’s the lobbying? These are just pre-sales. There is time for pressure to work and Fifa to reverse this.
Fifa has been accused of a ‘monumental betrayal’, with the cheapest tickets for the World Cup final costing more than £3,000 (Getty)
Sources within the Football Supporters’ Association [FSA] are already unnerved by the lack of public statement, and have warned the FA that “silence isn’t an option”.
The English body is hardly alone in this, even if it does hold a unique power as one of the biggest federations in the world, with all the symbolic historic weight as the federation that set the sport’s rules.
Many national associations privately declared themselves “shocked” by the prices on Thursday, but that hasn’t yet translated into any action. The German federation, the DFB, was also embarrassingly meek as it spoke of how it “would have preferred more affordable tickets”.
Stirring stuff from the federation that represents the most mobilised fans in the world.
At this point, it’s hard not to wonder when action might actually come; what might finally prompt some sort of jolt in football’s stagnant but self-servingly aloof status quo.
This is, after all, only the latest Fifa misstep in a frankly astonishing two weeks, even by modern standards.
And now this, a grand rip-off of those who actually make the sport, in what Football Supporters Europe [FSE] has described as “a monumental betrayal”.
Infantino awarded Trump the inaugural Fifa ‘peace prize’ during the World Cup draw ceremony (AP)
But it’s even more than that. As much as it seems a basic case of fans being ripped off, it goes much deeper, in two ways.
One is that it sums up the problem with modern football in one simple issue. That is, the escalating tension over whether the game is just another commodity to be bought and sold with no concern for anything else, or if it’s more important than that.
The World Cup itself is emphatic evidence of the latter. These are not just “entertainment events”, like a Taylor Swift concert, that Fifa appears to have used as some kind of benchmark for the US market.
World Cup matches form some of the greatest days in countries’ histories. They’re special. Some fans wait their entire lives for this, spending tens of thousands following their teams in anticipation of this moment.
Many fans will be priced out of attending games with England supporters facing a £5,000 bill if they reach the final (Danny Lawson/PA Wire)Scotland fans will be making their first appearance at a men’s World Cup since 1998 (Jane Barlow/PA Wire)
This is what football culture is. This is what Fifa should be recognising.
It is, instead, far from the first time that the Gianni Infantino leadership has displayed a complete misunderstanding of its own game.
That’s even as the issues with these tickets should be so obvious.
Firstly, the shift away from standard pricing across all group matches – with the FSE describing “vague criteria” such as “perceived attractiveness” of a fixture – is new, and a deviation from every previous World Cup. The lowest category 4 tickets will also not be available to the hardcore fans through “Participating Members Association allocation”, but instead will be subject to the open market and dynamic pricing. These choices are all the more surprising when a not-for-profit registered charity like Fifa was anticipating record revenue of $11bn even before this. They represent a deviation from the bid book for this very tournament in 2018, which was also based on the old system.
Inflation in the US has never exceeded 8 per cent in that time. Thursday’s prices represent, on average, an inflation of 174 per cent on the 2018 projected prices. It’s unjustifiable, leading to tickets that are five times more than the last World Cup. The FSA has calculated that England fans would have to pay a minimum of $7,020 (£5,248) to follow their team to the final, and that’s before travel and accommodation. Supporters are also expected to pay all of this money in February, with money only returned if the team are knocked out – minus an admin fee. Disabled supporters who are normally allowed companions are meanwhile charged twice.
World Cup ticket prices were released after the draw, with national associations reacting in horror at the astronomical prices (AP)
Some arguments have been made about having to be guided by the local US market.
Why?
Fifa was not guided by the local market in South Africa or Brazil, or any previous World Cup.
It must be stressed that all of this was a top-down initiative from the Infantino hierarchy, which sources say was “put together by a small circle”, and that even the Fifa Council had no idea of.
But, if council members didn’t know, what exactly are they doing to justify their $300,000 remuneration? Why aren’t they speaking up now? This is as core a football issue as you can get. Debbie Hewitt, the FA chair, is better placed than anyone as Fifa vice-president.
The Infantino leadership will argue that all of this – right up to the calendar chaos caused by the Club World Cup – boosts Fifa revenue, which goes back to the member associations through the Fifa Forward programme. But this is the same programme criticised as a mere clientelistic, vote-returning mechanism, and that in a game already awash with money. So what it mostly does is strengthen Infantino’s position.
And that in a system in which there is no second party. There is no outlet for dissent, a problem sharpened by the manner in which speaking out is often punished by political ostracisation or difficulty in securing major events – like World Cups. Years on, football is still governed by the same old politics. No wonder Fifa can say the voters are not complaining.
Sources within the FA will argue that they have a duty to try and bring tournaments to England, which is why the bid for the 2035 Women’s World Cup requires political delicacy.
FA CEO Mark Bullingham would have a delicate role to play if the governing body decides to challenge Fifa (John Walton/PA Wire)
But England are the only bidders.
What’s more, the association has even more of a duty to its support base, and how they experience the game.
The FA needs to actually speak up, to show fans it has their back.
For the moment, Fifa’s latest missives indicate it’s not for changing. A news release on Friday night was crowing about five million registrations, but most of those were before the announcement of these prices.
That can change, too. Football doesn’t just need to accept this ridiculous “supply and demand” rationale, as if it’s only subject to the market rather than its own decisions. There is actually time for something to be done.
It would be good if, for once, senior football figures tried that.
Lionel Messi's tour of India kicked off on a chaotic note on Saturday as fans ripped up seats and threw them onto the pitch after his brief visit to the Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata, the ANI news agency reported.
Messi is in India as part of his “GOAT” tour during which he is scheduled to attend concerts, youth football clinics, a Padel tournament and launch charitable initiatives at events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.
According to reports in Indian media, the 2022 World Cup winner walked around the pitch at the stadium waving to the fans, but was closely surrounded by a large group of people and left 20 minutes after arrival.
Video from ANI showed fans throwing ripped-up stadium seats and other objects onto the field and the athletics track at the site, with several people who had climbed over a fence surrounding the playing field hurling objects.
Messi was scheduled for a 45-minute visit to the stadium, but his appearance lasted just 20 minutes. Tickets for the event were priced from around 3,500 rupees ($38.65) – more than half of the average weekly income in India – but one fan said he had paid $130 (£99).
“Only leaders and actors were surrounding Messi... Why did they call us then? We have got a ticket for 12 thousand rupees [$132.51, £99], but we were not even able to see his face,” a fan at the stadium told ANI.
