Nitin Kumar created history by becoming the first Indian to win a match at the PDC Darts World Championship with a sensational victory over Dutchman Richard Veenstra.

The 40-year-old had lost in all four of his previous first-round encounters at the Alexandra Palace, but his 3-2 win puts him in the last 64 of the competition.

Kumar's scoring was inferior to that of Veenstra's, but it was his finishing that proved crucial, boasting a 75% checkout success and hitting all his last seven doubles.

"I don't know what to say right now. I'm overwhelmed, I'm happy," said Kumar, who is nicknamed 'The Royal Bengal'.

"If you dream it, anything is possible. I've dreamed of this ever since I saw Dennis Priestley win the World Championship (in 1994)."

Kumar could next play fourth seed Stephen Bunting, who faces Sebastian Bialecki in Sunday's evening session.

Veenstra hit five 100-plus finishes, with his highest coming at 144. Kumar was not as flamboyant with his scoring, but proved to be incredibly consistent as the Alexandra Palace crowd roared him on.

Three-time BDO world champion Glen Durrant said on Sky Sports: "It was one of the greatest games I have ever commentated on.

"It's not just the quality of the match, it's the impact for Nitin Kumar and what it does for Indian darts."

Earlier world number 27 Ritchie Edhouse was knocked out by debutant Jonny Tata.

Former European champion Edhouse was stunned in a 3-0 defeat by the New Zealander, to taste defeat at this stage for the fourth time in a row.

Another debutant, Englishman Dom Taylor, progressed to the second round with a 3-0 win over Sweden's Oskar Lukasiak, with the Englishman hitting a brilliant 114 checkout.

• World Darts Championship 2026 schedule and results
• World Darts Championship - Draw, seeds, prize money

Sunday's results

Afternoon session

Ritchie Edhouse (27) 0-3 Jonny Tata

Dom Taylor 3-0 Oskar Lukasiak

Richard Veenstra 2-3 Nitin Kumar

Joe Cullen v Bradley Brooks

The Chicago Bears (9-4) being one of the best teams in the NFL is debatable. However, at 9-4, being one of the most successful through this point is not debatable. They have beaten all of the bad teams that they've played, but they also have some really nice wins over good teams as well. That includes the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in their house.

This week, the Bears take on the Cleveland Browns (3-10) in a game that will have tremendous implications. Chicago is having a good year, but nothing is set in stone for them as they attempt to make the playoffs. Cleveland, although 3-10, can't be taken lightly. They have a borderline elite defense, they play hard, and they are in every game. Their offense keeps them from winning more right now, but you never know what Shedeur Sanders will do for them as he gets more time under center.

If the Bears are going to be ready, they need everybody to contribute. These five players must stand out in a big way if they are going to win:

Caleb Williams

This is a must-win game for Chicago, and Caleb Williams must step up. He wasn't very good against the Packers in the first half, but he turned it on in the second half. Green Bay forced Williams to throw more by stacking the box, which may have shown the league how to beat the Bears. Seeing how Williams responds to that level of adversity is making him a must-watch player on Chicago more than usual. If he comes in, establishes the running game, and makes his throws at a higher clip, the Bears will have a great chance to win.

Ozzy Trapillo

Ozzy Trapillo is going to have Myles Garrett lining up opposite him in this one. Garrett, who's three sacks shy of the NFL single-season sack record, is one of the best players in the NFL at his position, which makes Trapillo's job that much more important. Having a great left tackle is a must in the NFL, but a player like Garrett magnifies that need. Trapillo may split the reps with Theo Benedet, who will have eyes on him as well due to the matchup. If the Bears somehow see these guys play well, Caleb Williams will be kept much cleaner, which will make winning the game easier.

Joe Thuney

Joe Thuney, a solid veteran left guard, is also going to be there to help whoever is in at left tackle handle Myles Garrett. Thuney, who has been to multiple Pro Bowls and Super Bowls, knows what it takes to be impactful against the best. Double-teaming Garrett and taking on other work on that side of the offensive line is going to be expected of him, and the tools are there for him to do his job well.

Montez Sweat

There are a lot of missing players on the offensive line of the Browns. This is Montez Sweat's (and the rest of the defensive line) chance to be an impactful player. The Bears offense is going to have no walk in the park, taking on Myles Garrett and company. Due to this, their defense is going to need to be on top of its game. A couple of sacks and lots of pressure on Shedeur Sanders would go a long way. Sweat has mostly been a disappointment since the Bears made the big trade to get him. However, a big play here and there to end the season will soften the blow of his production lacking.

Jaylon Johnson

Jaylon Johnson, since coming back from injury, has not made the impact that is expected of him when he's fully healthy. Johnson gets somewhat of a pass because he is working his way back to productivity, but this is his chance to finally have a huge impact. Shedeur Sanders can't get comfortable throwing the football. Whether the pass rush finally shows up or not, the defensive backs have the assignment of making throwing the ball difficult for Sanders. This defense as a whole leads the NFL in takeaways, and Johnson would love to become the next impactor in this regard. When healthy, Johnson is one of the best defensive backs in the NFL. He can shut down half a field, use his hands to make plays, and intimidate quarterbacks into mistakes with his ability to create turnovers and defend. Keep an eye on him in this one against the Browns, as his impact could be felt in a big way. If Johnson shuts down half the field, allowing others to make plays on defense, he is doing his job very well.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears vs. Browns: 5 players to watch for Chicago

AMES — Iowa State basketball is back in action for a Sunday, Dec. 14 men's matinee against visiting Eastern Illinois.

The Cyclones are set to host the Panthers at Hilton Coliseum for a 12 p.m. CT tip-off. The game is available on ESPN+.

No. 4 Iowa State (10-0) is coming off a 66-62 win over Iowa in the annual Cy-Hawk game. Eastern Illinois (2-7) enters with a four-game losing streak, which includes a 68-59 loss to Eastern Kentucky in its most recent outing on Dec. 10.

Refresh this page often for live updates and highlights from Iowa State vs. Eastern Illinois.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State vs Eastern Illinois score, live updates for basketball

This week, the Pittsburgh Steelers have the opportunity to sit back, watch the rest of the NFL Week 15 slate play out before they square off with the Miami Dolphins. Right now, the Steelers are on top in the AFC North, and frankly, their best shot to even make the playoffs is to win the division and not try to sneak in as a wild-card team. With that being said, here are the three games the Steelers should watch this Sunday.

Baltimore Ravens vs Cincinnati Bengals

This is the game of the day for the Steelers. After Pittsburgh beat Baltimore last week, they took a full game lead over the Ravens in the division. If the Bengals can pull off the home upset it would extend the Steelers lead and give them a little cushion going forward.

Arizona Cardinals vs Houston Texans

The Texans currently hold the No. 7 seed in the AFC and the final spot in the playoffs. At 8-5, they are the one team who could drop off if they struggle and a loss at home against the Cardinals would be a great start for the Steelers if they have to try and get in as a wild card.

Indianapolis Colts vs Seattle Seahawks

The Colts season is in jeopardy after a rash of injuries at quarterback. This week, they are trotting out 44-year-old Philip Rivers, who hasn't played football since 2020. This bodes well for the Seahawks and, in turn, the Steelers, who need to see some of these bubble teams drop some games to give the Steelers more opportunities.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: 3 games for the Steelers to watch in Week 15

The Cleveland Browns, now officially eliminated from playoff contention at 3-10, will go on the road this weekend to take on one of the most surprising teams of the 2025 NFL season.

The Chicago Bears have surged into the NFC playoff picture under first-year head coach Ben Johnson. Just a year after going 5-12, the Bears sit at 9-4 heading into Week 15 and are holding on to the seventh seed in the NFC playoffs at the moment. With a win over Cleveland and a little help from Denver in their matchup against Green Bay, the Bears could take back first-place in the NFC North as soon as Sunday evening.

Sunday's matchup with the Bears is the first of three consecutive games against current playoff teams for the Browns, which means it's the first of three consecutive opportunities for the Browns to play spoiler in the race for the postseason. Here are five key matchups the Browns will need to win if they're going to do so.

Shedeur Sanders vs. Dennis Allen's defense

Sanders comes into Week 15 on the heels of the best game of his (very) young NFL career. The rookie fifth-round pick racked up 393 total yards and four touchdowns and helped rally the team for an attempted fourth-quarter comeback against the Titans that fell just shy in the final moments. Despite the Bears' impressive season, their defense has struggled mightily at times -- giving Sanders another opportunity to build his case to lead the Browns' offense beyond the final few games of this season.

Chicago's defense is healthier than it has been at times this season, but the Bears will still be without standout nickel defender Kyler Gordon on Sunday. On the season, the Bears' defense is allowing 357.3 total yards per game to opposing offenses -- the sixth-worst mark in the NFL.

Teven Jenkins vs. Gervon Dexter/Grady Jarrett

Wyatt Teller has already been ruled out of Sunday's game, meaning Jenkins is in line to make his second consecutive start for the Browns at right guard. With questions looming about the state of Cleveland's offensive line after this season ends, Jenkins has an opportunity to make a strong impression heading into the final stretch of the year.

Chicago's interior duo hasn't been phenomenal, but Dexter is having a nice season for a second-year pro. Per Pro Football Focus, he's recorded 28 quarterback pressures to go along with five sacks this season, and has had three games where he pressured the opposing quarterback four or more times. Jarrett isn't what he was at his peak, but he's still flashed a disruptive ability this season, recording four pressures and a quarterback hit in Chicago's Week 11 win over Minnesota.

Browns run defense vs. Bears run game

The Bears' aerial attack has been inconsistent this year, but Chicago's new coaching staff has transformed the ground game into a dominant threat. Through 13 games, the Bears have rushed for just shy of 2,000 yards -- 152.6 per game -- which puts them second in the NFL, just behind the Bills. Lead running back D'Andre Swift is on pace for a career-high in rushing yards, and needs just three more first downs to set his career high in that mark. Rookie seventh-round pick Kyle Monangai is putting together an impressive debut campaign as well, rushing for 648 yards so far this season.

The Browns' run defense has been stellar overall this season, but the unit is coming off its worst performance of the season -- the Titans rushed for a season-high 184 yards last week -- and is extremely banged up. Maliek Collins is out for the season, Adin Huntington has been ruled out of Sunday's game, and rookie first-round pick Mason Graham is questionable, having only logged one limited practice heading into Sunday's game.

Myles Garrett vs. Theo Benedet

Garrett is still chasing history, and he'll need to bring down the quarterback who has been the league's most elusive passer so far this season. After taking a near-historic 68 sacks as a rookie, Caleb Williams has been sacked just 20 times this season, which is tied for 21st-most among all NFL QBs.

If Garrett wants to bring Williams down and make him uncomfortable, he'll first need to win his matchups against the Bears' starting left tackle. Per PFF, Benedet has allowed just two sacks this season, and has allowed 22 total pressures in seven starts.

Browns return coverage vs. Bears return game

This is the first time all season that special teams have been included in the weekly list of matchups, but the Browns' special teams unit has clearly affected games to the point that it's worth mentioning as a factor. Last month, the Browns had a game in which they allowed two special teams return touchdowns (in a seven-point loss!), and last week's loss to the Titans featured a 41-yard return on the opening kickoff, a muffed punt, and a blocked kick that helped Tennessee build a 14-point fourth-quarter lead.

It's not hard to build a case that the Browns would have a much better record right now had they gotten better play out of their special teams unit. If they're going to pull off an upset in Chicago on Sunday, they can't allow Devin Duvernay -- who has a career-high 847 kickoff return yards this season -- to break one off.

This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns vs. Bears: Five matchups to watch this weekend in Chicago

As the senior amateur schedule draws to a close at an iconic South Florida PGA Tour venue, the Midwesterners are off to a great start. After the first round of the Golfweek Tournament of Champions, three of the top five players on the senior division leaderboard hail from Iowa and Missouri.

Sean McQueary from Springfield, Missouri, climbed into a share of the lead on Saturday afternoon at PGA National’s Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, with help from the hole-in-one he made on the par-3 seventh. McQueary knocked it in from 200 yards to dramatically reverse the trajectory of his round after having just made a bogey on the previous hole. McQueary added three birdies and a bogey for a 3-under 69, good enough for a share of the lead with Michael Nealy.

McQueary is a past Missouri Senior Amateur champion, having won that title in 2023.

Nealy, who hails from Boca Raton, Florida, competes frequently in Florida State Golf Association events and last month finished first in a Winter Series stableford event.

Gene Elliott of Norwalk, Iowa, is a Hall of Famer in his state and a past champion of the U.S. Senior Amateur. Unsurprisingly, Elliott posted an opening 70 and trails McQueary and Nealy by only a shot.

Brian Lovett of St. Louis and Bryan Hoops of Tempe, Arizona, are tied for fourth after rounds of 1-under 71.

Notably, reigning U.S. Senior Amateur champion Mike McCoy, also of Norwalk, Iowa, is part of a six-way tie for sixth after a round of 1-over 73. Jerry Gunthorpe, who won the Golfweek Senior Desert Showdown last month, is solo 12^th another shot back.

In the Super Senior division, yet another player from the Midwest has the advantage after Round 1. Tim Barry of Kansas City, Missouri, posted a 2-over 74 for a one-shot lead over Philip Ohler of Katonah, New York.

Given the timing of the TOC at the end of the year, the race for Golfweek National Senior Amateur Player of the Year award will wrap up later this month. Notably, Stevie Cannady of Pooler, Georgia, and Richard Kerper of Oldsmar, Florida, are T-3 and fifth, respectively, in the Super Senior division. Those men also rank third (Kerper) and fourth (Cannady) in the Golfweek National Senior Amateur Rankings for Super Seniors.

Peter Van Ingen of Palm Beach, Florida, leads the Legends division after a 3-over 75 but Bobby Lundquist of Sanford, Florida, is close on his heels after a 76.

Bill Engel of St. Augustine, Florida, and Sam Robinson of Jacksonville, Florida, are tied for the lead in the Super Legends division after both opened with 78. Robinson has a narrow lead in the Super Legends points race over John Osborne (who is T-4 two shots back) with Engel being the third man on that points list.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Midwesterners set the pace early at Golfweek Senior TOC

Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season kicked off on Thursday when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost at home to the Atlanta Falcons in a matchup of division rivals and throwback uniforms. From there, we have inched towards the day we find ourselves on: the Sunday of Week 15.

Before the action-packed Sunday kicks off, we have a viewing guide to help you navigate your local listings. It can be challenging to know which games will be available where you live, so the folks at 506 Sports have done the work for you, and we wanted to share.

Here's a look at the broadcast maps for Week 15.

CBS Early

• Buffalo at New England (RED)
• Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City (BLUE)
• Baltimore at Cincinnati (GREEN)
• New York Jets at Jacksonville (Yellow)

CBS Late

• Green Bay at Denver (RED)
• Indianapolis at Seattle (BLUE)

FOX Early

• Las Vegas at Philadelphia (RED)
• Cleveland at Chicago (BLUE)
• Washington at New York Giants (GREEN)
• Arizona at Houston (YELLOW)

FOX Late

• Detroit at Los Angeles Rams (RED)
• Tennessee at San Francisco (BLUE)
• Carolina at New Orleans (GREEN)

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Broadcast maps for Week 15 of 2025 NFL season

This article originally appeared on PGHHockeyNOW.

The Pittsburgh Penguins (14-8-8) set a low-water mark Saturday when they squandered a 5-1 third-period lead and lost in overtime to the rebuilding San Jose Sharks, 6-5. The loss mystified coach Dan Muse and players alike, and Muse stepped forward to point the first finger of blame at himself. The Penguins get another crack at victory this weekend when they host the Utah Mammoth at PPG Paints Arena.

Saturday was a jaw-dropping spectacle of lost leads befitting a spot in a Ripley’s museum. The Penguins led 5-1 with 13 minutes remaining. They led 5-2 with six minutes remaining, yet their extraordinary struggle against the extra attacker was their undoing, and San Jose scored a pair of goals with an empty net to tie the game.

Emergency call-up Sergei Murashov is expected to start Sunday if newly acquired Stuart Skinner is not yet available due to immigration visa issues.

Defenseman Brett Kulak is also awaiting his visa after being acquired with Skinner from Edmonton on Friday.

Click here to read more from PGHHockeyNOW.com.

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LSU football running back Kaleb Jackson announced his decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal Friday morning after spending three seasons in Baton Rouge. Jackson had an efficient freshman year for the Tigers, but continued to play mainly in a reserve role over the past two seasons due to the arrivals of Caden Durham, Harlem Berry, and others. 

Jackson and Ju’Juan Johnson’s decision to transfer has left LSU’s running back room quite bare. The headliners, Durham and Berry, are still in town, but there isn’t another scholarship running back behind them.

The Tigers do not have any other back committed as part of their 2026 class either. They are in a peculiar spot, as Berry and Durham are both very young and talented backs who will be hard to displace on the depth chart. Given how college football operates today, with young players eager to get playing time as early as possible, recruiting depth pieces in the upcoming transfer portal period will be a challenge. 

One option is recruiting a seasoned, bigger back to handle the Tigers’ short-yardage snaps, as Berry and Durham are both somewhat light backs, weighing 190 and 205 pounds, respectively. A fitting candidate for this role is former Texas running back CJ Baxter, who is listed at 6-1 and 227 pounds, according to 247Sports. Baxter had an excellent freshman season in Austin, rushing for 659 yards and five touchdowns, but he suffered a season-ending injury ahead of the 2024 season and was unable to take over the lead role in 2025. 

Here's a look at what Baxter could bring to the Tigers’ running back room:

Baxter finds a way 🤘 @c4era_pic.twitter.com/5orSubSIrq

— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) October 21, 2023

Whether that’s the route Lane Kiffin decided to take or not, there needs to be at least one reliable option added to the roster when the portal opens on January 2.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: What does LSU football's RB room look like after four-star transfer?

The Arizona Cardinals take on the Houston Texans in Week 15. It is a lopsided matchup. The Texans have won five games in a row as they have the AFC South division lead in sight. They have the league's top defense in points allowed, yards allowed and first downs allowed. They have two great pass rushers.

The Cardinals, on the other hand, are down four starting offensive linemen, have no run game and no Marvin Harrison Jr. The offense has only scored 17 points in each of the last three games. They have lost five games in a row and are 1-7 since Jacoby Brissett is the starting quarterback.

The Cardinals are 10-point underdogs on the road. NFL experts are unanimous in their picks.

NFL expert picks: No one believes in the Cardinals

The NFL's preview video for the Cardinals-Texans game has 10 NFL Network analysts making predictions for this game. Here are the picks. Notice they all pick the Texans to win.

While all pick the Texans to win, no one picks them to cover the 10-point spread. Three predict a push.

On the surface, this game looks hopeless. We will see what happens. They kick off at 1 p.m. ET on FOX.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: NFL picks: Experts unanimous in picking Texans over Cardinals

Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season kicked off on Thursday when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost at home to the Atlanta Falcons in a matchup of division rivals and throwback uniforms. From there, we have inched towards the day we find ourselves on: the Sunday of Week 15.

Before the action-packed Sunday kicks off, we have a viewing guide to help you navigate your local listings. It can be challenging to know which games will be available where you live, so the folks at 506 Sports have done the work for you, and we wanted to share.

Here's a look at the broadcast maps for Week 15.

CBS Early

• Buffalo at New England (RED)
• Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City (BLUE)
• Baltimore at Cincinnati (GREEN)
• New York Jets at Jacksonville (Yellow)

CBS Late

• Green Bay at Denver (RED)
• Indianapolis at Seattle (BLUE)

FOX Early

• Las Vegas at Philadelphia (RED)
• Cleveland at Chicago (BLUE)
• Washington at New York Giants (GREEN)
• Arizona at Houston (YELLOW)

FOX Late

• Detroit at Los Angeles Rams (RED)
• Tennessee at San Francisco (BLUE)
• Carolina at New Orleans (GREEN)

This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Broadcast maps for Week 15 of 2025 NFL season

HOVERAir is teaming up with the Freeride World Tour (FWT) 2026 to bring fans closer to the action than ever before, capturing breathtaking aerial footage of the world’s top freeriders as they tackle some of the most challenging off-piste terrain in Spain and beyond. Using the HOVERAir X1 PROMAX with its new Ski Mode, the camera offers hands-free, seamless filming that puts every twist, turn, and jump into stunning perspective.

This partnership represents a major step forward in snow sports technology. Thanks to HOVERAir’s advanced AI, athletes and fans can now capture every thrilling moment without a drone pilot or camera crew. The Ski Mode is designed specifically for the demands of snow sports, following skiers and snowboarders through high-speed descents, sharp carving turns, and adrenaline-fueled runs—delivering smooth, dynamic footage that brings the slopes to life like never before.

New Ski Mode Enhances Filming for Snow Sports

The Ski Mode for the HOVERAir X1 PROMAX ensures the camera adapts to the fast-paced movements typical of freeride skiing and snowboarding. With the ability to capture 8K resolution footage, it offers a cinematic experience for both athletes and fans. The PROMAX camera is small and light, weighing just 192 grams, and can easily be controlled via manual or autonomous modes, giving users complete control over their filming experience.

The HOVERAir X1 PROMAX is equipped with a range of features designed to enhance the user experience for both professionals and amateur snow lovers. Features like Smart Ascend, which automatically avoids obstacles and people, ensure safety while filming in dynamic environments. Additionally, voice commands for hands-free operation allow for ease of filming while engaging in snow sports activities. Whether capturing park tricks, snowboard runs, or off-piste skiing, the HOVERAir system makes it easy for riders to document their adventures without interruption.

Freeride World Tour Partnership and FWT 2026

The partnership between HOVERAir and the Freeride World Tour will provide a new level of dynamic storytelling in the world of extreme snow sports. The FWT 2026 begins in January 2026 with the BAQUEIRA BERET PRO in Spain, where HOVERAir’s cameras will follow freeriders as they navigate steep lines and deep snow. This collaboration will allow fans to see the competition from new angles, making it more immersive and exciting.

Nicolas Hale-Woods, CEO of the Freeride World Tour, expressed excitement about the partnership: “The Freeride World Tour has always embraced innovation that enhances the fan and rider experience. HOVERAir cameras help our FWT athletes capture new angles effortlessly and hands-free, bringing a new level of dynamic storytelling to the mountains.”

As the Freeride World Tour moves through its stops in 2026, HOVERAir’s camera technology will provide spectacular aerial shots of the action, offering both competitors and fans a new perspective on this thrilling event.

Improved Features for Challenging Winter Conditions

The HOVERAir X1 PROMAX is specifically designed for challenging winter conditions, with enhanced features that enable smooth filming even in the coldest environments. The camera is compatible with cold-weather accessories, including the Thermo Smart Battery, which operates reliably at temperatures as low as -20°C (-4°F). This ensures that the camera can continue filming without interruption, even in harsh alpine conditions.

Moreover, the PowerCase, a portable charging case, provides on-the-go charging, making it perfect for skiers and snowboarders who need to keep their gear powered throughout long days on the slopes.

A Complete Filming Solution for Snow Sports Enthusiasts

HOVERAir’s new X1 PROMAX camera and Ski Mode provide a complete filming solution for those seeking to capture their snow sports adventures. The camera is ideal for athletes and creators who want to enjoy their time on the slopes while effortlessly recording their experiences. Whether you’re hitting the slopes with friends, capturing your first powder day, or filming your best run yet, the PROMAX makes it simple to get high-quality aerial footage without the need for a separate camera crew or drone pilot.

With Masabi integration for easy flight, HOVERAir makes it easier than ever to capture and share winter adventures. The camera’s autonomous features, including Spiral Mode and Dolly Zoom, expand creative possibilities, allowing users to add cinematic flair to their recordings.

Perfect Holiday Gift for Snow Lovers and Creators

As the holiday season approaches, the HOVERAir X1 PROMAX makes the perfect gift for snow lovers and aspiring filmmakers. Whether you’re an athlete looking to document your snow sports experiences or a creator seeking to share your winter adventures, HOVERAir provides a reliable, high-tech tool for capturing stunning footage.

For a limited time, HOVERAir is offering special holiday pricing, with the PROMAX available for $599 and the PROMAX Ski Bundle designed for cold-weather use available for $1069.

Looking Ahead: HOVERAir’s Growing Influence in Snow Sports Filming

HOVERAir’s partnership with the Freeride World Tour is just the beginning of its mission to transform how snow sports are captured. With its advanced technology, epic moments on the slopes are now within reach for everyone from professional athletes pushing their limits to casual skiers enjoying the thrill of the ride. As the winter season unfolds, the HOVERAir X1 PROMAX is poised to become an essential companion for adventure filmmakers and winter sports enthusiasts around the world, making every descent and jump unforgettable.

Two years ago, then-USC true freshman linebacker Tackett Curtis elected to enter the transfer portal. He transferred to Wisconsin, where he spent the past two seasons. Now, Curtis is reportedly set to enter the portal once again.

Curtis arrived at USC as a highly-touted recruit out of the state of Louisiana in the 2023 cycle. In his lone season with the Trojans, he recorded 40 total tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble, and a pass defended. Following the season, however, Curtis decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal and ultimately landed at Wisconsin.

Curtis spent the past two seasons with the Badgers. In 2024, he returned to the Coliseum with Wisconsin and had two tackles in a 38-21 Trojans victory. Now, he will enter the portal again in search of a new home for his final season of eligibility.

The NCAA transfer portal will officially be open from January 2-16. However, due to restrictions caused by the academic calendar and the reality that pretty much everyone tampers nowadays, expect plenty of players to announce their intentions to enter the portal before then so that they can begin to look towards finding their new schools.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Former USC football linebacker Tackett Curtis enters transfer portal

The Dallas Cowboys could desperately need elite George Pickens on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. Will they get him? Will they see him on the field at all?

Something was seriously off with Pickens the last time the Cowboys took the field. Many observers pointed to a slew of body language indicators and questions arose about just how locked in he was during the game. With the national spotlight on Dallas after three wins in a row, and the primetime kickoff, the game against the Detroit Lions had a lot of eyes on it. So when fellow top wideout CeeDee Lamb left the game shortly after halftime with a concussion, many expected Pickens to pick up the slack, like he did early in the year when Lamb was out.

Only he didn't. There were routes where balls were catchable and he didn't give much effort, and something seemed completely off as he turned in his worst receiving yardage total since Week 1 and overall worst catch percentage outing. One under-discussed angle was whether or not Pickens was dealing with injuries, and he was indeed on the Week 14 injury report heading into that game.

What are Pickens' injuries?

Pickens had been dealing with not one, but two issues. He emerged from the victory over the Eagles listed with both knee and calf injuries, and carried those issues with him out of the win over Kansas City as well.

Pickens was listed as Limited for Monday of last week's contest. However, Pickens was able to be return to full participant status on both Tuesday and Wednesday. The star receiver didn't receive a game designation, however there's still a possibiity that things just weren't fully right for him. Whatever the reason, the Cowboys can't have another outing like that from Pickens, or they could lose to the Minnesota Vikings on SNF.

Fortunately, Pickens was not listed at all this week on the injury report. If anything was lingering, he should be fully clear of it now 10 days after the team last set foot on the field.

George Pickens' 2025 stats

• Pickens has 78 receptions for 1,179 yards and eight touchdowns this season. He's been targeted 114 times and worked for 90.7 yards per game.

Cowboys' next game

• Matchup: Dallas Cowboys vs Minnesota Vikings
• Time: 7:20 pm CT
• Date: December 14, 2025
• TV channel: NBC

George Pickens' 2025 game log

• Week 1 at Eagles: 4 TAR, 3 REC, 30 YDS, 0 TD
• Week 2 vs. Giants: 9 TAR, 5 REC, 68 YDS, 1 TD
• Week 3 vs Bears: 9 TAR, 5 REC, 68 YDS, 1 TD
• Week 4 vs Packers: 11 TAR, 8 REC, 134 YDS, 2 TD
• Week 5 vs Jets: 4 TAR, 2 REC, 57 YDS, 1 TD
• Week 6 vs Panthers: 11 TAR, 9 REC, 168 YDS, 1 TD
• Week 7 vs Commanders: 6 TAR, 4 REC, 82 YDS, 0 TD
• Week 8 vs Broncos: 9 TAR, 7 REC, 78 YDS, 0 TD
• Week 9 vs Cardinals: 9 TAR, 6 REC, 79 YDS, 0 TD
• Week 11 vs Raiders: 11 TAR, 9 REC, 144 YDS, 1 TD
• Week 12 vs Eagles: 9 TAR, 9 REC, 146 YDS, 1 TD
• Week 13 vs Chiefs: 13 TAR, 6 REC, 88 YDS, 0 TD
• Week 14 vs Lions: 9 TAR, 5 REC, 37 YDS, 0 TD

Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans! 

This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Is George Pickens playing today? Update for Cowboys WR in Week 15

• Champions Cup live: Murley, Treadwell, Baxter & Delgado score first-half tries as Harlequins dominate Bayonne
• Champions Cup live: Castres 5-0 Edinburgh
• Champions Cup from 15:15: Northampton Saints v Bulls & Toulon v Bath
• Champions Cup from 17:30: Bristol v Pau
• Challenge Cup radio commentaries: Racing 92 v Exeter Chiefs followed by Dragons v Lyon

Champions Cup: Harlequins cruising against Bayonne, Edinburgh trailing Castres

The Eagles are 8-5 and the top team in the NFC, and are set to get their most important asset back in the lineup. Lane Johnson suffered an ankle injury early in the second quarter of Philadelphia's game against Detroit at Lincoln Financial Field.

Johnson was initially diagnosed with a Lisfranc injury, and the thought was that the Eagles' star right tackle could miss 4-6 weeks. Johnson will miss Sunday's game vs. Las Vegas, but looks on track to practice this week and face Washington in Week 16.

Today is Lane Johnson’s fourth game missed due to his foot injury, so a potential return next week for the #Eagles’ All-Pro is right on the expected timeframe. https://t.co/Y02TZPuDng

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) December 14, 2025

Johnson has missed games against Dallas, Chicago, the Los Angeles Chargers, and Sunday's game against the Raiders.

Johnson has been dominant.

Entering Week 11, Johnson was one of only two NFL tackles with a 0.0% knockdown percentage (0 sacks, 0 QB hits allowed), joining Tytus Howard.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Lane Johnson to return in Week 16 after missing four games

Along with the Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks game, what other Week 15 matchups should you have your eyes on?

We are entering the final month of the regular season, and the Colts are on the outside looking in at the current AFC playoff picture, so a little help along the way wouldn't hurt.

In the AFC South, the 8-5 Colts are one game back of the 9-4 Jacksonville Jaguars. They are also tied with the 8-5 Houston Texans.

The good news is that the Colts still play each of these teams twice, but Jacksonville and Houston losing before then wouldn't be a bad thing.

The Jaguars are at home against the Jets this week, while the Texans are at home against the Cardinals.

Along with Houston being head of the Colts in the wildcard race, so are the 9-4 LA Chargers and the 9-4 Buffalo Bills.

The Chargers are at Kansas City in Week 15, and the Bills are at New England.

Indianapolis Colts Week 15 playoff rooting guide

• Jets over Jaguars
• Cardinals over Texans
• Chiefs over Chargers
• Patriots over Bills

Week 15 AFC playoff standings

1. Denver Broncos 11-2
2. New England Patriots 11-2
3. Jacksonville Jaguars 9-4
4. Pittsburgh Steelers 7-6
5. LA Chargers 9-4
6. Buffalo Bills 9-4
7. Houston Texans 8-5

AFC South standings

1. Jacksonville Jaguars 9-4
2. Houston Texans 8-5
3. Indianapolis Colts 8-5
4. Tennessee Titans 2-11

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Indianapolis Colts Week 15 playoff rooting guide

Star linebacker Nick Bolton was included in the Kansas City Chiefs' final injury reports for Week 15.

Will Bolton be able to take the field to face the Los Angeles Chargers this afternoon?

Here's the latest update on Bolton's status:

Nick Bolton injury update

Bolton was dealing with an illness earlier this week and needed to miss Kansas City's practice session on Thursday. However, he was a full participant in the Chiefs' workouts on Wednesday and Friday.

How long will Nick Bolton be out?

Bolton was not given an official game status designation for Week 15 and is expected to suit up for Kansas City this afternoon. He should not need to miss any time due to his illness.

Chiefs LB depth chart

If Bolton is forced to the sideline in today's contest, the Chiefs will expect linebackers Drue Tranquill, Jack Cochrane, and Jeffrey Bassa to fill his place in Steve Spagnuolo's defense.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Nick Bolton: Will Chiefs' star LB play vs. Chargers in Week 15?

Great Britain and Northern Ireland's Megan Keith claimed silver behind Italy's Nadia Battocletti in the women's race at the European Cross Country Championships in Portugal.

Battocletti, who became the first woman in championship history last year to win individual titles at Under-20, U23 and senior level, won in 24 minutes 52 seconds.

Keith, who is from Inverness, crossed the line in 25:07 and Turkey's Yasemin Can was third in 25:13, while Great Britain were second behind Belgium in the team standings for the women's race.

In the men's race, Briton Scott Beattie had to settle for fourth, despite throwing himself across the finish line in a tight finish with Switzerland's Dominic Lobalu.

They were both given a time of 22:23 behind Spanish winner Thierry Ndikumwenayo, who clocked 22:05, and France's Jimmy Gressier, who was second in 22:08.

Britain's Innes Fitzgerald had earlier put in an impressive performance to win a third successive gold in the women's U20 race.

She won in 14:35, with France's Lucie Paturel second in 15:07 and Emma Hickey, 16, of Ireland third in 15:10 as Britain won the team event in the category.

A mixed relay team of Holly Dixon, Ava Lloyd, Callum Elson and Jack Higgins also won a medal as they claimed bronze behind winners Italy and second-placed Portugal.

Ireland's Nick Griggs won the U23 men's title.

No. 1 Tennessee (12-0) defeated Bowling Green (10-4), 21-15, in the national championship game at SaberCats Stadium in Houston, Texas. The Vols won their second rugby national championship in program history and first under head coach Scott Tungay.

Tennessee led the Falcons, 14-7, at halftime.

The Vols trailed Bowling Green, 15-14, with 10 minutes remaining. With a one-point lead and 10 minutes remaining, officials ruled Joey Apel scored a try for Bowling Green after a loose ball from a scrum. Tungay challenged the call and officials reversed Bowling Green’s score, allowing for the Vols to have a chance in coming back during the final 10 minutes.

Roman Funkhouser scored Tennessee's winning try with two minutes remaining to record a, 21-15, win over Bowling Green.

After the contest, Tungay discussed the final 10 minutes of the national championship game and him challenging Bowling Green’s score on “The College Rugby Show."

“I just knew if we didn’t do something in that corner, our boys have been in this place before and dug theirselves out, but if you’ve got that little flag – you throw it,” Tungay said. “The last 10 minutes was hard. Something’s going to happen, something’s going to happen, and the boys did it. I’m just so proud of them and what they brought this year.”

Tungay’s challenge in the national championship game can be watched below.

Tennessee head coach Scott Tungay’s challenge allowed for the Vols to win a championship in the final 10 minutes. pic.twitter.com/aAS0m8NQz1

— Dan Harralson (@danharralson) December 14, 2025

More: Tennessee rugby wins 2025 national championship

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

This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Coach's challenge detailed in Tennessee rugby national title game

The 2025 NFL season keeps being pushed forward by all 32 offensive lines across the league. That will resume on Sunday as the bulk of Week 15's schedule kicks off in the NFL.

While the flashy players are all throwing, catching, and running in all the touchdowns every week, there are those in front of them making the magic happen. Offensive lines need their love, too.

Where does your favorite NFL team rank, head-to-head, among all 32 O-line units in the league? We don't have hard stats to determine the best offensive line, but we have analytical ones.

Here's how all 32 NFL offensive lines rank heading into Week 15, according to Pro Football Focus:

32. Los Angeles Chargers (Down 1)

31. Las Vegas Raiders (Up 1)

30. Cleveland Browns (No change)

29. New Orleans Saints (Down 1)

28. Tennessee Titans (Down 1)

27. Arizona Cardinals (Down 4)

26. Miami Dolphins (Up 3)

25. New York Jets (No change)

24. Dallas Cowboys (Down 3)

23. Jacksonville Jaguars (Up 3)

22. Green Bay Packers (Down 2)

21. Minnesota Vikings (Up 3)

20. Kansas City Chiefs (Down 8)

19. Cincinnati Bengals (Up 3)

18. Carolina Panthers (Up 1)

17. Houston Texans (Up 1)

16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Up 1)

15. Baltimore Ravens (Down 2)

14. New England Patriots (No change)

13. Seattle Seahawks (Up 3)

12. Detroit Lions (Down 1)

11. Atlanta Falcons (Up 4)

10. New York Giants (No change)

9. Philadelphia Eagles (Down 4)

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (Up 1)

7. Washington Commanders (Up 1)

6. San Francisco 49ers (Up 1)

5. Buffalo Bills (Up 1)

4. Indianapolis Colts (Down 2)

3. Chicago Bears (Up 1)

2. Los Angeles Rams (Up 1)

1. Denver Broncos (No change)

This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: NFL Week 15: Ranking all 32 NFL offensive lines heading into Sunday

The final weeks in the NFL are coming in the 2025 season. And although the current NFL playoff picture is very much muddled, there are actual postseason spots up for grabs in Week 15.

Three teams this week have a chance to get into the playoffs if everything goes their way, with two in the AFC and one in the NFC, which shows you how tight everything is right now.

So it’s time once again for that always fun and sometimes complicated breakdown of what needs to happen for certain teams heading into this week. Let’s break it all down by team and scenario:

AFC playoff scenarios

The New England Patriots can clinch the AFC East if:

• They beat the Buffalo Bills on Sunday

The Patriots can clinch a playoff spot with any of the following:

• A win
• A tie and a Chargers loss
• A tie and a Texans loss/tie
• A tie and a Colts loss/tie
• A tie and a Jaguars loss
• A Texans loss/tie and Colts loss/tie (if both teams tie, that's no good)

The Denver Broncos can clinch a playoff spot with any of the following:

• A win over the Packers
• A tie and a Chargers loss
• A tie and a Jaguars loss
• A tie and a Texans loss/tie
• A tie and a Colts loss/tie
• A Texans loss/tie and a Colts loss/tie (if both teams tie, that's no good)

NFC

The Los Angeles Rams can clinch a playoff spot with:

• A win over the Lions

This article originally appeared on For The Win: NFL playoff scenarios for Week 15 for AFC and NFC teams

The New England Patriots will try to claim the AFC East throne in Sunday's Week 15 showdown with the Buffalo Bills.

This will be the much-anticipated rematch from the first meeting between the two teams back in Week 5, when the Patriots stunned the Bills in a 23-20 upset win on the road. Patriots second-year quarterback Drake Maye outdueled Bills MVP quarterback Josh Allen and picked up the team's biggest win so far this season.

And now the Bills are looking for revenge.

They could certainly get it if they beat the Patriots at Gillette Stadium and put an end to their 10-game winning streak. The Bills are coming off a 39-34 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, while the Patriots are fresh off a bye week. They handed the New York Giants a 33-15 loss when they were last in action in Week 13.

Stay tuned to this page on Patriots Wire for score updates and highlights from the game.

Game score

Patriots 0, Bills 0

What TV channel is Patriots vs. Bills football on today?

• TV channel: CBS | WBZ-TV Channel 4
• Streaming: NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube and YouTube TV | ESPN+ | Fubo (free trial)

The Patriots and Bills play Sunday in Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season. It's expected that Patriots rookie left guard Jared Wilson will return as a starter. However, running back Terrell Jennings has been ruled out (concussion) for the game, and linebacker Robert Spillane is questionable with a foot injury.

Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app, ESPN+ and Fubo, which offers a free trial.

Patriots vs. Bills football start time

• Date: Sunday, Dec. 14
• Time: 1 p.m. ET

The Patriots and Bills are slated to play on Sunday, December 14 at 1:00 p.m. ET. Foxborough will serve as the backdrop for the Week 15 game at Gillette Stadium.

Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots vs. Bills: Live updates, score, highlights from Week 15 game

The Cincinnati Bengals enter the Week 15 showdown with the Baltimore Ravens as slight underdogs at Paycor Stadium. 

It’s the second meeting in just 17 days for the fierce AFC North rivals. The Bengals remain ever-so-slightly alive in the playoff race at 4-9, while the Ravens hope to keep a division crown within reach at 6-7. 

For the Bengals, a path to the postseason exists because that AFC North is so miserable this year. It’s tiny, yet there: Joe Burrow’s team needs to win out and get some help. 

But a loss to the Ravens would put an end to things. 

RELATED: Joe Burrow's mindset, past frustrations with Bengals hinted in report

Two weeks ago now, Burrow stormed back earlier than expected from injury on Thanksgiving and delivered that memorable win over the Ravens in Baltimore. In the 32-14 beatdown, the defense appeared to have new life while he threw for two scores. 

But last week again Buffalo on the road, the Bengals blew a healthy lead courtesy of a pair of critical Burrow interceptions.

It was a good illustration of how razor thin the margin of error for the Bengals is once again. The team just couldn’t cobble together wins without Burrow this year and now he needs to play perfect ball again for them to have even the slightest of chances. 

Whether the Bengals can actually complete the season sweep of the Ravens is a tough call. Baltimore has lost two in a row, sure, but they were both AFC North bouts. Prior to that, they’d won five in a row after a bye week. 

Lamar Jackson has accounted for 2,060 passing yards and 16 touchdowns against five interceptions over 10 games. Derrick Henry is up over 1,000 yards again on a 4.6 per-carry average with 10 scores. 

Jackson, though, has battled injuries over the last few weeks and routinely doesn’t get a full week of practice now. That could be an x-factor in the freezing temperatures. 

This one might come down to game script. If the Bengals can run the ball well and somebody like Ja’Marr Chase can make a big play early, it lessens the chances Henry can start pounding the ball in a negative wind chill and take over the game. 

Just two games ago, it felt unlikely that the Bengals could win without Trey Hendrickson and Tee Higgins. They did anyway. Now they have to do it again. Let’s say the Burrow return boost propelled the team last time. This time? The threat of outright elimination. 

Prediction: Bengals 27, Ravens 20

RELATED: NFL insider floats idea of Bengals' Al Golden getting another chance

This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Final score predictions for Ravens vs. Bengals in Week 15

Dec. 14—MISSOULA — Get ready for Brawl II.

Michael Wortham caught two touchdown passes and ran for another score, Keali'i Ah Yat threw for 303 yards and three TDs and Montana swamped South Dakota 52-20 in an FCS quarterfinal game Saturday.

The No. 3-seeded Grizzlies' second straight 50-point outing gave them a chance to avenge their lone loss this season, a 31-28 setback to Montana State in the 124th Brawl of the Wild on Nov. 22.

The 12-2 Cats, who beat Stephen F. Austin 44-28 Friday night, host the 13-1 Grizzlies at 2 p.m. semifinal. It will air on ESPN.

Wortham was a marvel, at one point throwing a cross-field later to Eli Gillman to convert a third-and-20 Saturday. By the he'd moved past Marc Mariani for single-season all-purpose yards: He has 2,295.

"It feels good to see the things we practice work in the games," Wortham said. "We've got to keep it rolling; our job's not finished, and we've got the boys next week."

For the most part the Grizzlies were in command Saturday in front of 22,725 fans at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Wortham had 11 catches for 201 yards, with TDs covering 53 and 51 yards. Any hope the Coyotes had probably disappeared when Drew Deck tore off a Griz playoff-record 93-yard punt return in the third quarter.

But Montana had momentum throughout, taking the opening kickoff and driving 65 yards, the first 31 coming on a Wildcat run by Wortham. Deck — the Glacier product had his first two-touchdown day at UM — capped it with a 1-yard touchdown catch.

It became 10-0 after Jareb Ramos jarred the pass loose from LJ Phillips, Jr., on the USD star's third carry and Kenzel Lawler recovered for the Griz. Montana cashed that in for a 24-yard Jo Silver field goal.

A 13-play, 77-yard drive ended with a Gillman 1-yard TD run early in the second quarter, before Wortham split USD's coverage and caught a 53-yard score that put UM up 24-0 with 5:30 left in the first half.

South Dakota closed to 24-8 just before halftime, Phillips breaking loose on a fourth-and-1 for a 23-yard score. The Coyotes (10-5) had the ball to start the second half but went nowhere; they punted and Deck was able to exploit a gap in the coverage, make a cut near midfield and outrace two pursuers for UM's first special teams TD of the season.

"It was an adjustment at halftime of getting them a little different return than we gave them the first half, and kind of caught them," Montana coach Bobby Hauck said. "It was well-blocked and obviously Drew did a great job. You can't block everybody and he did a good job of getting it to the end zone."

It was 31-7, and Wortham's second defense-splitting TD made it 38-7 with 14:53 left in the game.

South Dakota — with Phillips in concussion protocol after two second-half carries — rallied, first getting a 69-yard, thought-he-was-down catch and run from Jack Martens, then a 91-yard drive that Aiden Bouman topped with a 20-yard pass to Tysen Boze.

With their lead cut to 38-22 and 8:42 left in the game, the Grizzlies tacked on two late TDs: An 11-yard run by Wortham and a 20-yard run by backup running back Hashim Jones.

Bouman threw for 231 yards, completing 15 of 32 passes against Montana's blitzing defense. His last attempt was intercepted by Peton Wing ahead of Jones' TD.

"I thought the second half we did a better job of understanding what they were doing up front," Bouman said. "But it just wasn't enough to get it done today."

"Too many explosive plays," first-year USD coach Travis Johansen said. "And I thought getting it to a two-score game with 8 minutes left, we could have got a stop, and I thought we might get an opportunity to make a one-score game late.

"Didn't get it done but I'm really proud of our football team."

Hauck is proud as well. He mentioned more than once in November the possibility of playing the Bobcats twice. The No. 2 and 3 seeds meet for the 125th time Saturday.

"We're going to enjoy this one, certainly," Hauck said. "It's a good win for us. And you know, we'll be excited to play (MSU), I guarantee that."

Dec. 14—GREAT FALLS — Cooper Pelc scored 15 points and Glacier had four players in double figures as the Wolfpack defeated Great Falls 60-43 in AA boys basketball Saturday.

Dylan Banzet added 14 points for the Wolfpack. Asher Knopik had 12, while brother Carter Knopik tallied 10 points. The win secured a split on the opening weekend for the Wolfpack, who move to 1-1.

Andrew Boutilier led all scorers with 23 points for the Bison. Elijah Campbell added 10 as Great Falls fell to 0-2 on the season.

The Wolfpack jumped out to a 17-11 lead after one quarter and held the Bison to just 18 points in the second half.

Glacier returns home for the first time this season Friday against Bozeman at 7 p.m. in the Wolf Den.

Glacier 17 15 13 15 — 60

Great Falls 11 14 10 8 — 43

GLACIER — Cooper Pelc 4 6-8 15, Ethan Kastelitz 2 0-0 6, Chase Sliter 0 0-0 0, Tate Kahler 0 0-1 1, Hudson Kastelitz 0 0-0 0, Talis Pitts 0 0-0 0, Hunter Daniels 0 0-0 0, Blake Pittman 1 1-2 4, Dylan Banzet 5 2-3 14, Asher Knopik 5 2-4 16, Carter Knopik 3 3-4 10. Totals 21 14-22 60.

GREAT FALLS — Andrew Boutilier 6 6-8 23, Zander Reeves 2 0-0 4, Zaiden Reeves 0 0-0 0, Jacoby Grealish 0 0-2 0, Cagen Getten 0 0-0 0, Noah Fleming 1 4-4 6, Jonah Perry 0-0 0, Elijah Campbell 5 0-1 10, L Kilian 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 10-15 43.

3-point goals — Glacier 7 (E Kastelitz 2, Banzet 2, Pittman, Pelc, C Knopik) , Great Falls 5 (Boutilier 5). Fouls — Glacier 18, Great Falls 15. Fouled out — none.

Dec. 14—GREAT FALLS — Ben Cunningham scored 13 of his 20 points in the first half to lead CMR to a 61-50 victory over Flathead in AA boys basketball Saturday afternoon.

Caleb Taylor added 10 points for the Rustlers, eight coming in the second half. Carson Pike, who hit a buzzer-beating three against Glacier Friday, and Miles Duda added 9 each.

Ben Reichner led the Braves (1-1) with 12 points, going 4-4 from the line and making two 3-pointers. Lance Schneller scored nine points, Max Shostak added another eight.

CMR (2-0) jumped out to a 17-12 lead by the end of the first period. By halftime, the Braves trailed 33-23.

Flathead scored 13 points in the third and fourth quarters. They finished the game 11-17 from the stripe.

The Braves return home next weekend to Gallatin on Friday at 7 p.m. and Bozeman on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Flathead 12 11 13 13 — 50

CMR 17 16 14 14 — 61

FLATHEAD — Sam McConnell 0 0-0 0, Benny Forman 0 0-0 0, Eli Coopman 2 1-2 5, Ollie Rosenberg 1 0-0 3, Ben Reichner 3 4-4 12, Lance Schneller 4 1-2 9, Karson Johnston 0 0-0 0, Hunter Fann 0 0-0 0, Reece Brotherton 0 0-0 0, Boston Case 2 1-2 6, Max Shostak 2 3-3 8, Kyler Kossman 3 1-4 7. Totals 17 11-17 50.

GREAT FALLS CMR — Blake Bendel 2 0-0 4, Roman Block 0 0-0 0, Drew Etcheberry 0-00-0, Jaxon Dixon 0 0-0 0, Caleb Taylor 5 0-0 10, Carson Pike 4 0-0 9, Ben Cunningham 8 2-2 20, Ethan Young 0 0-0 0, Ruben Chevis 2 0-0 5, Rochrich Soldano 2 0-2 4, Miles Duda 4 1-4 9. Totals 27 3-8 61.

3-point goals — Flathead 5 (Reichner 2, Rosenberg, Case, Shostak) CMR 4 (Cunningham 2, Pike, Chevis) Fouls — Flathead 13, CMR 16. Fouled out — none.

Dec. 14—MISSOULA — Of all of Michael Wortham's scintillating plays on a record-setting Saturday, perhaps the best was the hook-and-lateral on third-and-20 late in Montana's 52-20 FCS quarterfinal win over South Dakota.

Way behind the sticks because of a holding penalty and wanting to build on a 38-22 lead, Montana went to Wortham, who hauled in a 5-yard pass from Keali'i Ah Yat.

Wortham then flung a spiral across the field to Eli Gillman at the USD 47-yard line and Gillman, held in check in the run game, picked up 16 of what was a 21-yard gain down to the Coyotes' 29-yard line.

Three snaps later Wortham scored his third TD of the day, an 11-yard run.

But that lateral....

"Glad that was executed at that point of the game," Wortham said. "It was awesome."

"Scored on the defense (with it) during the spring game," Griz coach Bobby Hauck noted. "We practiced it with the lights out on Wednesday (a power outage hit campus)."

For the day Wortham had 269 all-purpose yards, including 43 rushing out of the Wildcat formation and 25 on kickoff returns. His season total of 2,295 surpasses Marc Mariani's 2008 total of 2,265.

"Mariani's going to call me and ask why he never got to play quarterback," Hauck said.

Is That Good?

Drew Deck's 93-yard punt return for a touchdown is not just the longest in UM's postseason history — Jefferson Heidelberger took one against Northwestern State on Nov. 30, 2002 — but the longest in the NCAA Playoffs ever.

The previous mark was 92 by Dejon Brisset of Richmond in 2016, against North Carolina A&T.

South Dakota coach Travis Johansen felt it was a back breaker, coming when it did and pushing UM's lead to 31-7.

"Got inside a little bit; we needed to get the ball closer to the sideline," Johansen said of the punt. "When he gets space and gets downhill, really from that point its people on blocks and a lot of open space."

Two Grizzlies have longer punt returns in the regular season: Mariani (2008) and Tuff Harris (2006) both had 94-yarders.

Hi-Jo Silver

For the second straight game junior Jo Silver handled place-kicking duties for the Grizzlies, supplanting senior Ty Morrison.

"He's been hitting it really, really well, like an All-American the last month," Hauck said of Silver. "And Ty has been a little bit of a slump and hasn't been hitting it well. "We aren't really quick to change guys at any position, and that one in particular, but it was time to do that. They're both competitive and want to be out there and you can see how they interact that they pull for each other."

After hitting an upright with his first PAT kick in last week's 50-29 win over South Dakota State, Silver has both his field goal attempts and 12 straight PATs.

Morrison remained the Grizzlies' punter and averaged 43 yards on two attempts with one inside the 20.

Somewhat Mutual

Hauck got philosophical when talking about this year's Grizzlies, who had a complete makeover on defense — all 11 starters — and have blended in veterans with transfers like Wortham.

Asked if he'd had time to enjoy the season, Hauck replied emphatically yes.

"I would say the reason for that is these are my dudes," he said, motioning toward Wortham and linebacker Caleb Otlewski. "I have great guys on this ball team and the only disappointment will be at some point this season is going to end. At the max we have two left.

"I love these guys, I love working with them every day. I think the feeling is somewhat mutual, occasionally. It doesn't have to be every day, that's not the way this works. But I love my guys, and I'm having a blast every day."

QUICK KICKS: Gillman managed 38 rushing yards on 18 carries, while L.J Phillips, Jr. Picked up 74 yards on 15 attempt before leaving the game. ... Jack Martins had three catches for 93 yards for USD. ... Otlewski had a game-high 10 tackles for UM. ... Prince Ford had Montana's only sack, for 1 yard. ... The Griz outgained the Yotes 449-353. ... 12 of USD's 15 first downs came after halftime.

Dec. 14—Margaret Schulte and the Bison took control in the third quarter and never looked back.

Schulte finished with 17 points, 14 coming in the aforementioned third frame and Great Falls pulled away for a 62-42 victory over Glacier in AA girls basketball Saturday at the Wolf Den.

"Hats off to Great Falls, they nailed some shots and they were just more aggressive," Glacier coach Amanda Cram said.

Scarlet Harris tallied 13 for the Bison, Kendall Gonser added eight.

The Wolfpack started strong, jumping out to a 10-6 advantage midway through the first quarter. Karley Allen scored eight in the first frame for Glacier. The senior finished with a team-high 11 points.

The Bison battled back to take their first lead at 19-18 as Gonser found the bottom of the net. Great Falls held on to a 23-22 advantage heading into the half.

"I was super pleased with our first half, I thought the girls executed, exactly what our gameplan was, more disappointed in our third quarter," Cram said. "The youth are not used to the type of energy we need to come out of halftime."

The Bison added the first four points of the third quarter before Olivia Warriner knocked down a 3-pointer to make it 27-25. Warriner had 11 points for the Wolfpack.

Great Falls took control from there.

The Bison sparked a 22-2 run to close out the frame, headlined by a 9-0 spurt for Schulte.

Harris got to the basket early in the fourth to give Great Falls its largest lead of the day at 55-30.

"If anything, this is going to make us more prepared for when conference play comes, that's why we just want to keep after it," Cram said.

Glacier cut the deficit down to 60-40 thanks to a pair of free throws from Clara Ahner, but the Wolfpack got no closer.

"We have had some good energizers from JV and we still need to develop them, but what I really enjoy is that it doesn't matter if it is a JV player or a varsity player, everyone is willing to do the work," Cram said.

The Wolfpack girls head on the road for matchups against Bozeman on Friday at 7 p.m. and Gallatin on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Great Falls 8 15 26 13 — 62

Glacier 13 9 5 15 — 42

GREAT FALLS — Aunika Clemons 1 0-0 2, Magaret Schulte 5 3-4 17, Ashley Little 2 0-0 4, Tatum Swingley 1 2-2 4, Steele Harris 6 1-10 13, Paetyn Mora 0 0-0 0, Kendall Gonser 3 3-5 8, Harper Dirk 1 2-4 4, Taylee Hodke 1 0-0 3, Mia Cerna 3 0-1 7, Aza Trombley 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 11-26 62.

GLACIER — Nika Wangerin 0 1-2 1, Lucy Holloway 0 0-0 0, Karley Allen 2 7-9 11, Miley Fritz 1 0-0 3, Remi Osler 3 2-4 8. Olivia Warriner 3 4-7 11, Alauna Hagen 0 1-4 1, Addison Brisendine 2 0-0 4, Ava Grady 0 1-2 1, Clara Ahner 0 2-2 2. Totals 11 16-28 42.

3-point goals — Great Falls 6 (Schulte 4, Hodke, Cerna) Glacier 3 (Allen, Fritz, Warriner). Fouls — Great Falls 23, Glacier 16. Fouled out — Dirk.

Dec. 14—Carrina Kaluza led all scorers with 24 points as CMR bested Flathead 60-46 in AA girls basketball on Saturday afternoon at Flathead High School.

Kieva Mapes scored 13 points for the Rustlers; Rilee Mares added seven.

Freshman Brynn Kossman led the Bravettes (0-2) with 15 points. Makenna Aldrich and Grace Gall each added eight. Caitlin Converse, who left early with a quad injury against Great Falls Friday, had seven.

The Rustlers (2-0) jumped out to a 13-5 lead after one quarter and extended their advantage to 35-21 at the half.

The Flathead girls travel next weekend to face Gallatin on Friday at 7 p.m. and Bozeman on Saturday at 1 p.m.

CMR 13 22 14 11 — 60

Flathead 5 16 19 6 — 46

GREAT FALLS CMR — Carrina Kaluza 7 9-12 24, Rilee Mares 3 1-2 7, Kieva Mapes 5 3-6 13, Kenna Christenson 2 0-0 5, Zoe Holm 3 0-0 6, Kayla Shultz 2 0-0 5, Ella Cran 0 0-2 0, Madeline Stump 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 13-22 60.

FLATHEAD — Reese Rosenberg 0 0-0 0, Makenna Aldrich 3 2-4 8, Teagen Flint 1 0-0 2, Gracie Mae Kilmer 0 0-0 0, Taylor Greene 0 0-0 0, Caitlin Converse 2 1-2 7, Grace Gall 2 3-3 8, Lexi Herion 1 4-6 6, Brynn Kossman 5 5-6 15. Totals 14 15-21 46.

3-point goals — CMR 3 (Kaluza, Christenson, Shultz) Flathead 3 (Converse 2, Gall) Fouls — CMR 18, Flathead 15. Fouled out — none.

The Los Angeles Rams enter Week 15 sporting one of the NFL's best records, 10-3. Despite this, they are well on their way toward landing a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The reason for this? The Atlanta Falcons traded their first-round pick for the upcoming draft as part of a 2025 NFL Draft trade. The Falcons moved back into the end of the first round to land edge rusher James Pearce Jr. while the Rams were content to move down and accrue some extra draft capital.

The move appears ready to pay off in spades for the Rams, as they will be poised to add a blue-chip player to an already championship-worthy roster during the 2026 NFL offseason.

Just how good will the Rams' pick be? The Falcons beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on "Thursday Night Football," which will make the pick more likely to stay at the latter end of the back 10 or just outside of it.

There are eight teams with three wins or fewer entering Sunday. Each could be in contention for the number one pick: the Tennessee Titans, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders and Cleveland Browns all enter Week 15 in possession of a top-five pick, but will they be able to say the same after the week is over?

Here's what to know about the 2026 NFL Draft order as the 2025 season enters the home stretch.

2026 NFL Draft order

Here's a look at the updated first-round order as Week 15 results come in, according to Tankathon, which calculates strength of schedule differently from the NFL:

1. New York Giants: 2-11 record; .532 strength of schedule
2. Las Vegas Raiders 2-11; .550 SOS
3. Tennessee Titans: 2-11; .575 SOS
4. Cleveland Browns: 3-10; .486 SOS
5. New Orleans Saints: 3-10; .498 SOS
6. Washington Commanders: 3-10; .511 SOS
7. New York Jets: 3-10; .540 SOS
8. Arizona Cardinals: 3-10; .570 SOS
9. Cincinnati Bengals: 4-9; .523 SOS
10. Atlanta Falcons (pick belongs to Los Angeles Rams): 5-9; .498 SOS
11. Minnesota Vikings: 5-8; .525 SOS
12. Miami Dolphins: 6-7; .484 SOS
13. Baltimore Ravens: 6-7; .509 SOS
14. Kansas City Chiefs: 6-7; .514 SOS
15. Dallas Cowboys: 6-6-1; .446 SOS
16. Carolina Panthers: 7-6; .516 SOS
17. Detroit Lions: 8-5; .498 SOS
18. Indianapolis Colts (pick belongs to Jets): 8-5; .518 SOS
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7-6; .511 SOS
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-6; .514 SOS
21. Philadelphia Eagles: 8-5; .491 SOS
22. Houston Texans: 8-5; .543 SOS
23. Chicago Bears: 9-4; .446 SOS
24. Buffalo Bills: 9-4; .466 SOS
25. Los Angeles Chargers: 9-4; .464 SOS
26. San Francisco 49ers: 9-4; .489 SOS
27. Jacksonville Jaguars (pick belongs to Browns): 9-4; .495 SOS
28. Green Bay Packers (pick belongs to Cowboys): 9-3-1; .475 SOS
29. Seattle Seahawks: 10-3; .484 SOS
30. New England Patriots: 11-2; .376 SOS
31. Los Angeles Rams: 10-3; .518 SOS
32. Denver Broncos: 11-2; .436 SOS

2026 NFL mock draft

This is how USA TODAY Sports' Ayrton Ostly projected the top five picks in his latest mock draft:

1. Tennessee Titans: LB/Edge Arvell Reese, Ohio State
2. New York Giants: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
3. New Orleans Saints: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
4. Las Vegas Raiders: QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
5. Cleveland Browns: QB Dante Moore, Oregon

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL draft order 2026: Updated first-round picks for Week 15

Elliot Powell says his Jersey Bulls side "got away with it" after three goals in the final quarter saw them beat Erith Town 3-1.

The visitors took a 58th-minute lead through Aaron Jeffrey before impressive youngster Stanley Dunne came off the bench to score his first goal for the Bulls with a fine individual effort nine minutes later.

Jonny Le Quesne hit the bar two minutes later before Lorne Bickley headed the islanders into a 73rd-minute lead.

The win was rounded off with an excellent Francis Lekimamati strike from around 45 yards as Bulls moved up to 11th place in Isthmian League South East.

"It was a very 'unlike us' performance for 60 minutes, we were pretty diabolical to be fair and I thought them scoring maybe just woke us up a little bit and after that it was much more like us," Bulls manager Powell told BBC Radio Jersey.

"We had some pretty tough words at half-time and we've got to start games a lot quicker than that.

"We've got away with it against a side that are obviously down near the bottom of the table, I thought they were compact, they were decent to be fair to them.

"But we're not going to get away with that against better sides so we're going to have to learn to start games a little bit quicker, but that last half an hour showed a lot of character, a lot of resilience and more importantly a lot of quality to get the three points."

Powell was also keen to praise Dunne, who was making just his fourth appearance for the island side.

"I thought he was excellent," he said.

"I said after about 10 minutes I thought he was going to get man of the match and every credit to everyone that's developed Stan to this point, notably his club St Paul's who have been fantastic with us in terms of how we can use Stan this year.

"He's obviously a big player for them and I think he's going to be a big player for us going forward as well.

"I think it's a good day for them as well because he's come on and has literally changed the game almost single-handedly at times. I think it was a very mature performance from a young lad."

Related internet links

• Jersey Bulls

Star wide receiver Rashee Rice was listed on all of the Kansas City Chiefs' injury reports this week ahead of the team's Week 15 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Will Rice's injury affect his ability to play against the Chargers this afternoon?

Here's the latest on Rice's status:

Rashee Rice status update

Rice is said to be dealing with a hamstring injury, but it didn't affect his ability to be a full participant in all of Kansas City's practice sessions in Week 15.

How long will Rashee Rice be out?

The Chiefs didn't give Rice an official game status designation on Friday, so fans shouldn't expect him to miss any time due to his hamstring injury.

Chiefs WR depth chart

If Rice needs to exit the field this afternoon, Patrick Mahomes will give more targets to veteran wideouts Xavier Worthy, Tyquan Thornton, and JuJu Smith-Schuster.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Rashee Rice injury: Will Chiefs WR play vs. Chargers in Week 15?

When Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters traded for left tackle Laremy Tunsil last offseason, it made waves across the NFL. Top left tackles are rarely traded, especially when they're in the prime of their career. What was wrong with Tunsil? Why did the Houston Texans trade him with two affordable years remaining on his contract?

While we may never know the exact reason, it's pretty clear Houston didn't want to pay Tunsil again. He'd already signed two contract extensions since the Texans acquired him in 2019 and would turn 31 just before the 2025 season began.

While the trade was costly from Washington's perspective, Tunsil has been as advertised and more. Not only does he remain an elite pass protector, but Tunsil's run blocking has also impressed the Commanders.

"To me, more than anything this season is just how he can move bodies in the run game," offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said last week. "I knew he was a dominant pass protector, but the run game of stuff has been phenomenal."

Tunsil has also been a great teammate, serving as a mentor for rookie right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. Coaches and teammates have noticed the work Tunsil has put in with Conerly.

"He's going to get a lot of money," Kingsbury said.

Uh oh, the pressure is on you, Adam Peters.

As for Tunsil, he knows how this works. He operates as his own agent. Of course, he expects to be paid.

"Whatever happens, happens,” Tunsil told Tashan Reed of The Washington Post recently. "Of course, I want to be paid. Of course, I want to stay with this organization.......When we get to the offseason, we can handle it."

Make no mistake, Washington didn't trade multiple draft picks to Houston for Tunsil not to extend him. He's been phenomenal, and the Commanders have the cash and cap room. They also have a young quarterback to protect in Jayden Daniels. While Daniels has been in and out of the lineup this season with injuries, don't blame Tunsil. A primary reason Peters traded for Tunsil was Daniels.

The 2025 season didn't go as planned for the Commanders. Almost everything has gone wrong except the acquisitions of Tunsil and Conerly. Washington's offensive line looks to be a building block moving forward. That's why the Commanders must extend Tunsil — and they will.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Laremy Tunsil wants and deserves to be paid

How will the New York Jets vs. Jacksonville Jaguars game look in Week 15?

Here are the uniform and helmet combinations both teams will wear on Sunday at EverBank Stadium:

Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4)

Note: Announced via the Jaguars' team website.

New York Jets (3-10)

Week 15 fit

tops: ⚪️ bottoms: 🟢 pic.twitter.com/SP5sXirqxJ

— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 11, 2025

This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Jets at Jaguars: What uniforms, helmets both teams wear in Week 15

Notre Dame star running back Jeremiyah Love was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, but on Saturday evening, he found out that Indiana’s quarterback Fernando Mendoza was the winner of the prestigious award.

The Irish back had the third most votes, only trailing the winner and Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, but was well behind both of them in the total points. Love did get 46 first-place votes, which showed that he impressed more than a few of the voters.

Two of the four finalists won’t be playing in the College Football Playoff, and three of the top-10. It’s unfortunate, as Pavia and Love were clearly two of the best players this fall, but neither will get a chance to play for a championship in what looks to be their final collegiate seasons.

Congratulations to Jeremiyah, for an amazing season, along withg what could be one of the best careers ever for a Notre Dame running back.

Final Heisman voting. pic.twitter.com/rH0HHVEapu

— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoATH) December 14, 2025

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen

This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Jeremiyah Love comes up short in his bid for the Heisman Trophy

Virgil van Dijk says Liverpool "are absolutely united and go forward as one" after Mohamed Salah returned to the squad for Saturday's win over Brighton.

Salah came off the bench for his first Liverpool appearance since claiming he had been "thrown under the bus" by the club following last weekend's 3-3 draw with Leeds.

The 33-year-old was left out of the squad for the midweek Champions League win at Inter Milan, but returned for the Brighton game following talks with manager Arne Slot and claimed an assist in the 2-0 win.

Salah joins up with the Egypt national team for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) on Monday and could miss up to eight Liverpool games if his country go all the way to the final on 18 January.

"We showed this week that we are absolutely united. We go forward as one," said Van Dijk, who made his 250th Premier League appearance for Liverpool on Saturday.

"Mo is going to Afcon and we all hope that he'll be successful there and he'll come back and be important for us for the rest of the season.

"The other side of it is that we all know football and we have no idea what is going to happen. I hope that he stays because he is one of my leaders and still very important for the football club. But there's more parties to this situation."

• Goodbye - but only for now? Salah signs off as questions remain
• 'Easy decision' to recall Salah says Slot

Van Dijk also praised Arne Slot for how he handled the events of recent days, with Liverpool now unbeaten in five games since losing to PSV at Anfield in the Champions League.

"I think he has handled the situation very well - calm in his own way and it's a very tricky situation," said the Netherlands defender.

"There's a lot of noise and pressure from the outside world and rightly so because we've not been up to the standard we've shown in the last few seasons.

"We've just got to keep going. He's at a club which is very together and that's how it has been before our time at the club, and that's something we have to keep going.

"We go through the good times together, as a team, as a club and as a fanbase, but sometimes when the difficult moments arise we also have to stick together. This moment of time is a very good moment to see how everyone responds."

• Latest Liverpool news, analysis and fan views
• Ask about Liverpool - what do you want to know?

Boss Rob Edwards has dismissed fears Wolves' wretched season will wreck his players' World Cup hopes.

The winless strugglers are bottom of the Premier League with just two points after a narrow 2-1 defeat by league leaders Arsenal on Saturday.

Joao Gomes has not played for Brazil since March while Norway's Jorgen Strand Larsen has just one Premier League goal this season.

South Korea's Hwang Hee-Chan has started just five league games this season while Ladislav Krejci holds ambitions with the Czechia, who are in the play-offs, and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde has qualified with Haiti

Santiago Bueno [Uruguay] and Jhon Arias [Colombia] are also hoping to go to the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada next year.

"There's been one or two who aren't playing saying: 'How can I get into the team? I need to play because there's a World Cup," Edwards said.

"But I don't think there's any of them thinking that [they will not go to the World Cup] because of the position we're in. They're still playing Premier League football. If they're at their level and doing their thing then there's no reason why they can't get selected for their national teams.

"There's no-one that's approached me because of the situation we're in."

Edwards also eased fears Wolves - who have not won in the Premier League since April - would look to sell off their best talent in January if they were preparing for relegation.

"That's not been communicated to me at all," he said. As I see it at the moment I don't think we're in that kind of position where we would have to be selling any of the 'better ones'. I don't think that's the case."

But the head coach confirmed Wolves are looking to move some players on as they look to recruit more Premier League experience next month.

He added: "It'll work both ways, there will be some people who will move on in January and we can freshen up. We need that, we can all see it.

"We're getting closer to a period of time where maybe we can make some changes."

Another 2025 NFL Sunday is here, this time in Week 15, with a full slate of games to watch and enjoy. That's right, it's time for some football!

And if you're here, you may be wondering who is calling the game you're watching. Fear not! We have answers.

Below is the list of all the Sunday games and their announcing teams in order of play-by-play announcers, analysts and reporters. We won't list the Monday games, because we know who usually does Monday Night Football for ESPN.

So, here it is: All the announcers for this Sunday! (All times listed are Eastern.)

Bills at Patriots, 1 p.m. on CBS

Ian Eagle, J.J. Watt and Evan Washburn

Cardinals at Texans, 1 p.m. on Fox

Chris Myers, Mark Schlereth and Jen Hale

Chargers at Chiefs, 1 p.m. on CBS

Kevin Harlan, Trent Green and Melanie Collins

Browns at Bears, 1 p.m. on Fox

Kevin Kugler, Daryl Johnston and Allison Williams

Ravens at Bengals, 1 p.m. on CBS

Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta and Aditi Kinkhabwala

Raiders at Eagles , 1 p.m. on Fox

Joe Davis, Greg Olsen and Pam Oliver

Commanders at Giants, 1 p.m. on Fox

Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma and Megan Olivi

Jets at Jaguars, 1 p.m. on CBS

Tom McCarthy, Ross Tucker and Tiffany Blackmon

Packers at Broncos, 4:25 p.m. on CBS

Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson

Titans at 49ers, 4:25 p.m. on Fox

Adam Amin, Drew Brees and Kristina Pink

Colts at Seahawks, 4:25 p.m. on CBS

Andrew Catalon, Charles Davis, Jason McCourty and AJ Ross

Panthers at Saints, 4:25 p.m. on Fox

Jason Benetti, Robert Griffin III and Sarah Kustok

Lions at Rams, 4:25 p.m. on Fox

Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi

Vikings at Cowboys, 8:20 p.m. on NBC

Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth and Melissa Stark

This article originally appeared on For The Win: NFL Week 15 announcers for Fox, CBS, NBC games in 2025

When it comes to the 2026 NFL draft, all bets are off for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They are set to have three or four significant needs that could take up their first-round pick. It will all depend on where the Steelers end up picking and which top prospects declare.

In a new three-round mock draft from Pro Football Network, the draft takes an interesting approach to the Steelers draft, and while it starts off strong, it takes some strange turns in the third round. Let's break down the picks.

First round - WR Makai Lemon - USC

Second round - QB Jayden Maiava - USC

This is a great start and a smart choice by the Steelers. Landing Lemon and Maiava in the first two rounds not only gives the Steelers one of the best pass catchers in the draft but also lands them a high-ceiling quarterback prospect who threw Lemon all those passes. Excellent start, filling two huge needs.

Third round - CB Daylen Everett - Georgia

Third round - WR Omar Cooper Jr. - Indiana

Third round - CB Malik Muhammad - Texas

This is where things go a little off the rails. We don't dislike any of the prospects selected but taking a second wide receiver and two cornerbacks doesn't feel like something the Steelers front office does and it doesn't hit the mark for some other top needs. Everett is an exceptional prospect and a great fit so we leave him at that first pick of the round but switch things up with the other two.

Instead of Cooper, I'd go with Cincinnati's Dontay Corleone to line up with Keanu Benton on on the inside of the defensive line or Florida State defensive tackle Darnell Jackson Jr. to be a potential replacement for Cameron Heyward down the road. Instead of Muhammad, we would have gone with Duke guard Brian Parker II to provide depth and develop into a starter.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Breaking down the Steelers picks in a new 3-round mock draft

The 2025 fantasy football playoffs are officially underway.

In the playoffs, start-sit decisions become significantly more magnified. Make the wrong call and your season could be over in the blink of an eye. To assist with your most difficult lineup decisions, you’ll find Week 15 fantasy football rankings below (scroll to the bottom for complete rankings). Toggle between standard, half PPR (point per reception), and full PPR to see where players rank in your league’s format.

Our team at the USA TODAY Sports Network also has you covered for all your fantasy football needs. Looking for up-to-date player news? We’ve got it. Be sure to check out the rest of our Week 15 fantasy content as well.

Start/sit: Overall | Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end

Analysis: 11 streamers for Week 15 | 13 risers and sleepers

Given the volatility of this league and fantasy football in particular, these rankings will be updated up to a half hour before the Sunday afternoon games kick off. Let’s get to it.

Week 15 fantasy football quarterback rankings: Top streamers

• Minnesota Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy at Dallas Cowboys - The idea of streaming McCarthy might make you want to vomit, but he is one of the best widely available options. McCarthy is coming off a 20.4-point performance against the Commanders in which he completed 70% of his passes and threw for three touchdowns. The 22-year-old has now amassed 16.7 or more fantasy points in four of his seven starts. In Week 15, he'll take on a Cowboys defense that's allowing 3.2 more fantasy points per game to the position than any other team in the NFL.
• Washington Commanders QB Marcus Mariota at New York Giants - Mariota has dropped at least 16.4 fantasy points in five of his six starts, including 18.7 and 24.3 in two of his last three. He's a top streamer against a Giants defense that's ceded more than 18 fantasy points to the position in seven of their last eight games.
• New Orleans Saints QB Tyler Shough vs. Carolina Panthers - Is Tyler Shough a legitimate streaming option in the fantasy playoffs? He might just be. The rookie has eclipsed 18 fantasy points in three of his last four outings. Last week saw him rack up a career-high 55 rush yards and two tuddies on the ground. In Week 15, Shough will face a Panthers defense that he tore up for 282 yards and two touchdowns in Week 10.
• Cleveland Browns QB Shedeur Sanders at Chicago Bears - Sanders was QB2 in Week 15, posting 393 total yards and four touchdowns on his way to 34.5 fantasy points. The rookie will have a chance to build on that performance in Week 15, against a Bears team that's surrendering the ninth-most fantasy points to the position this season.

Week 15 fantasy football running back rankings: Top streamers

• New York Giants RB Devin Singletary vs. Washington Commanders - In the four weeks prior to New York's bye, Singletary was fantasy's overall RB14, averaging 12.1 half-PPR points per game. The 28-year-old averaged 15.3 opportunities (targets + carries) in his final three games before the bye, and had reached double-digits in five consecutive games. This week, he'll take on a Commanders front that's giving up the second-most fantasy points to opposing runners since Week 4.
• Washington Commanders RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. at New York Giants - In 2025, only the Bengals are surrendering more fantasy points to opposing running backs than the Giants. New York is allowing an NFL-high 6.1 yards per attempt, and Rodriguez has recorded double-digit carries in four of his last five games. While the 25-year-old offers no value in the passing game, this defense has given up the second-most yards and sixth-most touchdowns on the ground to the position. If Rodriguez ends up being inactive, both Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols offer flex appeal.
• Los Angeles Rams RB Blake Corum vs. Detroit Lions - Corum erupted for 131 yards and two touchdowns on 13 touches last week, which means he might end up in a lot of lineups in Week 15. There is reason to exercize caution, however. Kyren Williams still had a strong lead in snaps (36 to 22) and routes (18 to 9). Additionally, the Rams will be taking on a Lions team that funnels to the pass. So far in 2025, the Lions have allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs and the second-most to wideouts. Starting Corum is one way to get exposure to one of the league's most potent offenses, but don't expect another explosive performance.

Week 15 fantasy football wide receiver rankings: Top streamers

• Carolina Panthers WR Jalen Coker at New Orleans Saints - Prior to Carolina's Week 14 bye, we saw Coker lead the team with six targets. Against a tough Rams secondary, Coker caught four of his six targets for 74 yards and a touchdown. The 24-year-old has now received at least four targets in four consecutive outings. Coker will be an intriguing flex option against a Saints secondary that has ceded more than 14 half-PPR points to 10 different receivers this season.
• Green Bay Packers WR Jayden Reed at Denver Broncos - In just his first game back last week, Reed returned to his regular role as the Packers' slot receiver. Despite playing just 43% of snaps, Reed finished just two routes behind Romeo Doubs for second on the team (17 to 19), and his six touches (four receptions, two carries) were the most behind only Josh Jacobs. A tough matchup with Denver awaits, but Reed's ceiling is high compared to most other widely available players at the position.
• New Orleans Saints WR Devaughn Vele vs. Carolina Panthers - Since New Orleans returned from its Week 11 bye, Vele has been the team's clear WR1B. This past week, the 28-year-old finished tied for the team lead in snaps (54) and targets (5), while ending up with just two fewer routes than teammate Chris Olave (22 to 24). Vele led the team in receiving for a second consecutive week, though his 3-40-0 line was a far cry from his 8-93-1 line in Week 13. The veteran will be a decent flex option against a Carolina team that's allowed double-digit half-PPR points to 10 wide receivers in as many games.
• New England Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte vs. Buffalo Bills - Boutte is the ultimate high-risk, high-reward flex play at wideout. In 10 healthy contests, Bouttle has posted at least 11.5 half-PPR points five times and fewer than six points on four occasions. He's a widely-available top-40 play against a Bills defense that's surrendered double-digit half-PPR points to 12 wideouts in 2025.

Week 15 fantasy football tight end rankings: Top streamers

• Baltimore Ravens TE Isaiah Likely at Cincinnati Bengals - In 2024, the Los Angeles Rams gave up a league-leading 15.9 fantasy points per game to tight ends. The 2025 Bengals are beating that number by an astonishing 8.2 half-PPR points. Cincinnati has surrendered 325 more yards and six more touchdowns to the position than any other team in the NFL. Meanwhile, Likely has out-targeted veteran Mark Andrews over the last two games, and he has outgained him by 64 yards. The 25-year-old could also easily have three touchdowns over those two contests. No one should be shocked if Likely finishes as a top-three tight end in Week 15.
• Cincinnati Bengals TE Mike Gesicki vs. Baltimore Ravens - Last year, in the five games that Tee Higgins missed, Gesicki averaged 7.2 targets, 62.4 receiving yards, and 10.8 half-PPR points. Fresh off a game in which he nearly doubled his season's output, Gesicki is a borderline TE1 with Higgins out of the lineup.