Riot police were called as fans trampled onto the pitch in protest (Reuters)Messi was surrounded by a delegation on his brief visit to the stadium (AFP via Getty Images)
The organisers of Messi's tour of India did not immediately reply to a request for a comment, but Satadru Dutta, the event’s chief organiser, has been detained by police, said Rajeev Kumar, director general of West Bengal police.
Kumar told reporters: “We’ve already detained the main organiser. We’re taking action so that this mismanagement does not go unpunished. He has already pledged in writing that tickets sold for the event should be refunded.”
The chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, apologised to Messi and ordered a probe into the incident.
“I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake stadium," Banerjee, who was on her way to the event when chaos broke out, posted on X. “I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident.”
Kolkata is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, which, along with the states of Kerala and Goa, has long had a large football fanbase in an otherwise cricket-crazed country.
Argentine soccer great Diego Maradona twice visited Kolkata and, in 2017, unveiled a statue of himself holding the World Cup, in the presence of thousands of fans.
Messi, who played a friendly match at the Salt Lake stadium in 2011 in which Argentina defeated Venezuela 1-0, virtually unveiled a 70-foot statue of himself in the city earlier on Saturday.
There aren’t many stories in college football better than Fernando Mendoza and the Indiana Hoosiers.
Mendoza, who transferred to Bloomington from California in the offseason, has been electric for Indiana on its way to the program’s first-ever 13-0 season and its first outright Big Ten title since 1945. The quarterback has emerged as one of the best players in the sport, leading the nation in passing touchdowns in his first year in Bloomington.
Here’s more about his hometown, high school and where the Hoosiers’ superstar came from.
He was born in Miami and attended Christopher Columbus High School there. He is also of Cuban descent, with all four of his grandparents having been born and raised in Cuba before emigrating to Miami.
Mandy Mendoza is a central figure in Fernando’s life and a powerful inspiration for his charitable work. She is recognized for her courageous battle against Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a progressive autoimmune disease. The family often speaks about how her perseverance has shaped Fernando’s resilient mindset and work ethic.
Fernando Mendoza's mom lives with MS.
She's his best friend and inspiration for everything he does.
If you do anything today, take two minutes and listen to Fernando talk about his mom and how much she means to him. pic.twitter.com/tWHvC7QjxN
Mandy has been instrumental in the creation of Fernando's NIL merchandise line, as a portion of all proceeds is dedicated to the National MS Society. By publicly sharing her story, she has helped transform her son's athletic success into a significant platform for MS awareness and fundraising. She resides with the family in Miami.
Alex Mendoza (Father)
Alex Mendoza is the father of Fernando and has played a key role in supporting his son's football career and the family's transition to a high-profile college football environment. He has been described in media reports as a quiet but consistent source of support, often managing the complexities surrounding Fernando's college career and his off-field business endeavors.
Indiana football quarterback Fernando Mendoza sees his mom and dad for the first time after winning a Big Ten Title pic.twitter.com/XevCQJn0yZ
Alex, along with Mandy, raised Fernando in Miami. The Mendozas have deep roots in the city, with Alex supporting Fernando through his high school years and during the period he spent at Cal before his transfer to Indiana.
Mendoza attended Christopher Columbus High School in Miami. He was a notable quarterback for the Explorers, although he was not a heavily recruited prospect, which has added to his compelling underdog story.
Mendoza was part of the 2019 team that won the Florida 8A State Championship as a sophomore. Though he was the third-string quarterback, he gained valuable experience and started a few games that year due to injuries.
Mendoza played in 17 games in high school, the majority of starts coming his senior year. In 2021, he completed 107 of 169 passes (63.3% completion rate) for 1,169 yards, with 11 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions.
He led Columbus to the FHSAA Class 8A State Championship game. As a recruit, Mendoza initially committed to Yale before flipping to California.
Did Fernando Mendoza play other sports?
Mendoza did not play other sports in high school.
Fernando Mendoza recruiting offers
Mendoza was rated as a two-star or low three-star prospect, depending on the recruiting service, and was not highly sought after by Power Five (now Power Four) schools.
Rated as only a two-star or low three-star prospect, Mendoza did not attract the attention of top FBS schools for much of his high school career, despite leading his team to a state championship appearance. His initial and most notable offers came from smaller Division I programs, including Yale, Penn, and Lehigh. Believing this was his highest ceiling,
Mendoza committed to Yale before his senior year. Crucially, the University of California, Berkeley (Cal) was the only Power Five school to extend a scholarship offer to Mendoza, and it came very late in the cycle after another quarterback de-committed. Seizing the opportunity to play at the highest level, Mendoza flipped his commitment from Yale and signed with Cal, signaling that his remarkable career.
Fernando Mendoza is not your typical college football star. He helped lead the Hoosiers to their first Big Ten title since 1967, sure, but there’s more depth to the Indiana QB than what’s apparent on television.
Off the field, Mendoza has taken an interest in business, real estate and finance. He earned his undergraduate degree from Cal in just three years and has interned for real estate firms. His LinkedIn is quite active, too.
At Indiana, he is enrolled in business coursework. Here’s everything you need to know about Mendoza’s LinkedIn page and his degrees from Cal and Indiana
Mendoza is active on LinkedIn and posts frequent updates on his page — from attending baseball games to announcing NIL partnerships with major brands like Adidas and more.
Mendoza's LinkedIn includes an in-depth "About Me" section:
"Process-driven and detail-oriented leader studying Business Administration at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business after graduating from UC Berkeley in three years," His page reads.
"As a quarterback for Indiana Football, I apply a strong foundation in leadership, time management, and communication to excel both on and off the field. I’m passionate about leveraging my background in business, real estate, and finance to build a career that combines strategic thinking, teamwork, and community impact.I take pride in fostering positive team culture, adapting to new environments, and driving success through preparation, accountability, and collaboration."
According to Mendoza's Indiana bio, he earned his undergraduate from Cal in business administration in just three years. At Indiana, he is pursuing a Master's degree in Business Administration and Management, commonly referred to as an MBA. His listed date of completion is Dec. 2026.
What did Fernando Mendoza study at Cal?
Mendoza's LinkedIn page also feartures various insights on what he has studied during his collegiate career. He has some impressive coursework listed from his days at Cal, like Analytical Geometry and Calculus, Introductory Probability and Statistics for Business, Introduction to Economics and Principles of Business.