Week 15 fantasy football rankings: PPR and non-PPR

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins was a staple of the injury report all week before his team takes on the Baltimore Ravens in Week 15. 

Higgins re-entered concussion protocol to start the week, but practiced on a limited basis in batches, giving a little hope that he would be able to go against the Ravens. 

Those Bengals have a chance to keep slim playoff hopes alive with an upset of the visiting Ravens at Paycor Stadium. If not, they will be mathematically eliminated. 

Here’s the latest on Higgins. 

Tee Higgins injury updates

• The Bengals declared Higgins as out on the final injury report.
• Higgins self-reported concussion symptoms and entered protocol after the loss to the Bills last week. He left the game against the Bills multiple times for concussion checks. 
• Higgins missed Week 13 while in concussion protocol.

RELATED: Bengals end Jermaine Burton era, release former third-round pick

When will Tee Higgins return?

Impossible to say, given the fickle nature of concussions. The fact this is Higgins’ second trip to concussion protocol over just a handful of weeks is really concerning, at least from an outsider’s perspective. That made it pretty surprising that he was practicing even limited this week already. 

Bengals WR depth chart

• Ja’Marr Chase
• Tee Higgins 
• Andre Iosvias
• Charlie Jones
• Mitchell Tinsley

No more Jermaine Burton in Cincinnati (or anywhere), so the Bengals have just five players on the 53. Jordan Moore, Xavier Johnson and Kendric Pryor are on the practice squad and available. But Iosivas and Tinsley are the most likely to get major reps with Higgins out. 

RELATED: Bengals' head coaching situation getting some attention around NFL

This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Is Tee Higgins playing today? Latest updates on Bengals WR for Week 15

MIAMI — Gimmicks come with expiration dates, as the Miami Dolphins learned with the evolution and then devolution of their Wildcat, quarterback-free approach in 2008 and 2009.

Now the question becomes whether the Heat are on a similar timetable, eight weeks into the shunning of NBA staples such as pick-and-roll sets in favor of a constant-movement wheel of offense, drive-and-kick passing, pace-on-steroids.

For weeks, as the Heat’s high-octane act toured the NBA, the questions were constant of the dramatic deviation by coach Erik Spoelstra. Eventually, and somewhat sheepishly, Spoelstra asked the questioners simply go with his previous comments.

The intention never was to come off as the smartest man in the room.

And then came Tuesday night’s NBA Cup game in Orlando, with the question again parsed pregame.

“If you’ve noticed,” Spoelstra said candidly and frankly, “the last few games our offense hasn’t been that good.”

After a 15-0 start, it wasn’t good that night against the Magic, either.

With that loss, the 14-11 Heat are now idle until Monday night’s visit by the Toronto Raptors to Kaseya Center.

It is a week off that can create a mental reset amid a four-game losing streak.

Or should the reset be something greater?

Because, perhaps, the Heat should have seen this coming.

A year ago, the Memphis Grizzlies opened their season with a similar approach to the one adopted ahead of this season by Spoelstra. An architect there was offensive guru Noah LaRoche.

And where is LaRoche now? “He’s a part of our staff,” Spoelstra said.

Actually, it later was clarified that LaRoche is a consultant.

No matter, the common thread and common voice is there.

And how did it go last season for the Grizzlies? Hellbent on offense at the start of the season to the degree that the same questions fielded by Spoelstra over these first two Heat months were being fielded by Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins.

As in then-Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins. Because by season’s end, opponents had scouted the offense’s intricacies, the scoring stalled at moments of truth, and on March 28, Jenkins was ex-Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins, in a Memphis housecleaning that also had LaRoche cast aside.

The parallels certainly are there.

Among the reasons it went south for the Grizzlies was a defense that no longer could keep pace with the offense.

As in, perhaps, the Heat’s recent defensive regression (No. 20 in the NBA the past six games)?

Another reason? It left Ja Morant less than sated, his trademark pick-and-rolls legislated out of the Grizzlies’ approach.

As in, perhaps, Tyler Herro’s ongoing attempt to play as seamlessly in the new Heat offense as Norman Powell?

The Herro question stands particularly pertinent with him now back six games after missing the first 17.

If Herro was with the Heat from the outset, and if it was uneven with Herro at the October start, would an adjustment have come then, as it might need to now?

Granted, players have bristled for years over systems, including as Phil Jackson guided championship Bulls and Lakers teams with Tex Winter’s triangle principles.

But even then, there was accommodation.

For the Heat, breakneck could have its breaking point.

When it comes to distance run this season, the Heat went into this break second in the NBA at 17.6 miles per game and first in the league and first in average player speed of 4.6 mph. The other team in the Top 2 in each of those categories? The 6-18 Indiana Pacers.

So, yes, about more than a system.

With Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, the Dolphins’ Wildcat stood as the rage in the NFL.

Until it didn’t.

For this season’s first six weeks, it was all Heat hype.

Until it isn’t?

At his stubborn Heat coaching best, when his players failed his rigid principles, including lock-and-trail defense, Pat Riley’s answers were simple and to the point — do it better.

So now, with the LaRoche system, it could be the same with Spoelstra — do it better.

Or perhaps history should be the guide.

Recent history.

As in the 2024-25 Memphis Grizzlies.

No, Spoelstra isn’t going anywhere. And he is not nearly the same rigid, unbending sideline presence as at the start of his coaching tenure nearly two decades ago.

But the league is catching up, if it hasn’t already caught up.

Or, perhaps, this was the plan all along, to maximize the benefits of something different, and then tinker and refine from there, basically scout the other teams’ scouting.

“We’re not scoring in the 140s no more,” center Bam Adebayo said just ahead of his five-day break created by Tuesday night’s failure in Orlando. “That was fun. We were sharing the game, playing together. We have to figure out how to put points on the board.”

Or find another way to have fun, if necessary, to avoid the Grizzlies’ reality.

____

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to BBC Match of The Day: "It was a roller coaster. The longer the game went on, they had hope and we had to accelerate our game and take more risks.

"In the first half we created a lot of situations without any clear big chances. After scoring the goal we had a period of two minutes where we were deep and very passive and we conceded that goal and it was a very poor goal.

"We pushed and we found a way to score the goal with the connection between Gabi [Jesus] and Bukayo and delighted obviously because that was what we wanted."

What delighted you the most?: "At the end, the final reaction. But we know that it wasn't enough. We hadn't conceded a single shot in the box the whole match and then their first action we looked so passive and it was not at the level required to win the game comfortably."

But title winners find a way?: "We did find a way and that's a very positive thing, if not we'd be very frustrated and rightly so, but there are things to improve obviously and the match should have been bigger especially with what we produced in the game even though there are a lot of things to improve. But that's it - win the game and go on."

Arsenal captain Bukayo Saka, speaking to TNT Sports: "Yes, sometimes you need it [luck]. Today, it went our way.

"We will take the points and move forward. We won't know until May, but we can be happy tonight that we left with three points.

"Coming to the Emirates we want to make the teams know that it is going to be tough here and it is not going to be an easy game.

"It was frustrating at times, I'll be honest. The message to the boys was to stay patient and trying things - in the end we got our reward.

"It is high [morale] and we have a break now up until next week."

Did you know?

• Excluding penalties, Arsenal have scored more set piece goals than any other side in the Premier League this season (11), with a league-high nine of those coming from corners (9).
• Arsenal failed to register a shot on target in the first half of a Premier League game for the first time this season, and for the first time at the Emirates Stadium since December 2024 vs Manchester United.

St Erngat's Moneyglass manager Maxi Curran said he was confident that there is "more to come" from his side after their All-Ireland Ladies SFC final defeat against Kilkerrin-Clonberne.

Despite a solid first-half showing, the Antrim and Ulster champions were undone by a 15-minute scoring blitz from holders Kilkerrin in the second half as the Galway side triumphed 2-8 to 1-5 to collect their fifth successive All-Ireland title.

But Curran was encouraged by the showing from his young side in their first final against a strong outfit.

"It was disappointing, but we knew it was going to be a massive challenge. You don't go on a run of five years and 53-odd games unbeaten and not have a serious level of quality in their group and that's what they have," he told BBC Sport NI.

"Experience is a big thing and we didn't have very much of it and they have a bucketful of it, but ultimately their quality shone through in the end. We made too many unforced errors, whether that be nerves or what not but that was the difference.

"We made more mistakes, and they were clinical and whatever mistakes they did make we didn't punish them as they did to us."

• Holders Kilkerrin beat Moneyglass in All-Ireland final

'Hopefully it is the start of something'

Few would have expected the five-in-a-row Antrim champions to even reach the grand stage of Croke Park at the start of the year.

They finally claimed a first Ulster title in November with an emphatic 3-10 to 0-6 final victory over Errigal Ciaran.

With confidence high, they then sprung a surprise in the All-Ireland semi-finals as they edged past Kilmacud Crokes 1-12 to 1-10.

Overcoming fellow history makers Kilkerrin proved a step too far this year, but Curran was keen to reflect on a successful campaign and feels his players will be driven to come back stronger next year.

"Hopefully it is the start of something. It is a very young team and a very young group, and you'd like to think there is more to come," he continued.

"We're immensely proud of what the girls have done, they have brought a lot of pride to the parish, to Antrim and the province. It was a big scalp to get past Kilmacud and even Clann Eireann in the Ulster semi-final.

"When the dust settles and they look at their Ulster medals, hopefully they will feel proud of what they've done. Getting the Ulster monkey off our back was huge this year and that will surely give us a bit of confidence. I think the future is very bright for Moneyglass."

This is another big game at the bottom of the table.

I am so pleased for Leeds boss Daniel Farke because I was fed up with the rubbish being talked about how he cannot manage in the Premier League.

Leeds have had a tough run of games against Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool and it felt like there were people out there who were waiting and even wishing for Farke to fail, so he would be sacked.

I am delighted that it has turned out very differently. The performances, the guts, and the quality that Leeds have shown has been brilliant, even in defeat at City, and against Chelsea and Liverpool they have picked up points too.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin's goals have made the difference, and they will go into this game full of belief, and thinking they have got a real chance.

Brentford are still favourites, though, because their home form is so good - with five wins, a draw and just one defeat under Keith Andrews so far.

The Bees were pretty limp when they went to Spurs last week but on their own patch it is a different story. They have won their past three games there, against Liverpool, Newcastle and Burnley so, like Leeds, they will be full of confidence.

I remember Farke's last game as Norwich manager in November 2021, when his team beat Brentford but he was sacked a few hours later. This time, I am backing Brentford to win, but Farke's future should not be in doubt.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

I have backed against my old team Aston Villa in the past couple of weeks but they proved me wrong by beating Brighton and then doing the same to Arsenal.

Unai Emery's side just keep on going and keep on winning too, and they always seem to find a way to get over the line. They have won seven games in a row now in all competitions, and I think they are amazing.

I am not going to back against them this time, that's for sure. They have got a brush with Basel on Thursday but playing in the Europa League has not affected them too much recently.

West Ham have turned a corner under Nuno Espirito Santo, but so has Villa striker Ollie Watkins.

Watkins is starting to look more like his old self, and he could make the difference here to continue Villa's winning run.

Jarrod Bowen will ensure they don't have an easy game, but Villa have got enough goals right through their team to take the points even if Watkins doesn't score on Sunday.

I was absolutely delighted to see Emi Buendia get the winner against Arsenal. He has had a lot of injuries to contend with at Villa but I saw a lot of him at Norwich and he is a terrific player.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Sunderland have had the week off while Newcastle had to work so hard against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday, only to let their lead slip away late on.

Apart from their brilliant performance against Everton a couple of weeks ago, Newcastle's away form hasn't been great, especially straight after they've played in the Champions League.

I am expecting that pattern to continue on Sunday, and their fatigue is likely to be a factor in how this game goes because of Sunderland's intensity.

We saw against Arsenal how relentless Regis le Bris's side are. They bullied the Gunners, and it was amazing to watch.

Everyone talks about how Granit Xhaka has been phenomenal for the Black Cats, and he has been brilliant, but Noah Sadiki, who plays alongside him in midfield, has also been one of the signings of the season and deserves some attention too.

I am expecting this to be the best game of the weekend, and I am also expecting Sunderland to win it.

Some derby games can be hyped up and then end up being disappointing, but I can't see this one letting anyone down.

I love the way Eddie Howe sets Newcastle up too, and he is a brilliant manager, but the Black Cats will take the bragging rights.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

The playoffs don't officially start until January 10, but every game from here on out for the Ravens will have postseason implications as they try to chase down the Steelers in the AFC North. Baltimore travels to Cincinnati to battle the embattled Bengals (4-9) at Paycor Stadium (1 p.m. kickoff). This AFC North clash will be cold, and it'll feature two teams that remain in playoff contention, with Baltimore sitting one game behind 7-6 Pittsburgh, who defeated the Ravens, 27-22, last Sunday. Cincinnati is coming off a 39-34 loss at Buffalo.

The postseason script is real, with the Ravens set to play three of their final four regular-season games on the road: at Cincinnati, vs. New England, at Green Bay, and at Pittsburgh.

Tee Higgins is out

In fairness, Higgins missed the first matchup, but Zach Orr has to have a scheme set up to limit Ja'Marr Chase, who has dominated the Ravens.

Joe Burrow isn't having fun

“If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing this,” Burrow said. “I have been through a lot. If it’s not fun, then what am I doing it for? That is the mindset I am trying to bring to the table.” Those were Burrow's words following a recent practice. No, he's not retiring or requesting a trade, but Sunday offers another opportunity for Baltimore to make Burrow feel even worse.

Ravens control their own destiny

The Ravens face the Bengals, Patriots, Packers, and Steelers down the stretch. They likely need to win out, definitely need to defeat the Steelers, and can not afford a loss to Cincinnati.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: 3 reasons for optimism as Ravens battle Bengals in Week 15

IndyStar is expanding #AskJoel off X at halftime to the Indianapolis Colts' entire game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday here at IndyStar.com.

The Colts (8-5) are coming off a devastating loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars that including a season-ending injury to quarterback Daniel Jones. Are you ready for 44-year-old grandpa Philip Rivers, who has been retired for 5 years, to start and face one of the NFL's best defenses? We'll find out if that's what's happening starting at 4:25 p.m.

#AskJoel his thoughts on Philip Rivers and the Colts fast dwindling playoff hopes. Start asking IndyStar Colts Insider Joel A. Erickson your questions now and he will answer them during the game and provide expert commentary right here:

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Philip Rivers: Ask IndyStar's Joel A. Erickson about the Colts vs Seahawks game

IndyStar is expanding #AskJoel off X at halftime to the Indianapolis Colts' entire game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday here at IndyStar.com.

The Colts (8-5) are coming off a devastating loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars that including a season-ending injury to quarterback Daniel Jones. Are you ready for 44-year-old grandpa Philip Rivers, who has been retired for 5 years, to start and face one of the NFL's best defenses? We'll find out if that's what's happening starting at 4:25 p.m.

#AskJoel his thoughts on Philip Rivers and the Colts fast dwindling playoff hopes. Start asking IndyStar Colts Insider Joel A. Erickson your questions now and he will answer them during the game and provide expert commentary right here:

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Philip Rivers: Ask IndyStar's Joel A. Erickson about the Colts vs Seahawks game

It's not a stretch to say the Detroit Lions built much of their offense around one trade.

In arguably the biggest transaction in franchise history, the Lionstraded franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford on Jan. 30, 2021, in exchange for quarterback Jared Goff, first-round draft picks in 2022 and 2023 and a third-round pick in 2021.

It seemed to be a straightforward swap at the time, with two franchise quarterbacks switching teams and the Lions getting critical draft capital in return. But the Lions used the extra picks to make more big deals, turning the original blockbuster trade into a franchise-altering one.

Let's take a look at what the Lions ultimately received in exchange for Stafford.

QB Jared Goff

The biggest chip for the Lions in the trade was Goff – a player the Rams were eager to get rid of.

The four-time Pro Bowler has since played his best football in Detroit, throwing for at least 29 touchdowns passes in each of his last three seasons (and on his way to hitting that marks in 2025) and finishing fifth in the NFL MVP vote in 2024.

Goff had some initial hard feelings about being sent off "to die" in Detroit, but has since called the trade "the greatest thing that ever happened to me." He has started every game over the past four seasons (68 including playoffs).

[ How Lions kept Matthew Stafford trade request secret in critical time ]

S Ifeatu Melifonwu

Melifonwu was taken with the 2021 third-round pick the Lions got from Los Angeles, selected No. 101 overall out of Syracuse. Melifonwu started 11 games combined in his first three seasons with Detroit from 2021-23, posting his best season in 2023 with two interceptions, three sacks, eight passes defended and 33 tackles.

Melifonwu dealt with injuries throughout most of the 2024 season, however, and only appeared in three games that year. The Miami Dolphins signed Melifonwu during 2025 free agency.

WR Jameson Williams

The Lions used the 2022 first-round pick from the Super Bowl champion Rams, No. 32 overall, to package in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings. They moved up 20 spots and selected Williams at No. 12 overall.

Williams has delivered on his promise over his past two years in Detroit after injuries and suspensions cut his first two seasons short. Williams put up a 1,001-yard season with 58 catches and seven touchdowns in 2024, and is on his way to break the 1,000-yard mark once again in 2025.

He signed a 3-year, $83 million contract extension with the Lions in September.

DE Josh Paschal

As part of the trade with the Vikings, the Lions also landed Minnesota's second-round pick in the 2022 draft, No. 46 overall, which the Lions used to select Paschal.

Paschal gradually became a fixture on the defensive line, starting four games in each of his first two seasons (2022 and 2023) and 10 in 2024. Paschal has not appeared for the Lions in 2025, however, after a back injury suffered in the spring has kept him on the sidelines.

RB Jahmyr Gibbs

With the Rams going 5-12 in 2022 and handing over the No. 6 overall pick, general manager Brad Holmes maneuvered around the draft board once again. He sent that pick and a third-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for picks 12, 34 and 168.

The Cardinals took offensive tackle Paris Johnson at No. 6, while the Lions used the No. 12 pick on Gibbs, a selection many experts questioned at the time. That skepticism has mostly worn off this year.

Gibbs has been one of the best player in the NFL in his third season, currently second among all running backs in total touchdowns (16) while averaging 134.7 total yards per game. He has set records all throughout his young career, and enters Week 15 against the Rams tied with franchise legend Barry Sanders for the most touchdowns in NFL history before turning age 24.

TE Sam LaPorta

Not finished by a long shot, the Lions selected LaPorta with the 34th overall pick out of Iowa in the 2023 draft, a pick they got from the deal with Arizona.

LaPorta immediately set the NFL record for most receptions by a rookie tight end in a season (89), caught 10 touchdowns. and was named to the Pro Bowl. He has been out since mid-November after undergoing surgery on his back after an injury in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

DT Brodric Martin

The last player the Lions selected using capital involved from the Stafford trade was Martin, picked 96th overall out of Western Kentucky in the 2023 draft.

Martin struggled getting on the field in his first two seasons with Detroit, making only one start and five appearances from 2023-24. The Lions waived Martin before the 2025 regular season began after an ineffective preseason, and after a stint with the Kansas City Chiefs, he currently plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Need to catch up on the news during your lunch break? Sign up for our Sports Briefing newsletter to get daily summaries of Detroit sports!

You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Matthew Stafford trade: Lions got big haul in Rams deal for Jared Goff

LEXINGTON — After Adolph Rupp, Rick Pitino might be the best coach in Kentucky basketball's rich history.

Or it could be John Calipari.

Pitino's winning percentage (81.4) is second only to Rupp (82.2). But Calipari, who stayed nearly twice as many seasons (15) as Pitino (eight) at UK, leads his coaching rival in total victories (410 to 219) as well as Final Four appearances (four to three). Pitino and Calipari won one national title with the program.

Had Pitino not departed Lexington for the NBA in 1997, he undoubtedly would have added to his sterling legacy with the Wildcats. Instead, he returned to the college game in 2001 — at Kentucky's in-state rival Louisville, no less.

Pitino and the Cardinals clashed with Calipari's Cats 10 times (UK held an 8-2 edge in those bouts) before the former's tenure came to an end in 2017. Kentucky has won two-thirds of its games against Pitino (12 of 18) as the opposing coach.

Now, with Pitino guiding St. John's and preparing to face UK — led by one of the captains of his national-title-winning 1995-96 squad, Mark Pope — on Dec. 20 in this year's CBS Sports Classic in Atlanta, we look back at the most memorable matchups between the Wildcats and their legendary ex-coach:

Kentucky basketball history vs. Rick Pitino

Memorable games

Dec. 21, 2016: Louisville 73, Kentucky 70

Synopsis: No one could have known at the time. But this was to be the last Battle of the Bluegrass with Pitino in charge of Louisville. He was dismissed less than 10 months later amid a recruiting scandal. But what a game this was. Ten ties. Nine lead changes. And an unlikely hero for UofL: Quentin Snider. In his two previous meetings with UK, he didn't score a point. In this victory, which snapped a four-game skid in the series for the Cards, he exploded for a career-high 22 points, helping the hosts fend off the Cats.

Dec. 29, 2012: Louisville 80, Kentucky 77

Synopsis: After Calipari assumed the reins in Lexington ahead of the 2009-10 season, he immediately changed Kentucky's fortunes against Louisville. Prior to his arrival, the Cardinals had won back-to-back games over the Wildcats and four of seven dating to 2002. Calipari won his first four games as UK's coach versus Louisville. That's why this contest meant so much for Pitino's program. It ended the four-game slide in the in-state rivalry — and occurred in the same season the Cardinals won their third national title (which has since been vacated, though calls remain to return the championship banner to the rafters of the KFC Yum! Center). UofL held on for a three-point win at home behind a trio of double-digit scorers: Russ Smith (21), Chane Behanan (20) and Peyton Siva (19). It also was a day Gorgui Dieng never will forget — not as much for his play as for what occurred off the court. He scored six points and pulled down seven rebounds (tied for the team high). More importantly, his parents, Momar Dieng and Seynabou Diagne, sat only six rows behind Louisville's bench, the first time they watched their son in person in a college basketball game.

March 31, 2012: Kentucky 69, Louisville 61

Synopsis: Without question, this was the biggest game in the history of the UK/UofL rivalry. It's the only time they've met on the grandest stage in the sport. It was the second time Pitino and Calipari squared off in the Final Four. Pitino's Cats downed Calipari's Minutemen, 81-74, on March 30, 1996; UK went on to win it all. Calipari avenged that loss almost 16 years to the day. UK's superstar forward, Anthony Davis, tortured UofL on this New Orleans night, posting a double-double (a game-high 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field and grabbing 14 rebounds, another game high) to go along with five blocks. UofL outrebounded UK, 40-33; that included a 19-6 advantage in offensive boards. But the Wildcats were simply too tough, leading by as many as 13 in the second half. The Cards didn't go down quietly, however, ripping off a 15-3 run to knot the game at 49 with 9:11 remaining. Kentucky made more plays down the stretch, though, advancing to the national title game for the first time since its previous championship in 1998.

Jan. 2, 2010: Kentucky 71, Louisville 62

Synopsis: Pitino and Calipari already had faced each other 13 times as college coaches — five times when Pitino was at UK while Calipari led UMass, then eight more meetings when Pitino took over at UofL while Calipari guided Memphis. Not to mention six tussles when they were NBA coaches (Pitino with Boston and Calipari with New Jersey). But this contest marked their first time on opposing sidelines in the Bluegrass State's marquee series. To say it was intense was an understatement. The teams combined for five technical fouls. It also was sloppy: The squads combined for 37 turnovers. Freshman big man DeMarcus Cousins came up big for Kentucky: 18 points, 18 rebounds. Both game highs. Teammates Patrick Patterson and John Wall had 17 points apiece to help the Wildcats improve to 15-0.

Dec. 29, 2001: Kentucky 82, Louisville 62

Synopsis: This one speaks for itself. Recalling this game, Pitino earlier this year said it was "the toughest day of my coaching career" with the Cardinals. "I had to walk into Rupp Arena (for the first time with UofL). I tried not to show it," he said, referring to the scorn the home crowd showered upon him. That was about as memorable as the game got. Though the Cardinals trailed by only four points (36-32) at the break, the Wildcats dominated the second half en route to a 20-point win.

The pregame scene the last time a former Kentucky coach returned to Rupp…

How different will Caliparis “welcome back” be? pic.twitter.com/aeKcqUGZuC

— Kentucky Bias (@kentuckybias) January 29, 2025

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball game St. John's, UK history versus Rick Pitino

Sam LaPorta’s season is pretty much over.

Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell said Friday, Nov. 21, that LaPorta underwent back surgery and likely will miss the rest of the year, including Sunday's game against the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California..

“So look, Sam did have a procedure and he's going to be out for a while,” Campbell said during his press conference in Allen Park. “A while. I think we would be fortunate to have a chance to get him back for the rest of the season, at some point. I think that's very, very slim.”

ANOTHER OPTION How Detroit Lions WR Tom Kennedy has overcome odds to stick in NFL

LaPorta injured his back in the Lions’ Nov. 9 win over the Washington Commanders, was placed on injured reserve and missed a Nov. 16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Brock Wright is recovering from a trachea injury and not expected back until the playoffs, and Shane Zylstra, out for weeks, was listed as questionable on Friday, and activated from IR on Saturday. He and Anthony Firkser – with two catches for 11 yards in three games – are the only tight ends on the Lions' 53-man roster entering Sunday's game.

LaPorta is fourth on the Lions with 40 catches for 489 yards and three touchdowns and has been a key red-zone and third-down threat this year.

HELLO AGAIN: Matthew Stafford still remembers many Lions fans didn't want him

Lions TE depth chart

Here's the Lions' roster of tight ends for Sunday's game against the Rams:

• Anthony Firkser.
• Shane Zylstra.
• Zach Horton (practice squad).

LaPorta, who turns 25 in January, set a then-rookie record with 86 catches as a second-round pick out of Iowa in 2023.

He is eligible for a contract extension this offseason and considered one of the Lions’ core homegrown players.

“The good news is the procedure went really well, long-term,” Campbell said.

Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Sam LaPorta injury update: Will Detroit Lions TE play vs Rams?

The Arizona Wildcats proved why they're the No. 1 ranked team in the country Saturday night at Legacy Arena in Birmingham. Arizona turned a two-point deficit at halftime into a second-half rout of the 12th-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide in a 96-75 blowout.

Alabama (7-3) overcame a seven-point deficit early and took the lead on a 3-pointer from Labaron Philon with inside of 11 minutes to play. Latrell Wrightsell's tray briefly pushed the Crimson Tide lead to seven at 37-30.

It was a former Alabama player who helped Arizona fuel a 9-0 run. Jaden Bradley knocked down three shots in a row as the Wildcats caught up with the Tide in the final two minutes of the half.

Arizona (9-0) pounced after intermission. A 14-2 run to open the second half gave the Wildcats a 53-45 lead they would never relinquish -- and one they pushed to as many as 24 in the final minutes.

Alabama was simply manhandled on the boards, being out-rebounded 52-32, including 22-3 in offensive rebounds. Brayden Burries led the Wildcats with 28 points, and Motiejus Krivas added 14 to go with 14 rebounds. Tobe Awaka pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds in 23 minutes.

"We've got rebounding issues," Alabama coach Nate Oats said after the game. "Until we fix them, we're not going to be able to beat a good team."

Philon led the Crimson Tide with 24 points to go with 10 rebounds, and Wrightsell scored 21. Alabama's next highest scorer was forward Taylor Bol Bowen with eight points.

After the game, Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd met with reporters to discuss his team's 21-point win over the Crimson Tide. Here's what the fifth-year Wildcats coach said about Alabama.

Tommy Lloyd reflects on Arizona win over Alabama basketball

"A great environment. Thanks to the University of Alabama and Birmingham. You guys, you brought a great crowd and it was a ton of fun competing here. Obviously, you could say that after a win, but I would have said it after a loss, too. So, it was fun coming down here and seeing everybody come out and watch two really strong programs go at it."

Tommy Lloyd thanks Nate Oats after Arizona basketball win over Alabama

"I'm thankful for Nate for giving us the opportunity and scheduling the series with us. Hopefully, maybe we can continue something like that in the future. I mean, he's a hell of a coach."

'No revenge': Tommy Lloyd asked about former Alabama player Jaden Bradley making big impact in Arizona win

Bradley finished the night with 13 points, five rebounds, and seven assists in 31 minutes against his former team.

Lloyd said of Bradley afterwards:

"You know, Jaden didn't have a bad experience at Alabama. And Jaden's such a good guy. It's just, I think if you guys did a little research, we literally, in the last three years, we probably have a top 25 transfer team-from-Arizona players out there. It's just kind of what happens this day and age. So, there's no ill will towards anything. I mean, we didn't even talk about it. And obviously, Jaden is so steady as a person that he came back here and just played his normal game. He's not going to try to do anything over the top. There was no revenge or anything like that."

Tommy Lloyd on Arizona out-rebounding Alabama basketball

Arizona out-rebounded Alabama, 22-3, on offensive boards. Lloyd was asked if he'd ever part of a game with such a discrepancy.

"You coach and you play in so many games, I don't know. But we really wanted to come out and we wanted to put it to them on the glass. We feel like we have an advantage there on most nights, and I think we were plus-20 on UConn a few weeks ago. Now, they were missing one of their big guys, so let's factor that in, as well. We knew a theme for the week for us was early energy, early effort. Because against Alabama, you have to start your possessions like that. You can't ease into anything.

"And then the word we really hammered in on them was endurance. You have to have competitive endurance against a team like that because they just keep coming at you, coming at you, coming at you. Our guys, I thought they did that, and then we were able to kind of ... the game started OK. They made a little run. I felt like the place got going a little bit.

"We didn't say anything crazy at halftime. Just, 'Hey, let's see if we can come out and land the first punch and see what happens.' Fortunately, we landed a few haymakers, made some defensive plays. Obviously, Brayden got in his own little flow, and it was pretty special."

Watch Tommy Lloyd's full postgame press conference below.

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

This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Arizona basketball coach Tommy Lloyd speaks out after win over Alabama

Earlier this season, the New York Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll after no progress or improvement had been made since his first season. He did take the team to the playoffs once, but failed to make it past the divisional round.

The Giants are gearing up to play the Washington Commanders this week, and the organization is also considering who they want to interview for the vacant head coaching position. Names like interim head coach Mike Kafka, Buffalo Bills' offensive coordinator Joe Brady, and former Giants' defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo have all been speculated about.

Dianna Russini of The Athletic now reports the Giants have compiled a list of early candidates, and among them is Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman.

The New York Giants have a list of candidates for their head-coaching vacancy. I’m told the names on it include Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak … and Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman.

I also expect Freeman to garner interest from other NFL organizations. The 39-year-old has spent the past four years leading Notre Dame, taking the Irish to the national championship game last season. Last December, he agreed to a lucrative contract extension through 2030. And though he has never coached in the NFL, his leadership, people skills and ability to thrive in one of the most high-profile jobs in the country are what’s drawing the interest of general managers and owners.

Jeff Hafley, Lou Anarumo, Kliff Kingsbury, and Klint Kubiak are all well-known names in the NFL. They all have solid histories in their roles and are looking to make the jump to (or back to) head coach. Any of them could be a fit, should they choose to interview with the Giants.

Marcus Freeman, though, is definitely garnering interest from the NFL after how he's led his Notre Dame team since being hired in 2021. They made it to the National Championship in 2024, but were snubbed from the playoffs in 2025 (which many disagree with). He has handled everything thrown at him with poise and grace, but the NFL is a different beast than college.

Freeman knows this, as he had a brief professional career before being diagnosed with a heart condition that forced him to retire without seeing the field. However, his knowledge of the game and his ability to get players to buy in is something the Giants desperately need. He has not said he has intentions of leaving Notre Dame, but that doesn't mean teams won't be reaching out.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants' coaching list includes Marcus Freeman, Lou Anarumo

NEWARK – The basketball was loose under Seton Hall’s basket. Najai Hines threw his 6-foot-10, 265-pound body on the floor, hitting the Prudential Center’s hardwood with the ferocity of an anvil dropped from a skyscraper. He beat two Rutgers players to the ball, tipping it to an open teammate.

There were many sequences in Saturday’s Garden State Hardwood Classic when Hines – a freshman center out of Plainfield High School – played with a pride that seemed personal as the Pirates thumped the Scarlet Knights 81-59. But that one was the quintessence of selfless effort, because it won’t show up in a box score or on a metrics analyst’s spreadsheet.

“It’s amazing to watch, honestly,” Hal point guard Budd Clark said. “It’s amazing to play with him. He’s a monster.”

In just 22 minutes of action, Hines tallied 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting and grabbed six rebounds – five offensive – while blocking four shots.

In one particularly telling sequence, he ripped an offensive rebound out of the hands of Rutgers center Emmanuel Obgole and bullied past the 6-10, 260-pound postgrad for a bucket.  

“He gets us wanting to play with the same intensity he does,” Hall guard A.J. Staton-McCray said. “He gives us that juice, gives us that energy.”

He also gave it to the crowd, which cheered every hustle play from all the Pirates – and there were plenty – but roared a bit louder when the big fella made them.

“That’s probably the biggest crowd I’ve ever played in front of,” Hines said. “Seeing all those faces cheering us on, it’s a great feeling on top of playing basketball.”

College basketball fans don’t obsess over where their players come from, as long as they can play, but when a hometown kid succeeds, it means a little bit extra. When asked if he brought a hometown edge to the battle for Jersey bragging rights, Hines didn’t want to go there.

“This is how I should be every night,” he said. “Every practice, every game, whatever it is, this is how I should be. I just did what I was supposed to do.”

Hall coach Shaheen Holloway pushed that button hard last week as Hines dragged in practice.

“Even today in the walkthrough, I got into him, and I thought he came out and responded,” Holloway said. “I want him to play the way he’s capable of playing, just being physical and throwing his body around.”

Leading into the Rutgers game, Holloway identified Obgole as a pressure point he wanted squeezed.

“He’s a big kid, right?” Holloway said. “So I told (Hines), ‘You’re gonna have to match his intensity. I watched him and the games he played well, (Rutgers) played well.’”

Hines erased Ogbole, who is six years his senior, and you get the feeling he is just scratching the surface.

The Big East is on notice.

Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996 and the college basketball beat since 2003. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: After beasting Rutgers, Seton Hall's 'monster' puts Big East on notice

Sherrone Moore started out looking calm, breaking into an easy smile, standing on a football field, wearing a Michigan cap, staring into a TV camera — the moment most of America was introduced to him.

“First on the win, to say this has been a crazy 24 hours for your guys,” Fox sideline reporter Jenny Taft said after Michigan football beat Penn State on the road on Nov. 11, 2023. “To win on the road, in this environment, when there were doubts — Sherrone, what does it mean to you?”

Then, it was like a flip was switched. Moore was overcome with emotion and started wiping tears.  "I want to thank the Lord," Moore said. "I want to thank coach (Jim) Harbaugh."

Harbaugh had missed the game as part of a three-game suspension by the Big Ten, a couple weeks after the public learned about the Connor Stalions sign-stealing scandal. Barely 24 hours before the game in Happy Valley, Moore had been named acting head coach.

"I (expletive) love you man,” Moore said, his voice cracking. Now, he was sobbing. “I love the (expletive) out of you man.”

Moore jabbed his finger at the camera and his tone shifted again: “We did this for you!”

Blake Corum, the star Michigan running back, walked up and they slapped hands. Moore kept sobbing. He wrapped his arm around Corum, hugging him around his neck. “These guys did it man,” Moore continued, his voice cracking. “Talk to him, man. Love you.”

Moore spun and walked off. At the time, his raw emotion seemed endearing.

But now, after a week that saw Moore go from discussing a Citrus Bowl opponent to sitting for an arraignment in district court on Friday, Dec. 12?

Everything feels different. Everything looks different, even that video. Now, it’s difficult to watch, and it's disturbing seeing somebody melt down on national TV, unable to maintain any sense of composure, overcome with emotion.

Seventy-six days after that postgame moment with Taft, Moore was named the school’s 21^st football coach. The feeling was, Moore would continue what Harbaugh had built, just like he did in that game.

But Moore’s tenure has unraveled in a stunning, spectacular way.

Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel fired Moore for cause Wednesday, after finding “credible evidence” of "an inappropriate relationship with a staff member," and "a clear violation of University policy,” according to a statement from Manuel.

There are so many layers to this story, and so many tentacles, too.

It’s an epic story with a sudden rise and a spectacular collapse.

It’s a story filled with controversy and NCAA violations, scandals and suspensions, arrests and allegations — so many, involving so many coaches, it’s hard to keep them all straight.

It’s a story with a darkness and a troubling undertone. On the day Moore was fired, he was later arrested and held in jail. Two days after that, on Friday, Moore was charged with felony home invasion, misdemeanor breaking and entering and misdemeanor stalking related to a domestic relationship.

But this story has something else. Something incredibly human that should remain private — in the wake of all of this, it’s hard not to feel for his wife and family. The true victims in this story.

“This breach of trust by Coach Moore is painful for many in our community, first and foremost, the individuals directly involved in this situation," interim Michigan President Domenico Grasso said in a message to students and faculty members on Thursday. "All of the facts here must be known, so the University’s investigation will continue.”

NEW: Warde Manuel's future tied to Michigan's Sherrone Moore investigation

Scandal wrapped inside a scandal

When you try to pull together a coherent narrative of Moore’s time at Michigan, all the controversies and scandals start to bump into one another. Like a wild, slow-motion demolition derby that was happening just under the surface — just out of sight, and most of it self-inflicted.

So, let’s go back in time, to a day that changed everything.

It was Sept. 1, 2023 — the day Connor Stalions went into "KGB" mode, as he called his elaborate sign-stealing operation. Decked out in Central Michigan gear, he disguised himself as a member of the Chippewas football staff and found a spot on the sideline as CMU played Michigan State in East Lansing. Later, an NCAA investigation found that Stalions was attempting to steal signs and gain a competitive advantage.

Did Moore know about it? Did he talk to Stalions that day? It’s not clear, although the NCAA did find that he had deleted numerous texts to Stalions.

The next day, Moore was supposed to coach his first game as Michigan’s sole offensive coordinator — a tremendous moment for this young coach.

But Moore wasn't allowed to be on the sideline for Michigan's season opener against East Carolina on Sept. 2. He and head coach Harbaugh were suspended — a ban self-imposed by the program — as the NCAA investigated recruiting violations for pandemic-era recruiting violations.

Yes, you need a bingo card — or rather, a cheat sheet of cheating — to keep all of the allegations straight at Michigan.

But Harbaugh (who took a three-game ban) and Moore watched the game together at Moore’s house, while Moore’s wife, Kelli, made sandwiches, according to Harbaugh.

"We had a good time," Harbaugh said a few days later in Ann Arbor. "It was excellent."

Now, that anecdote takes on a completely different feel. How their private lives and scandal had blended together for years.

One more tidbit from that moment?

Jesse Minter was the acting head coach for Michigan, as the Wolverines won, 30-3. Now, Minter is the Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator and he’s been mentioned as a possible replacement for Moore. For the record, Minter, also, was found to have violated NCAA recruiting rules and agreed to a one-year show-cause penalty.

Actually, we have to go a little farther back than that moment: Why was Moore promoted as sole offensive coordinator?

That’s a whole different scandal. Matt Weiss, who had shared the responsibilities with Moore in 2022, was fired after allegations of computer access crimes, illegally accessing and downloading photos and other personal data from the athletes. Weiss has been indicted on 14 counts of unauthorized access and 10 counts of aggravated identity theft — a case still moving through the federal court system, though Weiss was fired by U-M in January 2023. 

That all led to Moore as sole offensive coordinator — even while he was suspended for a game.

That’s the culture of this timeframe for the Wolverines — one scandal wrapped inside another, an NCAA turducken with plenty of other unrelated scandals scattered around like side dishes in a holiday dinner.

All of them colliding just under the surface.

'Ready' to be a head coach

Moore's firing has quickly overshadowed how Moore was an absolutely fantastic assistant coach and a gifted recruiter who played a big role in Michigan’s 2023 College Football Playoff championship.

Moore was hired from Central Michigan as a tight ends coach in 2018 when Harbaugh completely revamped his staff, wanting to bring in younger coaches to help recruiting.

After three seasons, Moore received a significant promotion, taking over the offensive line — a position he had played at Oklahoma, but never coached — and he crafted one of the best units in the country. For two straight seasons, Michigan's offensive line won the Joe Moore Award, given annually to the best offensive line in college football.

"Sherrone Moore is a shining star," Harbaugh told reporters in November 2021. "It's always been easy to see. Tremendous coach, teacher, has a tremendous connection to the players.”

Players raved about Moore’s enthusiasm, energy and the vibe he brought to the team.  And assistant coaches on staff marveled about his talent.

"I think they're the best O-line in the country and I think they're the best-coached O-line in the country," Minter told reporters in 2022. "I think Sherrone Moore, any position, is one of the best position coaches I've had the chance to be around.”

By 2023, it was all coming together for Michigan. That strong, well-coached offensive line. A talented, two-headed running game. And the Wolverines were barreling toward the national championship, continuing to win even as Harbaugh racked up suspensions. He missed six games that season, and Moore was acting head coach for four of them.

"I have 10 coaches that will be future head coaches," Harbaugh told reporters in November 2023. "And Sherrone is — he's the best of the best. His toughness, mental toughness, physical toughness. And there's nobody that doubts Sherrone Moore — his dedication, his connection, his commitment to the team."

But again, even as Michigan was winning, those controversies and scandals kept bumping into each other. Harbaugh missed the final three games of the 2023 season — that Big Ten ban over the sign-stealing scandal, before the NCAA had even taken action — and Moore took over as the acting coach on game days.

Then, on Nov. 17, 2023, U-M fired Chris Partridge, reportedly for his part in the sign-stealing fiasco: The linebackers coach was alleged to have destroyed evidence in connection with the scandal.

Two days later, Moore was the acting coach again against Ohio State, with the Wolverines playing for a spot in the Big Ten championship game. And if it was an audition to prove he could one day be Michigan’s coach, he nailed it.

"Coach Moore said from the get-go that he's going to call the most aggressive game he's ever called," Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy said after Michigan's monumental 30-24 win in Columbus.

Moore was bold and aggressive, making the right calls — while simultaneously serving as the steady hand the program needed at a crucial moment — and he simply outcoached Ohio State coach Ryan Day, who lost his third straight game to Michigan.

"It goes back to the kids, how they prepare, how they attack things, and how they work," Moore said. "I'd be doing them a disservice if I try to be conservative. When they're going out there running 150s in the summer — blood, sweat and tears — working their tails off in the weight room, doing everything they can, they put their trust in me as a play-caller on offense to be aggressive in these games. That's what they want. So that's what we gave them."

The three games at the end of the 2023 season were Moore's dress rehearsal, of sorts. He won a top-10 road game against Penn State, with 32 straight runs to end a 24-15 victory. He led the Wolverines to a win against Maryland as U-M became the first NCAA program with 1,000 wins. Then, the Wolverines beat Ohio State for a third consecutive year, locking up a trip to Indianapolis before Harbaugh was reinstated.

Moore had done his job. He had held the team together, setting up the national championship run. And it was clear to many that Moore was ready to take over a team.

Something, actually, Harbaugh had predicted in 2022.

"Beyond ready," Harbaugh told reporters, "to be a head coach."

Controversy before first game

When Harbaugh jumped to the Los Angeles Chargers a few days after the CFP title, Moore was the obvious choice to replace him.

“Sherrone stepped up this fall and served as the interim head coach when the program and especially the team needed him,” Manuel said in a statement. “Sherrone handled that situation in a way that sealed my already-growing confidence in him. He didn’t make it about him, it was always about the team!“

On the surface, the program was in great shape. The Wolverines were the defending national champs and had won 40 of their previous 43 games, including three straight outright Big Ten titles.

But Moore was actually taking over a tough situation. Harbaugh took several key coaches with him to the NFL, including Minter, head strength & conditioning coach Ben Herbert, defensive line coach Mike Elston and defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale.

And Jay Harbaugh, Jim’s son, left for the Seattle Seahawks.

Meanwhile, the NFL raided the Michigan roster, taking 13 Wolverines in the draft — a program record and the most of any school that year. That left the Wolverines in a precarious position, just trying to keep the program headed in the right direction.

MAIZE AND BUSTED: All the Michigan athletics scandals, embarrassments under Warde Manuel

But before Moore could even coach a game, more controversies around the program found their way into the headlines:

• On March 16, 2024, defensive line coach Greg Scruggs was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated and resigned five days later.
• On April 15, 2024, star quarterback-turned-recruiter Denard Robinson was suspended after crashing a car at 3 a.m. in Ann Arbor.
• And behind the scenes, the NCAA continued to investigate the Wolverines.

Michigan's fall to ordinary

Moore’s first season was uninspiring.

Michigan’s offense was a mess. The Wolverines had one of the worst scoring offenses, grounded by a brutal passing attack that cycled through three starting quarterbacks, did not have a wideout with either 250 receiving yards or three touchdowns and didn't have any games with 225 passing yards.

The Wolverines lost four of five games in the middle of the season and everything seemed bleak.

Until one stunning day that salvaged the season for the Wolverines: Dec. 1, 2024.

Michigan 13, Ohio State, 10 — a shocking upset for the ages.

"You talk about a gritty performance by a bunch of guys! I love these dudes!" Moore gushed to a Fox reporter. "This is why you come to Michigan!"

It should have been one of Moore’s finest moments — the Wolverines' epic fourth consecutive victory over the Buckeyes.

But it ended in ugliness. In yet another controversy.

The Wolverines tried to plant a flag on the midfield "O" in Ohio Stadium, and a fight broke out. It got so crazy that multiple law enforcement agencies had to break it up, using pepper spray to separate the players.

"It was emotions on both sides," Moore said. "I did see they had the flag and guys were waving it around and their guys charged us. There's emotion on both sides. It can't happen. Rivalry games get heated, especially this one, it's the biggest one in the country, so we got to handle that one better."

Issues lurking under surface

The remnants of those program-wide controversies kept popping up during the 2025 season, Moore's second as the full-time coach.

Michigan slapped a two-game suspension on Moore for his deleted texts to Stalions as part of the program's sign-stealing scandal, but the timing was almost laughable. He coached the opener and U-M's marquee Week 2 trip to Oklahoma — his alma mater — before handing the reins to assistant Biff Poggi for Weeks 3 and 4. The Wolverines clobbered Central Michigan and then won a three-point road victory over Nebraska in the conference opener. The NCAA's cavalcade of punishment for the program for its sign-stealing violations, meanwhile, included another suspension for Moore (though this one, a one-gamer, was set to be served in the 2026 season opener).

And even though Michigan finished the season with a 9-3 record, something significant was obvious: The Wolverines were no longer feared.

Not like Ohio State, which beat down Michigan at the Big House, 27-9, for a spot in the Big Ten title game, and a virtually locked-in CFP berth.

Not like Big Ten newcomer Oregon, which earned the CFP's No. 5 seed.

And not even like Indiana — once the losingest program in the country, and now a powerhouse. The Hoosiers won the Big Ten and became the No. 1 team in the country.

Michigan had slipped into the conference's next tier — able to beat bad teams but not the elite. Still, Michigan earned a right to continue playing. And Moore was preparing his team to play Texas — Michigan's SEC doppelganger — in the Citrus Bowl.

But then, everything unraveled.

How it all went down

According to police statements and information provided at Friday's arraignment, this is what happened:

Moore and a staff member had an intimate relationship for a number of years but it went sour, according to Kati Rezmierski, first assistant prosecutor for Washtenaw County.

“Our victim broke up with this defendant on Monday morning early,” Rezmierski said at the arraignment. “There continued to be — the defendant — making numerous phone calls and sending numerous texts, from that time moving forward, that she did not answer, did not respond to and did not want.”

The staff member then went to officials at Michigan and “cooperated” with the investigation into improper behavior. Considering the timing, it is reasonable to assume that was the "credible evidence" Manuel described in his statement explaining Moore's firing.

“As we all now know, at some point on Wednesday, our defendant was fired from his employment,” Rezmierski said.

Then, everything began to spiral out of control. Moore went to the staffer's residence, entering through an unlocked door without permission.

“Barged his way into that apartment,” Rezmierski said. “Immediately then proceeded to a kitchen drawer. Grabbed several butter knives and kitchen scissors and began to threaten his own life: ‘I’m gonna kill myself. I’m gonna make you watch. My blood is on your hands. You ruined my life.’

“A series of very threatening, intimidating, terrifying — quite frankly — statements and behaviors there in that apartment. It was only then, your honor, when the victim, she called her attorney and at some point indicated she was going to call the police and then he left.”

Moore left the residence before responding officers arrived.

“I understand there isn’t evidence to suggest that he directly threatened the victim with any of those implements that I’ve indicated,” Rezmierski said. “The totality of the behavior is highly threatening and highly intimidating. She was terrorized, your honor.”

Moore was found by police in Saline. He was taken into custody without incident and transported to a local hospital for evaluation before he was taken to the Washtenaw County Jail.

At the arraignment, the prosecution asked for Moore to go through a mental health evaluation, be forced to wear a GPS tether and be prohibited from going to the victim’s residence or place of employment. To not have any contact with her. No stalking behavior of any kind. And to surrender any weapons.

“In light of the totality of all of those circumstances, we consider the defendant to be a risk to public safety, a risk to this victim,” Rezmierski said.

Questions remain at U-M

The ripples and ramifications have only started.

As far as the current team, Michigan is getting ready for the Citrus Bowl, set for Orlando, Florida, on Dec. 31. Poggi is, again, acting coach.

Newly signed recruits will be given the opportunity to leave the program — two have already — as will veteran players on the roster, once a new coach is named.

Meanwhile, Michigan has started searching for a new coach, who will inherit various NCAA penalties. The Wolverines were handed four years of probation for the sign-stealing sandal, plus fines that could total $30 million, a 25% reduction in football official visits during the 2025-26 season and a 14-week prohibition on recruiting communications in the football program during the probation period.

One lucky thing for Michigan?

No postseason ban.

But the stench around the program is thick after the NCAA found "sufficient grounds for a multiyear postseason ban."

Now, big questions remain.

Who will make the hire? Michigan has an interim president and Manuel, the athletic director, has come under fire after a series of scandals in the athletic program.

INSTANT REACTION: Sherrone Moore firing by Michigan accelerates what seemed inevitable

There are even questions about how he handled the firing of Moore.

One report suggested that Manuel was informed by prominent donors that Moore had mental health issues on Sunday, Dec. 7 — three days before the firing — according to WWJ-TV's Rachel Hopmayer. 

And Manuel fired Moore alone, without a human resources representative or any security in the room, according to a report Thursday from NBC Sports' Nicole Auerbach.

All of that created even more uncertainty and questions. Michigan continues to investigate the situation and has asked students with any more information to leave it on a tip line.

Fall from grace

On Friday afternoon, at the arraignment in 14A-1 District Court in Ann Arbor, Moore appeared on a video feed, wearing what looked like an all-white jail uniform.

It was so incredibly jarring to see Moore appear in that setting. Not on TV being asked questions by a reporter after a game. But getting instructions from a no-nonsense court official.

“You are not to use alcohol, marijuana, or any other controlled substance that is not prescribed to you,” Magistrate Odetalla Odetalla said from the bench.

Moore stared into the camera, showing no emotion, his hands folded in his lap.

Odetalla continued: “You are not to possess or purchase a firearm or any other dangerous weapon. You are not to engage in criminal conduct of any kind whatsoever. You may not leave the state of Michigan without permission of the court. Prior to your release, you will be placed on a GPS tether. You will not be released before that GPS tether is placed upon you, you must continue all mental health treatment as a condition of your bond.”

Odetalla said the name of the victim in this case will not appear in any court records.

“You may not have contact with that individual," he said. "That means no calling, no writing, no video chatting, no texting, no emailing or any other form of contact the human mind can possibly fathom. No one in the world thinks that this person is going to reach out to you. Should they do so? And again, no one thinks that they're going to, you may not reply in any form or fashion. The victim's address will not be placed on the record. You may not go to that location for any reason whatsoever. Are we understood? On the no-contact and no go to?”

Suddenly, Moore looked so ordinary.

This man who was once the football coach at Michigan, in charge of one of the biggest brands in the sport — if not all of sport — and making millions a year.

This man who was deemed a repeat offender by the NCAA.

This man who had climbed so high and crashed so fast.

This man who — if the allegations prove true — did all of this to himself.

Moore responded simply: “Yes, your honor."

The court case will continue in January.

Is it a tragedy?

Yes. For his wife and kids. They're who I truly feel sorry for.

Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on X @seideljeff.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Sherrone Moore scandal started well before Michigan football firing

The New England Patriots will host the Buffalo Bills for an AFC East divisional clash on Sunday.

In one of the biggest games of the season, the Patriots will be looking to clinch the AFC East, while the Bills hope to play the role of spoiler and retake the division.

This will either be a revenge game or a changing of the guard. Second-year quarterback Drake Maye and the Patriots upset Josh Allen and the Bills at Orchard Park in Week 5. This will be an opportunity for the Bills to return the favor and stay in the hunt for the AFC East throne.

The Patriots will be coming off a bye week, which means they should be well-rested for this game. In their last outing, they dominated at home in a 33-15 win over the New York Giants. Meanwhile, the Bills handled their business in an offensive shootout with the Cincinnati Bengals. Allen was the biggest difference in the end to help the Bills come away with a 39-34 victory.

The story of the first game was the Patriots' ability to shut down Buffalo's run game. However, the Patriots have been among the worst teams in the league against the run over the last three games. They have allowed an average of 123.7 rushing yards over that time span.

On the other side of the ball, the Patriots won't have left tackle Will Campbell for this matchup, but they will get their starting left guard, Jared Wilson back. They will also get defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga back on the field. So they could be more formidable in the trenches.

But containing Allen will be key. Can the defense play disciplined enough to force mistakes and shut down easy scrambling lanes for the mobile quarterback?

Here are the final predictions from the Patriots Wire staff:

Danny Jaillet: Patriots 31, Bills 28

Jordy McElroy: Patriots 28, Bills 31

Sophie Weller: Patriots 24, Bills 21

Jacob Rebb: Patriots 28, Bills 24

Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots Wire staff predictions for Patriots-Bills Week 15 game

I don't remember what year I first voted for the Heisman Trophy, but I do remember putting Marvin "Shade Tree" Jones on one of those early ballots. That must've been 1992, the year the Florida State linebacker won the Butkus Award and the Lombardi Award. He was a unanimous all-American and The Sporting News college football player of the year.

Jones finished fourth in balloting for the Heisman Trophy, far behind a quarterback and two running backs. He appeared on 179 ballots out of about a thousand.

Texas Tech football linebacker Jacob Rodriguez fared about the same this year. I'm writing this before the awards presentation on Saturday, but the Heisman Trust on Thursday revealed the players who finished fifth through 10th, and Rodriguez got fifth.

More: Rodriguez stands strong on cover of our Texas Tech commemorative book

More: Texas Tech football 'D' stars dot USA TODAY Sports All-America team

Maybe Jones and Rodriguez would have fared better had voters been allowed to cast a ballot with more than three names. That's the format, then and now: Three spots on the ballot. Three points for a first-place vote, two points for a second-place vote, one point for a third-place vote.

I don't know that it would significantly change outcomes, but I've long thought voters should be directed to rank the top five, maybe top seven, for college football's most outstanding player. It stands to reason that an award for the most outstanding player in college football will be a familiar face on one of the best teams. That's the reason why the award leans toward quarterbacks, running backs and receivers. Once those players are accounted for, there's one or no spots for anyone else.

Get out of here with the regional-bias argument. The ballots for media panelists who make up the majority of the electorate are distributed equally — 145 voters in each of six geographic regions of the country.

I also hear and see the phrase "popularity contest" as when one's favorite gets shorted. It's a lazy criticism. Implied in the "popularity contest" complaint is that Heisman voters will always lean to candidates from the most tradition-rich programs. That's certainly not happening when Indiana, Vanderbilt and Texas Tech are supplying three of the five top vote-getters.

It also fails to explain runner-up finishes in recent years from Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and TCU quarterback Max Duggan. Heck, Cornell running back Ed Marinaro was runner-up to Auburn quarterback Pat Sullivan in 1971, and Holy Cross two-way player Gordie Lockbaum finished fifth in 1986 and third in 1987.

Arguably, no college football player in 2025 has been more popular than Rodriguez, the Texas Tech linebacker who won the Butkus Award, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Lombardi Award and the Bednarik Award. His wife Emma, the U.S. Army helicopter pilot, was ubiquitous on TV broadcasts throughout the conference season.

College football analyst Robert Griffin III spent much of the season running his own personal PR campaign for Rodriguez. Others got on board, too.

FOX had Rodriguez in person on its Big Noon Kickoff show in Cincinnati during the Red Raiders' late-season open date. The panel — including former Heisman winners Matt Leinart, Mark Ingram and Griffin — joined J-Rod in striking the Heisman pose. The same afternoon, a TNT studio crew full of former NFL players interviewed him, Takeo Spikes being particularly complimentary.

It was a Jacob Rodriguez car wash on a November Saturday when the Red Raiders weren't even playing. How often does something like that happen?

And, at least to some extent, it all worked. As we monitored oddsmakers over the final month, Rodriguez moved up the list of Heisman candidates from the consensus ninth choice on Nov. 22 to the consensus seventh on Nov. 27 to consensus sixth on Dec. 5 to finishing fifth.

Brings to mind the old saying: He didn't lose. He just ran out of time.

History suggests, though, this was the most likely outcome.

Since 1970, there have been 28 players finish sixth or higher in Heisman voting who were not quarterbacks, running backs or wide receivers. Of the 28, including Rodriguez this year, 20 finished fourth, fifth or sixth.

Coming from a school that's not a traditional power isn't what decided the issue. Brian Bosworth from Oklahoma, Orlando Pace from Ohio State and Ndamukong Suh from Nebraska got fourth. Ross Browner from Notre Dame, Tyrann Mathieu from LSU and Will Anderson from Alabama were fifth-place finishers. Ohio State linebackers Randy Gradishar, Chris Spielman and A.J. Hawk also finished sixth. So did Miami's Warren Sapp.

Strongly disagree, though, that the Heisman Trust should rebrand college football's top prize as being for quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers only. Sure, it usually works out that way.

But every so often, the stars align so that Charles Woodson or Travis Hunter wins or a John Hicks or a Hugh Green comes close.

It'll happen again, and we don't want to close the door on that opportunity.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Would a change to Heisman voting format have helped Jacob Rodriguez?

Melbourne High's boys swim team ended the 2025 season with their names etched throughout the school's record books after setting marks in both relays and individual events.

The Bulldogs broke three relay records after setting new school records in the 200-yard medley, 200-yard freestyle and 400-yard freestyle relays. The Bulldogs also had two of their relay squads qualify for the state meet for the first time.

"To me, it's the ultimate testament to what team work truly means and how individual commitment translates to team success," Melbourne swim and dive coach Vanessa Ziade said. "I feel super proud of my team because they have worked hard individually and as a team for a few seasons to get to this point."

Swimmers Tyler Hart, Enzo Widjaja, Sawyer Hackett and Samuel Orellana combined for a time of 1:39.23 to set a new school record in the 200-yard medley relay.

Cameran Stewart, Hackett, Orellana, and Widjaja swam a time of 1:30.52 in the 200-yard freestyle relay to set a record in the event.

Hackett, Stewart, Orellana, and Widjaja also set a record with a time of 3:24.2 in the 400-yard freestyle relay this season.

"I think they were quite surprised at first because we didn't have a solid handle on past swim records because over time these records were not retained in any one place, so after spending a few days scouring for as many records I could find, it became clear that this was going to be a record-breaking year," Ziade said. "They were presented with special awards for these achievements at the end of season swim banquet and were quite excited about all of the cool hardware they received."

Along with swimming on all the record-breaking relay squads, Hackett set new school records this season in the 50-yard freestyle, 500-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle and 200-yard IM. The junior also owns school records in the 100-yard breaststroke and 100-yard butterfly after setting the records in the events in past seasons.

"It makes me feel exceptionally proud of him for putting in the work year-round to achieve the goals he set for himself," Ziade said. "Sawyer's performance on an individual level and the team's performance in the relay creates a legacy and sets the bar higher with standards of excellence and expectations for future athletes."

Ziade has worked with the swim and dive team for nearly a decade and for her the team's strong 2025 season was something that she was extremely proud to be a part of. She also ended the season with a nice achievement of her own after she was named boys coach of the year.

"After nearly 10 years of dedication to the Melbourne High swim and dive team, I was honored to be recognized by my peers. I was selected as the Brevard County boys swim and dive coach of the year. This esteemed award truly signifies the culmination of my journey and validates the principle, philosophy, and methods I have used as a coach throughout my tenure," Ziade said.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Melbourne High boys swim teams had record-breaking season in 2025

She’s an eighth grader playing varsity.

But Florida High girls basketball combo guard Callie James commands the floor as if she’s a polished graduating senior.

Just nine games into her first year playing high school basketball as a middle schooler, the Seminoles’ head coach, Darryl Marshall, considers James as “one of those special players that Florida High normally gets.”

Marshall thinks James’ trajectory will be comparable to that of past Florida High girls’ basketball stars and current NCAA Division I players Tonie Morgan and Jordan Rosier. Morgan is a senior shooting guard for the Kentucky Wildcats, while Jordan Rosier is a guard for the South Alabama Jaguars.

“She’s been a blessing to us,” Marshall said of James.

The Seminoles are riding a two-game winning streak, having last hosted and defeated in-town opponent the Lincoln Trojans 52-46 on Thursday, Dec. 11.

James scored 11 points as Florida High fought off a late comeback effort by Lincoln, led by the reigning All-Big Bend Girls Basketball Player of the Year, Jamiya Brown, who had a game-high 22 points.

On the season, James leads the team with 15.4 points per game on a 56 percent field goal rate and 50 percent from three. She’s one of the Big Bend’s top scorers, led by Wakulla junior Amariyah Donaldson’s 18 points per game.

Defensively, James averages Florida High’s most steals with 1.4.

“I love it,” James told the Tallahassee Democrat. “I just got to knock down shots, help my teammates with assists, rebounds, everything.”

Florida High girls' basketball's Callie James makes earns a varsity spot

How does an eighth grader get to play varsity basketball?

“Skill and energy” at tryouts, James explained.

And now the eighth grader is on an 11-woman roster, which includes a seventh grader and three freshmen.

“We’ll have our chemistry by 11th grade or next year, and I believe we’ll go to state with them,” said James, envisioning the future.

Florida High girls basketball's Callie James could be one of nation's best

Marshall spoke glowingly of James’ upside, as he will get to spend four more seasons coaching and instructing her after this year.

“She’s got a big learning curve ahead of her,” Marshall said. “With her basketball IQ, the way that she can think the game through, and see the floor, she’s going to be fine.”

James hasn’t even scratched the surface.

But when it’s time to graduate from Florida High in 2030, she may be a nationally recognized name and a coveted talent with endless options to play collegiately.

“By the time she graduates, I really feel like she’ll be a top 50 player in the nation,” Marshall said.

“She’s on that level.”

James knows with work ethic and support, she’ll accomplish all she desires ― the championships, the accolades, the opportunity to play on the next level.

“It’s amazing to have people believe in me,” James said. “People have my back, helping me.”

Florida High returns to the hardwood on Friday, Dec. 19, when it travels to Pensacola to face Booker T. Washington. Tipoff is at 6 p.m.

Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.

Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Callie James leading Florida High girls' basketball as an eighth grader

Today in Boston Celtics history, Jamel Thomas debuted for the stored franchise in 1999. An alumni of Providence College, Thomas was not picked up by any ball club in the 1999 NBA Draft despite his well-known sterling familial basketball pedigree.

Part of a notable basketball clan that was made up of his brother, Sebastian Telfair, and cousin Stephon Marbury, the Celtics saw potential in the Brooklyn, New York native, and inked Thomas to his first NBA contract on Dec. 13, 1999. The 6-foot-6 wing only had a three-game stint with the Celtics, though. His first game was a 117-88 drubbing by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Thomas produced 4 points, 2 assists and a rebound in just over 8 minutes of playing time. The New Yorker hit 2 of his 4 field goal attempts, of which none were 3-point attempts, and did not get to the line -- but he also did not foul or commit a turnover.

The trio of games Thomas played for the Celtics did not evidently inspire confidence. The former Providence standout was waived on Dec. 23, 1999.

Historic milestones

It was on this date in 2005 that the Celtics held the Indiana Pacers to 71 points in an 85-71 win. The 71 points was one of the lowest point totals in modern NBA history.

Boston was led by Paul Pierce's 25 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, and Mark Blount's 22 points and 5 boards.

Rest in peace

Today is also the date former Boston big man John Mahnken left us in 2000. Born in 1922 in West New York, New Jersey, Mahnken played his NCAA ball for Georgetown, serving in the Army in the World War II. He played for a number of BAA (a precursor league of the NBA) teams before he was traded by the (then) Tri-Cities Blackhawks (now, Atlanta Hawks) to Boston in 1950.

He played four seasons for the Celtics with a brief stint in-between with the (defunct) Indianapolis Olympians before retiring in 1953, averaging 3.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists.

Finally, 14 years earlier in 1986, former Celtic Dick Mehen passed away. The Tennessee grad was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, in 1922, and signed with the (defunct) Toledo Jeeps of the National Basketball League (NBL - a precursor league of the NBA, not to be confused with today's NBL of Australia) after going undrafted in the 1947 BAA Draft.

Mehen played for that team, the (defunct) Waterloo Hawks and the (also defunct) Baltimore Bullets before he was dealt to Boston for Kenny Sailors and Brady Walker in 1950. The West Virginian played seven games for the Celtics, averaging 6.3 points, 3.7 boards and 1.6 assists per game.

This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics history: Thomas debut; Cs hold Pacers to 71; Mehen, Mahnken pass

Kansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub spoke with reporters before practice recently, announcing the return of injured returner Nikko Remigio after last week’s absence and the team’s performance without him.

“The kick returns were good. The punt return, we had a lot of chances – our defense played great. They made them (Texans) punt eight times in that game. (Texans P) Tommy (Townsend) had a good game too himself, hung the ball pretty well, but there were a couple of times there where we might have been able to get something.” said Toub, “We had a punt returner (Xavier Worthy) in there that (was his) first time in an NFL game and he got us through the game with the fair catches. Probably would need more work to get more confidence to be able to time it up and see that the coverage was good (and) blocking was good, so he could get it fielded, but Nikko’s (Remigio) coming back. Nikko is going to go right back in there again.”

Remigio missed the Week 14 game after suffering a concussion in practice last Friday. Worthy had one recorded punt return for six yards, while Tyquan Thornton and Brashard Smith split four kick return opportunities, averaging 27 and 25, respectively.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Chiefs STC Dave Toub announces the return of an injured receiver

An incident between a member of England's security staff and a TV cameraman "wasn't ideal", according to Brendon McCullum.

Australian network Seven accused the member of the tourists' backroom staff of a physical confrontation following Saturday's events at Brisbane Airport.

As England prepared to board a flight to Adelaide, the altercation was filmed and later broadcast on Seven's TV and social channels.

"Hopefully it's been dealt with and everyone's able to move on," said England head coach McCullum.

"I didn't see it. I don't know to what level it was. We have a security team that is trying to protect the players. I don't know where on the line that sat."

The back-and-forth at Brisbane Airport came at the end of England's break in the Queensland beach town of Noosa, where they were regularly captured on camera, including by Seven.

The coverage followed a pattern of intense media scrutiny that has followed England around Australia.

Cricket Australia has previously issued reminders to all media that teams will not be available for interview in transit through airports, and all images should be captured from a respectful distance.

A statement from Seven issued on Saturday read: "While conducting routine filming in a public space, the camera operator was physically confronted despite acting respectfully and professionally."

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Speaking on Sunday, McCullum said: "You know when you come to Australia, there's a lot of eyeballs. There's a lot of intensity and scrutiny on everything you do.

"I feel like we've managed ourselves pretty well throughout this tour. I thought the boys were outstanding over the last week we've had in Noosa.

"They've been engaging with a lot of locals and everyone was in good spirits. There was some good banter flying both ways and I think everyone treated that with the respect it deserved."

Players being filmed in airports is a regular occurrence in Australia.

Last year, India star Virat Kohli took exception to being recorded at Melbourne Airport.

And Australia all-rounder Cameron Green said he had "sympathy" for the situation England find themselves in.

"You never like getting filmed, especially when you want to get away from it," said Green.

"There's always sympathy for anyone in life that's getting filmed in public or in a private space. It's never a nice feeling.

"That's the expectation as a cricketer for Australia or England, you're probably going have a fair amount of media scrutiny.

"When you're going really well you like the extra attention when you're not, you don't enjoy it. It's just part of the job, unfortunately."

• Get cricket news sent straight to your phone

Noel Mikaelian beat Badou Jack by a unanimous points decision in Los Angeles to regain the WBC cruiserweight title.

Mikaelian had been narrowly beaten by Jack in May and lost the belt, but the German earned a convincing win on Saturday as the three judges scored the fight 115-111, 116-110, 116-110 in his favour.

The bout was a scrappy affair in which Mikaelian, 35, was deducted a point in the seventh round for a punch to the back of his 42-year-old Swedish opponent's head.

A point was then taken off Jack in the eighth for punching after the bell, with officials and both corners having to step into the ring to separate the pair as they continued to fight.

Mikaelian improved his record to 28 wins and three defeats from his 31 fights, while Jack has 29 wins, four defeats and three draws from 36 outings.

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NEW YORK — The person who picked the playlist at Indiana football quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s Heisman afterparty on Saturday night at Elsie Rooftop knew the assignment. 

More than 100 friends, teammates, coaches and family members belted out ABBA’s “Fernando” to welcome the Heisman Trophy winner to the proceedings. 

The sing-along was an outlet for the group’s enthusiasm that reached a fever pitch while waiting nearly two hours for Mendoza to join them while he wrapped up the many media obligations that come with winning the award. 

Before he could celebrate, Mendoza had to hit Times Square with the Heisman Trophy. He was joined by a large group of his IU teammates to pose for photos amidst a sea of confused onlookers. 

The famed intersection was packed with holiday revelers snapping selfies, many of whom paused to check out the loud interlopers chanting “HeisMendoza.”

More: Why did Fernando Mendoza with the Heisman Trophy? These moments stand out.

Mendoza’s teammates weren’t able to be at the actual the ceremony — attendance is limited to a small party for each finalist — and hustled to the Marriott Marquis from their private watch party to welcome the quarterback to the press conference he participated in after the event ended. 

They couldn’t contain their excitement as reporters asked Mendoza questions about winning the prestigious award. 

Indiana offensive lineman Carter Smith yelled out “hell yeah" at one point when a media member brought up coach Curt Cignetti’s “no self-imposed limitations line.” 

It made for a unique scene with one veteran reporter who had covered the event for the last two decades posting on social media the support Mendoza received from his teammates at the event was like nothing he’d ever seen. 

Cignetti was in the room as well, having left the intense demeanor he's known for on the sidelines back in Bloomington. During the broadcast, he compared Mendoza to Jerry West, one of his childhood idols, for their shared ability to thrive in clutch moments. 

He paid Mendoza an even higher compliment while speaking to reporters after the ceremony. 

"I think everything that Fernando represents, you see in the closeness of this team and how tight they are,” Cignetti said. “I think a lot of that is an embodiment of him, what he's brought to our team, a unity so to speak."

It all goes back to the selfless attitude Mendoza displayed throughout the weekend while struggling to discuss his own success. The quarterback who swept all the national player of the year awards could never entirely take credit for his accomplishment.

He told everyone who would listen that his journey wouldn’t have been possible without all the people that helped him along the way. This season his teammates in Bloomington did a lot of the heavy lifting, but before they arrived on the scene it was those family members across town who watched the ceremony with baited breath. 

They were at the center of the powerful message he delivered in his acceptance speech. 

“I want every kid out there who feels overlooked and underestimated, I was you,” Mendoza said. “I was that kid too, I was in your shoes. The truth is, you don't need the most stars, hype or rankings, you just need discipline, heart and people who believe in you and your own abilities. I hope this moment shows you that chasing your dreams are worth it no matter how big or impossible they seem.”

At the afterparty, Mendoza went around offering hugs to everyone who attended as a small bit of thanks for the role they played in him winning the award. While the music drowned out much of what was said in the room, the joy on his face cut through all the noise. 

When the Heisman Trophy arrived on scene — wheeled in by one the Heisman Trust handlers on cart while boxed up in a protective case — the anticipation that had just dissipated with Mendoza’s arrival returned. 

They opened the case for Mendoza to hoist the trophy up for everyone to see. He received an ovation that hit different from the ones he received from strangers a few hours earlier while walking down the streets of New York. 

Mendoza could have soaked in the cheers for longer, but he was eager for everyone to get their own Heisman-moment by getting photos with a trophy people in the room had only ever glimpsed on television.

Lost in the excitement was Mendoza’s younger brother Max, 10, making his way over to the nearly empty box of shirts adidas provided, picking one up with the name they share emblazoned in big Crimson letters alongside the words “Heisman Winner.”

Max beamed with pride at his brother’s accomplishment with a smile that brought home the family’s new reality — Fernando Mendoza is the best player in college football.

Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Fernando Mendoza’s star shines bright as IU football’s first Heisman winner

After five losses in their last six games, all of which came on the road, the South Bay Lakers returned home to face the Rip City Remix, a team they defeated 141-130 nearly a week ago in Oregon.

At the UCLA Health Training Center, the Lakers were red-hot offensively early. They scored 41 points in the first quarter and held the lead for most of the first half en route to a 76-68 halftime lead. But afterward, South Bay went into a drought and got caught up in a dogfight.

With 2:50 to go in the fourth quarter, it trailed 117-108, and despite scoring six points in a row to make things interesting, it ended up on the wrong side of a 122-116 decision.

Power forward Drew Timme led South Bay with 27 points on 11-of-18 field-goal shooting, to go along with eight rebounds and seven assists. Wing Kobe Bufkin scored 18 points and guard Chris Mañon contributed 20 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block.

Bronny James made an appearance for South Bay, and he made four of his 10 shot attempts and three of his eight 3-point tries. He finished with 11 points, six assists and two rebounds.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: South Bay Lakers recap: G League Lakers fall short to Rip City

Veteran promotion-winning manager Phil Brown believes Wrexham's owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac have shown others the way to successfully run a football club.

The Red Dragons have gained three successive promotions under the Hollywood duo and remain within striking distance of the Championship's play-off places as the midway point of the league campaign approaches.

And at a time where established clubs such as Sheffield Wednesday have endured immense struggles with ownership, Brown - who won promotion from the Championship with Hull City - lauded Reynolds and Mac for the work they have done at the Stok Cae Ras.

When asked if the pair have led the way when it comes to running a club, Brown told the Football Daily 72+ EFL Pod: "One million per cent. I think so. They're committed.

"We've seen some horrendous examples of people who think they can come into football and do it.

"These are two guys, they played it down for the first three or four years and they've got three promotions out of it. It's crazy."

And Brown, who managed in all three English Football League (EFL) divisions as well as the Premier League, added: "It's brilliant the way that they've done it.

"It's global because everybody's interested in the story, being a Welsh team in the English leagues, it's got glamour, it's got everything about it."

• Wrexham building for 'sustainable' future - Parkinson
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The north Wales side recently confirmed Apollo Sports Capital (ASC) - majority owners of Spanish giants Atletico Madrid - have become minority investors of the club.

Following that announcement, majority owners Reynolds and Mac were in attendance for their side's 2-2 draw with Watford in north Wales as Ollie Rathbone netted in added time to extend his side's unbeaten home run in the league to eight matches.

Former Jamaica international Jobi McAnuff feels the latest investment serves as an additional statement of intent when it comes to Wrexham's desire to reach the Premier League.

"I think it's another sign of their ambition which I think anyone around the Wrexham story is in absolutely no doubt whatsoever," said McAnuff.

"Just from a purely business perspective, to get it to that next level, they've done such a good job.

"I know everyone talks about the Hollywood stuff but in terms of a football club and community, what they've brought to it has been nothing short of fantastic."

McAnuff, whose clubs included West Ham, Cardiff City, Crystal Palace and Reading, says Wrexham's success is about more than hard cash.

"Yes, they've spent money but they've spent it wisely and every time they've gone up, they've competed and gone beyond what was in the league," he added.

"Inside Wrexham it's about 'how we've got here, we've been competitive, how do we take it to that next level?'.

"By working with a company that has experience of that, I think it's a very sensible move from their part."

Manager Phil Parkinson has been pivotal to the Welsh side's success under Reynolds and Mac.

And Brown - currently in charge of National League North side Peterborough Sports - feels the 58-year-old has been among the best bosses in the EFL since he took charge of Wrexham in the summer of 2021.

"The most important thing is the quality of the football and the quality of the manager," said the 66-year-old who has managed at 10 different clubs.

"Phil Parkinson, it has to be said, is one of the best managers in the country at the moment because of what he's done over the last three or four years."

On Parkinson, McAnuff added: "I think he goes under the radar for the job he's done. People just assume you've got resources that maybe some of the other clubs haven't got, but you've still got to go and deliver that.

"He has delivered season on season what the club has wanted, which is success and to climb up the leagues - the pace at which they've done it has been absolutely incredible.

"This was always going to be the challenge, not just for the club but for Phil as well, to prove that he can take a club into this league and be competitive, which I think they have done."

• Listen to Wrexham interviews, news and discussion on BBC Sounds

It's a game which means so much to so many, and for so many reasons.

For St Mirren, the objective is a straightforward one. Win the Scottish League Cup for only the second time in the club's history. Be heroes. Legends. Deities of Paisley who will never have to buy a beer again.

In the other half, it's about another trophy to add to the cabinet. But, it's also about arresting a run of two straight defeats for new Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy with the deafening din of fan unrest bellowing towards the club's board.

Whatever happens at Hampden on Sunday, it promises to be a defining day for both sides.

Robinson's return to Hampden stage

St Mirren arrive at the national stadium with nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Any team who faces either half of the Old Firm in a cup final will know they are up against a huge task. Vastly higher amounts of resources, money, fans and quality set the bar high.

Yet, Stephen Robinson's team will emerge from the Hampden tunnel on Sunday with a steely-eyed determination and a swagger of self belief.

It's founded on both their own ethos and also the fortunes of their opponents.

St Mirren faced in-form Motherwell in last month's semi-final, a game many tipped the Lanarkshire team to win given their heralded brand of intricate football. Instead, they were outfought, out-thought and outplayed by Saints on the way to a deserved 4-1 victory.

It was a tactical lesson from Robinson who masterminded the perfect game plan to nullify his old club.

During his time at Fir Park, he guided them to a final at Hampden twice in the one season. On both occasions, they came up short against Celtic.

This time, he'll surely feel that it can be third-time lucky.

St Mirren and Celtic have played each other twice on league duty this season, and Saints have been desperately unlucky to lose both by a late goal.

The cause for concern for the 13,000 or so Saints fans going to Hampden will come from their form since beating Motherwell in that semi-final.

Five games have been and gone with just one win, albeit that came in their last game with a 2-0 victory over Dundee United.

St Mirren sit ninth in the league - although with two games in hand over some of their rivals - but Robinson is famous for his team being well drilled and hard to play against.

They are tags which Saints took umbrage with in the wake of that Hampden win last month. While many presumed they would just try to stifle Motherwell, the Paisley side were ruthless, clinical, and played with a desire which blew away Jens Berthel Askou's team.

• 'Old ladies were hanging out windows' - remembering St Mirren's 2013 League Cup win

St Mirren's route to the final

Group D winners

St Mirren's journey to Hampden began all the way back in July, in the group stages. After a goalless draw in their opener against Arbroath, who snatched the bonus point with a shootout victory, the Buddies beat Forfar 2-1 then skelped Annan 8-2, helped by a hat-trick from Mikael Mandron.

A 2-1 closing victory over Ayr, thanks to Killian Phillips' double, earned top spot with 10 points from 12.

Second round: St Mirren 1-1 Hearts (5-4 on pens)

The Paisley side had their work cut out against high-flying Premiership leaders Hearts in round two.