What does Fernando Mendoza study at Indiana?
Mendoza is enrolled in Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. According to Carolyn Goerner, who is faculty chair of Kelley Executive Education Programs and clinical professor of management at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, IU students enrolled in the program's MBA program can take a variety of courses. The school partners with various organizations like the NFLPA, Major League Baseball, the WNBA to customize a curriculum, while also requiring the 10 core courses required to earn an MBA.
"In terms of the electives, that's where folks can get some more flexibility," Goerner told The Sporting News via a phone interview. Our program tends to offer electives as they relate to what our partner organizations want, and so that's really the flex coming in here. So we've actually sat down with our professional sports associations and done the surveys [asking] what are your what do your folks need as they're transitioning out of sport, and then kind of put the courses together accordingly."
While Mendoza himself is expected to have a career in the NFL after his playing days at Indiana, Goerner says the program has helped former IU athletes in the next stages of their careers.
"A couple of our NFL players have started foundations," Goerner said. So they've gone through the whole 'how do I figure out a nonprofit and make that work?' A lot of the folks come through, and what winds up happening is just a series of businesses. So there's not just one thing, but a number of enterprises. ur goal is to set them up so that they can know what the financial statements say and how to make decisions around them. Know how to evaluate people who might be working with them, and really just have a good sense of how to partner smartly with folks as they move through a variety of different ventures."
Mendoza has interned for two different places, in the summer of 2023 and 2024. His first internship, with Acre Investment Company is described on LinkedIn as "a Northern California based investment firm pursuing value-add commercial and residential real estate opportunities."
According to Mendoza’s LinkedIn page, he worked in commercial real estate with Acre, where he researched available properties nationwide, compiled data for those listings, and helped streamline the acquisition process for future business endeavors.
In the summer of 2024, Mendoza interned with Newmark, a commercial real estate advisor and service provider to large institutional investors and global corporations. Per his LinkedIn page, Mendoza conducted property tours, researched commercial real estate in the Bay Area, and participated in various workshops and networking events.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza could potentially become the Hoosiers’ first-ever Heisman winner. The redshirt junior is having the best season of his collegiate career, throwing for 2,980 yards with 33 touchdowns and six interceptions.
He led Indiana to its first Big Ten title since 1967 in his first season as the Hoosiers’ starter. Mendoza spent three seasons at Cal before transferring to Indiana. Although it may seem as if he was a highly touted recruit coming out of high school, he was anything but.
Here’s how a former two-star recruit with just one power-conference offer became the odds-on favorite to capture the Heisman Trophy.
Mendoza started his high school career at Miami’s Belen Jesuit Prep School before transferring to rival Christopher Columbus High School as a sophomore. A private all-boys school, Columbus has a strong reputation both athletically and academically. It has produced numerous college and NFL stars, including Mike Shula, Alonzo Highsmith, Brian Griese and Miami head coach Mario Cristobal.
Under head coach Dave Dunn, the program has won three state titles: in 2019 — when Mendoza was a backup as a sophomore — and again in 2022 and 2023.
"He's deadly serious about becoming a great football player," Dunn told The Sporting News. "He would eat lunch with me every day just to go over, like, whatever it was that day. It might be practice film from that morning, we'd watch opponent film. He would have a question or an idea that we would go over on the board."
When Columbus' starting quarterback got hurt in 2019, Mendoza showed flashes of his ability in clutch moments. Leading up to a game against Dillard High School, Dunn says Mendoza was out sick all week. Mendoza's father, Fernando IV, played offensive line with Cristobal at Columbus, and was a national and collegiate rower. The older Mendoza called Dunn that week to ensure his son would be in school on Friday to suit up, in case the coach needed him. Lo and behold, he did.
"The only other quarterback we had gets a concussion in the game," Dunn said. "We are down by seven. I think there's maybe 20 seconds to go, and we had the ball. His first pass ever—he did not practice the whole week—he threw a touchdown pass."
Although Columbus missed the extra point and lost the game, Mendoza's performance impressed Dunn.
"I'm like, 'this kid's, he's unbelievable,'" Dunn said. "It was literally, like an eight-day period of him not practicing, coming in the worst possible situation, and putting us in position to win the game."
"It's the exact same stuff you see on TV when he's playing for IU right now," Dunn continued. "Knows where to go with the football. Deadly accurate, very decisive. All the qualities you want in a quarterback."
Mendoza became a starter for the Explorers as a junior and senior in 2020 and 2021. Although he threw for 2,195 yards with 24 touchdowns over those two seasons, his college recruitment was relatively quiet.
His offers included the likes of Yale, Penn, Lehigh, Bryant and FIU. He attended camps at Miami, FIU and LSU, but COVID disrupted his process. Columbus played just eight games in 2020, choosing to opt out of the FHSAA postseason due to COVID concerns. There was also far less in-person scouting that year. He was rated as a two-star per the 247Sports Composite, ranked as the No. 140th overall quarterback for 2022.
"It was beyond frustrating," Dunn said of the lack of interest from major schools in his quarterback.
But Fernando wasn't fazed by the lack of interest from major schools.
"He had faith that it eventually would work out," Dunn said. "[He knew] how hard everybody was working for him. At the end it was his faith in the process was what was able to kind of pull him through that tough time."
He was committed to Yale for most of his recruiting process until Cal — his first and only offer from a power-conference school — came along late. Current Cleveland Browns quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave, who was Cal's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2020-2022, learned about Mendoza from a well-known quarterbacks coach in South Florida, David Lee.
"He called and said, 'I don't know where you are with the recruiting, you probably have a guy committed there at Cal, but there's a guy down here I've been training, and COVID adversely affected his recruiting."
The Bears had planned on signing 4-star QB Justyn Martin, but he flipped to UCLA in the fall of 2021.
"'When I work him out, I swear, he's actually really good at football,'" Musgrave continued, recalling what Lee told him about Mendoza.
Lee writes quarterback scouting reports for the Miami Dolphins, and is credited with helping bring the Wildcat to the NFL.
"There aren't a lot of tall guys playing quarterback anymore," Musgrave said of Mendoza as a passer. "They're smaller guys that can move and run around and ad-lib, which is great — that's one way to skin the cat, but another way to skin the cat is to be a precision passer from the pocket, and that's what he is. He's deadly accurate down the field, intermediate. He throws with anticipation."