Alex Gogic put Saints ahead before half-time, only for Oisin McEntee to level with just over 10 minutes to play. The tie went the distance and Shamal George's save from Claudio Braga's penalty in the shootout proved decisive as the Buddies squeezed through.

Quarter-final: Kilmarnock 2-2 St Mirren (3-5 on pens)

Yet again St Mirren had to progress on spot-kicks. Mandron and Jayden Richardson struck either side of Robbie Deas' equaliser but a late penalty from Bruce Anderson took the tie to a shootout.

Malik Dijksteel capitalised on Kyle Magennis' miss for the hosts to set up a semi-final against Motherwell.

Semi-final: Motherwell 1-4 St Mirren

The Buddies had no reason to fear as they cruised past Jens Berthel Askou's highly-praised Steelmen and were two to the good at half-time thanks to Mandron and Dan Nlundulu.

Callum Hendry pulled one back late on but it wasn't enough to mount a comeback as Robinson's side found another two goals courtesy of Richard King and Mandron.

Nancy's steep learning curve intensifies

Nancy's introduction to life in Glasgow as Celtic manager has been a challenging one, to say the least.

The former Columbus Crew head coach has two games and two defeats under his belt in what is a pivotal week for the defending Scottish champions.

Following the sudden resignation of Brendan Rodgers, Martin O'Neill was sworn in to take temporary charge.

Amid amusing anecdotes in press conferences, leaping about on the touchline and chat about stealing tracksuits as a souvenir of his second spell at Parkhead, a ship that was heading for trouble was steadied.

Rangers were defeated in the League Cup semi-final, a heroic showing in Rotterdam stunned Feyenoord, and the gap to league leaders Hearts was narrowed to three points before their visit to Glasgow last Sunday.

It proved to be Nancy's first game, and one in which the Edinburgh club surged to a 2-1 victory as howls of ire around Celtic Park were swapped for swathes of empty seats before full-time.

Next was Thursday's 3-0 Europa League loss to Roma, with the margin of defeat not reflective of the large gulf between the two teams on the night.

Discussion of whether Nancy should have been excused from taking charge across this hat-trick of games before beginning his era has raged across the air waves, column inches and social media pages.

Fan dissatisfaction at the club's board also doesn't help the backdrop to this one.

Already there is pressure on Nancy, there always is in this part of town. But what has gone in the last week, and even before he even set foot in Glasgow, has raised the tension level.

Winning the club's 23rd League Cup will not cure Celtic of all its problems. Months of supporter frustration at league placing, a failed transfer window and a botched attempt at Champions League progression will take some undoing.

However, victory over St Mirren would provide a firm foothold for the Frenchman to dig into. It's the chance for a first win on the board, an incredibly early shot at a first trophy at the club, and a platform on which to stabilise and build.

If they don't win, the level of fury from fans could be off the scale.

• 'Nancy exposed to brutal life as Celtic manager as cup final looms'
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Celtic's route to the final

Second round: Celtic 4-1 Falkirk

Celtic kicked off their trophy defence under Brendan Rodgers back in August, beating Falkirk 4-1 at home with Daizen Maeda, Alistair Johnston and Dane Murray on target along with a Liam Henderson own goal.

Quarter-final: Partick Thistle 0-4 Celtic

They followed that up by swatting aside Partick Thistle 4-0 in the quarter-final at Firhill. Sebastian Tounekti scored his first goal for the club and Yang Hyun-jun, Liam Scales and substitute Luke McCowan also netted.

Semi-final: Celtic 3-1 Rangers AET

By the time of the semi-final against Rangers, Rodgers had resigned and former manager Martin O'Neill was back in charge as a stop-gap measure.

Questions were raised about the 73-year-old's return but O'Neill kept the momentum going as Celtic sailed to a 3-1 win after extra time over their fierce rivals.

Goals from Jonny Kenny, captain Callum McGregor and Callum Osmand secured their passage to the final.

What they said

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "There will be a nervous energy, of course. We aren't Celtic who get to every cup final or every other cup final.

"So we have to embrace the day and enjoy the day but most of all what I coin it with is have faith over fear. Really believe in the system, in each other, in the staff, and the stuff we've put on in preparation.

"We see all the photographs of the teams that have been very, very successful here and won trophies and they're held in such high regard. What I try and do is to tell the players 'We want your names there, we want your pictures there'.

"They've got their pictures up for the European achievements, for the top-six achievements, now we want them up [for winning the cup]. We want them to be remembered, we want them to be recognised everywhere they go for the rest of their life."

St Mirren defender Marcus Fraser: "In 10, 20 years, people will probably still be talking about it [a win] and you can obviously write your own chapter in the club's history.

"So I think that's one of the key aspects that we want to do, really grab the opportunity with two hands and if we can get up on that wall, then in a few years' time, when you walk by it, that would be a great feeling."

Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy: "Yes, I would like to win the trophy. I'm pretty sure that, if we don't win it, it's going to be difficult, because when we lose, this is painful.

"But, again, I am optimistic as a person. So hopefully we're going to do it. And also if it's going to validate what we are doing. But, if not, I don't want to think about this because, for the moment, I want to stay positive and this is the way I think.

"I'm going to have many, many other times to show, to do my stuff and to convince the fans that I am the right guy."

Celtic midfielder Luke McCowan: "We're disappointed as a team with the last two results and we need to get on top of it.

"We have to [stick by Nancy], there's no way around it. He's the manager, he's got his staff with him, we're players at this club. He's the one that's going to lead us into victories with whatever style and whatever management the way he wants.

"Once it clicks then we're hopefully thinking that's going to propel us into the performances we need and winning games most importantly."

BIRMINGHAM — Unflinching is one word to describe Nate Oats' leadership of Alabama basketball. On nights like Saturday against No. 1 Arizona, that adjective can be swapped out with stubborn.

It's hard not to wonder what that 96-75 final score would've looked like had Oats called a timeout to regroup the Crimson Tide when Arizona (9-0) ran away early in the second half. As Wildcat freshman Brayden Burries pounded away with two threes and a couple of layups for 15 of his game-high 28 points, Alabama struggled to cough up just five points.

No. 12 Alabama (7-3) could've huddled to figure out a solution to contain Burries, but Oats stood on the sideline arms crossed. His face, contempt with disappointment, suggested he was either sitting between belief that the Crimson Tide could find a way to win and perform like it did in the first half, or the idea of just letting his players feel just how much a lack of toughness costs.

Based on Oats' response to reporters when asked why he didn't pause the game, he was thinking the latter.

GOODBREAD: Alabama basketball rebounding woes resurface in Arizona loss

DEPTH DISAPPEARED: Alabama basketball had all the bodies vs Arizona, but not the answers

While Oats has admitted in the past, most recently when Alabama blew a lead to Tennessee in the last 30 seconds of a 79-76 loss, that he should've called a timeout, he repeated an answer he's given before − when Alabama fell 104-82 to Florida in the SEC Tournament.

"Am I going to call timeout to tell them to play harder?" he asked. "Call a timeout and make adjustments?"

Oats was firm.

"I'm not going to call a timeout and tell them to play harder," Oats said.

In Oats' eyes, his players "should be competitors." Simply put, if the adjustment is effort, that's something Oats believes "they need to figure it out on the fly."

Despite Burries' attack, Oats didn't find that adjusting the defense is where Alabama would find its answer to bounce back.

"I didn't think there was any defensive adjustments to make," Oats said.

Not seeing any adjustments to be made implied that reevaluating how Alabama handled 7-foot-2 center Motiejus Krivas on the offensive glass, giving up four rebounds in just a few minutes to the Lithuanian as Arizona took over on the scoreboard wasn't something that could be solved on a clipboard.

"The adjustment was to play harder," he continued.

Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Why Alabama basketball HC Nate Oats didn't call timeout in Arizona loss

Strengthening its commitment to Mick Cronin, UCLA quietly awarded its men’s basketball coach a new five-year contract last summer that runs through the 2029-30 season, according to documents reviewed by The Times through a public-records request.

The contract that was signed by Cronin and athletic director Martin Jarmond in May and took effect June 1 will pay Cronin $4.5 million per season, a slight raise over the $4.1 million he was making under the previous contract that was set to expire after the 2027-28 season.

“I’m honored to be the coach at UCLA,” Cronin told The Times late Saturday night after his team’s 82-72 loss to Gonzaga at Climate Pledge Arena. “For me, I have no inklings of being anywhere else. I’ve had many offers to do so. I’m where I want to be so I’ll always say the same thing — it was surreal when I got the job and I'm just working hard to do everything we can to upgrade our program to a point to where we can try to win the title for our fans, and that’s all I really worry about. I’m at that point in my career, so if they want to extend me, I take it because I’m not looking to go anywhere."

The contract was not announced at the time it was signed, according to an athletic department spokesperson, because of the financial climate within the university, particularly given the prospect of federal funding cuts.

Read more:'That's Bernie Madoff level': UCLA's Mick Cronin says agent greed drives player movement

Cronin’s contract was signed not long after he guided UCLA to the second round of the NCAA tournament, where the Bruins lost to Tennessee. Cronin’s previous teams reached the Final Four in 2021 and the Sweet 16 in 2022 and 2023.

Cronin, 54, has compiled a 145-67 record in seven seasons with the Bruins, his accomplishments including a Pac-12 title in 2023 that his team won by a four-game margin over second-place Arizona.

His new contract includes a buyout provision that calls for him to be paid $22.5 million if he’s terminated without cause through March 31, 2026. The buyout amount drops to $18 million if he’s terminated without cause through March 31, 2027; $13.5 million through March 31, 2028; $9 million through March 31, 2029; and $4.5 million through March 31, 2030.

The buyout includes a mitigation clause that would offset UCLA”s buyout obligations through future employment over the duration of the contract.

Read more:'I want to do my part.' How Dave Roberts helped UCLA land new coach Bob Chesney

If Cronin were to leave for another job, he would owe UCLA $15 million through March 31, 2026, with that amount dropping to $12 million through March 31, 2027; $8 million through March 31, 2028; $6 million through March 31, 2029; and $4 million through March 31, 2030.

The bonus structure in Cronin’s contract calls for him to make $25,000 for a conference championship and $15,000 for a conference tournament championship. He’ll get an extra $45,000 if the Bruins make the NCAA tournament, $25,000 for making the second round, $40,000 for making the Sweet 16, $25,000 for making the Elite Eight, $50,000 for making the Final Four, $25,000 for making the championship game and $50,000 for winning the national title. If Cronin is selected conference coach of the year, he’ll make an additional $10,000.

Cronin could be awarded additional amounts for his team’s academic performance, along with retention bonuses of $500,000 if he’s employed through April 15, 2026; $600,000 if he’s employed through April 15, 2027; $700,000 if he’s employed through April 15, 2028; and $700,000 if he’s employed through April 15, 2029.

Sign up for UCLA Unlocked for big game takeaways, recruiting buzz and more UCLA sports insights.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

In a significant disruption to the travel industry, three major European airlines—EasyJet, Air France, and British Airways—have been forced to cancel over 30 flights across multiple European destinations due to severe weather conditions. The cancellations have affected key routes, airports, and regions, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and raising questions about the readiness of airlines to handle weather-related disruptions. The most impacted countries include the UK, France, Portugal, and several other European nations, where travelers were left scrambling for alternative flights and accommodations.

Breakdown of the Flights Cancelled

Easy Jet Airlines

Air France

British Airways

The Airports Most Affected by the Cancellations

EasyJet

EasyJet flights have been heavily impacted, especially those flying to and from Madeira, a popular island destination. The following airports are affected:

• Madeira International (Funchal)
• London Gatwick
• London Luton
• Bristol International
• Porto/Oporto
• Malaga
• Amsterdam Schiphol

Air France

Air France’s cancellations have primarily affected travelers flying from Paris, with a significant number of flights disrupted at Charles de Gaulle. The following airports were hit the hardest:

• Charles de Gaulle (Paris)
• Linate (Milan)
• Dr. Antonio Agostinho Neto International Airport (Angola)

British Airways

British Airways saw a wide array of cancellations impacting both short-haul and long-haul flights. The airlines’ operations were most disrupted at the following airports:

• London Heathrow
• London Gatwick
• Vienna International
• Gibraltar
• Hewanorra International (Saint Lucia)
• Point Salines International (Grenada)
• Tokyo International (Haneda)

Key Areas Affected by the Cancellations

EasyJet

• Madeira: The entire Madeira region suffered, especially affecting tourists visiting the popular island destination. Cancellations have led to chaos at Madeira International (Funchal), a vital hub for flights between Portugal, the UK, and mainland Europe.
• Malaga and Porto: These areas also saw severe disruptions, affecting both leisure and business travelers heading to these Mediterranean locales.

Air France

• Paris: Being the home base for Air France, Charles de Gaulle was at the center of the storm, with numerous inbound and outbound flights canceled. Passengers traveling to and from major hubs like Milan and Angola experienced significant delays and were forced to rebook or delay their travel plans.
• Linate and Milan: The Milan region also saw a ripple effect, with tourists headed to Italy’s fashion capital and local businesspeople experiencing the brunt of the weather disruptions.

British Airways

• London Heathrow: Serving as one of the most important international hubs in the world, London Heathrow faced multiple flight cancellations, particularly affecting travelers bound for popular international destinations like Saudi Arabia and Tokyo.
• Caribbean and Southern Europe: British Airways also saw major disruptions to flights heading toward the Caribbean, including Saint Lucia and Grenada, which significantly impacted tourism during peak seasons.

The Key Routes and Cities Impacted by Cancellations

EasyJet

• Porto/Oporto to Madeira
• London Gatwick to Madeira
• London Luton to Madeira
• Bristol to Madeira
• Madeira to Lisbon
• Madeira to Berlin
• Madeira to Amsterdam
• Bristol to Malaga

The cancellation of these key routes, many of which connect major European cities with popular holiday destinations, led to a massive disruption in holiday plans. Passengers were forced to either wait for alternative flights or cancel their trips altogether.

Air France

• Paris to Milan (Linate)
• Paris to Angola
• Milan to Paris
• Paris to Paris (internal domestic disruption)

These routes, especially the Paris-Milan corridor, are vital for both business and leisure travelers. The severe weather led to delays and cancellations, affecting both regional and international flights.

British Airways

• New York (JFK) to London Heathrow
• Vienna to London Heathrow
• Gibraltar to London Heathrow
• Saint Lucia to Grenada
• London Heathrow to Jeddah
• London Heathrow to Tokyo

The international and Caribbean routes operated by British Airways faced severe disruptions, affecting both leisure and business travelers heading to top destinations worldwide. Heathrow, as the primary hub, suffered the most, leading to delays in connecting flights.

The Ripple Effect on Travelers: Stranded and Struggling

Passengers traveling on EasyJet, Air France, and British Airways faced massive disruptions due to these cancellations. Many travelers were left stranded at airports across Europe, with limited accommodation options and few available flights to rebook. Business travelers, particularly those with tight schedules or connecting flights, were hit hard by the delays, while tourists faced ruined vacations and expensive rebooking costs.

The weather-related cancellations disrupted not only holiday plans but also impacted economic activities in various regions, especially in areas where tourism plays a crucial role in the local economy.

How Will the Industry Weather the Storm?

The cancellation of flights had far-reaching consequences for local tourism. In places like Madeira and the Caribbean, where the economy relies heavily on seasonal tourists, the immediate cancellation of flights led to empty hotels and resorts. For Madeira, this disruption was especially damaging, as it is known for attracting visitors seeking a scenic, peaceful getaway during the winter months.

Similarly, disruptions at airports in Paris, London, and Milan affected the flow of business travelers and tourists heading to key attractions in these cities. The ripple effect of cancellations led to reduced foot traffic in popular tourist destinations such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the British Museum.

Rising from the Ashes: What Travelers Can Expect Next

Despite these disruptions, the tourism and travel industries are already looking for ways to recover from the setback. Airlines have taken immediate steps to improve passenger communication during such events and are looking into more robust contingency plans to handle future disruptions caused by extreme weather.

Additionally, airports are investing in improving their infrastructure and offering better customer service for affected passengers. The key takeaway for travelers is to stay informed and flexible with travel plans, especially during the winter months when weather-related cancellations are more frequent.

A New Dawn for European Travel: Recovery and Growth Ahead

The airline industry will learn valuable lessons from these cancellations, and with new technologies and improved communication strategies, the industry is poised to recover. Future improvements will help minimize the disruptions caused by weather-related cancellations, ensuring that passengers can enjoy smoother, more predictable travel experiences in the future.

Grabbing Jalen Williams' intentionally missed free throw, Alex Caruso flew to the rim. He grabbed the offensive rebound and flung a desperate heave as the final one second ticked away. No luck. For the first time in over a month, the reigning NBA champion was on the wrong side of a final score.

The Oklahoma City Thunder had a frustrating 111-109 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Their trip to Las Vegas ended after a couple of days as they lost in the 2025 NBA Cup semifinals.

Some in-game gamesmanship occurred before we even started. For the first time in his career, Victor Wembanyama came off the bench. He missed 12 straight games with a calf strain and was on a minutes restriction, but not starting was a curveball everybody whiffed on.

The Thunder took advantage early. Playing with their ideal starting lineup for the first time since the 2025 NBA Finals, they had a 12-4 lead three minutes in. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander nailed a signature baseline jumper. Everything went smoothly. They had a 31-20 lead after the first quarter.

And no Wembanyama, either. A surprising decision. But he eventually checked in to start the second quarter. As expected, he completely changed the dynamics. He got it within four points by himself. That turned this into a new ballgame.

After a short first substitution, the Thunder got their lead back up. Caruso's second-chance layup created a 47-31 lead with a little under four minutes left. It felt like they were on the verge of blowing it open. But then Wembanyama checked back in and took over.

Everybody knows what he does on both ends of the floor. When healthy, he's one of the five best players. His presence also rubbed off on the rest of his teammates. The Spurs returned to hitting on their outside shots. Soon after he checked in, San Antonio scored the final 13 points of the first half.

The Thunder only scored 18 points in the second frame. They entered halftime with just a 49-46 lead. The final four minutes went about as disastrously as you could imagine. The Spurs were right back in it. A surprise considering how the game first played out.

After the break, the Spurs' momentum carried over. It didn't take long for them to score 10 straight points in the opening stages of the third quarter. Devin Vassell knocked down an outside jumper to put the Thunder in a 62-56 deficit with a little under eight minutes left in the third frame.

For the first time in forever, the Thunder were punched in the mouth. The offense bogged down. It was the ugliest it's looked since the playoffs. Gilgeous-Alexander calmed things down a little, but San Antonio's role players were better than OKC's. The Thunder were in a 78-77 deficit after the third quarter. That meant more crunch time.

The 2025 NBA Cup delivered. Bring up the logistical nightmare it is, but the Thunder and Spurs went back and forth as they seesawed the lead. Chet Holmgren went after Wembanyama a couple of times. And vice versa. That's the matchup everybody wants to see, considering their not-so-subtle rivalry.

Knocking down an outside jumper, Williams gave the Thunder a 101-100 lead with a little under three minutes. And then Wembanyama took over. Carefully monitoring his minutes, the Spurs were able to play their franchise superstar for most of the final frame. He hit an unreal jumper and swished in a pair of free throws.

Down 105-101 with a minute left, the Thunder couldn't answer. Too many missed shots and turnovers finally caught up to them. The final 24 seconds turned into a game within a game. The Thunder intentionally fouled to keep their slim hopes alive. The Spurs did the same to stiff-arm them on the scoreboard. OKC's 32 points in the final frame weren't enough.

After all that, the Thunder couldn't muster up one last good look. Time ran out on them. The buzzer sounded as the Spurs walked away with their biggest win of the season. Comes with the territory as the reigning NBA champion who is in 70-win talks.

The Thunder shot 41% from the field and went 9-of-37 (24.3%) from 3. They shot 24-of-27 on free throws. They had 20 assists on 38 baskets. Five Thunder players scored double-digit points.

Gilgeous-Alexander had 29 points and five assists. Holmgren finished with 17 points and seven rebounds. Williams also had 17 points and seven rebounds. Alex Caruso tallied 11 points and eight rebounds. Isaiah Hartenstein totaled 10 points and nine rebounds.

Meanwhile, the Spurs shot 41% from the field and went 13-of-42 (31%) from 3. They shot 24-of-32 on free throws. They had 21 assists on 37 baskets. Four Spurs players scored double-digit points.

Wembanyama had an awesome 22 points and nine rebounds. Vassell had 23 points and five rebounds. De'Aaron Fox finished with 22 points and four assists. Stephon Castle tallied 22 points and six rebounds.

Well, this is the formula to beat the Thunder. If you can ugly up their offense, you have a chance. The Spurs did that with the NBA Cup stakes on the line. Poor outside shooting and uncharacteristic bad ball security slowly made OKC look human for the first time in a while. Any hopes of an NBA Cup were quickly dashed away.

If you're the Thunder, this is just the first of three matchups in two weeks with the Spurs. Two more upcoming dates centered around Christmas will let them get their revenge. It'll be exciting to see how they adjust as Wembanyama has turned into one of the NBA's best players who is uniquely impossible to defend against. The NBA schedule-makers will get their money's worth in those contests.

Let's look at Thunder player grades:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: B

As Holmgren set a screen, Gilgeous-Alexander found himself up against Wembanyama. Going with his usually reliable stepback 3-pointer, his attempt clanked at the front of the rim. The seven-footer contested his jumper just enough.

Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 29 points on 12-of-23 shooting, five assists and four rebounds. He shot 1-of-7 from 3 and went 4-of-4 on free throws.

Usually the NBA's most efficient scorer, Gilgeous-Alexander looked more human in this matchup. Sure, he still had above-average efficiency, but not at the marks that have him in the same conversations as Wilt Chamberlain. The Spurs forced him to settle for several jumpers. And with the right mix of perimeter defenders, they made him earn his buckets.

This is probably the most uncomfortable Gilgeous-Alexander has looked in a while. The superb ball security wasn't there either, with five turnovers. That's the other layer of his superpowers that don't get as much shine as his scoring ability. Castle did an excellent job at keeping up with him. San Antonio swarmed him every time he had the ball in his hands.

The NBA's league leader in clutch buckets was jettisoned into the background. This time, it was Wembanyama's turn to get the oohs and aahs from both the Las Vegas crowd and the Amazon broadcast. By the end, it felt like a San Antonio home game.

The Thunder needed more out of Gilgeous-Alexander. He usually delivers when needed. But when you combine his off-night with the rest of the roster not really showing up, you get this result. Alas. That's part of the NBA's ebbs and flows.

Shai with the block and the score 💪 pic.twitter.com/cUW2Upudm0

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 14, 2025

Tre ball 👌 pic.twitter.com/lUbnTYb4I4

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 14, 2025

How does he do it 😳 pic.twitter.com/SE7G0bSSoQ

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 14, 2025

Shai slams it home

Your @OGandE Power Play of the Game pic.twitter.com/nbtHl2Tgpj

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 14, 2025

Chet Holmgren: B

Going at Wembanyama, Holmgren drove to the rim. He planted his feet and went with the turnaround jumper. Let's just say things didn't go well. He had his shot loudly rejected. That's the play that will make the rounds on social media, but don't let one bad play wash away everything else he did.

Holmgren finished with 17 points on 3-of-8 shooting and seven rebounds. He shot 1-of-3 from 3 and went 10-of-12 on free throws. He also had one block.

Instead of feeding into his rivalry, Holmgren played winning basketball. He helped the Thunder build up an early advantage. And when the offense dried up, he was the only other consistent scorer who helped Gilgeous-Alexander put up points. His in-game process was awesome.

But then a poor fourth quarter kinda soured things. He only scored four points and he went to the free-throw line plenty of times. A couple of critically missed free throws hurt OKC's percentages to pull off a comeback. Getting blocked by Wembanyama punished the 23-year-old for the tunnel-vision shot in an offense that couldn't get going.

You can criticize Holmgren for his poor second half, but several other Thunder players deserve a larger slice of the blame pie for this loss. It was a poor finish, but he was also one of the main reasons why they were even in that position to begin with.

Chet gets down the court and to the RACK‼️😤 pic.twitter.com/56rjFZ1BsV

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 14, 2025

Jalen Williams: C-minus

Leading the fastbreak, Williams bulldozed to the basket, but his layup attempt didn't even reach the air. On the next possession, he went one-on-one with Castle. He got his spot in the elbow, but his mid-range jumper bounced off the rim. That about summed up his night.

Williams finished with 17 points on 5-of-16 shooting, seven rebounds and four assists. He shot 2-of-5 from 3 and went 5-of-6 on free throws. He also had four steals.

The Thunder needed more from Williams. He only had seven points through three quarters. His drives to the basket resulted in several makeable misses. I guess that's what happens when you have to be paranoid about Wembanyama's presence. The jumper also didn't fall — which was the story for everybody in an OKC uniform.

As awesome as Williams is, he occasionally has duds like these. They get magnified when the rest of the team doesn't pick up the slack. Usually thriving in them, the bench lineup minutes were awful. He couldn't get it going as Wembanyama took over the game.

Let's see how Williams responds, but this was a bad game from him. Nobody among OKC's star trio had a stellar performance. At least not to their championship-level standards. They'll get a chance to sit on this loss for four days and see how they can solve San Antonio's defense.

The kind of cookies you can only get in OKC 🍪 pic.twitter.com/Tpyx5ZQ5va

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 14, 2025

Right on target 🎯 pic.twitter.com/Q7HvQSNfK9

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 14, 2025

Alex Caruso: A-minus

After Ajay Mitchell intercepted Castle's pass, Caruso was ahead in the fastbreak. A cross-court pass landed in his hands. As soon as that happened, he flew off the court. A rare one-handed dunk had the entire OKC bench hyped. You don't usually see those anymore from the 31-year-old.

Caruso finished with 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting, eight rebounds and three assists. He shot 1-of-3 from 3. He also had three steals.

It came in a loss, but this was one of Caruso's best games of the season. And it shouldn't be a shock to see it happen under the national spotlight. This is about as close as you'll get to the playoffs with the NBA Cup. All of the glitz and glamor involved is duplicated from that environment.

Going back and forth, Caruso almost carried OKC to the finish line. He had seven points in the fourth quarter. Needing to get stops, he was the one on Wembanyama despite the significant size difference — a la Nikola Jokic in last year's playoffs.

If Caruso had better luck, a couple of near-plays in the final moments could've added to his mythos. The first was on a ball that went out of bounds after he committed a foul in the final seconds. If nothing was called, that could've been OKC possession. The second was on the final play as he somehow managed to collect a missed free throw and put up a wild shot attempt.

This is why you brought over Caruso. When there are high stakes involved, he's one of the five players the Thunder trust the most. Even if those consequences feel artificial in the NBA Cup, he doesn't need much convincing to go all out.

Wave after wave of offensive intensity 🤝 https://t.co/aHBXW7WhXCpic.twitter.com/I1CzWPaqTy

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 14, 2025

Don't stop working 💪 pic.twitter.com/aASpSbGpjE

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 14, 2025

ALEX. CARUSO. pic.twitter.com/2TMOwJELxz

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 14, 2025

THIS ENERGY 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/5zDzFYjPVT

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 14, 2025

Highlights:

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Player grades: Wembanyama too much in Thunder's 111-109 loss to Spurs

The San Francisco 49ers have put together a 9-4 record (and currently hold the sixth seed in the playoffs) through the first 14 weeks of the 2025 season despite having several key players miss significant time due to injuries.

Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, Ben Bartch and first-round pick Mykel Williams have all suffered season-ending injuries, while Brock Purdy, George Kittle and Ricky Pearsall all missed long stretches. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who suffered a torn ACL in Week 7 last year, hasn't played at all.

Again, despite all of this, the 49ers are 9-4 and are just one game out of the top spot in the NFC West with four games to go.

On Friday, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked if the 2025 team is the group that he's been the most proud of, and he quickly shot that down.

“No," Shanahan said with a laugh. "I mean, I’m proud of a lot of seasons. I was really proud of us having the second pick in the Draft in ’18, being a 4-12 team, starting 8-0, being the one seed and getting really close to winning a Super Bowl in ’19. I was really proud in ‘21, I think I might be wrong, where we had to win like five out of the last six games to get the seventh seed and get us all the way to the NFC Championship with a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter. I was proud of that. I was proud of our ‘23 team of getting down to our third-string quarterback and win seven in a row to get the two seed and to go to Philly and have a chance to go to the Super Bowl. I was really proud of our ‘23 team going to the Super Bowl. I’m really proud of this team this year.”

San Francisco has had some great years under Shanahan, and while this team may not reach the heights or peaks that others have, the players and coaches certainly deserve respect for whatever they're able to accomplish.

More 49ers: 49ers star says he'd love to play with WR Brandon Aiyuk again

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Kyle Shanahan says 2025 49ers aren't the team he's been most proud of

The Buffalo Bills hold their offensive line in high regard as the team has invested in the group tasked with protecting quarterback Josh Allen over the years.

Anchored by two strong tackles in Spencer Brown and Dion Dawkins, it's hard to compare O-lines across the NFL. There are no hard stats for that such as catches or yards.

But there is Pro Football Focus.

According to the analytics outlet, here's how every offensive line in the NFL stacks up head-to-head heading into Week 15, including the Bills:

32. Los Angeles Chargers (Down 1)

31. Las Vegas Raiders (Up 1)

30. Cleveland Browns (No change)

29. New Orleans Saints (Down 1)

28. Tennessee Titans (Down 1)

27. Arizona Cardinals (Down 4)

26. Miami Dolphins (Up 3)

25. New York Jets (No change)

24. Dallas Cowboys (Down 3)

23. Jacksonville Jaguars (Up 3)

22. Green Bay Packers (Down 2)

21. Minnesota Vikings (Up 3)

20. Kansas City Chiefs (Down 8)

19. Cincinnati Bengals (Up 3)

18. Carolina Panthers (Up 1)

17. Houston Texans (Up 1)

16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Up 1)

15. Baltimore Ravens (Down 2)

14. New England Patriots (No change)

13. Seattle Seahawks (Up 3)

12. Detroit Lions (Down 1)

11. Atlanta Falcons (Up 4)

10. New York Giants (No change)

9. Philadelphia Eagles (Down 4)

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (Up 1)

7. Washington Commanders (Up 1)

6. San Francisco 49ers (Up 1)

5. Buffalo Bills (Up 1)

4. Indianapolis Colts (Down 2)

3. Chicago Bears (Up 1)

2. Los Angeles Rams (Up 1)

1. Denver Broncos (No change)

This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: PFF: Where does the Bills' offensive line rank in the NFL in Week 15?

While the New York Jets are clearly a team in rebuilding, their offensive line is a place on the roster that gives optimism.

Anchored by two young tackles with loads of potential in Armand Membou and Olu Fashanu, many in New York feel good about the position group. However, there are no hard stats like catches or yards to compare offensive linemen across the NFL.

But there is Pro Football Focus.

According to the analytics outlet, here's how every offensive line in the NFL stacks up head-to-head heading into Week 15, including the Jets:

32. Los Angeles Chargers (Down 1)

31. Las Vegas Raiders (Up 1)

30. Cleveland Browns (No change)

29. New Orleans Saints (Down 1)

28. Tennessee Titans (Down 1)

27. Arizona Cardinals (Down 4)

26. Miami Dolphins (Up 3)

25. New York Jets (No change)

24. Dallas Cowboys (Down 3)

23. Jacksonville Jaguars (Up 3)

22. Green Bay Packers (Down 2)

21. Minnesota Vikings (Up 3)

20. Kansas City Chiefs (Down 8)

19. Cincinnati Bengals (Up 3)

18. Carolina Panthers (Up 1)

17. Houston Texans (Up 1)

16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Up 1)

15. Baltimore Ravens (Down 2)

14. New England Patriots (No change)

13. Seattle Seahawks (Up 3)

12. Detroit Lions (Down 1)

11. Atlanta Falcons (Up 4)

10. New York Giants (No change)

9. Philadelphia Eagles (Down 4)

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (Up 1)

7. Washington Commanders (Up 1)

6. San Francisco 49ers (Up 1)

5. Buffalo Bills (Up 1)

4. Indianapolis Colts (Down 2)

3. Chicago Bears (Up 1)

2. Los Angeles Rams (Up 1)

1. Denver Broncos (No change)

This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: PFF: Where does the Jets' offensive line rank in the NFL in Week 15?

The Arizona Cardinals will be on te road on Sunday taking on the Houston Texans. The game kicks off at 1 p.m. ET from NRG Stadium. The Cardinals are not expected to win. They are 9.5-point underdogs.

The Texans have won five straight games and have the league's top defense, allowing the fewest yards, fewest first downs and fewest points. It doesn't bend. It doesn't break.

To preview this game on the podcast, Texans Wire managing editor Cole Thompson joined me for a new episode this week. In this show we preview the game and make predictions.

Thompson discusses the following with me:

• (1:00) The play of the Texans' defense this season, the offense and quarterback C.J. Stroud
• (16:17) What he is watching in terms of keys and matchups in the Cardinals-Texans game
• (30:05) Picks and predictions for the game

Enjoy the show!

Enjoy the show with the embedded player above or by subscribing to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or your favorite podcast platform, so you never miss a show. Make sure as well to give it a five-star rating!

This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals at Houston Texans opponent preview, predictions

In a high school football season full of surprises, the biggest of all was a Heisman Trophy winner guiding his alma mater to a state championship on Saturday night in California's toughest division in his rookie season of coaching.

Who had Carson Palmer and Santa Margarita on their bingo card toppling Sierra Canyon, Orange Lutheran, Corona Centennial and Corcord De La Salle in a four-game postseason stretch that left the Eagles as Southern Section Division 1 and CIF Open Division state champions?

The final piece of the puzzle was solved with Santa Margarita's 47-13 win over De La Salle on Saturday night at Saddleback College, the ninth consecutive season a Southern California team has won California's highest bowl game.

Trent Mosley is The Flash. Lincoln Riley is thinking how can we use him. 13-0 Santa Margarita. pic.twitter.com/R7zPnXsJTu

— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) December 14, 2025

It's been fruitless to think anyone was beating Santa Margarita (11-3) over the last month with a healthy Trent Mosley. Two weeks ago, he dazzled Corona Centennial in the Division 1 final with 10 catches for 292 yards. On Saturday, even though De La Salle knew what he could do, Mosley still was unstoppable. In the first half, when Santa Margarita opened a 35-7 halftime lead, Mosley had eight catches for 134 yards and touchdowns from 34 and six yards and also ran seven yards for another touchdown. He finished with 11 receptions for 183 yards.

Trent Mosley. I’m waiting for the MVP chants. pic.twitter.com/TOrVtuqR5l

— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) December 14, 2025

With his underrated speed, upper-body strength and the skills to play multiple positions, Mosley has been the best player in California for weeks. Santa Margarita has been getting him the ball much more in the postseason, and opponents have had no answers for defending him.

"Mosley is incredible," De La Salle coach Justin Alumbaugh said of the USC commit. "He does some special things on the football field."

Said Mosley: "It feels great. We've worked hard. I wanted to come out and do my best. It's sad to go but a what a great way to end it."

How Santa Margarita rose to the top with Palmer at the helm is an equally compelling tale. Palmer was hired with little coaching experience but his decision making, judgment and connections from the NFL world became clear with the all-star coaching staff he put together, none more important than retaining defensive coordinator Steve Fifita, last season's interim coach. With nine returning defensive starters and three defensive line transfers, the Eagles had no weaknesses on a defense that repeatedly neutralized the best offensive players game after game.

"It's been an unreal year from start to finish," Palmer said. "I could not be more proud of these guys, could not be more proud of our coaching staff and support system."

The rookie head coach Carson Palmer wishes his team could keep playing after winning two titles. pic.twitter.com/DZjRGXijey

— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) December 14, 2025

Quarterbacks were pressured by a line that had Lenny Vandermade recording nine sacks in the postseason. The linebackers. led by Dash Fifita and Leki Holani, were able to move freely and make tackles with blockers preoccupied by the line. The secondary, led by sophomore star Ca'ron Williams, had the freedom to be aggressive thanks to knowing quarterbacks wouldn't have much time to release the ball. Siua Holani closed the scoring with an interception return with 1:36 left in the fourth quarter.

The champs. Santa Margarita. pic.twitter.com/sTyKOXShO4

— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) December 14, 2025

De La Salle (12-1) thought it would have a chance to end Northern California's losing streak. Santa Margarita had not seen the veer-option attack used by De La Salle. Steve Fifita even had dreams about the veer watching so much film to prepare his players. But the Eagles were ready for quarterback option plays and for power runs up the middle. And De La Salle didn't help matters by committing four personal fouls in the first four minutes of the game. The only touchdowns for De La Salle came on touchdown runs by Jaden Jefferson after recovering Santa Margarita fumbles.

The reason Santa Margarita became so dominant over the last month was the improvement in the offense. Quarterback Trace Johnson became comfortable and injured players came back, including tight end Luke Gazzaniga, who had touchdown receptions from 20 and two yards on Saturday.

Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Joe Cordina is in line for a shot at becoming a two-weight world champion after dominating Gabriel Flores Jr in California on the way to a unanimous victory on points.

Wales' former IBF super-featherweight belt holder Cordina outboxed his American opponent, with judges scoring the contest 117-110 115-112 114-113.

The fight at the Adventist Health Arena in Stockton was billed as a final eliminator for the WBO lightweight world title which was won by Abdullah Mason in an epic encounter with Sam Noakes in November.

Cordina, 34, was docked a point in the sixth round for rabbit punching, but was more in control than the judges' cards suggested.

"I got the win, but it wasn't exactly the way I wanted to do it," said Cordina.

"You can't come in and nick a fight off me. I kept applying pressure and forced him to the ropes, and he couldn't keep up with the pace."

The victory in Flores Jr's backyard is a second win in the lightweight division for Cordina, who returned from a 14-month lay-off with a hard-fought points win over Jaret Gonzalez Quiroz in July to claim the vacant WBO global lightweight title.

Cordina now boasts a professional record of 19 wins and one defeat (with nine KOs), his only loss coming to Anthony Cacace in May 2024 when he lost his 130lb title in Riyadh.

Flores, 25, did give the Cardiff-born fighter a scare in round seven with an uppercut that buckled his knees, but the American saw a six-fight winning steak ended to slip to 27-3 (eight KOs).

Cordina, who went into his first bout in America ranked number six by the WBO, should now emerge as their number one contender and mandatory challenger to Mason.

• Two-weight world champion goal motivates Cordina
• Boxing schedule and results 2025
• Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport

It was another centennial celebration for the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday. This time, some alumni put on their old threads.

Chris Chelios, Jeremy Roenick, Gary Suter, Bob Murray and Brian Noonan skated across the ice and were cheered on by the United Center faithful. The 2025-26 Hawks came out to join them shortly after.

One player who wasn’t on the ice for the matchup against the Detroit Red Wings was Connor Bedard, who suffered a shoulder injury a day prior and missed a game for the first time since his rookie season. The puck dropped and it was time to see how the Hawks would play without their star.

Connor Bedard’s injury leaves a big void for the Chicago Blackhawks. Who will fill the star center’s skates?

And well … they might want to forget this one.

The Hawks were outclassed in a 4-0 loss — their fourth in five games. Right wing Alex DeBrincat worked the puck past goaltender Arvid Söderblom 55 seconds in and the visitors never looked back, cruising to their fourth win in five games.

“When you get scored on right away, that’s a bit of a gut punch,” Hawks coach Jeff Blashill said. “I don’t know if I’d classify it’d as (that) bad, to be honest with you.

“I thought we had chances in the first that we didn’t convert on and they converted, so then the score is what the score is and we’re chasing it. You can say to me (that) they’re sitting on a lead, (but) it was (4-0), it wasn’t 10-0.”

Bedard, who leads the Hawks with 19 goals and 25 assists in 31 games, underwent an MRI on Saturday, and the Hawks are still awaiting clarity on the severity of the injury, per Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman. Bedard was injured on a last-second faceoff Friday night in a 3-2 road loss to the St. Louis Blues.

Blashill said he doesn’t expect Bedard to travel with the team on its upcoming three-game Canadian trip, which begins Tuesday night in Toronto.

Blashill made lineup adjustments in the absence of Bedard. One included recalling 20-year-old forward Nick Lardis from the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs, who had a hectic journey for his NHL debut.