Mendoza visited Cal during the last week in January and flipped his pledge to the Bears a few days later on National Signing Day.
Why did Fernando Mendoza transfer from Cal to Indiana?
As a true freshman at Cal, Mendoza shined bright in simulated late-game situations during practice.
"This kid would make some throw or some scramble or great fade or post down the middle," Musgrave said. "And just feather it perfectly. Or drive it and frozen rope it right in for a touchdown. I mean, time after time after time in those clutch situations."
Mendoza took a redshirt in 2022 before starting for Cal in 2023 and 2024. He threw for 4,712 yards with 30 touchdowns and 16 interceptions with the Bears, having three different offensive coordinators during his time at Berkeley.
But at Indiana, Mendoza has elevated himself as a passer. Under head coach Curt Cignetti, Indiana has produced top-five scoring offenses two seasons in a row. His offensive coordinator, Mike Shanahan (coincidentally, no relation to that Mike Shanahan), has been with Cignetti since he was a head coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2016.
"I just think it's the combination of the stability of the coaching staff at IU," Dunn said. "And the system from year to year that has allowed him to flourish."
Just like he did in high school and at Cal, he's come through clutch in late-game situations. He's led game-winning drives on the road against Iowa, Oregon and Penn State. The road game against Penn State on Nov. 8 is one that vaulted him to the front of the Heisman race. Trailing 24-20 with two minutes left, Mendoza led the Hoosiers on a 10-play, 80-yard touchdown drive.
His touchdown pass to Omar Cooper Jr. in the back of the end zone is one of the best throws of the season.
Dunn texted Mendoza after the game, congratulating him on the win.
"I said 'epic composure, leading your team down the field.' He texted me back, 'just like [the] Deerfield Beach game junior year, just louder.'"
Mendoza’s impressive season has him climbing up draft boards. He is a redshirt junior with one year of eligibility remaining, but he could declare for the NFL Draft after this season.
"He would want to be compared to Tom Brady, because that's his idol," Dunn said of his NFL outlook. "I will not throw that comparison out there."But, he's a big, strong, intelligent quarterback that will do everything possible to make himself ready to play on Sundays and make his team better."
ESPN's latest mock draft has him going No. 1 overall to the New York Jets, CBS puts him at No. 2 overall to the Raiders.
"He's not going to be surprised by anything on the field," Musgrave added, comparing him to Matt Ryan, whom he coached with the Atlanta Falcons. "He prepares, and when he sees something on the field, he's got a real fast processor. He's got a real lightning quick chip there in his brain. He can process what he sees and be decisive in a nanosecond."
The Washington State Cougars take the field against the Oregon State Beavers at Martin Stadium on Oct. 17, 2015 in Pullman. Washington State defeated Oregon State during that day's game, 52-31. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
The Washington State University football coach is one of the highest-paid public employees in the state. Yet WSU is bringing aboard its fourth head coach since 2020.
The Pullman school announced Friday that it was hiring Kirby Moore away from Missouri to replace Jimmy Rogers, who lasted less than a year.
The question now is whether Moore’s tenure will be different and usher in a new era of stability.
Moore, 35, has been the offensive coordinator at Missouri for the past three seasons.
He grew up in the Yakima Valley town of Prosser, and is the younger brother of New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore.
Kirby Moore was a wide receiver at Boise State from 2009-2013, then started his coaching career at the College of Idaho in 2014. Moore spent the next two seasons at the University of Washington, working as a graduate assistant and offensive assistant.
A press conference introducing Moore will be held next Tuesday. Terms of his contract were not disclosed.
“Coach Moore is the real deal, and exactly who we needed to propel us to the top of the new Pac-12,” WSU President Elizabeth Cantwell said Friday. “Our student-athletes have lucked out.”
Moore said in a statement that, “Becoming a first-time head coach at a special place like Washington State is a dream come true for my family and I.”
WSU’s football coach is paid well over $1 million a year. Despite that salary, the position has seen recent turnover due to a combination of the pandemic and two ambitious coaches using WSU as a stepping stone.
The coaching turmoil comes as WSU seeks to stanch dropping enrollment while remaining relevant in the turbulent college football landscape.
Cantwell has said repeatedly that a successful football program is key to reversing an enrollment decline of some 6,000 students at WSU in recent years. That starts with the right coach as Washington State University transitions to the new-look Pac-12 next season.
The highest-paid employees of the state of Washington are almost always the football and men’s basketball coaches at the University of Washington and WSU, each making well over $1 million per year. By contrast, Gov. Bob Ferguson makes about $230,000 annually.
Rogers was hired away from South Dakota State last winter for a salary of $1.57 million per year. He led the Cougars to a 6-6 record, and shortly after announced he was leaving for his dream job as head coach at Iowa State.
Prior to Rogers, Jake Dickert spent just over three years leading the Cougars, making about $2.5 million per year, before jumping ship last year for Wake Forest.
Dickert’s predecessor, Nick Rolovich, was hired in 2020 to replace the legendary Mike Leach. Rolovich coached during the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, and was fired early in the 2021 season for refusing the state’s order that he get a COVID vaccination. Rolovich sued the state for $25 million, but lost in federal court.
Former WSU coach Mike Leach talks with his team on the sidelines during a game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium on Nov. 22, 2014, in Tempe, Arizona. Leach led the team for eight seasons, from 2012 to 2019. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The last football coach to spend any real time in Pullman was Leach, who was at one time the state’s highest-paid employee at $3 million per year. Leach led the Cougars to six bowl games in eight seasons before leaving after the 2019 season for Mississippi State, part of the powerful SEC. Leach died in 2022.
‘A job that coaches can have success at’
To be sure, the WSU job comes with some disadvantages. Pullman is a town of about 35,000 people located 75 miles south of Spokane in wheat farming country. It is far from the glitz of big cities, and recruiting top athletes there can be a challenge. Now that top players are demanding millions of dollars in “name, image, likeness” money to sign with a team, those difficulties are magnified.
Rogers this week insisted he did not intend to leave Pullman after one season, but could not turn down a job he had wanted for years.
“I didn’t take the Washington State job and move across the country to abandon it in one year. I didn’t,” Rogers said at his introduction Monday at Iowa State. “I took that jump because I believed in that product and what I could produce there.”
Rogers said that he would have liked to coach the Cougars in the Idaho Potato Bowl against Utah State on Dec. 22, but the administration decided an assistant coach would do that instead.
Complicating the problems at Washington State is that Athletic Director Anne McCoy was unceremoniously fired a few weeks ago by Cantwell for not raising enough in donations to the athletic department.
For all the coaching changes, WSU’s football team has remained pretty good. The Cougars will go to their ninth bowl game in ten years this season, unprecedented success for the program.
“Washington State has proven time and again that it can be a job that coaches can have success at,” broadcaster and former Washington State quarterback Alex Brink said.
Cantwell has said the dramatic changes in the college football world that left Washington State behind require a coach who views name, image, likeness money and the transfer portal as strategic tools, not impediments.
Cantwell has also worked this year to improve the football fan experience in Pullman. That includes funding for a new scoreboard and other upgrades inside 33,000-seat Martin Stadium, in an effort to boost tepid attendance.
“We’ve got alcohol in the stands. We’ve got a whole plethora of things happening right outside the stadium,” Cantwell said. “Keep an eye on us. It’s getting better and better and better every game.”
Army vs. Navy is one of college football's oldest and greatest rivalries. Who will stand tall when M&T Bank Stadium hosts both programs?
Navy holds the all-time record against Army, 63–55–7. The former won last year and attempts to win two straight for the first time since 2014-15.
Jeff Monken has coached Army to the Fenway Bowl, the Black Knights’ second straight bowl game since 2020-21. Last year's AAC champions are led by QB Cale Hellums, a dual-threat QB who has more rushing than passing yards.
Navy also has a dual-threat QB in Blake Horvath, who has rushed and thrown for over 1,000 yards. The Midshipmen will compete in a second straight bowl game for the first time since 2016-17.
Here is everything that you need to know in order to listen to Army vs. Navy on the radio.
Army vs. Navy radio station
Radio station: SiriusXM channels 82 (Army broadcast), 83 (Navy broadcast)
You can listen to Army vs. Navy live on SiriusXM. Coverage will be available on channels 82 (Army broadcast) and 83 (Navy broadcast).
New subscribers can listen to SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
Army vs. Navy start time
Date: Saturday, Dec. 13
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Army vs. Navy kicks off on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. ET. The game will be played at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The home of the Ravens can hold up to 71,008 people.
Fans threw chairs onto the track of a stadium in Kolkata following an appearance of football star Lionel Messi (Dibyangshu SARKAR)
Angry spectators broke down barricades and stormed the pitch at a stadium in India after football star Lionel Messi, who is on a three-day tour of the country, abruptly left the arena.
As a part of a so-called GOAT Tour, the 38-year-old Argentina and Inter Miami superstar touched down in the eastern state of West Bengal early Saturday, greeted by a chorus of exuberant fans chanting his name.
Hours later, thousands of fans wearing Messi jerseys and waving the Argentine flag packed into Salt Lake stadium in the state capital Kolkata, but heavy security around the footballer left fans struggling to catch a glimpse of him.
Messi walked around the pitch waving to fans and left the stadium earlier than expected.
Frustrated fans, many having paid more than $100 for tickets, ripped out stadium seats and hurled water bottles onto the track.
Many others stormed the pitch and vandalised banners and tents.
"For me, to watch Messi is a pleasure, a dream. But I have missed the chance to have a glimpse because of the mismanagement in the stadium," businessman Nabin Chatterjee, 37, told AFP.
Before the chaos erupted, Messi unveiled a 21-metre (70-foot) statue which shows him holding aloft the World Cup.
He was also expected to play a short exhibition game at the stadium.
Another angry fan told the Press Trust of India (PTI) that people had spent "a month's salary" to see Messi.
"I paid Rs 5,000 ($55) for the ticket and came with my son to watch Messi, not politicians. The police and military personnel were taking selfies, and the management is to blame," Ajay Shah, told PTI.
Javed Shamim, a senior police official in the state, told reporters that event's "the chief organiser" had been arrested, without giving any further details.
"There is total normalcy," he said, adding that authorities would look into how organisers could refund money to those who bought tickets.
State chief minister Mamata Banerjee said she was "disturbed" and "shocked" at the mismanagement.
"I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident," she said in a post on X, adding that she had ordered a probe into the incident.
Messi will now head to Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi as part of the four-city tour.
His time in India also includes a possible meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Messi won his second consecutive Major League Soccer Most Valuable Player award this week after propelling Inter Miami to the MLS title and leading the league in goals.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain attacker will spearhead Argentina's defence of the World Cup in June-July in North America.
There is no greater tradition in college football than when Army and Navy face off. Expect fireworks this year at M&T Bank Stadium.
The rivalry started in 1890. Navy holds the all-time record against Army, 63–55–7. The former won last year and attempts to win two straight for the first time since 2014-15.
Last season, Army won the American and was 11-1 entering this matchup before falling to Navy. This season, the Black Knights enter the game at 6-5, rallying to win three of their last four. QB Cale Hellums has more rushing yards than he does passing yards. Right behind him in the former category is Noah Short.
Navy attempts to win another matchup for the Midshipmen’s third straight win. It would give them momentum heading into the Liberty Bowl. Blake Horvath is a dual-threat QB, throwing the ball and rushing it for over 1,000 yards.
The Sporting News has all the details on how to watch Army vs. Navy.
Fans can watch Army vs. Navy from home on CBS's broadcast and Paramount+.
Paramount+ gives subscribers the ability to watch basketball, football, golf and soccer, and they won't have to break the bank in order to follow along with the latest sporting events. Paramount+ does have a FREE trial, so new subscribers can enjoy it for one week before making a payment.
The game is also available via Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers.
Army vs. Navy start time
Date: Saturday, Dec. 13
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Army vs. Navy kicks off on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. ET.
Where is the Army-Navy game in 2025?
Location: M&T Bank Stadium - Baltimore, Maryland
The Army vs. Navy game will be played at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The home of the Ravens can hold up to 71,008 people.
Army vs. Navy radio station
Radio station: SiriusXM channels 82 (Army broadcast), 83 (Navy broadcast)
You can listen to Army vs. Navy live on SiriusXM. Coverage will be available on channels 82 (Army broadcast) and 83 (Navy broadcast).
New subscribers can listen to SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
Diego Pavia's magical run at Vanderbilt is ending in New York.
The Commodores quarterback was named one of the four Heisman Trophy finalists for 2025, and Pavia has a legitimate chance to win the award this season. Since Pavia is currently in his sixth collegiate season, a Heisman Trophy victory would make him one of the oldest winners in the award's history.