“We were heading to Grand Rapids (Michigan) yesterday night,” Lardis said. “We were about 15 minutes out and I got the call, so we had to turn the buses back around. It was pretty crazy. I drove in here pretty late last night. I didn’t go to bed until 3 or 4 a.m. It was hard to sleep, but it was a cool memory for sure.”

The winger played on the third line with Oliver Moore and Ryan Greene. It’s a young line, but Blashill did this with intent.

“I wanted him to be comfortable,” Blashill said. “I think sometimes when you come up and play your first game, you start deferring. He’s played with (Moore) this year. (Greene), they’re similar ages. (They can) come up and play, and I thought they did a good job of that.”

Lardis had two shots on goal and skated in Bedard’s spot on the top power-play unit in his 15:32 of ice time. He was a bit starstruck, which was expected for a 20-year-old seeing his first NHL action.

“It was pretty special playing against Detroit (with) Patrick Kane in the building,” Lardis said. “It was a lot of fun.”

Everything you can say about Kane and the Hawks already has been written, but the 19-year veteran proved he still can put on a show at the United Center, even at age 37. He and DeBrincat — both of whom played for the Hawks — worked seamlessly on a 2-on-1 breakaway created by a Connor Murphy turnover, with Kane putting the Red Wings up 2-0 at 4:35 of the first.

It was Kane’s 498th career goal and seventh point against the Hawks. He needs two goals to become the 50th player in NHL history to reach 500. Debrincat added an empty-net goal with 3:46 to play in the third.

In the wake of Bedard’s injury, Blashill also moved Frank Nazar to the top-line center. It was more of the same for Nazar, whose run of games without a goal hit 20 in the loss.

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• Connor Bedard suffers ‘freak accident’ injury on last-second faceoff in Chicago Blackhawks’ 3-2 loss
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• Caleb Williams, Connor Bedard, Derrick Rose and more: The 11 No. 1 draft picks made by Chicago’s pro teams
• Chicago Blackhawks assign Sam Rinzel to the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs: ‘Get your swagger with the puck back’

Nazar’s last goal came on Oct. 28, and without Bedard, the Hawks need the 21-year-old forward to regain the form that saw him register five goals and six assists in the season’s first 10 games. Blashill wants Nazar to keep at it and not lose confidence.

“I can’t sit here and say that stuff doesn’t wear (because) of course it does,” Blashill said. “If he plays like he did tonight, he’ll get the rewards he wants.”

It was the second half of a back-to-back and 24 hours removed from Bedard’s “freak” injury. And while it wasn’t an encouraging showing from the Hawks, they’ll have a few days to regroup and try to figure out how to replace Bedard.

“Any time you lose a player, how much you feel that loss depends on how well the guys that are in the lineup play,” Blashill said. “Connor has been a great player for us (and) he’s been a go-to guy for us, there’s zero doubt about that.

“Connor is a guy that can change the game on one shot. You lost that in your lineup, so then let’s find ways to make sure that our details are great defensively. If anything, it should just heighten our awareness. This is stuff that we want to get better at anyways, it just makes it even more important right now.”

Manel Kape said he was going to make it look easy against Brandon Royval, and made good on that promise.

In the final fight of the year, Kape (22-7 MMA, 7-3 UFC) took on a high-stakes matchup against former title challenger Brandon Royval in the main event of UFC on ESPN 73 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. While it wasn't explicitly labeled as a No. 1 contender bout, there was an opportunity to make a case with a strong enough performance. Well, it doesn't get much better than a brutal first-round knockout, which Kape pulled off, leaving Royval (17-9 MMA, 7-5 UFC) on the canvas at 3:18.

Kape put the pressure on from the beginning of the fight, but didn't necessarily rush things. He studied how Royval responded to his movements, and countered his opponent's shots well. He then found an opening for a crushing right hand that dropped Royval, and the follow-up swarm marked the finish to the bout as referee Herb Dean rushed in.

HE WILL NOT BE DENIED.@ManelKape ends 2025 with a show-stopping R1 TKO! #UFCVegas112pic.twitter.com/f50LAA8kT4

— UFC (@ufc) December 14, 2025

Now on a three-fight winning streak, Kape turned his attention to the recently crowned flyweight champ Joshua Van.

"You replaced my place, now you have my belt," Kape said during his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping. "If I didn't break my feet in July, I would be the champion right now. Now, baby, listen very well: I'm here. Your daddy. Your daddy is gonna take your diapers."

Kape suggested the two meet for a flyweight title fight on Feb. 21 at the UFC Fight Night event in Houston. Not only is the city Van's backyard, but it's also where Kape got his first UFC win, so he has fond memories and wants to make more.

"Nobody can deny my belt," Kape said. "I'm the best here. I'm the f*cking best."

Kape ties the longest active UFC knockout streak with three, matching Ilia Topuria, Ateba Gautier, Michael Morales and Azamat Murzakanov.

For Royval, the result marks back-to-back losses. After losing a decision against Alexandre Pantoja for the title at UFC 296, he rebounded with two split decision wins against Brandon Moreno and Tatsuro Taira, but has now lost two to Van and Kape.

Full UFC on ESPN 73 results include:

• Manel Kape def. Brandon Royval via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:18
• Kevin Vallejos def. Giga Chikadze via KO (punches) – Round 2, 1:29
• Melquizael Costa def. Morgan Charriere via knockout (head kick) – Round 1, 1:14
• Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Marcus Buchecha ends in unanimous draw (28-28, 28-28, 28-28)
• King Green def. Lance Gibson Jr. via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Yaroslav Amosov def. Neil Magny via submission (anaconda choke) – Round 1, 3:14
• Joanderson Brito def. Isaac Thomson via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Steven Asplund def. Sean Sharaf via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:49
• Luana Santos def. Melissa Croden via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
• Guilherme Pat def. Allen Frye Jr. via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Jamey-Lyn Horth def. Tereza Bleda via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:05

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Vegas 112: Manel Kape floors Brandon Royval in opening round

MANITOWOC, Wis. (WFRV) – In a sport defined by precision and balance, Manitowoc Lincoln senior gymnast Ella Zutz is redefining what’s possible and showing how sports can truly change a life.

Gymnastics demands total body awareness, yet Zutz competes at a high level on one foot. It’s a reality she has lived with since childhood. But what could have been a limitation became a foundation for confidence, resilience and self-belief.

“I had a foot accident when I was two years old,” Zutz said. “I was taken to the Children’s Hospital, where I had surgeries every day for two weeks.”

Long before she ever stepped onto a competition floor, Zutz was learning how to navigate daily life differently. Those early challenges shaped her mindset, but gymnastics, in particular, helped transform adversity into strength.

“After I learned to re-walk, my parents put me in gymnastics just to help me get going,” Zutz said.

Now a senior, Zutz is a key part of a small Lincoln gymnastics team where every ounce of effort and attitude matters.

“What keeps me motivated is how far I’ve come,” Zutz said. “I wouldn’t have thought I’d get to do this, but I worked hard to get here.”

Gymnastics has given Zutz confidence, especially on the floor exercise, where she says she feels the most free and powerful.

“Seeing her growth on floor from freshman to senior year is just really fun to see,” teammate Khloe Jalbert said.

With a limited roster, Zutz’s energy and determination lift the entire team. Head coach Jacque Bartow described her as someone whose attitude elevates the gym.

“For us, it’s like, ‘Oh, Ella doesn’t have a foot,’” Bartow said. “When we go to other gyms and spaces, all eyes are on her. Then you sit back and realize what she is doing is truly amazing.”

Zutz says that after everything gymnastics has given her, she hopes others facing adversity can find strength through sports as well.

“There are going to be mean people and people who tell you that you can’t do things,” Zutz said. “But just trust yourself and know that you can.”

Bartow says Zutz’s impact stretches beyond gymnastics itself and will continue to shape the program for many years to come.

“It’s that whole idea that you can do anything as long as you put your mind to it,” Bartow said. “In the future, when we hold youth clinics and kids see Ella out there doing these things, it’s incredibly inspiring.”

From the gym to everyday life, Zutz shows that limits exist only if you let them. Through determination, courage and the lessons learned on the mat, she proves that challenges don’t define you — your attitude does.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.

Head coach Brendon McCullum said England are unlikely to make changes to their batting line-up for the crucial third Ashes Test in Adelaide, which begins on Wednesday.

England, 2-0 down after the first two Tests, must beat Australia at the Adelaide Oval to keep their hopes of regaining the Ashes alive.

Number three Ollie Pope and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith may have been candidates to be left out if England had considered making changes.

But asked if he anticipated fielding the usual top seven, McCullum said: "I would have thought so.

"We've been in positions where we have made some mistakes, and that can happen at times. But for us to go on and win this series, it's not about throwing out what has been successful for us over the last few years. It's about having more conviction.

"Knee-jerk reactions and chopping and changing settled batting line-ups is not really our way."

It is unusual for McCullum to address the media before a Test, and he explained his appearance on Sunday was because "we know where we are in the series".

In wide-ranging comments, McCullum:

• left the door open for spinner Shoaib Bashir and seamer Josh Tongue to play in Adelaide
• said any speculation that his job would be on the line if England lose this week "does not really bother me"
• explained his previous comments about England being "overprepared" for their second-Test defeat in Brisbane
• rejected any suggestion his team go about things in a "casual manner".

With changes to the top seven now seemingly off the table, England could opt to refresh their bowling line-up.

Conditions in Adelaide, including the high temperatures forecast when the Test begins on Wednesday (23:30 GMT on Tuesday), could necessitate the inclusion of specialist spinner Bashir.

• TMS podcast: McCullum plans unchanged top seven
• 'Noosa, Noosa, Noosa' - England's Ashes break ends
• England airport incident with cameraman 'not ideal'

All-rounder Will Jacks was chosen ahead of Bashir in Brisbane, though captain Ben Stokes insisted Bashir remains England's first-choice spinner.

The 22-year-old was earmarked for this trip more than a year ago, but has not played a Test since July because of a broken finger and has figures of 2-266 from his two tour games in Australia.

Tongue would be the most likely candidate to come in if England want a new paceman, with Gus Atkinson possibly making way.

"We need to have a look at the conditions," McCullum told BBC Sport. "We have a squad of 16 here, which in a five-Test series, we know we will have to call upon the majority if not all of those.

"We will work out what we think is the best option to be successful in these conditions."

Heavy defeats on Ashes tours have often brought changes to England regimes.

This series was billed as a huge opportunity for England to win back the urn, yet the tourists are at risk of being out of the series at the earliest possible opportunity.

Though McCullum and Stokes are contracted to England until the end of the next home Ashes in 2027, their positions - along with that of director of cricket Rob Key - will come in for intense scrutiny if England are beaten in Adelaide.

Asked if a loss would put his job under pressure, McCullum said: "I don't know, but it doesn't really bother me, to be honest.

"I certainly don't coach to protect the job. I coach to get the best out of people and that's the same with the skipper. We both go about that in our same way with the same level of conviction and that won't be changing this week just because the prize is at its highest.

"I firmly believe that if we play our best cricket, we are a massive chance in this Test match. If we do that, then the narrative changes and the series momentum changes."

• How much do you know about past Ashes games in Adelaide?

In the run-up to the second Test, England chose not to send players from the first Test to join a day-night England Lions game against a Prime Minister's XI in Canberra.

The tourists instead opted for five days of training in Brisbane which, in the aftermath of the Gabba defeat, McCullum claimed left them "overprepared".

On Sunday, the former New Zealand captain said he stood by his comments, but also explained he made them to draw attention away from the players.

"There's things that you say and things that you do - in the job you're in, sometimes it's better for the scrutiny to be on yourself," said McCullum.

"There is no perfect preparation. If there was and you could hit 4,000 balls to guarantee an average of 90, or bowl however many balls to guarantee 10 wickets, then we'll do it - don't worry. But that doesn't exist.

"Five intense days leading up to a Test match is not the best way to prepare. We'll be working out these next three days to make sure we get ourselves in the right frame of mind and skill level to be able to perform."

England returned to training on Sunday following a break in the Queensland resort town of Noosa.

Their approach has often attracted criticism, in particular their off-field activities during this tour.

On Sunday they began their training session with intense fielding drills, which have been uncommon for England under Stokes and McCullum.

"I do feel like there's a feeling that we go about our work in a very casual manner, but it couldn't be further from the truth," added McCullum.

"The level of intensity with which we try to operate with and the hard edge we try to bring to the team, is all encompassing. It's how we try to live our lives and set about this cricket team."

• Get cricket news sent straight to your phone

John Cena's final match left the crowd in Washington, D.C. stunned ... and not in a good way. Carrying on with what has become a decades old tradition of "passing the torch," Tripe H and the WWE booking team had Cena tap out to Gunther. Yes, the 17-time champion went out on a losing note. The match was exciting. The crowd was enthralled. And then stone silence when Cena tapped after a merciless series of elbows and about the 100th sleeper hold attempt by Gunther. Check out the highlights:

John Cena's final match

"It's been a pleasure serving you all these years. Thank you.”

John Cena says goodbye. At
Saturday night's main Event#ThankYouCena    | #SNMEpic.twitter.com/HBPE0jihTO

— 🔥Sagar AJ Boy ™☝🏻(#WWE AND #AEW Fan Account) (@SagarAJ111) December 14, 2025

John Cena's final match

The fans heavily booed Triple H after John Cena tapped out in his final #WWE match at Saturday Night's Main Event. pic.twitter.com/aKhfnuNPu3

— Wrestle Ish (@WrestleIsh) December 14, 2025

John Cena's final match

The last time is now. 🐐
John Cena just wrestled his FINAL WWE match at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
No gimmicks. No comeback talk. Just the end of an era.Thank you, Cena.
🫡💔 pic.twitter.com/S9QkCcB76k

— usa news today (@usanewstodayy) December 14, 2025

John Cena's final match

What a sendoff for John Cena ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Y1R3MTsWBL

— ESPN (@espn) December 14, 2025

John Cena's final match

THANK YOU JOHN CENA ❤️🫡

🏆 17x World Champion
🏆 5x U.S. Champion
🏆 4x Tag Team Champion
🏆 2x Royal Rumble Winner
🏆 Intercontinental Champion

THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME 🐐 pic.twitter.com/3dPhvopjDd

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 14, 2025

John Cena's final match

The GOAT.

There will never be another John Cena! 🥹 pic.twitter.com/8dT8jUQjma

— WWE (@WWE) December 14, 2025

John Cena's final match

John Cena took off his APL sneakers and left them in the ring officially retiring from the WWE 😢🫡 pic.twitter.com/sbLsGroLTI

— Nice Kicks (@nicekicks) December 14, 2025

John Cena's final match

There is something so poetically chaotic yet peaceful and beautiful, that in John Cena’s final moments in his wrestling career in the WWE… he was smiling. #ThankYouCena#SNMEpic.twitter.com/y7J8U7drHA

— Miscellaneous (@Snokes7) December 14, 2025

John Cena's final match

John Cena graduated high school, played college football, became a bodybuilder, joined the WWE, became the top star in the company, went to Hollywood, and retired from WWE after a 23-year career…

all before the Cowboys made it back to an NFC Championship Game.#ThankYouCenapic.twitter.com/x40qWeEhOB

— Eagles Fan Central (@PhilaFanCentral) December 14, 2025

John Cena's final match

It's over.

Gunther taps out John Cena. pic.twitter.com/0O2lTpl3p1

— WWE (@WWE) December 14, 2025

John Cena's final match

Salute to the GOAT 🐐

One final time tonight for John Cena 🥹 #ThankYouCenapic.twitter.com/prc2Bsgoj9

— MLB (@MLB) December 13, 2025

John Cena's final match

I don't think @TripleH thought this through. It's not the push they think they're giving Gunther. They would have just given the fans the win. Saturday Night's Main Event crowd is not happy.

— Mike Odyssey (@MikeOdysseyYT) December 14, 2025

John Cena's final match

John Cena showed us love — now it’s our turn.

Tune-in TONIGHT as @JohnCena faces Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event, live from Washington, D.C. The Last Time Is Now. 👋 #LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/1GpuKgGiX2

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) December 13, 2025

John Cena's final match

Who in the hell are you?
I'm John Cena.

From his unforgettable moments in the ring to his inspiring presence outside of it, John Cena has truly left an indelible mark on the world of sports entertainment. I am proud to have been part of his journey, and what a ride it has been… pic.twitter.com/NKnTDFi868

— Kurt Angle (@RealKurtAngle) December 13, 2025

John Cena's final match

John Cena will partake in his final match tonight. In honor of that, here’s a floating Phoenix Suns jersey. pic.twitter.com/Kj6iimP2hQ

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 13, 2025

This article originally appeared on The List Wire: John Cena wrestled his final match on Saturday Night's Main Event

PEORIA — Jean-Guy Trudel spelled out a clear message to his Peoria Rivermen team Saturday, and he didn't need any letters to do it.

The four-time SPHL Coach of the Year stripped the leadership letters off his players' jerseys before a rematch against Knoxville.

The Rivermen responded with a 5-0 victory that gave them a split in the weekend series before 3,989 who braved a winter storm to watch inside Carver Arena.

The Rivermen did it, technically, without a captain or two assistants.

Trudel's decision to remove the "C" from veteran captain Alec Baer's jersey and the "A" off Garrett Devine's and Josh Martin's jerseys came overnight, after the Rivermen lost to Knoxville on Friday and slipped into sixth place. But it was something Trudel had been thinking about all week as he assessed his team amid four losses in six outings.

"Leadership has to be above and beyond, it has to be special," Trudel said. "If you don't lead, you don't stay with the Peoria Rivermen. This is who we are, it's how we win, it's our culture to play fast, play heavy and play like this team means everything in the world to us.

"Leaders have to earn it every day. We're going to wait before we put any letters back on any uniforms. We're going to see who responds. We're going to see who steps up. It's a simple message: The Rivermen Way, or the highway."

Devine responded with a two-goal, +4 game in which he imposed his will on the Ice Bears with a high-motor outing from start to finish.

Rivermen linemate and newcomer Khaden Henry? He merely notched a hat trick in his second game with the team, one of them a spectacular skill display. He produced 3 goals on 13 shots and a +4 rating in two games.

"We didn't really have any choice but to receive Jean-Guy Trudel's message," Devine said. "It was a big game for us. A big inflection point. Early in a year you can reach a point where your season goes one of two ways, and I'm really proud of the way the guys responded and did a lot of the right things. The letter stuff is what it is. Guys know who the leaders are and it's everyone's job to lead.

"Everyone stepped up and played as a team effort, on the ice, off the ice, locker room, bench, everywhere. It's a matter of doing this every single night, every single guy.

"That's the biggest thing with our team, the way we're composed right now. Every single guy has to bring it, every single guy has to be a leader, every single guy has to do everything."

This story will be updated with more interviews and information.

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: A challenge: Rivermen team responded with win after coach removed leadership letters

Marc Stein: The Victor Wembanyama-led Spurs hang on to win 111-109 ... dropping the Thunder to 24-2 and bringing a halt to OKC's 16-game win streak. Either San Antonio or New York will be the NBA's third NBA Cup champion.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Spurs shock OKC in Victor Wembanyama's return, will face Knicks in NBA Cup final

If you go there now, you see an empty basketball floor in a decaying brick building. But if you narrow your gaze and let your mind drift, you can picture the crowds of wanna-be players over the decades, stuffing the narrow rafters, waiting for their chance. You can hear the excited yells and sneaker squeaks and the pounding dunks of a leather ball through a metal rim. You can feel the stifling heat of hot summer nights with no air conditioning and dreams of making a name for yourself sizzling beneath the hardwood floor.

And when you consider the talent that once sprinted up and down that court — from Dave Bing to Magic Johnson to Earl Cureton to Jalen Rose — you can feel yourself start to sweat.

This place is called St. Cecilia’s — or to many, the Saint — a legendary part of Detroit’s history, but like too many parts of our city, one that has fallen into disrepair, decay and disregard.

That is about to change.

On Thursday, Dec. 11, during our annual SAY Detroit Radiothon, I was joined on stage by the current mayor of Detroit, Mike Duggan, the former mayor, Dave Bing, and — via telephone — the current Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield (who was on her honeymoon), all of whom came together to help me announce the revitalization of a city landmark.

St. Cecilia’s, its adjacent 25-room school building, and the areas and lots surrounding both, will soon be the site of the new SAY Detroit Play Center at St. Cecilia’s.

The 8-acre campus on the city’s west side will be home to hundreds of afterschool kids from around the city, featuring academic labs, STEM robotics, arts programs, community spaces and, of course, sports, from a brand new football field to a rebirthed basketball facility that will honor the greats who played on that hardwood, while transforming it to a state-of-the-art level.

The Saint is rising.

A beacon of collaboration

“I am so excited,” Sheffield said, when she heard the news. “These are the partnerships that I believe are extremely important. And my husband — I finally can say that — he grew up playing in St. Cecilia’s. It’s very near and dear to the community. ... It’s near and dear to my heart.”

This is admittedly an ambitious project, one that may cost, in the end, close to $10 million. As the founder of SAY Detroit, that would make me nervous, had we not done a similar thing over the last decade on the city’s east side, at another abandoned facility called the Lipke Rec Center.

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Although not as storied by NBA greats as St. Cecilia’s, Lipke was also once a home to many Detroit kids, who played sports and swam there from the 1950s through the early 2000s.

But like so many rec centers in Detroit, Lipke closed during the bankruptcy years and fell into decay.

Back in 2014, Mayor Duggan asked SAY Detroit if we could somehow find a use for one of those closed facilities. We visited many and finally chose Lipke, even though all the HVAC equipment had been stolen off the roof and the swimming pool was covered in mold.

Ten years later, through the amazing enthusiasm — and elbow grease — of community partners and volunteers, Lipke has been transformed it into a vibrant hive of activity. There’s a football field donated by Matthew Stafford, a baseball field donated by the Detroit Tigers and a large basketball court, rejuvenated by Tom Gores, owner of the Pistons. Stafford and other investors added a 15,000-square-foot education annex a few years ago.

The SAY Detroit Play Center at Lipke now serves 300 kids from all over the city, who are transported from their schools and taken back home when they are finished. Sure, kids can play sports — but only after they complete 90 minutes of study in our digital learning center. They also fan out, in even greater numbers, to a recording studio, an E-Gaming hub, and STEM robotics and arts and dance programs.

Blueprint for success

Our goal for St Cecilia’s is follow the blueprint we used at Lipke. The sizes aren’t the same — there is less acreage the second time, for example, yet a larger school building — but the philosophy will be consistent: involve the community, lean on those who loved and used to use the space, raise funds through partnerships with foundations, companies and individuals, transport kids safely to and from their schools and homes, and hire caring, dedicated people to direct the academics and recreation.

We have already gathered several million dollars toward this project, chiefly from the Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation and an anonymous, but large, donor. Gores also pledged $100,000 toward it at Thursday’s event.

We should note that others have dreamed of reinvigorating this storied place, including Bing, Rose and notably Cureton, the former Piston, who, as a teenager, used to take two busses just to play with the talent at St. Cecilia’s.

On Thursday, at the radiothon, Earl’s widow, Judith Pickop, and their daughter, Sari, sat with us when we made the announcement.

“My dad loved Detroit and I think that reflected in his love for St. Cecilia’s,” Sari said. “The city offered him so much … an opportunity to grow, to learn, and become the person he became.”

That will be the goal of this new facility. To grow. To learn. To become the person you can become.

And to touch history. Detroit history. It was fun to hear Bing recall how, during a holdout from the Pistons in the early 1970s, he kept his game sharp by playing at St. Cecilia’s, and how Sam Washington, the legendary athletic director there, convinced him to get the NBA to donate the fines he was accumulating so he could buy a new scoreboard.

It was fun to hear former Police Chief Ike McKinnon recall how, during the uprising-plagued year of 1967, his officers would get stress reduction and recreation at St. Cecilia’s and how Washington would feed them.

Mayor Duggan noted how our Lipke project had not only revitalized that facility, but sent property values in the area soaring, and uplifted the immediate neighborhood.

We hope to do that twice.

There are ghosts now in the paint-peeling walls. We will not chase them out. Rather, we will give them a home among the sudden high-pitched squeals of children enjoying new facilities, and families knowing their kids have a place to go for hours after school and in the summer, a place where they can improve their grades, their college chances and their jump shots.

The Saint is rising.

If you would like to be a part of this effort, or join us somehow in the rebirth, please contact us at Saydetroit.org.

History never dies. It just sometimes gets ignored. That ends now at St. Cecilia’s. Let’s make it front and center again.

Contact Mitch Albom: malbom@freepress.com. Check out the latest updates with his charities, books and events at MitchAlbom.com. Follow him @mitchalbom on x.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Mitch Albom: St. Cecilia’s is on the rise – on wings of new partner

This isn’t the banner the Knicks envisioned chasing this season — but after a 132-120 quarterfinal victory over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, the NBA Cup is within reach. And recent, limited history says competing for the in-season tournament banner gives you a head start in chasing the real thing later down the line.

In 2023, the first year of the Cup, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Indiana Pacers to claim the league’s inaugural in-season trophy. The Pacers went on to make an Eastern Conference finals appearance the following spring, and came a Tyrese Haliburton Game 7 injury away from a Cinderella ending last season.

In the Cup’s second year, the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder. That Thunder team responded by winning its first NBA championship later that same season, outlasting Indiana in the 2025 Finals.

Now it’s Year 3 of the league’s newest experiment — and the pattern is no longer coincidence.

After two straight quarterfinal exits, the Knicks are one of the final two teams standing in Las Vegas. They defeated the Toronto Raptors in the quarterfinal on Tuesday then punched their ticket to the NBA Cup Final agains the Magic on Saturday night.

And just like that, they’ve joined a short list of teams with a 50% chance of doing something much bigger next.

The New York Knicks are for real. They entered the season with championship aspirations, and a third of the way through the year, they’re finally beginning to look the part. And while an in-season tournament banner was never the target, competing for one has given the world a glimpse into the heights this team’s ceiling has pushed toward this year.

“I was one of those guys when they came up with the Cup idea, I was like, ‘Oh, man, for what? In the middle of the season? We are trying to do this and that and practice and blah, blah, blah,' ” head coach Mike Brown recalled after practice on Friday. “It’s a fantastic experience for everybody. You really applaud how the NBA has tried to continue to find ways to make this more meaningful across the board. So it’s a pleasure to be here.”

So the Knicks look the part. Jalen Brunson looks the part, too.

Brown has been vocal about wanting his All-Star point guard to finally receive MVP consideration. Performances like the one Brunson delivered Saturday make it impossible to have the conversation without him.

The Knicks’ captain dissected an Orlando defense specifically built to grind him down — a physical, switch-heavy unit designed to make every touch uncomfortable. Instead, Brunson made it look easy: 40 points on 16-of-27 shooting from the field and eight assists in New York’s highest-pressure game of the season.

“Yeah, [the Magic] are really physical. That’s what [Orlando’s head coach, Jamahl Mosley] prides himself on. The way that they have been able to do it makes them very successful,” Brunson told reporters after practice on Friday. “There’s a lot of ways you combat it. Obviously with physicality. But I would move it, with space and transition, getting stops and running. I think no matter what, they are going to play their solid basketball. We have to play ours and do it to the best of our abilities.”

Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 29 points and eight rebounds, and OG Anunoby added 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field, as the Knicks advanced to a 17-0 record in games they lead after three quarters.

Jalen Suggs scored 26 points for the Orlando Magic but left in the second half due to injury. Paolo Banchero scored 25 points, and Desmond Bane added 18, but the Magic couldn’t match New York’s firepower with both teams missing key contributors on the injury report. Miles McBride is nursing an ankle injury, and Landry Shamet is recovering from a shoulder sprain, while fringe All-Star Franz Wagner remains out with a high ankle sprain of his own.

Now it’s one more game in Las Vegas against the best of the West. The NBA Cup is beginning to be a true playoff preview, and the Knicks are living up to the early billing they can compete for their first title in decades this season.

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.

OH MY GOODNESS!!!@LMRamsFootball with the HAIL MARY FOR THE WIN to capture their FIRST STATE CHAMPIONSHIP in program history.@NoahGrubbsQB to @BarrettSchulz and @22Aproblem_ with the all-time assist to capture the Class 7A crown in Miami. #SCTop10

🎥: @ShaneWhitehead9pic.twitter.com/hVLbPvyTn6

— Alex Walker (@AlexWalkerTV) December 14, 2025

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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There is no more satisfying feeling for a fighter than going out on your own terms.

Sometimes the sport retires you before you can have a say in the matter, but sometimes you get the choice of when and how.

For Brett Johns, Saturday night marked the final bout of his 13 and a half year professional career - a career which saw him win two world titles and become the first Welshman to fight in the UFC.

While it was not the fairytale third world title ending he had hoped for on Saturday night - suffering a second round stoppage defeat to Nikolay Grozdev - his legacy will remain.

'The Pikey' laid the foundations for many to follow.

Johns' coaches and peers have been paying tribute to the man.

Jack Shore

"Working with Brett for me has been a massive privilege," said Jack Shore.

"It started as an amateur training with the best fighter in Wales and one of my idols.

"He joined my gym and not only became one of my main training fighters, but he's become one of my best friends."

Shore went onto make his UFC debut in September 2019, and became the first Welsh fighter to be ranked in the promotion, reaching 15 on the bantamweight rankings in March 2022.

"I've shared hours and 100's of rounds with Brett," added Shore.

"Not only is he the best fighter I've ever trained with, but he's one of the greatest people you could ever wish to meet, which means far more than any of his fighting accolades, which let's be fair are pretty good!

"He laid the foundations of Welsh MMA and has lead the way for over 15 years.

"A true Welsh legend and still one of the best fighters in the world.

Oban Elliott

"I first met Brett when I was 19, totally starstruck after one of my amateur fights.

"I later got to train with Brett when I was 20 and have done ever since.

"The knowledge he shared with me on my way up, not just on the mats but also how to develop my character and how to go about this sport as you work your way up has no doubt played a massive part to where I am today.

"Without Brett, who knows if the path would have been as clear to get to the top of this sport from where we are from.

"Above all, he's an amazing human being and an amazing friend, my brother.

"A real people's champion and forever a MMA legend.

"He's one of the greatest and most influential Welshman of all time, thank you brother."

Scott Pedersen

"The first time I met him I must have been about 15 or 16," said Pedersen.

"He was in the changing room coaching some other boys and I was starstruck like 'Oh my God that's Brett Johns Cage Warriors champion', so I didn't really speak to him that night.

"I ended up going down on the Friday to train with him at his dad's judo gym, and obviously I sparred with him, he manhandled me and I thought 'Oh my God this guy is next level', which obviously he is.

"I started to train with him on the regular, next thing you know I moved to Swansea, started training with him full time."

Pedersen says he is really grateful for everything he has experience with Johns.

"What he's done for my career is second to none.

"To have that type of mentor where you know you're training with one of the best fighters in the world gives you confidence through and through as well and the tips he's given me over the years, not just in fighting but in life, it's always going to stick with me and will always go a long way."

"What he's done for the sport just in Wales, again second to none.

"He's fought some of the best fighters in the world and beat some of the best fighters in the world.

"He's genuinely like my older brother, the guy is an icon, living legend."

Pedersen believes Johns could still go again if he wanted to.

"The mad thing is he's not slowing down.

"In training, he's 33 now, he feels better than ever so he could probably decide to do whatever he wants.

"Whatever he does decide to do I'll be happy for him and back him all the way, living legend."

Richard Shore

"I have been fortunate to be able to watch Brett Johns' career from his very first fight on my event, right up to date," said Shore.

"He is one of the Welsh GOATS, and a pioneer, the first Welshman to ever compete on a UFC event.

"His accomplishments are second to none.

"I believe his most impressive achievement is having two fights on the same night, fighting eight full rounds to become the Cage Warriors world champion.

"Not many men on this planet could even dream about doing that."

Shore was also quick to speak to the character of the Brett Johns as a person.

"He is the perfect professional both in and out of the cage, a great fighter and an even greater man.

"Any young fighter looking to have a successfully MMA career should look to him as the blueprint for success.

"If this was his last fight he has my blessing, but... never say never."

After 27 professional bouts and two world title wins, it's time for Brett Johns be the world champion dad he desires to be as he and his wife look forward to welcoming their second child in February.

Before we do anything else, I have to ask for forgiveness for my first half-saltiness during my live updates article while the Ohio State basketball team was laying a turd on the floor of Rocket Arena in Cleveland vs. West Virginia. The Buckeyes looked uninspired and uninterested in playing the game of American basketball, and I was not kind.

The second half was another story. The Buckeyes erased a 16-point deficit in the second half and came all the way back to force not one, but two overtimes that can only be explained by a gut check, an instant classic. Both teams battled and made shots down the stretch, but Ohio State was able to withstand it all and win by a narrow 89-88 score.

There's a lot to take from this one, and as we normally do, we have pulled out three things we think we learned about this team. Suffice to say, a very negative column has turned more positive after what we all just witnessed. Hopefully, you stayed up for it all.

Ohio State has to be more consistent and play a full 40 minutes

THE TOUGHER TEAM#GoBucks | #FightToTheEndpic.twitter.com/5UMfD0xDbE

— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) December 14, 2025

OK, let's get the bad out of the way first. The first half was bad -- like really bad. On offense, Ohio State was standing around the perimeter, the wrong guys were settling for long-range shots, there were many instances of questionable judgment with fouls and turnovers, and there was a lack of energy and hustle. It was about as bad as it could get, and as a result, the Buckeyes went into the locker room down 37-27.

The second half didn't start much better, but then Ohio State began to climb out of the hole with better energy on both ends of the floor, better shot selection, and better action. It was like two teams played both halves. It's great that the Buckeyes came back and won this one to save me from having to buy another computer because of it being planted up against the wall, but this team has to be more consistent. There have been far too many lapses for long periods of time, and you can't expect to have a miracle finish like what we saw tonight more than a few times a season.

Find that way of playing from the jump and go do some things this year.

Amare Bynun needs to be a starter going forward for Ohio State

AMARE BYNUM 😳🔨🔨🔨

Doing it all off the bench for THE BUCKEYES! https://t.co/Swi2pDoz0ppic.twitter.com/l9Wc6JAug4

— Drive The Lane (@DriveTheLanePod) December 14, 2025

One of the big reasons why Ohio State was able to turn things around was the play of freshman Amare Bynum. In the first few games of the season, he looked like he was feeling things out, but there were still flashes of an athletic presence that nobody else on the Buckeyes has.

He's now making a big difference. His energy in starting the second half was contagious and sparked the turnaround for the entire team. He possesses some fast-twitch ability and a mindset to go with it that this team will need going forward. This sure did feel like his coming-out party, and we might be seeing a star in the making. He finishes with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting, but also hauled in eight rebounds and had three assists from a non-guard spot.

He can't replace Bruce Thornton or any more of the guards, but it looks like Brandon Noel might have to be relegated to a bench player after tonight because Ohio State is a much better team with him on the floor.

Give me Bruce Thornton when the chips are down for Ohio State

BRUCE THORNTON GAME-WINNER FOR THE BUCKEYES IN 2OT 🤯

Ohio State trailed by as many as 14 😳 pic.twitter.com/jaDHnGd4Rp

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 14, 2025

Some guys just have the clutch gene and want the ball when it's winning time. Ohio State senior guard Bruce Thonton checks that box. He struggled throughout the first half and a little into the second, but as the sands of the hourglass began to run out, he made shot after shot. Whether it be free throws because of getting fouled, getting the team into its offensive set and not turning the ball over in extreme pressure situations, or hitting the game-winner, he was the one who willed this team home.

Thornton could have left and gone somewhere else for his senior season, but he chose to stick around for Jake Diebler and the program, and I can only imagine where this team would be without him on the roster. I don't know if this team makes the NCAA Tournament or not -- there are still things that have to get better -- but I know it doesn't have a chance without him.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.

This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State basketball beats West Virginia: 3 things we learned

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Fernando Mendoza’s Heisman Trophy triumph made noise as far afield as Rupp Arena on Saturday night.

Indiana could not claim too many fans in the building, in the Hoosiers’ first regular-season game against Kentucky in 14 years, unsurprising given the venue. But the ones who made the trip east on I-64 made themselves heard more than once during a 72-60 loss.

That included what has become a familiar chant among IU fans, one that broke out not long into the game and yet owing absolutely nothing to what was happening on the floor.

As news filtered through the arena that Mendoza had won his program’s first Heisman Trophy, fans seated in small clusters — including one group just a few feet away from the media seating area — began loudly chanting “Heis-Mendoza!” at the news.

It was the latest reminder of IU’s brave new world, with football and basketball co-existing so significantly, so late into the calendar. Curt Cignetti’s team, the No. 1 seed in this year’s College Football Playoff, will next play in the Rose Bowl, on New Year’s Day in Los Angeles.

The Hoosiers await the winner of the 8/9 game between Oklahoma and Alabama, in Norman.

In the meantime, they’ve spent the pre-Christmas period resting on the field, while cleaning up off it. Mendoza and Cignetti were named Big Ten offensive player and coach of the year, respectively, while Carter Smith won the conference’s lineman-of-the-year award.

Cignetti has also won multiple national coach-of-the-year awards, with more potentially on the way.

Mendoza added a clutch of trophies to his mantle this weekend in New York, including not just the Heisman Trophy but the Davey O’Brien Award for nation’s best quarterback and the Maxwell Award for nation’s best player. Mendoza is also the first Hoosier to win the O’Brien Award, and the second (after Anthony Thompson) to win the Maxwell.

More than a dozen Hoosiers have landed All-Big Ten and/or All-America honors since their Big Ten championship game triumph a week ago. A handful — including Smith, Aiden Fisher, Riley Nowakowski, Pat Coogan, Isaiah Jones and others — traveled to New York to celebrate with their quarterback.

Alberto Mendoza, Fernando Mendoza’s backup and younger brother, also made the trip. Both brothers became visibly emotional when Fernando referenced his younger brother during his acceptance speech.

The Hoosiers ultimately left Rupp Arena empty handed Saturday. But their football program once again left them celebrating, nonetheless.

Want more Hoosiers coverage? Sign up for IndyStar's Hoosiers newsletter. Listen to Mind Your Banners, our IU Athletics-centric podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch the latest on IndyStar TV: Hoosiers.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana fans chant HeisMendoza at basketball game vs Kentucky on Heisman night

Dec. 13—JAMESTOWN — After the University of Jamestown men's basketball team pulled off a 71-70 win over the University of Minnesota-Duluth, the UJ women entered Harold Newman Arena with enthusiasm and energy — ready to complete the sweep.

UMD took all of the Jimmies' energy away.

The Bulldogs defeated UJ 82-36 on Saturday afternoon, to drop the Jimmies' record to 4-5 overall and 2-3 in conference. Head coach Thad Sankey and company will be back in action on Wednesday at the University of Minnesota-Crookston. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

From the opening tip, the Bulldogs were in control.

The Bulldogs surged out to a 7-0 lead to start the ball game but Jessika Lofstrom got the Jimmies back within four with an outside shot at the 6:51 mark of the first quarter. In the next seven minutes, the Bulldogs added 15 points to their score while the Jimmies added three on a shot from Samantha Paulsen. Lofstrom led the Jimmies in first half scoring with five points.

As the game went on, it was clear the Jimmies were simply outmatched.

The Jimmies committed 14 turnovers and only shot 25 percent from the floor and 20 percent from deep in the first half. The home team capitalized on one of two shots from the line. UMD was 53.3 percent shooting and 35.7 percent from deep. At the line, the visitors went 3-for-5. UMD out-rebounded the Jimmies 28-18

At the half, UMD led 40-15.

"As soon as No. 23 was loosening us up with cuts and No. 11 gets in rhythm, and then No. 42 is getting deep paint touches — that's a hard combo," Sankey said in a postgame interview with Jamestown's 107.1 FM. "That's a hard combo for everybody to guard but we have to be able to take at least one of those things away.

UMD's No. 23, Claire Bjorge was responsible for seven points and four assists, while No. 11, Myra Moorjani, cracked into double-digits with 10 points and nabbed three rebounds, three assists, two turnovers and one steal. No. 42, Lexi Karge, was the Bulldogs' leading scorer with 16 points. She also grabbed four rebounds.