Pavia has already cemented his place in Vanderbilt history with his 2025 performance, but a Heisman Trophy victory would make him a legend in more ways than one. Here's a look at how Pavia can make history.
Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia is 23 years old and will turn 24 on Feb. 16, 2026. He is the oldest of the four Heisman Trophy finalists in 2025 and would be one of the oldest Heisman Trophy winners in the award's history.
Pavia has been playing college football for six years, as he began his career at the New Mexico Military Institute, then transferred to New Mexico State University and, finally, to Vanderbilt. In his entire college football career, Pavia's best season was his sixth, when he produced career-high numbers across the board for the Commodores.
The oldest player to ever win the Heisman Trophy was Chris Weinke, who was 28 when he won the award for Florida State in 2000. Weinke initially pursued a career in baseball, but then transitioned to football after failing to make the major leagues. Weinke enrolled in Florida State at 25 years old, and during his senior season, won the Heisman as a 28-year-old quarterback.
Only two other Heisman Trophy winners besides Weinke were even 23 years old at the time of their award. One was Oklahoma RB Billy Sims, who had just turned 23 years old when he won in 1978, and the other was HB/QB Les Horvath, who won the award in 1944. Both players were the oldest players to win the award at the time of their announcements.
The three youngest players to win the Heisman Trophy have all done so in the last 20 years. Lamar Jackson, Jameis Winston and Mark Ingram II are the only three players to win the Heisman before turning 20 years-old, as they were all within a month of their 20th birthdays when they won their respective awards.
After both decimated the competition through the NCAA Division III Tournament, which team will stand tall when Wheaton faces UW-River Falls in the quarterfinals?
Wheaton (11-2) has won nine in a row. The Thunder beat Crown, Wartburg, and DePauw to advance to the quarterfinals. The last game saw QB Mark Forcucci throw four touchdown passes for 293 yards. Seth Kortenhoeven had 106 receiving yards, and Matt Crider rushed for 120.
UW-River Falls (11-1) is riding an eight-game winning streak. The Falcons breezed past Chapman and Saint John's (MN) in their first two playoff games. Against the latter, Kaleb Blaha managed three touchdown passes for 245 yards. Three receivers and two running backs scored, sharing the wealth.
Here is everything you need to know about Wheaton vs. UW-River Falls, including TV and streaming options for the game.
Wheaton vs. UW-River Falls will be available to watch via ESPN+.
Catch all your favorite ESPN+ action with ESPN Select! Just download the new ESPN app, sign in with your ESPN account, tap Subscribe to ESPN Select, and you're set to stream live sports, originals, and more—all in one place.
Wheaton vs. UW-River Falls start time
Date: Saturday, Dec. 13
Time: 3 p.m. ET | 2 p.m. CT
The Wheaton vs. UW-River Falls quarterfinal game will kick off at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 13. The game will be played at David Smith Stadium at Ramer Field in River Falls, Wisconsin.
Fernando Mendoza has had a magical 2025 season, leading the Indiana Hoosiers to an undefeated 13-0 regular season and the program’s first outright Big Ten title since 1945. Along with breaking program records as a team, Mendoza has produced a historic season of his own.
The redshirt junior quarterback, a transfer from California, shattered Indiana’s single-season passing marks by completing 71.5% of his passes for 2,980 yards and a nation-leading 33 touchdown passes against just six interceptions. He also proved to be a threat with his legs, adding 240 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns, putting him second nationally in total touchdowns accounted for (39). His remarkable campaign earned him Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and Quarterback of the Year honors, along with the Walter Camp Player of the Year award. He also became just the second player in program history to be named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
As one of the top players in the nation, Mendoza’s rapid rise has made him a face of the collegiate game’s new financial era. His personal brand — which includes a recent high-profile endorsement deal with Adidas and his exclusive “Mendoza Mania” merchandise line — has soared throughout the season.
Here’s a breakdown of how much the Indiana star has brought in.
According to the latest industry valuations, the Indiana star’s Name, Image, and Likeness (N.I.L.) portfolio is valued at an estimated $2.6 million, positioning him among the top five highest-valued college football players in the country.
On3 has the quarterback ranked fifth in college football and seventh in its N.I.L 100. He is listed below only four FBS players:
Arch Manning, Texas ($5.3 million)
Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State ($4.2 million)
Carson Beck, Miami ($3.1 million)
Bryce Underwood, Michigan ($3 million)
His valuation spiked from an estimated $1.6 million earlier in the year to $2.6 million after the Hoosiers' perfect regular season.
“Excited to share that I’ve accepted an opportunity to join adidas!” said on LinkedIn. “I’m very grateful for everyone who has supported me along the way and excited to bring my passion for sport, leadership, and work ethic to the Three Stripes. Let’s get to work.”
He joins a star-studded adidas lineup that includes Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith, Nebraska's Dylan Raiola and Arizona State's Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson.
In collaboration with his brother Alberto, who is Indiana's backup signal-caller, Mendoza launched a brand-new "Mendoza Mania" Collection on the Indiana NIL Store.
The initiative carries a deeply personal meaning for Mendoza: a portion of all proceeds from the collection will benefit the National MS Society, honoring his mother who continues her courageous fight against Multiple Sclerosis.
Fernando Mendoza's mom lives with MS.
She's his best friend and inspiration for everything he does.
If you do anything today, take two minutes and listen to Fernando talk about his mom and how much she means to him. pic.twitter.com/tWHvC7QjxN
This compassionate focus transforms the quarterback's commercial venture into a vehicle for impact, lending deeper purpose to every piece of "Mendoza Mania" merchandise sold.
By leveraging his national spotlight, Mendoza is driving crucial funds and awareness for the National MS Society's mission to cure the disease and empower those affected to live their best lives.
Mendoza's net worth is not publicly available. Though, sources report that his net worth is in the hundred thousands, reaching up to $1 million.
This will continue to rise as Mendoza leads Indiana through the College Football Playoff, and down the road, becomes a first round pick in the NFL Draft.
Slot is under increased scrutiny as the fallout from Mohamed Salah’s explosive interview continues, and while Liverpool stayed within reach of the top eight in the Champions League league phase table with the win at the San Siro, Salah’s future remains the biggest talking point at Anfield.
The Egyptian was left out of the squad that travelled to Milan amid rumours linking him with a January move away from Anfield, and while Slot has support over the incident, things could unravel quickly if negative results continue.
And the tough fixtures continue to come thick and fast for the Reds as they welcome Brighton, with the Seagulls sitting two places above the hosts ahead of kick-off after last week’s draw with West Ham.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match:
When is Liverpool vs Brighton?
The match is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 13 December at Anfield, with kick-off set for 3pm GMT.
Is Liverpool vs Brighton on TV?
As the match is taking place during the 3pm Saturday blackout, it will not be televised live in the UK, so there is no way to watch it live. However, you can follow our live blog of the match here from 12pm.
How can I watch highlights?
Fans can watch highlights on dedicated club websites from 7pm GMT, while Sky Sports has the highlights of all Saturday 3pm kick-offs from 5.15pm GMT.
In addition, viewers in the UK can watch extended highlights of all of Saturday’s matches via BBC’s Match of the Day show, which airs at 10.20pm GMT on Saturday evening.
Team news
Arne Slot makes two changes from the side which beat Inter Milan in the week. Andy Robertson and Alexander Isak drop to the bench, with Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz brought into the starting XI.
But the big news is that Mohamed Salah is back in the squad after missing out on the trip to Milan - albeit only on the bench here, as his future at Anfield remains in doubt.
Fabian Hurzeler makes two changes from Brighton’s 1-1 draw with West Ham. De Cuyper and Welbeck drop to the bench, with Gruda and Hinselwood coming in.
Starting line-ups
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Gomez, van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones, Ekitike, Gravenberch
ORCHARD PARK - Brandin Cooks just smiled the other day when he was asked whether he’s a little frustrated that he hasn’t been able to contribute much in his first two games with the Buffalo Bills.
“No man, I’m extremely blessed, I’m thankful for this opportunity, thankful for the Saints for working with me on this,” the 12th-year wide receiver said.
Meaning, he asked the woebegone Saints for his release in the hopes of hooking on with a playoff team, they granted his wish, and with the Bills bringing him in Cooks went from playing out a dreadful slog of a season in the Bayou to chasing a Super Bowl with Buffalo.
“Nothing but great things to say about those guys over there in New Orleans, but to be here now and have this opportunity to play this type of football, I’m definitely fortunate and I look forward to continuing to build,” Cooks said as he gets ready for Sunday’s showdown in New England.
How Bills have used Brandin Cooks so far
Cooks has had just 25 snaps where the Bills were passing and he was in the route tree, and Josh Allen has thrown his way only twice. One was a 13-yard reception at Pittsburgh that resulted in a first down; the other came against the Bengals on which he drew a pass interference penalty. That’s been it.
“Absolutely not (frustrated), and I don’t say that to be, like, politically correct,” he said. “The first game in Pittsburgh, the run attack that we had going on was great. This game, snow game, things happen, whatever the case may be. My mindset is when I have my opportunity, take advantage of it, right? So coming here, working with Josh, working with the offense, learning the playbook, getting up to speed, all that stuff is going to take care of itself, and I really believe that. I truly feel that.”
Offensive coordinator Joe Brady praised Cooks on Monday for his great attitude, knowing that contrary to what he says, like every wide receiver, he wants to be involved a little more than he has thus far, especially on a team that, in the last two games has gotten just 12 catches for 101 yards combined from its wide receiver corps. For comparison, the NFL’s leading receiver, Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba, by himself averages 109.8 yards per game.
“You have to be selfish to be a wide receiver, you got to want the football, it’s in you,” Brady said. “It’s got to be a part of you, but you have to want to win more. I saw B. Cooks up in the lunch room, going and talking to him, the happiest, the smile on his face, and he had one target (in each game). But the buy in from him is, I just want to win football games. Every receiver, I hope they want to get 10 balls a game. I hope they come out of every game being like man, I can do more. But I hope the priority over that is … we won.”
We don’t know if Joshua Palmer can return for this game, but whether he does or doesn’t, Cooks needs to be more of a threat down the stretch. He was signed to add a vertical element to a passing game that sorely needs it.
What Josh Allen says about Brandin Cooks
“I think we’re in a really good spot,” Allen said. “He works his tail off in practice and he’s obviously been around the league for a very long time, and it’s no mistake. You can tell by his habits of why he’s been around the league and played at such a high level for such a long time. He’s been a true professional, he’s always in the wide receiver room, in the playbook, and when we come out to practice he’s friggin’ flying around. So yeah, I feel very, very good and I think comfort is just gonna continue to grow.”
Khalil Shakir, who has been the Bills’ top receiver the past two years, said the addition of Cooks should start paying dividends once he’s fully ingrained, and that day is not far off.
“He fits right in and I think his ability to pick things up super fast and learn our offense as quick as he has, it’s pretty great to see,” Shakir said. “At this point, I don’t even think he’s still learning stuff, I think he has it down. He’s been a great dude to be around, too, just his energy, his vibe. Honestly, his leadership, too, and him being in the league for a while now and just being able to pick his brain on the little things about being a great wide receiver.”
Of course, Shakir, Allen and Brady were saying the same things last season when the Bills acquired wily veteran Amari Cooper. That really didn’t work out in terms of production, and so far, a similar scene is playing out with Cooks, though he still has time to make an impact.
“When those opportunities come, I do believe I can help change the game for the better,” Cooks said. “But I’m just trusting that process, trusting (Brady), trusting Josh. And when we get there, we get there.”
Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for more than four decades including 36 years as the full-time beat writer/columnist for the D&C. He has written numerous books about the history of the team, and he is also co-host of the BLEAV in Bills podcast/YouTube show. He can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com, and you can follow him on X @salmaiorana and on Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social.
Two unbeaten programs face off in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III playoffs when North Central faces Bethel.
North Central is unbeaten this year and looks to keep it that way as it tries to win a third national title in four years. The Cardinals dominated against Hanover and beat Wisconsin-La Crosse to advance. QB Garret Wilson ran for a touchdown and threw one to go with 168 passing yards last week.
Bethel scored 51 against Coe and took down Wisconsin-Platteville in a tighter game last week. Against the latter, Zackary Bothun rushed for over 120 yards, while QB Nathan Uselding had one touchdown and threw over 298 yards.
Here is everything you need to know about North Central vs. Bethel, including TV and streaming options for the game.
North Central vs. Bethel will be available to watch via ESPN+.
Catch all your favorite ESPN+ action with ESPN Select! Just download the new ESPN app, sign in with your ESPN account, tap Subscribe to ESPN Select, and you're set to stream live sports, originals, and more—all in one place.