In the third quarter, the Bulldogs put up 13 points in the time it took for the Jimmies to score one point. With just over five minutes to play, Paulsen got the Jimmies' first two-point bucket of the half on a breakaway.

Quarter No. 4 was the Jimmies' best of the night — matching UMD's 16 points scored. Daviney Dreckman was the team's leading scorer with nine points while Paulsen finished with seven. As a team, the Jimmies were 15-for-57 shooting and 4-24 from 3-point range. The team recorded 20 turnovers and 28 total rebounds.

"We take the steps we need to take as a team with great effort," Sankey said. "These learning processes hurt. Tonight hurt. Unless we come back and get back on course, great effort doesn't really matter — it doesn't really matter. ... The learning opportunity for us is the difference between wanting to be good and working to be good. We have a lot of work to do to be good."

University of Minnesota-Duluth 82, University of Jamestown 36

UMD 22 18 26 16 — 82

UJ 6 9 5 16 — 36

UMD — Lexi Karge 16, Maria Counts 11, Myra Moorjani 10, Karly Jusczak 8, Claire Bjorge 7, Ashley Fritz 7, Lexi Karlen 7, Drew Johnston 6, Lilly Radcliffe 3, Vanessa Bickford 3, Gabrielle Kirchner 2, Keagan McVicker 2. Totals: 32-60 2FG, 12-27 3FG, 6-9 FT, 11 fouls. 3-pointers: Counts 3, Moorjani 2, Bickford 1, Johnston 2, Fritz 1, Karlen 1, Jusczak 1, Radcliffe 1.

UJ — Daviney Dreckman 9, Samantha Paulsen 7, Jessika Lofstrom 5, Halle Crockett 4, Hali Savela 3, Kiara Jangula 3, Alexa Ham 2, Allie Berns 2, Haidyn Crockett 1. Totals: 15-57 2FG, 4-24 3FG, 2-4 FT, 14 fouls. 3-pointers: Lofstrom 1, Dreckman 1, Jangula 1, Paulsen 1.

After a historic season, the Kutztown Golden Bears fall just short of playing for the NCAA Division II football championship game.

Kutztown lost to Harding 49-20 Saturday afternoon at Andre Reed Stadium in the NCAA Division II semifinals.

It was a season of success for the Golden Bears, as they recorded the winningest season in school history with 14 wins, captured their third consecutive PSAC championship, and advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA Division II playoffs for the second time in the last three years.

The sting of defeat was a new feeling for this year’s Golden Bears, but it came on a day when the Bison simply outplayed them in below-freezing temperatures.

As for the Bison (15-0), their season continues as they travel to McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas, to face Ferris State in the NCAA Division II Championship on Dec. 20 at 4 p.m.

Ferris State (15-0) has won three titles in the past four seasons, including the 2024 championship, when the Bulldogs defeated Valdosta State 49–14.

They have dominated those title games, winning by an average score of 49–15 and establishing themselves as a true powerhouse in recent years. Earlier in the day, Ferris State defeated Newberry at home, 49–17.

It was an unusual sight for the Golden Bears defensively as they faced a Wing-T, triple-option offense, one that was historically dominant this season.

The Bison broke the single-season team rushing record with 6,308 yards and counting, eclipsing the all-division college football mark of 6,160 yards set by themselves in 2023.

The Golden Bears had no answers, as Andrew Miller, a Harlon Hill Trophy finalist and the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year, rushed for 157 yards and four touchdowns to lead his team to victory.

The Bisons scored at will on the ground, completing just one pass for 20 yards in the game. Braden Jay and Cole Keylon also posted dominant performances. Jay rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown, while Keylon, the quarterback, added 96 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Harding quarterback Cole Keylon rushes for a 10-yard touchdown against Kutztown University during a 49-27 victory over the Golden Bears in an NCAA Division 2 semifinal at Andre Reed Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

For Kutztown, the offense struggled after scoring 50 or more points in each of its first three playoff games. Judd Novak, also a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, threw his first interception of the season in the third quarter, putting the Golden Bears in a 28–7 deficit with eight minutes remaining.

The redshirt junior completed 20 of 37 passes for 245 yards and three touchdowns, two of which came with seven minutes left when the game was essentially decided. On the ground, Novak rushed for 125 yards on 12 carries, including a 74-yard touchdown run.

Kutztown University’s Judd Novak runs for a 74=yard touchdown during a 49-27 loss to the Bisons in an NCAA Division 2 semifinal at Andre Reed Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

VINITA — Asia Roper jogged toward the Claremore bench expecting to hear it.

A quick scolding. A reminder to be smarter from her father, Claremore girls basketball coach Lynn Roper, after her fourth foul sent her to the sideline midway through the third quarter.

Instead, the moments that followed nearly turned Friday night's Big Dawg Shoot-Out semifinals on their head before becoming the defining chapter in one of the most dramatic performances of her career.

With Roper sidelined at the 4:25 mark of the third quarter and Claremore holding what appeared to be a comfortable 12-point lead, the game flipped in stunning fashion.

Kiefer seized the opening, ripping off a 20-2 run that erased the deficit and turned it into a 6-point advantage, while Roper could only watch from the bench as momentum swung violently away from the Lady Zebras.

“I was just trying to stay positive,” Asia Roper said. “Like, ‘This is not it. It is not over. It’s fine. We’ll get through this.’”

And they did.

The senior star returned early in the fourth quarter and delivered a takeover performance that propelled Claremore to a 62-58 victory over the Lady Trojans inside the James E. Sooter Activities Center at Vinita High School.

She scored 15 of the Lady Zebras' final 20 points over a decisive 6:50 stretch, finishing with 36 points and 7 rebounds to send them to their first tournament championship game since Jan. 26, 2016.

“I’m just glad we won,” Asia Roper said. “I didn’t really care how many points I had because if we didn’t win, I would’ve been mad. I was literally telling my teammates, ‘Guys, we are not losing.’ I was telling myself we’re not losing, so I went to the high post and called for the ball. I think me coming back in helped the energy a little bit, too. They [Kiefer] weren’t scoring as much, and we were doing better on offense. I didn’t give the option [to lose] to anybody.”

That night in 2016 came at the Port City Classic in Catoosa, a season that ended with Claremore finishing as the Class 5A state runner-up.

Friday’s win also marked the program's first 4-0 start since the 2007-08 season, another year that ended with a state-tournament appearance.

“I think it’s my first time being 4-0, probably ever,” Asia Roper said. “I’m really happy with our team. I think we play really good together. Last year we were figuring things out, and this year we have it, so I’m just happy to have good teammates.”

The pivotal moment that changed the game didn’t come from the floor, but from the bench.

Earlier in the game, coach Lynn Roper and his staff had agreed Asia Roper would re-enter the game at the 6:00 mark of the fourth quarter to protect her from fouling out.

Assistant coach Lauren McSpadden added one caveat: unless Kiefer went on a game-breaking run.

That condition was met moments later when the Lady Trojans' Coley Rowton scored a fast-break layup to push them ahead 46-40. McSpadden immediately made the call, and coach Roper didn’t hesitate or argue. He turned, called his daughter’s name and sent her to the scorer’s table.

“She’s just as big a part as I am for our success,” coach Roper said. “She bounces stuff off me, I bounce stuff off her and that’s how we coach. I told her when I got hired and she was already in the program, ‘I want to hear everything you have to say all the time.’ I talk with the boys coach, I talk with other coaches — I’m always learning from other coaches. This is only my second year as a head coach at this level, so I’m still learning every game. I learn a lot from year and vice versa. The rule is typically six minutes in the fourth, but she was like, ‘Nope, we’ve gotta get her in now.’ I looked up, saw seven minutes, and I was like, ‘All right, let’s go.’ It just looked like that was a good point [to bring her in].”

Before she could even check back in, Autumn Roper delivered a crucial bucket in the paint, keeping the Lady Zebras within striking distance and helping spark what became a game-winning 22-12 run.

“I’m glad she stepped up because we needed somebody to,” Asia Roper said. “Me coming out brought the energy down a little bit, but she kept it up.”

From there, Asia Roper took control.

She scored on drives, buried a momentum-swinging 3-pointer to tie the game at 50, converted a 3-point play that put Claremore ahead 55-51 with 2:30 remaining and calmly knocked down free throws in the final seconds to close the door.

Autumn Roper finished with 12 points and 7 rebounds, while Alayna Eberley added 8 points and 2 boards as the Lady Zebras overcame a 31-27 rebounding deficit [17-7] on the offensive glass] and 22 turnovers to survive.

Kiefer, which briefly looked poised to steal the game, was led by Rowton’s 19 points and 2 rebounds. Posey LaBouff added 11 points, Claire Hoover chipped in 11 and 5, and Channing Hallum finished with 10 and 7 as the Lady Trojans capitalized on Claremore’s foul trouble and offensive drought in the second half.

Elle Adams added 7 points while co-leading the team with 7 rebounds.

Still, when it mattered most, the ball belonged to Asia Roper, and she delivered.

Claremore now moves into the Big Dawg Shoot-Out championship game riding momentum, history and the confidence that comes from knowing its best player can swing a game even after watching it slip away from the bench.

With that history comes playful memories that a father like Lynn Roper cherishes, even if he is the only one who remembers.

“I want to correct Asia because when I coached her in sixth-grade rec league, we were undefeated,” he said, referring to her comment about never having been 4-0. “She probably forgot that — nobody remembers that.”

VINITA — With a berth in the Big Dawg Shoot-Out championship hanging in the balance, it often looked like neither team was eager to seize it.

Between 61 combined turnovers, 22 missed free throws and a steady stream of errant layups that flirted with nothing but air, Sequoyah and Salina spent Friday night searching unsuccessfully for the dagger that would separate them.

In the end, the Lady Wildcats found just enough offense to escape with a 32-25 victory over the Lady Eagles in the semifinals inside the James E. Sooter Activities Center at Vinita High School.

In a game where free throws, rebounding and turnovers largely canceled each other out, the biggest difference came from beyond the arc.

Salina made 2 3-pointers. Sequoyah made none.

That margin proved decisive.

The Lady Wildcats' second 3-pointer — a deep shot from Jordan Hawk — snapped a 25-24 Lady Eagles lead and ignited a game-ending 8-0 run. Sequoyah did not score again after Abilene McGee’s free throw gave them their first and only lead of the night with 5:04 remaining.

The Lady Eagles' struggles from the perimeter loomed large.

Lanie Thompson, who torched Catoosa with 5 3-pointers in the opening round, was held to 5 points and could not get a shot to fall from deep.

The game was a grind from the opening tip.

Salina jumped out early behind Maci Proctor and Izzy Pritchett, leading 11-4 after the first quarter. Sequoyah clawed back in the second behind Emmyn Gibson and Abilene McGee, trimming the deficit to 16-12 at halftime despite continued turnover issues.

The third quarter was more of the same with frantic possessions, missed chances and constant trips to the free-throw line.

Gibson sparked a brief surge, and Lexis Breshears tied the game at 22 entering the fourth, setting up what appeared to be a tense finish.

However, after McGee’s free throw gave the Lady Eagles a 25-24 lead, the Lady Wildcats finally delivered the separation it had been searching for.

Hawk’s 3-pointer broke the tie, and Salina added points off free throws and a Zoe Stephenson basket to pull away as Sequoyah went scoreless over the final five minutes.

The Lady Wildcats committed 33 turnovers and the Lady Eagles 28, with the teams combining for 32 giveaways in the second half alone. Free throws told a similar story, as Sequoyah went 9-of-19 [47.4%] and Salina 10-of-22 [45.5%].

Gibson led the Lady Eagles with 9 points and 7 rebounds, while Breshears added 7 boards alongside 3 points. Thompson finished with 5 points and 3 boards, and Sequoyah grabbed 16 offensive rebounds compared to the Lady Wildcats' 9 but could not convert enough second chances.

For Salina, Pritchett led the way with 8 points and 7 rebounds, while Jordan Hawk added 7 points and 3 boards, including the game’s biggest shot.

The loss ended the Lady Eagles' hopes of setting up an all-Claremore championship game against the Lady Zebras — a rare matchup that hasn’t occurred since Jan. 21, 2016, when Claremore beat Sequoyah 49-38 in the Catoosa Port City Classic.

The Lady Wildcats advanced to Saturday’s championship game at 7 p.m. against the Lady Zebras. Sequoyah will play Kiefer in the third-place game at 5:30 p.m.

Lady Eagles coach Lee Ott was unavailable for comment after the game.

Dec. 13—JAMESTOWN — The Jamestown High School boys basketball team had a one point lead over Devils Lake at the halfway point.

The Firebirds flipped the script in the second half.

Max Palmer's six 3-pointers paced the Firebirds' 70-48 win over the Blue Jays Saturday afternoon. The loss puts Jamestown's record at 2-1 overall. Jamestown will open up the conference season on Tuesday with a tilt against Bismarck Century. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Jerry Meyer Arena.

While Palmer notched 28 points to lead all scorers, senior Abel Dolokelen put up a respectable 17 points to lead the Blue Jays. Edison Walters chipped in another 10 points while Kale Verke put seven on the books.

As a team, the Jays hit 18 field goals and went 8-15 from the free throw line.

Devils Lake 70, Jamestown 48

DL 30 40 — 70

JHS 31 17 — 48

DL — Max Palmer 28, Bryar Exner 15, Mason Palmer 11, Ben Brodina 9, Kade Fee 4, Egan Laite 2, Alex Hammond 1. Totals: 25 FG, 11-20 FT, 19 fouls. 3-pointers: Max Palmer 6, Exner 2, Brodina 1.

JHS — Abel Dolokelen 17, Edison Walters 10, Kale Verke 7, Eric Van Berkom 3, Gradin Thorlakson 3, Hudson Rode 3, Liam Frey 3, Mason Joseph 2. Totals: 18 FG, 8-15 FT, 19 fouls. 3-pointers: Dolokelen 1, Walters 1, Verke 1, Rode 1.

Penn State guard Vega Ioane has announced he has opted out of the Pinstripe Bowl and has declared for the 2026 NFL draft.

The 6-4, 330-pound Ioane, a fourth-year junior, played in 44 games for the Nittany Lions, including 32 starts. He’s projected to be a first-round pick.

“The past four years have been a journey of a lifetime,” he posted on social media, “and an unforgettable experience that I couldn’t be more grateful for. This family and football program that took me in has helped shape me into the man I am today.

“And for that, an expression of gratitude will never be enough.”

He specifically thanked former Penn State coach James Franklin and former offensive line coach Phil Trautwein.

Ioane has been named to the All-America second team by the Walter Camp Foundation, The Athletic and Sports Illustrated. He was selected to the All-America first team by CBS Sports and On3.

He allowed no sacks for the second straight season and three pressures on 310 pass blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. He was voted to the All-Big Ten first team by a media panel and to the second team by the coaches.

Ioane became the fourth Penn State player to opt out of the Dec. 27 Pinstripe Bowl against Clemson, joining safety Zakee Wheatley, defensive tackle Zane Durant and running back Nick Singleton.

In other personnel moves, Trautwein has left Penn State after six seasons to join Jon Sumrall’s staff at Florida, Trautwein’s alma mater.

Trautwein’s departure leaves interim head coach Terry Smith, offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, Marques Hagans (wide receivers), Deion Barnes (defensive line), Dan Connor (linebackers), Anthony Poindexter (safeties) and Justin Lustig (special teams coordinator) as the remaining assistants from Franklin’s Lions coaching staff.

Penn State announced Friday that three assistant coaches and seven others have officially joined Matt Campbell’s new staff.

Taylor Mouser will be the offensive coordinator and tight ends coach, Ryan Clanton will coach the offensive line and Deon Broomfield the secondary.

In addition, Skip Brabanec will serve as football chief of staff, Derek Hoodjer as general manager, Aaron Hillmann as director of sports performance operations, Reid Kagy as head strength and conditioning coach, Brandon Pietrzyk as assistant strength and conditioning coach, Trent Slattenow as director of personnel and Jack Griffith as recruiting assistant.

All but Griffith worked with Campbell at Iowa State.

VINITA — Ryder Phillips likes to call himself QB1 for Catoosa boys basketball.

On Friday night, that self-appointed title felt less like bravado and more like prophecy.

With the Big Dawg Shoot-Out semifinals on the line, Phillips was the one standing at the free-throw line twice in the final 20 seconds, shoulders squared and eyes steady. He split a pair with 18 seconds remaining, then returned after a defensive stop with six ticks left.

He again missed the first but made the second, and that single point proved to be the difference as the Indians survived for a 58-57 victory over Miami inside the James E. Sooter Activities Center at Vinita High School.

“I knew I was gonna make a second one because I knew I was gonna miss it,” Phillips said. “I had to come through, but I have enough confidence in my teammates to let them know they gotta get a stop.”

Moments later, the Wardogs' Beckett Sooter buried a running 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have sent the game into overtime if not for Phillips’ calm conversion seconds earlier.

One could argue that is why he calls himself QB1. He was the player with the ball in his hands when the game hung in the balance.

“I would say I'm probably the most vocal person out here,” Phillips said. “I would say my role is being the point guard, being the main guy, being QB1. Every night, though, it could be somebody else being a leader. I might not have the best night, but AJ [Timmons] can go have 20, TJ [Tory Hooks Jr.] can go have 20, Ant [Anthony Barnes] could go have 20 — anybody on the roster can get 20. I’ve got confidence in everybody, and not one person is the best on the team. It's everybody. It's how we play together. That's how we play.”

Phillips finished with a team-high 16 points and 4 rebounds as Catoosa improved to 6-0 and advanced to the Big Dawg Shoot-Out championship game for the second-consecutive season.

Friday’s thriller was already the second meeting between the teams this season. Catoosa edged Miami 58-55 in the Dec. 2 opener, and the sequel proved just as tense.

“I think we just fought through every level of adversity, stuck together as a team and found a way to hit some big free throws at the end,” Catoosa first-year coach Rodrick Hall said.

The Wardogs [1-3] made their intentions clear early behind Waike Roblyer, who scored their first 16 points and finished with a game-high 25 points and 9 rebounds.

Despite Roblyer’s early dominance, the Indians stayed composed, closing the first quarter with a narrow 14-13 lead after a Phillips 3-pointer stemmed the momentum.

“He's a monster,” Hall said of Roblyer. “He played really well. We made some adjustments on him and slowed him down a little bit, but I don't think there's any stopping the kid.”

Catoosa gained separation in the second quarter with a balanced attack.

AJ Timmons sparked an 18-point period with a 3-pointer and aggressive drives, while Phillips drained consecutive triples to push the lead to 32-24 at halftime.

The Indians looked poised to pull away in the third, stretching its advantage to 15 points after a Rodrick Hall Jr. 3-point play and a Tory Hooks Jr. basket. However, Miami responded with a flurry from beyond the arc.

Lane Walther hit a trio of 3-pointers in the quarter, trimming the deficit and keeping the Wardogs within striking distance heading into the fourth.

The final eight minutes turned into a possession-by-possession grind.

Every Catoosa run was answered, and every Miami push was met with timely shots or defensive stops. Anthony Barnes knocked down a key 3-pointer midway through the quarter, but the Wardogs continued to chip away, pulling within two points in the final minute.

That set the stage for Phillips.

After a Miami bucket cut the lead to 56-54, Phillips stepped to the line with 18 seconds left and made one of two. Following a stop by the Indians defense, he returned with six seconds remaining.

He missed the first, but calmly knocked down the second — the point that ultimately sealed it. The Wardogs' final heave fell through the net, but it wasn’t enough.

The Indians had seven players score at least 5 points, showcasing the depth that has fueled its unbeaten start. Timmons added 13 points and 5 rebounds, and Barnes and Rodrick Hall Jr. chipped in 7 apiece while combining for 6 boards.

Catoosa will face Rogers County rival Claremore, a rematch of last year’s title game that the Indians won 62-54.

“It's a big deal,” coach Hall said. “I want to make sure the legacy continues and gets better. So every chance we get to do something special, we want to do it.”

Phillips is excited for the opportunity as well.

“I'm ready to go get a two-timer,” he said. “I'm ready to be a two-timer.”

VINITA — Even with a 17-point cushion heading into the fourth quarter, Claremore boys basketball coach Randy Rutherford wasn’t satisfied.

And he made sure his team knew it.

Grove had just closed the third quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers, trimming what once looked like a runaway into something far less comfortable by his standards.

During the brief break before the final frame, the first-year Zebras coach gathered his players and delivered a blunt message.

“This game isn’t over,” Rutherford told them. “You are 1-2 right now. You can be 1-3 or 2-2. Which one do you want?”

“2-2, coach,” the team answered together.

“Then start playing like it,” Rutherford said.

They did exactly that.

Claremore clamped down defensively, refused to let the Ridgerunners mount any sustained run and stretched the lead to as many as 21 points on its way to a convincing 52-34 victory in the Big Dawg Shoot-Out semifinals Friday night inside the James E. Sooter Activities Center at Vinita High School.

“It’s a process,” Rutherford said. “We’re a little bit more talented than that team is, so if we can impose our will, then it should turn in our favor. But if you don’t focus on the detail stuff, then they have a chance.”

The Zebras [2-2] were in control from the opening tip, racing to a 13-5 lead after the first quarter and holding Grove to just 11 points in the first half.

That defensive effort was especially notable considering the Ridgerunners were coming off an 84-26 blowout of Salina in the opening round. Claremore took that high-powered offense out of rhythm early and never let it find its footing.

“The teams that we’ve already faced, these teams haven’t faced anybody of that caliber,” Rutherford said. “When they face our man-to-man defense, they don’t know how to face that. We felt very confident coming into the game about how our defense would affect them after watching film. We knew they like to shoot a lot of 3s, so we took the 3-point line out. We knew they couldn’t cover us inside, so everybody’s doubling Tobin, we knew our guards were going to get loose, we hit some shots and then the ballgame was in our favor.”

Tobin McGill powered the Zebras inside with a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Mike Tarver and Nolan Sherl added 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Claremore extended its halftime advantage from 23-11 to 39-22 after three quarters, though Grove’s late surge in the period prompted Rutherford’s emphatic reminder before the final eight minutes.

The Zebras responded by opening the fourth with defensive stops and efficient offense, pushing the margin beyond 20 at 47-26 and finishing strong.

“We’ve been waiting on somebody to run us in a zone,” Rutherford said. “They ran a zone, and we’ve got good stuff against the zone.”

The Ridgerunners [3-1] were led by a balanced effort, with Colby Watson, Bradee Rutherford and Cody Churchwell each scoring 6 points, while Aiden Knight added 5 points and 6 rebounds. However, they were unable to overcome Claremore’s early defensive dominance and steady execution down the stretch.

With the win, the Zebras advanced to the Big Dawg Shoot-Out championship game for a second-straight season and will face Rogers County rival Catoosa at 8:30 p.m. Saturday in a rematch of last year’s title game, which the Indians won 62-54.

It marks Claremore’s fourth appearance in the tournament championship game, having also reached the final in 2021, 2022 and 2024. The Zebras are still seeking their first Big Dawg title, with each previous championship loss coming against teams nicknamed the Indians — Stilwell in 2021 and 2022 and Catoosa last season.

“We’re excited about the challenge tomorrow,” coach Rutherford said. “Catoosa is a good team, and like I told our guys, all the teams play about the same. They’re going to run a little run-and-jump, they’re going to want to play man and they’re going to want to shoot a bunch of 3s. Defensive transition, guard the 3-point line, stop the ball, stop the paint strong side and let’s see what they can do against us.

“It’ll be a good game tomorrow. I know they’re going to be ready to play, and we’re excited about it.”

CHICAGO — Case Keenum is well aware of the jersey — the infamous, fan-altered jersey of former Cleveland Browns quarterback Tim Couch with a long list of his successors under his nameplate.

Keenum should know it. He’s on it.

“I’ve seen that shirt,” said Keenum, who played for the Browns from 2020-21 and joined the Bears as a free agent in April. “I think I’m probably the only undefeated quarterback on that list. … Minimum two games, right?”

It’s true. Keenum started two games in 2021 and won both, but he knows that’s not what the spirit of the jersey is all about.

It’s a meme about futility.

It’s about a franchise’s exhaustive yet fruitless search for a solution at the game’s most important position.

“Cleveland is its own little entity,” Keenum said. “It’s got this blue-collar, not-ever-given-anything, had-to-earn-everything-it’s-gotten, been-overlooked, kind-of-little-brother-type mentality. I’ve really had that type of time my whole life, my whole career. So being able to share it with a group of people in a city like that I really enjoyed.

“You know, you could probably make those types of shirts at a lot of different places.”

To his point, a Bears fan could’ve made a Cade McNown jersey with all of his successors.

The Browns have had 42 quarterbacks start at least one game since they were reinstated (after a three-year absence) in 1999, including No. 1 pick Couch. The Bears have had 30 quarterbacks make at least one start since they drafted McNown at No. 12 that same year.

It’s a trauma bond for two fan bases.

Perhaps Bears and visiting Browns fans can discuss it during Sunday’s game when they’re huddled together for warmth amid subzero wind chills at Soldier Field.

The numbers

The Browns have had a staggering number of starters since ‘99.

The full list, in alphabetical order, includes: Derek Anderson, Jacoby Brissett, Jason Campbell, Tim Couch, Austin Davis, Jake Delhomme, Ty Detmer, Trent Dilfer, Ken Dorsey, Jeff Driskel, Joe Flacco, Charlie Frye, Dillon Gabriel, Jeff Garcia, Bruce Gradkowski, Robert Griffin III, Kevin Hogan, Kelly Holcomb, Brian Hoyer, Case Keenum, Cody Kessler, DeShone Kizer, Thaddeus Lewis, Johnny Manziel, Baker Mayfield, Josh McCown, Luke McCown, Colt McCoy, Nick Mullens, Doug Pederson, Brady Quinn, Shedeur Sanders, Connor Shaw, Tyrod Taylor, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, P.J. Walker, Seneca Wallace, Deshaun Watson, Brandon Weeden, Jameis Winston, Spergon Wynn and Bailey Zappe.

Here’s the Bears’ list: Tyson Bagent, Matt Barkley, Henry Burris, Jason Campbell, Chris Chandler, Jimmy Clausen, Todd Collins, Jay Cutler, Andy Dalton, Chase Daniel, Justin Fields, Nick Foles, Mike Glennon, Brian Griese, Rex Grossman, Caleb Hanie, Brian Hoyer, Chad Hutchinson, Craig Krenzel, Shane Matthews, Josh McCown, Cade McNown, Jim Miller, Kyle Orton, Nathan Peterman, Jonathan Quinn, Trevor Siemian, Kordell Stewart, Mitch Trubisky and Caleb Williams.

In 27 years, the Browns have averaged about 1 1/2 quarterback starters per season, but they outdid themselves in 2023 with five: Driskel, Flacco, Thompson-Robinson, Walker and Watson.

Of course, injuries played a factor in the number of starters, as it does with several teams most seasons.

The Browns have had 20 quarterbacks start at least eight games since 1999, the most in the league.

The Bears have had only 11 make eight starts, about average in the league, but they have had 23 make at least four starts, tied for the highest in that span.

However you dissect the numbers, various Bears and Browns front offices have spent a lot of man hours trying to find a long-term solution to their quarterback quandaries, often to no avail.

“You look at quarterback in general, I think it’s probably the toughest, most scrutinized, most unique position in all of sports — we get the ball in our hands every play,” said Keenum, 37, who’s on his ninth team in his 14th season. “No one position in all sports relies more on their team and the entire building, and no other position in all sports has the entire team and the building relying on them.”

Keenum was the primary backup for Mayfield, who eventually joined Couch, Manziel, Quinn and Weeden among Browns first-round quarterbacks who didn’t pan out for them (though Mayfield has found success with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers).

“When you put that type of expectations and stress and pressure on a kid sometimes, that’s not a recipe for success if you’re not making decisions at a very high level based on how it affects that kid,” Keenum said.

He praised Bears coach Ben Johnson in that regard.

“Ben’s done an incredible job — every decision he’s made (has been) with everybody in the building in mind, specifically our quarterback,” Keenum said. “It’s not just him, it’s getting the entire building on it. That’s one thing that you can see that’s going on with Caleb Williams.”

The psyche

George Bozeka is president of the Pro Football Researchers Association (PFRA) and author of several NFL-related books and articles.

His son, Jon Bozeka, is a longtime broadcaster in Northeast Ohio who covers the Browns for Infinity Sports Network and Sirius XM.

In their own ways, they’ve both spent years studying their hometown Browns and they’re both left scratching their heads.

“I think it’s been a huge source of frustration for Browns fans,” George Bozeka said about the team’s quarterback search. “One theory that I have, and I think Jon shares this with me, is that in the modern NFL, they don’t really develop quarterbacks like they used to historically.

“When I was younger, in the ’60s and ’70s, they always said it took about three to five years to develop a quarterback. Now it’s all about instant gratification. A quarterback is drafted high, they expect him to go in and excel immediately. And I think that’s been part of the problem for the Browns.

“They’ve had quarterbacks that have, you know, done well for short periods of time, like for a season, and then they come back to earth and the mediocrity sets in.”

Jon Bozeka said Browns fans would get their hopes up — like during Derek Anderson’s Pro Bowl season in 2007 — only to come crashing down a year or two later. Rinse and repeat with Mayfield.

“I can’t even begin to tell you the excitement when Joe Flacco led the Browns to the playoffs, like, two years ago, you would have thought Joe Flacco was the second coming of Otto Graham around here,” Jon Bozeka said. “People were making T-shirts. There was excitement. … That season, that moment for Browns fans was so unique here that everybody wanted that to work again this year, and it just didn’t.”

Bears fans have ridden similar waves with Trubisky and Fields.

Joe Ziemba, PFRA member and author of “Bears vs. Cardinals: The NFL’s Oldest Rivalry” and other Chicago-related books, can testify to what many Bears fans felt when Fields was selected with the 11th pick in 2021.

“I remember even where I was, I was in an Ace Hardware store, and someone told me the Bears are going to get Fields,” he said. “I said, ‘You’re kidding.’ I’ve seen him in college going nuts at Ohio State.”

Two seasons later Fields and the Bears parted ways.

“I think the system, I think the staff let him down a little bit in terms of his developing further,” Ziemba said

Jon Bozeka said of Trubisky, Fields’ predecessor and the No. 2 pick in 2017: “People here wanted him really badly. He’s a local kid. He’s a Mentor (Ohio) kid.”

There’s still time for Trubisky, who’s in his second season in Buffalo, to be added to that Browns jersey.

The original jersey was the brainchild of Cleveland-based ad agency owner Tim Brokaw, who retired it after 24 names in 2016, when the Cavaliers won the NBA championship.

But it has been resurrected in various forms, handmade or Photoshopped, with some gaining similar notoriety.

“Just because the list is 42, I think we mentally all have that image in our head,” Jon said.

George Bozeka believes both Chicago and Cleveland have a “bruised” psyche when it comes to this subject because of their storied histories that predate the 1970 merger.

“I think it’s painful for the fan bases to constantly go through this,” he said. “There’s more expectation. I think that’s why there’s more impatience.”

Ziemba said Bears fans focus on the modern quarterback carousel and the lack of a 4,000-yard passer in their history but forget about the greats of yesteryear.

“You had somebody like Ed Brown in the ’50s, but no one’s ever heard of Ed Brown, and he probably started more games (66) than anybody,” he said, with the exception of Jay Cutler (102).

“I’m always looking at someone like Sid Luckman, who I still consider the best quarterback in Bears history. “(Bears founder George) Halas had this keen eye for selecting guys, and Luckman wasn’t even a quarterback at Columbia. But since Halas felt that as a tailback, he could fit in with the C formation, he picked him up on a last minute trade with Pittsburgh and added him.

“Of course he’s a Hall of Famer and still holds a lot of the records.”

The Bozekas hold up Graham — a three-time NFL champion — as one of the league’s all-time greats, though they acknowledge fans hang their hat on the fact the Bears have had two quarterbacks lead them to a Super Bowl and one won.

“Even though the Bears haven’t done it since ’85 … Cleveland has so consistently experienced that heartbreak,” Jon Bozeka said. “It’s painful that they can’t get the position that’s the most important position in sports right.”

The franchise

Caleb Williams’ 57.8% completion percentage has invited a bit of scrutiny, but it’s notable that Luckman, passing pioneer though he was, had just a 51.8% career completion percentage.

“And yet he’s considered the dominant guy,” Ziemba said. “But the game was different, and the strategies were different.”

The point is, numbers don’t necessarily make a franchise quarterback. Wins do.

The question for both the Bears and Browns is: Can Williams and Shedeur Sanders become those players?

Recently, Ben Johnson said to throw out the stats when it comes to Williams, who came with Sears Tower-high expectations when he was drafted at No. 1 in 2024.

At this early stage of building a franchise quarterback, only the process and the mindset matter.

“It’s the coachability aspect of it,” Johnson said. “He’s doing a really good job right now of being critical of himself. We see it the same way. We’ll watch tape together and (he says), ‘I’ve got to be better there.’

“Even the walk-through. I mean, we just had a walk-through and he’s a little pissed off walking off. He’s like, ‘I had two in there that I could’ve gotten a little bit cleaner’ in a walk-through setting. Well, we just installed the play, so that’s natural. When he’s critical of himself and he’s taking to coaching, I know good things are coming down the horizon.”

Williams said he and his coach talk every day about everything, from family to football.

And that includes goals and expectations.

“The playoff mentality, the championship mentality, that’s where we want to be,” Williams said. That’s where you want to be every year. … Whether it’s your first year or 10th year, you don’t go into a year not thinking about that.

“That’s one. And then managing those expectations, managing actually being possibly in that position, that’s going to take experience, that’s going to take trusting in him, that’s going to take us just trusting the process.”

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski likes what he has seen of Williams.

“He’s a really, really good young player,” Stefanski said. “He can make a ton of plays both on schedule and off schedule, has elite arm talent to throw the ball around the field.

“And … he’s very elusive, extremely elusive. He can get out of the pocket to the left, to the right, vertical in the pocket. He’s a hard guy to bring down and that adds another element to their team.”

Sanders’ path has been a bit more arduous than Williams’.

He was a projected first- or second-rounder but fell to the fifth and suddenly found himself fourth on the depth chart behind Flacco, Kenny Pickett and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, who was drafted in the third round.

There had been murmurs through the preseason and regular season about why Sanders hadn’t gotten more first-team reps or a chance to start, but Sanders finally got his first start Nov. 23, a 24-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.

Last week, he threw for 364 yards and produced four total touchdowns in his third start, a 31-29 loss to the Tennessee Titans.

Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen hadn’t seen a lot of tape on Sanders before this season but said: “I see a guy that plays with a little bit of a swagger. He’s got a little moxie to him. I think he brings a little bit of excitement to that football team.”

And yet, there are still questions about whether he’ll be in Cleveland long term.

“I just go here, enjoy my day, work hard, do everything I can,” Sanders said. “And if I’m here, I’m here. If I’m not, I’m not. Like it’s nothing in my control. So, I try to control what I can control. That’s going out there and making the right reads, going out there doing the right things, being the person I am. And things will fall how they are supposed to.”

Even if it’s lip service, Stefanski seems compelled to include Gabriel in the conversation about Sanders’ progress, lest he fuel more chatter about the Browns’ muddy quarterback vision.

“I don’t think you can quantify development,” Stefanski said. “With all of our players, we have a development plan that we feel strongly about. … What’s great about our young class, Shedeur, in this case our entire rookie class, is these guys want to get better.”

The Browns have at least committed to starting Sanders the rest of the season.

Starter or benchwarmer, solution or temporary fix, if Sanders harbors any concerns about his NFL future, he’s not showing it at the podium.

“I’m comfortable being uncomfortable,” he said. “You’ve got to understand, that’s just the situation I’m in, and I’m fine with that. I love that.”

Come Sunday at noon, Williams and Sanders will be focused on the game and little else. Realistically, Williams and the Bears need this win against the 3-10 Browns to maintain control of their playoff hunt.

For Sanders, it’s a four-game audition.

Two years ago, Williams and Sanders traded 11 total touchdowns between them when Williams’ USC Trojans defeated Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes 48-41.

“It was a good atmosphere, a good game,” Williams said this week. “We ended up coming out with the victory, and Shedeur was a hell of a player.”

____

The pre-match spotlight might have been on Leigh Halfpenny's return to Cardiff colours for the first time in more than 11 years.

But it ended up being one of the kickers he now also mentors who grabbed the headlines with a last-gasp match-winning penalty against Ulster in the Challenge Cup.

Cardiff and Wales fly-half Callum Sheedy stepped up to slot over the kick that sealed a 29-26 win to send the Arms Park crowd home happy.

"It is nice with times like that when the hard work pays off," said Sheedy.

"I'm really pleased it went over. Those kicks come once a season or once every couple of seasons, so I'm chuffed."

The thirty-year-old added: "With a match-winning kick it focuses you even more and you go back to your process.

"It was actually the stillest night I've ever had at the Arms Park. Usually the wind's going everywhere, so someone's looking down on me."

• Cardiff stun Ulster with last-gasp Sheedy penalty
• Halfpenny fit to make Cardiff playing return
• Wales' Grady aiming for full speed with Cardiff

Proving the doubters wrong

It was all the more pleasing for Sheedy given his goal-kicking has come under scrutiny since his arrival at Cardiff from Bristol.

"I've been round long enough to know that people will jump on you when you miss a few kicks," said Sheedy.

"It's fine, it's part of the job, there's no problem at all. But I've also had plenty of kicks where they've been under pressure.

"I played 10 years in the Premiership, every kick's pretty big there.

"I missed a few kicks last year, I'll miss some more. But nights like tonight is what all the hard work's for, so I'm pleased it went over.

"I'm just glad we got the result. That kick was the icing on the cake."

Sheedy praised the scrummaging efforts of his forwards after they gained the set-piece penalty for the fly-half, as Cardiff came back from a 14-point deficit in the final 15 minutes.

"That scrum that won us the penalty was unbelievable," he added.

"To be fair to the boys to do it on [Ulster's] put-in was class."

Learning from a kicking legend

Sheedy admits he would not have taken the kick if Halfpenny had still been on the field at the end, with the full-back replaced after 58 minutes in his first Cardiff game for 4,347 days.

"I would have had a great view of Leigh winning the game, which would have been just as special," Sheedy admitted.

Sheedy praised Halfpenny's influence since he arrived at Cardiff at the beginning of the season to take up a player-coach role with responsibility for kicking.

"I've worked hard with Leigh since he has come in," the Cardiff-born outside-half added.

"It's been unbelievable to be able to work alongside him. People pay a lot of money to go and watch Leigh kick and I get to do it as a job.

"I feel privileged to be able to learn from someone as unbelievable as him."

Sheedy says Halfpenny has not tried to change too much but has provided invaluable advice.

"He's very good," said Sheedy.

"I remember the first time we had a chat about kicking and he was saying he's not coming in to change me or how any of us kick, because we all have our different styles.

"It's if we wanted to lean on him in any way."

Sheedy was impressed by Halfpenny's expertise.

"What I found with Leigh is he could watch a kick and would know exactly what was right or wrong," he added.

"Something technical like when you're opening up too early or you're closing off with your kick.

"Something we wouldn't know, he's just got an eye for it. You can tell he's been top of the game for 17 years, even if you just look at what he does in the week.

"The visualisation he does and how professional he is with the preparation he does for each session.

"It's eye-opening for me and I'm 30. So someone younger will be taking so much from him."

Melquizael Costa closed out a career year in electric fashion at UFC on ESPN 73 with a devastating head kick knockout against Morgan Charriere.

Costa (25-7 MMA, 6-2 UFC) became the first to stop Charriere (21-12-1 MMA, 3-3 UFC) with strikes in MMA competition when in the first round of the featherweight bout at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, he landed a precious left head kick that broke the guard of his opponent and instantly put him unconscious at the 1:14 mark of Round 1.

It was a thrilling performance to put a cap on a 4-0 year for Costa, and you can watch the reply of the highlight finish below (via X):

THAT JUST HAPPENED 🤯@MelkCostaCauthy makes quick work with a RD 1 KO!

[ #UFCVegas112 is live NOW on the @ESPN app ] pic.twitter.com/rDfJtqcOF0

— UFC (@ufc) December 14, 2025

View this post on Instagram

With a six-fight winning streak overall at 145 pounds, Costa trails only Lerone Murphy (nine) and Movsar Evloev (eight) for runs of consecutive victories in the weight class.