North Central vs. Bethel start time
Date: Saturday, Dec. 13
Time: 1 p.m. ET
The North Central vs. Bethel quarterfinal game will kick off at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 13. The game will be played at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium in Naperville, Illinois.
The next round of the NCAA Division III playoffs is underway. Can Johns Hopkins continue its momentum, or will it be Susquehanna that shines bright?
Johns Hopkins beat Springfield and dominated Salisbury to advance. It’s the third consecutive season the Blue Jays have made it to the quarterfinals. QB Bay Harvey had five touchdowns. He threw three and rushed for two.
Susquehanna beat Washington & Jefferson, Christopher Newport, and Eastern to advance. The shutout win against Eastern saw Susquehanna's defense allow just 136 total yards while forcing three turnovers.
The River Hawks avenged a regular-season loss to CNU earlier in the playoffs; can they do the same Saturday nearly three months after falling 40-22 to Hopkins?
Here is everything you need to know about Johns Hopkins vs. Susquehanna, including TV and streaming options for the game.
Johns Hopkins vs. Susquehanna will be available to watch via ESPN+.
Catch all your favorite ESPN+ action with ESPN Select! Just download the new ESPN app, sign in with your ESPN account, tap Subscribe to ESPN Select, and you're set to stream live sports, originals, and more—all in one place.
Johns Hopkins vs. Susquehanna start time
Date: Saturday, Dec. 13
Time: 12 p.m. ET
The Johns Hopkins vs. Susquehanna quarterfinal game will kick off at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 13. The game will be played at Homewood Field in Baltimore, Maryland.
The third phase of ticket sales for the FIFA World Cup 2026 has kicked off with an astonishing response. Within the first 24 hours of the Random Selection Draw opening, over 5 million ticket requests were submitted by fans from more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. This surge in demand highlights the excitement surrounding the first-ever 48-team tournament, which will be hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
Record-Breaking Demand for FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets
The early figures suggest that the 2026 FIFA World Cup is capturing the attention of football fans like never before. As one of the most anticipated sporting events in history, the tournament is drawing unprecedented global interest. Fans from around the world wasted no time in submitting their requests for tickets via FIFA’s official platform, FIFA.com/tickets, driven by the prospect of witnessing the largest-ever World Cup in history.
The surge in ticket requests can be attributed to the excitement surrounding not only the expansion of the tournament to 48 teams but also the star-studded matchups set to take place in the group stage. In particular, the highly anticipated clash between Colombia and Portugal (Miami, June 27) has emerged as the most sought-after match, capturing the attention of fans worldwide.
Standout Group-Stage Matches Spark Global Interest
The first 24 hours of ticket sales revealed a strong appetite for high-profile group-stage encounters. Aside from the Colombia v Portugal match, other standout fixtures include Brazil v Morocco (New York/New Jersey, June 13), Mexico v Korea Republic (Guadalajara, June 18), Ecuador v Germany (New York/New Jersey, June 25), and Scotland v Brazil (Miami, June 24). These games feature nine teams from five different continents, underlining the global appeal of the tournament.
The demand for tickets is not limited to just the host nations. Fans from across South America, Europe, and beyond are eager to be part of the action. Colombia, England, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, Scotland, Germany, Australia, France, and Panama are among the top ten countries with the highest number of ticket requests, reflecting the worldwide excitement surrounding the tournament.
South American Nations Lead Ticket Requests
The strong presence of South American countries, particularly Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, and Argentina, in the top ten of ticket requests further demonstrates the growing enthusiasm for the World Cup across the Americas. These nations have a rich football heritage, and the prospect of witnessing their teams compete on the world’s biggest stage is fueling significant demand for tickets.
Scotland’s inclusion in the top ten is particularly significant, as it marks the country’s return to the World Cup for the first time in 28 years. Fans from Scotland are celebrating the long-awaited qualification, which has further contributed to the high demand for tickets from the UK.
An Unprecedented Global Event: A Historic 48-Team Tournament
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the first tournament to feature 48 teams, a historic expansion from the previous 32-team format. This new format promises to make the tournament more exciting and inclusive, with a wider representation of countries from all corners of the globe. The opening match on June 11, 2026, will kickstart an extraordinary month of football action, with millions of fans from around the world tuning in to witness the spectacle.
FIFA’s Commitment to Making the World Cup Accessible
The Random Selection Draw ticketing phase remains open until January 13, 2026, and FIFA encourages fans to submit their ticket requests during this period. The timing of the request will not affect a fan’s chances of success, ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to secure their spot at the tournament. Fans will have the option to select the matches, ticket categories, and the number of tickets they wish to purchase, subject to household restrictions.
FIFA has also created a resale platform, which will allow fans to buy tickets through the FIFA Resale/Exchange Marketplace starting December 15, 2025. This initiative aims to ensure that tickets are made available to those who genuinely wish to attend the tournament, helping to prevent ticket scalping.
A Glimpse into FIFA World Cup 2026 Experiences
In addition to the standard ticket offerings, FIFA is providing fans with premium hospitality packages that include match tickets, transport, and access to exclusive facilities. These hospitality packages are available for purchase through On Location, the Official Hospitality Provider of FIFA World Cup 2026. For those looking for a more comprehensive experience, Qatar Airways is offering all-inclusive travel packages that include flights, accommodation, transport, and match tickets.
FIFA’s Legacy: Reinvesting in the Future of Football
FIFA’s commitment to the global development of football extends beyond the World Cup. As a not-for-profit organization, FIFA reinvests the revenue generated from the tournament to support football development worldwide. Over 90% of the budget for the 2023–2026 cycle is expected to be reinvested into the game, supporting initiatives for both men’s and women’s football as well as youth development across FIFA’s 211 member associations.
FIFA’s efforts are aimed at enhancing the growth and accessibility of the sport, creating a lasting legacy that will benefit the global football community for generations to come. The funds raised from the World Cup will help to foster grassroots football, improve facilities, and provide training programs for future generations of players.
Conclusion: A Historic World Cup Awaits
With over 5 million ticket requests already submitted and strong demand for key matches, the FIFA World Cup 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting tournaments in the history of the sport. Fans from over 200 countries and territories are eager to be part of this historic event, and with FIFA’s efforts to make tickets accessible to a global audience, the tournament promises to be a celebration of football like never before. The anticipation is building, and the world will soon unite to witness the first-ever 48-team FIFA World Cup.
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