After the performance that put him alongside Joshua Van as the only UFC fighters to go 4-0 in 2025, Costa said he is looking to carry his momentum into an even bigger year in 2026.

"This year I've been working a lot," Costa said in his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping. "I want the top 15 (in 2026), then a top 10 then the last of the year, the belt."

Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 73 results include:

• Melquizael Costa def. Morgan Charriere via knockout (head kick) – Round 1, 1:14
• Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Marcus Buchecha ends in unanimous draw (28-28, 28-28, 28-28)
• King Green def. Lance Gibson Jr. via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Yaroslav Amosov def. Neil Magny via submission (anaconda choke) – Round 1, 3:14
• Joanderson Brito def. Isaac Thomson via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Steven Asplund def. Sean Sharaf via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:49
• Luana Santos def. Melissa Croden via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
• Guilherme Pat def. Allen Frye Jr. via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Jamey-Lyn Horth def. Tereza Bleda via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:05

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Vegas 112 video: Melquizael Costa closes 4-0 year with vicious KO

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) – The Peoria Rivermen won 5-0 at Carver Arena Saturday night for Teddy Bear Toss night.

Fans braved the sub-zero wind chill and six inches of snow that fell hours before puck drop to participate in the toss.

Garrett Devine scored a short-handed goal roughly eight minutes into the game and the Rivermen never looked back. Thousands of teddy bears were dropped onto the ice after the win.

It was Devine’s first of two goals on the night.

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

BRAZIL, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Northview quarterback Colton Bath announced his commitment to play college football at Army.

Bath accumulated over 3,000 passing yards, 1,000 rushing yards, and 60 total touchdowns while at Northview.

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

Dec. 13—BOZEMAN — The suddenly top-seeded Montana State Bobcats advanced to the FCS semifinals Friday, and it was a bit of a slugfest that turned on turnovers.

Adam Jones ran for 114 yards and two touchdowns and also caught a scoring pass in the Bobcats' 44-28 win over Stephen F. Austin, while Justin Lamson was his usual steady self with 246 yards on 20 of 26 passing.

There was enough scoring to keep 19,807 fans inside Bobcat Stadium until the end.

Montana State (12-2), at No. 2 the top seed because of No. 1 North Dakota State's loss last week, never trailed while winning its 12th straight game. The Bobcats will host either No. 3 Montana or No. 11 seed South Dakota next Saturday, at either 2 or 5:30 p.m. Mountain.

The Grizzlies and Coyotes battle Saturday in Missoula.

Stephen F. Austin (11-3), which had won 11 straight, fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter; quarterback Sam Vidlak fumbled on the Jacks' first possession, and MSU's Caden Dowler intercepted a pass that should have been caught on their second.

Those turnovers led to Jones' first two TDs, on a 1-yard scoring run and a 21-yard reception, to cap drives of 65 and 57 yards.

In the second quarter SFA made an end zone interception of a Lamson pass, but it mattered little: MSU forced a punt and drove to a 47-yard Myles Sansted field goal for a 17-0 lead.

The gap grew to 24-0 after Vidlak, the former Griz quarterback and current Southland offensive MVP, fumbled again on a hit from Kenneth Eiden IV. The play was reviewed and upheld; Carson Williams had returned the ball 27 yards to the SFA 5-yard line, and Lamson hit Luvins Valcin for a 3-yard TD.

Vidlak recovered from there, leading a TD drive in the final 1:41 of the first half. He hit Clayton Wayland for 11 yards and the score and found Wayland again with a two-point PAT pass.

The Lumberjacks cut the gap to 24-14 with a 70-yard drive coming out of the half, capped by Jaylan Jenkins' 5-yard run.

To that point MSU had rushed for just 27 yards, but from there the Bobcats picked up 227 and that's as close as SFA got.

"I would say this," Bobcat coach Brent Vigen said. "We were at not quite to 200 yards passing and that's the ebb and flow there. What they were doing as far as selling out stopping the run game allowed us opportunities to throw the ball. Ultimately we did find a way to break through the second half."

Another Sansted field goal pushed MSU's lead to 27-14; Lamson's 5-yard scoring run made it 34-14 at 3:04 of the third quarter. The junior QB threw for 188 yards in the first half and was 3 of 6 passing after that.

Jenkins added a 6-yard scoring run before the third quarter ended, but MSU went up 41-24 on Jones' 16-yard run at 14:36 of the fourth quarter. It was set up by Julius Davis' 64-yard run; Davis cruised into the end zone but was called for taunting, and the personal foul moved the ball back to the SFA 20.

And so it went. Gavin Rutherford had a 3-yard scoring run with 10:05 left in the game for SFA, but MSU held on while getting a third Sansted field goal.

Vidlak was 26 of 43 passing for 242 yards and was sacked five times; Kylon Harris caught 11 passes for 85 yards. Jenkins rushed for 44 yards while Jerrell Wimbley led SFA with 75 yards on 11 carries.

Jones, in addition to his 114 rushing yards on nine carries, had five catches for 46 yards. His TD catch and run came on a third-and-20 call.

"Winning third down is important, so you hate to see yourself in a third-and-20 like that," Vigen said. "But it was a huge play. It was a check down so it was a good, timely pass by Justin and a great finish by Adam."

Davis rushed for 96 yards on 17 carries and Lamson ran for 16 yards on 12 carries.

Dowler led MSU with eight tackles and picked up his sixth pick, all in the last five games. Eiden had three sacks; Zac Crews had 1.5 sacks and forced Vidlak's first fumble.

One possible cause for concern: The Cats were penalties 12 times for 100 yards. The total included six false starts in a game where the Lumberjack D-linemen were obviously mimicking signals — and were flagged for it, twice.

"I know we had a few procedure penalties and they had a couple delay of games," Vigen said. "They got called for it twice and we got called way too many times."

The Lumberjacks had seven penalties, a few that were very untimely. In the end MSU had too much.

"They've got a terrific ballclub," SFA coach Colby Carthel said. "We didn't play our best game tonight and that's because of the Montana State Bobcats. That's also on me and our staff. We didn't quite have them ready to play at the level we're used to playing.

"That's the only thing that's really disappointing about tonight, because it was a beautiful ballgame; it could have been a great one."

WASHINGTON, DC — John Cena ends his wrestling career in defeat.

The iconic WWE wrestler lost the final match of his storied run, as Gunther emerged victorious at Saturday Night’s Main Event on Dec. 13.

After a thrilling battle that had several twists and turns, it came down to the Sleeper Hold.

Toward the end of the match, punches were traded when the two stars got to their feet, and it was Gunther who broke it with a powerbomb. He followed it with a Frog Splash and Cena avoided the loss, but Gunther didn't stop, hitting another Sleeper Hold. Cena got up several times but Gunther continued to drag him back down. Just when Cena broke out of it, Gunther locked it back in.

Cena got out one more time to land the AA but the pin didn't work, and it was immediately followed up with another submission hold. The crowd chanted "don't give up" as Cena started to fade. The referee checked Cena's hand and he was able to keep it up before the three-count.

But Gunther kept the hold on. Cena finally tapped out and Gunther won to stun the crowd.

It's over.

Gunther taps out John Cena. pic.twitter.com/0O2lTpl3p1

— WWE (@WWE) December 14, 2025

With the result, Cena’s wrestling career is complete. The Massachusetts native made his WWE debut in June 2002 and went on a historic 23-year run in the company. He was the face of wrestling for nearly two decades, embarking on several notable feuds with a ton great moments and championship reigns. 

At Money in the Bank 2024, Cena announced 2025 would be his final year of in-ring competition, beginning a farewell tour that took place across the world and would culminate at Capital One Arena in the nation’s capital.

A tournament was held to determine who would get the opportunity to be Cena’s final opponent, and Gunther emerged as the winner, defeating LA Knight in the final for the right to face the future WWE Hall of Famer. Now, Gunther gets the honor of beating Cena in his final match.

With his wrestling career over, Cena ends as a 17-time WWE Champion – the most in company history – as well as a Grand Slam Champion – with reigns as the Intercontinental, United States and Tag Team Champion. He also won the 2012 Money in the Bank match and is a two-time Royal Rumble match winner, in 2008 and 2013. 

It likely won’t be the last time Cena appears in WWE, but the last time was now for him as a wrestler.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Did John Cena win his last WWE match? Result, highlights

Lake Taylor High School wins the Class 3 state football championship over Kettle Run High School at Liberty University, Dec. 13, 2025.

LEXINGTON, KY — A second-half offensive outage undercut Indiana's upset attempt, in the Hoosiers' first game at Rupp Arena in 15 years Saturday night, a 72-60 Kentucky win.

Here's what I liked and disliked, and what the Hoosiers' loss means.

What I liked from IU basketball's loss vs. Kentucky

• Hanging in. Once again, Indiana's prodigious shooting would not travel, to the tune of just 3 of 14 from behind the arc in the first half, and finishing 4 for 24. And foul trouble limited paint contributors like Sam Alexis, Reed Bailey and (especially cutting off the ball) Lamar Wilkerson. Yet the Hoosiers (8-3) held firm. They defended through their foul issues, rotations and help on point. And once those fouls balanced out, they took advantage, making 18 first-half free throws on the way to a seven-point halftime lead over the Wildcats (7-4).
• Another solid effort from Wilkerson. On a night when so much else came the hard way for Indiana offensively, he looked once again like a player worth building around. He finished 15 points, his scoring depressed by foul trouble. Coach Darian DeVries and Indiana's bench had fair complaints about some of Wilkerson's whistles specifically. They ultimately helped undercut what hope the Hoosiers had for an upset Saturday night, such was the importance of Wilkerson's impact on an otherwise frustrating offensive performance.

What I disliked from Indiana's loss vs. Kentucky

• Fouls. Indiana fans might have had fair complaint on two or three first-half calls. But the Hoosiers' 13 fouls before halftime were hardly a new phenomenon. This team struggles to stay in front of athletic opponents and keep the ball out of the lane against the dribble. That leads to reach fouls and puts bigs in difficult spots. On Saturday night, no one was immune. IU finished the first half with five players with at least two fouls, and two of those five with three.
• Side-to-side offense. Once again, Indiana struggled to break an over-playing defense down off the dribble. Too often, catches offensively came on the move, not spotted up, or too far from the basket for clean looks. And when the ball did touch the paint, it was turned over as often as it resulted in something helpful. DeVries has to find the best solution he can to this problem. It's not going away.
• Turnovers. That led to 18 turnovers, far too many for the way this team wants to play. At one point in the second half alone, the Hoosiers had given the ball away eight times, and attempted just nine field goals. That just won't work for a team that needs to win with offense.
• Offense. That ultimately became, once again, the story of the evening. This team is built to win in some very specific (maybe too specific) ways. When it cannot achieve those basics, it struggles to find second and third solutions to the same problems. The Hoosiers need to make more tough 3s. They have to solve the over-playing problem. They just can't afford nights like these — and we've seen a few of them now — where the offense goes so passive and so quiet. Because this Indiana was not built to win another way.

Last time out: Lamar Wilkerson's records epitomizes IU 'keeping it hot' in much-needed win

What Indiana basketball's loss vs. Kentucky means

Indiana doesn't need to endure some dark night of the soul over what happened Saturday. The Hoosiers faced a Kentucky team back in friendly confines and badly needing a win.

But Saturday also tells us what we already knew: This IU team is limited in ways it might not be able to meaningfully overcome this season. At least not without making a lot more shots than what the Hoosiers managed, once again, away from home. There's work to do before Big Ten play resumes.

Want more Hoosiers coverage? Sign up for IndyStar's Hoosiers newsletter. Listen to Mind Your Banners, our IU Athletics-centric podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch the latest on IndyStar TV: Hoosiers.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana basketball score today vs U of K, game stats, Tucker DeVries

LEXINGTON, KY — A second-half offensive outage undercut Indiana's upset attempt, in the Hoosiers' first game at Rupp Arena in 15 years Saturday night, a 72-60 Kentucky win.

Here's what I liked and disliked, and what the Hoosiers' loss means.

What I liked from IU basketball's loss vs. Kentucky

• Hanging in. Once again, Indiana's prodigious shooting would not travel, to the tune of just 3 of 14 from behind the arc in the first half, and finishing 4 for 24. And foul trouble limited paint contributors like Sam Alexis, Reed Bailey and (especially cutting off the ball) Lamar Wilkerson. Yet the Hoosiers (8-3) held firm. They defended through their foul issues, rotations and help on point. And once those fouls balanced out, they took advantage, making 18 first-half free throws on the way to a seven-point halftime lead over the Wildcats (7-4).
• Another solid effort from Wilkerson. On a night when so much else came the hard way for Indiana offensively, he looked once again like a player worth building around. He finished 15 points, his scoring depressed by foul trouble. Coach Darian DeVries and Indiana's bench had fair complaints about some of Wilkerson's whistles specifically. They ultimately helped undercut what hope the Hoosiers had for an upset Saturday night, such was the importance of Wilkerson's impact on an otherwise frustrating offensive performance.

What I disliked from Indiana's loss vs. Kentucky

• Fouls. Indiana fans might have had fair complaint on two or three first-half calls. But the Hoosiers' 13 fouls before halftime were hardly a new phenomenon. This team struggles to stay in front of athletic opponents and keep the ball out of the lane against the dribble. That leads to reach fouls and puts bigs in difficult spots. On Saturday night, no one was immune. IU finished the first half with five players with at least two fouls, and two of those five with three.
• Side-to-side offense. Once again, Indiana struggled to break an over-playing defense down off the dribble. Too often, catches offensively came on the move, not spotted up, or too far from the basket for clean looks. And when the ball did touch the paint, it was turned over as often as it resulted in something helpful. DeVries has to find the best solution he can to this problem. It's not going away.
• Turnovers. That led to 18 turnovers, far too many for the way this team wants to play. At one point in the second half alone, the Hoosiers had given the ball away eight times, and attempted just nine field goals. That just won't work for a team that needs to win with offense.
• Offense. That ultimately became, once again, the story of the evening. This team is built to win in some very specific (maybe too specific) ways. When it cannot achieve those basics, it struggles to find second and third solutions to the same problems. The Hoosiers need to make more tough 3s. They have to solve the over-playing problem. They just can't afford nights like these — and we've seen a few of them now — where the offense goes so passive and so quiet. Because this Indiana was not built to win another way.

Last time out: Lamar Wilkerson's records epitomizes IU 'keeping it hot' in much-needed win

What Indiana basketball's loss vs. Kentucky means

Indiana doesn't need to endure some dark night of the soul over what happened Saturday. The Hoosiers faced a Kentucky team back in friendly confines and badly needing a win.

But Saturday also tells us what we already knew: This IU team is limited in ways it might not be able to meaningfully overcome this season. At least not without making a lot more shots than what the Hoosiers managed, once again, away from home. There's work to do before Big Ten play resumes.

Want more Hoosiers coverage? Sign up for IndyStar's Hoosiers newsletter. Listen to Mind Your Banners, our IU Athletics-centric podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch the latest on IndyStar TV: Hoosiers.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana basketball score today vs U of K, game stats, Tucker DeVries

Many people were concerned about the Los Angeles Lakers' defensive shortcomings coming into this season, and Wednesday's 132-119 loss to the San Antonio Spurs was a reality check about how serious those shortcomings are right now.

In that loss, the Lakers gave up 27 fast-break points and allowed the Spurs to shoot 17-of-38 from 3-point range. It was a constant string of transition opportunities, dribble penetration and 3-point attempts for San Antonio, and Los Angeles was caught flat-footed against that type of attack.

Veteran guard Marcus Smart told the media what happened when the team held a video session on Friday to go over its defensive breakdowns against San Antonio.

"Nobody likes to go watch film after you get your ass kicked. It's tough, 'cause the film never lies. It exposed us a lot, which we already knew….The scouting report against us is we're not guarding people. And if we want to be great in this league and do what we're trying to do, you have to be able to guard."

Right now, the Lakers rank 21st in defensive rating, 23rd in fast-break points per game allowed, 25th in opponents' points off turnovers per game and 27th in opponents' 3-point shooting percentage. Expect other teams to give the Lakers a steady diet of transition basketball and dribble penetration until L.A. does something to prevent opponents from excelling in those categories.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Marcus Smart talks about Lakers' defensive video session on Friday

LEXINGTON — "Effort" isn't an official statistic. Neither is "hustle." If they were, however, Kentucky basketball would have had an overwhelming advantage in both categories Saturday night against Indiana.

In a game the Wildcats struggled nearly every which way offensively — from the field, on 3s and at the free-throw line — it was good old-fashioned fortitude that won out.

UK rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit to earn a 72-60 victory over IU at Rupp Arena.

It marked the first win over a power-conference opponent this season for coach Mark Pope and Kentucky (7-4) after dropping matchups to Louisville, Michigan State, North Carolina and Gonzaga. After 20 minutes, it appeared the Cats were headed to another defeat. The Hoosiers (8-3) went into the locker room ahead 39-32.

The visitors' lead still stood at seven (49-42) with 14:18 remaining.

But then UK engineered a 16-2 run to take a lead it wouldn't relinquish.

The primary component of the game-altering run: Mouhamed Dioubate, the junior forward taking the court for the first time in almost a month. He suffered an injury late in the loss to Michigan State on Nov. 18.

He made his presence felt Saturday, as he posted a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) off the bench. Multiple baskets during the 16-2 second-half spurt were simply Dioubate refusing to give up on a play, continually tipping up the ball until it fell into the basket.

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball shows better effort, rallies for win vs Indiana

Dec. 13—The snarky reaction to the news is that Washington State University has just hired Kirby Moore as its next "interim" football coach.

After all, impermanence has been the recent reality.

But nobody needs a reminder of recent coach defections in these early moments of excitement for Cougar fans.

From the outside, Friday's hiring of the former Missouri offensive coordinator looks like a victory for the Cougars.

There lies the hope.

Consider it especially commendable considering there's a new corps of administrators pulling the levers of power in Pullman. They managed to get it done quickly, without any unproductive flirtations and rejections coming to light.

Those things hurt, and almost always give off the feeling that you ended up settling for a second or third choice.

Plus, Moore comes from an estimable — and regional — lineage, with his father, Tom, a Washington state prep coaching legend at Prosser, and his brother, Kellen, in his first season as head coach of the New Orleans Saints.

Does that help with contacts and recruiting? Can't hurt.

Some fans voiced the hope that a new coach with ties to WSU, or to the region, would give him greater reason to put down roots in Pullman. Moore checks that box.

And if he is followed by the customary influx of portal additions seeking new opportunities with a coach they're accustomed to, they'll be athletes coming from an SEC school, not off FCS rosters.

Further, Moore's coaching history places him on a branch from the Chris Petersen coaching tree. Petersen's successes followed him from Boise State to the University of Washington; his reputation is as a principled winner.

Since Moore is the fourth head football coach hired since Mike Leach left in January, 2020, many Cougar fans might be skittish that coaches coming to Pullman are unlikely to stay on a long-term basis.

The two most recent have decamped for better money, and the one before that, what? Oh, yeah, the COVID thing. That's a lot of staff juggling.

Like the last two, Moore, 35 , is young and on the rise. That's surely a better option than bringing in an older warhorse and saddling him up for a last ride.

His style? A report from the Columbia Missourian, cited Moore's influence during an 11-win season in 2023, which included a Cotton Bowl win over Ohio State. The Tigers slipped to 8-4 this season, but the four losses were all to Top-10-ranked teams.

He will likely bring more of an offensive perspective to the job than the last two coaches, with experience on the defensive side of the ball, which should appeal to members of the fan base who long for the high-scoring excitement of the Mike Leach era.

And if he has success, Moore, too, will be attractive to predatory athletic directors whose coaches have failed, jumped ship for moneyed opportunities, or been indicted for scandalous behavior.

Those offended that WSU has become a springboard school for coaches and players will continue to face that reality.

It may be something that just has to be owned, and perhaps capitalized upon.

Right now, the Cougars have a history of lost quarterbacks, but they certainly should have earned considerable respect for having groomed and developed quarterbacks like Cam Ward and John Mateer, who brought wins and excitement to Pullman before cashing in on big-money deals at Miami and Oklahoma.

Why wouldn't a hot, rising quarterback want to give the Cougars a try? Every season being a new start with limitless opportunities.

Coaches, too. Jake Dickert jumped in for the evicted Nick Rolovich and righted the ship midway through the 2021 season. He was bright and personable and seemed happy in Pullman.

The most painful part of Dickert's departure might have been that he was lured away by Wake Forest, which, historically, would have seemed no better than a lateral move.

Jimmy Rogers' one season, going 6-6, was commendable in the way he managed to get an entirely new roster to be competitive. His 2025 Cougs were close against a couple powerful teams, which made some late mistakes only more painful in narrow losses.

It's happened to the Cougars before, of course. But, remember, two previous occasions of coaching turnovers led to long, successful tenures.

In the late '70s, Warren Powers and Jackie Sherill each left after only one season before Jim Walden put down roots for nine years.

Dennis Erickson stayed two years before leaving for Miami. Of course he did. He could — and did — win two national championships there. I'd argue that the WSU program was better for having had him.

And, after Erickson, Mike Price took over for 14 seasons, earning two Rose Bowl appearances.

We'll learn much more in coming days about Kirby Moore. But, initially, it feels extremely promising.

The most important goal, now, is building a winning program and recapturing the confidence of Cougar athletes and supporters.

Worries about keeping him around can be dealt with at some time down the road.

So, coach Moore, welcome to Pullman, where hope and reality might learn to occupy the same space.

Dec. 13—It's Spirit Week in the Greater Spokane League. That means raucous crowds, musical numbers, cheerleaders, noisemakers — and plenty of boys and girls basketball.

The festive week is one of the highlights of the season bringing together student bodies, faculty and sports teams in the spirit of camaraderie and friendly competition. Add in the bright lights of a college or downtown arena and it makes for an annual tradition that will produce a lifetime of memories for all involved.

This year's festivities start Tuesday in Cheney, where the Blackhawks host Rogers on Reese Court at Eastern Washington University in the fifth "Railroad Rumble," the youngest of the spirit week games. The girls game starts at 5:30 p.m.; the boys are at 7:30.

Last year at the Arena, the Rogers boys won 44-39 while the Cheney girls came out on top 42-24. Rogers won the spirit competition using a "Minions" theme.

This season, the Pirates boys are off to a fast start at 3-1, while Cheney is at 2-2. Both girls teams are struggling out of the gate with a combined record of 2-7.

On Thursday, the scene shifts to the Numerica Veterans Arena downtown, where Ferris is the designated host against Lewis and Clark in the granddaddy of all of the spirit games, in the 43rd battle for Chuck the "Rubber Chicken."

The schools have been waging an intense but friendly rivalry since 1983, when a student competition was adopted to increase student spirit. The symbol of the rivalry, an ugly rubber chicken, was chosen to symbolize a reward "deeply sought but without actual value."

"I played in the 'Stinky Sneaker' back in 2012, so I love this environment," LC girls coach Sydney Floriani said last year. "It's super fun. There's nothing like playing in the Arena, and Rubber Chicken is just one of the best-attended events in Spokane."

Last year, LC swept the basketball games as the Tigers girls pulled out a close one over Ferris 52-47 and the boys won 58-49, while Chuck went to LC for the third time in four years.

The LC boys are off to a 3-3 start this season while Ferris is 2-3. Both girls teams are 3-2 thus far.

Friday night, North Central and Shadle Park go head-to-head in the "Groovy Shoes" rivalry games. Shadle swept the basketball games last season, 57-37 in the boys game and 52-42 in the girls. In the spirit competition, North Central retained the shoes for the ninth consecutive season.

This season, the NC boys are 2-2 while Shadle is 1-4. The Highlanders girls are 2-3 and NC is 0-4.

The "Stinky Sneaker" games between Central Valley and University is Feb. 3 at Eastern Washington.

Dec. 13—PULLMAN — Not long after losing its most successful coach in program history, Washington State's women's soccer team found a qualified replacement, hiring a proven winner from within the region who has a history in the NCAA Tournament.

Chris Citowicki, who guided Montana to four national tournament appearances in eight years leading the program, was named WSU's new head coach on Friday. The eighth coach in WSU program history, Citowicki replaces Todd Shulenberger, the program's winningest coach (113-67-34), who was hired Dec. 1 by Ole Miss.

Citowicki led Montana to five Big Sky regular-season championships — topping the conference in each of the past three seasons — and four conference tournament titles. The Grizzlies claimed the regular-season and conference tourney championships this year to advance to the NCAAs, where they fell to Washington in the first round.

"He has a proven record of success and his dedication to developing student-athletes — not just as players, but as leaders, students, and members of our community — stood out immediately," WSU interim athletic director Jon Haarlow said in a statement. "He brings an infectious passion and energy that will resonate throughout our program. I have no doubt Chris will continue to elevate Cougar Soccer for many years to come."

Citowicki finished his Montana tenure with a 79-39-32 record. He was the Big Sky's coach of the year in 2023. Under Citowicki, the Grizzlies became the first team in Big Sky history to go unbeaten in conference play in back-to-back seasons (2023-24).

Montana also qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2018, 2020 and 2021. The Grizzlies were 0-4 in the national tourney under Citowicki. They lost to Shulenberger's Cougars in the first round in 2018 and 2021. But Montana got its first win over WSU this year, beating the Cougs 1-0 in September.

"I have been a huge fan of the Washington State program for a long time," Citowicki said via release. "To have the opportunity to step into that setting and represent WSU and Coug nation is a huge honor. The family and I cannot wait to move to Pullman and get started."

WSU has a history of soccer success, with 14 NCAA Tournament appearances — five in 11 years under Shulenberger. The Cougars advanced to the College Cup national semifinals in 2019. But the team has missed the NCAA Tournament in each of the past four seasons.

WSU went 16-12-11 over the past two years as an affiliate member of the West Coast Conference, finishing seventh in the league this year. The Cougs join the revamped Pac-12 next season.

Citowicki served as associate head coach at North Dakota before being hired by Montana in 2018. He was the head coach at Division III St. Catherine (Minnesota) from 2011-16. Citowicki assisted at D-III Augsburg (Minnesota) in 2010 after a couple of years as a grad assistant at D-II Bemidji State, from where he earned a master's degree in sports studies in 2008. He also spent eight years working with the Minnesota Olympic Development Program.

From Poland, Citowicki's family left the country when he was young and he spent most of his upbringing in Australia before enrolling at D-II Lock Haven in Pennsylvania, where he played a year of soccer.

Dec. 13—LOGAN, Utah — The Idaho women's basketball team stumbled down the stretch and lost step with Utah State, which finally broke free from a back-and-forth game.

The Vandals lost 80-73 to the Aggies on Saturday at Dee Glen Smith Spectrum in a nonconference matchup that featured 17 lead changes. But Idaho (8-4) shot 2 of 9 from the field over the final three minutes, allowing the Aggies (4-5) to break open a tightly contested game.

Idaho was paced by a trio of standout guards. Ana Pinheiro had 18 points and eight rebounds. Hope Hassmann totaled 14 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and Kyra Gardner logged 14 points and 10 rebounds.

The Vandals outrebounded Utah State 46-38 (19-8 offensively), leading to 17 more shot attempts than the Aggies. But Idaho shot 37.7% from the field, 9 of 36 (25%) from 3-point range, while Utah State hit 48.3% of its attempts. Guard Aaliyah Gayles led Utah State with 18 points and nine boards.

Former Bellator champion Yaroslav Amosov is now a winning UFC fighter after an excellent debut in the promotion.

In the feature prelim of UFC on ESPN 73 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Amosov (29-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) took on welterweight mainstay Neil Magny. Amosov took a few moments to figure out Magny (31-14 MMA, 24-13 UFC), and ended the fight in the first round by submission at 3:14.

As all fights begin, there were a few striking exchanges on the feet to start, and Amosov was willing to exchange. Hwoever, he saw an opening along the fence for the clinch, and scored a trip takedown. From there, Amosov worked in a few punches as he transitioned into an anaconda choke, trapping Magny and forcing a tap.

Check out video of the finish below (via Instagram):

View this post on Instagram

Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 73 results include:

• Yaroslav Amosov def. Neil Magny via submission (anaconda choke) – Round 1, 3:14
• Joanderson Brito def. Isaac Thomson via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Steven Asplund def. Sean Sharaf via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:49
• Luana Santos def. Melissa Croden via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
• Guilherme Pat def. Allen Frye Jr. via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Jamey-Lyn Horth def. Tereza Bleda via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:05

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Vegas 112: Yaroslav Amosov wins debut in first round

A former Spartan and now SEC star was arrested early on Saturday morning.

Former Michigan State defensive end Zion Young was arrested early on Saturday morning on suspicion of DWI, speeding, and failure to properly affix his license plate, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol website. PowerMizzou reported the news on Young on Saturday.

Zion Young was a member of the Michigan State program in 2022 and 2023, where he shined as a young player and looked to have a bright future. Unfortunately, after the coaching change, Young made the difficult decision to move on from the program. He transferred to Missouri.

Young was an All-SEC first team selection this season and appears destined for a future in the NFL as well.

Click on the post below to read more on this news related to Young:

#Mizzou defensive end Zion Young was arrested early Saturday morning in Boone County.https://t.co/ngoTaMVkrG

— PowerMizzou (@PowerMizzoucom) December 13, 2025

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

This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Former MSU DE, Mizzou star Zion Young arrested on suspicion of DWI

LAS VEGAS — When discussing his team’s keys to success ahead of Saturday’s NBA Cup semifinal against the Knicks, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley had one name on the top of his list to try to slow down:

New York All-NBA guard Jalen Brunson.

The Magic failed to accomplish their goal as Brunson posted 40 points in a 132-120 victory over Orlando at T-Mobile Arena.

Although Jalen Suggs (26 points), Paolo Banchero (25) and Desmond Bane (18) combined for 69 points, New York had Karl-Anthony Towns (29 points) and OG Anunoby (24) total 53 in addition to Brunson.

Neither side took good care of the ball. The Magic scored 21 points off 12 takeaways and the Knicks tallied 17 off 14 Orlando turnovers.

The New York win ties the regular-season series at 2-2, with Orlando dropping a second game to the Knicks in less than a week. The Magic fell by six on Sunday on the road.

While the Knicks (18-7) advance to Tuesday’s Cup championship to face the winner of Saturday’s late Spurs-Thunder game, the Magic (15-11) will have multiple days off before they travel to Denver for a Thursday game.

Super Suggs

It’s not hard to imagine where the Magic would have been without a strong offensive showing from Suggs in the first two quarters.

The Magic guard went mano a mano with Brunson as each guard notched 25 points in the first half. Suggs scored 10 in the opening frame and added 15 in the second as he missed just five shots from the floor.

Often putting his body on the line, Suggs provided a spark for Orlando early but scored only one point in the final two quarters.

He appeared to move slowly in the second half and went to the locker room with 7:35 left in the game. The Magic said he was questionable to return due to a sore left hip and he did not make his way back.

Rest of starters

While Suggs got going early, the same couldn’t be said for Banchero, who missed his first four shots from beyond the arc and had eight points at the half.

Banchero added eight points in the third quarter and nine in the finale frame but wasn’t efficient from distance (0 for 7) and had five turnovers.

Besides Suggs, Bane was Orlando’s only other double-digit scorer in the first half (11 points) as he hit his first 3 and drove regularly to the basket. But he picked up his third foul with about two minutes left in the second quarter and fouled out with just over a minute remaining in the game.

Wendell Carter Jr. hit a pair of 3-pointers as he scored 14 points in 35 minutes.

Starting in place of Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain) for a second game in a row, Anthony Black struggled. He shot 1 for 6 from 3 and turned the ball over four times.

Rookie watch

Jase Richardson checked into the game after Suggs exited midway through the fourth quarter.

The No. 25 pick made his first pair of buckets, including a 3-pointer that brought Orlando within six points of the Knicks with under five minutes to play.

Richardson took advantage of his late action, posting nine points in 8 minutes with two assists and a rebound.

The University of Dayton men’s basketball team put on a show on snowy Saturday night at the UD Arena.

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De’Shayne Montgomery and Malcolm Thomas got the crowd going with several dunks in an 84-61 victory over North Florida.

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Montgomery led UD with 23 points while Thomas added 14.

Amael L’Etang had a double-double: 14 points and 14 rebounds, while Javon Bennett scored 10.

The Flyers won with Dayton legend Obi Toppin in the building.

He was one of four people inducted into the UD Athletics Hall of Fame.

The other inductees were former UD women’s basketball player Kelley Austria, former UD Director of Athletic Communication Doug Hauschild, and former UD men’s cross country runner Chris Lemon.

UD Hall of Famer Johnny Davis celebrated earning his UD degree in front of the Flyer Faithful on Saturday night.

Dayton’s next game will be Tuesday night when they host Florida State at the UD Arena at 7 p.m.

Pregame coverage on WHIO Radio begins at 6 p.m.

The game will also be carried here at WHIO.com.

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This isn’t the banner the Knicks envisioned chasing this season–but after a 132-120 quarterfinal victory over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, the NBA Cup is within reach. And recent, limited history says competing for the In-Season Tournament banner gives you a head start in chasing the real thing later down the line.

In 2023, the first year of the Cup, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Indiana Pacers to claim the league’s inaugural in-season trophy. The Pacers went on to make an Eastern Conference Finals appearance the following spring, and coming a Tyrese Haliburton Game 7 injury away from a Cinderella ending last season.

In the Cup’s second year, the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder. That Thunder team responded by winning its first NBA championship later that same season, outlasting Indiana in the 2025 Finals.

Now it’s Year 3 of the league’s newest experiment — and the pattern is no longer coincidence.

After two straight quarterfinal exits, the Knicks are one of the final two teams standing in Las Vegas. They defeated the Toronto Raptors in the quarterfinal on Tuesday then punched their ticket to the NBA Cup Final agains the Magic on Saturday night.

And just like that, they’ve joined a short list of teams with a 50 percent chance of doing something much bigger next.

The New York Knicks are for real. They entered the season with championship aspirations, and a third of the way through the year, they’re finally beginning  look the part. And while an In-Season Tournament banner was never the target, competing for one has given the world a glimpse into the heights this team’s ceiling has pushed toward this year.

“I was one of those guys when they came up with the Cup idea, I was like, ‘Oh, man, for what? In the middle of the season? We are trying to do this and that and practice and blah, blah, blah,” head coach Mike Brown recalled after practice on Friday. “It’s a fantastic experience for everybody. You really applaud how the NBA has tried to continue to find ways to make this more meaningful across the board. So it’s a pleasure to be here.”

So the Knicks look the part. Jalen Brunson looks the part, too.

Brown has been vocal about wanting his All-Star point guard to finally receive MVP consideration. Performances like the one Brunson delivered Saturday make it impossible to have the conversation without him.

The Knicks’ captain dissected an Orlando defense specifically built to grind him down — a physical, switch-heavy unit designed to make every touch uncomfortable. Instead, Brunson made it look easy: 40 points and eight assists on 16-of-27 shooting from the field in New York’s highest-pressure game of the season.

“Yeah, [the Magic] are really physical. That’s what [Orlando’s head coach, Jamahl Mosley] prides himself on. The way that they have been able to do it makes them very successful,” Brunson told reporters after practice on Friday. “There’s a lot of ways you combat it. Obviously with physicality. But I would move it, with space and transition, getting stops and running. I think no matter what, they are going to play their solid basketball. We have to play ours and do it to the best of our abilities.”

Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 29 points and eight rebounds, and OG Anunoby added 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field, as the Knicks advanced to a 17-0 record in games they lead after three quarters.

Jalen Suggs scored 26 points for the Orlando Magic but left in the second half due to injury. Paolo Banchero scored 25 points, and Desmond Bane added 18, but the Magic couldn’t match New York’s firepower with both teams missing key contributors on the injury report. Miles McBride is nursing an ankle injury, and Landry Shamet is recovering from a shoulder sprain, while fringe All-Star Franz Wagner remains out with a high ankle sprain of his own.

Now it’s one more game in Las Vegas against the best of the West. The NBA Cup is beginning to be a true playoff preview, and the Knicks are living up to the early billing they can compete for their first title in decades this season.

It wasn't pretty, but Michigan State basketball found a way on the road on Saturday afternoon.

The Spartans fended off an upset bid from Penn State for an important road win on Saturday afternoon. Michigan State led by as many as 10 points in the second half, but needed a strong finish to beat the Nittany Lions by the final score of 76-72.

Divine Ugochukwu has a career-high 23 points in the victory, knocking down all five of his three-point attempts to lead the Spartans offensively to the win. Michigan State also got double-digit scoring numbers from Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper (10 points each) in the win.

With the victory, Michigan State improves to 9-1 overall and 2-0 in Big Ten play. The Spartans will now play a trio of mid-major opponents before returning to conference play in early January.

Check out highlights from the win in the video below -- courtesy of FOX Sports:

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

This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Highlights: MSU basketball survives upset scare, beats Penn State

Diego Pavia fell short of adding another piece of history to his Vanderbilt football legacy.

The Commodores quarterback was named the runner-up in the 2025 Heisman Trophy on Saturday, Dec. 13 during an awards ceremony inside Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Appel Room in New York City.

Beating him for college football's most sacred honor was Indiana's Fernando Mendoza. Pavia finished ahead of Ohio State's Julian Sayin and Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love.

REQUIRED READING: Celebrate Diego Pavia's year, Vanderbilt's historic 10-win season with 'ANCHOR DOWN' book

Pavia was the first Vanderbilt player to have been named a finalist and receive an invite to New York for the annual award ceremony that is put on by the Heisman Trophy Trust. He was the lone player from the SEC to be named a top-four finalist this season.

Here's everything to know about how Pavia did in the Heisman race, including the finalists' stats and the voting results:

Did Diego Pavia win the Heisman Trophy in 2025?

No, Pavia did not win the Heisman Trophy in 2025. He was instead named the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy race on Saturday night in New York.

Pavia finished 957 votes behind Mendoza.

Despite losing out on college football's highest individual award, Pavia has brought a new wave of success while creating a new culture at Vanderbilt over his two seasons with the Commodores. The former New Mexico State transfer has led the Commodores to their back-to-back seasons with a winning record in over two decades, which includes the program's first 10-win season this year.

In his two seasons, Pavia has led Vanderbilt to go 17-9 record, with five of those wins coming against top-25 ranked opponents. He enters the postseason ranked in the top 10 among Division I FBS quarterbacks with 27 touchdown passes and a completion percentage of 71.2%.

Heisman Trophy 2025 voting results

Here's the full points total for the 2025 Heisman Trophy, including first-place votes:

• 1st place: Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza (2,392 points — 643 first-place votes)
• 2nd place: Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia (1,435 points — 189 first-place votes)
• 3rd place: Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love (719 points — 46 first-place votes)
• 4th place: Ohio State QB Julian Sayin (432 points — 8 first-place votes)
• 5th place: Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez
• 6th place: Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith
• 7th place: Georgia QB Gunnar Stockton
• 8th place: Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss
• 9th place: Ohio State S Caleb Downs
• 10th place: Georgia Tech QB Haynes King

Diego Pavia stats

Here's a breakdown of Pavia's stats this season at Vanderbilt:

• Passing: 242 of 340 passing (71.2%) for 3,192 yards with 27 touchdowns and eight interceptions
• Rushing: 826 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns on 152 carries

Heisman Trophy finalists' stats

Here's a look at the regular season stats for the three other 2025 Heisman Trophy finalists:

Fernando Mendoza

• Passing: 226 of 316 (71.5%) passing for 2,980 yards with 33 touchdowns and six interceptions
• Rushing: 240 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns on 69 carries

Julian Sayin

• Passing: 279 of 356 passing (78.4%) for 3,323 yards with 31 touchdowns and six interceptions

Jeremiyah Love

• Rushing: 1,372 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns on 199 carries
• Receiving: 280 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns on 27 receptions

Heisman Trophy winners

Here's an updated look at past Heisman Trophy winners dating back to 2016:

• 2025: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
• 2024: WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado
• 2023: QB Jayden Daniels, LSU
• 2022: QB Caleb Williams, USC
• 2021: QB Bryce Young, Alabama
• 2020: WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama
• 2019: QB Joe Burrow, LSU
• 2018: QB Kyler Murray, Oklahoma
• 2017: QB Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
• 2016: QB Lamar Jackson, Louisville